Acceptable in the 80's...

I am a child of the 1980s... I remember Claire Rayner, The Raggy Dolls and The Only Way is Up. However, for the last month I have been singing Erasure's 'A Little Respect' and I don't quite know why. I think I have fallen for the condition the Germans call an 'earworm', as in a song that you hear and it burrows it's way into your brain. Hey ho.

Anyway, I digress. Lots of exciting happenings at Beaconsfield Villas... we have just got back from the Leeds v Brighton game, which meant I spent 24 hours in my home town. Oh and I sat in the Brighton side, demurely smiling and laughing off lots of northern jokes ('Why, no, I'm not one of those.. Yes, I may be northern, although, technically, I was born in Wales. And I have a bath everyday, and my parents were married when I was born...') It was an OK match, the first half was apparently quite boring, but I enjoyed it. I just wish my feet did. Rain + football = trench foot.

I came back to earth with a bang when we got home- lots of marking. Oh well, we break up on Friday, so if I get more stuff done tonight, I might not have to go into school over the holiday. Yay! I did manage all of my year 8 exams on the train though.

Other news... last week (Monday), I set up a reading group on Ravelry. I expected maybe me and three other people and that would be it. In less than a week we have 202 members! It's insane. I'm loving doing it though.

Oh, and the Tuscany shawl is lovely. Thanks for asking.

Birthday Shenanigans

Hello!

Well, I have survived my birthday without so much as a hangover, which is lucky! I myself was very lucky, I received so much more than I was expecting. Benn gave me a pair of Birkenstocks (I love this so much, I would wear them in the rain if he would let me!!), my mum sent some lovely smellies and a photoframe, Benn's parents gave me the Vogue Sock Book (it's amazing), I was given some Kaffe Fassett sock yarn and a Cath Kidston bag by Emma, some knitting books from Marine and Family Guy on DVD from Jeni, amongst other things- I won't bore you with everything, but I am grateful for it all... I also received a lot of chocolate, which is nice, especially as most of it was given to me by my pupils (I was also 'serenaded' four times by various groups of students. My favourite was my sixth form, where even the boys joined in, albeit unenthusiastically and my year 9s, who had obviously all decided my name was Sarah and sang so rather loudly).

Fabio's leaving do was on Friday and was a very boozy affair, Benn and I left early (I may have forgotten the alcoholic content in vodka and cranberry quite early on) and enjoyed some gnocchi in a little italian restaurant. Yesterday was a more hectic affair, in which I went to the hairdressers and we then went and met Grace to give her her jacket. Oh and she farted rather loudly whilst on my lap. I swear I felt the nappy reverberate. Needless to say, she is far too tiny for her jacket, but as my mum is fond of saying, 'she'll grow into it'.

Last night was a very civilised meal with all of my Brighton friends and it was lovely. Pizza Express and cocktails at Las Iguanas was a perfect idea and I really enjoyed myself. I think the guests did too, so that was nice.

And then today is the comedown. I've spent a lot of time writing cover sheets for the sixth form, I'm not sure whether I'm being too detailed, but I reckon too detailed is better than not enough.

I'm really looking forward to a spectacularly *dull* weekend next week with lots of knitting and rest. And do you know what? I can't think of anything better!!

Malabrigo, Dogs and General Excitement..

This week has been particularly long and stressful and the coming week has the potential to be too (Horrendous weather meaning kids will be hyper? year 12 parents' evening? Impromptu trip to the Globe on Thursday night? Leaving Do/my birthday Friday? My birthday meal Saturday? What do you mean, I need sleep?!)

So, yeah, busy. BUT, I did get some knitting related work done. Look!:



Grace arrived on Wednesday, so I reckoned I better get a wiggle on with The Baby Jacket From Hell. I think it looks OK (you can't tell that I haven't weaved the ends in yet.. shhhhh!) This pattern was badly written and ergo, hell. So I'm pleased it's finished. And did you realise that flower buttons are *really* hard to find?


I also received some of this lusciousness:



Malabrigo lace in Little Lovely. I've cast on the Tuscany shawl from 'No Sheep For You' (yes, I know Malabrigo has sheep in it.) It is beautiful and so soft. Perfect for a shawl. And I have discovered a love of lace knitting, which is unusual, as I find it quite mathamatical and I generally don't like numbers. I think that the satisfaction I get is worth it.

Oh, and Crufts was on and a giant Shnauzer won. I have decided that when I grow up, I would like a Tibetan Spaniel as they are quite cute.

http://www.dogsindepth.com/nonsporting_dog_breeds/images/tibetan_spaniel_v04.jpg

So, next time I write (presuming it will be a usual Sunday night update), I shall be 24!!

Sigh

So, I am very tired. This week has been busy, busy and I have had to hit the ground running.

1)Benn's birthday was a success, he loves his new MP3 player, which was a relief after the Great Tie Disaster at Christmas...

2) Literature coursework marking has come round again, meaning that I am stressing about that. However, my year 12 trip to London to see the Importance of Being Earnest is all sorted, so that's exciting.

3) I should really be finishing putting together The Baby Jacket From Hell as the baby is due this week sometime.

4) I really want some bamboo sock yarn, as I don't think Benn will pick up the hint that I would like some for my birthday. Any recommendations welcome.

5) I am completely obessessed with The Tudors. I rented the first series from LoveFilm and it is *amazing*, if a bit rude. Lots of buttocks and cleavage. But I highly recommend it for knitting to!

6) I really want the flat to sell. Bored of selling now. We had another viewing, I'm hoping the weather improving will help. Patience is not my most immediate virtue.

I survived!

So, I got to Kensington in one piece, although I did get very confused this morning... London tube stations on a Monday morning are *really* scary. I felt all the usual shakiness and nervousness as I went down into Victoria tube station and I had to ask a man where to go. Luckily, the train came quickly and as I got off at Earl's Court, I saw the train to Olympia, ran across the platform (I don't usually do running) and jumped on. I felt like a right Londoner!

I was very early, so I sat in a cafe doing a spot of sock knitting and nearly choking at the price of one coffee (£10.50 for a coffee with Bailey's in it!! £3 for a bog standard tea! How do you Londoners manage to live there?!) In the end, the course wasn't too useful, but I have made a decision that I am going to look into doing a diploma in Advanced Special Needs, as I would really like to persue that option in my career.

Ooh, ohh, I bought my ticket to the I Knit show in September!! I had such a good time last time and I *adore* Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.. she emailed me back a couple of times when I asked her something and she seems really nice.

So now I am settling down to berating University Challenge contestants and knitting my sister's socks and shouting at the Masterchef judges (how exciting am I...?) and pretending that I don't have to go into school tomorrow...

London...

I'm going to London by myself for the first time ever tomorrow for a course. I am a bit scared, because I hate the tube (the smell, the heat, the noise, the rushing and pushing and all of the people... *shudder*) and I will have to get on it and make my way to Kensington.

I also have to get off at Three Bridges and get another train, becuase school wanted me to try and get a travelcard from there. I may be a bit late to the venue, but I don't care.

I'm a bit of a scaredy cat really.

Thoughtful

This week I have knitted myself a little turquoise beanie, which is short but sweet. Am very happy, I will have to post a pic soon, when I remember!

I am also in the process of knitting my sister's socks.. the pattern is 'Waving Lace' from 'Favorite Socks' (I have to really resist the urge to correct that spelling!) and I'm using the 'Saucy' yarn from Woolhunter. Now, Em's birthday is in April, but I have a feeling she'll get these in December, seeing as my progress is slooooooooooooooow. But I have good feelings about these socks.

We saw two flats yesterday and I have fallen in love with one, which is naughty, I shouldn't have at this point. The only bad thing about this flat is that is on top of a huge hill; it fulfills every other box that needs ticking. I only hope someone likes our little flat enough to put in an offer. Apparently the couple the other day liked it, but they'd only just started looking. We shall see.

If you're interested, I went to the dentist today and left with a new filling- no root canal, no chavvy inlay, £94 cheaper than originally planned. Hurrah! However, I am now waiting for painkillers to kick in and for a bowl of Cheerios to soak in milk, so I can eat. Nice. I watched a programme on the BBC about self help the other day and found myself chanting stuff in my head in preparation that I'd picked up! I thought I was watching Alan Yentob rather passively, obviously not...! Although I don't think my fear is fully gone, I do feel more confident about dentistry and my dentist is nice (she even turned up the radio after I said it was the sound of the drill that I didn't like. Unfortunately, the song was Lionel Ritchie... I'm not sure I wouldn't have preferred a root canal..)

I'm feeling very thoughtful, and a bit tired. Listening to Ray Lamontagne and Jose Gonzales probably isn't helping...