Seven things about me award

Thanks Jennifer for tagging me for this award!

Here are seven things about me:

1   I have not eaten meat since 1985
2   I have been round the world twice
3   I have climbed a glacier in New Zealand with ropes and crampons
4   At the age of 17 I achieved the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award and went to Buckingham Palace for the presentation by Prince Philip
6  I do conservation work with Horsham Green Gym and am proficient at dead hedging
7  I swim three times a week

I don't know 15 other bloggers to nominate so this is the best you get!

Easy cookie recipe

SULTANA AND CINNAMON COOKIES

This is a very easy recipe and makes lovely chewy cookies.  It can be varied in any number of ways, for example leave out the sultanas and cinnamon, and add some vanilla and chocolate drops.  Or use chopped dried cranberries or dried apricots with white chocolate chunks.  Be careful not to cook too long so that they stay soft and chewy.

40g butter

40g sugar

2 tablespoons golden syrup

90g self-raising flour

Pinch of cinnamon

75g sultanas

Beat together ingredients, adding sultanas last and stirring them in.  Spoon into balls on a baking sheet and flatten slightly, leaving room to spread.  Bake at 170C for about 10 minutes.

Yummy



Lalique - A labour of love

So this is probably the most challenging knitting pattern I have attempted.  I saw a knitted sample at the Knitting and Stitching Show, and decided I just had to have a go, and here it is, finally finished after many hours of sweat and possibly tears.

The yarn is a gorgeous cashmere and silk mixture, a pleasure to knit with, from Artisan Yarns.  the pattern is Lalique, as found on Ravelry.

There are lots of issues with this pattern, as described by the other knitters who have tried it and listed comments on Ravelry, for example it needs to be made longer in the body, and the sleeves are a bit tight.  If knitting again I would make several amendments to make it fit better, but it was so difficult to knit I am not sure I would want to attempt it again!  Although in the end it only took me 2-3 weeks, but I am ready for a bit of more mindless knitting now.

www.bitstobuy.co.uk