Home.

Had a fabulous time in New York. Home Sunday afternoon and straight back to work on Monday morning.

Work has been full on and I'm knackered! A little jet lagged I think. 

Hoping to blog properly at the weekend. 

Hello December.

How has December come around so quickly? I can't believe we are in the final month of the year.This month has a full calendar so is likely to dissapear in a flash too. I always have mixed feelings at this time of year part of me just wants it over so we can start the new year!

I finally managed to get my case packed for New York this afternoon. We are only taking a cabin case each which I have found quite challenging. You can gaurentee that I will end up wanting to wear something I haven't packed. As it's cold my sweaters have taken up most of the case!

As is usual with most of my holidays I had to decide on a knit project to take. None of my current projects worked as it needed to be small. So dove into the stash and decided on some socks.

I picked up these balls from someone elses destash. Think they're going to look fab. 

I've packed my kindle as well. It's going to take about 3 hrs to get to Heathrow,then have 2 hrs to wait at Heathrow then a 8hr flight. I am so not looking forward to that. I do find I'm liking flying less and less these days. 

So that's it, I'm done for today. I'm going to have a soak in the bath and an early night ready for my adventure.

Back to work and a lovely surprise.

Back to work today. Still feeling rough, but well enough for work.

Blooming busy, spent most of day going through my email inbox 😱

Lovely hubby text me to say he was in town and did I want to meet him after work

YES

Silly question really. 

The Christmas market was half open, and it was pretty quiet. We had a lovely couple of hours and I'm almost feeling the Christmas spirit!

Another day of rest and WIP Wednesday.

Another 'sick' day, managed to get 8 hours sleep last night, pretty disturbed with the constant coughing but hey haven't managed that much sleep in a long while. Still feel blooming knackered though !

Enforced rest has meant that I managed to finish 2 of the dog snood thingys

quite like the handpsun knit in 2x2 rib. 

Personally wouldn't put one on Frank, not sure he'd tolerate it anyway, but I know some dogs do feel the cold.  I may attempt a dog coat next year. want to get some of my works in progress done.

I'm still chipping away at my monstera Sweater. 

I am really not liking knitting at the moment, it needs all my concentration, I will be so glad to get this colour work section done, then its plain sailing in stocking stitch all the way. Have about 9 rows left to do for the pattern.Goal is to get the colourway section done by Christmas and I will have a great TV knitting project ready to go ! 

Colds and Comfort knitting.

I've given into it and taken a sick day. I was awake at 3.30am because my nose decided to stop functioning! Fully blocked. My throat feels as if I've swallowed some sandpaper and my chest ache's from coughing.

I've not dressed and am sat here currently watching Kirstys homemade Christmas. 

On the plus side I've managed to finish a knit project !

What is it?

A Greyhound snood!

A friend asked me to help knit some for a lurcher rescue charity. Dead easy. Quick TV knitting. The hole is for the lead! This is a polo neck version ! They're basically a neck warmer.

  Used my own handspun , so generally free to make. Just cast on another using another of my handspun yarns. 

Best way to spend a sick day if you ask me.

Treated myself.

Had a really busy week at work which included a mid week early start as had to head off to Caerphilly for a meeting. 

What you cant see in this photo was the snow ! yes, you heard right, we had a small flurry of snow. I had to get a bus to the station, then it to took 2 trains to get to Caerphilly. It was blooming freezing. Made me realise that my coat is actually pretty crap at keeping me warm, it's great for keeping me dry though.

Being a fat bird trying to find a decent coat can be a bit of a  night mare. I really dont mind what I'm looking like when I walk the dog, but for work and going out I really would like something half decent look-wise. 

I hate going clothes shopping, so it was online shopping for me. I actually found something I like, they had it in my size and was next day delivery, result.It came today.

From Joe Browns

I sized up, (if you buy from Simply Be website they do a good range of large plus sizes) so I could also fit a chunky sweater underneath as well. Really pleased with it, it looks fab and is really snuggly! I am wondering if I should have got a smaller size though, I seem to think I'm fatter than I actually am. I've ordered the next size down just to make sure !

Today I also treated myself to a haircut. After a disastrous short haircut back in May, I haven't had it cut since. I spent the summer wearing hairbands so I could get the layers down past the bottom of my ears ! It feels so good not to have to wear blooming hairbands anymore, also felt a  bit stupid at my age wearing hairbands to be honest !

I've taken the dog out for a walk, did some knitting, still trying to get this blooming colourwork done,

the boys have gone to rugby, Hubs is home with man flu ( the real thing ) and I've not done a jot of housework. Its fab, just how a Saturday should be. 

Bloglovin, Blogger, the dentist and spinning.

Disconnected for a day, I unlinked my blog from bloglovin, mucked up my blog theme, lost my blog list, and am probably going to fart about with it now for days ! grrrrr

Had the dentist this morning, hate the dentist, exceptionally sensitive teeth, brings me out in a sweat just thinking of him doing anything other than look at them. Had to have a filling, felt a right wimp as got anxious and was shaking ! sadly hes a really good dentist and hes leaving my surgery, now I have to deal with a new blooming dentist who wont understand my teeth. 

Worked from home this pm, report writing, Frank kept me company which was nice. Finished at 4.30 to get him and me out for a walk before it got dark. Chucked a bolognaise on for dinner, (one hubby had made and froze last week ).Still feeling a bit yukky. not sure whether its after effects of anaesthetic at dentist or coming down with a cold !

Not sure what to do with myself this evening so have decided to spin. Finally finished the first 100g of this last week so opened up the next 100g, aiming to do a 2 ply again.

I may only do a bit as feel like a snuggly early night reading my book

The Corset,

Rain,dogs and forward planning.

This year is whizzing past, its been full on and fast. I hardly seem to have had time to myself, but I'm not complaining I have done so much and have so much to be thankful for. 

Last weekend was my trip away with some work friends and their dogs. An all girls weekend, even the hounds were female !  It was quite strange being with people that you work with, especially as I had to share a room with one of them. But we got on OK and I had a lovely relaxing time. Sadly the weather in Cornwall was Rain, Rain and more rain. 

Luckily the garden was HUGE so we didn't need to go far to get the dogs out, we had 4 with us in total. Sadly not our Frank, hes still dogphobic !

3 of the hounds in their dogrobes !  these were a fab idea, get them in , quick rub down and put their robes on. Gets them dry, stops them getting everything wet and keeps them warm.

We've started using the dog field for Frank, its great that he can run free without his muzzle, hes really not into tennis balls so we now have to keep a stash of sticks at home. We're averaging about 2-3 runs there per week. £5 a go but very worth it. 

30 minutes later.... hes knackered..

He's got another session with our dog behaviourist but I'm pretty sure we are not going to make any huge progress he just doesn't like dogs. We've got a couple of trips coming up so need to start thinking about kennels or borders for him. Generally one of the boys stays at home, but we do do a couple of family visits each year that needs sorting. not really sure what to do on that score.

As the year is drawing to an end I'm already thinking about next year. 2020 was meant to be the year of the big downsize move, but life happens and the planets are not aligned so its very unlikely to happen for at least another few years. So I need to rethink what I want to do. The current job is a short fixed term post and whilst I am really enjoying it I am not sure I want to work full time if they offer to extend my contract. I'm toying with reducing the hours or going self employed ! My contract doesn't end until march so I've got some time to think it over. 

For now, I'm just going to take each day as it comes and enjoy every second. 

Storm watching.

Well here I am in beautiful Cornwall.

It's my girly dog weekend! A long weekend with 4 work friends and their lovely dogs.

We arrived to find a lovely cottage, very secluded, huge gardens with a very fast paced stream running through it, lots of running space for 4 lurchers. Sadly it was raining and the forecast is not good for the weekend. 

This morning I'm first up, sat on the sofa watching the storm roll in. It's really very peaceful.

Monday already and weekly plans.

Due to my oversight Sunday night, (forgot to publish the post), I'm running day behind! That's what I get for setting up blog posts in advance, thought it would be a good idea to get some started so that all I would have to do was finish them and publish! still couldn't get it right. So rather than waste them, here's Mondays !

Mondays come around far too fast. I've lost my weekends again recently, becoming more reclusive and not wanting to get out much. Maybe its the time of year? shorter days, longer nights. I just dont seem to get much done and certainly nothing ' me' orientated. I do do a good impression of a couch potatoe though ! I need to get out more..

This weeks commute reading from my 'to read pile' is 

I have read a few of her books this year and love the dark fairy tales. Am hoping this is going to be enjoyable. 

My knitting project of choice will be this

The hat, by Plucky knitter.

I've  got a cute pom pom ready for the top

Will probably go with the white one, grabbed these from Purl a Row  when I went on her knitting retreat.

I've only got a short 4 day week as am off on a girly weekend away with some girls from work and their Lurchers ! sadly Frankie boy cant come as he doesn't like other dogs. It's a Friday to Monday weekend in Looe, Cornwall and will consist of dog walking and general girly chat. I have never been away with these girls before and they are all work colleagues, I was reluctant especially as I have to share a room, but do you know what, I put my big girl pants on and said yes.

So I need to get my case packed ready for Friday, plan the food shop as I will be away and make sure i'm all up together on the laundry front. Sadly the housekeeping Fairies seem to forget my house.

Tuesday night we are off out to meet the friends we are going to Newyork with, so we can do some planning, so really I only have 3 nights at home.

One of the nights I need to get my journal up to date, that's running behind too, and i'm bound to get some great pics from the weekend so need to get my pics printed out ready for some new ones.

Another night I need to get a menu plan done, I'm so far off a healthy eating plan its scary.

I need to find some time to blog and then to pack.

Sounds like I may be having a busy week.

Weekending.

Saturday was a bit of a washout. It hammered down all day. Hubs and the boys were away so it was just me and the hound. He sulks when they leave him.I dragged him out midday for a walk, much to his disgust, he does have a coat, but the combination of wind and rain really doesn't do it for him.

I love the walk down here to the riverbank, its a little alley of trees that opens up onto a great huge open space that runs along the river.It was pretty boggy underfoot, but I got to take my new wellies out for a run !

Supershiny, navy blue beauties. Rather expensive for wellies but when you've got fat calves whats a girl to do. I can actually get these on and tuck my jeans in. I always struggle with wellies, have never found a long, up to the knee boot that I can get on, always end up with shorties. These though are in between. Love them. They will definitely be worn a lot this winter, and hopefully for many more to come.

As the hubs/boys were due home Saturday night I put a beef curry in the slow cooker for them, I did all the laundry, so impressed with my new tumble drier, no more clothes airers and radiators full of wet things.Then after a quick tidy round, I sat and knitted on this beauty

Its the 'Dust of snow' wrap by Helen Stewart.

This is one of teh pictures from her pattern page

I'm missing out all the fancy lace bits and just doing continuous garter stitch. Its a fab pattern, using up a lot of my mini skeins held double with some kidsilk mohair

Luckily I bought 3 skeins from Chester wool as I am a bit of a addict to this at the moment, this is now waiting patiently to be cast on as well

That's my own hand dyed yarn from the knitting retreat

We're off to Newyork for a few nights in December and I am thinking its going to be cold.Might need to knock a quick pair of mitts too.

The hubs/boys rolled in just after 7 Saturday night, as England had won their match there were a little happy, so it was a quiet evening in front of the TV.

Sunday, an extra hour in bed meant I woke at 4.30am not the usual 5.30, sometimes it would be nice to have a lie in. Stayed in bed a while and finally gave up. Made a cuppa and decided to tidy up my blog and try to get back into blog mode. I'd also been given the details of a secure field you can rent for dogs. Given Frank doesn't like other dogs, our dog trainer gave us the details of this field so that he can run and chase balls, when he's out he has to be muzzled and kept on a lead. Managed to register and book a couple of slots in the week. Weekends seem to be pretty full.

We took him down to the beach today, but as the sun was shining , it was busy and loads of dogs running around made it a bit stressful, but his training does seem to be working as long as dogs are at a distance.

It was quite warm in the sun, so much so took my coat off and was walking in my long sleeve t-shirt. What a glorious day. Came home and cooked a Shepherds pie ready for dinner then decided to crack on with the hat.

Grr, I just couldn't get the hang of double pins, the Iris hat was also top down so you start with 12 stitches, well I just couldn't get it, there is a reason that I dont knit with double pins, that's because I hate them. Knitting is a pleasure, my safe comfy hobby. Can't be doing with having a pattern that makes me irritated,so gave up on that.

Searched around for something else I could use the yarn for, and came up with this little beauty

The Hat, from plucky knitter,( photo from her pattern page).

Easy cast on and super simple pattern, so far am loving it.

Sunday evening was finished off with TV knitting, the new  David Attenborough series, Seven worlds, one planet. started last night and it didn't disappoint. Wow, is all I can say. If you haven't watched it I would definitely go find it.

I was so engrossed with my knitting and the TV I completely forgot to finish this post and post it !, hence you are getting it this morning before I head off to work. 

First week done.

First week in new job done.

Its been full on, in at the deepend and didn't stop for breath until Friday!

But the team are great and I think when I work it all out, i'll love it. Busy also means the week flies by.

To celebrate the end of my first week hubs and I had a date night straight from work !

He was waiting for me in the local pub with a very large gin waiting for me ! hes a keeper !

We went to a local foody evening market to get something to eat

This was the yummiest burger ever, I had the beef & chorizo with a  slice of Halloumi !!

Had a lovely time, but home by 10.30 as was knackered!

Last weekend I did a bit of sorting and downsizing of 'stuff', during that I found this

Can you believe I cut this out in April ! shame on me

well I have dragged it out and aim to get my machine out tomorrow, this needs sewing up because I may just have bought a new sewing project

The Hippolyta dress!

pic and pattern from here 

with this blooming gorgeous fabric

Pic and fabric from here

How blooming fab is that ?

If you click through the pattern link you will see the dress made up in this fabric, I absolutely love it and its PLUS SIZE...... no faffing about with trying to upsize it..

I really love the patterns on the sew me something website its definitely worth a browse.

Working, Spinning and Bloglovin followers.

Day 2 at the new job done, I can honestly say my brain is full to capacity!

But despite the stress of learning a new job, I'm loving it. Everyone's great, I have all the electronic equipment to do the job and am being let lose next week ! Blooming knackered at the end of the day though, but what wonderful sunrises we have had

Last weekend I had a major declutter of my little pink den, it feels so much clearer. I swapped over the summer clothes for the winter clothes and was ruthless, 2 more bin bags for the charity shop. As I am clearing away all this 'stuff' my crafting mojo is definitely coming back. I actually managed to finish that 50 g set I started ages ago, 

now all I have do do is spin the other 50g and ply it.

For all you bloglovin people out there, a question for you, is there anyway you can stop people following you, or blocking them? I seem to have had a spate of new followers, some of which I am pretty sure are a bit weird! I've gone from 15 to 31 in a matter of days?

Apologies also to the new followers on this blog, I dont get notifications and am sorry for not picking it up sooner! Bloggers, where do you find your list of bloggers , other than the followers box on the blog page? does that make sense?

Leaving, starting and new friends.

Another break in blogging service, sorry.

I have just completed my resignation period and finally left the old job on yesterday. Phew.

New Job starts on Monday and I am quietly optimistic that I am going to enjoy this one far more than the last.

Last weekend was the knitting retreat, what can I say. Despite my anxiety about not knowing anyone it was fab. Absolutely loved it. New friends made and another retreat booked with the same group of ladies for next year at Wonderwool. 

I dyed yarn

visited the organisers yarn shop

Purl a row

she has a great selection of yarns and has indie dyers each month, well worth a visit if you are in Cornwall. 

bought yarn, obviously

a pattern

some pom poms

and a cute crocheted hat I just fell in love with

We stayed in an amazing cottage

and yes, that was my HUGE bedroom. A little spooky in the pitch black with creaky cottage sounds !

Didn't try the bath out though !