Needles and Lies

I didn't spend all my time stuffing my face over Xmas I did actually spend a few lovely hours knitting away.  The cardigan I was going to abandon last year because I thought I would never finish has been resurrected and I have finished the back.......yes the whole flipping back woohoo!  I am using alpaca wool which feels fabulous and I can't wait to finish the cardi, it will be lovely, warm and soft.  It seems I have the knitting bug again, so much so that I ordered a new book on Fair Isle knitting  I have been lusting over some beautiful Fair Isle knits that have been shared on various blogs and thought I would like to give it a go.  I really need to finish some of the umpteen other projects I have on the go before I start another though!


Strange how the photos have come out totally different colours, the top one is probably nearer to the true colour.

I have also started joining my granny squares together.  I had to guess at some of it, I'm not sure if it was me or the instructions but I found it all a bit confusing, however I'm really pleased with the progress on my first every granny square blanket.  Thank you to Jennifer over at thistlebear for hosting the Winter Project Link Party, it has inspired me to have a go and keep at it.

Now to my rather random title.  I made the time and effort to look at a house today, in the photos it looked perfect, a house surrounded by fields.  I rang the estate agents who said there was another house nearby but you would not know it was there.  What did I find when I got there?  The owners had built another huge house right beside it, and I mean literally a few feet away.  They will be building a high wall between the properties says the estate agent hopefully, so you wouldn't see the house.  Why would I want to move to the country to have a huge wall right beside my house, I might as well stay where I am, and it wouldn't block out the noise.  I was so disappointed and really miffed to have been misled, a complete waste of my time.  Apart from the on-line estate agent I used to sell my house, I'm afraid the rest never fail to disappoint and annoy and sometimes downright lie.

As some of you know I have suffered from insomnia on and off all my life, for the last 6 years it has been a constant problem.  The doctor offered to refer me to a sleep clinic, I'm really not sure whether to take up the offer.  I find the idea of being wired up and watched while I sleep scary.  Have any of you been to one?  Any advice would be gratefully received.

Chickpea xx

The Start of Something Big

Inspired by all you talented crocheters I have picked up a crochet hook after many years and started a new project.  This is the first of 164 circles!!  It may take me a few years.  The colour is actually nicer than is looks here, it is going to be a blanket.  It will probably be ready for when I am sat in a rocker in my old age :)  I keep making mistakes, yes there is a mistake in this one, I sadly lack concentration when it comes to following patterns and counting things.  Watch this space for updates.

It has been typical Bank Holiday weather here with heavy showers, so instead of a nice trip out we headed into town and I bought waterproof walking gear in the sale.  I bought some waterproof  trousers which look ridiculous but I must be getting more sensible in my old age.  Gone are the days when I use to go out on my motorbike, get completely soaked and think nothing of it.  My old bones wouldn't cope with hanging around in wet jeans for hours now.

I am planning to get out walking more to try to get my fitness levels back and lose the weight gained through months of inactivity.  I don't seem to be able to walk far without pain lately so hopefully all that will be fixed soon :)  I have also been catching up with the dreaded housework this weekend.  It is very tempting to leave it until next week and then get OH to do it as I can't possibly lift a hoover or iron, but that would be a bit mean.......wouldn't it?

Thank you for your lovely comments on my last post.  There has been a few horrible comments on the local news sites about the Pride Parade.  The usual hateful homophobic name calling from the usual trolls hiding behind their computer screens.  I have reported them and the comments have been removed, no doubt they will be trolling about something else tomorrow.  But there may well be young people out there who read them, and will be too afraid to 'come out' for fear of this bullying, hateful behaviour.  There is still a long way to go and I can't help but worry about my son and his friends who risk being attacked for who they are.

Well not much else to say really, back to work tomorrow so the sun will probably return.


Chickpea xx