WHO NEEDS "I'M A CELEBRITY, GET ME OUT OF HERE!" WHEN YOU'VE GOT ME?

For those of you who may be following the latest series of "I'm a celebrity get me out of here" [I'm not one of them] you may have found more entertainment if you had decided to follow me around my local Tesco's on Thursday morning.
Upbeat and determined, I would describe my mood as armed with a large trolley I ventured in to the store at 8am to do my pre-Christmas, infact I like to think only Christmas shop of the year.
At first I remained calm as I couldn't find this or they were out of stock of that, but as I proceeded along each aisle I knew, by the fact that people were beginning to stare that I was actually starting to moan at myself.
I felt, as I checked my watch, dismayed when I realised that I had been in the shop for over an hour and I had actually found and picked up only half of the things I needed.
Now feeling that this shopping expedition had deteriated into a "Tesco Tucker Trail" I flung my trolley round into yet another aisle, fortunately coming face to face with my friend Maureen who was hooting with laughter [she had no doubt heard me approaching long before I'd swung myself round the corner].
There was no hi or hello just cries of "I'm a Tesco frustrated unhappy shopper, get me out of here!!!"
That lightened the mood as we certainly had a good laugh.
I came home nearly an hour later, laden with umpteen kitchen & toilet rolls, well you never no how many you might need and enough essentials to keep us going until the New Year.

These photos are obviously totally unrelated to my rant about shopping but Michael took these when we were at Symonds Yat at the beginning of the month and I think they are perfect.
At that time thoughts of Christmas were just a blur on the horizon.

Now I'm spending all my spare time knitting, the blanket for Kate is coming on a treat. Hopefully I'll get that finished this week and then get it wrapped up for Christmas.
Another present done!

MICHAEL'S NEW INVENTION OR SHOULD I SAY TOY!

My avid spare time boat building fanatic, also known as Michael, my husband has been dreaming up the idea of creating this steamer for a few weeks.

A proud moment today as it is working for the first time. Apparently he'll be using this to make wood pliable, so that he can bend it into shape, in order to finish the boat project in the garage.

He bought this from a group of sea cadets in Norfolk a couple of years ago and is restoring it as and when he can. Hopefully the new steamer will be an asset to the project. If not, by next summer it may have a new culinary use. Anyone fancy steamed fish for supper?

KATE'S CUSHIONS

Really pleased with these. I enjoyed knitting them and I nearly enjoyed sewing up the red gingham one with the sewing machine. Thankfully Michael was on hand to get the machine in the right frame of mind in the first place.

Only a short blog today, my internet connection is having a mind of it's own. I'm putting it down to the weather, it always plays up in the rain and BOY is it raining!

THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM & SYMONDS YAT

We were really fortunate to be away at the weekend for a wedding near Lichfield. This meant that on Sunday we were able to visit the National Memorial Arboretum. http://www.thenma.org.uk/


It was an absolutely amazing place to visit. Sadness, courage, pride and respect, just a few words from my thoughts as I walked through the young trees visiting many of the memorials there.

We visited the section for the Far East as my Dad served in Burma with the RAF during WW2.
The next photo is of an original section of the Burmese railway.

Here is the memorial in respect of those killed during the Burma campaign.

There were also so many individual trees dedicated to those who have died fighting for our country throughout the years and also for many who were able to come home, but have now passed away. In just a few years, the memorials will remain unchanged but the trees will grow up and surround them. It is going to be the most incredible place.

On Monday we went to Symonds Yat. It was a beautiful warm and sunny morning and we walked through the forest alongside the river. I'm convinced that this autumn has been the best for colour.

We walked up quite a long winding steep path, [why do women always carry their handbags where ever they go?] but we're so please we did, this is the view from Yat Rock.

The walk was much easier going down. Well, we followed the right path for a start!

Lunch was very nice, sitting outside the little pub by the river, then we were homeward bound!

THE DAY THE QUEEN CAME TO MALDON

There was great excitement in the town of Maldon today, the Queen came to visit. Firstly this morning she went to the Maldon Salt Company and then delighted hundreds and hundreds of people with a walkabout through the High Street. Eventually with a last wave she made her way into the town hall for a lunch.The atmosphere in the crowd was amazing. Kate, Jo, Charlotte, Jessica and I were able to get close to the barrier and considering we had been in position since 11 0'clock and the Queen didn't arrive until nearly 1pm everyone remained patient and in very good humour. Charlotte and her little friends waved their flags frantically.

The town was so busy that we decided to wait and see her leave by car for her journey to Tiptree for her visit to the jam factory, Wilkin & Sons. We only had to wait about an hour, which may seem a long time to you but when you've stood in one place for two hours anyway another one wasn't going to make a huge difference.

Again there was lots of cheering and flag waving as she went on her way.

It was a very special day.

PATCHWORK KNITTED BLANKET

I stumbled on a new website yesterday
http://www.bernat.com/


I had a brief look through and there seemed to be loads of likeable free patterns.
I picked this one to try. I thought I woud be better off knitting squares in the evening and leaving the union jack for my 3rd and final cushion to complete during daylight hours.

INTARSIA? BRING IT ON!

"All you need is love" the pattern says. Yeah right, I believe that one.

I've now completed the backs for these three cushion covers, they are only knitted in stocking stitch so, so far, so good. Last night I wound the wool on to the bobbins ready to have a go at the love motif. [I'm leaving the union jack for a very chilled out day.]

The weather man says we may have blue skies today, well I can assure you that this girl here predicts the air may also be blue by the end of the day.

Being a bit of a glutton for a punishment I'm already planning beyond these cushions. As it looks like I'm going to have loads of wool left, I thought it would be nice to use it for a little patchwork blanket, I'm in search of a pattern as I speak.