Knitting in earnest

Knitting has begun in earnest, I'm 10 squares into a 30 square blanket.  Here are some pictures of my work so far...

I've become slightly obsessed with knitting (as is my way) and I've already got a list of stuff I want to try including circular knitting to make socks...







I also like the look of these wrist warmers...











and bag...






Watch out friends and family, guess what you're getting for Christmas!

In other news, I've signed up to do Race for Life in July.  I'm going to train for it properly unlike last time when I went for approx two runs and then died during the race getting the quite pathetic time of 39mins59secs (and that was with a sprint finish).  I've worked out a 16 week plan which should mean I can run all of it in about 30 minutes.  I'll let you know how that goes when I start it in March (when it's light enough in the evenings for me to run after work).

Happy Birthday to Me!

It was my birthday yesterday and I had a lovely day.  It started off with opening presents in bed and then off for a back massage with Lisa which was heavenly, I didn't know my neck and shoulders were so tense until she'd relaxed them.  After that I had an afternoon of knitting followed by a meal at Colleys.  I thoroughly enjoyed my deep fried goats cheese, cream of celeriac soup, sorbet, navarne of lamb and treacle sponge.  Their treacle sponge is to die for, the sponge is made with suet and just seems to absorb the syrup making it so sweet and gooey.  All in all, a wonderful birthday.

I've been very good keeping up my resolutions, I've been giving myself a weekly facial when I've been good (done quota of knitting and exercise) and that means using up all the bottles of stuff in the bathroom.  I've finally finished a really expensive bottle of shower gel I was given last birthday, I had a strange sense of achievement doing that!  I'm keeping up with my knitting, I've worked out that to finish the baby blanket by the time he/she will arrive (sometime in May/June) I need to do 1.7 squares a week, that leaves me 4 weeks to sew them all together and knit the edging.  I've rounded this up to 2 square a week, 8 squares a month and I've already finished January's quota and am starting on February's today.  Again, this gives me great satisfaction each time I finish a square and start a new one, I think I'm actually going to finish this project (another resolution done!).

I'm getting very enthusiastic about knitting, I'm starting to think about what else I can do when I've finished the blanket.  Socks seem very popular and I'd like to learn how to do circular knitting (so the socks don't have a seam).  I also like some of the wool you get which makes the socks stripey with no extra effort!  I think'll need extra help to learn how to do this, so I'm going to a knitting group (no it's not as old fogey-ish as it sounds) next Sunday, I'll let you know how it goes.

Happy New Year

I can't believe it's over a year since I started this blog, I've been looking back on what I said this time last year and a lot has happened since then. So, what will 2010 bring? Well I can start by putting my resolutions into print:

1. Give myself a weekly facial (but only if I've completed what I said I'd do that week, exercise, jobs etc).
2. Finish what I start. This relates to projects I start and never finish and to products I start to use but then leave half empty but buy more so I have a plethora of stuff. Prime example of this would be the blanket I've started knitting my sister, I'm determined to finish it.
3. De-clutter. I have too much stuff, from bathroom products (see no. 2) to clothes and shoes I never wear. I need to have a good sort out of all cupboards, drawers and the loft and make sure I give away/sell anything I'm not using now.
   

Like last year, they are quite small and achievable, nothing life changing. So how did I do with last years resolutions?

1. Get fit and stay fit – I started cycling and swimming late last year, I've lost a bit of weight through it and felt great. Unfortunately the winter weather has stopped cycling until further notice but I'm starting swimming again this week.
2. Listen to more music – I failed at this one. My idea of getting a new CD a month slipped away by April. I still mostly listen to the radio but I am getting some CDs for my birthday.
3. Say 'Yes' more – I think I have been more open to things in the past year, I have tried new experiences and done things I could have so easily have chickened out of. My greatest success in this is joining Ladies Circle, meeting a room full of people I didn't know was very daunting but I've made loads of new friends and my social life is very full as a result of it.
   

I read 43 book last year, not bad, that's almost one a week! I will be keeping track of my 2010 books in the same way as I like seeing what I've read over the year.

What else has been happening? As I mentioned before, I'm knitting a blanket for my new niece/nephew who should make an appearance in May. It's square based so is quite satisfying finishing each square and seeing the pile grow. I've nearly finished my second square and reckon they take me about 4-6 hours each, depending on complexity. It's very therapeutic and also gives me a great excuse to watch loads of TV!

Snow!

Today is the first day of proper snow, reminding me (as if I need reminding) that Christmas is quickly approaching. This year has gone really quickly, a lot has happened.

I celebrated my first year's anniversary with Pete in Feb, we had a lovely trillion course meal at Colley's Supper Rooms (which we might repeat next year). I also moved in with Pete in August, although a little chaotic at the beginning (still finding places for things), I've really settled in and it's feeling like home. I thought it would be a little more strange living with a boy for the first time, but it feels very normal and I love spending loads of time with Pete.

I also joined Reading Valley Ladies Circle in Feb, in one fell swoop I've made 15 new friends who are really nice. We meet every two weeks and activities have included canoeing on Black Swan lake (very relaxing), wine tasting, bingo and quizzes and a weekend in Milton Keynes.

I started cycling to the train station in September, it's 3.5 miles each way and I've surprised myself with how long I've stuck with it and how much I've enjoyed it. It was very hard to begin with, the hills felt very steep and long but gradually it's gotten easier. I've also lost about 10lbs which is always a bonus!

The big negative this year was being made redundant. I was getting rather fed up with working from home, sounded like an excellent idea at the time but spending day after day within the same four walls was quite isolating. After spending 6 weeks on the dole I found a great job in a proper office with proper colleagues! I'm really enjoying it, the work is challenging and the people are lovely.

So quite an eventful year and it's not over yet. Next Thursday I'm driving up to Leeds to spend Christmas with my family, then I'm coming back down to Reading on Monday for a few days of work before Mary's New Years Eve party. The fancy dress theme is Star Wars, no idea what I'm going to go as but I'll figure something out.

Have a very Merry Christmas.