Letting go

Over the past, oh I don't know, my eldest son has been a major cause of worry in my life. He is studying for a Diploma in Uniformed Services - a course which gears young people up to a career in one of the public or armed forces.

This picture was taken today at 7am. He was going off on a Survival Course somewhere (location was kept a secret just in case anxious parents travelled to rescue them I suppose!). He was not allowed a tent - 'no mum, you have to survive - make your own shelter'. My son cannot (will not?) even make his own bed, how on earth is he going to provide shelter for himself?

As I sit and write this, we are being lashed by the worst weather this country has seen for 30 years apparently. Terrible gales and rain. He will not be able to light a fire - no hot food or drink for him for the next 3 days. He will be cold and wet and freezing. Oh I am so worried - problems aside, he is my son and I love him.

This morning he sent me a text - before his mobile had to be handed in - saying simply 'It's going to be awesome, I can't wait'.

It's very difficult being a parent. It's even more difficult realising that your children no longer rely on you, no longer need you. My role in life has changed.

Hurry home son, I miss you!

Looking on the Bright Side

I have had a really lousy week. It has been The Week From Hell. I will not go into all the details.

On Wednesday morning while I was out with Harvey, the sunrise was so beautiful, it took my breath away. Harvey was particularly bright eyed and bouncy and for once he stayed fairly close to me and did not run away chasing rabbits or foxes.

When I went to school, all the children were being lovely. My teacher, knowing I was not feeling great was so supportive and kind. She gave me things to do which she knows I love. The children made me laugh, they rehearsed their pantomime and tried really hard.

A friend brought me round a lovely bouquet of flowers, which of course made me cry.

I am not one to wallow in self-pity, neither am I one to suffer with depression, thank God. So I started thinking. Maybe my week hasn't really been so bad after all. Yes some pretty horrible things have happened, but so have lots of good things. I have a nice home. I have food to put on my plate. I have warm, clean clothes to wear. I have people who I love and who love me back. I have a crazy loyal dog whose only aim in life is to play ball. I am one of the lucky ones.

I remember reading once 'All things will pass'. They will. Life goes on. I will try hard to be the optimistic person I usually am.

I will get up at 6am on a Sunday to do the ironing and think 'yey, it's cheap electricity, good old me!'. I will walk the dog in the wind and rain and think 'yey, my wellies and hand-knitted socks are keeping me warm'. I will eat the last Crunchie that's in the cupboard, rather than munching on Bran Flakes for breakfast and think 'yey, I'm not going to wait until Friday to eat a crunchie'

In amongst this week of optimism, I have made a cake. Want to see it?

Happy Birthday Shannon.

The Return of Saturday Pudding!

Well I have to say, I was thrilled by the response! I didn't realise any of you would still be interested in hearing about my mundane life. So thank-you all, I was smiling all day!

Well, what's been happening lately? Um, not a lot really. Well, not a lot that you would want to hear about. My life lately has revolved around the joys of having a 17 yr old son. It can be summed up in one word. Scary. No, 2 words. Bloody scary. If you have had a 17 yr old son, I'm sure you will understand.

I have of course been knitting like crazy - onto hexipuff number 153 now. I'm also making Fingerless mittens for Christmas presents, have a shawl on the go, a fab jumper, loads of socks, another shawl and a wrap... to name but a few. When will I ever learn? Startitis continues to be a problem.

Anyone fancy a bit of Saturday Pudding? We have tiffin and caramel shortbread. If you do want some, better get round here quickly, 17 yr old boys are always hungry!

Is there anybody there?

I have been gone for a very long time and am wondering whether anyone is still out there.

Cooeee. You there?

I'm toying with the idea of resurrecting the much neglected blog - anyone still interested? I tend to live on Ravelry now, but might dip my toes back into Blogland now and again.

That's all for tonight, but just because I never did like a post without pictures, here's a couple of things I've been up to in the last, um 7 months...

The Beekeepers Quilt - an ongoing project, need about 600ish hexagons for the size I'd like.

And look what just flew off the needles at the weekend, finally!

More progress...

We've just been away to Welsh Wales for a few days - which apart from the beautiful scenery, means plenty of knitting time for me. Turns out though that I haven't really got much to show you. I managed to get a few more inches of Carica done (congratulations to anyone who can remember that far back!). I seem to have slipped up with this though. I started it exactly as the pattern said, but it was huge - bigger than huge infact. It would have fitted a baby elephant. So very sensibly I decided to go down a size and drop a needle size. On reflection it seems that one or the other would have been a more sensible option. Still, it will be good when I lose weight... and shrink a bit height wise too!

Here is my latest dog-walking sock. Despite the absence of the dog on holiday (he stayed at home with my mum and dad). It's the first of Snape's Stockings, designed by the same person who did Hermione's Everyday Sock. I was hoping to love it as much as Hermione's. I do not. I'm not terribly keen on the yarn either (when will I ever learn to just stick with Posh?) it's Tosh Sock and actually feels a bit nylony even though it's pure merino. Very loosely plied too so ends up being a bit splitty. Still, never mind, it's keeping me entertained while I'm out with the hound.


But here is another sock, another story altogether. Tug boat socks. It's mostly Posh with little bits of an unknown alpaca in. I love this sock. I love everything about this sock. The fish, the waves, the boat, the red bit at the top, and the heel... oh the heel! This is my most favourite heel ever in the history of heels! And even though I only cast it off a couple of days ago, I have already started on number 2. Something of a record for me! No second sock syndrome here. Love it loads (thank-you so much Trashy for pointing me in the right direction for this one!)

My queue on ravelry is gettting a bit long once again - I have 46 pairs of socks on it that I really want to do! So I'd better get on and do a spot of knitting don't you think?

Progress and pudding

Progress on the tug boat socks has been slow, but oh my goodness, I am so loving these socks. Look at that heel - I love that heel so much! I want to do all my heels like that from now on. I won't because it took ages, but I'd like to!

The second Dog-Walking Hermione sock was finished. I will go back to that pattern time and again. It was a delight to knit - so easy and so effective. Anyone else done one? I have started on a second pattern by the same designer - Erica Leuder - Snape's Stockings in an incredibly acidic green Tosh Sock. I'm only on the rib so far and while the yarn is OK, it hasn't had the same impact that Posh Martha has. Love Posh Martha. Really really love her. Though not in a lesbian kind of way (wasn't it Bridget Jones who said that?) (one of my literary heroines!)

Here was the Mother's Day pudding. Chocolate mousse cake heavily laced with Baileys and decorated with Cadbury's Caramel button things, white chocolate and strawberries just to be healthy! Yum, yum and yum again! Would you like some? Well sorry, but you're too late. We ate it all!