Easter Hols

One day I will sit down and look back over the news in this blog and notice how life has changed as the children have got older. Gone are the days of shared activities around the table and the trips out that were accepted without question. These days the older two want more days with friends than family and grumble a lot when you suggest various outings.

So it was a bonus that we managed to have a couple of outings en famille this easter holiday. And they were really enjoyable. One such trip was down to the south coast to a place called Cuckmere Haven. It was still a bit chilly but we managed to have a nice picnic on the (pebbly) beach and then on the way back we drove through a little village called Alfriston:

which was just idyllic:

Having bribed the children with luxurious ice creams we walked down the High St:

looking at the lovely buildings:

this is a sign outside the Post Office:

and here's that counter inside:

then we came upon one of the nicest bookshops I've been into:

which was full of both old and new books and had little nooks and crannies. I treated myself to a couple of Elizabeth Taylor books and some cards by Angie Lewin (I love her work). I could have stayed there all day but time was pressing.

Quick, very quick look at the church:

Luckily, the old Clergy House was closed (lucky for the children I mean):

I think this neck of the woods is definitely worth visiting again as I noticed on the map a couple of other interesting places. For one there is Rodmell and the house that Virginia Wolf lived in and then there is Charleston where Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell (a la Bloomsbury Set) lived. It's so picturesque down there too.

Other than that there was a lot of pottering around at home. For some reason I started a pair of socks. I'd been tidying up and noticed the surfeit of sock wool I had, so decided to cast on a pair for Raj:

They knit up really quickly but of course he doesn't need a pair of woolly socks now does he? You can bet your bottom dollar that they won't fit him come the autumn! Oh well never mind.

Anyway, those didn't make much of a dent in the sock-wool-basket so I decided to knit a pair for myself. Now I've noticed that I only ever knit plain socks with regia wool and although I love the idea of patterned socks I can't be bothered with all the effort when no-one is ever going to see them.

So I hunted for an easy pattern that wasn't so time consuming and came across one called Charade which is a freebie here. I had some wool called St Ives by Sunbeam which is a heathery green and I thought it would show up the pattern quite well:

Can you see that it's a sort of herringbone pattern. It's ever so easy except when you don't concentrate and forget which of the two rows your'e on and then you muck it up a bit.

Still it's a pretty forgiving pattern and looks really nice. I've google image'd it and it looks nice on variegated wool too.

Other than that I'm knitting some baby booties for a friend who's expecting in June, doll making workshop still going on and masses of baking. Easter saw, over the three weeks, doughnuts, danish pastries, chocolate bread, scones, various cakes and biscuits and an ever expanding waistline. We just love our food too much in this family.

This weekend is a lovely long one and the weather looks as if it will be nice all the while. Today the boys are playing golf with Dad and Amber is at a play practice at school. They'll all be back for tea so I'd better go and put the kettle on. I've already baked these (Nigella's jam doughnut muffins):

Comments

[Sarah]

Ah. I've missed your posts. We're in the same boat--it feels like the children are growing up and life is changing. Helen will ask to sit down and do some crafting, but then life creeps in--violin, schoolwork, etc. I'm glad to peek into your life for a moment my friend!

[greedy nan]

I like Alfriston too; you can walk all the way along the river to Seaford [if you have the time and inclination]. I once won the wet teeshirt competition [but I was the only entrant] as I'd started the walk in blazing sun to return after a pub lunch at the Plough and Harrow in Littllington and it was hissing with rain [I was bra-less at the time but those were the days when I had a MUCH better figure]. In the summer they have outdoor theatre on the green - lovely.

[greedy nan]

Forgot! Save me a bun please, my figure's gone to pot now so it won't make a difference anyhow!

[Wylie]

So happy to read your news, and to hear about all of you! I think of you so often (and so fondly)!

Stay in touch. We miss you all very, very much!

[jodi lenz]

lovely as always,Simmy

[Ash]

Looks like a lovely day out Simmy. The jam doughnut muffins look nice too, I'll have to try them.

[Thimbleina]

What a lovely village and those shops are so quaint.

Those doughnut muffins look so yummy

[Jo]

I love to stop at Alfriston, there are some lovely café's for afternoon tea! Your jam muffins look, fab, which Nigella book are they in?

[Philippines properties]

Great photo houses design in here, and the village looks so nice. It has a great view, anyway.

Deirdre Gonzales