A little bit of news ...

Me and Mr Plum are having a baby! This is the 12 week scan I had on Wednesday ... the day when it all became ... real.

Until Wednesday I felt sick and tired ... and overwhelmed and a little bit shocked (I don't know why! I just found it so hard to get my head around ...) and then I saw the little Baby Plum and everything changed!

So ... baby is due at the beginning of August - and I can't wait!

Shall we go to Metro-land?

Last night I went to a very interesting lecture at the London Transport Museum. The theme of the talk was Betjemen and Suburbia ... the main part of the talk was given by a museum curator - with poetry read by an old chap from the Betjemen Society.

I love the old transport posters - and it was great to have some of them put into the context of the expansion of the Metropolitan railway and the building of suburbia. There are a series of talks and I have got tickets booked for another one in February:

Home Comforts

The style of the new suburban interiors and the changing role of the housewife in the 1920s and 1930s. This talk focuses on the wives and mothers who found themselves in charge of their new homes, in Metroland - far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Emmanuelle will explore how homes changed dramatically after the First World War, through the boom in technology and labour saving devices, and in their decorative schemes. She will compare the sleek ideal 'moderne' interiors that featured in magazines and promotional material, with the ubiquitous reality of mock Jacobean sideboards and floral wallpapers. Drawing on women's magazines of the time she will also discuss the woman's role in the house, where she shopped and what she bought.

You can purchase tickets here

London is so much more bearable when I remember to do lovely things!

I will be visiting the Suburbia exhibition soon!

Hey Presto!

This morning Mr Plum headed off for his first lesson in magic! He will be heading to a strange, dark shop hidden away in the maze that is Charing Cross underpass (it is like something out of Harry Potter!) for three hours tuition in the art of magic tricks! The course will last for three Saturdays - he was very excited this morning!

I am enjoying a nice lie in with a cup of tea (Yorkshire) and a pile of toast and marmite! I haven't got anything planned for this morning, so will probably do a bit of housework before heading into town to meet up with Mr P and some friends for dinner.

I'm still feeling the "Christmas Bloat" and now that the snow has melted, I no longer have the excuse that it is too cold to go swimming, eat healthily etc! I have managed to bribe Mr P into going for an early morning swim tomorrow with the promise of a Wetherspoons brekkie ... we will also be plugging in the wii fit to burn off some Christmas calories!

What are you up to this weekend?

Essential Hats for Snowy Days

Here I am ... at home enjoying my first snow day ... watching tv shows and films which Mr Plum can't abide (Glee, Cranford Christmas Specials, An American In Paris) and finishing off a bit of knitting!

Here's my hat!

Isn't she lovely? (Apologies about the rubbish self portraits!!)

The pattern has a pom pom in a contrasting yarn - but I don't think I will bother with that ... maybe I will add a knitted flower instead? I'm not sure ...

This hat can be found in the lovely book by Kim Hargreaves "Thrown Together" and it suitable for a knitter with a little experience. The pattern was pretty simple and easy to follow ... I have managed to drop the odd stitch - but I don't think that it is too noticeable.

My next knitting project is going to be .... a (deep breath) cardigan! It will take me years, but I want to give it a go! I have chosen another pattern from Thrown Together ... have a look here and have my wool ready thanks to a work colleague who's girlfriend works in John Lewis and is happy to use her discount to fund my yarn habit!! It is such a pretty colour (Melody 173) ... just need to get practising my double moss stitch!!

Happy New Year!

Hello!

Happy New Year!

I hope that you have all enjoyed the festive season ... we had a very busy holiday split between Christmas with my in laws in the very snowy Lake District and a fab New Year with my parents!

We came back to London yesterday and have cleared away the Christmas decorations and are now getting ready to head back to work tomorrow .... but I thought I would quickly post and let you see some of the lovely books I got for Christmas this year!

I'm looking forward to making some delicious sweeties from the Hope and Greenwood recipe book (mmm mmmm), having a go at something vintage from the "A Stitch in Time" and making more Cath Kidston goodies!!

I found these lovely gift tags in a shop in Ambleside ... I just hope that I don't forget the I have them next Christmas!