oh b**her!!!***!!!

I am typing this very a.m., for me that is, sitting in my dressing gown quietly fuming while I wait for the utility floor to dry. Why? Because our American fridge is going to that great white goods home in the sky (although actually it was a very fetching stainless steel). On Tuesday we callously went shopping, leaving it home alone, so it blew a fuse, as we discovered when we went to store said shopping in its capacious interior. We replaced the fuse, and all seemed to be well, but the freezer was quietly defrosting all the while, as I discovered when I stepped up to my ankles in water in the dim light of early evening.

So we switched it off for a rest, poor soul, and next day the fridge-mending genius came round to minister unto. Hmm. He said the something-or-other had gone, and quoted a price to repair it which I cannot repeat here, because I would have to swear, and this is a family blog!!

Now this is particularly annoying at this time, because we are hoping to move to the country, and have been nursing all our white goods, and indeed a great many other things, on the basis that 'we'll get a new one for the new house'. Of course, in the present economic climate, this could go on for a very long time. Already we are having to kidglove the dryer, which is very testy. And we have to have a dryer here, because we can't hang washing on the twelfth floor of a tower block. And it has to be a cash-eating condenser monster because we don't have an outlet - so all the more reason for not buying before we go, blah, blah, blah!

So nothing for it but to ditch the big American and buy a little Brit!! Just to tide us over, until we know what we're doing, I mean where we're going, because I don't think we ever know what we're doing. This will cost us a quarter of what it will cost to repair the US monster.

So then the saga of putting the old fridge out for collection began. Which went like this: turn off the water supply (it had an icemaker and water fountain), disconnect without drowning myself again. Push out through utility door. ???!!!??? Utility door narrower than fridge. Hmm. Right said Fred, have to take the door off ... Which door though, kitchen or fridge (two doors)? Fridge then. Because a) they don't matter any more, and b) we won't have to put them back on - genius, eh? First door comes off without a problem, so can leave husband to it and get on with my blog, which is way overdue. 3 screws and we're done. Second door also only 3 screws, so no problem ... I continue blogging happily. An hour, many interesting words and some dozen spanners later, several large hammer blows sound from utility and door cedes. I stop blogging and go to the aid of husband, now huffing and puffing and in a muck sweat. Realise have to sever a pipe. Realise that this will cause a leak. Realise we will have to put plastic bags under fridge outside to catch any drips. Realise must move fridge back to get at plastic bags. Mutter, mutter, mutter (more words not suitable for family blog). Finally succeed in parking fridge, doors and all, on landing.

So that's why I'm up at the crack blogging. In an uncharacteristic bout of houseproud spring-cleaning, I have determined that all shall be pristine to make the new fridge feel at home. Thus here I am, having stripped and rinsed the Amtico, waiting for the utility floor to dry, so I can add floor dressing. And then go and have my bath. And then start my day, already knackered. Grrrrr ......

too busy to blog ...

Between visits to and from grandchildren and assorted family, I have been knitting apace, hence no time to blog.

Which means that I now have three beautiful things to show. The first is my Princess Shawl. I have finished the first of four borders:

This is a detail of a feather:

And here is the sprouting seed motif:

No. 2 On top of that, I have been working busily on the beautiful Diagonal Kimono:

The pattern is from from Jamieson's Shetland Knitting Book 1, using their lovely shetland double knit. It is interesting to knit, because it starts with two triangles, which are then knit together, mitring the middle and increasing the edges until it is gradually decreased from both sides to make a rectangle out of two matching pieces of diagonal knitting.

My final beautiful thing is the Big Retro man's sweater I am knitting for No. 1 Son. The pattern is out of the Men's Knits supplement from the January 2009 edition of Knitting magazine, using 4 mm needles and Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK. My son chose the colour, Mocha, which is a pale-ish brown. I think he's got really good taste, but then, I would say that, wouldn't I! ;) The yarn knits up in an interesting fashion, because it has a twist in it, which makes the right-hand side of the stitches look somewhat like a rope, while the left-hand side forms a simple line. I'm still trying to work out why!? ;)

I'm off again tomorrow, so probably no blog until next week, but I'll be taking some of my knitting, and seeing the lovely Ellie, so I'm happy bunny! ;)

I can want apple ...

Very busy this weekend entertaining my young grandson Luke and his parents. At 2 years 2 months he is really getting into his verbal stride. Two weeks ago most of his language consisted of one and two-word utterances, not all of which were intelligible. Now he can do sentences, as, when in the bath wanting to finish his fruit, he said 'I can want apple!' Which I think beautifully sums up his feelings:

Some time earlier, his cousin Ellie, a little older and also on a visit, was not to be outdone when she showed off her beautiful new hat:

My son-in-law Andy, Luke's dad, cooked us a sumptuous Valentine's Day meal of scallops on pureed cauliflower, followed by Beef Wellington (the beef fillet supplied by his local farm shop - delicious) and then panna cotta. How nice to have a son-in-law who is an excellent chef!

As a third beautiful thing I offer a poor thing, but mine own. The hat I designed and knit from some left-over yarn (i.e., stash - yay!!) for Ellie's Pooh bear. Well, he seems to like it, and Ellie is very pleased. Who else matters? ;)

I should perhaps point out that the excellent trousers were knit by Ellie's Danish grandmother, who is called Beste. Now as this is short for Bestemor, which could be translated as 'best mother', I think that is a very fine word indeed for grandmother! ;))))

still away ... so just three beautiful things ...

I am staying with daughter Imogen and granddaughter Ellie still, but can blog on the Mac there.  I must say I do like the Mac.  Its lovely clean lines, and the keyboard's so comfortable.  It doesn't have a nasty plastic feel about it, and the keys feel really responsive.  Mmm, maybe next time a Mac???

So today I am going to do three beautiful things, and the first one is my daughter's Mac.

The second one is my lovely granddaughter, although I can't show you a picture today, but she is really chatty now and we have wonderful conversations about why the snowman has melted, and we haven't!

Third beautiful thing, although again no picture, but I have finished the second page of my Princess border on the first side and am therefore effectively on the home run!  Pictures later in the week.

Rugby comes first!

No time to blog today, because I shall be knitting furiously while I watch the England:Italy 6 Nations match, with everything crossed! ;) (now that should be interesting, knitting with fingers crossed - I know sometimes they get that way when attempting something complex, but actually to knit that way, hmm - will report back later! ;))

They have never lost yet to Italy in a 6 Nations match, but the way they played in the autumn internationals ... still I live in hope of a good start to this year's competition.

More tomorrow.

PS.: the snow has cleared from here, but the forecast's a bit iffey still. I must say, I rather like the snow. It brings a hushed beauty to even the most ugly urban sprawl. Also it serves us humans with a well-timed reminder that we are not completely in control. I know that's a point of view that's likely to make me unpopular, but there you go! :)

'Swing low, sweet chariots ...'

still not just the Princess ..

I finally overcame my reluctance to block the Cap Shawl, so here it is:


I realised that my tardiness was born of my puzzlement as to how to block it, because it has 9 segments. In the end I just got down on hands and knees with the pins and did it by eye. I really love how the patterns have turned out. Here the centre, which turns out like star points:

Here a close up of the lovely six-pointed stars that arise within the star points:

Finally the leaf pattern that fills in the segments between the star points, which I absolutely love:

The shawl came out at about 67" diameter, slightly smaller than the original in Jane Sowerby's book, but that's because I deliberately used a smaller needle. I love everything about this shawl, but especially the wonderful merino lace weight yarn in emerald from Heirloom Knitting.

not just the Princess ...

Although the Princess is demanding most of my attention at the moment - as a Princess should, of course, sometimes I do other knitting. Lately I have completed another little scarf for my mother, with the remaining ball of yarn she acquired for the extravagant sum of 0.69 pence!

She required something not too long, nor wide. This blocked to 14 by 40 inches. I wanted it be fairly easy, with few joins, so I kind of adapted the Orenburg shawl idea, by starting with knitting the bottom border. I made up a very simple pattern and knit an appropriate number of points, including some to turn the corner:



Then I picked up the stitches I needed for the centre, keeping the border going at either side. For the centre I took the Fishtail Pattern (Kalasabakiri) from Nancy Bush's wonderful book, Knitted Lace of Estonia:



Finally I knitted the top border, knitting in one stitch from the centre with every second row, and grafted the two ends of the border, giving this as the result:



Now I wait for the final verdict from its recipient, my sternest critic, my mother! ;) (I confess the final corner is a little wonky, but I plead running out of yarn!)

BTW.: please don't think for one moment I put myself in the same class as either the Orenburg knitters, or Nancy Bush. But I sit at their feet and learn.

My cap shawl is blocking as I write - watch this space tomorrow.

Barbisnow

Now I know that there are people out there who often have snow. Real, heavy, long-lasting snow. Six months of the year type snow. Feet deep drifting snow. Still, this much snow in London really does seem worth mentioning. Never mind the moans and groans about insufficient gritting, buses not running, etc. I give you - The View from my Window in the heart of the City of London:



Pretty, isn't it? Even the dolphins seem impressed by their snow 'caps' and their frozen pond:



The bare tree branches take on a new beauty against the stark concrete outlines of the tower blocks, which are themselves edged with white icing:


Someone has built a pussy cat snowman, complete with twig tail, photographed here with Peter in his winter anorak, hoping I won't make him pose for too long in the still falling snow:

Daughter Kathy tells me grandson Luke, two years old, was unimpressed and preferred to return indoors to Thomas the tank engine. Imogen's daughter Ellie, two years seven months, however, was keen to play out for a little longer, until she decided it was altogether too cold. And my son Jos in Killarney was mocking us with bright sunshine! What a pity there's never much when I visit them.

But hey, the snow's great, I love it. Everything to its season! ;))

busy doing nothing ...

Spent the day running on slow, trying to catch up on my rest and laundry! The joy of idling in bed finishing my book - Parky, Michael Parkinson's autobiography. What a wonderful life he has had, what wonderful people he has met. Plus he comes from Yorkshire, so he's a good bloke anyway!

Today is Kathy's (my second daughter) birthday - Happy Birthday, Kathy!! I am always staggered to look back on the birthday of one of my children - much more than my own - and realise how far they, and I, have come since they were born. I recall the long and often difficult years I struggled to give them all a decent life and education. Now it's over to them, while I enjoy my place in the sun. Sometimes I still feel uncomfortable about the fact I am not tearing myself out of bed at silly o'clock to get children off to school and myself to work. Then I tell myself I've earned the right to relax, and take out my book or my knitting!

The upbringing I received implanted a permanent fear of idleness, of not doing enough, of not being useful. If I came home with full marks for a French test, I was admonished for 'not getting any marks for good handwriting', even though such were not available. Unqualified praise was deemed to risk spoiling a child, by making her big-headed. If you did well, it was taken as read. If you did badly, woe betide. Only now am I beginning to clear away all that corrosive fear, and give myself some credit for my achievements, not least of which, for me in any event, is my four beautiful children and their children. And they themselves have helped me in that, through their love. So once again, Happy Birthday, Kathy.

all good things ...

... come to an end! So now all grandchildren and parents have gone home, and I am left with as much time as I like to myself - so of course, I don't like! Human beings are so contrary, aren't they?

But I've had a great time, even if I am totally exhausted. Yesterday I was round the galleries with Finn's Irish grandfather, Dermot. He's an artist of no small talent, and came over with Jos and Lisa and Finn to see what's on show. Walking down New Bond Street, we were passing Sotheby's auction house. They were advertising viewing for their forthcoming sale of Impressionist paintings, and Dermot had the genial idea of going in for a look. Now I have been down New Bond Street past Sotheby's more times than I care to remember, and I would never have thought of going in.

But in we go, and first off the doorman is from Cahirceveen, so he and Dermot get to chatting like long lost brothers. Then we go round the viewing, and it's fantastic. Lots of unusual paintings, not the usual suspects at all. Bonnards that aren't 'Nude bathing', and Renoirs that aren't blowsy women. Plus lots of wonderful paintings from both well and lesser known Impressionists.

So the moral is? Sometimes it takes someone else to come along and shake one out of one's rut, make one do something different, to make the day. Thanks, Dermot. :)

'My Princess'

Well, here at long last: more progress on my Princess Shawl. She's obviously not looking her best, because she's not blocked. But in my eyes, she's beautiful - still I'm not being boastful, it's just that Sharon's design is so fantastic. I find knitting the border somehow much easier than the edging - how weird is that??
Sadly, the really zinging colour (Gossamer CashSilk - Viola) doesn't show up to well in my lousy photos, but believe me, it's gorgeous. The yarn is a little unforgiving, because the silk in it makes it quite slippy - so dropping stitches is a nightmare, but tinking is easy - swings and roundabouts, eh what?! ;)

Princess Shawl: detail (unblocked):


Princess Shawl so far, edging and border (unblocked):

This weekend I am looking forward to a positive grandchildren-fest!! I shall be looking after Ellie while her parents are moving house, but I shall also see baby Finn, because his family is coming over so that Dad Jos can help with the move. And to cap it all, I am taking Ellie to visit Luke and family on Sunday. I am so-o-o-o-o excited! Until then, knitting and reading.

In fact, I have finished reading The Tale of Genji. It was a big read, and has taken for ever!!! and I'm generally a quick reader. But it really takes a lot of getting to grips with, so I sent for The Tale of Genji: A Reader's Guide, by William J. Puette to help me understand it. In fact, I am so taken with it, and yet so unsure of what I have read, that I think I'm going to order the E.G. Seidensticker translation to help me get to grips with it!! How's that for dedication?

Finally, if my Princess is my first beautiful thing, my second is my grandkids, and my third is The Tale of Genji, where do I put President Obama?

Well, I'm old enough to remember Kennedy's inauguration, and the massive swell of hope that it brought with it. I was still at school then, and it inspired me and my generation (the oft-maligned sixties baby-boomers) with a new and fresh idealism that outlived his early death, as well as those of his brother Robert and of Martin Luther King. And I can honestly say, this is the first time since the dashing of all those hopes by the dismal seventies and the cynical eighties, that I feel the stirring of real promise for a better future. So I say to those in the United States of America, well done! Hopefully we in the UK will soon be given the chance to make the same choice. I and many like me, including my children, who have hitherto been disaffected from politics, maybe because of the withering of OUR sixties dreams, look forward to a new era when the President of the United States sets the tone for world leaders in looking for real solutions to the problems of inequality both within and beyond our western democracies. All hail to the chief ....

Not much to report today, except that my mum is very pleased with her scarf, so has ordered another with the second ball, so now I am looking for another allover pattern, for variety.

My Princess is coming on quite well now, so I shall take pictures soon, when I feel there's enough to make it worthwhile showing it.

In the meantime, I persevere with The Tale of Genji. It does get easier as I go along, although it is still difficult, keeping track of all the characters. But I am enjoying it, in a strange way, when I can overcome my irritation at the place of women in that society. How much we women in western democracies have to be grateful, in spite of all their imperfections!

My special joy right now is the knowledge that in a week's time I shall see Ellie [second granddaughter, two and a half] and Finn [second grandson, 6 months]! :))))) [and their parents too, of course ;)]

beautiful, beautiful boy ...

Spent some time with my middle daughter and took a picture of my darling grandson Luke in the new Chinese silk pyjamas I brought back for him from Singapore. I know I have a grandmotherly bias, but he is a beautiful boy!

Have still no pictures of the cap shawl, because I haven't had time to block it yet. However, I do have a good excuse, sorry, reason. My mother acquired some white fluffy yarn, Sirdar Blur with kid mohair, very cheaply in a sale and asked me to make her a little scarf. The yarn arrived on Saturday, and I finished today, so here it is, a small thing, but mine own:

In addition I am reading The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, a Japanese gentlewoman, writing in the 10th Century. Although interesting, it is not an easy read, not least because it is quite difficult to keep a handle on all the characters. But I persevere because it intrigues me, and gives such insight into its time and personae, i.e., ninth century Japanese aristocracy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Having been berated by one of my daughters (she knows who she is ... =[ ) for the lack of blog, I guess I'd better start up again. Had a great Christmas in Singapore with my stepson and his family.

It was my first ever hot Christmas. Walking on a sandy beach in 34°C being serenaded by 'Sleighbells ring, snows a-glistening' was more than a bit weird.

Singapore seems to make even more of a (commercial) fuss about Christmas than we do.

The most amazing thing I saw was this Christmas 'tree', made of red, white and green teddy bears.

The Christmas trees generally were pretty gob-smacking!
















On Christmas day itself we went to the American Club and ate and drank ourselves silly from an immense buffet which in addition to traditional Christmas grub had several different roasts, as well as Chinese and Malay food, and a chocolate fountain. Then we repaired to someone's house for further celebrations, only going inside to be refreshed by the air-con, when it got too hot to stay outdoors, even in the shade! ;)


Another delight was our final two days at the Santoza resort hotel and spa. One morning we went for a walk down to the beach, then up to the Merlion, symbol of Singapore:

I then went for a fairly energetic swim in the spa pool. After a mudbath (mud imported specially from New Zealand) I put myself in the wonderful hands of a therapist for a two and a half hour massage which left me feeling so relaxed it was like having no bones. Then I ruined it all when we went to their gourmet restaurant for dinner!

In the meantime I continue to knit. Have nearly finished the cap shawl, but no photos right now, because my camera is sulking. Maybe tomorrow.

Oh dear, I have been very remiss about blogging, haven’t I? L but I have been very busy, so perhaps I can be forgiven.

At the end of November I went to Killarney to visit No. 1 son, his lovely girlfriend Lisa, and my darling 5-month old grandson, Finn. For the first time in all my visits the weather was beautiful, and I had great fun walking the babe and visiting all sorts of things. The whole family travelled back with me, and stayed for almost a week.

On Saturday, 6th December I drove Jos and Finn to a sponsorship launch for his friend Richard Hume, who together with Tom Barnes is going to row the Atlantic next year to raise funds for Ataxia UK. Richard is godfather to Finn, and a fabulous person who overcomes his own physical problems to do these great things. This is a very worthy cause, as Ataxia strikes down young, healthy people, and does not get nearly enough funds, so do look at the website, and then support them in this great project. Imagine rowing the Atlantic in this little boat?

As usual, Finn played to an audience, and delighted all who saw him, including his other godfather, Pete, who was also there:

On Sunday, 7th my first grandson Luke had his second birthday party – how the time has flown since he made his debut in this world. I have been reading The Baby in the Mirror: A Child’s World from Birth to Three by Charles Ferneyhough, and it describes so interestingly how a child develops his/her personality over the first three years, that I cannot recommend it too highly. I was also able to see the difference that six months makes, by the way his older cousin Ellie behaves in comparison. And of course, joy of joys, my youngest grandchild was able to be present, although I don’t suppose he was aware of how wonderful it was to have all three of them together!

Since Jos and family returned home to Ireland I have been rushing around trying to get everything ready for our departure to spend Christmas with Peter’s son Simon and his family in Singapore. At the same time, precisely because of that departure, I had to prepare and present a pre-Christmas lunch on Saturday gone for two of my children and their families plus my mother!

On Friday last when my mother arrived in London I took her to the new Westfield shopping centre in White City. I have to admit that I, who am no consumerist shopaholic, quite the opposite in fact, was impressed. So much so that I even ended up buying things, mostly Christmas presents, but also a gorgeous cashmere jumper for myself! Oh well, it’s Christmas ain’t it? Surely goodwill to all men should apply to oneself too?

On Sunday I left my mother in the good care of my daughter Kathy, with husband Andy and son Luke. Of course my mother was delighted to spend time with her great grandson, and Andy, who is as I believe I said before an ace cook, produced a lovely lunch for her. The reason for this abandonment was to take husband Peter, who will be 79 tomorrow, to the new (-ish) Wembley stadium to see the Race of Champions. I should explain my l-sh (long-suffering husband) is a Formula 1 fanatic who used in a previous life BI (before Ingrid) to mix in the paddock with all the greats at Formula 1 races throughout Europe. So when I heard of the ROC, I knew that I just had to get tickets for his birthday treat. He had no idea where I was taking him until we got there, when he was just blown away. His hero Lewis Hamilton was there, as well Jensen Button, David Coulthard, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, and numerous rally champions.

And I should add, I had a wonderful time myself, cheering myself hoarse. Hamilton and Coulthard drove their Formula 1 cars around between the races, and we had a fabulous afternoon. And what’s more, the new Wembley Stadium is so impressive. The facilities are great and the arch looks great against the sky at night. Plus I got mega mega brownie points!! ;)))

So what about the knitting, I hear all you knits out there cry? Well, I have been getting on with my Princess; I am now on to the main border. And for in between times I am working on the Cap Shawl from Jane Sowerby’s Victorian Lace Knitting (pp. 28-9). I am using Heirloom Knitting’s Merino Lace in Emerald Green, and KnitPick’s Harmony Wood Circulars, 4mm. These last are from my fantastic Christmas present from l-sh (see above, and yes, I did prompt him! ;) in my defence, he likes to be prompted, because he says he can never think of anything – which is not true, because he has in the past bought me wonderful jewelry, some of which he designed himself!). They are the Royale Harmony Interchangeable Boxed Set (Gold Plated), and I am in love with these beauties. I now just have to get some of the bigger dpns to complete my collection of Harmony Woods.

So they are the first of my three beautiful things tonight:

The second is my finished Honeybee stole, blocked:

And last but not least, the third is the first picture ever of my three youngest grandchildren all together under one roof, with their proud parents:

honeybee stole

Spent the w/e looking after my beautiful grandson Luke (to anybody who thinks references to grandchildren are de trop, I'm sorry, but it's my blog, and I am biassed!!). He is almost two, so there is no rest when he is awake, him being old enough to have strength, but not old enough to have sense! So my w/e end was largely spent on hands and knees playing with trains, puzzles and blocks. Great fun, so no blogging, but I did manage to get a fair bit of knitting done on the rare occasions when he slept. Not the Princess, which would have been way too complex, but the Honeybee Stole, another of Anne Hanson's wonderful designs. This too is in Wooly Wonka's hand-dyed merino laceweight yarn, this time in Tupelo Gold. The colour is stunning, and the yarn is delightful to knit with. Here's the story so far:

Honeybee Stole (unblocked):

Honeybee Stole detail: beehives (unblocked):

Honeybee Stole detail: swarm (unblocked):

Honeybee Stole detail: bees and honeycomb (unblocked):

I particularly like the honeycomb stitch, so much that I am thinking of trying to use it on a top, as I think it would make a terrific allover design.

So that is my first beautiful thing today! My second is my grandson, here learning to cook with his dad, Andy. His dad is a terrific cook and made us a magnificent bolognaise sauce before he left. At this rate, Luke is destined to be a chef, he gets and appreciates the best food, and already helps dad in the kitchen.

And my third? Snow. Yup, snow. I didn't get a picture before it melted, but on Sunday a.m. the world was white, with big fat flakes falling, so beautiful. Snow. Or as Luke would say, snnnooow!! ;))))

the finished article ...

At long last, my Bee Fields Shawl is finished, washed and blocked. I just love this shawl: I love the patterns; I love the way they all come together; I especially like the way the shading of the yarn works with the patterns. I am usually a purist when it comes to lace knitting. I like nothing better than a plain, preferably pale (read white or cream) shetland style yarn. But this I like, it works really well and I am well pleased. And it snuggles cosily around my shoulders. So here goes, da daa ....

Bee Fields Shawl, blocked:

Bee Fields Shawl, detail 1, beehives, blocked:

Bee Fields Shawl, detail 2, swarm, blocked:

Bee Fields Shawl, detail 3, bee in field and edging, blocked:

I struggled a bit with the blocking. I generally use blocking wires, but the edging on the shawl is quite complex. In the finish I got round it by using wires and then pinning out extra bits. I'm reasonably happy with the results. However, my knees didn't thank me! I prefer to block on the floor, because I like to block fairly fiercely and I find that harder on a soft surface like a bed. This one I didn't block quite so fiercely because I wanted to retain some of the texture of the knitting patterns.

Now I am already quite a way up the Honeybee Stole. Fortunately this is proving a quick knit, so I can alternate it with the Princess edging, which definitely isn't. I'm not entirely sure why, except I think it's the yarn. I am using Gossamer CashSilk, which is slightly unforgiving. It is quite slippy, and can split if one isn't ultra careful. Still, I am enjoying it, as long as I take it in small bites. And I've nearly finished the forty points for the first side, so no complaints.

My cold has almost left me, thank goodness, as I am off to mind grandson Luke for the weekend tomorrow. It's the first time I'll have had sole responsibility for him overnight, so I've lots of plans to keep him happily occupied, to stop him missing his parents, who are off to a farewell do. Happy days! ;)