In the dark

Most of my knitting is done in the evening, settled on the sofa in front on the telly hopefully watching a good drama and lately I've noticed that I can't actually see what I'm doing.  

I position myself under one of these mother and child floor lamps that has an uplighter and an adjustable spot but generally only the uplighter is on to create a nicer ambiance in the room. I only switch on the spot for more technical operations, if the pattern goes wrong, a dropped stitch or to pick up stitches at the heel.

But knitting these London Man socks, a free download from Filcolana, which aren't really that tricky just 4 cables of 2 stitches each with a pleasing line of cable continuing down the heel flap, I have made so many mistakes.  I had to take back about 20 rows when I'd completely missed out some of the cables, I do look at my work regularly to make sure it's right but I didn't spot that error until it was daylight. 

Then I got totally confused picking up and adjusting the stitches for the heel on the second sock. Generally I don't follow a pattern that closely, I understand the geometry of a sock now and while this pattern uses 5 needles and explains how to arrange the stitches on them, I like to use just 4 with all the foot front on one needle and the sides of the heel on 2 others (plus a needle to work with makes 4) .  I also decided to continue the rib down the front rather than just abandon it which worked fine for the first sock.

For some reason I got the pattern placement of the rib on top of the foot for the second sock different to the first and had to juggle my work to make it acceptable.
I don't know what the answer is, a brighter light in the lounge would be far too clinical, I don't want to get stronger glasses, in winter knitting with only light coloured yarn might help or knitting just plain socks that I can practically do with my eyes shut.  I could get a head torch but that would be distracting for Mr FF I'm sure. Does anyone else have this problem I wonder, any advice will be considered but not necessarily taken.

Beauty empties

I'm a fine one to tell anybody about beauty.  I do have a regime where I cleanse and moisturise twice a day and I take great pleasure in rubbing various body butters and creams into my arms and legs, particularly when I'm in Italy, but I have no brand loyalty whatsoever. Stick on a reduced or clearance label or attach a free gift product to the outside of a magazine and my purse is out.  
There are some wonderful blogs featuring monthly beauty empties that often amaze me by the quantity of products used.   I enjoy these very much but am rarely influenced by them except to get through more lotions and potions.   Today I give you my one and only beauty empty post.

Mr FF found this massive 250ml jar of face cream last Christmas (2014) in a charity shop for £1.99 and knowing that I will rub anything into my skin if the price is right he bought it.  I was a bit dubious but the jar was sealed and a quick google confirmed that it was genuine.  

It was absolutely fine, I haven't noticed any difference from any other product being of the persuasion that to see a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles you only need poor lighting or to take your glasses off. However, the jar has just gone on and on, admittedly I was away for half the year while it languished on the bathroom shelf but it seemed to be never ending and I was totally sick of it. Not that surprising as it is the equivalent of 5 normal sized pots.

Finally I can see the bottom, the jar was large and cumbersome, quite utilitarian and I just wanted it to end though my Yorkshire heritage prevented me from not using every last smear  Its funny that a stash of yarn is delightful, you can smugly handle and admire the fibres, but a stash of toiletries has quite the opposite effect with me, just an irritation and since my local Boots is 10 minutes walk away I have no need at all to stockpile. I am often bored half way though products I don't particularly like, though I will be cutting the SBC gel bottle in half to get the final dregs out.  Something to be said for the No 7 cleanser that not only shows me clearly how much is left but is tamper proof, and yes I would buy these two products again in case you are wondering.

Knit knit knit read read read

I am devouring yarn.  Maybe its the lazy days of Christmas, not that I'm not usually lazy but perhaps I allow myself even more time on the sofa at the festive period.  

Before the Christmas decorations are down I have produced a pair of cabled socks for Mr FF, the pattern is Red Wine socks from Jane Brocket's The Gentle Art of Knitting and the yarn again Cygnet wool rich 4 ply, which I have discovered is produced in Turkey and not in Bradford as I hoped.   The top pair in plain pattern is for me using Regia's Kaffe Fassett design line.  

A scarf using 3 balls of Rowan Cork that may have been a Rowan subscription free gift many years ago.  The pattern is Rib Lace Scarf/Cowl by Fiona Morris, a free Ravelry download, simple but effective and the yarn feels very cosy.  I am tempted to keep this for myself but I have such a lot of hand knitted neckwear.

And so far I have completed one Spindle Sock in West Yorkshire Spinners Aire Valley dk, which is made in Yorkshire.  This pattern was from the blog My Fashionable Life which I don't think is available now.   I downloaded the pattern in 2007 and a web search didn't produce any results, a pity as they are extremely pleasing to knit and wear, well the one I've finished is.
Additionally there are two paperbacks in the hall read and waiting to be taken to the charity shop. If 2016 continues at this pace we shall be able to move into a smaller apartment by the end of the year.

Backwards and Forwards

Significantly 2015 was a year of two halves as we split our time between Italy and England.  We left Yorkshire in June, returned for 3 weeks in August, then back to Italy until mid November.  It's rather like living two lives, we have two homes, two sets of friends and two very different life styles both enhanced by each other.  When I'm in Italy I miss family, our cosy penthouse and our lovely accessible little town.  Naturally in Ilkley I miss the Italian weather, our garden and our cats (who we heard on Christmas day are still around),  but I feel so fortunate to be able to spend my retirement in two such beautiful places.
2015 was the year I came down to earth with a bump, literally when I fell in the garden in Italy and injured my wrist.  I was out of action for several weeks, the accident left me feeling frail and vulnerable.  Back in the UK I went to my doctor who whilst he couldn't rule out that I might have broken a small bone said that everything was back to normal and working properly.  Such a relief and hopefully this confirms that my bones are not as brittle as they might be at my age.
We seemed to takes ages to recover from the stormy ferry ride back to Hull, it left us feeling exhausted for days.  Even now I can lay in bed and remember how it felt as the ship rolled and creaked through the night, it may be some time before I consider this route again.  
Being ill over Christmas was another reality check.  I am so very bad at being unwell and whilst I think that my years of long distance running on the hills and roads might give me some resilience, at the first hint of nausea I am ready to give up on life, hence not eating for nearly two days.  Lets not dwell on this, I am now fine, my appetite still slightly curbed but that I like.  
Having talked myself into feeling old I should remember that we have neighbours in Italy who are in their mid 80s, currently spending winter on the mountainside with no one else around, growing so much produce they are practically self sufficient and both bright as buttons.  
2015 was the year I surprised myself by falling in love with Denmark and all things Danish.  Such an uplifting destination, I knew as soon as we arrived at the airport that it was my kind of place and the delights just went on and on.  

Ilkley football club Boxing Day

So I go into my 68th year feeling positive, living this blessed life while so many people suffering in the world it would be wrong not to and I have special thoughts for those affected by recent flooding in the north of England.  We are fortunate here that there are not so many riverside properties but the town was cut off for at least a day when the Wharfe burst its banks.

The old bridge, Ilkley on Boxing Day

I am hoping there will be big improvements in the penthouse soon and that we shall have another wonderful summer in Italy.  I won't make promises about reducing my stash of books and yarn though I will keep chipping away at both but I will resolve to delight in everything I have and try to look forwards not backwards.

Happy New Year everyone.

Christmas plain and simple

Our Christmas expectations were not high, particularly when Mr FF returned from his Santa drop and took to his bed with similar symptoms to mine. However against the odds we had a wonderful Christmas that involved no fuss, no over eating just quiet, calm and lovely lovely presents.  It might be that I was at a low ebb and feeling emotional but my gifts really touched me, I was amazed that people know me so well, for example this little wooden placque.  I am not a fan of those bossy signs telling you what to do, but this I like

A great selection of books, I had already considered turning Danish anyway, and the Guest Cat sounds just up my street.  Love stories to read in the sunshine, delightful.

Candles and creams, a pretty toilet bag and gorgeous marble soap

Charming bird accoutrements to take out to Italy, I have decided that it would be a good idea to encourage the birds into our garden where they are safe from the horrible hunters on the hillside and might help keep down the mosquitoes. 

Once again Mr FF managed to blow the £5 budget with books, a dvd to watch some time in Italy, a book mark

an interesting knitting book and some chocolate coins

And finally this shopping bag from our local supermarket that makes me smile every time I see it

We both decided on Christmas morning that we had no appetite for the steak we planned, a rake round the freezer produced some fish cakes and they were enough.    No pudding or cake, a glass of prosecco and that was our meal. Fish cakes could be the festive way forward they certainly worked this year, Christmas was easy, simple and happy.
Enjoy the rest of the holiday.

Feeling poorly

You know I'm not at my best at this time of year but now I seem to have gone down with some horrible virus.  Started on Sunday with a sore throat and runny nose followed by a day of banging headache and vomiting.  I couldn't even keep a pain killer down let alone water, in 40 hours I ate only one dry cream cracker. Now I have a terrible cough and still no appetite but whilst feeling wretched I am counting this as pre-festive detox, I can drink nothing but water and Lucozade.  A neighbour told Mr FF that what I have is known as the 100 day bug because that's how long it will take for me to get well, so cheery.
Instead of an overnight at my brothers and the merry exchange of gifts with family and friends, I am either curled up in bed or on the sofa under a blanket. Mr FF dashed of at first light this morning to complete the Christmas duties, just as well I wrapped the presents early. 
No idea what we are going to eat on Christmas day, no idea if I shall want to eat anything beyond a jacket potato.  I am wondering if this is some kind of punishment for being so bah humbug over the years.
So I hope you are all well and that you have a lovely lovely Christmas, me I am trying to be positive and concentrating on my recent weight loss.  Maybe here is a Santa after all.

Different Decs

Our communal decorations in the hall are quite traditional and as everything is artificial they are the same as last year if slightly differently arranged, very large tree with tasteful candles and swags.   This is how I see them from the penthouse and very lovely they are, I didn't go down to take more photographs as I showed you plenty last year.

Inside the penthouse we have taken a new and interesting route.  We bought a very modern lit tree that obviously doesn't need any decoration, apart of course from our tin birds.  Don't ask me what they have to do with Christmas, they normally stand where we put the tree so we left them.

                         

We did think about having the tree in the lounge but it was a bit distracting so it is at the very end of the hall and we see it when we come in and when we move between rooms.

                   


And since we don't have a tree that requires decoration, I've hung my very favourite bits and pieces, my golden goose, the wooden armadillo, the fish and some stars from the beam in the lounge.

I could pretend that this pretty lantern is part of the decoration too, it always sits beside the fire but I did thrown in some silver beads for extra effect.

Next week I shall add some greenery to the apartment, hopefully collected from my brother's garden when we go over to exchange presents. And that will be quite enough festiveness for me, you'll be expecting me to sing along with the Christmas songs in the shops next.