Monday 7 November 2016

Memorandum Monday: Take a Seat, Make a Wish

Can you smell it? No: I guess not. Our Christmas pudding is safely tucked away, wrapped in greaseproof paper, in its white china bowl, after six hours of boiling on Friday afternoon. And if you too make a pudding, you'll know that with the stirring comes a wish: you mix it together with the oldest wooden spoon in your collection and you think about something nice.

And as I'm mixing I'm thinking about weaving in all the ends...


We had our something nice right there in front of us: our girl called round specially, just to stir. I wonder what she wished for? She has a washing machine in Studentland; so her wish probably wasn't the same as mine, which included a load of clean underwear and the innards of the washing machine removed from the kitchen table.

But that pudding worked fast! The postman brought the spare part first thing on Saturday morning; and before long, freshness reigned once again in the Fair household. That's our first first for the weekend. We (and I use that term loosely) have never fixed our own washing machine before. 

....and working my stretchy cast off again, so that I can fit it over my head...


Riding high on a sweet smelling, sudsy tide of success, our patient decided that he felt up to a trip out, so I told him about a junk shop a friend had mentioned to me recently. Our second first! So close to home and we hadn't even realised it was there, and with all the perfect junk shop essentials: a winding brick alley with signs to follow before we found it, a must-have (but too large) piece to lust after right outside the entrance (a double sided school changing room bench), old sewing mahines, each with a story to tell..

..in the end we chose two chairs, probably from the old school round the corner, with scratched seats and chipped paint. Dare me to carve our initials on one? Or maybe you didn't do that at your school?

....so that I can wear it out on Sunday afternoon (picture on instagram). Pattern is called Strokkur, by Ysolda Teague, on Ravelry, knitted in Istex Lett Lopi from Carreg Yarns

And that's my memo for this Monday. How about you? Anything new? Anything you know now that you didn't know before? Maybe you'd like to make a memo too. We'd love to hear from you!

Deb, Alexandra, Helena, Mitra, Mary-Lou, Ladkyis, Maggie, KraftyKaren and Karen made one last week. Go on, give 'em a wave! Good luck with your week!

17 comments:

Maggie said...

The oldest wooden spoon... I haven't heard that one. I did think however that your wish was supposed to be secret. Surely by telling all us you are just asking for your machine to break down again or did you secretly wish for a brand new washing machine??

Patio Postcards said...

Glad to hear that your patient is feeling better. I have never craved my name into anything, but there is an old stump up the field that is just begging for my initials. I knew about the every member of the family stirring the Christmas Pud, but not about the need of the oldest wooden spoon. I will be seeking out mine when I go to make my Christmas pudding, I can use some good wish energy.

Patio Postcards said...

- darn auto spell correct - that is carve but now I do crave to carve my initials.

debs14 said...

Love it when the pudding fairies act quickly! How lovely that these traditions live on.
Sian, that jumper is amazing - you are so talented. It makes me wonder what you will turn your hand to next (while I am still working my way through chunky baby blanket number two!)

alexandra s.m. said...

What a beautiful jumper!
I can't believe how fast you knit!
So glad to hear DH is feeling better and I always enjoy learning about your traditions.
I hadn't heard about the oldest spoon and making a wish so thank you ;)

Have a wonderful beginning of the week Sian.

xx

helena said...

your jumper is looking fabulous - love the colours - we don't make our own pud anymore as only 2 of us like to eat it - I do miss the stirring tradition and smell

alexa said...

Wow, you are well ahead in the Fair family - I'm still waiting for Stirabout Sunday! So glad The Accountant is up and about again, even if just briefly. Your purchases sound nicely vintage ... And your Fairisle is glorious. I seem to remember that grey and yellow are some of your favourite colours? What a clever and talented lady you are :).

Jo said...

That junk shop sounds amazing. I'm glad to hear the patient is feeling a bit better and I love your jumper!

Karen said...

So nice that TA is feeling up to an excursion, and I hope we'll get a peek at the chairs you bought. That sweater is absolutely gorgeous; what beautiful colors! (Wouldn't mind a photo of it on the knitter!)

KraftyKaren said...

I've never been a lover of anything like Christmas pudding or Christmas cake but I do remember my gran making her own and all of us being allowed a stir & to make a wish. I hope it tastes wonderful when you come to eat it at Christmas.

Really gorgeous jumper, I love the colours you have used.

There would have been no carving of names into anything at my school - they were really strict and as well as being hauled out in front of the whole school at Friday assembly it would probably have resulted in a suspension too!! I hope you will share the chairs once you have revamped them.

Have a great week ahead x

Ruth said...

I didn't know that you were supposed to use your oldest wooden spoon when stirring a Christmas pud ... but then, I've never made a Christmas pud!
Your jumper looks gorgeous!

Cheri said...

Very pretty sweater - when do we get to see a picture of YOU modeling it? Very curious about the chairs you chose - you know anything from a "junk" shop would interest me...

Susan said...

How nice to have your daughter home for a little visit. That sweater is beautiful - I love the yellow/gray color combination.

Sandra said...

What a wonderful weekend you had. Something so beautiful in your daughter coming home to make her wish.

I'm tru;y in awe of your talents Sian, that is such an amazing jumper xxx

Lizzy Hill said...

TOTALLY beautiful jumper. LOOOOVE that way you did the neckline....well done on the washing machine front & I'm glad your fella felt well enough for an outing. Least you didn't go buy something really heavy he had to lift...like a piano!!!! Hope your week is going along nicely:):)

Mitralee said...

I had to go read up on Christmas pudding...so you must be making it now to sit until Christmas? What kind of spirit did you add to it? Or maybe I'll just wait patiently until you eat it much later and tell us all about it complete with pretty food photos! Sounds like your weekend was most excellent and congrats on the chairs! Rocks!

Melissa said...

Isn't it such a nice feeling of accomplishment when you fix something yourselves? :) What FUN to find a junk store so close to home!

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