Saturday, March 31, 2007

Where has all the blogging gone.......

long time passing?

Well, it's been a busy week!

There has been knitting....1/2 a Clementine from IK Spring knit in HandMaiden silk/cashmere 4ply. Also Annie from http://anniesknit.blogspot.com/ popped over and taught me to spin. I spent the next day practising until I really felt I got it and got into it. Five hours later, one aching leg and hand later I thought I better stop. A big 'Thanks' to Annie she made it look easy.
Also this week I finally went the whole hog. This was my hair a year or so ago. It's gradually got shorter and shorter until....
This! Craptastic photo of me - J took it and really it's the best of a really rotten bunch. I always photo like a sick pig - it's cos I know this and that I never relax so each picture gets progressively worse. However, I am very happy with cut and novelty of hair that dries in 2 minutes.
Some of us had a relaxing week though..... look at those buttons - I kissed everyone of them and they may look strawberry flavoured but they're not - they are kitten boy flavoured!

And still there's more..... Glittrgirl http://www.glittyknittykitty.co.uk/ came for a visit *YAY!* She arrived in a glamorous fizzy bubble Wednesday, shouted us a curry, got nicely squiffy with us on fizzy poo and Sailor Jerry's then disappeared back Oop North to Greebo on Thursday. We had a laugh!

I've also been good and am still running every other day. Though you can't see it in the aforementioned abysmal piccie, I've been told that I've lost quite a lot of podge *YAY! - again*

Tonight is another social event - I don't know it's like buses, none for hours then 3 come at once. I will need a quiet one next week to recover.

Also, if you get the chance give the new Ray LaMontagne album -'Till the Sun Turns Black' - a listen, it's excellent.

J is happy - new Dr Who starts tonight and this series has Daleks in it - total boy bliss and euphoria.

As promised - happier post and piccies ;-)

Have a good weekend Peeps!

Monday, March 26, 2007

You make your own karma.

I know this sounds like a load of new age cods, but funnily enough, I do actually buy into this concept.

Yesterday I was grumpy (see previous post) in fact I was beyond grumpy, though I did try very hard to internalise the grump within and shelter those I love from my foulness of being. My little ray of light, my silver lining was that fact that I was getting 2 & 1/2 hours kid free in the afternoon. M was taking J to L's birthday party (which I am reliably informed was brilliant). I had my afternoon all planned it involved an hour with the very complex book I am reading and then the rest of the time in front of a fav movie with plenty of knitting....sounds good? What karma did my grumpy bring I hear you cry? Well, Mother decided to inform me she was going for a walk with her GBF - just a short one - leaving her neurotic, never stops barking and yelping when left behind, Dachshund at home. She wouldn't be long, and the dog would be shut in her room and therefore wouldn't bark. Yeah right!

He barked and he barked and he barked - from baying to yelping, to scrabbling the door to throwing himself against it and yipping, without respite for the 2 hours + that she was out on her won't be long, short walk! I went downstairs to check the dog so many times I lost count, he didn't need a wee or a poo, I put him in his bed with his blankie and soothed and fussed him, I shouted at him and in the end gave up because all he wanted was his Mummy!

This is what my grump bought upon me. I didn't read a single page, I didn't watch a fav movie, I did knit but very little because I was fuming, I was spitting chips. I get so little time alone, so little time just to have quiet and do what I fancy - and it got fucked up. I was incandescent with rage. And did I get an apology? - did I fuck! I wouldn't mind normally but this is almost a daily occurrence. Off she swans for hours and I get left with a constantly barking wacko sausage!

She and I had the Mother ('scuse the pun) of all arguments. I am still annoyed and she is as light as a feather acting as if nothing has happened. And guess what? She's booked another day trip with her God squad cronies that leaves at 8.30am returns around 5.30pm and guess who's left to dog sit? - Did she ask was I ok with this? Did she check that I was home before she booked it? Again I answer - did she fuck!

I know she looks after my animals when we go camping but Loobles is not neurotic and only barks when there is something to bark at. In fact at her age she spends most days moving from sunny spot to sunny spot and kipping. Mother doesn't even have to walk her because her creaking joints are so bad that she can go a couple of days without walkies and be ok - the rest does her good.

Anyway, I digress. Then to top off my perfect day I then learn that a family members house has burnt down, with my 92 year Grandma inside, luckily no casualties - all cats and humans got rescued. My Mothers reaction to this - was to tell the person concerned all about her week and suggest she keeps her chin up! By this stage I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. When did Mother develop the sensitivity of a rhino? She's getting a little scary these days - it's like living with a stranger!

Ok rant numero 2 over - phew I needed to get that off my chest or it would've started to fester!
Next post will have A) picccies and B) be bright and breezy.................yeah right!!!

Sunday, March 25, 2007

What do you get...(bad language warning)

every Spring when BST starts?

A very grumpy me!

Stop it now - I hate all this fucking about with the time. It totally messes with my body clock. Takes me at least week to adjust and get back on an even keel. And what is the point? That's a rhetorical question, by the way. I don't give a dustman's fart to be honest - I just hate it and want it to cease. In this modern age etc - why are we still doing something so fucking prehistoric? Another rhetorical question.

Every year this stupid custom fucks up my Sunday lie in. I woke up at BST 8.45am and realised that if I didn't get up and get at them then the whole day would be out of time - culminating in a late Sunday dinner and a late night for J - and his body clock getting fucked up. So at 8.45am BST I was up, in the real world this is 7.45am...on a Sunday....please and a WTF for good measure.

Plus before anyone mentions long summer evenings etc may I point out the following;

1) I hate the fucking summer!
2) I hate the fucking summer!

You can guess what 3 is.

On a more serious note though. Light summer evenings mean either a whining kid who can't sleep because it's still hot and broad daylight or having a kid have late nights - which I don't believe in. The sleep before midnight is the most beneficial and kids need sleep and after home-edding all day - with few breaks and respites - come 8.00pm I've had enough and it's then time for me to do what I'd like.

Then we all get used to long, long never ending, boiling hot sweaty days and evenings - when fuck me - they change it back again. What was the point of that then? It is just to fuck with your head, another control, another weird custom that is soooo past it's sell by date etc.

Make it stop.

(I do know why etc, I do understand the supposed necessity etc - but that doesn't mean I have to agree with it or like it).

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Bonko!

Look at my neat little paws and tail. Aren't I too cute for words?
The sun is glinting off my fur and whiskers and I am so much more lovely than you.

Oh yes! Adore the fluffiness of my belly. I am perfect and you know it!

Monday, March 19, 2007

Saturday, March 17, 2007

New toy.

Meet my new best friend Lewis. Actually it's a Haldane Lewis which I won on eBay yesterday :=)

M and J went to Kent to collect it this morning and M has spent all afternoon spivving it up with lots of finishing wax. It's such a lovely thing, the wood is beautiful. It came with a lazy kate, 3 bobbins, a niddy noddy, The Ashford Book of Spinning and some fleece.

So now I just have to learn how to drive it hmmmmmmmmm therein could lie a problem I'm much better at learning if someone shows me - who knows if I Google I may find a video tuition - or perhaps a local spinner (Sussex, UK) may take pity on a dumb klutz like me.

Anyway, I am a happy bunny - I got this at such a good price for such a lovely machine.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Sods Law.

Sometimes you get weary, really weary. You know you've been doing too much, too often and your body cries "Sleep!" Well I've felt like that for a couple of days, so last night my body and I plumped for an early night.

Now, lets go back a bit. Firstly, yesterday I was gonna have a quiet restful day - pah - I had the fidgets and ended up doing loads. I didn't run though because I knew that I was too tired for that. I collapsed on the sofa, yawning at about 6.30ish, fighting to stay awake because that was too early to sleep. 8.00pm comes around, J's bedtime, he's complaining of tummy ache. So we send him to the loo, rub his tummy, give him a warm wheatbag, supply him with a lecture about his Anaconda eating habits (again - mayhap for the 100th time) and send him to bed. I struggle on manfully with a glass of wine until 8.45pm, apologise to M and go off to bed. I manage 3 pages of book. By 9.00pm I am sparko zzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

10.00pm my Mum comes home from a social. The dogs bark. She calls out, M answers that I'm in bed but up she comes anyway. I'm awake by now but laying doggo. She won a raffle prize of an electric food steamer which she wants to gift to us as we always steam (using a bamboo steamer) our veggies. That's so sweet, M thanks her, she goes. I wander in, zombie like, look briefly at steamer, kiss M, apologise for going back to bed and for snoring since 9.00pm *sigh*.

12.30am - J arrives. Tummy ache is worse. He's doubled over and crying and moaning. M and I do a bit of the good cop, bad cop thing to try and get a sensible answer as to where it hurts etc. It sounds like constipation (J has been prone to this in the past, it rings the right bells). Go down to kitchen, re-heat the wheat bag. Back upstairs, parenting stuff (you know - relax, it'll be all right, reassure, reassure). He can't go, offer Lacotolse - administer a small dose. Take him down to his room, tuck him in. Crawl back up the stairs, eyelids puffing and drooping...collapse zzzzzzz.

1.30am Hear downstairs toilet flush. Lay and listen...silence zzzzzzzz.

2.00am See light shine up the stairs, hear downstairs loo door slam. Lay and worry a bit. Get up and go see if it's J. It is. Talk to him through door, offer to wait til he's done, in case he needs me. Clear up downstairs loo. Re-heat wheatbag. Reassure, cuddle, settle. Find cat to make sure he's not shut in anyway. Go to the bathroom. Collapse, again, can't sleep. Listening, listening, dozing zzzzzz.

2.45am Bang! "Mum, Dad this is really serious!" (panic attack - imagining child shitting/vomitting blood) he's been ill again and managed to puke all over the downstairs bathroom floor whilst sitting on the loo. Thankfully, on one hand the floor is tiled - though he got both mats, on the other hand, it was a splatter bomb - walls, floors, pedestal - you name it, he got it. M manfully volunteers to clear up (gotta love him) I deal with a small boy, hunched on our loo with a bucket on his lap and in need of clean PJ's. The clean up took 45mins. I got boy settled, helped M, made tea. Went back to bed. Eventually we dozed off zzzzzzz.

4.10am I hear J up again. M goes to check it out. J feels better a bit, no longer feels sick. M comes back to bed, he zzzzzz. Me, I am so awake by now I can't sleep. I am lying there waiting for the next bout. The cat climbs on me purring and goes to sleep. The dog drops a fart bomb - that almost makes me throw up. I am awake. Last time I looked at the clock it was 5.30am.

Today, J is better, a bit weak and pale but essentially it's as if it has never happened. He has been given new rules about how he eats which I will enforce because Anaconda eating is going to stop. As for me it's as if I never had my early night. I ache, I am grumpy and I am even more tired.

I know it's not his fault, I'd never blame him in anyway. I blame sods law for this little beauty. Now I must away to wash PJ's and bathroom rugs etc and to look for some matchsticks to keep up eyelids up, at least until after tea tonight. I plan another early night tonight *sigh* I am wondering what will occur to fuck it up this time!

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

A little update.

Spider update - Coleman's moulted last night - oooooo he's really grown. He's still pumping himself up and is very still - I'm worried cos I just saw a live cricket in his tank - he obviously didn't want his last meal. Spiders after moult are vulnerable because they are soft, they shed their fangs and mouth lining and can't feed. A hungry cricket could nibble on a soft tarantula and cause some damage. The cricket is, unfortunately, underground (Coleman's buried himself in a little chamber to moult) the cricket is trying to enter this chamber *sigh*......I am loathe to disrupt the earth as he only moulted last night....I can only watch and wait I suppose.

Caught up with an old friend today - very nice we haven't chatted in a long time. It wasn't awkward at all and it felt as it always has.

2nd pirate hat almost complete - I made a bigger size - which is a better fit for me (shouts of 'big head' ring in my ears) so J has the 1st hat as his. He's happy. In fact he has spent today doing French vocab, reading 'The Further Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat' and surfing around on Coolmath and BrainPop.

Went for a run - my knee is still dodgy - but managed a respectable 5 mins until pain stopped play - I find if I run little and often and stop as soon as any soreness occurs I can build up how long I run for. I've managed 4 mins yesterday so upping it a minute today was good.

House is tidy, laundry completed...just need to make a brew and feed the dog and I can fit in an hours knitting. So that's my plan for right now.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Knitting occurs *gasp*

Adapted from the Hello Yarns - Pirate Mitten pattern. Pirate wrist warmers with separate half length thumb. I can't bear to have my fingers encased so this was the perfect solution. I used two pattern repeats, a couple of stripes and 3 rows of rib on the hand. The thumbs were just worked straight in the checkerboard pattern for about 9 rows. I used the same yarn as the hat.
Oooooo more sockies - again adapted from others patterns. The maroon one is from Grumperina's pattern in IK spring called Roza's socks. I used a different heel and reduced the length so my stumpy legs got a good fit. Knitted in Lorna's Laces.

The other sock is an adaption of the Edelweiss Socks by Candace Eisner Strick in the winter Vogue Knitting (int). Another lovely pattern, knits up a dream - I adjusted dimensions for chubby legs and again changed the heel slightly. Knitted in Regia Bamboo. Both the mates for these are almost completed but I thought I'd post anyway just to show knitting does occur ;=)

I've also completed a bunny for the bunny KAL but not posted this yet.

Under construction is a lace wrap 75% completed and a lacy knitted camisole 10% completed. I now intend to knit a 2nd pirate hat for the boy, so plenty to keep me going.

Friday, March 09, 2007

Soundtrack to my life

Saw this at Suemoons blog http://knittiotherapy.typepad.com/ stole it ;=)

If your life was a movie what would the soundtrack be?

It works like this;

Open your music library - e.g. iTunes etc.
Put it on shuffle.
Press play.
For every question type the song that playing.
When you go to a new ? press next button.
Don't tell porkies and try to be cool.

Some are appropriate and some are just funny!

Opening credits - So Far Away - Staind

Waking up - One Last Chance - James Morrison

1st day at school - Click, Click, Boom - Saliva

Falling in love - Place for My Head - Linkin Park

Fight song - Man or Animal - Audioslave

Breaking up - Don't Forget Me - RHCP

Prom - Shiver - Coldplay

Life - When I'm Gone - Eminem

Mental breakdown - Seen it all - Korn

Driving - Last Remaining Light - Audioslave

Flashback - When I Come Around - Greenday

Getting back together - Tibet (A passage to....) - Tibet Project

Losing your virginity - Omega - Stone Sour (I peed my pants laughing when this came up for this one - you need to hear it - it's a political rant about life/society aimed at the US - great for losing your cherry to!)

Wedding - As You Are - Travis

Birth of child - Chop Suey - SOAD (system of a down) - another one that made me laugh!

Final battle - The Blowers Daughter - Damien Rice

Death scene - Invincible - Muse

End credits - The Days Have Turned - John Frusciante

Excellent!

Perfect, moi? NO!

What is it with perfection hmmmmm? Why do we crave it so? Perfect hair, perfect bodies, perfect parents, perfect lives? What is wrong with appreciating what we've got? In fact wouldn't it be great to celebrate our imperfections, the little things that make us different from the plastic perfect people.



I have a problem with people who aspire to perfection - or their warped ideas of perfection. Doesn't it get your goat when you see all these so called perfect bodies/looks, that women in particular are meant to emulate, and what are these models of perfection doing or what are they known for? Shaking their bits on TV, in music videos, splurging their bods in lads mags and shagging football players. Tragic, plastic, uninspired, insipid, and people aspire to 'achieve' that? Why? And why are we so scared of looking like we have lived? What is wrong with saggy bits, grey bits and wrinkles? Those people who are botoxed scare the shit out of me - I swear they are all escapees from Mdm Tussards! I like my lived in face, I fully intend in the fairly near future to embrace the grey in my hair, I like my laughter lines !



So, after that mini rant, I intend today to embrace my many imperfections with gusto and glee! They stop me from being a plastic-wannabe clone and allow me to be, well me.



I am chubbily curvy, with a body of a 40 year old c.section Mum - who has big thighs and legs and a fat arse. Today I also have a zit (a rare event - but hey - lets celebrate my big period induced zit -you can't miss it!)



I have a grumpy face and outlook - I can easily look like a bulldog that has swallowed a wasp. I sometimes even look that on purpose to stop weirdos from asking me to do surveys in the street - works a treat.



I am an arsehole. I can be loud, opinionated, bloody minded, stroppy.



I am intolerant of idiots. In fact I am intolerant of lots of things.



If I think I'm right, I'm like a terrier with a bone.



I am sarcastic.



I have a sharp tongue.



I have a caustic wit and love to use it - though often feel it is pearls before swine.



I swear like a trooper. I also fart, burp and hic-cup.



I like to wear unmatching underwear.


These, to be honest, are some of my imperfections. I have many more. But they prove beyond a doubt that I am not and never will be a plastic aspirational. I am sure that all this crap that our society deems as important is stunting creativity and individuality. People are scared to be real and our kids are growing with the weirdest ideals.

So, go on, make a list, Embrace all your imperfections........I dare you!

Monday, March 05, 2007

****SPIDER POST****



This is Tiny who is a Salmon Pink Bird Eater. Last week Tiny moulted and here he is all newly hairy and pink. This spider has the capacity to grow to about a span of 10" - hence the name chosen by J ;=)

Tiny made his moult web/mat right out in the open of his tank, in full view - we've never had this happen before. We awoke to find him sitting on this web - very still. He spent the whole day sitting. We made sure to kept quiet and as stealthy as possible each time we passed by and we subdued the lighting. Around 8.30 pm ish he flipped over and writhed about a bit and started his moult. It was very interesting to actually witness this so openly and closely. As you can see from the picture he has moulted safely - there are always some risks - but like so many animals that metamorphose they do it by instinct and it's an unstoppable process.

He has grown significantly in this moult and isn't much smaller than Humbug - but at the moment looks more spindly. He fed last night. He took the cricket with no preamble so was obviously hungry.

I use 'he' because as a juvenile spider we can't sex him yet - sexing spiders is not easy - without a good condition moulted skin and even then it's still not easy. As 3 of our spiders have turned out male, I find easier to refer to them all as 'him' - though as time goes on I am pretty sure Boris is now adult and Doris, but like many arboreal species she/he keeps the moult and decorates the web with it.

I'm pretty sure Colemans will moult fairly soon as he is normally a voracious eater and is currently ignoring all food that we've offered - his abdomen is so fat he looks like he will burst any second.

Diego soldiers on - following the route of all male tarantulas - he eats occasionally and spends his life clambering and tramping around looking for love.

Humbug - is an amazing creature - very rarely not in view and for a spider always appears to be doing something - digging, clambering - kind of spider housework - he's very active but is still juvenile so it's not the male thing. He and Boris/Doris are the most interesting spiders to watch.

Friday, March 02, 2007

Nearly a year ago.....


Connor aka Conkers McBonkers came to live with us - 9 months old, already twice rejected. mistreated and rescued by the CPL. Now he is a big, plush, black velvet panther in miniature, who prowls through the house looking for fun and mischief. He still occasionally hides away - if startled - under our bed, he still sometimes makes a nest in my yarn stash but most of the time he is friendly and loving and very much a part of our family. He took away our sadness at losing Busterboy and filled the gap.
I can't give enough respect and praise to Beverley who runs our local branch of the CPL (Cats Protection League) she and her workmates give so much - with very little help from the CPL main charity, they are self funded and rely on local support and fund raising. They always need people and donations - please if you love cats and can help them in way...do - thank you.
Pinkle Purr
Tattoo was the the mother of Pinkle Purr,
A little black nothing of feet and fur;
And by-and-by, when his eyes came through,
He saw his mother, the big Tattoo.
And all that he learned he learned from her.
"I'll ask my mother," says Pinkle Purr.
Tattoo was the mother of Pinkle Purr,
A ridiculous kitten with silky fur.
And little black Pinkle grew and grew
Till he got as big as the big Tattoo.
And all that he did he did with her.
"Two friends together," says Pinkle Purr.
Tattoo was the mother of Pinkle Purr,
An adventurous cat in a coat of fur.
And whenever he thought of a thing to do,
He didn't much bother about Tattoo,
For he knows it's nothing to do with her,
So "See you later," says Pinkle Purr.
Tattoo was the mother of Pinkle Purr,
An enormous leopard with coal-black fur.
A little brown kitten that's nearly new
Is now playing games with its big Tattoo......
And Pink looks lazily down at her:
"Dear little Tat," says Pinkle Purr.
A. A. Milne.
P.S - Thank you to J for the photo of Conkers - clever boy ;=)