Today isn't the best of days

It's sit all day in your pijamas day. I've been ill, and I can feel my limbs shake when I sit still. All my energy is gone. I suppose its just the physical manifestations of months of stress. So instead of ramblings I give you knitting and crochet goodness.












These are socks I knit a while ago using the last of the wool Chris gave me for xmas. My own top down pattern with a motif from the lace section of knitting-and.com















Yes it is really that bright. A red crochet piece that will eventully become a rug for Dave's new house.

The below is a pic of me looking nice for once in a fantastic dress my mum bought for me.

Today isn't the best of days

It's sit all day in your pijamas day. I've been ill, and I can feel my limbs shake when I sit still. All my energy is gone. I suppose its just the physical manifestations of months of stress. So instead of ramblings I give you knitting and crochet goodness.












These are socks I knit a while ago using the last of the wool Chris gave me for xmas. My own top down pattern with a motif from the lace section of knitting-and.com















Yes it is really that bright. A red crochet piece that will eventully become a rug for Dave's new house.

The below is a pic of me looking nice for once in a fantastic dress my mum bought for me.

Things I have noticed so far today whilst being the only person from my team in the office.

1. The aftertaste of a Double Decker bar tastes surprisingly like a pleasant cup of coffee
2. Lucozade is great for making really loud burps
3. VGCats is really funny...but you'll only get the jokes if you're a gamer, or know gamers. I'm the latter. The Sims and Neverwinter Nights is as far as I ever got down that road.
4. No - one from the other teams in the office comments on the fact you're working on a mystery piece of crochet if you're the only person on your team and the phone has only rung twice all day.
5. Letter stuffing will make your hands ache
6. I have teeth shaped indentations on my tongue. According to Google, I must be grinding my teeth out of stress. I have no reason to be stressed.
7. I appear to have actually got a tan whilst in Worthing.
8. The other people in this office use the same volume to a) talk on the phone, b) talk to each other and c) talk across the room. This office is loud!

Things I have noticed so far today whilst being the only person from my team in the office.

1. The aftertaste of a Double Decker bar tastes surprisingly like a pleasant cup of coffee
2. Lucozade is great for making really loud burps
3. VGCats is really funny...but you'll only get the jokes if you're a gamer, or know gamers. I'm the latter. The Sims and Neverwinter Nights is as far as I ever got down that road.
4. No - one from the other teams in the office comments on the fact you're working on a mystery piece of crochet if you're the only person on your team and the phone has only rung twice all day.
5. Letter stuffing will make your hands ache
6. I have teeth shaped indentations on my tongue. According to Google, I must be grinding my teeth out of stress. I have no reason to be stressed.
7. I appear to have actually got a tan whilst in Worthing.
8. The other people in this office use the same volume to a) talk on the phone, b) talk to each other and c) talk across the room. This office is loud!

Anti - Role Models

I've just spent the last hour or so eavesdropping. My eavesdropping habit probably deserves a post of its own but I shall ignore it for now. I was listening to two colleagues, ladies 45+, well dressed, sucessful looking, who were catching up. Gradually the conversation turned to their ex-husbands, as both were divorcees.

What struck me, what hit me hard, was the way both had remained in relationships with men for many years had bullied them. Where they were afraid to have an opinion, and found themselves doing things that they really did not want to because it was easier than fighting.

It was the little irksome things. Putting a teapot upside down to dry, a toothbrush in the right place. These everyday things were the proverbial 'straws' that damaged the camel spine of their relationship. The real malignant hurt had already been done over the years.

I know that this applies to both sexes. One partner is often dominant in a relationship. However, such controlling behaviour, such bullying behaviour is unacceptable. These women are adults with choices, and whilst they choose to enter these realtionships, they felt like they had lost the right to even decide what clothes to wear, or whether they should go out for a works do.

I know that I am easily led, that my head is turned easily. I know I could easily be one of those women, or worse a woman who was not brave enough to ultimately end a bad relationship, or even a woman who justifies being physically abused as a way of a man showing he cares. Women look for security, and I found a quote somewhere that I will paraphrase now. For a woman love is her whole, for a man it is a but a part. Relationship so easily consume us and find us willing to change, to give up being ourselves in order to prolong them.

Hopefully in future I can use these women as anti - role models, and watch myself closely. We should remain individuals and equals in a partnership. Quite often it is our individuality that made us attractive in the first place.

I know I'm completely mad. Being like this makes me happy. So I'll carry on this way.

Anti - Role Models

I've just spent the last hour or so eavesdropping. My eavesdropping habit probably deserves a post of its own but I shall ignore it for now. I was listening to two colleagues, ladies 45+, well dressed, sucessful looking, who were catching up. Gradually the conversation turned to their ex-husbands, as both were divorcees.

What struck me, what hit me hard, was the way both had remained in relationships with men for many years had bullied them. Where they were afraid to have an opinion, and found themselves doing things that they really did not want to because it was easier than fighting.

It was the little irksome things. Putting a teapot upside down to dry, a toothbrush in the right place. These everyday things were the proverbial 'straws' that damaged the camel spine of their relationship. The real malignant hurt had already been done over the years.

I know that this applies to both sexes. One partner is often dominant in a relationship. However, such controlling behaviour, such bullying behaviour is unacceptable. These women are adults with choices, and whilst they choose to enter these realtionships, they felt like they had lost the right to even decide what clothes to wear, or whether they should go out for a works do.

I know that I am easily led, that my head is turned easily. I know I could easily be one of those women, or worse a woman who was not brave enough to ultimately end a bad relationship, or even a woman who justifies being physically abused as a way of a man showing he cares. Women look for security, and I found a quote somewhere that I will paraphrase now. For a woman love is her whole, for a man it is a but a part. Relationship so easily consume us and find us willing to change, to give up being ourselves in order to prolong them.

Hopefully in future I can use these women as anti - role models, and watch myself closely. We should remain individuals and equals in a partnership. Quite often it is our individuality that made us attractive in the first place.

I know I'm completely mad. Being like this makes me happy. So I'll carry on this way.

The Last Stand I promise!

And I also promise these are the very last ones!

Chris can cook. See world! I taught him well. Here he is making his favourite scalloped potatoes. He cuts them EXTRA-FINE!

Egg Whites that I whipped and whipped, and beat and beat because they had been very naughty.

Then I tortured them in a hot oven till they became delicioud meringue. We
had this with cream and strawberries. Yum! Eton Mess I think is the technical term.

I then made home made mayonnaise with paprika and coriander to use up the egg yolks. This was fantastic on....

...The selection of BBQ meat left over from a party.

Then Kyle came over. Things go a bit hazy from here on. We had a BBQ, above shows the boys playing with fire, or it would if Kyle hadn't walked in front of the BBQ just as I took the damn picture. Awkward child, but lovely,

Then we went out for Tex - Mex in the eve. Note the blurriness of shot. We bought a Fiesta feast for two with extra sausage stuff for Kyle cause he like sausages. Needless to say we did not finish it all. In fact, it was the undoing of Chris. I shall leave it there. Don't go eating Mexican when you've had BBQ for lunch.

Below is my Passionfruit Margherita. I could have had many manymore of these. But they were £3.75 a time. I had to have one to try as I was on holiday.

Chris too busy eating to be photographed.

A very compliant Kyle, who after seeing my first pic of him, said "That's crap, take a nice one." So I did. You look lovely Kyle.

Just to prove I was actually present. But don't ever sit that close to a Digital Camera. My nose is not that HUGE. EVER! I PROMISE!

This was a BIZZARE shop we walked past on our way home. Foundation underwear, Bridgit Jones style on one side, small teddies and gifty type things on the other side. I thought it was two separate shops at first, but they appeared to only have the one door. People must always think of buying a teddy after they've bought hold it all in knickers and girdles. Don't you?

And finally, Chris and Kyle under the Beardy men at the entrance of the Park. Can you see the resemblance. Well they looked alot more like that in the morn with a nights stubble!

The Last Stand I promise!

And I also promise these are the very last ones!

Chris can cook. See world! I taught him well. Here he is making his favourite scalloped potatoes. He cuts them EXTRA-FINE!

Egg Whites that I whipped and whipped, and beat and beat because they had been very naughty.

Then I tortured them in a hot oven till they became delicioud meringue. We
had this with cream and strawberries. Yum! Eton Mess I think is the technical term.

I then made home made mayonnaise with paprika and coriander to use up the egg yolks. This was fantastic on....

...The selection of BBQ meat left over from a party.

Then Kyle came over. Things go a bit hazy from here on. We had a BBQ, above shows the boys playing with fire, or it would if Kyle hadn't walked in front of the BBQ just as I took the damn picture. Awkward child, but lovely,

Then we went out for Tex - Mex in the eve. Note the blurriness of shot. We bought a Fiesta feast for two with extra sausage stuff for Kyle cause he like sausages. Needless to say we did not finish it all. In fact, it was the undoing of Chris. I shall leave it there. Don't go eating Mexican when you've had BBQ for lunch.

Below is my Passionfruit Margherita. I could have had many manymore of these. But they were £3.75 a time. I had to have one to try as I was on holiday.

Chris too busy eating to be photographed.

A very compliant Kyle, who after seeing my first pic of him, said "That's crap, take a nice one." So I did. You look lovely Kyle.

Just to prove I was actually present. But don't ever sit that close to a Digital Camera. My nose is not that HUGE. EVER! I PROMISE!

This was a BIZZARE shop we walked past on our way home. Foundation underwear, Bridgit Jones style on one side, small teddies and gifty type things on the other side. I thought it was two separate shops at first, but they appeared to only have the one door. People must always think of buying a teddy after they've bought hold it all in knickers and girdles. Don't you?

And finally, Chris and Kyle under the Beardy men at the entrance of the Park. Can you see the resemblance. Well they looked alot more like that in the morn with a nights stubble!

Nearly there

The last of the holiday pictures. I kind of gave up taking them half way through the week as I was too busy lazing around. Kudos and thanks to Chris for inviting/letting me talk him into having me in his house for the week. I had a very relaxing time, and it was fantastic to get away from Westbury and boredem for the week. It was also nice to be a in an environment where nothing was expected of me. I drifted from room to room, pandering to my short attention span, and I definately feel better for it.

I watched plenty of trashy telly, read the latest Joanne Harris novel, and Pratchett's Going Postal. Both were good but removed from the authors normal fare. Surprisingly for a Pratchett, GP even has chapters. I wasn't sure I liked that very much, being a creature of habit.

On the Sunday, Chris took me to Arundel. It was fantastic going to visit this little place on the train as the track curves round toward it for miles and you see it appear nestling in the hill. Very fairytale - like.


























Chris on the very posh Southern trains. They were even air conditioned, and had very comfy seats.















I got to go in one of these boats. We rowed around the lake and looked at lots of different types of duck. It was like being in a film. I didn't dare row as I'm so clumsy I'd drop the oars. Saying that, Chris is prob more clumsy that me, but i thought as he'd done it before he'd be a better bet.


























This is the walk from Arundel town centre to the lake. It was so beautiful and peaceful, even though it was busy with tourists.
















Boats on the river at Arundel.

A ruined friary (sp?), and very picturesque.

Chris then made me climb a huge hill which with my blister that covered the whole of my heel on the sole of my feet. But these stunning views made it worthwhile. I'm not sure they are worth the humilating crawl on my hands and knees down a very very steep chalk hill.

We then tried experimenting with camera settings.

Nearly there

The last of the holiday pictures. I kind of gave up taking them half way through the week as I was too busy lazing around. Kudos and thanks to Chris for inviting/letting me talk him into having me in his house for the week. I had a very relaxing time, and it was fantastic to get away from Westbury and boredem for the week. It was also nice to be a in an environment where nothing was expected of me. I drifted from room to room, pandering to my short attention span, and I definately feel better for it.

I watched plenty of trashy telly, read the latest Joanne Harris novel, and Pratchett's Going Postal. Both were good but removed from the authors normal fare. Surprisingly for a Pratchett, GP even has chapters. I wasn't sure I liked that very much, being a creature of habit.

On the Sunday, Chris took me to Arundel. It was fantastic going to visit this little place on the train as the track curves round toward it for miles and you see it appear nestling in the hill. Very fairytale - like.


























Chris on the very posh Southern trains. They were even air conditioned, and had very comfy seats.















I got to go in one of these boats. We rowed around the lake and looked at lots of different types of duck. It was like being in a film. I didn't dare row as I'm so clumsy I'd drop the oars. Saying that, Chris is prob more clumsy that me, but i thought as he'd done it before he'd be a better bet.


























This is the walk from Arundel town centre to the lake. It was so beautiful and peaceful, even though it was busy with tourists.
















Boats on the river at Arundel.

A ruined friary (sp?), and very picturesque.

Chris then made me climb a huge hill which with my blister that covered the whole of my heel on the sole of my feet. But these stunning views made it worthwhile. I'm not sure they are worth the humilating crawl on my hands and knees down a very very steep chalk hill.

We then tried experimenting with camera settings.