Clarification.

Let me just state for the record that Carol Vorderman only nearly kind of crashed into me.

We just had to kind of breathe in a bit.

Plus there was a grockle bus in the way.

And we may have been headed in the incorrect direction on a one way lane (but only maybe - there were no signs!).

But if it helps things - Clifton Suspension Bridge sure is a long way up!

(Is this a definition of purple prose?)

Not meaning to mislead.....

...... Princess C-W's birthday was actually on the 22nd of November.

It is just that it took me some many days to process and organise the occasion, what with being unwell and all (cough, splutter, sneeze! Feeling sorry for me yet?).

We had cake at several times over the birthday week. On 21/11 one of my borrowed childer and I made vanilla cupcakes with livid pink icing which the birthday girl, her friend and Granma took with them when they went out and had their nails done. We left some cakes at home for CK and Babyman to cheer them up b/c they weren't getting prettyfied fingers.

Having had fingers filed, buffed and polished they then had to choose which flowers to have.

Or perhaps diamonds?

Flowers it was.

The little girls had flowers but Granma choose diamonds (of course!). See how gorgeous they all look?




And our lovely FairHands lady had a birthday surprise for Princess C-W too.





The next day was her actual birthday!



It started with international phone calls




Then presents.




Finally cake.






Mmmmmmmmmmm... cake...

Ninth birthday.

Hard as it is for me to believe, my so pretty girl baby is growing up into this poised elegant looking creature.





We have had sad times.





And happy ones.






There have been tricky moments.




And elegant ones.





Some days have been industrious.




Others indolent.




But my best and my favourite are the laughing ones.

Happy Birthday Princess Curly-Wurly!

Visitors.

For the first time in three months we are alone in our house. Just the six of us, all back in our own beds - much to the dogs' disgust. They got used to being in our room to stop Mum standing on them in the night.

(Accidentally standing on them I mean!)

As squashy as it has been and as busy as it has been we have had a fun time.

We had fireworks!




There was the plane trip to Ireland, where we got lost quite often.

Lunch at a friends' lovely new cottage, complete with long country walk. (Took some cow pics on someone else's camera. Will post when I get them.)

We celebrated Halloween (not on time though!)

We made scarves with beautiful velvets and silks.

There was a day trip to Cardiff to the craft show. We drove past Ikea but didn't go in. We went over the Clifton Suspension Bridge just after Carol Vorderman nearly crashed in to my car. There was a little getting lost but we drove around a nice country park with a big posh gate and everything!

We went to Stoke-On -Trent. There was A LOT of getting lost.


We also bought a lot of china. After much traipsing around and turning back at Uttoxeter we finally found the Burleigh pottery factory. It was a delight and a dream and I wish I had photos to show. Large wooden tables laid out with gorgeous plates and bowls. A crackling fire surrounded by a few comfortable chairs to sit and enjoy a cup of tea. To just to sit and take in the history of the building. The skill of those who developed and maintained this style of pottery making. The time at Burleigh more than made up for the detours, wrong turns and backtracking. It was a moment out of time.

Then we came home. Via Ikea. Yippee!

Just two sleeps later and the Tropical Family began their invasion. Three 200 mile round trips to the airport in the space of six days plus all the touristing around we did. At least it meant I got to drive CK's whizzy new car for a week!

(tropical brother)



Somebody lost their first ever tooth!




Brownies had their open evening.





There was a hostess badge awarded too.




We even fitted in a birthday!

Then yesterday it was 'Bye-bye Granma, travel safe!'





So as you can see it has been kind of busy here but (despite the cough) things are coming back to normal.

Slowly, slowly.

Over the past ten days I have been blog-hopping and rolling around the innernets. I have even added words to the post I have been constructing (it seems very unwieldy now I stand back and look).

However, with eleven hundred memebers of family descending and a hacking cough which the doctor just smiled and nodded through as my lungs landed on his desk, I have not really had the focus to write coherently (what I said about unwieldy!).

I am hoping that normal service will be resumed at some point in the next week. Until then here are some pics.

Here's a plan!

I love to follow the adventures of 007(and pals) over at Monkee Maker and watch from behind the sofa as she sends them out to dominate the world one monkee at a time. And the latest primate hilarity at The Vicious Chicken sparked a thought in my fluffy little head.

Just sitting quietly on the couch whistling to myself when suddenly it hit me ..... we should organise a 'Monkees made of Knit' convention. No, listen. Everyone who has purchased a monkee or monkee related product or who just loves the hilarity, madness and mayhem over at Monkee Maker could descend upon a certain coffee bar in a particular part of Brizzle. The potential is enormous. (Not least to share those famous white chocolate and raspberry muffins.)

There could be workshops in creating monkees made of knit or planning wacky, zany primate storyboards. Throughout the day we could have little discussion groups about posh wool vs. no-name cheapy stuff. Felted monkees vs. novelty yarn. This has huge international potential. I am envisaging guest speakers with interesting takes on things pertaining to the world of monkee, culminating in a special evening after-dinner speech by THE Monkee Maker herself.

What do you think? Any takers?

Not what I expected.

This is my 50th post.

As seems (and rightly so) to be the form in the part of the blogosphere I spend most time a big number post is an occasion for celebration. I had great plans for this to be the one where the whistles, bells, party hats and streamers came out.


There might even have been a giveaway; of course it would have to be something I loved so that if nobody else joined in I would be more than happy to keep it for myself. (Selfish? Moi?)


But 'workingmomknits' left a comment on Post #49 that asked about the significance of the poppy flower and November 11 so I am using this auspicious post for a much more worthwhile use of words. Simply put W.M.K., November 11 is like the US Veterans Day. Most likely it is why the US has chosen that date.


At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 the ceasefire of World War 1 was officially declared. It was months before the war was officially over but the killing stopped.


So here in the UK at 11'o'clock on the 11th of the 11th every year a two minute silence is observed. Two minutes in which to be still and remember.


Officially it is to remember the soldiers of all the conflicts since the 1914/18. But I like to remember more


Remember the ones who died. Remember the ones who lived. Remember the ones who fought with faith and conviction. Remember the ones who fought only for their 'brothers in arms'. Remember the ones who ran away from the fighting, those shot for cowardice and desertion when they were simply young boys who cracked. I spend my two minutes thinking of the women and children who stayed at home waiting. Of the volunteers who joined up because it was a man's duty to protect and serve. Of the men and women who were conscripted.


During those two minutes, as the tears roll down my cheeks and the lump in my throat becomes more dense, I think of the old men laying a wreath in memoria to their lost friends, of the men and women serving now around the world. I observe the two minute silence because for me it is important to value the lives lost, whose ever they were, during the futility that is war.




The poppy is a simple flower. It will blossom anywhere, on any soil. It was the first flower to bloom again on the Western Front after the fighting stopped. Its symbolism is potent. It does not commemorate war but celebrates the value of peace.

Lest we forget.

We will remember them.

Not what I meant but look.......

..... how cute are my boys?!

100 ways to drive a tutor crazy. Part Two.

Another good thing to do is ask the 896 year old tutor questions.

Not just 'Is this how to do it?' or 'Is this a good colour choice?' but 'What about we change the design a little? You know, we could just sew strips of silk together and then back it with a long piece of velvet?'

As you would expect of a list of 100 things there are 98 others but I have just chosen my two best.


Really luvverley things to post about next time!

100 ways to drive a tutor crrrrrrrrrazy! Part One

Primarily the thing is to not do what they want.

That would definitely have to make it into my top ten.

Yesterday Mum and I had a playing day at the very fabulous fabric warehouse just down the road from here. Weeks before her plane even landed I had booked us in for this day of making, mocking and mayhem. Being a not unreasonable kind of daughter (unlike that other one!) I even gave her a choice - 'Christmas in a bag', making four different sized quilted bags from Christmas fabric or a silk/velvet scarf. Completely of her own volition we ended up doing the scarf.

The woman in charge - let's call her Jenny - was about 752 and passionate about the beautiful velvets and silks she had brought along. However she was also very bossy in the most passive/aggressive kind of way. And me not following the pattern she had identified for us. Strips equal on both side, I didn't really do it that way! I liked the idea of going light to dark. See what you think!

>

Today I had a sad moment.

I received an email informing me that an old family friend had died at the end of a long illness.

I am blunt because he was a plain-speaking man. A very old-fashioned Australian bloke. Who was in the Australian Army in Vietnam. Who was an immeasurable source of comfort and support to my mother during very difficult times. Who was a Catholic priest.

For more years than I have existed he was a friend of my family's. Not just of but to my family. I haven't spoken with him in over 17 years but I know he leaves this world a poorer place.

Vale Monsignor Henry Nolan.

I was highly excited today!

*GASP!*

Ooooooo.

Aawwwwwww.

Mmmmmmmmmm. Soooooft!

How lucky am I?

I got a beeyootifull scarf from my International Scarf Exchange Spoiler today.

What I love is the block striping. And the colour. And the pattern. Did I mention it was long? Very, very long.

So long that I am feeling a little guilty that the divine Miss B over at http://www.stitchesmayvary.blogspot.com/ has probably developed RSI from knitting it and knitting it until it stretched all the way from the upstairs window down to the front gate and onto the road.

The package included a clever notepad/calendar to hang on my fridge, a sweet little bag of Christmas scented potpourri (mmm - oranges, cloves and cinnamon) and a yummy chocolate bar.

Oh! Did I forget to mention the TWO gorgeous skeins of malabrigo Merino wool all the way from Uruguay via Chicagoland? I think not! The two gorgeous skeins of Emerald green Merino wool. Aaaaah bliss! When the sun comes out again I will try and get some photos that do the colour full justice.

And the card could not have been more perfect. It says 'Breathe'. This is a standard in my house in response to hyped and over-emotional small people. We loved the card that says 'Breathe'. Princess C-W and I are stil smiling.

It has been such a joy to be a part of this exchange and read about people's work and interests. People who do craft are good kinds of people. Thank you for letting me be a part of this.

Must now hurry and post mine off, just one more thing to get for the parcel. How exciting!

Babyman got creative last term at school.

Cardiff was great fun. Mum and I didn't even get very lost at all! Given our current track record I am v. pleased that we only stopped one person to ask for directions. And even then we were headed in the right direction already!

CK set a budget of £5.00 which would be halved if we didn't leave the house by 8am. It is amazing how much £2.50 sterling can buy in Wales!

We mooched around to begin with, getting the feel of the place for a bit. Some nice Welsh women with a book of miniquilts yelled at us b/c we breathed on it. So we kept moving. Then Granma found Princess C-W's birthday present - a 21st century spirograph type thing. Pictures to follow after 22/11. Guess what? There was a pick'n'mix glitter stall, I got a bag of peacock blue and one of acid green. Yes, just two. Limited budget you know!

So by now I had £2.29 left and 900 more stalls to look at. Passing quickly yet fascinatedly past the knitted gingerbread house (no really - walls, roof, furniture and everything!) we saw the clever lady extolling the virtues and cleverness of fimo polymer clay. Kept going.

Walked through a most amazing embroidery and patchwork display of work done by the W.I. since 1924 and it was interesting to contrast it with the outstanding sewing and design work done by some local GCSE students.

The whole class got creative.

Also got very brave and bought some Regia self-patterning wool to do some gloves. Am extremely tired and headed for bed now.

Night y'all!

So as not to offend.

This picture is for Philip whose concern for appropriate pictures of naked wool on the internet is not only commendable but has been taken onboard.

Imagination is the greatest power.

I'm off to Cardiff!

Gratuitous photo of wool

Sylv and I are sitting here on the couch watching rubbish telly kind of a little disheartened. For the last few weeks we have been planning to go up to the American Museum at Claverton Down and look at the wonderous antique quilts there. But they are closed now until the sun comes out again (sadly nobody warned them about today's weather).

CK has been tapping away on the laptop being very industrious (this is a new and unusual sidline for him!). Lovely man has taken pity on our disappointment and found out about the Cardiff Stitch and Craft so ....... we are off to Cardiff International Arena tomorrow!

Will give details on return.

We have just had a party.

I know it is a day late and all but we have just had a Halloween party with Princess Curly-Wurly, Babyman and six friends ranging in age from one up to nine.

Looking at the photos just now I realise that I didn't take any of the fabulous biscuits I iced with black icing (how cool is black food colouring?) but they were cats and bats and looked fantabulous.

We had eyeballs (jam and cream on tiny baby scones), carrot fingers and brain cakes (purple coloured cakes crammed with blackberries). Then we played lots of cool games before everyone headed off home.

Stayed up too late last night reading (The Friday Night Knitting Club - highly recommend it) and had too much fun this afternoon. Am now officially tired.