Sunday 7 December 2008

Life is on the up..

Well, I'm feeling tons better and a doctor finally took me seriously, so all is good :D I have energy and enthusiasm (probably too much enthusiasm if you'd have asked Benn yesterday after I'd insisted he put the fairy lights on the tree... is it like the law that men have to look grumpy whilst doing that particular job??) and it's nearly Christmas!

So, two weeks ago, I finished Grandma's shawl AND the Unshaped Shrug. I have to take photos to show, I just haven't got round to doing it yet! I'm now knitting Branching Out with the beautiful green sock yarn I bought from Wibbo at the Knitting Safari and it's a gorgeous pattern for a gorgeous yarn. I did have a bit of a disaster this morning- I snapped one of my Knit Picks Harmonies, which nearly made me cry. I then duly went to Get Knitted to order more, when Benn almost tore my hand from the keyboard. It turns out I'll be getting the interchangable needles set for Christmas as a 'surprise'... I was really touched, he'd gone to a lot of trouble to find them and even though they're not a surprise any more, I'm still excited! So, Branching Out is now on the Addi Lace Turbos, which I don't like as much. I've always been more for bamboo/wood anyway.

Today I had a go at peanut brittle from Nigella Christmas- I'm planning on making work colleagues sweets as presents (have no idea how I will be presenting them- any suggestions welcome!) What a disaster that was! She says to 'seriously boil the sugar mixture for ten minutes- it will smoke, be warned!' What Nigella doesn't tell you is that you will burn the mixture and possibly swallow carcinogenic chemicals when you don't believe your nose/eyes and try the aforementioned burnt mixture and then spend twenty minutes cleaning your boyfriend's best pan, whilst shooing smoke out of any available window or door...

Anyway, I then tried again. And ended up with caramel with peanuts in it which was not even useful. *Sigh* I will be making peppermint creams instead next week. Oh, and baking biscuits for some of my classes. I'll be buying the rest.

Oh, and we have a tree. I decided to put it up yesterday (we got a fake one in the end.. grr) and it looks fab :) Bronte is not too bothered by it, she was more put out by the fact that we locked her out of the room last night. I also bought a couple of lovely decs in some open houses I visited in Hove, so it's really cool.

This week is going to be an interesting one, particularly Wednesday- we're being OFSTED'd for one day and I'm teaching one lesson. It will be interesting to see what we're expected to do in the next few days. I'm trying not to be too worried about it (I think my medication is taking the edge off it anyway...!) and looking forward to the fact that Wednesday is also the evening of my Stitch and Bitch Christmas meal. I have a very interesting Secret Santa present to give- I hope the recipient likes it!!

Right, Bailey's is calling me...

No comments: