Almost got the sermon sorted. I fear that I will still be tweaking it on Saturday, despite my resolution to take Saturday as a Sabbath this year. Well, we’ll see.

Yesterday I had to really stop myself from popping down at lunchtime to nursery to see if Rusk was doing ok. I realised later that this was probably because that was the first time he had been in nursery for a whole day without me being there in the afternoon. We were both very pleased to see each other at the end of the day, and even more pleased to see Mr F when he got home from his training course.

I had an idea for a series of posts around the memory verses we have been given to learn this term. I’m not sure it will happen, but you never know. Most frustratingly, they have changed the Bible version 2 weeks in.

Before next week I have three significant pieces of work to prepare so I really should get on with one of them.

This week holds some interesting things.
- A whole parish is praying for my sermon preparation for next Sunday. The vicar really bigged it up this morning, so no pressure then!
- I have to go back into lectures and try and stay awake. Tuesday morning should be OK, but Thursday afternoon could be pretty horrible.
- Third year New Testament Greek starts – do I remember any of it?
- I do my first shift at Rusk’s nursery.
- Rusk has a cold, is teething and is just coming out of a growth spurt.
- Oh and Mr F is away until Thursday so it is just me, Rusk and the cats at home.

To borrow a phrase from Quantum Leap: Oh Boy

Plus…
(those of you in other countries and/or not obsessed by reality tv may stop reading now)

It is Strictly time again. Our Saturday evenings for the next 14 weeks will be taken up with watching minor celebrities get (mostly) better at dancing. I sometimes wonder why we watch it. Probably because Mr F spends so long each year sorting out his results website that it would be a shame to waste all that work.

The Saturday evenings are actually not the most interesting part for me: I prefer the BBC2 weekday evening show. It is the journeys they go on that I like, and seeing our favourite professional dancers. Rusk’s pre-bedtime feed is at 6.30pm so that fits quite nicely

Things I would like to change:

Bruce Forsyth – replace with the lovely Anton
Bruno – bring a judge with the ability to be fair
Brendan – too slimy
More ballroom specialists among the dancers

Somebody once asked me if the reason I watched was because I was a dancer. Believe me, nothing could be further from the truth.

Where did the morning go?

Have actually managed to get some work done today which is very handy.

Things I am looking forward to:
- Curry this evening
- New tv series on Saturday that looks very good. Called Merlin. I love a good Arthurian take and there are some good cast members – Anthony Head for one. I should probably blog sometime about the different versions of Arthurian saga I have read and their various merits.
- Picking Rusk up from nursery in 10 minutes. Must dash

The last couple of blog entries have been a bit negative so perhaps it is time to dwell on the positive for a bit.

College has started, with lots of new people to get to know.

I am happily settled into my new study and able to get down to work quickly when I get in.

Rusk seems to like nursery, although he still seems to hate afternoons. Long days are a bit much for him despite plenty of naps.

I’m progressing with the next knitting project – another pair of socks, incorporating tubular cast-on and garter stitch short row heel.

While on holiday the other week I read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Narrated by Death (although a much younger and less cynical Death than Pratchett’s), it tells the story of a little German girl’s encounter with WWII. Sad in places, it paints marvellous word pictures and uses colour in very interesting ways. Before that I read The Welsh Girl by someone whose name escapes me. Drawing 3 narratives together, it tells of the involvement of a small Welsh village with WWII. Characters are beautifully drawn and the pacing is great. Both of these were lent to me by my sister, who teaches secondary English. I’m guessing one of her courses has a WWII theme.

College food… yum!

Daisy asked about what I bought when I went to the knitting shop.
-A set of wooden double pointed needles in various sizes.
-Some Regia sockwool in blues, greens and pink
-Some Lorna Laces Shepherd sock yarn in colour ‘Embers’

That, I think, will have to do for the moment.

I think it is possible that I didn’t have enough* to eat today. I spent the day not eating the chocolate cake I made on Wednesday – it takes a lot of effort to avoid eating cake, apparently so much effort that I didn’t really eat much else until dinner. As a result I was feeling really low by the time Mr F got home. This was not helped by being at home with no adult conversation (not counting the West Wing) all day. Also feeling very tired after having lovely guests round to dinner yesterday.

So anyway, not a great day. It is, however, the last such day for at least 10 days. Rusk goes to nursery (and I go to college) every morning next week. This weekend is taken up with being welcoming to new students as well as Sunday placement (Deanery Evensong). Life is about to get a whole lot busier. After a day like today I’m really looking forward to it, but I am a little worried about whether I have the stamina to cope. We shall see.

I must avoid taking on too much… Might even try to delegate some stuff.

* By over-consuming western standards

First of all, thanks to the suggestion of Chelley, I finally have an internet pseudonym for the little one. He will henceforth be known as Farli’s Rusk, or just plain Rusk for short. A thought: do Farley’s rusks prevail the world over or are they a British thing only?

Secondly, I am MOST DISPLEASED with the papers today and would like to make it very clear that I had my hair cut off BEFORE the photos of Mrs Beckham were all over the place. I do not like to seem to be following a trend.

Things are gearing up for the start of term. Rusk* is off to nursery again in the morning, allowing me to go and sing in the worship band. I’ve missed singing over the summer (not counting the nonsense I sing to make Rusk smile).

In other news, I went over to my local knitting shop today and rather splurged. I will not go again until after Christmas. Promise.

* Yes I am liking that already

Racing against time before the boy wakes up for his late night feed…

Here are the photos of the knitting as requested. I still have to find buttons for it, but it is all done otherwise, and with 3 months before he is old enough to wear it. This meeting deadlines thing is getting easier!

And here is a close up of the raglan bit and the border between main part and hood.

Nothing is better than being on holiday looking out at the rain, being as lazy as the baby will let me. PS just finished some knitting. Pics to follow.