Five (good) things on Friday

My goodness, here we are again.  Friday morning.

(Okay, I know it’s Saturday now.  But  truly, I wrote this yesterday).

Missed a few (again).  Life’s been busy, as ever, but definitely in a good way.  So, here are a few choice ‘good bits’.  Quite a few of which are ‘watch this space’ good bits.

1. Reading Lucille’s blog (Useful or Beautiful), I saw the most gorgeous baby jacket and knew I had to knit it for our expected new arrivals.  I asked her for details of the pattern, and learned it was the much-written about Baby Surprise Jacket, designed back in the 60s I think, by Elizabeth Zimmerman.  Buying the pattern seemed to involve buying an expensive book, not something I particularly wanted to do for just one pattern.  So I put a note on our local Social Streets page asking if any knitter happened to have the pattern and would be willing to lend it to me.  To my surprise and delight, a neighbour’s sister had just finished knitting it and was happy to let me have the pattern.  Within days I had the pattern and had started to knit.  It’s an intriguing garment to knit, because it’s a single piece which is then folded like origami.  For now I’m just following the instructions, and trusting that all will be well with it in the end.  So far, 12 rows in, it’s looking good.  I’ll post a photo when there’s more to see.
2. Here at Bath City Farm a lot of hard work (by other people, not me) has resulted in the planning application for our proposed new cafe building being submitted.  We await the outcome with bated breath, but it certainly feels like a milestone reached.  I’ll keep you posted…..
3. 9 years ago we ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon in London as a family – me, Malcolm and both our sons.  It was a glorious October day, and I loved it.  Since then I’ve unsuccessfully entered the ballot every year, and when I entered it this year it was with every expectation that I wouldn’t get a place.  So of course I got one.  Which means that all being well I will be running a half marathon in October this year.  Not bad for someone who hasn’t run at all for several months – assuming I manage it.  Which I plan to do – using the opportunity as a spur to regain lost fitness and at the same time raising some money for Bath City Farm.  Time to get those running shoes back on and start training!
4. We had a (train) trip to Aix-en-Provence, which was a delight in itself.  But the icing on the cake (or perhaps more appropriately on the chocolate eclair – quite a few were eaten) was managing to track down an exchange partner I haven’t seen for almost 50 years.  We spent a day being shown around her home town of Arles with her husband, and best of all had a long phone conversation with her aunt, a long-time very close friend of my family who I haven’t spoken to since 1968.  A moving experience, and we intend to rebuild the family links and nurture them.  Who knows, maybe it will carry on into the next generation.
5. When I returned home I collected a package that had arrived for me at the City Farm, which held two lovely cotton tote bags made by a blog reader who has become a friend. She’d made them herself – one for me and one for us to sell in our little Farm shop.  I’m very touched, and have already made good use of the one I chose for myself (it’s the one with a beautiful bold poppy print).  Thank you so much!