Writing
Still Bugger All Done
Knitting
Working on the lace sampler scarf (onto lace pattern 3 right now), and looking at a design for a book cover, as I have a cheap and nasty telephone/address book that I want to use, but I want it to be more interesting. Thinking fairisle?
On the very positive note, Kelly loved her socks - result!
Life
Spent today with my Dad, sorting out my Grandad's paperwork, writing letters to utility companies, that kind of thing. It wasn't as grim as it sounded - we're the sort of family that feel better when we have something to do. The post mortem will be tomorrow, and then Dad will be able to get the death certificate, and start sorting out all of the other stuff (probate, funeral, etc).
Sleep tight, world.
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
Saturday, 22 December 2007
Cloche hat finished
Life
After yesterday's news, I've been feeling (understandably) quite flat. Dad and my aunt are doing the running around, all I'll be doing is putting a bit of music (O mio babbino caro and the Intermezzo from the Cavelleria Rusticana) onto a CD for the ceremony. The funeral is provisionally booked for 7th January, provided we can get all the paperwork sorted out. It's sad that 88 years of life have been reduced to sheets of paper and administration, but as Harry Hill used to say "you've got to have a system".
Knitting
The cloche hat is finished. According to the ravelry FAQs I can't put a new pattern on there, which is disappointing, so I'll put a link to here instead. It's in the patterns section.
Writing
Bugger all done.
After yesterday's news, I've been feeling (understandably) quite flat. Dad and my aunt are doing the running around, all I'll be doing is putting a bit of music (O mio babbino caro and the Intermezzo from the Cavelleria Rusticana) onto a CD for the ceremony. The funeral is provisionally booked for 7th January, provided we can get all the paperwork sorted out. It's sad that 88 years of life have been reduced to sheets of paper and administration, but as Harry Hill used to say "you've got to have a system".
Knitting
The cloche hat is finished. According to the ravelry FAQs I can't put a new pattern on there, which is disappointing, so I'll put a link to here instead. It's in the patterns section.
Writing
Bugger all done.
Friday, 21 December 2007
Sad - a family bereavement.
At four o'clock this morning, my Grandfather died. He was 88 years old (a good innings, as they say), and had outlived my Mum (his daughter) by over a year, but I'm still feeling very, very sad.
Grandad was a sentimental man, and for the last year has been very unhappy. I saw him yesterday, and he looked unwell, and exhausted, so it was no great shock, but still a loss. He was scared about going into hospital yesterday, worried that he wouldn't come home and thanks to some internal bleeding and a heart attack, he didn't, but he was comfortable when he died, and with my father and one of my aunts.
There will be a lot of sorting out to do - family politics as well as his belongings, but right now, it's just a time for sadness, reflection, and to think of the happy times with him.
"You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes,love and go on."
Grandad was a sentimental man, and for the last year has been very unhappy. I saw him yesterday, and he looked unwell, and exhausted, so it was no great shock, but still a loss. He was scared about going into hospital yesterday, worried that he wouldn't come home and thanks to some internal bleeding and a heart attack, he didn't, but he was comfortable when he died, and with my father and one of my aunts.
There will be a lot of sorting out to do - family politics as well as his belongings, but right now, it's just a time for sadness, reflection, and to think of the happy times with him.
"You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived,
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared,
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on,
You can cry and close your mind be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes,love and go on."
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
A pain in the neck
Writing
Does Christmas Cards count?
Knitting
I did a lot of knitting on the train, and so have done about 15" of my silk scarf - it will be a selection of lace patterns - God was I getting bored doing the same thing all through!
Life
The cold I've had for the last two weeks is now just a cough, but it's sufficiently annoying that it's given me a stiff neck, and stiff shoulders. It probably doesn't help that I'm tired. Last night I couldn't sleep, partly because my beloved (who also has this cold) was snoring VERY loudly. I decided to take myself off to the spare room, which would have been fine, had books not started falling off the shelves above the bed at about five this morning.
Four hours sleep for me then! How lovely!
When I told my piano teacher this, she felt sorry for me, although looked a bit confused when I revealed that at no point did I think to protect my head with my hands or arms.
D'Oh!
I finished reading Judy Astley's Pleasant Vices today. It was recommended by my aunt, and although it was amusing in places, I must confess that it didn't do a lot for me. I found the characters unconvincing; I kept thinking "she wouldn't do that"! And when you feel that way, the book hasn't absorbed you, as it should. Still, it got published - there's hope for us all!
Does Christmas Cards count?
Knitting
I did a lot of knitting on the train, and so have done about 15" of my silk scarf - it will be a selection of lace patterns - God was I getting bored doing the same thing all through!
Life
The cold I've had for the last two weeks is now just a cough, but it's sufficiently annoying that it's given me a stiff neck, and stiff shoulders. It probably doesn't help that I'm tired. Last night I couldn't sleep, partly because my beloved (who also has this cold) was snoring VERY loudly. I decided to take myself off to the spare room, which would have been fine, had books not started falling off the shelves above the bed at about five this morning.
Four hours sleep for me then! How lovely!
When I told my piano teacher this, she felt sorry for me, although looked a bit confused when I revealed that at no point did I think to protect my head with my hands or arms.
D'Oh!
I finished reading Judy Astley's Pleasant Vices today. It was recommended by my aunt, and although it was amusing in places, I must confess that it didn't do a lot for me. I found the characters unconvincing; I kept thinking "she wouldn't do that"! And when you feel that way, the book hasn't absorbed you, as it should. Still, it got published - there's hope for us all!
Thursday, 13 December 2007
More holidays than Thomas Cook
Knitting.
We're off to bonny Scotland tomorrow, and so I'm taking my silk scarf for the long journey to Glasgow. I hope to sleep some of the way, and admire the views of the lakes too, but there's going to be a lot of time left for knitting and reading.
The hat is coming along, but I'll leave that here - just easier.
Writing
Last night was our writers' group (et al) night out, which was great fun. We went for a scrummy meal (Indian), and the restaurant was pretty empty except for us, so it was civilised and silly at the same time.
Life
I've been accepted to train as a Funeral Officiant! This is very exciting news, and something I've wanted to do for a while. There's a lot of work ahead, and then a lot of work selling myself, but it should be brilliant! It might even warrant a separate blog.
We're off to bonny Scotland tomorrow, and so I'm taking my silk scarf for the long journey to Glasgow. I hope to sleep some of the way, and admire the views of the lakes too, but there's going to be a lot of time left for knitting and reading.
The hat is coming along, but I'll leave that here - just easier.
Writing
Last night was our writers' group (et al) night out, which was great fun. We went for a scrummy meal (Indian), and the restaurant was pretty empty except for us, so it was civilised and silly at the same time.
Life
I've been accepted to train as a Funeral Officiant! This is very exciting news, and something I've wanted to do for a while. There's a lot of work ahead, and then a lot of work selling myself, but it should be brilliant! It might even warrant a separate blog.
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
Tired
Knitting
I've started on a cloche hat. I saw someone walking around town last week in one, and I fell in love with it. If the pattern works, I might try another to match a scarf I've also started, but let's see how it goes first.
Writing
One of my writing crew has got an agent! I'm so happy for her, and a little jealous, of course. She's been working on this book for years, and she is a very skilled writer, so although she's got some work to do, I hope it all comes together for her.
Life
Tired today - eating a load of rubbish food at work doesn't help, but it's the only way around the boredome.
I've started on a cloche hat. I saw someone walking around town last week in one, and I fell in love with it. If the pattern works, I might try another to match a scarf I've also started, but let's see how it goes first.
Writing
One of my writing crew has got an agent! I'm so happy for her, and a little jealous, of course. She's been working on this book for years, and she is a very skilled writer, so although she's got some work to do, I hope it all comes together for her.
Life
Tired today - eating a load of rubbish food at work doesn't help, but it's the only way around the boredome.
Sunday, 9 December 2007
Long time no blog, almost long time no bog
Hello!
It's been a while. First there was week in Turkey, and then a week recovering!
Knitting
Mandy's scarf was completed on holiday. I'd remembered to take some Christmas wrapping with us, so it was dropped off on the way back.
Kelly's socks are also done, and have been wrapped and are waiting to go.
As all this stuff was done, I wound the skeins of silk bought at Ally Pally into balls, and am now thinking about scarves etc for moi.
I was going to make a hat with the same yarn, but I think it will eat into this particular yarn too much, so I'm using up some stash to make a little cloche number.
Writing
Following the completion of first draft (yippee!) I sketched out the synopsis on my hols, but I'm giving the novel a rest until after Christmas.
I had my assignment back from the Writers' Bureau course - full of praise - I really should try to get that published. I AM trying to get the bugger published, but how long do I leave it before hassling them? Oh, the trials.
The first 1,000 words or Ursula are going off to the "Wanna be a writer" competition. The first prize is a trip to Caerleon (haven't been there for about 20 years!), including an hour long session with Jane Wenham-Jones. All competitions are worth entering - I'll be punting that book everywhere this year.
Life
The bathroom is nearing completion. The lovely Paul was here while we weren't to put it all in, but there were probs with the loo - all to do with waste positions (eeuuuggghh!).
Anyway - all now sorted, and despite falling tins of paint (glad I found that before the cat did), unstable loos, and dreadful weather (delaying things slightly), it's all beginning to look fab. Should hopefully be finished by tomorrow (bar the flooring - sort that out after Christmas).
Apart from that I have been rather snotty, by which I mean I have a cold, rather than snobbery being a new pastime, but I struggle on manfully, and don't like to make a fuss.
It's been a while. First there was week in Turkey, and then a week recovering!
Knitting
Mandy's scarf was completed on holiday. I'd remembered to take some Christmas wrapping with us, so it was dropped off on the way back.
Kelly's socks are also done, and have been wrapped and are waiting to go.
As all this stuff was done, I wound the skeins of silk bought at Ally Pally into balls, and am now thinking about scarves etc for moi.
I was going to make a hat with the same yarn, but I think it will eat into this particular yarn too much, so I'm using up some stash to make a little cloche number.
Writing
Following the completion of first draft (yippee!) I sketched out the synopsis on my hols, but I'm giving the novel a rest until after Christmas.
I had my assignment back from the Writers' Bureau course - full of praise - I really should try to get that published. I AM trying to get the bugger published, but how long do I leave it before hassling them? Oh, the trials.
The first 1,000 words or Ursula are going off to the "Wanna be a writer" competition. The first prize is a trip to Caerleon (haven't been there for about 20 years!), including an hour long session with Jane Wenham-Jones. All competitions are worth entering - I'll be punting that book everywhere this year.
Life
The bathroom is nearing completion. The lovely Paul was here while we weren't to put it all in, but there were probs with the loo - all to do with waste positions (eeuuuggghh!).
Anyway - all now sorted, and despite falling tins of paint (glad I found that before the cat did), unstable loos, and dreadful weather (delaying things slightly), it's all beginning to look fab. Should hopefully be finished by tomorrow (bar the flooring - sort that out after Christmas).
Apart from that I have been rather snotty, by which I mean I have a cold, rather than snobbery being a new pastime, but I struggle on manfully, and don't like to make a fuss.
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