I went to the animal fair

So, once again I’ve been mainly too busy to knit, as I’ve had my friend staying (we had a brilliant time), and then my aunt sadly died (she had cancer), so there was her funeral in Blackpool to go to – one of those bitter-sweet things where it’s not an occasion you want to be happening, but it is nice to be with the extended family. *sigh*
Once I was back from that, I was working on Purdyshop.com, which is an online store for handmade designer glass jewellery, belonging to one of my best friends. We got that finished and open on Friday – hoorah! There will probably be a few small tweaks needed, but all in all I’m pleased with it.
So, that means I have time to do other stuff again. Like knitting! In fact, as soon as I’ve finished writing this entry I shall be parking myself on the sofa with an mp3 player full of knitting podcasts, BP, and the Monkey socks. Yay!
BP needs a sleeve sewn on, then I have to pick up again and knit the edging. So, nearly done! At long last!! As for the Monkey socks, I’ve just finished the first one, so I’ll be casting on No. 2 once BP is finished. I really enjoyed the first one – I made a couple of slip ups due to not paying attention, but nothing disastrous. I’ll post pics of the process soon. I was going to do that tonight, but I’m impatient to get back to the actual knitting, so they’ll have to wait. Oh, except I already do have a photo of the first sock uploaded to the photo album when it was only a few rows ‘old’. I’ll put that in here then – here you go:

Continue reading “I went to the animal fair”

Too busy to knit!

I’ve been so mad busy over the last few days, I haven’t even had time to knit. And I want to! I want to be knitting my Monkey sock, or swatching for the fingerless ‘typing gloves’ I’m planning, or starting that cardigan… or hey, maybe the other one! Or the jumper! Or even *cough* sewing the second sleeve onto BP and picking up the stitches to finish that off at last. (I have now developed a fear of blocking that project… interestingly this only started worrying me once the seaming and sleeve setting went off without a hitch. Do I have a general finishing phobia here? Am I afraid to let my babies go off into the big wide world?)
Still, I’m off to pick my friend up from Heathrow tomorrow – that’s one of the reasons why I’ve been so rushed off my feet. So I’ll have about 3 hours on the train to knit away on my lovely Monkey sock and listen to podcasts. I’m rather looking forward to it!

Blogathon 07?

I’m thinking of doing the Blogathon again this year. On this blog, with a knitting sort of theme – I dare say I’ll knit as I go, and post pictures or something like that.
Since I’ll have my stash back from my Mum’s house by then, maybe I could do some stash-busting thing. A blanket in 6×6 squares? I’ve always meant to get around to one of those, and it would be lots of little things that would give me plenty of variety – different stitch patterns as well as yarn for each one, and so on.
As for a charity, I reckon I’ll go for the Manic Depression Fellowship. I’m hardly the only bipolar blogger around, so maybe a few others will do the same. That would be nice.

You know what?

It occurs to me that I’ve spent waaaaaaaaaay to much time worrying about how this blog is set out, and how the categories work, and blah blah blah. So I’ve been sporadically poking it, and not actually made an entry for nearly a year. Hmmmmm. How clever.
So, I’ve resolved to actually start using this thing again. And here’s what you might find here in the future:
– Stuff about knitting (including pictures, when I have them)
– Stuff about courses I study (nothing on at the mo, though)
– Music and gig reviews / opinions / whatever
– Stuff about the books I’ve been reading, especially now I’ve started using LibraryThing. Look out for the blog widget turning up in the sidebar soon.
As well as getting going here again, I’m planning to start getting more of my photos uploaded to the photo album. But in future all updates about that (except the knitting ones) will be on the updates page / blog. When I’ve finished setting it up proper-like. *g*

Anti-spam upgrades

I’ve been having loads of problems with comment spam, so I’ve been upgrading to the latest few versions as they come out, and I’ve also installed the MT-Blacklist and NoFollow plugins. I’ve set the blog to mostly dynamic publishing, too, which should (a) reduce the load on the server, and (b) solve the rebuilding problems I’d been having. Hoorah!
Back in the ‘real world’, I’ve just started one of my OU courses for this year, and will be starting the other at the weekend. No, I’m not completely insane (only partially) for doing more than one course at once: the music course is a 30-pointer*, and the web design course is a 12-week 10-pointer, which will be followed by two more of the same starting in May then October. Which will give me the standard 60 points for the year, all going well :-) They all count towards my degree as well as the web courses being part of the Web Apps Development Cert.
It’s also occurred to me… I didn’t actually mention on here that I’ve moved, did I? Which is a bit remiss of me, since it was a fairly big move: in September of last year I came back down here to Hastings, the old home town. And it’s very nice to be back, too. :-)
Anyway, that’s about it for now. I should be posting much more often from now on, though, now I’ve got the study-journal thing set up, and this year’s courses have started again.
* 120 points is the equivalent of one year’s full time university study.

Long time no blog

Wow. Didn’t realise it’d been quite so long since I’d blogged here. ‘Real life’ has been busy in itself, and I spose I spend a lot of my online time lurking over at LJ at the moment. However, I am still planning that redesign and server move that I mentioned aaaages ago, and I want … Continue reading “Long time no blog”

Wow. Didn’t realise it’d been quite so long since I’d blogged here. ‘Real life’ has been busy in itself, and I spose I spend a lot of my online time lurking over at LJ at the moment. However, I am still planning that redesign and server move that I mentioned aaaages ago, and I want to use this blog for a sort of combined study and knitting log. Which may sound a bit odd, but makes sense to me *g*.

Talking of studying, I’m really enjoying my course, though I have ended up getting a bit behind because of not being well. But I’m catching up again, and hopefully I’ll be back on top of things soon. Fingers crossed! Knitting is also going well – I’m doing lots of it, and I’ve sold a couple of things, which helps, since I’m ever so broke!

Anyway, I should probably go and try to rest now. Sleep patterns are, as ever, completely farked. Some things don’t change….

The friday five

The friday five: What was… 1. …your first grade teacher’s name? Mrs H…. H….. H-something! Damn. Hutchinson, maybe? My Mum remembers, I know. I remember what she looked like, the name is just escaping me. 2. …your favorite Saturday morning cartoon? Don’t remember if it was on Saturday morning, but I liked She-Ra! And Visionaries. … Continue reading “The friday five”

The friday five:

What was…

1. …your first grade teacher’s name?
Mrs H…. H….. H-something! Damn. Hutchinson, maybe? My Mum remembers, I know. I remember what she looked like, the name is just escaping me.

2. …your favorite Saturday morning cartoon?
Don’t remember if it was on Saturday morning, but I liked She-Ra! And Visionaries. On a Saturday morning I used to watch the Multicoloured Swap Shop, and later Going Live, and so on. Which had cartoons included, but I don’t remember what was when.

3. …the name of your very first best friend?
Victoria. We were best friends from when we started infant school, til her family moved away to Pevensey when we were 6 or 7, I think. And then I was best friends with Maria til we went to senior school.

4. …your favorite breakfast cereal?
Um. Weetabix, I think. It still is!

5. …your favorite thing to do after school?
Read. I was such a bookworm! *g* I’d squeeze in reading wherever I possibly could, and even when I wasn’t sposed to (ie. during Maths class…. *g*). I still do read a lot, but ye olde internet takes up a lot of what used to be reading time. Heh :-) I did also used to go out to play in the summer though, and go to Brownies / Guides and so on, so I didn’t have my nose in a book my entire childhood.

The friday five

The friday five: When was the last time you… 1. …went to the doctor? Thursday, to see the consultant. And now I have to go back to my own GP, and blah blah blah…. *yawn* I’m always at the bloody doctor. 2. …went to the dentist? Ahem. Oh dear. When I lived in London. 1998, … Continue reading “The friday five”

The friday five:

When was the last time you…

1. …went to the doctor?
Thursday, to see the consultant. And now I have to go back to my own GP, and blah blah blah…. *yawn* I’m always at the bloody doctor.

2. …went to the dentist?
Ahem. Oh dear. When I lived in London. 1998, ’99? Ooops. Really must find one up here and make an appointment.

3. …filled your gas petrol tank?
Not since just after I got back from staying with the parents at Xmas / New Year. First week of January? I luuurve my economical car. Obviously I haven’t done a huge amount of driving, but it’s been a couple of hundred miles and I still have a quarter tank left. Still, I’m going to Leeds tomorrow, so I shall fill her up again before I leave.

4. …got enough sleep?
Mmmm. I probably got more than enough today – had another one of my totally-zonked oversleeping things. And now I’m back off to bed again, so I can get up early enough in the morning.

5. …backed up your computer?
Not since the last time I reformatted, actually. Which was after I got my CD burner, definitely. Er. That might be as much as six months ago. Maybe more. I should probably do it again soon, shouldn’t I? I’ve got the ZIP as well at the CD-RW, so I have no excuse, really.

Plans of all sorts

Hmm. I think I want to redesign this site. However, I also rather want to move it… I have my eye on a rather nice reseller hosting package that would allow me to host all my domains (and some for other people, possibly) for no more than I’m paying for my collected various hosting accounts … Continue reading “Plans of all sorts”

Hmm. I think I want to redesign this site. However, I also rather want to move it… I have my eye on a rather nice reseller hosting package that would allow me to host all my domains (and some for other people, possibly) for no more than I’m paying for my collected various hosting accounts at the mo. However, I’d rather pay the yearly fee upfront, so I need to make sure I have enough for that *and* to pay my bills and buy food (tcha, responsibility, how tedious *g*). So, the redesign might wait until the move. Especially because I’m thinking of changing this to use Movable Type. Hmmmm. The rest of the site will be getting a bit of reorganisation too, I think, to reflect some of the stuff I’ve been up to recently.

And what have I been up to recently? Well, I’ve been preparing for the Open University course that I’m taking this year…. and I’ve been knitting. Yes, me, knitting. *g* Being a bit broke, I decided to re-learn how (I’d been taught at school when I was about six if I remember rightly) and make Christmas pressies for people. So I did, and I did, and they were very well received! Pictures will be forthcoming…. :-) Anyway, I’ve got really quite into it, so I’m carrying on, trying my hand at a few different little projects and finding some amazing bargains on new yarn in charity shops. Hee!

As for the OU course, I’m doing “Understanding Music: Elements, Techniques and Styles”. I’m intending to carry on and take another music course next year, which will then give me a Diploma in Music. From there, as I think I’ve said before, if I’m doing alright at it all, I want to see if I can get my full degree. But for now, I’m concentrating on the one I’m doing this year! The first couple of units should be very straightforward for me, as I’ve studied all this stuff before, but I believe the learning curve is pretty steep – I’m really looking forward to it! :-D I’ve been looking at the online student forums, and it’ll definitely be good to get to know the others in the course that way. Plus, I believe the summer school is in Durham. Eeeeeexcellent! I can’t wait!

Must post more often!

I reeeeally have to remember to post here a bit more often! Heh. Although, I don’t think anyone’s exactly keeping an anxious eye out for my posts or anything! *g* Christmas is coming, as it does (once a year or so). I’m off to visit the parents for the period, but this time I have … Continue reading “Must post more often!”

I reeeeally have to remember to post here a bit more often! Heh. Although, I don’t think anyone’s exactly keeping an anxious eye out for my posts or anything! *g*

Christmas is coming, as it does (once a year or so). I’m off to visit the parents for the period, but this time I have a new and shiny way of getting there: I shall be driving down. In my own, brand new, rather spiffy, car! Woohoooo! I’m dead chuffed – I shall be collecting it tomorrow, and setting off for ‘down south’ on Tuesday. Would have had it sooner, but there have been a few hitches along the way, so it’s a bit of a miricle I’m getting it at all, I think. I’ve actually had my driving licence for more than ten years, so it’s about time I had my own car, don’t you think? Hee!

The one thing I’m not looking forward to about the Christmas period, of course, is that my Xandermoggy has to go to the cattery while I’m away. I hate that bit. :-( But I can’t take him with me, cos Phoebe (queen of Mum and Dad’s house) would not be impressed. And he is quite content in the cattery – he settles down really quickly and everything. He’s such a good boy. Awww.

Still thinking about the comments system thing. Maybe I’ll just change from Blogger altogether, and install Moveable Type instead. Hmm. Guess I’ll keep pondering on it.

Now I’d better get back to work – I’m making most of my Christmas pressies this year, and I’m not quite done yet. It’s a new thing that I’ve learned to do for this, so I shall quite possibly post pics of what I produced. After Christmas, obviously, or that’ll give the surprises away. Off I go, then.

Happy Christmas (or relevant seasonal holiday that you celebrate) Everyone! :-D

Mum and Dad are here

Mum and Dad are here for a visit – tomorrow we’re off to Blackpool to visit Mary, Ray and Wendy (my aunt, cousin and cousin’s partner) for Mary’s annual pre-Christmas bash thing. Where we will all have to wear santa hats and tinsel, and stuff. Heheh. Took my CV into a couple of temp agencies … Continue reading “Mum and Dad are here”

Mum and Dad are here for a visit – tomorrow we’re off to Blackpool to visit Mary, Ray and Wendy (my aunt, cousin and cousin’s partner) for Mary’s annual pre-Christmas bash thing. Where we will all have to wear santa hats and tinsel, and stuff. Heheh.

Took my CV into a couple of temp agencies today, and they were gratifyingly impressed with my ph33rsome typing skillz (59 wpm copytyping, bit faster for audio) and all, so I should hopefully get some work soon.

I think I need to change the commenting dowhatsit that I use here. dotComments doesn’t seem to like the new Blogger post numbering system, or something, and won’t do the comment counts any more. Anyone got any good suggestions? Or know how to fix dotComments, for that matter? Help?

Back from Germany.

Hello!! I got back from two weeks in Germany yesterday, visiting Noxy and Luna. Had a most excellent time – there was much silliness and laughter, watching of movies, appreciation of the pretty, reading and reccing of fic, and of course, going to Ring*Con. It was absolutely brilliant to see the two of them, and … Continue reading “Back from Germany.”

Hello!! I got back from two weeks in Germany yesterday, visiting Noxy and Luna. Had a most excellent time – there was much silliness and laughter, watching of movies, appreciation of the pretty, reading and reccing of fic, and of course, going to Ring*Con. It was absolutely brilliant to see the two of them, and it was also kind of spooky how normal it felt to be all hanging out together… and it completely sucks that we’re not near enough to be able to nip round to see each other at weekends or anything. Humph. But we’ve pledged that we’re going to visit at least once a year if not more often, and made a weekly chat date. *sigh* It’s brilliant that we were able to meet each other through the net and all, but it’s at times like this that I really wish that distance and travel weren’t so much of an issue!! Heh.

I don’t think I’ve actually mentioned it here yet, but I’ve been made redundant from my old tech support job. Which I’m looking at as a positive thing, because I’m now going to take the opportunity to move back into the music world, and start teaching again – hopefully full time, this time. Voice, Clarinet, Recorders, Theory, and beginner Piano. I’m also going to be completing my Teaching DipABRSM, and I’ve signed up for the first course towards a DipMus at the Open University because I fancy a few more letters after my name ;-) Hopefully, I’ll continue on to actually finish my degree in the long run. Shock!! Anyhow, I’m feeling pretty happy about doing this – music really is my Thing, you know? (Eloquently put, hmm?) But much as I love messing around on the computer, and playing with websites and technology and all that, music is what’s in my gut, my soul, the thing that makes me feel (corny as it sounds) whole and real when I’m doing it. And I always really enjoyed teaching – as much, in a different way, as performing and writing.

So there we go, that’s what I’m going to be up to in future, all going well! I’m pretty much set up to start teaching from home, and I have a couple of other possibilities to look into as well. I do, however, really need a car. Urgh. Help? ;-) I’m going to have to do some temping to keep myself going financially, I think, so I’ll hopefully be able to save some money towards getting mobile. It’s either that, or see about getting a loan. Don’t really want more debt, but…. I do need a car!! Damn.

And to change the subject again, here’s last week’s friday five:

1. List five things you’d like to accomplish by the end of the year.
(Does this mean 2003 or 2004? Hmmm…. let’s say it’s this year.)
– To have started up teaching music pupils.
– To have a definite car-getting plan!
– Get a washing machine (does that count as an accomplishment?)
– Be back doing some kind of actual work!
– Get off these damn meds.

2. List five people you’ve lost contact with that you’d like to hear from again.
– Christina
– James
– Ian (Bernard!)
– W (what am I like?)
– Eddie

3. List five things you’d like to learn how to do.
– Play the guitar.
– Car maintainance stuff.
– Ride a motorbike.
– Fly (as in, a plane)
– (Can I save this one for later?)

4. List five things you’d do if you won the lottery (no limit).
– Buy houses / cars / presents for my family.
– Get a car, a motorbike, a boat, a plane.
– Go on a massive world trip to visit all my friends.
– Technology. I would go completely mad with the lovely lovely technology. Mmmmmm.
– Find a damn big house / estate / building and make it into a fabulous fandom house or apartment complex or something, with permanent accommodation for a group of us, plus rooms for people to come to stay… and a big cinema, a library, a highspeed network / net connection, and an octagonal music room with all the instruments and schtuff I / we could ever want…. *vbg*

5. List five things you do that help you relax.
– Read.
– Sing / play music.
– Breathing exercises.
– Walk.
– Spend time with friends, vegging :-)

Belatedly, here’s the friday five

Belatedly, here’s the friday five from my birthday (last Fri, 17th): 1. Name five things in your refrigerator. Skimmed milk, cans of Pepsi, Flora (margarine), salad stuff, and some liver that I must remember to cook today. 2. Name five things in your freezer. Ready meals (am lazy), frozen veg, Haagen Dazs Pralines & Cream … Continue reading “Belatedly, here’s the friday five”

Belatedly, here’s the friday five from my birthday (last Fri, 17th):

1. Name five things in your refrigerator.
Skimmed milk, cans of Pepsi, Flora (margarine), salad stuff, and some liver that I must remember to cook today.

2. Name five things in your freezer.
Ready meals (am lazy), frozen veg, Haagen Dazs Pralines & Cream ice-cream, six small blue penguins, and … er … a frozen pancake. (I know there’s much more in there than that, but I can’t think, offhand. Could go look. Can’t be arsed.)

3. Name five things under your kitchen sink.
A blue bucket, disinfectant, pegs, polish, bin bags. (And tons of other crap)

4. Name five things around your computer.
Pile of notebooks, rack of music CDs, handcream, aniseed balls, Baby Wombat.

5. Name five things in your medicine cabinet.
Drugs (painkillers), more drugs (Effexor), still more drugs (sore throat stuff), plasters, antiseptic wipes. Also, vitamins and antacid tablets.

That was relatively easy! *g*

I seem to be tired for no particularly good reason. Zzzzzz. I think it’s probably because I’ve put the heating on since it’s so damn cold and yucky out, and now the nice cosy warmth is making me sleepy. D’oh!

Anyhow, I’d better go and get on with things now – I’m busy sorting stuff out for my “new job”… which is neither especially new, nor exactly a job. Er. Or something like that.