dottyspots

as it’s coming on to 7am and I’ve been awake since before 6am feeling rather crampy and ‘wierd’ (just recently I’ve not been getting up until 10am - *shock horror*!) I bloody well hope so as I’m thoroughly in the I’m big, lumbering and uncomfortable stage - where I can’t sit on the floor as I then can’t get up again, well, that and the cats got fleas and we’ve been stuck until now to take her to the vets (as we discovered them Christmas Eve). The plan was to take her today, but I’m looking at the snow and whilst not exactly a huge snowfall I do worry about how useless some areas are at dealing with snow in England and do worry a bit about being in a car out of the roads, so may have to give it a miss - in the meantime my ankles are being covered with bites which I know I shouldn’t itch, but am and they’re starting to become a little raw (I attract all small biting things - as does R.) Might see how the day progresses, because we’re all a bit uncomfortable and Fern is in a foul mood with added flea bites (not that she wasn’t in a fairly foul mood through us having new furniture, then putting up a tree, then moving furniture around, etc. - not exactly cat heaven).

We had no electricity for part of last Monday and most of Tuesday - which was fun as it meant the phones were unusable and of course my mobile and Rik’s had run out of batteries and there was no way to charge them……. I was convinced that meant I’d go into labour then, but luckily not (the one neighbour who doesn’t work was also out for most of the day as I had tried to call to see if I could atleast top up my mobile). The electricians were really good - unpatronising - although I think it helped that I understood what they were talking about in the first place and was able to atleast sound like I had some idea of what might be happening and that I’d cut down some work for them having tried a few possible ideas myself (although dh had to move furniture). It didn’t take them too long to sort out what the problem was - so all in all - lucky that it happened then, as opposed to a few days later.

Sarah & co. came round (can’t remember what day - brain doesn’t much function this early ATM) which was lovely as it has been a little difficult for me to get out of late.

Yule was quiet - we batten down the hatches at this time of year and tend to hide away - Christmas too. Dh cooked (as per usual) although I did make a lovely lemon tart (but kept getting sharp pains so it took a little longer than usual - I was determined to make it though!) The children helped and I have a photo of Nin squeezing lemons, so must sort that out in a bit and get it posted.

The ‘Making Dolls’ book is the new version of ‘Kinder Dolls’ - I’m really looking forward to having a bash at some little dolls (I’m a bit crap with a sewing machine and don’t fancy attempting anything larger by hand ATM). I also got a book with patterns for knitting ‘folk’ hats - a bit fanciful, but some interesting patterns - including a knitted samurai’s helmet that looks rather impressive, if a little difficult, to knit. I might have a bash at knitting the one with a shaped bird on top and the Lappish-inspired ‘Four Winds’ hat for the boys (might extend the horns though to make them long and floppy). I’m onto the sleeves of a coat for Nin’s doll - to match the pink & purple hat and pink bootees I’ve knitted so far. I decided to make the coat a little thicker by mixing pink and purple 4ply together for a kind of ‘mottled’ effect. The coat is in st-st and moss (which isn’t my favourite stitch) and the moss stitch is taking a little longer, but it’s looking nice - essentially it’s a pattern for a matinee jacket, I just adjusted the needle-size a bit, but it seems on track to fit.

Anyway, I suppose I’d better get on and hang up the washing or something (and hope these cramps continue!)