A little reflection.

I finished part of my friend's Yule and birthday presents, and as I finished "it" off, and started one last thing, a thought came to me.
The thought was how both Oliver and Edwin reacted the same after they had opened the socks that I knitted for them for Xmas.
They both did exactly the same thing, only three days apart.  Xmas day, Oliver opened his present, then pulled off the socks he was wearing, and put the hand knitted ones on. Three days later, Edwin did the same.
Although Kerry is not getting socks, I really hope that she reacts the same way, with obvious pleasure.

Creative Swatch, or Edwin's exhibition

Yesterday evening I went to Edwin's exhibition of degree work.
It was titled "Creative Swatch", and was exhibiting the work of Edwin, and his cohort's degree work.
I bought a copy of his first comic, and a birthday card designed by another artist.
They must have had a brief to design cards for occasions, as several had displayed their cards. I was lucky enough to have a card designed by Edwin for Mother's day this year. Oliver and their Dad also got cards.
I was impressed by the quality of the art work on show.
We did have a look at some of the other areas, before going into the Creative Swatch exhibition.
It was good to see the results of what must have been some very hard work.
Well done Edwin, and all the others exhibiting.

Cars!

Is it really worth me having a car?  I have wondered this a few times recently.  My car spends more time parked outside the house than it does going anywhere.  To give you another illustration of how infrequently I use my car I'll say that yesterday is only the third time id have put fuel into it, the previous being mid to late April and the very first time was the day in January when I brought her, Aurora Rover, home.
Yesterday, Edwin and I went to Carlisle to take some of his stuff up as he is going back on Sunday in readiness for his second year of his Illustration Honours course.
As we got near to the lowest of the Carlisle exits, (there are three,) the battery light came on, and didn't go off.  I did go off when we set off back, but soon came back on again, and stayed on for the rest of the journey home.
I rang John where I got the car from and he said it sounded like the alternator and I should bring it in this morning.
So, after a bad night's sleep, tense and tired from the drive, (I was worried that we wouldn't make it back home,) and Edwin had gone to a party, I thought he'd be back around two at the latest, but he wasn't back at gone five, but did come in around 5.30am.  So...I didn't sleep much last night, I took Aurora, she does need a new alternator, so that is an expense I hadn't anticipated. 
I'm really worn out now, and half asleep, due to the rather long walk back from John's, both dogs are flopped on the floor, dozing.  The funny thing is Spark, who was 12 on the 21st of August, seems to be less tired than Shadow, and she's not 8 until the 18th of this month.
If my arthritis wasn't getting worse I would seriously consider selling my car, but I don't think I should in the long run as there will come a time when I will need to use it more than I do now.

Tada!

After three afternoons painting gloss paint, (both Edwin and myself,) the dreaded gloss painting is complete.  I took Michael Gradwell's advice and put some music on and just absorbed myself in the painting.  Between us it took a total of 22 hours, there's an awful lot of woodwork in my stairs and landings.  But it looks great now, all white and shiny.
My next stage in decorating the landing and stairs, will be emulsioning the ceilings then putting up new light fittings and putting the smoke alarms back.  I hope to get that finished before I return to work.  The walls can then be done.
The butchered spindles don't look as bad painted white, mind you I did smooth parts of them down with the sander, but I had to leave the newel posts covered, as the person who boxed them in took 3/4 inch square chunks out of them in order to box them in, and sanding them down wouldn't make them look any better.
My list of jobs I hoped to do over the holiday is dwindling, and I am still managing to try at least one new recipe per week, which is good.  This weeks recipe is pain au chocolat.  The dough is currently rising and has to for a further two hours, before I have to start to shape it by rolling it out, dotting with butter, folding, and repeating twice.  I'm sure Edwin will appreciate them.

Early birthday pressie

Thanks to Samantha, John, Oliver, Edwin and Becki for taking me to Saffron tonight for a meal.
It was an early birthday pressie, and Samantha rang me on Wednesday asking me what I was doing Friday night....When I said nothing much she told me she'd booked a table at Saffron on Friday night, and she was treating me for my birthday!
***Happy Dance***
I really do like Indian food.  Saffron is a "BYOB" place, with a corkage charge.
We had a lovely evening, and I did wonder if Oliver would come as he is off to Italy next weekend.
***Smiley face*** Yes, he did, he has brought me a tiny owl ornament from his trip to Japan.
Right now I am full of delicious food, and happy

Sad Saturday

Edwin went back to Uni this morning.  
Well, actually, his Dad picked him up, they dropped his stuff of at the halls of residence, then went up to Hadrian's Wall.
I striped his bed and washed and dried the bedding.  Now it's fresh as a daisy for when he comes back again at the end of the semester.  Becki was here as well, but she has gone to see her Grandad on her Dad's side.
Yeah! It's quiet, there's no one else here and I can please myself exactly what I do, but do you know something?  I'd rather have other people here.

On that topic, perhaps I should update you how disastrously the trying to find someone is going.
Over half term I eventually met a bloke for tea and a chat.  Snow had stopped us meeting once, and I was nervous, so I took a few days to contact him again. He took even longer to get back to me.  The upshot is, I think he was seeing who else he could find, and keeping me in "reserve". I'm not being anyone's second best.
And today I just logged into the site and got a pop-up asking me to chat to a certain user. I had a quick look at his profile....it looked OK so I accepted the invitation, within two messages, he'd switched on his webcam, no warning and was rummaging in his underpants, no sign of his face.  So, I've blocked him. 
I do seriously wonder if there are any normal people on dating sites any more, as this is the second time I've had someone be "over familiar" with me.  I really don't know what is wrong with these men.  They put on their profile that they are looking for a serious relationship, yet obviously just want , to put it crudely, a quick thrill.

I really don't think I'll bother, maybe one day I'll be lucky enough to meet someone in the same way I met my lovely Lithuanian friend...who knows?

Pancakes

It was pancake day yesterday, and because Edwin is now away at uni I thought I'd either not bother, or buy some ready made ones.  Because, although I am confident with most stuff in the kitchen, I am absolutely useless at making pancakes.  All three of my children are good at making pancakes as a result. ROFL....well they had to learn how to make them, or do without
I opted for buying some ready made pancakes, and I really wish I hadn't bothered as while they might be pancakes, they are not the usual ones made in the UK. 
Pancakes are made with a batter, and could be made into Yorkshire puddings instead of pancakes.  But these ones didn't look like the ones made from standard batter, and when I looked at the list of ingredients, there's sugar in them.  I can tell you now, they certainly made my savoury filling taste odd. 
So...next time, I'll either make scotch pancakes, which I can make, or do without.

2012!

Started pretty innocuously.
Nothing much doing.
Then February came around...Aunty Sylvia, Mum's twin came over to UK, from France, as it was cousin David's 50th.  She had heart problems and was admitted to Blackpool Vic .
My Dad died, the day before Oliver's 23rd birthday.
Baby, Amelia May Hooson was born....on time..a first for a Hooson, on 2nd March 2012.  Just a few minutes before Dad's funeral.
April, Ann was 50.
May, not much.
June, Samantha was 25.
July..again nothing much here, but Olympics started.
August, same as July.
September, Edwin left for Carlisle to study/read illustration.  First time properly, I was left alone or more than 24 hours.
October, Mum's first birthday without Dad around, plus Ofsted in at work.
November...just flew by.
December...at least I saw Oliver and Edwin over the festive season.

Equipment for university

I think I might have got most of the stuff that Edwin needs to take with him to university in September now.
Today I have been buying him some more kitchen stuff.
two knives, a small  one and a larger one. Decided to buy Sabatier ones as they were only slightly dearer and they are guaranteed for 15 years.
Kitchen shears, for chopping stuff in the kitchen when a knife just won't do.
Two wooden spatulas and a wooden spoon.
Oven gloves
cutlery
roasting tin
grater.

That was all on a trip to Asda.  I have bought other stuff such as a wok, frying pan, steamer, , and loads of other kitchen things.
Edwin is going in self catering halls.
Bedding, towels, etc will be sorted out from home, and I bought him a stash of sketchbooks so that he doesn't have to worry about trying to find some.  I bought him 6 Fat Eco Pigs size A4, and six A3 ones and a normal thickness A2 sketchbook as well. The sketchbooks are from a company called The Pink Pig in Huddersfield, school where I work get there's from the same company which is how I knew where to get them from.  (I have been Art technician at one point.) A lot of his art equipment lives in stacking boxes when not being used so it will just be a case of making sure that what he wants to take with him is in the boxes.

I know I'll miss Edwin, but I know that he will thoroughly enjoy his time at uni and might miss me a little bit, but he is starting out on his adult life.  A thing that all of us have to do at one time or another in their life.

New baby

My neighbour has had her baby. It's her second and she's been lucky in having a girl this time. I know she wanted a girl. So now I have to sew buttons on one of the baby jackets I have been making. Also another colleague has had her baby, another girl, and another neighbour has had a baby girl, too. Later on I'll post on my craft blog Fidgetty Fingers with a picture
There is a picture of the baby hats I have been making. As Edwin is having a "get together" tonight I may get around to posting a picture later on today, because at 18, I think they don't really need me around so much....perhaps just to produce a bit of something to eat around 10pm.

Early start

I woke at around 6.30am this morning, and after lying there listening to music for about 40 minutes I decided to get up.
I'm sure I'm going to meet myself coming back today. I've finished taping all the music I was going to tape, done two lots of washing, caught up ...almost...on blogs, I don't have a photograph of something I made for Edwin, but that can soon be remedied. I've got some meat ready for when my "someone special" returns home, it just needs to be turned on and cooked.
Yesterday, I had a "baking and cooking day". I made tomato and lentil soup, black rye bread, two cakes, and two lots of chocolate chip cookies. I also sewed up the jumper I have just finished knitting, and sewed some of Blue's dressing gown. I SHOULD have been worn out today, I usually am when I've had a busy day, but don't feel the slightest bit tired, despite having been awake since 6.30.
The sun is shining and the wind is blowing, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if the washing is almost dry and ready for ironing.

Edwin's birthday, and other stuff

Today, 27th March is Edwin's birthday. He has friends around, they have calmed down now, and are playing cheat. One of them is falling asleep.
Oliver is back from University for Easter, and I saw my love this morning. So all in all today is a good day.
Colleagues have been upset at work this week by the highest tier of management. If they carry on as they are doing they will alienate 99% of the staff, and when they leave...NO ONE will miss them!
One of the incidents was a very public denunciation of a member of staff, for organising a "staff association"...Senior management are never asked to these meetings. Yet the organiser was told they were not allowed to do that?
One rule for them, another for us? Senior management have regular meetings ...to which none of the other staff are invited. Usually if senior management want to meet with a member of staff...it is best to take your union rep along.

Ill and lack of sleep

I'm not in a very good mood today.
I've been cooking up a cold this past week, so much so that it made me have an asthma attack on Friday, so I spent most of Friday and yesterday in bed resting/sleeping.
Last night I was so tired I went to bed early. My youngest had gone out to a party. As luck would have it, it was being held in the flat where my daughter's bf lives. She and Becki brought him home, they rang me just as I'd managed to get to sleep..for around 30 mins.
So then I spent a very fitful night worrying about him and the neighbours....different ones from usual ...had a party that seemed to go on all night. Every so often a noisy bunch would erupt into their front yard, arguing, or just talking very loudly. The Police came to sort something out at 5am-ish, and took one person away in their van. So I had a lousy night, hardly slept, my temperature is all over the place. So, I'm a little bit grumpy at the moment, plus when I was just doing the ironing, Spark walked straight across me, I nearly fell over him, and he nearly knocked my ironing board with the iron on it over.
If I ate chocolate, I'm sure indulging would make me feel better.

Half term

I have never been so glad that half term has come around.
I have been falling asleep on my bed after a bath or shower. Work has been non-stop, but I have enjoyed it these last two weeks....even though my voice is unpredictable, and I seem to be needing my reliever inhaler at the mo...perhaps that is due to the flu jab I had last Thursday evening?
The Autumn/winter term is always the longest, and can drag in parts.
Today I cleaned all the cupboards and drawers in the food room, and parcelled the sewing machines up, so that they could be sent for service. Amongst other stuff. I was more or less flat out all day.
Perhaps I might have the energy to do something in half term? Who knows. Would love to finish the "Giraffes" UFO ...get Edwin's new room up and running.....etc
Would also love some time for me.

GCSE results day

Yesterday Edwin and Becki got their GCSE results. They both did really well, gaining the grades they required to continue along their chosen education paths. After collecting and checking their results at school, they then went to sign onto their 6th form options.
Becki is studying Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Music and General Studies, Edwin is studying Art, Geography, Media and General Studies.
Josh also got the grades he needed for the courses he wanted to do and Fluffy got the results she needed in the ones she wants to study, but did have a couple of disappointing results, but she's been having problems with going to school, she's signed up for the subjects she wants to do at our 6th form, and I am sure there will be a marked change in her attendance, as I know she wasn't comfortable at her other school.
Becki, Edwin and Josh had a celebration here last night, Becki's Mum is taking Becki and Edwin out for their tea tonight to celebrate.

Please can we start all over again?

The first week of my summer break has now passed.
Today I attended a BBQ hosted by other non-teaching staff. I took along 3 different potato salads, and a heap of mini tomatoes. And Spark and Shadow.

Those two thoroughly enjoyed themselves.......hoovering up dropped food, and being spoilt, and not being a nuisance.
I only have two more days until Edwin and Becki are back....but.....they are both going to work their very first festival a day after they return...so I won't see much of them for around a week.

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.

Part of my target reached...yay!!!!

you may wonder...what target?

I have just had two weeks off work, during which I intended to get some work done in the back bedroom, soon to be Edwin's new room.
Below is what I hoped to do
1) Paint woodwork of cupboard framework.
2) find suitable wood for shelves as in 1)
3) Source and attach doors to cupboard.
4) Cut, paint and fasten to wall baton for curtain rail
5) Attach curtain rail to 4)
6) Make curtains
7) hang curtains
8) Arrange, buy and have carpet fitted.

These jobs should have taken no more than a few days, unfortunately a really bad cold, then sciatica put paid to my plans.
I have however managed to get the curtains ready, and the curtain rail is ready to put up, more or less, but I can only say I have completed item 6 on the list. Still better than a slap in the belly with a wet kipper, as an old friend of mine used to say. I may have enough wood stashed away, and didn't realise. Ah well!
Maybe it will get done soon.
The plan was get it all ready so that when Edwin came back from Scotland, he would be surprised and all that remained would be to move his stuff in.

And on a totally different note, the dogs were clipped yesterday, and both look very smart. And I am sure secretly they are pleased the were clipped, as the weather has just turned quite warm, and Shadow looked like a teddy bear.

Mother's day :)

It's Mother's day in the UK today, Sunday 22nd March 2009.
Have been slightly spoilt today.
Sam gave me some Guinness and a Guinness glass, she also made me breakfast in bed..."get back in bed Mum!", dinner and tea.
Edwin gave me painting of an owl that he had done, and Oliver sent me text saying that he'd forgotten that there's no post on Sunday, and I have to look for postie tomorrow.
I feel spoilt today, for just being me, and doing "my job"
It has taken my mind off the fact that someone very close has found out their cancer has spread and they need an op. At worst...well...at best he will lose some of his voice. This has made me quite sad, I love him so much, and I know that he knows I love him, even though we never say such to each other any more, on the odd times we talk. after all, he's not supposed to talk at all.

Quiet week and weekend

It's been pretty quiet this week and weekend here, but then the week started with Edwin not being so well, tonsillitis, then I picked something up, nearly lost my voice and kept having choking fits, and now Sam has it. Coupled with that Sam managed to scratch her eye taking her contact lens out.
It was entertaining to see that PIRATES! had hijacked a supertanker. Anyone who reads my blog will know that my three are pirate mad. I love this adaptation of Kenya from Weebl's stuff on the pirate theme. (By the way they don't seem to be "growing out" of the pirate stage, suppose they never will. Perhaps I should join them and dress up as pirate myself next time they decide to.)