Well, look at me! 2 Blog posts in one month. What's happening? Well, I just had to share our wonderful late weekend holiday with you all. We have been experiencing more crunch than credit like many people and decided to spend our wedding anniversary away with the kids camping on a budget. We haven't taken a single break this year what with work commitments being so full but this spur of the moment decision turned out to be really wonderful! 

We left on Saturday afternoon after making a quick call to a random campsite pulled out of the blue from our camping handbook. It all fell on who answered the phone as to where we would end up. As it turned out, we ended up in Tintagel and fate being what it is, this was a great choice. Our site cost £4.00 a night (no I am not kidding) and we were able to take the kids, tent, camper and all 3 dogs which is a bargain, I think you'll agree. The site was a field (no shower block etc so it really was camping and in no way 'Glamping') but the view was absolutely stunning. We could see right over Tintagel and Boscastle and after a proper cowboy tea of bacon and beans cooked on the gas stove, the kids and dad went exploring whilst I watched the sun set over the sea and crocheted whilst listening to Radio 4. Utter Bliss!

    After a mixed night sleep (kids- excitment etc etc...) we headed into Tintagel which is very commercial with many plastic Merlins and Arthurs plus ye olde Camelot Amusement Arcade in the main carpark! Aside from that though, Tintagel does have such charm and you really do feel that out of all the places that Camelot was supposed to have been sited, this one is the real Mc Coy. We headed to the beach (our shoe string budget prevented 3 kids and 2 adults going into the National Trust owned castle I'm afraid) but humans and dogs had much joy chasing waves and making sandcastles on the beach. The tide was in too far to explore Merlin's caves but we will return for a second visit, no doubt to finish the job!

    Ice Creams and souvenir shopping ended the afternoon and the sun shone brightly for us throughout the weekend. My son, James who is now 14, and been swiped in the face by puberty this summer, spent all his pocket money buying me a pair of bright flowery wellies because I'd lent my old hunters to him because he'd only brought converse trainers to wear (ah the vanity of youth!) which were rubbish in a wet field and for digging in the sand. I was very touched and can no longer call him 'Mc Scottish' (sorry to all you very generous Scottish folk out there!) a name earned because he kept his wallet on a string tied to his pocket - and no I am not making it up- and never could be parted from his cash unless it was  a dire emergency. He would have probably been a millionaire if puberty hadn't struck and given him a personality transplant!!!

God Bless sunny Cornwall!

Happy knitting all

Tina B xx

Well, where has the time gone! Not only in terms of this blog but generally. Lily has suddenly grown up and yesterday was her very first day at school. The littlest one has started her journey of independence and soon before we know it, she will be in secondary school and then like her big sister, Emily off into the big wide world. It seems only a second ago that Emily, James, Lucy and Lily were just babies proving time is precious and we should enjoy every moment with them while they are young.

   Enough of the smaltzy stuff, I hear you cry... Anyway, haven't blogged since last Christmas which also shows how time flies. Have been uber busy creating a cute junior collection for Artesano yarns called Pic and Mix using their gorgeous new Merino Superwash DK which you can wash in the machine which is such a bonus for all us time poor people with messy kids.

     Also been working hard for the magazines as usual. Chrismas was in the can in August which was very bizarre. Knitting reindeers on the beach in hot sun is a very surreal experience! Being asked to think Sping Summer 2011 now which is going to be very hard too cuddled up in front of the fire over the coming months.

    Hubby has been busy too I might add, setting up his own yarny business and  you can find his gorgeous handcrafted Knitting, Spinning and Weaving tools and accessories to buy at www.spinout.org.uk Well worth a visit. He's a very clever chappie, even though I say so myself. Here's a sneak peek at a bit of his lovely stuff. Do visit if you can and if you send in an extreme knitting/spinning/weaving photo like the one below, you could win FREE goodies!

Anyway, back to work now. Sorting out a crocheted sample for The Art of Crochet partworks. Love crocheting. So underated as a craft.

Promise I 'll blog soon.

Tina B