rah

Yay! my wonderful parcel arrived this morning, i had to run to the front door only stopping to grab a dressing gown so i could fling open the door to the postie. many thanks to Andrea

there are so many lovely bits. one big skien of alpaca hummingbird with green and orange (my favourite colours)and a hot water bottle cover pattern, i love to be warm and cozy!
also andrea was really thoughtful and research snoods for me and sent four different patterns!! i've had a really great partner (thankyou). i also got the rowan alpaca book (already bookmarked two patterns) and some inca mist (more green) :D

i'm really happy because i finally have some stitch markers which were handmade by andrea - beautiful. not to mention yummy chocolates and lamb key ring and almost good enough to eat almond body butter from body shop.

this was some of the best post i have recieved all year!

and as an aside, i also got my new blythe this morning, yay!

i was out shopping yesterday and had a funny turn.
i had a headache (possibly due to a hangover) but it wasn't bothering me and i'd been shopping for about an hour with mum. i started feeling sick and a bit hot but we continued into new look to try on some jeans. once i got into the changing rooms i thought i might throw up and was hot and sweaty i left and got to a bathroom as quick as i could (which was difficult because my eyes were all funny). once i sat down in the bathroom i felt a bit better so i got up and went to get a bottle of water. i was still a bit wobbly but while standing in the queue i thought i was about to faint - and everyone in front of me was ordering 3 coffees and cakes, grrr. thnakfully my sister arrived and told me to sit down and she joined the queue. i sat down and i felt my forehead flush really hot my stomach was still in knots and i was tingly all over. after 5-10 minutes i cooled down. but i felt awful for the rest of the day, while in town i still had to sit down or leave to go outside every so often.

but i have no idea why. it was pretty scary.
i think it could have been a panic attack but i don't know. i've never had a panic attack and i wasn't worried or upset about anything. so i don't know. might have to take a trip to the GP when i get back.

i had much too much wine to drink (again) yesterday. oops.
but it is all ok because i'm going shopping for a new pair of jeans - yay!
i need a new pair of jeans because none of mine fit anymore (in a good way)

i have now lost over one and a half stone - i fucking rock!

i thought i should probably start doing some of the weekly topics.

Topic of the Week #5: Anticipation
What kind of Spoilee are you?
I love getting mail. any mail. not bill mail. so i think i would be fairly easily pleased. I'm much more worried about being a good spoiler.
Are you paranoid that it's not being sent, or lost in the post?
not really, i have spoken to my partner, they seem nice, they leave me comments and e-cards (thank you) and i know life happens, so i'm pretty laid back.
Do you want it to arrive quickly? OR Do you enjoy the anticipation?
i like the waiting, i certainly won't open it until mine is in the post and i haven't even started shopping yet!

x

i have applied for a job! woo!
that is one step closer to actually having a new job.

hooray!
lucy is coming to visit tommorrow.
on a less good note this means i have to tidy the house.
i don't like tidying the house. i don't like any kind of cleaning at all. i find it all so terrible, just trying to think of if i need to keep this scrap of paper and if i do where am i going to store it now? because the floor/table/on top of other scrap paper had been working perfectly well up to this point. grr!

right. so. i finally signed up to lovefilm and now i can't think of anything i want to rent. isn't it always the way? so far i have a couple of series of buffy that ben hasn't seen yet, a couple of past cannes winners and a few other bits and bobs.

so please, i know i don't know any of my 'friends' in real life but i know at least one of you has very good taste in film. help me out?

Hi swap partner, this is for you.

Part One: Crafting

Do you knit, crochet, or both?
i mostly knit. i have only ever made one crochet blanket and that will probably do me.

What do you like to make? Do you have a favourite project?
i tend to make smallish things, bags and little shrugs, started my first pair of socks, i have enough scarves but i'm thinking about a snood(sp?). i have never finished anything that had sleeves (except doll clothing).

Do you have a favourite type of fiber or brand of yarn?
not really, i generally knit with 4ply to aran weight, but i have knit with lace and chunky in the past. i have a weakness for alpaca (most of which i have never used), i love poshyarn.co.uk. if you would like to introduce me to your favourite yarn please feel free.

Do you have a least favourite type of yarn?
the usual - acrylic and novelty. i'm also not keen on mohair, i find it terribly hard to work with, something with a small percent of mohair is ok.

Do you do any other crafts?
not really. i like to make postcards from newspaper clippings but i wouldn't call that craft. i have a lovely old singer sewing machine and no clue how to use it.

What knitting do you bring ‘on the go’?
usually something easy that i won't lose my place with.

What do you carry your ‘on the go’ knitting in? Do you want something new?
i have a couple of little tote bags that have various bits of on the go stuff in.

Are there any knitting gifts (book, toy, yarn, item, tool) that you have been lusting over?
i'd love a swift, but at the moment that would only cause more clutter, so maybe not. some pretty stitch markers would be nice or a pretty book.

Part Two: Your Favourites

What is your favourite colour? What is your least favourite colour?
this is hard, i like most colours. Orange and green are favourites but i don't think i would want to knit something in orange. i like deep colours, reds and greens and purples and chocolate browns and steal blue.
NOT pastels, dirty colours (y'know, yarn that looks like it needs a wash) or beige.

What scents/smells do you like? What don’t you like?
i like fresh smells, lemon, i love lavender and almond honey, more generally i like delicate scents. i am not a fan of musk, vanilla, coconut or fruity smells.

How do you like to pamper yourself? (bubble bath, hand creams, massage, manicure)
well i don't have a bath so not that... otherwise i'm not fussy. .

What goodies to you like to treat your tummy with? (chocolate, biscuits, truffles, etc.)
i'm on a diet, so i'm trying to be good. that being said i love lindt milk chocolate balls (the ones in red wrapper) and cadburys milk chocolate rich tea biscuits.
Please note i do not eat/buy anything made by nestle (quality street, after eights, etc) even if it is a gift.

Do you prefer tea or coffee while you knit? Any particular kind? Favourite mug/cup?
TEA - only tea! just normal tetley tea, i don't do fancy or fruit tea. i do have a favourite mug with a picture of the periodic table on it (yes, i'm a bit of a geek).

Do you listen to/watch anything while you knit? (TVshow-Along, movies, music, podcasts)
my movie taste often involves subtitles so not much knitting done then. mostly music or something i can follow with my ears - CSI, ugly betty or house.

Part Three: Living & Past-times

Where do you live in the UK? (General idea not address)
currently hampshire.

Have you always lived here, or did you grow up somewhere else?
i grew up in devon and went to uni in north wales (which is beautiful) and now in hampshire.

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
i went to hong kong last year and thailand so i'd go there again. or japan, south america, iceland.

If you couldn’t go to a knitting group, what other kind of gathering would you go to? (book club, tea party, yoga class, jewelery class, etc.)
i wish i had friends who held tea parties. i go to my slimming world group. i might be caught at a yoga class but more likely in the pub with a glass of red.

What’s your style? (elegant, traditional, glamourous, girly, natural, sporty, outgoing, etc.)
i was dreading this question. none of the above. i'm pretty boring and a bit of a geek - always in jeans or cords with cardigans and the odd nice top. i like to wear yellow or green or purple shoes and i have a bright orange coat. i am either way ahead of fashion or way behind - take your pick.


Final Part:

Any allergies/preferences (fiber-wise or treat-wise)?
possibly prawns ;)

Anything we missed that you’d like your partner to know?
not that i can think of, but just ask x.

what is it with the uk postal system? sometimes things arrive so quickly you are actually stunned and the rest of the time it takes about 3 time as along as it should.

i am waiting on a parcel (a new blythe) from hong kong, i know it has been sent, i have the tracking number but all bloody parcel force will tell me is that it left hong kong on 28th dec.
grr!

warning: this may look similar to last years post.

i have actually made a start on them this year already, although i have got quite a list (again) this year. so here we go.

*lose weight - already started, i have joined slimming world and lost 7.5lbs so far.
*new job - actually filled in an application form, won't get the job but i have applied and that is what matters.
*save money - openned a savings account this morning.
*knit more - no progress yet.
*attend the gym - i have an expensive membership, i just have to go.
*do more. like going out to gigs or watching more good films etc.
*declutter and tidy more - i loaded the dishwasher, does that count?

good luck to me
x

i always hated the idea of dieting etc.
but hey, i'm over weight. so i joined slimming world three weeks ago.
to date i've lost 7.5 lbs! woo!
and this week i was slimmer of the week.
yay me.

i got my final essay back in the post today, i passed!

i am now a qualified mental health practitioner!

HURRAH!

haven't updated in a while - partly because the interent broke for a month and all orange would give me was £15. fuckers.

not feeling too well past few days.
nose and ears causing most of the pain, but there is always co-codamol.

In good news i'm off on holiday on the 15th - yay!
hong kong, bangkok and phuket for two weeks.
even better it is a family holiday so my dad is paying.
had my final day of uni on tuesday so can't wait to get away.

anywhere but here

x

i've been trying to think about what to do when i finish my post grad.
i know i can stay in my current job (mental health practitioner) - and after all the work i've put in to making it work there i probably should.
but i also don't think is what i want to do forever. i'm only 23, i don't want a job for life. and the progression up the ladder looks like it will take too long.

almost everyone who works there is much older than me and has been doing this for years and i don't want that... but i don't know what i do want either.

in other news i joined a gym.
just need to start going now....

i finished
these! i'm feeling pretty proud of myself x

my beautiful yarn arrived this morning.
i think i shall make something for myself - a scarf maybe as i only have one skein.

in other knitting related news
i finally felted a bag i had knit as a christmas present..
bit overdue.

i accidently dried it in the washing machine, so it is a bit wobbly in some places (the corners and trying to move into the middle) but generally i'm happy with it. and it is now in the post. i hope i am forgiven for such a late present.

so i have finally finished my christmas knitting - yes i know it is february.
i do still need to felt a bag.. not sure how to do this just yet.
have also made what could be a fatal mistake with the choice of colours (dark greenish blue and cream) it could all end up one greenish blue mess.

thinking ahead would be a good skill to learn.

so.. nearly a week in to the new year.. doesn't seem all that different to the last one. many people going on about how this is going to be the year, for what nobody seem exactly sure.

i have found myself making a large number of resolutions this time, which i have never done before. many centre around losing all the extra weight i seem to be collecting and generally being more active.
other than that i aim to knit a pair of socks at some point over the next 12 months, finish more of my projects.

take a class, dress making maybe.. or learn to play music (that might take a while)
and i want to find a new job.. that one has to go on hold until i pass my postgrad.
so at least start looking and actually apply for a couple.
applying is my biggest problem, but i have been offered some help in sorting out my cv.. so i'll have to jump on that.

looks like ben hasn't been offered to stay on at comet now christmas is over. so it is going to be a difficult time.
i can't afford to keep him any more and it causes so much stress.
he takes everything i say to be nagging about getting a job, but i end up in debt.
hopefully something will come up.

since when was it december?
did i sleep through something?
it wouldn't surprise me. i do often need to sleep.

so how should an atheist deal with christmas?
i'm going home to spend time with the family, and i'll give presents and cards and enjoy dinner. it is a good excuse to go home.

ben is going to be alone over the holiday, i hate leaving him here.
cunts at comet making him work xmas eve and boxing day.
thankfully he is being taken in for dinner by some friends.
we've never spent xmas day together.

least we can spend new years together.
though we won't be watching dancer in the dark and crying through the new year this time.

x

my christmas knitting is coming along.
though i still have two presents to start and a lot of sewing up to do.
no pictures sadly as i still can get the computer to connect.

Attended a stitching group yesterday and took along my first dpn project in the form of fetching. i'm rather impressed with myself, dpn actually quite fun to work with. i'm looking forward to making socks now. and the cables also fun. why didn't anyone tell me this before?

should probably get off the internet and do some knitting
x