Hee hee hee!

This came in an email last week. I guess it's only funny if you know what a 'Rich Tea' is!! Rich Tea - Richie, geddit?

The Screen Room

Last night we had a lovely evening with my work colleagues. Sylwia was leaving to go and work in Aberdeen, so one of the girls booked The Screen Room in Nottingham. It has to be one of Nottingham's gems. Apparently, it is the UK's smallest cinema, with 21 seats. Its a bizarre place, small, and it smells musty, but it was ace. Nice and cozy. In big cinemas I always get cold - too much air conditioning! You can hire the whole thing and they show whatever you want. Vic chose One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, as she managed to get out of Sylwia that she really wanted to see it. James and I saw it in the West End with Christian Slater and McKenzie Crook, but I'd forgotten exactly what happens. Sad, but good. A thin line between crazy and normal.

Speaking of gems of Nottingham, I found the Oxfam bookshop last weekend, and I'm thrilled! I can't believe I never found it before! It is a gorgeous shop, huge and airy with wooden floorboards and a chesterfield sofa. Just how bookshops should be (there's never anywhere to sit in Waterstone's!). They have books (including such titles as 'Reinforced Concrete'), videos, a few clothes, CDs and even fairtrade food. Awesome. I found a great pressie for James' birthday. I have a sneaking suspision he reads my blog, so I'll tell you about it later... I also bought a brand new hardback Jodi Picoult novel for Karen, for £2.99. Brill.

Since this post has turned into one singing Nott's praises, here are some photos. This is the sky this morning (ignore the towerblocks!) at about 7.30. In the far distance, on the centre right is the castle - important if you're a fan of Robin Hood, but there are also some great exhibitions.

And here are the autumnal colours on campus yesterday. My colleagues thought I was mad.....

Avrienne, I hope this is nostalgic for you and hubby!!

Kitties

I have a lack of anything to post at the moment, so here are some pictures of the kitties. I'm making an effort to take better photos for you all, and I think these are nice. Good natural lighting and stuff.

I feel a bit sorry for Daphne, she's quite needy of her sister, who's just bonkers. Daphne was doing a nice job of cleaning out the inside of Velma's ears the other night. She then lay in front of her Velma, ear first as if to say, 'my turn now'. Velma just got up and walked off. All that revolting effort, for nothing! Poor Daphne!

They're very chatty at the moment too. They don't stop mewl-ing! They have been doing a very good job of keeping me company this week, whilst J has been away. He's on a course for work ths week (otherwise known as a great-exuse-for-a-piss-up!). I made the mistake of watching an ITV drama called 'Bon Voyage' on Tuesday night and it frightened the living daylights out of me! It was about this freaky guy in a caravan who kidnapped children. At least I had two thirteen week old cats to protect me. Did I watch part two last night? No I did not.

My mum went to Italy and all I got was.......

.......some yummy boucle yarn from Filatura di Crosa! How nice it is to have something we don't get here, and in gorgeous autumnal colours. Thanks Mum.

There is enough for a lovely hat to keep my head warm on the impending visit to NY. On small needles I'm hoping it will be nice and warm and squoshy.

Speaking of heads, yesterday, a crow dropped a conker on my head. It really hurt. I wasn't anywhere near a tree, I was washing horse dribble off my hands at the yard tap. You can imagine my shock to be bashed over the head with a conker from a great height! Owww...

Little-Icarus

I've finished my version of Icarus, to be known as Little-Icarus.

Pattern : Icarus Shawl by Miriam Felton. Interweave Knits, Summer 2006

Yarn: RYC Cashcotton DK in Apple, 4 balls

Started: Monday 9th October

Completed: Monday 16th October

Satisfaction Level: Mega!

(Thanks go to Karen for the fab photography!)

I am so so pleased with this! I have always loved lacy shawl patterns like this, but never have the patience to knit them in the recommended yarn! So, I've scaled this pattern down, and used a DK weight yarn. If you are interested in doing the same, then I followed the pattern, but instead of repeating the main body of the shawl 5 times, I only did it once. I'm wearing it today, and it feels lovely wrapped around my neck, but without the 'ends' that give a big lump under your jacket! An alternative to a traditional, 'long as you are tall' scarf. I really enjoyed knitting it, I couldn't put it down. The pattern was totally straightforward, even for soemone who doesn't do a lot of lace. I'll do it again, maybe in something shiny, and definately won't shy away from this type of pattern again. Although I must learn not to be such a lazy blocker........

New look blog

So whadya reckon.....

I apologise if it looks a bit topsy turvy in the forthcoming weeks. I'm trying to get to grips with HTML (I don't even know what it stands for!) and make it look a bit more interesting and unique. The website that helped me changed the colours (colour schemer) reminded me of these.

When I was little I used to go with dad to the paint shop and watch the paint mixer spinning around. I was clearly an odd child. I also loved these little cards. I used to come out with handfuls. And picking these up on Tuesday, still has the same effect. How sad is that!? These were my suggestions for the front door. Although I asked my architect dad what colour Victorian front foors would originally have been painted in a street like ours. Apparently, unpainted. Unless you had extra dosh and you may have afforded brown or neutral coloured paint. So not green then. And apparently definately not blue. Blue pigments were impossible to make then. Interesting huh? Well Ok, maybe not.

Kitty Cam

So, I'm joining in Knitty's Blog Stalking game. I'm just warming up - so bare with me on this one (I think I mean 'bear', don't I?!). Our house has very little furniture in the living room (hence why small kittens are relegated in there - less to pee on!). But the most exciting game is jump in and out (and in and out and in and out) of a carboard box. Believe, me HOURS of fun.

And this, this is a Kitty Theme Park equivalent. They race at a million miles an hour up the stairs then launch themselves off the top stair. Again, hours of fun. You'd think they'd need a nap after that. I wish.

Because I had to have another WIP.

Honestly, I did. I really needed more knitting. To distract me from James' socks and mum's cardy. Both not yet half knit and with a deadline of November 10th! Yeah right I needed another WIP. But I just couldn't help it. Inspired by brooklyntweed's beautiful site and beautiful knitting I cast on for IK's Icarus shawl (fall 05?). Because it's DK (the RYC I bought last week) and not lace weight I'm going to size it down. Hopefully this pattern should make good christmas scarves for a few select people!

However, since I forgot to put it away this morning, it maybe a big chewed kitten-spit mess when I get home...

Velma and Daphne

So we've decided to call the kittens Velma and Daphne. Velma for the tortie because she's the clever one and Daphne for the tabby beacuse she's the pretty (prettier!) one! It was suggested on Knitty to call them Thelma and Louise. We loved that, but I don't think Louise is a cat name, albeit a lovely person name. So, from that we came up with Velma and Daphne. All we need now is a puppy to call Scooby (er, or not, two kitties is enough!) Here they are, playing with a sleeping James' feet. Don't they look tiny next to him!

Anyway, I had a great trip Hobbycraft last night. I managed to pick up four balls of RYC cashcotton at 30% off, three in a lovely leafy green and one in a kind of lilac. They're going to at least be some mittens. So soft! This pic doesn't do the colours justice, the colours are a lot less acidic. Hobbycraft has a new range of novelty yarns, which usually I wouldn't be a big fan of, but they had some great colours and interesting textures. I didn't buy any but I did also get some handmade paper and a sheet of card printed with buttons all over. I was feeling crafty yesterday.

As for feeling craft, I wanted to show you this, some beautiful fabric by a company called Hoffman. It is from their Kimono range. I love it. I wish I could buy a whole bolt and have it all around the house! The waves are actually quite small, and it's more subtle than it looks here.

I have a tiny remnant, (I lined Karen's christmas bag with it last year) that I want to do something special with. Any ideas? Anyone know a sewing knitty equivalent? They also do it in gold and cream colourways. I'm going to get three Fat Quarters, one of each, from an eBay seller I've found and cover some small wooden frames and hang them on the wall. You know, as 'art'. :0) Then I can look at this fabric all the time!

Ramble ramble ramble...

Well, the cats have 'flu. Boo. It doesn't seem to be affecting them, but it's the cause of their cloudy eyes. Our friend/neighbour/vet Laura didn't seem overly concerned. In fact, by the way she was talking it was as if it's not unusual. She did say that they would always be prone to runny eyes and stuff. They seem happy and are still bouncing about so I'm not going to worry too much. I've just seen a post on knitty about someone's flea worries. Now I'm panicking that the kitten's are starting a major flea infestation in the house........ They only have one or two, the plan was to get some Frontline when they go to the vet tomorrow for jabs. Maybe I should have made it more of a priority! the tortie has been nicknamed Monkey for now. She is so naughty, and knows it! She hangs from the side of the sofa by her claws and then jumps and runs before you can tell her off. She is also gwetting into the habit of chasing the end of my needles and James has taught her to play with and old scrap of wool. Fantastic. Tabby Cat just hides in the corner.

I was very excited to find this in the University Bookshop the other day. Mma Rawotswe makes me happy. I have to admit, and I'm slightly ashamed, that I am not a massive fan of literary fiction. I like to read, but I like my books to have obvious stories about people. I struggle if you have to try and elucidate a deeper meaning. I hate finishing a book and not having a clue what it was about. Perhaps that's to do with my scientist's mind. I'm not a thinker. It's a bit embarrassing, my sister has a drama degree and my mum is a writer, they're big readers of good books. Although, mum has always said, it doesn't matter what you read as long as you do read. I must admit to agreeing fairly frequently, although not always, with Richard and Judy. So, The Number One Lady's Detective Agency Series, I love. Easy reads, with great stories. And I've just spotted this too, also by Alexander McCall Smith! It is the third in the 44 Scotland Street series, the first of which I loved, and the second not so much. And this one will be next (although buying hardbacks is naughty so it'll have to wait til next month). Adriana Trigiani is ace, and silly as it sounds, reading Big Stone Gap was life changing for me. I really should re-read it. This latest one is the fourth in the Big Stone Gap series. Her others in between kind of tailed off a bit. Anyway ramble ramble ramble, I recommend all these authors!

I've decided that I'm going to start replying to your lovely comments in the comments section, so make sure if you've left a comment to check back. I'm not sure why I haven't done this before really. Perhaps because I don't ever re-check other people's comments. Maybe I'll start.

Kittens at last...

Check out these babies! We have kittens at last, and I can become a crazy cat lady. We were only supposed to have one, but they were so cute, I just couldn't resist. James went mad. Although only a bit because he loves them really. I'd kept it quiet we were having them as we've been trying to get a cat for ages and it kept falling through. I was worried I'd jinx it if I talked too much about it! They're the first cats either of us have had since losing childhood cats. My cat, Miranda died in 2004 at the age of 17, and her brother two years before.

The tortie is a girl, as they usually are, and we're pretty sure the tabby is a boy. That sounds stupid, you'd think it'd be obvious but when they're that small? It's hard to tell. The lady who gave them to us was convinced they were ALL boys.

Although they're litter trained (what a relief!) they are very timid, and are not keen on coming out from under the sofa!

I love the little spot she has on her nose, it's just like Miranda's! We think she may have been the runt, she's smaller and perhaps a bit weaker. I think she may have a mild infection in one eye and walks a bit stiffly. Our lovely neighbour Laura is a vet and they're going for a visit to her practice later this week, so we'll get it checked out.

They don't have names yet. James likes Enzo for the tabby (after Enzo Ferrari - typical), and I like Blossom for the girl. However, it would be nice to give them a pair of names. James' family have always named their cats in pairs. Nut and Bolt, Whisky and Biscuit (I don't quite get that one) and Tom and Geraldine. Although baby James couldn't say Geraldine so he called her Jelly Bean.

We'd love to hear your suggestions, answers on a postcard.........