An interesting knit

I knit for therapy. Anything finished that arrives at the end is a bonus. Of course, like so many things, I am excellent at the theory.

I have been toying with the idea of knitting a bag out of something durable (possibly carrier bags) for shopping. Then one of the random subscriptions I have threw up this.

http://knitting.about.com/od/bagpatterns/p/t-shirt-yarn-bag.htm?nl=1

It is knitting a bag out of strips of old t-shirt. Now t-shirts get very grotty by the end, so it is a great way of using up something that is rarely fit for the charity shop.

I am not likely to use it as it involves picking up lots of stitches which I loathe, but it is an interesting idea. I may have to adapt.

I love my new washing machine

I absolutely adore my new washing machine. It washes so much better. It dries like it ought to. It takes a decent sized load. It does not sound like it is about to catapult across the kitchen.

It has lovely settings, like baby for baby clothes, and quick wash, and shirts!

My washing pile has considerably diminished!

Grand Old Evil Cat

Evil cat has something of a dilemma. Doors should be opened for her on demand. So she will have a nice nap on the spare bed then trundle downstairs to mew at the door at the bottom of the stairs. According to her it should be opened immediately.

What then happens is that I disentangle myself from my knitting (blanket almost full size now!) and open the door. Little bear will also shriek with delight and go and stand at the foot of the stairs with me. Evil cat will take one look at little bear and trot back upstairs.

Five minutes later - repeat

Then ten minutes after - repeat

Then two minutes after - repeat

Then two minutes after that evil cat is obviously getting an urgent call to the litter tray so she will dither, feint and then go back up stairs. This will be repeated at least twice.

Finally the call of the litter tray will become too insistent for her to ignore so she will madly dash past the ecstatic little bear onto the top of the chair until I open the stair gate that leads to the steps to the kitchen. A tabby blur will then shoot past me and then stop - right in front of the gate. Little bear will shriek again and evil cat will make another dash upstairs...

Then repeat until I nudge her (gently - honest) with my foot and she finally goes downstairs to the kitchen.

So she's finally down.

Then she starts crying at the gate to go up. Little bear sees her and shrieks. She flees. But she will come back to start crying again in about five minutes. And I'll open the gate and she will get as far as the top of the chair...

I need the exercise anyway.

And there was light

Pulled the light cord in the bathroom while trying to shepherd little bear into the bath. It came away and clattered to the floor.

Oops!

Dear heart will be sorting it out when he has a moment. Until then the light in the bathroom is permanently on.

There goes my drive for saving electric. Actually, it just means I have to work harder in other areas.

Dithering again

I had an unexpected call from my sister in law. She and her family are working very hard, so I don't really expect many calls.

She is having a 50th birthday party next month. We are invited (but it is an evening do, so not little bear) and there is a Hollywood theme.

It is really kind of her to invite us, but you know what I am like. I could immediately see the downside. If I could have more of a 'glass half full' attitude I am sure most of my problems would disappear.

First of all - find a babysitter. No problem, the nice Mrs Next Door will do it. She has six children, several grandchildren and will indulge little bear just enough. The last time I left little bear with a baby sitter after tea time was in March 2007. It was last year, and I think early last year, since I left little bear with anyone but dear heart and nursery.

Secondly - I really don't know if I have the courage to go out to an evening do. The last evening do I went to was in 2005, and the time before that was 2000. Both occasions were when I knew all the people and I was calm about who I would be meeting. The thought of it terrifies me.

Thirdly - what the hell am I supposed to wear? Seriously? Obviously I will have to wear clothes. But a Hollywood theme? I am a larger lady. My figure is ample, built more for comfort than speed.

I was up really late last night looking at ebay (my friend) for inspiration. I saw some nice kaftans. I also saw some things that no 'big boned' lady should ever contemplate even considering wearing, deary me, there is being comfortable in your skin and there is making a holy show of yourself.

Eventually, in the early hours, I decided that I could use some rather nice slinky material trousers that were a relic of when I worked, some killer sandals that I bought on an inexplicable impulse earlier this year and I could look round the charity shops for a glittery top. Also I could get a manicure (near me there is a relatively inexpensive shape and polish) and see if I could get a pair of black button earrings the size of saucers.

Dear heart will also have wear something nice, but I wonder if it would be worth him renting a tux?

Little bear stamps his foot

Little bear has a little step stool, extremely inexpensive from Netto, guaranteed to a ridiculous weight and he stands on it in his room. Usually he stands at the window, but he moves the stool around to suit himself.

Yesterday the approved food came as a wonderful early surprise. Little bear had just woken up and I was talking at the gate, then when I heard the knock on the door. It was the usual delivery driver, and I heard little bear take up his station on the stool at the window. He was jumping up and down and generally enjoying himself.

Well, I was about to start the usual chit chat about the weather when I heard a thump and a wail. Little bear was a very unhappy bear very suddenly. I think all mums have an instinct, and this was not a 'dropped the toy' sort of wail. This was a 'REALLY not happy' wail. I just said to the delivery man, 'fake my signature' and shot upstairs!

Little bear had bounced on the step stool once too often and it had broken. I think little bear had landed with a thump because he was just sitting next to the wreckage, absolutely devastated. So I picked him up and gave him a cuddle and brought him downstairs and gave him some more cuddles. He wasn't hurt, but he was desperately upset.

The delivery man, bless him, had left the parcel inside the house and shut the door.

Later on, when little bear had been visiting next door and had behaved badly I took him sternly home and told him he could stay in his room until his Dad got in. It was a whole fifteen minutes away and I needed that break. However it was not to be, as he once again saw the wreckage of the stool and was inconsolable.

New Washer!!!!

I have a new washer!!!

(delivered at 7.30am - would have been earlier but the (actually very nice) men got lost twenty yards from my house - not so !!!!)

Everything in the world is about to be washed.