lovely peaceful evening

Not what I would have expected, but my friend's son came across to ask me about stuff. He's the same age as Samantha. We got talking, and spent a very pleasant evening together...just chatting and sharing a bottle of wine

Nope, don't want a toy boy, but I would love pleasant evenings more often!

Is cheating acceptable?

I know, a bit of a deep question, and my simple answer to the question is.......only when playing cheat, [the card game.] Otherwise, no I don't think it is.
This is my belief anyway, and I found out the hard way.
Mind you, some people just don't learn, do they?
I really suppose it depends how you were brought up, and if the values your parents taught you have any impact at all in your life.
So, when faced with the situation where I knew cheating would be taking place, and I knew I would end up hurt, feeling a bad about myself, I said "no". I realise the other person may not be awfully happy about this, but if they really are as honest as they say they are, it will make them think about what they were suggesting.
But, I can just about manage to play a game of cheat without giving myself away these days. I never win, but who cares, it's just a game and doesn't affect other people's lives. Perhaps that was what the person making the suggestion to me was thinking about their suggestion? If so, I feel quite sorry for them, because things that directly, or indirectly affect other people, are not games, at least they aren't to me. When you start to play with other people's lives in order to enjoy yourself, not caring who you hurt, you start to lose your humanity.
Just my opinion, but I won't change my mind about this particular situation.
In case you want to play "cheat" the card game, and don't know the rules, click here.

OK-ish

I went back to work today, and after a fitful night's sleep, it wasn't so bad.
Edwin has gone to his leaver's "prom" tonight with Becki, they both looked lovely.

Can I have a lifesize one please, Mum?

That's what Edwin said to me when I returned from walking the dogs earlier.
I've got a book on Amigurumi, and it has some really cute mini critters in it. Edwin has taken a shine to the octopus, and Becki the hermit crab. Although I told Edwin I wouldn't make a life size octopus for him. It'd take far too much yarn, and it isn't Amigurumi if it's big.
When I do make some there'll be pictures over on Fidgetty Fingers.
I forgot to say these are knitted ones, not crocheted like the bulk of Amigurumi patterns and books.

I don't get this

OK...what don't I get?
My house insurance is due at the end of the month, contents and buildings. [I have them both with same company]...as it means that if I have to claim...they can't say it ain't their responsibility.
Anyway...they called me today, and when I spoke to the person I told them I had been given a much lower quote. I realised it was an introductory quote, but I thought my premium had gone up a little more than necessary. Wonder of wonders...after being put on hold for 5+ minutes the advisor offered me a quote of around £50-£60 less than the original quote!
If they could offer me the amount the advisor confirmed...why the inflated quote? Do you only get a reduction if you ask for it?
Who knows?

Tying up loose ends

Oliver has gone down to Glastonbury this morning, Sam's already there. Must ring her tomorrow to wish her Happy Birthday. Edwin and Becki took their last exams, and it's two years since they started seeing each other. They are celebrating later on in the week though.

I parcelled up the things I have been making for Blue and sent them with the little man in the rowing boat. There are no books this time so perhaps he won't take as long?

I also filled in an application form for a job. All I have to do now is wait, see what comes of it, if anything.
So really I have spent the day tying up loose ends.

I did find time to finish the book that I had only just started though as well. It was one of those books that you just have to keep going back to and read a little bit more.
It's really quiet here, so am sat here listening to Greenday's newest album, to make it noisy .

Shopping

Had a very busy day today, sorting things out for the kids. Off to Glastonbury, then Europe, in one case, final exam then Scotland for a month, another, the other..."Muuuuuuum! can you take me to collect my car?"
In the course of the day we went to Asda, at one point I heard one customer say to their spouse..."it's a blind dog!".
OK...am sorry for this, but my mind went off at one of it's silly tangents, and I thought, "well, it's a good job there's someone with it!"

Bloggers beware!

Just seen this on the "News" on yahoo.
Apparently your identity can be revealed if necessary. I suppose that is why I have steered clear of saying anything too controversial on here, about others.
After all, if you say something, and it turns out to be untrue, it's slander, BUT if you put it in writing it's libel, and much easier to prove you have said something untrue. But saying that, I wouldn't put anything untrue anyway, and if you know me, you'd know that.
What a pity the blog in the article is now deleted, if it won a prize it must have been very well written.

Brown and green make purple?

Why the title?
Cos yesterday I went to see the asthma nurse, and she gave me another inhaler.....BUT....I no longer have to use two of my others. The new one is purple, and replaces the brown and green ones. If I like it, and get used to it, it means I will only have two inhalers to use in place of three. Which is good, as it also gives what takes me four breaths to take in just one.

BUT...have never tried mixing green with brown, apparently it does make purple when you mix the colours in art.

Things about me [4]

I like watching soaps.

Only British ones though, and not all of them though. Whittling down even more I like to watch Emmerdale, [originally Emmerdale Farm'] and Coronation Street. I sometimes watch Eastenders as well, but it can be a bit dismal at times, and I'm sorry, but I watch TV to be cheered up, not depressed.
Most of the British soaps have a certain "formula" that needs to be followed. There has to be at least two families, a pub, a shop, and a cafe. There can be places of employment that are local as well. That is about as close as it gets to real life, as if two characters ever meet and fancy a chat, they go to the pub, or the cafe, they rarely, if ever go back to their own house for a coffee and a natter.
Have just realised they all have garages that fix cars but don't sell fuel as well.
In Emmerdale there is a "rogue-ish" family, who sometimes get up to no good, but never mess on their own doorstep. If one of the family breaks this rule they are told to put things right straight away. And the fact that this family is also a source of many comedy moments tells the watchers they are not complete "baddies".
Emmerdale more accurately, to me shadows current events, as one of the businesses has gone bankrupt due to the recession, and they had a local council election when they were going on all over the UK.
There is one thing that puzzles me though. Did the Kings have all their suits repossessed when they went bankrupt? As you rarely see them in anything other than casual clothes these days.
I could go on for ages about things that amuse me in the soaps, perhaps I might pick it up another time.

Oliver's home!

YAY!!!!!
Oliver's home from uni for summer, but how long he'll be here I'm not sure.
I know he has plans to go around Europe during July, and he's working Glastonbury, with Sam and some others of their friends. I also think he is working Leeds Festival, so perhaps he won't be around much.
I've just put the second load of washing in, and think there isn't much more washing to do, perhaps he's been doing his own this semester.
Sam has gone to Accrington ready for her OU exam tomorrow, she's stopping in a 4 star hotel, overnight, so she doesn't get delayed in traffic in the morning and miss the start of the exam.

Earlier on I walked down to the market with the dogs only to walk past a prize giving of some runners. It's too hot to go running in the middle of the day. They were all looking rather exhausted, if they will run in the middle of the day, what to they expect?

New blog

I've created a new blog just for my "crafty" stuff, as it seems to be taking over here.
It's called Fidgetty Fingers, and I will be posting craft stuff there, with photos from now on.

Whoops!

In my last post I mentioned the mittens I had been making over the winter break, then I looked back. I mentioned them, but there were no finished photos, so I thought I'd better remedy that.

They aren't all there, but I can't for the life of me find the photo with them all on.

From top to bottom, goldfish, {this was not on the pattern, but I improvised,} Mice and Rabbits

Knitting without a pattern

A while back I found a crocheted "Cookie Monster" on Craftster, but not being over confident with crochet I decided that I would try to make a knitted version.
So, that's what I have been up to this last couple of days.
Armed just with an image of "cookie" I have been working him out. The yarn I am using is a long eyelash type and just the right colour. I have just to knit arms and an inner mouth now. The eyes won't be that difficult, as I will use the eye pattern from the mittens I have. [The one's I spent the winter break knitting.]

Lots to be proud of!

I came across this article, while trying to tell Blue about a very special cafe where I live. Apparently it is an experience you won't forget in a hurry when you go there. The cafe is number 98 on the list. I was surprised that there was so much "to be proud of" in the immediate area.

Finished already!

I couldn't get to sleep last night, so sat knitting, consequently I've finished the rainbow today. It's name in the book is "striped wedges". I had a trip into Lancaster today and bought a ball of violet wool, just standard DK to finish the rainbow properly. The photo has messed the last two colours up, but they are indigo and violet.

It's about a metre long, but very loose knit so will probably stretch.

I wouldn't mind doing this again in a thicker gauge yarn.

I woke with a start very early this morning, and was unable to get back to sleep, so my rainbow was finished in double quick time.

Another scarf in the making

I finished making Blue's backpack, and now am onto the other things I said I would make with the fabric.

I have also started another scarf from Lynne Barr's book. I forget the name of this one at the moment. In the book it is done in greys, black and white, but I thought it would lend itself to being a rainbow, this means a few more colours on it, but I'm sure it will look just as I want it to when I have finished.

Meanwhile, here's a work-in-progress picture of it. It's a bit squashed

up as it supposed to be knitted on a long circular needle. It will look ok when I have cast it off.

Evening wander

Just as I was about to walk the dogs tonight the phone rang.
I answered it, more than 40 minutes later I set off out with the dogs.
I took my time, and it was a darn sight colder than I expected, but I walked to the end of the Stone Jetty, and sat for a while watching the sun setting, but keeping an eye on the very heavy cloud creeping into the bay.
It felt cold enough to snow, and if there is snow on "them thar hills" in the morning, I won't be surprised. There was a definite chill in the air, and the wind was from the North East. If there is snow, I'll try to get a photograph, although....British Weather is known to be unpredictable.
I was out for the best part of an hour, not walking so fast, just strolling really.
I've worn Shadow and Spark out, and they are both spark out on the floor as I type.

Good news, bad news

The good news is the doctor agrees with me, and I am off work for a short while with stress.
The bad news, Mum phoned me this morning to let me know that my sister's brother-in-law has died. It is a shock in a way, and yet not at the same time.
Mark was in the same year as myself at college, and we introduced Ann and Paul to each other at a disco, the rest as they say, is history. Mark was best man at their wedding in February 1980, and I was bridesmaid.
He has been quite ill for some time, repeatedly being admitted to hospital. So in that way, it wasn't a shock, but ...he would have been 50 in November this year, not really a great age these days. I do regret not having been down to see him while he has been ill, but then again, I haven't been anywhere much myself, not having been in that good health lately.
He will be missed at Michelle's wedding in August of this year.

A trio of scarves

Over the past few weeks I have been knitting scarves from Lynne Barr's Knitting New Scarves, book.

I thought I'd share pictures of the completed scarves with you.

The black one is called "Black Pearls" in the book, and Sam specially requested it. I have only just finished it, and I think she went out to work with it on.

The other two don't have owners, as yet. The Purple one was a practice for me, to see how the pattern works, I've got some lovely variegated mohair to knit one in for myself.

What I love about the scarves in this book is that they are all experimental, and different. I will be knitting more of them. Black Pearls was the first time I have knitted on short double point needles. I bought some bamboo ones from the Bamboo Knitting Centre especially, they are an absolute pleasure to knit with, and even though the needles are short, I didn't get cramp in my hands once when using them.

Things about me [3]

I make the bed as soon as I get out of it.
I don't know why? It is just something I always do in a morning, usually the minute my feet have touched the floor.
I go into my kids rooms, and since we have lived here, I resist the temptation to straighten their bed.
I have my own reason for making mine when I get out of it, I dare say they have their own reasons for leaving them unmade. Although it could just be plain laziness.
I suppose it goes back to when I was young and Mum was working, so she didn't always have time to make our beds in the morning. Saying that, my sister always tended to leave her bed unmade, and still does now, and she's been married 29 years!
Ah, well, each to their own, but I like to get into a made bed at night, and not have to start straightening out a sleep tousled one.

Being ill

I hate being ill. I always have done, and am a lousy "patient" as I hate not being able to do things for myself.
However, since late last year/early this year I have had to adjust my outlook on things. After finding out I have a heart problem and asthma, I am having to adjust how I approach some things in life. Because of the asthma, certain painkillers can no longer be used, and there are others I couldn't use before, which leaves me with paracetamol.
At the moment I have a really bad wheezy chest that is making me have a barking cough and sore throat, also sending me dizzy when I cough. And when I saw the doc, he said my heart was racing and my temp was far too high. He gave me a course of steroids to take to get rid of the wheezing. They are beginning to ease me a little, but I am sleeping more than 12 hours at a time. And when I am awake I have little or no energy.
So, I suppose from now on, if I feel ill I may have to give in to it straight away rather than fight it. The other thing is, I don't think I'll be fit for work until Friday at the earliest, but if I leave it over the weekend, my strength should have rebuilt more. Before all this I just used to bounce back! Guess those days are over now, or at least until the heart and asthma are properly under control.
I'm sorry about the moan, but all these things are made worse by stress, and right now, although my pay packet doesn't say that I have a stressful job, it is very stressful.

Since records began and other dumb phrases

It's the "driest/wettest/coldest/windiest day" SINCE records began.
Was there no weather before the records?
I think this is becoming one of the most overused phrases in the language today, along with..."for the record" and "at the end of the day"
Jeez, can't people say something original!
The one of those that annoys me most is "at the end of the day"...that ain't what they mean 99.99999999% of the time, so WHY say it? I know, it was first used....mainly by footballers, but has been picked up by no-brainers, who think it is a good way to sum things up. most of the time the phrase has no bearing on the subject being discussed.