So here we are, the day of reckoning as far as the football goes, I am so nervous, until about Tuesday I was like"well if we win that would be nice" but now a sinister, competitive instinct seems to have taken hold and I'm not sure I like it! I'm only playing in the first match and I'll be subbing on & off with the two other girls, Sarahjane & Nat. Of course I cannot pretend that it entirely the football that worries me, the spectators are, I think, half the problem, I'm sure it will be fine though.
I am currently reading Angus, thongs and perfect snogging last night (its the fictional diaries of a teenage girl, with a mad cat call Angus who is hakf scottish wildcat and seems frightening similar in temperament to the witchcat) and she has a crush on this guy called Robbie who she refers to throughout the book as the sex god. Anyway various hilarious incidents ensue in her quest to win him, one of which is her not being able to form proper words in front of him (sounds familiar) and another where she's playing hockey with a very small skirt but very big knickers thinking that he's not around, but actually he is. I have so say at the moment I am relating to this (looking stupid on sports pitches whilst people cooler than me look on sagely), which I guess goes along with my mums theory that you never feel any older, you just age & pick up wisdom etc.
Speaking of responsibility & stuff, this time next week my wonderful best friend Fi will be getting married! I'm sure the day itself is going to be wonderful and I'm really looking forward to it as I'm sure everybody who comes will really want to be there (its certainly not going to be boring). I guess I have though of Fi & Nick as being married for quite a long time, I mean they have been together all the time that I have known them and they make such a great team. Some of the couples I know are made up of one strong person who generally gets what they want all the time, and another doormatty type person who just puts up with it, but Nick & Fi are just this really cool little unit. They both give & take about equal & when Alex came along they adapted as a team, and I just think that is the best thing ever because if you are a team you can take on the world, and win. So please raise your coffee cups to Nick & Fi, Nick, the best father, builder of geometric domes and nicest bloke anyone could hope to meet, may he continue in his awesomeness in the role of father and Husband, and to Fi, the person I phone when my world falls apart, my willing accomplice in mad ideas, the crotcheter of jellyfish & the best mum that Abingdon has seen this far. We salute you and hope that the lovely weather of this morning repeats itself next week. Have a good weekend everyone.
Friday, 26 September 2008
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Musically distracted
Today it has to be said I am absolutely shattered. I usually feel a bit drained on Wednesday mornings and that is the only time I allow myself a cup of coffee at the start of the day. Yesterday morning however I was unusually perky so it looks like I'm paying for it today. Last night at violin I started the really hard piece from the Russian fantasias. The piece is absolutely amazing tone wise but when we started looking at passages it it looked nigh on impossible, standing just over two minutes in real time the violin part just never stops as the piano parts chords crash underneath. Jean (my very wonderful accompanist) will love it and I think I will love it again too once I can play it and provided I don't drive myself crazy over it first (the actual piece for the exam I think is just an extract from the fantasias but I've ordered the complete thing so that Jean & I can have a go if the mood takes us/we have the time, my next exam is scheduled for March, eeeekkk) . Last night I had to listen to it a couple of times before I could sleep, I guess I was just a bit wired from my lesson. Robin's wife Margaret gave me a massive bag of balls of wool that she had left over from projects (what a lady, I love going to my violin lesson, they are very much my kind of people, knitters & musicians) so I shall distribute it amongst the knitters today at lunch.
Just time I think for a little update on my rapper & football activity. Rapper on Tuesday night was brilliant, the girls are all going down to London to dance on Friday, I'm not going because I am still sash-less and captain Andy is away on Friday so I've got to single handedly captain our team (eeeeeek), but Angi has promised to try & track down a spare sash (if she gets the one she thinks she might be able to get, I will become yellow). Lizzie also promised the at some point I can have a go at tumbling, which is where you kind of flip over the swords (black swan rapper do it very well, but Lizzie has illustrated the problem that its actually getting the momentum to get yourself over that is usually the major problem, it will be a challenge certainly :-). We've got our first game of the football season this Friday, Harley & I sat down yesterday & planned our team and their attack. It has to be said that our team this year are a great deal better than my team from last year, however there does seem to be a worrying amount of people taking this deadly seriously, and this worries me. Hartley warned me that one of the lads on my team really upset his female captain last year, I am hoping that he will respect my authority and that I will not receive the same treatment. But we have a plan and I hope we win. I still haven't met the opposition captain Lloyd but I hope to put a couple of goals past him :-)
Finally a couple of words about terrible TV tragedy lost in Austin (brief plot line girl from modern day gets swapped with Lizzie Bennett, hilarious plot consequences follow (the most memorable being she does what every modern day girl would do & knees Mr Colins in the balls, quite)). If you ever intend watching it please don't read the rest of this post (because I'm about to comment on the ending) . There is no way on earth, ever, that modern day woman should be allowed to end up with Mr Darcy, she should have gone back to modern day London & left Lizzie & Mr Darcy to it, thus keeping with the traditional narrative of fairy tales (in my opinion), but apart from the ending it was a very entertaining, if slightly crackers series, and now there will be an A line dress shape in my Wednesday evening TV viewing without it, in fact all my TV viewing as it is once again restricted to Jamie at home, his Hugh Fernley Whittingsallness, countryfile and Tess of the d'Urbavilles (and we all know what's coming there (the horror, the horror).
Just time I think for a little update on my rapper & football activity. Rapper on Tuesday night was brilliant, the girls are all going down to London to dance on Friday, I'm not going because I am still sash-less and captain Andy is away on Friday so I've got to single handedly captain our team (eeeeeek), but Angi has promised to try & track down a spare sash (if she gets the one she thinks she might be able to get, I will become yellow). Lizzie also promised the at some point I can have a go at tumbling, which is where you kind of flip over the swords (black swan rapper do it very well, but Lizzie has illustrated the problem that its actually getting the momentum to get yourself over that is usually the major problem, it will be a challenge certainly :-). We've got our first game of the football season this Friday, Harley & I sat down yesterday & planned our team and their attack. It has to be said that our team this year are a great deal better than my team from last year, however there does seem to be a worrying amount of people taking this deadly seriously, and this worries me. Hartley warned me that one of the lads on my team really upset his female captain last year, I am hoping that he will respect my authority and that I will not receive the same treatment. But we have a plan and I hope we win. I still haven't met the opposition captain Lloyd but I hope to put a couple of goals past him :-)
Finally a couple of words about terrible TV tragedy lost in Austin (brief plot line girl from modern day gets swapped with Lizzie Bennett, hilarious plot consequences follow (the most memorable being she does what every modern day girl would do & knees Mr Colins in the balls, quite)). If you ever intend watching it please don't read the rest of this post (because I'm about to comment on the ending) . There is no way on earth, ever, that modern day woman should be allowed to end up with Mr Darcy, she should have gone back to modern day London & left Lizzie & Mr Darcy to it, thus keeping with the traditional narrative of fairy tales (in my opinion), but apart from the ending it was a very entertaining, if slightly crackers series, and now there will be an A line dress shape in my Wednesday evening TV viewing without it, in fact all my TV viewing as it is once again restricted to Jamie at home, his Hugh Fernley Whittingsallness, countryfile and Tess of the d'Urbavilles (and we all know what's coming there (the horror, the horror).
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
A very quick post
I realise I haven't written for a few days but I've been finding it very difficult to get onto this site. Seems to be okay now though. The weekend at home went as well as to be expected, the high point was getting the photos of Hugh back (he had his finger in my jam I tells you) . The low point was obviously the funeral but I did meet a lot of nice old ladies which made the horror slightly less bad. We all went out to the pub on Saturday night and thee are some really good photos of us all smilling with alcohol, like you do when in a pub. The next big event which horror of horrors is next weekend is Fi's wedding. I wanted to buy them some ceramic baking beans off their wedding list but someone else got there first. I'm making them something that cannot be named but I'm not sure its going to be finished on time as the raw materils haven't turned up yet. But more of that later.
The back garden looks a mess, all our veg is dying & I need to mow the lawn, weed and generally have a bit of a sort out. We have however got a lovely new addition to the sun room, Trish bought me a lemon tree with green lemons on it so I will be keeping a very close eye on that. There is lots more to type but I have to run for the bus, I must really learn how to type faster :-)
The back garden looks a mess, all our veg is dying & I need to mow the lawn, weed and generally have a bit of a sort out. We have however got a lovely new addition to the sun room, Trish bought me a lemon tree with green lemons on it so I will be keeping a very close eye on that. There is lots more to type but I have to run for the bus, I must really learn how to type faster :-)
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Going green for the day
So today was green day at my lovely work. Everyone had to make a really big effort to save energy, wear green & support good causes. Some people walked to work & others cycled. I managed to be persuaded (mostly by my sporty friend Beth) to cycle from Abingdon (which is 4 miles away). We set off from Abingdon town centre at 8.10 this morning. My bike (Sven) it has to be said is not the fastest thing on two wheels (he only has 3 gears and is quite old) but we managed to make it to work despite my friend Phil's observation 2 minutes before we left 'oh look Vikki's got a flat tyre' yeah thanks for pointing that out Phil. Grrr.
Anyway, work had a bike doctor in for the day so Sven was referred to him. Unfortunately my 'appointment' was scheduled for lunchtime when I should have been with the knitters. I managed to organise other people to take down the stuff and took Sven to see the good doctor. The guy was running a bit late so asked if I could leave Sven with him & he'd look at him in a bit & give me a ring when he'd finished. So I gave him my desk no & said that I wouldn't be there for the next hour 'cause I was with the knitters. The guy got really interested & said (if you are not sitting down at this point I would advise you to do so), 'oh wow, I've always wanted to learn how to knit'. Well you could have knocked me down with a feather. Cue totally impromptu knitting lesson with Bikey man covered in oil. Anyway finally got to the knitters (we gained three new ones, woooo) & it has been decided that we are having a wool buying/drinking social sometime in October & the bike Dr might even come along too!
Most excellent day. Yesterday was quite sad as it was Suzi's last day in the office. She was thrilled with her leaving present which was two bowls with designs from the Hermitage on them(you can get them on etsy from Phenix pottery & there is also a link from the websire here http://www.intothehermitage.blogspot.com/) . Unfortunately one of them broke in half in the post (I could quite literally kill the Royal mail at times) but hopefully we will be able to get a replacement. So now the only difficult part of today left is going to be getting back home tonight & then dragging myself out the house again to get to Morris. I've got a pretty early get up tomorrow morning for the funeral & I'm staying with Mum & Dad for the weekend so I predict that by Monday I will be completely & utterly exhausted. That however should not matter as Monday is incidentally pay day and I have a special treat reserved on etsy... Anyway enough of that for now & more in due course. Have a good weekend my lovelies.
Anyway, work had a bike doctor in for the day so Sven was referred to him. Unfortunately my 'appointment' was scheduled for lunchtime when I should have been with the knitters. I managed to organise other people to take down the stuff and took Sven to see the good doctor. The guy was running a bit late so asked if I could leave Sven with him & he'd look at him in a bit & give me a ring when he'd finished. So I gave him my desk no & said that I wouldn't be there for the next hour 'cause I was with the knitters. The guy got really interested & said (if you are not sitting down at this point I would advise you to do so), 'oh wow, I've always wanted to learn how to knit'. Well you could have knocked me down with a feather. Cue totally impromptu knitting lesson with Bikey man covered in oil. Anyway finally got to the knitters (we gained three new ones, woooo) & it has been decided that we are having a wool buying/drinking social sometime in October & the bike Dr might even come along too!
Most excellent day. Yesterday was quite sad as it was Suzi's last day in the office. She was thrilled with her leaving present which was two bowls with designs from the Hermitage on them(you can get them on etsy from Phenix pottery & there is also a link from the websire here http://www.intothehermitage.blogspot.com/) . Unfortunately one of them broke in half in the post (I could quite literally kill the Royal mail at times) but hopefully we will be able to get a replacement. So now the only difficult part of today left is going to be getting back home tonight & then dragging myself out the house again to get to Morris. I've got a pretty early get up tomorrow morning for the funeral & I'm staying with Mum & Dad for the weekend so I predict that by Monday I will be completely & utterly exhausted. That however should not matter as Monday is incidentally pay day and I have a special treat reserved on etsy... Anyway enough of that for now & more in due course. Have a good weekend my lovelies.
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
A lapsed blogger
I've done it, I've become of of those terrible breed, a lapsed blogger. Okay I admit there is much going on at the moment but if I can't take the time to write 20 minutes of thoughts down a day then I suck, I'll be stopping making cups of tea next & then where will we be?! Right enough of that on to the good stuff. First a knitting/spinning update. My spinning wheel still hasn't arrived but I have begun sourcing for bits of fleece ready for its arrival which hopefully hopefully should be within the next day or two. I'm hoping that Trish might be able to take me to pick it up as I don't rate my chances stumbling down Abingdon high street with a gigantic box (I had enough trouble with Suzi's leaving present (her last day is tomorrow (sob)), I can't reveal any more at the mo as I think she reads this blog, but I will update you at a future point.
Right onto he aforementioned knitting. The knitting group is going from strength to strength, Scarlett has just emailed me with two lapsed knitters who want to join us and as well as having our Thursday lunchtime knit we are looking into having two weekend workshops, one devoted to knitting in the round (which a lot of people seem to be quite scared of) and another on crotchet, (nuff said). The really fantastic news (and news that I absolutely still can't quite believe) is that the knitting group are to feature in a knitting magazine!!!!! One of my former colleagues left to work for a cross stitch magazine but has just secured a job working for a knitting magazine (its called Knit Today). She wants to do a full article (with pictures, eek) about the group. She sent a big list of stuff she wants to know & the knitters have been sent off to think about why they started knitting, why they like the group, what they like knitting, etc (“Being a part of this group has taught me a relaxing and practical hobby and helped me get to know the people I work with and now my life has meaning”, etc). I feel a bit strange about this bit, I mean it was my idea to start the group and obviously I had no idea it would do this well. I've had some really emotional testimonials already, stuff about the group being really important & helping people through really tough patches, its just really weird to think all of this came from some really random idea that I had, and also its like now I know that the group means so much to people its almost like there is a certain amount of pressure (nice pressure, but pressure all the same) to keep up the momentum.
Anyway enough of that, I'm freaking myself out, and I must get a few words about he who shall not be named. First off Friday's game, he scored twice in a controlled, oh that's so going in the net, cool and aloof manner. This was very attractive and his goal celebrations were nice & restrained, high fives with the rest of the team but no 'I am a golden god' type gloating, unlike some other people I know... Yesterday I had to approach him in work context (crumbs), as his boss is off ill, he tried to help he really did, but alas could not. Yesterday night I went home in a state of aggrrhhh what to do, I like him so much but I work with him and I don't want to have to leave my job or anything, but equally I'm not sure even if he did like me he'd do anything. Advice someone? Please? Anyway I have a day at least to think about it as he too is now off ill. Awww poor boy.
Right onto he aforementioned knitting. The knitting group is going from strength to strength, Scarlett has just emailed me with two lapsed knitters who want to join us and as well as having our Thursday lunchtime knit we are looking into having two weekend workshops, one devoted to knitting in the round (which a lot of people seem to be quite scared of) and another on crotchet, (nuff said). The really fantastic news (and news that I absolutely still can't quite believe) is that the knitting group are to feature in a knitting magazine!!!!! One of my former colleagues left to work for a cross stitch magazine but has just secured a job working for a knitting magazine (its called Knit Today). She wants to do a full article (with pictures, eek) about the group. She sent a big list of stuff she wants to know & the knitters have been sent off to think about why they started knitting, why they like the group, what they like knitting, etc (“Being a part of this group has taught me a relaxing and practical hobby and helped me get to know the people I work with and now my life has meaning”, etc). I feel a bit strange about this bit, I mean it was my idea to start the group and obviously I had no idea it would do this well. I've had some really emotional testimonials already, stuff about the group being really important & helping people through really tough patches, its just really weird to think all of this came from some really random idea that I had, and also its like now I know that the group means so much to people its almost like there is a certain amount of pressure (nice pressure, but pressure all the same) to keep up the momentum.
Anyway enough of that, I'm freaking myself out, and I must get a few words about he who shall not be named. First off Friday's game, he scored twice in a controlled, oh that's so going in the net, cool and aloof manner. This was very attractive and his goal celebrations were nice & restrained, high fives with the rest of the team but no 'I am a golden god' type gloating, unlike some other people I know... Yesterday I had to approach him in work context (crumbs), as his boss is off ill, he tried to help he really did, but alas could not. Yesterday night I went home in a state of aggrrhhh what to do, I like him so much but I work with him and I don't want to have to leave my job or anything, but equally I'm not sure even if he did like me he'd do anything. Advice someone? Please? Anyway I have a day at least to think about it as he too is now off ill. Awww poor boy.
Friday, 12 September 2008
Its all happening!
I'm sorry I haven't updated this blog for a couple of days, only its been kind of manic over at Mason Du Rose, there is some good news, some bad news but its all here. Right to start from Wednesday, I won the auction for the spinning wheel, hurrah, they are sending it in the post (?!) so it should be arriving in the next couple of days. The next thing I will need to find is some roving to spin on it. There are some lovely ones on etsy but there is no point me spending loads on money on roving till my spinning is of a reasonable standard. The next thing of note is that my rapper side Mabel Gubbins have found a new practice hall in the village of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell (the village itself is fantastic, it looks like prime headless horse terratory and its pub looks just like a normal house so you don't find it unless you already know where it is). The practice hall itself is actually a cricket pavilion but its absolutely perfect for what we want.
The last bit of news is unfortunately the bad bit. I was informed last night that my great Aunt Doreen died yesterday morning. She had been ill with Parkinson's disease for a very long time and as my dad put it it was in some ways a relief, in that she was not suffering anymore. The funeral is expected to be next Friday but this won't be confirmed until my parents get home (they had gone away for the week). I was really upset last night and work today is going really slowly but its the first work football match of the season at lunch so I have determined to go & watch that with my friend David to try & take my mind off things. Plus David has promised to buy me some tiffin cake so how could I refuse?
As I don't want to end this post on a down note I shall also reveal my plans for the weekend. This is the first time in ages that I'm not rushing off anywhere so I'm thinking I might walk into Abingdon, buy the book that I've wanted for a while from mostly books & then return home to lots of tea, knitting and cake (I still haven't managed to track down the limited edition fondant fancies, I went to waitrose but the shelf it was bare), but I did stumble upon the most amazing knitted lobster pattern, more on that & a knitting update in Monday's post). I also had some vague notion of painting a bit more of my room but we'll see how the time goes.
The last bit of news is unfortunately the bad bit. I was informed last night that my great Aunt Doreen died yesterday morning. She had been ill with Parkinson's disease for a very long time and as my dad put it it was in some ways a relief, in that she was not suffering anymore. The funeral is expected to be next Friday but this won't be confirmed until my parents get home (they had gone away for the week). I was really upset last night and work today is going really slowly but its the first work football match of the season at lunch so I have determined to go & watch that with my friend David to try & take my mind off things. Plus David has promised to buy me some tiffin cake so how could I refuse?
As I don't want to end this post on a down note I shall also reveal my plans for the weekend. This is the first time in ages that I'm not rushing off anywhere so I'm thinking I might walk into Abingdon, buy the book that I've wanted for a while from mostly books & then return home to lots of tea, knitting and cake (I still haven't managed to track down the limited edition fondant fancies, I went to waitrose but the shelf it was bare), but I did stumble upon the most amazing knitted lobster pattern, more on that & a knitting update in Monday's post). I also had some vague notion of painting a bit more of my room but we'll see how the time goes.
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
River Cottage forever
So I've finally come down from my cloud over meeting Hugh, he was as anticipated lovely and not only did he sign my book he also tasted the jam I took for him (I had a revelation on the present front, redcurrant jelly & acorns, the perfect present) . His exact words were 'Mmmm nice, good consistency not to sweet, great stuff' Ohhhh! How Wonderful! Kip has taken photos but unfortunately they are on his manual camera, but as soon as I get the prints I will put them up. River cottage in general was pretty fab, as well as having lots of river cottage stuff for sale there were loads of other stalls ranging from spinners to blacksmiths (the mushroom expert was also roaming around so we got chatting to him, now is the season for giant puffballs so I'm told) and survival experts. Kip got talking to the survival experts and is doing a course in wild foraging next year, I got chatting to a basket making lady who hopefully will be doing courses up in Oxfordshire (she was making a raven sculpture out of willow to be set alight at her friends hand fasting, cool or what?!) in the coming months. That would be great as its something I've always wanted to learn. There was a basket guy there selling his wares who promised me he would make a basket to my spec (I'll email him tomorrow, he also had some lovely broomsticks) and a guy who made knives from scratch, I would have really liked one of his whittling knives but I think they were about £200 and the thing I need most right now is not a knife but a spinning wheel so regretfully I had to pass. On the Saturday of the fete the weather was pretty horrible and it rained a lot but the Sunday cheered up and we had a really good time. Hugh's new place is a lot closer to civilisation but you can see he really has scope to do lots of new projects.
Other highlights of the trip included the pub we stayed on which was right next to the Cobb at Lyme Regis (as I was the only girl present I refrained from standing on the end wailing :-) , it was a really comfy room (which was well appreciated after all that rain) and we were cooked the most wonderful fried breakfast by a nice singing scouse chef. Perfect. I was determined to seek out some fossil shops and thought I may have missed my chance when we went straight to the farm on the Saturday. However we managed to find a small one down a backstreet on the Sunday morning, and I bought a polished ammonite as a paperweight for my new desk, a fossilised ananomy and a relative of the ammonite that was found on Skye (the guy in the shop said it was very rare but I can admit the attraction for me was the location it was found in :-). On the way back from Lyme Regis we stopped off to see Kips friends Brund and Alison. They both work as rangers on an estate not far from Lyme and take parties of kids round. Kip and Brund have known each other since school but as I found out he had ulterior motives for visiting as he quite likes Alison. She seemed like a very nice girl and packed us off with a load of home grown veg (my kind of girl and she went to lancaster Uni) so I've encouraged him to ask her for a drink the next time he's down. Everything crossed she says yes.
Other highlights of the trip included the pub we stayed on which was right next to the Cobb at Lyme Regis (as I was the only girl present I refrained from standing on the end wailing :-) , it was a really comfy room (which was well appreciated after all that rain) and we were cooked the most wonderful fried breakfast by a nice singing scouse chef. Perfect. I was determined to seek out some fossil shops and thought I may have missed my chance when we went straight to the farm on the Saturday. However we managed to find a small one down a backstreet on the Sunday morning, and I bought a polished ammonite as a paperweight for my new desk, a fossilised ananomy and a relative of the ammonite that was found on Skye (the guy in the shop said it was very rare but I can admit the attraction for me was the location it was found in :-). On the way back from Lyme Regis we stopped off to see Kips friends Brund and Alison. They both work as rangers on an estate not far from Lyme and take parties of kids round. Kip and Brund have known each other since school but as I found out he had ulterior motives for visiting as he quite likes Alison. She seemed like a very nice girl and packed us off with a load of home grown veg (my kind of girl and she went to lancaster Uni) so I've encouraged him to ask her for a drink the next time he's down. Everything crossed she says yes.
Friday, 5 September 2008
Getting ready for Hugh
So the day before I meet His-Fernely-Whittingsall-ness is finally upon us and who would have thought its still raining here in Oxfordshire? My little chicken pals are hating this weather, as is Mabel cat who is refusing to go outside. The flipside of this is she sleeps all day in doors and then is really awake at night! Last night she dived on me while I was asleep using the top of my wardrobe as a launching pad, I wondered what on earth was going on!
Last night was also the first night back at Cry Havoc practice. We had a really good practice although it serves as further proof of how out of shape I have become. I was pretty cream crackered after my favourite dance (its called sidesteps, because that's what your feet do pretty much all the way through) but it does go on for quite a long time, which usually I like. There is a new guy called Paul who has joined and he got the team to do a really complicated dance which I've never seen before, you kind of jump and then fall straight onto one knee, it looked really impressive but quite painful!
Kip is coming down tonight and we head off for the carpet town of Axminster tomorrow morning to arrive at the pub in the afternoon and then off to the festival. From the sounds of it we get a jolly good look round and a chance to meet all of Hugh's staff (as well as the man himself) and taste a lot of the produce. I think I will purchasing the preserves handbook and hopefully getting it signed as well. I feel I should take something to give to Hugh but I can't think of anything he hasn't got! It is a dilemma indeed.
Finally big congratulations to my housemate (and under garderner ;-)
Mel, who got engaged to her long term boyfriend Chris on Wednesday. Rumour has it that a spring wedding will be in order so many congratulations to both.
Last night was also the first night back at Cry Havoc practice. We had a really good practice although it serves as further proof of how out of shape I have become. I was pretty cream crackered after my favourite dance (its called sidesteps, because that's what your feet do pretty much all the way through) but it does go on for quite a long time, which usually I like. There is a new guy called Paul who has joined and he got the team to do a really complicated dance which I've never seen before, you kind of jump and then fall straight onto one knee, it looked really impressive but quite painful!
Kip is coming down tonight and we head off for the carpet town of Axminster tomorrow morning to arrive at the pub in the afternoon and then off to the festival. From the sounds of it we get a jolly good look round and a chance to meet all of Hugh's staff (as well as the man himself) and taste a lot of the produce. I think I will purchasing the preserves handbook and hopefully getting it signed as well. I feel I should take something to give to Hugh but I can't think of anything he hasn't got! It is a dilemma indeed.
Finally big congratulations to my housemate (and under garderner ;-)
Mel, who got engaged to her long term boyfriend Chris on Wednesday. Rumour has it that a spring wedding will be in order so many congratulations to both.
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Something pretty for Thursday
So, its raining again, the slugs and snail are on the rampage in a big way, and everyone in the office this morning is very unmotivated. I am keeping my spirits up with the following thought, imagine what all this rain is doing to the giant pumpkins :-)
I went out to have a look at the back garden last night, mostly to see if the slugs were taking over (they are) I might have to go on another mission tonight to liberally apply slug pellets (I know it isn't good but its either that or we will have no crop). Over the back fence has invited us to take as many apples as we can (an offer I will be taking her up on, have no fear) and dropped round some acorns for me to plant last night. I had planted some when I was very young but these were given to uncle Julian and now all the acorn trees around my house seem to have a disease that's making the acorns themselves soft, time, I think to plant some more.
Today's picture is of the Character James Murray from under the greenwood tree, he has more than a passing resembelence to he who shall not be named (who I saw yesterday driving out of work in a wee corsa type thing which was bright blue), while I looked miserable at the bus stop afraid that I would miss vast quantities of my violin lesson, I didn't and its fine. He who shall not be named lives in Wantage and so here in his honour are two interesting facts about Wantage
In Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy Wantage is the town reffered to in the book as Alfredston, Wantage was the home of the poet John Betjamin. Intresting huh? I'm not sure I've ever been there so might make that a priority before winter proper sets in.
I can't believe that is a mere two days till I get to meet Hugh, if its weather like this down here who knows what the weather is like further south. Wellies may be called for I fear.
I went out to have a look at the back garden last night, mostly to see if the slugs were taking over (they are) I might have to go on another mission tonight to liberally apply slug pellets (I know it isn't good but its either that or we will have no crop). Over the back fence has invited us to take as many apples as we can (an offer I will be taking her up on, have no fear) and dropped round some acorns for me to plant last night. I had planted some when I was very young but these were given to uncle Julian and now all the acorn trees around my house seem to have a disease that's making the acorns themselves soft, time, I think to plant some more.
Today's picture is of the Character James Murray from under the greenwood tree, he has more than a passing resembelence to he who shall not be named (who I saw yesterday driving out of work in a wee corsa type thing which was bright blue), while I looked miserable at the bus stop afraid that I would miss vast quantities of my violin lesson, I didn't and its fine. He who shall not be named lives in Wantage and so here in his honour are two interesting facts about Wantage
In Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy Wantage is the town reffered to in the book as Alfredston, Wantage was the home of the poet John Betjamin. Intresting huh? I'm not sure I've ever been there so might make that a priority before winter proper sets in.
I can't believe that is a mere two days till I get to meet Hugh, if its weather like this down here who knows what the weather is like further south. Wellies may be called for I fear.
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
More Mabel Rapper trouble
So last night we sat in a pub for two hours (the cross keys in Wallingford) trying to decide what to do with the rapper team. The lease on the old village hall has run out, we thought we had found a simular hall in Wallingford itself but this is way more expensive than the old one taking a month of subs per week! (clearly for broke folkies this is not an option).
So lists were compiled and places dished out. It is my job to research pubs/hall in Steveton. Let us hope that someone comes across something. There was also the December Mabel day to plan and preparations to start for DERT 2011 (its a really big rapper tournament & we've been chosen to host it, at the moment though we are still trying to work out possible venues).
Yesterday lunch Suzi & I went out for another round of blackberry picking in our lunch hour, the blackberries eventually made it into a blackberry and apple crumble that we had at Julie's. With it being stormy we were singing sea shanties in the car, and Sam & Julie learnt a new one at Towersey called stormy weather boys, its really nice but I can't seem to find the complete words for it anywhere, only what seems to be an American version of it). In Milton we also went in and investigated Milton village church as they were having their roof repainted (its not usually open during the day, as Suzi remarked though its a nice building even if we are not that churchy we can appreciate that).
Speaking of boys, I hadn't seen he who shall not be named for about a week in work due to us both being a little/lot busy however yesterday when I was running out of the door to a meeting when he appeared in the doorway in front of me, I said hello, he replied with another hello and did that melty smilley thing he does and I had to rush back to my desk and gather myself. Really need to resolve this one, but he is so lovely..... reminds me a bit of the boy character from under the milkwood tree, he has that kind of country air about him. Sigh.
So lists were compiled and places dished out. It is my job to research pubs/hall in Steveton. Let us hope that someone comes across something. There was also the December Mabel day to plan and preparations to start for DERT 2011 (its a really big rapper tournament & we've been chosen to host it, at the moment though we are still trying to work out possible venues).
Yesterday lunch Suzi & I went out for another round of blackberry picking in our lunch hour, the blackberries eventually made it into a blackberry and apple crumble that we had at Julie's. With it being stormy we were singing sea shanties in the car, and Sam & Julie learnt a new one at Towersey called stormy weather boys, its really nice but I can't seem to find the complete words for it anywhere, only what seems to be an American version of it). In Milton we also went in and investigated Milton village church as they were having their roof repainted (its not usually open during the day, as Suzi remarked though its a nice building even if we are not that churchy we can appreciate that).
Speaking of boys, I hadn't seen he who shall not be named for about a week in work due to us both being a little/lot busy however yesterday when I was running out of the door to a meeting when he appeared in the doorway in front of me, I said hello, he replied with another hello and did that melty smilley thing he does and I had to rush back to my desk and gather myself. Really need to resolve this one, but he is so lovely..... reminds me a bit of the boy character from under the milkwood tree, he has that kind of country air about him. Sigh.
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Monday night with Nanny Mcphee
The weather here in Oxfordshire has definitely changed for the worst, autumn is in the air as is the strong smell of wood burning fires and strong scotch broth. The natural instinct of all of mason du Rose is to hibernate but since we are still being forced to go to workee (well two out of the three) we decided to have a film night instead. Nanny McPhee was the chosen film (recommemded by the awesome Suzi) so we curled up on the sofa and watched it. If you haven't seen it I would definitely recommend it, the catchphrase 'I did knock' and 'hmmmmm' have now both been adopted as house mottos.
The chickens are absoultely hating this weather. I went to see them last night for a cuddle and they were really cold (so I put some more hay in after I had warmed them all up). This morning when I went round to let them out their run was covered in slugs (which I hope they will eat) and their food dish had fallen over spilling its contents all over the place. I think I will return tonight to damp, fed up birdies, but I think they will just have to get used to this wet weather.
Final bit of news, today after weeks of searching it seems my rapper side may have found a new practice venue in Wallingford (which is a bit of a pain to get to, but hey if this works out it means we can keep practicing :-). We are going their tonight hopefully to scope it out and have a meeting (which I think may involve going into the cross keys for a swift half). I have really missed dancing, especially when we were at Towersey having to watch other people do it (its dangerous but I guess that's also what makes it fun). Anyway I shall attend tonight & report back tomorrow.
The chickens are absoultely hating this weather. I went to see them last night for a cuddle and they were really cold (so I put some more hay in after I had warmed them all up). This morning when I went round to let them out their run was covered in slugs (which I hope they will eat) and their food dish had fallen over spilling its contents all over the place. I think I will return tonight to damp, fed up birdies, but I think they will just have to get used to this wet weather.
Final bit of news, today after weeks of searching it seems my rapper side may have found a new practice venue in Wallingford (which is a bit of a pain to get to, but hey if this works out it means we can keep practicing :-). We are going their tonight hopefully to scope it out and have a meeting (which I think may involve going into the cross keys for a swift half). I have really missed dancing, especially when we were at Towersey having to watch other people do it (its dangerous but I guess that's also what makes it fun). Anyway I shall attend tonight & report back tomorrow.
Monday, 1 September 2008
Moths!
Oh I'm so excited I can now post photos! Technology comes to Mason du Rose, fantastic! Right reports on the weekend. In the end I didn't go to either Megs BBQ or the bunkfest as I was too tied up with the dogs. The older Alsatian decided to go for a dip in the stream which in itself was fine (Saturday was a scorching day) but when the time came for us to go she wasn't for getting out. This presented us with a slight problem as I still had Holly to walk. So I took Holly back to the house hoping Kelly would follow (she didn't), donned wellies and grabbed a big lead and headed back to the stream where Kelly was waiting just as I had left her. I waded in to the water and eventually succeeded in dragging her out, as a thank you she shook herself all over me and so I headed home for my second shower of the morning. Nice!
Yesterday was spent catching up on some knitting I had neglected (as well as some serious violin practice). I also checked all of my stash over thoroughly as on Saturday night the biggest Moth I have ever seen got into our house (it was white and had a very ethereal air about it). My immediate thought was I MUST PROTECT THE WOOL. Which in due course I did by locking the thing out of my room. However what is now more worrying is that it seems to have disappeared, which is frankly terrifying, it could be anywhere! (Although most of the stash is safely stashed in bags, some of it especially my spinning, is loose).
The other nice thing about the weekend was that I engaged in my first ever bout of chicken cuddling. Trish has never handled her bantams and the chicken book I was reading advised that they should be handled before they reach maturity (which for the bantams, I think, was possibly a while ago). So on Saturday night when they were all calm and sleepy I picked Phillip (the cockerel) up. I had my old horseriding fleece on which he seemed to quite take to. After my experience with the previous cockerel I thought he would be quite keen to peck me but he was quite content to let me hold and stroke him and not that keen at all to go back in the run. Since this first experience I have picked the two girls up as well (Phillipa & Teddy) and I have to say that Teddy is definitely my favourite as she will reply to whatever you say to her in a series of low clucks and the like, it is most endearing (yes I too find it worrying I am now talking to the chickens, but she is very sweet). So I shall leave you with the following thought for the day, you haven’t lived till you've cuddled a chicken :-)
Yesterday was spent catching up on some knitting I had neglected (as well as some serious violin practice). I also checked all of my stash over thoroughly as on Saturday night the biggest Moth I have ever seen got into our house (it was white and had a very ethereal air about it). My immediate thought was I MUST PROTECT THE WOOL. Which in due course I did by locking the thing out of my room. However what is now more worrying is that it seems to have disappeared, which is frankly terrifying, it could be anywhere! (Although most of the stash is safely stashed in bags, some of it especially my spinning, is loose).
The other nice thing about the weekend was that I engaged in my first ever bout of chicken cuddling. Trish has never handled her bantams and the chicken book I was reading advised that they should be handled before they reach maturity (which for the bantams, I think, was possibly a while ago). So on Saturday night when they were all calm and sleepy I picked Phillip (the cockerel) up. I had my old horseriding fleece on which he seemed to quite take to. After my experience with the previous cockerel I thought he would be quite keen to peck me but he was quite content to let me hold and stroke him and not that keen at all to go back in the run. Since this first experience I have picked the two girls up as well (Phillipa & Teddy) and I have to say that Teddy is definitely my favourite as she will reply to whatever you say to her in a series of low clucks and the like, it is most endearing (yes I too find it worrying I am now talking to the chickens, but she is very sweet). So I shall leave you with the following thought for the day, you haven’t lived till you've cuddled a chicken :-)
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