August writers group

So after nearly 6 years running the writers group today was my last meeting.  (more on why next week.)
It's been a real privilege to run the group and I have been constantly amazed at the quality of the writing the members produce.  It's a lovely group and I am sad to be leaving.  Everyone is always so nice about each others writing, but don't think for a moment that we don't critique each others writing; That is after all half the point of the group.
It's been a bit of a struggle to fine someone to take on the group, but I think we're there now so hopefully the group will continue, although I'm sure that it will change too.

So here is the last homework that I will set.  I'm sorry I'll miss hearing what they come up with, I know it'll be nothing like what I could come up with myself.

Homework: Use this as the title of your story or poem: Mystery at the University of Surrey. 

Happy birthday bear

It was 'im outdoors' grandmas birthday this week.  She's an amazing lady, and seeing as all mine have passed on, I've adopted her as my own.
She also has a passion for teddy bears; the spare bed at her house is covered with them (when there are visitors needing the sofa).
So I thought the perfect birthday present this year would be another addition to her collection, but this one is totally unique.

He's the same pattern as my first bear from HuggableBears, but in a fluffy wool, like the bunny, and I have to say I'm rather pleased with how he's turned out, and she seemed really chuffed too.

No name as yet, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time.

(NB: I can confirm that I was wrong - this bear is female and called Polly)

Fish

For the last 10 years or so I've had a tropical fish tank.  It was a little 60l tank, which over the years had seen many different occupants, including shrimp, a reed fish, neons, snails, a ruby shark, siamese fighters, loach and a large plec called Trevor.
Sadly Trevor passed away while we were away at Christmas and we started to discuss if maybe this was the time to change.  Maybe finish with fish and get something else or go completely pet free, but as I thought about it I realised that I really like the fish.  They are relaxing to watch (better than TV) and there is always something happening in the tank.  So we decided to upgrade.
Over the first May bank holiday weekend we set up the new 200l tank.  This one has a canister filter and LED lighting, which I hope means we can keep a planted tank along with some slightly bigger fish.

A couple of months later and you can see the difference.  The plants have all filled in, all the old fish have been moved over and some new one's added.  So far so good - I hope we can keep this one going for another 10 years.

Jam

There are strawberries in here somewhere

Last weekend we went PYO or Pick You Own and got ourselves some lovely strawberry, raspberries and redcurrants.  I'd never been PYO before as we had plenty of fruit in the garden as I was growing up, blackcurrant, redcurrant and gooseberries bushes, apples and plums.  No real need for any more then.  I know a huge number of ways to get rid of piles of apples and plums; jam, crumble, pies etc.

Although we do grow our own fruit and veg at this house, it's only in very small quantities  so no jam making so far.  But with the PYO we put a end to that.  The strawberries were to consume as is - so sweet and tasty so I started with the raspberries.  Weighed then smashed and boiled we ended up with 4 1/2 jars of really deep red jam.  I can't wait to try it out.

Next the redcurrants.  These were to be turned into a jelly.  First they are cooked, then strained then the juices cooked again with sugar.  The kilo of berries made three jars of jelly.  Again I can't wait to try it out.  A satisfying weekend's work.

July Writers Group

A small meeting today, it is after all the start of the holidays, but still very interesting.

Some homework was read, then we had time for a quick 5 minute writing exercise on the subject of 'What he hadn't expected to find was...'  My poor chap found tigers on the London underground of all places.

Homework: Use the following as the starting point or inspiration for a story of poem: Why I love the coast…

(Inspired by the National Trust celebrating 50 years of the Neptune Coastline Campaign) 

Granny Squares

After last weeks beginner crochet class I've been practicing.  We were given the patterns for a couple of tiny shapes and of course my favourite is the star.  If I'm not careful I will have many stars and no idea what to do with them all.

Today I went back to Stitched By You for a 2 hour session on Granny Squares.  These are the base for most crocheted blankets and other things so I thought it might be a good place to start now I know the stitches.  I bought some lovely pastel wool from the wool shop in town (I like to share the love) and think it will make a really nice blanket.  I think it might be fun to play with the colour combinations to make a pattern too.

Then we started making circles.  These can also be used to make blankets.  Again different colours can be used for each section, or just the one - the possibilities are amazing.  Helen the tutor then showed us how you would go about joining your circles together - in a more elegant way then just stitching them together but we ran out of time to try for ourselves.  I was really pleased with the end result and now feel very much ready to make something for myself.

Beginners crochet

Today I had a day off work - holiday to use up, so visited Stitched By You for a beginners class in crochet.  I have friends who knit and friends who crochet, but none who do both.  So as a very happy knitter would I be a happy crocheter? 

We started by working out how to hold the hook and wool.  I felt all fingers and thumbs but thought I'd got it as we made a worm out of chain stitch, only to be told that I'd been picking up the wool wrong. Whoops.  Second attempt went much better.

This time we made another worm of chain stitch, then turned the worm and added single crochet stitches (I'm using american terms here as that was what we were taught).

Turning again we added double crochet stitches and then turn and treble crochet stitches.  The bigger the stitch the faster your work grows - it was like magic.

Then to bring it all together we attempted to make butterflies, using all the stitches we'd just been taught.  I'm not sure where I went wrong, but I think I need to try this again with no-one around to distract me.
It was a fun couple of hours and I look forward to doing more.

The Allergy and Free From Show

Following on from the last post about gluten free cooking, yesterday we went to The Allergy and Free From Show to find ourselves some gluten free goodies. This was at Olympia in London so very easy to get to and jam packed full of stalls with products to help anyone with any allergy.
At the same time there was also the Just V Show and the Love Natural, Love Organic show so lots of interesting things to look at.
We were there just after it opened which meant we got to see quite a lot of it before it got really busy, by the time we left it was getting hard to move around.
But the best bit was that there were loads of food samples and many of them were gluten free, so 'im outdoors quite happily stuffed his face.  There was bread, sweets, burgers, sausages, biscuits, crisps, cake, donuts, energy bars, ice cream and much much more.  Its all very well seeing these products online, but until you've tried them you just don't know if they will be any good or not (gluten free seems to be very hit and miss).  This was our chance to try lots of products, some of which we were aware of, and see if they made the cut.
Some of these things we will end up buying.  I really liked the lentil crisps, and Asda's 'jammy dodger' type biscuits were pretty good but things like the cake mixes I think I can do better myself.
It was a really nice event to attend and although I'm not sure we'd go every year, I think its something you'd want to check out on a regular basis just to see what new things are coming out.