Ok back and rested mangaged around ten hours last night, slightly interupted by the cats jumping on me at 4am but still caught up on some of my much needed sleep.
This means I am a little more positive than yesterday but I really do think now is my time to retire from that job, easier said than done as I love those kids (well most of the time anyway) and they are obviously in need of support but I am no longer sure that I am the one to provide it. I am so aware that in dealing with kids over the years and having met many teachers youth workers and uniformed groups leaders that there is nothing worse than somepne who isn't 100% committed to the job and I can honestly say that I no longer have that drive. Maybe its something to do with getting older, I no longer believe that I can change the world in the same way I used to. And it is definitely true that as I am getting older my tolerance and patience levels are shrinking.
Oh well back to the actual trip. Well all I can say is that it didn't rain on Friday so we headed off to Legoland. I'm not a great one for theme parks especially with groups of kids as they are so easy to lose in the crowds as they just wander off, but I have to say that as they go Lego land is one of the best I've been to with kids of that age, the one thing I would say that if you are taking any kids under 1.3m make sure that you have an adult with you that likes going on rides!!! I was very good I only chickened out on Dragon Falls and considering I have a problem with the first rung on a ladder I think I did pretty well (I closed my eyes a lot is all I can say).
The trip to Legoland was followed by a quick tea and off we went to the cinema for the 8:45pm showing of the Fantastic Four (our theory was that we just wore them out completely) which I quite enjoyed as a bit of fun escapism and I only had to do one toilet run. We got them all back safe and sound in their sleeping bags by 11:30pm and asleep by midnight which any youth worker will tell you is quite impressive.
On saturday we started the day with bacon sandwiches and cereal and headed out to Garsons farm for pick your own fruit and Veg. Now I know this sounds like a really odd activity but trust me its amazing how much the kids get into it unforthunately it did decide to rain on us but not to heavily and we left with a bus full of very tall Gladioli, Sweet Peas, Onions, Potatoes, Blackberries, Runner Beans, Strawberries and Turnips. To finish off we took a quick trip to bushy park for our packed lunch and a play on the adventure playground.
You want to know how many parents said thank you? Don't ask and we won't talk about the arguement I had with one about spending money. Parents have really changed over the years.
I had a lot better day today Les an Tess came over to vosot and brought Pizza with them for lunch which was great and got to talk wool and shows including advice on my PluckyFluff yarn. I also completed a hat in the last hank I span.
I promise more pictures tomorrow as I ran out of daylight, also pictures of my parcel from Plain Mabel, I will also be going over to Silkwood tomorrow so probably some beautiful colours and wools will be appearing.
The sunburn is still sore lots of cream going on.
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Tired and Emotional
Ok so Legoland wasn't as bad a expected (fruther details tomorrow) but today was awful and I tried really hard not to let it get to me and have failed miserably, I just managed to store it all up until I got home, so the kids are fine, I would never do anything that would upset them but I think that this weekend has finally verified what I've been thinking for a while and means that I think I might finally complete my retirement from youth work. No details tonight as I don't want to write something based upon the one hours sleep I managed and I do mean one hour, I am going to sleep on it and see what happens.
No time for knitting this weekend but managed to buy some pink and purple lego I was very excited (small things they say).
Oh yes setting the twist, basically it means that after you have spun your yarn, and plyed it or not then the way that Pluckyfluff sugests you do it is by placing your hank in some very hot water and let it soak for a minute and then they suggest putting it in the spin cycle of your washing machine, personally I treat it a little like I've done a full immersion blocking where I roll it up in a towel to squeeze out most of the water. Then you place the hank in tension, in the studio I use two chair legs and leave it till its dry so especially if its a single it no longer curls back on itself. Now this is all from a non professional spinner and its only what I found worked for me so don't take this as gospel.
More tomorrow
No time for knitting this weekend but managed to buy some pink and purple lego I was very excited (small things they say).
Oh yes setting the twist, basically it means that after you have spun your yarn, and plyed it or not then the way that Pluckyfluff sugests you do it is by placing your hank in some very hot water and let it soak for a minute and then they suggest putting it in the spin cycle of your washing machine, personally I treat it a little like I've done a full immersion blocking where I roll it up in a towel to squeeze out most of the water. Then you place the hank in tension, in the studio I use two chair legs and leave it till its dry so especially if its a single it no longer curls back on itself. Now this is all from a non professional spinner and its only what I found worked for me so don't take this as gospel.
More tomorrow
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Roll on the weekend
Ok having bad day, not for any large problem but just lots of little things going wrong that just made me feel like I should have stayed in bed and the worse is still to come, yes its here tomorrow starts the sleep over with our junior youth club.
I have to say that I am really not in the mood for this and am praying for rain tomorrow so I don't have to face Lego land and can restrain ourselves to the cinema and bowling but if the rain doesn't come and you happen to be in Lego land tomorrow and you see this very stressed looking women with a dozen under twelves round her please take pity on her and be assured I usually look and behave better than the food smeared women on the edge of a nervous breakdown that you will see before you.
Unfortunately today went so badly something had to give unfortunately it was the knitting group up at Liberty but by the time I had done everything I needed too I had run out of time.
Roll on Monday and a visit to Silkwood
I have to say that I am really not in the mood for this and am praying for rain tomorrow so I don't have to face Lego land and can restrain ourselves to the cinema and bowling but if the rain doesn't come and you happen to be in Lego land tomorrow and you see this very stressed looking women with a dozen under twelves round her please take pity on her and be assured I usually look and behave better than the food smeared women on the edge of a nervous breakdown that you will see before you.
Unfortunately today went so badly something had to give unfortunately it was the knitting group up at Liberty but by the time I had done everything I needed too I had run out of time.
Roll on Monday and a visit to Silkwood
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
More spinning
The day wasn't great, fpr some reason this evening have been overpowered with this great sense of loss, usually I can pin point a trigger but can't think of anything specific this evening but I'm quite sad but trying to distract myself.
This task was helped by my bloglines feed seemed to be having a trouble, I started to worry as after the last couple of nights it has told me that there has been no updates on any of the blogs I read, now I know a lot of people are on holiday but there is usually at least one so I thought I would check and I discovered that I have been missing quite a bit and on some blogs I seemed to have missed up to seven entries so have spent the last couple of hours going through all of my feeds the old fashioned way and catching up.
I also packed a few more kits today and of course did some more spinning(it is definitely addictive) and here is the result
latest Experiment
This is before the twist has been set but wound into a hank but you can't really see the best bit about this, the sequins and the sparkle I think you can see some in this picture of it just off the spindle.
can you see the sequins
I think I spun enough for a hat so we shall see what happens tomorrow I know what I may be knitting at Liberty tomorrow.
Oh a quick update on cats this is what they got upto today
Wool what wool
Guess whose in disgrace this evening
This task was helped by my bloglines feed seemed to be having a trouble, I started to worry as after the last couple of nights it has told me that there has been no updates on any of the blogs I read, now I know a lot of people are on holiday but there is usually at least one so I thought I would check and I discovered that I have been missing quite a bit and on some blogs I seemed to have missed up to seven entries so have spent the last couple of hours going through all of my feeds the old fashioned way and catching up.
I also packed a few more kits today and of course did some more spinning(it is definitely addictive) and here is the result
latest Experiment
This is before the twist has been set but wound into a hank but you can't really see the best bit about this, the sequins and the sparkle I think you can see some in this picture of it just off the spindle.
can you see the sequins
I think I spun enough for a hat so we shall see what happens tomorrow I know what I may be knitting at Liberty tomorrow.
Oh a quick update on cats this is what they got upto today
Wool what wool
Guess whose in disgrace this evening
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Dye Day
Felt slightly better today apparently I still look a little pale and pasty and I regretted having lunch but definitely back on the road to recovery. HAve to be for the youtrh Club Sleep over on Friday whatever happens.
Spent a wonderful day dyeing admittedly at a lot slower pace but still got a kilo and a half done so I decided to treat myself to an hour fullfilling my Pluckfluff obsession.
Small Hank
These pictures are of yesterdays experiment after the twist has been set
Sample
and I couldn't resist knitting up a sample. I know there wasn't a lot there but had only done a short length as I wasn't sure this was going to work as it uses a prespun 4ply cotton core with merino rovings spun around it, but I love the effect that it gives so I have started on another colourway with sequins added in which will hopefully be enough to make a hat.
Ok so I've been tagged by Little Lixie, so here goes my first ever blog chain
id·i·o·syn·cra·sy
Pronunciation Keyn. pl. id·i·o·syn·cra·sies
A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group.
Write down five of your own personal idiosyncracies. Then, if you wish, tag five people from your friendslist to do the same.
1. Ok this is going to be harder than I thought, ok an easy one I never drink to the bottem of any cup of tea after having been brought up on tea leaves (in fact weaned on tea from a tea pot as a baby)
2. One you have probably noticed, I never reread my blog entries (explains the spelling and grammer I know) but I don't want to go back and remove things because I start thinking about who reads my blog I like the freedom of saying anything I like.
3. Eating Ice lollies even if its snowing outside, just one of those things.
4. A really bad habit I know but have a tendency not to clean off the previous layer of nail varnish from my toes and just paint the new colour over the top. (I hasten to add I do eventually clean off all the nail varnish, I do not have 34 years of nail varnish on my toes)
Struggling now I guess I really need an impartial veiw on this
5. Oh I know I don't know if this counts but I smile at every body I swear if someone was about to mug me I'd smile at them, it doesn't half get me in trouble at times, not sure if this one counts now let me see who I can tag.
Spent a wonderful day dyeing admittedly at a lot slower pace but still got a kilo and a half done so I decided to treat myself to an hour fullfilling my Pluckfluff obsession.
Small Hank
These pictures are of yesterdays experiment after the twist has been set
Sample
and I couldn't resist knitting up a sample. I know there wasn't a lot there but had only done a short length as I wasn't sure this was going to work as it uses a prespun 4ply cotton core with merino rovings spun around it, but I love the effect that it gives so I have started on another colourway with sequins added in which will hopefully be enough to make a hat.
Ok so I've been tagged by Little Lixie, so here goes my first ever blog chain
id·i·o·syn·cra·sy
Pronunciation Keyn. pl. id·i·o·syn·cra·sies
A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group.
Write down five of your own personal idiosyncracies. Then, if you wish, tag five people from your friendslist to do the same.
1. Ok this is going to be harder than I thought, ok an easy one I never drink to the bottem of any cup of tea after having been brought up on tea leaves (in fact weaned on tea from a tea pot as a baby)
2. One you have probably noticed, I never reread my blog entries (explains the spelling and grammer I know) but I don't want to go back and remove things because I start thinking about who reads my blog I like the freedom of saying anything I like.
3. Eating Ice lollies even if its snowing outside, just one of those things.
4. A really bad habit I know but have a tendency not to clean off the previous layer of nail varnish from my toes and just paint the new colour over the top. (I hasten to add I do eventually clean off all the nail varnish, I do not have 34 years of nail varnish on my toes)
Struggling now I guess I really need an impartial veiw on this
5. Oh I know I don't know if this counts but I smile at every body I swear if someone was about to mug me I'd smile at them, it doesn't half get me in trouble at times, not sure if this one counts now let me see who I can tag.
What sheep are you?
Ok its another one I couldn't resist this one from daisy chain
Which flock do you follow?
this quiz was made by alanna
Which flock do you follow?
this quiz was made by alanna
Monday, July 25, 2005
Manic Monday
Ok first things first I just need to get this out my system, why are some people parents, as most of you know I work as a youth worker on a monday night, well tonight being our last session we invited the parents to a pizza party and presentations, nothing formal just a bit of fun. Do you know how many parents turned up.....one thats it one honestly we don't ask them any other time of the year and the kids had worked hard to win these awards (carefully chosen so everybody skills are taken in to consideration), to me it just explains why a lot of the local kids are in the state their in, I am so mad at them, I'd managed to get there even though I'd spent most of the morning throwing up (an unexpected encounter with a nut) and they couldn't even spare an hour and a half for their own kids.
Ok have finished my rant and rave, there were a couple of great things that happened today.
Firstly Gill from Woolly Workshop placed an order for kits so expect to seem them on screen soon which is fantastic and she is also interested in the new kits when they are ready (more of that later)
Secondly My first parcel from my Secret Pal arrived and what a parcel,
Look at that chocolate
First of all all this wonderful choclate, sock yarn and needles to feed my sock obsession. Heres a close up.
Lucious green
I really love the green its not a colourway I've seen before and had to restrain myself from casting on then and there. And theres more look at these groovy socks I love them I don't think you can see in the photo but they have little paw shape grippers on the bottem plus a matching green notebook plus these fantastic homemade stitch markers from Glampyre
Groovy socks
And just to prove that I did do some work on Sunday here is the progress with the shelves they are all now in place and have started to be loaded up
Shelves in place
Ok have finished my rant and rave, there were a couple of great things that happened today.
Firstly Gill from Woolly Workshop placed an order for kits so expect to seem them on screen soon which is fantastic and she is also interested in the new kits when they are ready (more of that later)
Secondly My first parcel from my Secret Pal arrived and what a parcel,
Look at that chocolate
First of all all this wonderful choclate, sock yarn and needles to feed my sock obsession. Heres a close up.
Lucious green
I really love the green its not a colourway I've seen before and had to restrain myself from casting on then and there. And theres more look at these groovy socks I love them I don't think you can see in the photo but they have little paw shape grippers on the bottem plus a matching green notebook plus these fantastic homemade stitch markers from Glampyre
Groovy socks
And just to prove that I did do some work on Sunday here is the progress with the shelves they are all now in place and have started to be loaded up
Shelves in place
Sunday, July 24, 2005
A Few interesting things
First of all some cute quizzes I found at Little lixies Blog
You appear to be a Knitting Goddess.
You are constantly giving and are unconcerned with
reward, you simply want others to love knitting
as much as you do. If someone wants to knit
miles of novelty yarns, you are there for them.
If someone wants to learn short row shaping,
you can help. There are no taboos in knitting,
only opportunities to grow. Everyone should
have friend like you around if they want to
learn to knit, and there's a good chance that
your passion has rubbed off on a few others.
http://marniemaclean.com
What Kind of Knitter Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
And whilst I was wandering through some blogs I came across Purldrop and she had some really cool links like this one where you can make your own snowflake
http://snowflakes.lookandfeel.com/
check out the other ones on her site
And this site just made me laugh, now that is without the sound as I have none on this computer so be warned it could be offensive but I suggest you turn down the volume and just watch and if anyone wants to tell what the sound is feel free
You appear to be a Knitting Goddess.
You are constantly giving and are unconcerned with
reward, you simply want others to love knitting
as much as you do. If someone wants to knit
miles of novelty yarns, you are there for them.
If someone wants to learn short row shaping,
you can help. There are no taboos in knitting,
only opportunities to grow. Everyone should
have friend like you around if they want to
learn to knit, and there's a good chance that
your passion has rubbed off on a few others.
http://marniemaclean.com
What Kind of Knitter Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
And whilst I was wandering through some blogs I came across Purldrop and she had some really cool links like this one where you can make your own snowflake
http://snowflakes.lookandfeel.com/
check out the other ones on her site
And this site just made me laugh, now that is without the sound as I have none on this computer so be warned it could be offensive but I suggest you turn down the volume and just watch and if anyone wants to tell what the sound is feel free
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Up down and round
An odd day, I think probably down to my odd sleeping pattern at the moment but my mood was up and down all day and I mean really up and down.
Firstly when I got in the studio I found the parcel that Kerrie had said was in the post.
suprise parcel
She's lent me the pluckfluff book its fantastic, plus she tucked in some of Hip Knits wonderful Silk to play with. Thank you so much it did make me smile and I can see me spending a lot of time spinning over the next few days
I made myself not look at the book as I had to prepare for the arrival of some more book shelves which my friend is giving me as she is returning to the US, so the boys (mark and Dan) managed to deconstruct the board chopper and remove it from my studio a job I could have never managed it as it weighed a ton. They are good to me here.
So space cleared the shleves arrived
The chaos that is my studio
they are fantastic one is this beautiful handmade unit which is two and a half metres high, the removal men managed to get this giant up the stairs and in the studio, so now I have to think all about the new layout so have left it as it is tonight to think about it so be aware that if you come to the studio in the next couple of days you may get volunteered into sorting :)
handmade shelves
So I couldn't resist anymore, out came the plucky fluff book, and this is my second attempt its made up from uncarded fleece bits of mohair nubs of carded merino all plyed with the turquouise metallic machine thread.
Second experiment
Now I just have to think up Pluckfluuf style names for them
Close Up
And just to finish a cat photo.
What a face
Firstly when I got in the studio I found the parcel that Kerrie had said was in the post.
suprise parcel
She's lent me the pluckfluff book its fantastic, plus she tucked in some of Hip Knits wonderful Silk to play with. Thank you so much it did make me smile and I can see me spending a lot of time spinning over the next few days
I made myself not look at the book as I had to prepare for the arrival of some more book shelves which my friend is giving me as she is returning to the US, so the boys (mark and Dan) managed to deconstruct the board chopper and remove it from my studio a job I could have never managed it as it weighed a ton. They are good to me here.
So space cleared the shleves arrived
The chaos that is my studio
they are fantastic one is this beautiful handmade unit which is two and a half metres high, the removal men managed to get this giant up the stairs and in the studio, so now I have to think all about the new layout so have left it as it is tonight to think about it so be aware that if you come to the studio in the next couple of days you may get volunteered into sorting :)
handmade shelves
So I couldn't resist anymore, out came the plucky fluff book, and this is my second attempt its made up from uncarded fleece bits of mohair nubs of carded merino all plyed with the turquouise metallic machine thread.
Second experiment
Now I just have to think up Pluckfluuf style names for them
Close Up
And just to finish a cat photo.
What a face
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Better Day
First of all thank you for everybodys good thoughts and am doing a lot better today even with all the trouble up in town. I don't think I can get another hamster although the type of hamster thsat I have prefers living in groups I'm not sure a strange hamster will be safe in with her. At the moment she is eating and drinking well but is sleeping a lot. We will see what the week brings.
Ok on with more important things look at this wonderful parcel I got yesterday,
Box of delights
This was my parcel from my edgy exchange partner Janet, First of all there was the item itself, which is Ruffles from 'Scarf Style' how did she know that I really wanted one of these but couldn't face all that straight knitting.
Close up
The best bit about it is that it has no wool in it, it is in a yarn called Sprout (love the name) from wool in the woods. I know I'm awkward to knit for, I'm sorry you got stuck with me but you did a great job.
Now not only did I get this great scarf there were a few other goodies in the box.
In action
There was this wonderful handknitted facecloth made of cotton chenille with matching handmade soap which smells divine. Also tucked in there was choclate and posh choclate at that, I have been very good and have only eaten the one piece so far I'm trying to eek it out.
Face Cloth and soap
Thank you so much it was a wonderful parcel.
Oh and before anyone asks yes I have been to the hairdresser and no it will never look like that again.
Well as I couldn't get to Liberty tonight I thought I would attempt to spin yarn like PluckyFluff and this is the result.
Its very Pink
I know I need a little more practice, the main problem is that I am quite proficient on my drop spindle so going back to spinning chunkier yarns,not sure what I'll knit with it as there is only around 30m. It was fun though.
In the hank
Ok on with more important things look at this wonderful parcel I got yesterday,
Box of delights
This was my parcel from my edgy exchange partner Janet, First of all there was the item itself, which is Ruffles from 'Scarf Style' how did she know that I really wanted one of these but couldn't face all that straight knitting.
Close up
The best bit about it is that it has no wool in it, it is in a yarn called Sprout (love the name) from wool in the woods. I know I'm awkward to knit for, I'm sorry you got stuck with me but you did a great job.
Now not only did I get this great scarf there were a few other goodies in the box.
In action
There was this wonderful handknitted facecloth made of cotton chenille with matching handmade soap which smells divine. Also tucked in there was choclate and posh choclate at that, I have been very good and have only eaten the one piece so far I'm trying to eek it out.
Face Cloth and soap
Thank you so much it was a wonderful parcel.
Oh and before anyone asks yes I have been to the hairdresser and no it will never look like that again.
Well as I couldn't get to Liberty tonight I thought I would attempt to spin yarn like PluckyFluff and this is the result.
Its very Pink
I know I need a little more practice, the main problem is that I am quite proficient on my drop spindle so going back to spinning chunkier yarns,not sure what I'll knit with it as there is only around 30m. It was fun though.
In the hank
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Sad Day
I'm sorry this is not going to be a cheerful entry, I thought I was doing really well, it was seven months yesterday since I lost Robin and I had an ok day, unfortunately when I got into the studio I found one of my hamsters dead.
From what we can work out one of the tubes collapsed overnight and she had fallen off the table and the shock had killed her. Thankfully the other one (kim) isn't very brave and hadn't even left the cage . I know it doesn't seem a big thing in the scheme of things but to me that little hamster was very important to me.
The one good thing that happened today was my edgy exchange parcel arrived and it is fantastic, I promise to post photos and blog about it tomorrow when I feel better and show it with the enthusiasm it deserves.
PS Can the wonderful person who was my edgy pal send me an e-mail as I would reallly like to send you a personal e-mail too
From what we can work out one of the tubes collapsed overnight and she had fallen off the table and the shock had killed her. Thankfully the other one (kim) isn't very brave and hadn't even left the cage . I know it doesn't seem a big thing in the scheme of things but to me that little hamster was very important to me.
The one good thing that happened today was my edgy exchange parcel arrived and it is fantastic, I promise to post photos and blog about it tomorrow when I feel better and show it with the enthusiasm it deserves.
PS Can the wonderful person who was my edgy pal send me an e-mail as I would reallly like to send you a personal e-mail too
Popping In
Just a quick entry this morning before I dash off, had a nice day at Silkwood yesterday even with an argument with a ticket inspector about the fact that there is no ticket machine or permit to travel at Barnes Bridge.
As ever wonderful day surrounded by colour and bunnies and just to prove that my photos don't always work out here is the problem with photographing bunnies they move !!!
missed
As ever wonderful day surrounded by colour and bunnies and just to prove that my photos don't always work out here is the problem with photographing bunnies they move !!!
missed
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Fingers crossed
I seem to be having a blogger problem as my page doesn't seem to be coming up, so hopefully if you are reading this then I've fixed it.
Just a quick post this morning as I'm off to Silkwood today for some fun.
Just to prove I occassionaly work here is my growing stockpile of kits all waiting for patterns.
kits
Can you spot yours Little Lixie
Here is a close up of one of the new skeins
close up
This is the first patchwork square for my tumbling blocks quilt.
patchwork square
And look I've finished another dish cloth yes I know its the same as the other one, but I really enjoy this pattern.
dish cloth
Yesterday was quite busy, as normal I youth club in the evening so had a lot to prepare including all the invites that the kids started last week for next weeks pizza and prize night, the really disappointing thing was I don't think any of the parents will come, never mind we'll make it special.
I did have help in the craft department though, Dan from studio 1 bravely volunteered to come and make books with the kids, he survived and we made some lovely books forgot to take photos though.
Just a quick post this morning as I'm off to Silkwood today for some fun.
Just to prove I occassionaly work here is my growing stockpile of kits all waiting for patterns.
kits
Can you spot yours Little Lixie
Here is a close up of one of the new skeins
close up
This is the first patchwork square for my tumbling blocks quilt.
patchwork square
And look I've finished another dish cloth yes I know its the same as the other one, but I really enjoy this pattern.
dish cloth
Yesterday was quite busy, as normal I youth club in the evening so had a lot to prepare including all the invites that the kids started last week for next weeks pizza and prize night, the really disappointing thing was I don't think any of the parents will come, never mind we'll make it special.
I did have help in the craft department though, Dan from studio 1 bravely volunteered to come and make books with the kids, he survived and we made some lovely books forgot to take photos though.
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