Who knows where the time goes

Hard to believe we've been in Lazio over two weeks and I've told you nothing.  We have been busy.  When we arrived we found our water supply disconnected, Mr FF discovered a leak in the pipe above our house, inadvertently repaired major leak to the nearby sports ground and finally fixed our minor leak, all of which occupied him for two days.    The supply pipe is not very far into the ground and it seems that heavy traffic or parked cars can press the pipe onto stones and fracture it.  Since two of the houses in our little road of four are for sale it's unlikely that we will upgrade the supply for a while but it would make sense to do so one day.
We've done some socialising, a couple of long lunches with friends and last Sunday along with many others took part in a 16 k walk, such fun.  I'll give you a full post later but let me tell you I've done a lot of long distance walking, it's the first time wine, limoncello and grappa have been offered at a drinks stop.
Mr FF and his concrete mixer continue working at the the back door and I have gardened furiously.  While we were in Scotland Mario had pruned the olives and planted broad beans, I've added sunflowers and nasturtium, bought a dozen tomato plants and I'm waiting to sow more flower seeds.   My little lemon tree survived the winter as did my geraniums.  Such a gorgeous time to be here, the hillside is covered in blossom and wild flowers, the days get warmer though we have eaten breakfast outside since we arrived, the cuckoo is about.  Everything is as it should be apart from my lack of blogging but we blame that on the iPad don't we.

If I'd known I'd have dressed better

So we had an eventful 11 hour journey to Lazio.  We had decided to travel with British Airways on two flights via Heathrow using up some air miles and allowing us to travel with hold and cabin luggage at no extra cost, and I hoped mean we would get a snack or two on board.
Our first flight from Edinburgh was delayed by 50 minutes which meant transfer would be right but no great worries at the lady at the BA desk kindly booked us seats in the next flight to Rome whilst also keeping our original ones.  Quick sprint through terminal 5 which was pity as its really a huge shopping mall and we arrived as the end of the queue for our planned flightwas boarding.  Unfortunately we were told that our reserved seats had been changed and we'd have to sit right at the back, which I really don't like particularly in large planes as this was.  We made some fuss and were offered separate seats nearer the front, we made some more fuss and I have to say the ground staff were really helpful.  They suggested we get on board, by which time all the other passengers had, showed us the options and feeling a bit self indulgent I said ok I would sit at the back.  The rear of the plane was occupied by a large group of noisy but jolly Italian teenagers, presumably a school trip.  Mr FF was still at the front of the plane in discussion with a steward, I took my coat off and started to settle in but Mr FF and the steward were beckoning me to them.  I was shaking my head and pointing to the rear seats, apparently the steward said she'll soon change her mind when she sees where she's going.  I finally unsettled myself, wandered to the front and was lead into the first class, or world traveller or swanky pants area whatever it's called.  Hot towels were soon followed by champagne, and relax.  It was quiet, it was calm, they fed us though we said we weren't 
really entitled to a meal, offered more champagne, which we declined.  I've never had such a wonderful flight, I'd happily have stayed on for many more than the two hours, I did wonder about 
asking if I could. The steward even took time as we approached Rome to come and wish is a good 
stay and apologise for the seat mix up.  First time I've ever travelled any way but in the cheap seats apart from once to America in premium economy.  If BA flew direct to Rome from Edinburgh  I'd happily pay the difference to travel in style, as it is I have no idea how Mr FF plans to get me on the free for all, pay for everything and don't bring any luggage or expectations of customer service Ryanair flight home .  Luckily that won't be for a few weeks, and yes the sun is shining constantly. 

Knitting now

I was very pleased with the way Amelia's little ballet wrap turned out, the bamboo yarn knitted up well and I liked the twisted rib detail.

I posted her gift last week and shortly afterwards received this lovely thany you card.  The sleeves were slightly shorter than I'd imagined but Amelia's Mum said they looked fine, with plenty of movement for Port de Bras as we dancers say.  So Amelia was looking forward to wearing her wrap when class restarted after the Easter holiday.

Sunday evening just before I went to bed I received this happy email from Amelia's Mum
Amelia wore her new ballet wrap to her class on Sat.  Her teacher, Miss Lucy was standing by the door as she was going in and said to Amelia 'Oh this is very swanky, who has been knitting for you?'  Amelia pushed out her chest and very proudly announced 'Auntie Jen'!!  Bless her she was very impressed, firstly with her new wrap and secondly that Miss Lucy liked it too.
I'm quite inclined to push out my own chest, the patchwork aran is finished.  I am pleased firstly because I managed to find enough yarn to complete it and secondly because it is gorgeous, quite heavy but so interesting and very warm.  Once I was familiar with the various patterns I really enjoyed myself twisting all those cables, apart from some shedding of yarn which involved short and slightly curly grey hairy bits drifting round the lounge.  We won't go there or discuss Mr FF's comments.

So back to socks for now, to be knitted in Italy hopefully outdoors in the sun.  

I'll miss you but not that much

Although its been very cold it has been exceptionally dry so I have managed to get out into the garden for tidying and cutting back while Mr FF has taken down a few trees to let more light in and provide fuel for the stove.   We still have snow on the ground and the wind continues to be icy which means this year everything is delayed.  

My hellebores have done their best but took quite a battering, freezing under the snow and only now recovering.  They are so gorgeous and exotic, some of my favourite flowers.
Lots of plants standing by for action, plenty of buds and I imagine that when the flowers do appear so will the warmer weather and they won't last long.  And of course we are off to Italy in a few days,  I'm going to miss everything, including the daffodils

 and the erythronium, pink yellow and blue

primula denticulata, the drumstick primrose, I love those too

In the conservatory my orchids are set to flower, one stem open and half a dozen more to come on this plant

But the forecast in our part of Lazio by next Saturday is for temperatures of 20 degrees.   Now that's a tough choice, spring bulbs or sunshine, maybe I'll just shut up and go paint my toe nails for the first time this year.

Let it go

I'm not a great hoarder (yarn doesn't count) but I really have been trying to get rid of clutter this year in the hope that we might eventually downsize and in the meantime enjoy this house more and more as it improves.  Mr FF has done quite a lot of sanding down and painting or re-varnishing, we are looking smart but he in particular finds it impossible to let go.   
Two of Mr FF's favourite reasons for retaining items are they were expensive when we bought them and they don't make things as well today. To me high costs doesn't equate to high value and the fact that something was well made while admirable doesn't necessarily make it either beautiful or useful  
Here's an example of not letting go, when we had our first house in the 70s we bought from a friend for £40 a G plan dining table with four upholstered chairs.   More than 20 years ago we stopped using the table but kept it, it was circular teak and extended into an oval to seat up to 6. The wood was lovely, the extension worked smoothly but we didn't need it.  Eventually I advertised it in the village as free to a good home no takers, I tried to give it to a charity but none would come out from Edinburgh for it.  One cheeky organisation said they would only take the table if it came with chairs, by this time it didn't.  Finally friends of a friend were delighted to have it for their holiday house and gave us a bottle of wine.
Now we have in the front room a low white bookcase and a couple of low cupboards, we bought them again for our first house 30 odd years ago. They are so dated I've taken to putting a throw over the brown fronted cupboards, I keep the Christmas decorations in there and not much else so they serve no great purpose.  

Again Mr FF has explained to me how well made the units are, that he doesn't mind the dated style, that they are much better than anything you'd find in Ikea.  Fair enough, but I don't want to replace them with anything from Ikea or anywhere else, I want them to go and leave a space in the room.  
I had a look through our collection of photographs last week and while they need more sorting I threw out the ones of people and places I didn't recognise, a sure sign they'd been kept too long. And don't get me started about Mr FF's amazing selection of construction industry slides, yes slides you remember those don't you.

They live in these boxes under his desk and relate to his last but one job that he hasn't had for at least 5 years.  He promises me he's going to sort them out and keep just the good ones as there are some really interesting images, there are 1000s.  He did offer them to a couple of engineering related organisations but no one was interested.    At least he has now disposed of his projector and light box which gives me hope the slides will go soon.

Then he can get started on his office bookcase, all these dull tomes, technical papers and magazines, I'd love to have some of this space free and make our office a bit calmer (perhaps even a bit more studio-ish).  I know its not easy to let go of these tangible parts of life and particularly things associated with a long and happy career but there is a part of me that resents having to live with unused clutter.   
Let's face it if you don't sort your own things someone else will have everything to throw away when you've gone.  My sister in law has been emptying the cottage of an elderly relative who died aged 93 and found in a cupboard 25 years worth of Daniel O'Donnell calendars (he's an Irish singer that more mature ladies seem to appreciate).  I bet they were never taken out of the cupboard, I doubt they were that expensive and certainly no better made than any other calendar so each one should have been binned at the turn of the year.  (Mr FF please note.)

Found

You recall I started this aran patchwork cardigan some time back but discovered as it progressed that I wouldn't have enough yarn to finish (I know you've seen it before but I'm so pleased with it, its worth a second look). 

I contacted the wool manufacturers, who do sell direct, by email I think 4 times and by phone twice, though was only ever able to leave a message. The only response I got was that they didn't have the batch I used, 504, and that their current stock was batch 71111 or something like that, which told me absolutely nothing.  Anyway the yarn was out of stock and though I kept checking the website it never came back in stock and eventually the website closed for reconstruction, this will be the third week it has been down.  
So frustrating.  However, I tried ebay and lo and behold someone was selling 4 balls, not of my batch number but better than nothing.  I was prepared to buy 4 balls but once the price went beyond the retail price I ducked out.  I was then tempted to sell the balls I hadn't used and forget the whole thing.  Every time I saw the finished back and one sleeve of the cardigan I wondered if I should start pulling it out, order some nice soft cotton and start again.
I did a check on Ravelry and a few people had one ball in their stash but no one was selling.  I was tempted to contact them and beg but fortunately I couple of people had posted where they bought their yarn.  One was a National Trust gift shop in the Lakes, I emailed them over a week ago and am still waiting for a reply.  Confirms my opinion of the National Trust, I cancelled my membership when they started closing the little houses and building vast new visitor centres to sell tat and mass produced food.  
I also saw someone had bought their yarn at Iriss in Penzance, I sent off an email and next morning there was a reply saying yes they had two balls of 504 and if I emailed my phone number they would contact me for my details.  I was on the phone straightaway though I was impressed that they actually offered to call me.  Mr FF was already asking if we should set off to drive the length of the country to collect the yarn, 550 miles each way now that's devotion especially as I hadn't at that stage cleared the drive of several inches of snow

David at Iriss took my details, explaining how he had found just the two balls of 504 in a box but had plenty of more recent batches.   When he told me the price I said I'd pay anything and he laughingly suggested £25 per ball.  I paid £14.23 including delivery for 200 g of pure Yorkshire yarn or realistically a finished cardigan.  Amazing service, restores some of my continually diminishing faith in business, lets face it two out of the three companies I've been in contact with didn't bother to reply.

So I'd better stop knitting the little socks that I've been making with spare yarn and I must finish Amelia's ballet wrap.  Then I shall put my concentrating head on so that I can complete the cardigan because the yarn arrived within two days, apart from a different label, the shops own, it's identical, its just what I wanted.

Happy days thank you Iriss.

Heavy snow and light shopping

More snow equals more knitting.  Fortunately we had plenty of rugby at the weekend to justify time in front of the stove watching the white wet and weighty stuff drifting down outside.  It keeps coming down, I keep sitting knitting.

I went into Edinburgh last Friday, first time this year and I have to say I won't be rushing back into the centre of town.  Mr FF took his car in for its MOT, ie diagnosis of lots of problems that will need to be addressed before we drive to Italy but at least it passed the test.  We dropped the car at the garage early and with our bus passes took ourselves off separately.  Mr FF for a hair cut, to collect some paint for the continuing home maintenance and to eat a curry. I went into Princes Street and wandered past the rather depressing run of the mill shops for a while.  It seems to me as an out of town person much easier nowadays to shop on line than travel 40+ miles to be greeted by some dismal department stores and cheap clothes shops.  I know a revamp of our high streets is on the agenda but its such a pity they have been allowed to become so tired, in these difficult times its going to be hard to attract people back unless more interesting venues appear.   Apart from John Lewis of course, always a pleasure to be in there and I bought Rowan Studio 30 knitting book, which has some gorgeous patterns for the little ones.
After walking the length of Princes Street I got the bus into Morningside which has a good range of individual shops and cafes, proper traditional hardware stores, lovely florists, even a family run cinema.    Mr FF collected the car and met me in Waitrose where I did our main provisions shop, what a treat.  He said I looked extremely happy with my trolley though he'd had a bit of trouble finding not realising I was wearing my wool and cashmere coat instead of my usual mac, one has to dress the part.  Even the daffodils in Waitrose are special

and I found this pattern in a charity shop, the child model doesn't look very happy but I think I could make quite a nice poncho for Esme.

More snow forecast this week, it is becoming a bit tedious, that's the trouble with winter it never knows when to stop.