Lost in Austin

Okay there were going to be photos of this weekend's activities there really were till I woke up horrified I had forgotten to alter my alarm clock and ended up flying round the house in a panic, trying to get out the door as fast as I could, and forgot the cable. Doh. Well for the moment I'm going to have to try and illuminate the weekend in words. On the Friday I took as my day in lieu (from a very dull meeting ages ago) as I still had half a dress to finish, several cakes to make and a gig to attend in the evening. The cakes were done fairly early on in the day but due to various things not going the way I planned the dress was finished at 6.30 on Sat morning (I had to wear it Sat afternoon, oops). I went off to see LAU (they are Scottish and very good, if you like your folk, or even if you don't you should buy their Cd's, did I mention they are very good? :-). The Cornerstone is possibly the classiest venue in Didcot and was very nice. Fi tells me that Eliza Carthy is playing there next month which can only be a good thing. I attended in the end with accordion player and jolly nice chap Nick (hereafter known as accordion Nick & not to be confused with Fi's Nick, or Nick Spangle) who's girlfriend was away in the US on workee so he came to get himself out the house and stop missing her, awwww.

Sat morning after a very early start for some of us (the hem was finished thanks to very strong instant coffee, hurrah) we bundled into the car and headed for Lyme Park, as soon as we had left Oxfordshire it started blowing a gale and the rain started to fall. Which wasn't great. This weather continued all the way up, the winds increasing in their ferociousness. We got to Lyme Park and met up with the rest of the Hen's (some of whom were sensible enough to drive down in plain clothes and frock and bonnet up at Lyme). First up was the ladies luncheon in the cafe (very nice it was too, I had the estate's own venison). We then took an extensive tour of the house (lovely but we weren't allowed to take photos) and the garden's (freezing but there were some very good photos). After an hour or two of that during which some of the party appeared to turn blue we retreated to the beautiful Cressbrook hall (http://www.cressbrookhall.co.uk/home.htm) where we had rented a self catering cottage for a night. Once installed, back in civvies and much warmer we sat down to an evening of the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (yes that was indeed the theme of the weekend) after a couple of episodes we broke for dinner each of the girls providing a course (the hastily assembled chocolate and chestnut cake (recipe by Hugh) went down very well indeed).

Next morning (earlier than we thought because of the hour) my friend Helen and I got up early as she was desperate to go for a walk up the mountains. I'm not sure how we managed it but we somehow ended up on the wrong side if a river and found we couldn't get back to the house. Oh dear. Cue eight mile unintentional hike (it wasn't planned but it was beautiful and thankfully I was wearing sensible shoes) and us going 'missing' for two hours (there is no phone reception in the middle of Derbyshire up the side of a hill so we couldn't let the rest of the girls know about the river, oops). We got back and had a little stroll round the formal gardens of Cressbrook before returning to the car to head South. It was about this point that my friend Emma suggested we call in to see her Mum and Step dad who live in Matlock (my godfather who looks very much like Rubius Hagrid lives there as well). So we called in on them for a cup of tea. Their house is Amazing Emma's step dad is an artist but used to work in the building when it was a cowshed. The local council approached him about converting it (it was a bit of an eyesore) and it is now the most beautiful space. He works mainly in bronze and is a big fan of birds so there were all these beautifully tactile bronzes around this gorgeous space (I will post the link here once I've located it). After catching up with them it back back in the car to return to Oxford and a furious scrabble to find out who won the boat race (well done boys :-). Last night all I managed to do was a bit of ironing have a bath & straighten out my spinning and it was time for bed (pesky hour) but what a fantastic weekend!

Is that the time?

Is it really Thursday already? (I know the answer to that, I’m merely checking). The days just seem to disappear when I’ve got deadlines looming but when I’m excited and waiting for stuff to happen they seem to go so slowly. This week has been a mixture. Today is a very special day for Fi (who is mentioned almost in every post on this blog, so awesome is she). Alex, her little boy turns 1 today which seems quite frankly bizarre as I can still remember Fi being pregnant and that doesn’t seem that long ago! I’ll be making my way over there this evening to shower him with gifts in a wise man style. I can’t stay for too many cups of tea however as I have to get back to my current dress of doom, the dress for Mel’s hen weekend (still not finished).

I thought I’d cut all the sections on Tuesday night, but last night I found several pieces were missing so there was more cutting to be done. I haven’t even started the ‘proper’ sewing yet and the dress is due to be worn in public on Sat (oops). I say it like its all doom and gloom but the fabric is beautiful and a nice bi product of the more cutting was that I found a border on the fabric I’d never seen before & found out to my shock and delight that the patterned material for the top is actually a William Morris print (I think subconsciously I must have known that hence why I chose it :-). I hoping the pattern will act as a bit of a catalyst to help me get it finished as if I’m honest I’m still quite tired from last weekend’s activities and would like a long rest before engaging in Austin activities, but its still very exciting. The serious business of getting it finished in time starts this evening (& I’ve taken tomorrow off to finish it, I’m hoping however it’s not going to go to the wire as I’ve got desert for the picnic to make as well, latest thought Hugh’s choc & sweet chestnut thing and dark choc and stem ginger cookies, or is that too much chocolate?).

And it’s not like I’m going to be short of stuff to do tomorrow. I’m hoping I can get the dress finished by mid afternoon so I can check the bees, I haven’t touched Benji the violin for the past week (and excused myself from my lesson last night due to the dress) and tomorrow (evening) I’m going to see LAU at Didcot. Usually when I’m not at work I try to stay as far away from the place as I can my office overlooks the horrible power station and Didcot town centre isn’t the nicest [;ace ever, but I couldn’t resist the chance to see a whole set from the band and the gig is taking place at the new arts centre the Cornerstone (maybe being an arts centre they have tea and cake or even better WINE!). Full report after I’ve been. Right better get back to it, there is a stack of work to do and only one working day left to do it :-).

And now its all over

So this weekend was the end results of all our efforts for the festival this year and I have to say it was pretty amazing. I got to see a grand total of three bands (woo) which is about on a par with last year, but unlike last year they weren't all headliners, they were the bands I wanted to see, result! Lets recap. Friday night already fed up with repeating the phrase 'no you can't have a Kate Rusby ticket, its sold out, no really' Fi & I got into our bhangra groove & watched (but mostly danced like loons) to the Dhol foundation (who thankfully didn't pay much attention to the fact that the audience were quite small but went for it anyway :-).
Saturday early start, dancing like a loon starting to take its toll on the back of my knees, workee workee, workee, on the box office quite hard till three when Fi & both decided to catch a different 10 minutes of Lau. I saw mostly tunes but it seems Fi caught mostly the songy side of the set. She comes back bearing the news that Kris Drever wants to talk to me about bees, apparently during the Lau stage banter he revealed a yearning to be an apiarist and encouraged anyone who keeps bees to go and talk to him. I remain sceptical and decide a cup of tea is in order. Upon entering the green room promptly run into Kris Drever (crumbs), mention beekeeping and we have a wee chat, leave the green room tea in had feeling this may be one of the most surreal moments yet. This is however eclipsed when I catch his solo set later on in the evening when he mentions finding a beekeeper to the audience. Vow to find and kill him gently later on in the evening :-). Kate Rusby is on the main stage being supported by an orchestra, I decide I don't fancy that (but the box office is shut cause of her, so cheers Kate) so stay & watch the entirety of Kris' set and then retire to the bar. A few pints later the tiredness is in my knees again (always the knees) so retire to bed ready for another early get upon Sunday.

Sunday's are always a funny one, you are the most tired you have been for any day of the festival yet because of all the morris sides (and this year the choirs) you are required to be present and have your wits very much about you. This year I got a bit ill and was sat shivering in the box office till Fi very kindly went and made me a lemsip. I felt better for a couple of hours and regained a bit of colour but by the time of the friends gig (and the much anticipated Vikki & Uncle Saul time) I felt rubbish and was shivering all over the show. I stuck it out however and I think Both Saul and McClaine went down really well (so well in fact that Tim was very keen to book them for next years festival, hurrah). Home & straight to bed.

Monday and a well needed rest from everything and anything. Witchcat and I decide to stay in bed till some unmentionable hour (I actually went to bed at 9ish the previous night but don't so much open my eyes till ten the next morning). Have a nice relaxing bath, put on some music & the heating & make myself a hot toddy with almost the last of the Talisker (noooo). Feel that I really should be doing something so go into town and rent Jackie and Hilliary from the library, its a film that I've wanted to see for ages about the cellist Jaqueline due pre (still really want a cello) and her sister, its a bit the horror the horror but Fi had mentioned wanting to see it too so we sat and imbibed copious quantities of cake and tea which was fab. A bit of work on my Austin dress (yes that this next weekend) and then another early night. Back to work and reality tomorrow.

Tis the season

So its that time of year again, the Oxford folk festival is nearly upon us, the sun is warming up and spring is definitely in the air. So last week was a week full of spring cleaning, the work mag was finally sent to print after many revisions and last minute tweaks, my spinning article is nearly finished (the final push and photographs to go with it is tonight's job) tomorrow will be the last meeting before the festival and and the weekend a start was made on the first of the two Austin dresses (Helen's is a size bigger than mine so hers is going first, its green). The weekend was full of lovely things I had dinner out on Friday and went to see a film, Saturday was the now legendary Ceiligh at Kennington and Sunday we borrowed Holly dog and took her up to Radley college (where she somehow managed to find her way into the lake and become a very muddy dog indeed!) .

Once we'd got back from the walk and recovered with a cup of tea (or several we set to wok on this years easter tree. At home when I was little my mum would always take us out to gather some braches for the tree, she favoured pussy willow as the stalks are very straightand you get the joy of the furry catkins to hang things off.

Make it stop!

Why is it in life stuff always seems to come along all at once? Its like you are plodding along, doing okay and then time just changes, you haven't got enough of it and there is physically just too much to do. Well a lot has happened so I guess I should recap. Work is horrendously busy, we had a big meeting last week where our bosses basically admitted we had way too much to do but they would like us to attempt it anyway (?!?). I'm working really long hours and have a terrible feeling I'm taking it out on Mel (I'm sorry I don't mean it, it will get better, thanks for listening to me rant). However this weekend I'm going to make her some ginger and dark choc cookies (yes they are as good as they sound) which I made for all the people who contributed to the creative issue of my magazine (I thought there would be some left over for Mel but there weren't, how bad did I feel?!?). The recipe is from a cookbook I got the other weekend in local book haunt Mostly books, and all the proceeds go to rescuing battery hens, good work.

I've also been trying to sort out the last of the friends stuff for Oxford folk festival (which is in, yes count them two weeks, eeekkk) whilst desperately trying to finish my article for knit today (have to send sheepish email to my editor today informing her that I'm still struggling with getting/uploading the photos, I may have to see if Olie (who's son was delivered on Monday, a boy called Korben, 10lb 9oz, congratulations to the B's but you've got to feel for his poor wife) can be bribed with more knitwear). (I've only just finished the last lot and I am dying to knit something for me).

Tonight I really have to start tacking one or both of the Austin dresses (at least cutting out the pattern). The other material is being purchased by Helen this weekend so I'm hoping we can cut all the pieces out on Monday evening and then we can start tacking (individually or together). I'm meeting Louise for a obscenely early cup of coffee tomorrow morning at 10.30 (she really does early mornings whereas I like to stay in bed till at least 10 at the weekends so as to recover from the week). I'm then going back home weeding the front garden and digging the veg patch (my mum sent me a fantastic Alan Titchmarsh book about growing your own veg but it has one of those things to do this month things and I haven't done any of the March ones). Sat night is my first (and last?) Nightshift assignment at the Jon Boden gig at the Jericho (which just happens to be an OFF fundraiser :-). Sunday should be writing up gig, finishing off aforementioned spinning article and very probably lots of sewing. And so ends another week...

Living for the weekend

So this weekend its all really happening. Mel and Fi had their birthday's on the same day this year as Mel was born on the 28th and Fi was born on the 29th in a leap year (so her birthday technically doesn't exist this year, if we worked on that logic she would only be 4 :-). Mel was duly serenaded at her window by her fiancee Chris (she had asked if he would as this time next year they will be married and living together (I assume he is to sing/play to her all the time then :-)). I had coffee with the birthday girl early in the morning and then her and Chris went to final fitting of the wedding dress (cor, its getting close). We reconvened later that evening and headed out to a Lebanese (who knew such a thing existed in Abingdon?) for the evening. All the greats were there including Richard (who I haven't seen for ages) and Mel's uncle who looks incredibly like William Morris... I was sat opposite Canal boat living Helen who had broken her finger doing something DIY related. She is apparently very worried about getting her Austin Dress made, so I have been roped in to help (one dress was bad enough, two I think is probably pushing it). However in return Helen has promised to sand and wax my floor (I'm not sure she knows what she's letting herself in for here, but there you go...)

Sunday held yet more birthday revelry as we headed to an Italian in Oxford for Sunday to celebrate Fi's birthday, followed by desert on Dan & Bec's new canal boat (Bec's at this point very very pregnant so they have bought a bigger boat and moved their moorings to Oxford so they are nearer a hospital, very wise). I stayed over with my favourite baby, Alex (who's nearly a year old, how scary is that?) leaving Fi & Nick to head out to see Faustus in Basingstoke in the evening. They set off pretty early so I had the lovely task of putting Alex to bed, I read Charlie and Lola to him and he went all lollopy and soft and cuddly, awwww. Having said that he woke up at 5.30am this morning morning but hey it is making Monday slightly more interesting :-) And so to work I must go... Something special is happening tonight but I don't want to jinx it so I'm going to smile knowingly about it for now and reveal in time when it all becomes clear...