Starting as I mean to go on

Did some spinning last night, my first for ages. Really enjoyed the soothing rhythmic action of it, very therapeutic! The fibre is mum's Luscious superwash merino and it spins like a dream. Will try to find time to finish it up this week. It's going to be aran weight singles to make another Coquille from Knitty.com

Still feeling very raw although I have some great friends helping me through. It's extremely hard for everyone but DH is obviously finding it the worst. I'm here for when he needs me which I hope will be soon.

Did you read yesterdays list? I forgot to add 'Taking more risks' to it. I made the appointment for my nose piercing, tomorrow at 10am...please send me a virtual handsqueeze at that time as you know I'm no good with pain lol! I've also started spening more time with friends as I invited myself and Sullivan round to hers after group today, nice coffee Lee :)

Going to book my tattoo tomorrow, hopefully for sometime around my birthday so I can save up for it. Definitely a fairy theme, not sure where though...

A sad day

We had sad news yesterday. My husbands mum passed away very suddenly. She was 67 and in relatively good health. My father in law came home from work yesterday and found her. It was her heart, not a heart attack but heart failure. We'll know more in a couple of weeks when the coroners report is finalised.

She is going to be missed so much, she was a very kind, caring lady who loved to love. She came and stayed with us this Christmas so that I could work and not have to pay for childcare. We had a wonderful time, Lin and Chris found a fabulous holiday home to stay in near Umberleigh where they could bring their dog Mayzee. It meant they could still have a holiday on their own as well as spending time with us. She loved her three grandchildren who loved her straight back - even when she told the girls that they had too many toys and had to give some away!

She was so excited with the digital camera we gave her for Christmas, it was a joint present from us and Jo and Andy. Chris agreed to buy a laptop which Jez helped them choose. Their broadband was only connected yesterday, she didn't even have a chance to send an email.

Linda rediscovered her love of knitting through me, making the children some sweet little things. They will be even more special now. She loved her garden and her dogs, good food and sudoku puzzles. I can't believe I was walking around town with her just 12 days ago. She was so proud of her family, couldn't stop hugging us. She always told me how much she loved my cuddles.

It's so unfair. I didn't even take any photographs of her with us over Christmas.

We miss you Nanny Linda and hope that you are happy and peaceful wherever you may be now. xxx

I'll leave you with these words that Maddie wrote yesterday evening.

I loved my nanny lots and lots, it should be a happy feeling she's with her mum and dad.

I loved her very much.

Birdie, birdie, tweet tweet

I love sewing, I love the way you take a two dimensional piece of fabric and a few carefully placed stitches transforms it into a 3D work of art. (Usually.....)

This is a project from Cath Kidston's latest book Sew! It worked up quickly once I had figured that speed was not of the essence for this project. I really must learn to take more time over my projects, I'm sure I'll be less disappointed with the results then. It also made use of my favourite tool - The Mighty Glue Gun!

I hope the recipient likes it!

We've had a busy day at the park today. Devon County Council organised a Cycling Fun Day and although the girls scootered to the park instead of using their bikes we had a great day. Best of all was the smoothie bike - a bike attached to blender which created a yummy smoothie as you pedalled! The sun shone and the children were happy! All I need to be able to get on my bike is for Jez to give me back my front wheel and a seat on the back for Sullivan.

Oink.

It was half term last week and we spent most of it looking after Madeleine and Sullivan who both ended up very poorly with the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. They were both given the antiviral medication which has done a fantastic job of getting them well again. Poor Emilia spent most of the holiday being sent to friends houses to play...I bet she'd like Madeleine to be poorly again! She was very worried about her and kept asking if she'd have to go to hospital, it took a lot of reassurance to put her mind at rest.

Both girls were in their dance schools production this time round, Emilia had three dances - Ballet, Cowgirls dancing The Deadwood Stage from Calamity Jane, Tap - Penguins from Happy Feet and Modern - Catch a wave by The Beach Boys. Maddie had 2 dances - Ballet - We're off to see the Wizard and Tap - Penguins again. They were wonderful, I'm so proud of our girls having the confidence and stamina to perform on a professional stage in front of a full house. Well Done Girls! xxx

Jez is working hard, very busy with work and the gig club. He's training loads and is just about back to the weight and build he was at university.

Me? I'm okay. Not quite myself at the moment but on the advice of my Dr I have cut back the amount of hours I do at the Children's Centre. It's all voluntary so I can't be signed off and I feel like I am letting a lot of people down but maybe I should start pleasing myself a bit more and doing less to please others? Maybe, but I don't like it!

We went back to Hampshire this weekend. It was my brother Edward's 30th and my father-in-law's 65th. Crazy busy weekend, but fun. It was great to surprise Edd and to see Dad, Maisie, Laurie and Michelle too. Laurie was going to come back with us for a while but changed his mind :( I've made him promise to come down soon. We also got to meet my sister in law's new man, and a lovely man he is too. I think she has found someone who'll look after her.

We went round to see my dear friend Sharon for lunch on saturday. I wish her daughter would stop growing up, it's making me feel old! Such a lovely family, wish we saw more of each other.

The girls were back to school today, Maddie's class are already talking about the Christmas play - I'm so excited!

I'll leave you with a photo of Sullivan and I, taken at Mum and Barry's Wedding 18/04/08.

More photos soon, and hopefully a short video or two! Have a great week - I'm off to bed ready for a busy day tomorrow.

Ilfracombe Pilot Gig Club Regatta, Fibrefest and P/hop...

Yesterday Ilfracombe Pilot Gig Club held their first regatta. Despite strong winds and a very lumpy sea everyone had a great time. The course was shortened due to the sea conditions so the races were about 1 mile in length compared to the norm of around 1.5 - 2 miles. The rowers had to work very hard to fight against the waves, and they definitely won the battle!

The Ilfracombe Men's A didn't do too well but the Men's B won their first ever race! It was Ilfracombes' first ever race win in a regatta and much celebration followed! Well done boys! The mixed team came a close fifth after Weymouth, the team really worked hard to try and edge past. It was practically a photo finish!
Daddy didn't win :o(


I loved this seagull, he (or she) posed quite happily for me before fighting against the wind to soar in the thermals. Not his thermals, it was quite warm yesterday!

Here you can see all the boats lining up for the first race. These crews are the Ladies B teams, Weymouth - the 2 green boats - came first and third, Paignton - yellow and blue - came second.

Overall, Weymouth were the outright winners. They have extremely strong crews who work with good coxswains to ensure the whole crew pull together well.

Emilia had a great day, she spent almost all day in the food tent helping to sell the cakes. She was brilliant with the money, adding it up, giving correct change and always being polite, confident and happy. It has done wonders for her confidence. In fact our Millie was back, the one who was so happy and confident before she started junior school last year. Let's just say that I will be watching the school closely this year and if her confidence even takes the slightest dive I will want to know why!

All in all it was a wonderful day. The Ilfracombe crews, committee and friends worked so hard to make the day as brilliant as it was. I hope that they are all proud of themselves - I know I am!

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Last weekend Mum, Barry and Maisie came to stay. It just happened to be the same weekend as Fibrefest at ColdHarbour Mill. Oh what a wonderful day I had. I was totally overwhelmed and overawed by the talent, beauty, squooshiness and total loveliness of the day. I bought a fair bit, some jute to make shopping bags with for £1 a skein, Araucania Patagonia Cotton to make Liesl (which I have started), some blue and red merino tops to spin into something for Sullivan and a few knitpro harmony tips. Barry disappeared when we got into the main tent and then reappeared with an Ashford Niddy Noddy for me. What a great stepdad! xxx

Mum let me 'shoplift' her wonderful fibre that she had brought down with her I've got so much lovely stuff that needs spinning but not until after wednesday when the girls go back to school :o(

This chimney is at Coldharbour Mill, it gave me reverse vertigo to look up to it!

One of the lovely outdoor stands, Sullivan adored all the animals and was answering the sheep back when they baa-ed at him!

I'm sure he wanted to get in with the sheep....

I've just realised that I haven't any photos of my newly enhanced fibre and yarn stash, maybe tomorrow.

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This a square I've knitted for a P/Hop blanket to be auctioned for Medecins Sans Frontiers. Mum has been helping knit and sew up these blankets and needed just a few more squares to finish the last one. I'm not sure what the yarn is, but I didn't have quite enough for it and the final 3 rows are knit in Fleece Artist merino sock yarn. I'll be adding a P/Hop donation thingy to my blog, please help if you can as it is such a wonderful cause.

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Tomorrow is my 5 year blogiversary. Amazing. How should I celebrate I wonder? Cake.....

A truly wonderful weekend!

The weather this weekend was glorious, it was so wonderful not to wear a coat! On Saturday we did the normal dancing lessons and food shopping. I did some sewing during the day too, finishing a tricornu and a landry bag to keep Sullivan's cloth nappies in.

On Sunday we all went to Ilfracombe and Jez went out in the gig boat (they had a race last week and came third! My photo's of last weeks events are here) for a training session. Emilia, Madeleine, Sullivan and I wandered around the harbour watching the men rowing and then we went to Ilfracombe Aquarium. It's a great attraction, not expensive. Small but really interesting. The girls love it there, I think we might get a season ticket this year.

I apologise for the order of the photos...

This character is on a boat on the river Lyn. Can you guess who he is meant to be?

This cheeky robin came to greet us as we finished the walk from The Valley of The Rocks down to Lynmouth. He actually posed for photos! If I's had any food with me I'm sure he would have taken it from my hand. We always say 'Hello Grandad' when we see a robin, Mum knows why xxx

We all really enjoyed our walk, I think we walked about 2 miles up and down hill. I plan to get fit this year and yesterday was day one! The girls hardly moaned at all, I think we need to get them some walking boots and then we can do more.

The Valley of the Rocks is populated by wild goats. They are very cheeky and funny to watch. These two were on a ledge above us as we walked down the coast path. They regarded us as if we were intruding on their patch! (I suppose we were...)

This is at Ilfracombe Harbour, Emilia was racing down to meet Daddy as the gig boat came back in. Both the girls helped push the gig back up to the lock up.

Here they are, my beautiful girls. We were watching the men row out to sea as we sat at the very end of the harbour wall, these steps actually lead into the sea, needless to say I didn't let Sullivan out of the back pack!

Here's my recent FO, a knitted boob! I'm going to make 1 for each of us in our La Leche Peer counselling team, the pattern is here. Before I sewed it up it looked like a little hat - I can just see a newborn wearing a booby hat! Haha! The yarn is Rowan Calmer and Wool cotton, it hardly took any yarn at all. I knit the boob in the round so I didn't have to sew it up.

I received my Ravelry £10 swap parcel today, I'll upload photo's tomorrow but I'll leave you knowing that I am overwhelmed by the kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity of my swap partner.

I hope you are able to enjoy the glorious spring sunshine,

Ali xxx

Blimey, almost 2 months!

Mr Nuff and the girls made a car out of a cardboard box, Sullivan attempted and succeeded to pull the wheels off!

I took the kiddlywinks to Stonehenge on our way back from escaping kitchen mess! Can you tell it was slap bang in the middle of our glorious summer? ;-)
I'm not sure Sullivan saw much but his bunny got a good chewing!

I've made some socks (still need to finish the second Spring Forward - Knitty.com summer 08), the yarn is Natural Dye Studio Merino Tencel, gorgeous, simply gorgeous!

The ones below are my 'learn to knit two socks at a time' pair. They'll fit Mr S soon - especially as he is crawling like a dynamo and managed to climb the stairs yesterday...! He's 10 months now.

Gosh, I didn't realise it had been so long since I blogged. I bet you've all given up on me! Life chez Faerynuff has been very busy. Mr Nuff has been creating a wonderful new kitchen for me all summer, I now have duck egg blue units and bright red gloss worktops! As well as fantastic double oven which actually cooks and a 5 ring hob with wok ring (still waiting for my new wok though darling Mr Nuff...)

Emilia and Madeleine have both settled well into their new schools, unfortunately it appears that Emilia has managed to get another dopey teacher. Poor girl, it's so unfair. No school photos yet, the pics are on my phone and I've lost my baby card reader.

I'm doing well, just started training to be a La Leche League Peer Supporter, I'm really looking forward to helping other mums have a good and rewarding time breastfeeding their children.

I started Slimming world last night, I'm 11st 4lbs and am looking to be 9st 13lbs as that is what I was when I got married - I need your support as chocolate keeps calling me!

Well, off to get Maddie from school now, I'll update again soon and I'll post the photos that have been requested :)