Music and perfectionist

I was surprised yesterday walking through town to hear an Amy Grant song coming from the PA system in the main square (along with other Christmas songs) - I've not heard this song for about 20 years!

Breath of heaven

Hold me together

Be forever near me

Breath of heaven

Breath of heaven

Light up my darkness

Pour over me your holiness

For you are holy

It felt good to pick up my guitar again after too long not playing... We've got housegroup tomorrow evening, so I've been preparing some songs to sing together.

The latest attempt at a fingerless mitt is almost done, but I'm not convinced (not that I'm a perfectionist or anything...)  I think I know what I'll try next though - hopefully an adult-sized version of the crocheted mitts I made for D's birthday.  It was a nice pattern so I'm fairly optimistic...

Friends and gift WIP

• It felt good to catch up with friends yesterday morning after being away last week:  hugs and smiles at church, then watching the last F1 race of the year with good company ...and a delicious tea to finish.
• One fingerless mitt finished... but it's too big!  So I'm trying another design (and I'll keep the first for myself).  This time I'm using a thicker yarn and crocheting for a faster finish.  Let's hope this one works.
• Two Words with Friends game invitations - at the moment I'm winning one and losing one.

Weekend makings

Makings...

• Mary Berry's Christmas Chutney - this is the fourth time I've made this recipe, and I'm getting the hang of it now.  This time I left the lid off during the early part of cooking the veggies so that there was less liquid to evaporate later.  It seemed to work, so that probably took about an hour off the boiling time.  It went down very well last year, so I'm looking forward to giving some jars as presents

 

 


























• Fingerless Mitts - another Christmas present.  I've probably planned slightly too much for the time available, but I should be able to get these sorted out ok.
• Frizzante scarf -  my gran loved the scarf I made for her a few years ago, and she wears it every night, so it's time she got a new one!  I started knitting it in the car on the way to town, about 2" so far...

Shopping...

• We're getting there... I think we've found something for my brothers and my mum now.  We'll hopefully sort out the rest tomorrow.  Hooray!

HIMP day 4 and back home

1. The sun shone and the mists lifted, making for a beautiful autumn view
2. The Christmas lights were on as I drove back through Cockermouth - crisp white and blue
3. It's good to be back home again, and there was soon a glass of red wine and a tasty snack ready for me.

HIMP day 3

A fun activity this afternoon, to learn about Lean.  We were split into two teams and were assembling a "widget" of sticker dots on paper.  The other team was much more efficient, but we nearly caught up by the end...  It was a welcome change from the financial training over the last couple of days.

I'm ready to head home soon though - it's been a long 3 days so far and I'll be glad to be home tomorrow evening.  A long journey, but that'll be it for a while now.

I've still not picked up my knitting while I've been here... when I'm back in my room I end up going online to keep in touch with the world instead.  I'll have to work fast when I'm back home to be ready by the 9th...

HIMP day 2

I think yesterday was designed to ease us in gently (or should that be "lull us into a false sense of competence"?) because they've upped the pace a lot today.  I'm very comfortable with the maths part, but all the accounting terminology just has me reaching for the dictionary!  There's another half day to go, so I hope I manage to keep my head above water...

It's a beautiful view outside the hotel - I've tried to take a photo from my balcony but I can't do it justice:

Imagine tranquil mists over still water...

HIMP day 1

Finance and business strategy...

We're missing some of the other course members, due to work priorities, family and fog... the fog cleared eventually so we gained one back by the end of the day.

The course is interesting (honest!) but I'm guessing it will get a bit more complicated before we're finished.

No aerobics sessions programmed in this time, but we've been for a walk around the town a couple of times.  The fresh air was very welcome after sitting in a classroom all day - we finished at 8:30pm and we're starting back at 8:30am tomorrow.

The meals are delicious.  I got a shock when I had a glass of wine with my dinner though - 125 SEK (about £12!).  I think I'll be sticking to water from now on...  Some of us did manage to find a bar in town for a nightcap after the classes were finished ;o)

lovely morning and great service

We took a walk around Whitehaven harbour before I set off on my travels again... the sun was shining and it was a beautiful clear day.

When I arrived at Stockholm airport I noticed my case had been damaged (again - it was scratched the last time I brought it here!)  I reported it to the service desk, not expecting anything more than a form to fill in, but was given a replacement case there and then!  They had a table at the side of the baggage claim where I could transfer my things from between cases, and then leave my damaged case.  I don't recognise the brand I've been given (but then I didn't know the brand I had before) but it seems at least as good as my old one, and possibly better.

What good service!

Friends and family

I visited a friend and her 4-month old baby this morning.  Time flies so quickly; the last time I saw them he was only a couple of weeks old.  "Ciocia Lorna" - feels strange, and a privilege...

I'm looking forward to having a little bit more control over how I spend my time after this week; I seem to have been travelling or working longer hours since September and it's been interesting but I feel I've neglected my friends a bit too.  We'll be home over Christmas so hopefully we can spend some proper time with the people who matter to us.

We cooked for Andrew's mum's birthday today - he made spiced apple and sweet potato soup, and I made lemon roast chicken with lots of roast veggies.  The table was already beautifully decorated when I got back from my friend's house.  I think Mary enjoyed being pampered.

The broom broom beanie's growing too - I've added the road now - and Andrew has found some gorgeous buttons on ebay.  Success!

something achieved...

1. a parcel arrived for me at work, with several great examples of what has been printed on our product.  Some luxurious boxes, some very cute, all very good!
2. I ticked off almost everything on my "must do before I'm away for a week" list at work.  That felt satisfying.
3. a relaxing evening at home, knitting and enjoying a meal cooked for me by Andrew.

tickle-monsters, good company and next WIP

1. tickle-ickle-ickle!  at our housegroup meal out, Toby and Daniel were little tickle-monsters.  Lots of laughing!
2. and it felt good to have a relaxing meal with friends, even if I've eaten far too much.
3. I've started another Christmas knitting project... I've been looking for a 2nd pattern for fingerless mitts (for my future sister-in-law this time), and hopefully this one will work.  The last one I tried was looking far too big, so I hope this works better... fingers crossed!

Christmas WIP

I've started the next Christmas present.  I couldn't resist this crocheted broom broom beanie and plan to make it for Sam's Christmas present.  I love the idea and hope he will too.  I'm going to use car buttons, if I can find some, instead of turning toy cars into a brooch, but otherwise will stick to the design as much as possible.  So cute!

I'll probably make a girly hat for his big sister too...  I'm not sure what design yet...

strength and catching up

1. I started the pilates class thinking I didn't have the energy or strength to keep up, but actually managed more than usual.  I can definitely see some progress in what I can manage.
2. Lovely to catch up with my friends afterwards for our prayer triplet
3. I've almost done the homework for next week's course!  It'll be sent in the morning.

Growing, completing and experimenting

1. Exciting news this morning from a colleague who's looking forward to a new arrival
2. Managed to complete what I need for tomorrow morning, without having to bring anything home this evening
3. Experimented in the kitchen this evening, to make a spicy sausage casserole from various bits and pieces.  It turned out yummy :o)

weekend activities

yesterday:

1. to receive a text from a friend who'd prayed for me last Sunday, asking how my week had been
2. yummy mezze platter for lunch at Merienda's in Carlisle (with handcut chips!)
3. the fingerless mitts I'm making as a Christmas present are very nearly finished
• just the hems left to sew on the 2nd glove

today:

1. playing bass during the worship time
• it's been a while since I last played, but it was good to be part of the group again.  I'm looking forward to being part of a regular band for a change
2. watching the Abu Dhabi grand prix with friends after church
• the race had a few good moments, but the company was fun
3. knitted another 2" of scarf this evening
• it's coming on, but I'm still only about 2/3 of the way through
• will it ever be finished?!

winding down

1. busy day at work, with 2 of the team off and more questions than usual coming in, but we managed ok
• reassuring news from one of the team that his little girl's illness has been diagnosed and is treatable
• the weekend's here now, so I can relax and catch up on house stuff
2. great to be able to pick up my knitting needles again
• it's been a while, and I'm keen to make some Christmas presents this year so I'm very pleased that the current 2 projects are getting close to completion
3. I'm enjoying reading Case Histories, after a number of weeks without picking up a novel.

back home again

The meeting in Sweden went well, despite my developing a cold before leaving home... I was coughing & sneezing throughout Tuesday, but was fine during the half-hour when I was speaking.

I didn't feel any bad effects from Monday's early start, and the different timezone, which was a welcome answer to prayer; as was not feeling panicky during the drives home yesterday.

• I'd felt God telling me last week that the travelling would be ok, and I could feel Him with me throughout.  It was good to know I wasn't alone, and that the King has been looking after me

I've seen some beautiful sunsets & sunrises over the last few days too - sometimes the world just takes your breath away...

what a long day!

the alarm was set for 4:55 this morning... I'm now in Hudiksvall, after 3 hours in the car, 3+ hours in the plane, 2 hours on the train and a short walk to the hotel.

1. I looked out from the plane window onto what appeared to be lumps of rock in the sea... then spotted the tiny boats moored by the shore, and the (fairly big) roads to "nowhere".  There is life in unexpected places
2. despite all the delays en route (traffic hold-ups, queueing for security, computer problems on the plane...) we arrived pretty much on time at our final destination
3. I opened my "breakfast" sandwich at about 4pm, to find a nice note from Andrew.

and I think this is the nicest room I've had in this hotel yet...

Saturday jolly and makes

I drove to Carlisle in the fog, then returned in lovely sunshine - what a difference!

• a warm welcome from our friends in Moreish when I stopped for some lunch
• chatting with a friend when I passed her shop in Cockermouth
• found some (more!) yarn in Whitehaven for the next Christmas present idea

I made some spiced cranberry and pear relish this evening

• I doubled the quantities, because four 250g jars didn't seem very much... I've ended up with a triple amount!
• I used 4 big pears and 4 smaller, to hedge my bets... the recipe didn't say what size I needed
• I added half as much extra sugar as the recipe said for fresh cranberries
• it took much longer than the 30 minutes cooking time
• I think there must be something about my cooker and pan - it always needs longer than the chutney recipes say

I've tried to keep the boiling vinegar smell to the kitchen, but it's bound to get through the house... I've made a veg tagine to try to balance it out a bit

 

weekend plans

On my own this evening... Andrew's gone to visit his brother for the weekend... so I'm watching too much tv.  I really should go to bed though - I'm incubating a cold and some sleep might be a good idea.

My weekend plans have changed a bit though

• my hairdresser has cancelled for tomorrow
• setting off for Sweden early on Monday (not Sunday evening)
• maybe going to go shopping in Carlisle tomorrow if I feel inspired
• I'm in Andrew's car too - probably not the best weather for driving with the top down...
• definitely looking forward to 2 mornings when I can sleep in :o)

fascinating and practicalities

yesterday:
trip with work to visit the Thorntons factory in Derbyshire...

• I nearly didn't go, but late on Tuesday it was back on!
• the air was full of chocolate dreaminess

today:

• feeling very tired after 400 miles on the road yesterday
• not looking forward to starting out at silly o'clock for Monday's travel, but there's a quiet voice telling me it'll be ok...

...and I've finally got my hair back to the colour it should be ;o)