I got in!

I applied to go to University a while back and last Wednesday I got the letter.
I have won a place at Charles Darwin University to study a Bachelor of Teaching.
I'll be doing it externally which means it is all either online or posted. Yippee!

I have a fantastic learning support network and organised a wonderful mentor.

How I am going to fit it all in is something I haven't figured out yet.

At least this means that I don't have to:

• Drop 2 - 3 days work/pay to physically attend Uni. I can keep us in the manner to which we have become accustomed (late night chocolate binges and Iced Coffee always in the fridge)
• Get someone to look after Miss A while I attend. (she can sit right next to me and bug me play on the old computer while I study - yeah we'll see how long that'll last ;)
• Worry about being back in time to pick up Miss A. (As usual she'll be with me 24/7......)
• Spend $$ getting to Uni and back. (helps to pay for the new computer)

It does mean that I won't have as much time to knit, so I better get cracking on Miss A's Central Park Hoody before she outgrows it.

And because it is going to be mostly online, I've invested in Broadband which should be here by next weekend I hope and a new computer. My old one is totally full and will not stand up to the rigours of late night, long hours of studying. Can you believe I am only getting on average around 32Kbps! Damn slow. At it's worst my broadband will be 64Kbps twice as fast, kewl. Oh and have 4 connections so that Miss A can access it at the same time, Neopets here she comes.

So this weekend was spent setting up the old computer for Miss A (she has to earn her computer time mwuahaha) and the new one for myself. Vista sure is purdy. Guess what was easier....

I had a good idea to update the old one to SP2, all well and good but the installation went awry and I ended up with the computer not recognising the modem! What! no internet for 2 days!!! I have just worked out what was wrong and fixed it, phew, that only took nearly 2 full days. A quick reinstall of the Operating System and a few tweaks...

I tried to install Internet Explorer 7 and that went belly up too I think it has something to do with Windows Update ( which also went belly up but is now fixed after having half a day spent on it) So I will try again now that the updating program is working. (something about not being able to connect to the internet to update itself - I hope......)

I have integrated my antivirus, firewall and anti spyware into Windows Live One Care, not linking cos I've spent too many hours at that bl**dy website searching it for fixes, and that seems to be going well. One subscription instead of two, and it was cheaper than one subscription on its own.

So hopefully in a few days I'll be able to report a full thumbs up on the computer system here at Chez Bankrupt.

Oh my stars

Now who says that the horoscopes are all generic and broad?

How about mine, dated the 9th (Friday) which I just saw today:

Remember that material possessions are just that - material. At some point in your life, you are either going to lose them, ruin then, or throw them away. The only question is when and how. Don't put yourself through unnecessary emotional turmoil over the loss or damage of something tangible. Attach yourself to people, rather than material things. Good friends and loyal family members will be there for you until the end.

Spooky huh?
Bearing in mind a few days before it did say that my luck was going to change. Yippee I thought until I realised that luck can also change from reasonably okay luck - and you don't know that that is your good luck - to bad luck and not always to really good luck.

That scarf has told me it wants to try and be a Grape Hyacinth scarf pfft! yeah right have you seen the pattern for that? I've had three goes at just the ribbing so far. But it is looking like it needs to be this scarf so I will keep trying.

Anyway now I am sick as well as Miss A, we have a burning need for groceries and I am not feeling very well which means I have to push myself to drive the car (shudders - when I think of the car I get this funny twitch..... ) to the nearest grocery store for milk, iced coffee and more chocolate and cheese and cat food and kitty litter and...............

Of scarves and things...

Recently finished the Stress Relief Scarf, this was a kit available in stores by Patons, if I remember correctly. It came with a circular needle, a sewing needle, instructions, yarn (Zhivago) and a nifty zippered bag. I have made several of these now and from different yarns. This one is Velveteen and it was a quick knit.



I have decided not to fringe this one.

I liked being in between projects, that delicious time of choosing what's next. Maybe some Karaoke, or that nice Alpaca from Bendigo, Noro, hmm what else is in the stash?

I thought that I'd try the Irish Hiking Scarf but as I only have one ball of the Bendy Alpaca, I left off a cable repeat so this one will only have two cables. i like my scarves narrow and long, I'll see how it goes and if it likes this or wants to be something else - I was thinking of Coronet.

So far it's okay.

Oh an update on my car....
the leak is indeed fixed - a simple sump plug problem, now the skeptic in me wants to know if it was this simple to fix all along or were there really mega buck leaks.....we willl never know.

A bit sad on Friday after work when I went to my car to find that the idiot next to me had opened his/her door onto my car and taken some lovely chunks right out of my driver's door!!
Hmmm, white on dark blue does stand out terribly. So this morning was spent finding some touch up paint.

Thanks to the wonderful guy at the crash repairs who colour matched and mixed up a jar of paint for me and then asked if I needed help to apply it. "That would be great," I replied "then I can see how to do it"

After doing the door he then proceeded to check the whole car and spent some time touching it up - the car - and as he did we chatted and I told him how much bad luck I was having with it. When it came time to pay he said not to worry about it and that maybe that would help to change my luck....wasn't that nice of him? Phew something nice for a change, now if I'd just been able to get his phone number.....

Miss A is sick this weekend so we are in for a real quiet time of knitting and dvd's in bed.

Turning UFOs into FOs

I don't know what it is but lately I have felt the need to complete some UFOs.
Fetching number 3 for me is finished.
Doll blanket number 1 is finished...can't remember where or what Doll Blanket number 2 is?
Here's the pictures:



Completed blanket



Blanket in use


Here is the reason Barbie and Ken were not happy last night:



Kitty (top observation deck) and Andy (penthouse) decided they needed a room for the night.


In other news, remember that I bought a smaller, newer, modern, sleek, fantastic car in December??

Yeah, well fantastic car has had an oil leak, so after taking it back to the car yard where I bought it for repairs and being fobbed off, told it was fixed, nope nothing wrong, etc - it was still leaking so I decided to take it to the local dealer for independent tests and repairs.

After the dealer having it for 2 and a half weeks I just got my little car back on Friday. So Miss A and I took it for a drive to the beach and got a celebratory icecream, ducked into Foodland for some tea and when I came back there was a stupid A**hole parked 2 inches - I kid you not 2 inches!!- from the back of my car!!! I just got in and forgot to take his number and forgot to check for dings thinking that no, nothing would be amiss (trusting soul aren't I)....

Next day I remembered to check....yep bumper was scratched and lower down has some scratches and a chip of paint taken out of the lower bumper.

Not to mention how pleased I was on Saturday morning to find out that the car was still leaking in the exact same spot and worse than when I took it in to be repaired!! AARGGHH!!!
2.5 weeks and $1800 later I am back to square one.

They had the engine, transmission, Air Conditioner, everything, all out - rear main seal they declared - big expensive job, so everything they did to it was unnecessary because it still leaks, I paid for work that didn't need to be done because it still leaks.

They will be getting a call from me come Monday morning!
Is there no one that can find and fix an oil leak?
Is it because I am a woman they think they don't really need to fix it?
Did they just overlook it? honest mistake?

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

I know it's just a car and worse thing are happening out there.
Mr Ex thinks this is funny and taunts me about it.
This is typical of my life anything can and does f*ck up like this. Constantly. I am tired of it. I want to cry. I can feel the depression monster stalking me so don't be surprised if I don't blog for a while.

Edited to add:
Okay I've had a bit of a cry and a lay down (and some chocolate ;) )and I am feeling a little better about the whole situation. Fingers crossed we can get it sorted out soon.

More Finished Objects!

Ripping out the first lot of Miss A's Fetching's was the way to go! These babies knit up extra quick - maybe due to the fact they are one repeat less and a larger yarn than I previously used. They have turned out slightly larger than the first ones.

I am itching to make another pair for myself as these are comfy. The first ones that I made for myself I didn't bind off loosely enough and it is slightly uncomfortable, but these ones....mmmm.

Yarn: Country Silk in Pink
Needles: Boye size 4 US


Another FO is this hideous scarf in something called 'Sparkle' - thin and nubbly and sparkly - I think came from Lincraft or Spotlight. I have had it on the needles for over a year and it is good to get rid of it. I asked Miss A if she'd like it and her face lit up she thinks it's great.



After rearranging my yarn stash I have found all my UFOs. The Vest with the yarn that made my fingers peel (as soon as I find it that is - it has some good circulars and a very nice stitch marker- can't for the life of me find the damn thing) and the Eyelet Baby Hat, that would fit an adult, have gone to the frogpond. Not too bad but I don't think I'm gonna finish the Mermaid toy from the 'Knit A Square Make A Toy' book or the family of guinea pigs Miss A wanted last year - I have the yarn for them though oh what was I thinking ?!?

Here's to knocking off some more UFOs hey?

Let the Renno's begin

While I am on holidays I have been taking the time to do some small repairs to the house.

Of course I only remember to take the 'before ' pictures afterwards! But not with the bathroom, I remembered so here are some before and after pics: Eww! yucky. Now bear
in mind that Mr Ex said it was too expensive to fix, can't be done etc and for less than $150 and a week and a half and much effort it is nearly completed.

I scraped out all the old grout, siliconed around the edges, re grouted, and waterproofed the shower.
The main thing was letting every step cure. Silicone needed to be left 72 hours, new grout 72 hours and 24 for the waterproofing. Can't wait till Saturday as the shower will be back in action yay! Bathing with a shower hose has been fun but give me back the shower!

I had to redo the bathroom because I had that part of the house restumped and lifted and

the consequences of that repair was lots of cracks to the tiles, tiles falling off and gaps in the corners of the walls. Not counting the gaps and broken tiles that were there already plus a leaking shower.
Such a blast doing this all by myself, oh but Miss A did bring me buckets of water on request for wiping the grout off. Who needs a man??

Here is a list of what I have done so far and a list of what needs doing, I am so proud that I did these things by myself (I am listing them because I need a record of what I have done because fixing a house up becomes so overwhelming and it feels good to look back on completed repairs) :
*Installed a doorbell

*Pantry cupboards - painted, reshelved, new door handles
*Re mortared the chimney - a lovely bricklayer did this for me

*Fixed leaky shower taps

*Backyard cleaned up, bathtub pond,orange tree and passionfruit vine removed - thanks to a great
friend and her husband who came down one day and backyard blitzed me

*Antenna - never had a proper working antenna and can now watch crystal clear crappy tv

*Laundry tap - fixed in 5 minutes after having no tap for the last 10 years, just a broken one

*Verticals in my knitting room - thanks Vista!

*Created a knitting room - see pics below

*Purchased two comfy recliners for knitting room

*Rainwater tanks fixed to stop leaks

*Checked smoke alarms - I have 11 foot ceilings and a heavy ladder, this was no easy feat!

*New outdoor setting all set up

*Bathroom regrouted, sealed and waterproofed

Here's my backyard...a bit of a blank canvas at the moment but plans for veggie growing and flowers abound. Oops probably shouldn't have emptied the grouting bucket right there. You should have seen it when it was an overgrown jungle, this pic makes it look good!

To Do List

-Clean the gutters

-Buy a lighter ladder

-Dig the garden and make a veggie patch

-mulch garden

-Rolladoor

-Replace bull nosed verandah

-Paint house inside and out

-Curtains for computer room

-New bathroom vanity

-Resilver bathroom mirrors

-Remove rubbish behind the shed

-New screen doors

-Restump other side of house

-Make a cat enclosure down the side of the house

Knitting Room

Here are some pics of where I sit and knit:

The recliners are covered in rugs because the cats like to climb up them and scratch them and I don't want them to. Therefore the cats are only allowed in the room when I am in there too.

Bookshelf with books

Yarn stash, yep this is all of it, all in the one place, so I can look at it and it can shame me into using it up.

Here's a pic of the completed Central Park Hoodie. Yarn: Bendigo 12ply Rustic in Damson

Miss A's CPHoodie now has a completed back. Yarn: Bendigo 12 ply Rustic in Pink Opal

Miss A's Fetching went to the frog pond and was restarted with 5 stitches less and on bigger needles and now it is way easier to knit. Yarn: Country Silk? in pink

Now I get to knit them while I wait for the grout to cure before being able to paint on the waterproofing at 9pm Thursday night (The sooner it goes on the sooner we can use the shower)

First FO of the year

Hopefully it won't be the only FO this year!

I have just finished the Central Park Hoody....not totally happy with it as it is a tad on the big side but it is perfect for wearing over a jumper :( Next one will be two sizes smaller I think, I wanted to wear it over a tshirt not a jumper as well, but it is nice and warm and was cozy at the park yesterday.

Had a family reunion picnic in the city where it was cold, windy and drizzly for a bit and the hoody kept me nice and warm.

Sorry no pics as yet. But trust me it is finished.

I have now started on Miss A's CPHoody in Pink Opal from Bendigo. As soon as she'd seen mine it was like "Make me one!"

What's that? Where's the afghan I just bought all that wool for....dunno....I cannot decide between a nice cabled, single stranded throw (dammit Jess ever since you sent me that link....) which would take me forever and I'd need to sit right next to the chart, or a double stranded, garter stitched, sewn up block version - which would be a quick knit, nice and thick.

So what sort of throw should I start? Thick 'n' easy or thin but cabled?? both?
I have selected a fawn coloured shade of the Cleckheaton Country and a matching flecked one as well which I was going to make the Lion Brand Winter Night Afghan.

Bearing in mind I wanted a throw for warmth and something to chuck over me when I feel like napping on the lounge. And the fact that I am a pretty slooow knitter oh and feel the cold hmmm...I thought the blocks would make a nice portable project but having now sewn up the hoody I am not really that keen on seams.

Bendigo's 12ply rustic would make a nice cabled throw, but I have the stuff to make the thicker one. That's why there is no afghan started at this house


New Years Resolutions:
1. To not eat so much chocolate -does not include the four chocolates I just ate for breakfast this morning.
2. To not purchase more yarn - does not include the Socks That Rock Club membership I just paid for and we will not mention the cost of this again or I will have to go into a whole 'nother post about why I signed up! Nor does it include the purchase of any yarn to make an afghan of some sort when a final decision is made.
3. To never let my backyard/frontyard/side of house become overgrown again - ever! Such a pain to have to wrangle into submission singlehandedly. I wish that I had remembered to take a photo of how bad it was but I think I am ashamed of how bad it was and don't want all of blogland to know.
4. To save money - for improvements on my house. Sadly neglected for years and I mean something like 15 years! Needs TLC (Truck Load of Cash)

Doing well so far aren't I?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope Father Christmas was kind to you.

So what have I been up to for the last few months!! Was it really back in October that I last posted something?!

Well for a quick update:

I sat the STAT (Special Tertiary Admissions Test) in the middle of November and achieved good results, so now just waiting for the round of offers from the Uni in January next year.

My home loan went through 2 weeks ago.

The Property Settlement has been finalised at last and Mr Ex is now out of the house. Everything now remains where I have put it and stays cleaner for longer. Miss A seems to be coping okay. She still gets to see him on occassion.

I had been spending an awful lot of time cleaning and tidying and sorting the place out - I now have a Knitting Room complete with 2 comfy recliners and in a few weeks there will be verticals on the windows so that we can sit out there at night time and noone can see in. Must get some pics up.

Hmm what else....

There's a mouse plague in my kitchen cupboards! Eww, so far we are tigers-2 mice -0. The battle continues.

Oh, renovations - I've had my chimney remortared by a lovely old man who climbed up on my roof - in 37 degree heat - supported only by the small planks that he fashioned into some sort of ladder. I didn't breathe until he left I thought for sure he would either fall off my roof ( see I said my roof- I own a home!!) or fall through my ceiling but he did a terriffic job and now it won't fall down anytime soon.

I fixed my pantry cupboards and gave them a coat of paint - forgot to take before pictures of both of these jobs duh!

The Central Park Hoody stands at a back, 2 fronts and 1 and 3/4 sleeves. I am not knitting anything else but this and still it is not growing. Ah hopefully now that I have 5 weeks holiday I can finish it shortly there is only one thing in the way -

you can't knit and drive at the same time -

I have just bought a new to me car, a really modern car which is soo different from the Kingswood ( read tank ) that I have been driving for the last 8 years. (Mr Ex is not happy with me ;) )
I will post a picture when I can but I my batteries are flat at the moment so when I charge them I'll try to restrict myself to one or two photos.

Have a great Christmas and don't drink too much eggnogg!

I have just been gifted with these.....

Wanna closer look?

A friend's mother cannot use them anymore and was giving them away and my dear friend thought of me.

I will certainly appreciate and use it. I have a had a bit of a play and have just about worked out how to use it. It's not that much different to my Ashford.

Now today was spent knitting and the shoulder bind offs on the Central Park Hoodie had to be ripped out several times before I could complete the last cable and bind it off right. Unfortunately when I got home and had the left front and the right front sitting together I saw that I didn't have a matching cable on the left front so had to rip out again the shoulder of the right front. Are you with me? I sat for ages binding it off so that the right had a cable on the very top when I later found out the left didn't have one?!

Sheesh, now having cast on for the sleeve, the rib is not as tight as I like it. I like my cuffs to sit around my wrists snuggly and not flop about. I'm thinking of casting on a tighter cuff and graphing up the increases and adjusting them so the sleeve cap will fit the armholes. That'll have to wait till tomorrow cos I have no graph paper. I will be soo glad when this hoody is finished.

My motto: Nothing is ever as easy as it seems.

Not another update?!

Ahh so much is happening here I have limited time to actually post. Feel free to skip straight to the knitting part.

Let's see...
The Centrelink issue is now done and dusted with a resolution in my favour, worth the fight I must say.

Mr Ex is dragging out the Property Settlement. He has has it for 8 weeks now and he and his lawyer are taking their sweet time contacting my lawyer. Funny that, he always insisted on a fast and amicable settlement when he is the one doing the stalling. Let me tell ya their are dirty little tricks happening here at home. He is getting really good at setting Miss A and me up. It took me a while to realise the extent of the set ups but he is good. Lots of things that he knows will upset me.
I'm sure I'll laugh about it later but man he is doing me in. Should be all over in 6 weeks but that's what I said 8 weeks ago. sigh

Preparation is going well for tertiary entry right on track there. STAT test is in 3 weeks.


Knitting Part
Been concentrating solely on the Central Park Hoodie, which had me stumped there this week. The 2 fronts are not going to line up perfectly they are 1 row out which won't be a problem. The cables will match though and that's the main thing right?. A quick call to Jess got things sorted and now I'm on my way.

Looking forward to an afternoon of knitting with Jess and Miss B today.

Giving up on knitting group today for several reasons:

One being that on such a great day it has been scheduled for the library cafe (our winter location) and I am getting tired of going there (overpriced food, mouldy cheesecakes and not much choice in the way of food) The ones that actually attend regularly are itching to get back to the gardens and the people making the decision don't always attend.

Two: most people cannot attend this week anyway and I'd probably end up sitting there on my own. Knitting in public is fine if you are not the only one.

Thirdly: Jess is still recovering so staying home will be good for her today.
Better run I need to go and have a shower,oh and must duck to the shops for cake.

Knitting goes so much better when there is chocolate cake don't you think?

Another Quick Update...

I am soo tired...
I have spent the day at a course to help me prepare for the STAT test (mature age entry for Uni) 7 no we finished an hour early, 6 no we had a half hour for lunch, okay 5 and a half hours of test questions.

My brain is busted.

Not much knitting has taken place here lately. The Central Park Hoodie has a back, a left front and half a right front. Each evening this week I have had good intentions of picking it up but have been side tracked by one thing or another (mainly going to bed really early - at 8pm!) It's been my first week back at work this week.

Going out for tea with friends and Miss A tonight and really looking forward to a Schnitzel Parmigiana yum, my fave! Luckily I don't have to work this Sunday so hopefully I can slot in some knitting, but I really have to get stuck into my Personal Competency Statement for Uni entry.

I got word last week that I have indeed passed my Cert 4 in ICT (hip, hip) and the Cert 4 in Business Admin has been finished too. I've signed up for a Cert 3 in Disability Work and can transfer credit across from the other two Certificates lessening my workload by 5 units out of 11. At least it has paid off completing them.

My to do list now stands at:

• Property settlement, going slowly but progress is being made there.
• Uni Personal Competency Statement.
• Maths for STAT course in a few weeks.
• Actual STAT test in a few weeks too.
• Cert 3 in Disability.

'Keep yourself unstressed' recommends the instructor...ha

Addressing comments

Thanks for the comments...I've decided in future to try to reply to the comments in a post otherwise they get lost after a few days and unless you go looking for a response (I do) it's difficult to find. And I know I get excited to get a reply to my comments.

2paw : Thank you, I'm so relieved that it ended up looking ok.

Jessica : Yes, I remembered the Yarn Harlot did a post about fixing cables with pictures that really scared me. And now I have one of my own, hee hee. Must admit I was shaking the whole time I was fixing it. (and not breathing much)

somebunnysloveDOTcom : Imagine doing that with LACE? uhuh, I can't even knit lace let alone rip it and fix it like that. shudders Although I am leaning towards lace in future projects....

Now after all that fixing I'm thinking that the size I chose may be a bit big - not by much but I'm thinking as a jacket it might be ok to knit it a tad smaller than a jumper.
It works out the same size as my favourite jumpers but as Jessica suggested jackets are open in the front ( yes it did need to be pointed out to me) and it'll gape anyway. So it will be bigger because of that openness.
No drama because I've only nearly completed the back and am quite ok with reknitting it.
It's hard to judge how it's going to turn out. Deep down I've had this inkling that I should be knitting the next size down.
Should I follow my intuition or keep going? I think I'll restart it, wool stretches so it should be no problem in a smaller size. That way it won't look like a dressing gown as I fear it'll end up.

I actually thought I was knitting the 44" size all along until I checked and found out this week that I was doing the 48" one. Don't know how that happened!

Knitting when you should be sleeping: a cautionary tale

It was just after lunch when the thought occured to me that I should check the cables.
To my absolute horror I discovered a misscrossed cable about 3 cable crossings down!
Ack.
Turns out it was one of the first ones I did at 4 am this morning.

There was no way in h*ll I was going to rip back all of those rows - that was about 10cm work.
So I bravely read up on dropping stitches to fix cables.

I forgot to take a picture of the misscrossed cable but remembered once I had dropped all the stitches off, so here's the first part I call Come Undone ( notice the reference to the Robbie Williams song that I slipped in there?)

Here it is all fixed up, phew this only took 45 minutes to complete (best song reference here is Phoenix From The Flames) The cable in question is just above where the armhole shaping starts.

I feel that I am evolving as a knitter - deliberately dropping stitches to fix mistakes. That's something I once thought could only be fixed by a complete restart.

For Miss A's patience early this morning we are going to a Beanie Baby Party at our local shopping centre. Although I'd rather hop into bed than spend 2 hours frolicking with pricey Beanie Babies.

Robbie, Robbie, Robbie (chanted)

Miss A and I scored some tickets to the Robbie Williams concert! Aaaayyyy :)

We woke up at 3am, got ready and headed down to the nearest outlet which was 5 minutes away.
By 4:10am we were happily sitting (and knitting) second in line, can ya believe it second!
I got heaps done on the CP hoodie.

The Newsagency opened at 8am but we were lucky - we only had to stay till 7:15am when the newsagent decided to take pity on us and hand out place-holding number cards. That left us free for an hour to go home, have breakky, go to the loo and be back there at 8:40 to register and wait.

Still holding our breath at 9am cos they might sell out before we get a chance to purchase.
But we were really lucky, scored two Gold seats (seats! I'm taking Miss A and thought seats would be the go if we could get 'em ) In a really good spot too.

We are sooo thrilled!!

sings: Let meeee entertain you, do do do.

Be afraid, be very afraid....

Blogger is really messing this post up- it's not letting me separate the paragraphs so it all rolls into one, sorry.

I took this quiz and just look at my result!
Of course I knew that I was so it's no surprise really. I took it twice and got the same results.

What Type of Lunatic are You?

'Complete Psycho' PLEASE VOTE!!!
Take this quiz!








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I haven't mentioned my stalker before have I?
Well when my marriage ended I went along to one of those COPE courses on how to move on after separation. Well this guy there wouldn't stop emailing me saying how we'd be great together and how much he liked me ?! Geez I'd only just met him and only knew his name! Turns out he'd tried this with other members of the group and one member's daughter. Well every now and then he'll still email me with links to -ooh lets see how compatible we are / let's see if we like the same movie quizzes and photos (that I would never open I'd just delete) Anyway it made me feel creepy so I refer to him now as my stalker. The last email was a couple of months ago - now this course ended 2 years ago!! and it was only for 6 weeks.

I wasn't real worried because I knew I was a bit wacko of trouble and this poor guy didn't know what he was dealing with and now this quiz has proved it! ha ha.

On with the knitting content:

Ahh the Central Park Hoodie is coming along nicely:

Blogger isn't playing nice though and wont upload the picture! I've tried four times so maybe in a few days we'll see four pics of the hoodie's back. Sorry Jess, I know you really wanted to see it. You'll have to wait till knitting this afternoon.

Surfing this morning I came across this pattern. Hmm, it is specifically for beginners and looks good, I'll definitely add this to my 'want to knit' pile.

Cat content:

As I've been typing this there has been a strange noise from the backyard. Something jumping up and scraping the back fence. I thought it was Kitty because I did see her on the roof of the house behind us. Obviously it was a cat jumping up and not quite making the top of the fence and sliding back down again. Upon looking out some time later I could see Kitty coming back from over there but the banging/screeching continued.

I went out there several times and it wasn't until I did a head count that I noticed Andy missing. Gathering courage I climbed onto the rabbit cage and looked over the back fence. It's 6:45am mind you. I don't think we have neighbours there yet it's been very quiet and the dog that was there I haven't heard for a while.

Anyway looking over the fence yep, it was Andy. Poor thing was soo tired from jumping up and sliding back down as soon as he saw me he started meowing. A sad, sorry meow. How was I going to get him back, Kitty had been over there but she had obviously seen the trellis going up to the little shade area and uses that to get back. I think it was Andy's first time and he must have followed Kitty.

What was I going to do?? The big ladder we have was way too heavy for me to lift over the fence and I could just see over that fence standing on a rabbit cage. Would the rabbit cage continue to hold my weight?? Could I lift that heavy ladder over the fence?? Should I go and get help my friend two doors down has a teenage son?? But it'sonly 7am on a Sunday!! What if someone does live there how is it going to look when they see a woman in her pyjamas hoiking a ladder over their fence?! Looking around the yard I found the old beanbag that I'd been meaning to wash after a cat had piddled on it. An idea struck I'd hold the beanbag over the fence and then Andy could climb onto it and I'd pull him to safety, with him sitting nicely on the beanbag. hmmmmm.

Yeah, but as soon as I threw it over the fence he ran. Bugger. Ok, so I called him and then slowly put it back over the fence and after four tries he managed to hold on enough to be able to lift him.

I didn't count on him seeing my arm as an extension of the beanbag and he ran straight up it onto my shoulders. Luckily I had a thick jumper on over my pj's.

The beanbag is now part of the cat rescue kit.

Must add that Mr Ex and Miss A were not home as they had gone away for the weekend and every weekend Mr Ex has gone away in the past something has gone wrong with the cats be it sickness or one of them getting run over, it's always something!

It's times like this that I wish that I had a partner to help me, so I didn't have to do it alone. Some one I could be cacking myself laughing with over this ( I'm feeling my quiz results are justified cos I'm cacking myself laughing all by myself ). In the past I could call Mr Ex and know it'd be taken care of. But hell, I managed by myself and I'm none the worse for it.

So all of the cats are grounded for the day and they can stay inside, they've just used up one more of my nine lives. :)

Lucky I can type cos I can't talk!

Urgh I feel sick. I still have this horrible virussy thing from the end of August - this'll be my fourth week.

Surely there is a limit to how much green sh*t a body can produce. My voice disappeared for two days and all I was left with was a squeak, then it turned husky.

It was suggested to me that I could get another job - another job I already have two!! -while I had a sexy, husky voice. I can just imagine myself describing some frilly, feminine lingerie whilst sitting in my daggy pj's with my knitting in my lap. I could call myself Kandy or something like that. "What do you want me to be wearing?", I'd ask. *shudders* Anyway it's not gonna happen.

I've taken on some more study this time in a Cert 3 Disibility Work program dealing with challenging behaviours and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Because I've already completed the Cert 4 in ICT I can get credit transfers for 5 out of the 11 units which cuts down the workload heaps. So now only have 2 Cetificate courses to complete. This is one that I really wanted to do and begged the assessors for a place if there was a vacancy and was very lucky to get in.

The lawyer stuff is happening and papers have been drawn up and served regarding property settlement. This is costing me a fortune! Mr Ex has started cleaning out the shed. The shed, I forgot was extra space think of how much stuff I can put in there!

The home loan is approved and waiting for me. So that's one thing I don't have to worry about.

Still debating as to how much I should borrow, should I take the extra amount and pay for it for the next 30 years or should I take less and put the extra amount that I'd pay weekly into a savings account.
eg: borrow an extra 15,000 be locked into the high repayments for 30 years or borrow 15,000 less and be locked into lower payments for 30 years while saving the difference and ending up with 28,000 at the end of 30 years?

I think I just answered my own question but then it means that not all the renovations will be carried out straight away and I'll have to save up for them. And I am a very impatient person! But in the end I'll have 28,000 to renovate with compared to owing 15,000.

It is a bit scary being the one to make the financial decisions but exciting too. I need to cover myself if I lose my job and become unemployed and if I borrow less then I could sleep better at night knowing that it's not going to be a problem making the repayments.

There are so many fees and hidden costs like insuring myself so that if I die the loan will be paid out for Miss A. Changing from the current loan to a new one, breaking the fixed rate lock in contract for the current loan. groan

Ugg, this is why I haven't been knitting very much I've been going over the figures trying to work out what to do.
The Central Park Hoodie is almost up to the third cable on the back, veeerrrryyy sllloooww going.

Oh and I went for the Bendigo Damson (purple) and am loving it.

Saturday Update

Yesterday Miss A and I went to the Royal Show. We were lucky to have some free tickets as we were working a shift in the Handspinners and Weavers Guild's stall. It was the most fun day we have had for a while.

First we had to go and get the showbags - not too bad Miss A only wanted 4 of them. I'd been planning ahead financially so it wasn't a great blow to the budget. It was a 'stuff the budget' day and the fun we had was worth it. I must add here that I hate going to the show and I still have that coughy infection but I had the best time and want to go again. ( I've seen the Twistie bag and reckon that'd be a good knitting bag as well ;) )

I bought the Coke bag because I thought it would make a good knitting bag, it has 2 sections both zippered one for purse and phone etc and the bigger section for my knitting. I can't help buying knitting bags it's like my obsession with tables ( I really like tables for some reason!) Anyway if I see a bag that can remotely be used to carry my knitting then I just gotta have it. ( I have about 15 bags suitable for carrying knitting at the moment but can't stop myself)

I was a bit nervous turning up for duty at the stall as I haven't really met anyone from the guild before, I normally just lob in to the monthly meeting buy fleece and go. But they made me feel at home and got me spinning pretty much straight away. I was even able to get some show goers to sit and spin. I got a real buzz cos I know what it's like to go and watch someone spin and want to try it cos they make it look so easy, but this time it was me giving the demonstration and answering questions. And my spinning has improved, I was able to spin nice and evenly with only a few accidental slubs, joining on was easy. Although I must say the fleece had quite a long staple which made it easier to spin - it was a Corriedale/Romney X if I remember correctly from Lomman's near Burra - they have nice fleece. I do have a bag of their fleece that I have yet to spin and this has renewed my interest in spinning.

Miss A bought along her french knitting and did some of that during the afternoon. There were a few people interested in her work and asked where they could get a french knitting thingy. Looking back we should've made a few out of popsticks and cardboard rolls (clingwrap rolls not loo rolls I know the hygiene issues there) and made up little kits with yarn to get the kids started.

I'm thinking of getting a new wheel. Mine is hard to treadle and it walks away from me while spinning and the one I used yesterday was so easy I don't even feel sore today yet after half an hour on my wheel I get a sore back.

So any ideas for what makes a good wheel and any recommendations as to which brand?
Single or double treadle?
Single drive or double drive?

Ready, Set, Go!

The Central Park Hoodie officially starts today, so last night I decided on a size (finally) and cast on my 110 sts and started the ribbing. I've done a total of 4 rows so far.
I haven't knitted anything in about a month I reckon, I've had too much here, thinking and preparing for the future. Starting to get excited about this again and look forward to knitting it later today.

I've had this sucky cold/fluey thing this week and now Miss A has it we are having so much fun here with snuffling and coughing and crying.

I start my second job today...did I mention that before? Respite caring for people with disabilities in the community. Really looking forward to starting but not nervous because I know the person that I'll be regularly working with. There's also an opportunity to increase the hours by working with other people, and to be called in as a back up, so that will help with the finances.

So what colour did I choose for the Hoodie?? Well you'll have to wait and see.....remember it was a toss up between Elm and Damson from Bendy.

Happy Knitting

Fantastic Friday!

Okay, there hasn't been much knitting this week - well none at all!

I've been ringing lawyers and banks and downloading divorce papers and preparing to start my second job.

Yep, that's right a second job. Which requires me to have an ABN (I think that's Australian Business Number??) so now I have my own business.
I will be subcontracting my services as a respite carer. This involves taking a person/child with disabilities out for a few hours each week, so we get to do fun stuff like go walking on the beach, play sport etc. It has the scope for me to expand the hours and work evenings and nights and weekends, which will fit in if I decide to study further.

Mr Ex and I have agreed to settlements regarding property and child support and care of Miss A.
I get to stay in the house, YAY!

I visited the bank this afternoon and I was pre-approved for a home loan. With more than the amount I wanted to borrow! Enough to pay the lawyers and a few small improvements to the house (which, no doubt, I'll be showing off on the blog) Only need to go and see the lawyer next week to get the agreements in writing and approved by the family court. Then back to the bank and there you go.

We'll be sitting down to fill in the divorce kit this weekend so it's all happening here.

Oh and the uni course I'm thinking of doing (Bachelor of Education) is being offered waay closer to home so I'm definitely looking into that a bit further.

Funny how things are just slotting into place right now. It's going to be a great weekend future.

Oh, forgot to add, remember I purchased Damson and Mariner from Bendigo? Well the Mariner was still not going to be ready for another few weeks so I asked them to substitute Elm for it. I'm going to knit the Central Park Hoodie with Elm. Now I'm not a green person but that one just caught my eye and I've been dreaming of it - you know how it is.

Quick Update:

My Bendigo order came yesterday, and I am in love!
The Damson is more beautiful than I could have imagined and I can see it as a Central Park Hoodie, and can't wait to start. It is great to have a project that I am excited in.

The Mariner that I ordered is on back order so I get to be surprised when that comes. In the meanwhile I'll just pet the Damson.

I have had the worst birthday of my life this year! If I could have stayed home in bed I would have - and looking back I wish I had called in sick.

Centrelink are being difficult giving me the run around and one person told me they had lost my paperwork so when I went in to see them - on my birthday - I waited for ages and lo and behold, there, on the desk in front of me, was the missing paperwork!
Turns out it wasn't missing at all. If they could all just get their story straight they'd do a lot better. So I am fighting them (still) and it's the principal of it all now, not just the financial benefits.

The kids in the class I work in all made me gorgeous cards which I'll treasure and we shared cake.

We went to see Hoodwinked yesterday, my choice, the verdict - eh. Okay for little kids but the storyline could be confusing for them. Miss A and I had a whole, huge cinema just to ourselves.

Oh and the hot water system broke last night at midnight so it was washing by bucket this morning. This I didn't mind so much.

Mr Ex now has another thing to hold over me as he has the finances to go out and get one today and I don't.

This post been a little disjointed but I didn't want to put all the bad things up. It's funny cos that's what I started the blog for, an outlet for what I was feeling, what I was knitting etc. But now that I know people read it - gasp - I find I censor what I say otherwise it'll be a whinge session again. Sure there's going to be conflict with Mr Ex and the Centrelink issue will be ongoing so I'll just write little updates. And it's important to stay positive.

I may have to start a good thing for the day and a bad thing for the day and keep it small. Or a whinge session warning so that you can skip that part.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the weekend, it's knitting group this Sunday!