Monday 30 May 2011

Episode 5: KNIT ALL THE THINGS!!




Show notes:

Friends of Aplayfulday:
The Savvy Girls Podcast
The Knitmore Girls Podcast
Laura Chau. Don't forget her great pattern offer on the ravelry store till the end of May 2011.
Purlescence Yarns. See the offer here 

Knitting events
Knit Nation 15th-17th July 2011
StitchCrawl for Worldwide Knit In Public Day.
Cally Fest 3rd July 2011


On and off the needles:
Off the Needles= 
On the Needles=
Two toe up Socks on One circular Needle by Kirsten Bellehumeur in Knit Picks essential kettle dyed.
Test Knit for Lisa Mutch in Dream In Colour Smooshy, Gold Experience colourway.
Munch, Burp, Slurp:
Lurgashall Winery for Rose Wine and Sloe Gin goodness
Recipe for Summer Salad Dressing:
1 small shallot finely diced
1-2 cloves of garlic smashed together with seasalt
2tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp white wine vinegar
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
Pinch of black pepper
1 tbsp plain oil


Songs: 
Fly, Fly, Fly by Adrina Thorpe, available on Music Alley
Blue Grass by Skip Jensen, available on Music Alley
Contact me at: aplayfulday@gmail.com 
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Sunday 29 May 2011

Return to life

I've been decidedly 'off' lately. I've kind of hidden from myself, withdrawn from friends and not really done MUCH. Today I broke and shook myself off a bit. I decided there was nothing for it: I need to cook and bake. Food for me is the heart of life. I have been avoiding cooking- always a bad sign.

Peering in cupboards I sensed I wasn't in the right frame of mind or ingredient-enriched position yet so I mooched down to the farmers market and the man and I got as much produce as we could carry. I was so busy buying I forgot to take pics. I know, I know. Like I said, I've not been myself. 

We came home and made an astonishingly good Summer Salad (recipe in tomorrow's podcast). Again, such was my delight at this return to all things delicious I forgot to take pics.  I did however write it in my recipe journal and thought about how to use the dressing in tomorrow's lunch (warm new potato salad I think- YUM)!

Next came toasted walnut and pesto bread. It's in the machine as we're heading out and I wanted to be sure I had a loaf and had time to bake something sweet. 

About that something sweet......

Bread flour does not provide a substitute for the100g that is missing from the needed wholemeal flour. So you know.

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Ho hum

So I have the plague. Having spent all weekend with him, I'm craving OTL; he'd make it right


So what have I down to cure the dreaded plague? Finished blankets, weaved in ends, worked on birthday knits and cast on. Don't you just love the potential of a skein on the ball winder?

:cough cough;

That's all I can manage for now x

Sunday 22 May 2011

Being playful despite the end of the world

Well if happened, I got left behind. So apparently I get to watch the zombies and jaguars. Brilliant.
Faced with the end of the world, there seemed like no better option than grabbing a picnic and taking a road trip to the coast. I've been staying with my family this weekend so have had the joy of rat babies, OTL and the man all to myself alongside my family. It's been nothing short of bliss.
Oh sign of joy
We headed South, winding our way through pretty villages where countless cricket matches were coming to an end. On the way we made a detour to Lurgashall Winery, purveyor of alcohol goodness. Between the sloe gins, Walnut liquers and Elderflower wines, I was convinced the Rapture had indeed happened and we were in heaven. I picked up some Sloe Gin (ofcourse) and some Rose Petal wine which I'm told is great in Cava for a refreshing Summer cocktail. I nearly squealed with excitement when she announced that they were launching new lines soon: chilli vodka, blueberry liquer and banana rum- HELLO!

Then it was back in the car to our favourite stretch of beach: West Wittering. As always OTL was delighted and despite the old creeping in, he managed a few frantic dashes and we played in the sands just like last year.


He wasn't the only one playing of course...

Nor was he the only excited one

I remember that looking a lot more graceful when I was 5.....
We put Charlie back for a well deserved rest. I'm convinced he dreamt he was a puppy again, chasing me and finding mountains of tennis balls (as always he found one)

We ate our weight in yummy picnic food, fending off every dog in the area who wanted some (crunchy chicken recipe: take one freshly laid picnic, crufts and half a ton of sand. Mix enthusiastically). Then there was more time to play before it was time to go home.



Stay playful xx 

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Bonus Episode: Down at the Farm





Show notes:


This episode finds us down at the Farm for the Spitalfields City Farm Sheep and Wool Fayre. For further information on how to support and enjoy the farm, please click on the link below:

Featured Traders:
TillyFlop- greeting cards, framed prints, commisions and more
Travelknitter- (rather delicious)Hand dyed yarns

Fashion Designs from Melissa Roberts
London Guild of Spinners and Weavers

Songs: 
Grandpa's Farm by After All These Years, available on Music Alley
Contact me at: aplayfulday@gmail.com 
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Monday 16 May 2011

Episode 4: To the Point




Show notes:

Friends of Aplayfulday:
Rosmademe guest blog
The Savvy Girls Podcast

Purlescence Yarns. See the offer here 
Knitting events
Knit Nation 15th-17th July 2011
Camp Bestival,  28th-31st July 2011

On and off the needles:
Knee High version remains on hold in  Knit Picks essential kettle dyed. 
Yarn Review
Yarn-To-Knit, superwash/ Nylon sock yarn in the colour way Red Wine

Songs: 
Fly, Fly, Fly by Adrina Thorpe, available on Music Alley
Swing Down by Beau Hall, available on Music Alley
Contact me at: aplayfulday@gmail.com 
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Monday 9 May 2011

When you speak the language of knit


The man had a bad day yesterday. I asked him what he needed and he just looked at me and said:

'I need to curl up in a ball and knit'

I love him

Thursday 5 May 2011

Why you should vote today

I try hard not to let politics get too into this blog as I never want to be accused of biased writing. Today however I'm going to openly talk politics. Not Yes or No but your right to VOTE. If you dismiss this because 'you don't do politics' I feel sad. Politics are in everything we do: pay rates, public services, how clean are streets are, our monthly bills, our schools. Whether you like it or not, NOT voting is a vote in itself and is therefore a political choice.

Today the British public vote on electoral reform, a rolling debate that gathered momentum when faced with a Tory stranglehold or a vote for a Labour party no one believed in anymore, the public threw the vote and voted in a coalition. I'm not going to comment on my strong gut reaction to why this happened as I would then enter into yes or no terrority. I'm simply pointing out why I am urging you to vote today.

I just had a reply to a link I placed on my facebook page that stated 'It's all too confusing and I'm not voting'. I was stunned. I went to university with this thoughtful and intelligent man. Is he actually saying that he is too stupid to follow a voting system? Both systems are ALREADY in place. Nationally we run the 'first past the post' system of voting; in London and within political parties, we run the AV system offering more seats and less strangleholds. So both are currently being used and understood. 

By not voting we are still making a political choice. Those in the 'No campaign' will see it as proof that we're too stupid to understand and therefore want first past the post. So you've voted whether you meant to or not. 

Please, if you do nothing else today, look at this website that shows you what you're vote is worth and VOTE. I won't enter into debate here but if you have any questions and would like to ask about the two systems, please feel free to email me. 

Speak freely and loudly people.

Wednesday 4 May 2011

I'm a survivor...

Yes I'm singing the Destiny's Child song, don't judge me. After the day I had yesterday? You're lucky I'm not in my disco pants, drunk as a lord and singing Gloria Gaynor quite frankly.

Anyway yesterday KICKED.MY.BUTT. Ouch. Today however was much better as I got an early cool and a booking. I've ticked 5 things off my list and postponed 2 for very good reasons. Promise. To add to my better day, THEY FOUND MY PACKAGE!!!! I did a little victory boogie on the phone and explained this to the nice man who then offered to walk it round. Had they not lost it in the first place I'd have been amazed at the service. 

Here is my bounty for the goddess that is Amber.


There's another skein of Miss Bab's to make a jumper in the beautiful burgundy colourway 'Catherine'. I now have two and I'm dead excited. There's also this skein of Lisa Souza Hardtwist in the colourway Sherwood Forest. Tally ho I say!

Then there was this cute as anything wallet. I will be using it for nights out when I don't take my whole purse and also to add business cards to when I finally get round to ordering some. (This was on tomorrow's list anyway, don't start). We both love interesting keys so this is just so cute. I found myself stroking the satisfying fabric on the top. Lovely.



So after my storming success I took WIPs pics. ooooooooo I can do WIP Wednesday can't I? Perfect timing. Here is progress on the Pinwheel Blanket by Genia Planck. 4th ball.... 2 to go..... over 400 stitches at last count. 
Then I have a question for you all. How to customise this. I have no sewing machine but I do have needle, thread and some sharp ass fabric scissors. What do you suggest?

Tuesday 3 May 2011

In Need...

.. of One True Love today


Oh how I wish we could play in the sun and collapse exhausted onto a rug where I'll skritch your ears and you'll stick your nose in my face everytime I stop.

Instead I have:
1. Called the Royal mail and after an hour and a hour got through to a human who said he'd get back to me by Thursday to see if they've found my lost package. 
2. Tried and failed to call HMRC regarding my tax reference number 8 times.
3. Emailed 5 recuitment agents and heard back from one to say 'thanks for the email'. They had all left frantic 'contact me now' style messages so I felt a little more reaction would have been great.
4. Called 3 helplines that were not even remotely helpful and rarely put me through to a human. On to 5th attempt I got a human and was cut off after 15 minutes of giving details. 
5. Took a bath and made a sandwich then upon opening the bin discovered the man had not emptied the bin as promised. I then discovered my urgent mail he was sorting was not with him at work, but on the floor in the bedroom. Bad man beast
6. Researched better bank deals before realising I didn't have the right paperwork midapplication, going to get it and it timing out.
7. Laid on the floor, face down and refused to move until someone brings One True Love

I might be here for sometime......

Monday 2 May 2011

The Day The Cameras Came

You would be forgiven for thinking from reading the title that fame has finally caught up with me. That's exactly what I thought when the man announced a camera crew was coming to our house in an hour and a half while I still lie in bed, sipping my coffee and pondering the bank holiday ahead. Alas, they were not coming for me, but for HIM. Huff. Don't they know who I AM?!?!?

So after a whirlwind of picking up laundry (bloomers on screen anyone?) and checking it all looked presentable (the man included) I turned my mind to the finer details. Should I leave Emelia, my beloved new mic on display?

I pictured them entering the flat, commenting on the lack of dust round the skirting boards before their eyes fell on the microphone. 'Oh that? I produce a podcast. I'm also very comfortable on film. Here's my best side...'


But I realised today was not for me but for the man and I'm so proud I could burst.