No posts for the next couple of weeks because I'm off to Milwaukee on Monday for the Bead and Button and after that I'll be spending a few days in Chicago.
Have a great couple of weeks.
All the best
Neroli
Saturday 30 May 2009
Tuesday 26 May 2009
Sandwich and Deal
Where I went
Highlight of this week was the next stretch of the Saxon Shore Way, from Sandwich to Deal. It's a short walk - only about 5 miles - so I took the opportunity to have a look round Sandwich before I set off. It was a gorgeous day, which showed Sandwich off to its best advantage. It's a lovely little town, really quaint and pretty, and I'd live there if I could, but it takes 2 hours to get to central London on the train, and a four-hour round trip to work just isn't on.
Highlight of this week was the next stretch of the Saxon Shore Way, from Sandwich to Deal. It's a short walk - only about 5 miles - so I took the opportunity to have a look round Sandwich before I set off. It was a gorgeous day, which showed Sandwich off to its best advantage. It's a lovely little town, really quaint and pretty, and I'd live there if I could, but it takes 2 hours to get to central London on the train, and a four-hour round trip to work just isn't on.
I took some photos of Sandwich which I tried to upload here, but no luck. For some reason the internet kept switching itself off every time I tried to upload! Instead you can see the photos on Flickr:-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38772372@N02/
Sandwich has a thousand years of history behind it, and it's well worth a visit. You can find out more about Sandwich through the "Open Sandwich" website, and the link to this is below:-
http://www.open-sandwich.co.uk/
Sandwich is where the Kent "Makey Do" is being held on 11 July. Part craft fair, part making experience, it's being run by Jennyflowerblue. You can read all about it on her blog:-
The walk to Deal was mainly golf courses. After leaving Sandwich the Saxon Shore Way heads across the Royal St George's golf course until it reaches the sea, and then turns south with the sea on the left and the Royal Cinque Ports golf course on the right. I didn't get a chance to look round Deal, but I definitely will when I do the next stretch of the walk
Sunday was lovely day too, so I went for a short local walk around Green Street Green.
Alan and the girls are staying with his cousin Margaret this week, so I've got the house all to myself. Consequently I didn't go far on Bank Holiday Monday or today, Tuesday, because I wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet of being in by myself.
(Why am I off work on a Tuesday? Well, we civil servants get an additional day off in honour of the Queen's Birthday. We're Crown servants and she's our boss. At the Dept of Health this additional day is always the Tuesday after bank holiday at the end of May).
What I made
Still working on the floral filigree beaded scarf. I'm finally past the three-quarters mark and so the end is finally in sight! If you read "Bead" magazine, do look out for the picture of my prize winning bead tapestry "Magic Carpet" on page 8 of the latest issue.
What I read
This week I've been reading "The Ghost" by Robert Harris. An established ghost writer is hired to write the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister, closely associated with the war on terror, after the original ghost writer dies in dodgy circumstances. The ghost writer delves deeper and deeper into the PM's murky past.......to discover a shocking secret. Easy to read, but the ending is a bit far-fetched - or is it?
What I learned this week
"Robin of Sherwood" is the best televisual portrayal of the legend of Robin Hood. Accept no substitutes!
Sunday 10 May 2009
If you go down to the woods today
Yawn...another very quiet week.
What I did
Highlight of the week was bank holiday Monday - well, a day off work would be the highlight of anyone's week now wouldn't it? We went to "Wildwood", a wild animal park near Herne Bay in Kent. The highlight of a visit to Wildwood is seeing the wild boars and the badgers, and they didn't disappoint. The wild boars look big and evil and dirty, but their piglets are just sooooo cute! Only one piglet this year though. The keeper said that they thought that the extremely cold winter had meant that this year's litter wasn't so big. A couple of years ago they had about 8 piglets running about the place. The used to have three badgers that they'd rescued from a landfill site when their mother died, and couldn't be sent back to the wild. They still have two of them, but unfortunately one, Jeremy, died earlier in the year. The two remaining badgers, Big Bore and Medium Bore, were gorgeous. We have some badgers round our way, but naturally we don't see them very often. The keeper gave us an interesting talk about badgers while Big Bore and Medium Bore hassled him for food. After that we went for dinner at Pizza Express in Maidstone.
The only other happening of note was a visit to Comet on the bypass to buy and new camera. I will be setting aside some time this forthcoming Tuesday to try it out and start to learn about all its new functions.
What I made
I really put some hours this week into the Floral Filigree beaded scarf, and I have now completed and joined up 250 of the flowers. Only another 110 to go! I finished Kerrie Slade's brick stitch flower pendant, and I've made a start of the necklace bit of it, which should be finished tomorrow. I'm definitely going to post a picture of that when it's finished.
What I read
I'm still hauling through Frank Harris's biography of Oscar Wilde, which interestingly enough focuses on the time after he left prison, which most biographies don't really cover in much detail. I'm nearly finished it now, and it's been a fascinating read. Frank is a complete maggot and although he claimed to be Oscar's friend, he clearly bears out the phrase "with friends like him, who needs enemies?" His version of some of the events in this part of Oscar's life, and his role in them, simply don't agree with other sources. Frank is telling porkies. I'm also continuing to read "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell. It is a series of six interlinked stories and I'm very impressed by David's ability to tell different stories in different "voices". The mystery which runs through all six is intriguing, but given that this is a work of literature rather than a mystery story I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that the mystery never gets solved.
What I learned this week
There are two Hilton hotels on Praed Street in London. Make sure you get the right one, or otherwise you might find yourself attending a conference on microbiology.
What I did
Highlight of the week was bank holiday Monday - well, a day off work would be the highlight of anyone's week now wouldn't it? We went to "Wildwood", a wild animal park near Herne Bay in Kent. The highlight of a visit to Wildwood is seeing the wild boars and the badgers, and they didn't disappoint. The wild boars look big and evil and dirty, but their piglets are just sooooo cute! Only one piglet this year though. The keeper said that they thought that the extremely cold winter had meant that this year's litter wasn't so big. A couple of years ago they had about 8 piglets running about the place. The used to have three badgers that they'd rescued from a landfill site when their mother died, and couldn't be sent back to the wild. They still have two of them, but unfortunately one, Jeremy, died earlier in the year. The two remaining badgers, Big Bore and Medium Bore, were gorgeous. We have some badgers round our way, but naturally we don't see them very often. The keeper gave us an interesting talk about badgers while Big Bore and Medium Bore hassled him for food. After that we went for dinner at Pizza Express in Maidstone.
The only other happening of note was a visit to Comet on the bypass to buy and new camera. I will be setting aside some time this forthcoming Tuesday to try it out and start to learn about all its new functions.
What I made
I really put some hours this week into the Floral Filigree beaded scarf, and I have now completed and joined up 250 of the flowers. Only another 110 to go! I finished Kerrie Slade's brick stitch flower pendant, and I've made a start of the necklace bit of it, which should be finished tomorrow. I'm definitely going to post a picture of that when it's finished.
What I read
I'm still hauling through Frank Harris's biography of Oscar Wilde, which interestingly enough focuses on the time after he left prison, which most biographies don't really cover in much detail. I'm nearly finished it now, and it's been a fascinating read. Frank is a complete maggot and although he claimed to be Oscar's friend, he clearly bears out the phrase "with friends like him, who needs enemies?" His version of some of the events in this part of Oscar's life, and his role in them, simply don't agree with other sources. Frank is telling porkies. I'm also continuing to read "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell. It is a series of six interlinked stories and I'm very impressed by David's ability to tell different stories in different "voices". The mystery which runs through all six is intriguing, but given that this is a work of literature rather than a mystery story I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that the mystery never gets solved.
What I learned this week
There are two Hilton hotels on Praed Street in London. Make sure you get the right one, or otherwise you might find yourself attending a conference on microbiology.
Sunday 3 May 2009
A short one this week
Not much going on for me this week, as you can see...........
Where I went
Only the 1 outing this week - a four mile circular walk around Petts Wood on Saturday. I walk this route once every year, about this time of year...why?....it's because of the bluebells. My walk takes me through Petts Wood itself, and through the National Trust's Hawkwood Estate, and through a number of woodland areas full of lovely, lovely bluebells. Here's a picture, but not from this year's walk because my camera is knackered and I haven't got a new one yet.
What I made
Continued with the brick stitch necklace - finished the big flower and then started on the medium flower - which took me longer to do than the big one. I kept messing it up and having to take it out - because I was trying to watch the Blues Brothers at the same time. When I'd finished the medium flower I went back to the floral filigree beaded acarf and worked on that for a while.
My pattern for a Greek Key square stitch beaded bracelet appeared on the Bead and Button website - this link should take you right there:-
What I read
I'm currently reading "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell. It's six interlinked stories, and the book was shortlisted for the Booker Prize - as well as winning Richard and Judy's "Read od the Year" - so two very different recommendations there. It's slowly drawing me in, but I haven't read enough of it yet to offer any useful comments.
What I learned this week
Using a Stenley knife to sharpen pencils isn't a good idea.
Monday 27 April 2009
The sun has got his hat on
Well we’ve had some gorgeous weather over the last week. Every day has been warm and sunny, people have started wearing summer clothes and smiling a lot. It can’t last – it’s unseasonable weather – but let’s hope it’s a little foretaste of a wonderful summer to come.
Where I went
I went to see “In the Loop” on Wednesday. “In the Loop” follows a successful BBC sitcom “The Thick of It” about a Government spin doctor – Malcolm Tucker, an unpleasant and foul-mouthed Scotsman, said to be based on Tony Blair’s chief spinner Alistair Campbell – and his relationship with the hapless Ministers, civil servants and political advisers who have to work with him. In the Loop offers more of the same, and very funny it is too, with the added dimension of the British characters being bested at every turn by two wily American Secretaries of State and their political advisers, demonstrating that when it comes to political sleaze and slime we still have oh so very much to learn from our cousins across the pond.
Malcolm Tucker was played by the superbly talented Peter Capaldi, and I was very glad to see that Malcolm’s second in command Jamie – an equally unpleasant and foul-mouthed Scotsman – was featured in the film. Beyond that, many of the actors from “The Thick of It” played slightly different characters in the film (but not Chris Langham, of course!!!) which could get a bit confusing, but this is a very minor gripe. I’d certainly recommend it, and I’ll be buying the DVD as soon as it’s released.
On Saturday I got back to walking the Saxon Shore Way long distance path. The path runs from Gravesend in Kent to Hastings in East Sussex, and follows the line of the coast as it was in 300AD. Saturday’s walk took me from Plucks Gutter (intriguing name!) to the beautiful town of Sandwich. The walk didn’t start that well. The path runs along the south bank of the River Stour – the Isle of Thanet really was an island in those days and the south bank of the Stour marked the coastline. The path was surrounded on either side by undergrowth which was full of hundreds and hundreds of insects which kept buzzing round me. More insects seemed to live in the grass on the path, and rose up in swarms with every footstep, and a small cloud of black flies followed me along, buzzing round my head. However, the path soon came to fields, most of which were full of or had recently been full of sheep or cows, so the grass was cropped short, which was very helpful. What wasn’t so helpful was the constant need to be careful not to step in animal s**t, but you can’t have everything.
My view as I walked along was dominated by the three concrete cooling towers of Richborough Power Station. You can see this for miles around – in fact I first saw it when I left Herne Bay – and I have been walking towards it for the last 20 miles. Well, today was the day I finally drew level with the power station, and sat down to have my picnic lunch directly opposite it. It’s disused now, and so it should be taken down. It’s a real eyesore, a blot on the landscape, these three harsh and horrible concrete structures despoiling the beautiful flat and fertile lands of East Kent. From the power station I continued along the river to Sandwich, one of the historic Cinque Ports and a beautiful little town. I’ll be back there in July for jennyflowerblue’s “Makey Do” event, and here’s a link to her blog about that:-
http://amakeydo.blogspot.com/
What I made
I am really cracking along now with the floral filigree beaded scarf, and may even be finished it by the end of June! I did a few lines of the Black Heart cuff, and on Sunday I sat down to teach myself brick stitch. I have never done this stitch before, but one of my classes at the forthcoming Bead and Button Show uses it, and so I thought it would be useful to get a bit of practice in. I played about with the stitch for a while until I’d got the hang of it, and then practised my new found skills by making a brick stitch floral necklace by talented designer Kerrie Slade from a recent issue of “Beadwork” magazine.
What I read
This week I’ve been reading “Company of Liars” by Karen Maitland. Set during the Black Death of 1348 it follows the fortunes of a company of travellers, drawn together by expediency and a desperate need to avoid the plague – each with a secret they’re concealing, and a scary young rune-reader who always tells the truth. As the try to outpace the plague it becomes clear that the plague isn’t all they need to be worried about…..A highly recommended read – I finished all 548 pages in 3 days, but I won’t say any more for fear of giving the plot away.
What I learned this week
If you’re going to be near a river on a hot day, consider taking some insect-repelling cream with you.
Where I went
I went to see “In the Loop” on Wednesday. “In the Loop” follows a successful BBC sitcom “The Thick of It” about a Government spin doctor – Malcolm Tucker, an unpleasant and foul-mouthed Scotsman, said to be based on Tony Blair’s chief spinner Alistair Campbell – and his relationship with the hapless Ministers, civil servants and political advisers who have to work with him. In the Loop offers more of the same, and very funny it is too, with the added dimension of the British characters being bested at every turn by two wily American Secretaries of State and their political advisers, demonstrating that when it comes to political sleaze and slime we still have oh so very much to learn from our cousins across the pond.
Malcolm Tucker was played by the superbly talented Peter Capaldi, and I was very glad to see that Malcolm’s second in command Jamie – an equally unpleasant and foul-mouthed Scotsman – was featured in the film. Beyond that, many of the actors from “The Thick of It” played slightly different characters in the film (but not Chris Langham, of course!!!) which could get a bit confusing, but this is a very minor gripe. I’d certainly recommend it, and I’ll be buying the DVD as soon as it’s released.
On Saturday I got back to walking the Saxon Shore Way long distance path. The path runs from Gravesend in Kent to Hastings in East Sussex, and follows the line of the coast as it was in 300AD. Saturday’s walk took me from Plucks Gutter (intriguing name!) to the beautiful town of Sandwich. The walk didn’t start that well. The path runs along the south bank of the River Stour – the Isle of Thanet really was an island in those days and the south bank of the Stour marked the coastline. The path was surrounded on either side by undergrowth which was full of hundreds and hundreds of insects which kept buzzing round me. More insects seemed to live in the grass on the path, and rose up in swarms with every footstep, and a small cloud of black flies followed me along, buzzing round my head. However, the path soon came to fields, most of which were full of or had recently been full of sheep or cows, so the grass was cropped short, which was very helpful. What wasn’t so helpful was the constant need to be careful not to step in animal s**t, but you can’t have everything.
My view as I walked along was dominated by the three concrete cooling towers of Richborough Power Station. You can see this for miles around – in fact I first saw it when I left Herne Bay – and I have been walking towards it for the last 20 miles. Well, today was the day I finally drew level with the power station, and sat down to have my picnic lunch directly opposite it. It’s disused now, and so it should be taken down. It’s a real eyesore, a blot on the landscape, these three harsh and horrible concrete structures despoiling the beautiful flat and fertile lands of East Kent. From the power station I continued along the river to Sandwich, one of the historic Cinque Ports and a beautiful little town. I’ll be back there in July for jennyflowerblue’s “Makey Do” event, and here’s a link to her blog about that:-
http://amakeydo.blogspot.com/
What I made
I am really cracking along now with the floral filigree beaded scarf, and may even be finished it by the end of June! I did a few lines of the Black Heart cuff, and on Sunday I sat down to teach myself brick stitch. I have never done this stitch before, but one of my classes at the forthcoming Bead and Button Show uses it, and so I thought it would be useful to get a bit of practice in. I played about with the stitch for a while until I’d got the hang of it, and then practised my new found skills by making a brick stitch floral necklace by talented designer Kerrie Slade from a recent issue of “Beadwork” magazine.
What I read
This week I’ve been reading “Company of Liars” by Karen Maitland. Set during the Black Death of 1348 it follows the fortunes of a company of travellers, drawn together by expediency and a desperate need to avoid the plague – each with a secret they’re concealing, and a scary young rune-reader who always tells the truth. As the try to outpace the plague it becomes clear that the plague isn’t all they need to be worried about…..A highly recommended read – I finished all 548 pages in 3 days, but I won’t say any more for fear of giving the plot away.
What I learned this week
If you’re going to be near a river on a hot day, consider taking some insect-repelling cream with you.
Sunday 19 April 2009
It's Grim Up North
A very, very busy couple of weeks, what with visiting my mother in Newcastle. The weather has been very good, though and it’s great to see Spring finally arriving.
Where I went
The trip to Newcastle went better than I could have hoped, all things considered. We set off on Sunday 5 April and drove to Wakefield in Yorkshire, where we stayed overnight at a Premier Inn on the outskirts of town, next to a curiously named pub called “The Rhubarb Triangle.” The day after that we headed off to Newcastle, stopping on the way to go to the National Museum of Coal Mining, where we got to go down a pit, which was very interesting.
We stayed at another Premier Inn in Newcastle, next to a pub/restaurant called the Stonebrook. My husband recently bought a sat-nav (it’s his new toy!) and we let the sat-nav guide us to our Premier Inn, which was out in the middle of nowhere to the north of Newcastle. The sat-nav took us right through the centre of Newcastle by the most complex route imaginable, in the middle of the evening rush hour! And that was only one of a number of weird / wrong things it told us to do during the week. To say nothing of the extremely annoying voice. My husband turned the sound off in the end, after I’d threatened to pull the sat-nav off the dashboard and hurl it though the window.
The day after that we went to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. It was stunningly beautiful, and I can’t recommend it too highly. There is a Victorianised castle there, looking spectacular perched on a rock above the bay, and the ruins of the priory which was once the cradle of Christianity in Britain. There were also a number of decent pubs and tea shops, as well as gift shops for the tourists. Going across the causeway to the island was also quite fun, though when the tide had come in Laura said she felt “trapped” even though we all knew that the tide would be going back down in a few hours. It rained a bit when we first got there, and it was very windy all the time, but I guess that it is always windy out there.
The day after that we collected my mother and went on a trip to Hadrian’s Wall. It was unbelievably cold and windy, and everyone was freezing cold. We hauled ourselves off to a bit of the wall that contains the most complete fort (Housesteads) and looked at that for a while. Building a wall right across the country was an amazing feat of both architecture and engineering, but when all is said and done it’s still just a wall. We looked at the wall and the fort for a short while and then scuttled back to the warmth of the car. Being a Roman legionary posted up there must have been complete hell. We then went to the lovely village of Corbridge where we stopped for a cake and a coffee before going to see Corbridge Roman town. Again, it’s just a load of foundations, but there are an awful lot of them and it was marginally warmer than being out on the wall.
The next day we went to Durham. I had been really looking forward to this as it’s my very favourite place in the North-East. It’s such a lovely city, with tiny little alleyways, gorgeous river views, a castle and the most beautiful Cathedral in the world. There’s not much in the way of shops though.
Our final day in Newcastle was spent at Bamburgh Castle. This is a huge castle which sits ominously on a large rock which rears up from the Northumbrian coast. From the castle you can see the beautiful sand dunes for which Northumberland is rightly famous, and the castle itself was good too. Well with a visit.
The day after – Saturday – we made our way South again, stopping in Leeds to visit the Thackray Medical Museum. The most extensive medical museum I’ve ever been in, it has an impressive array of early surgical instruments, and displays charting the history of medicine and surgery. My daughters really loved it. Then it was back to the Premier Inn next to the Rhubarb Triangle for an overnight stay, and then back to Orpington on Easter Sunday.
On Easter Monday we went to Tunbridge Wells to see the “Day at the Wells” exhibition – only to find it had shut. But we had a good day out in Tunbridge Wells nevertheless, and spent our time poking about in the shops.
What I made
While I was in Newcastle I did some intensive work on the Black Heart bracelet and since I’ve been back I have really put my back into the floral filigree beaded scarf and I’m finally past the half-way point!
What I read
I had borrowed “Cityboy” from a friend, and took it with me to Newcastle in the hope that I’d be able to finish it really quickly, and I did. This sorry tale of City folk by Geraint Anderson confirms most peoples’ worst beliefs about the greed, arrogance and selfishness of City traders, whose reckless pursuit of the quick (and easy) buck has tipped the world into recession. Geraint spent twelve years working in the City, so he does know what he’s talking about. While he may have left the world of banking behind, I think it will take a while longer for his banker’s arrogance to wear off – he comes over as insufferably smug, which puts a large damper on what might otherwise have been a half decent book.
What I learned this week
Don’t go to Hadrian’s Wall. It really isn’t worth the bother.
Where I went
The trip to Newcastle went better than I could have hoped, all things considered. We set off on Sunday 5 April and drove to Wakefield in Yorkshire, where we stayed overnight at a Premier Inn on the outskirts of town, next to a curiously named pub called “The Rhubarb Triangle.” The day after that we headed off to Newcastle, stopping on the way to go to the National Museum of Coal Mining, where we got to go down a pit, which was very interesting.
We stayed at another Premier Inn in Newcastle, next to a pub/restaurant called the Stonebrook. My husband recently bought a sat-nav (it’s his new toy!) and we let the sat-nav guide us to our Premier Inn, which was out in the middle of nowhere to the north of Newcastle. The sat-nav took us right through the centre of Newcastle by the most complex route imaginable, in the middle of the evening rush hour! And that was only one of a number of weird / wrong things it told us to do during the week. To say nothing of the extremely annoying voice. My husband turned the sound off in the end, after I’d threatened to pull the sat-nav off the dashboard and hurl it though the window.
The day after that we went to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. It was stunningly beautiful, and I can’t recommend it too highly. There is a Victorianised castle there, looking spectacular perched on a rock above the bay, and the ruins of the priory which was once the cradle of Christianity in Britain. There were also a number of decent pubs and tea shops, as well as gift shops for the tourists. Going across the causeway to the island was also quite fun, though when the tide had come in Laura said she felt “trapped” even though we all knew that the tide would be going back down in a few hours. It rained a bit when we first got there, and it was very windy all the time, but I guess that it is always windy out there.
The day after that we collected my mother and went on a trip to Hadrian’s Wall. It was unbelievably cold and windy, and everyone was freezing cold. We hauled ourselves off to a bit of the wall that contains the most complete fort (Housesteads) and looked at that for a while. Building a wall right across the country was an amazing feat of both architecture and engineering, but when all is said and done it’s still just a wall. We looked at the wall and the fort for a short while and then scuttled back to the warmth of the car. Being a Roman legionary posted up there must have been complete hell. We then went to the lovely village of Corbridge where we stopped for a cake and a coffee before going to see Corbridge Roman town. Again, it’s just a load of foundations, but there are an awful lot of them and it was marginally warmer than being out on the wall.
The next day we went to Durham. I had been really looking forward to this as it’s my very favourite place in the North-East. It’s such a lovely city, with tiny little alleyways, gorgeous river views, a castle and the most beautiful Cathedral in the world. There’s not much in the way of shops though.
Our final day in Newcastle was spent at Bamburgh Castle. This is a huge castle which sits ominously on a large rock which rears up from the Northumbrian coast. From the castle you can see the beautiful sand dunes for which Northumberland is rightly famous, and the castle itself was good too. Well with a visit.
The day after – Saturday – we made our way South again, stopping in Leeds to visit the Thackray Medical Museum. The most extensive medical museum I’ve ever been in, it has an impressive array of early surgical instruments, and displays charting the history of medicine and surgery. My daughters really loved it. Then it was back to the Premier Inn next to the Rhubarb Triangle for an overnight stay, and then back to Orpington on Easter Sunday.
On Easter Monday we went to Tunbridge Wells to see the “Day at the Wells” exhibition – only to find it had shut. But we had a good day out in Tunbridge Wells nevertheless, and spent our time poking about in the shops.
What I made
While I was in Newcastle I did some intensive work on the Black Heart bracelet and since I’ve been back I have really put my back into the floral filigree beaded scarf and I’m finally past the half-way point!
What I read
I had borrowed “Cityboy” from a friend, and took it with me to Newcastle in the hope that I’d be able to finish it really quickly, and I did. This sorry tale of City folk by Geraint Anderson confirms most peoples’ worst beliefs about the greed, arrogance and selfishness of City traders, whose reckless pursuit of the quick (and easy) buck has tipped the world into recession. Geraint spent twelve years working in the City, so he does know what he’s talking about. While he may have left the world of banking behind, I think it will take a while longer for his banker’s arrogance to wear off – he comes over as insufferably smug, which puts a large damper on what might otherwise have been a half decent book.
What I learned this week
Don’t go to Hadrian’s Wall. It really isn’t worth the bother.
Saturday 4 April 2009
Northwards
No blog post this week - we're off up North to see my mother and won't be back until 13 April.
Have a great Easter!
Have a great Easter!
Monday 30 March 2009
Robbing, thieving **&$@&*s!!
Well the big news for this week is that I had my purse stolen on Friday. It has £60 in it, £25 worth of taxi receipts that I hadn't yet claimed back on expenses, a book of first class stamps and a Cafe Nero loyalty card. I'm gutted to have lost the money, but I'm really disturbed that someone has been into my handbag. Well, at least it wasn't my credit cards, or else I would have had to spend the whole of Friday evening cancelling them. I hope whoever stole the purse doesn't get any pleasure from that money.
One thing that was bugging me earlier in the week was half a verse of a song I'd heard a long, long time ago kept going through my head. I'd heard it sung at a demo in the mid 1980s, and finally managed to track it down. I knew it was about The Diggers - a mid-17th century band of people who occupied waste and common ground and tried to grow food on it. Their egalitarian movement was unsuccessful and was suppressed quite quickly, but remains as one of the new occasions on which agrarian socialism was tried in Britain. I found a whole web page devoted to the song (isn't the internet marvellous?), including the lyrics and links to the many different versions that have been sung since it was written 35 years ago.
http://www.seedstar.net/undeep/diggers.html
Where I went
I went to The Vitality Show on Sunday. It is apparently the 10th anniversary of this health and well-being show and I remember it from the relatively early days when it was held in the Business Design Centre at Islington. It grew bigger and bigger over the years, and eventually took over the Grand Hall at Olympia, with thousands of visitors every year. This year's show seemed rather smaller, with less free samples to be had - perhaps due to the recession? And there were less people about too, which is perhaps something of a blessing. Emma and I had a foot massage, a back massage, examined our breasts with a special light and looked at some vibrators. We came away with some free samples, and made a couple of purchases, including some body cream from Brown Earth, which for my money makes the best body creams I've ever come across. Brown Earth's website is
http://www.brownearth.co.uk/
What I made
I finally made a start on the picture of the beaded butterfly I'm doing for my mother's birthday - and which has to be finished by next Saturday. I'd done two rows when I decided that the colour scheme I'd chosen wasn't working and so took it all out. I decided to rework it as a tropical butterfly. I hope she doesn't want any more of these bead embroidery pictures - it's just not something I really want to do at the moment and it's taking time away from stuff I do want to do - like the beaded floral filigree scarf. In metal clay class I made a pair of textured silver flower earrings and also a paid of earrings with little spirals stamped into the clay. I fired the first one and then clumsily knocked something over onto the second one just before firing - and it broke into four pieces. I have stuck them together with metal clay paste, but I don't know if they'll stay stuck during the firing process. More of this later.
What I read
I'm ploughing my way through Frank Harris's biography of Oscar Wilde. There was outrage at the time it was published because so much of it was a pack of lies, and because it was upfront about why Oscar had been convicted and sent to prison. I don't know enough about the fine details of the lives of the main protagonists to catch Mr Harris out in a lie, and even for the time I don't think that he is particularly clear about the nature of Oscar's "crime" -he just keeps talking about rumours of Oscar's unsavoury reputation for "sexual viciousness" and that some men would not speak to him or go to parties etc where they knew he would be. But what does come across very strongly is that Frank Harris was an extremely spiteful man.
What I learned this week
Always, always keep you handbag properly fastened shut, particularly in crowded public places.
One thing that was bugging me earlier in the week was half a verse of a song I'd heard a long, long time ago kept going through my head. I'd heard it sung at a demo in the mid 1980s, and finally managed to track it down. I knew it was about The Diggers - a mid-17th century band of people who occupied waste and common ground and tried to grow food on it. Their egalitarian movement was unsuccessful and was suppressed quite quickly, but remains as one of the new occasions on which agrarian socialism was tried in Britain. I found a whole web page devoted to the song (isn't the internet marvellous?), including the lyrics and links to the many different versions that have been sung since it was written 35 years ago.
http://www.seedstar.net/undeep/diggers.html
Where I went
I went to The Vitality Show on Sunday. It is apparently the 10th anniversary of this health and well-being show and I remember it from the relatively early days when it was held in the Business Design Centre at Islington. It grew bigger and bigger over the years, and eventually took over the Grand Hall at Olympia, with thousands of visitors every year. This year's show seemed rather smaller, with less free samples to be had - perhaps due to the recession? And there were less people about too, which is perhaps something of a blessing. Emma and I had a foot massage, a back massage, examined our breasts with a special light and looked at some vibrators. We came away with some free samples, and made a couple of purchases, including some body cream from Brown Earth, which for my money makes the best body creams I've ever come across. Brown Earth's website is
http://www.brownearth.co.uk/
What I made
I finally made a start on the picture of the beaded butterfly I'm doing for my mother's birthday - and which has to be finished by next Saturday. I'd done two rows when I decided that the colour scheme I'd chosen wasn't working and so took it all out. I decided to rework it as a tropical butterfly. I hope she doesn't want any more of these bead embroidery pictures - it's just not something I really want to do at the moment and it's taking time away from stuff I do want to do - like the beaded floral filigree scarf. In metal clay class I made a pair of textured silver flower earrings and also a paid of earrings with little spirals stamped into the clay. I fired the first one and then clumsily knocked something over onto the second one just before firing - and it broke into four pieces. I have stuck them together with metal clay paste, but I don't know if they'll stay stuck during the firing process. More of this later.
What I read
I'm ploughing my way through Frank Harris's biography of Oscar Wilde. There was outrage at the time it was published because so much of it was a pack of lies, and because it was upfront about why Oscar had been convicted and sent to prison. I don't know enough about the fine details of the lives of the main protagonists to catch Mr Harris out in a lie, and even for the time I don't think that he is particularly clear about the nature of Oscar's "crime" -he just keeps talking about rumours of Oscar's unsavoury reputation for "sexual viciousness" and that some men would not speak to him or go to parties etc where they knew he would be. But what does come across very strongly is that Frank Harris was an extremely spiteful man.
What I learned this week
Always, always keep you handbag properly fastened shut, particularly in crowded public places.
Sunday 22 March 2009
I'm in print!!
I'm in print twice this week! Read all about me on Jennyflowerblue's blog "A Kent Makey Do" (see "blogs I'm following at the side) and my Crystal Kisses bracelet is in the April/May 2009 issue of Bead Magazine. Brag, brag, brag..........
Work
I'm not going to write about work any more, I don't really like writing this part of the blog and I'm pretty sure that people don't want to read it.
Where I went
Well, it has been a busy week for trips out. The weather has been fabulous all week, and it's really felt like spring. I've made the most of it by getting out and about as much as possible. On Monday, which was my non-working day, I set off for Highgate in North London and spent and hour or so walking in one of the most curious open spaces in London. It's an old railway line that has been turned into a nature reserve. You're never more than about 100 yards away from the houses on either side of the line. The line itself has been removed and a path has been installed. It was a short but lovely walk along to Finsbury Park. There were quite a lot of people about too, for a Monday.
On Thursday I went to the Health and Social Security Recreational Association awards ceremony to pick up my prize for winning the "Craftwork" class of the national art competition. I got a £15 M&S gift voucher. I'll eventually get round to putting a picture of my winning entry, Magic Carpet, on my website.
On Saturday I went to a craft fair at Telegraph Hill and then walked to Lewisham before taking the train home. In the evening we went to Pizza Express to celebrate our wedding anniversary (which is on 22 March).
Sunday was Mother's Day and after lunch we went to Igtham Mote. This is a moated manor house in Kent which is now owned and operated by the National Trust. It is such a pretty place and was very popular today - I didn't think we were going to be able to get parked, but luckily we managed to get hold of a space very near to the house, which someone had just vacated.
What I made
I spent quite a bit of Monday afternoon designing the beaded butterfly picture that my mother wanted for her birthday (but I still haven't actually started the sewing!). Most of the rest of the week was taken up with the floral filigree scarf, when I realised that I'll really have to pull my finger out if it's going to be finished my the end of June. I missed metal clay class last week - but the Lord alone knows what they'd been doing that week because they seemed to be pretty much at the same stage I was at Thursday's class. I applied syringed clay to the base of my ring, and then fired it, before polishing it at home. It is a very chunky ring - far too heavy for everyday wear - so I'll have to save it for special occasions.
What I read
A Robert Goddard book called "Into the Blue", a murder mystery with a whole slew of improbable twists. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't really recommend it either. I've just started reading Frank Harris's biography of Oscar Wilde - more about this next week.
What I learned this week
Telegraph Hill is actually a hill. Yes, I know that the clue is in the name, but it's very, very steep. Great views towards North London from the top though.
Work
I'm not going to write about work any more, I don't really like writing this part of the blog and I'm pretty sure that people don't want to read it.
Where I went
Well, it has been a busy week for trips out. The weather has been fabulous all week, and it's really felt like spring. I've made the most of it by getting out and about as much as possible. On Monday, which was my non-working day, I set off for Highgate in North London and spent and hour or so walking in one of the most curious open spaces in London. It's an old railway line that has been turned into a nature reserve. You're never more than about 100 yards away from the houses on either side of the line. The line itself has been removed and a path has been installed. It was a short but lovely walk along to Finsbury Park. There were quite a lot of people about too, for a Monday.
On Thursday I went to the Health and Social Security Recreational Association awards ceremony to pick up my prize for winning the "Craftwork" class of the national art competition. I got a £15 M&S gift voucher. I'll eventually get round to putting a picture of my winning entry, Magic Carpet, on my website.
On Saturday I went to a craft fair at Telegraph Hill and then walked to Lewisham before taking the train home. In the evening we went to Pizza Express to celebrate our wedding anniversary (which is on 22 March).
Sunday was Mother's Day and after lunch we went to Igtham Mote. This is a moated manor house in Kent which is now owned and operated by the National Trust. It is such a pretty place and was very popular today - I didn't think we were going to be able to get parked, but luckily we managed to get hold of a space very near to the house, which someone had just vacated.
What I made
I spent quite a bit of Monday afternoon designing the beaded butterfly picture that my mother wanted for her birthday (but I still haven't actually started the sewing!). Most of the rest of the week was taken up with the floral filigree scarf, when I realised that I'll really have to pull my finger out if it's going to be finished my the end of June. I missed metal clay class last week - but the Lord alone knows what they'd been doing that week because they seemed to be pretty much at the same stage I was at Thursday's class. I applied syringed clay to the base of my ring, and then fired it, before polishing it at home. It is a very chunky ring - far too heavy for everyday wear - so I'll have to save it for special occasions.
What I read
A Robert Goddard book called "Into the Blue", a murder mystery with a whole slew of improbable twists. It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't really recommend it either. I've just started reading Frank Harris's biography of Oscar Wilde - more about this next week.
What I learned this week
Telegraph Hill is actually a hill. Yes, I know that the clue is in the name, but it's very, very steep. Great views towards North London from the top though.
Sunday 15 March 2009
Chocolate, Chocolate...and more Chocolate
Once again, a very busy week for me. Here's what I did
Work
A madly busy week at work, with a trip to Brussels at the end of it. I was most impressed with the Eurostar service out of St Pancras, which was much quicker than the old service out of Waterloo and as an added bonus it didn't stop at Ashford, which is the gateway to hell. I stayed at the highly recommended Noga Hotel, a quirky but reasonably priced hotel with a gorgeous white cat, a sweet little dog, and the most spartan rooms going, outside of prison.
Where I went
Highlight of the week was the trip to Brussels - not that I saw much of the place but I did get the chance to pick up some relatively cheap cigarettes and chocolate at Midi station. It was so nice today (Sunday) that I went for a walk to the park in the afternoon, and sat there basking in the sun and reading my book for about an hour.
What I made
I did some more work on the crocheted lattice scarf, the floral filigree beaded scarf and the black heart bracelet. I couldn't go to my metal clay course because of the trip to Brussels, but writing this has reminded me that I still need to do my "homework" and sand down the ring I made last week in preparation for firing it this week. I made a crunchy-top lemon cake on Saturday, which was troughed down in record time by my husband, two daughters and myself.
What I read
I finished the "Kings of Albion" by Julian Rathbone. A mixed bag of a book - I really enjoyed the descriptive bits about 15th century England, but the discussions of religion and science left me cold, and I think that even Mr Rathbone was a bit sick of the book by the end, because the last 50 pages were of much lower quality than the rest of the book. Still, I loved his final summary of what it truly means to be English, which I'll repeat here (if you'll indulge me):-
"They are a nation of individuals who yet can combine and behave with ferocious bravery under leaders they respect; they are skillful and ruthless traders with few natural assets of their own to exploit; they are foolhardy sea-farers; they are inordinately arrogant; they are ruthless, unforgiving, cruel enemies. Unfettered by morals or a common religion they take an empirical, practical view of life, adapting their beliefs to circumstances, though always favouring an approach which leaves each individual the captain of his own soul. They enjoy and even live for camaraderie. the company of their fellows, physical prowess, hedonistic if simple enjoyment shared with others, strong drink and rough, speedily concluded sex. They have an incredible capacity to suffer pain for a short term, and will face death willingly. But they will not put up with pain or toil as a life-choice. They hate boredom. They will cheerfully accept individuals of other creeds and races as individuals, especially if they take a personal liking to them, while continuing to despise all foreigners in general. They are mad. One day they will conquer the world."
I also started to read "Out of the Blue" (or possibly "Into the Blue") by Robert Goddard. It's like every other book that Robert Goddard ever wrote - they're always a good read, the pages virtually turn themselves, but six months' down the tracks you can't remember what it was about, the names of the characters etc etc
What I learned this week
Sitting through an episode of "Lark Rise to Candleford" is a horrible experience, but not as bad as you think it's going to be.
Work
A madly busy week at work, with a trip to Brussels at the end of it. I was most impressed with the Eurostar service out of St Pancras, which was much quicker than the old service out of Waterloo and as an added bonus it didn't stop at Ashford, which is the gateway to hell. I stayed at the highly recommended Noga Hotel, a quirky but reasonably priced hotel with a gorgeous white cat, a sweet little dog, and the most spartan rooms going, outside of prison.
Where I went
Highlight of the week was the trip to Brussels - not that I saw much of the place but I did get the chance to pick up some relatively cheap cigarettes and chocolate at Midi station. It was so nice today (Sunday) that I went for a walk to the park in the afternoon, and sat there basking in the sun and reading my book for about an hour.
What I made
I did some more work on the crocheted lattice scarf, the floral filigree beaded scarf and the black heart bracelet. I couldn't go to my metal clay course because of the trip to Brussels, but writing this has reminded me that I still need to do my "homework" and sand down the ring I made last week in preparation for firing it this week. I made a crunchy-top lemon cake on Saturday, which was troughed down in record time by my husband, two daughters and myself.
What I read
I finished the "Kings of Albion" by Julian Rathbone. A mixed bag of a book - I really enjoyed the descriptive bits about 15th century England, but the discussions of religion and science left me cold, and I think that even Mr Rathbone was a bit sick of the book by the end, because the last 50 pages were of much lower quality than the rest of the book. Still, I loved his final summary of what it truly means to be English, which I'll repeat here (if you'll indulge me):-
"They are a nation of individuals who yet can combine and behave with ferocious bravery under leaders they respect; they are skillful and ruthless traders with few natural assets of their own to exploit; they are foolhardy sea-farers; they are inordinately arrogant; they are ruthless, unforgiving, cruel enemies. Unfettered by morals or a common religion they take an empirical, practical view of life, adapting their beliefs to circumstances, though always favouring an approach which leaves each individual the captain of his own soul. They enjoy and even live for camaraderie. the company of their fellows, physical prowess, hedonistic if simple enjoyment shared with others, strong drink and rough, speedily concluded sex. They have an incredible capacity to suffer pain for a short term, and will face death willingly. But they will not put up with pain or toil as a life-choice. They hate boredom. They will cheerfully accept individuals of other creeds and races as individuals, especially if they take a personal liking to them, while continuing to despise all foreigners in general. They are mad. One day they will conquer the world."
I also started to read "Out of the Blue" (or possibly "Into the Blue") by Robert Goddard. It's like every other book that Robert Goddard ever wrote - they're always a good read, the pages virtually turn themselves, but six months' down the tracks you can't remember what it was about, the names of the characters etc etc
What I learned this week
Sitting through an episode of "Lark Rise to Candleford" is a horrible experience, but not as bad as you think it's going to be.
Sunday 8 March 2009
My first publication!
A great week for me - one of the bracelets I designed was published this week on the website of American magazine Bead and Button. The pattern for the Art Deco themed bracelet "Diamonds and Chevrons" can be downloaded for free, but you'll have to register with the Bead and Button website to get hold of it - the link is below. It was also on the front page of the website....brag, brag, brag!
www.beadandbutton.com
Work
Another busy week. A trip to NHS East of England in the wilds of Cambridgeshire on Monday, and a trip to the Brook conference at the Oval Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Where I went
I had my non-working day on Wednesday rather than Monday, and so I decided to go for a walk in North London. I took the tube to Golders Green and started to walk South, along a road which cut across Hampstead Health to Hampstead itself, where I poked about the little streets and posh shops and got some organic bath cream. I then walked to Belsize Park where I managed to pick up a real bargain in the Marie Curie charity shop - a ghastly 70s necklace, which had 10 extremely large turquoise lampworked glass beads. Other than that I haven't been anywhere else this week.
What I made
More work on the floral filigree beaded scarf, and more work on the Black Heart square stitched bracelet. In metal clay class we started work on making a ring. I won't be able to go to the class next week - more of why not in next week's blog - so I have to do quite a lot of the filing and smoothing at home.
What I read
I'm reading "Kings of Albion" by Julian Rathbone. It's a story about how a price of Vijayangaran (in South India) travelled to England together with his guides and entourage in the 1460s in search of his long-lost brother, and stumbles right into the beginning of the Wars of the Roses. Some amusing insights into what noblemen from a civilised empire made of the dirty, stinking, filthy countries they found in Northern Europe.
What I learned this week
The Oval Cricket Ground is nowhere near as big in real life than it looks on the telly.
www.beadandbutton.com
Work
Another busy week. A trip to NHS East of England in the wilds of Cambridgeshire on Monday, and a trip to the Brook conference at the Oval Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Where I went
I had my non-working day on Wednesday rather than Monday, and so I decided to go for a walk in North London. I took the tube to Golders Green and started to walk South, along a road which cut across Hampstead Health to Hampstead itself, where I poked about the little streets and posh shops and got some organic bath cream. I then walked to Belsize Park where I managed to pick up a real bargain in the Marie Curie charity shop - a ghastly 70s necklace, which had 10 extremely large turquoise lampworked glass beads. Other than that I haven't been anywhere else this week.
What I made
More work on the floral filigree beaded scarf, and more work on the Black Heart square stitched bracelet. In metal clay class we started work on making a ring. I won't be able to go to the class next week - more of why not in next week's blog - so I have to do quite a lot of the filing and smoothing at home.
What I read
I'm reading "Kings of Albion" by Julian Rathbone. It's a story about how a price of Vijayangaran (in South India) travelled to England together with his guides and entourage in the 1460s in search of his long-lost brother, and stumbles right into the beginning of the Wars of the Roses. Some amusing insights into what noblemen from a civilised empire made of the dirty, stinking, filthy countries they found in Northern Europe.
What I learned this week
The Oval Cricket Ground is nowhere near as big in real life than it looks on the telly.
Sunday 1 March 2009
No, really, I couldn't
A good but very busy week
Work
Horrifically busy at work leading up to Thursday, when the latest figures on teenage conceptions were published. Luckily the frenetic pace knocked off a bit after that.
Where I went
Well, I haven't been to very many places other than work and by metal clay class this week, but that's fine because the last couple of weeks have been very hectic. Today we went to Sidcup Place - a restaurant at (you'll never guess) Sidcup - and I completely stuffed my face with all manner of good things.
What I made
Much of the week has been devoted to making a leaving present for an old colleague. I decided to make a silver pendant using my new metal clay skills so over the course of the week I made, fired and polished a stippled silver disc pendant, and the strung the pendant on a double length of beading thread using a mix of black, whit, silver and grey seed beads with clear, black and grey 4mm fire-polished faceted beads occurring randomly along the strands, and finished the piece with a silver coloured toggle clasp.
In metal clay class on Thursday we finished the syringed shape from last week's class in the kiln, and then polished it in the barrel polisher, but it didn't come out particularly shiny.
I also worked on the crocheted lattice scarf, the floral filigree beaded scarf and the black heart cuff. Bead magazine have decided to prepare an e-newsletter and it was gratifying to see that my forthcoming project was mentioned in the newsletter.
What I read
I'm still reading the "Short Life and Long Times of Mrs Beeton", a journalist who died following childbirth when she was 28. I'm enjoying the book. I don't think the book really gets to grips with her and her character, but its fascinating to read about the world of magazine publishing in Victorian England.
What I learned this week
That quite a lot of people hold extremely strong views on the subject of teenage pregnancy - and some hold quite disturbing views on what should be done about it.
Work
Horrifically busy at work leading up to Thursday, when the latest figures on teenage conceptions were published. Luckily the frenetic pace knocked off a bit after that.
Where I went
Well, I haven't been to very many places other than work and by metal clay class this week, but that's fine because the last couple of weeks have been very hectic. Today we went to Sidcup Place - a restaurant at (you'll never guess) Sidcup - and I completely stuffed my face with all manner of good things.
What I made
Much of the week has been devoted to making a leaving present for an old colleague. I decided to make a silver pendant using my new metal clay skills so over the course of the week I made, fired and polished a stippled silver disc pendant, and the strung the pendant on a double length of beading thread using a mix of black, whit, silver and grey seed beads with clear, black and grey 4mm fire-polished faceted beads occurring randomly along the strands, and finished the piece with a silver coloured toggle clasp.
In metal clay class on Thursday we finished the syringed shape from last week's class in the kiln, and then polished it in the barrel polisher, but it didn't come out particularly shiny.
I also worked on the crocheted lattice scarf, the floral filigree beaded scarf and the black heart cuff. Bead magazine have decided to prepare an e-newsletter and it was gratifying to see that my forthcoming project was mentioned in the newsletter.
What I read
I'm still reading the "Short Life and Long Times of Mrs Beeton", a journalist who died following childbirth when she was 28. I'm enjoying the book. I don't think the book really gets to grips with her and her character, but its fascinating to read about the world of magazine publishing in Victorian England.
What I learned this week
That quite a lot of people hold extremely strong views on the subject of teenage pregnancy - and some hold quite disturbing views on what should be done about it.
Sunday 22 February 2009
Hmm......where does that bit go?
A busy week and weekend
Work
Hellishly busy week at work. A colleague showed me her contraceptive demonstration kit and if that doesn't put you off sex for ever then nothing will. Of particular note was one of the diaphragms - it was almost completely rigid and the thought of trying to insert it really made me wince!
Where I went
Went for a walk round Surrey Docks and Rotherhithe on Monday What a very strange place it is. Some parts, particularly those round the old docks, have been gentrified and now it's all quayside apartments with views over the docks and the river, but the apartments are very, very small indeed. Away from the dock areas it's still old council houses and flats which are quite tatty and also very,very small indeed. There are very few amenities - no newsagents shops, supermarkets, bars and restaurants. It looks like it's trying very hard to be Docklands, and failing. Still, it is an interesting area with a lot of history.
On Saturday I went shopping in Tottenham Court Road. That is to say, I hadn't entirely intended to buy anything - the true purpose of the trip was to have a look at various laptops and netbooks to look for one that would be suitable for internet browsing on the move, and also suitable for watching DVDs while crafting. I decided to go for a Samsung NC10 netbook (and also bought an optical drive for the DVDs) and spent most of Saturday evening setting it up.
On Sunday I went to the Make It! craft show at Farnborough "International" Airport (honestly, who do they think they're kidding). The round trip was extremely long - I spent just over 6 hours on various buses and trains.I went primarily to see if any of the many papercraft stalls could sell me anything for using with metal clay and the answer, in a nutshell, was no. I did buy a texture sheet and some cutters from the single, small metal clay stall. I bought a couple of bits and bobs in the paper line, and some black and red delica beads. It was a useful day though, because I now know what this particular show offers and can make an informed decision on whether to go again.
What I made
Further work on the crochet lattice scarf. Further work also on the floral filigree beaded scarf. On Sunday evening I cut up my first attempt at the Black Heart cuff, which I'd made with seed beads, and started again with the delica beads I'd bought at Make It!. This was the first time I've used delicas, and I must say that the stitching experience wasn't as smooth as I thought it would be. In metal clay class we had great fun covering our cork clay shape with some swirly patterns using clay paste in a syringe, and that will be fired in the kiln next week. The rest of the lesson was devoted to finishing off the layering project. Polishing a small piece with lots of crevasses and twiddly bits was difficult, and I wish we'd had access to a tumble polisher.
What I read
This week I read "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" by Jeff Lindsay. It sorts of covers the same ground as the first season of the TV series, and the TV series has a much. much better plot I have to say. But there is some good writing in the book, and Dexter on the page is a more believable character than Dexter on the screen. I'm currently reading "the Short Life and Long Times of Mrs Beeton". More of this next week.
What I learned this week
That the sorts of people who make cards and scrapbooks are - perhaps unsurprisingly - just the same as people who knit, embroider and make jewellery. That is to say, for the most part they are white, female, middle-aged and middle-class.
Work
Hellishly busy week at work. A colleague showed me her contraceptive demonstration kit and if that doesn't put you off sex for ever then nothing will. Of particular note was one of the diaphragms - it was almost completely rigid and the thought of trying to insert it really made me wince!
Where I went
Went for a walk round Surrey Docks and Rotherhithe on Monday What a very strange place it is. Some parts, particularly those round the old docks, have been gentrified and now it's all quayside apartments with views over the docks and the river, but the apartments are very, very small indeed. Away from the dock areas it's still old council houses and flats which are quite tatty and also very,very small indeed. There are very few amenities - no newsagents shops, supermarkets, bars and restaurants. It looks like it's trying very hard to be Docklands, and failing. Still, it is an interesting area with a lot of history.
On Saturday I went shopping in Tottenham Court Road. That is to say, I hadn't entirely intended to buy anything - the true purpose of the trip was to have a look at various laptops and netbooks to look for one that would be suitable for internet browsing on the move, and also suitable for watching DVDs while crafting. I decided to go for a Samsung NC10 netbook (and also bought an optical drive for the DVDs) and spent most of Saturday evening setting it up.
On Sunday I went to the Make It! craft show at Farnborough "International" Airport (honestly, who do they think they're kidding). The round trip was extremely long - I spent just over 6 hours on various buses and trains.I went primarily to see if any of the many papercraft stalls could sell me anything for using with metal clay and the answer, in a nutshell, was no. I did buy a texture sheet and some cutters from the single, small metal clay stall. I bought a couple of bits and bobs in the paper line, and some black and red delica beads. It was a useful day though, because I now know what this particular show offers and can make an informed decision on whether to go again.
What I made
Further work on the crochet lattice scarf. Further work also on the floral filigree beaded scarf. On Sunday evening I cut up my first attempt at the Black Heart cuff, which I'd made with seed beads, and started again with the delica beads I'd bought at Make It!. This was the first time I've used delicas, and I must say that the stitching experience wasn't as smooth as I thought it would be. In metal clay class we had great fun covering our cork clay shape with some swirly patterns using clay paste in a syringe, and that will be fired in the kiln next week. The rest of the lesson was devoted to finishing off the layering project. Polishing a small piece with lots of crevasses and twiddly bits was difficult, and I wish we'd had access to a tumble polisher.
What I read
This week I read "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" by Jeff Lindsay. It sorts of covers the same ground as the first season of the TV series, and the TV series has a much. much better plot I have to say. But there is some good writing in the book, and Dexter on the page is a more believable character than Dexter on the screen. I'm currently reading "the Short Life and Long Times of Mrs Beeton". More of this next week.
What I learned this week
That the sorts of people who make cards and scrapbooks are - perhaps unsurprisingly - just the same as people who knit, embroider and make jewellery. That is to say, for the most part they are white, female, middle-aged and middle-class.
Sunday 15 February 2009
A New Start
Not much to report this week....here it is
Work
Started a new job and felt pretty much like a spare part - and probably will do until I know more about the subject matter.
Where I went
Unfortunately I haven't been anywhere much this week, apart from going to work. Went shopping on Sunday and bought some stuff from Crabtree and Evelyn and Neal's Yard.
What I made
Continued with the crochet lattice scarf, and did some rows of the mohair scarf while watching Battlestar Gallactica. At metal clay class on Thursday I made a cork clay shape for next week's class (when we'll be using the clay syringes), and made the shapes for and constructed the diamonds and stars pendant which I'll be firing next week. The class pretty much packed in at 9pm when people noticed that it had started snowing, and wanted to drive home before it got too bad. My car wouldn't start at all, but luckily one of the security guards helped me to push start it before I had to call out the AA. I also took a break from the Floral Filigree beaded scarf and started my Black Heart square stitch cuff. But the variations in the size of the seed beads I'm using means that it is all over the place, and looks far too wonky. So I'll have to cut it up and try the bracelet again. I'm going to buy some delicas and make it using them.
What I read
In the spirit of reading something a bit different from my usual reading material, I read The Painted Man by Peter V Brett. It's a fantasy novel set in a world where the darkness is ruled by demons, and the vastly reduced human population cower nightly behind magic wards. Towns and villages are few, and hardly anybody travels anywhere. Will this state of affairs continue, or will a few brave souls take on the demons...and win? Well of course they will! The first of a trilogy, it wasn't at all bad for a fantasy story, and I will probably read the next two when they come out.
What I learned this week
That latex "dental dams" can be put to surprising other uses.
Work
Started a new job and felt pretty much like a spare part - and probably will do until I know more about the subject matter.
Where I went
Unfortunately I haven't been anywhere much this week, apart from going to work. Went shopping on Sunday and bought some stuff from Crabtree and Evelyn and Neal's Yard.
What I made
Continued with the crochet lattice scarf, and did some rows of the mohair scarf while watching Battlestar Gallactica. At metal clay class on Thursday I made a cork clay shape for next week's class (when we'll be using the clay syringes), and made the shapes for and constructed the diamonds and stars pendant which I'll be firing next week. The class pretty much packed in at 9pm when people noticed that it had started snowing, and wanted to drive home before it got too bad. My car wouldn't start at all, but luckily one of the security guards helped me to push start it before I had to call out the AA. I also took a break from the Floral Filigree beaded scarf and started my Black Heart square stitch cuff. But the variations in the size of the seed beads I'm using means that it is all over the place, and looks far too wonky. So I'll have to cut it up and try the bracelet again. I'm going to buy some delicas and make it using them.
What I read
In the spirit of reading something a bit different from my usual reading material, I read The Painted Man by Peter V Brett. It's a fantasy novel set in a world where the darkness is ruled by demons, and the vastly reduced human population cower nightly behind magic wards. Towns and villages are few, and hardly anybody travels anywhere. Will this state of affairs continue, or will a few brave souls take on the demons...and win? Well of course they will! The first of a trilogy, it wasn't at all bad for a fantasy story, and I will probably read the next two when they come out.
What I learned this week
That latex "dental dams" can be put to surprising other uses.
Sunday 8 February 2009
Goodbye to all that
The week has been very much dominated by the snow. The south-east of Britain shut down on Monday - no buses, no trains, no flights and I think there was widespread disruption on the tubes as well. My daughters' school was closed until Thursday, which was pushing it a bit, I think. I also had to apologise in advance to one of my Etsy customers in Australia for any delays in getting her purchase to her via airmail.
Work
Big news of the week is that I have left my job at the Department of Health......for another job at the Department of Health. Had an excellent leaving do on Friday.
Where I've been
Well, I haven't been anywhere this week apart from to work and to the shops. My precious metal clay evening class on Thursday was cancelled as well, due to the bad weather.
What I made
Continued with my crocheted lattice scarf, my knitted mohair scarf, and my "floral filigree" beaded scarf. I have completed the 20th row, which means that I'm just over a quarter of the way through the scarf, and that also means that it's time to take a short break to work on something else in the bead line. Worked on my cross-stitch picture of Jane Austen's house on Sunday.
I made some choc-chip cookies on Tuesday. It's not really extending the boudaries of my baking knowledge, but they did taste good.
I spent quite a bit of time on Saturday creating my new website - see link on the sidebar.
What I read
I read two books this week. The first was "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman. A reasonably good book for children - though not one of his best - which nevertheless had me blubbing at the end. The other book was "Self-Made Man" by American author and journalist Norah Vincent who spent just over a year disguised as a man, partaking of particularly male experiences such as joining a bowling team, going to strip clubs, joining a monastry and attending a men's group. Like most women (I suppose) I've wondered from time to time about what my life would be like if I was a man rather than a woman, and that's what prompted me to read this book. It's a surprisingly thought-provoking look at what motivates both men and women, why we behave as we do, the support we can guve to each other and the damage we can do as well. Highly recommended.
What I learned this week
Snow and ice can - perhaps unsurprisingly - be very slippery.
Work
Big news of the week is that I have left my job at the Department of Health......for another job at the Department of Health. Had an excellent leaving do on Friday.
Where I've been
Well, I haven't been anywhere this week apart from to work and to the shops. My precious metal clay evening class on Thursday was cancelled as well, due to the bad weather.
What I made
Continued with my crocheted lattice scarf, my knitted mohair scarf, and my "floral filigree" beaded scarf. I have completed the 20th row, which means that I'm just over a quarter of the way through the scarf, and that also means that it's time to take a short break to work on something else in the bead line. Worked on my cross-stitch picture of Jane Austen's house on Sunday.
I made some choc-chip cookies on Tuesday. It's not really extending the boudaries of my baking knowledge, but they did taste good.
I spent quite a bit of time on Saturday creating my new website - see link on the sidebar.
What I read
I read two books this week. The first was "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman. A reasonably good book for children - though not one of his best - which nevertheless had me blubbing at the end. The other book was "Self-Made Man" by American author and journalist Norah Vincent who spent just over a year disguised as a man, partaking of particularly male experiences such as joining a bowling team, going to strip clubs, joining a monastry and attending a men's group. Like most women (I suppose) I've wondered from time to time about what my life would be like if I was a man rather than a woman, and that's what prompted me to read this book. It's a surprisingly thought-provoking look at what motivates both men and women, why we behave as we do, the support we can guve to each other and the damage we can do as well. Highly recommended.
What I learned this week
Snow and ice can - perhaps unsurprisingly - be very slippery.
Sunday 1 February 2009
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
It's been snowing for the last six hours and there's about 4 inches of snow lying at the moment. The girls are convinced that the school will be closed tomorrow and they'll get a day off, but I'm not so sure.
Work
A so-so week at work. Unfortunately the most talked-about event of the week was the murder of a homeless immigrant who had been living in the disused office block next door. A power failure meant that - tragically - we all had to go home at 3.30pm on Friday.
Where I've been
Went to a truly excellent exhibition on Saturday at the Women's Library (in London, near Aldgate) about the history of women's magazines over the last two hundred years. I now know why the writing on the cover is so important, and why most magazines use a picture of a women looking straight ahead on the cover. The exhibition is on until April - more details if you click the link below.
http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/thewomenslibrary/
Went to the London Bead Fair at Kempton Park racecourse today. The economic downturn must be beginning to bite because it was a lot emptier this year. My first visit two years ago was like a descent into hell. I hadn't been to a bead show before and, given the nature of the people who do beadwork and jewellery making, I thought that it would be quite a civilised affair. Well, I was wrong. I walked into a melee of white, middle-aged middle-class women quite literally fighting each other to get to see the stalls and buy stuff, with a few dazed looking husbands standing about. This year was very different, and the minor injuries I sustained will have cleared up by the end of the week. I also got home before it really started snowing in earnest, which was a bonus.
What I've made
I continued work on the cross-stitch picture of Jane Austen's house. I didn't make a great deal of progress with the mohair scarf I've been knitting on the way to work because it's just been too damn cold for me to be bothered getting the needles out. The lattice crocheted scarf had another four inches added to it. It's made with some gorgeous sock yarn I bought from Babylonglegs's shop on Folksy - see link below:-
http://www.folksy.com/shops/babylonglegs
I also plugged away with my Floral Filigree Beaded Scarf. This is a mammoth project which, based on how much I've done so far, will take about four months to complete, and will need about 150g of size 15 seed beads and 400 4mm crystal bicones. I've completed 16 "rows" so far, and I started it on 3 January. Once I've completed 20 rows I'll take a short break and bead something else, to make sure I don't get bored. I had the third lesson (of 11) of my precious metal clay course, which was devoted to finishing the pieces we made last week and designing our next piece using polymer clay (before replicating it in sliver clay). My first piece was a tiny flower-shaped pendant which I have since made into a necklace - photo to follow.
What I read
One of my New Year's resolutions was to read more widely, so this week I've been reading "The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer" by Brian Masters. (Jeffrey Dahmer killed 17 men in Milwaukee in the late 1980s and early 1990s before he was caught in 1991). All tribute to Mr Masters for taking a serious rather than sensational approach to the subject, but it was nevertheless a disturbing read and I didn't feel I knew very much more at the end of the book about why Dahmer murdered all those men than I did at the beginning.
I also plan, during the course of 2009, to read all the national daily newspapers published in in UK. So last Friday I started by reading the Daily Mail. I have never in my life read an entire copy of the Daily Mail before. My impression of the paper before I read it was that it was aimed at and reflected the views of middle-class Conservative voters living in the South of England, and I wasn't wrong. "What kind of monsters would steal children from their grandparents and give them to two gay men?" ranted columnist Richard Littlejohn. His story about two children, who couldn't be left in the care of their recovering heroin addict mother and who were being taken away from their sick grandparents to be forcibly adopted by two gay men, tended to make the reader think that there was lots of information that Richard wasn't giving us because it didn't quite fit with what he wanted to say.
What I learned this week
Gas-fired blowtorches - perhaps unsurprisingly - can get very, very hot.
Work
A so-so week at work. Unfortunately the most talked-about event of the week was the murder of a homeless immigrant who had been living in the disused office block next door. A power failure meant that - tragically - we all had to go home at 3.30pm on Friday.
Where I've been
Went to a truly excellent exhibition on Saturday at the Women's Library (in London, near Aldgate) about the history of women's magazines over the last two hundred years. I now know why the writing on the cover is so important, and why most magazines use a picture of a women looking straight ahead on the cover. The exhibition is on until April - more details if you click the link below.
http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/thewomenslibrary/
Went to the London Bead Fair at Kempton Park racecourse today. The economic downturn must be beginning to bite because it was a lot emptier this year. My first visit two years ago was like a descent into hell. I hadn't been to a bead show before and, given the nature of the people who do beadwork and jewellery making, I thought that it would be quite a civilised affair. Well, I was wrong. I walked into a melee of white, middle-aged middle-class women quite literally fighting each other to get to see the stalls and buy stuff, with a few dazed looking husbands standing about. This year was very different, and the minor injuries I sustained will have cleared up by the end of the week. I also got home before it really started snowing in earnest, which was a bonus.
What I've made
I continued work on the cross-stitch picture of Jane Austen's house. I didn't make a great deal of progress with the mohair scarf I've been knitting on the way to work because it's just been too damn cold for me to be bothered getting the needles out. The lattice crocheted scarf had another four inches added to it. It's made with some gorgeous sock yarn I bought from Babylonglegs's shop on Folksy - see link below:-
http://www.folksy.com/shops/babylonglegs
I also plugged away with my Floral Filigree Beaded Scarf. This is a mammoth project which, based on how much I've done so far, will take about four months to complete, and will need about 150g of size 15 seed beads and 400 4mm crystal bicones. I've completed 16 "rows" so far, and I started it on 3 January. Once I've completed 20 rows I'll take a short break and bead something else, to make sure I don't get bored. I had the third lesson (of 11) of my precious metal clay course, which was devoted to finishing the pieces we made last week and designing our next piece using polymer clay (before replicating it in sliver clay). My first piece was a tiny flower-shaped pendant which I have since made into a necklace - photo to follow.
What I read
One of my New Year's resolutions was to read more widely, so this week I've been reading "The Shrine of Jeffrey Dahmer" by Brian Masters. (Jeffrey Dahmer killed 17 men in Milwaukee in the late 1980s and early 1990s before he was caught in 1991). All tribute to Mr Masters for taking a serious rather than sensational approach to the subject, but it was nevertheless a disturbing read and I didn't feel I knew very much more at the end of the book about why Dahmer murdered all those men than I did at the beginning.
I also plan, during the course of 2009, to read all the national daily newspapers published in in UK. So last Friday I started by reading the Daily Mail. I have never in my life read an entire copy of the Daily Mail before. My impression of the paper before I read it was that it was aimed at and reflected the views of middle-class Conservative voters living in the South of England, and I wasn't wrong. "What kind of monsters would steal children from their grandparents and give them to two gay men?" ranted columnist Richard Littlejohn. His story about two children, who couldn't be left in the care of their recovering heroin addict mother and who were being taken away from their sick grandparents to be forcibly adopted by two gay men, tended to make the reader think that there was lots of information that Richard wasn't giving us because it didn't quite fit with what he wanted to say.
What I learned this week
Gas-fired blowtorches - perhaps unsurprisingly - can get very, very hot.
Thursday 29 January 2009
Welcome to my blog
I'll be blogging on a weekly basis, with pictures of the things I've made, principally jewellery, knitting/crochet and cakes. The good, the bad and the plain ugly will all be featured.
Be seeing you.
Be seeing you.
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