Packing up Christmas, stash sorting and sock making

Another day of being effectively snowed in.  In fact, when I first looked at the weather report this morning, it claimed that the current temp was -7 degrees.  I found it a little hard to believe, but then again, I was inside under lots of clothes and blankets with the heaters firing up.  The snow is still lying around thickly (well for the little patch of the world that I could see out of my window).

Since I was skiving another day, I decided I should be pro-active around my flat.  I took down the Christmas tree (only a day late!) and it was sad in a way to be packing away everything that I had spent so much time making, but I'll be able to dig them out for this year's Christmas too.  And maybe make some more if I have the time.  So here they are, tucked away for now:

I had a bit of a desperately needed clean of my flat, unpacking my suitcase properly (only took two shameful days!) and did some putting away.  It's still a tip, and I never got round to vacuuming like I wanted, but ooohhhh well, it's nearly the weekend, and that means a little more time for these things.  I also had a good sort out of my yarn stash.  It's almost a little shameful to see what I have accumulated in just a few months.

pre-sort

mid-sort

the wool I brought on Monday in the sale, which I'm thinking of (eventually) making a lace shawl with

I also made a bit of an effort with my dinner tonight.  I was going to make some soup, roasting some sweet potato and butternut squash.  But as it was roasting, I had a change of heart, and I went for shoving it in some pasta with some pancetta.  It was very tasty and un-soupy!

And my final activity of the day (wow, it's been a fairly lazy day!) was to make a start on my socks, the first of which looks a little like this:

I'm loving the colours of the wool, a bit brighter than I usually go for, but it's so pretty and I love the combo.  Really excited about them :)

Snowmen and skullcaps

This was the picture that greated me as I looked out of my window this morning, having listened to the radio about how the city had ground to a halt and buses weren't running.  My first instinct?  Curl back up in bed.  But decided that this would be too lazy.  Gave it lots of thought whether or not to try and trek into uni today, but decided that it wasn't worth the possible 2hour, potentially dangerous, slipping walk in, just to find out that it had been cancelled and then have to come all the way back, cold, wet and uncomfortable.  I think that if I didn't live so far away, I would have attempted it. 

So I curled up in front of the telly instead, with my knitting.  I've now completed my new hat which looks a little like this as a work in progress (trying to gauge the length, hence the needles sticking out of my head):

And it looks a little like this when finished:

It's a beautiful varigated pure wool yarn, which was lovely to work with (not too harsh on my hands, some of the pure wools I've used before have left me with dreadfully dried out hands) and I'm very happy with the outcome.  Thanks very much Sarah and the Clarks for your wonderful Christmas pressie.

I also ventured out briefly to get some food (all lovely warm, wintery things - rice pudding, hot choc, pies, breakfast oats) and was amazed by the winter wonderland that greated me.  And the fantastic spirit of the community, such as cheeky little kids throwing sneaky snowballs at me, and everyone all bundled up and in their wellies (would have been useful things!)  And there was beauty everywhere and wonderful art creations.

Just out my front door, reasurring me I did the right thing not attempting to walk in on those pavements!

Snow sticking, somehow, to one side of the trees.  Very pretty effect.

A true masterpiece watching the world walk by down Gloucester Road

And this one was huge.  I bumped into his creator too, who was busy trying to figure out the hair do (pet bedding straw, held in place by long pieces of metal bent into u-shapes).

I've just checked the current weather conditions, and apparently it's about -5 out there, so very grateful to be snug inside with good heating and cosy blankets.  I really need to make the effort to go into uni tomorrow, but I just don't think the weather will be much better than today, although they aren't predicting any more snow over night, they don't think it'll be warmer than -1, so the pavements and transport links are just going to be hideous, but hey, wouldn't life be dull without these little challenges interferring with our attempts to just get on with things?

First day of term two

As predicted, this morning was fricking freezing.  Fortunately, there hadn't been any snow overnight, so the walk in (yes, I was good and walked!) wasn't too perilious!  And I was very proud of myself, I was actually running early!  I got in to the med school with time enough to get a drink, which I was in dire need of.  I was actually rather hot and bothered after my fifty minute walk, the last twenty of which were uphill, which was fine by me, no longer cold!  This morning however... mmm, was very similar to what we were told this time last year.  It's very frustrating, it's all about getting ready to begin work as a doctor, and it's all rather tedious.  Then it was home (admittedly on the bus, don't wanna over do it!) in the snow.  It was really pretty to watch it falling as I was all dry and warm on the bus.  And then when I got off, it was really coming down.  It was so magical, there really is just something about snow falling, just calm and serene.  Luckily, it wasn't cold enough for the snow to settle, so it was just pretty to watch.  We've been predicted crazy weather overnight (apparently upto a foot of the white stuff), so I may not be liking the snow quite as much tomorrow when I have to trek in through it. 

Fortunately though, the afternoon thing was cancelled (someone somewhere got snowed in!) so this left me an opportunity to catch up on some shopping - I'm in desperate need of new hospital trousers, I've been wearing the same ones week in, week out all of last term.  Washing them regularly though, naturally!  So I thought that since I got my student loan yesterday, I could make the most of the sales and get some new ones, which I did manage to do, for £5 from Marks and Spencer.  I also got a cheap pair of jeans, since my last pair had started to fall apart on me (literally!).  It felt like a shopping slurge!!  I also decided to treat myself to some Yo Sushi, for the first time in months.  It's pretty much my fave place to eat, and it didn't disappoint!   Mmmm, tasty non-fishy sushi. 

Then on the off chance, decided to wonder round the wool section at John Lewis, in case they had any January bargins, and they did.  So I just had to get some.  There were several that I was very tempted by, but the voice of reason reigned and I only got one type of wool, a really pretty double knit with dusky, muted tones of pink and lilac.  Really pretty, and now added to the stash, and I kinda have an idea what I want to do with it, but I'll decide for certain nearer the time. 

And finally to round off my shopping spree (mmm, I know I'll be moaning about being broke soon enough!) I went and saw Avatar, in 3D.  It was stunning and very well thought through in terms of how it looked and felt, and the 3D was very well used.  However, I thought that the story was a little preachy at times and it wasn't the strongest plot.  Having said that, I'd still recommend it, and I really enjoyed it.  It was definitely a great way to end my day out.

And then it was home, and time to get cracking on making my hat, which is coming along nicely, can't wait to see what it'll be like when it's done and I can see the pattern properly, but it looks very promising indeed.  It's also somewhat strange to be thinking about the recipient.  It's for me, which is strange, I don't normally bother making stuff for me, and I do sit and think about whoever it's going to be for, but none of that now!  Very strange indeed.

And now, it's off to bed, I did resolve to earlier bedtimes this year, so can't start failing on that just yet!  Night night!

Back to Bristol

Back to Bristol and back to reality today.  A very harsh cold reality!  Ernie reckoned it was about -4 degrees when I arrived back.  Soooo cold!  Yet, not too bad, once snuggled up inside and the heaters on for a few minutes and the kettle on for some nice warm horlicks.  Yeah, I'm warmed up and cosy now, but there's so much to do - I haven't bothered unpacking yet, and I need to wash and dry my hair and get an early night.  The unpacking is so clearly not going to happen tonight!  I'll just do the essentials for now and give it some welly tomorrow evening.  At least I didn't have to worry about feeding myself, as Sarah did that for me when I popped round to say goodbye.  And that was Christmas and the holiday season, gone!  My tree is still here, the one final reminder that Christmas has been and gone in such a blur. 

And now, back to cold early mornings.  Yuck!  So not looking forward to having to get up in the cold tomorrow, but I'm sure after I've done it for a couple of days, I'll get back into the swing of it, so I should really stop moaning.  It's good to be back!

Knitting and poorly babes

I finally have finished my latest project which is a sweater for Connor.  I'm really happy with the way it turned out, I used this gorgeous wool (Sublime, which is a cashmere, merino and silk blend).  It's lovely and soft and was really nice to knit with.  As I'm still in Derby, I had to get Harold to stand in as a model for Teddy (he's not got such a nice rounded body, so doesn't really fill it out as much as Teddy would have).

 

As you can see, it was this gorgeously cute pattern, pretty simple.  With a basket weave pattern throughout, and a beautiful retro sports sweater neck, which was the main reason I wanted to make it, it's so cute!  And I'm sure will look a bit better when on Connor, who will (eventually) fill it out a bit better and in proportion than poor old Harold here.  The neck was knitted seperately and was a bit fiddly to sew on, but on the whole, a nice simple, easy straightforward pattern from the same booklet that I made Connor's other sweater and RoRo's cardi.  There are a couple of other patterns in it that I would like to make, but they're not priorities, and would require wool, and whilst I don't really need any excuses to go yarn shopping, I really shouldn't.  And I also have the wool to do several other little projects that I have lined up.  I was discussing this with my mom as we were doing the dishes this evening, and she laughed and seemed a little horrified!  She found it her maternal duty to remind me that I should be concentrating on uni, and that perhaps I should leave some of these till after exams.  Hell no!  That would be June! And besides, I don't really need to buckle down with the revision for another couple of months yet, and even when I do, it would be nice to have things to do whilst taking revision breaks!

No sooner had I finished Connor's sweater (literally just editing the photos I'd taken) than Em and Chris phoned, a bit worried about Connor, who has been a little out of sorts for the last week or so.  So I went to go offer my support and whatever services I could.  I ended up taking Em and Connor to the walk-in centre.  And I have to admit, was quite impressed.  We were probably home with in about half an hour, which I thought was lovely and efficient, and was wonderfully reassuring to all those gathered round to support them.  Emma also spoke quite highly of her experiences and how she was treated, so I'm always glad when healthcare gets a somewhat positive review, because people quite often (and to be fair, quite often validly so) have bad things to say.  And I know it's silly in a way, as I'm just a tiny tiny fish in the vast ocean that is the NHS, but I do feel quite defensive about it!  Probably because I've been on both sides and I've seen behind the scenes in two very different views. I know how hard, with mostly good intentions, the people of the NHS work, and how frustrating we find it too when the system seems silly to us as well, but feel so utterly helpless to fight the idiocy!  But anywhos, rant over! 

Connor is doing just fine, so after getting some reassurance, we headed home, where Sarah and Martin were waiting with us, despite Rowan seeming a little out of sorts herself.  Sarah had organised a meal for Emma, which I'm sure was very greatly appreciated, after having a stressful day, it's nice to have such an amazing support network ready to make it easier in any way they can (and man did I wish I didn't already have dinner plans, because it smelt goooooood!).  I stayed a little while, chatting with them and reading Morgan the same (all be it very short) book several times!  Morgan was particularly lovely today.  I gave her a sneaky quick peek on the cheek as she was sitting on my lap, and in the cutest move, like ever, she turned round and gave me one right back (these kisses usually get ignored or brushed off, so it was a real surprise to me when she recipricated!).  It was so sweet and cheeky and cute, I couldn't help but laugh and give her a hug.  She's such a lovely, adorable little thing, who's very special to me indeed!

And now, I'm busy thinking about getting back to Bristol tomorrow.  It's been such a weird break, to some extent, it has just flown by in a whirl of relative busyness, trying to see everyone.  Yet, at the same time, it's been so frustrating as I've been ill and lost out on so much of the valuable brief time I've had in Derby.  It's strange to be thinking about heading back and getting back into the swing of things, but I know it'll be good for me, and I'll enjoy it.  I do look forward to it, but will miss everyone in Derby dreadfully!

So.... New Year's

Right, I'm kinda feeling more chatty now, so I'll get down to business with regards to New Year's Eve.  I did have several invitations, but having been in recovery all week, I didn't really have the energy to do anything crazy energetic, alcoholic.  So, I went for the cosy option - spending it snuggled up with the Clarks, wonderfully laid back and relaxed.  We had dinner, watched a movie, played on the Wii, chatted, played with the kids.  It was just what I needed, I was surrounded by love and affection and it was a very special night for me. 

We also did some New Year's Eve stuff, which was nice too.  We sat down and talked about the year that had been, what was good, what was bad, and about the year ahead.  There weren't resolutions as such, but more hopes for the year ahead - mine were somewhat obvious - (1) become a doctor, (2) learn new crafts.  Two things which sound so simple when written down/typed out, but hold so much gravity (more the first one then the second one).  I did find myself fighting back the tears for the first time in quite a while, when thinking about it.  There's so much riding on this year, so much which I NEED to achieve, so much that has remained so unobtainable in 2009.  This time last year, I had so much confidence - I just assumed it would be okay, that I'd pass.  Don't get me wrong, not in a cocky way, I knew it would mean hard work, and it would be stressful, but not passing wasn't something I didn't really spend much time thinking about.  And now... and now, it's the not failing again thing which seems so hard.  I can't help but think... what if.  I just totally seem to have lost my confidence.  After having failed, actually passing seems so hard to picture.  It's still what I want more than anything... but it just seems so surreal.  It's so hard.  2010 really needs to be better with regards to this.

Despite this brief moment of self-reflection and sadness, more positive reflections were had.  Over the past year, many things have happened which have brought so much joy - the birth of two beautiful, healthy babies to our friendship group, I've spent so much more time and become so much closer to some of my friends, I've started knitting (just a little!) and crafting again, which has been so rewarding.  I've learnt new things, developed in myself, matured, learnt to deal with loss and personal hardship.

Also, it was a New Decade.  This is a much harder time concept than a year.  But it's a very interesting thing to reflect upon.  A decade ago, I had only been in the UK for a couple of months, had only just met my Derby friends, everything was new and different, and it was a very difficult time for me.  I was still at school, and I don't think I had fully decided to become a doctor yet... it was just an idea I was toying with.  And how does one sum up 10 years of life and experience?  What would be the important things to mention?  I don't know if I have the answers to that.  It has a lot to do with how we define ourselves, but I don't know if I can do that.  What are the most important things to say about me - that I survived school?  That I decided on a profession?  That I got into university?  That I'm still at uni?  That I've witnessed my friends move on with their lives, with marriages, children, jobs, homes, long-term partners?  That I'm still just me, with no significant other?  Am I really that bothered by this, or do I just feel obliged in a weird sort of way because society looks down on solitude?  Or maybe I should talk about my travels, and adventures, they take up far less time proportion and are less of  what makes up the "ordinary/usual" routine of life, but have been exciting and so memorable.  Attempting to sum up a decade, for me at least, seems to ask more questions than it answers.  In a few words - education, medicine, friends, single, travel.  But there's so much more... isn't there?  When I'm old and grey (God willing) is that how I'll remember the naughties?

And then as much as we look back, we look forward.  In ten years time.... wow, that's a very big and difficult question.  Where will I be?  What will I be?  Who will I be?  I'm hoping I'll be a doctor.  Is it bad that that's all I can think of?  In a way I would like to think in ten years, I will be "settling down", what ever that means.  Will it mean a husband?  Will it mean children?  Will it mean a house that I own?  Is it something wrong to think of it in material things like houses?  Where will I be living?  Who will be the people that I hold dear and important.  What will I be doing in my spare time?  How will I be defining myself and will I be able to do it any better than I can now?  Sarah and Martin seemed to have a more solid foundation to base the future on - when we were discussing this, Sarah exclaimed "Wow, Martin, we'll have a fifteen year old!" - that such a scary thought, but nice in a way, they're so more able to define the future on the present and on their family.  I really lack this - it's all so much more wishy-washy for me.  Not that I mind, I don't think.  I like the sense of uncertainty, life is such an adventure, and yes the unknown is scary, but scary in a good way (most of the time!).  I find it really hard to picture the future.

And that's about it.  As you can tell, I've been in a very relective mood the last couple of days, as I've been sitting doing my knitting.  So much time to think.  So much yet to achieve.  Needing it really to work out!

And now some visual aids, to make up for the waffle, catching up on photos from Emma's Birthday (the first two) and New Year's (the others) 

Lorri and I using the most of our opportunity to play with babies!

Lorri and Connor, trying to get a pic where they were both looking at the camera failed, so I'll put one up where neither is looking!

New Year's Eve becomes a little too much for RoRo

The midnight moment.  We were trying (on my crazy wiki research!) to follow the Spanish tradition of eating twelve grapes, one on the stroke of each bong of the clock.  It's harder than it looks and confirms that there are some weird traditions out there!

RoRo enjoying grapes and looking very cute about it!

A very lovely picure of Sarah and Rowan, all snuggly, in the first hour of 2010

Very cold outside at midnight, attempting to see fireworks (failed) and the blue moon (succeeded!)

Happy New Year, Happy New Decade!

I have been a little neglectful of the blog over the last couple of nights, and now it's really late again (2.15am), so I'm not really in the right pro-active mood to do my blog proper justice.  What a way to start the New Year!

Today was knit-mania, doing more knitting today that I've done in the last week or so!  Really getting cracking on my latest project, which I am now hoping to finish the knitting and sewing tomorrow and then get it blocked out, so I'm really excited, as this is a project which I have had planned for quite a while, so to be near the end product is tres cool, and is mostly responsible for me still being awake at this fair hour!

I will do a proper blog post about New Year's tomorrow once I've had some sleep.  But for now, just one pic as a preview, because it's such a lovely one!

Finally, before I forget, Happy New Year everybody, hope that 2010 brings you everything you could need or want!  And that this is a continuing trend for the new decade.