PRINCESS CASTLE BIRTHDAY CAKE!

Here is another one of my little creations!
I made the princess castle cake at the weekend for Charlotte's 4th birthday and Jessica's 1st party. Believe it or not, I'm actually quite pleased with how it turned out. Charlotte loved it and her party, Jessica slept through the whole event.
All the children who came and some of the adults wore fancy dress, Charlotte as a princess and Jessica in a minnie mouse looking outfit without the ears. Michael and I went along as Ben & Holly [the elf and the fairy princess!!], from Nick Jnr fame. However it wasn't long before we both shed our hats and my wand and not much after that when I got Michael to chop my wings off. It was too hot for all that malarkey!
You may well think, we're complete and utter nutters but when you become grandparents you do start to do some odd things. Our daughter Kate's first words as she entered the hall yesterday were -"You both look completely ridiculous!"
Well, all I can say is we tried!

IS THERE A REASON WHY?

Is there a reason why small children around the age of one year like to lick their image whenever they see their reflection in a mirror, windows or even worse patio doors?
Charlotte and Jessica have stayed with us for a couple of nights this week and my patio doors have been licked to death!
Now I have to say window cleaning is not my favourite job to do around the house, unlike my 87 year old father who is obsessed with cleaning windows and my 86 year old mother who is obsessed with making sure that when he does clean them he does them to her standards!

UNDERSTANDING ENTRELAC WITH THE HELP OF A G & T!

Very quick update on the entrelac baby shawl.
GOT IT!
Perhaps I should air on the side of caution and just say, GETTING IT!
I don't want to get too carried away but I'm thrilled to announce I'm now on my 2nd rectangle.

A WEEK FREE OF ENTRELAC!

I came to the conclusion last weekend that if Wayne Rooney and the rest of the England team were worn out and in need of a rest after running around kicking a football and making a hash of it in the process, then my brain could certainly have a rest from the challenges of entrelac for a week.

Back to my subject matter.

We spent a really beautiful weekend in the Cotswolds. Michael and I thought we'd get away to celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary, actual date - Wednesday. We stayed in Bourton-on-the-Water and it was really really lovely.

[Sorry that the pictures are different sizes, don't know why and to be honest it's too hot to worry about finding out.]

The picture above is of Bourton-on-the-Water, the river was lined with people picnicking and children splashing around in the water, enjoying the sunshine.

The picture above is of the mill at Lower Slaughter. We walked to this little village and what with the name and the setting, I felt that at any minute John Nettles or even Mrs Barnaby could walk round the corner. It was just like a scene from Midsummer Murders!

Wednesday came - anniversary day! and poor old Michael went off to hospital to have an op on his knee, he's had pain in his knee for quite some time now. The doctor told him afterwards that it was like someone had had a party in his knee and had gone home without clearing up. I hope that this op will help rectify some of the problems, fingers crossed!
I spent my anniversary in the garden with the grandchildren, keeping the paddling pool filled up, [Jessica kept pulling the stopper out] and mopping up excess mini milks. Quite pleasant really!

Thursday night I went along to see Charlotte's new school. She's not 4 until next month but starts in September. Michael couldn't come obviously, he was resting but we had quite a family turn out. Charlotte not only had Mummy, Daddy, Sister, Granny and Nanny there but a real surprise when Great Grandma and Great Grandpa arrived. It was just like being in the Wombles family.
I'm sure Charlotte will settle into school life ok, but last night she looked so tiny amongst all the other children. I know - she will be fine!

ENTRELAC, ENTRELAC!!!!

In my last post I mentioned the entrelac shawl well, this is all I've done so far!I've spent more time researching entrelac on www.ravelry.com this week than I have actually spent knitting the shawl. This may all look rather peculiar in the picture and no way does it have any resemblance to the picture on the pattern but I'm pretty sure that so far, even though there's not much of it, what I've done is correct.
Just this morning, whilst trying to change the bed, I had the whole scenario of base triangles, left sided triangles and rectangles whizzing through my head. I wasn't sure whether I was experiencing a summer flush or just a 50 something flush!
What I have realised over this week is that entrelac is an art and addictive. I may well have conquered the knitted socks earlier in the year,[ apparently you can knit them in entrelac as well!] so I shall persevere with the shawl for the time being.
If all else fails, I'll ditch the knitting and start sewing instead.
What a frightening thought!

KNITTING

Hopefully, my two little grand daughters will love wearing these!

Now I've completed the cardigans, I'm moving on to a make a baby's shawl. I chose the pattern from a Debbie Bliss book and at the moment I have to say, I'm stumped! I've tried reading it with and without a glass of wine but it doesn't make any difference, I just, don't get it!

I'll have to contact Debbie Bliss, they'll explain how to do it, make it sound so easy and then I'll feel a right twit. However, at least I'll be able to move on and start the second row!

THE BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

We really enjoy it when our grandchildren come and stay with us. For a start, it gives us legitimate reason for watching "Top Cat" on a Saturday evening at 8 o'clock. Well, what else could we have watched, the Eurovision Song contest?
I don't think so. At least we can sing along with "Top Cat", we know all of the words!

On Sunday we booked tickets online to take them to the Sealife Centre in Southend. It was after that that we realised it was the Southend Air Show. Expecting huge crowds and difficulty in parking we drove to Leigh and caught the train into the town. Charlotte liked that, so we were off to a good start. We had an impromptu picnic down on the seafront, thanks to good old M&S and headed into the Sealife Centre. Things were going very well until Larry the Lobster made an appearance. Charlotte screamed and bolted off in the opposite direction with me chasing behind her as Michael tried to appease Jessica who wasn't enamoured with the character either but being strapped in to her pushchair was unable to escape.
Poor Larry the Lobster, he looked quite traumatised by the whole episode and probably needed to lie down in a darkened room.
Anway, after looking at the sharks and fishes and having a hands on experience with the crabs and starfish, we finally left there to watch some of the air show. It was really good. We then wandered along the seafront for a while and even the sun came out for a brief spell. So all in all we had a good day.
The children went home after breakfast on Monday so Michael and I decided to go out for the day. We went to Fairhaven Wood and Water Garden, which is in South Walsham Norfolk.
http://www.fairhavengarden.co.uk/ It was a very pretty place to visit. If the weather had been brighter, it would have been even nicer but we can't have everything!
The walk took us down to South Walsham Inner Broad where it was very blustery. We decided not to go on the boat trip, a bit chilly for that!

We drove back home along the coast stopping at Aldeburgh for something to eat. Aldeburgh is one of our favourite places, we head off there normally for a fish and chip supper sitting on the beach.
Yesterday even though the fish & chip shop was open Michael who is suffering from NewCar Syndrome preferred to eat dinner with a knife and fork and a table between us. So, we went into a restaurant called 152 and the food was lovely. Mind you he still had fish and chips!