A Day on Anglesey,North Wales.

 As I am restricted in what I can do at the moment(we should have gone to France today but have had to cancel)we decided on a trip to Anglesey.It was blue skies when we set off but that wasn't to last.It is less than an hour to Anglesey from our house.The above photo shows the Menai Straits which divide Anglesey from the mainland.They are very treacherous waters and very fast flowing.

 Our first stop was at the above place.The longest place name in Britain,I think.With my recent Welsh lessons I can just about pronounce it!

We then went on to Rhosneigr.A lovely little place with a great beach.There was another beach with masses of surfers but we couldn't park.Just outside the village we noticed an odd looking building which said it was The Oystercatcher Bar and restaurant so in we went for lunch.What a fascinating place.The building was made in Germany and brought in 12 trucks to Rhosneigr where it was assembled.All the furniture inside was made by prisoners in Durham jail.The restaurant is run as a social enterprise.Every year they take between 12 and 18 local students who have done one year in college and give them work experience in the bar and restaurant.The food was wonderful.Any profits made go back into the scheme.It was lovely to be served by these young people.What a great idea.

From there we did a short drive to Oriel Ynys Mon(Anglesey Art Gallery) to see an exhibition by a very famous Welsh artist called Kyffin Williams who does the most marvellous paintings in both oils and water colours.It was good to get out and about with only a short walk from the car so that if my knee went C could dash and get my crutches!

This and that!

 I am just showing you what I have finished this week.I had this yarn in a giveaway from Josie Kitten.It is a very bright yellow,not a colour I would normally choose but I love it.The pattern is Dane shawl.It is sock weight wool and is very quick to knit.It is going to brighten me up over winter.

 Another quick knit is this fun tea cosy, easily knitted up in one evening.I did it to go in my new kitchen.

Here it is -the new kitchen!!We are thrilled to bits with it.
Other news.My knee seems to have settled(famous last words).I don't even have an appointment to see the consultant for five weeks and then how long will I have to wait for surgery.I am very nervous where I go.I can never be far from the car and take my crutches everywhere.
Last night I felt brave and we went to our local film theatre.We are so lucky that five minutes from home we have a theatre which also has a film theatre which shows lots of foreign films.Last night we saw The Women on the Sixth Floor.It was brilliant.Very funny.A really feel good film.It cheered me up no end.Just what I need at the moment.

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It gets worse!

I saw the orthopaedic consultant thos morning and the A&E doctor had misread my x ray.The plastic between the two metal bits of my new knee has broken.The metal markerin the plastic that shows whether it is in place has moved and is on the side of my leg above my knee.This means knee revision surgery which is more complicated than the original op and takes longer to recover.They say it is urgent but how long that will be I don't know.I am gutted.

What a strange few weeks and a visit to A&E!

 These last few weeks have been filled with having a new kitchen fitted and helping our daughter out with Emily and Ruby.Here is Ruby in her school uniform ready for school.She is the last of our grandchildren to go to school and it is quite sad because we won't get to see her during the week.We have been helping while Ruby was doing odd times and days until starting full time next Monday.She insisted on having her photo taken in front of the fireplace at her house!why?I have no idea.
While this has been happening we have had a new kitchen fitted which we are thrilled with .We have gone for ivory units and tiles and slate coloured worktops and floor.We are accessorising with red.I cannot believe the shades of red there are as we went between John Lewis,Next etc!!

 However,despite being busy with the above I have finished two projects.This scarf/stole is in Posh yarn 2ply,a mixture of merino and silk.

This again is Posh Yarn.The pattern Knitspot Summer Fun Sock.
Today has been eventful because I was in A& E at 9a.m.Four years ago I had a knee replacement and it has been brilliant-until Monday.I tried to get up from the sofa at Sarah's and my knee locked.I couldn't straighten my leg or put my foot down and was in excruciating pain.After half an hour it eased and I could walk again.It happened twice more during the evening.Yesterday evening I was putting my shoes on to go out and it happened again and lasted for two hours.I couldn't move or walk and the pain was awful.So this morning to A&E.Amazingly quick.I was seen by a doctor,X rayed,seen by t he doc again all in an hour.The X ray didn't show any damage to my artificial knee so I have to go to the fracture clinic tomorrow as a way into orthopaedic.Since the doc fiddled it hasn't locked again so here's hopong he's fixed itLife is never simple is it?This has really knocked my confidence.I am dreading driving or even going out and it happening again..
Anyone know what has happened to kathy from Postcards from the PP?

Yummy yarn!

 Just one stall
.I have been to the Woolfest just outside Chester today.All the big names were there.Posh Yarn(my favourite),Fyberspates,Laughing Hen,NDS,The Knitting Goddess,Easy Knits and a few more.I was spoiled for choice.All this lovely yarn but what is good is that you can feel it and see the true colours which you can't do on the internet.

This is my haul.From left to right.Posh yarn 2ply Sylvia(merino and silk),Betsy sock yarn(wool,silk and cashmere),Easyknit Timeless Tweed Sock Yarn(merino and Donegal Nepp),Knitting Goddess Same Difference Sock yarn(two closely matched skeins) which I am going to knit into a Wingspan shawlette/scarf and finally Rooster Lace in burnt orange.
It was lovely talking to fellow knitters  and as I only live 20 minutes away I may go again tomorrow and grab some more yummy yarn!

A little catch up

 This is a photo from our recent visit to the Loire Valley.I won't bore you with loads of photos but I thought this was a nice one.Me and C at Chenonceau.We had a gite which was very close to it and we could walk and view it across the river.A very pretty sight.We only went for a week and the weather wasn't brilliant but we had some wonderful food and drank plenty of wine.

I thought I would put this one in of my two granddaughters snuggling under my latest crocheted blanket.I have now sewn in all the end!I love this pattern.It is a Jane Brocket pattern.Emily who is seven had brought her knitting(Ruby came in saying "Em has brought her "needing nittles".Bless her).The Head at her school plus one of the mums has taught a whole group how to knit.She spent most of the day knitting.I do hope she is going to be a knitter.Sock knitting is the order of the day at the moment.It fits in with lots of Olympic TV watching!
Sunday we are off to Cambridge to "grandparent" our other three grandchildren for a week.I am just hoping we get some decent weather.

I've just bought an i pad.Help!

I have just bought an i pad.Have you any suggestions for craft apps or any apps that might be useful.I quite like playing games so ideas for that would be good too.I am a bit concerned that all this technology takes away so many things we have treasured.We are about to go off to France for a week and we always take scrabble,boggle,cards etc.We could just play on the i pad but that wouldn't be the same so I think it will stay at home!I think I just have to prove to my family that I am not past it and can deal with an i pad and a kindle.Am I wrong?