The Adventures of The Iron Chicken

Housebound

2010-01-07T05:13:00.000-08:00

Housebound as it is like a skating rink outside, Pete fell over twice getting to the bus stop apparantly. There is no way I am going to risk it but I must pop next door shortly to see if my neighbour is ok. People on facebook complaining of cabin fever and boredom- how can they??? I love it hehehe. I am going to have to get to the shop on Saturday tho... take more than snow to stop me doing that!!!! I can see some dripping going on out there so it is thawing a bit, oh good, filthy slush to look forward to now then, ho hum.

Yesterday's amusements included the Siamese encountering snow for the first time - hilarious! They leapt out of the door, competely freaked and leapt back in again sharpish. Spent the rest of the day looking out of the window in disdain at other cats who were out, apparantly voluntarily! Apart from that Pip decided that he liked licking condensation off the bedroom window... weird cat.

Had a crisis about the Baltic Sea Stole yesterday, and also the Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn that I am making it in. I don't like the pattern enough to do it for an hour everyday for 4 weeks, nor do I like the colour of the yarn and I don't think MIL will either. So had a stressful hour or so trying to decide on an alternative and inally decided on Jubilee by Norah Gaughan. and of course according to the law of stash, despite having a room full of it I don't have the right yarn so will need to go on a mission when I get to the shop on Saturday. Need about 950m 4 ply, preferably something soft and luxurious.

After this knitting hiatus I made a Lyra style hat (from Golden Compass/aka Northern Lights film) for Fearn from doubled Big Wool. Then I dug out my St Peter Port, got past the shoulder bit by some kind of osmosis as I couldn't really figure out what the instructions were on about and am now on the hood. Hurrah! I tried it on and think it is going to be rather slim fitting but not sure how much till I have sewn up the sleeves, I may knit a border on to the front before attaching the zip to nake it a bit more roomy, also to give the hood a bit more depth as I think in my shoulder fudging I have lost too many sts and will have a hood that only comes as far forward as my ears. I probably won't wear it up much anyway so that is ok, I just like the look of it!

Apart from that I need to do some thinking about the book and to start organising my designing brain and get a bit of organisation going on around here.

Sadly will not be dancing tonight as am not risking going out and breaking something and Pete already has a bad leg (and he has still to get back into the house without breaking something!)

note to self - get some photos on here...

Snow and cables without a cable needle

2010-01-05T05:09:00.000-08:00

Ok, like everyone else I will also mention snow, we are probably the last place in UK to get it as Bristol doesn't really get much weather. I really do think though that it is actually winter, cold weather happens in winter and there are probably more important things going on in the world than bad weather in one small island. Get lives people!!!

This week I have learnt how to do cables without a cable needle - hurrah! From a tutorial in, of all things, The Knitter magazine. I was in two minds whether or not to cancel the sub for this mag as I find the patterns rather boring. Well, boring is not strictly what I mean, samey might be a better term. It might be because they use a rather narrow set of designers and so the pattern selections are rather predictable , one of the things that makes Yarn Forward so good is that they have many designers and you never know what you will see in there. The Knitter does have some good articles in it tho so I think I will persevere with it for a bit. Simply Knitting has definitely got to go tho!!!

The cabling without the cable needle is really easy, I have tried it before and couldn't get my head around it but now it seems obvious. I am going to make the whole of Fearn's new cable jacket with no cable needle so it becomes entrenched for ever more in my knitting brain.

Am progressing with the Baltic Sea Stole, did 15 rows yesterday. I was knitting with a big headache tho and with one of those headache patches on my forehead. Now I do swear by these but the menthol vapour gets in your eyes a bit which is not great late at night when squinting at your pattern, worrying about running out of yarn and whether there is any more in the shop and of course having a headache. I have had this headache since Sunday, you can go now if you don't mind...

Yesterday when I was in work it was very quiet, hardly anyone about, no lights on, that kind of thing. A bit spooky and Marie Celeste like. Today they all had a good laugh as I discovered that it was in fact a day off in lieu of a bank holiday. Needless to say I am not coming in tomorrow...

24th July??

2010-01-04T03:40:00.000-08:00

Oh dear, rubbish blogger, 24th July... *hangs head*

Anyway, back to work today, god knows what the temperature is out there but my legs may never be the same again. Maybe Ryan's suggestion of knitted trousers was not so far off the mark after all!!! Have so far failed to find any woolly tights today but must do something otherwise my walk to work resolution won't last long. It must be cold as I am still wearing a cardigan in my office which is normally tropical even at this time of year. Still, it is winter after all...

Knitting wise I have so far only cast on two new projects (this year) - Baltic Sea Stole and an aran cabled jacket for Fearn. I need to do at least 15 rows of the stole per day to get it done for Feb 13th as it is a present for my MIL for her significant birthday. Hopefully it will get quicker as I go along.

Still having a great deal of trouble trying to decide what to focus on this year (kntting, working (ha), spinning, designing, sewing, etc etc) unfortunately sitting in my workroom knitting to the exclusion of all else appears not to be an option unless I can magically win the lottery. Have not made any formal resolutions this year but am aiming to focus, cook more, eat better and excersice more. I also need to be more positive, stop constantly complaining about being tired and stop standing about with my hands on my hips. Oh and brush the dog's teeth everyday. What a weird bunch of stuff.

Yay - storage!

2009-07-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-23T05:21:00.000-07:00

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

2009-02-26T07:14:00.001-08:00

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

2009-02-18T11:51:00.000-08:00

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!!!

2008-11-27T13:14:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-20T14:58:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-08T08:14:00.000-08:00

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...

Rain, rain, rain and other things that have annoyed me this week...

2008-08-05T09:21:00.000-07:00

Question 1) Why in hell's name is it still raining??? It's meant to be August! I am normally pretty sanguine about the weather but this is getting a bit much even for me.

Question 2) Why are car insurance companies so SHIT. IBuyEco have been taking direct debits out of my account since April even thought they wrote my car off after a crash in March, removed it for disposal / destruction / whatever (sob), then paid me the settlement (less the excess etc - still waiting - another story grrr) but when I rang them they told me that the policy had never been cancelled and I wouldn't get a refund ( asked them how in hell's name I could still be driving around in a car that they themselves wrote off???). They are the WORST company I have dealt with to date, really confusing and generally crap. When I get back from Kent next week they are going to get so much grief.

On a good front we managed to get train tickets from Bristol to Kent for £64 for both of us. This is £30 less that the coach. Not sure how but not complaining....

Number two son has reappeared after more than a week's absence. I get so worried about him and yo-yo between wanting to completely brain him and being relieved when I do see him and know he's ok. I don't really think I am very good at bringing up teenagers - I really want this bit to be over - sometimes it is so awful I just despair. The drugs is the worst part.

Anyway, got to get ready to go to Kent tomorrow for my grandmother in laws funeral. She was 96. RIP.

July in the rain - again!

2008-07-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

Earlier this afternoon Jane and I were sat in the garden baking in the sun - too hot to take the dogs out even! Then, thunder and lightning and pouring rain. Followed by more baking sun followed by more torrential rain. It is still very very hot tho... Wierd weather.

Weston Pier - so terrible! Haven't been there for years but used to take the kids there when they were little. I hope they rebuild it - it will be terrible if they just leave it to fall apart :(

Yesterday afternoon we went to see Phill, Bagpuss and friends (Phill Jupitus, Loaf and Barry Purvis) at the Watershed. It was great - Bagpuss, the Clangers (a big-screen Ironchicken!!!!!!), Noggin the Nog, Ivor the Engine, Pogles Wood and the Pingwings which were amazing - I had never seen them before - and they were knitted as well! They recorded the session for Oliver Postgate who is now in a nursing home in Kent and we all got to wave to him! What wonderful programmes they were - amazing imagination and knocks the pants off anything there is now (except Spongebob Squarepants some one said!).

Spent the rest of the weekend making things from the Guardian Rebel's Knitting Guide and emailed them to Guardian this morning - see if they publish them on the website. Also spent ages updating Ravelry and sorting photos on my laptop. Not sure where today has gone (heh heh). Better do some more practical and useful stuff tomorrow...

(thunder again now...)

No sign of number 2 son since Saturday - sure he will roll in soon wanting food and bath... bloody teenagers :/

Borders and Juliette

2008-07-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

Borders knitting group last night which was great fun! it is great to have a Stitch n Bitch every week - within walking distance of my new job! How cool is that!

Started Juliette (see Ravelry...) using Brown Sheep Cotton fleece (double) in PURPLE of course. It is looking great. Had to rip back the row before the lace which involved a lot of k1f,b,f&b in same stitch which with yarn double is a b*tch! Anyway, this was because I didn't check how many stitches I had after knitting on after the sleeves - that'll learn me!

Joined Hat Attack and Ravelympics on Ravelry. For Ravelympics I am going to make the bias knit cardigan from Issue 6 of 'Let's Knit' Magazine - using up a whole load of green(ish) yarns from the yarn cupboard of doom... Erinrae invited me to the Innocent Smoothie hats group so will do some of those as well. Perhaps had better send off the hats already made for Save the Children or whatever it was (!).

On the home front - son number 1 may have a job! hurrah! great news. Son number 2 says he has better things to do that get a job so no cake for him! Decorating must start soon as only have until September to do all these tasks before the big birthday party and the MSc.

Anyway - bluesman will be waiting for me, loitering in the town centre with intent so better go.

Back again

2008-07-09T09:16:00.000-07:00

Well haven't been here here in a while! har de har har har...

Lots happened since last year but mainly have just given up my full-time job as I will be starting a Masters degree in September. Working part-time from now on. Hopefully will have more time to other things - apart from decorating and getting house cleared out from under a mountain of crap.

Been going to Get Knitted quite a lot and intend to start going to more Stitch n Bitch meetings - now I will be working in the centre of town I can potentially go to one every Wednesday - whoopee!

back soon (!)

All Ravelry-ed out!

2007-10-19T14:23:00.000-07:00

Trying to type with a dog leaning on my arm!

Came home early today and set to work on Ravelry - spent ages on flickr sorting out photos after spending ages sorting them out on my laptop! Still, managed to get some stuff on the Ravelry. Must try and get as far as the forums tomorrow. Must also try to actually do some knitting this weekend.

Going to the Bristol Guild tomorrow to see a friend's knitting exhibition and also have to complete a job application, write to my mad aunt and try and do some cleaning. I need a holiday!

Going mad!

2007-10-18T14:13:00.001-07:00

Well, I said on the first post that some of the technical bits on here did my head in and so I have just spent about an hour trying to get a picture on my profile and in the end had to get the husband to do it! So irritating!!!!!!

Anyway - leaving that aside, stayed at work to do some machine knitting last night and when i left the car's immobiliser had locked up again (there is a leak and it had been raining) so I couldn't drive and had to leave the car at work. Managed to scrounge a lift home off one of the porters and had to walk 3 1/2 miles to work this morning (of course the car worked fine as soon as I got there as I predicted) the reason I had to walk as opposed to taking my bike was that when I opened the shed this morning it HAD NO WHEELS!!!!!!!!!! Thank you number one son for cannibalising my bicycle for to mend your own. God I hate teenagers sometimes.

Had to take number two son to the open evening at City of Bristol College this evening - seems a pretty cool place and the students were pretty positive. Of course his mobile went off in the middle of the presentation... He has his eye on another sixth form as first choice but it all depends on his GCSES as he can only do 5 on account of being expelled (twice) earlier this year. Long story. But at least he is thinking about his future in positive way and is determined to make his A levels count despite his past record.

Anyway, apart from that they are pretty cool - this is them playing the ubiquitous playstation:

It wasn't all bad today as I got these in the post from the lovely Texere Yarns :

I got the corsage kit as I wanted a flower loom but couldn't find one on it's own - apart from on ebay but got out-bidded! The chunky knitting dolly is just something I have wanted for ages - have started to make a cord with some little big wool left over from making DRAKE by Sarah Hatton (see Rowan Studio, Issue 2). So now I am cheered up with some new knitting things I will trundle over to Ravelry to do some more over there.

First post

2007-10-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been in blogland before but get frustrated with the technical bits that I couldn't get my head around! So here I am again - this time I will stick at it longer!!!

I have started again as I have received my invite to RAVELRY - hurrah! So now I am completely knackered (husband is nagging me to go to bed, I am laughing at him because he is going out for a cigarette and it is CHUCKING it down) because I have been photographing everything knitting wise in the house and putting it on to a flickr account and looking at Ravelry. This is a steep learning curve for me!

Anyway - need to go to bed as have to see man about new job in the morning and don't want to look like Bride of Dracula (well, maybe that will take more than a good night's sleep...)

Here is a picture of small dog: awww! He found camping in the 'summer' very confusing - I think he thought we were completely mad! (Maybe he had a point this summer...). see y'all later...