Barely Adult Knitter Dancer and Historian Takes on World with Knitting Needles, Dancing Shoes and Pen...(well keyboard anyway)


If I can not dance, I want no part in your revolution.
Emma Goldman


Thursday, November 12, 2009

NaBloPoMo11+12 BLAH!

Right, so now I've missed a day I don't feel so guilty for my half hearted posts.

Yesterday I left a poorly Tom in asleep with some mystery bug and dragged myself into work. I don't know if it's seasonal affective disorder or just the blahs, but I have been finding getting up and out of bed increasingly difficult. The cycle to work leaves be achey all over and at the end of the work day I am drained.

Maybe I need to eat more healthily, or exercise more or something. I'm not really sure what to do. I don't eat badly, and I cycle at least 30 mins most days, go to jive lessons and to the gym once a week. I don't seem to have time to do anymore exercise. I've been trying to do my pilates dvd when I can, but it always comes back to time. I don't think I've found a form of exercise I actually like besides dancing. I don't have enough room in my living room to dance for my exercise, and I don't have a enough free time to go to anymore dance lessons. Ideas anyone?

After work I rushed home to complete the two remaining stewards t-shirts for Friday, and then a much recovered Tom and I went to SCM to hear Nick Hutchinson, the youth worker from Highfield speak about the Israel Palestine conflict from a historical perspective. He did so in a very balanced way, and had some good suggestions on how as Christians we can help support the everyday people on the streets of Jerusalem such as supporting the work of http://www.holylandtrust.org/

After a week of church preparations, next week will see me putting together a marketing plan for SCM national, a letter to invite organisations to the SCM national conference and putting music on the laptop for my dad's 50th birthday. How did my dad get to be 50?

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

NaBloPoMo10 Church Sewing

The HUUUGGEE Banner is one iron on transfer away from being done.

Lula came over last night to keep me company whilst Tom worked late and she kindly helped me by cutting out letters to applique onto the Stewards T- shirts. I have sewed two and I am on my third out of eight. It's quite hard work, but I'm really enjoying it. I find the chug chug chug of the sewing machine extremely comforting.

It's a bit like the chug chug chug of keys on keyboards that soothes my ears at work.

This evening we're going to talk to the restaurant where we're having the meal part of our wedding reception which is very exciting. Then I shall be going to play hairdressers with Thirza, and then home to my sewing machine.

I always find it interesting how I must cram every hour of my day with stuff. I hate quiet dead periods.

I enjoyed my short stroll at lunchtime today. Peering through the windows of the Varsity that's being refurbished I saw a soft muted palette of work men in white overalls caught in a still life of eating their lunch and chatting. It was like a modern day Vermeer painting.

How beautiful!

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Monday, November 09, 2009

Na Blo Po Mo 9 - Loving this Today

Absolutely love this, swing covers are great!

Posted via web from Alex E Jones

Friday, November 06, 2009

NaBloPoMo 6 7 8 Off to London!

There will be radio slience for Days 7 and 8 as I am off to London with Andy, Todd, John and Tom for one of our semi annual adventures.

We shall eat out this evening I expect once we have all arrived. If it is early enough I shall try and convince the chaps to come to http://www.completehero.com/ as Nathan Fillion is speaking and I want to see him!

Tomorrow will be the Moctezuma Exhibition at the British Museum http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/all_current_exhibitions/moctezuma.aspx We go so often to see the changing exhibitions I really think I should buy membership or convince Tom to buy it for me as a Christmas Present.

I would also like to go and look around VV Rouleaux http://www.vvrouleaux.com/ for weddingy bits.

On Sunday we'll go and look around the London Transport Museum http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/

Mr. Todd is the man for making all this happen.

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Thursday, November 05, 2009

NaBloPoMo 5 - Exciting Finds

Our parish isn't very cash rich, but the people are still extremely generous. In a bid to raise money people have been donating things for the parish ebay account. We've had rice cookers, steppers, china, dolls and more.

But there's this book. Oh my the book. When I was handed it, I actually was lost for words. 

A plaine and familiar exposition of the Ten commandements  With a methodicall short catechisme, containing briefly the principall grounds of Christian religion by John Dod

The publishing date is 1625. I'm not convinced that it's actually 400 odd years old, it could be a later re print as another work seems to be bound with it. The endpapers seem to have been used to practice handwriting and to test pens. Basically, it's fantastic. And I'm at a loss at what to do with it. I know there are book sellers who specialise in rare and antique books. I shall I have to investigate one.

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

NaBloPoMo4 How much can I make in one day?

I am helping plan the open days for the Church of the Ascension, Bitterne Park building project. The church is converting and extending their existing building to make better use of the space and provide meeting rooms and a cafe for the local community. As we're nearly there with the building work, we're inviting people to come and have a look.

I'm looking after making a display on the Parish ebay account, the name the cafe competion, the steward's shirts, and a giant sign for the out side. After the meeting tonight, I got home and started sewing my sign. Appliquing on large letter in random pink and red fabrics to a bed sheet is tiring work. I had to round it up before I'd finished as it was bedtime, but I should finish it this evening. Then I need to find a marker pen that doesn't bleed so I can write the other information on it, having exhausted my scrap fabric supply.

I also need to create some logo designs for the new centre. It's all very exciting. I love being involved in a big project!

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

NaBloPoMo 3 - Fantastically Busy

Had a fantastically busy day today.

But the evening was joyous. I helped one of Tom's friends from college choose what style wedding veil she wanted.

And then I made it!

We went for a drop veil with a scalloped edge. Not too full on the head and with a comb. She's going to choose some beads to go in the scallops and then some to be scattered over the veil itself. She will make a lovely bride. I made a pretty box for her to keep it in as well as part of my trying to finish every job to the highest standard.

I used some of the offcuts to make a tulle bow for the box, and that got me inspired. I made a tiny tulle bow to go on a hair pin and I made
a birdcage veil with roses at the back. If anyone is interested in the bird cage veil let me know!

I may even start taking bespoke orders. It was sooooooo much fun. I really need to invest in some sewing scissors to make sure I can cut as cleanly as possible.


Monday, November 02, 2009

NaBloPoMo 2 - Hallowing the Small Things

One of my favourite lines of liturgy in the service used at my church is "may God hallow the small things" I think this is said after the offering is give but I may be wrong.

When researching for my dissertation I spent some time considering women's work in society in ancient times. One of the more charming ideas I came across are prayers and meditations on relating to the daily work of women. These effectively turned everyday tasks into worship.

Whether or not you are relgious, I think it is good to consider the work you do from housework to your career. It is good to work mindfully considering your actions and words. I think it helps me feel fulfilled in my life to think of even the littlest things being worth while and special.

I am someone who is quite slapdash with the finish of things. I'll knit somthing carefully, then sew it up quickly because I want it finished. I'll cook nice food but serve it sloppily because I'm hungry. Obviously, this doesn't lead to the best results, mearly good enough results. So carefully considering what I do as I do it helps me see my task to it's conclusion

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Sunday, November 01, 2009

NaBloPoMo 1 - Pumpkin

The first of November saw me tidying up party food and drinks at the Chaplaincy dressed at Kaylee from Firefly. I'd had the most charming afternoon sewing two pairs of combat trousers in to a khaki jumpsuit, finding an purple patterned top and twirling my hair into two bedknobs. I'd also made pumpkin rock cakes and pumpkin bread for the SCM pumkpin party.

Alas I didn't win the bake off, but I enjoyed dressing Tom as Book and Lula as Inara from Firefly and watching fun films with the SCM crowd.

Today, Tom and I went to church at St. Christophers in Thornhill, the parish with which the Southampton SCM has a link. The church family at St. Christophers really feels like a family, everyone knowing everyone else's name and people coming to the service especially to see us again and catch up since our last visit. We had a lovely lunch with the vicar and his wife and the curate and discussed everything from the X Factor to Nuclear Physics.

I found it especially interesting talking to Anne about being a vicar's wife. Tom might be going to be a vicar, so I may end up a vicar's wife. She said that you have to throw yourself into it wholeheartedly to get the most of it, and it is hard having a husband who cannot commit to any family event. Nevertheless the benefits are enormous and it is extremely rewarding. It's something that fills me slightly with dread, as if I am honest with myself, I am quite selfish. I like to have time alone to do me things, and I like to spend time with Tom alone at least once a week. Still, nothing is certain yet, so I should have plenty of time to get used to the idea if it is going to happen.

Now I think I shall knit a little more and go do some pilates.

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Friday, October 30, 2009

I like this Issuu thing!

Posted via web from Alex E Jones

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Weddingy things

I have been really enjoying planning the flowers for the wedding. We've found a lovely Southampton florist called Jackie who has been really helpful.

I have also been drooling over flowers on the Flower Design St Annes's Blog. Their stuff is amazing. I didn't realise how much I enjoy greenery and foliage in flower arrangements, so we're going to be including lots of green and structural textures.

The red bouquet is my inspiration at the moment on shape and style. The lovely Ruth leant me her wedding planning scrapbook and this bouquet caught my eye.

Jess came down to stay last weekend and we had a fantastic time. We went to dinner at Dock O the Bay, one of our possible reception venues. The food there was awesome, and we had a great evening with Louisa chatting away and sounding like food critics. Jess is making our wedding cake and she had brought us 7 different cakes to try. It is such a hardship this getting married malarky. We had:
Maderia Cake
Lemon Maderia Cake
Chocolate Maderia Cake
Rich Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Celebration Cake
Light Fruit Cake
Dark Fruit Cake.

Tom was surprised as he liked the light fruitcake, normally being a fruitcake hater. So we're having a large light fruit cake tier, a maderia cake tier, a chocolate tier of some kind and a rich fruitcake tier. Tom wants to do the thing where you keep the top tier for your first born's christening. This from a chap who doesn't want children for 7 years or something! The top tier will be a very alcoholic rich fruit cake then....

I have also been experimenting with wedding hair. I'm not sure if I want it up or down, but I liked this chignon I created.

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Thursday, October 15, 2009

One of my fave pieces of music

Hallelujah by the Vitamin String Quartet , a cover of the song by Paramore

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

You look where they look | UsableWorld by @jamesbreeze

So if I point a face at my key text, people will read it? Awesome!

Posted via web from Alex E Jones

Autumn Veg Bake

I invented this at last night to use up what we had in the fridge. Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 slice stale bread
1/4 large marrow
1 ear of fresh corn or one can of sweetcorn
2 large carrots
2 tbs flour
2 tbs butter
2 chicken legs
Milk
Cheese
Mustard
Salt and Pepper

Equipment:

Saucepan
Oven Proof Dish
Bowl
Slotted spoon
Wooden spoon
Oven

Method:

Pre heat oven to 150 degrees C

Peel the carrots and boil, remove from water with slotted spoon and
put in oven proof dish with corn.

If using fresh corn, cut the corn off the cob.

Place chicken in water from carrots and boil until cooked. This can be
done in the microwave. Shred and add to oven proof dish.

Peel marrow, remove seeds, and then use vegetable peeler to peel
strips of marrow like taglietelle. Add to oven proof dish. Season
contents of dish with salt and pepper and mix thoroughly.

Toast bread and then crumble in a bowl.

Make cheese sauce by melting butter and adding flour to form a roux.
When golden, add milk slowly and stir over a low heat until all milk
has been absorbed and a thick sauce is created. Take off heat

Add 2 tsps mustard to sauce and grate cheese into sauce. Stir and
taste, if not cheesey enough grate more cheese in.

Pour sauce over content of dish, sprinkle breadcrumbs on top add more
salt and pepper, then grate more cheese on top.

Bake in oven for 45 min - 1hr or until crust is golden and contents is bubbling

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Friday, October 09, 2009

On a Mission to Make a Tiny Tortoise

I am on a mission to make a tiny tortoise before tomorrow morning.

It's going to be a cross between:

http://www.fortheloveofyarn.com/Issues/Spring06/patterns/spring06_seaturtle.shtml

and

http://www.sociallyskilled.com/sps/Free_Patterns_files/Mini_Turtle.pdf

What a fabulous weekend we've had. Tom's nephew, Rich and his lovely
fiancee Clair came to stay, and we had fun with them. We went to the
Eastleigh Lakeside Railway, where Tom and Rich had spent many a happy
hour as children. Then Tom took us on a wild goose chase around Totton
looking for a nature reserve. We eventually found it, and trying to
avoid stray cows and pylons we saw the marshlands, reeds and not very
many birds. Then it was off to Pulchinellas in Carlton Place for a
very reasonably priced and delicious meal.

On the Sunday we had a massive breakfast, dashed off to church, and
returned for a massive lunch. It was the children's service at church
and the curate ran a chaotic but fun Sukkot based service with tent,
fruit and wordsearches for all. It was very fun! I loved our lunch,
laughing at Rich's jokes, and eating yummy roast pork. The sunday
afternoon was joyous too. We sat around chatting, and after waving
goodbye to Rich and Clair, Lula and john stayed until the evening. I
know John wasn't very well, but despite that it felt really homely and
cosy, watching telly and doing work. We even had leftovers and clear
out the fridge tea, just like I used to do when I was little.

On Monday night, Tom and I had Jive, where we learnt the Yoyo, on
Tuesday night, I went to see my friend Fran and had a good girly catch
up and on Wed i hada driving lesson in the morning and went to the gym
in the evening. Getting the bus home in the pouring rain on Wed and
trudging through the dark and twinkling lights reflecting in the
raindrop made me feel 10 again. We used to walk home from town having
been to some club, with a portion of salty vinegery chips shared
between my sisters, myself and my mum. Warm paper in cold hands,
licking salt from your fingers, and rushing, walking towards home.

Monday, October 05, 2009

Wedding Shoes

The excellent FH bought me the shoes I've been lusting after as a birthday present!

That's money off the wedding budget for sure.

Here they are: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Irregular-Choice-Cortesan-Floral-Bar/dp/B000UGXZYM/ref=pop?ie=UTF8&ssv=color_name%3AGreen

I am very excited by them - surprisingly comfortable!

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

SCM GC Visioning Weekend

I've never stayed in a monastery before.

It was exciting! We were staying in the cottages at http://www.douaiabbey.org.uk A cross between a homely home and a youth hostel, they were the perfect mix of cosy and business like for the weekend. We went to lunch time prayers in the main abbey which were simple and lovely.

The weekend itself was expertly catered by Richard Bickle, and there were some moving moments of worship amongst the intense planning. The Student Christian Movement have a long history and we drew on some of that in a panel discussion with former General Council members from the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 2000s. http://www.movement.org.uk

I love how there are sometimes spontaneous moments of sung worship at SCM events. Along side Greenbelt style Beer and Hymns, and Agape Lunch communion service with actual lunch in the middle and Halle Halle Halle sung as we cleared away, I enjoyed the gentle run through of the spiritual "Over My Head" which started with three people, finished with the whole room and even harmonies. So simple and honest!

Here's a very posh version of the song:

Here's a jazzy version

I feel like we got lots of things planned. I'm going to be focusing on new media, and getting people from other organisations to come to the conference.

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Autumn is coming

Today there is the snap crisp crackle in the air, the clear bright openess of autumn coming. I like this time of year because everything feels like it is made out of coloured glass.

It is a season of new beginnings, of honeyed tones and golden hours. I have been making little resolutions. I have found a new driving instructor, started my new health regime, researched wedding things, set the wedding date and ironed curtains.

The curtains need header tape adding and hemming, but they are essentially done. This little domesticity fills me with joy.

Today there has been less joy then there should be as I am feeling quiet and still inside. I am wanting to stir up the chaos and sparkle that I usually surround myself with in order to achieve. I feel like I am waiting for something to happen.

Maybe on Sunday night I will return to researching and creating and being busy.

But tonight I am still and quiet.

Posted via web from Alex E Jones

Saturday, September 12, 2009

The Frome Cheese Show

You find me slightly sunburnt and full of cheese. Four glorious hours
in the great British sunshine, peeering at cattle and quivering sheep.
Happy inquisitive goats bleating at people walking past. Dog agility,
showjumping and carriage driving. Wonderful handicrafts and
horticulture. And lots and lots of cheese.

 Cecil, you would have loved it. Come next year?

 

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Friday, September 11, 2009

France

Some France pictures...

 2009/9/11 Posterous (alexejones) :

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

France

So I went to France again with Tom, to stay with his Dad for week.
What a lovely holiday! Very relaxing. I knitted on a bit of sock, read
a couple of Terry Pratchett novels, and not a lot else.

One of the most interesting things about Normandy is that it is very
much like England in some ways. The weather is very changeable, going
from rain to sun in the same hour some times. The higgledy - piggeldy
patchwork hills remind me of the landscape of where I grew up in
Wiltshire.

However, I love when I visit marking out all the little things that
make the place feel different and well, French. No, no, I don't mean
the obvious things, like the people speaking French and the French
language signs, I mean the other things. Such as the typography. The
typography used on the road signs and packaging is always very
distinctive and elegant. There's also the shops shutting over lunch
for two hours, carefully adjusted to be half an hour later than the
lunch break in offices so you can get a bit of shopping done or buy
your lunch.

I enjoyed an aperitif shared with Gwyneth and her friend Sheila one
early evening before fabulous pizza at Le Petit Nicolas in Brecey. I
aspire to both a house like Gwyneth's and her good looks. Her taste is
impeccable, gathering beautiful furniture and delicate items from
carboot sales and second hand shops. She also looks 20 years younger
than her real age which I shan't reveal as is a lady's perogative.
They are both witty sparkling people in a swirl of bright colour and I
very much liked sitting in the sunshine, glass in hand looking out
over the rolling hills.

We had an excellent time in Dinan, a medieval walled town with a keep
and pretty churches on one of the days.


View Larger Map

It bills itself as a town of art and history, and I enjoyed mooching
about looking in the shop windows at beautiful paintings and
sculpture. I actually left a sentence in a conversation with Tom
hanging in mid air half finished as a painting caught my eye and I
subconciously turned away to look.

We also went to Bayeux to see the tapestry. It was much larger than I
was expecting, and the colours were so vivid. The audio commentry was
a little off putting as it told the story of what was happenning but
didn't provide any background on the history that lead to the story or
to the methods of creation. I suppose this was to increase the traffic
flow, and you were directed to another room with an exhibition which
provided more details. I just found it meant people walked past it
following the story without seeing all the incredible details.


View Larger Map


Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Greenbelt

So I went to Greenbelt. http://www.greenbelt.org.uk

All my vaguely Christian friends have been telling me to go to Greenbelt over the last few years. They told me that I'd love it, that it was very me, that it was wonderful.

And I did. The validation of being with thousands of other liberal Christians of all different traditions was enormous. The art, the talks, the communal singing. All fantastic.

I went to standup comedy, to a talk on Obama and the Two State Solution in the Middle East by Jeff Halper, to a talk by John Bell on Paul, to hear Gene Robinson speak on the texts of terror for homosexuals, to a panel on How Not to Believe with Atheists, Religious Agnostics and Christians, to a service with at least 5000 other people, to a tango workshop and to traditional Anglican evening prayer. I had a massage, ate with friends and sang hymns with hundreds of people in a beer tent.

I caught snippets of hugely in depth political and religious conversations in queues and as I walked around. I sang socialist songs with the national SCM in the evenings back at camp.

But among all this I queued for hours, and walked for miles. The place was huge. Really huge. I felt small and alone in the sea of the crowd! But on the whole happily so.

The only things I really didn't like was the choice of worship band at the service who weren't very good at timing and not having a partner at the Tango workshop. I'd gone along alone, with all the Greenbelt regulars saying that it'd wouldn't matter.Greenbelt's very friendly someone would dance with you. But there wasn't any one, so I left a bit forlorn.

Over all positive and thought provoking. Tom and I are committing to try and use the car less, buy secondhand or recycled first and to find ways to step out of our comfort zone. One thing for me will be radical giving in all areas of my life. My God is a God of Love above all. So to try and bring more of that in my life, I'm going to sit down and be friendlier to the people who irritate me, give more away and do more for my local community. Let's see how it goes!

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

@peterbowyer Bea + Anthony’s Vintage Inspired Session

@peterbowyer - Please can we do some stuff like this? Pweeeese?

Posted via web from Alex E Jones

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Wedding Hair in Southampton !

I've been doing wedding hair for friends. If you're in the Southampton
area, and would like your wedding hair done for travel costs only,
please email me at ax@room42.ath.cx. I'm not professionally trained,
but I really enjoy it.

 I can do bridal hair in Southampton, Romsey, Eastleigh and anywhere
you can get to from St Denys Station.

  

 

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Perfect Pandas » Blog Archive » Panda Bread

I really really want to make this! How cute!

Posted via web from Alex E Jones

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

In Which Alex and Tom Go To Creepy Castles

This weekend, Tom and I went to Hurst Castle. http://www.hurstcastle.co.uk/

The castle is on Hurst Spit, off Keyhaven, near Lymington.

<br /><small>View Larger Map</small>

It was amazing. We got the ferry from Keyhaven over the water to the castle and walked around eerie chambers and rooms. It was hard to imagine the number of soldiers that would have lived there, served there and possibly died there since Henry VIII had the first castle built. The massive guns that point out toward the Isle of Wight were the size of lorries. I couldn't find out if they had ever fired from there.

It's definately the kind of place that would be requisitioned if there was another sea based war.

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Things done today

I've had such a lovely day.

 I spent the morning creating wedding hairstyles for an old school
friend, who's getting married next week. We tried a range of grecian
plaits and I think we settled on something.

 Then after lunch I went wedding dress looking with Mum, Verity and
Amy. Here's my favourites:

 Josephine:
http://bridesofsouthampton.com/article-images.aspx?id=493

 This one is very regal, but I wasn't 100% about it, as I think it was
a bit slinky for my hips.

 Cassandra
http://bridesofsouthampton.com/article-images.aspx?id=557

 This one was the big puffy one, and I wasn't so keen on it. I felt a
bit ridiculous.

 Mystique
http://bridesofsouthampton.com/article-images.aspx?id=517

 This was my favourite so far. I just loved it, even though the sample
was not Alex sized.

 This is the colour I think Verity will be wearing:
http://bridesofsouthampton.com/article-images.aspx?id=424

 There were two more I tried on. One was a strapless one, which
everyone went ooh at when I walked out. I think the reason for this is
that this was an Alex size sample and so looked better overall because
it fitted, and one was one similar to :

 I quite liked that one too.

 Then it was off out to a family meal with Mum's side for an engagement
celebration. It was really sweet because my Gran gave us the patchwork
quilt that she makes all the family when they get married. It has
fabric from dresses and things she's made for me, and patches with
embroidery about important events. Mum has one and my aunty too. It's
absolutely beautiful and is all hand sewn.

 The lovely Charley also sent me a fab bouquet of gerberas as a
congratulation gift. It came with a vase and a balloon! It's great!

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Friday, August 14, 2009

Oooooo.....

So I've started wedding planning in earnest.

We've got guest lists, ushers, bridesmaids, best men and so on.

We've got got http://www.thomasandalexandra.co.uk

We're looking at lots of venues.

Besides that I've been filling my time with simple pleasures. Reading Terry Pratchett, doing mending, knitting the odd stitch. Lots of Swimming. We went to see Waiting for Godot with Ian Mckellen and Patrick Stewart and Simon Callow. Very good indeed, all mellifluous tones, everything making no sense but still be funny and sad and heart rending.

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Monday, August 10, 2009

I need your Bric a Brac

Hello World.

 I'm trying to raise money for my church's building project. We're
having a parish wide ebay account. So if you have any ornaments,
clothes, CDs, Gadgets, or books you don't want, and are happy to
donate, please let me know!

 Wedding planning has commenced in earnest. What I can divulge so far:

 We will be having green, orange and purple as our colours.

 That's about it. Everything is sooooo expensive, so expect to see lots
and lots of DIY!

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Monday, August 03, 2009

The Ring and the Cufflinks, oh and some blueberry muffins!

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Tom and I are getting Married!

Today, after are new routine of breakfast and prayer together, Tom and
I were half seriously looking through engagement rings. Tom said " I
really ought to get on with this" and a half hour of chatter and hugs
followed as Tom tried to pluck up the courage to ask. Then just as it
was time to go to work, the words "Will you marry me?" came tumbling
out. And I said Yes!

 Today has been a very happy day.

 After work we went ring shopping in West Quay as it was open late.
Ernest Jones was our first stop, and I had my ring finger sized, M as
it happens, and we looked through their selection of emerald rings.
The first one we saw we both liked, which was a first, but we thought
we better have a look around first.

 Nowhere else had anything we liked, though we did have fun getting Tom
some engagement cufflinks from John Lewis and in the end we went back
to Ernest Jones.

 It must have been fate as the ring was exactly my size, and Tom's
middle name is Ernest, and I am Alexandra Jones, and we both liked it!
So we bought it, and it sits here all sparkly and shiny on my finger
now.

 Tattinger with green curry for dinner, and this evening we have made a
start on the guest list, have planned hymns and readings and thought
of all kinds of fun things.

 I thank God for this handsome, funny, charming, caring man. As my gran
said today, you two are certainly made for each other!

Posted via email from Alex E Jones

Sunday, August 02, 2009

A Work of Art Dress-Mod Cloth

I love this dress! Anyone want to buy it for me?

So what have I been up to? Still knitting away on my Broderie - http://twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/60-winter-2008-patterns/149-broderie-by-connie-chang-chinchio

I've also had some friends round for dinner where Tom made an awesome Coq Au Vin type chicken stew with pasta bow ties.

And other than that, not much else to report!

Posted via web from Alex E Jones

Friday, July 31, 2009

Tune of the Moment

I heard this last night, in a warm glowly moment as I wrote birthday cards, added addresses and people to my address book. Tom was reading Sharpe and Louisa, our part - time housemate had her nose in a book too. We'd finished dinner and washed up a million bowls of cake batter and cooking. It was a homey happy little thought as I swayed gently to this tune.

Then I realised how sad the lyrics were and how they were the antithesis of what I was enjoying! Still it's a beautiful beautiful song!

Posted via web from Alex E Jones