Jacket Ta-Dah.

Hello again.

Look at my jacket!

I am soooo pleased with it.

I can honestly say I've enjoyed every stitch.

I like it fastened on the empire line, I think it looks better for my body shape.

I suppose if it's really cold I'll do it at the top.

I am pleased that my friend Romain persuaded me to go for the grey yarn, there was a lovely brambly purple and a lime green, but I think upon reflection she was right, grey goes with more.

I've worn it lots already and don't feel swamped in it, so the job's a good 'un.

After finishing that, I got my friendship squares done for this month, these are in Rowan Silk Wool, a lovely yarn to work with. 

If any of you read Northern Monkey's blog, you'll know that she announced she would not be Christmas Knitting this year.

I boldly declared Me Neither!  but whilst having a bit of a stash dive on Friday I came across these (newly acquired) balls of Rowan Wool Cotton from Romain.  

A lovely palate of colours with a ball of each.  

What to do with them?

 An idea suddenly sprung into mind.  A crochet scarf, but for whom? 

 I've got so many scarves already and do I really need another?

Ah-hah I'll give to my (new) teacher for Christmas.  And there it was.  I slipped into Christmas Knitting (crochet) without even realising.   I am loving the colours, the plum really gives the scarf depth. 

Yummy yummy.

And the best bit?

There will be enough yarn left for another scarf.

Just as well, because I was thinking I wouldn't be able to give it up.

A girl can never have too many scarves ...........

I've a few more rows to go on this one yet.

I read with much amusement today The Really Big Dream Blog.  I have mentioned J and M in the past they run this fabulous gite Les Cerisiers in Burgundy France.  J has taken up knitting and has the bug for sure, I know this because she has written " I couldn't put my knitting down and took it to friends houses, on a plane ride to the UK, to visit relatives and even to bed with me!"  I left her a comment which read "Welcome to my world."  I'm tickled pink that she's fallen hook, line and sinker.

Talking of pink, look what the postie brought me.  A lovely new pair of  (half price) ~Crocs from Rubbersole.  My old pair were 6 years old and have no grip left, so it was about time.  I know they are a Marmite thing, and I love them.  I wear them around the house everyday and they're great for going into the sea with, to ensure you don't step on any seaweed, crabs or other pointy things.  

I hope you have a good week and better weather than us last week, being 'on the top' of the Cotswolds meant we were shrouded in fog and didn't see much sky at all.  It all gets a bit depressing.

Right, a few more rows on the scarf and it's done, maybe I'll start another too......

Have fun,

Bye for now..................Clicky Needles.

DD's trip to Ethiopia

Hello there!

I've got some of DDs pictures from Ethiopia.  She arrived back very tired and a little shell shocked, but I'm pleased to report she's all ok now.

The group she went with were teaching best practice in midwifery to midwives and doctors at Awassa hospital.  They will then cascade their new found knowledge down to others.  Those little hats I made went down an storm and I will continue to make them for next year's trip.

She took part in the training sessions, witnessed an operation (!), saw some hippos on Lake Awassa, had a ride in a Tuk-tuk and explored the local region.

Some of the sights:

A market near the lake.

 Weaver bird nest in the hospital grounds.

 Sunset at Haile Gebrselassie's hotel.

Awassa Hospital.

Fishermen on the lake gutting fish.

Storks waiting for some fishy bits.

The fish, Tilapia, being cooked.

Tuk-tuk in the rain.

 A local street.

 She was so tired on the flight home, she couldn't be awoken to eat!  As I said before the weather was hot and humid and the bus journey from and to the airport bumpy and uncomfortable but she was so lucky to be given this opportunity and I'm so pleased she went.

Right, tomorrow's post will be woolier, I've finished my Woolfish Jacket.  Waaaaayyyyy!!!!!!

See you then..............Clicky Needles.

She's fine!

Hi there!

Thanks for your comments on DD's trip, we've had a very brief Facebook chat with her and all is going well.  She's missing her boyfriend (not family!!!!!) and has had been into the hospital at Awassa to see lots of different aspects of childbirth and babies.

The weather is hot and humid and she's eating fish and bread and not much else!

Anyhoo back to other things.

I met with Tickety-Boo at the Lavender Bakehouse over half term and she gave me my giveaway prize.

When the candle is lit it gives off lovely diffused light.

Thank you Tickety-Boo, it's great!

Of course I sampled something with my cup of tea, it would have been rude not to.  This meringue was yummy and huge!

On the home baking front, I made this chocolate roulade on Saturday ~ heaven!

I got my friendship squares off........

 and received these ones. 

Jacket progress was halted for a bit, with making all those little hats but I'm now back full steam ahead and I'm just on the collar ~ the last of knitting.  

Just the making up now.  I'm getting very excited and the thought of wearing it!  

Sad?  Maybe.

Ho Hum.

Bye for now........................Clicky Needles.

DD is Away.

Hello.

Yes, we got DD packed and on her way on her trip.

She's gone to Ethiopia along with the Southern Ethiopia Gwent Healthcare Link with a group of medics including my SIL and a reporter from the South Wales Argus, Martin Wade.    You can follow his twitter here if you want.

She had to have quite a few jabs ~ Yellow Fever, Typhoid and Hepatitis A + B x 3, which is not her favourite thing.    Hopefully this will be an interesting and life enhancing experience for her.  She was a bit worried.

Last Saturday evening I got a phone call from SIL asking if I could make some baby hats they could take with them.  These are for normal birthweight babies but they still need hats to keep warm.  The hats are taken into the villages and used when necessary.

I dusted off some dpns and completed the pink hat on the bottom right with some Sirdar Crofter.  I was very pleased with the result, but as it took about 3 1/2 hours to make I knew I needed a heaver weight yarn.  I then dug out some Aran and found I could make a hat in about 1 1/2 hours ~ much better!

I managed 10 in the end and I'll keep on making them through the year and either post some out to Ethiopia or they can go with next year's trip.

Reading Martin Wade's twitter, it's taken them 6 hours by bus to get from Addis Ababa to Awassa where they're staying, dodging donkeys and horse carts and they've been greeted by thunder storms.

She'll be well looked after by SIL but at 16 it'll be a big adventure so let's hope she's ok.


Whilst I'm here I would like to extend my sympathy to anyone affected by the horrific crash on the motorway in Somerset yesterday.  The pictures tell it all.

Righto, I'll be back tomorrow for a normal(ish) post.

Bye for now.................Clicky Needles.

October Mosaic

October Mosaic.

Hope you like it!

Normal Service Resumed

Hello all!

In case you've been wondering where I've been, the answer is nowhere.

Our router decided it didn't fancy working anymore so we've been without internet.

All is back to normal now thank goodness.  The amount of times I've thought this week, "I'll just check that on Ravelry.................."  

We're getting DD packed up for a trip today so I'll fill you in tomorrow.

Bye for now.................Clicky Needles.

Woot! Half Term

Hello all.

Time the have a bit of chill and relax, half term has arrived.

The freezing temperatures didn't turn out to be as bad as the rumours were saying (where do they start?) although some mornings this week have been crisp.

As I got in the car to go to work one day this week I looked up and saw this beautiful sky.

That doesn't mean to say it's not got cold in the evenings so I gave the woodburner a jolly good clean.  I didn't do the fire surround however as you can see, it's made from Cotswold Limestone and does tend to discolour from the soot.

A job for this week I think.

Mr Clicky Needles was surprised when he got up on Saturday morning to find it already lit.

 "Hum, you've lit the fire," he said.

"Yep," I replied, "I'm going to settle myself in and watch the rugby."

"You'll need to be hunkered down," he answered with a grin, "It's tomorrow."

I did consider staying there for a whole day but no....................

So, anyway I was back in the same position on Sunday to watch New Zealand beat France 8 -7.  A hard fought match worthy of a final.  Well done New Zealand hard luck France.

Of course watching rugby means lots of chance to knit.  I've finished the back, one front and started a sleeve of my jacket.  The cone is now a lot smaller! 

I've had a little break from the jacket however, because I've a square for the friendship blanket to get done before the month's end.  Hopefully it'll done by the end of the day and I can get it off.

Righto.  I'm off to put some washing out, which if I can get to stay on the line and not get blown all over the garden, I think will dry fairly quickly.

Have a fun week.............Clicky Needles.