Knit Your Square to Give Your Share - PART 4

roamin_in_the_gloamin

Bon Voyage Chalky, take a pick-a-knicker with you just in case you get held up!
Given myself a serious talking too this am so will just put my head down and jolly well get on with it! Love and cuddles to all you lovely people, will call back later
xxxl

f1widow

Morning

kathy - hope you receive news from BIL soon - being away must make it even harder - take good care - whenever Ive watched programmes on the television about being abroad its always so long winded / laid back - I couldnt cope with that as when I have a bee in my bonnet about something that needs sorting I want an answer (not patient am I!) - yes I agree with your worry over the premium - here in UK if premium not paid insurance is void - but they do chase you for it - sounds like you have to keep your eye on the ball at all times because nobody else will do it - bless you - you always have enough to do as it is xxxx

chalky - take care on your travels xxxx

roamin - I need to give myself a talking to as well could your kick up the bottom stretch to here tee hee xxxx

I will look back in later for more news - take good care all J xxx

Pippa.S

Morning all

We had a lovely time down in West Sussex with DS1/DIL and DGD's. The Nativity went really well, Mary (my DGD) was word perfect but poor Joseph forgot his lines a couple of times did'nt seem to bother him though. Most of the LO's including DGD2 were dressed up as star's in big baggy white T-Shirts trimmed round with silver tinsel.
There were a few happy tears shed from proud Mum's and Nanny's and a few Grandad's blowing noses
It's been a long time since I went to one, it was at my DS2's school, O my goodness what a long time ago that was that, he is 40 in January so that will give you some idea how long it was.........

I havent read through yet except for this page will do so later, when I get back from the Hairdressers.

kathy - I hope the news is better from your sister today, she and all of you must be going through h*ll, (((hugs))) for you all
chalky - Safe journey and don't forget lots of layers it's freeezin here so on with the thermals love the wristwarmers
ISOM - I am thinking of you and your friend and sending hugs and prayers for you all x

Almost finished DGS's ripple blanket last night just need to do another couple of rows round the edges.
Started a polo, neck and chest warmer last night for DS1, havent done one before I used to leave them to Mum she used to fly through them, so we sill see how this one turns out.

Off now or I will be late for my appointment
Keep safe and warm, and dont go out unless you have to
Anne
x

happycrafter_2

Hi

I am new to this thread but looking forward to knitting items to help in 2011.

I have already sent an email round at work asking for wool, and will keep my eye out when Christmas shopping this weekend for any bargins.

Then I have to sit down and read the information post and look for patterns.

x

mioliere

Hi Happycrafter; a very warm welcome to you, and I love your name! I'm glad you've already found the information post - there's a lot of info and links on there which will point you in the right direction but, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask! I hope you get a good response to your request for wool but, also, charity shops often have wool for sale, and some people have asked on Freecycle, too. I hope you enjoy it here!

KathyXX

mioliere

Our newest member has reminded me about the information post on here so I thought I'd post it again for any more newbies or lurkers! I can't post a link to it for some reason but, if you look on page 95, post 1885 - headed What we do - you will find all you need to know!

roamin_in_the_gloamin

mioliere wrote: »

WHAT WE DO!

This lovely group began in 2007 based on the very simple idea of knitting or crocheting squares for charity. The original idea was to make a complete blanket which we could then give to an elderly person.

A post was put on to moneysavingexpert.com asking if anyone was interested in contributing a square or two and the rest, as they say, is history. Our group has made in excess of 8,000 items which have been distributed to various charities and premature baby units throughout the UK and abroad.

We soon found the wonderful Loving Hands Charity Knitters Group http://www.lovinghands.org.uk/ an ever-growing group of lovely people who knit, sew and crochet for charity. The group is run by Lou, a jewel in the crown who, despite serious setbacks in her own life, runs the group with an efficiency that defies belief. She distributes items all around the world, making a huge difference in the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. A look at their website will illustrate just how hard everyone works, and you will find links to free patterns and lots of other great information.

Preemies UK is another group that collects knitted and crocheted items to send to premature baby units in hospitals throughout the UK. On this website, too, you will find links to free patterns, and information about what the group does.

One of our greatest contributers on this thread is Maytaurus – over the years, she has amassed a huge collection of links to free patterns, tutorials, and lots of other goodies, which means that we are never short of inspiration. She is always on the lookout for things to share with us. Sadly, she has not been in good health for the last few months, so she has not been able to post as often as she did. We all wish her the very best and hope that it will not be long before she is back here with us.

We have a Yahoo group called the Wooligans. It’s choc-a-bloc with the most wonderful photos that we have posted of all the items we make, for charity, and for personal projects. Anyone wishing to join will just need to ‘apply’, following the instructions on the website, and, as soon as they are ‘approved’ they will be able to see all the photos, giving them a perfect illustration of what we do.

Due to family and work commitments, we don’t all have a lot of time to spare, so there is never any pressure to make loads of things. If someone just has the time to make one little hat for a premature baby, it will make a huge difference to someone’s life. Every single item is important so, if you feel you don’t have the time, please remember that one hat will be just as welcome and valued as a hundred.

It doesn’t matter where you live – I, Roamin in the Gloamin, and DPixie all live in France (sadly, not close enough to each other to form a knit and natter group!) and Chalky spends some of her year in Spain, and some in the UK. So whether you are in the UK, in Europe, or even further away, you are welcome here.

We update our totals regularly. You will see from the posts already on the thread, that people keep their own running totals in their signatures and, when they do post their weekly (or monthly, whatever is convenient) totals, they highlight the items and numbers in red; this makes it easier for us to add to our update spreadsheet – a wonderful thing that Roamin in the Gloamin kindly devised for us.

In time, I will probably ‘tweak’ this post but I just wanted to make it easier for newbies and lurkers to find out exactly what we do.

Anyone who joins us is assured of the warmest welcome from us all and, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask – we are a friendly bunch and will do our best to answer!

Do please join us!

KathyXX

Here it is - did it as a quote Kathy
Welcome Happycrafter - fingers crossed that you get tons of yarn for the forthcoming projects.
xx
BILLS IN FRANCE - I learned the hard way (house insurance too!) threatened with the Hussiers (bailiffs) for non payment.....so I keep a spreadsheet of ALL PAYMENTS with automatic diary check dates and also check it against bank statements the pile for filing is never less than a wee mountain. the other thing I do is PHOTOCOPY every bill and cheque prior to posting....bit of a chore but boy do they take that as a bit of a slap in the face when you can PROVE its been done. All bills by law kept for SEVEN years yep it really is pathetic!

In_Search_Of_Me

Just popping in...am at work but more snow threatening. Looks like Christmas do is off which is a shame but no point dying for a night out but gutting to waste £40...just think of the stash! Here for a bit but weather may mean we close but will have to see.

mioliere

Thanks, Jean - now why didn't I think of that?! What's your weather like? We have the most perfect day here - sun, blue sky and warm-ish! It feels like the first day of spring, but I know it isn't!

I didn't know that all the bills here have to be kept for seven years, so thanks for that, too! I like your idea of photocopying cheques and bills. I always send a covering letter with all the details, but photocopies will definitely prove the point, when required! I thought the UK was bad for paperwork but here is even worse. I paid the taxe d'habitation the other day (the day it was due actually, but I'd rather the money was in my account than theirs until the last minute!) and, despite having the bill with the tear-off bit, which was stamped, clipped and stapled to within an inch of its life in that oh-so-French way, as usual they printed out another receipt. They just love their paperwork, don't they? I won't tell you what the central-heating oil delivery man does when he turns up, but it involves a stapler (used twice, including stapling the euro banknotes together), a pair of scissors, three paperclips, and one of us having to sign three bits of paper! It takes him longer to do that than to fill the tank! Unfortunately, DH and I always get the giggles now because we know what's coming, and one of us usually has to leave the room.

DH's van needs its pollution check today. As Jean will testify, the MOT here is once every two years but, for a van or commerical vehicle, the emissions have to be checked annually, so we managed to get an appointment for this afternoon - I suppose that will involve a lot of paperwork, too!

KathyXX

roamin_in_the_gloamin

do the photocopying onto the back of your letters / bills (IYKWIM?). We have a bit of snow but the sun has now shown up so I expect it will all just melt in no time at all. Think its the mountain of paperwork that keeps the biggest half of French folk in a job!
Farmer his wife and three grown up boys due for tea this afternoon, so I am still baking - don't want them going home hungry.
ISOM - what a pitty about the party....but better to be safely tucked up in the warm at home than run the risk of an accident, hope someone has informed the venue tho' so they don't hang around waiting for "party" to arrive.