Archive for the Category »General «

Aug

Well, to say that the last 24 hours have been challenging is a bit of an understatement. Yesterday was A Level results day and like thousands of anxious parents and students we woke up with some apprehension. DD came down at 9am in tears to say that she checked on the UCAS site and found out she was in Clearing. After a quick tearful outburst she hurried to her college to find out exactly what the damage was. For those of you not in the loop, clearing is when you’re matched to available courses for your exam results. Usually, it’s because you didn’t get the right grade or UCAS points for a particular course at a particular Uni. Occasionally, it’s because you did better than anticipated.

In LJ’s case she didn’t get the expected grade in English. She had a tough time on some of the questions during the exam and I think, possibly, deep down she was panicking about the final result. So with her hopes of studying English with Journalism at Lincoln Uni dashed, it was time for a rethink. What were her options? Well, she could redo her A Level in English, but that would mean another 2 years, only this time as an adult student. Do a foundation course for a year then transfer to a BA course for years 2 and 3. Or, change courses completely.

She opted for the third choice. So rather than English with Journalism it’s just Journalism. To be honest, when we were looking at courses last year, I thought she would’ve gone for a BA in Journalism. It was her idea to switch to a combined course with English as she thought it would give her more opportunities once she graduated. Who could foretell this would happen. So after searching for open courses in Journalism, a short list was made and after checking out the course details, entrance criteria, two Unis were selected as suitable potentials. University College Falmouth in Cornwall and Middlesex University, to the North of London. Both offered her a place, all she had to do was to decide which one to accept.

As LJ mainly wants to go into print journalism, she has opted for the course at Middlesex University as she feels this is going to be better for her. She’s happy with the choice and really, that’s all that matters. Obviously, we’re disappointed for her, but sometimes these things happen for a good reason. If she struggled with parts of the English exam paper at A Level, how would she deal with the degree paper. This may prove to be a blessing in disguise. Middlesex is also closer to home and as going through clearing means there is no on campus accommodation available, LJ would need to find private accommodation nearby, which, in North London, would’ve worked out expensive. So she has opted to stay at home and commute from Essex to Trent Park Campus, in between Oakwood and Enfield. She hopes that after her first year she’ll have made some nice friends and then move into shared accommodation for her second and third years as she would’ve planned had she gone to Lincoln.

So, we have LJ home for another year which, of course, isn’t a problem. It means George and I will have to wait another year to get our own bedroom back (that’s a different story altogether, folks). She seems happier today with the new choice she’s made and is looking forward again to this new chapter in her life. As I said to her, life has a habit of dealing you a bad hand every now and then. But it’s these challenges that help to mould us into the people we become, so we should embrace them. I know that both George and I are better people because of the bad times we’ve been through.

So, panic over.

Who said parenting was easy.

Aug

While Yarn Crafting

Ruby

I got thinking about what most knitters and crocheters do while they work on their projects. I would guess that watching TV is probably the most common activity. There’s something quite reassuring about getting all comfy on the settee or your favourite armchair. Cup of tea/coffee or glass of wine at hand, not forgetting some cake or choccies to munch on.

Now what shall we watch? Well, personally, I like anything that doesn’t really require too much involvement to follow, so old favourites that you know the storyline to are always going to be a hit. Hubby has recently got himself every episode of the 1970s TV series The Professionals. We’ve been spending most late afternoons watching a couple of episodes at a time of Bodie and Doyle speeding about in their Ford Capri around London, beating up all the bad guys. As I remember watching them all on TV as a teenager, it makes the ideal thing to watch. In fact any sort of thing with lots of boom and bang are good so, Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, etc are all pretty much watchable. Other safe bets I enjoy are Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Miss Marple, played by Joan Hickson, of course.

Image of Agatha Christie : The Miss Marple Collection (12 Disc Box Set) [DVD]

Image of Agatha Christie's Poirot - Complete Collection [DVD] [1989]

Image of The Professionals - Series 1 To 4 [DVD]

Of the newer shows on TV, I quite enjoy watching Leverage and White Collar, occasionally I’ll watch House. Oh and did any of you catch the new Sherlock Holmes on BBC1 recently? Top stuff.

Obviously anything with subtitles is a big no-no, trying to knit/crochet whilst trying to read subtitles doesn’t work too well Neither does anything with a complicated plot so whilst I love watching The Bourne Trilogy, I can’t crochet while it’s on. There’s just tooo much happening .

Music is another favourite of mine. I do enjoy music while I work. Funny though, how some activities require different music. If I’m doing housework (yes, sometimes I have to do some ) then something like Oasis, Muse or Kasabian is pretty cool. When it comes to my yarn work though, I seem to prefer something more folky like Mumford & Sons, Noah & The Whale or Laura Marling. I am so liking Laura Marling at the moment, her music is great. I think my favourite track of hers has to be Night Terror. Such a haunting song.

Image of I Speak Because I Can (Jewel Case)

I wonder, what does everybody else like to do whilst doing their yarn crafting?

Category: General, Music, TV/Film Tags: films, music, tv 2 Comments

Jul

Hello World

Ruby

Hiya and welcome to my blog. My name is Ruby. I’m a WAHM who loves to craft. I have my own hobby/part time venture making soy candles and melts. If you fancy taking a peek at them you can visit my website Cosy Candles & Aromas.

I’ve always been good with my hands and enjoy making things. I’ve been knitting on and off for nearly 40 years (yikes!!!). Sounds like a lot. Actually, come to think of it, it is a lot. My mum taught me when I was about 7 years old and I picked it up quite quickly. She just taught me the basics, casting on and off, purl and knit, increasing and decreasing. Well, when you’re 7 years old it’s enough. I only knitted simple things like scarves, but by the time I was about 12 I was making jumpers for me and my little brothers. Then I stopped while I was in my mid teens, I just thought it was uncool, well it was the 70s.

By the time I was 18/19 I picked it up again, then got side tracked, as you do with work and going out and stuff. It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my first born that I really started to knit in earnest. Layettes, cot/pram blankets, all the usual baby related garments. This was also when I learned more complex stitches and projects. Two more babies later and by this time I’m knitting for Britain. Well, that’s what it felt like. Jumpers, cardigans, doll’s clothes, Action Man clothes, knitted toys, socks, you name it; and not only for me and mine but for my friend’s kids too.

About 10 years ago when my husband, George, and I started working for ourselves I stopped knitting. The children were a bit older now and didn’t think it was cool to wear things knitted by their mum. So all my yarn got stashed away, along with my knitting needles, cable needles and stitch markers and row counters.

Fast forward to the beginning of 2010 and suddenly I have the urge to re-kindle my love of yarn. This time, however, it’s not knitting but crochet. Remember I learned to knit at 7? Well, my mum also tried to teach me how to crochet, but I just couldn’t get the hang of it. Over the years I’ve tried and failed until now. A new part-work called The Art of Crochet hit the shelves. With easy to follow instructions and, more importantly, a DVD, I finally cracked it. Yay!!!!! I set up a subscription and yes, I know it works out expensive in the long run, (there’s 120 issues in total) but I do enjoy them and they build up into a nice reference library with lots of projects. Each issue comes with a free ball of yarn and instructions on how to make a different crochet square. By the end I’ll have completed a traditional patchwork throw.

So, I am now “hooked” on crochet. I’m thoroughly enjoying myself and guess what?? The kids now think it’s cool and they want me to make them all sorts of things. I’ve completed one project, and I’m working on another one with more in the pipeline, not including the patchwork throw. So, watch out for lots of pictures and posts going up as I progress with my new found hobby.