Socks!

At last! A knitting post! Here are some socks recently gifted.

Pattern: Knitty's Universal Toe Up Formula

Yarn: Regia Royal Collection Bristol

Needles: Addi Turbo Bamboo 2.5mm 120cm

Time to Knit: Ohh, ages, they had to be knitted covertly!

These were James' birthday socks, given to him whilst we were in New York. He loves them. In fact, the day after his birthday we had this conversation:

James: Do you know what the worst thing about these socks is?

Nell: !!! What???!!!

James: I only have one pair so I can't wear them again today!

Pattern: Knitty's Universal Toe Up Formula
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Irving Park
Needles: Addi Turbo Bamboo 2.5mm 120cm
Time to Knit: Again, ages, although the second one I did in a week, I left myself a hard deadline!

I came up with new idea for presenting them too, by wrapping them up in the same way as bought socks only with a handmade label. I wrote the washing instructions on the back too.

These I gave to Dad yesterday for Christmas. I think he was pleased! I will be calling him for the verdict.

I love love love this knitty pattern. I don't care what anyone says about toe-up patterns, I couldn't do socks until I tried this! Of the two yarns, I would definately buy the LL's again, it was lovely to work with. The regia was nice, and cheaper, but was a bit scratchy, although after washing it improved. James didn't wait for me to tell him the washing instructions, and threw them in the machine. I think the label said handwash, clearly it doesn't matter!!

Christmas at Nell and James'!

The first Christmas at Chez james and Nell was a good one. All went well, thanks to help from Mum, James' mum, and Delia.

Here is a taste of our Christmas. The company was obviously thrilling....

James was up until 2am wrapping and tidying but Daphne has no excuse...

Christmas Eve was clearly a big one for James' big brother Richard.

Velma can never resist a lap, especially since my sister was the second guest to our house this week who wanted to cat-nap her!

Deck the Halls

Our decorations are up and photographed! What do you think? I like a minimalist tree as you can see. Although now, it's even more minimalist - the cat have pulled off and broken many of the balls! Even as a Brit (well she is an American Icon), I feel able to go a little bit 'Martha' with my card display! James wasn't overly impressed, and there are even more cards to go on now!!

I love a wreath on the door - so festive and welcoming and appropriate for our Victorian front door. This one is hand embellished by me. In the top photo it looks like fairy lights entwined in the twigs but actually it's little gold beads.

I feel especially christmas-y today, after seeing 'The Holiday' last night with Sarah and Karen. We've been trying to get an evening together to see it since it came out. Speaking of my favourite girls, they haven't appeared here yet and they deserve to. Firstly, this is me and sarah and secondly Karen and Rich, whom she met at Sarah's wedding in the summer. They are blissfully happy! Both were taken last Friday at our work christams do (partially organised by moi!)

I thought as I was driving home last night, that these are happy days and its all thanks to them. Anyway, the film, Brilliant. Totally brilliant. We all feel in love with Jude Law, who is surprisingly brilliant (sorry have I said this film is great?). Did I say my Mum saw him in the street, shouting st someone at a window the other day?? Anyway, the portrayal of the Brits in this film is slightly annoying, but only mildly so, especially as it was so affectionately done. For example, since when does a twenty-something who writes up wedding announcements in the Telegraph live in a cottage like that?? The cottage in question, in Surrey (didn't look like Surrey to me!!) is probably worth over half a million. But anyway, it doesn't matter. And when does it snow at Christmas here, IN THE SOUTH??? Anyway, this film was just lovely. It has a happy ending (very happy), what more could you want for christmas? It is funny, heartwarming, and, well, just nice. If you like a good squishy film, go see it!!

I bought 'Australian House and Garden Hand Crafted' from Waterstones - I love their craft section. So watch this space for FOs from it!

And here is the scene at work on Tuesday evening, before it went all foggy. What's all that about anyway??

Splosh! Yeeeooooowwwllll!

Daphne fell in the bath last night. She got very wet and felt quite silly. I had half run the bath and had turned it off to watch the news (this horrible serial killer in Ipswich of all places). All I heard was Splosh, yeowl! And a little bedraggled tabby came running into the bedroom and looked at me pathetically. Unfortunately I laughed at her (she didn't seem hurt, just a little confused!). She looked baffled, and her legs and tummy were absolutley soaking. Unusually for Daphne, she enjoyed a cuddle in a towel, and then she was fine. And then when I got into the bath (with some yummy Lush bubbles, see below!), she sat on the loo and watched me. So it hasn't scarred her for life. I wish I had a photo. Here are some others from last weekend.


I've just realised how dark and out of focus they are, sorry! I'll do better next time!

Winter Cheer SP Goodies!

My Winter Cheer SP goodies arrived! And luckily, I was at home yesterday - it's rare that I don't have to pick my packages up from the post office. And what a package, I am such a lucky girl! Thank you Magses! Or at least I think it's you..........


Firstly, There was some beautiful chocolate-y themed stuff from Lush - yummy! I swear I nearly ate one of them, it looked like a big slab of chocolate cake! And the new lip balm will now reside in my handbag - perfect!

There was also a super stylish Moleskine notebook, some lovely bamboo sock sized dpns, yummy apple and cinnamon flavoured black tea (very unusual and delish) and some scrumptious ginger biscuits! What better way to incentivise my working-at-home day (yes, for me, that usually means authorised skiving!).



And, last but not least some SOCKS THAT ROCK! Yes, you heard me, Socks That Rock! I've never even seen this in the UK, let along owned some! And in a very appropriate Jingle Bell Rock colourway. Thank you so much Magses, I feel totally spoiled!

How did I celebrate my weekend??

Well, this is how. Gu make the best chocolate puddings. Just yum. So I bought a pack of two. One for me, one for James, so we could have a really nice pudding, as a treat. Instead, James went to Hooters to be served his dinner by a skinny lady with big boobs and small clothes. Am I at all bothered? No. Instead, I just ate both pots. Do I feel bad? Nope. I'd do it again in a heart beat. Even though he came home and said 'Where's my pudding?'.

To be fair, they didn't even go to Hooters. Well, they went but had failed to book a table. I should point out that what really irked me about this is not that they wanted to go to Hooters, I don't mind that, but it's this. It was Judge's birthday and they were going to eat. But, the girls weren't invited to come until after the meal. What is this, 1906? If you're having a boy's night, fine, don't invite us. If you want us to come, invite us for the whole evening. Grrr, mutter mutter.

Anyway, look what else I bought in Sainsbury's.

Someone clearly put so much effort into these. I stood there for ages choosing. Someone at Innocent needs a big pat on the back, this is such a great idea. I wish I had manged to get my bum into gear to make some.

And now, I feel really christmassy, we went to John Lewis yesterday and I bough fabric to decorate our table for christmas day. Woo! I especially love the one on the left, it's actually all shimmery.

No Extra GoCat for you Two!

If you are squeamish, don't look any further. You guys asked for more cat pictures but nevertheless you have been warned......

This is what I found in our living room when I came home from work yesterday. This is the first cat/yarn explosion we have had in this house, and it will be the last. Believe me they did not get extra GoCat last night.

In case you're wondering, Yes, that is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock prentending to be a (cat-made) spider web on my living room floor. But to be fair, I was tempted to roll around in it too.

Please ignore the carpets, they were filthy like that when we moved in, they are next on the list of things to be replaced.....

After an hour and a half on untangling, I'm only half way there. Luckily, they hadn't attacked the half knitted sock. For that they may well have been dead. Although I held up Velma to the window this morning and showed her the bin-men. I threatened to feed her to them if she ever did it again. I think she was scared.

Anyway, how can I stay cross when they look like this.....

Velma and Daphne, the Telly Addicts.

Our vet warned us that tortoiseshells are known to vets as 'naughty torties'. I told him not to be silly, I'd never known a bad one, and we've had a few. Maybe he was right......