SECRET PAL
I've had two packages arrive in quick succession. The first parcel to arrive contained a number of goodies:
First up were these two (I got 2 balls of the yarn on the left). The one on the left is Sock It To Me Esprit in a pink/green variagation. The one on the right is a red/pink yarn from Ice Yarns. It is similar to Sirdar's Firefly in texture/make-up.
I also received these nicely coloured stitch holders. I'll definitely be able to put them to proper use next year when I start plowing through my collection of baby yarns! The yarn on the right is a ribbon-type yarn in red/gold and reminds me very much of sari material. Its by YarnArt and called Luxor. I'm going to have to hold off using this until I find exactly the right pattern to do it justice.
I also got a nice ceramic mobile which I now have hanging up in my lounge.
Second to arrive just before Xmas in a large tube were these:
They're hand-made needles. On the reverse of one is a scarf and the other a ball of yarn.
On the front of one it says "knitty" and the other "fred". I couldn't get the needles to sit properly for their picture being taken - naughty needles!
My Secret Pal revealed herself to me just before Christmas and her name is Mona.
Have enjoyed being spoilt from someone in so an exotic a place. If you are ever over this way please shout as it would be nice to meet up one day.
CHRISTMAS
Well I got all of my Christmas cakes iced. Unfortunately it was just a plain coat of icing in the end and no proper decorating - Mary Ford will just have to wait until 2006 I guess.
The tree cake I did ice. I tried using paintbox to give an example of what the cake looked like but I made it look far worse than it was. The base I did in a pillar box red to resemble a bucket and then the main part of the tree I did in green. I used Supercook food colouring and was rather disappointed with the colour I achieved as I had been expecting a much deeper green. Everyone at work found it tasty and I had a slice or two (or three!). I've still yet to touch mine here though and have decided that it will in fact be a New Year's Day cake in spite of missing the pea/bean.
Christmas present-wise I was rather empty of yarn-related presents (sort of!). MM gave me a miniature stuffed Yoda which I'd mentioned the other week - isn't it nice when people pay attention to hints you drop for presents! The other was an electronic Sudoko hand-held game. MM is aware of my travelling round the country next year to the various knitting events and so thought it would give me something to do if I didn't want to knit.
My neighbour gave me an electrically rotating tie-rack as I have a large collection of character ties much to her despair. She also gave me two laundry bag type stands from Ikea which she thought I could use to put more of my stash in. MM rolled eyes at this point!!
I finally managed to get hold of a singing goat for MM. I am not sure if it is Julie Andrews but the female-voiced goat sings "the lonely goatherd" number from Sound of Music if you squeeze it's hoof.
Turkey was lovely and we finally ate about 5pm. I used Fanny Craddock's recipe here again for the turkey. Pinch the skin of the bird to separate it from the main body of the flesh. Then lay on the flesh of the bird a few slices of ham and on top of this lay flat mushrooms and then skewer the flesh in place. We had a turkey crown but the principle was the same. I love both mushrooms and ham so posed no problem to my devouring it.
I have enjoyed my break from work but I must say that I will be glad to get back on Tuesday as cabin fever has been sinking in slightly. I also haven't done anywhere near as much as I had wanted to initially but I thought I would just use the time for R&R rather than running around trying to cram everything in.
