Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside.........

When I took DD swimming last Thursday I asked DH to have a look on the internet and see if he could find anywhere for us to stay overnight so we could take the kids to the beach. When we came out of her lesson I got a call saying he thought he had found the perfect place so I said go for it and by the time we had walked home our nights B&B was booked.


When we went to our Centre Parcs holiday in Jan the kids had been a bit disappointed that they wouldn't be going to the beach so I told them I would take them later in the year even if it was just for the day. Funnily enough they didn't forget and have been regularly asking when we were going all through the holidays so we though we had better get organised and take them.


We stayed on a working farm in a village near Mablethorpe. Having travelled over there Sunday morning we dropped our stuff off and headed for the beach with a picnic. We had a fab afternoon walking on the beach, collecting shells and building sandcastles.


DS1 had a donkey ride too.

And of course there was ice cream.


In the evening we went for a meal at the local pub which was lovely.


We liked the farm so much we are going back next year :)

Hmmmmmm..............

Despite my best intentions it has of course been ages since my last post so there will be a bit of a catch up here.

I've been lucky enough to get over to Babylonglegs a couple of time this month. The second was for a dyeing day with Lottie and Nik (another Rav member) which was brilliant fun. I have to admit to being quite proud of my yarn. I'm looking forward to knitting it up.

I've got a couple of finished items to show off firstly my August socks which are for Bean and have been done in some of my leftover Enchanted from Mamalonglegs.

The second is my Calorimetry which I am very pleased with. So please in fact that I am going to knit another and then I'll search for some different headband patterns. I do love Ravelry.

DH has received final confirmation of his place on the GTP course. Everything is sorted out and ready, just waiting for term to start now.

We've managed to get together with friends a couple of times in the last few days which has been good for me and the kids. J and I took all 6 kids over to Bosworth Park to play on the swings and slide etc and feed the ducks. Bean just loved the slide he went up all on his own over and over again.
Then earlier this week we went with DD's best friend and her sister and mum to Sutton Cheney Wharf. We stopped for tea first cos of the rain and then went for a walk. We got fairly soggy but it was lovely to get out for a bit.

DD has just finished a swimming crash course. She did really well but I think she still needs some more lessons.

My last bit of catch up is to report my last night at work, unsuprisingly it was pretty much like anyother night but I did get some nice leaving presies. Hopefully now I'm one of the great unwaged I will have a bit more time to keep my blog up to date. You never know ;)

Carrotts!!!!!

This is our fourth year of trying to grow veg in one way or another. This year after two rather disapointing years we abandoned our veg plot. I think both me and DH felt a bit sad about it but we have had to be honest and accept that it just doesn't get enough sun early enough in the year to work well. We toyed with the idea of moving it but then the kids would loose alot of garden space and we didn't feel that was fair to them.

So we have set up lots of pots of stuff on the patio. The beans are doing well and so are the courgettes but we normally do fine with them anyway. However this year our carrotts have grown. For the first time ever we have grown decent carrots that I can cook, OK so we had them raw in salad today but still...

So here they are

Can you tell that I am rather proud of them?

My Little Egyptians.

I took the kids into town yesterday so they could play in the sand! Every year the council organise a series of days around the county where they set up some sand pits and other bits and pieces for the kids to play on. They also have an entertainer on hand and this year a belly dancer. The theme last year was pirates, the year before was dinosaurs and this year it way the Egyptians. We took a picnic met up with a friend, saw some other friends (Hi Lottie) by chance and generally had a nice relaxed morning.

Today we all went over to the local park for the Worldfest music event and sat around for a bit listening to the bands. The great thing about where we live is that when the kids get bored and restless we can go home, open the windows or sit out in the garden and carry on listening to the bands. :)

Getting old?

Today is my birthday but funnily enough I don't feel as old as I have done recently. Do you really think that doing some regular exercise courtesy of the Wii Fit might acctually be having an effect. I'm not as tired as I was and though I haven't noticed DH reckons you can see a difference.

And of course today being a special day I have been thouroughly spoilt. DH and the kids, DD knows what she wants to buy and is very capable of making sure it is brought, have done me proud. I got chocolates, two Willow Tree figures and a new watch which I love.

Today we went to Straford Upon Avon for the day. We try to do this once a year. We visited the Butterfly Farm and then crossed the river on the Foot Ferry its the second pic down in the link. The kids and I love it. We went for lunch in town (note to self - I really must get this milk free eating out sorted) and a quick wander round the shops including a visit to Lush where I spent some Birthday money. Then it was back to the car and home for tea and birthday cake.

Looking forward to the coming year I am going to have a go at the Photojojo Project 365 which means taking a photo everyday for the next year. I will probably set up a new folder in my photobucket so I might not blog all of them but I am hoping that as well as making me think more about the simple things I do it will encourage me to blog on a more regular basis even if its just a few pictures. Hopefully it will also get me understanding photobucket better and using it more effectively. Now if I was an organised person I would be able to tell you where I saw the Photojojo first linked, I know I was reading blogs linked to Ravelry as I mouched about doing nothing much but beyond that I'm afraid I really have no idea. So thank you very much to the person whos blog sent me in that direction, I do appreciate it loads and I hope you are having a fab day!

Well here we are again

It seems ages since I posted last but life has been very busy and there hasn't been alot of time for sitting and uploading photos etc. I am promising myself to be better from now on and also not to let DH be the only one who takes photos.

First pics are from a Rock Band night that we went to at a friends house. We had a fab time though we were completely shattered by the end of the night. We're planning more in the future! Though maybe without the dressing up ;)



Since the kids broke up from school I've been extra busy in the days too. Went to Burbage Common on the first Monday and did a nature trail with them which was great fun. The weather wasn't brilliant but the rain did hold off.

Other than that we've just been taking life easy and chilling out quite a bit. The kids are enjoying doing just everyday stuff for now. We have a few days out planned for the rest of the holiday so that will keep us entertained.

On the knitting front I have done a large shawl for DH's Gran, it still needs the tassels adding though so no photos yet. And my July socks are finished, I did wonder at one point if they were going to get done on time but they are. I'm thinking of doing some for Bean for August just so I can get them done a little quicker. However I have hit a small snag in my knitting plans. All my Woolfest stash is still in skeins! I have ordered a ball winder and I will try to get my Dad to make me a swift but in the meantime I am back to knitting from older stash for a little while longer.

And finally a picture of DH's new "toy". We had a tank a few years ago but for various reasons we let it wind down and so haven't had one for a while. This one is a tropical set up and having let it stand for a while we have today added some fish. There is one lurking in the picture honest - the rest hide when I approach with the camera.

Tonight...

... I have lit a candle for my friend Sasha and her family in remembrance of their son Thomas.

I think of you all everyday and I wish you peace and strength now and always.

Catching Up

I don't feel like I have stopped for the last couple of weeks and I know that next week isn't going to be much better but I have finaly found some time this morning to start catching up a bit.


I got back from Woolfest on Sunday evening and spent the night chilling out with DH and the kids.


Monday morning at school I discovered it was sports day in the afternoon so I had to get all my stuff done in the morning so I could still go and watch DD. She was brilliant and even won her heat of the Egg and Spoon race!


Thursday was filled with trips to and from school. It was transfer day so DD spent the day with her new Yr 3 teacher (who she loves already) and DS1 had an hour in school with his new teacher. Then it was back to tots to grab a quick coffee and to pick Bean up. Then I took the boys into town for lunch (getting soaked in the process - gotta love that rain) and then over to my friends so I could look after her youngest while she took her DS1 into school for his hour with his new teacher.


Friday was DS1's playgroup concert. They did the story "We're Going On A Bear Hunt" and it was fab. Tesco shopping the in the afternoon and suddenly the week was gone. I can't even remeber what I did on Tuesday and Wednesday but I know I didn't get any spare time to play online much let alone do my blog.

And today is the school fair!


Roll on next Friday and the end of term. At least the pace of life can slow down a little then!

My Very Own Colourway

And I LOVE it.



Thank you so much Sarah.

Woolfest Stast

I've done a separate post for my Woolfest shopping cos even though I didn't go mad there is still quite a bit of it and or course several photos to be shared.

First up is my sock yarn from The Yarn Yard. Natalie was lovely and I am really looking forward to starting the Orange/Brown colourway. It is next on my sock list! DD is trying to lay claim to the purple/green skien but as she has a specially requested yarn on its way she can wait to see whats left over from my socks.



Next is 3 skiens of Alpaca/Silk DK from The Natural Dye Studio. I spent forever trying to choose this but managed to make a selection in the end. It is destined to be a shawl for my MIL.



From KraftyKoala I got some 50% merino 50% tencel 4 Ply sock yarn in Carnival. It has a beautiful shine to it and it is very soft. I also got a skien of Organically Farmed Merino DK in Waterlilly.



Whilst visiting KraftyKoala I also fell in love with Nic's fishy fabric so I just couldn't resist the Fishy Sock Project Bag, I have ordered a DPN roll to go with it ;)



My final yarn purchase was 4 balls of Regia 6 ply. Not as exciting as my hand dyed yarn but at a price that couldn't be resisted.



I got a collection of bits and pieces including a set of crochet hooks (can you belive that apart from two small ones I didn't have any till now), some small bamboo DPNs for knittting dark coloured socks, stitch markers and some little heart shaped tags which read "made with love" for attaching for finished objects.



And of course my Ravelry/Woolfest vest top which is just fab!

Well What Can I Say??????

It was my first trip to Woolfest and it was fantastic!!!!! I just had such a fabulous time.


I left just after the school run on Friday and drove over to pick Sarah up and then we were officially off :) Despite being long the drive up was OK and thankfully dry.

We went straight to Woolfest of course and spent a few hours wandering around, meeting people and just drinking up the atmosphere.





It was just stunning to see so much wool and fibre in so many different colours in one place. I just didn't know where to start, I think I only brought 3 skiens on the Friday and some stitch markers. Oh and tea and some rather yummy carrot cake ;) And of course Sheep and Alpacas.





Sarah tried her hand at long draw spinning




Then it was off to the campsite (the long way round ;) ) to set the tent up. And my wasn't that fun! By this point it was pouring down and the wind was howling but at least it was daylight. It took some doing and we got soaked through in the process but we did get the tent up in the end and it stayed dry inside.



Lottie arrived in time for tea and then we just crashed out and chatted.




Saturday was bright and clear and we went into Cockermouth to Sarah's favourite cafe for breakfast which was lovely and then we called into shoe shop on the way back to the car. Sarah was trying on Crocs but it was me that ended up buying a pair!!! You have to admit though they don't look like your average Crocs and they will show off my hand knitted socks beautifully.



Once back at Woolfest I brought more yarn and more goodies and wandered around again just looking at everything. We tried on hats.





Later we just sat and knitted for a while before a last spend and a last look round.


Sunday morning we had to take the tent back down, pack everything away in the car and then it was back to real life. In the rain again so not such a nice drive but the music was good thanks to Sarah's DH.


I had a wonderful time with fantastic friends and it was great to meet new people particularly Ambermoggie (thanks for the vest top)

and Woolydoodles (Hi Jack) and ClaireUK, if you want to see pics of everybody we met then I'll send you over to Sarah's blog cos she took loads of people photos.


The only question now is do I do Woolfest again next year or do I try out Wonderwool? And no I can't do both!

A Day On The Farm

The Tuesday before Woolfest was DS1's playgroup trip. We went to Broomey Croft Childrens Farm for the day.

I had originaly planned it to be just me and DS1 but then my babysitter had to cancel so we had to give up our places on the bus so I could take Bean with us. However when the day of the trip came I managed to get another sitter at short notice so I rang playgroup and managed to get us back on the bus.

We were lucky and got a gorgeous day for the trip bright sunshine but no so hot that it was uncomfortable. The farm is a little one which makes it a perfect size for entertaining 3 and 4 year olds for a few hours. They provided animal food for us DS1 loved feeding the goats though he did get very cross with the one who stole Z's paper bag of food from her and ate it bag and all.



Before lunch we went on a tractor ride round the back of the farm which DS1 declared to be great fun but very bumpy!



We had a picnic lunch and later the kids had a lolly from the shop before it was time to get back on the bus and come home.



Once home it was time for the dieticians appointment. To be honest she didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. He is now confirmed as lactose intolerant and we have been advised to continue with the lactose free diet but to challenge him every so often to see if his tolerance has improved any. The dietician suspects (as I have done for a while now) that the intolerance is hereditry (from me) in which case he will never totally grow out of it. Hopefully though things will improve for him as they have for me. They checked his height and weight again and reviewed his diet with me, suprisingly she seemed quite happy with it and just suggested giving fruit or veg with everymeal in order to get him in the habbit of eating some each meal time.

Enchanting Socks

Well my June pair are finished and ready to take to Woolfest with me at the weekend and here they are


I am really pleased with them. The pattern is Charade by Sandra Park and I've really enjoyed knitting them. Only my second pair in a pattern.

The yard is Enchanted dyed by Mamalonglegs (Babylonglegs on Rav), it has been beautiful to work with and I love the ways the colours have worked out.



I also have to admit how proud I am of myself for managing 1 pair of socks a month for 6 months. I have also had great fun doing it. I somehow though still have loads of sock yarn to work through and I suspect that there will be even more by this time next week ;)



I am so looking forward to Woolfest. But suddenly it is 4 days till we leave and I have nothing packed and loads of stuff still get done round home. Plus it is DS1's playgroup trip tomorrow so I will loose a whole day to that. Time to get organised I think. I shall start with a proper shopping list this afternoon and then some clothes packing on Wednesday.

This week with Miffy

has been very nice really. No huge drama's or stresses for a change.

We went to Sarah's for the day which was fantastic, she is such a lovely host helped along by gorgeous food and of course even more gorgeous yarn. In fact I can't say enough how much I love this yarn. I keep getting it out for a squidge and a look. I am trying to get at least my Enchanted Socks finished before Woolfest so I'm having to be very good about not starting the new yarn yet.

This beautiful yarn is destined to become this

I'm doing the Sideways Hat KAL on Ravelry or at least the first month anyway. I somehow ended up signed up for SAM6 too which will be good for my sock yarn stash but might limit the amount of other stuff I can do. Though baby socks really don't take long at all to knit up ;)

On Thursday I had to skip tots due to the chicken pox'd Bean but the blisters have finaly stopped coming through and he is pretty much scabbed over so with any luck we'll be back next week.

On Friday a friend from tots came round for coffee which was a lovely. She brought her little girl along and she and Bean played really nicely.

Saturday was hair cut (bit of a new look there) and lunch in town with DD. I really love my hair cut and coffee in town with DD days. Spent way too much money though as ever.

Do you like my ticker?

I don't have a ticker anywhere else these days but I just couldn't resist this one for Woolfest. Saves my brain from having to count how many days there are to go too.



Just need to finish my shopping list now and sort some stuff out to pack. I know there is a camping chair somewhere in that garage...................









............hmmmm. Wish me luck everyone ;)

I just....

............came accross this on Ravelry and thought I would share

Don't Let It Unravel

assuming my link works of course.

Luna Bean

Just a quick post today to share this pic of The Bean.

He raided DS1's dressing up box and brought me this top to put on him. He was so pleased with himself :)


Unfortunatly he doesn't look quite so pretty now as he has Chicken Pox! Still that's it for all the kids now with luck and at least its over before Woolfest, and before he starts playgroup and school etc.

Normal Service Resuming???

Well by the end of the week it was anyway.

Monday saw DH go off with 30 Year 3 kids from DD's school to Beaumanor Hall for a 3 day (2 night) residential. He had a fab time, couldn't stop talking about it when he got home. I had two nights off work to stay home and play Mum which I really enjoyed though I missed DH like crazy once the kids had gone to bed and all the work was done. Still it did make for some uninterrupted knitting time.

DS1 went back to playgroup on Monday too, he was all scabbed over by then and now most of the scabs are dropping off. No sign of Bean getting it yet though. **shrug**

Wednesday saw DH home and me back to work and so normal service in the Miffy household is resuming after the excitement of the car and me being off work with my neck and half term and all the other bits and pieces that have been going on.

Friday morning I managed to get round to say Hi to Lottie, I haven't seen her for ages, weekends have been really busy for us lately and of course she is working during the week and half term was a total wash out from my end.

And now I have Woolfest to look forward to. I am mentally planning my shopping list (which I will get down on paper before I go) and my packing list, I've started getting a few bits together too. Can you tell I'm excited.

Knitting wise I am making good progress with my June Socks. I just love the way Sarah's yarn is knitting up. The yarn is lovely to knit with and the colours are fabulous. :)


In a moment of madness I signed up for SAM6 this morning, I wasn't going to but then I decided that if I was short of knitting time I could always resort to baby socks, the May pair I did were really quick to knit up and besides I'm finding that I get quite a decent speed on now with my sock knitting.

However it is hat knitting that will be a priority for July. Sarah is doing me some yarn and hopefully it will be perfect for this which I am going to knit up as part of the Sideways Hat KAL on Rav which WoollyWormhead has set up. I'm really looking forward to it. Can't wait to see my yarn.

Welcome home Busie

Well busie (the car) arrived home yesterday afternoon looking unusually shiny and smelling of fresh car paint. I am so impressed with the speed of her return, she's be gone for less then a week. She was named and given her gender by DS1 in case you were wondering. Busie is off out again this morning for her MOT, wish us luck!
DH took the hire car (named Silver) back late afternoon causing much sadness to DS1 and DD who were both very upset to see it go. I was quite pleased to say goodbye though. It was too big for me, the seats are not an ideal layout for longer journeys as we wouldn't be able to fold the back ones down and use the packing space. And the electric sliding doors take too long to close. I am discovering just how impatient I really am. Maybe this is why I tend to only knit small easy projects. Instant gratification. ;)
So far the whole car insurance thing has been very easy and efficient which has been a relief. Just waiting now for a letter from the solicitors for the personal injury stuff. Not got back to work yet because of the pain. I did one night but by the end I was in agony so I am taking the rest of this week off and the first two days of next week and hopefully I'll be more comfortable by then. Even 5 minutes on the phone leaves me with spasms at the moment.
DD had a friend round for the day yesterday which was lovely she came mid morning and we took her home after 5:30! They had a fab time. On the way home we called into Halfords and chose replacement car seats, my aren't they expensive! Still not something I scrimp on and it was nice to be able to choose the safest looking seat (I did my Which research too) without worrying about how I was going to fund it.
So the whole incident is drawing to a close by the looks of it. I think the personal injury stuff will drag on for a while yet - as far as I can tell they don't decide how much they are giving you until you are better and that could be a few months yet.

On the Chicken Pox front DS1 seems to have been very lucky and has gotten away with a fairly mild dose. He's all scabbed over and doesn't seem to even be itchy (mind he is in a foul temper with it all so I know he's not 100%) so he'll be back at playgroup on Monday. Bean has a streaming nose at the moment and is generally a bit punk looking so I suspect he'll be next. Still at least then it will be out of the way and fingers crossed I won't have to deal with it again.

On the knitting front I have been doing some but holidays are never a great time for me to get alot done. DH needs far too much attention (LOL) and so I tend to find myself helping him or for this week at least just following him about giving moral support. Still he's away with the school on Monday and Tuesday so I'll have two evenings of uninterrupted knitting and my own choice of TV. I'm kind of looking forward to it :)

Rules:
The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1. Ten years ago - Erm nothing much really, 1998 doesn't stand out as a particularly exciting year would have been just working and decorating the house.

2. Five things on today's "to do" list (in no particular order) - I'm going to cheat a little here being as I'm at the end of my day. Jobs for today included helping DH cut down the hedge by the drive, buying oatmeal and calamine cream for DS1, washing up, hoovering and planting up my baskets and the planter by the front door.

3. Snacks I enjoy - So that will be chocolate, chocolate and chocolate. Oh and sometimes crisps and biscuits and cake (chocolate biscuits and chocolate cake obviously)

4. Things I would do if I was a millionaire - Employ someone to clean my house so I can spend more time knitting! Buy and do up a really big old cottage by the sea and then invite everyone to visit :) Plant up a huge garden with loads of nooks and crannies and paths and hidden bits.

5. Places I have lived - Leicester (twice), Lutterworth, South Wigston and Hinckley


And now for some people to tag

Sarah
Wilma and Herbert (hope you don't mind :) )
Anne

and...well thats it I really don't know that many people to tag so 3 will have to do.

Well so far so good

Bussy (our car) was collected yesterday morning and has gone off to be assessed and then repaired. The woman at the garage did try to suggest that I took the car in but I pointed out that the insurance had said that they would collect and deliver. She disappeared for a moment and then came back and said fine when were we in ;)

Enterprise have been brilliant, they chased up the insurance to confirm our "like for like" car so we could have something of a decent size and then picked DH up yesterday evening so he could go fetch the replacement car. I could have gone earlier but opted not to with both the boys at home and a neck that still doesn't turn quite right.

So now we have one of these sitting on the drive - an automatic too!!! It is huge, absolutly enormous. Its going to be like driving a small house. Nice though. It is an 08 plate and an executive model - probably the poshest car I will ever drive, assuming I never win the lottery. It has all the mod cons as well, sat nav, dvd player, parking sensors.

Thankfully come Tuesday morning they will probably get some nice ordinary Zafira's back from hire so I can change to something more managable. Amazing as the Voyager is I can't see how I am going to be able to park it anywhere we go, though the sliding back doors will help. ;)

My neck is still sore, not helped by having to collect DD from school early cos of her "poorly tummy" Bless Her, I wasn't best pleased by her timing as I'd just got myself a mug of coffee having putting Bean down for a sleep. Still it was lovely to see her and DS1 playing the Bill and Ben game on the computer.

And speaking of DS1..........He has chicken pox - finaly. It doesn't seem to be a bad case and with any luck he'll be all scabbed over before he needs to go back to playgroup after half term. Just waiting for Bean to get it now.

What is it about Wednesdays?

Do they not like me or something?

Having spent most of last Wednesday afternoon in A&E with DS1 I got to go again yesterday, this time for me.

It goes like this................

After not being able to take the boys to Grandma's last week cos of DS1's foot I planned to take them yesterday. So there we all were waiting at the traffic lights just before Blaby when there was a loud bang and we are all rattling around in the car! Although I was waiting for the car in front of me to pull of the lady behind me didn't wait for me.

We have been very lucky, aside from some rather uncomfortable whiplash for me (hence my visit to A&E) no one was injured. I had my handbreak on still and the car behind had been queued so she wasn't doing any speed. I must thank the little old lady who'd been struggling with her handbreak at everyset of lights for my good fortune. If she had been pulling off as soon as the lights changed I would not have still had my handbreak on. As it was I knew she would be slow so I wasn't rushing either.

We did the details exchange bit and then I went onto my mums to make the relevant calls and have a much needed mug of tea. Mum had a lovely "present" waiting for me too so that cheered me up.

And now I am just working through all the phone calls to get everything sorted out with repairs, replacement cars and car seats etc, oh how I hate choosing car seats for the kids.

So far though the insurance people (Tesco) have been brilliant. Everything is clearly explained and they have been really patient with me on the phone and I have never once (4 calls now as I keep thinking of other things to ask) felt rushed or that the agent had no idea what they should be telling me. The claim went through at 6:30 last night and at 8:00 am this morning the car people were on the phone to sort out the replacement car. Just need to ring them back. The repair people also left a message while I was out so I can get the car booked in with them this afternoon with any luck. Plus I am assured they will collect and return the car so that saves a trip into Leicester.

So I have an afternoon of phone calls ahead of me but hopefully nothing to stressfull and I need to do my weekly shop online which will please DS1 as he had asked me to do an online shop last week, he loves it when the Tesco man comes ;)

To be fair to Wednesdays though I did have a lovely morning, I went with a couple of friends to the local cannel for a walk and a visit to the tea shop. It was beautifully sunny and we had a fab time, maybe its just the afternoons that don't like me ;)

Hmmm....

Well this hasn't been the best of weeks I have to say.

I've had a horrid cold which has had me floored by half six every night which isn't a great thing when that leaves at least an hour and half of work to go so I've been pretty miserable to say the least. Plus work isn't that much fun at the moment either, roll on the end of term is all I can say!

Added to this Bean has decided that waking up for a feed every two hours is now the done thing. I am so tired. We have planned to night wean him at half term already so only a week till we try that. The plan there being that I can then leave him at home with Daddy and DD and DS1 while I escape to Woolfest. And how excited am I about that! VERY, I am so looking forward to a couple of days away and all that wool. I'm already planing what to buy and what to pack etc.

And of course this was the week that DS1 decided to introduce himself to A&E. He somehow "bent" his foot and was in complete agony. Poor thing, when he realised it mean't he couldn't go to Grandma's he tried to tell me it was all better but he could barely walk on it so off we went to A&E. He wasn't keen on the experience to say the least but the x-rays came back clear and after a couple of days rest he seems to be fine again. Unforunatly we left his puppy dog at A&E and so far no one has handed it in. Rather anoying to be honest as its obviously a well loved creature. Still DS1 has been very brave about it all and I will be much more careful in future.

On a better note DS1's apt for the Dietitian has come through. It's well organised so far in that they wrote and asked me to call and make an apt to suit me so we have one booked for half term which means that DH can have DD and Bean and I will be able to concentrate fully on DS1.

It's going to be a busy half term as we have alot of work to get done in the garden, we have a skip booked for all the junk and I would like to fit in a family day out and a meet up with friends or two depending on what other people are doing.

On the knitting front I am at the heel of my Enchanted sock and am loving the way it is knitting up. I even managed the pattern (so far) without messing it up.

I'm about the graft the toe of my roll top socks though I think these will take a bit of a back seat while I finish the Enchanted socks.

And I'm also being good and getting some more of my face cloths finished. I did a simple moss stitch cloth during the week and am part way a second which I think just leaves me one to go which I may try to get finished during May so then they are all done and I will just need to get the soaps for them. It will be nice not to be rushing to finish at the last minute.

What to say?

Well what to say indeed! I can't believe how longs it has been since I posted last. I guess I have been busy but I have to confess that I have also been holw dwelling in a funny king of way. And even now I am sitting here struggling to write anything.


Its not that nothing has been going on, acctualy lots has its just that I seem to be having problems getting the words from me head to the screen. It's also not that easy to find blogging time without toddler help!



We have been going through some big changes with DS1 recently. He got very ill around Easter with repeated bouts of sickness. When we eventually decided that it wasn't going to clear up on its own we carted him off to the docs who talked to me about his current problems and past history and then recommended a lactose free diet. Not a massive suprise I have to admit but not the dignosis I had been hoping for. Anyhow the lactose free diet has worked wonders. I can't believe just how ill he had been, my poor baby. We traced the really ill stuff back to January but the underlying symptomns have been there for alot longer.

So having completed out trial diet we are now waiting for a dietician apt and possibly we will have a pediactric referal as well depending on what the dietician thinks. One of DS1 playgroup friends is also lactose intolerant and her mum has been brilliant. I met her by chance when I was stood contemplating the free from shelves in the supermarket and she gave me loads of help with what was nice and what he could eat in normal food and the like.



Other than constantly thinking about food we have been doing normal family things like schools and playgroup and tots (thank goodness for tots it really is a life saver some weeks) and work all of which takes up most of me life and isn't really that interesting to write about. ;) I am however enjoying lafe at the moment despite my inclination to curl up on my own for much of the time. Still I have been going out still and getting stuff done round the house and have even had a friend over for lunch one day which was lovely.



Knitting wise I finished my April socks in good time and even managed to blog them well before the month end deadline.



the May socks are well underway



My usual cloth knitting has been going on as well, I will post those to Ravelry eventually for anyone who really wants to see them.



There is one to post here though



This one was done in super quick time for friends of ours who have just moved as part of their Housewarming gift.



Also on the needles (though no pics yet) are a pair of very small newborn socks for a friend from tots who had her baby girl on Monday morning. Baby Abigail has a blockage somewhere in her digestive system and has already had one operation to try to correct it. It's a bit of a waiting game at the moment as food still isn't going through as fast as they would like so she is needing a little more help to get along than was hoped but the outlook is good. She is often in my thoughts and obviously has brought to the surface (more than ever) thoughts about another of my friends and her loss last year. So if you read this my love know that though I am useless at the MSN thing I think of you lots and send you many virtual hugs, I am always here if you want to talk or just need someone to sit with for a while. Go easy on yourself.