Thirty Something Hobbies http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/ blogging about gardening, knitting, Bob the rabbit, Tiggy the cat, living in Scotland and probably decorating at some point. en-US Copyright 2008 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:27:04 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Ravelry Ravelry? I've been very organised today and listed 8 of my knitting projects on it and have now been able to throw out the pile of wool labels I was keeping in case I felt the need of the info. again! and while I was there I put some more pics on FlickR, so I'm feeling quite pleased with myself for finally getting around to it! ]]> http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2008/02/ravelry.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2008/02/ravelry.html Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:27:04 +0000 Decorating We finished decorating our bedroom, after 3 trips to Ikea thanks to them being out of stock of doors, handles....Here's a pic of a corner of it, we have only done 1 wall of the wallpaper the other 3 we did in a green matched to the leaves in the paper, fab paper but would have been a bit too much all over, not to mention screamingly frustrating to do with such a big repeat as our house is old with wonky walls - the one wall we did with a slope at head height that moved as we got across the wall led to some screaming hissy fits on my part!  And isn't the green glass lamp cute for the bargain price of £3.99! Ikea may be a long trip too and annoying at times but so worth it for things like that.  And we finally have a 'wardrobe solution' that means all our clothes fit in one place not spread round the 2 spare rooms as well as our room! (the treasures we rediscovered when sorting it out were great!)

phone pics 008.jpg]]> http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2008/02/decorating.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2008/02/decorating.html Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:47:47 +0000 Coming Back! http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2008/02/coming-back.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2008/02/coming-back.html Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:37:18 +0000 Still Here! a belated Happy New Year, I'm still here - Paul took the pc off me for a few days to format it (getting a lot of problems with it) that's very scary when he says he thinks he's saved everything we want and he's now deleting everything!! but most things seem to be back but not my bookmarks that I spent years adding too! Bob's a lot better although we have discovered with him living inside that much as he likes Broccoli it gives him incredibly smelly wind!! I'm madly trying to knit up all the projects in backlog so I can justify buying more wool for new projects I've planned, but having persevered with the free Rowan pattern for a drop stitch waistcoat that I didn't like knitting at all, when I finally finished it I put it on and thought 'eugh don't like this' but the pain I went through to finish the damn thing I can't bring myself to rip it! Warren who was lovely enough to build my blog says he needs to move the server - not sure what it entails but I think I'll be down for a little while - promise to post again soon! http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2008/01/still-here.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2008/01/still-here.html Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:10:31 +0000 Wreath Rather proud of the door wreath I've made this year - though once again the holly berries had mysteriously disappeared when I went out to pick again!?
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Bob's doing well and starting to eat a bit more (neither of us was enjoying syringing baby food into him) and he seems very happy in the nice warm spare room!

I'll post a pic of the gloves very soon - nearly finished!

]]> http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/12/wreath.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/12/wreath.html Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:44:09 +0000 Bob's Moved! An update on Bob - his eating had slowed so much that he wasn't even managing much banana so I took him to the vet (to be honest I was almost in tears before I got there, expecting the worst) the very nice vet (Glen) had a good look and said well he has got a very sharp back tooth that's probably the problem, however couple that with:
- he's the rabbit equivalent of in his late 90's
- he has cataracts and has to peer at you closely to see who it is.
- he has slight incontinence.
- he has a recurring eye infection.
- he needs his bum cleaning regularly as arthritis means he struggles too.
- he now has an irregular heartbeat
It's not looking good, but on the plus side:
- apart from the not eating he's still quite perky and appears to be happy and able to run right across the patio before having to stop for a rest.
So I had to make the decision, put him through a sedation and dental work and syringe him baby food until he's eating okay (if he comes through it alive!) or 'put him to sleep'. Well what a state I was standing in the vets clutching my 'knackered ol' bun.' to me blubbing.........that was yesterday, this evening he's home from his 'operation' and living in a lovely new 'hutch' in the spare room being hand fed twice a day! The relief that he survived was ginormous - Paul did comment that I was in serious trouble if he popped his clogs after spending rather a lot making him better and comfortable - but you can't really put a price on your furry friends, especially after spending 12 years together can you?

]]> http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/12/bobs-moved.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/12/bobs-moved.html Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:49:35 +0000 Gloves Goodness - 2 posts in 2 days!! how long I'll keep this up I don't know but here I am with some knitting progress, I'm on gloves for me!! I have to admit I'm a selfish knitter and like it best when it's a project for me and these gloves are going very well - they're to match the hat I did a while ago and wear a lot, I did photo it to post however Paul's not here so I plonked it on the nearest thing that it'd fit over which happened to be a small chocolate fondue pot??? needless to say it looked decidedly odd when I uploaded it so I'll wait until Paul's back to photo. me with the hat and gloves in the right places.

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Tomorrow my plan is to go and buy The Tree - normally we do this together but as Paul's not here and I'm at work all weekend next week I'm going to get it on my own (hoping there's a nice man to help me fit it in the car - and there's the thing - fit it in, without the voice of reason from my more 'anal' other half (he likes straight lines and matching things) we just know I'm going to come back with a tree that's far too big but heyho that's just far more fun! I've warned him I won't be able to resist and I have far more decorations than I can usually fit on so the only problem should be bending the top over to hang the star from (as opposed to balancing it on the top) and squeezing it up the corner so we can still light the fire without lighting the tree!!!

Then of course I'll have to wait until he come's home to help get it out of the car and erect it in the very straight manner he likes, unless, as I've done before - impatience gets the better of me and I attempt to manhandle it all by myself into the living room leaving a trail of destruction in my path.....

]]> http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/12/gloves.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/12/gloves.html Knitting Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:28:41 +0000 Ta Dah! Pc060051.jpg

Here I am! Huge apologies for the absence - that's what happens when you work in retail this time of year, get a promotion and try to knit most of your Christmas presents!

I've finally found a minute to put my feet up - in my lovely new knitted socks! (rather proud of myself, turned a heel and everything!!) obviously I can't show you the numerous other knitting projects as it'd spoil the surprise for my lucky family who've got them in their santa sacks! But Paul if you're reading this prepare yourself because you're still not getting a fonejacker balaclava.

To update you all a bit Bob the bunny is still going strong rather amazingly, though a bit slow to get up in the morning one sniff of his banana and he's out like a shot! Who'd have thought a banana a day could be the key to long life?!? Eternally grateful to Monkee Maker for that tip.

I'm still having trouble a lot of the time with Blogspot sites not opening so apologies if I don't comment on yours very often but it's quite a random problem with our pc which Paul's still not fixed but I'm very peeved to keep missing out on the monkees at Monkee Makers shop! but I'll persevere and hopfully one day a monkee will be mine - my pink monkey who shall probably remain as simply Pink Monkey for ever just doesn't have the personality!

Knitting group is still going strong and we remembered it's our anniversary coming up soon so are planning to celebrate, we're getting a bigger and bigger group each week - Starbucks may well chuck us out soon as we rather take over.

I'm still loving my new car although Paul's gone 'down south' visiting this weekend and taken it with him!!! I was very tickled by the air freshener I found for it made from SheepPooPaper - that really is made of poo!

Anyway I'll go now and get back to the gloves I'm knitting but I shall do my best to be a bit more regular posting.

]]> http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/12/ta-dah.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/12/ta-dah.html Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:08:20 +0000 100th post! Here it is - my 100th post! Apologies for it being a long time coming (been a bit busy getting ready for Christmas!!!) It's a very random one but amused us this evening:

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This is the mouse that Tiggy brought in and let go, so it ran under the living room door, Paul and I then spent quite some time crawling around the floor peering under the sofas etc before realising it was a bit higher up! The brave little mouse then tightrope walked across the curtain pole before falling off and being caught in the handy box we keep specifically for catching the cats little playthings (far too regular it's needed) we safely released it outside. Tig. has since spent ages looking into every nook and cranny for her snack!

]]> http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/10/100th-post.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/10/100th-post.html Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:47:17 +0000 Dancing round the living room! Paul thinks I'm mad but probably just a bit merry - I've survived my first week in my new store with all the problems it threw at me, my bunny's get a new reason for living (bananas) My latest knitting projects going well, Paul's just come in and put the sparkly purple cowboy hat (acquired from a long time ago very 'merry' evening)on me with the comment "I think you should wear this whilst blogging" we've shared the bottle of wine I got in my leaving present from my old store and I've happily danced around the living room to that annoyingly catchy accordion song! I'm quite happy at the moment! I could post longer but it could get very rambling and I'm building up for my 100th post (this is 99 I think!) Have you recently danced around at home to something loud? I firmly believe it's very good for you - maybe one of these days we'll relive our youth and go out clubbing again!!!

]]> http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/10/dancing-round-the-living-room.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/10/dancing-round-the-living-room.html Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:46:46 +0000 Banana Bunny! On reading about poor ol' Bob Monkee Maker suggested trying him with bananas and I admit I was a bit unsure but he loved them! - thanks Monkee Maker, unfortunately I realised after trying him with a bit that he can't manage a whole one fast enough, I left him last night with a whole one and this morning he'd left half that had gone mushy and which he'd then felt the need to sit on! I had a Sticky Banana Bunny! So we'll make it a half for Paul half for Bob each morning! As long as his appetite keeps up though I figure he's doing okay and he did hop down the steps and across the patio quite energetically last night (admittedly in a slightly wonky line!).

On another note I finished knitting the jacket last night but I'm not sure if I like it and as I kept putting it off to knit other thanks (like monkees) and it's definately a summer jacket it's really wrong now! But I did go to Twist Fibre Craft on my day off this week and got carried away I bought several random balls of wool to knit Xmas scarves with (okay one's going to be for me) and some sock wool (not tried socks before) but I'd only really gone in needing 3 buttons! But hey it was inevitable really that if I went in I'd buy wool!

]]> http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/10/banana-bunny.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/10/banana-bunny.html Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:25:47 +0000 Is Bob upright? It's getting a bit of a worry, we don't have "I'll just go and check Bob's okay and give him a dandelion/put him to bed/give him a cuddle" we're now on "I'll just check Bob's upright" He's a very old bunny and had a small accident a few months back where he slipped off his ramp (of his fancy 3 storey hutch) and I found him when I got home with his back legs stuck but once I freed him he stretched out and seemed right as rain - but whether he's now got arthritis in his leg with the colder weather but several times now we've found him lying on his right side and when he sees us trying to get up but not able too! Each time I've tended to burst into tears and clutch him too me but after putting him upright again he gives himself a shake and looks round for his carrot/broccoli/dandelion and tucks in as if nothing happened?! I'm so torn I don't want my old bunny pal to be suffering but on the other hand he's still got a fair appetite (admittedly for less tough things as he's missing a few teeth!) I remember when his pal Molly had to be 'put to sleep' (she'd been a bit odd since I had her - never buy from random breeders!) it was the saddest day of my life standing in the vets clutching my little bunn. and using all the vets tissues. But what do I do for the best? Winter's coming and I can't bear Bob to suffer but I couldn't let him go when he still happy most of the time?!? A sad post but he's very much on my mind as we've picked him up twice this evening!

]]> http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/10/is-bob-upright.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/10/is-bob-upright.html Tue, 02 Oct 2007 22:03:34 +0000 blogspot problems Is anyone else experiencing problems opening blogspot blogs? I keep having this problem and am really unsure whether it is blogspot or my pc - it's happening with Firefox and Explorer, but it's most frustrating as a lot of blogs on my feed are blogspot and some days they just won't open!

I'll post again soon with knitting news as I'm getting on very well with the lovely snuggly shrug sort of thing from Rowan's latest book, but I really shouldn't have started until I'd finished the summery jacket that had already been held up by the monkee! But the weather turned and I thought "I need a snuggly warm thingy more than a summery jacket" but Christmas is coming isn't it along with plans for more knitted presents. Paul still thinks I'm cheap knitting gifts whilst I maintain there's much more love involved when you've made it especially investing time and effort and careful thought into them and we had a discussion at knitting last week that these days we're far more likely to just buy ourselves things we want rather than wait for Christmas so I think presents need to be a bit more special - so stand by family for more knitted treasures!

On the gardening side Paul and I got 3 full days when we got back from our trip to clear the garden and do lots of pruning - Tiggy's not so pleased we can see her under the bushes now and so can the little birdies!! One however obviously not paying attention came through the cat flap and was scattered around the bedroom! Really not nice at all - why do I love my cat?!?

]]> http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/10/blogspot-problems.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/10/blogspot-problems.html Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:53:59 +0000 Been Away! I've not been just not posting, we've been away in Amsterdam! After the chaos at work of the last few weeks we got away for a very relaxing long weekend and feel much refreshed for it! It was the second time we'd been to Amsterdam and I love the city for just wandering around stopping every so often to enjoy the European cafe culture - Saturday afternoon sharing a bottle of wine, Sunday morning coffees - before meandering a bit further along the canals and shady streets.

Here's Paul stopping to enjoy the sunshine on one of the bridges
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And here's a very familiar site in Amsterdam - lots and lots of bikes! in fact you do need to be very careful in the main areas as they come from every direction! (that's Paul and Andy to the left lost in random boys conversation before noticing I wasn't with them and turning round to say "are you still with us?") Going away with your hubby and one of his best mates might seem a bit odd but actually works quite well!
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And here's some lizards (not real) but I just loved this little bit of grass with the lizard statues completely randomly with no explanation!
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And in other news - The Ipod's back fixed!!! much relief - we missed it, we put it on totally random and to celebrate it played a most bizarre mix of Goldie lookin' Chain (I do share the pod with Paul you understand) followed by Bing Crosby's White Christmas followed by The Stranglers then Sinatra's Fly Me to the Moon and continued in this strange mix for some time - anyone with an Ipod will be familiar with the random choice where it manages to follow on each track fairly evenly but choosing a particular artist each day that it pops in a track from about every 3 or 4 tracks just to let you know what mood it's in!?!

]]> http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/09/been-away.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/09/been-away.html Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:20:40 +0000 Finished! Look he's finished! got legs and everything! And he looks quite pleased with himself too! Just what should I call him?

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]]> http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/09/finished.html http://www.paulandsal.com/blog/2007/09/finished.html Knitting Sun, 16 Sep 2007 12:51:13 +0000