Gosforth Show 2012

It rained heavily all night.  By morning I was wondering whether the show would be cancelled.  It wasn't. The weather improved throughout the day and by mid afternoon there was lots of sunshine to go about.  The field was incredibly muddy.  I think I saw only a handful of people without wellies. Mud, Mud and more Mud.  I had got a parking ticket to park ringside.  I drove onto the field by some 50 yards and in my own words to the gate keeper - 'I ain't driving through that!'  We luckily found somewhere to park on the road.  I just had to hump all my entries a lot further to the Handicraft Tent, better that than have to be towed backwards by a tractor!

I had a degree of success.  Beckermet WI came first with the WI Co-operative Display.  The display was worked between myself and two other ladies.  Another two ladies helped by making the scones and jam.  We got 39 points out of forty.  We lost one mark for the scones being slightly uneven on top!

I only had one other Place Card - A First for this scarf.  I made it and completed it by this time last year.  The yarn was special to me as it was given to me by my dear Knitty Friend in Stafford - Sally.

This is my pre-mature baby outfit.  I got the patterns seperately on Ravelry.  I loved the simplicity.  Moreover I loved the way that if Baby needed to have any monitors etc stuck to it's head, then the button could be unfastened and the hat neet not come off.  With the body warmer, once opened, Baby can be laid on it and the warmer buttoned up around it, so less movement for baby.

My pretty lace doily.  I was feeling confident that I might get a place card with this. That didn't happen

The aran tea cosy.  I was quite hopeful with this as well, again no such luck!


The whole day has worn me out.  I shall be having a hot bath in a bit to take away my aches and pains - mainly in my legs, it's difficult walking in mud all day.

We looked at the cows and sheep and saw some of them being judged.  I also saw part of a display of a dog rounding up ducks, over an obsticale course, quite amusing.  Next year I shall take a closer look at the schedule to see what is on at what time.  Hopefully next year Mary-Jane can enter a few classes, they have them for under fives.

I really enjoyed the day, despite all the mud.  Highly recommended!

As Prepared For Gosforth Show As I'll ever be!

I am as prepared as I ever will be for Gosforth Show.  I have a grand total of 15 entries, I originally went for 22.  I have dipped out of the decorated cupcakes, the cake toppers, the book marks and a tea cosy.  All I have to do tomorrow is box the eggs up, get the scones out of the freezer and get the christmas bauble down from the top of Mary-Jane's wardrobe and fold up the shawl and doiley that are blocking on the floor.  Finito.

Fingers crossed for good weather, success in judging and an all round good day!

I have made some cupcakes today as well, after I decided not to do any for the show.  I went to take a picure earlier but the camera needed charging.

MJ woke up at 4am screaming.  Following a bum change and five minutes on the bed with us, I took her back to her  own bed.  She screamed for another 15 minutes or so then setled back down.  I am absolutely worn out.  I have had a cold sweat today, so whatever cold or bug I have is still very much with me.  Drat.  Off to bed now, I wanted to go earlier, but at least I'm not stressed out!

Friends of Chernobyl's Children

Last night I actually went out for the evening! I went to Cleator Moor, to the Civic Hall for the Friends of Chernobyl Childrens Fund Raiser. I went last year. The FOCC aim is to help relieve the suffering of children affected by the radiation explosion from the nuclear plant at Chernobyl. It provides family placements for children/orphans from the Mogilev region for at least one month each year and to meet full costs of these visits, which will include optical, dental and health checks as well as lots of loving tender care by extensive fund raising by the FOCC can meet the full costs of all the visits without additional contribution from the host families. Here is to next years event!

My cakes went down well at Fobbles. I have an order now for their Open Days/Exhibitions. I was highly delighted! I am going to take a day or two reprieve from looking at any cupcake magazines or books, just to give my poor nerves a rest. I shall plan and decide what to make next time, much more in advance.

I looked though the schedule for Gosforth Show. At this undecided moment, the classes I may enter are looking a bit like this:

• 57 Handmade Christmas Decoration - the bauble from last christmas
• 58 An item in crochet - maybe the hat I made in the spring, maybe
• 61 Counted Thread Embroidery - Fairy and Wizards, or even the gold, orange and green celtic sampler
• 66 A handmade bag - might be the one I'm doing now, depending on how it turns out
• 70 A bookmark - only if I find a pattern that knocks my socks off
• 77 A hand knitted scarf - the blue one I knitted last summer that I've yet to block
• 78 A HAnd knitted premature baby item - I'd like to do this, but it will be time dependant
• 79 Hand knitted tea cosy - again, time dependant
• 80 Hand knitted item in any ply - golly gosh, this could send me spiralling into orbit! Contenders are - Lydia Shawl, Spiral Doily, winter apple shawl, to name a few off the top of my head.

I think I may leave the Baking Section till next year. I do believe that it would seriously mess with my fragile karma if I entered this year. I would like to. I'm not saying it won't happen, I'm just not planning to. My stress levels will probably be through the roof and I have to think of my poor HK during this time!

Talking of knitting and such like - have you seen the footage of the Knitting Woman at Wimbledon during Saturdays match with Andy Muray? Knitty and the Daily Mail (seperately) are trying to find out who she is. She was knitting something pink and was wearing a Citron Shawl - I have one knitted by my Ravelry Friend Sue in Italy.