jadesfire

It appears my cold has moved onto the sneezing phase this morning. I definitely prefer it to coughing, although I have a horrible feeling that they're going to want to share me. Maybe I can persuade them to fight each other to the death.

~
8.33am and it's dark outside thanks to the rain. It's a very mild December - we had deep snow at this time last year - and it's messing with my head. I rely on a cold winter to reset my brain, and I know in the years when we don't get it, I cope poorly in spring. It'll be okay, just something to be aware of for next year if the temperature doesn't drop.

~

I left work at lunchtime yesterday, which was a good choice. At home, I then spent hours feeling guilty about not doing things there, even though I was there specifically not to do things. Even though it's ridiculous, it's a feeling I can never shift unless I'm literally too ill to get up, and it drives me mad. I've dragged myself in this morning, because The Thing that has been looming all week must happen today. But then I'm going home, and to bed properly this time!

~

This week, the chickens on the M&S meal deal were HUGE. Normally they're big enough for 2-3 people, but this week, they're big enough for 4-5. The 2-3 person chicken does us 2-3 meals, by the time we curry it, so I'm fully expecting to still be eating the 4-5 person chicken next week. During weeks like this, when I cannot brain enough to cook, they're brilliant. Also, the apple frangipane cake that came as the dessert option looks yummy. I never take for granted being able to afford to buy these deals (they're usually £10/£12 for main-side-dessert-drink). When I'm out of spoons, they're lifesavers.

~

NERD ALERT. I know there are some crocheters around, and as I can't talk about this on my Instagram because they're a present, I thought I'd put it here. I'm making my Mum some fingerless mitts for Christmas (at her request) and am using a pattern I've made twice before. It's fiddly, but great once you get going, and I find the thumb construction immensely satisfying.

( Pics under the cut )

I've been talking a lot about crochet lately, so thought you guys would like to see the fruits of my labours. Most things are at my ravelry page, but I've also put some pictures below for folks who aren't registered there. If anyone sees anything they like, btw, let me know. I can usually be persuaded into commissions ;)

( Great big pretty pictures! )

So, did anyone else start the week by trying to kill themselves by smoke inhalation? No? Pbbbbbbt, guys, try to keep up.

Okay, so what really happened is that instead of turning on the hob under my porridge, I turned on the hob under my electronic scales. Normally, I turn on the hob and go away to get dressed, since my porridge is then done by the time I get back. This morning, since the flat was cold, I decided to get dressed in the living room where the heater is. That turned out to be a good decision, because when the scales started to make popping noises, I was right there.

Of course, an even better idea would have been to not melt them in the first place, but hey, you can't have everything.

We're both fine, although I'm a little nauseious from the fumes. Luckily, since I'm married to a chemist, he looked at the glass top of our cooker and said "I'll get a solvent from the lab to get that off." He has his uses ;)

ION, apparently crocheted toys are desirable items, since there's a small bidding war going on over at my help_haiti thread. Slightly more nerver-wrackingly, the bidding for my writing also went up over the weekend. *gulp*

The bidding currently stands at $15 for a blanket/shawl or hat/scarf/mitten set, and an incredible $35 for a crocheted toy set. Both auctions are here.

For my writing, the current price is $20, and the thread is here.

I'm having photo issues, since I'm not used to Flickr yet, but I'll upload some examples of my work as soon as I beat it into submission.

I suppose I should probably do some work before that, though. Hope y'all had a good weekend and good luck with your Mondays!

Good...er...lunchtime all. Gosh, when did that happen? Hope everyone's coping with Monday okay. I'm tired out of my tiny mind, but managing better since the sun came out. I have lists as long as my arm to be getting on with, so clearly what I want to be doing is writing a long LJ post about my dull weekend.

~ I had a very practical weekend, what with one thing and another. On Saturday, I made us a medicine box from a shoebox and diet coke boxes. I can actually find a paracetamol when I need one, which is a great improvement. My SAD light makes an excellent craft lamp, it must be said.

~ Mum brought me up a collection of crochet hooks and some yarn, so I spent a happy evening trying not to tie my fingers together and mostly succeeded \o/ I'm pretty confident with the basic stitches now, as well as the basic amigurumi technique, which I like a lot. My main problem now is turning the end of my first row of proper stitches - all my squares are somewhat wobbly at the edges! Blackwell's knitters, would someone be able to help me with that on Wednesday, please? The books and YouTube vids aren't really doing the trick *looks hopeful*

~ A couple of emails at the weekend have made me look back on 2009 slightly differently than I'd expected. 2008 was a bad, bad year, and I know we'd all hoped this year would be better. It hasn't been, for most of my friends, and I will be glad to get into 2010, hoping for more. On the other hand, my own state of mind has, on the whole, been much better than last year, and I feel like I'm definitely *trying* to recover, even if I'm not there yet. I got up the courage a while back to email some friends that I'd more or less lost touch with, and their replies have been humbling and incredibly welcome. I'm still too flakey for my own liking, and need to get a grip on my organisational skills, which are more than lacking, but just the desire to do that is so much better than last year. Baby steps, but it's good to see progress.

~ Is anyone going to do Christmas wish lists this year? I checked, and they went up about this time last year. I'm very aware that the last posting dates are coming up in a few weeks, and I want to make sure I send stuff in plenty of time. If they don't pop up in the next few days, I might get the ball rolling myself...

~ I discovered a bunch of postcards from Menorca in the bottom of my rucksack. If I have your address, you might be getting a surprise!card in the next few weeks. Also, I must thank naye, rustydog and darththalia who have all sent me cards over the last few weeks, and have brightened my day immeasurably.

~ I did watch Waters of Mars yesterday ( and don't have many thoughts about it (doesn't include spoilers for the Christmas Special) )

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( The Christmas Special spoilers are under here. Hope that's enough room for them... )
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So, how's everyone else? Good week ahead?