Saturday 19 December 2009

Thanks Mumsie!

Last week, Mumsie was kind enough to give me £20 in my Birthday card.

Today I happened to find myself in the Pavillions shopping centre in Uxbridge, where I came across two bookshops. This is how I spent 20 quid:

Stitch & Style Mittens: 20 Fashion Knit & Crochet Patterns - £4.00
Stitch & Style Socks: 20 Fashion Knit & Crochet Patterns - £4.00
Knit Mittens!: 15 Cool Patterns to Keep You Warm by Robin Hansen - £1.99
Knit Hats!: 15 Cool Patterns to Keep You Warm by Gwen Steege - £1.99
Never Knit Your Man a Sweater (unless you've got the ring): 22 Handsome Projects for Every Level of Commitment by Judith Durant - £2.99
Hooked On Crochet:20 Sassy Projects by Candi Jensen - £2.99

Total spend: £17.96 (or so, plus change) It's still less than £20, and total bargains to boot.

Thanks so much, Mumsie! Happy Birthday to me!!!!!

Monday 7 December 2009

A Tearful Goodbye...



Saturday was not good. It was with a heavy heart that I trudged around my local Borders bookshop, as they have started their closing down sale this week, the British stores having gone into receivership, and are closing down across the country. There wasn't much in the way of rich pickings, as the books I was interested in were only reduced by 20%, and there wasn't that much in the way of choice. As they near their closing date - which has not been announced yet - maybe the prices will come down a bit more. Another bolt hole gone (Boo-hoo). I wonder where their Knitting Group will meet now?

Even sadder, I had entered their photography competion, hoping to win an adventure holiday, or at least a new digital camera.

The picture above was the one I entered - not of me, but of a lovely couple I met in Madrid, who run this beautiful family business in Madrid. They didn't speak a word of English, nor I of Spanish, but they were so lovely to me, and the yarn was so beautiful and "fondlesome", I couldn't resist dropping a chunk of change there.

I could have won, or at least "I could have been a contender". We'll never know now.

Bye bye, Borders. I'll miss you.

Tuesday 1 December 2009

Pinch, Punch, First of the Month (No Return)!

The first of December is always seen as the start of the run-up to Christmas. Not for me. My birthday is in twelve days' time, so I refuse to get involved with the great holiday season until I've had My Day.

My day for cake. My day for presents. My day for sitting in a bubble bath with a glass of Champagne, and then lazily getting ready for a posh dinner with Studley.

However, Studley has informed me he will be away on that day, and so I shall be alone. Bum.

What to do?

The thought of sitting alone at home on a Saturday night with just my knitting and a glass (or two) of Chardonnay for company is not my idea of a birthday celebration.

Studley suggests I should bring forward the annual Hand Wash Dry Flat staff dinner, which is held every year at a posh restaurant (dress code: smart-casual). He has always thought it a strange affair, since I am the only employee at Hand Wash Towers, but I have always believed that even if you are self-employed, that is no reason to exclude yourself from a darn good night out.

Saturday 28 November 2009

Not Another Knitting Blog!

Well, yes. I'll try to make it interesting.

I've also joined Ravelry, even though I refused for months and months, much to the frustration of my knitting group. So you can find me there as well under the same name, but without the gaps, obviously.

So, what's the point?

I need focus. With well over 100 knitting books, and so much yarn I had to throw out clothes to make room for it all, I realise that I need to knit faster, and I need motivation to do it. We'll see if it works.

Of course it won't all be about knitting, I do have other interests as well, like, cake, and stuff. Bear with me, I am new at this after all.