.... THAT CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED 'SOCK ADDICTION'!

Good afternoon! I hope you have had a relaxing weekend. I have made the most of my decision to NOT bring any schoolwork home and what a good decision it was too. Yesterday, saw Mr Snoops, Oscar and I heading for our favourite place for a coastal walk, Aldeburgh. It was rather windy, but not at all cold, so we were able to enjoy a lovely stroll along the tow path, soaking up the sights and sounds. There was a definite ubbeat feel in the air, that Spring may not be too far away. Oscar is well on the road to recovery again, after his little set back at Christmas, and he just loves the smell of the sea and the sound of the waves. We called in at Snape Maltings for tea and carrot cake on the way home. Delicious!

Today began with a gentle stroll into the city centre for a cup of a coffee and to purchase Mr Snoops a little i-pod nano for his upcoming birthday. He has used one of the very first i-pods up until now. It's one that began life with me and has then been passed around the family. As each of us bought an up to date version, we passed it on. Mr Snoops has been its faithful guardian for several years now, treating it to a twice weekly outing to the gym, where it could play away to its little heart's content, as he pounded the miles on the treadmill. However, yesterday he dropped it ......... poor i-pod, dead as dead could be!!! So, dear old Snoops now has a rather swish looking little, tiny, silver nano to play his tunes. He has to wait mind, until February 21st! 

My poor tired brain has needed some knitting therapy this weeek, but in the form of the simplest possible stitching. No colourwork or intricate pattern details for me this week, oh no. Just the plainest of plain sock knitting. Bliss! Look, I've finished one.............. and started its twin! How quick was that? I have a sneaky

suspicion that a new addiction may be beginning......... self-patterning simple socks! Last evening found me rummaging around in my stash, rooting out from the deep, dark recesses of the hidden away yarn mountain,  some long forgotten 'simple socks' yarn. Oh my! Yes, I know my first love is beautiful hand-dyed yarn, but that's way too special to be used for just 'simple socks'! Look, what do you think?

I've just popped these two colourful little lovelies on the little yarny, booky, knitty, pile that sits beside the sofa. They have just got to be the next two pairs of socks that I can knit without brain or pattern :-). Can't wait! 

I found this pair of long-forgotten lovelies too!  They were bought to make Sophie another little 'Rainbow Jacket'. The pattern is knit all in one, so requires minimal sewing up, which is just  what I like. Think this could become one quite soon, as I'm itching to cast this yarn on! Hmmm Spring fever or yarn madness? 

A tiny little bit more has been done on my 'Wildflower Socks'.......... before brain fatigue took over .....

................ and a few more rows on 'Gunnerside Ladies'. But by Tuesday, it was on to 'simple socks'!

I don't think it's going to be ready to wear on our trip to see baby Sophie at half-term. Maybe the target finishing date will have to shift to the Easter holidays, when we're off up to Pickering. It all depends on how badly the 'simple socks' addiction takes hold and how long it lasts for. There is no known cure, it just has to take its own course.

There is definitely the tiniest hint of Spring in the air. Shoots are appearing in the garden and it's not totally dark when I go to and from school each day. These little 'tete-a-tete' narcissi have opened up in the last couple of days too.

It's only two weeks until half-term and we teachers are sure looking forward to it, well this one is anyway! Have a good week everybody.