More holiday snaps

Charlotte and Mike splash in the waterfall



Charlotte sitting on a concrete SHEEP!


Charlotte and Molly in the tent


Sock knitting in the afternoon sun

Views of Arran

Glenashdale Falls



View towards the sea



Lockranza Castle

Holiday 2007

Charlie outside our new tent. Lockranza campsite, Isle of Arran, Scotland.




One of the campsite residents.


Following a traumatic journey to Scotland, we had a fantastic holiday on Arran. We broke down an hour from home on the M25, spent 1 1/2 hours trying to contact the rescue service, then having been rescued went to the home of the recovery vehicle driver as his son had collapsed at home. We administered first-aid while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Once they had taken him to hospital, we had to wait for a second recovery vehicle to take us home. We broke down at 9.30pm and eventually got home at 3am!

After spending the night in our own bed, instead of in the car on our way to Scotland, we spent the morning looking for a hire vehicle and ended up with a Ford Transit for a fortnight. We successfully changed our ferry booking and campsite booking and even managed to find an overnight stop at the Travelodge at Glasgow airport.

Once we finally arrived we had a relaxing holiday on Arran. (more details and photos in my next post)

Half term should have been spent on the boat in the Solent. However the weather decided to conspire against Mike and I spending time alone. The Bank holiday weekend, when we were childfree for the first time in nearly 18 years, proved to be the wettest for months! Add to that a few gale force winds and a long weekend on a 31ft boat in the DSolent did not sound so appealing. Thus we stayed at home.
The second weekend of Half-term was much more fun as we were looking after Mikes Grandchildren. Ella is now nearly 8 months old and almost crawling. She is a very contented baby and was a joy to look after. Especially as Emily had the cot in her bedroom and so covered the night shift! What fun it is to be a Grandma.(pictures to follow)

Currently knitting a lilac 4ply cardigan for Ella's 1st birthday. It's the Rosebud Lace cardigan by Sirdar which is featured inthe June edition of Knitting. I have finished the back and fronts and am part way up the sleeves.

This weekend I am marshalling for the Skimmington Castle Bike ride in aid of the Sutton and Croydon MS Centre and Marie Curie Cancer care. It is a sponsored fun ride. I have ridden it before but am much happier marshalling as it is much easier on the saddle!
On Sunday the Rainbows are having an afternoon of activities at a local primary school, so I will be busy.

Chickens update: All seven birds seem to have started laying and we are currently collecting about four eggs per day. I am facinated with the antics of the girls. If I go up to the run they all start clucking at me and waiting for some goodies. The favorite is dandelion leaves followed by grass cuttings! I love watching them when I throw in some grass clippings as they scratch around for the bugs first and then eat the grass.

Meet the girls

Feeding time in the chicken house.

The names from the top are
Lilly
Willow
Midnight
Daffodil
Daisy
Snowball
Goldie

They are now laying about four eggs per day, as Willow and Goldie are not yet ready to lay.

Making Waves

I have just completed my first crochet blanket from a pattern.
It is Soft Waves from Jan Eatons book 200 Ripple Stitch Patterns.
I made it for my step-nephew Baby Jack who was born on Sunday 20 May.

Not a lot of knitting at the moment. My Father-in -Law has been really poorly so we have been visiting him in Hospital every day. It wouldn't be too bad if the hospital was a bit closer, but we have to do a round trip of 45mins each way.
We are also looking after his aged Sheltie who is very distressed by the arrangement as they have never been separated before.
Add to that the moving of a 12ft x 5ft chicken run from his house to ours we have been a bit busy! The chickens seem to have settled in well and are laying about six eggs a week each! The run is a bit tricky to assemble as our garden is on a slope of approx 1:6. We have had to dig out one end and raise the other end by almost 2".

I could be the only one

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 0 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Lots of pink

It started with a pink fluffy concoction which I made for my friends daughter (age 1 1/2)

This was fun to make and knitted up really quickly. The colour is a bit more fuschia than in the photo.

Then I made this fun cardi for my neice Abbie who was really delighted with it. I got quite a few comments about it while I was making it as itis a very strange colour mix. Pink, yellow, orange and dark pink. It is a bobbly cotton mix which I bought at Ally Pally last year.

Christmas was a manic time of travelling, eating, travelling, drinking

and more travelling.

It started with a visit to my Father-in-Law in Maidstone on the Saturday before xmas, where hubby and I gave the house an early spring clean and then cooked a full roast dinner.

We then travelled to Hastings on Christmas eve.

Christmas day was mad in Hastings.

Here is Ella wearing Emilys scarf! The kids thought it made a great Buzby!

My favourite Christmas photo of Ella.

New Years Resolution : Knit a pair of socks.

DONE IT!

I completed my first ever pair of socks last week. They are knitted using Fyberspates yarn. They are soooo comfortable and I have already decided on colours for the next pair.

I need to thank my friends at Stitchlinks for their advice and support while I made them.

In Memory of Grandma

Sadly my Grandma passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday 21st November 2006. She was born Elsie Maud Archer on 5th December 1912. Today would have been her 94th Birthday. I would like to share the words I spoke at her funeral service. After a few very sleepless nights, when I lay awake trying to get my thoughts in order, I came up with the following: Grandma was like an extra Mum, only with more time to spare. She was, at times, my Teacher, my Carer, my Counsellor and my Nurse. Grandma taught me so many things, not least how to knit and crochet and how to play patience and rummy, but much to Grandma’s disgust, I never learned to enjoy a cup of tea! I remember spending many happy holidays staying with Grandma and Grandpa in Brundal, where Grandma and I would go to the library, Grandma would let me play with her button box, we would play card games, visit Grandpa at the Old peoples home where he worked, and best of all go down to the river to feed the ducks. One occasion I remember well was when I slipped over after my bath and I bit my tongue. Grandma was very calm and stemmed the flow of blood with a hanky, But what I remember most was that she never said “I told you so!” Even though I had been told over and over not to run. She did however remind me of it a number of times over the years when I rushed into things. Once Grandma and Grandpa moved to Downham things changed and I no longer went to stay for a few days, instead I visited nearly every week. Grandma and Grandpa became our babysitters if Mum and Dad went out, or if we had time off school for illness. Grandma was a rock; she wasn’t a hard person, but a solid reliable rock that I knew I could turn to from a very young age. Grandma cared about everything I did. She listened to my tales of school, college and married life. I always felt that she was proud of my achievements, no matter how small. She listened without judging. But she was not averse to offering her advice if she thought you needed it! I remember how she would complain about all the “Old” people in the queue on Thursday at the post office when she went to collect her pension! She had a great sense of humour and a very sharp wit. The stories she told of her brief stay in High Haven had us in stitches. Especially when she described using the lift without permission, or sneaking out for a sly puff! To quote from a 1980’s song about Grandmas with which we tormented her as kids; There's no one quite like Grandma And I know you will agree That she always is a friend to you And she's a friend to me There's no one quite like Grandma She's there in times of need Before it's bedtime, on her knee To us a book she'll read And one day when we're older We'll look back and say There's no one quite like Grandma She has helped us on our way Grandma will be missed by all of us, but she has left us with a lot of happy memories.

How appropriate

You Are 50% Weird

Normal enough to know that you're weird...But too damn weird to do anything about it!

How Weird Are You?

Scarves Scarves and more Scarves

This was my stall at the school pamper night in October. I got off to a good start and sold over £70.00 worth of scarves.
Then I took them to the MS Therapy Centre, where they are on sale from now until Christmas.

As soon as I got them out of the boxes I started to get bombarded with special requests. The photo shows a hat scarf and mitten set for one of my patients to give to her granddaughter. I am now trying to finish a few more for one of the Physio team to take to her ladies night. She is going to have some friends round to buy some products from our christmas fund-raising ranges. Also my youngest daughter wants me to make her a hat! Half term is over (thank goodness) and the girls are back at school and college. The holiday was manic chez nous. Sunday: Big family get together at my brother's house near High Wycombe. My mum was there from Norfolk, along with my brother Chris, his wife and 3 kids, My sister Cathy, her hubby and 2 kids, and myself, hubby and 2 kids. Fourteen of us together for the first time this year.

Back row : Chris & Myself

Middle row Cathy, Maddie, Edward, Mum, Emily, & Jamie

Front row: Joshua, Charlotte & Abigail.

Monday: Mum and I did some work in the garden. We managed to get the pelargoniums into the summer house to protect them from the frost. Then we started to dig holes in the non existant lawn to put stepping stones up the garden.

My stepdaughter arrived at lunch time with her two children.

Tuesday: Hubby left to go sailing. Lots of baby cuddling took place as the weather was not good enough to go out.

Wednesday: Went shopping in the morning and then called in at the local nursery to look at plum trees, (Charlie wants a plum tree), while we were there Charlie took part in their Halloween craft activities. Thus we came home with creepy spiders, masks and grass seed heads! Mum went home in the afternoon and Charlie and I played board games. Hubby returned early from sailing as there were storm force winds in the Solent!

Thursday: Hubby and Charlie went swimming while I set the remaining stones in the garden. Then I finished preparing the garden to sow the grass seed. Eventually got the seed sown and then had an afternoon nap!

Friday: Work, Shopping & McDonalds with Charlie!

Saturday: Physio course in Halton, Bucks.

Sunday: Emilys 17th Birthday

We were joined at home by my best friend from my school days, who also happens to be Emily's Godmother.

It was almost a relief to go back to work on Monday!

Nothing much: Sorry

I finished a rainbow coloured cardi for Ella, but I took it down to Hastings before I remembered to take a photo. Perhaps I will get a photo of Ella wearing it before too long. Not a lot of knitting going on at the moment. I have been busy getting to grips with a new term at school, with all the associated after school clubs, taking over as assisstant Rainbow Leader and work. Next week I am going to Ally Pally for the first time. I'm looking forward to it as I will be going with a friend. Also I won £50 in our work 200 club this week so I have got some spending money to take with me.

I couldn't resist putting some photos of my little Ella on the blog.
I know I'm biased but I think she is rather yummy.








Here's one of the new grandma.




And now some knitting photos.
The blanket is one I have done for all the new babies in the family. Each one has had a different ribbon trim. It looks great in every colour,(I have made it in navy blue, yellow, red and white)














The pale pink cardi is done in four ply snugly. I love the classic pattern and have to admit I could probably make it with my eyes shut as I must have made it a hundred times. The great thing is it's really easy to make and can be worn with anything(provided the colour matches)!

The last photo is a deep pink cotton from Sirdar. I think it's Rio. I bought it at a very good price when my local yarn shop closed down. The colour is a bit more like rose(the colour hasn't come out as well as I would have liked on the computer) The pattern is Felicite from the Patons Fairies booklet. Now I am working on two slightly larger items, another felicite cardi and a jumper from the Jaeger book I bought at the lys closing down sale. I also have to admit to a bit of baby wool stash enhancement. I went to Maidstone to visit Father in Law last week, and found a branch of Hobbycraft. I have never been inside before and spent nearly an hour wandering round buying some reduced price Patons fairytale 4ply in a few different colours!and buttons and fluffy stuff(I can't remember which one at the moment). I could have spent lots on fabrics, wools, craft stuff etc. I had to hold myself back. Off to work now to earn an honest crust!

It's a girl

Just a short post to let those of you who read this blog know that I became a grandma again this morning. My Stepdaughter gave birth to ELLA at 6.14am , weighing in at 7lb 11oz. I haven't seen her yet so no photos, but we are going to visit tomorrow! It is going to be a mega day as we are going to Hastings, to visit the new baby, then Norfolk for the18th birthday party of my stepsister's daughter. Hopefully I will be home on Sunday evening with photos of both!

Knitting in Public (Transport)

Having signed up for a day in London hosted by the London Regional MS Society I decided to do something I haven't been able to do in a long time. I took my knitting with me to do on the train! I usually travel to courses by car with one of my colleagues or I go to town with one or both of my girls. Both of these situations do not allow me to get my kneedles out and start knitting. If I did this with Emily she would be soooo embarassed, and Charlie is still worried by thoughts of bombs on London trains to travel without holding my hand or sitting on my lap! It is impossible to knit one handed or with an eight year old on your lap!!! So, as I said I took my knitting. I got a few strange looks, but most people totally ignored me. That was until I got to London Bridge when a small child watched me intently all the way to Kings Cross Thameslink.As I got off I heard her ask her Mummy "what was that lady doing?" Mummy's reply was devastating........."I think she was sewing!!" Just goes to show haw bad our education system has got! As I arrived early for my day I sat with a cup of coffee in the conference room and got out my knitting. I was then approached by a lovely (elderly ish) lady who showed a great deal of interest in the baby cardi I was making. You could guess her age when she turned to a friend and said "yes it's a matinee coat like we thought". Does anyone make matinee coats any more I had a few for Emily(17) but by the time Charlie arrived they seemed very old fashioned. I will put some photos on soon as I have finished the blanket and two cardis.

Just for a laugh

Molly and her best friend Minnie.
We had to buy an extra large bed for Molly because Minnie took to sleeping in the middle of her old bed. Once Minnie had settled down Molly wouldn't lie on her own bed. Every night she would carry her bed around trying to find a place for it and lie on it before the cat got back on it! As soon as she put the bed down, Minnie would make herself comfortable and Molly would end up sleeping on he floor. Now there is room for both of them. Minnie gets so close she actually rubs her cheek on Mollys face and legs, and Molly will then groom her! Even with the collar on Minnie still gets Molly to groom her.




We took this photo of Molly sitting in my Hubby's canoe on the front lawn. She would do anything to make a spectacle of herself!

Molly's Holiday in Devon. Firstly she wanted to try the surf board! Then she did a bit of swimming.

Followed by a bit of sunbathing
And lastly some under cover work for MI 5!






























Yes .... she really is buried up to her neck. She just lies down and waits to be covered up. I have never met such an amazingly daft labrador in my life before.

Next Gerneration

At long last my girls are starting to enjoy needlecraft. This was Charlie's cross stitch which she made on holiday from a kit. I know they ned frames, but I had to sneak a quick picture while she was out playing.

I had to grit my teeth while she was stitching and try hard not to criticise mistakes. I forgot how hard it is to get kids to keep the stitches all going the same way!

Next I need to get her more interested in knitting!!!

She has mastered basic knitting and seldom drops stitches, but I find it hard to keep her motivated. I need to find some basic patterns for her to try. I remember my Mum encouraging me to knit something from a pattern as soon as I had learned to knit and purl.

Then Emily decided to have a go and bought a magazine in Tavistock with a cross stitch kit attached.

She has nearly completed it without any help whatsoever. It seems to appeal to her mathematical brain.

I have tried to teach her to knit,(She can do basic knit stitch) but I find that anything complicated seems to confuse her. I think its the dyslexia and dyspraxia which prevents her mastering the kneedles!

I had a great laugh today. A great friend gave me a pressie. (I do love pressies when they come out of the blue) It was a knitting book.

But not just any knitting book.

Its a book of patterns for knitting things for dogs, yes you did read it right, dogs!

I know I am totally bonkers but I think if I started knitting for Molly my Hubby would have me locked up! I am sure that there are people out there who would knit for their pet, but I am not one of them. I did have a good laugh though and after hearing something on the radio last week about the benefits of laughter, to your health, I think I must have done myself the power of good. I may make some of the things just to amuse myself!

For now though I have to get on with the baby stuff as my stepdaughter is having braxton hicks contractions already and the midwife has predicted that Ella may come a bit early.

Result Day Angst

For those who didn't know (bearing in mind the media coverage), today was GCSE results day. I never realised how stressful it would be waiting for the dreaded envelope. My eldest was at school this morning waiting with all the others,(Mum was relegated to the car!!!) It was worse than waiting for my own results 20+ years ago. When she came out she was delighted, thank goodness. She managed 2A*'s in PE and Business studies, A in Dance, B in Maths, B in RE, C's in English Language, &Literature, 2C's in science, and C in citizenship. Having battled to get her dyslexia diagnosed and then extra time for her exams we are delighted. She has already enrolled in college to do a B Tech national diploma in Sport. Well thats the proud parent bit done for now. Holiday over, washing in the machine, everything back to normal! Managed to get loads of kntting done. Pics to follow! Completed two baby cardis, 48 blanket squares (which now need sewing together) two scarves and the back of a cardi for someone at work. The latter was really hard work, as it is partially frogged beige 4ply wool. I don't even know if there is going to be enough to finish the cardi. This is one of the baby cardis part way through.It is in a lovely soft cotton and the pattern is called Felicite from the Patons sugar fairies booklet. Once I have sewn it together I will take another picture.

This was my holiday knitting chair. The view from the window was spectacular. I could gaze at the sea while clicking away with the needles. The railings you can see form the edge of the balcony overlooking the garden.

The bay in the background is Thurlestone Sands in Devon.

I would have moved down to Devon tomorrow if the opportunity arose.There are only a few small things in the way. Hubby's job, My job, eldest daughter( who wouldnt move if we paid her!). Not a lot really! I think the dog and youngest daughter would have come with me. Only downside was I didn't find any knitting shops. Although to be fair we didn't spend much time in the shops as Hubby hates browsing.

At long last we have had some rain and I have come back to find my lawn has "greened" again and my plants are looking much better. No need for rain dances, thank goodness! Now I just have to finish the fence painting, bulb planting and preparing for autumn.

And now the Garden

I know its not knitting but I thought I would share some of my garden shot with you. We have been struggling with a drought order in this area for 3 months and some of the plants are starting to feel it.

My garden is on the side of a hill, the top of the garden is almost as high up as the roof!

Now for the tour:


This is my white Budlea in full flower. I love the to see the butterflies on it when the sun comes out.



It is about 1/4 of the way up the garden and sits on the bend of the path to the deck.
















The deck, and summer house form the next level of the garden.
I am only half way to finishing painting the fence next to the pond.
You can't see the pond from this view as it sits behind the sleepers.










This is the view of the pond from above. It is the only part of my garden which is really growing well. Somewhere in there are about 30 goldfish, a few newts and a load of frogs.













I love water lily flowers! Such a shame they only last a few days.

Here's a couple of friends who sit at the top of the steps just outside the back door. You have to have a few mad things in a garden. In addition to these two I have two gnomes, a stone tortoise, a fairy, a stone frog, a stone cat, two giant ladybirds and......

Two giant wasps!

In the front garden I have my miniature weeping willow. I am watering this twice weekly to keep it alive.

It was a present from a very special friend and I couldn't bear to lose it.

It should grow to 8m in height and 8m across. I have already told my daughters that it will be perfect for my grandchildren to sit under.

As you can see the grass is really suffering in this drought. Not much of it has stayed green. The back lawn is even worse as it is in the sun all day, this lawn at least stays shady till after lunch.

All I can say is LET IT RAIN SOOOOON!

If it carries on like this we may be resorting to trying rain dances on the front garden.

Does anyone know the words?