I'm trying to think of what to post and my brain doesn't want to cooperate. Eh. It's jumper weather again, and damp and grey, so of course it's Wimbledon. Johnny Marray and Adil Shamasdin are through to the fourth round of the gentlemen's doubles; Marray won with Freddie Nielsen back in 2012 and is probably the best example of sportsmanship in the game - at close to match point, he stopped and pointed out he'd touched the net, something no one else had noticed. That they went on to win regardless is testament to just how well he was playing. I have to admit I'm biased; I worked with his dad in Sheffield for a good few years, and the whole family are thoroughly nice people. So, yeah, I'm rooting for him to win again this year. *fingers crossed*

I took Planck in to the vet's today to get the stitches out of his ear. It's not fully healed up, but it should be fine in a few days, and it means he got to see his favourite vet (John), lick a vet nurse, and make friends with an 11 month old lab-cross puppy. Exciting! And even more exciting for the rest of us, he doesn't need the Cone of Doom on any more! Hurrah! With it on, he's definitely an agent of chaos and destruction!

DH and I were in Belfast on Saturday and got to see the march in favour of decriminalising abortion in NI, with banners for all sorts of groups, including the Anarchists. DH, of course, wanted to go tell them that organised demonstrations really don't go together with anarchy, but fortunately he had an eye test so couldn't. And he didn't get into a shouting match with the later pro-life march, but he did make a couple of baby goths giggle. We both believe in freedom to choose, but I think what bothers DH most is the insistence on misquoting the Bible.

Anyway, not much to talk about today; I crocheted myself a cowl, and it and all the baby blanket granny squares (for a friend's baby) are blocking upstairs. I'm crampy and generally slow and achy, but this is all hormonal, bah humbug. So I'm going to go read some hockey player rpf (I know, don't even... *headdesk*) and go back to contemplating what to make next - I have to start my Christmas knitting by the end of the month. Yeah, today I have no idea. So, still here, still making an effort to get out from under my rock, even if it's with a hot gel pack stuffed down my waistband. Hoovering can wait til tomorrow.

Thanks for all your good wishes - I've been passing them along to Jerry. We've had a quiet weekend, by and large, just letting it sink in. Friday evening we saw a couple of friends, which was lovely. Their dog, Duke, is Planck's very bestest friend in the whole wide world. The only downside is I picked up a stomach bug from somewhere and passed that along to Jerry too. Blech! Still, it seems to be one of those 24 hour bugs, but I spent most of yesterday asleep.

( Crafty stuff, cut for photos: )

I'm also just starting to catch up on email - lots to reply to! Sorry for the delay; if you've emailed me or commented or sent me a message or whatever, I'm hoping to reply over the next day or two.

On Saturday, I got to see my godson, his shiny new sister and his parents on Saturday, which was ace, even if all the frogs and frogspawn seem mysteriously to have vanished from the pond. On Sunday, I met up with my older sister and her mum and step-dad over at Lotherton Hall and got to go round the bird garden and see an Andean condor, a hornbill and some rheas, among many other birds, then went home and played D&D. And yesterday I couldn't get my brain into gear at all, spent an out-of-focus day on the sofa with some SG-1 fanfic, and in the evening, ( cut for being a bit depressing )

I didn't sleep well over the long weekend, least of all last night. I'm tired and I'm shaky and I'm going to be out of touch for a while, in all probability. Hopefully I'll get my batteries charged this week and be back in the saddle again soon.

If I'm a bit quiet on LJ right now, it's not that I've decided you all smell, no, I'm just a bit busy right now. Nothing too interesting - just work, housework, etc.

( The past few days... )

Friday was a bit of a bust. I got some more knitting done, but I woke up with ulcers where my tonsils used to be. Which was rather sore. So I left work early, went home and tidied up more of the spare room and saw Sue, Dave and India (wanolj), failed to have a D&D game, sat on the sofa and watched telly. With takeout. And wine. Hurrah!

Saturday, though, kicked ass (for G.E.D. month, that is). Not quite such a sore throat, so I got up early(ish) and went to Ikea. Where I spent a chunk of my dividend (in lieu of pay), had to get a nice man to help me put boxes on the trolley and another nice man to help me put them in the car. Which was rather full. *heh*

So Saturday's list looks like:
Fitted draught excluder to the back of the letter box.
Put legs on the huge table.
Tidied more of the spare room.
Bought and put up shelves in the kitchen.
Tidied kitchen.
Bought more shelves for the kitchen and for the hallway.
Bought curtain rail for the hallway.
Bought 3 chests of drawers for the spare room to replace the current ones.
Emptied the paper shredder

Also (but not on the list) did several loads of washing and took them to the launderette to dry, went to VJs and saw friends (yay!) and met up with paul_marks who is visiting while Tuesday.

Go me! *happy dance*

At some point today I intend to take and put up photos of the clothes which are going free to a good home (there are more). Would anyone like a wide 3-drawer Malmo chest of drawers (Ikea) in birch veneer? Also there's a little white 3-drawer MFI-style cheapass chest of drawers going free! I'll even drop it round to your house! As long as, yanno, that's York. Leeds, maybe. Bread machine, anyone?

( Kitchen shelves! )

Right, back to drilling holes in the walls...

So it's gone 4pm, and I'm still in my pyjamas. This can only mean one thing - a hangover! Hurrah!

I'm not actually terribly hungover, thanks to staying in bed until past 12, but please, if anyone ever offers me raspberry vodka again, remind me to Just Say No, mkay? *grin*

Vicky's birthday party - lots of fun. Got to catch up with people, compare boobs, and talk utter bollocks (and glima). I love my friends! You guys are awesome.

The BFS pissup at the Hussar was okay. We didn't win the quiz this year, which was an alasdair1076 special, including a round called 'Obscureotron 5000', so I don't feel too bad about it. *grin* I got some answers in earlier rounds, and totally rocked on 3 of the 5 quotes. *heh* Should've known the others, too, but meh. *shrug* I bought a book by Allison Byrd called 'Bullrunning for Girls' which looks rather good, being a collection of horror stories.

And today the postman delivered a parcel with two copies of Lavie Tidhar's Hebrew Punk from Apex Books. Really. Which made me wonder whether in fact I'd drunk far more than I thought and had missed a day and it was actually Monday. But palmersperry assures me they've been introducing more flexible working because people are more likely to be in if they deliver parcels on a Sunday. :) Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading Hebrew Punk because Lavie Tidhar is a truly excellent writer. And I have a spare copy to give away.

I have watched Keeping The Faith, and it's still just as good a film as it was the first time I saw it. And I'm watching Serenity with Joss Whedon's commentary. What an amazing man he is. And not just him, it's everyone he works with. Incredible, hugely talented people. I am full of awe and respect. Very impressed. And yes, I'm still full of squee. :)

So yesterday was my annual barbeque. nearly_everyone attended, and people seemed to have a great time, which makes me very happy. People didn't seem to mind me running around in circles, being unable to finish sentences, and foisting huge quantities of food onto them. People also brought their small people, who raced around and generally had a fab time and didn't fall into the pond and drown. Which is definitely a bonus.

Thank you *so* much to you all for coming! It was an awesome day, spent in the company of lots of people who I know and love. You're amazing!

I have: a fox, a red sticklebrick, a yellow pencil crayon, and a black cherokee jumper. I know who the sticklebrick belongs to - any takers for the others?

ETA:Jumper claimed! And fox claimed!

And thank you guys for the awesome selection of wool, vouchers for wool, vast quantities of truly excellent chocolate, and lush bath stuff. Truly the perfect presents! *is so happy*

You are awesome. And to the few of you who couldn't make it, you have a standing invitation to come and visit, as you should know by now. So get in touch, come visit, and we'll barbeque anyway. *grin*

In other news: today I did lots of washing, a little tidying up, and some writing. It's been my first vegging 'day off' in a long time, it feels like! And tomorrow the very last part of Correspondence Course goes up over at the_proofreader. So if you were waiting to read it all? Head on over in the morning and it'll be waiting for you. *grin*

I know I've been a bit lax in wishing people happy birthday lately (doh!), so here goes (in date order):

Belated Happy Birthday, thirstypixel, spindr, Fleur, and for last Saturday, Kate and ravenlas! And just to be on the safe side, Happy Birthday makyo for tomorrow!

My apologies if I've missed anyone...

Last week? Busy. This week? Even more busy. This weekend? ravenlas' birthday treat is a trip to London to see Wicked and Spamalot. Yay! Next week? Almost certainly busy again. Ho hum.

If you want to see me, I am hereby declaring Thursday nights 'open house night'. I'll be home some time between 6 and 6:30, barring train problems. You're welcome to come round and visit. And if you tell me in advance you're coming, I may even be able to provide biscuits, sandwiches, hot drinks, mulled wine, yada yada.

No, I'm not available to come visit you, not this week or next week, and maybe not the week after. Sorry, that's just the way it goes. I have a Chinese exam coming up, a dressmaking course, and a writing/proof-reading career, outside of my full-time job. To say nothing of 4 siblings, several parents and assorted friends to make presents for. And that makes the run-up to Christmas rather busy.

Oh, and I have a wedding to plan. Btw, anyone coming to my hen do? ayrton_nix needs to know numbers, I think.