tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74199515017884663882024-03-14T11:06:24.365+00:00unravelledEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-75892880545103355092013-01-14T21:58:00.001+00:002013-01-14T21:59:27.514+00:00Allotment in winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GFFY_NVejC8/UPR1NV1o17I/AAAAAAAABb4/TncyNFLo374/s1600/P1131261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GFFY_NVejC8/UPR1NV1o17I/AAAAAAAABb4/TncyNFLo374/s400/P1131261.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
I made my first trip for ages to the allotment on Sunday (the allotment, aka lottie, has, like everything else in my life, been somewhat neglected of late - I blame the builders!) I swear there's some sort of witchcraft going on there - it's the most Zen place in the entire universe - I can feel myself relax the second I walk through the gates. My trusty assistant was with me, helpfully available to lean on me every time I tried to take a photo or to tell me, with a look of desperation in her eyes, as I tried to hold her, naked bottom pointing to the ground, legs in the air, that she didn't, in fact, only need a wee...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PQ6b_vY508/UPR2NN1MCaI/AAAAAAAABcI/UTFgAxeuIl8/s1600/P1131264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PQ6b_vY508/UPR2NN1MCaI/AAAAAAAABcI/UTFgAxeuIl8/s400/P1131264.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
'What's <i>this</i>, mummy? What's <i>this</i>?' 'Why, that's perpetual spinach, darling' (pause for proud moment - yes, I <i>can </i>identify that mystery green leaf, even though I haven't been here for an eternity)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was absolutely amazed at how much is still growing away there:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4yKD5hLXEPg/UPR4v4v7p3I/AAAAAAAABck/INCSqVWFvu4/s400/P1131265.JPG" width="300" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think this is broccoli of some sort. Or it could be a cabbage. I'm not so proud of myself now. It's definitely a brassica of some sort </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
('Look at may waife's brassicas'... Name that film. Extra points for this one, it's tricky) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KNnjsjWHPgE/UPR6IkFzsII/AAAAAAAABdA/06b0kAB5Yhc/s1600/P1131266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KNnjsjWHPgE/UPR6IkFzsII/AAAAAAAABdA/06b0kAB5Yhc/s400/P1131266.JPG" width="300" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Okay, this one's another brassica. Cavolo nero? Anyone? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AvziHygAzug/UPR6uWSzOtI/AAAAAAAABdI/7eh1UHZmqmc/s1600/P1131274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AvziHygAzug/UPR6uWSzOtI/AAAAAAAABdI/7eh1UHZmqmc/s400/P1131274.JPG" width="300" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I know this one! Yay. This is definitely blackcurrants. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFaaHXDsWV0/UPR50xFmSYI/AAAAAAAABcw/b87G5HeoszQ/s400/P1131270.JPG" width="300" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Right, this isn't a brassica and it isn't a currant, I can say that with certainty. It's a leek. Or it may be garlic. It's oniony, whatever. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And obviously the trusty old rhubarb is sprouting away already:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MiD-iqoiwdc/UPR897WimMI/AAAAAAAABdc/tsA6kZ7qNv4/s1600/P1131275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MiD-iqoiwdc/UPR897WimMI/AAAAAAAABdc/tsA6kZ7qNv4/s400/P1131275.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Crikey, we still haven't eaten our way through all of last year's rhubarb crop - I'd better get on with it or we'll be disappearing under some sort of pink-stalked mountain. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Crumble, anyone? x</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
PS - thank you, you lovely lot, for your comments on my last post - it's so great to know you're all still out there - I really do appreciate your words and have been quietly reading all your blogs in my absence, even though I'm not always very good at commenting x</div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-39876271202226165652013-01-07T22:49:00.001+00:002013-01-07T22:49:47.977+00:00Smile post #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uAWf1URqZkk/UOtHN9cz0nI/AAAAAAAABa0/5xdgr_XJvkI/s1600/DSC_0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uAWf1URqZkk/UOtHN9cz0nI/AAAAAAAABa0/5xdgr_XJvkI/s400/DSC_0211.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
I love the idea of '52 weeks of happy' that I have seen in blogland recently - there's a lot to be said for appreciating the small things in your every day life, but embarking on something that requires you to do at least one post a week is a big commitment for a flake like me, so here is my own version of it - my very first ever <span style="color: #e06666;">s</span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">m</span><span style="color: #ffd966;">i</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">l</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">e</span> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">p</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">o</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">s</span><span style="color: #e06666;">t</span>. And the first thing that's been making me smile lately? Why, I introduce to you my new favourite thing: my wood-burning stove...ta dah!!!! Isn't it just the cosiest thing you've ever seen? This was installed in September and has been on almost every night since then (even when, frankly, we haven't needed it - but better to be sitting on the sofa, fire blazing, sweating in my swimming costume, than sitting on the sofa fully clothed with no fire on, I say). <span style="font-size: xx-small;">I wasn't being entirely accurate there, btw, my cossie almost never sees the light of day.<span style="font-size: small;"> I love this fire more than almost everything else in the entire world, despite the fact that the fitters had to take a jackhammer to my sitting room wall to get the lining up the chimney (cue knock on door and next-door-neighbour saying in a quavering voice 'uuuuhmmm, is this going to take long? Only, everything's falling off my sitting room wall...') Ooops.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0nAVxmqIaw/UOtKotzHP6I/AAAAAAAABbI/Bi8YuwEISv8/s1600/DSC_0116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0nAVxmqIaw/UOtKotzHP6I/AAAAAAAABbI/Bi8YuwEISv8/s400/DSC_0116.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Smile no two: cutie-pie cousins playing with stickers (Hello Kitty, if you're interested - small was <i>thrilled</i> when she opened <i>that</i> parcel, I can tell you!) Spot the boy with the new astros - yaaaawnnn - what is it with boys and trainers? Seemingly, they never grow out of it either, Mr N gets very excited when the boys tell him they've grown out of their old ones - it seems that trainer shopping is a blue job, whereas school uniform shopping is most definitely a pink job, which just smacks of double standards to me...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCdQQVVtLaE/UOtMKnx7j7I/AAAAAAAABbc/ZN_vrQD0ETI/s1600/DSC_0196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCdQQVVtLaE/UOtMKnx7j7I/AAAAAAAABbc/ZN_vrQD0ETI/s400/DSC_0196.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Smile three? Beautiful nature, even on the dullest, grey day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aiJCkM8F-Ik/UOtM8083ZkI/AAAAAAAABbk/MeqYIiLm6bs/s1600/DSC_0226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aiJCkM8F-Ik/UOtM8083ZkI/AAAAAAAABbk/MeqYIiLm6bs/s400/DSC_0226.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And there you have it - my first post for an eternity. I'm nervous in case you've all, understandably, deserted me and instead of comments, I get tumbleweed at the bottom of my post. I do have an entirely justifiable reason for my absence, which I will go into at a later date, but let's just say that we've had 'a bit of work' done on the house and by the end of it I had only a tenuous grip on my sanity. It was a pretty hairy period, with the notable low point coming when I started sobbing so hysterically that I gave myself a nosebleed <i>in front of the decorator</i> who, credit where credit's due, didn't edge nervously towards the door but instead rolled up my blood-soaked sleeves, handed me copious amounts of loo roll to mop myself up, asked me about twenty times if I 'wanted a brew' and told me that 'we all need to have a good cry every now and then'. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Me: humiliated; him: sh*tting himself. x</div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-18762153664589014562012-07-15T21:48:00.001+01:002012-07-15T22:32:48.150+01:00All star blanket ta-dah!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lAN0kGuNA00/UAMemU_JkvI/AAAAAAAABZM/lJEh5ANVm0k/s1600/P7151109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lAN0kGuNA00/UAMemU_JkvI/AAAAAAAABZM/lJEh5ANVm0k/s400/P7151109.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
I've given up waiting for the sun (this weekend has been notable in that we have had 'only a very little bit' of rain) and so I've taken some gloomy photos of my latest make, so that I can legitimately get cracking with the next one. Is it normal to feel that I can't start my next blanket (for it has to be a blanket - I do love them so) until I've blogged about my last one? That the project isn't really done until it's been posted?<br />
So...here it is...my <span style="color: #76a5af;">all</span> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">star</span> <span style="color: #8e7cc3;">blanket</span>. Ta-dah!!!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4mhO9EBSdU/UAMgStzSTKI/AAAAAAAABZU/H_DbK3mQeg8/s1600/P7151108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4mhO9EBSdU/UAMgStzSTKI/AAAAAAAABZU/H_DbK3mQeg8/s400/P7151108.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Can you see the slightly serrated effect along the edge where the grey colour joins on to the cream? I really love this stitch, which I think is called saw stitch. It's made by doing a double crochet, chain one, miss next stitch, double crochet, chain one, miss next stitch, double crochet...etc and I think I'm going to use it for my next blanket. I'm picturing lovely irregular width stripes in creams and greens and pinks, and I'm picturing me tucked up underneath it on my comfy, comfy new sofa, crochet hook in hand, glass of wine nearby...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But back to the blanket in hand:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD5MMfOEQUvaMK8mBgPvhSE3VkvFJljrmn6ZPs7AoYKEPjK_Sd08SRUwFOGXya8AvbYvVoWO-s5rtKr-Zd-uBA6sJQPzDzfD7BajJGVzJYo-XQlrcMO6xBPJNtkJqVv5SqW2RLBpilxY/s1600/P7151107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD5MMfOEQUvaMK8mBgPvhSE3VkvFJljrmn6ZPs7AoYKEPjK_Sd08SRUwFOGXya8AvbYvVoWO-s5rtKr-Zd-uBA6sJQPzDzfD7BajJGVzJYo-XQlrcMO6xBPJNtkJqVv5SqW2RLBpilxY/s400/P7151107.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B5ykgV4lgts/UAMjp8kAuYI/AAAAAAAABZo/xp-o8p9tE5Q/s1600/P7151110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B5ykgV4lgts/UAMjp8kAuYI/AAAAAAAABZo/xp-o8p9tE5Q/s400/P7151110.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I first saw the design on Pinterest and loved it so much that I bought the book - Crocheted Gifts: Irresistible Projects To Make And Give by Kim Werker - I have to point out here that I'd debate the validity of the word 'irresistible'; this is probably the only thing I'll make from this book - but for me it was worth buying it for this pattern alone as I just love it so much. It's written in American terms and so I found it easier to translate it first - I get in a right old muddle when things are written in American, my poor old brain can't cope - and as it turns out, I nearly couldn't cope with this pattern even when it was written in English! The first star-in-a-circle-in-a-square took me about an hour of head scratching and frogging and muttering under my breath, but I'm pleased to report that I could knock them up pretty quickly once I'd got the hang of them.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I used Rico Creative Cotton, which I bought from <a href="http://www.cucumberpatch.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e06666;">here</span></a>, and I needed: two balls of each of the two star colours; four balls of the light blue circle colour; sixteen balls of the main cream colour; and one ball of the grey edge colour. The finished blanket is about the same size as the top of a single bed (excluding the bit where the pillow goes) and middle absolutely loves it. He loves it so much, in fact, that it travels around the house with him - he even has his breakfast wrapped up in it (yes, it really is that cold in July...) and that makes it extra lovely for me.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And as if all that crocheting wasn't enough to satisfy my urge to make things, I had a very busy two hours at the allotment this morning harvesting a tonne of rhubarb, some strawberries, sweet peas, marigolds and a mountain of blackcurrants. My afternoon was spent turning this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lrhFwJF3nxY/UAMrDG4KzoI/AAAAAAAABZ0/1msRpC9uDdk/s1600/P7151103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lrhFwJF3nxY/UAMrDG4KzoI/AAAAAAAABZ0/1msRpC9uDdk/s400/P7151103.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-URdAvBzp_FA/UAMrjzfw3QI/AAAAAAAABZ8/YswO2XpocJg/s1600/P7151100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-URdAvBzp_FA/UAMrjzfw3QI/AAAAAAAABZ8/YswO2XpocJg/s400/P7151100.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...into lovely jars of blackcurrant jam. Oh, in fact, if I listen very carefully, I think I can hear my toaster calling me. Yep, it definitely wants some attention and, frankly, I am powerless to resist the lure of a slice of toast with loads of butter and a thick layer of this yummy jam. Soz, gotta dash... x</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-66904112371580810112012-07-10T22:36:00.000+01:002012-07-10T22:36:24.719+01:00Muddy strawberries and little pots of lovely<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1VqabaSRPJ0/T_yPy2ZcaFI/AAAAAAAABYY/Sw0FZJ6wrm8/s1600/P7051094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1VqabaSRPJ0/T_yPy2ZcaFI/AAAAAAAABYY/Sw0FZJ6wrm8/s400/P7051094.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My small attempt to bring a little bit of summer to my soggy neck of the woods...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...and proof that, despite all the rain, some things are managing to survive in my allotment:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wz-ox701ep8/T_yTdh7slfI/AAAAAAAABYk/-jef0Gh9lUs/s1600/P7051087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wz-ox701ep8/T_yTdh7slfI/AAAAAAAABYk/-jef0Gh9lUs/s400/P7051087.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(ha ha - look - it's actually sunny in this photo. That was in the bright spell we had from 4.00 - 4.15 a week ago yesterday.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZF3To88faBM/T_yUp7PMXfI/AAAAAAAABYs/Ykoz4-1QvPA/s1600/P7051083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZF3To88faBM/T_yUp7PMXfI/AAAAAAAABYs/Ykoz4-1QvPA/s400/P7051083.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love these little jugs of flowers that are gently shedding their petals all over my house, they cheer me up a bit when all I really want to do is hide my head under a duvet and sob 'where, oh where is the sun???'</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Strawberries help a bit too, especially when they're served with a vast mound of cream with icing sugar and vanilla. These babies, however, were presented with a side serving of mud, courtesy of small, who mistook the trug for a bucket and helpfully emptied a trowelful of earth into it:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--wulLjJ7TFw/T_yYeKo64dI/AAAAAAAABY4/rG1cdP9cqJI/s1600/P7051081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--wulLjJ7TFw/T_yYeKo64dI/AAAAAAAABY4/rG1cdP9cqJI/s400/P7051081.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They actually tasted amazing once I'd thoroughly washed them and cut the wildlife out of them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And here's a peek at something else that's been making me smile when I see it:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PShXFSDLQ10/T_yaiFCuL6I/AAAAAAAABZA/sEq-TZoiSLk/s1600/P7051098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PShXFSDLQ10/T_yaiFCuL6I/AAAAAAAABZA/sEq-TZoiSLk/s400/P7051098.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...it's not middle's drunken-looking teddy (ah, he does love that bear - aka 'smelly ted' - he's lost almost all his stuffing, has more repairs round his bottom than actual fabric, and stinks like something you might find if you were to have a rummage around at the bottom of a wheelie bin, but he's as much a member of the family as middle himself). </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Can you see what's just behind the much-repaired bear's bum? Eeeeeeee - it's an in-use <span style="color: #76a5af;">all</span> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">star</span> <span style="color: #8e7cc3;">blanket</span>!!! More on that when we get our next five-minute sunny slot so I can take some photos. x</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
PS - Just to say that I'm sorry I've been so rubbish at commenting on blogs lately - I can't leave comments from my phone (which is how I read a lot of blogs), trying to comment from mr n's ipad makes me want to weep with frustration, and the laptop usually has a small boy attached to it. I do read all your lovely blogs and I am constantly inspired by what I see and read, so <span style="color: #e06666;">t</span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">h</span><span style="color: #ffd966;">a</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">n</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">k</span> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">y</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">o</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">u</span> x</div>
Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-73686119975123427402012-06-24T23:01:00.001+01:002012-06-24T23:01:54.905+01:00oooops (or: granny ripple blanket ta-dah)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zIe_TyS7n_o/T-d-vLX_-uI/AAAAAAAABX4/KcwhnpBVGvk/s1600/rose+in+pip+bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zIe_TyS7n_o/T-d-vLX_-uI/AAAAAAAABX4/KcwhnpBVGvk/s400/rose+in+pip+bowl.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Well <span style="color: #e06666;">h</span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">e</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">l</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">l</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">o</span> peeps - I'm ba-ack! It was touch and go for a while there - I wasn't sure I'd survive the demands of the <i>enormous</i> piles of washing/mounds of dirty dishes/hordes of fighting children/days at work - but I did. Phew. Now, does anyone know why it is that all of a sudden, for no apparent reason, life can just go up a notch in the crazy stakes? There hasn't been any big event or occurrence to have caused the unusual levels of busy-ness that I've been experiencing lately, but crikey - life really has been crackers. Anyhoo, I'm aiming to just get through this next week (am working five days - oh em gee - I know I used to do that all the time, but that was in the days before I had three small people to coordinate too) and then I'm hoping life will just slow down a touch. Please...<br />
The few weeks since my last post have seen the following things happen:<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;">✪</span></span></span> middle has lost a tooth (don't underestimate the importance of this event in the life of a six-year-old!)<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">✪</span> </span></span></span>big has been on his first ever overnight trip with school - I didn't cry *proud of self*<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #ffd966;">✪</span> </span></span></span>small has made the jump into big girl pants full time (though I'm now thinking that I'm not sure which is worse - changing nappies or endlessly traipsing potties full of poo to the toilet for disposal...) <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">✪</span> </span></span></span>we have decided, after spending <i>months</i> teetering on the fence of indecision, that we are not going to move house and we are, instead, going to extend (oh yes, excitement in my neck of the woods is reaching almost unbearable levels). Expect to be bored with updates on a regular basis... <i>Edit: yes, Fee, full commitment is required now!</i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">✪</span> </span></span></span>we've seen the Olympic torch (note to self: next time I think 'oh, it's so early on a Sunday morning, it'll be very crowded, I won't bother having a shower or brushing my teeth until we get home again, we'll <i>never</i> see anyone we know'. Think again... And of the <i>four</i> people we saw that we knew, one is a news reader on our local BBC news and therefore doesn't even get out of <i>bed</i> without a full face of make-up and a pair of shades on...) <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">✪</span> </span></span></span>I've redecorated the boys' bedroom - floor to ceiling - spanking new wall colour (Farrow and Ball 'borrowed light', if you're interested) new light shade, new curtains, new bedding - the works. I nearly killed myself <i>twice</i> - once when moving their bunk beds from one side of the room to the other (I just about burst everything in my entire body shifting that beast) - and the other time when their solid wood wardrobe nearly toppled over and flattened me (Mr N would have been a bit surprised to come home to find only hands and feet sticking out from underneath the wardrobe - a la wicked witch of the west.)<br />
<span style="color: #c27ba0; font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;">✪ </span></span></span>we have invented a rather thrilling new game (I say 'invented' - you'll probably say 'pah - my family's been playing this tired old game for literally <i>ever</i>' when I tell you what it is - but for the moment, we are thrilled at our originality). The game starts with one member of the family saying a category - eg dogs - then everyone has to decide what dog they would be if they were, indeed, of the canine persuasion. (Without a doubt, we are: Afghan; Westie, whippet, labrador, border terrier). The game is more 'hilarious' if you decide as a group what one member of the family would be - 'you'd be a bloodhound'. 'Ha ha!' 'Nooooo - that's not fair, I haven't got droopy eyes, you idiot. Anyway, you'd be a greyhound, you skinny dork'. 'No I wouldn't - I'd be a border collie'. 'You wouldn't - everyone loves border collies - nobody loves you...' etc etc ad nauseum.<br />
Hours of fun, I tell you...<br />
On the crochet front, I've been a busy old bee, but for the moment I'm just going to show you this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qw_Gxjm2W5k/T-eHNsfTVXI/AAAAAAAABYE/5N2ULvlBqm8/s1600/P5171061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qw_Gxjm2W5k/T-eHNsfTVXI/AAAAAAAABYE/5N2ULvlBqm8/s400/P5171061.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ta-dah!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nhf93a1y0JY/T-eHgxd5sXI/AAAAAAAABYM/hCXtd-Pce7g/s1600/P5171060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nhf93a1y0JY/T-eHgxd5sXI/AAAAAAAABYM/hCXtd-Pce7g/s400/P5171060.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My lovely friend had her baby and so the blanket was duly edged in navy and sent off to keep him (Bertie) warm and cosy (and I bet he's had a lot of use from it in this cruddy weather we've been having lately). Ooh, that reminds me - something else that's had a lot of use lately is my new wellies - thank you all for your suggestions for resolving my wellie crisis - I am now the proud owner of a lovely pair of black Hunters <i>with a gusset</i>. Gussets - the best friend of ladies with walkers' calves (and ladies with bladder problems too, I should think, but that's a whole other gusset issue altogether...) x</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-66334036325122555742012-05-15T21:58:00.001+01:002012-05-15T22:05:36.184+01:00Rhubarb and vanilla jam<div style="text-align: center;">
...parpa parp parp parp paaaaarp...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Small fanfare in honour of me having reached my hundredth post please).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaB2v8IGPvQ/T7K-uUWMzzI/AAAAAAAABXs/vja0qYUovTs/s1600/P5061052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaB2v8IGPvQ/T7K-uUWMzzI/AAAAAAAABXs/vja0qYUovTs/s400/P5061052.JPG" width="355" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As promised in my last post, here is the <span style="color: #e06666;">absolute</span><span style="color: #f6b26b;"> best </span><span style="color: #76a5af;">ever</span> <span style="color: #8e7cc3;">recipe</span> for rhubarb and vanilla jam (the original recipe can be found <a href="http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/251611/rhubarb-and-vanilla-jam" style="color: #c27ba0;" target="_blank">here</a> - I doubled the quantities, because I'm a pig.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #e06666; text-align: left;">
Ingredients:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2kg rhubarb, cut into 3cm chunks</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2kg jam sugar</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
juice of two lemons</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
two vanilla pods, split lengthways</div>
<div style="color: #93c47d; text-align: left;">
Method:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1) Put a small plate in the freezer. Put the rhubarb in a preserving pan with the vanilla pods and sugar. Heat gently, until all the sugar has all dissolved. Squeeze in the lemon juice and increase the heat.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2) Boil for about ten minutes, skimming off the scum as it appears on the surface. Test for the setting point by putting a small blob of jam onto the cooled plate, leave for a few seconds, then push gently with your finger - if it wrinkles, it's ready.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3) Once it's ready, remove the vanilla pods and ladle into warmed, sterilised jars.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This makes about seven standard jars worth of jam. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I humbly recommend two things here:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1) make this with homegrown rhubarb if you possibly can - it tastes a million times better than the stuff you buy in the shops (smug allotment-holder that I am)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2) don't make this if you're dieting - it's highly addictive. Mr N thinks this is the best jam he's ever tasted - <i>and he doesn't even like rhubarb.</i> Don't say you haven't been warned. x<br />
PS - <a href="http://the-home-bird.blogspot.co.uk/" style="color: #76a5af;" target="_blank">Nicki</a>, get your extra-long spoon at the ready...! </div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-85708827377783608442012-05-07T21:57:00.000+01:002012-05-07T21:57:59.941+01:00Allotment update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TB4ri5U6L9U/T6gtSA4jd1I/AAAAAAAABXA/JaGs8-xcV_s/s1600/lulu+the+scarecrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TB4ri5U6L9U/T6gtSA4jd1I/AAAAAAAABXA/JaGs8-xcV_s/s400/lulu+the+scarecrow.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
What do you think of Lulu? I think she's just a little bit great - Small is convinced that she's a fairy. She sits and keeps watch over the big concrete raised beds at the entrance to the allotments and I love the fact that since I last visited the allotment, someone has been in and given her a full makeover. She's got her summer frock on, clearly.<br />
My allotment partner, Mrs Hen, and I managed to get a rare couple of hours together at the plot on Sunday, which was great. It had been a while since I'd been able to get down there and not only was I feeling guilty, but I was slightly worried that the entire area may have been over-run by rhubarb (it's a good job I love the stuff - it's positively rampant!) I have actually found the <span style="color: #e06666;">most</span><span style="color: #93c47d;"> amazing</span> <span style="color: #8e7cc3;">recipe</span> for rhubarb and vanilla jam, which I'm planning to share with you in my next (and, coincidentally, my hundredth) post. Get your jam pans at the ready gals, it's a winner!<br />
I thought I'd share some photos of what's appearing on our patch with you, to prove that, against all the odds, things are indeed growing:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BpZPU73LrqQ/T6gwAk6ouTI/AAAAAAAABXI/vrjXuHZQips/s1600/comfrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BpZPU73LrqQ/T6gwAk6ouTI/AAAAAAAABXI/vrjXuHZQips/s400/comfrey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Comfrey, which is an excellent green manure.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pMKBbUQwjc8/T6gwgJhghRI/AAAAAAAABXQ/bKTeQEUZMY8/s400/fennel.jpg" width="300" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Fennel, which is delicious with fish.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPupSqvMwEA/T6gwy3SDhbI/AAAAAAAABXY/wsKxbV8RkSQ/s1600/redcurrants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPupSqvMwEA/T6gwy3SDhbI/AAAAAAAABXY/wsKxbV8RkSQ/s400/redcurrants.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Redcurrants - mmmm, puddings...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BfUGG_OkTEY/T6gxEikRiWI/AAAAAAAABXg/yLIxnEm3sjA/s1600/twiggy+peasticks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BfUGG_OkTEY/T6gxEikRiWI/AAAAAAAABXg/yLIxnEm3sjA/s400/twiggy+peasticks.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And peas (ugh, revolting little balls of green) - the best thing about these is that they are grown up <span style="color: #f6b26b;">twiggy</span> <span style="color: #c27ba0;">peasticks</span>. Was there ever a better name for a piece of gardening paraphernalia?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We also have blackcurrants, gooseberries, raspberries and strawberries in the fruit section - and cabbages, broccoli, potatoes, onions, garlic, shallots, beetroot, chard, runner beans and borlotti beans in the veggie section. Obviously we've had to plant some flowers too, so we've got sweetpeas, marigolds, nasturtiums and calendula. If any of this actually makes it on to my plate, I will not only be extremely proud, I will be more than a little amazed. I am a rank amateur when it comes to gardening - my ineptitude is matched only by my enthusiasm (I cling to the thought that Mrs Hen knows what she's doing, or at the very least that she has a book that will tell us what to do). The man who has the plot at the bottom of ours clearly recognises this as he saunters casually up to us every time he sees us and then proceeds to tell us what we've done wrong since he last saw us. He then tells us how we <i>should</i> be doing it and how it won't work unless we follow his advice to the letter. Mrs Hen is cracking, I definitely heard her muttering about the possibility of there being a body under her patio very soon.</div>
And then, in an amazing spurt of outdoorsy eagerness, I actually cycled to the allotment today (pause for proud swelling of chest and slight wince at sore bum). My 'to do list' went something like this:<br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;">✪</span></span></span> drop off tall canes for beans<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">✪</span> </span></span></span>water cabbages<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">✪</span> </span></span></span>dig over bean bed ready for planting<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">✪</span> </span></span></span>spread wee all over shed floor (note to self: check for holes in plastic bag <i>really</i> thoroughly before relieving oneself in said bag and especially don't open shed door to dump bag of wee on ground while your trousers are still round your knees.) x<br />
PS - to those of you who may be thinking that weeing in your shed is odd and wrong, I ask this question: 'why else would there already have been a latch on the <i>inside</i> of the shed door?' Hey??Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-66983238533072207732012-05-05T21:19:00.001+01:002012-05-05T21:19:12.947+01:00Introducing Cynthia...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vSq8W0onj-A/T6WJIAl2l1I/AAAAAAAABW0/wA8lld1rhtk/s1600/vintage+bicycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vSq8W0onj-A/T6WJIAl2l1I/AAAAAAAABW0/wA8lld1rhtk/s400/vintage+bicycle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...I'd better dust off my pedal-pushers <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">♥</span></span></span></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-12339701733830141092012-04-29T20:46:00.001+01:002012-04-29T20:50:57.777+01:00That's entertainmentSo here's a quiz question for you: what do you do if it's cold and wet and miserable outside?<br />
Answer: if you're me, you do this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YtmB0k2OJwk/T52XmuB7bfI/AAAAAAAABWY/qZuIPMJYNR0/s1600/P4291043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YtmB0k2OJwk/T52XmuB7bfI/AAAAAAAABWY/qZuIPMJYNR0/s400/P4291043.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
If you're a small boy, you hunker down on the sofa in front of a film and do this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uw2YhYWac5c/T52YDyx_oRI/AAAAAAAABWg/bBgazNzP8sQ/s1600/P4291039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uw2YhYWac5c/T52YDyx_oRI/AAAAAAAABWg/bBgazNzP8sQ/s400/P4291039.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
And if you're a suitably-sized girl, you watch all the lovely warm clothes being unloaded from the tumble drier into the washing basket, and then you do this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mwH0zkOrnVU/T52YkBIVxoI/AAAAAAAABWo/44lDfRauqdE/s1600/P4271033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mwH0zkOrnVU/T52YkBIVxoI/AAAAAAAABWo/44lDfRauqdE/s400/P4271033.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ingenious! x<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
PS - I nearly forgot to say - I've just bought a bike! Eeeek. I like to think I'm being healthy and more green, and I have visions of me wafting dreamily down the road to my allotment and filling my wicker basket with homegrown goodness for my family; the cynical amongst you (and those that actually know me) might think it's so that I can escape to my plot on a summer's evening and drink wine sitting in the sun next to my shed, but that thought would <i>never</i> enter my head, honest...</div>
</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-39924203529253985282012-04-23T22:35:00.001+01:002012-04-23T22:36:19.990+01:00Pants: the revenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJDLyGFoe_I/T5XFosOP6rI/AAAAAAAABVo/ZXmOXpYEkPY/s1600/P4190981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJDLyGFoe_I/T5XFosOP6rI/AAAAAAAABVo/ZXmOXpYEkPY/s400/P4190981.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Apologies for the slight disappearing act - I've been hidden under a pile of 'big guwl pants'. My very grown-up two-year-old has decided that she doesn't want to wear nappies any more, she wants to wear big girl's pants. Fairenoughski, you might say, but the only drawback is that she doesn't actually have a clue about the whole 'wee in the potty, not your trousers' business and so, after five hundred changes of clothes, two miraculous wees on target and one poo that prompted the comment 'look mummy, it's like a snake! I made a wiggly worm' we gave up on knickers and have reverted to good old nappies. Much of the past couple of days has been spent in the following way: daughter strips completely (why??), sits on the potty, gets up after two nanoseconds, tells me she's done a wee, I look, tell her that no, she hasn't done a wee, she sits down again, gets up after two nanoseconds, tells me she's done a wee, I look, tell her that no, she hasn't done a wee, she sits down, gets up again after.... You get the idea. When we actually ran out of clean trousers to put her in, we put a hold on baby-led potty training.<br />
In between bouts of toilet-related fun, I've been trying (and mostly failing) to get some time in at the allotment between downpours. Everything seems to be going berserk at the moment - everything needs planting/pricking out/staking/weeding (lordy, the weeds are sprouting like mad) all at once, and it's been rather tricksy to get anything actually done because it's been so blooming wet! My assistant didn't mind the rain though:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L5dj0tJi2mQ/T5XEHaqW8JI/AAAAAAAABVQ/AYrfJ8um5dU/s1600/P4201024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L5dj0tJi2mQ/T5XEHaqW8JI/AAAAAAAABVQ/AYrfJ8um5dU/s400/P4201024.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_wEusDso4Ik/T5XEYaSoZcI/AAAAAAAABVY/ZDv9pmCxD40/s1600/P4201025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_wEusDso4Ik/T5XEYaSoZcI/AAAAAAAABVY/ZDv9pmCxD40/s400/P4201025.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>All great fun, until she splashed a bit over-enthusiastically and got mud in her wellies. Then we had to go home.<br />
I've also been experiencing a bit of crochet-fest lately. The squares for my all star blanket are piling up nicely:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3CoA7aDoLwY/T5XFJuNSQWI/AAAAAAAABVg/weMkx5htVl4/s1600/P4190987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3CoA7aDoLwY/T5XFJuNSQWI/AAAAAAAABVg/weMkx5htVl4/s400/P4190987.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I also felt the need to make some granny squares (or 'stash-busters' as I like to call them):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ta5hsrrnzJo/T5XHAXDMeTI/AAAAAAAABWA/WT56GU_v2bw/s1600/P4190989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ta5hsrrnzJo/T5XHAXDMeTI/AAAAAAAABWA/WT56GU_v2bw/s400/P4190989.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I've made twelve of these now and am currently joining them to make the front of a cushion. I'm thinking of backing it in some lovely brushed cotton that I've got, but I'm a bit puzzled about how to join fabric and crochet - does anyone have any suggestions?<br />
And finally, the boys wanted me to photograph this for you all to look at:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qOsdbEJyqZI/T5XHvK7f3cI/AAAAAAAABWI/fiv0BBQCW68/s1600/P4201007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qOsdbEJyqZI/T5XHvK7f3cI/AAAAAAAABWI/fiv0BBQCW68/s400/P4201007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>It's a good job I took this photo when I did - a split second after I took it middle aka 'Captain Clumsy' knocked the table and all the soldiers fell over, prompting the sort of heated discussion that only two brothers can have. (Gaaaah - is it me, or do all brothers argue <i>all the time?</i> Please say that it's normal, or I might have to take myself off to my bedroom for a weep).<br />
And then, because I'd taken a picture of the boys' toys, baby (who I really feel needs to be re-christened. I'm thinking Foghorn Lil might be a good name, but maybe I'll just call her 'small') wanted me to take a photo of what she was playing with:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CAN2AnMw1pU/T5XI3FsLaJI/AAAAAAAABWQ/5Njd5kcah6s/s1600/P4201012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CAN2AnMw1pU/T5XI3FsLaJI/AAAAAAAABWQ/5Njd5kcah6s/s400/P4201012.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>So there you have it - life in my neck of the woods.<br />
I just wanted to say thank you so much for your comments on my last post and to my new followers and I'm sorry I haven't had much of a chance to get round to replying or visiting you - I'm planning a bit of a blog-blitz tomorrow to rectify that, but in the meantime, thank you so much for visiting me - it's so brilliant to know that you're all out there! xEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-80142584686317546872012-04-14T23:00:00.000+01:002012-04-14T23:00:11.304+01:00We ♥ Turkey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_mdjxKylTs/T4nkjNd08zI/AAAAAAAABUI/m-D9sh0c2Gw/s1600/P4010827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_mdjxKylTs/T4nkjNd08zI/AAAAAAAABUI/m-D9sh0c2Gw/s400/P4010827.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Ah, maaaaaan, we had the BEST time ever on our hols and we're all feeling a little bit glum and like we're drowning under a big mound of dirty clothes and mysteriously-appearing sand (how <i>does</i> it find its way into so many places?)<br />
I've just come across this photo whilst looking through my holiday pics:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qhfjr2IWsoI/T4nlluoK3JI/AAAAAAAABUQ/-2fjL9gVcAQ/s1600/P4010831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qhfjr2IWsoI/T4nlluoK3JI/AAAAAAAABUQ/-2fjL9gVcAQ/s400/P4010831.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>and the only thing I can think is: 'how can something that so closely resembles a bowl of sheep poo be so alluring to small children just because you call it breakfast?'<br />
And look at these two little puddings - I tell you, forget cereal that looks like animal doppings, this is what I call irresistible:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wp0llE8QR88/T4nmuyt2ajI/AAAAAAAABUY/Yp6-7AUm0eo/s1600/P4010838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wp0llE8QR88/T4nmuyt2ajI/AAAAAAAABUY/Yp6-7AUm0eo/s400/P4010838.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Singing 'twinkle, twinkle' on the back balcony.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHkG5mzs_s0/T4nnyPLYfSI/AAAAAAAABUo/FSd2aYAz4q4/s1600/P4030866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHkG5mzs_s0/T4nnyPLYfSI/AAAAAAAABUo/FSd2aYAz4q4/s400/P4030866.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VkvXICeZ6nk/T4nnboWXUFI/AAAAAAAABUg/k2w6E4ThTFw/s1600/P4030862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VkvXICeZ6nk/T4nnboWXUFI/AAAAAAAABUg/k2w6E4ThTFw/s400/P4030862.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UfcU0PSII0M/T4nsPl51VdI/AAAAAAAABUw/Rl0-_f_a0QY/s1600/P4030946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UfcU0PSII0M/T4nsPl51VdI/AAAAAAAABUw/Rl0-_f_a0QY/s400/P4030946.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iYzHyCein9g/T4nskhuLa3I/AAAAAAAABU4/b2KaaVlEZaM/s1600/P4030944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iYzHyCein9g/T4nskhuLa3I/AAAAAAAABU4/b2KaaVlEZaM/s400/P4030944.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-upbu2kIEoP4/T4nte_imwHI/AAAAAAAABVA/js4R_274Jnk/s1600/P4030926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-upbu2kIEoP4/T4nte_imwHI/AAAAAAAABVA/js4R_274Jnk/s400/P4030926.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love this photo of my boys, but it also makes me feel a bit sad because they look so big and grown up and I can just see from this what they will be like when they are adults. Am I alone in wanting to pickle my children to keep them small forever? Are they still as cute when they're thirty (I'm absolutely certain that they won't be as cute when they're teenagers, that's for sure. I remember what I was like when I was a teenager and the thought of the shoe being on the other foot, fills me with cold dread.)</div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm not going to bore you by going on about how amazing the food was, how friendly and kind the people were, how stunning the scenery was or how gorgeous the weather was, but suffice to say if someone came up with a viable way that I could live in Turkey and earn enough to make a living, I'd be on that plane before you could blink. I know there are people in Turkey who read my blog and I just want to say a big 'hello' and think of me sitting in the cold and damp as you're drinking your Turkish tea in the sun. (Sob).</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ooooh, hark at me, getting all maudlin (now <i>there's</i> a word). Mr N and I have spent much of the time since we returned fantasising about buying a five-berth camper van and spending the six week summer hols driving down through Europe to Turkey (there are perks to being married to a teacher...) We recently inherited a bit of money from Mr N's grandma and, paralysed by indecision about what to do with it, we've just left it in the bank and not really done anything with it. My sensible head says that we should do something about our compact living arrangements with it, but my wandering heart keeps reminding me how much I love to travel, and how we always swore we'd continue travelling after we had kids, and how really there is no better time than now, while the kids are small and I've got lovely, flexible working arrangements. Watch this space...</div><div style="text-align: left;">A little, smiley thing for you before I go: the other day, baby n and I were having a chat (crikey, that girl can talk; sometimes I feel like lying my forehead on the table and sobbing, just for a moment's peace) and she looked at me very earnestly and said 'mummy. Cats say meaow and hippos say hip, hip, hooray' x</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-6099855727207627932012-03-17T16:00:00.000+00:002012-03-17T16:00:07.377+00:00Flowers and stars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iA0oqTcSCRQ/T2Sn1V2cQHI/AAAAAAAABRY/8goI9p6n-JQ/s1600/P3110744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iA0oqTcSCRQ/T2Sn1V2cQHI/AAAAAAAABRY/8goI9p6n-JQ/s400/P3110744.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Well, spring has well and truly been springing all over the place round these parts, as you can see from the lovely little daffodils tenaciously clinging to life in my front garden (as previously mentioned, this is just about the only place in the vicinity of my house that is safe from uber-violent footballing activity, although I have noticed recently that the two hooligans have taken to playing the odd game/wrestling match on the front grass - an unwelcome and soon-to-be-quelled occurrence). I have especially noticed the recent springy-activity on the 'A' road back from my local John Lewis - this is a well-trodden route for me and is therefore a barometer of the changing seasons - if it all looks a bit misty green, as it does at the moment, it's definitely spring (if it's white, it's probably winter and if it's wet and grey it's almost any time of the year.)<br />
In a pleasing coincidence of life imitating art (or, in this case, nature) the floral theme has been continued on the domestic-front too - my 'baby' has had a birthday party, though not an actual birthday, confusingly. Unbelievably, she will be two in a couple of weeks, but as we'll be in Turkey (our first, ever foreign holiday as a family - all five of us are counting down the sleeps til we'll be on a plane) on her actual birthday, and as my mum is visiting us for a few days, we thought we'd have a little tea party for her royal highness this week. I was lax and forgot to take a pictures of the cake,which was pink with Smarties on - I surprised myself with how girly I made it, but she <i>loved</i> it. I did, however, take some photos of more cake-related goings-on that took place recently:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-okRvinD9w/T2SsUlfTLOI/AAAAAAAABRw/s58LG8Who9g/s1600/P3140757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-okRvinD9w/T2SsUlfTLOI/AAAAAAAABRw/s58LG8Who9g/s400/P3140757.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A large bowl of icing and a <i>very</i> muddy elbow - it would appear that some things <i>are</i> worth coming in from playing football for.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lkdWEIlwDvY/T2StHOm6tqI/AAAAAAAABR4/F1TymK8FhCQ/s1600/P3140765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lkdWEIlwDvY/T2StHOm6tqI/AAAAAAAABR4/F1TymK8FhCQ/s400/P3140765.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking at this photo I notice two things: 1) I'm a stingy sprinkler - this is something I will be rectifying asap; 2) just <i>look</i> at the size of the blob of icing middle has put on his cupcake (top right of the picture)...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TYOPADjpE1I/T2SttcK-FzI/AAAAAAAABSA/B_QOddebc3A/s1600/P3140766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TYOPADjpE1I/T2SttcK-FzI/AAAAAAAABSA/B_QOddebc3A/s400/P3140766.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I may have neglected to take any cakey photos, but I <i>have </i>taken some of her big present from me and Mr N, which I secretly feel I may have bought as much for me as for her:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wlsFaCv7BjI/T2SuVUDBQmI/AAAAAAAABSI/7ivhXcpG-Y0/s1600/P3170788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wlsFaCv7BjI/T2SuVUDBQmI/AAAAAAAABSI/7ivhXcpG-Y0/s400/P3170788.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It's floral. It's got stripes. It's got gingham. It's a wigwam. I think I might move into it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">And can you see the little porcelain tea sets set up inside? One of them is a Cath K one that my mum got her for her bday, and the other is mine from when I was a similar age to my baby girl. I even have the original box still (deep down I know that very soon I am going to be heart broken when one of my oafish boys breaks the box/smashes a cup. Maybe I should hide it away again for another thirty-five years, just to be on the safe side.) I can't explain the thrill of excitement I got, laying all this out with my girl because I <i>know</i> how much fun I had doing this and I can't believe I get to do it all again with her. (Let's face it, I still do it for real - a stripy tablecloth, a nice bit of cake and my Pip crockery - nothing's changed!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HG7KNkMkNpg/T2Sv9Z7nB-I/AAAAAAAABSQ/lg1NU7CZV4c/s1600/P3170790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HG7KNkMkNpg/T2Sv9Z7nB-I/AAAAAAAABSQ/lg1NU7CZV4c/s400/P3170790.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is my set - it's vintage dahling.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ur-c5k0FWo0/T2SwT3XPGRI/AAAAAAAABSY/ZvKuV5964Pg/s1600/P3170789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ur-c5k0FWo0/T2SwT3XPGRI/AAAAAAAABSY/ZvKuV5964Pg/s400/P3170789.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> And this is me taking a photo at the <i>exact</i> moment middle decided it would be a good idea to jump on my back and cling to me, koala-style.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--b8dbPYiQ2Q/T2Sw3YquVyI/AAAAAAAABSg/QyLJW3qiDhQ/s1600/P3170787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--b8dbPYiQ2Q/T2Sw3YquVyI/AAAAAAAABSg/QyLJW3qiDhQ/s400/P3170787.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> And this is the Cath K set. Just look at teddy bear in the background - he must be a boy - look at the way he's sitting...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">And finally, after getting as far as I can for the moment with my granny ripple blanket:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K8l-BjosZsA/T2S0Bwta1gI/AAAAAAAABTQ/UJKgLtA9HUQ/s1600/P3170802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K8l-BjosZsA/T2S0Bwta1gI/AAAAAAAABTQ/UJKgLtA9HUQ/s400/P3170802.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">here is my latest wip:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gzmZ3BL5Aqw/T2SypBnEl0I/AAAAAAAABTA/rPmhQ7eHwhU/s1600/P3170814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gzmZ3BL5Aqw/T2SypBnEl0I/AAAAAAAABTA/rPmhQ7eHwhU/s400/P3170814.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's my all star blanket, which I have just started making for middle after a tough process of negotiation over the Rico Creative Cotton colour chart - him: 'I want that one (orange), that one (red), that one (black), that one (grey) and that one (green)'. Me: 'hmmmmm.....' x</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-34980885497066195112012-03-05T21:32:00.000+00:002012-03-05T21:32:50.183+00:00Snapshots of a week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itSKUeG5L-Y/T1UmWJutWjI/AAAAAAAABQA/DNgGTiZlpTQ/s1600/P3040743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itSKUeG5L-Y/T1UmWJutWjI/AAAAAAAABQA/DNgGTiZlpTQ/s400/P3040743.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style> <![endif]--><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">♥</span></span></span> High tea with friends on Sunday. I thoroughly enjoyed this and have plans to make this a regular feature of life in our house. Cake, cheesy nibbles and wine. Dreamy, dreamy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DvRUdGR7Utg/T1UnLr0B_5I/AAAAAAAABQI/Ppj5mGA9yvM/s1600/P3040739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DvRUdGR7Utg/T1UnLr0B_5I/AAAAAAAABQI/Ppj5mGA9yvM/s400/P3040739.JPG" width="300" /><span id="goog_2031307928"></span><span id="goog_2031307929"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJD2D7bYX9Y/T1UoBC100RI/AAAAAAAABQY/IGsOX3DGHCA/s1600/P3040738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJD2D7bYX9Y/T1UoBC100RI/AAAAAAAABQY/IGsOX3DGHCA/s400/P3040738.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Look - a bowl of tomatoes - just to prove it wasn't all high-sugar, high-calorie fare. Tokenism, that's what it is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_RHKhz1Ti6M/T1UpOlAxMCI/AAAAAAAABQg/oMorq55zkMM/s1600/P3020720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_RHKhz1Ti6M/T1UpOlAxMCI/AAAAAAAABQg/oMorq55zkMM/s400/P3020720.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">♥</span></span></span> Some of my beautiful new Pip collection. It gives me a little thrill every time I catch sight of the dresser. Once upon a time it used to be Hobbs shoes, now it's plates....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-91X64dAKNTE/T1Up-MmUtJI/AAAAAAAABQo/oqCHKG-_0eM/s1600/P3020716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-91X64dAKNTE/T1Up-MmUtJI/AAAAAAAABQo/oqCHKG-_0eM/s400/P3020716.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">♥</span></span></span> A lovely, sunny day at home with my two smallest babes. All the more lovely because my middlest child was supposed to be at school, so it felt a bit naughty. (If you happen to be a teacher and reading this - he <i>did</i> have a temperature the night before, honest.) We pottered and potted:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4iD8CR9CVBY/T1UrUYvF8BI/AAAAAAAABQw/NHXul2KwVuQ/s1600/P3020707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4iD8CR9CVBY/T1UrUYvF8BI/AAAAAAAABQw/NHXul2KwVuQ/s400/P3020707.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZE1Ie9pfJU/T1UrvMdnkhI/AAAAAAAABQ4/UXOKo5bGoVA/s1600/P3020708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZE1Ie9pfJU/T1UrvMdnkhI/AAAAAAAABQ4/UXOKo5bGoVA/s400/P3020708.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span> <span style="color: #f6b26b; font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">♥</span></span></span> My first session on my new and lovely allotment (more, oh so much more, on this to come):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s1bGCEtPo7U/T1UuUqPrYHI/AAAAAAAABRI/ZrdUu9M-q5U/s1600/P3030723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s1bGCEtPo7U/T1UuUqPrYHI/AAAAAAAABRI/ZrdUu9M-q5U/s400/P3030723.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Do you know what Mr N said when he saw this photo? 'Bloody hell, look at my hairline.' You'd need a magnifying glass to even see his head, but like a laser, his eyes were drawn to it. Pa-ra-noid.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: x-small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">♥</span></span></span> Still working away on my granny ripple blanket and really, really loving it:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LWKWPIg4zpw/T1UwHvexv3I/AAAAAAAABRQ/FFtaPo0MHD4/s1600/P3020715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LWKWPIg4zpw/T1UwHvexv3I/AAAAAAAABRQ/FFtaPo0MHD4/s400/P3020715.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm in ripple heaven, me. x</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-75774171083601034762012-03-01T20:54:00.001+00:002012-03-01T21:14:27.597+00:00Giveaway winner and other smiley things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mishOqHTGwI/T0_a2M7wyMI/AAAAAAAABPQ/8X_kUQQPWDQ/s1600/P3010694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mishOqHTGwI/T0_a2M7wyMI/AAAAAAAABPQ/8X_kUQQPWDQ/s320/P3010694.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Happy, happy, happy little crocuses - little purple beauties, all the more lovely because they're a great early source of nectar for our poor, struggling bees. I fear I have confirmed my neighbours' suspicions that I have completely taken leave of my senses by plodding outside in my slippers today to take a quick photo of them looking all beautiful and luminous in the afternoon sun. Having said that, Mr N was somewhat surprised to meet our neighbours outside in their pyjamas one particularly windy night when I sent him outside to investigate an ominously loud crashing sound - it was our recycling bin hitting the deck and distributing its contents all over the driveway. I believe he said something like 'evening' to our neighbours, as they picked the contents of their paper bin from their front garden, and proceeded to act like it was, in fact, quite normal to be outside <i>with no underwear on</i> in the middle of the night in a gale.<br />
Another little bit of happy for me today was a luxurious, child-free lunch spent sitting in my dining room messing about on the Internet, eating my new favourite thing:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S9MQ06FEyr4/T0_eFcvr8YI/AAAAAAAABPo/H3dO5Vgvhoo/s1600/P3010696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S9MQ06FEyr4/T0_eFcvr8YI/AAAAAAAABPo/H3dO5Vgvhoo/s400/P3010696.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Toasted ciabatta with cherry tomatoes, red pepper, mozarella and basil. (ooops, I just dribbled on the keyboard).<br />
And another happy thing is this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QjGdXPs8c9M/T0_eraO9pWI/AAAAAAAABPw/CLe-jbYPAN8/s1600/P3010698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QjGdXPs8c9M/T0_eraO9pWI/AAAAAAAABPw/CLe-jbYPAN8/s400/P3010698.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>While I was enjoying said yummy ciabatta, I wrote down the names of all you lovely people who entered my giveaway and put them in one of my lovely new Pip bowls. I shut my eyes tight and pulled out:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-98wx81AkNJU/T0_fX6C9l8I/AAAAAAAABP4/MqlOCTg7uLg/s1600/P3010703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-98wx81AkNJU/T0_fX6C9l8I/AAAAAAAABP4/MqlOCTg7uLg/s400/P3010703.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Congratulations <a href="http://cupcakejojo.blogspot.com/" style="color: #f6b26b;">Cupcakejojo</a> - I know you've been having a bit of a rum old time of things lately, so I hope that this little parcel with bring a smile to your face. Please just email me your address and I'll get it in the post to you pronto. Thank you so much to everyone who entered and I'm sorry you couldn't all win something! It is my mission now to have a good old look at 'new-to-me' blogs - I'm so looking forward to meeting some lovely, new people! <br />
The final thing that's been making me smile, and I'll say this very quietly for fear of jinxing things...<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #e06666;">is</span> <span style="color: #f6b26b;">it<span style="color: #ffd966;"> </span></span><span style="color: #ffd966;">me,</span><span style="color: #93c47d;"> or</span> <span style="color: #76a5af;">is <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">spring</span></span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> in<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span></span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">the </span><span style="color: #e06666;">air?</span> <span style="color: #f6b26b;">x</span></span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-23685082053799119722012-02-26T22:28:00.000+00:002012-02-26T22:28:35.840+00:00Granny ripple blanket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWoJOyg4WcQ/T0qfAmvKmpI/AAAAAAAABPA/tTK9i76ppAA/s1600/P2220643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWoJOyg4WcQ/T0qfAmvKmpI/AAAAAAAABPA/tTK9i76ppAA/s400/P2220643.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>A very lovely and very old (by 'old' I mean that I've known her for ever, not that she's geriatric) friend of mine is having a baby in May. This is a) very exciting and b) will hopefully quell these bloomin' broody urges that have been sneaking up on me lately - Mr N's tittering nervously to himself as I type that, whilst simultaneously Googling vasectomy clinics. It took me about three years of constant badgering to wear him down to agreeing to have a third child - and as for four - what am I talking about? I must be completely crackers - having a fourth child would send me completely and irrevocably over the edge... Maybe it's just one of those things that never entirely goes away - maybe there's always a tiny little part of my subconscious brain that will always have thoughts of having another baby no matter how much I can rationalise the utter madness of the idea. What do you think? <br />
Anyhoo, as this friend is such a gem I've been feeling a certain amount of pressure to come up with the perfect present for her baby, so the past few weeks have seen a fair amount of chin stroking and uncharacteristic mulling over of things and a number of fruitless trips to my LYS (aka John Lewis). I finally found just the yarn I was looking for last week - it's Debbie Bliss Eco Baby organic cotton, which is a new yarn to me and I'm pleased I've discovered it because it's just beautiful - it feels like a dream when it's made up - just the sort of thing you'd want to be cuddled up in if you were a small, new person. I already knew the pattern I wanted to use - <span style="color: #e06666;">granny</span><span style="color: #f6b26b;"> ripple</span> (which I found at the <a href="http://thelazyhobbyhopper.blogspot.com/" style="color: #8e7cc3;">LazyHobbyHopper</a> blog) and so as soon as I had the yarn, I could get cracking - hurrah, for I've been at a right crochet impasse recently. <br />
Here's a little peek at it so far:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L93sxB7sqtM/T0qvoBf0KuI/AAAAAAAABPI/eAUUQKZyCoM/s1600/P2240670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L93sxB7sqtM/T0qvoBf0KuI/AAAAAAAABPI/eAUUQKZyCoM/s400/P2240670.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>And with that, I'm off to tuck myself up in bed with my hot water bottle, my hook and a nice bit of Radio Four. It's middle aged rock n roll, baby. x<br />
PS - there's still time to enter my giveaway, if you haven't done so yet!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-3605267511843582752012-02-21T21:50:00.002+00:002012-02-21T22:06:37.635+00:00Blog birthday giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ocZUTOyCRgQ/T0QI4h6tK7I/AAAAAAAABOg/yg7vGIeI78I/s1600/P2210635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ocZUTOyCRgQ/T0QI4h6tK7I/AAAAAAAABOg/yg7vGIeI78I/s400/P2210635.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>To celebrate my blog's birthday, I'm holding my first ever giveaway (and I'm very excited and yet a bit nervous about it at the same time!) I can't believe it, but <span style="color: #93c47d;">unravelled</span> was one on 12th. When I started this on a whim a year ago, I had no idea how much blogging would affect my life - I look at things in a completely different way, always with the thought that I should photograph things to share; I've made some real, lovely friends; I've been unbelievably inspired and endlessly entertained - and I wanted to say<span style="color: #e06666;"> t</span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">h</span><span style="color: #ffd966;">a</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">n</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">k</span> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">y</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">o</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">u</span> for that. When I read your comments, especially those that you leave at the end of my posts where I'm not feeling tip-top (see 'winter blahs' for proof of my love of a good whinge every so often) it always, without fail and exception, makes me smile and feel better and think 'ah, there are people out there who understand the frustration/hilarity of poo-falling-down-trouser-leg-related-incidents' and that's a good thing to know.<br />
So, without further ado, here is what I have on offer:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Auo8JH5x95s/T0QLTtGM9QI/AAAAAAAABOo/n1b9EalTDxs/s1600/P2210634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Auo8JH5x95s/T0QLTtGM9QI/AAAAAAAABOo/n1b9EalTDxs/s400/P2210634.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A copy of 'Cute And Easy Crochet' by Nicki Trench (I have it and I love it!) This was a pristine, sparkly new book until about four seconds after I took this photo and dropped it on its spine on the floor - that'll teach me not to take photos in the hall as I'm trying to get the kids' shoes and coats on ready for school. Error. Anyway, every time you look at the dent on the spine, you'll be able to think of me, shouting and getting stressed on my way to the school run...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LoTcXy7Fs_Y/T0QMiEmG8rI/AAAAAAAABOw/-Dugn392qLA/s1600/P2210633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LoTcXy7Fs_Y/T0QMiEmG8rI/AAAAAAAABOw/-Dugn392qLA/s400/P2210633.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A lovely little hardback notebook from Pip Studio. I've included this because my post about my gubbins 'bible' really seemed to resonate with a lot of you and I wanted to share the crafty notebook love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ePoBjINNT2U/T0QNuyIFSCI/AAAAAAAABO4/EdgmqwX6_I0/s1600/P2210636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ePoBjINNT2U/T0QNuyIFSCI/AAAAAAAABO4/EdgmqwX6_I0/s400/P2210636.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A packet of 'Pretty Please Mix n Match Stationery', which includes writing paper, envelopes and stickers - all in a slightly camp, 'hello sailor' sort of vein. I might find it quite hard to part with this...</div><div style="text-align: left;">There are also a couple of other little goodies that I've collected together, which I will keep as a surprise.</div><div style="text-align: left;">If you would like to enter this giveaway, which I will leave open until 1 March, please:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666;">*</span> become a follower of this blog, if you aren't already</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666;">* </span>leave me a comment to let me know you'd like to be entered</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666;">*</span> if you blog about it, let me know and I'll enter your name into the hat a second time.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And before I go, I should let you know about two blog friends of mine who are also having giveaways (cor, it's giveaway central round here...)<span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span><a href="http://the-home-bird.blogspot.com/" style="color: #c27ba0;">Nicki</a><span style="color: #c27ba0;"> </span>and <a href="http://countryrose7.blogspot.com/" style="color: #76a5af;">Ashley</a> both have some beautiful goodies on offer, so do pop over to see them.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Good luck! x<br />
<i>Edit: Blimey, I'm really nervous now that no-one will enter - this is worse than having a party and thinking you'll end up sobbing into your wine glass at the end of the night because only your mum and best friend turned up...</i> </div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-9424920622462274992012-02-13T21:57:00.000+00:002012-02-13T21:57:05.918+00:00Winter blahs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rtTz8ZpHthA/Tzl4WsYs8DI/AAAAAAAABOY/kEPGWPvc91g/s1600/P2130594.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rtTz8ZpHthA/Tzl4WsYs8DI/AAAAAAAABOY/kEPGWPvc91g/s400/P2130594.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ugh, I'm having a massive attack of the winter blahs today*. Blah, blah, blah. Big, fat, ploppy blah.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Blah one</span> - one of my absolute best, most lovely friends moved a long way away on Friday and I am veeeeery sad about that. She and I saw each other almost every day for the past six years - during which time we both had babies, we both had worries about our children being bullied, we discovered a mutual love of John Lewis, tea cakes, Chanel perfume, White Company lamps and white wine amongst other things and we discovered that we are both, in fact, sweaty buffoons. I mean by that, that we get ridiculously intimidated by other people, jibber incoherently, go a bit red and sweaty and walk away feeling like we've made a complete tit of ourselves and then spend quite a considerable amount of time angsting over that fact that said intimidating person probably thinks we're an idiot. I think if you too are a sweaty buffoon, you will be nodding in understanding and sympathy with this, in which case I salute you and say 'welcome to the club'.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Blah two</span> -I'm currently experiencing a wellie crisis and I'm getting a bit fed up with it. I need wellies, I spend a <i>lot</i> of time pelting about in the mud with my boys and I have an allotment (eeeek - did you see how I slipped that in there??) It's a long and boring story, but it involves wellies that rub my ankles, wellies that perish after about five minutes, wellies that leak, wellies that I can't squish my sturdy calves into (when I lived in Lesotho I met a woman who said to me 'aaaah, you have beeeeg legs. They are gooood legs, like mine. You can walk well with your legs'. She meant it as a compliment. I felt like sobbing into my rucksack. It's a cultural thing.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Blah three</span> - Yarn. Horns. Dilemma. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Blah four</span> - my daughter pooed on the floor this morning. She did it in her pyjamas and it fell down her trouser leg onto the floor, where she trod on it. This was my fault - I neglected to mention to Mr N that she was without a nappy as I swanned out the door to work. Ooops</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #660000;">Blah five</span> - I took loads of photos of my little heart chainy buntingy thing this morning - I think it looks really pretty in the hallway, but all the photos are really noisy and some are a bit blurry (I obviously took them before my morning cup of tea had kicked in) and I'm just <i>annoyed</i> about that. So it's just the one photo today - I hope you can get the gist of it. Soz x</div><div style="text-align: left;">* This is an expression that I have shamelessly copied from Lucy Attic 24 - I think it may be the best expression I have heard for a very long time.</div><div style="text-align: left;">PS - do you like the way I've used blah colours for my bullet points today?</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-16437404807941723662012-02-09T21:57:00.000+00:002012-02-09T21:57:37.648+00:00Play dough recipe and 'how to'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--4vyxgUdpyI/TzQ5nKN7n7I/AAAAAAAABOQ/oKR8ti39MS4/s1600/P1270484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--4vyxgUdpyI/TzQ5nKN7n7I/AAAAAAAABOQ/oKR8ti39MS4/s400/P1270484.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Now, here's a thing I've been meaning to share with you for absolutely ages - how to make playdough. You can make it for virtually no money at all and it lasts for ages as long as you keep it in an air-tight container. The recipe was given to me by my good friend, Mrs Hen, who you may remember me saying previously has magic ways when it comes to children - now, I'm not claiming that is magic playdough, but you never know, it may buy you long enough to make the dinner in peace...<br />
So, here it is - my playdough 'how to':<br />
<div style="color: #e06666;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #e06666;">Ingredients</div>2 cups plain flour<br />
1 cup table salt<br />
4 tbsp cream of tartar<br />
2 cups water<br />
2 tbsp vegetable/sunflower oil<br />
Food colouring <br />
<br />
<div style="color: #f6b26b;">Method</div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style> <![endif]--><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">♥</span></span></span> Put all the ingredients in a saucepan and cook over a low heat for 3-5 mins. Stir continuously, even when it becomes difficult to stir - stir on!<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">♥ </span></span></span>When you have something that resembles playdough in the pan (this shouldn't take more than a few minutes) remove from the heat and knead and squeeze so that it forms a big, smooth ball of dough.<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">♥</span></span></span> Give to your assembled small people for them to enjoy (once it's cool enough for them to handle) then sit back, relax and enjoy watching them have fun, while you bask in the glow of thrifty satisfaction. x<br />
<br />
PS - I'd really love to hear from you if make this - I hope your kids enjoy it as much as mine doEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-53377430140001222082012-02-05T20:47:00.001+00:002012-04-14T21:43:07.378+01:00The gubbins post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gPQ6N8v208Q/Ty7etu6bWCI/AAAAAAAABMQ/ECWZb2W4Fuc/s1600/P2050572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gPQ6N8v208Q/Ty7etu6bWCI/AAAAAAAABMQ/ECWZb2W4Fuc/s400/P2050572.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>So today I present you with a random collection of things.<br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-size: small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;">❄</span></span></span> <span style="color: #f6b26b;">random thing one:</span> these hyacinths smell a bit lush, sitting on my sitting room windowsill. I've gone a bit bulb-crazy, actually - we've got a little pot of daffodils that middle brought back from school to raise money for Macmillan and a pot of narcissi that called out to me from the shelves of Waitrose as I was doing a quick sweep for weekend rations on Friday.<br />
<span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;">❄</span></span></span> <span style="color: #93c47d;">random thing two:</span> I've sorted out my bunting. aaaaahh - sigh. It's so much more Zen now:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FpI-_EDwogg/Ty7hsE7sQbI/AAAAAAAABMY/pWJqmzsdDUI/s1600/P1270497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FpI-_EDwogg/Ty7hsE7sQbI/AAAAAAAABMY/pWJqmzsdDUI/s400/P1270497.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;">❄</span></span></span> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">random thing three:</span> I love this little jug, which a very lovely friend gave me for my birthday. I've put it on the radiator cover in the hall where I can see it every time I come in the house - though this is does qualify as pure madness - it's almost crying out for some clumsy dervish to whirl past it and knock it off:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sgcRCr2JLVo/Ty7i9KbUArI/AAAAAAAABMg/e-jTTpG6Mn4/s1600/P2030500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sgcRCr2JLVo/Ty7i9KbUArI/AAAAAAAABMg/e-jTTpG6Mn4/s400/P2030500.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">❄</span> </span></span></span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">random thing four: </span>I'm at a slight loss with my crochet projects at the moment. I am desperate to start the starry blanket for my boy, but I still haven't located the elusive, perfect yarn - grrrr. I'm also mulling over a ripply blanket in pinks, greens and creams for the sitting room and am thinking about using Drops cotton light - has anyone used this? What's it like? For the moment, until I can finally start my next big, 'proper' project, I've been fiddling away making some little hearts:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O1iBfjMJq14/Ty7lm_dPfSI/AAAAAAAABMo/uTJDFjb6Q00/s1600/P2030514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O1iBfjMJq14/Ty7lm_dPfSI/AAAAAAAABMo/uTJDFjb6Q00/s400/P2030514.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>I have plans for turning these into a garland to hang on an old mirror that I'm going to paint white and hang in my newly-redecorated-yet-mysteriously-already-grubby hallway.<br />
I've also been messing about with some little bits with a vague idea of making a hangy thing for my beautiful nephew, who I'm going to visit in a couple of weeks - the added boon is that his mum and dad (my lovely brother) will be there too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_3nWMJFydHY/Ty7nb_lYrJI/AAAAAAAABM4/exxElnIsrkU/s1600/P2030521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_3nWMJFydHY/Ty7nb_lYrJI/AAAAAAAABM4/exxElnIsrkU/s400/P2030521.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><span style="color: #e06666; font-size: small;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "MS Gothic"; line-height: 115%;">❄</span></span></span> <span style="color: #f6b26b;">random thing five:</span> I've been given two awards recently - the Versatile Blogger from <a href="http://thecraftgiraffe.blogspot.com/" style="color: #ffd966;">The Craft Giraffe</a> - thank you so much, Niamh; and Liebster Blog from <a href="http://sandramcd.blogspot.com/" style="color: #93c47d;">Chaos, Kids, Crochet and Cake</a> - thank you Sandra!<br />
And with that I bid you adieu - here's hoping we don't all disappear under a snow drift... xEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-10291819957338629222012-01-29T21:37:00.000+00:002012-01-29T21:37:05.655+00:00New books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--893QJXB_jE/TyWrw2Ju-DI/AAAAAAAABLM/M86DLwo9gNw/s1600/P1270489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--893QJXB_jE/TyWrw2Ju-DI/AAAAAAAABLM/M86DLwo9gNw/s400/P1270489.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Oh-kaaay, so it's not, strictly, a book, but I wanted to sneak this in as it's my latest 'make' and I'm really pleased with it. It's made from some lovely old fabric that my gran gave me - it feels like a linen/cotton blend, though I can't be sure - and I've had to patch it together as there were only strips of it left, but I deliberately made the joins visible because I think that they somehow enhance the look and 'old' feel of it. And how could I resist adding a big, bright pink satin ribbon bow? Subtle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z2mT3tauxSc/TyWtonWPQVI/AAAAAAAABLU/lgK8uTUfssQ/s1600/P1270492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z2mT3tauxSc/TyWtonWPQVI/AAAAAAAABLU/lgK8uTUfssQ/s400/P1270492.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>And now on to the booky bit hinted at in the title.<br />
I went on a bit of an Amazon spending splurge over Christmas and thought I'd share my spoils with you. The first book, Stitch With Love, I bought after seeing on Homebird's lovely blog,<span style="color: #76a5af;"> </span><a href="http://the-home-bird.blogspot.com/" style="color: #76a5af;">here</a>. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T1Ry7gb4NJk/TyWwhJ0iMZI/AAAAAAAABLk/a3UiVUQEhb4/s1600/P1250450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T1Ry7gb4NJk/TyWwhJ0iMZI/AAAAAAAABLk/a3UiVUQEhb4/s400/P1250450.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>It is my mission for 2012 to learn to embroider and obviously, before I actually got on with any <i>real, actual</i> embroidery, I simply had to buy a book to gaze at first. And embroidery hoops, fabric and a veritable <span style="color: #e06666;">r</span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">a</span><span style="color: #ffd966;">i</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">n</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">b</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">o</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">w</span> of thread...so now I'm all set - just need to get my act together and get on with it now.<br />
The second book I actually bought a while ago after an exciting discovery on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" style="color: #c27ba0;">Pinterest</a> (oh Pinterest, how I love thee so, even though you suck me in and make hours of my life disappear before my very eyes.) You may remember that I made a Little Boy Blue Granny Squares blanket for my big boy recently - well, in the interests of fairness and a peaceful life, I also have to make one for my baby boy - obvs. I had it in my head that I wanted to make a starry blanket, but couldn't find a pattern for a star in a square that I liked. So I was more than a little excited (some might say<i> tragically</i> excited, in fact) when I found this <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/119275090100745139/" style="color: #f6b26b;">here</a>. Just what I'd been looking for!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RsFD0D7ujE/TyW1bfOi3sI/AAAAAAAABLs/WYC8fZyrr34/s1600/P1250447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RsFD0D7ujE/TyW1bfOi3sI/AAAAAAAABLs/WYC8fZyrr34/s400/P1250447.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>The book is called Crocheted Gifts: Irresistible Projects To Make And Give and I have to say, I probably wouldn't have bought it if I hadn't been so in love with the blanket - a lot of the things in it aren't my normal style, but I'm glad I've got it nonetheless. I am absolutely, one hundred percent, prime-time in lurve (name that film) with this pattern, but gawd I'm struggling to find yarn! I want something fairly light (my Rico blankets are actually quite heavy beasties), I much prefer natural fibres to man-made, I can't spend a fortune, and I want grey, denim blue, cream and possibly a red. Any suggestions??<br />
And the final book is this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kHaPzxxH0ZQ/TyW3nlt1uzI/AAAAAAAABL0/iDAS_l--z8w/s1600/P1110305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kHaPzxxH0ZQ/TyW3nlt1uzI/AAAAAAAABL0/iDAS_l--z8w/s400/P1110305.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>There are some great things in this book, but <i>why</i> do so many crochet books use really dodgy colour combinations?? I don't get it - do the authors not read blogs? Do they not cruise Pinterest for hours on end? What's the deal with the fuddy-duddy styling? Erk. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg25csM3Yf8/TyW4kZPvqCI/AAAAAAAABL8/pzOwSOLQcws/s1600/P1110308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg25csM3Yf8/TyW4kZPvqCI/AAAAAAAABL8/pzOwSOLQcws/s400/P1110308.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>That said, this above is lovely - and as for this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttq19iq6z-c/TyW5UUI9hVI/AAAAAAAABME/e1-xsTzL_3s/s1600/P1110310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttq19iq6z-c/TyW5UUI9hVI/AAAAAAAABME/e1-xsTzL_3s/s400/P1110310.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>there's not a chance I won't be making a load of these for a bit of spring-y, Easter-y accessorising! x<br />
PS - I'm approaching some landmarks in my little blog - it's nearly my 'first birthday', I'm nearly at my hundredth post, and I've nearly got a hundred followers. In honour of this bit of blog-related excitement, I'm planning a bit of a giveaway when I hit the first milestone, whichever that may be!Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-86924303064406405972012-01-19T22:31:00.000+00:002012-01-19T22:31:10.482+00:00Bunting ta-dah!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tLnQ4ENATSk/TxiLPrmuKeI/AAAAAAAABKQ/dNlMjP9Or0Q/s1600/P1190427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tLnQ4ENATSk/TxiLPrmuKeI/AAAAAAAABKQ/dNlMjP9Or0Q/s400/P1190427.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The sun came out for about half a nanosecond today, creating this beautiful shadow in my sitting room. I was laughing to myself thinking 'only a blogger would be doing this' as I clambered around in our big bay window, camera in hand, bum in the air, with the bin men outside looking at me like I was a complete mentalist. As if...<br />
So, in a giddy fit of activity, I bring you my <i>third</i> ta-dah of the year so far (if I continue at this rate, my entire house will soon be just one enormous mass of yarn, with tunnels running through it so that the kids can get out the door to school - much like the inside of a crochet-obsessed hamster's cage, I suspect. Except, perhaps, without the poo all over the floor.) So, with that picture in your mind, I present you with my <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/" style="color: #c27ba0;">Attic 24</a>-inspired bunting. Ta-dah:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IBkuYVx5CrM/TxiMKrZtb1I/AAAAAAAABKY/0YDTcATz70A/s1600/P1190406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IBkuYVx5CrM/TxiMKrZtb1I/AAAAAAAABKY/0YDTcATz70A/s400/P1190406.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I've said it before, I'll say it again: I don't mind a bit of wonkiness every now and then.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YOlCRtt5xfk/TxiNGrf9cQI/AAAAAAAABKg/JzbetjYFqEw/s1600/P1190398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YOlCRtt5xfk/TxiNGrf9cQI/AAAAAAAABKg/JzbetjYFqEw/s400/P1190398.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L7evg5WJRg4/TxiNcNioHyI/AAAAAAAABKo/49J8Nq8Tvy8/s1600/P1180392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L7evg5WJRg4/TxiNcNioHyI/AAAAAAAABKo/49J8Nq8Tvy8/s400/P1180392.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Elegantly, temporarily held up with drawing pins (can you spot it?) until I find the perfect thing with which to hang it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aLba0vsodS4/TxiOElJJHjI/AAAAAAAABKw/hQGw2TTuuaA/s1600/P1180386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aLba0vsodS4/TxiOElJJHjI/AAAAAAAABKw/hQGw2TTuuaA/s400/P1180386.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>So, there are two things about this bunting:</div><div style="text-align: left;">1) I am <i>squirmingly </i>irritated by the fact that it's not <i>exactly</i> the same width as the bay, despite the fact that I measured it. I should have twigged beforehand really, but of course, when I hung it it stretched and so is all loopy. This is annoying me immensely, but at the moment the annoyance isn't outweighing the fact that I simply can't be a*sed to get it all down, remove a flag and re-do the end bit. In fact, looking at it as I type, I think I'll need to remove two flags, Anyway, at the moment, laziness wins out.</div><div style="text-align: left;">2) You see the flag with the little blue flower on it? Shall I tell you <i>why</i> the little blue flower is on it? It's because my ever-present crochet-assistant-slash-tidy-upper decided to help me by relocating three of the unattached flags. Eventually, after much searching and a slightly sniffy text to Mr N (where I may or may not<i> </i>have questioned whether he was responsible for the disappearance of said crocheted articles) I found them. <i>In the kitchen bin</i>. Oh how I laughed. Ha ha ha. I fair nearly split my sides when I discovered that one of them had a little blob of unidentified, yet highly staining, food on it. Hee hee hee, said I.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, and after that little outburst, I should point out that I do, actually <span style="color: #e06666;">L</span><span style="color: #ffd966;">O</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">V</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">E</span> it! It's very pleasing and speedy to make up and the possibilities for a bit of adornment are endless. I highly recommend it for a bit of happy hooky time. </div><div style="text-align: left;">And finally, here's a thing I've decided to do with my projects from now on:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ATTI0WuHj5E/TxiW5ddsJ4I/AAAAAAAABK4/RUax5BFyQgU/s1600/P1190413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ATTI0WuHj5E/TxiW5ddsJ4I/AAAAAAAABK4/RUax5BFyQgU/s400/P1190413.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">This book is my crochet/recipe/ideas/general gubbins bible and if I ever lost it, I would be bereft. It goes everywhere with me and has pages and pages of <i>stuff</i> in it. Anyway, as of now it also has little snips of the yarn used for my different projects too, so that if I ever want to know what yarn I have used previously I have the details at my fingertips. Handy, eh? x</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-88510934028332223082012-01-15T22:02:00.001+00:002012-01-15T22:30:55.025+00:00Oooh la la - c'est le weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fsbep0izol8/TxM7ILb2hUI/AAAAAAAABJA/of2oeot8bFo/s1600/P1020156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fsbep0izol8/TxM7ILb2hUI/AAAAAAAABJA/of2oeot8bFo/s400/P1020156.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I do quite like this photo of me taking a photo of myself, though I do think it makes me look like a cross between the Michelin Man and a pair of tweezers. In reality I look a lot more like a 37-year-old woman than you'd believe from this picture.</div><div style="text-align: left;">This was taken at Lyme Park, which is a really beautiful National Trust property not too far from where we live. We quite often go there for a bit of a run around and a play in the brilliant play area (kids) and a cup of tea and a wodge of cake (me). This weekend I had a rare Saturday off work and the weather was so unbelievably perfect that we had to really make the most of the fact that we had two whole days at home together and get out and about in the sun. Got to stave off the rickets and all that...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_y1MgbZIjvQ/TxM828SmZwI/AAAAAAAABJI/B-zhlZbeBqg/s1600/P1020133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_y1MgbZIjvQ/TxM828SmZwI/AAAAAAAABJI/B-zhlZbeBqg/s400/P1020133.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ieawo7qa1MY/TxM9NQ931bI/AAAAAAAABJQ/YHgpuR9sKas/s1600/P1020136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ieawo7qa1MY/TxM9NQ931bI/AAAAAAAABJQ/YHgpuR9sKas/s400/P1020136.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kvVTafAEK4o/TxM9pebEcGI/AAAAAAAABJY/rHceRGuImh8/s1600/P1020145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kvVTafAEK4o/TxM9pebEcGI/AAAAAAAABJY/rHceRGuImh8/s400/P1020145.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zo_Wz_P57A4/TxM98kjEpSI/AAAAAAAABJg/ow8U3RIMDrI/s1600/P1020148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zo_Wz_P57A4/TxM98kjEpSI/AAAAAAAABJg/ow8U3RIMDrI/s400/P1020148.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WNOPLOkFhi0/TxNIBR1-G4I/AAAAAAAABJw/9Z2gXd8Jf-s/s1600/P1140355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WNOPLOkFhi0/TxNIBR1-G4I/AAAAAAAABJw/9Z2gXd8Jf-s/s400/P1140355.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">It really is heaven for small boys - mud, sticks, big open spaces, climbing frames and hot chocolate - what's not to love? It's places like this that make me really appreciate having boys, actually. I have a teeny confession to make here - sometimes I don't really understand my little beasties. By this I mean that I <i>know</i> they need to let off steam and 'express themselves' by running around, shouting, fighting and making bizarre noises, and generally I don't mind it too much, but I never really understand what it is that makes them <i>want</i> to do it. Probably something to do with me never having had a willy, I suspect - Mr N certainly gets where they're coming from. But I digress; what I mean is that this unfathomableness (good word!) gives me opportunities to experience things that I may not otherwise get to experience. There are many times in a day when I can be found acting as some sort of UN-level peace-keeper, splitting up fights and sorting out arguments - and that brings a fair amount of stress, if I'm honest. But the flip side of that is that I get to spend my weekends in all sorts of brilliant outdoor places, running around and pretending I'm ambushing people and I have a sneaking suspicion that I just wouldn't experience that side of life if I didn't have to my two crazy boys. We went to beautiful Lyme Regis in the Christmas hols (clearly I love all places with 'Lyme' in their name) - and I had a real moment of 'boy joy' while we were on the beach - me and my girl sitting on the stones all wrapped up in a mound of coats just watching the three males running around, jumping away from the waves, skimming stones, throwing rocks into the water and generally having a high old time just amusing themselves. I was so happy sitting there in the freezing cold on that beautiful beach and I said a silent thank you to my boys because I'm fairly certain that if I had only girls, I wouldn't have been doing that, and I was glad that I was. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Not that I'm suggesting for one moment that girls are all calmness and Zen, oh no no! (Pause for slightly hysterical laughter). Take this photo, for example:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EnoZHUQDk94/TxNJrUVJduI/AAAAAAAABJ4/7RR2sypVoj4/s1600/P1140351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EnoZHUQDk94/TxNJrUVJduI/AAAAAAAABJ4/7RR2sypVoj4/s400/P1140351.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Four and a half seconds after this photo was taken, Mr N had a bit of a slip into the stream (bet he regretted not wearing his wellies then...), decided it was all just a bit too risky with baby n there, picked her up, carried her up the bank and put her on the grass at which point the world ended and she had a ten-minute meltdown because she wanted to get back into the (freezing cold, fast-flowing) water.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now, I've no real idea how to link these next two photos in to this post at all - they're completely random, but I do want to include them, so here they are in all their random-ness. Firstly a rather brilliant birthday present:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WZvfkALzrbU/TxNGvdkGdmI/AAAAAAAABJo/urnWsYXI5mc/s1600/P1130348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WZvfkALzrbU/TxNGvdkGdmI/AAAAAAAABJo/urnWsYXI5mc/s400/P1130348.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love this little bluebird cruet set and thought I'd been cunning in hiding it on the window sill by the sink where the kids would 'never discover them' and want to <strike>break</strike> play with them but sadly, despite my best efforts, they've been discovered and baby n is now obsessed with the 'gucks' (ducks?)</div><div style="text-align: left;">And random photo number two: my latest wip:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ngbQhDlvrvI/TxNMGYkgPKI/AAAAAAAABKA/sqYPZSyUjyk/s1600/P1110311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ngbQhDlvrvI/TxNMGYkgPKI/AAAAAAAABKA/sqYPZSyUjyk/s400/P1110311.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">When I saw Lucy's beautiful bunting at <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/" style="color: #93c47d;">Attic 24</a>, I just knew I had to make myself some. Originally destined for the bathroom (possibly the only room in the house not already bedecked with flags, now I think about it) I have decided that I love it too much and can't possibly hide it away where I'll only get to see it when I'm in the shower. Watch this space for my latest bunting ta-dah, coming soon to a sitting room near you. x<br />
<i>PS - if anyone's seen our remote control, could they please let me know where it is - it's driving Mr N crazy having to actually get up and change the channel</i> </div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-33188059135786951062012-01-12T22:01:00.000+00:002012-01-12T22:01:53.758+00:00Granny squares blanket ta-dah!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05FpKkfkh12DXNH7zYrvJniNG9CNq2bTfuiz96taJ85Qw0CsyRIP5H1k1Darg6iEztXf4Uh2JWDXuA1R5Uxtt2oKQprghVyD_A3na3PodFOFc8TKFR7vfiWYnLREVIpDIg2D4YhLpc30/s1600/P1120328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05FpKkfkh12DXNH7zYrvJniNG9CNq2bTfuiz96taJ85Qw0CsyRIP5H1k1Darg6iEztXf4Uh2JWDXuA1R5Uxtt2oKQprghVyD_A3na3PodFOFc8TKFR7vfiWYnLREVIpDIg2D4YhLpc30/s400/P1120328.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>My hook has been fairly flying the past few days and I have now finished my third blanket, which I have named<span style="color: #76a5af;"> little</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"> boy</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;"> blue </span><span style="color: #45818e;">granny</span> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">squares</span> <span style="color: #674ea7;">blanket</span> (not the catchiest name, granted; and actually, does a blanket really <i>need</i> a name?) Anyway, that's what I think when I look at it, and so as this is my little slice of life, that's what it shall hereto be known as...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmnKgKRDIL1sYgsr6ICvxJs91SL-_TQXGNupRmwA7bb42U4hAKWbjbKkNt163U421FinriyD9NUAaFnAApwdX3wcurnhK_o0NMBWO02aB9oxH0lwC9BFtpHCYIm6aMoE5YEY63ZzBuVo/s1600/P1120323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmnKgKRDIL1sYgsr6ICvxJs91SL-_TQXGNupRmwA7bb42U4hAKWbjbKkNt163U421FinriyD9NUAaFnAApwdX3wcurnhK_o0NMBWO02aB9oxH0lwC9BFtpHCYIm6aMoE5YEY63ZzBuVo/s400/P1120323.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPkSPEy6oI7Da6MhH-EPCcXUGSL4jGqPY0vj97C-pp3_KfKKx9Is6q-_mWKCstZis691bFWNPwY-DLtj8sNe3q9eAtyUrRVhTTIhuOyWgFcPdudKfH4-iMV0v0DxgGiRubx6nKxnw8bA/s1600/P1120325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPkSPEy6oI7Da6MhH-EPCcXUGSL4jGqPY0vj97C-pp3_KfKKx9Is6q-_mWKCstZis691bFWNPwY-DLtj8sNe3q9eAtyUrRVhTTIhuOyWgFcPdudKfH4-iMV0v0DxgGiRubx6nKxnw8bA/s400/P1120325.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I took advantage of a lovely sunny moment this afternoon when baby n was asleep and the boring jobs were done and school wasn't quite over, and I crawled around on my sitting room floor taking pictures of a blanket. I would never tell anyone I actually know in real life that I take pictures of blankets while contorting myself into strange positions - they'd just think that was weird - but somehow I know that you know where I'm coming from with the weirdy picture-taking thing. Ah (happy sigh) isn't blogland brilliant? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uSzTX8-HnE4mUviUt92L-xseaYenbs0WQhGEBoEzpMd8peaZAXGHtdIKnkm4b8Ft7viOEuprvkTdFznGOxGTMZOUYcdn_K_Mb6acMzYi9QC_Dce97ip-NYPGnmdpSJAzXy5_NkYKAT0/s1600/P1120329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uSzTX8-HnE4mUviUt92L-xseaYenbs0WQhGEBoEzpMd8peaZAXGHtdIKnkm4b8Ft7viOEuprvkTdFznGOxGTMZOUYcdn_K_Mb6acMzYi9QC_Dce97ip-NYPGnmdpSJAzXy5_NkYKAT0/s400/P1120329.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1_yW8MAHpEspeYvJ3OlTFbWCrMm2_ROeLtbOsHTklO8a-_rOTamvr8QTuHyBO3j63M3RtqafGsf_bnCNJe_lcMUve5R38NURFLoisEXMKxwS6lB3vuwbwUe3co_YoBUeYAQNPS6Mrq8/s1600/P1120331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1_yW8MAHpEspeYvJ3OlTFbWCrMm2_ROeLtbOsHTklO8a-_rOTamvr8QTuHyBO3j63M3RtqafGsf_bnCNJe_lcMUve5R38NURFLoisEXMKxwS6lB3vuwbwUe3co_YoBUeYAQNPS6Mrq8/s400/P1120331.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I must point out that this blanket is a collaborative effort and my mum made the majority of the squares, while I just did the glory-grabbing finishing off bits. Thanks mum! It's made using six colours of Rico Creative Cotton and is seven squares by ten. I joined it using double crochet on the right side and put two rows of granny along the edges and I love it! I'm so pleased with it, it's turned out exactly how I pictured it and my grown-up baby boy has had it wrapped round him every moment he's been at home since I finished it. He's slept in it like a cocoon, he's watched tele underneath it, he's even eaten his meals with it wrapped round his legs like a little old granny going on a train journey. And the first morning after I finished it, I came down to find this. 'Look at my den, mummy':<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9WK-lIupTPAuoeWz05qN2XBc9YRw4-iAfulFdweiZjry0SzIyOY_MzJNGL3UdIAEH9ymHQalKs3sW9UbXKLuuGV5Cr-1VEW5aPiH8mUkmDJdidQZb5vq2XT5bkQll15hHh53ofDJ0eE/s1600/P1110301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9WK-lIupTPAuoeWz05qN2XBc9YRw4-iAfulFdweiZjry0SzIyOY_MzJNGL3UdIAEH9ymHQalKs3sW9UbXKLuuGV5Cr-1VEW5aPiH8mUkmDJdidQZb5vq2XT5bkQll15hHh53ofDJ0eE/s400/P1110301.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I resisted the urge to flip it over so that the right side was upwards and I left it waiting upside down for him <i>all</i> day. I'm self-restraint personified, me. xEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-61236415320863746352012-01-06T14:31:00.000+00:002012-01-06T14:31:22.741+00:00Peace<div style="text-align: center;">I'm really enjoying taking ten minutes out for a bit of this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cEEEA2Mm46aa4VJ21v33EwButETpsg7FTtpT8i1wQT9RCzovrVINJr8tpvs5m8VP5Ad52SEavDnOZbMf97MPwqeKP64KnW-QY6Coljax0lTC_zoi7VOQQdhnwYYMs35sh1erXpgLjgU/s1600/P1060253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cEEEA2Mm46aa4VJ21v33EwButETpsg7FTtpT8i1wQT9RCzovrVINJr8tpvs5m8VP5Ad52SEavDnOZbMf97MPwqeKP64KnW-QY6Coljax0lTC_zoi7VOQQdhnwYYMs35sh1erXpgLjgU/s400/P1060253.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and a spot of this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-D8GLItryEnFjlISznwm8WspResv7MiEXNE7uGloggYVkjc9JhQDNQCXh_VYUOQIFwujm5rWyc3z90UtNFaron2vJYswHQZlWgbBKEbyKk-qBt52a4T6U8tvt7DA5LKBzcWncU9wwdY/s1600/P1060235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-D8GLItryEnFjlISznwm8WspResv7MiEXNE7uGloggYVkjc9JhQDNQCXh_VYUOQIFwujm5rWyc3z90UtNFaron2vJYswHQZlWgbBKEbyKk-qBt52a4T6U8tvt7DA5LKBzcWncU9wwdY/s400/P1060235.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">before the madness of the bit between school and bedtime!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Friday, hope you have a lovely weekend x</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7419951501788466388.post-49391679738619224872012-01-04T21:27:00.000+00:002012-01-04T21:27:13.901+00:00Summer hols blanket ta-dah<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fvmCWx7MxWM/TwSysaoD_uI/AAAAAAAABGc/A9cJz3k7PUA/s1600/P1040200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fvmCWx7MxWM/TwSysaoD_uI/AAAAAAAABGc/A9cJz3k7PUA/s400/P1040200.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Brave little <span style="color: #ea9999;">hyacinths</span> making a stand against the <span style="color: #a64d79;">glum</span> weather....I love 'em.</div><div style="text-align: left;">I, like the flowers, am making a stand against the air of cold/damp/back-to-school-blues that's pervading my house at the moment. I'm standing on the side of all things bright and cheery and I'm finally ready to 'ta-dah' my summer hols blanket. Had you forgotten all about it? I confess that I did finish it quite a few weeks ago, but it's only now that I've been able to get my scrambled-egg head around photographing it. (I'll add an aside here: my head is feeling a lot less like scrambled egg now than it was in the month or so leading up to Christmas, but I've still managed to double-book myself tomorrow and I'm on the horns of a dilemma about what to do. Gaaah.)</div><div style="text-align: left;">So...with a small drum roll, I present you with: the<span style="color: #f6b26b;"> summer</span> <span style="color: #93c47d;">hols</span> <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">blanket</span>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d9nzOU_QHvg/TwS3qn-_MsI/AAAAAAAABG0/D3Qm4Byx9AI/s400/P1040178.JPG" width="300" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666;">T</span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">a</span><span style="color: #ffd966;">-</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">d</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">a</span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">a</span><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">a</span><span style="color: #c27ba0;">a</span><span style="color: #e06666;">a</span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">a</span><span style="color: #ffd966;">h</span><span style="color: #93c47d;">!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8QUDCiv5YmQ/TwS42bQTx4I/AAAAAAAABHQ/KeuY-eoMqz4/s1600/P1040180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8QUDCiv5YmQ/TwS42bQTx4I/AAAAAAAABHQ/KeuY-eoMqz4/s400/P1040180.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The vital statistics are as follows:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style> <![endif]--><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #191919; font-family: "MS Gothic"; font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "MS Gothic"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></span><span style="color: #f6b26b;">*</span> I used Rico Creative cotton - two balls of each of the eight colours, plus one extra for the edge of the edge, and fourteen of the white (I think)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">*</span> the pattern is from<span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/" style="color: #93c47d;">here</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">* </span>I made 180 hexagons and filled the edges in with half-hexagons, which are a bit wibbly, but I don't mind a bit of wibble every now and then</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">* </span>the edging is just two rows of double crochet - the first in white and the second in pistachio</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;">* </span>some of the colour combos are a bit suspect, and if I were making it again I wouldn't use the dark blue, but on the whole I'm really, really pleased with it and I cuddle up under it with a certain sense of pride.</div><div style="text-align: left;">So there you have - my second blanket done and dusted - the first one wasn't just a fluke after all!</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Unbelievably, I am half way through my third...(check me out - there's no stopping me and my hook now...) It's made in Rico Creative cotton again and it's for my number one son, who may be nearly nine but who still loves a cuddle under a blanket with his mummy as much as he ever did! My head is also full of ideas for a dreamy shawl, but I really, really want to make sure I get the right pattern and yarn before I start. I'm trying to break the habit of a lifetime and be patient and think it through before I jump in with both my feet before I really know what I'm doing. (It's hard, I can tell you - I have the patience of a gnat, and once I decide I want to do something I am virtually unstoppable. Poor old Mr N, I must be a nightmare to live with!) x</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17425291811913248009noreply@blogger.com13