Norway Day 10 (I think...) New Years Eve

I'm starting to loose track of days now. We've been very busy over th elast few days and I've only got time for a short post today. Got to go and get changed into some nicer clothes in a minute as we're having a nice meal and celebrating New Years Eve tonight. Finishing with fireworks at midnight. Which is usually quite a good show in Norway as everyone sends them up.

Not done much today been a bit exhaused so had a long nap this afternoon and went for a walk with the whole family this morning.

Yesterday we went to the Science Museum in Oslo which is brill, especialy for the kids. They loved it. We spent a long time in the hands on section and on the computers there.

Then in the evening we went out fora meal with my paretns and grandparents and then back to my grandparetns for coffee and cake. Lovely evening. My grandparetns are in their mid 80s now so every time I see them is precious.

The day before Mr YA and I went to the cinema and saw 'The Holiday'. I loved the film. very romantic and feelgod with a bit of humour. Just right for this time of year.

Off to get ready for new years celebraions now.

On the knitting front I've not done much last couple of days. Still plodding on with my lace scarf and have started a pair of socks for my Dad.

Happy New Year!!!!

Norway Day 7 - More yarn shopping

Can't believe we're halfway through our holiday already. I don't feel like we've done much so far this holiday. Been a lot of family get togethers etc which I enjoy but I dont think Mr YA is enjoying it much. It's difficult as he doesn't speak Norwegian and although all my family speak English it's easy to just blabber on i nNorwegian and forget he's there. Well I think he's had enough as he's been in a foul mood all day. Although we've been out all day and my parents are out this evening so we're on our own.

We went to Frogner parken in Oslo today with the famous Vigelands sculptures. These are gorgeous bronze and big stone sculptures of naked women, men and children. the girls were horrified tha all the statues were naked with 'bits' showing. I tried to explain about the beauty of the human body etc etc but they were still 'disgusted'. All the statues are very tasteful and vary from infants to very old people. And they're not skinny either.

After a long wlak around the park and lots of pictures, we headed for McDonalds for lunch. We don't really like it but it's cheap and the kids like it and you know what you'll get and I don't mind a fast food meal once in a while.

Then it was off to Oslo City, a shopping centre, for a spot of shopping. My aim was to hunt out he yarn shop there. So I deposited Mr YA and the girls in the book shop which had a good selection of Adults and Kids books in English which I was very impressed with. Then I had a mad runaround to find the yarn shop.

It was a tiny shop crammed full of yarn in every colour imaginable. Don't think I've seen a yarn shop so colourful, although the one I found yesterday in Son came close. I spent ages touching and feeling but ended up with just 6 balls of Garn Studio Alpaca 4ply. Can you tell I like this yarn. I'm going to use it for one of the scarves in 'Victorian Lace Today'. Was tmepted to get much more but Mr YA would divorce me and I won't have room in my suitcase.

On the knitting front, I've done hardly any today. I finished the main body, flap and strap for the Graffitti bag last night and started the internal divider tonigh and it's nearly finished. Then I don't know whether or not to get Mr YA to hold a skein of yarn for me to ball up for a pair ofsocks for my dad or if I should start the scarf in the lace book in the Alpaca. I'm tempted by the scarf.

Not sure what our plans are for tomorrow. My paretns are having the girls tomorrow evening as we're going to the cinema.

Norway Day 6 - I found a yarn shop!!!!

Finally found a yarn shop today. Actually a bit unfair to say finally as I haven't looked before as today was the first day the shops were open since christmas. Anyway, it was a lovely little yarn shop in the tiny town near where my parents live. They had a good selection of Garnstudio asnd some other Norwegian brands. I've been keen to try some Garn Studio yarn for ages so got 2 balls of Alpaca 4ply to knit a pair of socks. Also got a ball of plain wool to do inside pockets on a bag I'm knitting. I brought some Collinette Grafitti with me whic when I bought it I really wanted to knit a felted bag with but then thought maybe a scarf. Started swatching last night and settled for a bag eventually. Love the Graffitti. Gorgeous colour and lovely to knit with. Just hope I've got enough to do what Iwant.

Finished my first pair of Jitterbug (Fruit coulis) socks last night. My sister thought they looked lovely yesterday and today she took them home. I really wanted them but thought, never mind, I can knit another pair. Don't think Jitterbug is for sale in Norway. Got some other Jitterbug with me too. Think I've brought too much yarn with me. Too ambitious I think. As the Crhistmas weekend is over now we'll probably get out and about a bit more and Iwon't have as much time to knit.

It's been very family orientated up until now and I think it's getting a bit boring for Mr YA and the girls. Especially for Mr YA as he doesn't speak Norwegian and my sister and her fmaily were here for tea last night and today and we tend to talk in Norwegian even though everyone speaks English.

Got to see my 2 year old nephew again. He is a lovely, lively boy and cam to visit yesterday and then stayed the night and we spent the day with him today. He seemed to like his two big girl cousins. Especially Em who he had a bath with last night and he wanted her to get in the bath again this morning but luckily she was already dressed. Took him to the play area this morning and played on the swings and slide. good fun for all the kids.

Planning to go to Oslo tomorrow. Wanted to go to the Science museum but I doubt it's open so will probably go to the Vigerlands Park/Frogner park and then some shopping. Hoping to find another yarn shop or two tomorrow. Really msut not buy too much yarn on this holiday though as my stash is getting a bit silly. Definitel y a stash along when I get back.

Norway Day 4 - Christmas Day

Hope you're all having a lovely Christmas day and haven't over done the turkey or whatever else you had for your christmas dinner today. As you can read from the post below we celebrated Christmas yesterday and today we've had a very relaxing day.

Didn't get up to nearly 10am which was great. Had a long and leisurely breakfast with lots of different breads and rolls and a huge variety of spread. Mr YA and my dad had beer and akevitt too. A special treat in our family on Christmas day but I don't like either. We spent ages over breakfast as in our family on Christmas Day it's the main meal of the day.

Then we drove to where my sister and her partner are building a house to look at the plot. They've not started building yet though. Then went on to Drobak where my parents would like to move to and had a walk.

Back home for a late lunch, a nap and some knitting. I've not talked much about knitting since I got here but I've been working on a new men's sock design whihc I've not found a suitable name for yet. They're lovely socks though. I'm knitting them in Regia Stretch in a variegated blue/brown/grey colour which looks lovely. Really like this yarn. I'm hoping to finish the 2nd sock today and they will then be for Mr YA. Then I'm going to start a quick scarf in Collinette's Grafitti. After that I'm not sure whether or not to do another pair of socks or a scarf from my new lace book 'Victorian Lace Today'.

I've got 3 new knitting books waiting for me at home. Mr YA bought them for me for christmas but we ordered them a bit late and they didn't turn up before we left for Norway. They're two lace books and one stash book.

The stash book will help me use up some of my stash when we get back. I'm defnitel ygoing on a stash diet as well as a fat diet when we get home. I've got too much of both.


Off to get Em off to bed now. then an evenign of knitting to try to finish those socks as I'm getting bored with them now.

Hope you're all enjoying Christmas Day!!!

Norway Day 3 - Christmas Eve

We've just finished our Christmas celebrations. We celebrate on Christmas Eve in Norway. We kicked off with a church service at 4pm. Mr YA, my grandfather and I were the only ones that went this year. Then about an hour after we got home we had our Christmas meal which was lovely Roast Reindeer with all the trimmings, followed by my mum's Caramel Pudding. Gorgeous. We then opened the presents. The girls had their stockings first thing this mornign but there were lots of presents f0r everyone under the tree. My grandparents loved their socks. I didn't manage to get ones done for my parents in the end. My mum knitted us all some Norwegian gloves in a traditional pattern. I won't be able to post a pic until I get home.

After the presents we relaxed for a while and then it was more food - coffee and cakes this time. My mum's homemade choc cake and pepper kaker (similar to gingerbread men except they were al lheart shaped and not homemade).

Now we're trying to get the girls to bed as they're extremely tired. They have to share a room when we're in Norway and they're not used to it and talk for hours after going to bed. Last night they didn't get tosleep until nearly midnight. They've looked dreadful all day. So I'm hoping they'll get to sleep allright tonight. Not gotten off to a good start though. Em crying after being told off for hitting Ness with a belt and then they were both given a good telling off by me about not going to sleep. So now Mr YA is trying to calm them down with a story. Just hope they'll go to sleep tonight.

Merry Christmas to everyone. Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas day tomorrow.

GOD JUL!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Norway Day 2 - Got here eventually

What an awful trip we had here. English readers will now about all the problems at some UK airports this las tweek. WEll we flew from Stansted to Oslo on Wednesday evening and before we left Cornwall at 10am they said on the news that Stansted was unaffected. When we drove up to London we hit the severe fog at Swindon. We listened to the news several times and all the problems seemed centered around Heathrow.

Alarmbells started ringing when we arrived at Stansted. The queues were awful although we did manage to get inside the terminal building (unlike Heathrow where people were held in tents). When we checked in I asked if the plane was on time. By this time the plane would have been due to leave Oslo if the return flight was going to be on time. I was told there were no problems as far as they were aware. We kept hearing announcements about other flights cancelled and people being asked to return to checkin to collect their luggage.

Then once we were through security my Dad rang me from Norway. Our flight info screen still said the flight would leave on time but according to the airline's website (which my Dad was keeping an eye on) it hadn't been allowed to leave Norway yet due to lack of available landing slots at Stansted. So I had my Dad telling me the plane was still stuck in Norway and the info screen telling us to 'go to gate' so we did just in case they had set up an alternative plane.

At the gate there was chaos as passengers for several flights were waiting at each gate. Announcmeents were made about late flights and cancelled flights continously. Our info still said the plane was on time and at 8pm when it was due to take off from Stansted we were told that it would be departing late. At this time I was told by my Dad that it had just left Oslo and the flight time is normally about 2 hours.

Before 11pm we were finally allowed to board and were all ready for take offwhen we were told that we had to wait for 30 mins for our take off slot. An hour later we finally left at midnite. Due to the hour timedifference as well we landed in Norway at 3am and got to my parents house at 4.30am. Exhausting. That was yesterday morning. Slept half the day and then went out for family meal in the evening.

The family meal with my parents, sister and her boyfriend and son and my grandparents was lovely. The girls enjoyed seeing their great grandparents and cousin again.

Today it's Lille Julaften which translated to English means 'Little Chrismas Eve'. The girls have just finished decorating the tree. My mum has been in the kitchen all day preparing food. We had Risensgryns grot ( a Norwegian rice porridge) for lunch. It was gorgeous. And I've been knitting flat out. Have finished the 2nd of my grandfathers socks and wanted to finish two more pairs but it s not going to get done by tomorrow. I've nearly finished one out of the two pairs though which I'll finish tonight.

We will be celebrating Christmas tomorrow, Christmas Eve, as thats the tradition in Norway.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

BTW, there is no snow. I was hopign for a white Christmas but does't look like there will be one this year.

I've been tagged.

I got tagged by Auntie Noo and have completely forgotten about it. I've got to tag 6 people. Don't know what happens if I tag someone who's already been tagged. The rules are below.

THE RULES:Each player of this game starts with the ‘6 weird things about you.’ People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you are tagged’ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.”

Okay, here are six wheird things about me:

1. I do Norwegian Purl - which until recently I didn't realise was a recognised separate stitch but Igot an old Vogue Knittig and it was in there. It's a variation of continental purl but yarn is held at the back. It's great when you're doing rib as yarn always stay at the back.

2. I came to the UK 15 years ago to work as a riding instructor at a stables on Bodmin Moor.

3. I love eating Roast Reindeer which is what we have for our Christmas meal when we go to Norway for Christmas. We also had it for our wedding reception.

4. I love 80s music and I'm now old enough not to be embarassed to admit it. Basically any music I liked as a teenager Istill like.

5. I'm not a creative person. I know I can design knittig patterns, but are they any good? Actually i think they're not bad. But I'm really, really not a creative person.

6. I love porridge. Not normal porridge but Norwegian 'sour cream porridge' (rommegrot) and Norwegian rice porridge (risengryns grot) which is much better than English Rice Pudding.

Is that weird enough? I'm really a very normal person.

Okay, who shall I tag?

I've tagged Posh Dee, fellow Norwegian Silja, The Yarn Grove Ladies, Paula, Kathryn, and Lionheart.

24 hours to go....

....and have I even started packing??? NO!!! What am I doing on here? we'll I've logged on to print out our travel documents. And half have printed out okay but the other half have printed out gobbledigook. So looks like I may be here fora while. Mr Yarn Addict got the suitcases down from the loft last weekend and normally him and I take suitcases and the girls have large bags for thier clothes as we can't fit 4 suitcases in our car. Now, the bags are normally kept in our suitcases but I've just opened them and they're not there. I know we gave away one of the bags to a girl from Uganda who stayed wiht us a few months ago as she didn't have any proper travel case. But there should have been at least one other suitcase around. Problem is Mr Y A won't be home until very late as he has his Christmas do adn I can't carry the ladder up to get in the loft. So I'm more ready to panick now than ever before.

All the travel docs have finally been printed off properly. Still got to find our passports and drivers licences etc.

Got a nice surprise this morning. My sale yarn from Posh from last Wednesday finally arrived. It's gorgeous. Don't you agree? The blue skein is Lucia (Cashmere/Merino) sock yarn in Airforce adn will become socks for Mr YA. Got to keep him happy. And the purple is Tamara (cashmere/merino) Rhapsody and will become something for me. Not sure if it's enough for a wrap or whether or not I'd better aim for a scarf. It's laceweight and I'm sure I can find a gorgeous pattern in my new book 'Victorian Lace today' to knit with it. Both skeins and the book are coming on holiday with me btw. Still have to decide what other yarn to take with me and what to aim at knitting while on holiday. Socks, lace or something different. Got some Collinette Grafitti which is coming and will be knitted into a scarf as soon as I've finished the Christmas socks.

Speaking of Christmas socks. I've had to start again on my Dad's socks as the border on the cuff was too tight for my legs so won't fit his. I tried to unravel it but got into a huge mess so have started again with some Regia. Lovely to knit with. Still got half of my grandfather's sock to do and a whole pair for my grandmother. But I can do those in Norway, got till Sunday anyway. Would like to get my dad's finished by the time we get there tomorrow evening. I've done a third of the cuff on the first sock. If I knit all the way to Stansted in the car I may make it. As long as they allow me to take it on the plane. I use bamboo needles so don't see why not.

Off to pack now. As soon as I find something to pack in.

Now I'm really panicking

What a bad and unproductive day I've had. I came down with a cold yesterday which was much worse today. Felt pretty awful this morning. Got Emily and my friend's daughter to school for 9am. Then had to sit and wait in reception to watch Emily's nativity play in French (they're only Year 4!!) at 9.30. I took a sock with me and got quite a few rounds done. Had refreshments afterwards although I escaped as soon as I could. Then it was a quick dash into town to get a bit of shopping including the last two presetns I had to get. I only managed to get one of them. Got home about 11.30am, had lunch and fell asleep in the chair!!!! Woke up about 2ish. Sorted out rubbish to put out as bin lorry was coming up the road. Then dash over to church to pick Em uup after the School church service.

So where is all the washing and drying I've got left to do? Where is the packing? Yeah, you're right. didn't get any of that done today at all. PANICK!!! Got to do all the packing tomorrow now and I've got Em home as well. Am also supposed to pop into town fora fringe trim but maybe I won't bother.

I did sort out my prescriptions today. Counted up how much I need to take on holiday with me. A bit scary. I take 6 different pills atthe moment for my neck/back pain and underactive thyroid which means I take 20 pills a day. Which means taking 300 pills iwth me on holiday. My suitcase will rattle. That's if I can get through customs.

Lots more knitting to do too. I've been trying to finish my Big Wool shopper but I'm thinking about abandoning it in favour of Christmas socks.

Off to chat to inlaws now as they've come to pick our dog up. At least their scarves are done and wrapped.

It's done

Just a quickie before I go to bed. I've finished both scarves for inlaws. I'm so pleased as it's been a bit of a drag last couple of days. Not been that keen on knitting them. I'll try to get some pics tomorrow before wrappign them up. got to give them their presents tomorrow evening as it's the last time we'll see them before Christmas. I hope they like them. Tomorrow I'm going to get on with my Big Wool bag and see if I can get that finished and felted tomorrow the nit may be dry enough to use on Thursday.

Fed up with.........

........washing and folding clothes. Spent all morning loading and unloading washing machine and tumble dryer, then had tons of clothes to fold. Just put it all away. Still got a couple of more loads to do tomorrow.

.......speedknitting, trying to get my inlaws' scarves finished bytomorrow evening. Actually just fininshed MIL's scarf. Haven't got all that much to go on FIL's scarf so hoping to get that done tonight. Then I'm determined to finish my Big Wool shopper as I want to use it as carry on luggage on Thursday and it's got to be felted and dryed first too. Can't wait to be able to knit something I want to. I don't like having to knit something to a deadline.

......trying desperately to get hold of stuff that other people have asked me to buy for my kids for Christmas from them. Did that make sense? My sister asked me to buy my daugther's present here in the UK as it's cheaper than in Norway and we weren't sure whether or not it would be in English or Norwegian if we bought it in Norway. However, I've not been to Plymouth since she asked me and I'm not sure I can get it in our town. Going to try tomorrow but if I don't I'll have to go to Plymouth which I haven't really got time to do. Got Em's play at 9.30 then church service at 2.30 which I normally attend (Em's school's service). I've als ogot to start packing at some point. Wrap presents and finish some more knitting. So going to Plymouth is something I don't really want to do.

Okay, enough moaning. About to get Em to bed then off to Morrisons for a few bits and pieces and then relax with my FIL's scarf.

Countdown started

Okay, I've started the countdown to our holiday and I'm ready to panick. We go on Thursday to Norway for two weeks to visit my family. My laundry baskets are overflowing. As is the ironing basket but my cleaner is coming tomorrow to help me with the ironing. I've done no packing yet. Got to finish tidying up the spare room so I can lay out all the clothes etc on the bed before packing it. Got presents to wrap before they're packed. Still got 2 presents to buy. Oopps. Hoping to get them locally tomorrow, if not I'll have to go to Plymouth on Tuesday.

I've been trying to catch up with the laundry today but fell asleep for over 2 hours this afternoon which didn't help my progress. My other main jobs for today was some manic knitting on scarves for inlaws. Both are about half done now. Not picking up any socks before they're done. Also been typing up my latest sock patterns and e-mailing them to some lovely people from Crafty Threads and Sock Knitters Forum who've volunteered to test knit them for me. A huge thank you especially to Barbara who've volunteered to test knit a pattern urgently for me. The reason why will be revealed in a few days. Barbara is brilliant, got started on the socks straight away and immediately spotted a typo. I really must be more careful when typing up patterns but it's just so confusing with all the abbreviations etc. Drives me mad. Still got more patterns to type up but decided it's enough for today. Not had time to browse forums, blogs etc and would like to catch up with some.

Went to a lovely wedding yesterday. My friend, Louise, married her partner, Garry. It was held in a beautiful, small, Cornish church. The vicar was lovely and regocnised my girls straight away from the rehersal on Friday and greeted them with a hug. I did a reading from 1 Corinthians chpt 13 during the service and was very privileged to be asked to do this and to be allowed to choose my own reading. It was a beautiful service and the receptions, held in the village hall, was lovely. Great food!!!! We had a great time and so did the girls. It was their first wedding and they both enjoyed it. Louise looked lovely in her weddig dress. And she had made all the brides maid dresses (2 adults and 3 children) plus waist coats for 2 page boys, best man and 1 usher. Very impressive they were too. Best brides maids' dresses I've seen. She's so talented to have made them all her self. Wish I could sew like that.

Off to check out some forums and blogs, then back to scarf knitting.

I'm getting stressed

Didn't realise I hadn't posted for so long. Been overloading on shopping for the past two days. Been trying to get the last Christmas presents I need to get plus awedding present. Got everything done now except for my Dad and the wedding present. Wedding is on Saturday so I'm starting to panick now.

Also panicking over Christmas knitting. Here's my update on progress:

Scarf for FIL - about 1/4 done - needs to be finished by Wed 20th
Scarf for MIL - just started - needs to be finished by WEd 20th
Socks for Mum - one done, one started. Needs to be done by 21st
Socks for Dad - one possibly done. Although need altering a bit I think to be big enough. need to be done by 21st.
Socks for Grandad - One done, one started.
Socks for Grandma - Did nearly finish a pair but don't like the yarn. Not started new pair but have got till 23rd to get it done.

I'd love to do socks for Simon and the girls too but no chance. Also need to finish a felted shopper in progress (half done) in Big Wool so should be quick to finish. Wanted to do another felted bag too before our holiday but no time. Got to get the Big wool one done soon though or it won't have time to dry before we go. Want to use it for my carry on luggage. Also wanted to do a scarf.

Had started lacescarves for my mum and grandma but they've been abandoned. Will have to be put away for next christmas.

So yes, I'm ready to panick. the house is a tip. I've got tons of washing and ironing. Got to start gettig stuff ready for holiday after the weekend. Off for some calming sock knittig now.

Much Better

Its Friday and I'm feeling so much better. A bit tired but neck not too bad today. And I've manged to get a couple of jobs done and a bit of knitting today. Must not get side tracked on here for too longthough.




Just got to show you this:




Isn't it gorgeous. It's Collinette Jitterbug in Mardi Gras and Fruit Coulis and it came in this GK parcel with Knit 1 mag, aknitting pouch (just big enough for a sock or two) and the cute little needle tin from Blue Sky Alpaca.



And I'm making some progress on socks (I think). I got half way through the 2nd Zig Zag Cable sock in CTH before Igot side tracked.



Then I started this Celtic Cable sock. The celtic cable is at the top of the cuff but not too obvious in this picture. Hoping ot finish this sock today.

tonight we're off to Eden with some friends for skating and a meal. I'm not skating but the kids are looking forward to it. I've never been in the evening before and have heard that the biomes are spectacular all lit up.

Another crap day

I'm sorry but if you're feeling fed up or hate moaning, I'd select another blog to read becasue there will be some major ranting coming on.

Yesterday I was expecting my Tesco grocery delivery (I order online andget it delivered). Unfortunately I had to ring up to reschedule due to a family emergency. I was promised by a call centre employee that they could deliver between 12 and 2pm today. So Isat here waiting until 2.30pm when I rang them to find out what had happened to my food. Since then I've been passed from pillar to post with the call centre in Dundee blaiming the shop and the shop blaiming the call centre. I've hung up on them 4 times now but they keep ringing. I'm fed up with apologies and don't care who screwed up. The point is I'm sitting here with 3 hungry kids (my two plus afriend) and have no milk, no defrosted food or nothing that can be cooked without being defrosted first adn i'm expected to feed 3 kids and a husband in just over an hour. I'm not going shopping as I've been suffering from dizzy spells all afternoon and shopping with 4 kids in tow in no fun either. Neither am I going to be well enough to go shopping tonight. According to the Call Centre they can deliver at 9pm (exactly!!!!) and according to the store after 9.30pm. So I've now told them I want the delivery here at 9pm exactly (as that's what their call centre operator in Dundee promised me) and not a minute later as I want to be in bed as soon as my daughter returns from Guides at 8.45pm. I'm not waiting up till 9.30. Problem is I've got not car for the rest of the week so what do I do????? Looks like we're all going on a diet.

And as for knitting. Do not talk to me about socks at the moment. They're in the bad books big time. I was knitting happily away this morning at the 2nd braided cable sock for my grandfather when Ifinally got to dividing for the heel. I followed my written instructions from sock 1 but it just wasn't right. In the end (after half an hour of counting cables, stitches, scratching my head and shouting out some choice words) I worked out that instead of doing k6 (cable) , p3 seven times. I'd done k6(cable), p2 eight times. So I've got one and a half sock with different number of cables. I'm not frogging the 2nd sock but I haven't got enough yarn to knit two more in the same colour. So after screaming for a while Idecided to finish the 2nd sock, get two more balls of the same colour when I go to Plymouth next and knit one more sock with 7 cables and one with 8 cables. The whole thing sort of put me off socks for a while though.

So I was at a loss as to what to knit. Eventually I decided to swatch for a scarf for my FIL in Sublime Casmere/silk/merino Aran. It's so soft and lovely. I want to do celtic cable each end and rib inht e middle. I've done a swatch with cable each end and 4x4 rib in the middle and it looks good so I may start the real thing tonight and have a break from socks.

Which leads me back to socks. I've gone off my braided cable socks now (after the incident above) and thought I'dfinish the zig zag lace sock for my grandmother but I just don't fancy it. Maybe I'll just plod on with the celtic scarf.

I definitely need some knitting therapy now. And if anyone from Tesco's Dundee office calls I'll scream (probably at them). I'm just so angry I feel like I'mg going to explode. I rely on grocery deliveries as I find it so painful to do the shopping myself and normally it's fin and I'm happy with Tesco but when they screw up they screw up big time. And the annoying thing is they think it's fine to just apologise. If someone could just accept responsibility I'd be a lot more likely to accept their apologies. And I bet if they do deliver my shopping they'll still charge me full delivery.

And the title 'another crap day' refers to the fact that this is the 2nd crap day I've had in arow. Everyhing went wrong yesterday and I achieved NOTHING!!!!! Roll on tomorrow. Feel like going to bed now and sleeping until Christmas.

New Website

A few weeks ago I took my website off line as I wanted to redesign it. Well, I've worked flat out all morning and it's back online at www.annidesign.co.uk. I've not quite finished it yet so please bear with me for the next fewdays. If you spot any mistakes or links that don't work etc please e-mail me or post comment here. Thanks.

I'm ill but still knitting

Simon came home from work on Thursday and went straight to bed and stayed there until yesterday evening. Then this morning I woke up with a bit of diarrhoea and extreme tiredness (okay, so I'm always tired but htis was worse). Got up to get ready to take Em swimming but just didn't feel well at all so kicked Simon out of bed as he was feeling better and then got back into bed and slept most ofthe morning. By lunch time I had to get up as my neck was killing me. And I've spent the afternoon leisurely knitting. Finished my latest felted bag called 'Simplicity' which I've knitted in a gorgeous purple colour from Cascade 220 The Heathers collection. It's very practical as it's got 3 internal compartments and it's in the washing machine felting as I type this. I chucked loads of towels in with it as they needed washing too.

I've got the rest of the Big Wool I needed for my Big Shopper now so can finish that one too. But instead I cast on for another sock. I didn't cast on for the 2nd Braided cable sock but a new one. Spent quite a while swatching different ideas and decided on a zigzag lace pattern with braided cables in between. The zig zag lace is the same as I've used in one of my Zig Zag Scarves.