Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series showing, in theory, seven photos of your life outside the blog, giving you chance to get to know the blogger a bit more. Anyone can join in so please feel free to do your own!

1. Progress report on No.1 Son’s first week in his new home.

Here he is ironically proudly displaying his ‘beautiful’ dining room in its ‘before’ state. Note the textured wallpaper, polystyrene ceiling tiles, floral curtains and clashing Seventies carpet.

2. After ripping up the carpet, they didn’t find the expected concrete floor, oh no. Underneath the carpet was a laminate floor, underneath which lay TWO layers of vinyl flooring from who-knows-when.

3. Finally, underneath all that they discovered these wonderful flagstones. Trying to work out if they’re original to the 1900 house is a tricky one. This could have been the original kitchen, in which case flags are quite likely. The other floor coverings must date back to at least the 1930’s which rules out these being concrete reproduction flags. However, you might expect floorboards like those in the adjoining living room, so it’s a bit of a mystery. Can anyone help? I suppose a conversation with the neighbours is the best route.

4. Back home, Mr H-L and I went to our local garden centre and had tea while we were there. You can’t escape the fact that Christmas is nearly here.

5. I’ve been feeling rubbish all week, culminating today on another sofa/pyjama day whilst The Boys are at football. An irritating cough has robbed me of sleep and gradually developed into a full blown cold complete with catarrh and a thumping head – and now labyrinthitis has kicked in, which basically makes my eyes think I am drunk without the joy of so much of a drop of wine passing my lips.

On the plus side (thinking positively always makes you feel less self-pitying!) I have kept my hands busy.

I cast on these Hermione Everyday socks.

6. I’ve enjoyed seeing the pattern develop and have just finished the heel flap ready to turn the heel.

7. An unexpected bonus was the fact that the yarn was a perfect match to a shawl that I was making where I lost Yarn Chicken half way through the cast off row, believe it or not. It was hand dyed yarn so I have struggled without success all year to find a suitable match. Now it’s done and just needs blocking.

8. This is going to be a crocheted pin cushion for my Yarny Stitching Santa, for a lady who also sews,

9. And there was this Topsy-Turvy doll of course, shown here with our granddaughter who seems to approve of my efforts.

10. Feeling just a tad indulgent about casting on those pink socks for myself whilst still not having made all the Christmas gifts on my list, I cast on another pair, this time for a man in the family.

11. Yesterday, I took my daughter to Bath for our annual Christmas shopping expedition. We haven’t missed a year since she was three years old – she’s twenty-six now!

We started the day in style, arriving early and having a good breakfast in The Pump Room. Don’t you just love the silver coffee pot?

12. We saw this suit and thought of Mr H-L. I would have bought it if they had it in his size. I showed him the photo later and he loved it – as I knew he would.

13. Mr H-L was visiting his daughters in Hove, one of whose girlfriends works in a greyhound stadium. He was asked to present the trophy to one of the winning dogs.

That’s about it for this week folks so, from a snot-soaked sofa in Somerset – ‘bye for now!