Well I am sure many of you will have heard about Benoit the pro-wrestler by now, he got quite a size able article the other day in the paper.
He was (past tense and all) one of my faves. Alas no more!

The first episode of Dr Who tonight, I like the new girl, or shall I say I I like who I presume to be the new girl, a huge improvement on Rose aka the pop tart!

I finished Thud last night, a fabulous work! Truly fabulous! I know it said in the back blurb there was another new one coming, something about Post??? I must look it out.

It is a short one tonight I am afraid, I fear I am being chased by a chicken! (Sorry Thud reference, you'll have to read it to find out the answer!).

It's on!!!

Next Tuesday I am out to dinner, I have been waiting for this fo sooooo long. And it couldn't have come at a better time.
Chocolate Cremem Brulee here I come!!!
I will of course be accompanied by the usual suspects. And our weapons of choice, red wine and black fingernails....

Tonight I have a date with Terry Pratchett and his amazing ccast of characters. I am looking forward to it, I have not read Thud! before.

Ice! Ice! Ice Baby!

I'm so cold, I think I will do away with the fridge and just distribute items about my body in a special coat.

I have been in dire need of a hottie, alas Matt Hardy has been unavailable so I have had to settle for a hot water bottle.

Who else saw Torchwood? It was kind of slow to get off the ground, but Captain Jack! What can I say there is soemthing about certain Captain Jack's that are really appealing.

Alas I have not seen the third instalment of the Pirate Captain Jack, but I have discovered that I managed to miss seeing the third installment of Spiderman on the big screen. Very disappointing, however a tiny part of me is actually considering Nancy Drew. Yes, I do recall her from my misspent youth, not quite as promising as an Agatha Christie mystery but they were quite good.

I haven't knitted, I've cooked a lot, I find it much more satisfying. it was after all one of my first loves. I'm hoping to squeeze a little more baking in this weekend.

On the needles currently and pretty close to being done is a Critter from the Naughty Needles book, I should get back to it, they look like cute little owls in the book when complety finished.

Did anyone else suffer the horrendous fate of seeing the start of Pirate Master???? I was dubious about it, but decided I had better watch it before disregarding it. I lasted about half an hour and called it quits. It was too sad, way too sad!

Sharon was right, I so need a night out at Smokey Joes with a glass or two (or three!) of Merlot. Maybe week after next, I am due a day off so won't have to get up early. Yeah! I can hear those fajitas calling my name now!

What I am loving at the moment is Mouthfuls of Heavn that CIndy put me on to. So far I seen a lot of things I am keen to try and and a few things I have made myself!
Inspired by this I have been cooking a few things from Feast. The Somerset Rarebit and Potato Wedges, most recently. There is often a repeat of the Mushrooms on Toast!
Even Sandra D, who isn't overly fond fo Rarebit, devoured her entire piece on toast. We can put it on the list to have again.
I made the Potato Wedges to help fill the meal out since I had to make what was a supper dish for 2 go around 3 for a main meal. My father thinks they are the best potato wedges he has ever eaten. Out class the bought ones by far.
I have to admit they were beautiful! We had Kennebecs I think they were, I don't know if it was the potato, the spices or a combination that pushed them into divine territroy.

Next on the to try list is the Breakfast Biscuit (think American biscuit, not biscuit as we know it), you make them up, cut them out and then freeze them. You can then cook them straight away or pack them up in a freezer bag ready for another morning when you want to bake them. During the week, is a little full on I think for baking stuff, but on a Saturday morning when I am lurching about, muttering to myself, they would be a real goer.
This morning I got up to make a drink, I took it back to bed and read a book, quite happily passing the better half of the morning away. Incredibly decadent , but as Peter Cundall would say bloody marvelous!!!

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

And it makes Suzi a dull girl, I need a holiday. A time to step back from everything and everyone and well and truly let my hair down.

I am awe inspired by the Reptilian from the latest MagKnits. About the only thing that really took my fancy this time.

I'm in need of some rock n' roll, some good comedy and some regular coke, no holding back the sugar this time around. If only!

Ohhhhherrrrrrrr!

If I could make that noise Lurch in the Adams Family made it would be perfect, because that is the kind of day I have been having.

We won't go into all the details, it was a tad stressfull the first time. But on the upside my new Emily the Strange tote bag was waiting at home for me! This is grand excitement! And my new knitting books arrived on Friday, Pretty in Punk and Charmed Knits. I am very pleased with both.
Something I used to be very partial to, before I moved into my all black wardrobe...was a bit of camoflage.

In Pretty in Punk they had some armwarmers, that laced up, the only thing I like better than armwarmers is armwarmers that lace up, and these were camoflage!
Be still my beating heart, I knew it was the kind of thing Miss Stash would appreiciate being a camoflage fanatc.
However I am very partial (clearly from watching too many Bond films) to the red star on a olive green background and to a particular style of hat (yes it would all hinge on the hat, I'll defect but only if you have hats I like...).

I need to look out some knitting to take to the coven tomorrow. What will it be? Whatever it is I had better get it out and do some work tonight, I have been neglecting my work, again!

Don't look now but I'm it!

Yes, I am a cousin of the Adams family, bet you wern't expecting that, or were you?????

I hve been tagged bu two people (the lovely Skully and Freaky Kniter) for the 7 Random Things....beware the tag! Catch you if I can I will!!!!

The rules:

Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

Here goes nothing,
1. As a small child I played the Pirates of the Caribbean board game, the rules were long gone so the actual plot of the game was also long gone, mostly I liked looking at the pictures of palm trees, treasure chests, bandaned and eye patched pirates and of course the rhyme about dead men and rum!

2. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie I think is the most outstanding crime novel ever written.

3. I have not been able to consume enough yoghurt and cheese this past week.

4. I never wanted to live in interesting times, when I find out who cursed me to, I shall feed them to my pet shark like all good Bond villians do.

5. It wasn't just Imelda's taste in shoes I admired, she truly pushed the envelope as a hostess when at a birthday party for her deceased husband. He was the centrepiece, carefully preserved in a glass topped coffin.

6. Witches are one of my fave things, I have been taken by them since I was child, it all started with Meg and Mog - why shouldn't a woman and her cat go to the moon in a flying saucer? Especially if she's going to do it in a pointy hat. I dig the hat!

7. People in cars are going places, people on Harleys are free! Which can mean one of two things, either it's true and I'm right or the advertising works, and one day when I have $15,000 I can own the dream myself......

Now for who I'm going to tag, well it's going to be a bit of motley crew, but here goes.
Cindy, Sharon, Amanda J, Tienne, Karen, Che, and Mrs Dr Who.

This is what I mean, I was thinking about this exact problem just the other day.

I have to disagree with Mae West as here is proof that you can have too much of a good thing!

I'll have what she's having!

Yesterday I did the dance of joy as Numfar was no where to be found, Naughty Needles has landed!!!!!

It was well worth the wait, and I got some goodies with it, a magnetic Naughty Needles 2007 calender, a Naughty Needles postcard and a Disgruntled Housewife emery stick. But the most exciting part was the book! I am itching to knit something from it, actually there are a lot of somethings I'd like to knit from it.

I was looking forward to sharing it at the next knitting coven, but I suspect I may need to put it in brown paper and slide it under the table to certain members only. I knew it was sexy saucy knitting, and I had some idea of the patterns, alright a lot of ideas. But now having actually seen it and actually thought about it, I don't think it would be totally appreciated for general handing around. Boo!

But one piece of advice that made me giggle - "always knit your gorram swatch!". I must tell Miss Stash that, she will appreciate it, as I'm sure the lovely Green Woman will as well????

Speaking of Miss Stash she has been experiencing technical difficultys, not that she's bothered to explain this herself when she has been online....Of course it's my fault for not sharing this information in the first place you understand!!!!!!!!!!

Darn!

I missed CSI on Sunday, why? Because I thought it was a repeat, no it wasn't. And so I've missed Roger Daltry from the Who making his appearance. Hopefully it won't be long and this series will be available on DVD.

Something I won't miss, I am determined to see Spiderman 3 on the big screen. I saw the first two their and I think it would be disappointing not to get the full effect.

I managed to track down the Famicly Circle Kids Knit book form many many many years ago, wait it was published 1992. Not as early as I thought, it has some very basic designs, but I have missed it.
It was one of the first books I attempted to learn to knit from.
And how time flies!

Party On Garth!

It's days like this I live for, when someone like the wonderful Ms Fortuknit stops by to ask me those important questions like "Has anybody told you lately that you are a complete Gothic Goddess??????"

In reply I have this to say "NO!". I am most displeased not only has nobody told me lately, they have not constructed a lavish temple in my honour, or made the required daily offerings of freshly baked cup cakes.
I may have to send down some lightening bolts to smite people with, or at least give them a bit of a jolt!

As a truly amazing Gothic Goddess I need a new handbag to reflect my status this year at Alice, and possibly a new Devil Hat (there is two versions in Domiknitrix, hmmmmm). And of course the aforementioned shoes! Actually I am little uncertain what else to wear, I have my lovely black skirt I wore last year, but I fear I may need a new top as well.
And of course the all important ticket! But I am pleased to see that they are not much more in price than last year, yeah! But who he's support act if there is even going to be one I don't know???

Now I hope you are all sitting down, and you may as well brace yourselves as well. Tonight just prior to writing this I picked up my Broadripple sock and recommenced work on it! Perhaps you should all go have a nice cup of tea and a lie down to revover from that revelation. But lets face it, after that nothing could surprise any of you, not even if I danced in the street naked while it rained!

There have been phone calls but not the right one! Alas, and it turns out Naughty Needles is on the way! Yeah! It's been posted so hopefully won't be far off arriving now.
I can't wait!

There's a special something I have in mind to make and I have been poking about the net for yarn sources and substitutions. Starting something else? But of course!
It's needling away at my brain and needs to be created. I can't rest until it is done! That and the other 50 things going on in there.

Anyway it's back to James Bond, tonight is You Only Live Twice, last night I had From Russia With Love. I like the old Bonds, as much as I enjoyed the latest Casino Royale, as an action movie you couldn't fault it, it was brilliant! But as a Bond film, I wanted gadgets, girls, those predictable but cheesy one liners!
Granted there have been lasers and sharks, but alas no sharks with lasers attached to their heads....A lot of white cats. Look! I say to the Daft White Cat! I could rent you out to movie makers, earn your keep boy! He doesn't seem keen, unless chasing his tail is a sign of enthusiasm.

Whoo Hooo!!

I have been doing some minor celebrating, only minor there was no booze so not a major celebration yet. Everything is still under my hat, I am waiting for final phone calls before I dance naked down the street in the rain.

I have been working on a special something for Miss Stash, I have knitted it up, taken it back, knitted it up, taken it back, knitted it up, taken it back, etc etc....
Now I am about to take it back again because there is not enough stitches again, there is either two many or not enough. Getting the right number and adjusting the design slightly to fit occupied me for hours yesterday.

Speaking of Miss Stash, we have done some book shopping, I have ordered Pretty in Punk and Charmed Knits from Amazon, while Miss Stash ordered far more sensible books.

Cruising around the net in my pirate ship, I stumbled upon this picture! How awe inspiring is that?? I so have to make one myself.

What else? I'm still organising for Alice, what will I wear? Choosing the optimum shoes is going to be essential, after last year, I may avoid heels. I was discussing the concert with Miss Stash who told me rock concerts where the sort of thing you should go in a group too. Very wise, alas I have no Alice friends! Not yet, anyway, I may have to organise to sit with the other odd bods this year, I'm sure they would have appreciated the Devil Hat last time.

I'm working my way through James Bond series, I've had Dr No, Goldfinger and Thunderball. I've also jumped a head slightly and had a couple of Roger Moore's - Octopussy and Live and Let Die. And that bloke who only did one, he was a model or something? On Her Majesty's Service? I've also seen the original Casino Royale which was a spoof. Absolutely mad cap, I recognized a few faces (mostly from the Pink Panther series).

Now I need to go back to in between Dr No and Goldfinger, there was From Russia With Love and after Thunderball was ??? I might need to check on that.
But it has proved an invaluable time for knitting, I may have to take this opportunity to finish my cloud hat in progress for Mongolia.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it possible lightening can strike in the same spot more than once??? Well there was a poor guy in the USA who was a park ranger, he was also a bit of a human lightening conductor. The guy got zapped a dozen times in his life, granted not always in the same place. But the poor soul commited suicide in the end.

The knitting powers that be, have streamlined something into my brain, but for the time being I am keeping it under my hat. And it's not just for Alice, it's for Awesome! But it shall remain under my hat until a future date, to make sure everything goes as planned - who knows I could end up with a three armed sweater a la Morticia Adams yet.

Oooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You would not believe blah de blah, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah - to cut a long story short is anyone free for dinner next week????

If so drop me a line to my inbox, you should all have my e-mail address. I can't believe it! Anyway I have to get back to the knitting, I've finished a Hurry Up Spring Armwarmer to the start of the thumb. It's almost done, I hope to get it done tonight.

Then look out for - the second mitten to match the first I made in Hobart, it is started and I knitted the first in a night.
- The second gauntlet from the very first Vogue Knit 1.
- Finally finishing the Glove of Doom and making him a sidekick.
- The second Bowhunter! (Still have to block the first but still.....)
- And of course a second HUSA!

The socks sit sneering at me, but I am ignoring them. Rude childish things they are. They just have to wait for me, I am very into hands at the moment, kind of like that weird cowboy guy was into sisters in Practical Magic - while as enthusiastic not as kinky!
I hope.

Is that a sock I see before me????

I have gone so off knitted socks I never want to see one again, which is why I am glad upon seeing Magknits latest issue there are no socks, but also not a lot else. However I am pleased to see another bag form bags pattern. I accumulate plastic bags somehow. I refuse them, take my own but still.....

My lack of ambition for socks left me a little disappointed there was still some Knittery colours I wanted to try out.
I have a few colours in mind and am seriously thinking of building a bridge to Sock Land and making the new ones in Yarn. Make them less cutesy with an appropriate colour choice. And maybe then we can continue peace negations.

Now something else that tickled my fancy in Yarn was the wimple! What is with that? I am deeply in love with the Cathedral Window Shawl, now if only I wasn't so fickle in love, but I highly doubt I have the commitment at this point in time to settle down for life.

I was thinking about a devil hat and I remembered I had some beads left from when I did the Rowan beaded bag, and wondered if perhaps a beaded wristwarmer might have been quicker???
And I had a thought about bowling bags, which it I admit took me a back a bit when I saw it in the Anticraft - I mean a bowling bag in Anticraft????
I remembered late last night Mystery Men starring Janeanne Garofalo (one of my fave actresses) who played the Bowlers daughter, she had his head put into a bowling ball - well he was the Bowler I suppose.

Anyway I'm off m\for my veg time, I am going to put some CSI on and sit and think about nothing. I think I might actually have tomorrow all to myself! I'm looking forward to that.

It's Alive! It's Alive!

A new AntiCraft! Excuse me while I touch the sky!

While I was impressed to no end, there was pause for concern. One of their projects had me alarmed - a bowling bag????????????
Oh dear........

But being a bit of a bag whore myself I was otherwise well pleased with the offerings. And as for the Blood Orange Cake, it makes me think of something Nigella would almost make. No, I take that back, proably would. After all this woman brought us Slut Red Raspberries!

And do you what else is wonderful? Alice Cooper is coming to my home town again! He'll be here in July. Oh I can't wait, I've been meaning to knit a devil hat from Domiknitrix, maybe I can get one done in time? Hmmmm...

Speaking of Domiknitrix, she got reviewed in the latest Yarn magazine. Wasn't particulary flattering, let the record show I thought it was a most excellent book! Not only that I know at least one other knitter upon seeing it was inspired to go out and get it.
They also reviewed Naughty Needles! I'm keen to get my cold large claws on a copy of this. I ordered one and now am waiting impatiently for it to arrive.

Yee ha!

I don't normally do CSI New York, but when I heard the legendary Suicide Girls were in this episode I had to watch!
Not as much as I would have hoped for. But still it was nice to see them out somewhere else. But CSI New York was fitting I suppose since New York is home to Coney Island!

I've been meaning to check out Knitty for the last couple of days, the e-mail landed in my Inbox and the promise of a knitted parasol had me sorely tempted. It's the kind of quirky thing I'd like to knit.

Speking of quirky I do believe the new Anticraft should be up this week! I am so looking forward to that, it is what the world of knitting has badly needed - a total VAMP!!!!!

Hubble Bubble!

I had planned to have the day to myself, but the best laid plans never seem to pan out how I expect. However I got to make a batch of Potato and Leek Soup in the Slow Cooker today so not a total loss.

Tomorrow is Pumpkin Soup, a new recipe as well! And a Tuna Slice I have had the recipe knocking about for absolutely ages.

I stumbled upon a recipe for Pumpkin Scones I have also been saving for ages and one I forgot I had, Raspberry Scones. Which prompted a discussion with Sandra D about what I consider to be a old wives tale, scone makers are born not made.
Now I think this a load of old carpet! Scones like anything else you cook, provided you make the time and effort to do it right, you should get at least edible results every time if not always picture perfect. There's a lot of bad cooking going on out there, so is it good cooks are born not made? Or is it simply everybody has the potential to be a good cook should they make an effort?????

Sideshow again tonight, I can't last week's totally inspired me. But it was the first I suppose. New Tricks I also see is being repeated, I am a little disappointed it's not a new season.
Tomorrow is another day so we shall see what it brings. I've already got my jobs mentally lined up for tomorrow. Chiefly washing should the weather be nice, and plenty of other things if I put my mind to it, and there should be time while the soups practically cooking itself!

Wednesday was Anzac Day. Yesterday I went to a funeral, realised I had no idea what the Lord's Prayer was (Note to self - no Lord Prayer at own funeral.).
And today I had a doctor's appointment but on the upside it seems I am in fact still alive and haven't unknowingly slipped into the land of the undead. Very satisfying I think. This afternoon I finally got to see the Queen with Helen Mirren. It was a good movie, Helen Mirren was excellent. But it seemed to focus on the Royal Fmaily through the whole Diana period. It was a very serious watch.

I watched Hoodwinked yesterday, I loved it. It was very very funny! Tonight I find out how good The Stepford Wives (remake with Nicole Kidman) is. And just in case I am soooooooooo inspired to be all I can be and so very very much more, I may have to take up some of this advice!

Yesterday I made Curried Meatballs for dinner, and today I made Chicken and Corn Soup in the slow cooker. It was really good! I'm looking forward to making that again sometime soon.

My next goal is to start organising my photos, I need to get an album for them. I don't really do photos. I'm not one of these have them put on display all the time. I just don't see the point, all they do is gather dust and make more housework then! But I have them floating loose in boxes and drawers, so it's about time I did something with them.

In answer to Amanda's question I'm going to give a shameless plug to My Pumpkin Soup recipe, not only is it easy it's tasty and even Miss Stash who doesn't like soup will eat it!

Made the Slow Cooked Chicken again today from Punk Rock Domestics, that I can see will become a firm fave. I also whipped up a batch of scones, the recipe was called the Best Ever Cafe Scones and my word they were good! So light, and not at all floury. They were really good with some homemade raspberry jam and topped off with some whipped cream.

Haven't got Nigella's Chocolate Fruit cake made yet, I had hoped to try it today but I just couldn't fit it in time. So that is waiting for another day along with a Thai curry, marinara sauce from the Oxygen mag, Tofu and Veg Satay and self saucing choc pudding in my slow cooker. And some Chicken and Corn Soup also in the slow cooker, must look the recipe out before the end of the week, because I am hoping to make it by then.

What I need to post the recipes for is the Boiled Fruit Cake I made the other week, Beefburger Risotto! How long have I been meaning to post that?? I still have to try the Bolagnaise sauce, but I will put the scone recipe up for anyone who is interested. I am very into food at the moment I find I am a little more in the right mood to actually enjoy cooking, I love cooking. It is one of my fave things to do, but some times your so frazzled or so annoyed you end up eating toast or possibly just bread depending on what kind of day it was.

I love cooking! I've been doing it since I was very young, and I suppose it then could have gone one of two ways, I would hate it and never do it again. Or I would develop a unyielding passion for it! Fortunately it's been the last. I owe a lot of that inspiration to my grandparents and the many school holidays spent with them, usually a certain portion would be spent in the kitchen which was always exciting. Things like Tea Cake and Choc Chip Biscuits were pretty standered, occasionally Rock Cakes, probably the chocolate slice we always had and the good old slab cake!
What fascinated me most was watching my grandfather making bread, he usually did a loaf but occasionally he would make it into a plait.

We hit the video store yesterday to look for something to watch this afternoon after lunch, tried to convince Sandra D and Miss Stash that Hoodwinked should be funny - they weren't convinced. I think I might rent it when I return Ultraviolet (with Milla J!) for myself.
If you look at the spectrum as Do you want to do the job properly or just look nice? I'd put Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Garner closer towards the "looking nice" side of the spectrum. Milla is very ordinary looking in comparsion to these absolutely stunning women but when it comes to pulling off an action flick. It reminds me more of those guns blazing-buildings exploding-macho men action flicks I grew up with. I know where Bruce Willis is, and Arnold. And Sly pops up in the most unexpected places. But what ever happened to Dolph Ludgren? Jean-Claude Van Damme (who admittedly seemed to get a better run than Dolph)? Don "The Dragon" Wilson?
Eddie Murphy went from Beverly Hills Cop to Dr Doolittle! Mel Gibson went form Mad Max to ?????? Am I the only one who thinks since he decided to make the Passion of Christ he's been sightly odd???? The Rock! Who I adore, the man is gorgeous! But up until Doom he seemed to do well, but everybody I suppose makes a dog of a movie somewhere along the line. Then they tried to flog it in two pack with Serenity! Which while not as good as the TV show, further disappointed me when we finally saw the Reavers (big bad madmen of space), how unscary where they???

I am disappointed, very very disappointed! Action heroes have all gotten old and retired, and the villains are getting lame! An unwashed horde that looks like it could be easily conquered provided you stood upwind of them and blasted them with a fire hose just doesn't cut it. However I do like suits working for sinister corporations especially when they secretly cook up some bio weapon that gets loose and everything goes very very very wrong!

Anyway enough of my disappointment, while in the video store there was a sale on, so I ended up getting a couple of new DVDs. Shirley Valentine (I love this movie! Sometimes do what you want as opposed to what you should can be the right thing.) and that classic Dirty Dancing - oh how this takes me back! I got to rent it for my birthday when I was about 10, I think it was.
I've also got on loan from Miss Stash CSI Season 4! Which is very exciting. Hopefully I can watch some more tonight.

Cup of tea time I think. And the Daft White Cat apparently wants something??? What do you want??? The silence is deafening!