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Mumblings about food and crafts

Sunday 12 August 2012

The summer of babies, frantic knitting and the Olympics.


It’s been a while since I have blogged and apologies for that. It’s been a few busy weeks of work, Euro Disney, summer colds and general life. 

In terms of life, I am just recovering from that dreaded summer cold that comes every year but my toxic intake of daily vitamins seemed to have fought it off quite quickly and I did not have to feel sorry for myself for too long. Work is busy as ever and my poor colleagues were not so lucky as me and have come down with tonsillitis – get well soon Sophie and Alison! 

In terms of knitting, there have been four births in that last five weeks so I better get knitting! Baby E, Dilan, Khiyana and a yet to be named baby have all made appearances and I am going to have to work overtime on working up some small pieces! I completed a little Debbie Bliss hat for Khiyana, she tried it on and I hope she was impressed.

Luckily a few weeks ago, my new Debbie Bliss knitting book arrived, so I am fuelled with lots of ideas. I have started a project from it and pleased to say I only had to unravel once. 



Despite the rather wet summer we first had, it’s been thoroughly enjoyable. It started with a trip to Disneyland Paris for my niece’s 5th birthday. I had every excuse to be a kid again. 


Olympics. 28 gold medals. Right here in my home town. I have been totally sucked in by this year’s games. Very much looking forward to going to the Paralympics. A finishing picture of my lovely father-in-law saluting while the Kenyan flag came on during the opening ceremony.
  

Tuesday 3 July 2012

A whole knit of love

The back breaking speed knitting really paid off and I finished some jumpers for a friend's twins. I knit so slow I was worried they would be too small but after visiting and delivering the presents, they can still wear them but for how long I am not sure!



So now this is finished, I have to think of a new project. It is likely to be more baby stuff as I have a lot of friends expecting little ones this summer. But I have a bad habit of leaving stuff half way so must finish a scarf for a friend. I started it 2 years ago... Oh dear. Anyway as a little treat, I ordered myself a new Debbie Bliss book. I always find her patterns easy to knit up and she has some great contemporary designs.


It's been some family time over weekend and I joined my mum's side of the family for a wedding on Sunday. For the first time in ages all my mum's siblings were in one place and I got to see my cousins after a very long time. I'm pictured here with some of them. The wedding season has officially begun!






Thursday 21 June 2012

Paper chasing and mango heaven

My happy places are John Lewis and Paperchase and the latter had a sale on so it gets this week's brownie points. I went a little bit crazy with the wrapping paper and don't have any presents to give right now. But that is fine, it made me happy for the rest of the afternoon and with £1.50 sheets going down to 30p I couldn't really go wrong.




Despite the bad weather I feel like summer is here because it's mango season! They don't come often but me and the family really dug into them this week. So this is definitely food pick of the week and although technically last week, I also have to mention my sister in law's delicious ragda petis. I have certainly been eating well for the last few days.




Laugh/outrage of the week: I'm not sure if I should be plain offended or just laugh but I found these pens in our stationary cupboard at work:




My colleague thought it was a box of tampons. Is it because we are too weak to hold 'normal' pens? Equality really has come far.

Monday 11 June 2012

Happy for once to be proven wrong

I was happy to be proven wrong after watching the recent episode of Satyamev Jayate (Truth Prevails). The episode opened with a wheelchair user jumping out of a plane for a daredevil parachute jump. I automatically thought "oh here goes, another programme going on about how 'brave' people with disabilities are". How I was proven wrong! A whole episode was dedicated, not to heroes with disabilities, but just ordinary folk with disabilities and who are a bit different.




I have always thought India is behind on the whole equality issue in relation to everything (gender, caste, home sexuality, quite a lot of things really). This programme proved it was but refreshingly highlighted there is a fight going on for people with disabilities to have the right to an education, right to work and a right to a relationship and family like everyone else. I was glad to see that disfigurement was also highlighted and featured a young girl with ichthyosis. Sadly she was out with her mum in a shopping mall and a well spoken and dressed lady came up to her mother and spat on the little girl and said "why did you bring a child like her out?!" This unfortunately is not a situation that is exaggerated and happens to people with a visible difference too often. The government can do a lot and not enough in some cases but attitudes of society equally need to change. Don't get me wrong, I love India and the colour and culture it holds but it has alot of catching up to do. I'm not going to make this post too preachy but do watch this programme if you can. You can watch it here again and don't worry it has subtitles!

Thursday 7 June 2012

My first post!

As the title says! Being composed in my lunch break at work and feels rather good. I feel like I am still recovering from the very long weekend and it's Thursday, closer to a shorter weekend. Food wise I am trying to work out a more exciting lunch, always a bit limited with a vegetarian diet and lack of time. So if anyone has any solutions then please let me know.

My weekend was certainly full of a lot of food, cake and more cake with a side of pizza (thanks to Muki Luigi)


Also knitting like a mad women to get jumpers done for friend's twins. I hope they fit, they are already 4 months old. I always do this to myself.