Knitted Cardigan

I just love this cute look and last night I finished my latest knitting project.   Unfortunately Mimi is funny about her clothes and flatly refused to even try it on so I doubt she will ever wear it!  Now the question is what to do with it now it is finished.

sshh don't tell Mimi

We have just enjoyed a fab (although not cheap) trip to Venice which very conveniently coincided with my birthday.   Mimi on the other hand has had a lovely action packed holiday at Grandma & Pa's.

I booked it a few months ago using the secret hotel's on lastminute.com - we were really lucky and got a the lovely 4* Papadopoli Hotel in the main part of the city about a 5min walk from the bus station. I booked our flights separately with easyjet.com

We stayed overnight at Gatwick the night before in the Marriot Courtyard.  This proved very useful as it included our parking and was walking distance to the airport.  The hotel had amazing sound proofing as we were right under the flight path for taking off and landing planes and we didn't hear a thing.

Gatwick proved to be a bit of a nightmare when we went through to departures.  We haven't flown since we came back from our gap year around the world back in 2004 so we felt a bit out of sink with the procedures.  I had got a bottle of relatively expensive conditioner and a few other bits of toiletries which I had to throw into the bin.  In my flustered state I then didn't realise that I then had to put all of my other toiletries in a clear bag so when I got to the counter the woman was really stroppy with me, then in my panicked state I managed to drop everything all over the floor.  Then she made me remove virtually all my clothes including my boots.  Mike was equally flustered and forgot to take his phone out of his pocket which resulted in a near strip search.  All of this on my Birthday at 6.30 in the morning!  Eventually we made it through to departures and safely on to Venice.

Our lovely room in Venice looked similar to this.

We didn't do very much however it was lovely to just be able to amble about freely without having to worry about Mimi either running off or pulling everything off the shelves.  I love the ability to just wander in and out of lovely little shops and cafes that take my fancy - I had forgotten how good that feeling is.

We went to the top of the Clock Tower in St Mark's Square on Thursday afternoon which was beautiful.  Friday it rained quite hard for a while so we made a trip to the Fondazione Querini Stampalia to look at some of Carlo Scarpa's work.

I came across this beautiful bag company Officine 904.  They have the most gorgeous bags which I was seriously tempted with.  However I thought they were a bit pricey at 300e and struggled to convince Mike.  Additionally it took us about 36hours of back tracking before we eventually came across the shop again.  Only to find it was closed!!!

The O'bag:  Truly gorgeous!!!  

On Saturday we took the Vaporetto out via St Mark's Sq to the Lido, Burano & Murano.  

Cute fishing village - Burano

We were fairly lucky with the weather and whilst it was wet it was not too wet to enjoy our weekend.  The city was on flood alert yesterday morning and as we left the raised walkways were out and the water was starting to lap up on to the pavements.  I was well aware of the possibility that it might flood as when I previously visited the city back in November 2002 the water in St Mark's Sq was up to my waist.

I visited Venice when I was at University as part of my Architectural Diploma back in 2002/3 and I was quite amazed at how it has changed.  It felt much more commercialised.  Designer shops, expensive restaurants & café's although it was good to see No Costa Coffee or Starbucks!   Piazza S.Marco was a little disappointing as there was lots of renovation work going on to the Clock Tower and there was a stage and hundreds of seats set out for a graduation ceremony which meant that the sense of space couldn't be fully appreciated.  However how amazing would it to be able to say that you graduated from the University of Venice in Piazza S.Marco!

Also this week:

I have finished Mimi's new hat.

Mimi is still obsessed with dressing up as an Angelina Ballerina/Scary Tiger combo!

Mimi applying her own war paint!!!

Not sure what happened to the tiger here:
She looks more like a member of the army!

Also I would like to mention the Brit Mums Big Sister Mentor programme.  I have been very lucky to have been teamed up with www.muddlingalongmummy.com.

Where has the last week gone?!?  It is already Sunday!!!  Whenever I have any spare time my mind just wanders and falls into creative mode.  This is not too good in my case as I then dread the return to work.  I really think that its time I started to use my creativity to set up a sideline.  However its the usual thing too many ideas, not enough time, wanting everything to be perfect and completed yesterday.

Mimi has been a bit of a nightmare this week.  I think my days of clothes shopping have finally passed.  I really needed to pick up some new tops for work and the weather wasn't looking too great so we popped into Canterbury. Having met my friend D for coffee Mimi became the devil child and I became the stressed out mother.  "Look at me I'm hiding", when I looked round she was clambering through all the clothes and wiping them all over her face.  She didn't want to sit in the buggy, then she did.  Then she didn't want to wear her shoes, then she did.  She didn't want her dummy, then she did.  She wanted to lie down like a Baby then she didn't.  (This was a nightmare as we had the Maclaren Buggy which meant every time she pulled herself forward the buggy re-set itself.)  Poor Mr Doggy was thrown in and out of the buggy so many times I am surprised he made it home with us.  To add to my day I had decided that we would go food shopping on the way home at the new Waitrose.  This was slightly better although she did insist on singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star at the TOP of her voice, interjected with "Help Me Help Me I need my Daddy".  We don't normally drink very much but whilst I was going round the supermarket the alcohol was calling me.  I had a lovely glass of wine in the evening.  A Waitrose own in association with Villa Maria White Sauvignon Blanc - YUM!.  As the week has progressed I wish I had brought MORE!!!!

I can't decide if its me being short tempered this week or Mimi being particularly difficult.  I can not remember when I last managed to get Mimi into a pair of trousers.  Dressing up as Angelina Ballerina is a daily activity, I struggled one night to get the dress off her as she wanted to wear it to bed as well.

Angelina Ballerina going for a walk.

This week I have finished Mimi's new hat.  I decided to adapt a pattern and experiment knitting with sequins.  I was quite pleased with the outcome and it only took me a couple of nights.  I think I might have another go.

Today we had a little pre-birthday get together as we are going to be away for my birthday.  Mike & I are off to Venice for 3 nights and Mimi is going on holiday to Grandma & Pa's.  We haven't been abroad anywhere other than France since before we got married 6 years ago so I am really excited.  Not sure its going to be that cheap though!  Anyway I put together a little Afternoon Tea treat.

Whilst K&S were up here we decided and booked a camping trip to France for next June Half Term.  Slightly worrying that we were all so impulsive, usually we procrastinate for weeks and never get round to going.  

Our chosen campsite is one we visited earlier this summer near Deauville.  Mimi has talked non-stop about camping since the summer despite the fact that it rained for the entire trip.  It looks like I will have to miss out on my planned trip to London for the Queens Jubilee, however it does mean that everyone can take advantage of the extra bank holidays this way.

On a final note check out this crazy sign I saw in a window the other day.  I made Mike go round the block just so that I could stop & take a photo.

  

Yay half term!

I feel like there are just not enough hours in the day at the moment.  Work has gone a bit crazy I had to work 4 days this week instead of my usual 3.  The house is a tip, and I have lots of Christmas ideas I would like to complete. There is just so much to do all round.  To make matters worse I think Mimi is coming towards the end of her mid-afternoon naps.  I have come to rely on these and the thought of not getting that couple of hours to catch up is worrying.  I have a new found respect for people who have 2 or more children.  Funnily enough last weekend my mum looked after my nephew and she was saying she wondered how she ever got anything done and she had four of us!!

Again it is one of those weeks where it has flown by and I know I have been busy but now that I sit here it seems to have all escaped my memory!!  Although work is busy I generally have had a better week and I am feeling much happier which is good.

There is a definite chill in the air, I think Autumn has finally decided to put in an appearance.  I had to scrape the ice of my car this morning.  Mimi keeps complaining she is cold and much to my disgust we have had the heating on for the last few nights.

Having racked my brain this week we have:

• Planted our onions ready for the spring

• Been enjoying the beautiful weather whilst it continues

Can you believe it's the middle of October?!

We had a lovely long walk on Sunday, the weather was beautiful.  We were  on our way home, we had just stopped for an ice cream and were happily walking along the promenade holding hands when suddenly a little boy on a bike hit Mimi from behind.  He totally wiped her out, she was under the bike (still clutching her ice lolly) screaming and the little boy was sprawled on the pavement face down.  I didn't know what to do, so having scoped Mimi up I realised that the little boy wasn't moving.  Some really nice people stopped to help and finally the father came along.  He was learning to ride a bike and lost control.  It was a complete accident.  Mimi after a minute or two was ok, a bit of a red mark on his back but nothing too serious.  I think the little boy was in shock.  I was shaking, it really scared me.  It all happened so quickly.  Thank goodness he wasn't going any faster.

• Made some lovely pink heart shaped biscuits

• Started and finished my new snood

This was knitted on size 10 circular needles using 2 balls of Patons Fab Big Wool.  Cast on 131 stiches, working continuously in moss stitch (knit 1 Purl1) making sure you mark the start.  

• Face painting

Mummy's attempt at a Tiger 

Also this week my lovely husband brought me a Kindle as an early birthday present so that I can download some books to take to Venice with me.  It is great and I LOVE it.  I am surprised however to find that it does not have a back-light so reading in the dark is not an option!  Additionally in a lot of cases new books are more expensive in digital format than the books.  But I LOVE it all the same.  It is great because I can make the font bigger as I really struggle with the small font.

I am off to have my hair cut in the morning and to pick up some groovy fabrics for my Christmas Projects.

Project 4 - Fair Isle cardigan for Mimi

Yay I have just completed the Fair Isle Cardigan for Mimi.  I am really pleased with the outcome.

I am pleased I knitted it one size bigger than needed as the sizes come up on the small side.

Happy Friday.

Jobs for today

• Finish the washing from our holiday (plus all the additional washing from the potty training
• Attempt to tidy the house
• Persevere with potty training Mimi
• Continuation of Project 4 - Fair Isle cardigan for Mimi (Pattern from Sublime -The second Sublime children's double knitting book.)
• Afternoon Tea with Mrs R & L
• Start Project 5 - Chair Renovation
• Sort out all of the bills.

Having fun in the garden

Afternoon Tea with Mrs R & L

Project 4 - Fair isle Cardigan for Mimi

Project 5 - Chair Renovation

Mimi had her first wee wee on the toilet today which we all found very exciting.  I am finding it quite tough going, we have had a few nasty experiences.  This morning when I was in the shower she said "I need a WEE WEE!!  Quick Mummy Quick" so covered in soap and dripping wet I jumped out of the shower and ran to the toilet with her when she turned round and said "Off Off No WEE WEE!"  Little Monkey!