Sunday, April 03, 2011

Happy Mothers' Day


Mothers' Day and it feels quite springy here, but still cold. I don't believe the temperature sensor in the car when it says that it's 15 degrees out there. Must be wind-chill.



The garden is starting to wake up:




j gave me this brooch. I love it. It's hand made from an old domino.


For lunch:

Mozzarella and roasted veg tart. I found some really tasty mixed coloured part-dried tomatoes in herby oil in our mini-Sainsbury's. They taste wonderful. It's a real sign of the times, though.

Saturday, April 02, 2011

Winged Knits

I'm a big fan of Cecily Glowik MacDonald's knitting patterns. I have already made Idlewood (see post from 27th February 2011), have the yarn for Goodale, Hollyhock and Streamside.

This weekend she has 20% off buying the patterns online through Ravelry. Go, quickly, now!

Monday, March 21, 2011

A little piece of Havanna

Last night we were at The Sage to see The Orchestra Buena Vista Social Club. A wonderful night!
Omara Portuondo was inspirational - and still breathtakingly beautiful - at 80.


I now know that I must learn to Salsa dance.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

She shoots, she scores!

Today I reached my target weight.

I got weighed this morning and realised I’d shifted those last couple of pounds and met my target. My BMI is now officially ‘normal’!


While I do feel a real sense of achievement, I’m also surprisingly nervous. I guess it’s because I have focussed on my fat all my life and then became totally absorbed by the wls. First it was worrying about being fat and wanting the surgery, then it was surviving the surgery, then losing weight and working towards my target.


Now I’m here and I’m going to have to start thinking differently.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Balanced energy or closed mind?


Have I mentioned my Monday night evening class? A friend and I are doing An Introduction to Holistic Therapies. It's a taster course to help us decide which therapy we might want to pursue in greater depth. So far, we've tried aromatherapy, Indian head massage, basic massage techniques and decluttering our lives (actually, I missed that one as my life was so cluttered by the threat of Ofsted that I couldn't get there in time).

I've enjoyed all the massage-related sessions and have really felt positive effects, both as giver and recipient, but I'm struggling with the 'Energy Therapies'. As you might be able to tell by the use of inverted commas.

Last night we were introduced to Colour Therapy. Hmmm. It started badly. Our tutor put down a crystal angel ornament on a pulsating, flashing coloured light source and turned the lights off. I started to laugh to myself. Couldn't look at the people I sit with as I could detect shuddering shoulders and supressed hysteria all round.

'Look, I'm sorry, but you're going to have to turn that off! It's like being in some kind of mystical Studio 54 - almost as bad as the whale music from week one!' K again. I've mentioned her complaining before.

The laughter just errupted from there. The tutor knew she'd lost us.

Sometimes I feel like I'm living in an Alan Bennett play.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Instant gratification

A very quick knit: Idlewood




Made in (shhh!!!) acrylic. This is James C Brett's Marble.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

What I did on my holiday



I found this on eBay:



and this:


So I spent this afternoon doing these:

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

When did we become old?

My best friend (of 43 years - we met at infant school) and I get together regularly and chat, ok, gossip. We take an evening class together on Monday evenings (strangely enough) and usually talk and text through the week.
K's the only person exactly my age I'm still this close to, a bit like being a twin, separated by only 6 weeks. So, it's a bit like holding up a mirror to myself. I see my fashion choices, grey hairs, wrinkles and opinions refected back at me. Usually.

Recently, however, K has taken to complaining. About her partner, Revenue and Customs, service in restaurants, anything and everything.

This week alone, her partner wore a sweatshirt when he took her out to dinner at a pub - it was 'inappropriate'; the waiter had Doc Marten boots on with red laces and bad tattoos; the waiter leaned across her to pick up empty plates; in the building society, service has gone to hell - 'The teller was wearing Ugg boots with her uniform!", another teller had a 'hermaphrodite' haircut. Gentle questioning reveals this to be an assymetric bob, cropped at one side and long on the other.

I murmer, sympathetically, whilst trying to remain the voice of reason. 'It was a pub, not the Ivy.' 'I wear Ugg boots, they keep my feet warm.' Nothing placates her.

Do I do this? I hope not. When did we become our grandmothers?

Monday, February 21, 2011

Finished object update: Nuss

I finished my Nuss cardigan in the Kingcraig silk/merino aran.

The neck isn't a brilliant fit, to be honest. It's a bit low and wide at the shoulders and as I hardly have any now, it tends to slide off a bit. I can't face altering it, though.

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Created a monster

J has turned into a gym Nazi!

Got home from work yesterday at 6pm. Felt a bit under the weather, to be honest and he's standing there in his tracksuit, water bottle in hand... 'Well, come on then! We said we'd fit a mid-week workout in!'

So, off we went, me dragging my feet in their trainers and muttering under my breath - you know what's coming, don't you? - and I actually felt quite good afterwards.

Maybe my own Mr Motivator in his Marky's sweatpants and Pixies T shirt (no lycra, thank you very much) was all I ever needed

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Gym bunny

Well, not really. But J and I have started to go to our local gym!
It's nice and friendly, with very few size 0s in hot pink lycra. None actually. There are lots of people our age or older mixed in with the guys who wear combat trousers and keep their hoods up who cluster together in the serious weights corner. They don't seem to actually do much training, but are there all the time. It was j's gym first. I have promised not to speak to him if we happen to be there at the same time.

So far we have an introductory regime of 30 minutes cardio: 10 mins treadmill, 10 mins bike, 10 mins cross-trainer. Then we do 30 minutes of weight machines and finish with another 10 minutes on the treadmill.

I have aches in muscles around my upper back and shoulders that I didn't know I actually had and my arse hurts. Must be doing me good!



J took this slightly manic-looking photo after this morning's session. Just taken my headband off - that's my excuse for the hair, anyway :0

No amount of weight work is going to lift my bingo wings. I'll just need to get longer sleeved T shirts ;)

Friday, January 28, 2011

For your pleasure

A busy week. So, what's new?
Went to see Roxy Music at Newcastle Arena on Tuesday. Had a really good evening, even if they didn't play Both Ends Burning, a personal favourite. I shouldn't moan; I did get The Strand.

Terrible phone pictures:






Saturday, January 15, 2011

Retro

I love the new Orla Kiely re-useable bags at Tesco at the moment. Apparently there are going to be four designs throughout the year. Bought one to add to the collection of bags in the car boot - you know, the ones that get left in the car boot when you go into the supermarket resulting in the need to buy more, and one to use as a knitting bag.



I really like the pear design. reminds me of some curtains we had in the 1960s. And it reminds me of this skirt I have. Make mental note not to carry that bag with that skirt!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Yarn Swap

A lovely parcel arrived in the post this week - my swap package from Vikki.

Can you feel the excitement?



Ta-da!



Look at that gorgeous yarn!

My favourite has to be the Mirasol Akapana. It's a gorgeous colour and I love the philosophy of Mirasol.

Thank you, Vikki :)

Saturday, January 08, 2011

Wild tides

J has rested since he was discharged from hospital earlier this week - if you define resting as cleaning the house, sorting out his equipment for work and going to the cash and carry.

So, after being checked out by our GP this morning and having a sensible blood pressure again (Monday night's was 80/49!) we took up our walking programme again.

There were wild tides last night by the look of the beach - all the steps and walkways from the promenade are covered with sand and debris, and lots of rocks, which are normally well-covered by the beach, have been exposed.
We don't often see this boat skeleton:



Only had my phone camera with me today, so appologies for the poor quality of the pictures.

The unusual amount of interesting sea life that has been beached has brought a spectacular number and diversity of seabirds, too.



Most interesting spot of the morning was this:



It's a Ray's Bream, we think, with razor-sharp teeth. Or maybe, it's a pirhana with SatNav issues...

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Hospital sock

We had excitement that we could have quite happily lived without on Monday night. Result was J being 'blue-lighted' hospital and spending the night on Coronary Care. He hasn't had another heart attack, but has viral pericarditis. Nasty.

Anyway, to keep my mind away from the scenarios that being a natural catastrophyser produces, I cast on another hospital sock for him. I used a toe-up pattern and Wabi-Sabi sock yarn. The yarn is gorgeous, but difficult for my poor, aged eyes to see in the dim light of an intensive care facility in the middle of the night. I'm not enjoying the pattern, as I think the toe shapings look messy and the fit is way too wide for even J's size 12's.





Now that he's safely home I can find a new pattern - or simply go back the the one I always use for men's socks.

Monday, January 03, 2011

Last day of freedom

A cold, crisp Bank Holiday. We drove across the moors, where the snow is still hanging on, to Whitby.





It was surprisingly quiet and the light was wonderful.





Too cold to eat outdoors, so we didn't feed the herring gulls this trip. Decided instead to sit in the warmth of the Sander's Yard coffee house with a latte.

Home to make a veggie curry for tea and work on a bit of knitting.

Back to work tomorrow.

Sunday, January 02, 2011

Back in the groove

Today, I took down the Christmas tree and boxed up all the decorations for another year. I even wound the cables of the lights around cardboard this time as the tangled mess that was 3 sets that had been put into one bag last year still haunts me!

I always have a moment where I think the room looks sad and empty without the tree and decorations, then I vacuum and feel much better - isn't our living room light, airy and spacious? I think. That feeling will last until someone finds something to fill the space up with.

Next, I planned to tackle this:



It's 40 Literacy and 40 maths books from my class. They need to have new targets set, printed out and stuck in, then I need to cross reference each book against the APP standards. I've already planned maths, English (reading, writing, handwriting, spelling and speaking and listening), ICT, Design and technology, RE and history/geography lessons. Yes, those long, uninterrupted holidays are definitely why I went into teaching!

J and I went for our daily, face-freezing walk on the beach this morning. On the way over there, we saw a rabbit climbing off the road onto the verge as we headed out on the Seaton Carew Road. It had obviously been hit by a car, but was moving. An hour later, we headed back and J spotted it still sitting there. We both knew what was coming next, but neither of us spoke until we were nearly home.

The upshot is, we have a poorly rabbit in a box in the dining room. The PDSA 'don't do this sort of thing' and the RSPCA have been very helpful, trying to find a vet in the area who will look at a small, wild animal, but they have had no more luck than us. In the meantime, we'll try to keep him quiet and warm.



Edited to add:

The rabbit picked up a bit this afternoon and was later collected by the RSPCA to be seen by a vet.

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2011!

2010 was a year of change for us - dominated by my gastric bypass and j going off to university. I wonder what 2011 will bring.


Project 365

I'm thinking about having a go at this. Here's my picture for today:



Two years ago, these trousers became too tight to wear after my Christmas break from work. I was faced with two choices; buy bigger ones or take the problem seriously and do something about it.

I think I made the right choice ;)

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Sales? Meh!

Went shopping yesterday to see if there are any bargains to be had. Caame back with three pairs of tights and a dozen Christmas gift bags for next year. Needless to say, I will put them somewhere and forget where that place is when I come to need them in 12 months. Wonder if there are any yarny bargains out there.

Finished knitting this polar bear as a test knit for another raveller. The yarn and pattern aren't a great match, but he kept my hands away from the crisps for an evening or two!



Have now cast on for Nuss in a merino silk tweed aran yarn. It's hard on the hands and difficult to visualise what it will look like when finished as the yarn blooms like mad after washing.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Belated Christmas Greetings!



We have enjoyed a relaxing Christmas here. Even though J's father was with us for Christmas day, j and I still wore our pyjamas and we ate on our knees! It's what we do, after years of striving for Good Housekeepingesque Christmas perfection, and I feel much better for it.

My Christmas eating routines have felt odd. well, they would, wouldn't they? Christmas was always a period of total excess and sugar-induced sedation. I don't do that anymore, so my holiday has been different. I think I may have gained a pound or two, which feels frightening and slightly out of control and Betty-the-Bypass-Pouch feels very tight and restricted. I think I've been eating larger quantities than I would usually and it all feels a bit bruised, so I'm on fluids today. I've been thinking about the Five Day Pouch Test. Maybe now is the time to try it.

We've been trying to get out and about for a daily walk, but the snow has made that difficult some days and plain unappealing others.

We have made it down to the beach several times this week - well wrapped up, of course.



It has been so cold that the sea froze on the beach and icicles formed on the rocks.



This is as close as I have gone to work ;) It's nice to have a rest.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Knitting update

Finished test knitting a slouchy hat for another raveller:



Completed Katrina Ballerina Lace Layering Cardigan (Ravelry link).



Made some mobile phone socks for the school Christmas fundraiser:



And a River Island-esque Panda Hat for A, who wears it on the walking bus!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Christmas night out

If look rather like I have been stuffed, it is because J took so long to get me in focus.

Just wanted a record of myself wearing a 'little black dress' that wasn't a contradiction in terms of sizing!



I'm about 150lbs down now.

Friday, December 17, 2010

An ostrich in a pear tree... two dozen turtles nand some porridge in... ...and a partridge in a pantryyyy. ... And a part of a jenna pear tree...

Well, the (how many?) days of Christmas have brought to me:

- 12 dress rehearsals
- 3 Nativity performances
- 2 infant parties
- 1 junior disco
- 1 Christmas tree service in church
- 1 evening carol service in church
- 1 daytime carol service in church
- 1 pantomime
- 1 governors' party
- 1 Christmas Fayre
- 2 days of snow closures
- 1 visit from Santa
- 1 staff night out
- and a much longed for end of term!

Here's to a good rest :)

Friday, December 10, 2010

Sweet bells

Starting to warm up for Christmas by going to see Kate Rusby doing a Christmas concert at The Sage last night.

Another snowy drive up and some really precarious parking were compensated by a lovely evening (although the parking situation made us too late to get a coffee or anything to eat beforehand.)

The band were great and her voice is gorgeous. Our seats were on the front row. Really enjoyed myself singing along!

We've been listening to this in the car:



Very festive!