Edinburgh

So after the Friday at the knit and stitch show we saw the family on Saturday whilst delivering kitties to their holiday destination of choice Country cats of Briston. It was a brief trip but lovely.

Sunday late we flew from Norwich to Edinburgh, jumped on a bus and wheeled our shared suitcase round to the posh hotel. Arriving after 10 ish we settled in to the big 42 inch telly, the king size bed and relaxed ready to see the sights the next day.

Monday was lovely. The weather was great and we started out very early and took a long walk down princes street. One minor issue is the entire upheaval of princes street to install a tram system. Still we found Pret, one of my favorite places to eat and got ourselves some breakfast underneath the view of the castle.

We walked and walked, all around the back of the castle and up to the castle and as we had tweeted where we were a friend contacted us and said meet up for lunch. We realized it was too late to start a tour of the castle if we were going to meet our friend. So instead we walked back down to the park and grabbed a cup of tea in the national gallery. Met up with CA and went to fishers for lunch. Their Fresh fish is divine. After a lovely lunch we went back for a nap and out to veggie restaurant for dinner David Bann’s.

Tuesday we stomped up to the castle nice and early to take the tour. Got to see the Scottish crown jewels and lots of cool castley stuff. We stayed for lunch and listened to the gun fire at 1pm, and watched the Nelson monument ball drop which entertained me more than the gun. After walking around for hours we headed back to the hotel for a  swim sauna and steam. We had the pool to ourselves so it was rather nice indeed.  The evening was filled with the cinema where we went to watch UP in 3D. I loved it, its well worth seeing and I’d go and see it again, but I think I’ll just buy it on Blue Ray.

After the movie the weather outside turned a bit nasty so we hunkered down in the hotel bar which had a good chill out area a few cocktails were quaffed (MOHIITOOO!) and we retired to our chambers.

Wednesday we were already tired out. So to take it easy we headed to the Edinburgh bus tour.The explanations via the audio were great and quite entertaining. Scotty chose not to listen but to take photos, so I kept updating him with little potted items that probably didn’t make much garbled sense cos I was still trying to listen. After a good route around the city avoiding princes street we got back to the beginning and stopped in town for a pizza lunch and some shopping. I managed to get a new pair of trousers, a new dress for work and a shirt for work too. HOORAH! I’m not the best at clothes shopping and need female company usually to get it right.

Thursday we visited what I like to call folly central. Calton hill. It was quite a steep climb but well worth looking around the monuments.

Enjoying a cracking view of Edinburgh from Calton Hill

Next on the must see list was the National Gallery of Scotland. Beautiful art in a great building. I’m sure we didn’t see it all but we enjoyed what we did see. A quick trip to the shop was in order to buy haggis for the family. A bus ride back to the airport and our short trip to Edinburgh was over.

Lovely. Oh and one last thing: Scotty’s panorama from the castle in LARGE. watch out its very big indeed.

 

 

Once upon a time in a palace near london

AM and I went a hunting for floof.
linky to AM’s lovely blog
It is not the natural activity of a mid 30 something ladies, as most of the coach was over 60. We got up early and got ready for the long haul bus to London and a stomp around Alexandra Palace to go to the knit and stitch show.

Firstly we got on the coach and picked up a suitable project to see us through to the point of leaving the coach. I decided my mittens are not quite what I wanted and found some cashmere posh yarn in my stash ready to make Scotty a lovely soft scarf for on his bike. So, we knitted and nattered and generally tried to get an idea of what we wanted before we started walking around cooing and oohing and aaahhing smooshing everything within arms reach. Then AM took a photo… I should be banned from having my photo taken if I’ve gotten up before 9am.
So we got there in one piece and I forgot to bring my camera, or forgot to use it. I cant remember which now, but we dived in like two slightly possessed devils enjoying all the fruits of the sheep, alpaca, silk, mohair, and any other fibery animule you can think of. AM does a much better description of what was there.
I agree with her though there were a lot of things missing: carders, spinning wheels, niddy noddies, lazy kates, swifts, fiber in general, Oh and SOCK BLOCKERS. Damn them all to hell for not having a single sock blocker for sale not even a plastic one.

There were wooden and circular needles and a HUGE line in over size needles. The standard needle gauge thingies but I still could not find a needle gauge pendant. Although I did find a lovely clover yarn cutter which has since been on an aeroplane with me. I love the little cutter, it makes me feel like a knitting ninja with my own throwing star.

Oh and yes I bought yarn… only er.. One skein of silk, One of sock. Then 4 bags of 200g Alpaca carded fiber ready to spin in a lovely mixed grey black and white. I cant wait to start on that but I do have to clear out my bobbins first. I spent a good time looking over the Habu stand wanting anything and everything they sold but was slightly disappointed that everything was either in tiny tiny skeins or balls because the gauge was finer than lace weight on all items. I only found one sock weight and it was £50 for 400g which would be a good buy but I didn’t want to part with all that at the time. There were lots and lots of interesting stands but over all I’m glad it was half sewing and not half spinning because I would have completely lost all ability to keep my credit card in my wallet.

Over all an amazing venue with not nearly enough toilets for all the ladies in one go. We had to use the ones at the skating rink side to avoid the queues, but then had the dilemma of when to use our hand sanitizer due to all the doors and the not so sanitary conditions of the ice rink.

There was just so very much to look at. I also did not find any long shade yarn. By that I mean a skein that travels from one colour to another throughout its length and not just change every few rows. A nice gradual change that I think looks very good on shawls or socks. Noro almost does this but not in long enough sections for me.

We were completely pooped and worn out by the time we were all due back at the coach. Everyone looked excited like they had just scored the best bargain in the place but we all know AM and I did that by using it to find items for us to make on our own and not to buy. I’m still very impressed by the large needles her husband has made and cant wait to commission my own from him too. I’ve already got the idea of a giant square poof for our front room.

Anyways, I cant think of anything more from the Ally Pally event now. I’ve got lots more things to update you on instead like Scotty and me going to Edinburgh for our rather late summer holidays. ta ta!

gaming lazing cleaning cooking

not entirely in that order. This post is approximately two weeks too late but heh, you’re getting it anyways.

loco roco 2 : I have been addicted since I bought it. I’ve no where near completed it and it is getting to the frustrating point where I cant get to the very last few items but it is most enjoyable rolling little blobs about the place.

Hancock: Not quite what I expected but I did go: “hey she knows something” catching on before it all lets out. Still worth seeing once. I’m very much enjoyning the lovefilm.com package we’ve got.

colour of magic: Film version of Terry Pratchett’s first two books. Loved it. could have done with a little more whiz and bang of magic spells but you cant expect wizards to do magic now can we? that would upset the balance of things. Overall very good.

katamari! : Scotty and I both loved Katamari on the playstation portable and were gutted when they did not bring out a ps3 version. They have now and its fab. Still always fun rolling up things and getting bigger.

I made a very nice currif and Scotty made pasta. Not the same meals but the same weekend.

I de-frosted the elderberries previously picked. Then took out the big saucepan and made elderberry cordial. Point 1 its VERY RED, as in it stains but washes out of almost everything. I’m sure it would make a great natural dye if there was some mordent added. The main recipes I followed said to add around 5 cloves per litre of cordial. *YUCK* so instead I did 2 cloves, one star anise, a cinnamon stick, some sliced ginger root and finally a small bit of vanilla which mellows it all out nicely. I managed to make a litre and a half. I love it and will deffo be making it again one day.

Oh and of course we cleaned the house. Probably not worth writing up, but the other bits were.

Spin spin sugar.

I think I forgot to say when I got all excited about a listing on gumtree for a spinning wheel in Norwich.
I got rather excited and had to go and get it right away. I’ve been hiding it since.

I was fortunate to find a slightly dusty but fully working Ashford traditional wheel. Something simple to get started on.

With the wheel I gained 4 potato bags full of fleece, mainly alpaca and one that seems to have had the staple cut far too short. There is also a small 400g bag of corriedale which still needs carding and probably washing again. More fleece than I care to look at but it all came free. Anyways I firstly tested spinning on what I was given and I really was not getting the hang of it. I took some of the fleece to Norfolk Yarn shop for some assistance. They said it all needed to be fully prepped first. Makes sense. Still it’s not something I’m looking forward to doing.
So then I grabbed some of my felting fiber

and specifically the 100% merino made by YoYo as requested for my wedding flowers. I so did not have time to make as many flowers as I wanted so I’ve got a ton of these prepped batts remaining which are very good indeed for spinning.

so I set up my wheel and spun this:

and another one I forgot to take any photos of. But I fell in love with it and plied it all together and got this

which was skeined

and looked like this when finished.

I am super happy and now have something very personal to me with which I can make something nice for myself. It looks like rustic mittens will be coming!

doings and such

Well I got as far as last weekend didn’t I? ah yes.

Saturday we layed about and watched FILMS!!

kungu fu panda. Love it! and Ratatouille. Loved that too. The whiskers in HD are just frabulous.

Sunday we had a birthday party at my sisters house. We got to meet slobber dog, well Shumba but because I forgot to get up from sitting down in time he managed to wipe his jowls all over me. Slobbertastic.

My brother brought over some more Plums and my granny and auntie supplied apples on Friday. So on Monday night Scotty and  cooked plums and apple sauce. We now have a glut of this too, some of it frozen.

I got to knit night and it was lovely to see just the few stalwarts seeing through the quiet season. Work was busy all week but it’s not worth writing about. It pays bills and really its still a good job even when busy. At least I dont watch the day going by and wish I was elsewhere. I do sorta but not really wish I was doing something else.

I nipped in to town one lunch time in the week and got hold of loco roco 2 which is fab. I loved the first game and now the second is even better.

 knitting progress is almost non existant but that is because I have a new spinning wheel. I’ll do that on my next post.

almost there

as in, I’ve had such a busy time with work and home stuff that I’m almost there catching up with myself. Next week will be busy at work but at least its all in Norwich and I can get to grips with my normal local routine.

Lets go back to last weekend to catch up. Saturday We went to my brothers house and delivered birthday presents for my sister and niece. Everyone helped stir some boiling plums on the stove. We were meant to have a bbq but the weather was not so hot so it was all cooked in the oven. we all played with the kids and generally had a lovely time.

Sunday Scotty and I decided to go looking for the ring of puff ball mushrooms out at whittlingham lane. But we went late on Sunday after lots of people had been there all day. Plus they’ve recently imported a ton of sand to make a fake beach on one of the lakes. This and lots of people meant no mushrooms what so ever. I was not going to go home empty handed so I picked a load of elder berries instead. Got them home and ran out of energy to sort them out. I managed to get them cleaned and did jump a few times from the creepy crawlies we brought back. All de-stemmed and then put them in a box in the freezer. Now I need to make either cordial or some boozy concoction with them.

Monday to Wednesday I had 3 days of work in my local office but I had a bit more than 3 days of work to get done. Now I’m not proud of my actions but I did snap at my boss because I really don’t think she fully understands what the pressures are at the moment. We’ve got new systems coming in for us, for the customer and graduates start next week. Then there’s PC replacements, the last two weeks before I completed my review, every other day in Cambridge and then a bit of project work on top of all that. The list goes on. Plus I had a training course in London on Thursday I was sort of dreading.

I should not have dreaded it. It was a nice day out in the end. Traveling is rather tiring but just given the chance to attend a training session meant I had the chance to meet some of my team mates which I have not done for some time. One of them for the first time too. Plus it means we all feel like we now know how to use the new system. After training I went for a late lunch with two of my colleagues and had a glass of wine. My only aim after that was to get home so lots of time on the train.

Train time means knitting time. I managed on Thursday to turn both the heels on a pair of socks for my SiL and half a mitt to go with my Nieces scarf I made her for her birthday. She will hopefully be getting a matching set of mitts and hat for Christmas. Oh and on the train home two people sat next to me discussing magazines. I was not listening in but they mentioned one, which Scotty used to do the web site for in an old job. I mentioned this and they both said “Oh Scotty we know him!” Even better one of them stayed on the train all the way to Norwich and we picked up Scotty at Diss and they had a quick catch up.  Quite a strange moment.

Now finally on to Friday which was grandma’s funeral.

My family offered to drive me there but it would have been a 30 to 40 minute drive to them in the first place. I decided to take the train to Nuneaton from Norwich. YAY! more knitting time. So I packed my bags, put on the black clothes and headed to the midlands. Now I’m sure you don’t want all the details but the service was lovely. The vicar was top class and made everyone feel comfortable and said just the right things. Must admit me, my sister, my  brother and Dad all stuck together and were deeply moved by the service but happy we were there. Definitely my sister and I cried streams for mum which is give or take a day or two, a year since that happened. It felt like more of a closure for me, letting me attend a beautiful funeral where as my mothers was given by a vicar who screamed hell and damnation because he wanted to preach and not give us solace. This was the opposite, heart felt and caring. What I was not aware of was the church we went to used to be an abbey. It was beautiful church and it was lovely to learn my gran had been christened there, married there and now given back there too. The day was beautiful. The hottest day in the midlands they told us. we informed them that Norfolk has had a beautiful summer. It was lovely to catch up with my aunt and cousins. Plus to give my only left living matriarch my dad’s mum a big big hug and let her know we all want to hold on tight to her.

It really brings home how families should stay close because sharing the good and bad makes you whole. Today Scotty and I have no plans and its nice. Tomorrow we’re back to see the family again to finally have a birthday party for my sister and niece.

Ohh on the good sharing things, Dad suggested we don’t spend enough time pampering ourselves so I bought my sister a pamper day for her birthday at Sprowston manor in late October when she’s on holiday. The good thing is I get to go with her for free, or we both go for half price. I’m looking forward to that. I’ve also booked myself in to the knit and stitch show bus trip from knit group. That will be worth looking forward to too.

Cooking fats

Because we went away at the weekend AM came over and looked after Jasper and Otis for us. This pic were taken the night before we went. They both came up for a cuddle in the middle of the bed.

AM informed us that Jasper was a star and purred for her lots. Otis on the other hand was slightly standoffish mainly because it was not his normal routine. Although when given the choice to eat some very expensive food he meowed with vigor. They looked smart and well looked after when we got back due to lots of good brushing.

Well they were happy to see us back and seemed ok early in the week returning to the standard routine. Then last night they decided it was fight night. Probably something to do with the massive rain storm we had nearly all night. They were not settled and woke me several times. This is why no matter how cute cats are they’re just like kids and will wake you up in the night and require “sorting out” In this case luckily the sorting is just a “SHHHHH!” and return to slumber. Next time I’ll be shutting the bedroom door and squirting them with water if they scratch. Still they don’t do it often. Still love them even though I could have strangled them both at 4am.

what was meant to be

time has flown. I knew I was going to have a busy summer a good, relaxing, hot and enjoyable summer.

I made jam with blackberries we hand picked on a bike ride and we even stopped off for lunch at a pub.

The weekend after we cycled 11.6 miles and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves quite an achievement because my bike has been locked in the garage since we moved house nearly 3 years ago. I’ve been trying to ride my bike in to work regularly ever since so that I don’t get “riders arse” as I like to call it.

I’ve been seeing my family regularly and generally just getting on with things. Last week and this I’m spending every other working day in Cambridge to cover holidays. Busy.

Then I made chutney from some drop off plums from my brothers tree, and tamarind. Oh and no smutty jokes about my brothers plums dropping off, this is a site hopefully suitable for my family to read.

Then we had my dad’s birthday and our wedding anniversary, it was bitter sweet. I thought about re-reading and writing the posts I wrote on honeymoon but I still cant bring myself to do that. For our anniversary had a lovely lunch at loch fyne fish restaurant and drank a whole bottle of wine between us over a Sunday lunch time. All it did was make us pass out when we got home!

I also invested in a spinning wheel. I’ve not got to grips with it yet. I love it though and I cant wait to spend some time getting used to spinning a good yarn. Now on top of all this I’ve been leaving the camera behind. Not keeping it all noted down and I’m disappointed a little with myself for this. Its a shame I’ve not recounted ALL the good times for future use. I hope to remedy that.

Then this bank holiday weekend has been chock full too. We both had the Friday off work to visit Southampton and see my in laws. Scotty’s brother and his wife organized a surprise 40th wedding anniversary party for his parents. It was fabulous. It just happened to fall on exactly the same night as mum passing last year but I knew she wanted me to go out and enjoy the night. It went very well and was all just meant to be, if you know what I mean.

Then we hung out with the southerly clan on Saturday and came home Sunday. We took the train down there and the train back. Two of the best journeys I’ve had in years. Lots of knitting time and felt refreshed by the time I landed. more than I would have done if  I was driving.

Monday I went to see Dad and with my sister we visited mum’s resting place. It helped me relax a little more and just feel a little better about not being there at the right time. Mum never cared about the right time as long as we made sure we made time.

Then something had to break the good fortune. Sadly last night around 5.30ish my grandmother passed away. Mums Mum. Now I’ve not been that close to her in recent years and yes I can see the sadness but she was suffering and had a longer innings than most. It just makes me miss mum all the more, and means that some of the joy that I was clinging on to has been knocked out of me like bashing a dusty door rug on a wall.

I’m not THAT sad, but just a bit, well, what would you expect. so I thought I’d try and share the good things I missed because we all need to remember the good and bad times. here’s hoping I start to understand the blogging is actually for my benefit to read back on and understand what went on and not just dwell on the small moments that entangle life.

knitting update…

The Shawl… its going to be epic. Its going to take MONTHS if not YEARS to complete but it looks lovely and if I just keep plugging away I may just finish it one day.

This was an update of the shawl not long after I started it. I’ve lost the other pic somewhere on my macbook at home. Now its over 260 odd stitches and still just about half way through the repeats which also means I’ve only knit about 1/3 of the resulting shawl. Big numbers, small wool. Rod for my own back.

Socks (1)

These are the socks I’ve had an argument with. I’m sure you can see why. 3 colours, 6 balls of wool, two socks and the smallest knit picks needles. Which means trying to start a heel is not going to work until I part these socks and do them separately, or buy longer needles.

Socks (2)
are PINK and for my sister in-law. Another case of the photo being mysteriously missing. Ah well. They’re doing ok but because she’s 2 sizes smaller in the foot I’m scared to increase too much for the heels on these and they’ve sorta sat there in stasis until I can see her again. After only 6 rows of knitting. Meh. Lovely socks though but I do find it hard to make something without measurements at all. My fault next time I’m stealing the kids crayons and drawing around her foot.

baby blanket
started out like this:

and nobody believed that it would be square. Why is it pointy? is it going to be a hat?
No.
It is meant to look like this:

and finally this when quilted:

and from the back:

So, yeah some knitting may fall by the wayside, wait years to be complete but some things are just perfect the way they are. They knit quick and have the inspiration and perpose to be almost completely perfect in a rustic kind of way. One of my friends commented on the front photo making some very salient points about practicality and how its classy enough to be for smart, or even blankie potential and she hit the nail on the head. Just what I intended, not flouncy for a boy, not too lacy but every bit as intricate and lovely as the baby boy that will be wrapped in it. Hoorah! Knitting triumph. Oh and its my own design so I’m tempted… just a little tempted to write it up and sell it. Still that is hard work and I’d have to have people asking for it first.

the other bit of our week off

Wednesday I relaxed with AM at her place, we did a little knitting and aslo did some deft moving of a rather large Futon up the stairs and in to their spare room. Then brought AM to our house to have a wonder around our garden and play with the kittehs as AM says.  Then a lift to the airport for her so she could go and get a 2nd hand sofa that she had reserved. Her husband was waiting there for us and I felt like some sort of human traffic tender dropping her off in a MacDonald’s car park.

Thursday Scotty and I went back to Wells. I’d not been there in ages. We did the tourist thing and ate fish and chips on the sea front from the one and only French’s. Having worked there as a teen its the only place I get my chips from in Wells. Then after stocking up on Samphire and Cider we drove to my brothers house to stay over the night. We played with the kids whilst dinner was prepared. The Samphire was delicious in butter and balsamic vinegar, all with fresh bread and home made home grown vegetable soup. My brother and his wife make my attempts at growing veg seem like what they are really. Just a couple of pots. They have a kitchen garden area and a greenhouse and plan to have a whole veggie patch in the woods at some point.

I gave Tom and Izzy a bath and got them to bed. Then read them stories, as an aunt its lovely to be able to do these things. Then finally the wine and cider came out and we stayed over for the night in the annex. A very bad nights sleep but made all the better by a home cooked breakfast and two very chirpy 3 yr olds very happy to see us because we stayed over.

Friday. I drove home and spent the whole day in RECOVERY. The current recovery position of choice is the sofa, with blanket and knitting. *aaaaahhhh*

Saturday we went to (Cough norfolk accent) bee and coo (B&Q hardware store for international readers) We spent lots of money on little things we needed like a new velux blind for the bathroom window. A hose for our tiny back garden and a new saw for… and now I completely cant remember why we bought a saw. Anyway, Scotty dealt with fitting the hose to the new garden tap and tested out watering the plants. We can now stand in one corner of the garden and water it all from just the one spot. The sheer hight of laziness but we’re proud we can. Oh and we don’t waste water. I do stand over every pot and only water each pot. I don’t like weeds growing through our white shingle. Then I spent a good 2ish hours in the bathroom fitting the blind. now the screws are small about [-------] this big but the lips on the frame work to fit the window are [--------------] this big. The screws are self tapping so even with a magnetic screw driver you have to hold the screw in place to tap it and screw it. This is why I did the blind fitting and not Scotty. Much swearing ensued and many a screw was dropped to the amusement of our cats. Finally I managed to get all the bits in place and stood proud as any DIY is a step further than I usually tread. I love crafts but DIY? *shudder* Its the sweaty hot jobs that mean dirt gets trodden around the house and I end up looking like a builders bum.. or something like that.

Still, because of a couple of hours trying to fit my head through a small roof window and screw screws in to it at the same time and fold my arms in the gaps I was very proud and we now have nice dark mornings in our bed room. I tend to leave the bathroom door open so the cats don’t scratch at it and so if I do need to get up in the night I don’t wake Scotty opening the door, and don’t fall in to it like a semi comatose idiot. The long and short of it is, I’m proud it works. HOORAH!

we bought a couple of films. Harry Potter and I am Legend. Loved them both. I’m rubbish at film reviews.

Then finally Sunday we had lunch at Loch Fyne fish resaurant in Norwich. It was Divine. It brought back holiday memories because I had oysters. They were fresh and lovely. Service was good, food was spectacular and its light and airy in there too. I’m definitely going there again and will all their fish being sustainably sourced I’m very impressed.