H1N1 = K1P1

It would appear I may have succumbed to the dreaded pig flu. For much of the past week, myself and my Minx have spent our days sofa bound, coughing, aching and watching more kids' movies than I would care to admit. According to the NHS website our symptoms were fairly classic H1N1 but as neither of us saw a doctor, we've decided just to call it flu, as our symptoms were also fairly classic for just about any kind of winter flu.

Although I was too poorly to go to work, do any housework, or venture off the sofa for any length of time, I did manage to muster up the energy to get some knitting done. At least, after the first two days I did - before that my wrists ached too much to knit for longer than ten minutes at a time!

M-i-l's Christmas pressie was finished. A Fan Neckwarmer in yummy Sublime cashmere merino silk.

Next came one for me - a super simple and oh so cosy Baktus scarf in utterly delicious Malabrigo Silky Merino.

Shortly followed by another one for me - a simple chunky ribbed neckwarmer in squishy Misti Alpaca, edged in leftover Malabrigo.

Next on the needles - something far scratchier - simple stocking stitch socks (for me!) in very pretty Noro Kureyon. If this wool hadn't been so gorgeously colourful I would have given up. It's like knitting with rough garden twine and so hard on your hands.

I've christened them my Itchy and Scratchy socks!

To balance out the rough I opted to cast on an Ishbel scarf with the softest, gentlest and cuddliest Alpaca Select 4ply.

In the meantime, I've also been ribbing away on Minx's legwarmers - tedious but mindless knitting that needs to be done for Christmas.

...and if the K2P2 ribbing gets too tricky, I started on a bit of stocking stitch, in the form of some wristwarmers for Monster - also to be finished for Christmas.

With us both now on the mend and back at work and school, I anticipate the knitting slowing down a little. I have a whole load of work to catch up on, orders to sew and have to be very strong minded to resist the siren call of the knitting basket!

It's not going to be easy.

xxx

WHOOPS! I almost forgot to mention that my gorgeous baby boy had a birthday this month - hangs head in shame...

So here's a belated bloggy Happy Birthday to my lovely Monster - now a very grown up 10 year old!

Smiley stuff

After the past two weeks of ugh, things have taken a definite turn for the better.
Our very orange sofas, that my husband treated me to on Freecycle a couple of years back, have gone.



...and in their place two lovely blue sofas with washable covers....

....from a local charity shop.

We have an old for old policy in this house ;)

As if that wasn't exciting enough, I then received a parcel in the post.

Now, if something with this on the package turns up on your doorstep you just know you're going to be in for a treat.



Just feast your eyes on this glorious bundle of Rainbowy Rainbow Swap gorgeousness. all made for me by my very very clever and lovely bloggy friend Gina.



Thank you SO MUCH Gina - I LOVE everything you sent! The children were pretty excited too and soon laid claim to the Skittles :)

Minx has been promised this fabulous bunting for her sparkly new white walls.



Mmmm....just the thing to beat the ughs :)


Carrying on with the lovely stuff, here's the low down on a fab bloggy time in London this weekend.

I ran away on Friday afternoon - leaving Moogsdad with the mess and the task of supervising carpet fitting, followed by some shuffling around of furniture and reinstating small people in their very own (and very white) bedrooms.

First off, I arrived at Waterloo bang on time and after a brief text conversation arranged to meet Trashy beneath the clock. Moments later I turned at the sound of Trashy's whistle - she has me well trained...what can I say?!

We then met up with Mrs Locket and headed to Marylebone Lane for a bit of a mooch at the ribbons in VVRouleaux, via Cath Kidston for a spot of fabric shopping.

I failed totally to unearth the camera on Friday but suffice it to say, it was all very pretty and most therapeutic - the antithesis to the home I'd left behind!

After a bite to eat we headed to our luxury hotel for an evening of chat, giggles and knitting - lots of knitting.....never mind the nightclub next door....oh no....we entertained ourselves royally sitting in a row on our beds click-clacking away with our various woolly projects. We didn't need to go to the nightclub anyway as they kindly shared the music and shrieks of hysterical drunken fun for the majority of the night.

I'm getting old.

Saturday dawned bright and breezy and we headed out to Islington for some yarn-filled retail therapy.

Unfortunately, our destination shop didn't open until 11am, so we had to do something to kill the time.





This was the quietest they'd been all weekend ;)


On the stroke of 11 we dashed to Loop - see Trashy there? All blurred due to her haste to be first to dive in? Lucky she'd had that sugar fix or I'd have beaten her!



I got really rather overwhelmed in Loop and not only because of all the absolutely amazing floor to ceiling woolly stuff. One of my favourite knitwear designers, Ysolda Teague, was in there, setting up displays of some of her stunning designs. I eventually plucked up the courage to speak to her and tell her how fab I thought she was and how starstruck I was at meeting her.

She was so lovely - she didn't run away but stood and chatted with me and was so nice. Her designs are just incredible in real life - such a treat to have seen her there.

Whilst in there, Locket's bossy big sister (BBS), lovely niece (LN), and Emma Pebble arrived. Emma, Trashy and I ran away to Liberty while Locket underwent some intensive magic loop sock training.

I oohed and ahhed and stroked lots of things in Liberty but didn't buy anything. I did, however, treat myself to something very gorgeous from the brand new Anthropologie store on Regent Street.....just for me....for being a good girl and not throwing a hissy about the chaos at home....I felt it was the least I could do :)

I love it.


We then reunited with Locket, BBS and LN near Covent Garden and spent an hour or two 'enjoying' a late lunch in Nandos - where the staff apparently prided themselves on being uncommunicative and less than helpful.

A quick trip to the bead shop rounded off the day and we all said a fond farewell and headed off to our various train stations. I do love meeting up with my bloggy friends, especially as I feel we've known each other for years and this weekend was just what I needed.



I'll be back soon with photos of some gorgeous bloggy gifts, some rather lovely wool and two newly decorated bedrooms :)

xxxx

p.s. The craft stall went much better than expected on Thursday and proceeds helped fund my purchases in London. There may even be a little Etsy shop update soon.

......ugh......

I know it's going to be worth it.....

.....I know I'll soon have my 'conservatory' (and access to my fabric!) back....

.....I know that Monster will soon have his own room back to make a mess in.....

.....I know that my recently renovated bedroom won't look like this for long.....

......I know that we won't have to keep moving furniture from room to room for ever.....

......I know that this will soon be bright white with more than a spattering of pink.....

......and that this will soon be bright white with more than a spattering of Lego......

......but it still makes me feel like screaming 'I'd rather be sewing.....get me out of here!!'

Right now I feel like this house is trying to swallow me up!

I'm just so very grateful for the uncharacteristic attack of foresight
that led me to get most of my craft stall sewing done two weeks ago!!

For now, I just need to do this:

because it WILL be worth it, won't it?

xxx

Pssst

Don't tell Moogsdad I'm here - I'm supposed to be helping!

We're having both of the children's bedrooms plastered this week and I should be helping him find homes for all their stuff!

I just had to pop in to show you these, though....

My Through The Loops Socktoberfest mystery knitalong socks. I have loved every single minute of making these. They are the perfect introduction to knitting patterned socks - much easier than they look!

Ooops....I may have been caught in the act!

See you later xx