tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211386052024-03-23T11:19:18.589-07:00redumbrellaNews from a fibre fan who knits, spins and dyes. Recently retired and returned to England after 37 years in Australia. Enjoying re-discovering the North East of England's wonderful scenery and people, and searching for the perfect cheese scone.Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-52970376646753367922008-04-16T10:40:00.000-07:002008-04-16T10:43:30.682-07:00Change of AddressHello,<br /><br />Sorry to have been absent for so long but there have been great changes in my life lately. I shall not be continuing with this blog. I shall get in touch with family and friends in other ways.<br /><br />GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-20241843524318782072008-01-25T14:54:00.000-08:002008-11-12T17:24:12.413-08:00Is This Real Winter?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1fEvtG5JGiOemCWwZt1aiZE5T8Fziu8uJT_L2Tjd1XbGiYsfahnPZagIqTYNIDTcQ-qpvqUzYOU8eM4STSGXSm28zAcZ0rO56BCpFtctS_P8xzoV2B3p2uCungBgRtAE0NP0GA/s1600-h/100_1054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159553659149315986" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1fEvtG5JGiOemCWwZt1aiZE5T8Fziu8uJT_L2Tjd1XbGiYsfahnPZagIqTYNIDTcQ-qpvqUzYOU8eM4STSGXSm28zAcZ0rO56BCpFtctS_P8xzoV2B3p2uCungBgRtAE0NP0GA/s320/100_1054.JPG" border="0" /></a> Before xmas, I went out to trim some greenery off the local hedges and when I came back I made a window frame rather than a tree to hold cards and other decorations.<br /><br />As you can see from the first pic I have a low valuation of TV entertainment. The old machine in the pic goes back further than it is wide but still shows all five "old" channels. I have estimated its age at 27years. It even has a remote control but the gadget tends to change channels when you press volume control!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSn0oOkOnvbKHzWa98l-wWzRBr-voFmKOW4x-0dUp1pln6Jf3wWKhzox5qOdn5Hpnc4cvYFQ290qcNneaggm2VCS9DwwL5KazXtdsOUdpy36ztUBO-zggILAENgSOS-LpgYc-zJQ/s1600-h/100_1060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159553672034217890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSn0oOkOnvbKHzWa98l-wWzRBr-voFmKOW4x-0dUp1pln6Jf3wWKhzox5qOdn5Hpnc4cvYFQ290qcNneaggm2VCS9DwwL5KazXtdsOUdpy36ztUBO-zggILAENgSOS-LpgYc-zJQ/s320/100_1060.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Yes it did snow this winter. This second pic is the view from the sitting room window which is on the third floor, looking east, the next pic is from the window looking<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0O6GLAtLOPlTk2pF9gPVN-jJTKsQt2e8iCE0LYt3fyfrUpoE7HzvjPsDMBU2mOOdnOMds6uP4kh5tzFZh-Eag6bHvfj566HHL6e7Ra-w2FhkSJVBpvSD0eXAsIQkkG2asB6cY1A/s1600-h/100_1062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159553689214087090" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0O6GLAtLOPlTk2pF9gPVN-jJTKsQt2e8iCE0LYt3fyfrUpoE7HzvjPsDMBU2mOOdnOMds6uP4kh5tzFZh-Eag6bHvfj566HHL6e7Ra-w2FhkSJVBpvSD0eXAsIQkkG2asB6cY1A/s320/100_1062.JPG" border="0" /></a> west.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I must admit that a brolly does not help much in these conditions.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MPxOgD0W0DI6_LA0j0cbJcX61W0tDrNBlBj29JacQdIY7Y4xDuiI1m60Ut7kT5MHU9VsF1pUEQKxFQjfiYHNns3JKrc45d2Frlc2A6yZVPINETGrk_AKu0qTCTSg034RgmPM5w/s1600-h/100_1063.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159553697804021698" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MPxOgD0W0DI6_LA0j0cbJcX61W0tDrNBlBj29JacQdIY7Y4xDuiI1m60Ut7kT5MHU9VsF1pUEQKxFQjfiYHNns3JKrc45d2Frlc2A6yZVPINETGrk_AKu0qTCTSg034RgmPM5w/s320/100_1063.JPG" border="0" /></a> After the greenery was removed from the window it seemed very bare but then I went to the twice monthly auction at the local auction house and bought this lovely book case as a partial room divider. It now divides the main room space from an office space and houses some of the more attractive and valuable volumes.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF_TqZbkK1SPoSI-gvmPoQocoeRYtHNvWu5H3qIzaRfX9EnnmdZVvw-qRwlkObrjNN5pN3awrepnFgFfC2dE8yyvYXK6tLfFRTlTyd5xhVmLhMdFBN0wJd5_KEjyK7_qzM-dWlw/s1600-h/100_1069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159553702098989010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF_TqZbkK1SPoSI-gvmPoQocoeRYtHNvWu5H3qIzaRfX9EnnmdZVvw-qRwlkObrjNN5pN3awrepnFgFfC2dE8yyvYXK6tLfFRTlTyd5xhVmLhMdFBN0wJd5_KEjyK7_qzM-dWlw/s320/100_1069.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I continue to knit socks. This pair are in a 5/6ply marly blue and I'm using a variation of the "Monkey" pattern. Well I thought that was what the picture would show but instead you have another view of the sitting room.<br /><br />The wind is howling around outside and I wouldn't be surprised if the "winter" follows it.<br /><br />Cheers to you all, GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-13643553178250380052007-12-01T13:00:00.001-08:002008-11-12T17:24:12.834-08:00Evidence of Endeavour During Blog Absence<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEzLAqQ642UpnsaDgVrlau7KBL6UbESPNHb14MhtsHAA4cIgha6q07j4MF1SwtNxvpQvuWhzECLk8ZVknGb7K3AhvzN7_yoTOYL8uJ_HaiyLBvWv0cAIX4URmABBbdjBksNMrWA/s1600-r/100_1047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139113305610055778" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuijqbYa_kHPLWTjQOQdSNlpCH8xnhgOVO4tGJcoG0R3473A-_aOcWD53VeGnL6DByLAKlLCeg8SZrHJxqh2FzIrLSbIOlKmd7eDgrjmgBIZ73i5PSW06wFc1JfOWBOv41GMK2ow/s320/100_1047.JPG" border="0" /></a> At last!!! I finished the top which I started on the bus tour of Scotland. I had finished the actual knitting but I let it "rest" a while before I sewed it up so I only got to wear it for the first time yesterday. It is really comfortable and fits well, being just the right width and length. I so often get one of those wrong.<br /><br />The pattern was from <a href="http://www.garnstudio.com/">http://www.garnstudio.com/</a> . This site has a great range of patterns to choose from. I did this with threex100gm balls of sock wool.<br /><br />I'm settling into Darlington really happily and love being so near the centre of town and meeting people and getting out and about. I've loved my painting classes and hope to get to drawing classes next term and I have even been to the pictures for the first time in years, to see Elizabeth the Golden Age. I never miss my knit and natter club and was lucky enough to get a ride to the Knitting and Stitches Show. This is an annual highlight and thousands of women from the north of England descend on Harrogate over a period of four days. I went with <a href="http://tabbyblog.blogspot.com/">Becky</a> and her Mother Eunice who had come up from Hampshire. It was a grand day and I don't know where the six hours went. I came home with some recycled banana fibre, some wool and some mohair/silk and some sock wool and stuff like that. I shall do a separate post about it later.<br /><br /><br /><br />And I have three pairs of socks on the needles at once. This demonstrates a lack of stamina and an attack of second sock syndrome.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-owaz_yhFPg0vMy7EQZTCjoA97VvVXBks4QJ-laFfZet3N7s0bbAxq_KUv5zTckvn5mAXr4o450B6N02URCgRVc9PZkF1faVw0dezOPFbnbu7Mh972HnHrkpF8OyDT1cAmT1JQ/s1600-r/100_1048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139113318494957682" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiup_OtGqMUu7M9IzYyyEahthKUhfqYrPCuEGPeboiIU4jj4W9GaYeNew8e6sB4xpsLOPW7rtJhhKYAEwy4BMjPoY9-Y4RPAjBt6MlBjnIjCR9N59NcEPnDKhzx8gKF4vbRdNHRaA/s320/100_1048.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />There is a whole sock in the magenta colour but the brown and cream wool was a disappointing display of shades and has not yet reached the heel.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueMwhRLnhFouqV65DILArEQPAbATR95GCTD70foEIjqDXaEuWBHb24leav01XUWVDd-c9VoT2Y_IW6rr-3xbtxH5FuG9tWdT9sMTXoB_h4XJm7ib-s3TDfcC60VLGh2gC42E2NQ/s1600-r/100_1049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139113322789924994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5z2ENtEGkQ0Zqdk8s5-spQv6CS5ZC5zWKLVx8GQlHRQ5FHcaFlCIM1sZ6Z7SnevWLDO21V6CXc4f97_iQQ6nI2NMZVg0jYNgKtSOFVDctebJ9COvNe4aTRRL_-ogtS5jP3gi0w/s320/100_1049.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Also, I have decided to channel my hobby energies into starting a small business.I am buying and selling old and rare books. Mainly they are in the categories of Cats, Wool -crafts and the Wool-industry and sheep and Lace and Costume. A broad range but they are my own favourite areas. I have bought a couple of collections and have spent happy hours at the local antique auction house in town coming away with many boxes of mixed books. Some of these reveal a treasure or two and the rest mostly become piles of gardening, cricket and cookery books of no great renown or rarity. They seem to breed and are taking over the back bedroom.<br /><br />So I have become Red Umbrella Books. Next weekend will be my first attempt to sell, at a bookfair in London. I shall be the one standing by my stall, knitting red socks.<br /><br />More news when I return<br />Cheers GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-52383401241356294782007-10-27T23:45:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:13.714-08:00Highlands and Islands<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMEURU6XHRWKw1YbJu37iK-Y7-iMjvl2jeSk0z2QmqP6qUMpiutn1JfEJFtshCRCJFvbQ0tHkOymF3ztICQtRdifLtlolimyE-7ZfZDk51d5AOpCnXN-3P-k3d10sJ5h_IMZq1g/s1600-h/100_0988.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126275627276001362" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMEURU6XHRWKw1YbJu37iK-Y7-iMjvl2jeSk0z2QmqP6qUMpiutn1JfEJFtshCRCJFvbQ0tHkOymF3ztICQtRdifLtlolimyE-7ZfZDk51d5AOpCnXN-3P-k3d10sJ5h_IMZq1g/s320/100_0988.JPG" border="0" /></a> I managed to complete the cardigan while I was at Knit and Natter in Bishop Auckland on the Friday and Carrie Anne kindly took a photo of me in it to show you. Of course, dark grey does not photograph well but then, neither do I.<br />I wore it on the coach on the way up to Scotland on Monday and it was light, warm and comfortable. Sadly I now have to find a way to neatly darn up the large hole created by the kilt pin dragging on the soft wool!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6t84X3sXGnpDKFHXfIBpg3dxJLmFeDYXoLpOHMa3APMFPIEYjI8wXrsQ-oirHoji5EBMCIaxhFwegzZ9kNhHK1PuxyxuDAemKIEm7_-hgrLjKPBa4XyRAUEDRSnjN6ruCwt9Rg/s1600-h/100_0991.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126275640160903266" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6t84X3sXGnpDKFHXfIBpg3dxJLmFeDYXoLpOHMa3APMFPIEYjI8wXrsQ-oirHoji5EBMCIaxhFwegzZ9kNhHK1PuxyxuDAemKIEm7_-hgrLjKPBa4XyRAUEDRSnjN6ruCwt9Rg/s320/100_0991.JPG" border="0" /></a> To restore my spirits I have started on the football of tops I bought at the Wensleydale Longwool Sheepshop. It is a natural silvery brown and is so easy to spin. Yes that is my foot to the right to give you some idea of the size.<br /><br /><br />The journey to Scotland was long because we were based in the town of Garve and so we were well up into the Highlands. The hotel was very good and well organised to cater for the large numbers of people who all want to be fed at the same time. Our room is the top right in this picture and we looked over woodland and hills.<br /><br />The nights were silent and black.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86FYRH4xWOmMdbOSIl1j0KIUfEUsJ6X4IcSYHsgcqSZuFWh1w9V5iejIYB3_N3TdoiHwVdrpBp0nCTdQqStDaYH3-U4iO4057Nnn7A56WSV0VRHeac6EgpLVzDgtYcxSAR5XvfQ/s1600-h/100_0994.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126275648750837874" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86FYRH4xWOmMdbOSIl1j0KIUfEUsJ6X4IcSYHsgcqSZuFWh1w9V5iejIYB3_N3TdoiHwVdrpBp0nCTdQqStDaYH3-U4iO4057Nnn7A56WSV0VRHeac6EgpLVzDgtYcxSAR5XvfQ/s320/100_0994.JPG" border="0" /></a> The days were spent visiting the Isle of Skye, lochs, castles, Culloden, Inverness and John O'Groats. We were very lucky with th eweather and were able to enjoy some lovely views and autumn colours.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCgemhnY17n3K4yEAYHLAUszeVOSDLXxhDgIfaZulQ3ph11jk4-m-603OY24DAFOSzA7f-djzmk3K9IPwX13G9rlQkM5qPw8PEsu6i1DFPxMjpRuT77rDiMRILj_1NcNR0PoyBg/s1600-h/100_0997.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126275657340772482" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCgemhnY17n3K4yEAYHLAUszeVOSDLXxhDgIfaZulQ3ph11jk4-m-603OY24DAFOSzA7f-djzmk3K9IPwX13G9rlQkM5qPw8PEsu6i1DFPxMjpRuT77rDiMRILj_1NcNR0PoyBg/s320/100_0997.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is a very small selection of the views.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPz-N9hPpIXrdHYbrpp9QQsRmslzIrWB6Z0lAyEyB1a7If6yxqPsxEhYd-yLJhyM8hHwXmJT-oGOEeF2uuFq5EXgOSXoAJ5NqHjEmUBV0LXdLLGxBauTz9T1YqhohSAJaTqEVrQ/s1600-h/100_1000.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126275683110576274" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPz-N9hPpIXrdHYbrpp9QQsRmslzIrWB6Z0lAyEyB1a7If6yxqPsxEhYd-yLJhyM8hHwXmJT-oGOEeF2uuFq5EXgOSXoAJ5NqHjEmUBV0LXdLLGxBauTz9T1YqhohSAJaTqEVrQ/s320/100_1000.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I'm still searching for the best cheese scone and have a few to report on.<br />Since arriving in Darlington I have had a couple of local ones. The Arts Centre cafe does a formidable one for only a pound. It is the largest one I have ever seen and weighs in at quite a few ounces. It is tasty but hard going towards the end. Probably TOO BIG. 6/10<br />Coffee at Elliots did a pleasing-to-the-eye golden scone and I shared it with my sister ( that was so that we could fit in a slice of cheesecake as well). She declared it just right but I found it too salty and costly, so we gave it 6.5/10. We had one at Catkins too but I was a bit sconed-out and can't remember it so I will have to return soon.<br />Whilst in Scotland I had a towering, speckled orange one at a place where the coaches stop but I can't remember which one, so although it was surprisingly lovelier than it looked, it doesn't get a rating.<br /><br /><br />Cheers to all<br />GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-39184317781427954822007-10-18T06:42:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:15.064-08:00A Finished Garment (Well Nearly)!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRK1WwmtRXc3JWwNcHPEmOmRcAl1F7RXP3fDOqTFdnJa5JKCnh8WpLbFuSKMKviOs_A8iJWfgcUTBCLgIqUXGVuIbmV2gcxfXSd65Ps4jLkWa1f5qR2sDKtt7Dda5J_vEgJCo0kw/s1600-h/100_0983.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122672861523881458" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRK1WwmtRXc3JWwNcHPEmOmRcAl1F7RXP3fDOqTFdnJa5JKCnh8WpLbFuSKMKviOs_A8iJWfgcUTBCLgIqUXGVuIbmV2gcxfXSd65Ps4jLkWa1f5qR2sDKtt7Dda5J_vEgJCo0kw/s320/100_0983.JPG" border="0" /></a> I have been sitting at the window shown in this picture, glancing at the town of Darlington while I knit. The urge to make a new garment came over me last Thursday and I searched the internet patterns and fell in love with "Montparnasse" by <a href="http://www.berocco.com/">Berocco </a>in their favourite free patterns section and then on Friday I headed off into town to find <a href="http://tabbyblog.blogspot.com/">Becky</a> at her stall at the craft market.<br /><br />She had some fabulous wool from <a href="http://www.wensleydalelongwoolsheepshop.co.uk/">Wensleydale Longwool SheepShop</a>.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5PhQvNxve6lqI7OE5RRxhvJvwyM7FjHbC8kFZNKDbAZD1KN_hljK3CxX9A-qXotCQkiA8D2XjTZizQiUQnb0d4E5XHyW0iaocQaSQkv5DkSob2W4DlEm7kEcvEVosxnZFhOTvQ/s1600-h/100_0982.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122672874408783362" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5PhQvNxve6lqI7OE5RRxhvJvwyM7FjHbC8kFZNKDbAZD1KN_hljK3CxX9A-qXotCQkiA8D2XjTZizQiUQnb0d4E5XHyW0iaocQaSQkv5DkSob2W4DlEm7kEcvEVosxnZFhOTvQ/s320/100_0982.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I wanted it in the grey but there were only a couple of balls available so I headed off to visit the shop near Leyburn in North Yorkshire to get some.<br /><br />You know what it's like when you want to start on something right away.<br /><br />Luckily I found the place and they had a gorgeous dark grey called "Storm". It took half an hour to get there and an hour and a half to get home because school was out in Richmond (I did a little detour) and everyone in North Yorkshire seems to go to school in Richmond<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwab49iUCJVSj1ob0L93Nfzoyi3FW0owBOCwnj2VtmBS6WA2-ZZ3ENx9R4LCAnfCQGUfgGTkGSkmXyhkOaMyAirrGIXwUHwrNoIgBEiTnEXkN37jcKpHJvYxYcu-Nuxu_VrLiRLg/s1600-h/100_0981.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122672882998717970" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwab49iUCJVSj1ob0L93Nfzoyi3FW0owBOCwnj2VtmBS6WA2-ZZ3ENx9R4LCAnfCQGUfgGTkGSkmXyhkOaMyAirrGIXwUHwrNoIgBEiTnEXkN37jcKpHJvYxYcu-Nuxu_VrLiRLg/s320/100_0981.JPG" border="0" /></a>.<br /><br />But at last I got back home with quite a few knitting hours left in the day and sat down and cast on. A couple of glitches.....My tension was up the spout and I had to start again after a few inches.....I was short by one ball of wool because I knitted it longer, but I phoned them and the shop had one to me the next day.....The armholes were too tight but instead of undoing the sleeves and re-knitting them, I knitted a gusset for each oxter.<br /><br />There it is in the picture waiting for me to pick up and knit about 220 stitches around the opening. I managed to get some kilt pins and a circular needle in town. I love Darlington. It sells everything I want, on the doorstep.<br /><br />With luck and a neat stitch pick-up I will be able to finish it in time to wear it next week on my holiday to the Highlands of Scotland. Highlands, Loch Ness, Skye and John O'Groats.<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonU3ZbVLsNOwR5MsAabiNOYSWt-dexdykpJSUxsws1shgKwgkYOuMN0qUIJzn70pFjiq3Ged8yXeono0AKwLWteozRX9FHgoA311MUtGhR35PEOgMPN3FOGKGBzz-NDWNeGth4w/s1600-h/100_0987_0001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122672887293685282" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonU3ZbVLsNOwR5MsAabiNOYSWt-dexdykpJSUxsws1shgKwgkYOuMN0qUIJzn70pFjiq3Ged8yXeono0AKwLWteozRX9FHgoA311MUtGhR35PEOgMPN3FOGKGBzz-NDWNeGth4w/s320/100_0987_0001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I would have finished it sooner but my waterclour painting lessons have taken up some time too. We've done a lot of trees, foliage and bark and some attempts at water. They look good from a distance!<br /><br />The holiday is a bus tour so I shall take a couple of socks to finish to complete a couple of pairs as well as a sudoku book, a couple of paperbacks and a big map of the Highlands so that I can map-read all the way and keep a track of where we are going. I cannot travel without a map.<br /><br />More news on my return.<br />Cheers GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-16634247217301660162007-10-01T11:11:00.000-07:002007-10-01T11:30:17.489-07:00Moving HomeI am about to close down and pack up the computer and all its attachments. I go off line here at midnight and PIPEX have not promised me anything closer than 3-7 working days to re-connect at the new address. I have employed WATSON'S from Darlington. They come in big, dark, green lorries with two "blokes" to do the lifting and carrying at....50 pounds an hour. They start at 9am Tuesday. I shall be waiting for them.<br /><br />I found some lovely bedroom furniture on the internet, through M&S and rang up first thing this morning to fix it.<br /><br />IT WILL NOT BE DELIVERED UNTIL MID-DECEMBER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />I want it. I don't want other stuff...so I have no alternative but to wait. I could go on a long holiday and leave all my clothes lying on the floor.<br /><br />I have packed everything and now wait for the Lorry to come<br /><br />I shall sleep until about 3:30 or 4:30 am and then get up and make a cup of green tea with lotus flower and citrus.<br /><br />Then I shall bathe and dress and climb up the step-ladder to take down the curtain rods and all the trimmings.<br /><br />Then I shall move flats<br />Cheers GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-88952130520386307122007-09-23T08:30:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:16.624-08:00Pressure Makes PerfectLife needs sorting. Time is running out before I move.<br />I have been having a quick look through the stash and these balls of yarn seemed to go well together. There's a dark green, a multi-blue/green and a black. So I decided to put them together to make a top. They aren't in the right quantities to make it match back and front but there is plenty overall so I will just keep changing one colour every two pattern depths till I get there.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113423061041425858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_t4-pyN6SAu2fRsm04cdU3EsbLOVThnb6B1TUiStog5S-dNyC0TLnfskCrdp4gRnNcl2cK22sSodDkpOSleYqYpaqpYo3MHN-372mCtFlcjfKU-H2y71JSbOdSBTzI7QK1HH5A/s320/100_0978.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />I have chosen "Ladders of Elegance" from the Knitter's Stash. This is one of my favourite pattern books and I have knitted the "Daisy Shawl" in many yarns and sizes. The top I'm doing is a thick, two strand one. It's a good stash-buster and I'm the sort of person who will happily wear a sleeveless warmer. I like my arms free. I will try to do more of a "boat" neckline though.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113423086811229650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkbKTQiDAirFjueDdCu-4q2V5VSGRR5JpVRvElIsGqqLH2AWbQSTpk0Ifi52JkErSdyDL-_05762Hd19d-1teRRBGmVFZ7NS0hL0Vfo3PCkeleqJX2yVF-gDBm4GPCnvr6zpNpA/s320/100_0979.JPG" border="0" /><br />Anyway I can boast about my knitting because I have done all the ironing!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />I had to start because there was no space left to hang the next lot of washing. I did two weeks worth yesterday and then this weeks lot, today.<br />I also got lots of stuff out of the freezer so that I can get rid of it next week....probably to the Heart Foundation who have a new Furniture and White Goods Store opening soon in Bishop Auckland. Unless anyone wants to come round and fetch it this week from Wolsingham. Please let me know if you are able to collect a freezer from here or from central Darlington. I also need homes for an old dressing table with mirror, small glazed china cabinet,a tea trolley and small stuff. Email me on <a href="mailto:fergussong8@hotmail.com">fergussong8@hotmail.com</a><br /><br />I made Plum Butter and Spicey Plum Chutney. It's a while since I made preserves and such...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Rra3wzt_OjGahMiVYt8R6lZR4VX6Z9VlPunc9um0_9d0mYuxlZpTvd6hBkjxhMb5h8F_4MaylWfBQaCs4VERG_RSLFcjXXRDDcXZ772QB-F3x6eO6Cg-Kwivbs6aSXExZtoS5g/s1600-h/100_0977.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113423056746458546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Rra3wzt_OjGahMiVYt8R6lZR4VX6Z9VlPunc9um0_9d0mYuxlZpTvd6hBkjxhMb5h8F_4MaylWfBQaCs4VERG_RSLFcjXXRDDcXZ772QB-F3x6eO6Cg-Kwivbs6aSXExZtoS5g/s320/100_0977.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /> The plum butter is really tasty but a bit runny and the plum chutney is sweet and hot!. When I went to visit my sister in Bedfordshire, where I got all these plums, I made plum sorbet...a la Jamie Oliver and cordial. I still have a bag of plums left in the freezer so I will have to make myself some cordial if I can find a bottle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSXa1QpIEnQljCpormOLeg1_Bc8JEMPaFfn_FuNTye8tWy7pDhjajd8LRSRBLUNPdE1EY38zuLojqlaFqKevLORYydys3dydkjHm623xOp6rHJvHqKxPY0x_lDehH8-stjVLnTQ/s1600-h/100_0980.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5113423095401164258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSXa1QpIEnQljCpormOLeg1_Bc8JEMPaFfn_FuNTye8tWy7pDhjajd8LRSRBLUNPdE1EY38zuLojqlaFqKevLORYydys3dydkjHm623xOp6rHJvHqKxPY0x_lDehH8-stjVLnTQ/s320/100_0980.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I thought English was English!!! Particularly as I spoke it. The long period of time I have spent in Australia has not affected my accent but it has impacted on the pronunciation of some of the words and common words are so differently used.<br />Australian = Other<br />Op-Shop=Charity shop, Thrift shop etc. from....Opportunity Shop<br />Lollies =Sweeties, Candy<br />Icy pole= Ice lolly<br />Chips = Crisps<br />Hot chips =Chips<br />Zucchinis = Courgettes<br />Cordial= squash, fruit drink<br />and I'm sure there are so many more.<br />Please let me know how the words we use on our blogs vary from place to place. Unfortunately I can only cope with English. They tried hard at school to give me a "Language Base" but the only thing which I remember is the Latin that I failed.<br />Pronunciation is going to affect me mostly with food items eg Yoghurt! Ask me when you see me!<br />Cheers GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-17362549263045903002007-09-19T13:31:00.001-07:002008-11-12T17:24:17.828-08:00Is There Anyone Out There who likes IRONING<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwohHB7Rzeu7Dkz5hvibR9loz_QWlVuZX-umMemMezKAtMHc_PDyCNJp7VhIcWXalyURm5e1rfTdLa9ioFDT0hnYBCnWKxnlfGn6bm-DoMTXdIXCKhiZpM06NB1FDjFiG3hq7P5Q/s1600-h/100_0970.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112016398278031410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwohHB7Rzeu7Dkz5hvibR9loz_QWlVuZX-umMemMezKAtMHc_PDyCNJp7VhIcWXalyURm5e1rfTdLa9ioFDT0hnYBCnWKxnlfGn6bm-DoMTXdIXCKhiZpM06NB1FDjFiG3hq7P5Q/s320/100_0970.JPG" border="0" /></a> I had a sore throat... always an indicator that I need to be less stressed, so I stayed at home so that I would not spread it around and while I was at home I did the Jigsaw of the map of Engand and Wales. 1250 pieces and still about 50 to go.<br /><br />This means that I have not done the IRONING<br /><br />I went out for a ramble this morning. As it stared to rain Sheila mentioned that she had left a load of washing on the line. I offered to come round with my lovely dry basket of ironing, but Sheila just laughed!!!<br /><br />So I went home and did some painting and ignored the IRONING.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62p3GeArizb3gWr2PqfsjvsEIRbnzYuCAopgeYznzsM5nqDCEKWhHtaCiQ6qIYTHNxvc7LxAOt_KA_iWsIby5Q_v3-bEUNsBrzo69oL3d7gfc1bT8aUDuO1EInLyqoWarDu4Sqg/s1600-h/100_0968.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112016406867966018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62p3GeArizb3gWr2PqfsjvsEIRbnzYuCAopgeYznzsM5nqDCEKWhHtaCiQ6qIYTHNxvc7LxAOt_KA_iWsIby5Q_v3-bEUNsBrzo69oL3d7gfc1bT8aUDuO1EInLyqoWarDu4Sqg/s320/100_0968.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Of course I shall have to do it soon. I have no clothes to wear.</div><div>Cheers Gillian</div>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-92086736797630448362007-09-15T12:26:00.000-07:002007-09-15T14:36:14.998-07:00Well Does Anyone have a Great Middle NameI think that the MEME doing the rounds at the moment is an absolute stunner! Let's face it, who likes their middle name?<br /><br />Most of us have a middle name which is not very attractive but is bestowed upon us for family reasons. My middle name is MARGARET. I don't think any young girls are named Margaret these days. I'm named after my mother who is called "Peggy" and has never been called Margaret. An old aunt was called Margaret Rose and many members of the family were called...Meg, Peg and Maggy. But not while I was alive. Margaret is, to me, an old name!!!<br /><br /><br /><br />So...Here I go with it!<br /><br /><br /><br />M...Moving Again! Yes I shall be on the move in two weeks time. From the country town of Wolsingham to the city of Darlington.<br /><br />A...Art Classes are one of the benefits of living in a city centre again. I have always wanted to have a go at painting classes and will be doing so at the Arts Centre in Darlington. I'm no good but I shall do some homework and hope to improve.<br /><br />R...I love Reading. There is a small and delightful public library across the road here in Wolsingham. I think it must be one of the smallest in the world. It has a bit of everything and I have read all my favourites. I need a new set of shelves to browse. Mind you I will call in to the library, post office and bakery, here in Wolsingham, on my way to the caravan up in Brotherlee.<br /><br />G...Geography and Geology. My favourite subjects and those which I taught happily for over 30 years. I worked in Africa as a geologist for an exploration company before I started teaching.<br /><br />A...I adore, second hand and old stuff. "Antiques" are a real hobby. My furniture is second hand and my rooms are full of trash and tat. Nothing really valuable, just possibly worth more than I paid for it<br /><br />R...Rambling around the Dales and Fells. I belong to a regular Wednesday group and we dont walk far but we enjoy it. There is so much history and geography in this area. After that I go off to Durham to have lunch with Mum.<br /><br />E...Eating! Which leads me to FOOD. One small problem with the new flat I'm moving into in Darlington is.........There is no larder. There is nowhere to put the food. I am searching the catalogues for cheap, stunning, small larders to slip into the tiny space behind the kitchen door.The winning larder will take up no space, cost no money and house the contents of a medium sized supermarket.<br /><br />T...THE is the only word to finish this off. THE internet, THE weather, THE best to everyone and of course have a lovely cup of TEA. My favourites at the moment are...Earl Grey with a touch of Vanilla and Green Tea with citrus and lotus flower.<br /><br />Thanks <a href="http://mcintyreknits.blogspot.com/">Sue</a> . It was fun trying to work it all out .<br />Cheers GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-852824860762999842007-09-04T09:37:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:18.599-08:00All The Fun Of The FairThis was the view from my bedroom window during the Wolsingham Show. I stayed for the first night, and sure enough, it all got turned off at midnight, but it took another hour or so for all the excited youngsters to decide to leave the area. The rides extend up each of the roads leading out of town as well as filling the Market Place. No complaints, but I'm sure glad I had somewhere else to go for the next three nights.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1WglrLEDgW2-W6tmu0JR1NZwwiThmRRBYmO0yeZvNVIO1w-YHGlSTdW6ozKr7tVsRQ9G4SZuLZ5xHqw1pEdRF0_i73Xtqma7956Rd-j9DC62zExxdt5IPiriAqsbX-gWQCqhEw/s1600-h/100_0944.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106389746070295794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1WglrLEDgW2-W6tmu0JR1NZwwiThmRRBYmO0yeZvNVIO1w-YHGlSTdW6ozKr7tVsRQ9G4SZuLZ5xHqw1pEdRF0_i73Xtqma7956Rd-j9DC62zExxdt5IPiriAqsbX-gWQCqhEw/s320/100_0944.JPG" border="0" /></a> Saturday was the start of the community section held at Scotch Isle Park a couple of miles east of town. I walked in along the "Weardale Way" along the river bank and it was so lovely. Then I back-tracked through the farm and along the road to the entry.<br /><br />I arrived at 11am and judging was still continuing in some tents, so I had a general look around. The foot and mouth crisis had ended but not in time to release permission to transport livestock for the show, so there were no sheep, pigs or cattle and therefore, sadly to me, no sheepdog trials. But lots of dogs, horses, chickens, pigeons, rabbits and guinea pigs. There were farmers markets and I had some wonderful ice-cream from "Archer's". Real Jersey cow ice-cream made by them on their farm, in an old fashioned sugar-cone.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuT1Iu5jHzxAbTRqHo3RiHPUaJqEXyGVurmcmPHcQzzfsqKv3aSRaJzb4dMU4DaZ6QIaVg05mLXNTn2d-OUjIGnvH5opJmH0ets7kDq7fanon9vgo9kSw7CgY85vfsoE3qMHJZQ/s1600-h/100_0946.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106389750365263106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuT1Iu5jHzxAbTRqHo3RiHPUaJqEXyGVurmcmPHcQzzfsqKv3aSRaJzb4dMU4DaZ6QIaVg05mLXNTn2d-OUjIGnvH5opJmH0ets7kDq7fanon9vgo9kSw7CgY85vfsoE3qMHJZQ/s320/100_0946.JPG" border="0" /></a> I always love the tent with all the produce in it. I couldn't believe the real size of these vegies. The bloke there is pointing to some ONIONS, each one the size of a small soccer ball and each of the leeks would make a vat of soup. The white things in between are the "longest parsnip" category!</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrj7g-qUIYps5ofwlUXStebus1WE6yIbU25doB0Bev0O1S4TqllL7DQPKgnfRAoEWylEvDeTIhqcdVYLmDMI95hc799d9i97kxX59elondHzSOADVE2cI0t76_Q1UsXI2kQCUOQ/s1600-h/100_0948.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106389763250165010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrj7g-qUIYps5ofwlUXStebus1WE6yIbU25doB0Bev0O1S4TqllL7DQPKgnfRAoEWylEvDeTIhqcdVYLmDMI95hc799d9i97kxX59elondHzSOADVE2cI0t76_Q1UsXI2kQCUOQ/s320/100_0948.JPG" border="0" /></a> There were slim pickings in the Knitting section after being used to the Sheep and Wool show in Bendigo, Australia, but that did not reduce the skill, talent or flair. My photo does not do justice to the excellent needlecraft that was on show. After a visit to a friend on her "Aloe Vera" stall and another wander around and watching a show put on by the local dog agility group, I settled in at a free place on the fence to watch this lot.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnOsVpMbQLTpoqV9RiRTWesgy2775wgO5jsmjkhGLksRDEXTmAjvLa3AHsxA5fbnl-kl8uddh86nlbe8UkHk3jLmovSlxg8tJJcZtcYBTpfLpQQYVZsk_TXWPKRZL3PvMNnGyCg/s1600-h/100_0952.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106389771840099618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnOsVpMbQLTpoqV9RiRTWesgy2775wgO5jsmjkhGLksRDEXTmAjvLa3AHsxA5fbnl-kl8uddh86nlbe8UkHk3jLmovSlxg8tJJcZtcYBTpfLpQQYVZsk_TXWPKRZL3PvMNnGyCg/s320/100_0952.JPG" border="0" /></a> These are the ones who do displays at the Edinburgh Tattoo in the small arena. They gave them a bit more space here but for safety's sake, kept us all well back from them. They warmed up with the routine where every bike misses every other bike by about two inches in the middle of the field. Then the Gorilla came on and then the jumping over the cars began.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyOQ8Jr8Znnr3qqzHYFxt6FUaMY3wZ_n01YF9VkaNBqrf9V7Qe98p4olO23VjlXIiEPpM_Qkr1lNo3ryaHhrL07wmY897en2fLRv1gmbAMYu7irav-8ZfqA2qy-d7O-6boNm5DA/s1600-h/100_0965.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106389776135066930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyOQ8Jr8Znnr3qqzHYFxt6FUaMY3wZ_n01YF9VkaNBqrf9V7Qe98p4olO23VjlXIiEPpM_Qkr1lNo3ryaHhrL07wmY897en2fLRv1gmbAMYu7irav-8ZfqA2qy-d7O-6boNm5DA/s320/100_0965.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />If you look closely you can see Danny, motorbike-leaping four cars. In this sorry photo he looks as if he is about to land on the second one but believe me, he made it.</p><p>After that I walked home along the road, regretting the fact that three buses made it back before me.</p><p>Then I went up to the caravan and spent a happy couple of days doing...</p><p>Sudokus, crosswords, reading, knitting nancy stuff with some stonewash white cotton (one day to become a braided bath rug), reading (a Hilary Norman), fixing the toilet leak (no success yet), getting my feet warm in the morning (yes! my own knitted socks worked) and watching the RAF fly low on their way to and from Otterburn and lastly, on the way home today....a red kite soaring above the dale. I'm not telling you where.</p>I might become a twitcher!<br /><br />Cheers GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-7456642722894034282007-08-29T13:40:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:18.793-08:00The Show, The Show!!!It is the annual show this weekend. This agricultural show is the oldest one in England. BUT someone thinks it's a good idea to fill the market place with a small but flashy, fairground.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHwjO6oW2bt0Ql600Wl9M1HLnDHYxR1NANUHbifKpYZ99qhe5GJ4oA7j10xyMYuR5Eaz5lBl7B2ajxAiTUbzUhpbu2dkYU17f4sXqTPaqi7nd7qywTICmFInNxI9qk-fnL5BlTg/s1600-h/100_0925.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104225795517682866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHwjO6oW2bt0Ql600Wl9M1HLnDHYxR1NANUHbifKpYZ99qhe5GJ4oA7j10xyMYuR5Eaz5lBl7B2ajxAiTUbzUhpbu2dkYU17f4sXqTPaqi7nd7qywTICmFInNxI9qk-fnL5BlTg/s320/100_0925.JPG" border="0" /></a> It's already later and darker than when I got home and some of the trucks have unloaded amazing equipment. The lights have been tested. There was no warning of this. I hope that other people are coping better than me.<br /><br />I shall go and see Mum tomorrow, visit Chris, shop at the Arnison Centre and get Mum a nice new Doonah. Then I shall try to get back and park somewhere within a 1/2 mile of this horrible display. The Big Show is a couple of miles down the road and I hope to get there on foot along the designated footpath.<br />Hopefully there will be more pics tomorrow or Friday when the real show stuff happens.<br /><br />Cheers GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-65621427814357047492007-08-27T03:12:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:19.310-08:00Out and About<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgszLbrxZF2Jn9V29sUsx-vfjkadGaaJuudSlNoksbegiBdgyQ4Qi_Bw_ZbSm49SNSIUh8sNcaXMIjRhvJAZHLz1WS1piOWniEws5HaqEmo45MQXzO0blEtz4vErohHhpX7gbwA/s1600-h/100_0908_0001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103322082858996866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgszLbrxZF2Jn9V29sUsx-vfjkadGaaJuudSlNoksbegiBdgyQ4Qi_Bw_ZbSm49SNSIUh8sNcaXMIjRhvJAZHLz1WS1piOWniEws5HaqEmo45MQXzO0blEtz4vErohHhpX7gbwA/s320/100_0908_0001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> This is the great water wheel at Killhope Lead Mining Museum at the top of Weardale in Durham. A fitting name for an old lead mine. The average life expectancy of lead miners a hundred years ago was only 45 and the blokes who worked in the smelters died much sooner. But Killhope is more likely a derivation of church (kil/kell) in the valley (hope) and the surrounding scenery supports that. The mine is very close to the divide between eastern and western England. We drove on a few miles and over the top of the Pennines and into Cumbria.<br /><br /><br />My brother John and his son Martyn donned wellies and hard hats and went on an underground tour of the mine. Both are 6feet+ so they had to spend much of the time stooped over and at one stage, bent double. The wellies were an absolute necessity. The miners in the old days usually died from "Trenchfoot". A rotting-away of the feet because of the continuously wet conditions, which led to blood poisoning and gangrene. It got its name during WW1 because the soldiers in the trenches got the same.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiOJo7yXNFi85ML9CVMNtvmZpnti-ugnbkD81v-qfCbH7ENM4NoLDiiH-bYt6_kW2IP7FFcQUeB-tCiE1sV5aQxDB1dfB5g5dkZD-wRn7iy4wrv0L_dAF_04wQz9CjmRoXYFY5w/s1600-h/100_0912_0001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103322104333833362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiOJo7yXNFi85ML9CVMNtvmZpnti-ugnbkD81v-qfCbH7ENM4NoLDiiH-bYt6_kW2IP7FFcQUeB-tCiE1sV5aQxDB1dfB5g5dkZD-wRn7iy4wrv0L_dAF_04wQz9CjmRoXYFY5w/s320/100_0912_0001.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p> </p><p> I spent the time up top with my SOL Anita and we fossicked for rock specimens. We were lucky to come home with some pretty quartz crystals, some shiny galena and some fossilised shells. Then we went and sat in the hide for a while and waited for the red squirrels to come out to play.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJjXhyj9JE4aRKa4XAthyjM2kHQvEVDeYR6WcIz3WyrTVXKJE6K8inYXaTTSFPn3M5aizzlbObeeLl6oCtzybvxVRa7dgtlI21GB9qCyaNZov8pUMZc7RZhW3cbFvG5NPflTL5A/s1600-h/100_0914_0001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103322108628800674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJjXhyj9JE4aRKa4XAthyjM2kHQvEVDeYR6WcIz3WyrTVXKJE6K8inYXaTTSFPn3M5aizzlbObeeLl6oCtzybvxVRa7dgtlI21GB9qCyaNZov8pUMZc7RZhW3cbFvG5NPflTL5A/s320/100_0914_0001.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p>Anita put some nuts out on the feeder and within minutes two red squirrels came out of the pine forest to investigate. My sorry excuse for a camera managed to catch a shot of one of them racing up the pole to check out the feeder. They then went on to check out every place where food could have been left and lifted up the lids on the birds' nesting boxes. The hide was originally set up for bird watching but squirrels are canny and soon catch on to sources of food.</p><p>After that we adjourned to the cafe for a bite to eat. I was too hungry to try out the home made cheese scones and polished off a bowl of home-made macaroni cheese, which was great. The others had a snack followed by wonderful home-made puddings like apple pie and jam roly poly. I must return to try out the scones. The Cafe in Wolsingham, called Julie's, does a wonderful home-made cheese scone topped with ham, tomato and melted cheese. Hard to give it a score because of all the extra stuff on it but probably about an 8. My quest continues.</p><p>This is my excuse for not doing any knitting.</p><p>Cheers to all Gillian</p><p> </p><p><br /> </p>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-48658350123689098212007-08-08T14:47:00.000-07:002007-08-08T15:05:02.241-07:00Cheese SconesI haven't any fresh photos but I have had a good read of all my favourite blogs and have made some comments on them. I noticed that I commented on how lovely the CHEESE scones were at the Bowes in Barnard Castle. At 1.60 pounds each ( my machine does not print pound sterling signs) they aren't cheap but they are always wonderful and their standard is dependable. I would give them 8/10.<br />Today I had a freshly baked one at the cafe in Westgate Department Store in Newgate in Bishop Auckland. It was not as expensive and I can't remember exactly how much but it was much lighter, however, it was sweet! I would only give it 7/10 even though it was lovely because the tea shop at the Bowes has set a high standard.<br />I hope that I shall find 9/10 and even the 10/10 standard soon. It seems to be a quest that is worthy. I hope to have advice from you all as to where to search and where and when to taste.<br />You can even try to direct me to "foolproof" recipes. I am, however, a major fool at scone baking.<br />Cheers for now GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-55881497261148725902007-08-04T11:47:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:19.840-08:00Sick of Socks AgainI must admit that I have been trying to finish these socks but so much has prevented me from making them my primary concern.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBHrli8RhYF_mDPAUJpqstp5naR247GbRfdKCT9PbVKykvI7wu4VN5p2a9qz-IkFPCcdXO7-PlsfNIQ3S9Pyv88z3rMM2VU59Iui3VsNAKUqgtZQWro-z5-w0S28JIimnCG8STQ/s1600-h/100_0907.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094920462488514594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBHrli8RhYF_mDPAUJpqstp5naR247GbRfdKCT9PbVKykvI7wu4VN5p2a9qz-IkFPCcdXO7-PlsfNIQ3S9Pyv88z3rMM2VU59Iui3VsNAKUqgtZQWro-z5-w0S28JIimnCG8STQ/s320/100_0907.JPG" border="0" /></a> I have been given notice that the flat above the shop, plus the shop will be up for sale.This means that I must vacate this flat. I am booked and paid up until the 23 October.<br />Anyway, now that I have got over the gloom about it all I am looking for a new place.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbvt50mNh9IbeBHu9Ao3IarqN33sRvdTRg4LU28PQFTdboS10jcrPe3CrXCbvFc1ZmvZSxLzUCua_XI2vH_Hhi_wafedY5HEQiYW-tbcEsq24bz9PYgub0YQgSIgKZgrcYIlOpA/s1600-h/100_0893.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094919655034662930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbvt50mNh9IbeBHu9Ao3IarqN33sRvdTRg4LU28PQFTdboS10jcrPe3CrXCbvFc1ZmvZSxLzUCua_XI2vH_Hhi_wafedY5HEQiYW-tbcEsq24bz9PYgub0YQgSIgKZgrcYIlOpA/s320/100_0893.JPG" border="0" /></a> In the mean time I shall continue to fit out the van for wonderful get-a-ways and whatever property I manage to rent will be great. I'm checking out a place in Bishop Auckland on Wednesday and went to one in Barnard Castle this morning, It was a bit small and pokey even though it was beautiful. I ended up in the Tea shop at the Bowes Museum where they do the best cheese scones.<br /><br /><div>Cheers Gillian</div></div>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-16833226717007316152007-07-18T12:40:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:20.812-08:00Would You Believe It???<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrZnQ3X0YxQ0xb0uu8asoeuzUM4je4QNHvMHuizC553zDAvc8X79cthwmh3YNB6Eqg-pGbpdHpvtV6xb9Z4B7qxv_ShHA94gNIdj_8n3pL5bfm_BqU4NSwDN9AdB4pqCR7JGtYQ/s1600-h/100_0882.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088625552706384786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrZnQ3X0YxQ0xb0uu8asoeuzUM4je4QNHvMHuizC553zDAvc8X79cthwmh3YNB6Eqg-pGbpdHpvtV6xb9Z4B7qxv_ShHA94gNIdj_8n3pL5bfm_BqU4NSwDN9AdB4pqCR7JGtYQ/s320/100_0882.JPG" border="0" /></a> Hello.<br />Yes I have bought a caravan. In England this is called a static caravan. They are available on sites where everyone owns one and they are all plumbed and serviced.<br />It is situated between a stream and the River Wear (Picture left)areally empty bit of the "North Pennines Area of Natural Beauty"<br />This picture shows the bridge over the river Wear which is the start of the footpath into the village of Westgate. This is about a hundred steps from the van.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMtO3RmjRn3Gei6B0lxy_UeRjyCrJVR6RmMZKlAQH96BcxHBw_VHOl0U_tNIEpORnll5HGxtHlqosHzpbB8-r_WB-UPWqZjTAV8pmsRwTkKJRb_KFKFA6wqECoS6gcQyaD0jUw/s1600-h/100_0888.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088625591361090466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdMtO3RmjRn3Gei6B0lxy_UeRjyCrJVR6RmMZKlAQH96BcxHBw_VHOl0U_tNIEpORnll5HGxtHlqosHzpbB8-r_WB-UPWqZjTAV8pmsRwTkKJRb_KFKFA6wqECoS6gcQyaD0jUw/s320/100_0888.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It's a 12x35 ft van with a double with en-suite and a twin bedroom with bathroom, followed by a pretty good kitchen, dining space and a very good lounge area which can be more sleeping area if needed.<br /><br />It doesn't look great at the moment but I shall create some decking and a ramp for easy access. The stream at the back has been "landscaped" by other van owners. I shall see how it all goes but I hope to be in before the end of August.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFfhKoKBFKSB64n-t24Sraaw9xn-1O2NPdNu1d6uF-H28b7QX6MNl0HOELDuUuCYA0j1pFXrjZ_1ddU2DbvscCQ4xyie42z2aJXFXK1FhAeabNFV42q487bLM0EmcJ1HMCG0H7g/s1600-h/100_0889.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088625599951025074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFfhKoKBFKSB64n-t24Sraaw9xn-1O2NPdNu1d6uF-H28b7QX6MNl0HOELDuUuCYA0j1pFXrjZ_1ddU2DbvscCQ4xyie42z2aJXFXK1FhAeabNFV42q487bLM0EmcJ1HMCG0H7g/s320/100_0889.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The inside is quite spacious because it is 12ft wide, not 10ft and there are only two bedrooms so that the daily usable space is much larger. It even has a gas fire and is double glazed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo-V8md3DK0qYkjLy8fHoXpamC-4ryrkYi1PAznE22bDovsZrvD6kN5WyY3te5tWWZQFMfeo5aQlmGUcul3Dj6Um2hClcooIXMnayfLHUv8_FzcwlhjgfVeT8IS-CJplibhGZNg/s1600-h/100_0887.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088625604245992386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo-V8md3DK0qYkjLy8fHoXpamC-4ryrkYi1PAznE22bDovsZrvD6kN5WyY3te5tWWZQFMfeo5aQlmGUcul3Dj6Um2hClcooIXMnayfLHUv8_FzcwlhjgfVeT8IS-CJplibhGZNg/s320/100_0887.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At the end of the run of vans there is a lovely grassy bank which gives you access to sit inside the rock shelter and fish!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Another disaster involving GAS occurred today. It is a bit nerve racking to be told that there is a possibility of another explosion, people were evacuated and the driver of the gas tanker died.<br />It is understandable to find that people are a bit jittery and questionning the traffic of such things through the narrow confines of the Wolsingham streets.<br />I hope people can return home soon and I am sorry for the family of the tanker driver.<br />I heard a massive roar earlier tonight and thought that it might have been the tanker but it was probably thunder.<br />We have had such dreadful stormy weather in the last couple of days. My mother says that her sister Julia's next door neighbour , sitting peacefully at home with the cat on her knee in the sitting room was struck by a lightning bolt which came down the chimney like a great ball of red fire. The cat is not recovered and Carol is now very shaky at the thought of what could have happened. The chimney is totally disintegrated and all the bricks fell and damaged the houses on both sides<br />There is no doubt that the weather is not just changing ....It is becoming so unpredictable that we cant even enjoy joking about the weather forecast.<br />Cheers to all, GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-4699791191475756772007-07-15T05:44:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:21.567-08:00In A SpinAfter the graduation celebrations at Durham University for my niece Sally, I put my sister (Sally's mother) Trisha and my mother in the car and drove south to Bedfordshire and dropped my mother off at Cathy's, my other sister's place. Then we headed off again, further south to Dorset to Trisha's place. I had a lovely time knitting, cooking and eating and watching the Morris Dancing competition in the local shopping centre. I thought I had loaded a picture but my blogging skills, which were never very good are a bit rusty.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgEaCbWoQN0BuVtu-soCsccEWz7pYnrfFxK9Q6_GeRwy5KIcb3EX0qD6gNERWYVdI97ldGX8vdZ_YX9_rZxq7HisGk7pDJzca_uhg8F23oOIWMoNx6W4mDAMnsdBRPT-SXCWJBw/s1600-h/100_0877.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087405210763670354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgEaCbWoQN0BuVtu-soCsccEWz7pYnrfFxK9Q6_GeRwy5KIcb3EX0qD6gNERWYVdI97ldGX8vdZ_YX9_rZxq7HisGk7pDJzca_uhg8F23oOIWMoNx6W4mDAMnsdBRPT-SXCWJBw/s320/100_0877.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A few days later I headed north to my brother's place, where we were all gathering to celebrate the 18th birthday of my niece Jenny. She had already received a pair of socks so I measured up my nephew, Martyn's long feet and set-to with the grey opal striping wool, to produce a foot-long-foot pair for him too. I also knitted the green ones with the Lana Grossa that I got from Tabbydashery. I think they will be mine.<br />My brother John has an allotment and so I came home with potatoes and salad from him (leek and potato soup) and blackcurrants from his allotment neighbour (blackcurrant and apple jelly). Apparently the wet summer has been a particular disaster for allotment tomatoes. The "blight" has got to all of the ones in John's area.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbuzfJ8DIlkPcqoFIZVVDLtw9xAjFCrEOx8Jk9tn0ZGlZ0v_u4_I-B8ttHjojrTHFTxHRaOSIGjVfvkr5Mg8CxKixba9Ru6KLIVp9dXIikqTqkTOT6Iegr5Gl3sGSJ0kf3ALwzQ/s1600-h/100_0878.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087405215058637666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbuzfJ8DIlkPcqoFIZVVDLtw9xAjFCrEOx8Jk9tn0ZGlZ0v_u4_I-B8ttHjojrTHFTxHRaOSIGjVfvkr5Mg8CxKixba9Ru6KLIVp9dXIikqTqkTOT6Iegr5Gl3sGSJ0kf3ALwzQ/s320/100_0878.JPG" border="0" /></a> Trisha lives in Christchurch in Dorset where they are lucky enough to have a "Wool Shop". A delightful, tiny, overfilled and heavenly refuge on the main shopping street. I had just bought a couple of balls of the Town and Country sock wool and was about to turn away from the counter and leave when I noticed the colours of the Rowan Tapestry arranged temptingly on the shelf behind.<br />I dont need it. I dont know what I can possibly knit with two balls (NO, no thankyou! Please don't sugggest a scarf). Maybe I shall just get it out now and then and admire it. I think that single-plyed wool always looks better in the skein or ball than actually knitted up anyway. This particular colour combo reminds me of opals. A beautiful stone with sad legends attached.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqzp2jMFE0TTwHB3Uo-v-Va8yKs6TF-37moLCsU1YptHoZezRwYH1QtF5q9T9zm_Lc789F2IymJ77xB_22w5ZtWIK-qFSSVtzOx0tfCxH2qPZhjFOdrMaMkU1TOWADhbFovt_wQ/s1600-h/100_0879.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087405227943539570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrqzp2jMFE0TTwHB3Uo-v-Va8yKs6TF-37moLCsU1YptHoZezRwYH1QtF5q9T9zm_Lc789F2IymJ77xB_22w5ZtWIK-qFSSVtzOx0tfCxH2qPZhjFOdrMaMkU1TOWADhbFovt_wQ/s320/100_0879.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After 750 miles of driving I arrived home late on Wednesday. On Thursday I decided that the spinning wheel glue had had enough time to set. The wheel held well and the conrod clip had arrived from Haldanes (wonderful Haldanes, prompt, polite, honest and so helpful) so the wheel turns without wobbling. However, as soon as I put pressure on the maiden bar it split. I got the glue and clamps and put it together again. While I waited I started on the fleece that had arrived. It is a very long-stapled, Teeswater fleece and needed combing rather than carding. I did a big boxful with a dog comb. The next morning was the moment of truth and I was much more careful in handling the maiden bar. I had drilled two new holes in the wheel support because one of the original screws had sheared off and I bought new screws and drill bits. It wasn't a breeze but I got it all together.<br />A year ago I would have left it all to Robert to fix in his workshop. He had put a lot of effort into teaching me how to use all the tools I would need so the least I could do was have a go. It was six months ago he died so I did a bit of crying and quite some swearing but in the end I had a wheel that worked.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAgg8WkV61i-XHosG1sNlEnEmH-xAhyDvjOMPMy7o31dTeiBwn7gZqLsN6tqOxEDDch9D9zGjwVs7nrzrMdHPAarMcfizS_Hlsv-_VDOtkrCif42UKeUDZ3Zse8Iu0OKB1gl3xQ/s1600-h/100_0881.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087405236533474178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAgg8WkV61i-XHosG1sNlEnEmH-xAhyDvjOMPMy7o31dTeiBwn7gZqLsN6tqOxEDDch9D9zGjwVs7nrzrMdHPAarMcfizS_Hlsv-_VDOtkrCif42UKeUDZ3Zse8Iu0OKB1gl3xQ/s320/100_0881.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And I made this.<br /><br /><br />It's meant to produce a lustrous yarn and mine is under-spun and under-plyed so it has come out too fluffy. At first I criticised the wheel for being wobbly but eventually it seemed to lose its wobble so I realised that it was me who was wobbly. I'm on the next two bobbins already. Of course they have extra spin and will be more tightly plyed, but these two small balls are more precious to me than the Rowan Tapestry. They signify that I have come a long way in a short time. Perhaps it's time to slow down a bit for a while now and just spin on a bit.<br />Love to all of you who have been so patiently reading my blog for the last eight months. The next eight will be better reading<br />Cheers GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-16272057912494299212007-07-03T12:19:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:22.999-08:00Some Fixed Some BrokenI bought something called "Serious Glue" and borrowed some enormous clamps from the man at the hardware store and glued the hub of the wheel together and it seems to have stayed. So then I glued the Maiden bar together and screwed it back on. One of the screws had sheared off so it's only held on by the skin of its teeth<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPg6B8VArY6s2HcCwILCnk059lyhmUEYRHLNYOAH-LJftJVnFJP1D_xUjo6RjPidVs_uEBpP5N2XlF_PK6YAG6uthJ95WffsQuEox1no9wzKyMdjr1MjZFKVEcGZfyj9LtJ8fVw/s1600-h/100_0847.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083053311177549618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPg6B8VArY6s2HcCwILCnk059lyhmUEYRHLNYOAH-LJftJVnFJP1D_xUjo6RjPidVs_uEBpP5N2XlF_PK6YAG6uthJ95WffsQuEox1no9wzKyMdjr1MjZFKVEcGZfyj9LtJ8fVw/s320/100_0847.JPG" border="0" /></a> . I'm now awaiting a conrod screw and a tension spring from Haldanes and I have a complete wheel. I have yet to get some fleece to spin and as I'm off on holiday for a week I shall leave the wheel so that the glue has plenty of time to set.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />However, I dont think that the "Serious Glue" will do much for the next item. Another ebay purchase, broken in the post. I was so looking forward to this piece of lustre ware and had just the spot for it. Perhaps I should stick to the local secondhand shops. There are so many around here.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttM-ehZ8PIaICkX-p_8wpXSLX4_HDfpPhurxXGF8YxGL5SerobUbs8231gQFot43-bqIHFguJ7STnNca_D8q4DjPn9uMAtjiGtCOarR_bKiVSo-kvGHFbdRny9JUheuZpJpC8Ag/s1600-h/100_0846.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083053319767484226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttM-ehZ8PIaICkX-p_8wpXSLX4_HDfpPhurxXGF8YxGL5SerobUbs8231gQFot43-bqIHFguJ7STnNca_D8q4DjPn9uMAtjiGtCOarR_bKiVSo-kvGHFbdRny9JUheuZpJpC8Ag/s320/100_0846.JPG" border="0" /></a> I had some left over wool so...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I-tkPA7WuCXRZddCMWmJX22f4uYqTKdqubVnn6FFzEurTfOteyRlTzeyCY1jvu38hLS3RhfFWeyrp-bK3PscrTRXTIBf4OREq0bBdPBm7anxnsqyqa3Cfs8gugb969F0KUgsaA/s1600-h/100_0848.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083053324062451538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9I-tkPA7WuCXRZddCMWmJX22f4uYqTKdqubVnn6FFzEurTfOteyRlTzeyCY1jvu38hLS3RhfFWeyrp-bK3PscrTRXTIBf4OREq0bBdPBm7anxnsqyqa3Cfs8gugb969F0KUgsaA/s320/100_0848.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiok_kmvKUYX2xIOOi6QG-bNvisuT_F-iSjpolOXDGFVXpbsJrvQletcGuLT65GkHVnr4boyjyTIvXnAWDik4v3OqvrBTDc8IRQo5ZaMn2pi-fXCFk0BaldIJfy5oXhVsrWCQKSKw/s1600-h/100_0849.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083053332652386146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiok_kmvKUYX2xIOOi6QG-bNvisuT_F-iSjpolOXDGFVXpbsJrvQletcGuLT65GkHVnr4boyjyTIvXnAWDik4v3OqvrBTDc8IRQo5ZaMn2pi-fXCFk0BaldIJfy5oXhVsrWCQKSKw/s320/100_0849.JPG" border="0" /></a> I knitted a pair of fingerless mittens for a friend of Mum's who has been ill and lost a lot of weight so that even in the warmer weather his hands get cold. I hope these will do the trick.<br /><br /><br /><br />And to keep myself occupied I have got busy onn More socks. These ones are for my SIL who I shall visit next week and while I'm away visiting all the siblings I have selected another couple of balls of self-striping sock wool to accompany me on the tour.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFLoj8NxqsmVmmp8KpQEgBt6LbOzqqyyxrtyJNY36K1KU2mJToeDmUCpDslA4DdHXYgENdMedptQVQnx2WQ4Gn4vsTcn8WipiWsBs2ojJluXNlyZxeky1bK-xeP4_6oHfxgA59g/s1600-h/100_0850.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083053336947353458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFLoj8NxqsmVmmp8KpQEgBt6LbOzqqyyxrtyJNY36K1KU2mJToeDmUCpDslA4DdHXYgENdMedptQVQnx2WQ4Gn4vsTcn8WipiWsBs2ojJluXNlyZxeky1bK-xeP4_6oHfxgA59g/s320/100_0850.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ipersonally want the green ones for myself, but I haven't kept a pair yet so we'll see who's around as they get finished off.<br />Cheers to all, GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-83385345342269109272007-06-24T10:20:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:23.512-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HQpoRl6rZrnJCc4IghTBHR-AqbdreQjQfEgOav1HZ95u2u10_e32N-Qffoln6NFt-KHfIPVvhInBvT_NbdgL8YsPtt-W7J45uDfpiJuxLn0QesE96kyBh3-3zeuNj_qltlro1A/s1600-h/100_0843.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079682692719684946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HQpoRl6rZrnJCc4IghTBHR-AqbdreQjQfEgOav1HZ95u2u10_e32N-Qffoln6NFt-KHfIPVvhInBvT_NbdgL8YsPtt-W7J45uDfpiJuxLn0QesE96kyBh3-3zeuNj_qltlro1A/s320/100_0843.JPG" border="0" /></a>I made it!!!<br />It got a bit boring now and then but once you've started, it's so easy that you can do it without needing to count or measure. I soon learned to recognise whether I was on an increase row or a follow-up by the shape of the stitch at the increase places. I made a few mistakes which show to the experienced eye but I hope they do not detract too much. Anyway I only discovered them when it was too late to turn back.<br />I bougt a 100cm addi turbo circular from Kangaroo, thinking it would do the job but, I ended up spending so much time squeezing the knitting around the needle that I trawled the net for a longer one. I ended up with a 200cm addi turbo from <a href="http://www.kcgtrading.com/">www.kcgtrading.com</a> ( Knitting and Crochet Guild).<br />I have spent decades knitting without addi turbos. Why did I take so long to discover them? What am I going to do with all the shoddier needles that I own?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLj27QSQfh-NEzS9hj2wL2XkZd65EfbX8C9hQq7Pz0zLdDuxULjNT21dfWZ9GT6ve7D_onmamHilDtvStIKFzQwnP4WvvX4eWCTgLP8C290FWBxn3-PVqFbU6qKYuql8CwEv2KXA/s1600-h/100_0842.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079682684129750338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLj27QSQfh-NEzS9hj2wL2XkZd65EfbX8C9hQq7Pz0zLdDuxULjNT21dfWZ9GT6ve7D_onmamHilDtvStIKFzQwnP4WvvX4eWCTgLP8C290FWBxn3-PVqFbU6qKYuql8CwEv2KXA/s320/100_0842.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The pattern for the blanket was illustrated with a load of tiny pompoms sewn around the edge but I couldn't face making the necessary hundreds so I cast off using a "frilled cast off" method from Montse Stanley's book. I find "The Knitters Handbook "is a worthwhile investment. I learned to knit before I went to school and once I could read I taught myself to follow patterns but I never learned all those little tricks and finishes. This book has all of them.<br />I surfed the net for that illusive equation that allows you to leave just enough yarn to cast off with. Eventually I came to the conclusion that 4x the last row is good enough so I doubled it for the frilled cast off and then added a bit more. I ended up with a tail of less than three metres which wasn't bad seeing as I started with a ball of 200gm of 4ply baby wool which could have been well over half a mile in length.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejxgU9ZUi-HoB5Sgs_g7hhWBGbXh__Ll3cMs5xcV1MP_8qZRJvUgMh_mcTYUMvOGD20pZ8cTaN5b3GVv419k7l7ksEGDHdDmsmjBVidwsyUS8WATeQdIg4JAp78zKcp-B_xj3iw/s1600-h/100_0844.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079682697014652258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejxgU9ZUi-HoB5Sgs_g7hhWBGbXh__Ll3cMs5xcV1MP_8qZRJvUgMh_mcTYUMvOGD20pZ8cTaN5b3GVv419k7l7ksEGDHdDmsmjBVidwsyUS8WATeQdIg4JAp78zKcp-B_xj3iw/s320/100_0844.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've done a close up of the finish here. It blocked out really well and drapes beautifully. The baby is due in August in Australia so I shall have plenty of time to pack it up in tissue and send it off.<br />I'm waiting for an insurance assessor to come next Thursday and check out the broken spinning wheel and the packaging it came in. Once they have been I can see whether I can do anything to fix it at all. I'm not too good with tools but I'll have a go. One of the things I have to do is remove the hub pin so that I can get the wheel off to see if it can be re-glued in any way.<br />Any advice would be most welcome.<br /><br />Cheers to all GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-30162446175671656112007-06-03T13:27:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:24.266-08:00Got Rid of the BluesI have a penchant for 4ply. I like the less bulky. So, I bought some lovely, light blue 4ply cotton to knit a summer top.<br />That was six weeks ago and in the mean time the cotton has been the makings of three jumpers. I have not liked any of them. It has not knitted up smoothly and I think that I need to consider a smaller needle than that recommended but I certainly don't want to do that now.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxx-XZl9eS1OKmDYzAOYj9aT2M-18AgWJjHmZb9twTIIVWc3thlvEYbJyGjfbE3-rhcYpe_0oorU5Qw5IPFnDkm3f1t_DN5ZDlYQjTK4Q_fys2izPZ0Sd7KzWb_pfsHiD-K3rdNQ/s1600-h/100_0833.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071938543009311874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxx-XZl9eS1OKmDYzAOYj9aT2M-18AgWJjHmZb9twTIIVWc3thlvEYbJyGjfbE3-rhcYpe_0oorU5Qw5IPFnDkm3f1t_DN5ZDlYQjTK4Q_fys2izPZ0Sd7KzWb_pfsHiD-K3rdNQ/s320/100_0833.JPG" border="0" /></a> I have now decided to "bag" it all away and find it again one or two years later in the eternal stash.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlve2hhSNbp-MXWntj9pvrcH-tSk_l-c4ziuWE64buWnITnLmET_FQtC_kEGe_0tBnRz8wTWYgCxnrfSgoFCES7NButZW1JHUSFXkWb9H7OD3FPx16R-LQcD4O352KZGv7bz_Rw/s1600-h/100_0834.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071938555894213778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlve2hhSNbp-MXWntj9pvrcH-tSk_l-c4ziuWE64buWnITnLmET_FQtC_kEGe_0tBnRz8wTWYgCxnrfSgoFCES7NButZW1JHUSFXkWb9H7OD3FPx16R-LQcD4O352KZGv7bz_Rw/s320/100_0834.JPG" border="0" /></a> Even the needles have gone away with it because not only do I have a pair of needles in grey metal, faux tortoiseshell and anodised in every size needed, my mother has the same again and tried for the third time to give me her collection three days ago.<br /> but I needed something new to knit so..... Sue and Isabelle gave me Bloke the bear and he certainly agrees with the new project..<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJxAKUWiM3NLGlfiAi3N3a4ItD2ITwCiMUPGx6qWmoVqpSPGrZFiF5CNVKVx60TCCK_5kG1Tj2w5AgnEIstoziDMv3oKOCS0yPT2jnKsEF9BpW7ebfRgZNu1BE1XMdFrAH6mpUw/s1600-h/100_0836.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071938560189181090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJxAKUWiM3NLGlfiAi3N3a4ItD2ITwCiMUPGx6qWmoVqpSPGrZFiF5CNVKVx60TCCK_5kG1Tj2w5AgnEIstoziDMv3oKOCS0yPT2jnKsEF9BpW7ebfRgZNu1BE1XMdFrAH6mpUw/s320/100_0836.JPG" border="0" /></a> It was a bit tricky getting started with three needles and five stitches! After three goes I cheated and cast on on a straight needle and knitted it until I had ten stitches and then placed them into 3/3/4/. New row hits in when the four pattern section comes up. After a while there were enough stitches to fit onto a circular needle. I am still pulling all the stitches to the start and then joining them to the finish of the last row with a loop in the needle but the circular is now filling up and the routine of the pattern is easy once it has been established.<br />I think I probably twisted one of the original needles and so the pattern at the centre is not as daisified as it is meant to be but I'm happy with it so I will knit on.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D-mFJ_7WT6JngXbqPWSxfuiitGbI8DGpPf_p85GOpKWlFqxIgIWXwgPZ8u2nAG36aNsy9zIf_FvoRbxK5TRHeISodXEWl3BjtxPQSpLxH0fvDUr8MEfMXTHk9X71Ne0ubgFWIg/s1600-h/100_0837.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5071938568779115698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9D-mFJ_7WT6JngXbqPWSxfuiitGbI8DGpPf_p85GOpKWlFqxIgIWXwgPZ8u2nAG36aNsy9zIf_FvoRbxK5TRHeISodXEWl3BjtxPQSpLxH0fvDUr8MEfMXTHk9X71Ne0ubgFWIg/s320/100_0837.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I shal be taking my mother's friends to the hospital tomorrow because some serious tests need doing so I will be glad to have this baby-banket with me.</div><div>Cheers for now Gillian</div>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-9028666621234384072007-05-22T10:27:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:24.489-08:00Lovely PeopleI had a lovely time last Friday when I went to my first ever Knit and Knatter session in Bishop Auckland a few mile away. Now I know why they are so popular the world over. All the people there were so lovely and friendly and were busy making such a broad range of articles and "knattering" all the time.<br />I am looking forward to more. There was also interest in spinning and dyeing and I am hoping to start up these hobbies again soon.<br />I bought an Ashford spinning wheel off ebay and picked it up from the post office this morning.<br />Unfortunately the flight has sheared off and the part under the hinge has broken in two. This was because the part had not been stabilised before transit and had been pushed around almost parallel to the main frame.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067438362175908962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LRzyzPndQxsdeIDdDJLO4SbePiX4FOcZwUuBbimiwDMECzZnWbvjpj2NCHT-iBk9Zc48fDc-qZ_2F-KEm7lsM7mAFC9Z7_F5-MHMB-GdzS1D285AFZW3FZFW8RH_ostEUHQr3g/s320/100_0822.JPG" border="0" />The hub off the wheel has also split in half on a vertical plane and this has loosened all the spokes. The wheel wobbles dreadfully and has lost all its stability. I dont know whether anything can be done to repair these problems and have spent much of the rest of the day in a very weepy state. If Robert was here he would have been able to fix it but I only have some of his tools and don't know how to use many of them. The split hub looks like it has been like that for a while.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguweaaArzQDdXDDxdwsoU7Lgqm0pU1mTZEl8AbQ_2oBeZUJ_muPEoqhyG9gKKn6i5B5Dm8DTBuw-RSXpU4qejxiEXzo-I-VN8Bdm2GIAJbcZJ2NOehiuVtpru98AAKd5vokqzBQA/s1600-h/100_0825.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067438370765843570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguweaaArzQDdXDDxdwsoU7Lgqm0pU1mTZEl8AbQ_2oBeZUJ_muPEoqhyG9gKKn6i5B5Dm8DTBuw-RSXpU4qejxiEXzo-I-VN8Bdm2GIAJbcZJ2NOehiuVtpru98AAKd5vokqzBQA/s320/100_0825.JPG" border="0" /></a> Anyway, I am in contact with the seller and will see what can be resolved. I can see it being a matter of blaming parcel force and fear that I shall be left with an expensive ornament.<br />I so badly wanted to spin, I was so excited, I turned down two others. Now I don't even feel like knitting and still have that sock to finish<br /><div>Things will be better in the morning, I'm sure</div><div>Cheers Gillian</div>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-21458939202123090502007-05-09T12:04:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:24.887-08:00Good Things come in Pairs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiZBiuKE1CqryI5byh528NyJEf6wrrUVhzOb1Ert1iKGAY5E5rEc3dV9PtFvS_LWtUSSHwPMmAzWooGcfYn5l46Q_rpVLNCYRzp_LjSdh12c6UaKuH3pCqRLcVnldJnRVn2iPUA/s1600-h/100_0783.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062639418861597634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiZBiuKE1CqryI5byh528NyJEf6wrrUVhzOb1Ert1iKGAY5E5rEc3dV9PtFvS_LWtUSSHwPMmAzWooGcfYn5l46Q_rpVLNCYRzp_LjSdh12c6UaKuH3pCqRLcVnldJnRVn2iPUA/s320/100_0783.JPG" border="0" /></a>I bought this lovely wool at the woolshop in Christchurch in Dorset near to where my sister lives (in Mudeford). It stripes up beautifully and the colours are quite striking. the label says "Sirdar, Town and Country". It is described as 'wool-rich' which in England, means about 75% wool and the rest acrylic/nylon to help with the wear and tear on the heels and toes. It takes a bit of wastage to get the second ball to the same starting stage, so that the stripes match.<br /> I have been saving all the left over sock bits to put together to make a hairy-rary Joseph coat one day.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71NRd_jbEFsRX48u-cZqFQyGCqtBY7C2t72-5EPhRAL2WnVpWvaAieTx_GC_3DfLBAqgS22KYYYaEbWBrxVIkG63ihvbXx6Sr8HhL2dIKStwJ0zTYfxMyRNfWU6sSErnhxpOMhQ/s1600-h/100_0784.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062639423156564946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71NRd_jbEFsRX48u-cZqFQyGCqtBY7C2t72-5EPhRAL2WnVpWvaAieTx_GC_3DfLBAqgS22KYYYaEbWBrxVIkG63ihvbXx6Sr8HhL2dIKStwJ0zTYfxMyRNfWU6sSErnhxpOMhQ/s320/100_0784.JPG" border="0" /></a>These socks are being knitted with some 4ply baby wool from Australia so they won't last long because they are too soft and will be easily worn out. My aunt was thrilled to receive them yesterday as I sewed in the last thread of yarn. She says she will wear them around the house as "comfort socks"<br />I managed to get the pooling to match in both socks, although it's so colourful, it's hard to notice.<br />I can't wait to get dyeing again and create my own colour combos.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNz8jOzmV9npRJFWyxikrDK8fwdabPs5zIgvFpHgWZfxloSJaL4QMiV-z8ToiG-VvXE3aHViL9k-GiombTish7fZxczYfxztNXDbj9VyFSdBJ40b1Ad6PeoO5U7DEFejJ-nTcIPg/s1600-h/100_0785.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5062639427451532258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNz8jOzmV9npRJFWyxikrDK8fwdabPs5zIgvFpHgWZfxloSJaL4QMiV-z8ToiG-VvXE3aHViL9k-GiombTish7fZxczYfxztNXDbj9VyFSdBJ40b1Ad6PeoO5U7DEFejJ-nTcIPg/s320/100_0785.JPG" border="0" /></a>Very hard to see, but here is the last of the pairs.<br />This paddock contains two Shetland pony mares, both of which have had a foal in the last ten days.<br />The youngest one is standing in the middle of the field and the older one is lying down on the left, next to Mum. I'm keeping an eye on them. They are just over the bridge and can only be seen if you walk by because the wall on the bridge is too high so that cars and their passengers miss out!<br />If they come closer to the fence I'll get a better pic. Or I suppose could buy a better camera.<br /><br /><br />Cheers for now GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-80327500595835447022007-05-06T11:37:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:24:25.375-08:00New lambs...New life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRUq5GXOY250LmbqO1QGYxzxR_SG6pDOWXXuWWvJ5R6gqKErvUJn05SeXuuZd5p8NPsUdF2kGbBer4Wzfp7Hf0R9i6JJFb0w8w02GfDFOi2mgmMyWXXUVBpDS7VUCm2ogV4Xb7g/s1600-h/100_0782.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061519162541781922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRUq5GXOY250LmbqO1QGYxzxR_SG6pDOWXXuWWvJ5R6gqKErvUJn05SeXuuZd5p8NPsUdF2kGbBer4Wzfp7Hf0R9i6JJFb0w8w02GfDFOi2mgmMyWXXUVBpDS7VUCm2ogV4Xb7g/s320/100_0782.JPG" border="0" /></a> I have spent the last week settling into a flat in Wolsingham in Weardale. The view from my sitting room window shows the old market place which is now a car park for the town centre. The farmland and moors are in the background. There are delightful flocks of black-faced sheep with lambs all around at the moment. Some white, many patchy and some truly black. It makes me yearn for a spinning wheel again. I'm combing ebay already and will put a notice in the window of the local hardware shop which seems to be the spot for personal ads.<br />It is a very pretty town and although it is small it has an amazing array of services with everything from a butcher and a post office through to a Doctor and three pubs. The weather has been wonderful since I moved in and although the English are as concerned about global warming as anyone else, I think they are quietly pleased at what they see as an improvement to their climate.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48EwvUs31XssvIEezJ5RKt8tpWqXd3oG22eci3pM8bSCTfJ_1SFpC8s9mwjCYEmMLWBaCil_B8Pzt2KxlipcayP2A4C4Jv1mncdYbogrNinXENxCPK-fXxcwbMHCFu9MV9XLCZQ/s1600-h/100_0776.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061519166836749234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48EwvUs31XssvIEezJ5RKt8tpWqXd3oG22eci3pM8bSCTfJ_1SFpC8s9mwjCYEmMLWBaCil_B8Pzt2KxlipcayP2A4C4Jv1mncdYbogrNinXENxCPK-fXxcwbMHCFu9MV9XLCZQ/s320/100_0776.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This picture shows the road into town from a place called Tow Law which is one of the highest towns in England. Most of the buildings are built from the locally quarried stone and I am hoping to be able to buy one of the traditional cottages when my house in Australia sells. Everything is very much more expensive in England but I shall just have to live with it and must give up mentally translating all the pounds into dollars when I shop. It is too distressing.<br /><br /><br />The last shipment of my stuff from Australia is due to arrive on Thursday and it includes the pots and pans and plates ad glasses as well as many other necessities. I haven't cooked much yet and have managed with one plate, one bowl and a saute pan. Luckily I live above a cafe and next door to the bakery.<br />I got broadband on a couple of days ago and that has created serious inroads into my sock knitting time. I have done some ebay browsing and general googling to see what's on arond the place. Is there anyone nearby who loves to knit and spin? I hope to do some dyeing again too.<br /><br />The batteries in the camera ran out so when I get some more I shall take pics of the sheep and lots of other nature marvels. I have started a collection of pressed wild flowers because there were so many I could not identify as I walked along the river bank the other evening.<br /><br />I hope you are all well and events are keeping you busy and happy. Looking forward to hearing from you all.<br />Cheers Gillian<br /><br />ps there is a lovely site on Wolsingham at <a href="http://www.wolsingham.net">http://www.wolsingham.net</a>Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-54147303110961140722007-05-03T06:12:00.000-07:002007-05-03T06:16:04.541-07:00WolsinghamI have found a lovely flat to live in. It is in the old Market Place in the small town of Wolsingham in the Durham Dales. The town is surrounded by steep hills, sheep with lambs and moors covered in heather. I should be able to get my own internet connected tomorrow and will be able to spend some time indulging in all your blogs and posting pics and more news.<br />Love to all for now GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-55043029357225700952007-03-28T02:34:00.000-07:002007-03-28T02:46:21.662-07:00Enough Socks for a WhileI am sitting in the public library in Durham with my laptop plugged in to their power supply and my wireless stick picking up their internet access. It is warm and friendly and there is no time limit to use of the space so I shall be back.<br />It is only a very short walk from a flat which a friend of my mother's is letting me have for a very low rent. It is furnished and has one bedroom and is very comfortable. I am praying daily, though, that my house will sell soon in Australia so that I can get a place of my own here and have some of my own things around me. I feel very much "in limbo" still.<br />I'm hoping that blogging will help me to feel that I'm getting back to normal. Thankyou all for your kind thoughts and comments. I shall try to do a little news every now and then and let you know how I settle in.<br />I have knitted six and a half pairs of socks and am having a break by knitting a cotton top for myself.<br />Cheerio for now GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21138605.post-18585748727291972492007-01-11T10:12:00.000-08:002007-01-11T10:15:16.895-08:00Sad and Bad NewsI had news from Australia this morning that Robert has died from a brain aneurism. I am returning to Australia tomorrow with my sister to see to the funeral and sell off the house before I return to England.<br />I'm totally stunned and can hardly believe it. I shall be offline for a considerable time.<br />GillianGillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02118970897447462676noreply@blogger.com10