I am planning an afternoon on the sofa with Elderberry Bunny parts on my knitting needles. I am not the world's best knitter, and very slow, but I am determined to finish EB soonest. Last night I finished an ear, and the pinky ear lining. Didn't take long but lots of increasing and decreasing involved. I have just started on the first arm. When I was tidying up last week in the corner of my craft room which has woven baskets of UFI's, I first found the beginnings of the lovely dark green bobble hat I got the pattern and yarn for a couple of Wonderwools ago. I must finish that - in time for NEXT winter!
Well, big chunks of outgoings seem to be on the books as my elderly Dyson Animal vacuum cleaner is not that efficient any more - certainly not sucking up the carpet from the floor as it did when I bought it. I have replaced (again) the rotating brush head, and all the filters have been checked and cleaned. I will have to soldier on with it for the moment as I don't want to cough up £650 (hell's teefs!!!) for a brick on a stick which is what the modern vacuums seem to be. I don't want a Henry or similar, as I don't care for cylinder vacuums. Plus, I know this Dyson inside out and how to sort out blockages, change filters etc. Better the devil you know! Any recommendations? P.S. Not willing to fork out mega bucks either. UPDATE: My craft lamp has just snuffed it. Where the wiring goes into the flexible arm . . . I am now looking at anything run by electricity with deep suspicion . . .
The water colour class in Aberystwyth this afternoon has been cancelled. I am not feeling 100% although I slept much better last night - just not long enough as I set my alarm as I was Going Out! So, I am quite relieved not to be going. The drive back in the dark last Saturday was horrid, up over the mountains climbing much of the time so the angle of approaching headlights (some those horrid super-bright ones) was blinding me.
I have spent a bit of this unexpected spare time sorting out the email I needed to send to Project Montessori after something purchased from them (for Rosie, and her main present from me) turned out non-compliant with regulations, NOT being marked with the CE or UKCA stamps to show it complied. Yet the advertisement DID state that it was compliant. Plus it was about 1/4 of the size of the one in the advertisement and really titchy. This is all going through the Bank as I bought it with my credit card. I am now looking for a Wendy House which could be her Christmas and Birthday present.
My intention to pay more of a chunk into my savings monthly has been thwarted by all the annual December/January outgoings - as the car MoT and replacement bits, car insurance, house insurance, cost of stand at Antiques Fair, and heating boiler service have hit REALLY hard, as well into four figures all at once! Not dates that I can move around either. Breaking the insurances up into monthly payments only costs more in the long run. Yeesh - it goes like that sometimes. I am hoping firstly that I can get to the Antiques Fair (snow is forecast!) and also that it proves better than last year, when I barely covered my costs.
I think I need to dive into some archaeology and free my brain up a bit - raining steadily (again) so no walk at the minute. Hope to get out later.
My friend Rosie in NZ got in touch to say just as well we went on the Black Cat catarmaran when we did, as it recently grounded and people had to be rescued! There were photos of private boats coming up to help rescue the passengers.
Have a good weekend.
Have you checked around locally to see if there's a repair shed in your area? We have a few here, they can help you repair all sorts of electricals, including laptops! but also offer classes in clothing care and repair, upcycling, recycling, you name it, anything that stops more things going to landfill.
ReplyDeleteThere's one in Llandod - thank you for that. They are open next on 14th February, so I shall take my Craft Lamp along. Can't manage to lift the washing machine!! The Dyson is just very elderly but I will check all the internal bits AGAIN, just to make sure.
DeleteCould be that the rechargeable battery is just old; check the Dyson web site to see if they offer replacements? Third party sites may also have them. A friend who I cat-sit for replaced hers and said the newer Animal had less “suck” than her old one, though that was several years ago…
DeleteAnon - would love to know your name :) - my Dyson is so old it is a plug in one! I think I have had it 10 or 12 years . . .
DeleteWhen one thing goes wrong it seems like everything in the house takes it as a sign that it can go wrong too! I have a Shark. I don't know what model it is. I have had it for about 10 years, bought it in a sale and the only time it has been less than efficient has been when the filters needed cleaning.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh yes, I can remember having to replace all my sheets and towels around the same time too. I am looking around the house with great suspicion now! I think these electricals are ganging up on me!
DeleteI’m glad I’m not the only one who’s a bit slow at knitting, I love a knitted toy but all those fiddly bits put me off. We used to have a Dyson but now use Sharks, they are ok but not perfect……but then we do have a Labrador!
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I don't do enough of it to get faster. Fiddly bits I don't mind. I am quite looking forward to the clothes - remind me I said that when I am tearing my hair out over that! A friend replaced her Dyson with a Shark (she had Alsations) and wasn't impressed.
DeleteI gave up on Dysons years ago and switched to the Gtech K9, we have had a couple of them now and have always been impressed even when we had Suky the Pug ... and boy oh boy do Pugs shed fur. Happily they are rechargeable and we have the small handheld version too for staircases and furniture and spot clean ups. Good luck with whatever you choose, but sadly all the good ones are super expensive these days aren't they.
ReplyDeleteI need something that can reach cobwebs on tall ceilings too. Would the Gtech manage that? The wand on the Dyson isn't long enough so I have to lift the whole thing off the ground, which isn't ideal.
ReplyDeleteI have a Shark cordless which is fabulous for picking up pet hair, and I had Dyson's for years. It wasn't cheap, but I've looked after it, cleaning the filters, brushes etc. I have a long handled feather duster for the cobwebs. Its life isn't it, that if one thing goes wrong, several do. We had a nice morning out in Matlock, the sun was out, although it was cold. Picked up some books, 2 M&S jumpers and OH got a box set CD of Simon & Garfunkel, so the charity shops did well out of us. Xx
ReplyDeleteGosh, many many years since I was last in Matlock, and we didn't stay long as I think it was chucking it down once we got there. You have reminded me I probably have Granny C's old cobweb broom about the place (and we have used it for painting high spots in the past). I have reminded myself I have a long pole that our master carpenter made for me for the lovely brass window catches on the tall half-landing window (sash windows at the back of the house) - I could put a duster on the end of that. I will get a few vacuum demo's in Currys and decide - then order somewhere cheaper!
DeleteMatlock was our second outing. We sat in the churchyard and had a little picnic. The view was lovely. I will remember it always.
DeleteAnother vote for Shark, although it is not really fair. I have never used a Dyson.
What a lovely memory Debby. A picnic in the churchyard is a lovely thing to do. Must trial the Shark.
DeleteI have a Shark (not rechargeable) and consider it to be better than the Dysons that I had for many year before. I bought the Shark direct from their website and it was cheaper than shops and Amazon with free delivery the next day. It does come with a reasonably long hose and pipe for reaching ceilings.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that tip Janet. I am just going round after my Dyson right now with good rubbery shoes - that helps with the pet hair left behind!!
DeleteIts a given that repairs/replacements seem to pile up one on the other. I'm hoping that the need to replace our electric clothes dryer last week doesn't act as the first in a series of such breakdowns.
ReplyDeleteThe degree of frugality needed to get by can fluctuate over the years, but careful money management is always a factor.
I was taught the basic knit and purl stitches as a girl. I could never keep a consistent tension with knitting or crochet, so decided that the sewing machine was my best friend.
They seem to decide it time for a lemming-type extinction don't they?!
DeleteI am quite enjoying my knitting but some of my increasing/decreasing is a bit dodgy looking!
You have lots going on! I admire your knitting. I'm a slow knitter too, but I enjoy it. I've been knitting since about age ten, still coudn't possibly knit a rabbit! I'm impressed. Love the pompom beanie hat too. I should give up on the Impossible Scarf and do a hat.
ReplyDeleteMy cleaner has a Dyson and it copes well w pug fur and sand, as does my Shark. The shark is what we call an upright, lots of power and, lol, headlights. A separate tube and nozzle for ceilings and dusting baseboards etc, which cleaner's Dyson doesn't do. Not many vacuums can stand up to a Pug's shedding tho.
You're lucky it's raining, we're well below freezing [9*F this a m] for weeks to come. Last week's now, 16" is now glaciers.
Have a good weekend.
Iizzy
The rabbit is fairly simple, even the shapes. If you can increase and decrease and COUNT, you can do it! Hats are easy. I used to make them for my kids when they were smaller. I have to say, headlights on a vacuum would be a positive in this old house! I will go and get a demo on a Shark or two I think.
DeleteRaining quite hard now, so plans for a walk are on hold.
I’m really good at knitting squares but loose patience with shaping things. We have had to replace our elderly tv recently. It’s a ‘smart’ one. As my husband says it’s still smarter than us and we still have trouble working it! Now my old phone is on the blink, so will have sort that out this week. Hate to think what the third big expense will be! Our weather is all over the place, 20degC one day, 33degC predicted for the next! Can’t wait for Autumn! Have a good week JennyP
ReplyDeleteI consider it a gentle challenge for my ageing brain! I am coping well with my change of tv but have had it a couple of years now. But I use the DVD player so infrequently that I have to think hard how to get that on the right setting!!
DeleteOh dear, I hope your electrical/technical things stop at two . . . Don't envy you the higher temps - 20 I can enjoy. 33 I hide inside.
Although I hate to hand over my hard earned money to James Dyson I do have the small rollerblading and a spare in hand that we had when we sold our caravan. I also thought ahead and got a few free spares under guarantee before it expired. I have no idea what I would choose when they both die, I really don't get on with the stick ones. We have a karcher cylinder for taking outside and cleaning out the car, and for when we are doing any decorating and builder type rubble...it will safely eat up anything but does preserve my indoor Dyson.
ReplyDeleteYou were very forward thinking! I can still get spares for mine and will nurse it along for a little while yet, if only to get the expenses on an even keel again. I am going to go to Curry's to have some demo's before I make my mind up.
DeleteI remember when hoovers were affordable, I blame Dysons for changing the whole market and making the prices skyrocket.
ReplyDeleteGosh yes. I can remember my mum just having a Bex Bissell carpet sweeper sort of thing, then a cheap cylinder vacuum. I distrust them still!!! Yes, I think Dyson has a lot to answer for :)
DeleteAlways bought Miele. Long lasting and reliable. Mind you i refuse to buy Dyson on principle! Christine
ReplyDeleteHi Christine. They have a good name, but not sure if I want a cylinder. I think when I trial half the stock at Currys and buy elsewhere, they will be sticking pins in my effigy!!
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