Catch up

So. We went to Somerset to see Sophie, Daniel and the lovely little Oliver, who is going to be my godson. It was a bit of an adventure; Lyn and I have 3 children under 3 and we were trying to keep them entertained on the journey. Lucy was excellently behaved, except for just before the train pulled into West Ealing, when, of course, it didn't really matter that much anymore.

Sophie seems very calm and relaxed, enjoying being a stay at home mummy. I wish I could be the same sometimes, but I get terribly frustrated with not having an income and furious with having to ask for cash. I do think I've got the best of both worlds, working part-time, although I did feel marginalised at work, and would like to be doing something that's taken more seriously than Nursery. I keep telling myself it won't be like this forever, and I should just live in the moment and enjoy today blah blah blah, but it's difficult being Pollyanna.

Harriet and I managed to get into London to the V&A, to see The Cult of Beauty; Harriet does not like exhibitions. She was alright, and on the verge of sleeping, until I went into the exhibition itself, and then the big noise and the fighting Mummy started. Ah well. It wasn't so special that I had to look at every single piece in total silence, and it was totally rammed - on a Tuesday! Don't these people have jobs? We met up with Hat's godmother and her daughter; Flora, being that bit older, was absolutely fine, just getting a bit bored at the end. Hattie's main objection was that she wanted to go to sleep, and all this noise was stopping her from dropping off, and why wasn't she allowed to have scones and jam and cream, and it's not fair.

We also went to Northampton to see a friend - she is also blessed with a very bossy little girl, so Emma and Lucy bossed each other around fairly happily all afternoon, mostly watching endless Charlie and Lola episodes. Lucy was also very upset and frightened by the dog, although this dog is well trained, lovely and very friendly. Lucy did not approve of her, screaming and crying. In a way, I can see why she is frightened, but I wish she wasn't; it's very tiring, and I played with the dog and cuddled her to show Lucy that she wasn't scarey, but we were having none of it. She tried to pull this stunt with Sophie's cats, but I was having none of that.

I've got another day off today; Simon has taken the girls to Rye House in Hertfordshire, to watch Jamie bugger about on his motorbike, and I've been knitting, sewing and generally not doing very much. I was going to make a blueberry clafoutis, but someone ate the blueberries and I'd have to go outside to get more, and I just can't be bothered. Another time.

Day off

I went to the V&A today, on my own, with no children, and no responsibilities.



There is a very interesting exhibition called "The Cult of Beauty" but, being a Saturday, it was heaving, so I just wandered around aimlessly.



A couple of things fell into my shopping bag - some notelets, a postcard with owls on it and an "L" and an "H" printing blocks. I am planning to buy some ink to show Lucy how to print her name - how could this end badly?



As I was near the Fulham Road, I walked down as far as I could be bothered, went to a delicatessen, Daunt Books, had lunch at Paul, and generally enjoyed myself. I even sat on the top deck of a double decker bus. Twice! How exciting. It's very liberating not having the buggy.

In knitting news, I am making a purple jumper for Lucy. The ungrateful little so and so, having chosen the yarn herself, is now rejecting it. Joining a "stash down!" group on Ravelry has prompted a flurry of yarn buying - mostly Noro too, which quickly becomes super expensive. All because I want to make this:

http://getyourhookon.wordpress.com/2007/10/10/woohoo-its-done/

Ideally, I will make it over the next year or two, thus reducing the expense to acceptable levels.

I made this

Geri lost her husband. We loved him very much indeed. I wanted to do something, so I made her this to celebrate her new life as a rollergirl. She took the pictures, which is why they are better quality than usual.



It's not bad for a first attempt.