I want the world to go away and leave me alone

Every time the postman calls, my stomach sinks and I want to live in a world where I am totally self sufficient and not reliant on anyone but myself.

From the time my credit card was defrauded last year, to now, little things keep happening which reduce my faith in my fellow human beings. Call centres where the staff slam the phone down because they can't be bothered, not being able to get a decent standard of service, all the awful things that go with modern life. Please don't get me wrong, I have worked in call centres and know how the great British public can be so I don't treat people that way - I am usually a very considerate customer.

For some companies like The Little Knitting Company I have great praise and respect - for they truly value customers and deliver when they say they will, and offer a great standard of product. (In fact I need to thank them for my latest purchase - a kit to make a bag).

It's the big faceless corporations of this country who seem to have lost the meaning of customer service and have lost their way - lets hope that this current economic climate will show them that small is beautiful and that its the personal touch and excellent customer service that will keep them afloat.

Xmas miseries

Well, I collected the mother-in-law and drove the 600 miles in good turn, however on receipt of my Christmas present, I have become nothing but a nasty begrudging character. Why is it that the pan scourer has upset me so much? A gift is a gift, surely? But that coupled with the constant wittering and demands for things and to be waited on hand and foot have worn me down. My only escape is currently my knitting - and how thankful I am for that... roll on 2nd January when she returns home...

Ready for Christmas

That's it - apart from collecting the mother-in-law, we are ready for Christmas. I have two more days to work and then the 600 mile round trip to collect MIL and then we are finished - shopping and presents are all done now.

I have prepared my knitting projects for the next 2 weeks and am intending to hide away from the world and knit to my heart's content until the 5th January!

It's my youngest daughter's 21st birthday today too. How time has flown. I can still remember bits of the day when I had her as if it were yesterday. We have had cake and candles, and so many laughs today. Here's a picture of her lighting her sparklers on her cake. It's been a bit of a daft tradition that we have a kids tea party, no matter what the age of the birthday.

Finished my scarf

I've been knitting a scarf using Kidsilk Haze for a few weeks. The idea and the plan were great, the execution of it was something else - it didn't quite come out as intended. Still, now it's done I can complete my husband's jumper which has been sitting waiting patiently for some time... and then there's a scarf and hat set, a baby jacket and millions of projects waiting in the books I have bought...

Totally addicted

I have become totally addicted to a great site called Ravelry. Its got some great facilities, including databases for your knitting needles and yarns. Problem is I am now spending even less time knitting!

Since I inherited some yarn from someone on freecycle, I really need to find some patterns to use all of this yarn up with. Things are made more difficult by the fact that I get bored quite easily, so I need to find easy things that knit up quickly.

Any suggestions as to how to use all of my wool up will be gratefully received!