Yarn & yarns

A Good Morning

2009-10-24T09:32:00.003Z

A lovely wet Saturday morning. Good Morning.

Just before my holidays I joined the local gym with the intention of getting fit. A friend has just informed me that I am losing weight off my bum - a bonus. Only trouble is I am also getting stretch marks there. Ummm. Oh well a few stretch marks are a small price to pay for losing a few pounds. Am just imagining my next shopping trip and buying clothes in a smaller size.

Yep its a good morning

Birthday pics.

2009-10-22T08:01:00.001Z

Taken on a mobile phone, so not as good as normal pics.

Many thanks to Cilla for this lovely cake. XXX

Thank goodness for real people

2009-10-20T10:33:00.003Z

I love paying my bills online. No hunting for the cheque book, no finding envelopes and worrying about postal strikes. No trekking to the post office when the wind in blowing up a gale and the rain lashes down. Just sit at the computer and type in a few numbers - simple. So when I changed my ISP to BT I thought I would carry on with this process. After all it saves you money as well.

So when I received my first broadband bill from BT I got on the computer and paid it. Now it was only a few clicks to setting up a DD. Or so I thought. I already have a BT account to pay my phone bill, so what could be easier than linking the 2 accounts? An hour later I am still going round in circles as it would not accept my new account number. Picking up the phone I get an automated responce. Choose my options and put in my account number - not once, but 3 times. It is still not recognising my number. By now I am pretty fed up and hang up. I hunt through my bill for a customer services number. Dial the number and a voice answers - "Are you a real person", I ask. Whooppeeeeee he is. So explain my problem. No problem he replies, I can set that up for you now. Five minutes later it is done. Now why has it taken so long when it is that simple?

I still like paying bills online, and do all my banking the same way. I just wish that some of the sites were a bit more flexible and allowed you to do what you wanted, rather than stick to their rather limited options. Thank goodness their are still some real people manning the phones as well as infuriating automated lines. Long may they continue.

Holidays

2009-10-19T08:02:00.004Z

I can't believe its 4 months since I updated this. Hanging head in shame. It has certainly been an eventful 4 months, I have been on holiday in the Dales twice. We have lost a resident at work and I have been doing more activities with them. Nearly finished my NVQ. Had my 60th birthday and retired. Not to mention having joined the gym.

First the holidays. I went with a friend from work and we stayed in a cottage just outside Hawes. the views were spectacular and we managed to fit some really exciting experiences. The most memorable for me was a half day falconary flying. Even though it rained most of the time, it was wonderful.

There were visits to the Beatrix Potter experience and on the second visit to her house Hill Top Farm. There were castles and churches to visit, and despite not having a head for heights, I climbed to the top of them all and stood there shaking as I tried taking (slightly out of focus) photos.

Top of Richmond Castle.

Flight of Harris Hawk.

Zombie

2009-06-04T08:53:00.006Z

I have been negleting this lately, and I am very sorry about that. But working nights has proved much more difficult than I imagined. Originally I was going to be doing 1 night a week and filling in for sickness and holiday. Somehow this crept up to 3 nights a week, which meant most of the time I have been walking around like a zombie.Now one of the other carers is leaving and the boss has given me the option of returning to 1 night a week. Yes pleasssssse says I..............it won't be till next month when he has had time to advertise and interview someone for the other hours. But at least it looks like I may get a life back soon.

So I am looking forward to more time in here

and more time on here

2009-05-22T09:59:00.001Z

Baked and tested

2009-05-20T16:29:00.003Z

Just having a change from working. Its taken a while to work out, but think I may have this right now.

Just playing

2009-05-20T14:00:00.002Z

Not very interesting, but I got a new flip and wanted to try and upload some video. Hopefully this will get better with time:) though maybe not.

Trying to make life easier

2009-04-01T08:25:00.003Z

Time to start slowly. I have load of craft magazines I no longer need. Magazines can be scanned, much easier than taking photos and downloading onto here. They also take up rather a lot of room. So that will be my first listings................

Where do I begin

2009-03-31T15:04:00.006Z

Just a little of the stock that needs listing..........

Not enough time.......

2009-03-28T15:46:00.007Z

Its been so long since I came in here I have had my sister phoning again to see if I am still alive - Sorry Lyn, you know how it is.

Working nights has thrown my body clock all over the place. I no longer know whether its 12 midnight or 12 noon. The bags under my eyes are now big enough to carry my weeks shopping from Tesco's - well you get extra points for recycling bags:)

But despite it all I am loving the work. The residents are lovely - some of the time, and getting paid is definatly a bonus.

I have just had 3 days off and am starting to wake up again, so I get on the computer with the idea of getting some shop stock listed on ebay. Of course like everything else I get sidetracked. Once again the bugbear of having to retrieve and reset passwords, takes up too much time. When will I ever get organised enough to know where I keep my list of passwords????

So what do I have to show from 3 hours on here? I have set up a new website http://paulacoom.webs.com/ and sort of sorted an auctiva store http://store.auctiva.com/paulac3094 . Of course no stock has been added yet - to be honest I haven't even taken any pictures yet:(

As they say "Tomorrow is another day". But tomorrow I am going swimming in the morning, then working in the evening. I really should try and get a couple of hours sleep in the afternoon. I am going to leave big "To do" notes all over the place and cross them off 1 by 1 as they get done.

The first thing I need to do is finish my kitchen. Last week I decided to start decorating it. Its about time as I had the kitchen built 2 years ago and it still hasn't been painted. I now have some tiles in place - and I even sloshed some paint on the walls. But then a friend suggested I should put on an undercoat first. This morning I bought the uncoat and its sitting on the units waiting to be opened. Too many things to do.......too few hours.

I have never decorated before, and it shows..................

A good start

2009-01-11T16:14:00.002Z

I survived another night working, but am really looking forward to my bed tonight. However I had to keep a promise to myself and list a few items on ebay. It has taken most of the afternoon, but there are now 10 cross stitch kits there. I chose cross stitch over the yarn because they are still cluttering up my dining room, and the wool is out of sight upstairs in my spare bedroom. I will try to add something every day now and see how it goes.

Yesterday I bought myself the latest Machine Knitting Monthly and have vowed to read it soon, but as I have just started on a babies boloro in Stylecraft Wondersoft sparkle, it may be a while before I do.

So many things to do, and so little time. But at least I feel I have made a good start to 2009.

Disorganised

2009-01-10T17:10:00.002Z

Every time I think I will come in here I discover I have forgotten my password. Ahhhhh. This means constantly going through the rigmarol to change it and get back in again. It would not be so bad, but every site that has I password is the same. It used to be easy - I would use the same password for everything. Then 1 would need changing for some reason, then another. Now I don't know where I am. One day I will organise myself and write them all down.

Working nights is a new experience for me, and I am still finding it hard to sleep during the day. Not mention being unsure when to have meals. But so far so good. The residents are a good bunch and we have some laughs.

It is freezing and I notice my car has not thawed out all day. Tonight I am going to have to leave early to clear the ice off. Then probably again tomorrow morning before I come home. Uggg. But I then have a few days off and am hoping to get organised enough to start putting some of the old shop stuff on ebay. As Wurzel Gumage used to say - Its time to put my organising head on.

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T13:56:00.002Z

Well here it is 2009, and what a year last year proved to be. It was the year I finally called it a day on the shop. Funnily enough I really thought I would miss it more than I do. But life is still full and interesting, and more varied.

Firstly I tried my hand at care in the community. In three days I covered 200 miles with a few 1/2 hour appointments slotted in. Not long enough to really be of any help to the poor people I was supposed to be helping. There was no allowance for travelling time, so you were constantly late and apologising. When I complained about this, I was told social services only allowed that amount of time per person. Not good enough. The concept of care in the community is a good idea, but in practise it is muddled and not very good. I am afraid I gave it up. But another job fell into my lap instantly. I am now working in a care home for learning disabled adults. This is amazing as you spend so much time with them, and can really give them a good quality of life and support.

Now I feel useful and needed.

Up until now I have not celebrated Christmas since coming north. This year was different. I went to a friends for the day, helped her prepare the meal and had a wonderful time. New year was another date that passed me by previously. Last night I accepted an invitation to a friends party and had a ball. We all trooped down to Valley Gardens just before midnight with bottles of champagne and party poppers. Then watched the fireworks set off on the beach. I really wish I had taken my camera, but I have the memories in my head. Who knows we may do the same next year, and I will try and get some pictures then.

snow

2008-11-23T07:43:00.002Z

Well they have been forecasting this all week, and for once they got it right:) This was yesterday morning (Saturday) The snow is still on the ground and there are still flurries.

Cakes

2008-11-21T18:20:00.006Z

Well things are not going quite as I expected. I am still sorting stock all over the house, and have not started the new job yet. Which is a bit of a relief as I still have customers coming to my home to buy wool etc.

It seems that the lady who interviewed me has left, and chaos is rife. So I am leaving them to sort it all out and concentrating on trying to reclaim my home.
The trouble is that as soon as I make a clear space, another of Garys toys moves in. OK its my own fault for buying so many. But I have been on babysitting duty lately, and he needs a lot of things to play with. As its his 3rd birthday next month, I have been asked if I can make him a Thomas the Tank Engine cake. I used to make rather a lot of novelty cakes, but am not only out of pratice, but no longer have all my cake tins. I did make a Gromit cake for my friends 60th birthday last year, however Thomas could be slightly more complicated.

Maybe I should just knit one instead.

2 more days

2008-10-29T08:18:00.002Z

2 more days and my life will change considerbly. Feeling quite happy at the moment that I will not be stuck in cold shop for another winter. But I will miss my customers, many of whom have become good friends - so I will not lose touch with them all.

My current knitting project is yet another leafy pram blanket for a friends daughter. Her baby is due in 2 weeks and I have knitted the 48 squares and started on the border - unfortunatly I still have the sewing up to do. Its very strange, the first one I knitted was done in no time. The 2nd took a bit longer - this 1 seems to be taking forever:(

I can't wait to get back on my knitting machine again and have several projects in mind. My poor machine has been sadly negleted this last few months and is sulking. So I am setting myself a deadline to unbury it - Christmas. Of course I will still have a lot of excess shop stock here that needs sorting first. But I can dream.

Today is the "sons" 40th birthday. When I have scrapped the ice off the car, I will go out and give him his present. And maybe tease him a bit about getting old. Though mostly its an excuse to go and watch Garys Thomas the Tank Engine videos:)

5 days and counting

2008-10-26T10:22:00.002Z

What a nightmare. I have 5 days till I close the shop for good, and very mixed feelings. Regular customers are coming in and stocking up with wool and accessories and my takings are quite healthy for this time of year. They are all telling me how they will miss me, but understand why I cannot go on.

As the yarn is depleting at at a steady rate I know I will not be stuck with too much at home. Another wool shop is buying my fixtures and fittings and any wool left at the end of the week. Though I know that I will literally be left with 100's of patterns, knitting needles and enough haberdashery to take over at least one room here. That is not including the mass of card making stuff still cluttering up my living room. Looks like I will have to do some ebaying even though that particular market place is pretty saturated.

On a move positive note. I have a job lined up. Care in the community, going to peoples homes and helping them wash etc. I can choose my hours and days, so should still have plenty of spare time to catch up on things around here. An added bonus being there will be a wage packet at the end of each month:) Now that will be a novelty.

Something quite distressing happpened yesterday. I saw a lady fall in the place where I broke my arm. She hurt her knee but was able to hobble away. A young girl also fell at the same spot, and a friend tells me that an elderly lady came a cropper there.

That bit of broken pavement is not really any worse that most of the roads and pavements in Withernsea, but does seem to cause a good few accidents. I did not sue because I wanted the council to have the money for repairing them. Although when I asked a town councillor about it, she said that there is a pot of money kept for people who sue, but not enough to repair all the roads. To me this seems terrible. Why should people have to go through so much pain and inconvience for the sake of broken concrete.

Now my friends are asking me to reconsider suing them. Its not a case of the money for me, my arm although still painful and weaker than it was, has healed well. But I will feel incredibly guilty if an old person breaks a hip or worse. So I am having to reconsider my stand and go against my principles and I do not like it one bit.

I will be back

2008-09-05T06:01:00.002Z

Today I am going on holiday. It's cold, its raining and I haven't even packed yet. But I have fed the rabbits and had a cup of tea. It may be time to get a wriggle on:) the trouble is I have forgotten to type up the minutes for Tuesdays meeting - so I turn on the computer, which is a mistake.

Things to do today -
Shower
pack - not forgetting some knitting
have breakfast
get off computer!

I will be back.

Down, but not out - yet

2008-08-27T12:35:00.003Z

A precious day off and I have been doing more listing to ebay. It seems like a lot of work for very little return, but I keep telling myself that if any of it goes, I have that little bit more space back in my dining room. Who knows I may even be able to eat in here again one day:) But the prices are less than I paid for a lot of the items, and unless they sell I will also be out of pocket on the listing fees. I am going to Tesco to get some essentials, and will spend rest of day knitting the pram blanket I am working on. There is another traders meeting tonight and I am not looking forward to that. I will then have the minutes to type up and print out. So will have to give the listing a miss for a few days. Thank goodness its nearly time for my holiday:) Roll on the 5th, then Skeggy here I come.

Decision made

2008-08-26T06:52:00.002Z

Well I have made a decision. At Christmas I am giving up the shop. Its not just the lack of customers, but the fact that I am very very tired. My life seems to revolve round work and not a lot else at the moment.

2 years ago I had a new kitchen extention which is still waiting to be painted. I long to read a book, and even heaven forbid, knit something for myself instead of customers:)

So now I am thinking, what do I do with all the stock I have here, and will be left with? Yesterday I started listed some items on ebay. This proved to be quite a long process, what with weighing everything to make sure I get the postage correct, and also making sure the descriptions are right. In the end I only managed to get 14 items listed. Though I have some more photos ready to do more listings. Now I just need to make enough back to cover the listing fees. If anyone cares to have a look, I am paulac3094 on ebay.co.uk - there will be more on there as I gradually work my way through the boxes.

It's now time to get ready for the shop. So far it does not seem like a bad day. Cloudy and warm. If there is no rain, I might even get some customers in. A couple have asked me if I can get some wool in for them before I leave. If I can get a big enough order together, I will, as I do know how much they will miss the shop. I do not know where the nearest place is to here where you can get Stylecraft, and most of my customers do not have access to the internet. I will miss them too. It would just have been better if there had been a few more of them and I might have been able to keep the shop going.

Disturbing news

2008-08-17T11:11:00.007Z

Sorry it took so long to get some carnival pictures up. I did not have my camera with me, and I have had to scan some that Jim took. I am better at downloading from my camera than scanning.

I have just had an email from a friend informing me that one of the camp sites has set up a wool and craft shop. This is disturbing as I rely on visitors coming into my shop during the summer, to make enough money to keep going through the winter. I will have to check this out.

I am still here

2008-08-12T09:24:00.002Z

When my sister phones to ask if I am dead, I realise it is more than time to update my blog - the only way she has of keeping tabs on me. Well its cheaper than phoning:) Now all I have to do is remember what has been happening the last few weeks.

Last week was Withernsea town carnival. An event that has for the last few years, been disappointing to say the least. 3 years ago a new committee was formed, I know cos I was there. Unfortunatly after a year other things took over. The shop being my primary concern. But I have always supported the team and am willing to do anything to help out, donating items for raffles etc. This year my involvement went even further. Jim had this crazy idea that we all dressed up and went on a float in the parade. It meant closing the shop for a couple of hours, but as most people would be watching the parade it didn't matter too much. It was great fun and advertised our shop as well. It looks like Jim has got the bug and is already planning next years float. Though the best result has been that other businesses want to get involved.

Speaking of getting involved. Jim has also set up a chamber of trade for the town. I am the secretary and we were both interviewed for the local paper. They gave us a good write up, and hopefully it will encourage more to join us at our next meeting tomorrow night.

Our main aim is to raise Withernsea's profile and attract more visitors. The main suggestions so far are trees on the approach roads and along the prom. Twinning our town with an American town of similar size is also favoured. With several other projects in mind, we are hoping to regain some of Withernsea's former glory and attract people to the north east coast.

Not that they would want to be here today. The rain is pouring down and the only people to brave the elements have been a family who are on one of the camp sites and their tent is leaking. So they have escaped into town to try and stay dry in the shops.

Wimbledon over:(

2008-07-08T09:11:00.002Z

Its been a busy few days - ummm lets be honest here. I was using my laptop to watch Wimbledon:) But with any luck normal service will be resumed.

A friend is expecting her first grandchild around Christmas time. Not being much of a knitter she has asked if I can make her a shawl. 2ply but on 4mm needles, so I guess I have plenty of time to get it done. It will be the first time I have hand knitted a shawl, usually I do them on the machine. It will be good therapy for my arm anyway. I tend to think that everyone should make a shawl sometime, rather like making a pair of socks. As I have never finished the pair I was knitting, that might not be the best comparison.

Now that the play is over, a friend and I are concentrating on putting on a Rock and Roll evening on the 19th. It will be just like when we DJ'd on the radio, he says. Noooo it won't. Here we will be able to see the audience. If they don't like us, they could throw rotten fruit. But as there is going to be a chicken roast served as well, and all the money goes to charity. Perhaps they will be charitable to us. And is there anyone who does not like 50's and 60's music? Of course we will slip a few country songs in as well:)

Time to pick up my knitting. I started a baby bonnet last night, and am hoping to finish it today.

laptop at work

2008-07-01T11:44:00.002Z

Whoopee, I have my laptop at work and am online there. When customers are thin on the ground I will be able to keep up on here. Though the sun is shining and a few more people have been in buying today, so cannot complain.

As I am actually listing some dmc yarns, I really should not be in here. But as I am online I might as well update this:)

Yesterday was my final check up at the hospital. I did manage to get a physio appointment last week, and the general opinion is that I will probably not get much more movement in my arm. Though they do promise that the pain will go in time.

I had lent my car to a friend who had hers stolen. After all I could not drive. She now has a new car and this weekend she returned mine. So this morning I drove to work, which meant I could bring down some more stock and my laptop. Not that I live too far away, a 10 minute walk, but I am still limited by how much I can carry. Last week a friend and I shelved out the stock room, which means I am gradually getting my home back again.

Maybe soon I can back into some real knitting. Hand and machine. For the moment I am working on a baby blanket.