Monday

Good morning, everyone.  It's Monday, a new week begins and I have no idea what the weather is like because it's still completely dark outside!

Yesterday was lovely!  There were absolutely no holdups going there and none coming home again, my coach companion was a very pleasant lady and, while it was misty and gloomy going, by the time I emerged into daylight again, the sun was shining and the views across London were fantastic.  

I'll write about the actual day in another post.  I was so very tired yesterday evening, too tired to download my photos or take any photos of what I bought.  However, I did come home with ideas . . .

There weren't as many blanket projects as I remember from last year and none were new projects.  The Persian Tiles was there and, on YouTube, I saw that someone had turned the tiles idea into a full length cardigan.  It looked amazing but rather bulky and, while I loved it, the idea doesn't appeal.

Anita's 'Quiet Skies' (photo from her site) was there and I like it because I want to learn how to do diagonal colour joining properly.  It is like a proper patchwork quilt, isn't it.  I was sort of tempted but those are not the colours I would have chosen.  The pattern is for sale on her site and I am going to buy a digital download which will give me links to tuition videos.

Anita is the lady who designed the last two CALs I did, the Gifts one and the Trellis.  I knew she wasn't producing a Christmas CAL this year ( because I asked her on Facebook) and that was the inspiration to try to 'design' (for want of a better word) the Advent Calendar thing.

She does have some free patterns on her site - here's the link if anyone is interested.

https://madebyanita.co.uk/free-patterns

Another project that I'd like to know how to do is Janie Crow's Mystic Lanterns pattern.  This is an old one and the sample they had obviously been washed and ironed - it was very 'flat'.

I'm sure instructions are out there, somewhere.  I need to look.

Janie designed the Persian Tiles project and the photos is from the wool warehouse site.

Remember that Sunburst cardigan I made?  I said I would wear it to the show when I finished it and I did.  It was very comfortable over black leggings and a T shirt and attracted more attention than I was comfortable with at first.  So many lovely comments from people who came over to say how much they loved it, loved the colours, loved the design . . . stall holders too.  
Obviously, I didn't keep count but it must have been well over fifty people who came to speak to me about it.  Very encouraging and confidence creating, bless them.

I need to stop waffling now.  I have circuits first thing and then the diary is clear so I should have time to sort out my photos and do another post.
In the meanwhile, have a lovely day, everyone.  See you later.  xx

Sunday

Morning, everyone.  Just a quick one because I'm in the middle of getting ready and would like to be out of the house  in plenty of time - it's nice to be able to choose your parking spot!

Yesterday was another easy day although I didn't need to sleep.  I went to Morrisons yesterday afternoon and reckoned if I felt fine when I got home, I'd be OK for today.  I did and I am.  Yay!
I might get tired and I am taking a few of those covid masks, in case I cough, but I doubt I will need them.

Tomorrow will be a get-the-house-back-in- order-day - it's all a bit of a mess but not to worry.  It might be more of a mess once I unload my purchases this evening.  lol

Anyway - must go.  Have a lovely day.  xx

Saturday

Good morning, everyone.  Thank you so, so much for the lovely comments left yesterday.  You're all so very kind and I really appreciated them.  There's nothing like sympathy to cheer one up!  :-)

After a day filled with sleeping, hydrating, eating whatever was easiest, watching rubbish telly and crochet/knitting (in pretty much that order), I feel a fair bit better this morning, well enough to load and start off the dishwasher and to locate on Cookidoo and make in Thermione a very nice, very easy cream of mushroom soup using mushrooms that were on the edge of going off.
That's not as energetic as it sounds.  The soup is just chucking ingredients in, pressing the start button and letting Thermione do the hard work and the dish washer loading was preferable to the chaos above it!

I'm feeling tired now 😪

I didn't tell you about Beth's machine, did I?  She went in to Franklins and had, I gather, a most enjoyable time exploring what was available within her requirements and fairly reasonable price range.  The ended up with  a Juki DX 7.  On her text, she said:

It comes with a walking foot and a quilting platform and has a longer next than a lot of models.  5 year guarantee and I've put my name down for a class/course possibly in the New Year.
Oh, and it has a freehand quilting function, omg . . . 

Beth is very creative and artistic and that last bit is the best thing for her . . .

She added:

Apparently Juki is now the leading brand and Franklins supplied the Great British Sewing Bee with Juki brand models.  Reckon if it's good enough for GBSB it will do me.

And it is being delivered on Wednesday.
Am I jealous . . . ?  What do you think?  😉

I have never heard of the brand which shows how out of date I am.  Assuming I get to the Ally Pally tomorrow (and I think I will), I will look out for the name.

I started a bit of knitting a couple of days ago.  Have you heard of the Sophie scarf?  I hadn't, it just popped up on YouTube.  It's not a classic long scarf, it is more a very shallow and elongated triangle that wraps nicely around your neck for the bit of extra warmth between collar and hat and it's dead easy.  Great for keeping hands busy while telly watching because it doesn't take most brain power.  It only takes one ball and I rather fancy making one in a very soft, bougie, posh fibre yarn for added luxury.  Maybe tomorrow . . . 

The photos is what I have done of the latest Granny Blanket.  It's based on multiples of two so the squares are 2, 4 and 8 and in the 4s and 8s, what goes on inside is whatever I like - so it could be based on square or it could be circular - just as long as the fourth round is square (I know that sounds daft!!) or rectangular (2x4 or 4x8).  Same with the 8s.

I think I will have to call it 'Put On Your Sunglasses'!!

I still have to decide how to join - I don't think it will be more treble rows but it will be in one colour, I will have to buy yarn for that and I'm not really sure what colour.  Given that it contains more colours than Joseph's coat (ooh - that's a good name too), I can go with what I fancy and it's on the list for tomorrow.  

And I'm rambling!!

I'm sure you can tell that I am feeling considerably more like myself again this morning.  I won't be doing much though.  I just have to do a small Morrisons shop at some point - a few things for tomorrow and a few groceries - but I can leave that until late afternoon.  So today is more of the same but, hopefully, less sleeping and more crafting - after all, a day with nothing planned is the best opportunity!  

And it is Strictly this evening.  I see that Stefan is ill so he and Diane won't be dancing this evening.

How are you all - hopefully, fit, well and with some good plans for the weekend?  Take care and stay cosy and warm, whatever you do.  xx

Friday

Morning, all
Yesterday didn't happen.  Today and tomorrow are also not happening.
Wednesday night I didn't sleep that well and was coughing a lot.  I had my online chat with Chris but wasn't feeling great and by the time we stopped, I had decided to cancel Beth and PT.  Later on, I pulled out of SW this morning and Al's cookery session later on and, sensibly, I have cancelled the flu jab tomorrow.

Really not feeling great but am hoping that two days right out of it will sort this virus out for good because I will be devastated if I can't get to the Knit and Stitch show on Sunday.

Beth chose her machine.  I will tell you about it another time.

Take care.  xx

Thursday

 Morning, everyone!  We have sunshine this morning - it's lovely!

Yesterday turned out to be a day of changes!
Chris messaged me to say her husband was not well so how could she access Groove from her house.  I messaged Lindsey who added Chris to the group and all was well.
The phonics meeting was really good.  Lots of parents came, so many that they had to get out extra chairs, and they asked really good questions afterwards.
I got into the car and, as I had a few minutes before heading to Lindsey's,  checked my phone.  It was just as well I did because Lindsey had messaged saying she was needed urgently elsewhere and could we change PT.  No worries but I am glad I found out before getting to the studio.

At least the Governors' meeting was as planned.  It was a good meeting, full of interesting stuff.  Because we are part of a trust, we don't have to fuss over finances, etc, and can focus on the more interesting stuff like SIPs, Policies, etc < grin >

I was so tired by the time I got home.

Today is kind of busy too but less meeting based.
Chris and I will be having our chat online - S thinks his symptoms are rather covid-like so is isolating and Chris is doing the same, I think.
I'm meeting Beth in town.  I'm taking my Bernina into Franklins for a service and Beth is . . . buying a new sewing machine.  Very exciting.
And then I'm having my personal training.

I almost forgot - I have the Slim Win chat in the evening but it's just a chat this week so nothing to prepare.

And that's today.  Phew.  See you all tomorrow.  xx

Wednesday

Hello again, everyone.  As always, this week is speeding past in a 'blink and you miss it' sort of way.  The days are noticeably shorter and the mornings and evenings cooler, my warm clothes are now out and being used and meals are becoming more filling and warming again.

Yesterday was lovely.

There were still a lot of people missing from Groove, nearly all with these bugs that are going the rounds.  A shame because it was really good.  Fingers crossed we are getting the winter illnesses all over and done early.

I did a bit of housework (yes, housework!) before driving over to Diane's.  She took me out for lunch which was so lovely of her and we had the most delicious grains and greens salad with chargrilled chicken that was extremely virtuous as well as delicious.  And we talked.  Oh, how we talked!  And laughed.

So good.

Then it was home, James, before the roads got too crowded and I chilled with coffee and crochet.  Nice.

All of that with a nice online chat to an American friend in the evening, made for a very pleasant day indeed.

Today is a bit more complicated.

First of all, there's an online Groove and Chris is coming over to do it with me because we both have sessions to catch up on and Lindsey's policy is to encourage catchups to join any other class (unless there's no room and it's not online) at any time within that block.

Then I have a bit of time when I can dust and sweep the living room and get the meals sorted because after lunch it is solid stuff.

Firstly I am wearing my governor's hat to attend a basic phonics training for the new FS parents, phonics being one of my areas of responsibility.

I will take my fitness wear with me to change into because then I am straight off to Lindsey's for personal training.

Then it's back home to freshen up and glance through the paperwork before I'm out again for the Governors' Meeting.

I'll have dinner when I get home and it will just need reheating, that's all.

It'll work, it just feels a bit manic in the afternoon/evening.  And tomorrow is much easier.

Whether your day is busy or chilled, have a really good one, everybody, and take czare, stay safe and keep warm.  xx

Tuesday

    Good morning, one and all.  Yesterday was such a beautiful day round here.  Sunny, warm and a two load drying afternoon.  Perfectly autumnal!

It was satisfying in other ways too.  I so enjoyed circuits - it felt great to be back to it, feeling so much better again.

The SEND coffee morning was just great.  Obviously, no details, but really good info sharing and discussion and ideas for future development.

In the afternoon, I gritted my teeth, opened up the SEND training, whizzed through the bits done previously and got it all done and dusted by ignoring any links that would take me elsewhere.  I made a note of things I know I should read (some stuff I already know) and will catch up on them later but it now shows on my training record as completed so phew.  I now have a clear conscience for a while.

And I got two loads washed and line dried in the sunshine.  Lovely!

The next coach trip newsletter landed and I've booked for one that is a tour of the poppy factory and then a cruise from Richmond to Westminster next May (I think - it is in the new diary now anyway!).

Finally, I had parcels.  I now have a working toaster again, my diary for 2026 is here (and filled in with stuff already organised - Crete, coach trips, etc) and I have the rest of B's birthday present.  Now I need to wrap it all up!
I tried the new toaster with a slice in the evening and it really made me realise how much the old toaster had been slowly giving up.  It was quick and toasted so evenly.  And the slots are much bigger too - perfect to crumpets, sourdough, bagels, etc.

And Beth finally tested negative yesterday evening.  That's a relief.  Thank you for all your kind wishes for her.  xx

Today is Groove day and after that I am off to Diane's for lunch and a jolly good catch up natter.  
I had a sourdough loaf doing it's final prove overnight   and that's now out and warming up.  I need to get it baked before I go to Groove because I want to take it over for Diane.  Also I have started Lindsey's weekly loaf so I can get all the slap and folds done and it can slowly ferment in the fridge during Groove and, maybe, I can get it into the banneton before going to Diane's.  If not, no worries, I can do it all when I get home again.
Housework?  Er - what housework?

Wishing everyone a good day.  Stay safe and well.  xx