With
a large birthday looming,
you know, those that end with a '0', I
have to confess that I'm absolutely stumped
for present ideas. My lovely other half
and my son are now asking on a daily basis
'What do you want?' and I'm really feeling
the pressure.
Both want to buy me something lasting
and memorable, something which really
suits the occasion and I'm just not being
helpful at all. I can't think of a single
thing, my minds a complete and utter blank.
I had some fabulous things at Christmas
which I'm still enjoying and I really
can't think of anything appropriate as
the days tick away. I lie in bed trying
to rack my brains, I've wandered around
the town endlessly looking at jewellery,
handbags, perfume - anything so that I
can just tell them what to get... It really
can't be that hard!
During the rest of the year I can think
of loads of things I'd like to be the
owner of but other than a new ironing
board, which suggestion was ruled out
immediately, I can't think of anything
I really need.
The problem is, I think, that I don't
want to make the wrong choice. I know
that makes me a woolly - minded ditherer
but if I choose the wrong thing then I'll
spend the rest of the year wishing I'd
chosen something else.
I think I'm going to opt for an IOU from
them both as I'm hoping to pop over to
France this summer hols and I absolutely
know I'll fall in love with everything
I see when I get there.
I'm busy saving my pennies to stuff my
suitcase full of 'all things French' so
it would be nice to know that I could
really splash out when I get there.
Yes, I really think that the answer -
phew, glad I sorted that one out, now
all I have to do is think of something
for Mother's Day and I'm done!
Regular
readers will know that one of my
New Years Resolutions was to learn how
to crochet this year. Not very exciting
I know, but I really love all the crochet
tops and hats that are around and I just
thought well, how hard can it be?
I'd already learned a few stitches in
childhood and I can knit quite well so
I took myself off and joined a group of
ladies who meet each week for wool and
gossip. Well I love choosing the wool
and partial to the odd bit of gossip but
I can't seem to get to grips with making
a garment.
I started by making squares which will
eventually get sew together to form a
blanket and I've done them quite well
if I say so myself. But I've been told
off now for the last two meetings as I'm
the only one still on squares. Everyone
else is making fabulous things that can
actually be worn and a complete novice
who joined after me came in showing off
her very first baby coat last week and
it was absolutely exquisite.
I was told in no uncertain terms I had
to leave the squares behind and move on.
They all expected me to have at least
started a 'proper' garment by the following
week. So I not only started one but finished
it too! A beautiful pink and white baby's
waistcoat that really was cute. I proudly
showed it off in class and was greeted
by loud applause until one sharp-eyed
lady asked to examine it more closely.
Although agreeing it was pretty, I was
then sadly pronounced a fraud. I had made
the waistcoat from an oblong piece at
the back with two oblongs for fronts joined
together at the shoulders and sides. I
folded the front oblongs to form a rever
collar and stitched it down. Okay, so
I did a fancy pink edging, but was, she
said, just a variation on the squares
that I am famed for. I pointed out to
her that oblongs are not squares but I
was shunned for the rest of the class.
Well, this week I'm making a black silky
overtop for myself, which is squareish,
but I will have to do some shaping when
I reach the armholes. Personally I'd have
preferred a black, oblong waistcoat but
no, I can't bear to be pointed at any
longer. I'll just have to knuckle down
and learn how to do it - but if it goes
wrong, I guarantee that woman will be
wearing it as a hat next week whether
she likes it or not!
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