The sun may be shining but my goodness me it is cold. I am wearing a jumper, cardigan, leggings and thick socks and still feel the chill. Parts of the country are under snow, the same parts that were basking in sunshine just ten days ago and it is barking mad. I am not surprised more people don't come down with streaming colds such has been the drop in temperature. Still, one must look on the bright side - the exposed, white, flabby potbellies of the Colchester citizens are now firmly under wraps again, at least those that are not in the crowd watching the Test in Sri Lanka. The cameras tend to zoom in on the British supporters who are notable for their sunburn, hankies knotted on heads, man boobs, tattoos and tins of beer clutched in hands. Ghastly.
I am awaiting the delivery of some 150 bedding plants due to arrive this week, but no sign of them yet. These are for the communal gardens which we are now all working on and they are coming along a treat. Rows of daffodils and crocuses came up and tiny little plants we did not know existed have pushed their way through the earth now all the detritus and debris of years has been removed. I am planning on a border of perennials under my window but am awaiting the arrival of my sister AKA The Gardening Expert in a week or two to give me her learned advice. The Japanese knotweed has been hacked down and will be collected next week and taken to a special disposal site. We can now see the trees and daylight instead of it hanging over the walls and dominating the car park.
I was in London yesterday with lovely Florence and took up some clothes I had bought for her. I went into Next to look for something for myself but came out with two summer dresses, a pair of white cargo pants and a red t-shirt for her instead. She is going to look gorgeous in them all. I also took up to town a cardigan I had knitted for her whereby hangs a tale. Helen does not want Florence to be dressed in pink and, by that, she means the sickly Barbie pink which seems to dominate and I have stuck by her wishes in this respect James went undercover at Christmas and bought Florence a pink tea set without telling Helen which I thought was quite funny - goes without saying that Florence loves it....
Anyway, I had a batch of pink wool left over from a buy some time ago and I asked Helen if she would mind if I knitted a cardie for Florence. Told her it was more a faded rose colour so got the go ahead. Now I have not knitted anything which requires following a pattern for ages. I did a cot blanket for Florence when she was tiny but that was really easy, now I had to look at a pattern and try to dig up from my memory what the following meant: yfw, slp one, gusset stitch, cast on using thumb method, etc etc. I bought the simplest pattern I could find for a straightforward cardigan with two buttons and off I went. Well, it was a nightmare, I pulled out the back three times before I got it right and it took me ages to get it all done, the back, two fronts, two sleeves and then each individual piece had to have the border knitted on it instead of starting off and I found it got all tight and knobbly and I got really cross with myself. It was also ENORMOUS. OK I was not using the correct wool but even so was staggered at the difference. I also discovered that I had completely cocked up the pattern and the arms were those for a three year old but the body was for a two year old, though any two year old this size would be a Supertot. Anyway I persevered and decided to hell with it, I would sew it up and see what transpired.
I thought it was pretty dire but Helen said bring it up anyway Mum and when I took it out of the bag she said Mum, it's lovely. We tried it on Florence and, needless to say, it hangs around her knees and her arms just vanish up the sleeves never to be seen again. She quite rightly said 'Off, off'. It is also very heavy, rather like a jacket but Helen said she would put it away and Florence would wear it later when she 'had grown into it' probably in about five years time I should think.
Still, I have got my knitting mojo back and can now approach a pattern without fear and trembling so I am going to have another go at knitting something else for her. Years ago I knitted an Aran jacket for my then husband with the most fiendishly complicated pattern ever (he is still wearing it, I reckon it is indestructible) so I should be able to manage a cardigan for a two year old.
Easter weekend coming up. Friend coming round for lunch tomorrow, and gardening planned (if the plants arrive) and I am going to get the paint for the bathroom and do that as well. So lots to do but it all has to fit around the Test Match. I was up at 6 am this morning to watch it and a most enthralling day it was too - Kevin Pietersen came to the party at last with a simply spectacular and hugely entertaining 151 which had the crowd on their feet. We have a good healthy lead now and should, I say should, win this match but I never underestimate the English team's penchant for a total collapse so will keep my fingers crossed and pray.
I hope you all have a good Easter break wherever you are.
