Good Timing

After my initial jubilation at having a (seemingly) working keyboard yesterday, the reappearance of the gremlins, just as I was getting into the swing of posting, left me deflated. I abandoned Blogland, and went to get myself some lunch, instead.

By afternoon, the call of the computer won again. I decided to browse the Internet for keyboards, and soon found a similar one to mine on Amazon. It was offered free of postage, so I decided to text N0. 1 Son, and explain that I could save him the hassle of coming over to deliver his 'spare' one, if I were to order from them. I'd hardly sent the text, when the mobile rang with an incoming call. 'Hello, Ma!' came Son's cheerful greeting. 'Don't click the 'Buy' button - there's a keyboard just about to come through your front door - listen!' - Quick toot of car horn - ' I'm right outside!'

Saved by the bell - sorry, car horn!

I'd not expected him to make it over here before about Tuesday, as he'd been helping some friends with electrical wiring for a food and wine bank holiday special, where Raymond Blanc was to do a cookery demonstration, displayed on plasma screens so the audience could have a good view of the proceedings. Once this was set up, he'd also offered to help one of said friends move house, and we all know what that can be like! So it was an unexpected pleasure in many ways, to find he was about to walk in here. Bless his little cotton socks...or wool, or acrylic...and definitely no longer little, come to think of it. Isn't he a sweetie? Happily, I added to his 'sweetness' by plying him with tea and biscuits ( from a luckily well stocked biscuit barrel - it doesn't often get to be in that voluptuous state - it's mostly full of crumbs only. If I don't refill it, I can't indulge. The current lapse was really a holiday special.)

I'd enjoyed an alternative playtime, while the 'space bug' ruled - making a couple of Amigurumi. For the uninitiated these are small, crochet dolls, or animals, and I'd been eager to try creating a few, once I saw the possibilities. Amazon books on the subject first caught my attention a while back, and last week I'd succumbed and sent for one, as I have an enormous stash of yarn begging to be used...

An extremely tiny, white teddy (first project) made his exit in son's shirt pocket yesterday, peeking his weeny nose over the top as he surveyed the world for the first time. With a fine yarn and small hook, he was only about three inches tall when completed. I don't intend to repeat this mini-sized wonder - once was enough; there is a limit to eyesight and patience.

However, there was a jolly looking duckling, in a slightly larger pattern, and I crocheted happily away, only needing to stuff and sew him up today. Hmm. Went quite well, until I suddenly noticed I'd inverted head and body; head was larger than body, as designed, but I'd reverted to the usual ratio, where body tends to be larger. This meant I managed to sew his legs into the middle of his forehead before I realised my mistake. Not good. It took me a good half an hour to rectify my mistake, as when I sew things together, I don't mean them ever to fall apart. Before stitching them back in the correct place, I thought I'd take time out to share my latest idiocy with Blogworld. Please note, Sniffles and Smiles, creativity with balls of wool, hooks and sewing needles can leave just as much margin for error as cookery or washing covers...