Elections

I can't make up my mind at all about who to vote for at the next election, though I have a feeling Tories will win as usual in South Norfolk. It's a bit early on in the campaigns to declare my allegiance anyway, but in the spirit of research I came across They Work for You - it compliles information about MPs to help get a picture of them.

One of the stats they include is how many times the MP has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") in debates. To find out why see here!

Skirt finished!

Pictures here

It doesn't look fabulous but I'm pretty pleased considering it's my first attempt! Need to find some nicer fabric now, if anyone knows good places to go in Norwich for clothes fabric rather than curtains/upholstery please let me know :)

excitement

Making my first ever item of clothing this week :D I've pinned some material to make a skirt, watch this space for the results - excited but nervous, it might be rubbish!

Oh how fed up of saying this I am, but I'm SO close to finishing my patchwork quilt that I stitched my initials and the year into it on Sunday. That means I absolutely must finish it in 2010. Pictures of that to follow too.


I just finished reading The Time Traveller's Wife - wow. It's definitely added to my list of all time favourite books (not many make this list - Pride & Prejudice and Saturday are the only others there).

On my list to read next... I'm determined to read the The Odyssey, The Aeneid, and (if I can stomach the war bits) The Ilyiad, simply because there are so many references to them throughout good literature that it's frustrating not knowing more. Also AS Byatt has been cropping up on my travels (quoted a few times in Time Traveller's Wife) so I'd like to read Possession, and The Children's Book looks good.

Tomorrow we're going to an Ash Wednesday service at church - I'm really loving church at the moment which is a refreshing change. We've been getting better aquainted with some super lovely people. I'm reading through all the Gospels for Lent which is going to be a challenge (reasons for which I'll blog on another day).

I feel greedy for life at the moment, there's so much I want to see and take in and do!

Goals for 2010

Projects to finish this year:

* interior design course

* patchwork quilt

Projects to start

* learn to sew well (rule my sewing machine, make dresses, household items etc)

* learn to dance

* do some serious Bible study

* work out where I fit in church

* play more flute just for fun
* build up a design portfolio while decorating our house

Things to see and do
* Have a go-away holiday, we're thinking Centre Parcs in September as a good solution for my need for relaxation and Ben's need for being adventurous!)
* Read Julie & Julia and watch the film, I'd like to cook much more too (learn more varity for dinner type cooking)
* Have a day out in London: arrange a visit to Ronnie Scotts for my budding jazz pianist husband, go on the London Eye, see some inspiring design shops

Light film we made for Cringleford youth group.

Life has been busy - as well as getting the house sorted we've been getting involved in church (oooh), church study group, been roped into helping with the youth group and the band, we've watched a lot of our box set of Jonathan Creek, I've nearly finished module 10 of the interior design adventure, I've discovered I'm not very good at being an Avon lady, we've met three week old Caleb, I've started lobbying Ben for a baby (let me know if you want to sign my petition), he's started getting annoyed with me, we've had the last week off which has been really cool, getting to know our house and new neighbours. Back to work on Monday, but off on Wednesday for my birthday, hooray! That's about all. A whirlwind adventure indeed. We like Cringleford :)

New house new house new house new house new house!

Newspapers

Made me laugh, from The Student Room:

"The Times is read by the people who run the country. The Daily Mirror is read by people who think they run the country. The Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country. The Morning Star is read by the people who think the country ought to be run by another country. The Independent is read by people who don't know who runs the country but are sure they're doing it wrong. The Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country. The Financial Times is read by the people who own the country. The Daily Express is read by the people who think the country ought to be run as it used to be run. The Daily Telegraph is read by the people who still think it is their country. And the Sun's readers don't care who runs the country providing she has big tits." -- from Yes Prime Minister (from the 1980s, it doesn't have quite the same resonance today)

"The Star is read by the people who think the Sun is a bit too upmarket." -- anon

"The Sport is read by the people who think that Elvis is running the country from his secret lunar bunker assisted by a team of topless aliens." -- anon