...and so to bed

.......... is that a line from a book or something? It sounds very familiar?

Anyway I digress!

and so to bed with 2008.  It's been a mixed year, a wonderful holiday in Wales, a few good nights out, some wonderful walks with my Spot-dog, my sister and her family buying a house just a few miles from me (that's  a high not a low point!) which means she can't escape for a year or two!, new chickens.... and later chicks. But financially it's been tough, and is getting tougher. The comapny I work for seemed to come to a grinding halt at the end of August, having just completed our biggest year ever, we have started a new financial year with hardly any work and the probability of laying everyone off in the New Year.  It was really like hitting a brick wall, no gradual down turn for us..... loads of work one minute and absolutely none the next.  We've kept paying everyone up til now to see them through Christmas, but it has taken all our last years profits and we've now run out!  I have worked and re-worked cash-flows so many times that I now dream in numbers!!  but, we are not the only ones, and there are worse things happening in the world, so shoulders back, head up and on we march...........

So next year I will be back to growing more in the garden (and praying for better weather than last summer so it actually grows!), wearing more clothes to cut down on heating (I look like Michelin Man at the moment - my heavens isn't it cold??) and being more frugal if I can.  I may be blogging a little less, cos let's face it there are only so many chicken pictures and knitteds you all want to see.... but I'll keep you updated on all the important things, and there'll be little photos here and there.

Have a Healthy and Happy New Year everyone, and whilst I doubt anyone's will be Prosperous as such, I do hope that you all find a way to manage as best you can through the next year without having to give up too much in the way of yarn!! :)

25 December 2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS To all my Friends and Family, thank you for reading my blog through the year and I hope you all have a happy and peaceful couple of days x

Jazz in Hastings

This is a ridiculously useless photo of last night’s brolly parade at the 1066 Jazz club in Hastings, where we went to see Gentleman Jim McIntosh and the Jazzaholics.**

Taken on my phone cos it hadn’t occurred to me to take a camera.  It’s a fair old way for us to travel – over 2 hours to get there and 1 and a half back (no traffic on the M25 at midnight!) but it was a lovely fun evening.  The regulars had dressed up in all manner of fancy dress, and there was even a little girl there, probably only about 2 or so, who had her very own lacey umbrella – a really tiny one, it was so cute. She out-did everyone by dancing almost all night – from 8 to 11pm!

So that’s about it for jazz for a while – the next scheduled outing is Feb 15th at the Preston Cross to see the Bennett Brothers.

**If you have landed on this page by searching for Jim’s Jazzaholics or varations on that theme, then I am sorry that he STILL doesn’t have a web-page  , despite me telling him that I get quite a few hits on my blog as a result of having seen him around and about.  But if you are looking for gigs or CD’s then leave me a comment with your email address and I will pass your details on to him

How do you have yours?

Bagels that is?
Somewhat spurred on by a couple  of hairy blokes on TV the other night, I have today surpassed myself and made bagels. The photo isn’t good, but it’s dark and there’s no way they’re going to be here long enough to take any photos in the light!
 
They are totally yummy  - soft and light and not dense like shop bought ones.  The only problem is not eating all of them at once.  And the worst thing is that I am out of cream cheese!  Tragic! (Although not tragic enough to stop me eating these!) – I made 10. I doubt they’ll be any by Monday!

The Christmas tree is up and Spot seems to think she would make the best present ever – well she’s not wrong is she? Bless her.

The weather is quite frankly biblical today. The downpours are endless and my garden is flooded. The chicks are under cover and I’m afraid have been left to their own devices today. I expect they will survive. 
On the knitting front, I am making my sister’s Christmas present so no photos of that. But I am also knitting a shawl for my 87 year old neighbour, who has no central heating, and my utmost respect and admiration for even getting out of bed on days like we have had recently. It is Anni Designs Two of a Kind shawl, but knitted BIG! in New Lanark Aran.  Hopefully it will take the chill out of a few of those winter mornings!

Love is........................

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some women get chocolates........


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Some get flowers............






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I get  venison for my freezer!

Flicca

It’s been a while since we had any knitting content on here. This has been finished for some time just waiting for some buttons, but finally here in all its glory is…. Flicca! 

 

I love it!  It needs to be worn and loved a bit so the ribbing at the bottom opens out and drapes a bit more.  It is made in Jaeger Extra Fine Merino Chunky in colourway Alaska.  Mods to pattern:  Changed top section from 1 x 1 ribbing to stocking stitch.

Makes my bum look a bit on the wide side, but what do I care, it’s snug and soft and warm and wonderful. I love it!