Clearing out the attic

As the summer temperatures lowered to something more acceptable, and frankly, something more familiar, I took the opportunity to clear out some attic space.
Some of you might be aware that I actually 'live' in that attic, but it's also the place where years of Stuff has been put into every little spot available.

It is generally known that when I finally move my things out of the attic, the house will rise by a good 5cm (that's 2"). Today, we've moved a few boxes of Stuff that belonged to another life that got left behind about 7 years ago.

That's a good rule to go by: if it's been boxed for 7 years, you probably don't need it. Of course the 7 years happened because of Circumstances, but nevertheless.

The car is now filled with a few boxes of things I won't need or want in the next life, which should happen sometime in the next 10 years. We're taking this marriage thing slow, you know ;). Just a single box of glassware and bowls got to stay, as they are things I would buy back if I threw them out now. They were specially chosen, or in the case of the Foofer mug, a reminder of times now long gone. 3 boxes got turned into just one, and someone else will be happy with the plates, mugs and beer glasses that are going to Kringloop (recycle centre for all your unwanted goods).

In and amongst the pots, glasses, bowls and cans, we found a box of picture albums we lost track of a while back. One of them was mine, where mom stuck all the pictures that were taken of me in 1989. The highlight must be this



This picture was taken just moments before a school bus stopped and the beach filled with Spanish school kids ready for a dip in the Atlantic.

Something else we found has great sentimental value, and will most likely never ever be used again. They'll never go though. My very first pocket money (probably a number of weeks worth) got spent on these beauties



My very last pair of roller skates...

Is it Summer already?

Well 'tis, and I'm not quite sure what happened to Spring.
I've discovered that the 40hr/week job drains much more out of me than just those hours. Even with the 10 min travel time to/from work, it takes me hours to recover from the self-inflicted monotony of doing the same thing a large number of times. This does mean that there is much less thinking involved (I only have to solve a problem once) but still my head seems to be nothing more than a large container for cotton balls while I vegetate in front of the TV until about 9pm.

You'll understand this leaves me far less time for doing the things I like, and then there are the small but important matters of "The Other Job" (which needs the brain to work) and "Getting Enough Sleep." In between Vegetating and The Other Job and the occasional illicit Crafting, Getting Enough Sleep doesn't happen often enough.

So, in order to deal with this, I got the DH to come over for 5 weeks (what was I thinking?) which was fun, but didn't help too much with the Sleep thing until I also took time off of work. DH has since left and work starts again tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to less Craft/Sleep time, but I guess the "Magically Appearing Money" in my bank account is a good thing.

For now, enjoy some of our pictures. I know I did.




Driving through London at 3am Wednesday morning. The only time to do it.


We ran into some hefty traffic near Plockton, or "Those make big dents"

ring ring

from the phone, i feel so modern! here's what i did today

Mr Mop investigates...

Hello folks,

I'm your special reporter as today we have launched an investigation into the unknown substance that seems to have landed in our garden during the night. As I went out, I recruited a random photographer to supply you with images of this dangerous but interesting field trip.


As you can see, the stuff seems to have landed on everything...


I did look in the corners, and they look untouched


We tried to look around the corner, but something scared us off, and there wasn't much to see anyways. We will continue on the other side of the garden.


Indeed, it's paw-high here as well.


In a risky bid to uncover the truth about the cold white substance in my own garden, putting myself in grave danger for the sake of you, dear reader, I sniffled the substance, and got some on myself. It was then that I discovered the true nature of the white stuff.

There is SNOW in the garden. I therefore conclude that it must still be winter.


We like to thank our special reporter for risking his life to uncover the truth (and dragging us along to take the pictures). He is now warming his paws over the central heating unit. Apparently his lack of thumbs prevents him from doing the posting himself. Whatever.

After the Naughties, do we call it the Teens?

You must, yes you simply must have noticed it's a new year. A new decade even. Time for reflection? You bet. Sorry.

Lots of things happened to the world over the last 10 years, and to people too. Since You've all witnessed the big things yourselves, I'd like to share my little things instead.

I met a girl called Annemarie, who led me to the start of A Great Love Affair, for which I have to thank her.

Then there was A Tragedy, and the forging of a great Friendship, which lasts until this day, and which, if I have anything to say about it, will last until the end of time (or we all die, whichever comes first).

At last there was the Even Greater Love Affair which came attached with the Great Unknown and Some Little Ones.

There was a Personal Conquest, which came with a title.

There were trips, and good times were had. Another Great Tragedy followed, and the sharing of the Great Love Affair with People Who Matter.















In no particular order, and with much omitted, but You Are What Matter. Just so you know, 'n stuff.


In little things, there were great discoveries
- The digital camera, and the fact that I can take a picture I can enjoy
- The great community of people that can grow from a silly online game. You Are All Also Important, but I don't keep your pictures around (much). (that you know about).
- I do finish what I start, most of the time anyways.
- The blogosphere and Ravelry, with tons and tons of creative people who make my head spin with the possibilities offered by a scrap of yarn, a square inch of fabric and a zipper (or a button). You're all McGyvers, the lot of you.
- I can wear dresses. No really, I can.
- You are better at life than you think, and
- Life isn't always what you plan it to be, but that doesn't mean it can't be better than you imagined.



Traditionally, I don't make new resolutions, mostly because I forget and then would forget the instant I'd make one up. There's really only one thing to do over the next ten years. Just Keep Going... (works for me)

Confession time...

...yes, it is that time.

To my regret I have to admit to giving up. This is not something I do often or without much thought. I strongly believe that if you commit to something and put in time and effort, you are obliged to follow it through until the end. Not so this time.




I lost Nanowrimo.





There, I've said it. My usual strategy of using the fast approaching deadline for gaining some creative energy has backfired on me in a bad way. In earlier editions of the Nanowrimo challenge I did not have a full time job to compete for my time with, or the brilliant idea of knitting a gazillion presents for the in-laws and various other family members (spurred by a lack of funding for big gestured gifts).

In earlier editions, I would trust on the last week of November to write write write, but this time I've just been tired, tired and more tired. Be aware that I don't feel sorry for myself, because I could just have done the daily word count one hour every day and be fine and finished by now, but that's just not how I roll. Apparently, I have limitations too. I have made a note of this, and will probably completely forget this by next year, so feel free to remind me.



The good thing about giving up (I even consulted my far-away-brother, who said "errr, I dunno") is that there was now an unexpected 'free' weekend to help me stay on track with everything else.
I managed to knit almost 1 sleeve of the DH jumper, and some on the D-i-l-GF Laminaria, and we almost have Mom's costume for Amusing done so we can do mine all of next week(end). Luckily, Dad just fits my long black coat so he's mostly taken care of now.

There are just a few things planned for next week, including costume making, knitting like a mad-woman, choir practice, the dreaded hospital visit and to top it all off, hopefully a dinner @Eindhoven (followed by an early morning appointment at the hair dresser's, ugh). Oh, and work of course.

In other news, dear darling Heidi has a job!!!



(the same job she's been doing for 3 years, but it just became indefinite, instead of 1 yr contracts!!!)



We are very proud of her; the boss-man had very little choice but to hire her on permanently. She's awesome!

If you are a boss-man and reading this: I know a lot of awesome people, all ready to be hired on permanently. Please contact me for details, TYVM.



I will be back with you soon, hopefully with some pictures of all I've been doing (apart from work, we don't take a lot of pictures there) in various stages of readyness.

Why knitting matters...

...to knitters at least.

I ran across this blog a while ago because I really like this Mary's patterns. And she puts a very entertaining blog together too!

I copied the following from her blog. Things to love about knitting.

1. Small Carbon Footprint
2. Low-Calorie
3. Social, or Anti-; depending on your state of mind and physical locale
4. Never wonder self-consciously what to do with your hands
5. Yarn will never stand you up for a meeting it scheduled with you
6. Noise it makes seldom annoys others (self-satisfied clucking or moans of ecstasy excepted)
7. Never run out of common interests with your cat
8. Always available for snuggling
9. Awkward explanation for where you were last Sunday afternoon not required
10. Knitting never gets upset if you fall asleep (either before OR after)



Knitting and writing, I love you both, but I must write write write!!! 'Tis November after all, One Must Simply Write!