Yay - storage!

Today I have storage!!!! Now I have to do sorting and tidying... hmmm. I also have to make a shed load of stuff for Wednesday's workshop... better get on with it then... see you later :-)

Of Ikea, pain, cats and tidying up

My new craft room nearly ready. Well, I have already been in there making a mess so I suppose it already is ready! hurrah!

Went to Ikea thanks to lift from Erin (big piece of cake for her!) and got shelving unit and small drawers and storage boxes for the tidying of yarn ( and the keeping of yarn away from the marauding Siamese...) Have put the small sets of drawers together already amongst much swearing and banging of thumb with hammer. Didn't help having a kitten sitting on my shoulder or a stoned offspring appearing and saying "Oh so now you are Dr Dollitle then?" and laughing loudly before heading off to use my laptop whilst eating pizza. I got my own back by making it known that I knew that he had been looking at porn sites on it...

Tonight I will be mostly putting large shelving unit together with OH, so look forward to much more swearing and probably a bit of arguing as well. I have to go home and put all of the things I put in my room back in the other room so that there is enough room for the putting together of the shelving. Wish I had thought of this before I moved it all the other day. I am very excited about the new storage and the new room so WOOHOO!!!!!

Tomorrow I need to make the bazzilion things I cut up the other day into different things to take to the workshop next Wednesday. And write a hand-out... I am a bit nervous about the workshop to be honest but faint heart and all that...

Oh, nearly forgot - had my lip waxed yesterday by my trusty hairdresser Kate but SHE LIED. It fucking well does hurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Still numb today. Oh well, all the name of beauty...

Hopefully pics of new room coming soon and kittens and all sort of things :D

Knittig, London and Thinking

Not much knitting going on as my hands are not too good at the moment. Probably shouldn't be typing much either come to think of it... I have been thinking about designs tho'. Trying to figure out a mitred, cable edged cardigan with a hood with as little sewing up as possible. Ended up in the cafe across the road having a coffee not long after I got to work as there was a fire alarm. Also, someone has taken my mug out of the kitchen. The one I have had since the sixth form common room and has been my coffee mug at every job ever since. Grrr. Anyway, was working on the design in the coffee shop for ages which made me feel better. I think I am getting there but need to look at some EZ stuff and Elsbeth Lavold / Alice Starmore and how to make cables go around corners.

Got my prize from Knitting magazine yesterday, three books, hot water bottle covers, socks and Natural Knits for Children (I think that is what is was called) So glad they were ones I didn't already have :) Also, a cheque for £40 which I may just end up spending at Get Knitted. Who knew? heh heh

Went to London at the weekend and went to Liberty's. Twice. On my own on the Friday, and bumped into a friend from Bristol - rather bizarrely... then again on the Saturday with my neice Holly who is 7. In the fabric/yarn section (so lush...swoon) she said in loud voice ' that lady can't knit as fast as you aunty Emma' . Oh dear. I explained that she was knitting something quite complicated so that slows you down. I then spent quite a bit of money and spotted a cardigan from the Rowan British sheep breeds book which is rather nice. Bought a ball of pale grey to try with a pack of odd buttons I also bought. This will be a neck warmer although at this rate it will be way too hot to wear it when I get as far as making it!

I also went to Prick Your Finger in Bethnal Green, partly to see Fragiletender's pin installation but also to see the shop. It was lovely, bought some purple handspun for my big purple flowers cardigan and also some Wensleydale longwool. I definately recommend a trip to see the shop. and to see the pin installation if it comes near to you.

Apart from that some friends of ours had a baby 2 weeks early this week and son no. 1 announced that he is moving out. Which is weird as I feel this will be for real this time. I realised today that the reason I have been feeling so fidgety lately is because since I have changed jobs (office on my own, not many people to see, phone doesn't ring much) , OH has been promoted (working longer hours and more preoccupied with it), boys not around much at home, all my friends having babies (don't come out much any more lol) I hardly see anybody at all. I think I am getting a bit lonely! That sounds a bit strange but I think it is true. I will have to think a bit harder about my social life from now on as I will have to create it rather than it happening to me as a side effect of my job etc.

Must stop typing now as hands complaining and there is work calling my name!!!

The Good, The Bad and the Sucky

Just got in, tidied up, washed up...hmm, let's have a nice bath. Good idea. Lalalala nice new coconut and vanilla bath salts; tum te tum nice book; lalala fresh cup of tea (seem to have run out of wine); nice warm fresh towel. Ahhhhhhh lovely ..... but what is that floating in the water she thinks to herself? That would be 3 dead HEADLICE. God I hate boys!!!

This after a day when I have had to have yet another conversation with the police anti-social behaviour unit about son no. 2 and with a Dutch credit company about a debt for 800euros incurred (albeit innocently) by son no. 1.

Sigh.

Anyway - yesterday was much better :) I won 3rd prize in Knitting Magazine's cafetiere cosy competition - woohoo. And then... I emailed Shannon at YF with my jumper design and she loved it! So happy :) happy:) happy :) Then I went to a knitting group in Clevedon with the Museinmeltdown and had a great time, then got my first glimpse of the Spinning Weal shop in Clevedon (O.M.G. I can't wait to see inside). Such a cool day.

Also today the new Henry vacuum arrived - what a cool thing (sorry I know its a bit sad to get excited about this) sucks like mad, dog hair a thing of memory. I did however manage to suck up son no. 1's mobile phone lead and only narrowly missed sucking up the whole phone - what a beast - haha

Better even than that - my Cloth Kits 'Trellick Tower Skirt' kit arrived today - its lovely, and wrapped like a present, with a hand written little note on the invoice thingy. Now all I need is to be able to get to my sewing machine and put it together!! Photos to follow...

Now husband has arrived with a record player that he got off freecycle, it weighs the same as a washing machine and looks rather old and decrepit, but it is what he has wanted for ages apparantly. Ok.

Off to finish Archie's gloves and Toby's second sock - although I should be resting my hands as they are a bit RSI - boo.

Prague and getting away with it!!!

Well, I am back from Prague - and it was great! Conference for 80 people - the majority of them from Eastern Europe. I had to organise catering, simultaneous translation (Russion/English), an evening reception as well as flights and accomodation for 50 of the delegates. As well as all the paperwork and stuff that goes with a conference. And it all worked and everyone was happy! And I am very happy!!! As well as very relieved that it all went ok. My colleagues have informed that the next conference may be in Zambia. Ok. Moving swiftly on...

Here is the Villa Grobovka in Prague where we held the conference:



Slightly lower down the photos is part of the interior - marble staircase and very ornate decor. Photos are in random order. Sorry, very tired!

This the nice (purple) scarf I bought for my self:

Here are some wooden Christmas decorations from a great shop I found among all the trashy ashtray and stein shops:

I even managed to find a small yarn shop near the hotel. It was run by a rather fierce and scary lady who didn't speak English so after some pointing and holding up of fingers I came away with this small haul: (the beads came from the same shop as the decorations)

Here I am outside the shop:

There are lots of decoative buildings in Prague - like this:

Here are the lovely Elina (from Latvia) and Christine (from Bristol) in a cafe - we had hot mulled wine from here the night before - yum:

Here is an amazing building which I loved, it was huge - the building in front is about 4-5 storeys high! At night it was all lit up ad looked fab:

Here is the picture of the inside of the Villa Grobovka (see above) this was the view from the desk I was sitting at. I managed to knit almost a whole sock during the conference sitting at this desk which resulted in a few comments (forgot to take picture of the sock...) the building was amazing, hand painted and everything:

Prague was great and I would love to go again. This was the first time I had flown anywhere (or left the country at all) for 10 years and unfortunately I had a filthy cold when we left on Monday and I thought I was going to end up with 2 perforated eardrums on the plane - SO PAINFUL - O.MI.GD. Then I was deaf in my right ear until part-way through Tuesday. Thankfully the flight back today was much better. All in all a very successful trip, very tired now so going to sleep. Bye!

Zambia. Hmmm......

Shopping - gah!

Why is it so hard to buy a bra? WHY? Came home feeling like an elephant - very depressing. I hate it that every time I go shopping for any item of clothing I just end up really pissed off. Tried on in the region of 20 bras - 6 at a time cos you can only take that many in at a time so you have to keep getting dressed and going out again. Found one that just about fitted. One. And I don't even like it!

I did buy some purple tights which cheered me up a bit. Then wandered around Cabot Circus shopping centre for a bit. No wool for sale in there...

Nearly there with the Prague conference - actually feeling pretty cool and calm about it, don't want to speak too soon but think it's going to be ok. looking forward to going to Prague but will be glad when I see things come together.

Been doing a lot of thinking, I thought that turning 40 meant I should get on and start acheiving stuff and taking things on but in fact it has become about stepping back and taking stock. I have ended up giving things up and deciding not to do things and that it is ok not to do things and finally am feeling more like I can live with myself as I am - without a high flying job or a PhD or any of those things. I have also shifted in my thinking about parenthood as well - that this is still my main job and that I still have a lot of work to do! I realised a lot of the problems between us and the teens arose from us feeling so backed into a corner that we came really defensive and completely closed off from giving anything positive - and you know that thing about how you attract stuff towards you that reflects the way you are... yeah well! Anyway - things feel much better already. I am sure it won't get easy overnight but I feel positive about being a parent for the first time in... well... 18 months at least! So what if I never have what some might consider a great job or get any more qualifications? I'd rather be knitting anyway :)

On a lighter front - this is the dog getting into Pete's guitar playing:

heh heh heh. Crazy dog. Bet he doesn't sit around worrying about shit all day :)

Freaky Friday

I know, it's Saturday. Yesterday - walked to work in boots and got two humungous blisters one on the underside of each heel so rendering it impossible to walk properly. Soooo painful!!! Cried when I got home (wore same boots for same walk the previous week - no blisters: how??) . At lunch time I ate mouldy salad by accident. Was eating whilst working at computer, didn't look at the salad before I ate it - horrible. Stupidly I decided to leave the remains of Thursday's salad in the office for Friday, completely forgetting that the office is very warm...

I am presently arranging a conference in Prague on 25th November (getting closer - eek!) for about 75 people, nearly 50 of whom I have to arrange the flights etc from various parts of Eastern Europe. It was all going fairly swimmingly but then found a couple of cock ups and people started wanting to change their flights - aaaaarrrrrrghhhh!!!!! Left work in order to prevent self from throwing computer out of window. Went to FOPP instead and bought a few DVDs - The Night Porter, Bagpuss, The Missionary, Hound of the Baskervilles (Basil Rathbone). Also another which is a bit sad (not as in weepie...) and so I won't admit here to what it was :). Watched the sad one when got home, with wine and feet off floor - ouch! Felt better.

Teens came in, no luck on job front as yet, teen 1 now looking for Modern Apprenticeship. Teen 2, not actually living here at present (long story) and lost temper with me this morning, called me a f***ing tw*t, among other things, smashed a chair then left. Oh joy. I told you I hate teenagers! Despite this he is actually getting better and going in a more positive direction so just have to ride it out I suppose.

Knitting wise - knitting two sets of socks (magic loop), one 4 ply, toe-up, lace, on Addi Turbo circs and one 6 ply, top down, plain (knitting-on-the-bus-socks) on Knitpicks circs. Now I love knit picks but the Addi turbos win the magic loop test hands down for me, much smoother. Also started big cabled cardigan in purple Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran which is lush. Got various balls of yarn from GK last weekend for hats/gloves Christmas presents, and just ordered a kit from Fyberspates for the 'Delicate Snowflake' jacket in Simply Knitting issue 48 - this is for my niece for next year. As an aside, I found a website www.allposters.co.uk which has some great knitting posters such as wartime stuff etc. Although there are some bizarre photos of close ups of just a few rows of plain knitting which are about £24 - not quite sure why anyone would...

Lastly, found another website - advertised in Simply Knitting - www.audible.co.uk where you can get an audiobook per month for £7.99; first two months free! I got an ipod for my birthday and lurve the old audio books!

Off to visit my friend on the other side of Bristol on the bus in a minute, curry and wine, yum...