I haven't used this DW acount or LJ for a year now - have mostly been on Facebook and Ravelry (and the DW journal that links to Ravelry to note down patterns - nothing to see there!) This is mainly because I haven't been writing due to the lack of inspiration, though I have at least three works in theoretical progress I should do something about. ( Read more... )

I have finished my first two serious knitting projects - light-reflective hats for me and Lil for when we're walking the dogs. So that's another skill I've revived. I have also ordered a book of dog coat patterns which will be an ongoing project for Draco. (By which I mean he will model and I will knit ( Read more... )

Yesterday we took Bren up to the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket to see a specialist vet in the quest to resolve his itching/scratching/gradually getting balder issues. While Lil attended the clinic I took Draco for a walk round the site (the grounds of an old Stately Home) and a rootle round the Trust shop - which has some smashing clothes and ( Read more... )

Like most schools in the 60s, mine didn't bother much with grammar and punctuation, so I learned most of my English Language through the BBC Home Service/Radio 4. And in particular My Word and Many A Slip. BBC4X occasionally broadcasts what little remains in the archives of both series - and although I generally don't bother with the Saturday ' ( Read more... )

I'm not a great celebrator of Christmas, but some of the associated events I really love. I'm unhappy that I won't be able to get to Olympia this year (an annual event before we had the dogs), but last Thursday the agility club had its own Christmas party and competition which is, since I Draco and I joined last year, now a much anticipated part ( Read more... )

I got the tiles finished before the gasman came - though I still need to get cupboards and shelving sorted out. And arrange for a washing machine. It turns out that the builders who replaced our internal waste pipe did not include an outlet fitting for washing machine waste - which will probably add a lot to our installation bill. Or we could ( Read more... )

I would like to thank John Finnemore from the bottom of my fanficcer's heart for this blog post on the subject of what is and is not 'canon' in popular culture ( Read more... )

Yesterday's Buck House visit was interesting - No cameras allowed, of course, but I wish I'd taken a notebook, though suspect that they are no keener on people casing the joint for fictional purposes than they are on photography. It was annoying as the official guide thinks that you're more interested in the minutiae of Royal Life than the ( Read more... )

I caught John Finnemore's Edinburgh special when I got back from the cinema yesterday (so not an entirely wasted afternoon). And this morning came across a lovely little Cabin Pressure fanfic which captures the spirit and voices of the show perfectly. Which is exactly what one needs while waiting for a new, real, radio fix. 2300 words, so it won' ( Read more... )

Lil was fast asleep at 10 this morning (we were both up at 5 as usual) so I decided to take the dogs out for their walk - except that Draco did his usual 'chase me' trick, and for once I decided not to play, so left him at home and took Bren out for a nice walk in the woods with a group of the regular local dog walkers ( Read more... )