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Saturday 23 July 2011

No more weekend working

Yep, as of two weeks ago, I do not have to work weekends anymore. Why? Cause I have been offered the job of Administrator (under a 3 month trial for now) and half of me is so excited and the other half of me is saying 'holy crap I have got to be serious now cause I wont be able to moan about being bored anymore'. The day goes so quickly that before you know it your tummy is rumbling cause 4 hours have just gone flying past without realising.

I am now going to focus on my career now and work my way up and not look back so fingers crossed for me. Bye bye activities, hello office.

My mitred blanket I posted about earlier in the month is still going strong. You can see its gradually getting bigger and am just working my way along to get the width I want for it. I dont think its going to become as big as a single bed blanket because I want to get some christmas knitting done soon so maybe a 'snooze blanket' for J so he can be wrapped up and covered in it when he has his nap.

The jogging has slackened to say the least, I am still losing weight (10lbs so far) through walking every day to work and have kept that up for about 2 months now. I am also careful with what I eat (but still have a treat every day). I have increased my fruit in take and make sure that I have a dinner every day (mainly at work). Oh yeah, and I drink a lot of water too.

Other than that I havent really had much going on since I last posted. Unless you want to know about my housework regime which is pretty boring. So, I am off to do a bit of knitting and maybe watch some NCIS. Tara for now..

Sunday 17 July 2011

oooh, lookey here


Yep, that is my Tammie who always decides to lay right on top of my latest projects when I lay them out on my bed for my projects update. Why does she do that or does she know what a camera is... Anyway, I thought I had done more than that especially after spending every night crafting for the past month.

My brother R has asked me to make a blanket for his son J for the winter so I started it last night. I decided to do another mitred blanket and using double strands of acrylic to use up my odds and ends stash. I will knit a plain colour inbetween the mixed up colours.

I am doing my own basic mitred pattern so if your interested, here is how I started the first square that you see on top of the box (if you would like to comment or have any questions about its progression just let me know and I will try to help).

Needles: 4mm
Yarn: Double Knit Acrylic but two strands together

R1. Cast on 53 stitches using two strands of yarn together
R2. Knit 25 stitches, slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over, knit 25.
R3. Knit every stitch.
R4. Knit 24 stitches, slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over, knit 24.
R5. Knit every stitch.

Continue these 5 rows making sure you decrease from 25 stitches each side of the decrease down to the last 3 stitches. On the 3 stitches remaining you slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slip stitch over. Fasten off. Can you see the mitre shape going from one corner to the other.



On a different note, I seem to be getting a lot of 'page views' (over 2000) on my blog but have still only got 7 followers and am just asking that if you do read my blog regular could you maybe follow me, or even leave a comment.

Saturday 16 July 2011

Debenhams dear

I went for a stroll around Romford today after having a good lay in. My plan was to look around the market, check in Argos for my Duvet Set that I wanted and have a browse around Debenham's looking for a pair of decent black trousers for work.

Instead, Argos didnt have my duvet set again, it was tiddling down with rain and packed with people dodging brolly's. So I went into Debenham's and didn't realise I was in there 2 hours trying on trousers, bra's and looking at the bedding (ouch). Yep, I say ouch cause even in the sale, a duvet set that I liked in the sale was not only £69 and was gorgeous but it had been £159. Yes, it was a bargain but there is no way I would pay that price (unless I won the lottery).

Anyway, I spent the last half hour looking at the Yankee Candles and votice holders and here they are..the large candle was £18 and called 'fluffy towels'and smells like freshly washed towels and the votice holders were £5 each and I bought 2 vanilla votive candles.

I managed to get home before the town show started up and am now shattered. Walking around one large department store is very tiring on the old feet so now I am going to enjoy another cuppa and do some housework.

Sunday 10 July 2011

Sunday sunshine



I thought I would never say this, but I actually bought some blue flowers for my living room. I had the others in my bedroom and decided, after looking at a magazine picture of a living room with blue cushions, to try it out in my living room. Yep, I got the blue Gerberra's from Wilkinsons at Heathway and my brother Ron did the arrangement for me (he use to work at the flower shop in Broad Street Market years ago). Then when I had a look at some cushions with some blue in at Wilkinson's they were £7 each but decided to get them next pay day. Can't wait. I have put my name on them and told them not to sell them out..lol.
I also went in the charity shops yesterday at Heathway and got some old fashioned fabric which is going to either be a table cloth or a patchwork backing..not sure yet. (watch this space). I have started some more projects but am hoping they are going to be christmas presents, they are my own pattern so when I have got as far as I am happy with, I will post a picture..
in the meantime here's a picture of me, my brother and youngest sister back in 1978. I was the ripe old age of 10...

Monday 4 July 2011

Just a quickie...

Its finally completed. I ended up doing 4 rows around the whole thing as a border and it has given it more stability. However, because I did 4 seperate squares and not one big one, the middle of each square is slightly raised in the middle but it does correct itself after a wash in the machine.

Am going to go and relax now and sew in all the flipping ends...

Sunday 3 July 2011

I started again..

I bought myself a pair of cheap trainers today out of Asda thinking they were going to be no good for jogging but heyho, they are 'sick'. I think thats the right word for 'good' cause I just did some jogging whilst the dog was still walking and I noticed a great difference in the support of my ankle. Will go out again tomorrow after work to see if I can do any better. I think I will stay away from park's for a while because there was some weirdo hiding behind some trees with a can of beer. I am going to aim at being able to jog one mile. Hedgemans Road is one mile long so I will see how far I can get without needing oxygen.

Saturday 2 July 2011

Peace & Quiet

Update on the jogging...been 5 times in 3 weeks..not very good. My left ankle is killing and am in need of a severe kick up the arse to carry on..probably cause of feeling a bit low but hopefully will snap out of it.

Today however, I treated myself to this..I bought it at Romford Market for £18 which is quite good. Its reversible and is a Kingsize with 2 pillow cases. In actual fact, I worked it out that after 22 years it is my first duvet set, brand new, worked and bought for by me. I am going to have to get myself some more to get rid of the dull colours that I have. I also bought a few bits of cheap make up from the undercover bit of the old Market and had a mooch around the charity shops. Is it me or are they getting as dear as normal clothes shops. Anyway, what else have I been doing. Oh yeah, here it is..I have finished panel 4 of the catherine wheel stitch afghan and am hoping tonight I can sit in my garden, in the quiet without next doors kids making too much noise, and crochet some cream yarn around the edge of the blanket. I have already got another project in my mind to start and have been hunting around for buttons to match the yarn but no luck at the moment. I am intending to either sell the catherine wheel stitch blanket or if no luck, will save it for a christmas present. Oh well, better get my arse in gear and go walk the dog before I do anything else..here's a picture to leave you with. Its some baby moorhens I was feeding over Raphel's Park yesterday.