LIFE SOCKS ... SAUDI SOCKS !

The US of A

2010-08-21T13:05:00.004+03:00

Yep again, been AWOL but with good excuse ! Moved onto new compound, didn't have internet for 'an age' which wasn't until almost when it was time to leave for our vacation out of the searing heat of Saudi ! Anyway, when I return next week I will download loads of pics and try to get back up to date with things as soon as possible.

Back to the vacation, we spent a couple of weeks in the UK with family and doing the obligatory 'shopping' ! Then onto the Big Old USA ! I will tell more soon with pics but in short, it was fantastic !

I loved California especially Marble Mountain Ranch and Mount Shasta but I'll leave it there for now although you can have a look at the link below for a preview on The Marble Mountain Ranch:

http://www.marblemountainranch.com/

Photo's courtesy of Katie !

Absences

2010-05-12T18:16:00.002+03:00

Sorry for the long absence, but we've been busy on hoiday to Jordan and then Egypt and then busy packing and unpacking from our move to our new 'Super Compound'. Unfortunately internet is even worse than on our old compound and we are awaiting Mobily to set up their mast so we can have access for a more permanent amount of time. At the moment I have been able to snag a 'dongle' just to do a few emergency things like checking my emails and of course to check my blog. While I have a little bit of internet time I thought I'd explain my absence and even try to get a posting published.

I might be back in a short while with an update on the holiday and the move and maybe even some pictures.

Bye for now, Sharon

Do You Know This person ?

2010-03-08T14:00:00.001+03:00

This was my Auzzie Penpal from the 70's when I went to Arundel Court School in the UK. I lost contact and wondered if anyone recognised her seeing as its such a small world nowadays.

I can't remember her name unfortunatley but maybe someone might recognise her or her little sister (I thinks its her sister).

Second Quilt Finished !

2010-03-02T17:05:00.006+03:00

This morning started with an early start of 6am to get the kids off to school and then onto collect Paola to go off to Zamils for some batting to back her quilt. Then onto the quilt group where I finally got the Random Rail Fence quilt finished today at the quilting group. This was only because I didn't have enough fabric to make the border on the Space quilt so luckily I did take along my unfinished quilt. I'm so pleased its finally done ! Rail fence maybe simple but its very effective and I'll make another quite soon I'm sure to use up the scraps.

Now back on with the Space quilt and a matching pillow. Ideally I'd have liked to make it larger but the souk in Dammam had ran out of the planets material but thanks to Alison for trying for me.

Bedouin Piecemakers Quilting Group

2010-02-28T16:21:00.004+03:00

http://bedouinpiecemakers.blogspot.com/

At our last Beduoin Piecemakers quilting meeting I decided to go around and take some snap shots of the 'works in progress' on the Amish quilt that has been the last 2 months project. One of the members suggested that I might like start a blog for the group. Therefore, this is what I have been making a start on over the last couple of days along with my excercise regime and sewing the binding on my 2nd quilt. When the Amish quilts are all finished I will take some more photo's to include in the blog.

Its still very much in the early stages and have to decide on the format and content of the blog before I can go any further but that will be sorted fairly soon, I'm sure.

If anyone is in the Al Khobar area and wishes to join the group please email the group at: bedouinpiecemakers@yahoo.com

Please Ladies No Smoking

2010-02-24T16:26:00.003+03:00

First things first...I had to return some exercise wear today as it was too big. Ladies are not allowed to try items on before buying so we have to go thru the routine of buying, trying on at home and then getting back for a refund or exchange, all to just go home and retry until we get the desired item. Well it was 2 days ago that I purchased the top and was told it had to be returned within 24 hours for a refund and therefore, I was not allowed to have a refund, I could have an exchange. I am fed up of this routine and just wanted my money back. Anyway, the salesman gave in after 10 minutes of me saying 'no, I want my money back and I don't want anything else from the store today thankyou'.

Its worth knowing that its pointless getting annoyed or angry as it gets you nowhere so you just have to be patient and sometimes it pays off as it did in this case.

I then went onto the Mall of Dharan to get some other items. Again the same routine, buy the items, (in this case) run to a toilet and try them on and run as fast back to the stall for an exchange or refund. This is fine but remember all women do this and by the time you get back to the stall the checkout is full of us all trying to do the same thing.

I HATE SHOPPING ! Well I love shopping anywhere else because I can try first.

Imagine how amazed I was at finding a changing room in one of the stores in the new part of the Mall ! I was thrilled trying on 7 items and only buying the one that fit and suited me. Got some new gym wear for my 'schwinn sessions'...horray, after about 4 months of working myself up to it.

Then I decided to go and have a Costa's and Tuna Melt Foccacia during prayer time. Everything is quiet, eating and drinking when I notice a Matawa with a policeman walking towards us in Costa. They went up to a woman whom I don't think could have been saudi as she was uncovered and with 2 men and another woman. The Matawa signed to the men to tell her to 'stop smoking'. He then went up to her and did the same thing. She waved him away which I thought would bring more trouble but he just walked on thru the Mall. The woman then made a face as he walked off. I wasn't sure what the reaction of the other people in the cafe would be as they were mostly saudi men and women, and to my surprise they were all smiling and finding it all rather amusing too.

Oh yes, the men were all smoking but this is not a problem. Only women are not allowed to smoke openly.

There you go, another interesting thing for saudi life to add to my blog.

Book Review - Anita Grossman Solomon Response

2010-02-24T07:00:00.005+03:00

WOW ! A personal reply from the author Ms Solomon. Very impressive. I had no idea people were actually reading my blog, well apart from me and my 4 followers !

I have included the reply in this post as I think it merits a show rather than finding it thru the comments section as its a good response in answer to my limited experience of quilting reviews.

Thank you so much for your reply Anita it was much appreciated to get the personal touch.

Response:Hi,

Glad you are giving it a try. It's the same as 'regular' piecing except that you piece on one sheet of vellum. By not cutting up the subunits you won't have to pin them together. Perfect matching.

You can watch videos of it. Note the links at the bottom of my blog.

http://makeitsimpler.blogspot.com

Book Review

2010-02-23T22:11:00.004+03:00

Make it Simpler Paper Piecing: Easy as 1, 2, 3 - a Pinless Fold & Sew Technique by Anita Grossman Solomon

Out here in 'The Kingdom' it is pretty difficult to come by many quilting books, therefore I have been relying on ordering via Amazon or the monthly quilting meeting where we can borrow books from the library. I came across this one on a recent visit to the local Jarir Bookstore. I initially thought it was a book on paper piecing and definitely wanted to give it a go. However, on careful looking once home, I realised it was a new method of paper piecing quilting, a totally different quilting procedure. Not sure if its cos I'm a newbie but I did wonder why would you bother to do all this extra work when you can just do it the usual way which to me appears easier and quicker. Maybe its a more exact method but I don't think I want to worry too much about it.

Anyway, I don't think I've wasted too much on it as it was 35SR (approx £6) and there are some stunning blocks to make up and the templates are also included which just need to be reversed to make a standard block.

I love looking at the glossy pics and thinking, I'll make that one, and that one, oh and that one ... soon !

If you have this one I'd love to hear your opinion.

Errata UpDate:

For the 1st printing only there are some amendments. Here's the link to copy and paste into your browser: http://www.ctpub.com/client/client_pages/errata/10333.cfm

Space Boy

2010-02-23T15:41:00.017+03:00

Almost finished my random rail fence quilt with only one side of the binding to complete. Just a little bit longer and I can hand it in for the quilt show at the Kingdom ? Bedouin Quilters Group.

I just couldn't wait to get started on my next quilt which is for my son, William. I found some wonderful fabric in a souk in Damman a couple of weeks ago and just had to get it for him.

As I'm still learning the quilting processes and on my third one, I've decided that it might be a good idea to write down each step of the way to try to become a little more savvy a little more quickly rather than rely on totally on the 'quilting queens' at the club. However, I did run away with myself and messed up the effect of the newest quilt but I don't think it really matters because of the colours, pattern and for who its for. My son is not going to notice the mistake so I shall ignore it !

First I ironed and squared my fabrics and cut 2.5in strips from 4 of the colours and 8.5in blocks from the patterned one.

I then sewed strips together and measured them to make sure they measured 8.5in (which they didn't and I had to adjust them). I'm learning and learning by my mistakes but I am so much more confident than I was at the beginning and for the last quilt. I think the burden is being lifted from Fran and Karen's shoulders... at last !

I must pin, pin and pin again !

My next quilt is going to be PERFECT !

Here's the progress report on William's Space Boy Quilt:

Only another 4 rows to go for stage one.

Beautiful Quilting Blog

2010-02-16T17:05:00.004+03:00

http://eltallerdegeorgina.blogspot.com/
El Blog De Georgina

I found this blog site last night and I think its probably right up there with one of my favs. Ok, I know its not in English but if you page down to Yahoo's 'Babel Fish' Icon and click on the translation you will get it in English and it is a very good version.

There are instructions, and photographs of her work in progress right thru to the finish.

Stunning photography and quilts, and other interesting snipets on her travels and experience in Qatar, honestly go have a look !

Pants !

2010-02-15T09:15:00.009+03:00

Love Is In The Air ... Update

I can't really report on anything very exciting or untoward happening here in Al Khobar over the Valentine's period, but I did only go out during the daytime so maybe a little more happend in the evenings. I will wait until someone tells me any different locally.

On my morning shopping trip to the Mall of Dharan, I noticed a lot of red clothes, and red accessories so they weren't taken off the shelves but I didn't see any heart shaped gifts and to be honest I didn't go looking for a teddy bear, all said everything seemed to appear as usual.

I know there were a few things happening around from the various blogs around, which I have listed at the end along with a little bit about UnderWear !

Pants !

UnderWear, now there's another funny thing...Men are not allowed to look at a women, nor talk to her but they are allowed to discuss the intimate details of bra size, and panties sizes. This is because there are no women shop assistants here in The Kingdom. It is 'men' everywhere, you'll even find them advising on cosmetics !!!! Dah, that drives me mad, they will even try on the latest 'french manicure' on their finger for your benefit.

But back to underwear, I have never bought anything in the underwear departments out here as I find it intimidating and embarrasing to divulge my body details and colour preferences, all for the benefit of the sales 'man' to imagine what I might be wearing underneath my abaya. Also because, as a western woman, I am easily recognised as I do not wear a veil.

There is a public calling for a ban on shopping in these places for a couple of weeks, and I so hope it works to get the desired effect of getting the men out and women in. Until that day though I will continue to purchase my items via the internet and wait anywhere from 2-6 weeks for them to arrive.

Below are links to various other blogs/sites with information about the above. You'll have to copy and paste into your browser.

http://susiesbigadventure.blogspot.com/2010/02/valentines-day-massacre.html

http://susiesbigadventure.blogspot.com/2008/02/happy-valentines-day-or-not.html

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=132920&d=14&m=2&y=2010&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

http://susieofarabia.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/peddling-panties/

http://saudiwoman.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/ban-men-from-selling-lingerie-in-ksa/

http://saudiwoman.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/ban-men-from-selling-lingerie-in-ksa/

February 14th ... Love is in the air ?

2010-02-10T19:34:00.005+03:00

Image from Victorian Quilt Designs (http://www.victorianaquiltdesigns.com/)

The following is an entry I intended to post last year but for some reason missed it and found it in my drafts just now. With the day looming very close now I just wondered how it would be this year out and about shopping on Valentine's Day. I will post again soon with an update.

February 14th (2009)

Ok then... now here's a thing, Valentines Day is banned in Saudi... you cannot buy a card or anything to do with Valentines Day here and if you find something and the matowa catch you, you are in trouble.

A few days before the matawa were in full force in the Dharan Mall checking that there were no cards or goods or anything 'red' being sold in the stores and if there were they were confiscated and destroyed with possible arrest for the shop owner. If someone was unlucky enough to be caught with any fresh or fake flowers, albeit just for decoration, they were seized and stamped on to destroy them.

On one of the compounds even, one of the teachers had been given a birthday card and gift in a red bag. Some compounds even have matowa on them and they were in force to check that no gift relating to Valentine's Day were being given. The teacher was shouted at by a matowa and had her present and card taken off her and he shouted that she had been given them by a man.
You may laugh but unless you can prove that you are married to the man you are with you could be accused of adultery or you have to have written permission from your husband to be with this person. So an unmarried women is most certainly not allowed to be receiving gifts, and certainly not of this nature. The present and card were actually for her birthday and given by another woman.

Well that was one of the things that I wanted to get down before I forgot as it is almost a norm for me now that I almost don't even think it strange anymore and I forget that it will be interesting for you to read, and for me to read again in 3 years time when I return to the 'free world' ... well 'free' it may seem but any better I'm not too sure but at least I won't have a problem buying a Valentine Card !

Afterthought: I've not bought a valentine card for years, come to think of it I've even forgotten our anniversary on a couple of occasions... but I will buy one just for the fact that 'I can' .... in 3 years time that is.

Almost Forgot to Show & Tell ...

2010-02-08T13:55:00.004+03:00

... My very first finished quilt ! The log cabin quilt which I finished just in time for Christmas to give to my mother-in law when we were in Cyprus for the holidays.

It was hard to let go of it seeing as it was my first quilt and I think I got it just right with the colours. Initially I didn't think it was going to happen as I spent 2 hours in the fabric/craft shop, Zamils here in Al Khobar. These were the colours I picked out first of all but then doubted my choice thinking they just wouldn't go together and put them back. I almost left the shop after 2 hours in tears thinking I can't work out how to put colours together. Went back and got the first choice thinking 'just go with it ... got nothing to lose'.

So glad and am thrilled with the finished quilt as was Margaret when she received it. And although, I'm sorry to let my first quilt go, I know its gone to an appreciative receiver.

Noodle's First Christmas...

2010-02-07T22:50:00.007+03:00

...and maybe his last !
Well we knew we might be in for a troublesome time with the tree seeing as it was his first Christmas. I've 'never' had a cat that was as badly behaved as he was. Immediately trying to put the tree up he was climbing up it and knocking the decorations off as soon as they were put on. In the end we just gave up and left the tree looking pretty fed up. Hopefully next year he'll have grown out of his irritating ways !

Wrapping presents was a nightmare !

Uncle Scamp ran away from home for 6 weeks when we got Noodle but he came home in the end and is just tolerating him and doing his own thing. I think he decided life on the compound as a 'wild' cat was way behind him and not a life he wanted to return to.

Welcome home Scamp, we all love you.

Randomness

2010-02-06T23:45:00.006+03:00

I am so pleased with myself again as I've nearly finished my 2nd quilt, a random rail fence made from scraps from the previous quilt. I really didn't like it too much at first but when the border went on it seemed to come together a bit more and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing it finished.
I can't say I'm fully confident at making up a quilt on my own yet but with the help of Fran, Karen and the rest of the girls in the quilting group, I'm sure I'll get there very soon. I just hope that it will be before Fran leaves to go back to the UK as she's just about the best teacher I imagine there could be.

Pitbull - Good & Bad News

2009-11-23T19:48:00.002+03:00

Well Pitbull was finally caught and sent off to the vets. Now the 'PCC' (PAWS Cat Catcher) did say that when she caught him, he was off for the 'big sleep in the sky', which I had thought was a bit sad, and unfair just cos he's an ugly cat and noone wanted to adopt him.

However, 'PCC' thought Pitbull was such a well behaved cat during his time in the cat box and at the vets that he had a reprieve and was allowed back onto the compound minus some bits he'd originally been proudly displaying around the place.

Welcome back Pitbull ! We hope Noodle will take after you in the 'good looks & charm' state.

My First Quilt...Almost there !

2009-11-23T12:58:00.007+03:00

Yep, yet again its been all quiet due to internet problems and just about too much to be getting on with. I've had my in-laws out to visit and a somewhat hectic social life (well for me anyway) and getting on with my latest 'new hobby' ... quilting !

I joined a fabulous quilting group, 'Kingdom Quilters' and have met some really lovely ladies in the process. I am almost finished with my very first quilt, a log cabin and just can't wait to get onto the next one.

I also belong to another quilt club run by the same ladies, Fran and Karen, 'The Beduoin Quilters' which runs once a month and is well worth popping along to for advice and help with new techniques and quick projects.

Ok, so we did no quilting on this day but we all had a great time at our Christmas Dinner and were thrilled with our surprise presents of a unique quilted bag, quilting cd's, 'fat quarters' and much more. Brilliant Club ! So glad I joined in with this one ... it did take me 6 months to fully get going with it and my sporadic attendances are now a thing of the past !

Almost finished, just the binding to get done and that's it !

Not a Fan

2009-09-13T09:53:00.001+03:00

So, not a fan of Jodi Picoult then !

Introducing ... Noodle

2009-09-13T09:36:00.006+03:00

Well this is Noodle, one of the 4 week old kittens from the mom that just got 'fixed'. Right now I'm not happy with him/her as s/he has just wee'd on my nice soft blannket I thought s/he would like to sleep on...and s/he is jumping all over me and the keyboard. Oh yes, and biting my socks ! Obviously s/he is doing ok right now !

Noodle behaving a little better.

Scamp...he's still not happy but has come home so far but wants nothing to do with it whatsoever, and right now I feel the same !

Happy Birthday

2009-09-13T07:04:00.004+03:00

Oh how the years have flown...he's nearly a teenager! 11 years old ! Who'd have imagined the little scrawny pre-termer would be a strong healthy 11 year old...it seems just yesterday that he was just a baby.

I think he had a good time, we had a pool party and sleepover which keeps him happy.

Happy Birthday William, x

PAWS for Thought

2009-09-12T21:26:00.008+03:00

'Ginger' one of the kittens up for adoption on the PAWS website. Also a half brother of Noodle from the previous litter before 'mom' got fixed !

I have been putting this one for sometime, but when we first moved onto the compound we noticed that there was a particularly thriving semi ferile as well as totally ferile cat population. This is how we aquired Scamp our stray. I live a couple of doors down from the PAWS representative on our compound and really did want to help out but didn't want the stigma of 'the old mad cat lady' as my very first image and introduction to everyone else when we first arrived. I no longer need to worry on that score as I believe I'm already getting to be known as a little bit mad about cats as well as socks !
'Pitbull' not one of the most attractive cats. His time is numbered as a Cassenova... we'll catch him one day soon!

Anyway, this week I had my first experience of taking one of the poorly kittens down to the vets for I'm sorry to say an extra long sleep. He really wasn't very well, he'd gone blind in one eye and couldn't see well from the other and couldn't walk very well and at 3 months its quality of life surely wasn't going to be too good. The mum cat really did her best but it wasn't fair to either of them. Now she needs to be caught to 'fix her' so she doesn't have anymore kittens.

The very next day a set of kittens and their mum was caught and were taken off for 'fixing'...and then the latest litter of kittens were found huddled up in someone's garden. They were so tiny and only around 4 weeks old. Unfortunately my 2 (or perhaps I should say 3 if including my DH) kids just kept on about having one to try to save it. So in the end I gave in and now we have 2 cats ! Scamp is not impressed at all but I'm hoping he'll come round and that they'll become company for each other.

The new addition is 'Noodle' and has started to eat and drink and we're hoping he or she will thrive.

Looks like I'll be getting more involved in the PAWS 'thing' afterall !
Also looks like I'll be needing a job to be able to bring them both back to the UK when this posting is over !

PAWS 'People's Animal Welfare Society', Saudi Arabia
Website:http://www.saudipaws.com/index.htm

South Africa

2009-09-02T11:58:00.020+03:00

Well we are back and the kids are back at school and life is returning to normal again...apart from the fact that its Ramadam and very hot !

Our holiday was just fantastic and I'm really suffering after being away and having such a wonderful time and returning to Saudi to doing very little at all !

Still stop moaning and get on with the reporting :

We spent the first 10 days in the UK catching up with family and friends and I had that all important 'curry night out with the girls' at the Nepalese Restaurant in Portsmouth. I even managed to have a temporary membership at Roko and got to several 'Spinning' classes...which now seem pretty pointless as I did nothing since once we got on with the holiday and back to Saudi...I will start my exercise regime again... promise ! I need to after all the food !

Then we were off, South Africa...12 hour flight in 'economy' ... urgghhhh ! But it was worth it. We were met at Jo'berg airport by Tracey from 'Get-About Tours and Safari's' whom we booked the holiday with.

We had just the best time in South Africa and went from Jo'berg to Kruger Park, to Moholoholo Game Lodge, to Nkhuru and then onto Cape Town.

The kids loved our visit to the De Wilt animal rehab centre where we met a special character, 'Ambassador Byron'...a cheater that allowed us to pat him and have some pics taken.Another cheater from the 'De Wilt' Cheater Sanctuary

On one of the trips, to the Hippo Hut in Moholohola we were treated to a hunt and capture of a South African Rock Python by our guide..the fantastic Eric who really made this such an exciting place to visit with his speciality subject of snakes.
We also spent our 20th Wedding Anniversary at the Moholoholo Lodge where on a return safari trip we had a wonderful surprise of a beautiful spread of leaves and candles and an iced bucket containing a bottle of Champers ! We sat outside listening to the nocturnal animals munching and chomping around us...the kids were inside in their camping beds!

There really are just so many pictures from this holiday so I'll post just a few at a time.

And YES we saw the 'BIG 5' !

Special thanks goes to our tour guides, Tracey and Clinton from, 'GETABOUT TOURS AND SAFARIS', who put this fantastic holiday package together for us.
Website: http://www.getabout-tours.co.za/

We will be returning to South Africa again for sure.

Happy Ramadan

2009-08-26T12:50:00.005+03:00

Winding Down for Summer Vacation !

2009-07-26T21:10:00.004+03:00

I had wanted to add several posts before I finally packed for our summer vacation but things have just run away with me and I just didn't get the time I wanted on the computer.

Firstly there was the school holidays which meant spending more time with the kids and ... well ... letting them play on the computer themselves, which is quite okay as its been just too hot to go out during the day at the moment so they've got to have something to do whilst they're stuck inside. We've then, usually gone out around 6 or 7pm when its a little more comfortable to walk around outside. We've also had a few nights out at the swimming pool in the moonlight.

Also, I've had a few 'get togethers' for new arrivals and leavers to and from the compound, and shopping trips in order to prepare for our impending holiday excursions to the UK and ... then ... onto Safari in South Africa ... can't wait !

So things are going to be fairly quiet on here, but I'll be back at the end of August and into the unrelenting heat of the Saudi summer and Ramadam.

Back on with the packing and see you soon.

Stable Mable

2009-07-23T15:01:00.005+03:00

Meet my new'ish mode of travel...Stable Mable

My other bike, which I inherited when I came out here has finally got the better of me and I am totally fed up of the effort it takes to get the wheels to turn a full cycle so here's what was put up for the replacement.

My first attempt at riding her was to head straght into the back of the car ...shush don't tell Pete ! But then I slowly got the hang of it as it really was a bit weird. I thought a 3-wheeler would be easy but this thing should have a certificate to go with it to prove you're a competent rider. Anyway, got the hang of it now but still feel unsure and unsteady with the kids in the back when going over the humps and up the hilly bits and even doing a turn.

The kids love Mabel and its a real fight to stop them taking her off somewhere.

Believe it or not, these bikes are a real sought after vehicle and I'm very lucky to have got her...she will come in so useful when we move onto the new compound next year as the place is huge and I'm going to need something to be able to bring all the shopping back from the compound shop.

Trouble is I can't get the image out of my mind of Elvis, who used to ride his 3-wheeler around Portsmouth a few years back, but I think I'll probably leave Mable here as it wouldn't be fair to take her all the way back to England just to have the micky taken out of her.

Fresh Dates from our Tree Part 2

2009-07-09T13:04:00.007+03:00

The dates I reported on a couple of weeks back, LIFE SOCKS ... SAUDI SOCKS !: Fresh Dates from Our Tree are still not ripe and this is due to the sun just not getting to them so they'll, hopefully, be waiting for plucking when we return from vacation in August. However, the tree next to it had several ripe looking dates and with the help of 'a man' as I can't clim these trees myself and hack away at the date stalks, we had several fresh dates to eat yesterday.I had to wash them to get the sand and 'yuk' off and dried them in the sun a little, then they were ready to eat. Delicious ! ... the kids won't touch them but that's okay, I'll eat them and there'll be plenty for when Pete gets back as I've 3 bunches sitting on the clothes drier in the sun to ripen up.

Silver...RIP

2009-07-09T12:41:00.008+03:00

This morning my hubby phoned me to say that our very much loved pet, Silver, whom we left in England with mum & dad, had gone to sleep last night and didn't wake up this morning. He was 18 years old and had been thru a pretty bad car accident a couple of years ago but he pulled through. He had a very good life with us and with his latest carers so its not too distressing.

The kids were obviously upset but when I said that he was over 100 years in human terms they were a bit more happy about it especially as he had such a loving family.

I had hoped he'd have hung on for another couple of weeks until we got to see him again but he obviously thought better of it but at least he waited till Pete got there...good timing as he's only there for a few days !

A very quiet burial was performed in the back garden this morning around 11.40am (Saudi time). Silver was wrapped in a fresh white shroud and a couple of bunches of, I think they were, 'forget me knots'.
I'm sure all his friends will miss him, especially the new puppy, Jack Russel...which I suspect helped along in his demise, and his sister Budget who survives him and lives just next door but one, so she can visit him whenever she likes.

Okay, RIP Silver, you will be missed but you had a pretty good life and you will be fondly remembered...especially for ....

Weeing on or in plastic bags

Weeing on or in any bag left on the floor

Weeing on & in shoes ... mainly Pete's work shoes (of which he noticed a very strange smell when the shoes warmed up whilst at work one day after having the weekend to dry up the wee)

Weeing ontop of the oven... several years ago when we almost sent him off packing just a little sooner than he should have ! But he sorted himself out on that one... eventually.

Oh and very bad breath ! We did get this one sorted last year at a cost of over £500 for vets fees.

We still loved you and know you loved us too !

Sunshine Socks from COOKIE June KAL

2009-07-07T12:36:00.004+03:00

Unfortunately I didn't get to finish the Sunshine Socks in time for the 'Cookie June KAL' on Ravelry... almost but not quite. I will finish it within the next few days though as I love the socks. I don't think the colour does credit to the pattern though and I should have used a plain yarn, but I don't have any in my stash so on my trip back to the UK at the end of July I will stock up on some nice plain sock yarns to show off the stitch patterns from the book to their best advantage.

Lovely pattern and great for beginners to get used to reading a chart too.

Afternoon Tea at the Movenpick

2009-07-05T21:02:00.012+03:00

For our Ladies Lunch this month (June) we all went to the Movenpick for afternoon tea. We arrived and all threw off our abayas as this is what they all did on their last visit to no objections, but this time we were being watched ... eventually we were told that we had to cover ourselves and put on our abayas.

Nevermind, freedom for a few moments ! Just think heat and then add conservative clothing (long trousers, and sleeved tops) and to top it all, a rather lovely, not cotton or linen but a sweat inducing, black nylon abaya !

The food was lovely, if not served up in a rather odd way with the apple pies served first (with no cream !!!), then came the berry fruits pies, and finally the sandwiches. Then 'the big one' we were all waiting for ... the 'scones'. Great debate was had as to which was the correct pronunciation and my verdict is still 'scONe' not 'scone as in stone' ! No clotted cream !!! Very disappointing. We had some kind of cream though (I do suspect that it was pumped out of a pressure can into the little bowls).

All in all it was a lovely afternoon tea and I would certainly go again for 40 SR and its worth going for the view too.

Devastating News on Sock Wars IV

2009-07-05T20:58:00.006+03:00

I did receive the SIPs and the Death Socks pretty much together...One day apart ! I was devasted, I wanted to get at least one more kill in but it was not to be. All I can say on the matter is that there will always be another warrior ready to take my place !

Looking forward to next year ...

Jumping the Gun ....

2009-06-16T16:44:00.002+03:00

... Maybe its my 'SIP's', (Socks In Progress) and not the 'Death Socks' afterall !

Bring it on... Thursday I'm ready and waiting !

There's Something in the Air ...

2009-06-16T16:29:00.002+03:00

... or there will be on Wednesday !

I believe my 'death socks' are waiting for me...in London ! I have received a phone call today from an anonymous caller to say that there is a 'suspicious package' and it is being held at MOD HQ... oh my... the reason ? Cos it has the terrifying words of 'CANDY' written on it !

I think I'll take my 'death socks day' as the date on the package as it seems to have been sitting at HQ for a while and it doesn't seem fair to say I've been alive all this time.

Obviously that's another item (and description) not to add to parcels coming out to Saudi Arabia...NO Chocolate, NO Candy, in fact NO FOOD ITEMS ! But 'Death Socks' ! ... they're ok... infact don't even mention 'death' on the package or they might destroy them in a controlled explosion !

I should officially receive my 'death socks' on Thursday evening when a secret operation/assault to liberate them has been conducted safely and they are brought back with a double agent on another covert operation.

However, if they are not what I expect... this posting will self destruct !

Saudi Disco ... Just a thought

2009-06-16T00:03:00.004+03:00

What would it be like if disco's were allowed...well maybe this is something like what we're missing:

Or maybe even this:

Forget River Dance, get these guys on for the interval at the next Eurovision !

Freedom...and Things

2009-06-14T20:24:00.004+03:00

SOCK WARS IV

I wish I could get another kill in lol, but I think things are so slow out here that I'll only get one in and then get my death socks before the sip's ! Still its a great way to go out.

CULTURE SHOCK
Holiday time is almost here... UK first then onto South Africa ...
Yep its a real culture shock when I go back to the UK... I generally disappear for hours on end just because I can. Hubby just lets me get on with it and doesn't moan about it. I just love being able to go out on my own, wherever I want, wearing what I want, doing what I want, riding my bike !

I can even talk to strange men if I feel like it...that is real weird cos you can't talk to a man out here, its just not the done thing. I forgot about this once at the beginning of my arrival and out shopping one day a saudi guy paid with a 100sr note instead of a 50sr and I said I'd have it if he didn't want it...he looked at me along with the others in the queue as if I was a real 'hussy'. I could almost hear the muttering of 'haram' on all their lips. I havn't forgotten that one in a hurry and don't speak or even look a man in the eyes out here now.

Actually I quite like the feeling of security you get out here where men are concerned. No man is allowed to talk to you or touch you and it really is quite a great sense of security not felt in the UK,(or elsewhere) where men can lear, shout or even grope at you without a lot of interception. If you shout at them people will usually look at you as if you're causing a scene, but here someone would definitely step in. I do think that a lot can be said of the Saudi customs which take into account a womans safety above all else.

I really pushed the limit yesterday tho, my hubby is in Milan at the moment and I took my driver with me and the kids to Pizza Hut (I was really pushing it as women aren't really allowed out with a man who is not either her son, husband, or has written permission from her husband to be with the man she's with !) Oh living life dangerously. To boot, my driver is Indian so even more 'shame on the old hussy' that I am.

Its a fantastic place though and I really love it here but just also love the freedom of being back in the 'so called' free world. But then there's the 'street crime', violence, fights, drunkeness, unfriendly shop assistants, oh I could go on but its having to make the best of whatever you have at the time I suppose.

FAVOURITE WORD OF THE MOMENT
Alhamdulillah! Meaning: "Praise to God"
It just rolls off the tongue and sounds wonderful.

Saudi Quilt Block No. 2 'Camel'

2009-06-12T22:18:00.002+03:00

Well its in progress anyway...Just wanted to share my adaption of the camel from the wooden carving to the quilt version. So far I'm very pleased and can't wait to see the finished block.

My First Saudi Quilt Block

2009-06-10T12:40:00.008+03:00

I've been putting this one off for a few months now but finally got round to making it...yeaaaahhhh...with the help of 'J' my mate. It took a good couple of hours but I think its a pretty good first attempt. I can see all the mistakes but I'm so very pleased with it all the same.Next is a camel (inspired by this wooden carving), and then a Saudi door, Saudi dagger, and a mosque.
I had intended to make a Saudi quilt but on reflection, think it more feasible for me to just go with a wall hanging or cushion cover to begin with until I get more experienced at it.

This is what I eventually want to work up to making...Its a Batik painting of my friends, but I want to make it in quilt version.

Fresh Dates from Our Tree

2009-06-08T09:47:00.009+03:00

This is the view from our bedroom balcony and a couple of days ago we noticed that it was full of dates. In a few weeks time we will be able to have our very own fresh dates direct from our very own Palm Tree.

I didn't like dates very much back in the UK and didn't think I'd like them out here either. To my surprise I absolutely love them.

There isn't just one variety to choose from but hundreds and there is bound to be one or two that even the most avid date hater would love. We regularly have a date dish as the centre piece on our coffee table to dig into whenever.I just can't wait for these ones as we just missed out on them last year when we arrived much to our dissappointment.Also, this view is just beautiful in the morning and a far cry from the view at our home in the UK of the many buses and lamp posts from our bedroom window.

If you're interested in reading more about dates I have copied some information from the 'Palm Wonders' website below for your interest.

PALM WONDERS (Soft & Dried Dates from Saudi Arabia)http://www.palmwonders.com/content/about-dates/

Historical facts
Saudi Arabia is the home land of the Date Palm Tree. With more than 10000 years of age it is one of the oldest trees in the world. Many nations transferred the palm trees from Saudi Arabia (used to be called Arabian Peninsula) to other places in the world after they became amused by its charming beauty and its endless generosity. For example, the great Alexander was the first to introduce palm trees to Pakistan. And with the entrance of the Kalifa Abdualrahman Aldakel to Spain (Andalusia) the first palm tree entered Spain. This led to its availability in America; because it was introduced to Mexico for the first time by the Portuguese and then it reached the United States during the 18th century.

In Islam, dates have received more attention than any other fruit. For instance, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) encouraged Muslims to break their fast at the sunset during the month of Ramadan by dates and water. He once said that if a person has some dates in his house then he is not poor.

Today, Saudi Arabia is the second largest producer of dates in the world.

Saudi Arabian date fruit is well known for its deliciousness i.e. if the date is tasted once; a person will quickly become a date lover. We have to mention though that there are more than 300 types of dates in Saudi Arabia with each having its own different taste and texture.

Dates description
Like other fruit, dates are a seasonal product, therefore the supply of fresh delicious dates is always limited. However Palmwonders provides processed dates (Tamr) and dried dates all year round. Dates can be classified as soft, semi-soft and dry dates. Chewy dry dates keep longer and can be used for 'survival food' on long trips or on hiking.

Dates freeze extremely well, so you can put them in your freezer and enjoy them year round.

Dates are oval-cylindrical, 2.5-5 cm long, and 1.5-2.5 cm diameter. When dates are unripe, they come bright red to bright yellow in color, depending on the type of dates. Dates contain a single seed about 2-2.5 cm long and 5-7 mm thick.

Three main Cultivar Groups of date exist:

Soft e.g. Khalas Qassim ( تمر خلاص القصيم ) and Khalas Kharj ( تمر خلاص الخرج )
Soft or Semi-Dry e.g. Ajwa ( عجوة ), Anbara ( عنبرة ), Mabroom ( مبروم ), Medjool, and Barni ( برني )
Dry e.g. Ruthana ( روثانة ), Nabtat Ali ( نبتت علي ), Segae (صقعي) and Sukkari ( سكري )
The type of fruit depends on its nutrition, shape and taste. Dates ripen in four stages, which are known throughout the world by their Arabic names kimri (unripe), khalal (full-size, crunchy), rutab (ripe, soft), tamr (ripe, sun-dried). Dates come in the following four forms in the market:

Press Pack such as Khalas Qassim ( تمر خلاص القصيم )
Plain Dates when they are fresh
Dried Dates such as Sukkari ( سكري )
Date Paste such as Soft Date Paste ( تمر معجون )
Dates nutrition
A 100 gram portion of fresh dates is a premium source of vitamin C. Since dates contain relatively little water, they do not become much more concentrated upon drying, although the vitamin C disappears in the process. Each date provides about 20 calories, and is a good source of carbohydrate, fibre, and potassium, also providing some calcium and iron along with other vitamins and minerals in smaller amounts. Dates do not have significant amounts of fat, cholesterol, protein, or sodium. Here are some examples of the nutrition of some type of dates:

Khalas (100g):
82.9 g sugar
2.9 mg vitamin C
1.59 % protein
0.93 % fat
Sukkari (100g):
66.7 g sugar
80 u vitamin A
2.9 mg vitamin C
1.32 % protein
1.73 % fat
Segae (100g):
79.4 g sugar
2.4 g vitamin C
2.07 % protein
0.96 % fat
Use of dates and other palm tree products
Dates are an important food for travelers in desert or in the mountains because they provide them with a complete nutritious meal (see the above nutrition fact of dates). Beside that, dates are easy to carry and no cooking is needed to prepare them for eating because dates are often eaten out-of-hand.

Dates can also be used for cooking. They can be chopped and used in a range of sweet such as cakes and other dessert dishes and other savory dishes (see examples of our recipes).

Dates are also processed into paste and date syrup called 'dibs' which most likely are used in some recipes.

Recent innovations include chocolate-covered dates and date juice.

Date palm leaves are used for making huts, mats, screens, baskets, brooms, large hats, and fans.

Palmwonders will try in the future to provide some of these products to the online customers if there were a good demand for them.

Qualified Diver at 10 Years Old

2009-06-05T14:31:00.006+03:00

Almost ... He started diving lessons a few weeks back and came back today after diving in the sea as part of his exam. I think one more diving session in the sea and he'll be a 'Qualified Diver' at just the age of 10 years ! Not something that he'd have had to opportunity to do back in the UK.
I'm so very proud of him, he was a bit scared but got over it, and the sea is so salty that it really hurts the eyes... Well done son !
Proud dad & son

Scamp Says...

2009-06-05T13:19:00.006+03:00

...Its just too hot !

It has been frequently hitting 108o/F (42o/C) and due to soar to over 50o/C over the next few days. Today its 115o/F (46o/C)...Thank goodness the kids Friday morning football matches have stopped for the time being.

It's like a ghost town around the compound as people are staying in with the air con, but try telling that to Scamp...he'd much rather go out and lounge about outside in full sunshine !

Update...Sock Wars IV

2009-06-05T12:53:00.003+03:00

D+21: SBL is still going strong...maybe its the post, or maybe the terrain...its pretty hard to find SBL out here...there's so much sand in the desert !

SBL's Statistics:
1 Kill ~ Padiham Knitter
Waiting for SIP's

SBL's Assassin has been killed by SockDingbat...
...So Who Was 'Thorsgirl' ?

Warriors Statistics:
Alive = 122
Dead = 155
Withdrawn - 5

Brownberry Yarns & Let's Knit Competition

2009-06-05T12:27:00.005+03:00

Right after my update on the Sock Wars IV on Wednesday 3rd, I received a late package...I was a little dubious as to what it could be...could it be the end of SBL ? I turned the package over and found the return address and exhaled a sigh of relief...it couldn't be those dreaded 'death socks' as it was from 'Brownberry Yarns'. I had entered a competition in the 'Let's Knit' magazine and won a fabulous prize of Artesano Inca Mist yarn. This was my prize winning package !I was very happy with my winnings but the generosity of some people is just so unexpected especially with such kind words and actions...I also had an extra beautiful ball of Rosarios Bio Bamboo added to the stash...so thank you so much 'Brownbery Yarns', your generosity is much appreciated and I can't wait to knit something up from these yarns.

Ravelry & Meeting with New Friends

2009-06-05T11:51:00.009+03:00

Who would have thought that joining Ravelry would introduce you to new friends, not just on-line but in person ! Well that's just what did happen. One of the groups I joined had a lady 'K' who mentioned that she was about to visit her hubby working over here and wondered if anyone was in the area, and if so would we like to meet up. Well I jumped at the chance to meet a fellow knitter in person as these strange dinosaurs are so thin on the ground here (only got one significant other out here that knits) so thought it would be wonderful for us 3 to meet up.

I'm pleased or maybe 'ashamed' to say that I did no knitting during our visits, but 'K' did bring a stunning 'wedding ring pillow' with her to complete and we did let her do just a tad of knitting.

We had other things to do ... like visiting Desert Designs, Joffrey's for hazelnut coffee...and... cheesecake, lunch at 'J's' which was just fabulous with homemade 'sweet and sour chicken', 'sweet and sour veg', rice and homemade cheesecake. This was then topped with a little bit of 'Cherry Shisha' provided by 'J's' hubby. Now I had to give it a go but can't say that its 'all that' I'm afraid...it still had a taste of tobacco to me and I hate that but it smelled divine.
On another occassion we spent the morning pampering ourselves at the ladies centre with a manicure, pedicure and massage. Unfortunately we had planned on visiting the 'Latif Pastry' but we were too long in the ladies centre and prayer time came at 11.30am which meant everything closes down and won't re-open until 4pm. Luckily I'd mentioned my 'schwarma addiction' in front of my driver and he excited us by saying there was a place that opened after prayer time and sold them. So off we went for schwarma and 'freshly squeazed' juice...all for 13SR (approx £2.20)...oh how I'm going to miss them when we eventually return to the UK !

'K'... we had a lovely time and really would love to meet up again when you return for your next visit. Thank you for being such a lovely person and for the wonderful gifts you brought with you. Have a safe trip back to the US.

Ravelry...Thank you for such a wonderful site where it made it possible for us to meet.

Oh did I forget to mention the gifts ! Well they were just so lovely and such a wonderful generous gesture.

Here's my order (and gifts) which 'K' so kindly offered to purchase and bring with her on the visit:

First Socks from the Toe Up - Pt 2

2009-06-05T11:36:00.008+03:00

Finished 11th June 2009
Half way there. Just the 2nd sock to get done but why is it that the first sock flies off the needles and the 2nd just strolls ?I really really am pleased (have I said that before ?) with my progress on this one and definitely going to make more from the book and maybe even try to knit 2 at the same time... sometime... maybe not next time!

Pattern 'Lacy Ribs' from the 'Socks From The Toe Up' by Wendy Johnson.
Yarn Rico Design, Hobby Print which, I believe, is a German yarn. It comes as a pack with 2 balls of yarn, a basic sock pattern, & 4 metal, size 2.50mm dpn's. Its a cheaper brand but I havn't had any problems with it and made several other pairs of socks from this brand. It was a last 'panic' stock up on sock yarn from my previous visit back to the UK in December, from my favourite wool shop 'Ann Louise' in Portsmouth.
Knitting Needle Size Pattern requires 2.00mm but I used 2.25mm, partly because I'm a tight knitter and usually go up a size,but also because I couldn't find my size 2's ! The dreaded needle eating sofa monster !

HEADLINES

2009-06-03T21:22:00.002+03:00

This is just a quicky as I'm running out of time tonight for updating my blog as I've left it so long for all the bits and bobs happening during the last week, so here's a snipet of blog bits to come soon...

Ravelry Meet Up... with Kim from Saudi Stitchers

Joining a Quilters club

Piano & Recorder Lessons ... oh I bet you just can't wait !

& my wonderful prize winnings from 'Brownberry Yarns' (won via the 'Let's Knit' competition.

My First Socks from the Toe Up

2009-06-03T21:09:00.003+03:00

This is my first attempt at knitting socks from the toe up using the figure of 8 cast-on method. I am knitting this pair as part of the 'Socks from the Toe Up' by Wendy Johnson, KAL on Ravelry.

I'm pleased with my first part of the sock and the sock is flying off the circulars. Again this is the first time I've used circulars and 2 of them at one time for that matter. It wasn't a smooth learning curve as I had to frog my practise piece 5 times but I got it in the end. Its just getting the position of the needles and then the tension to keep the toe tight enough. Once that's mastered the rest seems so easy that I just don't know why I put it off for so long.

I love the idea that there are no stitches to pick up for the heel but will see how that works when I get to it...which won't be long now.

Sock Wars IV Update

2009-06-03T20:59:00.002+03:00

Wednesday 3rd June
I'm still here ! Not sure for how much longer but my nemesis that was 'Thorsgirl' is no more...Yayyyyy

I've a new assassin so I'm keeping a good lookout for any suspicious mail. Its now the weekend so I know I'm safe for a couple more days so can relax and watch the destruction going on around me. At the last count I think there were only 143 left alive so maybe I'll make it thru to the end.

I have one kill so am very pleased with myself. My target 'Padiham Knitter' was a worthy target and I took no pleasure in her destruction, but it had to be done.

I'm keeping a stealthy eye open for some SIP's (socks in progress) from Padiham's target, so lets see what arrives first. If its the SIP's then I need to be swift and get them onto their target immediately and hope for the best that the socks with my name on them don't get me too soon, so that I can have another kill to my name.

A Very Comforting Sound

2009-05-24T13:43:00.007+03:00

This is probably the main sound associated with the muslim world and I originally would be woken up (and still do at times) at sunrise (around 3-3.30am), then again 20 minutes later, then 6.30am and again 20 mins later, then 11.30am and so on for 6 times aday. I also didn't think I'd ever get used to it, but I have and not only that I have grown so accustomed to the, now, familiar and hauntingly beautiful 'call to prayer' that I really do find it rather relaxing and find it a rather comforting sound now.

When we are away from Saudi I even find I miss it ... which is how I felt on a recent trip to Bahrain and couldn't wait to get back to Saudi and back to wearing the abaya and hearing the call to prayer. Oh dear a long cry from the early days, even though now its getting unbearably hot in the abaya (yesterday it hit around 118 o/F walking around the town) and again today its around 118o/F

Anyway listen for yourself, its only a few seconds worth, a very short snippet to show just how much a part of daily life it is and also how loud it is. There is me, my husband and my son and we are all talking but our voices are drowned out by the 'call to prayer'. Bare in mind that this is just one mosque loud speaker at the end of the prayer time, its even louder when they're all going.

EAP: There are much better recordings of the call to prayer which you can find on 'You Tube' but this is a short personalised clip.

Socks From The Toe Up

2009-05-24T08:15:00.006+03:00

I received my book by Wendy Johnson a couple of days ago (almost 7 weeks I think waiting) but hadn't been able to get started on learning any of the new methods for casting on for a toe up sock due to the Sock Wars which I am now in a bit of a 'lull', 'quiet before the (desert) storm'. So Last night I pulled out those circular's and gave it my best shot.Now I'd been putting this off as I thought it was going to be so complicated but I'm pleased to report that it was really quite simple to follow the instructions for the 'Figure-Eight Toe' cast on. I feel ready to get started and will do so for the 'Socks From The Toe Up KAL' on Ravelry which starts on, 1st June. In the meantime I'll try a couple of other cast-on methods so I am ready to do all of the fabulous patterns from the book.

SOCK WARS IV Update 23-5-09

2009-05-23T15:26:00.003+03:00

SOCK WARS:

To my assassin: Thorsgirl
So I live another day... and another I guess cos I don't think you're gonna get me yet !

To my target: Padinham Knitter
I hope you're death wasn't too painful, truely I take no pleasure in your kill just know that it just had to be done.
How was the saudanese chewing gum ... lol ...honestly its not harmful and it really is chewing gum. As I said I can get bucket loads, they seem to love it out here for some reason !

SNAIL MAIL:

The postie has just knocked and I tentatively took my post and happily didn't notice any suspect packages so feel pretty elated to know I've survived yet another day.

I was however, pretty shocked and very pleased to see my 'Simply Knitting' magazine arrive. The magazine only hit the shops on Thursday and its Saturday. Not going to spend too much time nattering as going off for a mooch at my mag., before going off to the dentist for my son's very first filling... a root canal ! Fizzy drinks are to go on hold as since we've been out here they've been spoilt rotten with the fizzy stuff cos its just so cheap. Not so keen on their teeth being spoilt rotten so somethings gonna change and plain water will be the staple much to the kids disgust.

Hopefully will be able to update again soon but the internet has been so intermittent the last few days that I don't know when it will stay up long enough to do very much. Here's hoping !

Sock Wars IV News Update 20th May 2009

2009-05-21T11:55:00.009+03:00

Its been 6 days since the start of the Sock Wars IV and I'm still alive. I didn't think it would be any other way. I have trained hard and am totally committed to my fate. I know one day the 'death socks' will come for me but until that day I am strong and fearless as I have a strong faith and belief system... that I will reign supreme.

Thorsgirl is playing a game of stealth but she does not instill any fear in me... I who have had several weeks of 2.5 hour treatments for root canal, live and have trained in hardend and extreme conditions in the desert, am a worthy opponent for the toughest and 'you' Thorsgirl are no threat to me. I have no fear and laugh in the face (or toes) of your 'death socks', and am confident in the success of your imminent death (before mine). I have faith that Sockdingbat will get to you before you do me. So pray for all the good it will do you and I will relish in your 'death sock' throws.

Right off to get those kids some lunch, its all go for us moms who have a secret life !

School's Out ... Latif Pastry In

2009-05-20T15:03:00.011+03:00

Right we're in for a long weekend... hubby has had 'saudi shuffle' for 5 days now but managed to go to work,... no school today Wednesday and do not return until Sunday. Was looking forward to a bit of a lie in this morning... not needed to get up at 6am for school. However kids were up and wanting to play x-box or something I didn't quite hear and just grunted 'mmm'. Should know that from experience this is not a good time to say 'mmm' to them. However, they were true to their word this time and just got on with playing the x-box and the school homework programme on the computer.

10am (feeling guilty now cos I didn't get up for the Schwinn class which was at 9.45-10.45) and got a phone call from my mate, 'J', on compound asking if we wanted to go to Latif Pastry for brunch. Okay I say and had to round kids up and all get ready within 30 mins to make sure we had enough time before prayer time at 11.30. Managed it fine with the obligatory 'why do we have to go', 'why can't I just go to the swimming pool' & 'I don't want to go humph humph..,' ect.,

Got in the cars and managed to get there with 2 kids still... just ... in between wanting to slap, kick out of the car and leave (oh that's another story in another country so won't go there... like to point out that however tempted I probably WOULD do this if pushed just tooooo farrr). Anyway I digress... managed to arrive amidst the wacky race drivers which seem to be everyone on the roads in Saudi and into the 'Family Section' of Latif's.

I hate 'Family Sections' ... they are putrid little hovels... well most are, mustn't generalise. Men's section, lovely and white and bright with windows and nice seats and tables... family section, puke yellow tables and chairs with NO WINDOWS(see pic).
'J' asked if it would be possible for the kids to go round and watch them making the breads which was okay by the baker. In Saudi most assistants, or shop people (head not working, can't think of a better .. is it verb or adjective...) are so genuinely friendly and helpful that I still find it amazing that they will almost agree to anything if they are able to accommodate your request. We went on round to the 'Men's Section' and proceeded to click away and video the kids baking the bread for our brunch. Oh how glad I was for this little diversion, it brightened up 'kid boy' no end and he had a cheerful dimeener all the way thru.
We went back into our designated area, 'puke yellow hovel' and awaited our lebnah/cheese bread, 2 cheese breads, cheese/zatar, my shakshokah (no idea what it was, but would have it again) & 5 cans of coke, all for 26 SR (£5 approx). Fabulous value and entertainment for a day (morning) off school.

Where in England would this have possibly happend without first booking and paying a large sum of money ?

Not sure if I've mentioned it before, but this place is just great (as long as you're living a priviledged lifestyle I guess... but I am ... so I do).

Ladies Lunch Out & Ticking Off for Taking Pictures !

2009-05-19T22:44:00.007+03:00

I mentioned in the previous post that us ladies on the compound had our 'Ladies Lunch Out' this month at the lebanese restaurant, situated in Saad Hospital.

The meal could have been better but that could have been down to my choice of menu and not a true reflection of the food. I will have to go again and order something other than my usual 'favourite of the moment' shwarma which so far has tasted different everywhere I've tried them. In my mind its got to be the Golden Juice for them and a freshly squeazed juice.

The waiter, door attendent, manager, chef, in fact all of the staff were excellent and went out of their way to make the meal a pleasant and enjoyable experience. One lady ordered fish and didn't like it at all (nothing wrong with the fish, just that she made a wrong choice, something which is very common when you're ordering something different for the first time. Its a lottery sometimes as to what you might get, you might like it, you may not, but you may absolutely love it !). The management just couldn't do enough for us 'all' ... we were 'all' treated to complementary deserts.
The 'loos' were imaculate and gleaming, something you don't normally see especially in public toilets. Well Saad isn't exactly a 'bog' standard public facility so I suppose you could expect the best here in a private hospital area. Still it was above the usual standard even for private.
I however, did get a bit of a telling off for taking some more pictures of the reception chandelier and therefore, was unable to take any others as I was 'being watched'.

Please remember that most pictures are taken surreptitiously, and can be an extremely covert operation, or are taken from a moving car so its incredably difficult to get pictures of what you really want sometimes, and this was one of those occassions. So no pics from in the restaurant or of our lunch time out this month.

SocksBinLaden's RPG Missile Launched ... Latest NewsFlash

2009-05-19T22:07:00.006+03:00

SOCK WARS & LADIES LUNCH OUT

Now I've been a little busy of late preparing my weapon for launching this week and so have had to concentrate on getting everything right. I am a trained assoxinator so I give it 100% attention and committment. Thus leaving very little time for chatting or any other events taking place.
That's except for the 'Ladies Lunch Out' this month which was at a Lebanese Restaurant which opened recently in Saad Hospital. We went for lunch yesterday and had a lovely time. I must admit though, that I have had better food, but for the price and surrounding, and ambiance, it really was a lovely get together for us. Next time I will choose something other than the usual homus, tabula, and shwarma for my meal and maybe I'll be a little less biased in my opinion. The best place so far for shwarma's is The Golden Juice in Khobar with a fabtastic freshly squeased juice.
This was my first Sock Wars Event and I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far… waiting to see if I’ve a direct hit or miss.
Instructions for assembling the SocksBinLaden missile: RPG (Barcelona) socks, one hand painted Saudi cushion cover, a small amount of Saudanese chewing gum (yum yum), 'SBL' calling card and 'taunting note', all of which is wrapped up in camel patterned paper.

The RPG Socks (aka Barcelona Socks) have been launched and they are winging they're way as I speak onboard an BA flight, on route to London this evening (Tuesday 19th May), with a trusted accomplice assassin. The missile will be posted upon arrival and impact imminent upon its final destination around Thursday or Friday.

Onto my alleged assassin, Thorsgirl... well s/he's keeping a very low profile and I know nothing about her/him. I believe s/he is living in fear of the very name of SocksBinLaden and keeping quiet as s/he doesn't want to appear fullish in his/her hour of death. If however, you are reading this 'Thorsgirl' and want to have a go... bring it on ! Or maybe I should just say 'squeak squeak' to you !

Loved this weapon and will certainly make it again.

Message from SocksBinLaden

2009-05-16T17:01:00.003+03:00

Be afraid, be very afraid !

Sock Wars... Miss Fire Already

2009-05-16T01:15:00.002+03:00

Ok, after waiting by the computer for my ammunition for what seems an age today, I'm finally giving up and going for a well earned 'head down'. Its 0100 hours and I've just had to frog the whole thing as the weapon being used was a dud, (pattern had an error).

I am off to bed to try to catch up on some sleep before the battle commences again at dawn... well 3.30am to be exact as that's when the first call to prayer starts and I WILL BE AWAKE as it always wakes me up when I'm late to bed. Still have to be up at 6am for the kids to get ready for school as Saturday is the equivalent of Monday in the UK.

Battle commences at 0600 hours.

Red Delicious by Sara Peterson

2009-05-15T14:56:00.003+03:00

http://www.knotions.com/issues/summer_2009/patterns/red_delicious/directions.aspx
Ok... I know... Sock Wars IV is imminent (spelling...not a strong point when in a hurry) but I was too early for the download as didn't take into account it was CET and not GMT so was waiting at 2pm (Saudi time) for 12noon (GMT) and its 3pm so will go back in a mo ! In the meantime found these just fabtastic socks ... I wanna make ! Will wait till Sock Wars has ended though as don't want to be too distracted.

Right must go... my weapon awaits !

Craft Morning

2009-05-14T16:26:00.008+03:00

Tuesday mornings are craft day at the Oasis. Its the place us craft lovers go to meet up and take our UFO's to work on and have a chat, coffee and cake (or biscuit, whatever is on offer). I tend to oooh and arrhhh over everyone elses work, eat cake, a couple of cups of tea or coffee and then sit down to mine. I then, on many occassions, go home and frog all the progress I've managed to make...all due to the fact that I just cannot knit and natter at the same time in a group !

However, I always come away with some interesting snippets on saudi life, not all of which is publishable, and tips on 'how to's' for cooking and crafting. One piece this week was on the picnic cake that Pat brought in. She is the 'Queen Cake Maker' so we love it when she brings in her home baking.

This wasn't for us though, it was a 'commission' for someone else, but she did inform us of the website where the ideas came from... but I've forgotten it so will post it later. I think it was from the Bright Ideas website.Picnic Cake with HUGE ants (like what you get out here ! & not smiley faces as I had originally thought they were... forgot my glasses !)

Moving onto Heather and her craftwork of painted boxes. I particularly love the 'Good Bear, Bad Bear' (my name for it) as with lid down he has his head and when up he has lost it... very Saudi I feel.

Heather's Fabiola Mits

2009-05-14T16:08:00.006+03:00

Finished Heather's fingerless mits on Tuesday and I just love the quality of this hand dyed, baby alpaca yarn and the sherbit shades.Onto the weather... well its now, consistenly hitting 100oF most days (and a little higher in stages)... AND getting hotter, so why knit mits and socks ? They're quick and fairly easy depending on the design and Heather and I love them... AND they will come in 'handy' (useful) in the colder snap which is usually around a week or so out here and for when we go visiting back in the UK in the winter.

Fabiola from Alpaca Select: Great simple, quick pattern… ideal for when I hit the ‘brain fag’ spot.

Scamp

2009-05-11T12:34:00.005+03:00

Nothing much going on here except that I've been playing around with my new camera and trial version of Paint Shop Pro X, which I only have another 15 days left to run. I will need to buy the programme again as I left my disc back in the UK and I'm lost without it as I love to play about with my pictures. I know there are better programmes out there but I've never mastered the full potential of PSP and when I gave Photoshop a try, it totally floored me... I just couldn't understand anything at all and went straight back to the old faithful.

Right so, this is Scamp when he came in last night. He's a stray that we took in when we arrived here and he spent most of the 'winter' in doors sleeping with the kids, but now wants to spend most of his time outdoors now that its 'spring'... I'd rather be in with the air con than out there ... I guess its what he's used to though.

He may look a real 'bruiser' but he's a real softy. Apart from, that is, when he dug his claws into my face a couple of months back. It was my fault as I'd tried to get him out of a fight with another cat and came off worse. I won't do that again I can tell you. I think I was pretty lucky as cat scratches (and even more so bites) can be pretty nasty. I found something that looked like idodine and slapped that on. Little did I realise that it had a pretty horrendous staining effect and took a couple of days to completely fade away!

Coffee Morning Saudi Style

2009-05-10T15:52:00.013+03:00

Coffee Morning - May 2009 International Day
Well Tanga & Co., have certainly done it again this month. There is always an elaborate display set up for the tables and hall. This month the theme was... can you guess... International Day where we all had to come in our national dress. Most of us made a huge effort... well you can't blame the Auzzies really can you... all they have is the union flag as well but don't want to flaunt it and wear it as small as they can... mainly on their heads... and shout 'you bloody poms' all morning at us Brits ! Still we rose above it all and came out with our stiff upper lips.. well as stiff as could possibly be with all that food going up for grabs. The international dress for Spain, Japan and all nationalities was astounding and some were just plain beautiful... however, I kept forgetting to get the camera out and snap all those lovelies due to eating, drinking and perusing the stalls ... and keeping eyes down for the raffle. I promise to do better next month !
Here are a few of the items that were on show today:I didn't win the raffle this month but did snap up a little bargain with this snake necklace which will be a great asset for my fancy dress as Cleopatra in a couple of months time. Just got to get the rest of the garb. I feel a trip to the Taba Centre coming up!A consolation of not winning the raffle would have been my arabic coffee cup with speciallity chocolates inside, but someone swiped it ... no one owned up... shame on them or haram, as I believe they say in Saudi !

Nicky Epstein... Snail Mail brought at last !

2009-05-09T23:23:00.006+03:00

It's finally arrived(ordered 19th April so took 2 weeks, not too bad)... This book is just beautiful from cover to cover with just stunning photography and designs including snipets of information about what inspired Nicky to design a particular piece. A wonderful coffee table book that I keep picking up and flicking thru again and again. There are too many projects that I really just want to make, but realistically very few that I will ever get completed but will probably attempt, along with my own adaptions, making them easier and less time consuming.
This is my first Nicky Epstein book but I'm looking to add to the collection.

Bahrain...Knitting...SockWars

2009-05-09T22:45:00.013+03:00

BAHRAIN
Right back onto the knitting...but first... got back from a great 2 day break in Bahrain. First to a cocktail do at The Raddisson Diplomat and stayover. Then took the kids to Seef Mall to the cinema to see '...Witch Mountain' by Disney... oh boy were we glad when that was over. The main point being is I suppose that the kids really enjoyed the film so job done. First cinema they've been to since being out here. No cinema's in Saudi so it was a real treat for them, next time it will be a great treat for 'us'.

SOCK WARS
Got back and found out that the internet was down... oh blippin heck... I knew it would do that just when I was expecting to find out who my target is in the Sock Wars... Hubby helped out by getting me a 'dongle' to borrow for tonight so I could get some info and update the blog.

A message to my target:
Well, I know who you are and I'm going to get ya !

MITTENSWhile I'm waiting for the ammo to use on my target, which I should have on 15th May, I have started a pair of fingerless mittens for my daughter who is very excited about them. I received this beautiful yarn about a week ago from a lady on ebay (http://stores.ebay.co.uk/NORDIC-KNITWEAR-AND-YARNS) and just decided what to do with it. The pattern is one I've used before from Alpaca Select 'Fabiola' but using the new yarn which is a hand dyed baby alpaca. Really beautifully soft with just the most ice-creamy & sherbit shades.

Yippee I'm a Winner !

2009-05-09T21:53:00.005+03:00

Yep that's right ... I'm a winner of the 'Let's Knit' competition from issue 18.
I’m so pleased I can’t wait for my prize !

Been away for a couple of days and on my return found out I’d won a prize from the issue 18 of Let’s Knit.

My name was one of those picked from the big knitted hat that's used to select competition winners! My prize - 2 balls of Inca Cloud yarn which I'm really looking forward to receiving... so 'snail mail', bring it on !

Trouble is ... I got so excited at winning that I entered issue 19 just to see if I can get a ‘double whammy’... fingers crossed but maybe not likely ... me a ‘prize winning piggy’ ... never ...okay maybe I am !

Thank you Let’s Knit, I’m really chuffed

Knitting Banned...

2009-05-06T12:09:00.004+03:00

... we are off to Bahrain this afternoon (approx 45 mins) and I have been told I cannot take any knitting with me !

What will I do for the next 2 days not being able to knit socks or gloves or even just scour the 'net'.

Not allowed to take the laptop either. We are to do 'family things' !

Oh I suppose its not that bad really, I might even enjoy it... Will let you know soon enough !

I might just sneak a pair of dpn's in the case ... thinking about 'Sock Wars' ... oh get a grip ... not even got out the house yet !

Is there such a thing as 'Knitters Anon' ?

Socks & Chit Chats

2009-05-05T19:37:00.010+03:00

Finally a pair of socks I've not had to frog ! Knitted using Wendy Zig Zag, Cornucopia on 2.75m dpn's rather than 2.50m due to my tension being rather tight.

If you're wondering what all the bars are... well they're thick steel fencing all around the balcony just incase of a terrorist attack ! I think they're great for stopping the kids from jumping off the balcony and into the garden below, which is something I'm sure they would have thought of doing if the bars hadn't been there.

I can usually count on 'Wise Hilda's' socks to get me back on track although these did cause a bit of confusion. It might be me, but I had a problem after turning the sock inside out and working from the other side. When it came to working back on track after the heel, I omitted to re-turn the sock the right way round. It didn't say to turn it again in the pattern but it was an obvious move to get the sock correct and not look exactly like the basic ribbed pattern. I will do it again but make sure I turn inside/right side out at the correct point in the pattern so I at least get a pair of the 'reverse basic ribbed socks'.Had several deliveries this week. One being my 2 knitting subscriptions came thru, 'Knitting' and 'Simply Knitting', some beautiful wool (pics to be posted), and the fabulous Nicky Epstein's 'Knitting on top of the World'...beautiful book.

CHIT CHAT
On to Chit Chats... well these are tiny little gecko creature, also known as, Sand-eye, Whip-tail, Elegant and Israeli Sand Gecko and are between 3.5" to 4" long. The scientific bit: Stenodactylus sthenodactylus (Lichtenstein, 1823).These little gecko's live quite happily in the house where you'll find them on the ceilings and walls, however you only see them if its very quiet or they just scuttle so fast that you never even notice them. I think we've about 3 in the house but only see them on very rare occasions. I snapped this little one tonight, there were 2 of them but the other one scuttled as soon as I got the camera out.
Rather more exotic than the old english house spider to keep those flies at bay.

Sock Wars

2009-04-30T21:44:00.008+03:00

Update: 1st May... I'm in... Now just need to wait for 9th May for my secret dossier and intended target to assasinate !

30th April...Yep I'm a real iPod freak now and just spend ages looking for either knitting or crochet related podcasts or videos, and audio books to download.

Today I found the 'Sock Wars' pod/video by CAT at 'Let's Knit2gether' and watched it during the afternoon prayer time at the Mall. I couldn't wait to get back and get onto the website to get involved in the latest sock war. I'm a little bit late as the deadline for registering is 1st May and I'm in the process (now) of sorting out how to make the $4 subscription payment. I may not be able to join in this time but will be keeping a good eye on the progress on the website and Ravelry forum.

Fingers crossed I'll get in on this one and be able to report my personal progress here.

Here's a little bit more information (source OregonLive.com):
"Billed as "the largest, bloodiest extreme knitting tournament in the world," Sock Wars is (are?) not for the faint of heart or the slow of needle. You sign up, you get a target's address in the mail, and you get to assassinate them. Via sock. Basically, you gotta outknit the competition. To win, you must complete a pair of socks (the Sock Wars folk supply the pattern) before your foe does. You mail them to him/her, and you score a kill. Your victim mails you his/her unfinished sock(s), plus the name of his/her target, and you continue knitting, and, presumably, killing. It's primal, it's brutal, it's kill or be killed, and if you're the last knitter standing? You score a sweet knitting gift certificate. (It's currently at $154, but it goes up as more troops enlist.) This year they're also taking team entries, so you don't have to be a mercenary acting alone -- you can be part of a squad of commandos taking out the enemy. Or something."

Here's the link to the Sock Wars Website if anyone else is interested in just a little bit of fun: http://www.sockwars.org/press.html

Spring is here !

2009-04-26T07:30:00.003+03:00

Well that's what I've been told but when the temp hits 100oF then I call that just too hot and going to spend the summer hibernating with my new best friend, the 'air con'.

The humidity hit pretty hard yesterday and I am now realising that it ain't going to be a fun time in Saudi during the summer months right up until the end of September. That's when we originally arrived here last year and that was a pretty big shock for my delicate british constitution then. Me, having the true 'Jock' gene of fair skin, freckles, and red (well reddish,ok tinged) hair, just don't mix well with the heat and humidity and can't wait to get indoors and turn on the 'air con' and flop down until I've cooled off and returned to some kind of normality just to be able to get on with a busy mums duties.

I am told I should acclimatize but I'm not too sure about this as even the Saudi's days are back to front during these months. Day is for sleep and doing nothing much, lazing around, and then everying happens evening time, its off out shopping or whatever it is they want to do including taking the kids to play in the park at 10pm. Actually that's pretty much how it is all the time come to think of it.

P/Hop ... 'Pennies per Hour of Pleasure'

2009-04-26T07:07:00.004+03:00

P/Hop is a charitable organisation raising funds for Medecins sans Frontieres and is the brainchild of Natalie at The Yarn Yard. Go to this link to see what she has to say: http://theyarnyard.typepad.com/

Designers from all over have pledged to donate patterns to MSF, which you can download for free! However, once you have your newly completed knitted/crocheted scarf/socks/sweater, they ask you to donate an amount that corresponds to the amount of pleasure you got from making it.

So far, there is a beanie pattern,donated by Terri Bate; a fabulous pair of 'Cranford Mittens' by Jane Lithgow; A scarf 'Flowers in the Rain' by Jacqui Walker; and the long awaited p/hop sock pattern by Debbie of 'Hue & Dye' blogspot.

Although P/Hop is still in the relatively early stages you can even join in the knit-along and the Ravelry group, link time: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/p-hop

Here's the P/Hop (MSF) site link: http://www.p-hop.co.uk/

WOW Check out the fab Freebies

2009-04-23T20:22:00.004+03:00

WOW...These patterns are just fabulous...you've just got to go have a look !

Store Link:
http://mochimochiland.com/shop/

There is also a page with lots of freebie patterns too just to greece your pins so to speak before going off and just having to buy all those fabby patterns.

My favourites have got to be the toilet roll as I have a fasination with toilets which started (or rather I blame it on) a good 20 years ago when I was a secretary in a general hospital. The General Manager decided to do a 'toilet audit' and I had to type all the details, stick the photographs and generally compile this book on toilets within the hospital. I never seemed to be able to look at a toilet in the normal way ever again. I'm always thinking it could have improvements or how is that going to work when its been designed for someone who needs wheelchair access etc., etc.,...

... Just think how elated I was to find the toilets or rather holes in the ground when we arrived in Saudi Arabia. I was in my element. Don't worry, not all of the pictures are suitable for blogging and I have practically exhausted my facination with the loos out here now after 6 months.

KnitMinder & StitchMinder iPod Application...Free Download

2009-04-23T15:51:00.009+03:00

As mentioned in a previous post, I received an iPod for Mother's Day this year and have been busy adding music, knitting, crochet and even exercise (spinning/bike) music poscasts.

Today I found these 2 application for a knitting and stitch minding programme developed by 'Quilt2Go'. These 2 applications have been around for a while and are free with an option to purchase the full Knit Minder at £2.99 at a later date. The Stitch Minder is 'free'. I downloaded both free versions today and have been busy playing.

Knit Minder, is a great record of projects you're working on, or completed with details of the pattern, needles and yarn used. However, I did find it a little limited when adding the colour of the yarns as I'm using a varigated coloured yarn and could only choose a solid colour for the project, but I'm sure this could be sorted at a later stage by the programmer, who incidentally is a Ravelry member.

Also you cannot actually upload pictures from the 'upload pic' icon, but I notice that this blip is to be rectified shortly.

Stitch Minder, is a great little gadget where you can do exactly as it says, keep a track of all your projects, with 'rows completed', pattern row, pattern repeats, increase and decrease row counters. All at the touch of the i-pad. This is great as I regularly take my knitting or crochet projects with me, especially on my little trips to Saad Hospital (dentist) where I always chuck in my iPod incase I want to listen to a knitting related iPod download. But now I can just use it to keep track of my progress as I invariably forget to take pencil and paper and then completely forget where I am in a pattern and spend ages trying to work it out.

I love these little applications and look forward to using them on a regular basis, and will probably download the £2.99 download version, but will continue with the KnitMinder Lite for the time being to get to grips with it.

If you're interested in giving them a go here are the links to copy and paste into your search engine:

http://www.quilt2go.com/

If you would like another review then go here:
http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/08/12/stitchminder-free-iphone-knitting-app/

Yarnbombing in the UK !

2009-04-23T13:10:00.005+03:00

Source: Telegraph UK (21 Jan 2009) Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4305406/Knitters-turn-to-graffiti-artists-with-yarnbombing.html
Yarnbombing, is thought to have originated in the US but knitters are now beginning to cover British streets in woollen 'tags' and can come in the form of, cosies for trees, garden sheds in knitted squares and as you can see a double decker bus !

What a great idea to brighten up the UK especially during this current economic period.

I wonder if I can get some yarnbombing going on out here in Saudi...what do you think !

Advice Given on Pothos Laddering Problem

2009-04-23T12:13:00.008+03:00

The girls over at the Six Sock KAL forum have been just so helpful on this problem I'd been having regarding the laddering effect when moving onto the new needle using dpn's.

I have copied the advice the girls have given below just incase it helps with any of you other sock knitters who may or may not have the same problem but its also a point of inspiration for me to see everytime I look at the pic of my pothos socks and to give it another go !

I haven't tried out any of the advice yet but will report back on how I get on and which method suited 'me' best as I'm sure different methods will suit different sock knitters.

Here goes:

1. Try to knit with 5 needles instead of 4. When you have the stitches on 4 needles
the angel between the needles doesn't get so sharp as when you have the stitches on 3dpn's. This makes it easier to avoid ladders.

Avoiding ladders IS harder when purling than when knitting as the yarn travel on the outside of the work (between the stitches). When you knit the yarn is on the inside between stitches (= inside lane).

2. One knitter suggested shifting your stitches by 1 on each round of the leg. You will not get a ladder because each row starts in a different place. Have you tried blocking the socks or even just washing them? Does that eliminate the ladder?

3. When I'm working on the cuff or the foot, I will move anywhere from one to three stitches from one needle to the next. This readjusts the tension of the stitches on that needle and helps reduce the laddering. One of my girlfriends also recommended that when you start the stitches on a new needle pull the first three stitches of that needle very tightly. I have tried both methods and seen some success.

4. My suggestion would be not to knit the very first stitch on the new needle
tightly...knit it normally, then when you knit the second stitch, snug it up, and maybe even snug up the third stitch a bit. Often when you snug up that first stitch it makes the ladder effect even worse. Hope this helps!

5. I usually use Magic Loops to knit socks so avoiding ladders is easy as you swap
the last 2 stitches on the needle to the other side. THat way you never leave a
ladder. When you're using dpns, you might want to try the same trick but you'll have to keep a marker so you can tell where needle 1 should be. From there, it's easy to transpose the pattern.

6. The best thing that works for me is to always be changing the place I change needles. I do not get ladders if I always work at least three (or more depending on patternings) from each needle before starting to use the one I just emptied.

It may take a bit of a while to relearn if you are used to beginnning with the emptied needle right away. But, I find it prevents ladders better FOR ME than the other ideas about tightening certain stitches and so on. All that seems to do is mess with the tension.

However, more often than not the ladders tend to disappear with the first wearing and washing.

7. I don't know if this will help--maybe you're doing this already--but when I start a needle with a purl stitch, I make sure the working needle (the one you're knitting on to) is over the old needle (or the cable,if doing magic loop) and the yarn is coming from under. Then I pull tight. (If I'm knitting, my working needle is under the old needle.) This way, there's nothing getting in the way of the yarn when you start a new needle.

I wish I'd seen no. 6 before I completely frogged my sock last night, I might have had the confidence to continue with it. Never mind I will try again incorporating the advice given by the girls at the forum. Thank you girls again !

Frogging !

2009-04-22T17:05:00.006+03:00

I hate to frog another sock but again its needed as there is nothing I can do to sort it out.

I frogged the Pembrokeshire Patheways socks due to the unsuitable yarn I was using. It had too much of a pattern (Wendy,Zig Zag) and just didn't look right. I shall try again with a plain yarn.

I am now frogging the Pothos sock which I am knitting with the Six Sock KAL due to unsightly laddering which is occuring as I am moving from one dpn to the other during the purling rounds. I don't have a problem while knitting all rounds but do apparently have a problem with purling all rounds in this method. I really didn't want to be beaten but it really does look awful and even after the thrill of seeing the final pattern emerge, it just all has to be correct as you can see every detail in this fab pattern.Happier times Pothos knitting !

Looking at the pattern again it appears to be knitted on circular needles hence my 'surfing' for instructions on how to do the magic loop method (links posted in side bar). I am now looking for my circular needles which I brought out with me just in case I needed them, and am sure glad that I did as having to purchase them and wait for them to arrive would be a nightmare of a wait of up to 3 weeks !

Right, off to hunt down those circs !

Entrelac...Nicky Epstein

2009-04-19T08:49:00.011+03:00

Yesterday I couldn't help myself and just had to buy 'On Top of the World' by Nicky Epstein from Amazon... a real bargain for £9.99 and free p&p. It'll take a good couple of weeks to get to me but I'm so looking forward to it.

I just love the projects and can't wait to get on with something a little different again from what I used to make. One of them is an entrelac number. I've mastered the entrelac skill when I made a little set for a baby about a year ago. This was in my previous life of a reborn and baby knitter, which I still do but not for profit due to the constrictions of being out here. I think I'm just about ready to endeavour on a new project involving entrelac as I found it pretty time consuming (tidying the ends up at the end of the item is a real pain !). Any way here's Nicky's and then mine:Might take a little longer than my set did.
If you're new to entrelac I'd suggest a small, simple project. Here's a link to a pretty comprehensive guide to entrelac by the blogger 'KnittyOtter'. I apologise for not using my pics but I didn't bring them all out with me ie., store on another computer in the UK !Here's the link:"http://knittyotter.typepad.com/otterknits/2007/03/entrelac_scarf_.html"
Here's another link to a basic handout on entrelac by Carol Wyche: "http://www.io.com/~cjwyche/Entrelac/Entrelac.html"

This one's just another I'm itching to get on with... saw it in a magazine ('Knitting') and been after it ever since.

Rocket

2009-04-18T18:21:00.008+03:00

Meet Rocket the... bird... not sure what he is apart from very lucky.On Thursday my noticed some baby birds hopping around on the floor outside our villa, in the gutter, and under our car. Four of them had decided that it was time to stretch and test their wings. Unfortunately 2 got carried off my cats and we lost sight of the other one but managed to get Rocket safely into the tree. We realised that he probably wouldn't make it as the cats were very excited by this time so we took him under our wing.. or rather my son's as I was quite happy to let nature take its course. He however, was not and wanted to find worms and crush them for Rocket. Dad and I explained he was too old for that and that he was ready to go solo and look after himself as soon as he'd rested and could get exercising his wings again.Long, short... he was safety put outside onto the balcony where he flapped and then fell asleep all night on the chair outside. In the morning he had gone so I guess he managed to get some help from an adult bird as they were around, and took the plunge and went wild. My son says he saw him sitting on the balcony and then fly off again a bit later so I hope that's the case. He believes that Rocket came back to say 'bye bye'... how sweet !I'm so glad it had a happy ending, I was worried as my adopted sparrows never survived and I was very upset.

Innovative Knitting For Bald Chickens & Sand Roses

2009-04-17T21:26:00.008+03:00

Internet has been down all day... loading pics is taking a long time so will upload them tomorrow but in the meantime here are my ramblings tonight:

Well its another weekend over and kids back to school tomorrow (Saturday) after 2 weeks on holiday and I've been to the gym and started knitting a new sock project. I've given up on the Pembrokeshire Pathways as it, well to be honest, bored me silly, but maybe it was the colour choice that was wrong. In any case it was taking me weeks to only get 25% finished on one sock only so it has now gone into hibernation. I may go back to it, I may not.

I am now knitting the Pathos sock with the Six Sox Knitalong group and finding this one very interesting so hopefully will have it finished in a few days rather than weeks !

Thursday we went out on a trip to find sand roses in the desert and to have a BBQ. It was just too too hot but we managed it amidst the sand storm (okay sand blowing about) eating our sand accompanied prawns, salad with sprinkled sand and melon and grape fruit salad with sand sprinkles... mmm yum ! We also ran into a huge herd/caravan ? of camels which were incredibly friendly ie., came up to us for a pat and no spit or froth or bite in evidence. It was a real treat to chance across them and their owner who came to greet us. We took some sand roses, and a leg bone from the pretty fresh'ish camel skeleton home with us, along with most of the food that we'd given up trying to eat.

Innovative Knitting For Bald Chickens
Decided to flick thru one of my mags (Knitting) whilst the kids and hubby went off to play bowling this afternoon and came across an article (which I thought was a joke at first) about knitting jumpers for chickens! Well it turns out that these battery hens need little tops to keep them warm after being rescued as they had lost most of their feathers due to stress of their previous battery farming life. I went onto look at one of the many websites where you can download a pattern to knit for one of these poor little chux and here is a little piece taken from one of them taken from www.eveningnews24.co.uk website:

..."Many of us groan about the prospect of another knitted jumper from a distant relative at Christmas, but for featherless hens who have escaped a life of battery farming they are delighted by the festive offering.

The chickens, at Little Hen Rescue in Newton Flotman, have been taken in by Jo Eglan and her family in the hope of finding new homes in the New Year.

Mrs Eglan, 29, who is married to Steve, 30, and has two children, Jay, five, and Bobby, three, has been a vegetarian since her childhood and has dedicated her life to helping rescue the battery laying chickens who would otherwise be killed and turned into pet food.

But because the bald birds lose their feathers from stress and the cramped cages they are forced to live in while laying eggs, they are too cold to cope in winter - so Mrs Eglan has been encouraging anyone who can knit to make jumpers for the hens.

Mrs Eglan, who keeps the chickens at a farm in Greenways, Newton Flotman, said: “We have about 35 jumpers now. Evening News readers saw previous stories about the hens and started knitting jumpers for them.

“We had a nursing home ring us and all the old ladies are now knitting. Other people have sent the jumpers in too.”

The chickens were rescued by the Eglan family after 60 weeks of laying eggs, but Mrs Eglan said they will all go on for many months continuing to lay - although the number of eggs produced no longer meets the demand needed by farmers.

Kind Evening News readers have been knitting jumpers for rescued chickens. Photo: Simon Finlay.
The chickens will grow back their feathers after a few months but the jumpers, which have room for the chickens to move their wings, allow them the warmth to do so.

The mother-of-two, who also works as a teaching assistant for Harford Manor Special School, said: “We have about 400 chickens at the moment but they are ex-free range birds. We are expecting up to 4,000 battery farmed ones in the New Year - and they will really need the jumpers.

“When we re-home them they go with the jumpers until they have re-grown their feathers - and then ask for the owners to give them back.”

Mrs Eglan said as well as more knitting nanas they still need homes for the birds they currently have, many of which are ex-free range Amber-Link hens.

She said: “Re-homing is a constant issue, even for the ex-free range.”

Depending on the farmer Little Hen Rescue offers about 30p for each bird but needs £1.50 to cover costs.

To see video footage of the hens in jumpers go to www.eveningnews24.co.uk

To offer a home to the chickens call Jo on 07717 757596 or go to www.littlehenrescue.co.uk

SOURCE: www.eveningnews24.co.uk

Here's another website I found on these chickens: http://littlehenrescue.co.uk/jumpers.aspx

Scavenge Hunt & A Real Easter Bunny

2009-04-13T15:29:00.009+03:00

This morning the kids had a scavenger hunt arranged by the compound which I thought would keep them out of trouble for a couple of hours... however, I think they've taken it a little too seriously.

First off, they did well at the scavenge by finding all the items on the list given to them which included pencils, books, safety pins etc., but this afternoon my daughter came home with......a Rabbit ! She was wondering around the park on her own so obviously either lost or been kicked out by someone possibly leaving the compound without having found a new home for her. The girls managed to get a walking strap on her as she's just so tame and used to be being handled and were taking her out for a walk along with the other girls pet rabbit which she got because she thought he could keep her company. Then Heather thought it would be even better if she met Bandit the Hamster which is why they ended up here, but Bandit was sleeping and missed his new friend. I'd love to have her but we have so many animals at the moment that I think I'll have to draw the line somewhere.Just had the gang report back that the owner has been found ! Phew ! She escaped when they were trying to give her a bath.Well it was fun, I'm sure, while it lasted.

Al Musmak Castle, Riyadh

2009-04-13T10:58:00.006+03:00

Musmak Castle was built in 1865 and lies in the heart of old Riyadh. In the center of the castle there is a diwan (or sitting room); there is also a courtyard with a well.The castle is amazing and made only of mud and straw. Its beautiful inside and really cool... so good to get inside out of the heat. Just across the way is 'chop chop square' which was really weird to walk across knowing that it's where they chop heads off... only on a Friday after prayer time ! We were okay ...we were there on a Saturday.
A little more information:
"The castle is next door to the National Museum so worth a visit in conjunction with the museum. The castle is representative of the march and battles which led to the formation of Saudi Arabia as it is known today. The castle is well preservered and provides authentic glimpses into the life and history at the beginning of Saudi Arabia. Again, like the National Museum one should check on the hours due to the differing visiting times for men, woman and families. Admission to the castle is free of charge." Source: American Bedu blog

A Taste of Taif

2009-04-12T14:12:00.003+03:00

TAIF Intercontinental Hotel, you may find the room service menu interesting!mmmm...think I'll give this one a miss !

Camels, camels & more camels

2009-04-12T13:37:00.009+03:00

I love this one... A real pre/post modern Saudi image
This is where it can get real dangerous.. when camels wonder off onto the Riyadh road...not a safe road at the best of times, let alone hitting a camel on your way as well.
This baby tried to make a run for it...
... back with mummy !
You could buy your very own camel for as little as £17,000 !

Well we are in Saudi ... I mean 'Camel Land' !

EASTER

2009-04-12T12:45:00.007+03:00

Its so easy to forget what's going on outside our little bubble but we were reminded of Easter by the kids .. well they're idea of Easter is a little different ie., chocolate eggs !The compound laid on some lovely events for the kids and they really enjoyed the Easter Egg hunt and painting the boiled eggs. The Easter bunny did come this morning but how much he had to pay for them I'd hate to think as there were rumours of eggs costing as much as £60 for around 8 ! He made a mess much to Heather's delight by leaving carrot tops around and taking her painted boiled egg she made specially for him/her/whatever !

EASTER COFFEE MORNING
The Easter Coffee Morning was as fun as usual with some real effort put in for the Easter Bonnet Parade... I didn't get round to making mine ... time just ran away and all those visits to the dentist just didn't help. I had intended to make up something quick yesterday but after another 2 hours 'root canal' filling I just couldn't face it. So this morning grabbed some bunny ears won at the Easter Hunt and stuck some flowers on them.... Forgot to take a pic... might do this later, but honestly you're not missing out.
CHARITY QUILT RAFFLEJust had to show you this ... Quilt... I'm definitely going to have to get involved in making one of these before I leave the Kingdom.

Happy Easter !

Riyadh, Socks, & Dishcloths

2009-04-12T12:19:00.013+03:00

Hi ya, sorry not been able to get online for a bit and been to Riyadh for a few days as well and didn’t take the laptop.

First off, we went for our first visit to Riyadh and stayed on a lovely compound (BAE) which is apparently going to be the blueprint of the one we’re moving to next year. A bit Strepford Wives but I’m not going to complain too much lol. There are mini pools jotted around the villas with a huge lagoon style pool for all to use. The compound we’re on at the moment is well established and has its own character so will certainly miss it along with the people. There are a multitude of nationalities on our current compound which has been wonderful for the kids to mix with all the children and me of course. On the new one we'll be more isolated with just the Brit/American mix I assume.

Went to the Kingdom Tower and almost had a fit when saw how high we were…hubby was a real scaredy cat and took an age before actually stepping out to have a look. The Sky Bridge is 99 floors high at 310 metres. Here is a link to the official website:
http://www.kingdomcentre.com.sa/

Must admit he wasn't the only scared one... a Saudi guy was petrified and he had to have his friend hold his hand the whole time, coaxing him to walk a few paces at a time.Doesn't look scary I hear you say, but believe me it was. I took this pic using a zoom lense.
On the way down in the lift which was super speedy 99 floors in 30 secs !!!, we witnessed the way saudi boys meet saudi girls... with 'Bluetooth'... the girls huddled together so the lift attendant didn't see them and the boys did the same. At a guess they swapped id's. The lift attendant did a great job of separating the boys from the family and girls and even refused to let the girls off the lift until he was sure the boys had gone... however, they hadn't gone too far and were sitting 'in wait' a few yards away. I'm sure they have a lot of fun getting to meet each other but the consequences must be pretty harsh if caught. I used to think how awful this culture was but being here you soon adjust and find it pretty normal after a while.

Went to have afternoon tea at Faisal Tower but was told they wern’t doing it except on the weekend which we had just missed so will have to go back again for this one. A real dissapointment but as I say will go back. The restaurant is in the globe at the top incase you were wondering.

Took some great pics of … camels ! Hundreds of them all in a caravan walking along a bridge with cars and lorries running thru underneath.. a great shot of pre & post modern Saudi.

SOCKSWell I have finished another pair but just not got round to taking a picture but when I do I will add it here. Its another alpaca select pattern using 4 ply alpaca mixed.

CROCHET DISHCLOTHS
mmm... why dishcloths I hear you ask... well I made (crocheted) my first one last year after thinking exactly the same and wanted to see what all the rave was about homemade cotton dishcloths. I havn't looked back since... they're far superior to the shop brands and last for ages... well they used to until the house helper got hold of them but they still last longer than the bought ones. I buy a ball at £1.99 and can make 3 out of a ball in about 40 mins ! I even made one for my MIL and even she prefers them and has knitted her own since.

I Luv Snail Mail

2009-04-01T13:48:00.004+03:00

I am so pleased ... I got a postal delivery yesterday and after weeks of 'nothing' not even a 'bill' from the UK, I got my long awaited subscription mag, 'Simply Knitting' and some others that I'd either won on ebay or asked relatives to buy and send on.

The mag only took about 2 weeks to arrive so that's not too bad. Have also subscribed to 'Knitting' mag as well so I've got 2 things to look forward to the snail mail bringing once a month.

Waiting for another delivery of wool to keep the sock supplies up !

New Cat on the Block

2009-04-01T13:37:00.005+03:00

One of the families on the compound is leaving this week and has had Lexie for a couple of years. Lexy didn't have a good start in life as she got trapped in the compound security gates and lost half her tail and toes on one paw a couple of years ago. She's a bit of a freaky cat as she hisses, spits and makes an odd noise and walks with a tic, usually with her right front leg flicking. Anyway it was thought that she would be far too stressed (as she has psycological problems too) to make it to the new compound in Abu Dabi so I offered to give her a home.

Lexy came to stay this morning and has spent most of her time in the downstairs toilet. She came out for an hour and was happy enough, mewing and coming over for a bit of a stroke. Then all of a sudden she went off on one. She's back in the toilet after a bit of a struggle getting her into her cage. Didn't want to let the kids come home to the scene nor want them trying to catch her and being ripped to shreds. Not too sure that Lexy likes being here just yet, but we'll see how she gets on. Trouble is Scamp has to come home too yet, so after her performance this morning I'm sure she's not going to like him very much either.

Anyway, here's Lexy.. hopefully she'll be a little more relaxed in the next picture.

Toooo Cute !

2009-04-01T13:20:00.005+03:00

Just had to snag this off 'Ten Thousand Dancing Stars' blogger, just far to cute not to. He's also my screen saver this week.

Now why can't Lexy learn from this one.

Qatif Market

2009-03-28T13:43:00.011+03:00

First things first... internet ! Nothing again for 2 days almost... Driving me mad !
More visits to Saad dentist... will it ever get any better I ask myself after nearly 6 months of pain ! Finished one sock ... need to do the other one.

Ok, we arranged to go to Qatif market on Thursday (26th) and of course because we'd arranged to go somewhere, it poored with rain ! Still didn't put us off so off we went, kids in tow and rumbling toothache.

The history bit:
"The history of Qatif as a village goes back to 3500 BC during the late Bronze Age. Centered in one of the largest oases in the world and just a short distance from the Arabian Gulf, the area was well known as a trading center. Caravans were frequent visitors as were Portuguese trade ships, and local Bedouins must have traded their camels and goats; dates, bananas and lemons as well as handcrafted objects for things like spices, fabrics and tools."
Source: 'Sand Gets in my Eyes' Blogger

Once we managed to park we flip flop splashed around ending up with filthy feet and hem of abaya (which I couldn't wait to chuck off for a good old cleaning). We found at our first stop, all kinds of birds including parrots, pigeons, canaries, budgies, sparrows, hawks, oh every kind of bird you could imagine or not as the case may seem. Forgot the roosters, hens, ducks, geese and peacocks.
Next stop, puppies ! Didn't take any pics of this one as just too sad, even we couldn't fool the kids into believing that they were just being played with to show how adorable they were for us to buy ! Fortunately further on there were some beautiful puppies that were obviously well cared for (as well cared for as you get for market trading)so they were a little happier then.
Kittens ... well we did take this one pic but its so sad that we couldn't take it with us. I don't think Scamp would have appreciated it much and would probably had him for tea, thus ending our well intentioned rescue plan.
Then we chanced across some baby lady peacocks... almost kicked a bag at the side which was, when hubby pointed out to me, bagged up male peacocks. Wanted them too but was assured that someone would probably shoot them if we took them back to the compound once they started calling in the early hours ... before prayer time even.Then a strange sight greeted (well presented itself shall I say) of some brightly coloured fluffy balls. I thought they were pom poms until they flapped and chirped. They were of course, baby chicks dyed an eye catching colour to show just how yours could look too if you fancied them. We declined much to the kids protests.

Ok, so done the market bit... probably won't do it again but its just one of those things you seem to have to do in a country that has totally different beliefs and concerns from your own. And this is how one blogger 'Sand Gets in my Eyes' puts it:
"No one really knows when the tradition of the weekly market started. Definitely hundreds of years ago. Possibly thousands. But it is a tradition no expat should miss."

Of course there are the women's stalls where you can buy linnen baskets (which we did for 60sr (I think we paid over the odds) but there you go, sometimes haggling doesn't work. Hubby said on the way back, 'I always said we needed a basket for our laundry... lucky there were lots to choose from'. Anyway you've got to buy something havn't you to show for your little excursions out and about here, and at least it wasn't a peacock !We don't seem to have seen as much as others do as we got there pretty late, around 8.30am, and because of the rain some stalls had packed up and gone. I was particulary looking forward to the antiques stalls and jewellery but had to make do with just one stall that was left... Managed to come away empty handed at this one, luckily.

Probably luckily for us we missed the camels, goats and sheep too, but I'm sure we'll get to see plenty of those when we go to Riyadh next week.

Things I Miss & Don't Miss About the UK

2009-03-25T20:10:00.005+03:00

Been here 6 months now so just weighing up the pro's and con's

THINGS I MISS ABOUT THE UK:

My friends

Curry Night Out

Fish & Chips

Being able to go out when & wherever I want to

Having the odd tipple (even if only once a year)

Being able to talk to a man other than my husband or whoever I have written permission to be with !

Being able to wear what I want, wherever and when I want - even RED if it suited me

Being able to ride my bike anywhere

Cornish Icecream

Fish Fingers

BREAD !

THINGS I CERTAINLY DO NOT MISS ABOUT THE UK:

The drunks walking down the street at all hours of the night and morning, usually stopping outside the bedroom window and having a fight or trying to break into a house or cars crashing into the pavement !

DOG POO all over the pavements

Rude Shop Assistants

THINGS I WILL MISS WHEN LEAVE SAUDI :

Saudi hospitality & friendliness

Sunshine

Polite and courteous shop assistants

Arabic Bread & Humous & Foul

Swarma's

THINGS I WILL NOT MISS ABOUT SAUDI :

Internet !!!! Intermittent... to none !

Expensive ice cream (£8-£10 a pot)

Male shop assistants ... everywhere (cosmetics, lingerie, oh no women shop assistants allowed

Having to wait outside while men go inside for a cuppa and a bite to eat unless its got a family section usually situated right at the back and in a dull, minging room allocated for the women and kids

Cockroaches & huge huge ants !

Public toilets

Unrelenting Heat of the Summer

Just found this designer... My Little City Girl

2009-03-25T12:19:00.013+03:00

WEBSITE: http://mylittlecitygirl.com/
'About Me' page on ebay: http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=my_little_citygirl

I just love this one and have got to make it ... doesn't look like there's a current pattern available but hopefully it will do before I try to make my own version up which will not be the same. I've done this before with one of my pineapple halters, I was very pleased with it but it wasn't quite what I had envisaged making so I'd just love to cut out the hard work and buy this pattern.

Now I'm definitely inspired again to start those halter tops for my dear daughter.

The blog is full of interesting articles and also has some fun free patterns available for downloading.
This one's a must for next years winter in Saudi (well its probably only needed for a week or so but it'll be a wonderful accessory made in a thread crochet cotton.

Trips Out ... Jubail

2009-03-25T07:14:00.019+03:00

Not much knitting done again but on Sunday we went to one of hubby's work colleagues tent in Jubail. It had originally been arranged for the weekend (Friday) when the family would have been there too but it had to be rescheduled and only hubby's work friend was able to come.
However, his wife still cooked and prepared 'all' the food which was amazing. The hospitality is sencond to none and you really are treated well when you're invited to go along and it really is a privilege to go to one of these invitations.

There were 2 women (me and another wife) and 2 girl children... we would normally have had to go into the 'family' tent away from the men but we were allowed to stay with the men on this occassion as we'd have been all alone in the tent.
Some pics of our trip up to Jubail which doesn't give any idea of how weird driving is out here. We even ran into some young saudi men drag racing along the road. Initially I thought they'd lost control of the car by accident until it was pointed out to be that its a game, an adrelalin (oh spealling again ? er spelling even) rush.
On arrival was found we had gone to the wrong place and you might laugh but a desert camp site is pretty much like any other desert camp site and it took around 10 mins to realise we were in the wrong place. Long cut short we eventually got to where we were meant to be and were greeted with the arabian cardamon coffee, and then the food, and then more drinks, this time very sweet arabic tea.
The tents are so luxurious and we want one to go camping in The New Forest.. maybe not though as it rains too much and it would get very wet. But the work that goes into the material is astonashing and a real luxury after only camping in a canvas tent and mainly in terential rain at that in the UK.
It was beautifully peaceful with a slight breeze and with the double glazed window (!) open and the double glazed door, a very tranquil time. Double glazed ... amazing as there are no walls to speak of, only a cement brick work of about 2 foot and then some steel poles to hold the material in place oh and then the windows and door. Needlenss to say it doesn't keep the noise out... but then there's not too much noise going on out here in the desert.

We were shown the outside oven which was a huge hole dug into the ground and a lid to cover it when the charcoal has been lit to keep the heat in. Our host went on to tell us that when he stayed in the UK a few years back he decided to make one of these out door ovens in his garden. Once completed the family sat down to having a family bbq when the fire brigade turned up and he got a bit of a telling off as its just not done in the UK without planning and safety checking... and to say that he'd almost gone thru some gas pipework and was dangerously close to some. Not something the neighbours would have been too pleased about I'm guessing !
The kids had fun too...how big a sand castle can you build ? Ok it looks more like, 'be quiet, it'll come back out the hole in a minute and I'll get it this time'... I would like to add that no animals or insects were harmed on this trip ! PS: Just thought I'd better add to this pic as a friend believes the pink thing is a dead animal.. its a pinkish paper bag ! Promise ! My son would be squawking like a girl if it was a dead animal lol!

Heather, very pleased with her plate... eyes bigger than belly maybe !
On the way back I tried to take some sunset pics but its very difficult from a moving car which is where most of the pictures are taken from.

Dentist Rap ... er Rant ....

2009-03-21T12:56:00.004+03:00

Had my consultant appointment at Saad Dentist this morning and came away feeling really miserable... problems again with mis-understanding procedures ...on both sides ... again !

Sooo, to cheer myself up went and had 2 swarmas (chicken, chilli..the whole works) and a freshly squeazed orange juice all for 15 riyals (approx £3)... Oh and some cd's for my new iPod Touch ! The cd's were 3 for 25 riyals (£5erish), but you have to put up with the pics being blanked out with censorship black permanent marker pen. I bought, Madonna, & 2 Britney Spears (sorry but I'm having a mid life crisis.. who said only men have them, but at least mines only for younger 'songs' not the younger woman !) Anyway the pics are heavily censored so you only see the head and any covered body part which isn't a lot on the Madonna 'Hot Candy'.

Oh and did a little bit of knitting my sock at Saad reception area, where I also got a complimentary arabic coffee. Whilst knitting the woman next to me leant over and showed me her little crochet'd mobile phone pouch. We couldn't understand each other but both had an interest in knitting or crochet. Very limited conversation but what a barrier broken with just a bit of wool and wooden sticks ! In fact she even lifted her veil very briefly to smile when I said her crochet was very pretty.

Roll on arabic lessons... maybe I'll even be able to say the odd sentence someday !

Happy Mother's Day

2009-03-21T07:41:00.011+03:00

Well it came early for me (yesterday - Friday) as Friday is the new Sunday as it goes out here ! So I got mine early... yipppeeeee... and I got (cold, very milky tea) in bed, a personalised card and .... a iPod Touch ! WOW I'm thrilled.. spent most of the time playing with it and adding itunes and cd's and blogs.. in fact had a terrific headache last night cos of it. No knitting or anything else.. well except an hour at the pool and then an hour's walk along the corniche just before sunset.
We would have gone earlier but William had a football match in the morning and then it just got toooo hot, around 90oc and wearing an abaya was more than I could bear...and its only the start of summer ! The 'locals' well ex-pats who've been here a while promise me that I'll acclimatize but I'm not too sure about that as I never managed to do that in the UK over the last 20 years... or so... !

Found some of the corniche strays hiding amongst the rocks and couldn't help but take a pic of this one with unusual eyes, one blue and one amber. Not sure how unusual it is but I've only seen it once before.
The cats thrive on the corniche as there are always fish from the sea or those that the fishermen throw to them.

Last night was full of people fishing, even women in their abaya's, trying to stop them from getting wet, and as a well dressed abaya'd women knows, an abaya should trail on the ground to make sure ankles and feet are well covered, and by the waterfront its a bit difficult to hold a fishing rod and your abaya, up just a little to stop it from getting wet. The men's thobes are a little easier as they are shorter, but a lot of the men were in 'shorts'... I mean, come on, its summer !

Picnics are also a big thing for the weekends so we'll definitely be doing that sometime soon.Well that was my 'Mother's Day' and it was lovely and without these 3 very important people it would not have been possible.

Scamp the Stray ... nay Pampered Puss

2009-03-19T10:59:00.008+03:00

When we moved to Saudi Arabia at the end of last September (2008) we were certainly 'shell shocked' to say the least to be in a very very strange country with totally alien life styles and religious orientation ie., being woken up every morning by the call to prayer at 4am, to begin with and the last one at 7pm (6 in all). I couldn't sleep cos I knew I'd be woken up at 4am and then unable to get back to sleep as I'd have to get up at 6am to get the kids ready for school start at 7am. Then finding the weekend is a Thursday & Friday (our Sat & Sun) so I didn't know which day of the week it was and still have trouble remembering...I'm not the only one, most people still have trouble with that one.

Then there was the heat... apparently we arrived in winter time !!! But it turned out the be a wonderful winter cos it cooled down pretty fast within a couple of weeks and it was lovely....It's heating up rather a lot again and finding walking about town in an abaya rather tiringly hot. I never really was one for malls but they are air conditioned so I'll start to do my shopping around in them fairly soon just for a change of scenery from the compound.

Then there's the matawa... actually I've not seen one but lots of the girls say they have been told to cover their hair and has a few incidents... lucky me so far, but I'm sure I'll have my day sometime especially during Ramadam when things become very religiously strict for all women including us ex-pats to adhere to the country's rules. There will be no drinking or eating in public during the daylight hours, which doesn't really affect us unless we want to go out in the searing heat of the day which I'm not likely to do but it would pose a problem in the malls as I did tend to drink bottles of water during the start of winter so can't imagine going without during the heat of summer !

Then there's the lonliness of not having a pet.. have always had a cat or something and was despirate to get a cat. I had been told that I'd have no problem getting one of the strays on the compound and there I was tempting everyone I saw then had the compounds strays all despirate for food and a home. Scamp was the winner, he just barged past all the 'scaredy cats' who were taking too long to get over their shyness and walk right on in. That was it, he was ours ! The best trained cat ever ! No weeing or pooping anywhere, no need for a litter tray, and fabulous with the kids. We all love him very much. So much so that I've now got to try to get a job out here so that we can afford to take him back to the UK at the end of our stay here.We still love Silver back in the UK, but he's never been much of a social cat and never really learned the art of getting it all in the tray or if he saw a plastic bag or even a pair of shoes he couldn't resist a little (or even a lot) of weeing ! Hubby has even worn a pair of shoes to work thinking he could smell cats all day and then he took them off and 'just knew' Silver had left him a present at some stage in them ! Still he's old now and the in-laws are looking after him and getting used to his peculiar ways, and even they love him so he must have something going for him although I'm finding that difficult at the moment after finding the 'perfect stray cat'.
As you can see Scamp has decided that he much prefers the life of a pampered cat to a compound stray but he has suffered for his preference. He was solid muscle when he first came to us, now he's just a 'saggy old' oh that's 'bag puss' isn't it... well he's getting there.

Silver wants the last word !

Just Subscribed/Joined .... 'Knitting'... Ravelry...Garnstudio

2009-03-18T18:13:00.005+03:00

Just subscribed to 'Knitting' magazine but botched up the delivery address but hopefully will be able to sort it out when I buy my 'green card' for the internet phone and can telephone them to put it right... far too keen to get everything done in one go now the internet is up again.

Also just joined the Garnstudio forum on Ravelry.com ... brilliant ! Ravelry was definitely worth the wait… I only waited 3 days but it did go up to about 7 days and then back down to 2, so I guess it depends on ‘the hype’ at the time. I’d still have waited 7 days though knowing that its worth it.

There are so many projects to get you motivated and you can also find knitter/crocheters in areas near to yourself. I’m finding it a blessing as I’m not in the UK anymore and have managed to find knitters (not quite in the same area) pretty nearby’ish.

I also find it pretty interesting to find how others got on with particular projects and sometimes they add their own slant on things or even give advice if errors have been found or just slightly improved on a particular area that you also find more appealling or suitable.

My advice is get on there, you’ll love it

Right, kids been at a party, hubby been on a quiz night and meat raffle duty, me supposed to be recovering from lots of dental work so I suppose I'd better get of this 'pooter' before they all come home !

Garnstudio ... Got to Make

2009-03-18T17:26:00.004+03:00

Not been doing much knitting as been trawling the net seeing as we've had it up and running since last night... oh the excitement... oh how sad is life nowadays that we don't feel happy unless we have the internet... anyway I digress...

I love Garnstudio for their patterns and yarns. I've only bought once before from Ally Pally when I last went but am going to get me some of that Fabel for this divine jacket and also to make another pair of socks !
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=111&d_id=1&lang=en

Bags & Izzy's Knit & Natter Group

2009-03-18T16:31:00.014+03:00

Have been going through some of my old stuff to get some ideas of some projects to make that aren't too big and found some of my old bags which I knitted about 2 years ago at the 'knit & natter' group I started with a friend. Irene one of the ladies with a wealth of knowledge was the pattern designer and she designed this very simple bag for the group to knit for the school's craft fayre. We made bags, scarves, socks, dolls clothes .. oodles of stuff. I really miss the group and will visit on my next quick trip back to the UK to see them all and what they've been up to. Even to get the update on Ally Pally which I'm sooo envious about not being about to get to.

Penny the 'lollipop lady' became the master bag knitter and churned out the most beautiful bags and scarves. She is a perfectionist and even though no one else would see a mistake she'd unravel and wouldn't be happy until she got 110%... oh how we all ribbed her ! hehehe 'ribbed' !

Ok here's the very basic instructions Irene gave for the bags but you might need to do a bit of your own thing to it as we did in the group to make it your own. Penny's were made with doubled up yarn (using 3 strands) and I used 2 strands through out and just a dk for the top edge. I'll try to find a pic of Penny's later.

Basically its just cast on 26, knit 11 rows, inc 1 st at each end on next and following 3rd row.
Knit a further 30 rows then dec 1 st at each end on next and following 3rd row.
Then knit 11 more rows straight.
Cast off.
Sew up then do a round of sc/dc around the top and a further 5 rows of sc/dc.
Line the bag with a colourful lining and stick a pin or button on as a fastener. For the handles just ch 3 and sc/dc as many rows as you want, then sew into place. That's the basic pattern but make any changes you want to get your own look.

If you live in the Portsmouth area the girls would love to see you. I'm not sure how much it is now (approx £2.50) but you get drinks, biscuits (usually Penguins) and use of the pattern library and the expertise of the ladies in the group. They meet on a Friday afternoon (school term time only) and are called 'Isambard Brunel Knit & Natter' in the North End area. Just email me for more details.
POSTSCRIPT:

Just found this little bag on Garnstudio which looks pretty interesting.

Dentist... Internet ... Dentist ... Internet

2009-03-18T13:33:00.003+03:00

Well we had the internet engineer out again last night and that seems to have solved the problem again (for how long we can't be sure cos it only seems to last a short while and then goes down again) so making the most of it for a bit and trying to catch up on emails and blogging and Ravelry !

Been to the dentist at Saad hospital ... again ... this morning. I have spent so much at the dentist since coming out here 6 months ago and hoping to be pain free very very soon. Why is it that teeth cause such big problems when you have a big change in circumstances. I've 2 root canals, and got 5 other fillings to get done. Not complaining about Saad though cos its a beautuful hospital and I think I have one of the best dentists.. he's just wonderful ! I used to be a phobic at the dentist and had been been for years, but 6 months here and I don't mind at all. The only snag is that its pretty expensive... no nhs !

Its warming up ... and I have fingerless mittens !

2009-03-18T13:13:00.006+03:00

Ok, its certainly warming up here in Saudi but I still have the urge to knit socks AND now fingerless mittens and sat by the pool yesterday finishing these beautiful soft alpaca mittens. I then (after my swimming exercises) ran onto the craft group which runs on a Tuesday, to show the girls...now they've all been pretty unimpressed with the progress of the sock knitting until they are finished and now were suitably impressed with the mittens. I think we finally have a group becoming interested in knitting something. Dishcloths were another interest shown which I can quite happily deal with as I use to make my own back in the UK and also made a couple out here too but there's more interesting things to make. Maybe in a few weeks (months more like) I'll be posting pics of the groups projects, maybe I'll do that anyway cos they're all making something, from quilting, painting, oh all sorts of things so I will definitely be taking my camera along next week.

Am at a bit of a sticking point right now as not sure what to make next as there are so many projects I want to get started on.. the only problem being obtaining the yarns I want. So going to have to sit down and make a list and buy on line and wait for 2-3 weeks for the delivery. I had started making a top for myself (also at the pool) yesterday but ripped it out in the end when I realised I was never going to fit into it ! One Size ... yeah alright ... but its not my size. Need to get some ideas on what to make with 2 balls of (50gx2) Omaghi Filati Capri ribbon yarn. Any ideas ?

Ok... stuff for what to make... then its another pair of socks !

Pattern and yarn from Alpaca Select, Fabiola Mittens.

Yippeeeee Simply Knitting Arrived !

2009-03-13T22:40:00.003+03:00

Finally my long awaited stash has arrived with this month's 'Simply Knitting' and 'Knitting' mags with the fab freebies. Not getting alot of knitting done again as just been flipping thru the pages to see what I can get on with as soon as I've finished my current list of 'just got to makes'.

Had a great day by the pool reading them.. can't wait for the next issue of Simply Knitting but it looks like its a definite 2 weeks wait for the post to arrive. Might have to subscribe to Knitting as well ! Just can't go without a knitting fix once a month. Snail mail is worth waiting for in these instances !

Scamp's Favourite...

2009-03-13T22:32:00.009+03:00

... another basic rib by Kate Atherley from her Wise Hilda Knits blog.

Have finally finished this pair of basic rib socks but this time I didn't follow the rib pattern all the way thru and stopped at the cuff. I also made them on a larger needle as I am a very tight knitter and found that they were a better fit for me.

I am wearing the socks non-stop to see how they wear... made from 100G OF KING COLE ZIG ZAG SOCK YARN IN RHAPSODY

Update: 31 March... well I've worn them everyday and washed them (obviously several times) and the verdict is... perfect hardwearing with no sagging or shrinking. Will definitely buy this yarn again.

I just love this pattern and will keep coming back to it !

NITS ! Yep Nits not Knits !

2009-03-10T19:50:00.003+03:00

Well I am now sitting here with my hair covered in conditioner as we found a colony on my daughters head tonight... uky... off to chemist tomorrow to get some weed killer or whatever they use nowadays or more to the point, what they use out here !

I didn't find any on me but I can't stand the thought of 'em...I did have my hair coloured and cut yesterday and my hairdresser said a few cuts back that hair dye will kill the little blighters so I should be ok. Poor Heather however, has about 3 weeks of hair dragging and scraping and she had them once before and is dreading it.

That's that then... did some more of my sock today at the pool and did 8 lengths (swimming that is) and hope to work up to 65 !!! That's what some of the girls do out here so I'm aiming for that too.

Right... off back to the nits... not knits !