My dad rents a vegetable patch. I went along and planted some beans and collected some vegetables. We planted the little sprouts and covered them with some straw for warmth.
At the end of August I started travelling back to Japan on fourteen trains, three buses and one ferry. I spent a lot of time on the train, knitting, chatting, napping and snacking. Here are some train drawings. There is a lot of land between UK and Japan. Lots of trees.
At the weekend, I went to see an outdoor performance in New Haven with Generik Vapeur, Zap Art and the local community groups. There was music, bouncing cardboard boxes, and my favourite was when I thought the performance was finished and turned around to see the ferry appear from the edge of the cliff.
Today I went for a walk around Rye Harbour Nature Reserve with Debbie. It was looking like a rainy day when we set off but as we got closer to Rye the sun started shinning. We saw some little tern and lots of flowers along the coast. My favourite was when Debbie read out the different points of the walk from the walking guide. After the walk, all the pubs weren't serving food until dinner time but we had a really good quiche with coleslaw and potato salad at The Cobbles Tea Room. I'd like to try their crab salad next time. Highly recommended.
This is my new cardigan. I didn't like it at first. I made it too small and in skin colour which reminded me of Freddy Krueger skin. It's stretched now and a better fit. Very warm. The lovely buttons were made by a friend from Tokyo, Kiborio.
Last month I went on holiday to Gozo with good friends. There was a lot of driving on bumpy roads and eating big pieces of cake. My favourite was twirling around on a sandy beach.
I've finally got around to posting my first knitted cardigan. It's all in one piece so I didn't have to do much sewing. After I finish with all my Christmas knitting, I'd like to start on a second cardigan.
this is a little moss terrarium i made for a friend's birthday and a crochet shawl for my mum. lots of evening knitting is being done lately. lots of gifts to be made.
Yesterday I visited Preston Manor. It is really really beautiful. The people working there have so much knowledge of the place that it made the visit so much more interesting. I was most intrigued by the basement area where there were the kitchens, washing area and butler's room with all the tools and equipment. In one of the kitchens there is also a beautiful embroidery by an eight year old. I also liked the paintings of the pet dogs. Outside in the garden area we found a long row of dog graves. I must revisit with my sketchbook but I was also told that it is a haunted house...
I have been making lots of crochet flowers and sitting on grass and going to the beach. As my co-worker Ben puts it, 'it's like fairyland at the moment'.
I have found a new project. To learn to make crochet flowers. I have made a couple at the weekend for the great friends who cycled on London to Brighton Bike Ride. Well done to Debbie, Rosie and the team!
Also now my windowsill plants are doing well. One of the cactus has some flowers. I think it it is Kalanchoe tomentosa (Panda Plant).
At the weekend I followed the naked bikers to the seafront and joined a knitting picnic that Emily organized. I am only learning and doing rows. I am in need of a project or an adventure. I really do. Maybe I can keep knitting and knitting and it will be a warm scarf.
Here is the artwork for our friends and great musicians, Junkboy that Debbie and I worked on.
i've become more adventurous with cooking and did a lot more baking this year. i'd like to go on more outings next year. train journeys, bus trips, bike rides, visiting places.
in japan, we are meant to have a big clean up on new year's eve. i just cleaned my bedroom, kitchen next.
things i experienced for the first time this christmas: • played scrabble; fun but i can only make 3 or 4 letter words... • ate pigs in a blanket; tasty! • got a stocking; what a wonderful surprise to wake up to find a stocking!
this week i did a lot of making for christmas gifts and cards. evenings with tea and biscuits with good friends. yesterday i went round debbie and rosie's house and we made christmas crackers. but i was not so good at wrapping them so i did some decorating while debbie skillfully did the rolling and wrapping. we had mince pie and nice smelling herbal teas.
this morning i woke up with a fever and lot of noise everyone trying to get to places in time. i heard my phone get a message, but when i checked there were no new messages. i lay in bed confused. later i watched garden programs day dreaming.
My sister reads lots and she used to read me stories when I was little. This is a drawing I did inspired one of those stories. I found out that it was by a Belgian playwright called Maurice Maeterlinck. Also now my Biking is the Best print is on sale at Little Paper Planes for any bike lovers!