A Week of Lows and Highs

Low temperatures, high excitement.

The week started off pretty routinely, apart from the delivery of a new garden table, so we can have our afternoon tea outside.

I joked at the time that there would undoubtedly be a change in the weather as a result. There was.

There were several changes – from sunshine to sleet to sunshine to hail to sunshine to snow and back to sunshine, all in the space of a day. The cold wind was constant throughout.

That was Wednesday. Thursday was more of the same, but as we’ve been lucky in the past, we risked going to Hillier’s anyway. Just as we got there it started to snow, and the wind was so strong we couldn’t walk in it. So we consoled ourselves with a cup of tea and a toasted teacake, and came home.

Friday was cold and filled with appointments, though we did manage lunch out.

But Saturday was the highlight of the week. Better weather, though still cold, and some very good news, which I am not yet at liberty to reveal. And this…

The third one in as many weeks.

A Week in which Plans were Shattered.

But not by coronavirus, which I don’t have. So it must have been a cold, as I thought. That was the good bit of the week.

We knew our usual routine was going to be disrupted this week, but that doesn’t usually upset us. My parents adhered rigidly to their routine in retirement, so we’ve tried very hard not to be like that!

So when Babybel asked to spend a day off school with us on Tuesday, we were flattered that she wanted to spend time with the ‘old people’ and decided to go shopping on Monday instead. And even when our time management was bad and we left it too late to go, we shrugged and decided to go on Wednesday.

So we had an enjoyable Tuesday with Babybel, using it as an excuse to go out for lunch. Then on Wednesday morning, ready to go out, I put the shopping bags in the boot of the car, closed the boot lid no more roughly than I usually do, and…

this happened.

That’s not an interesting reflection across the top of the glass, it’s the edge of the glass. And a very large, very difficult jigsaw puzzle in the boot. And on the back seat. And on the drive.

So then it was – phone the insurance company, phone Autoglass, find the insurance policy, and try to arrange an appointment for the replacement glass to be fitted. It was not a difficult process, with no long waits on the phone, but was still a hassle. And because we have an unusual model, the right replacement wasn’t in stock, so we’re still waiting to know when they’re coming.

Then we realised that we still needed to go shopping. And the only bus service we have runs two days a week, neither of which is Wednesday, and it’s useless for going to the supermarket anyway unless you can get round in 5 minutes or can spare several hours, most of which you’ll spend in Starbucks. Or resort to a taxi.

Fortunately we are insured to drive one of Cheese Minor’s cars, so we arranged to borrow it on Thursday. But that meant him coming here, us driving him to work, doing the shopping, then going back to pick him up from work. We don’t usually get up that early any more, or go out that late.

Fortunately, since then Autoglass have ‘weatherproofed’ the car, which means we can drive it to the supermarket, but not long distances, so our trips will have to be short ones. I do feel trapped.

Weather proofing. It’s been wet and windy here today, and it’s bearing up well.

On a more positive note, the light was wonderful this evening, and I was able to take this panoramic view from our terrace. As we discovered during lockdown, if you have to be trapped, this is a good place to be trapped in.

Number Five.

I’ve tried to write this post 4 times, and every time ended up deleting it by accident. So if I write it outside the app and then copy and paste, it might be safer. Provided WordPress will let me. Which it seems, it will.

Other than my blogging failures, last week was a week when things turned out pretty much as we expected.

Apart from the snow.

OK, not a lot of snow, but a lot for round here, in November.

These were taken at Danebury Hill Fort. We’ve decided we need to get more exercise, so as neither of us is a gym bunny, that means more walks. We haven’t been to Danebury for years, so it was good to go back, and catch the sunset, and that view, from all of 143 metres above sea level.

The only drawback to Danebury is the lack of a cafe in the area. But there are ponies.

Exmoors, I think.

Our next trip was our regular outing to the Hillier Gardens – a much longer walk, but with no snow, and much flatter. There is a conveniently placed cafe in the gardens, just half way round, plus another sunset.

No ponies, though. There are pigs, though we didn’t visit them this time.
And wolves.

And finally, on Friday we went to Hinton Ampner. Another place we didn’t go to for years, though we’ve been visiting it quite frequently recently. (When you’ve got elderly joints, you appreciate level, paved paths, as well as cafes.)

Like almost all National Trust properties, it does have a cafe. But no sun, so no atmospheric sunset photos. And no ponies or wolves. But there were some reindeer.

Did you know that male reindeer lose their antlers in the winter? So this lot are all female.

In other news, just as Cheese Minor recovered from Covid, Mrs Cheese Minor and the Very Hungry Caterpillar have succumbed. The VHC is fine, Mrs CM less so. Fingers crossed she doesn’t have it too badly.

Babybel is OK, so far, although I think she rather fancies some time off school. The VHC, on the other hand, is sorry that he’s losing his 100% school attendance record! (If that makes him sound like a goody goody, he isn’t, he just likes school and misses his friends.

And another of those weeks…

Because almost nothing turned out as expected, and, I think, because we tried to cram too much in on a couple of days.

Cheese Minor has had Covid – not badly, he’s been bored rather than ill – but it meant we weren’t needed for grandparenting. So we had two ‘free’ days, which ought to have been a great opportunity, but weren’t. We did squeeze in a couple of walks, and my Covid booster, so that was good, but it all seemed a bit rushed and hassled. So it was good to spend the Wednesday at home, and I even managed a bit of embroidery.

We interrupt this blog to bring you breaking news. This

Just fell off this. Audibly.

Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Thursday was busy but less hassled until the evening, when I realised that the click and collect I’d picked up from M&S that day was not my leggings, but someone else’s cardigan. They’d given me the wrong thing. So that meant going back on Friday, to return the cardigan and try to collect the leggings.

Lots of apologies for the staff at M&S, who seemed quite surprised and grateful that I’d brought the cardigan back. So much so that they gave me a box of chocolate biscuits for my trouble!

Yesterday we had the fun of Storm Arwen. Lots of rain, a bit of ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ snow, and the lid of the water butt decided to go walkabout, though we’ve managed to find it. No other damage, thankfully. I may miss the trees we had at our previous house, but I don’t miss worrying on windy days, about whether they will come down, and where.

Can you spot the snow?

This morning was beautiful, sunny and calm

But blooming cold. When I went out the water in the butts was frozen – in both of them, so I don’t think the absence of the lid made any difference. The Met Office is warning of ice tomorrow morning, but – no grandparenting, no need to go out till it’s thawed.

I miss the ‘little’ ones, though.

I’m still Sprinting.

Make something inspired by a custom or tradition: autumnal festivals of flowers and lights.

Make something from things found in nature.

Make a map of an imaginary place

Make a disguise for your pet.

Look into the sky. Make something inspired by what you see.

Draw a doodle while listening to favourite music.

Make a puppet.

Hassles and rain. And more rain.

It seems to have rained every day for at least a couple of weeks . It rained heavily this morning, although it’s cleared now and there’s no more forecast till tomorrow. When it could rain all day, and we have to go out.

The hassles were more intermittent, and none of them turned into traumas, but I could have done without a couple of them. The worst was the sudden collapse of my only remaining wisdom tooth, which consisted more of filling than tooth anyway. Fortunately my wonderful dentist fitted me in at short notice, postponing an appointment with his paperwork to do so, and has rescued it, at least for now. The others were minor medical issues, like flu jabs and doctor checkups – I’m fine, my blood pressure is well down, and the persistent cough I’ve got is an allergy, for which I now have antihistamines.

Another hassle was the edge treatment for the handbook on the right. This is the third version – the previous two were stitched and looked a mess, so I resorted to paint. It looks less messy although it does tend to come off on my hands. I’ve added some pages, it’s done, and it will find a use, sooner or later.

The other handbook is still under construction. I’m not sure about the colours – I like the hand, and I like the shading of the background, but I think an analogous scheme would have worked better than the complementary one. But I am trying to use up what I’ve got, and that’s what I had!

I have started a ‘proper’ book with a Coptic binding, but that has been a hassle too – covers too small, cut new ones, put cover paper on squiffy – so there’s not much to show and it’s on time out till I can face making another cover. It’s also a new way of doing a Coptic binding to me, and I’m procrastinating about it a bit, so it’ll be next weekend before I pluck up courage to try it.

Wensleydale’s sweater is growing steadily now I’m not repeatedly frogging back to correct mistakes in the shaping. And I’m more confident that I have got enough wool – when it came it didn’t look enough, but I’m well down the body now and there seems to be plenty left.

Despite the rain and the hassles, we found time for a trip out – to Mottisfont, hoping to get all nostalgic at the exhibition of photography from the 60’s by Lichfield, Duffy and Donovan. However I found it not very atmospheric and a tad disappointing. They were beautiful photos, but many of them seemed quite clinical, detached from their subjects. Or maybe I’m not really nostalgic for the 60’s, after all – I’ve never been one for looking backwards.

I got more from our trip, the previous week, to the Russell-Cotes, to see the exhibition of ceramics by William de Morgan. Maths, patterns and tessellations – what’s not to like? Yes, I’m one of those strange people who likes maths – but you can get a lot out of this show without worrying about the maths at all.

I hope next week is a bit calmer – although I have ENT clinic and optician’s checkups, which should include no surprises, and then should be clear of such things for the rest of the year. And I’m having my hair cut, which is always relaxing.

Currently…

Listening to: Choir and Organ on Radio 3, while looking forward to tonight’s Prom, Adams, Barber and Holst. But we’ll miss some of it because we’re…

Watching: the Tour de France. We saw most of today’s exciting stage, but we’ll still be watching the highlights tonight.

Reading: I’ve finished Tombland at last: I have to admit that reading it became a chore in the end and I skipped the last couple of battles. There was rather more detail of Kett’s rebellion than I really wanted.

Making: this is the shawl now.

Yes, it’s changed. I got half way through it, weighed what I’d done, weighed the remaining yarn – and, as I suspected, there was not enough to finish it. The yarn didn’t lend itself to repeated frogging, so the completed section went in the bin, and the rest is becoming a cowl.

I’ve also cast on some socks. (Pattern here.) I’m having a second go at a cuff down pair, because I wanted to try the pattern. Of course, a mottled yarn like this is not the best choice for stitch patterns, which are hard to see when the sock isn’t in strong sunlight. But they will be even harder to see when covered by trouser legs.

I haven’t knitted a heel like this for years, and working it again reminds me why, but it’s good to revisit techniques occasionally.

I’ve almost finished another sampler, though it’s not in a photographable state at the moment. I’m much happier with this one, even though it’s slightly representational.

And this morning I made a couple of quick books from Rachel Hazell’s Bound, good for using up oddments of paper and ribbon/string.

Feeling: tired – because I was up stupidly early (hence the photo of dawn) and because yelling at the television during exciting bike races is exhausting.

Anticipating: a really hectic week. Normal grandparenting on Monday and Tuesday, extra grandparenting on Wednesday (leavers’ assembly for Babybel in the morning, early school finish at lunchtime, so looking after them in the afternoon) and more grandparenting on Thursday. But they’re off to France on Friday, so we get to do exciting grown up things like getting the car MOT’d.

Currently…

Listening to: Words and Music on Radio 3, ‘Within Limits’ – or without constraints. Currently it’s Danny Kaye singing Tongue Twisters, which seems a bit of a tenuous connection to me.

Watching: still Gentleman Jack. It’s almost a feminist/gay version of Albert Finney’s Tom Jones, although a bit more subtle in some respects and more explicit in others.

Reading: I’m continuing my exploration of ‘magic’ related books with Dave Rudden’s Knights of the Borrowed Dark, which so far I’m enjoying. I hadn’t realised it was YA fiction when I ordered it, but so is Alan Garner, I suppose, and some Anne McCaffrey, so it’s in good company.

Making: not much, and few photos, because most of what I’ve done is behind this door,

so inaccessible to the arthritic until tomorrow is over. Behind there is some embroidery, the crown book from Hedi Kyle’s The Art of the Fold, and, on the right side of the door, the crown card from the same volume. The card was just the right size to hold this wedding announcement card.

I’m doing ICAD again this year – these are my first 9 cards.

The shawl is getting back to where it was before I frogged several centimetres, but I’m getting a bit bored with the long rows, so it’s slow progress.

I’ve finished one modular vessel, which is behind the door, and this is the second. Definitely an SKO (strange knitted object), but it’s mine and more enjoyable than the shawl at the moment. Also quicker.

Feeling: tired – due to a bad night and a couple of busy days,

Anticipating: a lovely day tomorrow. Cheese Minor and his partner are getting married – hence the wedding announcement, the flowers and the bunting. It’s a small do – the big celebration will be in the Czech Republic in a couple of months time – but small is beautiful.

Currently…

Listening to: one of Amazon’s classical ‘stations’ – undemanding gobbets from longer works. This one is strings, and relaxing after a busy day.

Watching:not a lot.

Reading: still Ben Aaronovitch. Reading them is like eating Pringles – I can’t stop. I’m now on to Foxglove Summer, and Wensleydale is close behind me!

Making: once again a lot of knitting but very little to show for it. The pattern I’m using suggests 2.5mm needles – the only set I possessed were elderly and rather battered wooden ones. And there were only 4, and I like to use 5, so I started with the wooden ones and ordered some snazzy metal replacements. By the time I came I’d turned the heel and was well down the foot. But when the new ones came I realised that the wooden ones, despite being stamped 2.5mm, were bigger than the metal ones – according to my gauge they are 2.75mm. Which explained why the fabric I was producing was a bit floppy for socks. Yes, non-knitters, 0.25mm matters.

So I frogged the sock, and cast on again, taking the opportunity to go back to my favourite method and knit them toe up. Once I’d finished the toe I thought they looked a bit big, but carried on – until today, half way up the foot, I tried them on, decided they were too big and frogged them again. Which is why they now look like this. Yes, I know I should have straightened the wool, but I’m lazy.

The fabric still feels a bit floppy to me but I have to justify buying the new needles, so I will carry on with them.

This is the second stitch collage. I would never have considered adding yellow to the base colours, but after I’d added the gold ‘coins’ it seemed to need some more. It needs another circle, and then probably something else. With embroidery I’m much happier designing as I go than planning in advance, though in real life I’m the complete opposite.

Feeling: running to catch up, because I haven’t adjusted to the time change yet!

Anticipating: more running, because on Tuesday next week we have to have the kids in two places at once because of the demands of their full timetable.

Currently…

Listening to : Choral Evensong on Radio 3. Lots of Purcell, just what I like.

Watching: still Trapped. I’ve got used to the slow pace, and we did have some excitement – just when the case appeared closed, it turns out not to be – although that was obvious, given that we are only half way through. Still lots of interesting knitwear to enjoy.

Reading: Making it Up, a book of short stories by Penelope Lively. I’m not usually a fan of short stories, but these are excellent – you find yourself reading faster to find out how each one ends.

Making: this is the completed sock. I am now working on the second iteration of the toe of its pair, after my increases went agley.

The October to February sections of the ‘2018’ sampler are sewn together, although I still haven’t found the December 2017 to October 2018 part, which are on the room of boxes. Wensleydale is currently trying to make space in the garage so we can move the remaining boxes out there until after the building work is done. (When I say ‘we can move’, I mean, of course, that Cheeses Major and Minor will kindly volunteer to do so.)

I’ve now officially started the 2019 sampler, in which I can choose whatever colours I like. Anyone who knows me will not be surprised by what I’ve chosen.

Feeling: that it might, just about, be almost spring. The header photo is the view from where I’m sitting. Note that the door is open. (Also note my lovely new curtains. Thank you, A.)

I can’t see the primroses, crocuses and solitary daffodil from where I and, but I know they are there. I can hear sparrows, and earlier this afternoon there was a thrush, something I haven’t seen for years, and a flock of 7 magpies flying about. I know magpies are Marmite birds, but I love their colours, and apparently they are not really major predators of small birds. Not as bad as cats.

Anticipating: a busy week. Now there’s a change.

Currently…

Listening: to Katherine Tickell on Amazon Prime. Lots of Berlioz on Radio 3 is too much of a good thing.

Watching: the new series of Trapped. The first series was excellent – so far this one has not grabbed me as much. However, there is lots of lovely Icelandic knitwear, mostly, but not exclusively, worn by hairy Icelandic men. There was a particularly interesting hat.

Making: the socks have got back to the stage they were at when I pulled them back.

The sampler is finished!!! Well, the 2018 section is, only two months late. The last sections need to be sewn together, which I have been postponing because my sewing threads were Missing in The Room of Boxes, or MITROB for short. I’ve now found them, so I can sew them up, but I’ve done something to my hip which means I can’t lift things. In any case, the January to October 2018 sections are still MITROB.

I’ve started the 2019 version: no pre-determined plans for this one, though I am still working my way through Carolyn Anbutter’s Open Canvas.

I’ve also finished the big insomniac drawing, which is now a book. (The layout of the lyric looks a little odd because the red section is the cover, so has the first and last parts of the quote.) it’s a bit messy because of too much mind-changing and inadequate rubbing out, but I’m pleased with it.

Feeling: relaxed. The painful hip is a nuisance, but it’s a good excuse to sit with my feet up, and it’s getting better.

Anticipating: It’s half term next week, so we have a couple of days grandparenting, which should be fun. That’s after they’ve been to the dentist, but thanks to our lovely dentist, they regard this as a treat.

Currently…

Listening: to Choir and Organ on you guessed it – Radio 3.

Watching: a new series of Shetland. Yes, I’m an Anne Cleves fan.

Reading: back to Lissa Evans’ Old Baggage. I’m not very far in to it, but I’m already engrossed.

Making: socks from some of the wool I bought at the Southern Wool Show. More accurately, remaking, as I got part way up the leg and realised there was no way they would fit my well developed calves.

The sampler has made slightly better progress. There are two places I sit in our sitting room – by the window during the afternoon, and by the fire in the evening. Telling myself that if I’m sitting by the window, I should also be embroidering seems to have helped – unless I’m drinking tea or leaping up to take photos of the sky, which I’ve done quite a lot today.

All I’ve done for the second big insomniac drawing this week is to print some papers for the collaged teapots l’m going to add. However, I did a smaller doodle, exploring a suggestion in Shelly Rhodes book, Sketchbook Explorations to vary the scale of my mark making. When I’d finished it told me it wanted to be another fold book.

I also tried a couple of pop-up accordion books from Hedi Kyle’s The Art of the Fold. I love the architectural look of these – I have lots of ideas for other versions but so far I haven’t got round to them.

Feeling: up and down. In the continuing saga of family members gettting caught up in events that make the news, Cheese Minor’s partner was sent home early on Thursday, as she works near the Ocado depot which caught fire. We made a lunch date for Friday, but she got called back in, as the fire service had got it sorted. Good for them, less good for us. The best thing is that it has been a week in which progress seems to have been made. Our terrace has been washed in preparation for some repairs which need doing, and it is now a lovely buttery colour instead of grey with grey patches. We have our curtain pole and we’re picking up the cleaned curtains tomorrow. And the fabric for new curtains for our big window has come. It cost an arm and a leg, but I think the curtains are going to look warm and spectacular, which is what I’m aiming for. All baby steps, maybe, but it’s good to feel that progress is being made.

Anticipating: going with the flow. The VHC is not very well, which may lead to a rearrangement of grandparenting, but we have a Plan A and a Plan B in place. We’ll see what tomorrow brings!