-spudballoo-'s photostream  

Introducing Frances, our boat. We've owned her for 4 years. We've never sailed her, set foot in her or even seen her until today. I know. Crazy.

The husband and I had lunch together today in town, and even sat outside by the river enjoying the lovely winter sun. Afterwards we pottered along the river admiring the boats and then remembered 'Frances' our boat. The husband said, 'I wonder where she is" and then happened to peer over the wall of the local boatyard and there - finally - we spied our boat. She's not looking very pretty here, she's a proper Swallows & Amazons boat...14 foot clinker with red sails. Pity we (a) can't sail and (b) clearly never had any intention of doing so.

No doubt we'll sell her and then the boys will really get in to sailing and will never forgive us and will need therapy forever.

Lots of fantastic photo opportunities today...a perfect, complete rainbow complete with twin straddling the road on the way home from school and a wonderful golden crescent moon tonight. Somehow I ended up with an iphone snap of my current crochet project, a Babette blanket.

I've had a Babette in mind for a while, but finally decided to tackle it last week. Ideally I'd have splashed out on Yet More Yarn but the stash frowned and shook its wooly head and decreed otherwise. So I'm making it using only my stash. I'm appalled at the very small percentage that the blanket is going to make in the stash. I've resolved not to buy any more wool until I am destashed, but that's going to take all year at this rate.

I love the pattern, but am dreading sewing in all the ends and sewing the 130ish squares together.

Spotted this very studious looking chap in Starbucks today, looking so contained. I wonder what he was working on? Laptop, notebook full of notes, ipod and coffee. He was still there 2 hours later when I walked past again. That's free wifi for you.

First of this year's 'street photography' shots, something I'd like to do more of though I'm very shy about it.

Not seen: Diggy at the front of the green dragon...

Reception performed the most lovely dragon dance today, as part of their celebration of the Chinese New Year. They'd written a beautiful story to accompany the dance, a tale of friendship, battles and caves.

I was so impressed with the elegance and coordination of the dancing. No one fell over, neither dragon went the wrong way and nor did they bump in to each other. No mean feat with 12 4-5 year olds at the helm. Afterwards they wished us a Happy New Year in Chinese, and distributed red envelopes which they'd decorated with Chinese symbols and stuffed with chocolate coins and a 'wish'.

They were all so excited to take part in the performance, and so proud of the costumes they'd made and rightly so. Not a dry eye in the house.