changed plans

...at work, to fit with my frame of mind

• number-crunching without needing to think

...this evening to chat with a friend

• the hair-colouring can wait!
• as can the bedroom decorating

Sunday lunch

lovely Sunday lunch with Andrew's family today

• roast beef with all the trimmings - yum!
• good to catch up with everyone too
• and I only had to unknit 4 rows to get back to the dropped stitch...
• about 2 inches completed in the end  ;o)
• waited for the highlights to watch the Indian Grand Prix
• didn't grab me, but some interesting bits

looking for chutney recipes for Christmas presents this evening

• definitely making the Christmas Chutney again
• Spiced Cranberry and Pear Relish looks interesting too

feeling very sleepy now after the clocks went back...

fun and celebrations

A nice, slow start to the day, after what has felt like a very long week, then...

1. We were greeted at the door by a young boy/dinosaur in his hat and mitts, and a younger boy carrying a dinosaur toy, both roaring loudly and excitedly.  What a welcome!
2. Lots of fun playing with Daniel, Toby and their parents this afternoon
• Mousetrap! and Post the Most
• pleased to see that Mummy & Daddy are on the mend from injured knee and tonsilitis
3. A lovely engagement party this evening for Emily & Sam
• lots of yummy puddings
• happy to hear that the colour she's planning for the wedding is similar to the vase we chose for them as a present.  At least we know she likes teal :o)

it's been a long week...

...and I'm ready for the weekend :o)

We had a lovely evening with friends on Tuesday

• pizza, choccy and Wii

I finished the first fingerless mitt on Wednesday

Brewery tour and dinner with customers yesterday

Ginger cake baked this evening, ready for Sam and Emily's engagement party tomorrow

...looking forward to seeing our friends tomorrow afternoon

coincidence and quickly growing

At the doctor this afternoon - strangely odd to be talking to a Scot called Lorna.
... but surely I'm the only one!

The fingerless mitts I'm knitting are growing so much more quickly than I expected

• the first one was started on Saturday evening and is almost finished already!
• I might even be able to make a couple of pairs for presents after all

weekend fun & the birds

yesterday:

• relaxed start to the day
• board games with A & M
• bolognaise sauce simmering in the slow cooker for later
 

• lots of fun at the Gincase
• lunch in the barn
• climbing through the playhouse and sliding down the pole
• racing around the go-kart track
• amazing coloured birds
• Aidan fed them (from his hands!)
• Megan fed Megan (the Shetland pony)
• massive Clydesdale horse
• the clever black pony racing from one end of the field to another in search of food
• happy as pigs in mud!
• and all finished off with tea and delicious cakes in the cafe
• birthday presents
• pink fizz to celebrate new godparenting
• knitting and crocheting in the evening, while the men read
• I've started some fingerless mitts... as a rest from the unending scarf

today:

• lovely lunch at Merienda's before waving goodbye to our friends
• relaxing afternoon at home
• watching sparrows flitting in and out of the branches in the back yard

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow with worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own"
          Matthew 6:26-27,33-34

let the weekend begin

• the day started with a looming migraine
• not great when there was lots of housework to get through
• not so bad that I couldn't do it though, and by mid-afternoon I was feeling much better
• lovely to have our visitors arrive
• lots of smiles to see each other again
• we went for a walk around Whitehaven harbour to get over the long car journey north
• cold and breezy, but lovely to be outside
• delicious meal, cooked by Andrew, followed by knitting!
• I had to unpick a few rows because I'd got distracted, but the scarf has grown about an inch this evening
• very impressed that the men could join in and understand our conversation

ready for the weekend

1. long meeting at work today - some tense moments (still not sure why!) but it was good to have some proper discussions
2. the stack of ironing is almost finished
• as was the pile of dishes...
3. my long weekend has started - hooray!

anticipation

1. 4-day week this week - that means tomorrow is virtually Friday!
2. looking forward to having our friends visit this weekend
3. enjoying looking through patterns for the next knitted items
• I've got some lovely yarn already - now I just need to find the gift to go with it

painting, chatting and good to be inside!

1. I've started my contribution to the bedroom painting
• the walls are mostly green now
• some wallpaper to patch in the corner before painting
• patterned wallpaper still to go on the chimney breast
• very good to see some progress!
2. Good to chat with an old friend on the phone
• an hour passes quickly when there's a lot to catch up on
3. The weather was dramatic this afternoon
• the wind and rain suddenly picked up
• flurries that were so violent they looked like fog!

Blessings... received and planned

• Church was in Whitehaven this morning...
• we're looking at planting a new church there, with the blessing of other churches in the town
• was good to pray for those who are planning to be part of the initial team
• I was encouraged last week when talking to Mike about the Workington church
• God seems to be bringing the different churches in the town together
• breaking down barriers between the congregations
• so encouraging to know that there are strengthening bonds there
• More knitting this afternoon, while watching the BTCC and F1 races
• almost finished a pretty bag which we'll give to a young friend when she visits us soon
• amazed at how quickly it came together, and pleased with the new stitch I learned
• planning what to make for Christmas presents now
• unexpected phone call from a good friend
• good to catch up on what's happening, and to know that we still matter to each other

Dino hat and mitts - done!

• The mitts were so much easier and quicker than I expected...
• I love the design, and I think I'll try to make some bigger ones for some other presents
• I've added some spikes to the back so that they match the hat
• so cute!  and I'm hoping he likes them too
• Veg chilli for tea
• fab comfort food for an autumn evening
• Long chat with Oma after tea
• 92 yesterday
• she's seen so much that we just can't begin to know...

Finished! and starting part 2...

• The dino hat is finished!
• so cute! I took it to work to show a couple of people and they loved it - I'm really pleased
• I've started a pair of fingerless mitts which I plan to adapt to also have stegosaurus plates on the back.  The first mitt is done already, and I'm pleased with how easy it was.
• I just hope they fit! (fingers crossed...)
• I found the pattern on Ravelry

...and homewards bound

• today's review meeting went well
• short, with a very positive atmosphere
• I've been able to catch an earlier train home
• I might even get to housegroup this evening!
• Daniel's dino hat is making good progress

• the hat is almost done (just a couple more rows to do?)
• I've started on the triangles for the stegosaurus' plates
• just need to magic up enough time to make a pair of mittens now!

on the road again...

...this time in Bristol for a meeting tomorrow morning.

• the train journey down went well
• I looked up while we were still in Cumbria - the fells were wrapped in clouds and bathed in sunshine, and we were right next to it.  It was beautiful!
• able to get some work done in the relative peace and space of 1st class
• safely arrived at the hotel
• supplies from Sainsbury's for a picnic meal in my room
• back out again for a birthday card
• now relaxing with Grand Designs

Starting over...

• Yesterday's wobbles feel further away...
• admin sorted out at lunchtime
• phonecalls made
• this week's travel plans are starting to fall into place
• Restarted the dino hat
• this time with the right yarn & hook
• the texture feels much better and the size seems more reasonable

Grace for today...

• wobbly start to the day... but lots of words at church about the way God looks after us
• lay down the burden and rest in Him
• wave from Daniel at the back (wearing PA headphones and looking v cool)
• prayer and support from friends

"Come to me, all you who are weak and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest..."

• Connect4F1 at Tom & Becca's
• yummy lunch
• good company to share the race with

• standing room only!
• Andrew is making short work of stripping the old wallpaper from the bedroom chimneybreast.
• I'm grateful for his hard work, and keeping me out of the way while he pushes on...
• the mirror tiles have gone!
• I'm still working on the crocheted stegosaurus hat for Daniel
• I've ripped it back twice to take out rows of increases
• still probably a bit big, but hopefully not too bad... I don't think he'll mind too much

Productive Saturday

• He's done it!  Graeme's finally proposed to Thea, and she's said yes

• very pleased for them both :o)
• I was up earlier than planned, so spent the morning doing useful things:
• Lazy loaf (about half eaten already)
• Ginger cupcakes
• lots of washing
• Looking forward to Becca's birthday party tonight.

encouragement

been feeling a bit wobbly over the last few days... last night I read this though:

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9

growing dino, yummy leftovers

1. Daniel's dino hat is growing...
• I'm not sure if it's too big, but I'll see how it goes
• I can always frog it if I need to
2. Andrew cooked again this evening
• using up leftovers...
• I had yesterday's spicy aubergine, pepper & tomato sauce on seeded ciabatta with salad.
• yummy :o)

ring, dinosaur and clearout

1. Happy news from Emily & Sam
2. perfect pattern found for Daniel's birthday present
• already started and looking good so far
3. the junk clearout has started on my side of the room!

reconnected

1. The broadband switchover was seamless - just as promised by BT
• amazing!!
• let the savings begin...
2. Dinner with Andrew's parents
• they've had such a good time away exploring Berlin, Liverpool and the North East. 
• Mary almost forgot to eat, she was so enthusiastic in telling us all about their travels
3. No "Check Emissions" warning yet...

delightful lunch and heading home

 
















• today's lunch was delicious!
• gravadlax for starter, roast lamb, then lemon tarte
• the sun shone
• lovely to see all my cousins and get to know some of their other cousins
• good to meet their partners too - not one British person among them!  What a cosmopolitan family we have.
• also meeting some relatives I've not seen since I was a child

• back on the train to the chilly north

on the train... and continued travel

• Last night's dinner was made by Andrew
• beef in a stilton, red onion and red wine sauce
• delicious!
• London adventure
• I'm treating myself to an upgrade to 1st Class as I head to London for Isabel & Gorazd's wedding celebration
• Detour to Sloane Square to get gift voucher from John Lewis
• stop to enjoy a slice of pizza from a market stall, while listening to a jazz band in the open air
• a welcome moment of summer relaxation
• Lovely warm welcome when I arrive, with tea & cake in the garden
• hot summer temperatures - London's baking in October
• finished the day with a hot bath

end of the week

1. Glad to be home on Thursday evening - it's been a long week!
• the training course was good, and I'm glad I went
• long days mean I'm ready for some sleep
• it's good to be home again
2. Returned home to find Andrew has started redecorating our bedroom
• part of me wishes I'd been able to help but deep down I'm delighted to find he's broken the back of the work & I've not had to do anything
3. Car to the garage on Friday morning to try to find the reason for the "Check Emissions" warning light
• courtesy car provided
• warning message gone when I collect car (after they cleaned computer connections and re-replaced the sensor)
• no bill!