Has he been yet?

Did I miss Christmas?
It certainly doesn't feel like Christmas - I was in so much pain Christmas day that I gave up and went to bed - my daughter went home with a food mountain, and I had Christmas dinner on Boxing Day.

This then meant I had Boxing Day's dinner on the following day (still with me here?) - the best food ever, cold fried up!
Now I don't know if this is just a Northern thing or if everyone makes it and loves it, but it is so delicious (yet looks so bad in photos!).

All those roasties, roast parsnips and veg chopped up and fried until crisp, then eaten with as many pickles and sauces you can handle.

(Apple sauce, cranberry sauce, pickled onions - nomtastic).

I had a piece of dry toast for Christmas day, hey ho.

I didn't bother with most of my usual decorations (a. I couldn't reach the box they are in and b. I was out of energy) but I DID make my tree. Oh yes, all that time at Art College put to good use. What I really want is one of the dreadfully expensive trees from John Lewis - then I spotted one in good old Wilkos that was similar and a fraction of the price, but still couldn't justify the money.

£85 ish, the Wilko one is almost identical and cost £30.

 

But mine - oh mine is a thing of - er - glory. Or something.

 

Several whopping great branches from the blossom tree in the garden, a tall florists vase, lots of paper to hold in place then white paint. A three year old could probably have done better but I LOVE IT!

 

It has lots of toadstools, disco balls, HUGE pompoms,bells,  robins, icicles, mitts, mini jumpers and of course, a pink pig in a sparkly dress.

 

Makes me grin every time I look at it - I might keep it, and turn it into a Spring tree with knitted blossom and catkins. And nests. And plant daffs in the vase - oh yes, I like this idea!

 

And here we are on New Year's Eve - and what wild thrills await in the Sulky household?

 

In keeping with my punk image I will be:

1. watching Emmerdale

2. eating pasta and salad or cheese on toast with marmite

3. opening a bottle of fizz

4. knitting

5. cuddling PSidney

6. texting folk

 

Wild.

 

 

 

I love this cushion cover I am knitting - more details tomorrow.

And this is as far as I got with my journal - tis a (hand pain dependant) start.

 

Right, thassit.

From PSidney and myself, have a lovely New Year's Eve and may 2013 be a healthy, peaceful and happy year for you all.

 

x

 

 

Happy New Year

And I hope it is going to be a good one for all of us.
Looking back, 2009 certainly wasn't the best of years -nobody died, nobody was seriously ill, nothing disastrous, just not the best of times, and ended with me being off with work related stress, and pondering what to do and where to go next ... time to move on, both for my physical and emotional health I think. Teaching still maybe, but not necessarily, and ideally by the coast somewhere, or in the country. NOT the city. Uh huh.

There were good parts - some great parts - work was fun, until things all changed and went belly up (long story)(ok, not long, just probably dull), had a lot of laughs with the usual bunch of reprobates and ne'er do wells (staff) and as usual, when these children work they REALLY work. Tough getting there, but inspirational when they do.

Had my first flight that I can remember (I was 6 last time, can't remember a thing), and it was bonkers - the tiniest plane, I spent both flights crammed against the window with my camera, grinning like a loon, especially on the return flight when we hit spectacular turbulance - I ended up wearing most of my drink, loved every single second. I could be a pilot! Sod teaching, fly planes!
Went to Orkney for an interview (went to Orkney twice, again a long dull tale), didn't get the job and didn't feel it was quite the right one for me, its been a long time since I taught in a primary school and I felt a touch out of my depth, but had a fabulous time (NOT the second time, that has been consigned to some of the Craptastic Events of 2009).

Rediscovered my sewing mojo, had fun making this for a Christmas Stocking swap on Ravelry, crammed it with 25 goodies of assorted worth, and was lucky enough to receive a fabulous stocking in return, full of beautiful hand crafted loveliness. This was a good swap, one of those where it just all goes right.

And managed to make some knitty things I am not at all shamed of, this was a present for a friend's birthday and I loved it.

This was only a month or so ago, seems like ages - as for the summer, well - I know we had one because I spent plenty of it on the beach soaking up the sun (yes, here, in Yorkshire, we DID have sun!). And I know the bulbs will start sprouting soon, and spring will - er - spring. And then it will be summer, truly it will. But it all seems too far away! It's fairly bright outside today, and the birdies are all clammering as they attack the feeders, but bright sunny days and a bit of warmth that's not from the fire would be nice!

Happy 2010.