A Sense of Perspective

Warning: picture -heavy post! And I make no apologies for that. I'd like to start by saying thank you all for your support, which has helped me a lot. I am feeling better than I was earlier this week, I just needed a few clear days to regroup.

There's nothing like a family weekend to restore my equilibrium, and this has been a lovely one. Yesterday afternoon DS2 and I went to see a production of Blood Brothers at Malvern Theatres and very good it was too. I hadn't seen it before, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This was followed by our first barbeque of the year. Do you know we were still sitting in the garden at 9:30 yesterday evening - wonderful.

This morning saw us all up and out by 8:15 heading for Tewkesbury and the Half Marathon. DS1 had come home for the weekend to run, it is one of several warm up races ahead of the Great North Run.

This is Tewkesbury Abbey, taken across the fields from the start of the race, not a view one normally has of the abbey.

Here is DS waiting to start. He wasn't as relaxed as he looks!

And here he is with DD

DD offers a bit of last minute advice!

And they're off! At 9:30 am it was already very warm and sunny.

We then left Tewkesbury and drove to the lovely village of Bredon ( a four mile drive for us, it was the 9 mile marker in the race )

Rob is the fourth one along in this group.

Not a good photo - he was reaching out for water!

From Bredon back to Tewkesbury for the end of the race. Rob is just to the right of the cross, you can just see Mr A and DD to the right of the photo.

Rob stopped his watch at 1 hour 27 minutes and 50 seconds, his chip time isn't available yet of course. It's hard to tell, but we reckon he was in the top 50. He had desperately wanted to achieve 1 hour 25 minutes but it was far too hot for that, and I think he did REALLY well.

Where was DS2 you might ask? Home revising for his GCSE's perhaps? He is in Birmingham with his girlfriend. His first exam is on Wednesday, RE, he revised the whole syllabus in 2 hours last weekend so he's fine then isnt he .......................

I AM feeling better - it's days like this that help to remind me that work is just work and my family is everything. I have my sense of perspective back!

Edited to add thet Rob's official position was 28th :-)

More Birthday Loveliness and Swaps too :-)

Another blog post that's taken a bit of doing! Still, here we are, so many lovely things to show you which only serve to remind me how fortunate I am.

First up - the lovely terri sent me a voucher to use with Socktopus and this is what I chose. From The Knittery, this yarn is a 20% cashmere, 20% nylon, and 60% merino blend, the colour is Passion Fruit. I already had skein of this stashed away and had been waiting for Alice to restock. I have PLANS for these two skeins!

My friend Yvonne made me this fabulous wall hanging. Yvonne's quilting skills never cease to amaze me, she is a very talented lady, and I love the attention to detail in this. Yvonne has a regular column called Wondering the Web in the British Patchwork and Quilting Magazine.

We have had a Spring Secret Santa Swap on CTNY recently and this was my wonderful gift from Farmgirl.

Isn't this a wonderful box.

Full of wonderful things :-)


And the yarn is Fyberspates - just lovely colours.

A simply stunning gift - thank you Farmgirl.

Normal service has been resumed! Well you haven't seen a FCS from me for some time now have you! This was part of Gilraen's present from me in the CTNY Spring Birthday Exchange. Knitted using Cashmere and Merino from The Knittery again, this one is # Water Lilies, and was bought from Socktopus at the I Knit London event last year. I used 5mm Pony Straight needles, and let me tell you this yarn is FAB!

And finally - as some of you are aware by now I am not feeling quite myself at the moment. Things are happening all round me over which I have no control, and this last weekend it's all caught up with me.

I WILL deal with it - but I hate uncertainty. I hinted a while ago at changes at work, but felt it inappropriate to share too much while the tender process was ongoing. However I now know that from July onward I will no longer be working for the NHS. Out of Hours provision was put out to tender last year and after one of the most drawn out and protracted processes it was finally announced last week that a Private Company had won the contract.

We have to wait until after May 14th to meet with our prospective new employers - cue more rumour mongering - but have been told the following :-

We can take our existing Terms and Conditions of service with us except for certain occupational pension rights.

When the transfer takes effect we will automatically become an employee of xxx and therefore our NHS service will stop.

We can’t take our pension with us, we could opt to freeze NHS pension/explore with new organisation how we can invest in their scheme.

I am currently liaising with the NHS pensions Agency. I am looking at all my options at the moment, including looking at other posts. Sadly opportunities for nurses with back problems are few and far between, but it will do me good to be "doing something" iyswim.

I don't feel at all sociable at the moment, so forgive me if I neglect blogland for a while. I really wanted to write this post though, because there are so many lovely people around who made sure I had a very special birthday and I wanted to show everyone just how lovely people are. My cyberfriends are just as real and important to me as "real" friends, indeed some of you have become "real" friends and your support and wise words recently have helped a great deal.

I will be back when I've sorted myself out.

( Wonderful ) Wonderwool Wales

Goodness me, I am having problems with Blogger. It's only taken me some 28 hours, on and off, to post this! Don't hold your breath, but hopefully I can get this posted before I disconnect again! And I will try to get round my usual haunts very soon.

Fist of all, thank you all for your birthday wishes - I added £10:00 to my RFL fund and then two more posts arrived so I owe RFL £2:00 which will be added again, don't worry, as I have some more fundraising plans in the next couple of months.

The winner of my Birthday Draw was Kathryn - Kathryn, I shall leave a post on your blog to let you know, and if you drop me an email at joymivalAThotmailDOTcom with your postal details I shall send a litle something to you from my stash.

For those of you who didn't know, MIL fractured her femur in four places a couple of weeks ago bless her. It was her second fall in as many weeks, she has had it pinned and plated but has been very poorly post operatively. We saw her again yesterday evening, and she is definitely improving. There is a long road ahead, but some light I think. Thank you for your well wishes, they are much appreciated.

And now to Wonderwool Wales. What a wonderful day it was, spent in lovely company too. I had barely arrived when it was down to work ;) a weaving workshop with Maureen Preen. In the photo below are Willow, Kellybears, Daisydap and Ygymraes from the CTNY forum. It was great fun.

I have forgotten who these lovely ladies are, shame on me, but the lady in the pointy hat gave me a spare Ravelry badge, so enabling me to a 10% discount with some vendors.

"Oh look" cried voice "It's Andy Warhol!!!!!" Actually it was Antony Worrall Thompson in the Food Hall! Pop food perhaps ;-)

And just to show you are never too young - the lovely Caitlin, daughter of a cyber friend, is taught how to finger knit by Wye Sue of the Knitting and Crochet Guild. Caitlin made a chain longer than she was while her mum and I sat with a much needed cup of tea. Alison - did Caitlin ever persuade you to buy a skein of Knitwitch yarn for her? You know, the cashmere and silk!!

Purchases below - just one or two! Do you recognise them?

Posh Sophia in 2-ply laceweight to make the scarf version of Anni's Rosebud scarf from the new Yarn Forward Magazine.

Fyberspates Sock Yarn

Hipknits Laceweight Silk

Fyberspates Laceweight - I fell in love with the colours

Posh Yarn Eva - again just look at those colours

Oh, and three skeins of this lovely yarn from Knitting4fun to make felted slippers with. This was a new company for me, but I'll be looking out for them again.

My first port of call though, before I went a weaving, was to Knitwitches this is Silk with Baby Camel, the colour is Mountain Lakes. And if you think this looks scrummy...........

.....this is to die for! At £25:00 this is the single most expensive skein of yarn I have ever bought, it is 65% Cashmere and 35% Silk and is sooooo soft. The colour is Dark Heather. I'm afraid the photo doesn't do the yarn justice .


I also bought cheese. This is cheese heaven, the Pwll Mawr is quite simply the best cheddar I have ever tasted. The Capel Newydd has white wine and garlic in it - yummy!

Sloe Gin and Apricot Liqueur. There was also a free bottle 10cl bottle of cherry liqueur with these two - somehow I can't seem to find it...................

I also bought some handmade soaps and cards, and a couple of future birthday presents.

I can't recommend Wonderwool Wales highly enough. It was quite honestly the best day out I have had in ages, and the best event of it's kind I have been to. I could quite easily have got in the car and headed straight back on Sunday morning. It's so good to meet friends, old and new, and vendors too. I can't tell you what it's like to see so much Posh Yarn in one place.............

Happy Birthday To Me!

It's my birthday today! I've been 27 for 25 years now, which is probably why I find it so hard to act my age!

I try hard to keep my blog bright and cheerful, after all no-one wants to come here and read doom and gloom. However, I would just like to thank everyone who has elsewhere been so kind and supportive since MIL had her fall. Sadly there is very little change to report, she continues to be poorly post-operatively bless her - we're just waiting and watching.

I have received some lovely presents. Firstly from Franney this beautiful Sweet Pea shawl crocheted using Smooshy #Sea Fog. Isn't it gorgeous - thank you Franney.




I LOVE swaps - and who wouldn't when such lovely gifts as these arrive. This lovely parcel arrived from Gilraen the yarn is Posh Eva 4-ply # Blossoms. Thank you for a lovely Spring Birthday exchange.



I am off to Wonderwool Wales tomorrow. The lovely Mr A said "buy whatever you want for your birthday"............ he has no idea bless him. He has already bought me some Clinique moisturiser and a Jordana Paige knitters satchel so I think that's enough. My children clubbed together and bought me a special bag for my laptop, so I am all organised.
I am looking forward to Wonderwool Wales, especially as I am now able to take part in a weaving course run by Prudence Mapstone. I am looking forward to meeting bloggers and Ravellers old and new tomorrow - see you there!
Finally - in true bloggy fashion - a competition! If you would care to pop in and wish me "Happy Birthday" I'll put £1:00 in for you for Race for Life. I'll also be having a little draw, and the winner will receive a little something from my stash.
edited to add thanks to the lovely Linda I now know that I am going on a weaving course run by Maureen Preen. At this rate if I find my way to Builth Wells it will be a blooming miracle :D

Hillsborough

Today ( April 15th ) sees the 19th Anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster It is one of those days that will remain forever etched in my memory. I remember to this very day exactly where I was when I heard about it in shock and disbelief.

It seems incomprehensible today doesn't it that 96 ordinary people, much like you and I, could lose their lives at a football match. But they did.

The memorial at Anfield is always a very poignant place And as always there will be a memorial service at Anfield this afternoon. I'd just like to remember my fellow fans here for a moment. And if any of you could just spare a moment for some peaceful reflection, and remember them and their families in your prayers, that would be lovely.

Cranford Mitts

Cranford Mitts

Yarn: Yarn Yard Merino

Colours: Mysteron (MC) Dreamy (CC)

Needles 2.5mm Clover Bamboo DPNS

I LIKE this pattern. I am very pleased with my Cranford Mitts, the brainchild of Jane . Both yarn and pattern are available from The Yarn Yard and be warned - I have another pair otn ;-)

I am, by the way, a complete and utter failure. Not only have I bought more yarn from the Yarn Yard, I have bought a three month sock club membership too. What am I like. I've held out for VERY long time but this month again my eyes have run away with me and I have been seduced by colour. Thanks Natalie ;-)

PS would anyone like a sixteen year old? I will deliver free in anywhere within a 200 mile radius ...................!!!!

In the Pink - and Purple!

I remarked recently on Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns that I needed to "get out of my comfort zone" as far as my knitting was concerned. Now, you all know I have a penchant for sock yarn but not sock knitting, hence the plethora of Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawls, but I needed a small project for my Bruges trip and thought okey dokey - let's try socks again.

And here they are. The yarn was a birthday gift from the lovely terri last year - great choice terri, thank you.

Basic Regia Socks

Yarn: Fyberspates Sock Yarn

Colour: Pinks and Purples

Needles: 2.5mm Prym bamboo dpns

I am feeling inordinately pleased with myself this morning :-)

Brugge ( Bruges )

Mr A and I have just come back from a three night citybreak in Brugge. What a lovely place it is. This is the view from out hotel window.

The canal network is amazing.

We visited a brewery - this was the view from the rooftops. The beer made at the brewery is Bruges Zot and very nice it is too. For 5 euros you have a guided tour - our guide had one of the driest senses of humour "Stella make big businesss, we make beer" is one quote that comes to mind. They also do very good lunches there.

We also visited Tyne Cot Cemetary which was a very moving experience indeed.

We also visied Hill 64 annd walked among the trenches.

Then it was on to Ypres and the Menin Gate and I really couldn't get my head round the Menin Gate at all. No matter where we are all from, we are all familiar with our War Memorials. Nothing prepares you for the thousands upon thousands of names on the Menin gate - nothing. And every night at 8:00 pm the road is closed and the Last Post is played.

Whilst in Ypres we also visited the Cathedral and the Flanders Fields Museum. It's not a day one could say one had enjoyed, but it was a day of reflection and contemplation and I am very pleased I visited the area. And very grateful.

Bruges is home to some 50 chocolate shops and many breweries. There is also some fabulous lace to be seen. The difference between hand made and machine lace is obvious in both quality and cost. We saw some exquisite pieces of work.

Do we mind a spot or two of rain while we are on an open topped canal boat trip - of course not!!!!!!!


I would recommend Bruges to anyone. I was particularly taken with travelling by Eurostar and the break has done me the power of good.

We were also privileged to meet some lovely people. One couple in particular, with whom we shared dinner twice and lunch on our last day, were great fun, we laughed and smiled our way through some of the coldest, wettest miserable weather and had a ball.

Mist

This is Mist and it's a Kim Hargreaves kit. I looked and looked at it last year, and finally succumbed in July. I started it three weeks ago - in actual knitting time I'd say it took me about a week, but I spent a lot of time faffing about on other things as usual.

It's been very hard to photograph and looks much better irl I think. I am very pleased with it, even though I did knit the back twice! The 40" back was enormous, so I went down a size and a good thing too :-)

The construction was interesting - I have never knitted a left sleeve and a right sleeve - and also there was a lower and upper half which involved knitting a little, casting off and picking up again using a smaller needle before carrying on again with the larger needles. I didn't bother with all that malarkey when I started, but I am pleased I did in the end because it gives the jacket a lovely tailored look.

Mist: by Kim Hargreaves

Yarn: Rowan Chunky Print # Tart

Needles: 8mm Pony straights, 7mm Aeros

Size: 38"