It's all about Suffolk

Lesley enjoys a season of confused cacti and nifty knitters

My Christmas cactus is already in full flower and obviously rather confused – and so am I!

Festive goodies have already started appearing in the shops along with woolly jumpers, winter coats and boots and yet here we are still having to cut the lawn. Mind you this mild weather is really good for the bills as I’ve only switched the heating on a couple of times so far!

Autumn has seen new students heading off to university or college leaving their mums in mourning because the houses are suddenly so quiet.

I have to admit that I’m used to being home alone – in fact I really enjoy it – but every so often Tom or John come back to make sure we don’t get too comfortable.

Last month Tom payed us a fleeting visit on his way from Newfoundland to Durham. He popped by to collect his books and clothes for the new term and I had to make sure I was on hand to tell him where I had ‘hidden’ all his belongings. ‘Hidden’ is his phrase – as far as I am concerned I’ve put his things away!

He was with us for less than 12 hours but after he’d gone it felt as though a mini tropical storm had passed through.

For the past few weeks on my afternoon show I have been getting people to phone me and tell me about their jobs. I’ve had some fascinating conversations with, amongst others, a former Paralympics archer, an acoustic engineer, a Buckingham Palace guardsman and a crossword compiler!

I also heard a great new word from a lexicographer – nonebrity, someone who is a celebrity for doing absolutely nothing except for appearing on the front of newspapers! The question is of course, why do we have such a fascination with nonebrities when there are such amazing people living here in Suffolk?

Over the last few weeks I have been going to a well-known slimming club and several of the members there have some truly inspiring stories.

Graham is a middle-aged chap whose doctor told him to diet because he was asthmatic and on the verge of diabetes. Last week he got his certificate for losing six stone – now he spends most of his time on the allotment and his asthma has completely disappeared.

Margaret has lost four stone and changed her life. She didn’t ever leave her house when she was overweight and couldn’t even get on the bus. Now she loves going out and regularly catches the bus to Felixstowe so she can visit her favourite wool shop. In fact she has set a trend by taking her needles and wool to the club.

Have you noticed how knitting is becoming more and more popular? Recently I’ve spotted adverts for Knit and Natter events – and even a Kniteratti and one place I’ve been meaning to visit for ages is Halfpenny Home in Needham Market run by Nicola and Jacqui.

I followed the signs to 3 Station Yard and as I opened the front door it felt like stepping through CS Lewis’ wardrobe into a magical land. There were tables covered in swatches of pretty material, pots containing delicious buttons and I had to duck under washing lines draped with brightly coloured skeins of wool.

Nicola sources her materials from all over so you’re sure you’ll find something unique. Her latest yarn is a chunky wool sprinkled with glittery flowers – I was very tempted.

Upstairs, the Wednesday knitting group were settling down to create anything from scarves to pullovers. They pay a fiver for the workshop and get advice, tea and cake in return. They do all sorts including felting, crocheting, patchworking and recently even ended up dying their own wool with woad.

The knitters I met were at all standards, from a total beginner to a textile artist. Nicola gets her first timers to knit a dinky little tea cosy rather like the one my mum used to own, but you know you’ve really mastered the craft when you can ‘turn a heel’ and make a pair of socks. Now there’s an idea for Mark’s Christmas present!

Are you a keen knitter? What has been your most ambitious project? Email suffolkmagazine@archant. co.uk

It's all about Suffolk

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