Photos

The intrepid gang more or less fill the handweavers studio - Nancy understandably got flustered at having so many customers at once.


Knitting pub-style


Reaping the rewards of Kerrie's clear out - yes that is a full hank of giotto on the left.


The Giotto decidedly didn't want to be a pair of gauntlets - possibly because instead of 8mm needles I was using 4.5...


Roving, roving, everywhere...




Copper bag handles ahoy


Knitting now in the Sunday Times Magazine as well as the National Geographic.


Read for yourself


Pooch at work


Pooch about 5 hours later - note change of position - no carpel tunnel or repetitive strain for that boy.


Actually Pooch was very lovely to me all weekend. The only other news is that I have rushed out and bought a "hot to...Punch and Judy" book from Abe Books. I can recommend Abe to anyone looking for soemthing a bit off beat and second hand. They do cross list on amazon quite a lot but they're still worth a look. I got my copy £5 cheaper than the current bidded price for one on ebay. Yaroo.

Dreams, punch and judy, handweavers...just so much!

I think I need to do this starting from now and going backwards. I seem to have woken up ridiculously early at 6am but don't mind as I woke up at the end of a great dream. HHH and I were both extras in Emmerdale and to cut a long story short he gave me a hug when I told him I thought he was great! Woke up all smiley. NO THIS IS NOT REALLY SAD.

Was in canary Wharf doing some last minute shopping yesterday on the way back from the item I will get to in a minute. Was all ready to go home when I heard a Punch and Judy show round the corner. DUDE! I love Punch and Judy. And from all the adults sitting around it looks like it really does hotwire straight to your childhood. I was laughing so much. The crocodile was there stealing the sausages and the policeman was trying to catch Mr Punch. Mr Punch was telling the children (and me) that the crocodile was as gentale as a pussy cat and would thenstroke the crocodile which would purr and meow. Then everytime Mr Punch looked away the crocodile would open his mouth almost 180 degrees and be about to eat Mr Punch when all the children (and me) would shout "He's behind you" and then when Mr Punch turned round the crocodile would be acting all cutesy again. Then, in a stunning plot twist, the crocodile did bite Mr Punch but he just got him by the nose - that was a stroke of genius frankly. I heard the words "Oh no he wouldn't" and I drew a really deep breath to shout back "Oh yes he would" when I realised I am 27 and really shouldn't do that anymore. I wonder whether you can train as a punch and judy artiste?

So getting to the main bit I just have a small confession to make - have left my camera cable at work so there are no pics - sorry. We had a wicked UKHK trip to the Handweavers studio in Blackhorse Road. It was me, Ruth, Nikki, Ann, Sue and Gill and we had a ball. We definitely managed to boost Nancy's usual Saturday takings. I will post photos on Monday but for now you'll have to make use of your own imaginations! Lots of stuff to dye and lots of copper bag handles - circles and squares - as I want one of those bracelet handbags and now have enough bracelets for about 8! But will be covering them in fabric and wool and yummy stuff. We had a lovely pub lunch afterwards and Ruth was kind enough to share a stash clearout Kerrie from hipknits had given her. I have a whole skein of giotto in red plus a cone of machine knitting yarn to learn with after xmas. Hoorah hoorah.

Hair, sock, mental birds and more

Well where to start? I guess with the hair - yes that's right, it's that time of year when Byrne gets a haircut. The lucky salon this time was J-hair with the frankly very easy on the eye KD at the wheel. It is, as some of you may have guessed, a japanese salon and is all funky but let's cut to the good bit - excellent haircut, wonderful wash, condition, head massage and highest level style and finish for....wait for it....£25. And they give you a card so if you get 10 haircuts you get the next one free. I highly recommend the place - and if you admire the snake-hipped-cutely-smiling-male ask for KD.


But enough of these fripperies, let's talk socks. I was sorely tempted by some shiny sock yarn about 2 weeks ago and it has arrived and, frankly, I'm rather disappointed.

It's sock yarn, it's got some lurex in it....

...but the colours are very flat and the texture isn't that nice. Slap wrist for impulse buying.

And talk about impulse buying. Let us consider what I was thinking when I purchased this:

I started crocheting it into a 3rd jumper for the Vitas baby but then must have woken up or something because, dude, all it is saying to me now is "sanitary-towel-advert". Bit of a whoops there. Will be ripping that any minute now.

FRED FRED FRED looky here:

I LOVE the colourway. I finished this one at the golders green group last night and decided on a whim to i-cord the toe and make it all pointy. I think it is terribly cute. Have already cast on the second one.

So what have I got to finish with this time? The MOST exciting news - Tom and Doug have started doing podcasts. You remember them....Tom and Doug. The Tom and Doug. The writers and performers of Gansta Knitter. This is quite possibly the best music video ever made. To cut a long story short I have ended up with Professor Doug (he actually is a professor - of child psychology as it turns out) as a penpal and we have been emailing back and forth for about a year (maybe?) now. Just every couple of weeks and writing silly emails where I'm hoping mine make him laugh as much as his do me. I know I've missed the last posting date for xmas but I have got these together rather last minute to send to the intrepid duo.

The crazy orange bird is a pen, obviously. Then there are "zip-pals" - one each for Tom, Doug (Cool dude) and Doug's little daughter. (special little girl). I fear Doug will try and keep the girlie one and give his daughter the cool dude one but then that's a man's right to choose.

Right, must go and get ready for work. Pooch woke me up early so that he could get in at 8 to right the wrongs of programming so I thought a little blogging would be good. On saturday there is the group visit to the handweavers studio so expect a smidgen of stash enhancement news on sunday. Seasons greetings to y'all xx

New eyebrows

Never mind all this face transplant stuff - I've got new eyebrows. Apparently they were there in the undergrowth all this time but today they were revealed, pink and naked, to the world. But first, brace yourselves. How many fricking freckles?

Where did they all come from? I was always under the impression there was just a smattering of main ones, not all these littl'uns. I look like a moon.

So back to some knitting stuff. Today I have finished the most amazing hot water bottle for Mr Joe Milner-Moore and Miss Elinore Lyons. Joe said "This is the best furry hot water bottle I've ever had" (he said that just now - I just gave it to him about 30 seconds ago.) It is knit out of one strand of stylecraft gypsy (Soooooo soft) and one of some machine wash wool that I hand dyed with the old kool aid.


Have also been putting some more work in on the ladybird socks. Plus the never ending shawl. Oh, for post xmas wonderfulness. I need to start compiling a list of future projects. No time like the present...

1. The tubey jumper from the current knitty.
   
2. Cabled socks in the cherry tree hill yarn I got at ally pally
3. (Finish) the leaf jumper from loop-d-loop
4. (Finish) the kaffe fasset v-neck tank top in the 'small circles' pattern
   
5. Patchwork something or other using the hexagon template Rob is making me.
   
6. I really need to put these in the side bar...feel free to suggest others!
   

More yodelling, this time in somerset

Yes, peeps, this weekend I was visiting the mother in deepest exmoor. Took the presents down and generally said hello as I'll be xmassing at Pooch's Mum's again this year. I have promised her a website (can you believe neither she nor my step-dad Rob have ever seen "the internet"?) so was taking lots of pics of the shop. Here is one...

That is Pooch stage left, and mumsy in the middle with Rob doing a good impression of a customer. The shop is called "Shakespeare and Hall" and is in Dunster in Exmoor National Park.

Managed an escapade to Dulverton on saturday and combining my button haul from stratford with my one from there we get...

I just love buttons. And you know I came across pencil rolls in the cheap art shop I found on charing-cross road. And you can hear it too right? "Circular needle holders" they scream at me.

That's one rolled up and in it's wrapper on the left and unrolled and laid out on the right. I am thinking my golders green secret santa could be receiving one (decorated of course with a plethora of buttons). *Sigh* I just love those buttons.

I had the day off on Friday and had a lovely time doing domestic thingys and popping into the knitting store in stratford (in the covered market). I came out with yet more yarn for baby clothes (and the aforementioned buttons - or at least about half of those in that picture.)

I like the rainbow one on the right - it's a proper robust rainbow and they had some knitted up there and it looked nice. Going to start knitting the 3 month + sizes though as they seem to grow quite quickly.

Actually spoke to Vitas on Friday as well and the little lady has been born and, as some of you may have guessed knowing what I'm like, I've forgotten her name again. I will be getting my first sighting on the 22nd when I go down to Margate before going back to Canterbury to see Louise.

Then in the afternoon on Friday I went to the V&A which is amazingly what I planned to do so I was very pleased with myself to be that organised and efficient. And the main object for my attention was Kaffe Fasset's xmas tree. I admit when I got there I was in a right mood and so basically looked at it, looked at the chihuly glass over reception and made some sort of derisive snorting noise. BUT....after a choc brownie in the restaurant (and man, that thing was good - no nuts which is the way such things should be) I made my way back and actually it's exquisite.

Here is a close up of some of the fans - his fabric glued onto cardboard.

The photos don't do the colours justice as ever. I also got a good look at Queen Maud of Norway's wardrobe in the fashion section. It was f.a.b. and really inspiring. Although inspiring towards what I could not say. I feel like I am gradually filling up with inspiration - like one of those water barrels in hardcore-gardener's gardens - and at some point I will use it all in some cerative burst. I don't know what though. I did also fall in love with the Kaffe Fasset quilts for the V&A book which is divine. Have been meaning to start a wish list for Pooch's reference so will add this to it.

So to finish, those of you who are members of the knitting and crochet guild will have received your copy of SlipKnot and will undoubtedly have noticed......

...on page twenty something. Yes folks, get your knitting holiday tickets here!

Yippee yippee

Yo yodelers, let's yodel together in a fit of yodelosity. Yodeleh ee-hooo. Just felt I had to get that out there because I have had a really lovely weekend. Let's run it down in order...

• Little sister came to stay with her girlfriend. Pooch got horrendously drunk and amused them with his nerdy ramblings - they'd never seen anything like it.

(She is the one in green - this is the only photo I have of her from about the last 10 years as she Does Not Do Photos.

(Byrne looks on, worrying about what nonsense will come out of Pooch's mouth next....)

• Pooch was sick on saturday morning which meant he was then in a really humble mood all the rest of the weekend.
• Got 20% off xmas shopping at bhs and saw some really lovely towels with ducks on I want to go back and get in the sales.
• Joe's birthday dinner was very nice and we got a black cab home because Pooch was still feeling poorly.
• Slept like a fricking log and woke up feeling wonderful.
• Had a lovely natter natter down with Nickerjac in Barnes - got SkipNorth pinned down completely now and she handed over a ball of Opal she had been given at Harrogate by an unknown associate and I LOVE the colourway.
  

• Discovered my secret pal is Blueadt!! What a dude. She texted me to let me know. She's been really cool and I am really grateful. Thanks blue xxx
• Got home to discover Pooch had written me a love poem! AND we are having yummy roast chicken for dinner.
  

(The love of my life, pretending to read while his mind whirls away on an unfamilar romantic path. Who knows what poems are taking shape behind that magazine.....)


So basically yarooo yarooo life is good. There are also one or two little knitting matters to relate. The most annoying is that I still have a colossal amount of xmas knitting to do. Looking at it positively - I've almost finished the socka fortissima sock for my mother. Just a toe and the sewing up to do. Talking of socks Nickerjac showed me the sock yarn she got from curious yarns. She had the colourway 'faded' but I am pining for....candies, stone and bold. What I hadn't paid attention to was the smaller skein of solid colour for the heel and toe with the variegated skein for the main bit. And it is very soft and lovely.

Ahhh, life is good! Bit of an abrupt end to my blogging but Pooch wants the laptop (to write more poems probably!)

Yodelay-eee-whoooo

Let’s just stick to facts…

• Pooch has got some sort of slow heart rate thing which the ECG identified. The blood tests all came back normal.
• The doctor says he needs a 24-hour ECG to see whether the heart thing is something to worry about and is actually causing his head issues.

So he may not actually drop dead but we won’t know that for sure for a while. This has led to the two of us falling out because I’m getting all het up about founding out NOW and using his health insurance to shoulder through all the admin and he is annoying because I’m moaning at him to do more and do it now and get it sorted when he already is doing it, just a bit slower than I’d like. I know I’m being a bit of a bitch but I’m freaking worried about the stupid idiot.

So to move on….new job is still going well – just got my objectives for next year which are wide and politically intriguing as there is a load of change management stuff plus a load more I won’t be able to admit to working on. Quite exciting really as one project involves working with my previous boss who is Cunning and there’s a reason I put a capital letter there.

Knitting is going boringly. Xmas socks….also just remembered I need to do that shawl thing for sian so really need to get a move on with that. Dipped a toe into festive spirit last night by putting up and decorating the xmas tree – fake naturally as I don’t like harvesting real ones just for a month of use and then a trip to the tip.

Going to the Candy Bar tonight because Freddie and Becky are coming up to stay to celebrate their one year anniversary. Am slightly scared but should be good.

TFIFriday. Going to see Nic on Sunday – will be really good to catch up plus she just told me she has a package for me someone at Harrogate gave her to pass on. Also need to discuss more SkipNorth plans.

Lastly, Pooch and I have started our own Secret Pal and sent each other a questionnaire of our own devising this morning. We have agreed to spoil each other to the value of £20 a month for the next three months, having parcels delivered to work addresses.

Here are his (edited!) answers so any suggestions just let me know!

1. Are you a label snob. Or is it all the same to you?> Yes
2. Would you want some personalised stationary?> No
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)> Cats and Dogs and Cats and Dogs The Film
4. If you had to wear an identity bracelet, would it have "Simon" or> "Pooch" on it?> Pooch>
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?> Yes, amazon but it's poorly maintained
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)> L'eau D'Issey (which is Lavendar based)>
7. Do you have a favourite food treat?> Eggs Benedict
8. What sort of things do you like to do in your spare time?> programming, cooking>
9. What kind of music do you like? > Classical, prog rock, early 90's Manchester>
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color> family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?> Favourite - Red, don't like Puce
11. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)> To be happy
12. What is/are your favorite things to play with?> My Byrne
13. What is/are your current obsession/s?> Who will replace Roy Keane
14. Who are your heros?> Eric Cantona, Gandhi
15. What is your favourite film?> Star Wars Espiode V - The Empire Strikes Back
16. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?> Yoda
17. Where would you like to travel to in the future?> Antarctica, Scandinavia, America (later!)>
18. Is there anything that you collect?> Belly-button fluff>
19. What magazines do you regularly read?> Edge
20. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?> Visual Complex Analysis
21. Any objects you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one> reason or another?> Nah

National Geographic

Oh I'm so excited (and so sad) I just got actually out of my lovely deep hot bath just to blog and am now too excited to use commas and everything.

National Geographic UK edition, about a third of the way in, Dec 2005 edition...

And in that basket?

And surely they must be talking about Colinette here?

And the flshed out name is "Peru".

And I'm pretty sure there is some regia ringels in there only the german arrow is pointing to some weird other stuff.


I know I really shouldn't be so excited about this but....It's NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. This magazine rules the journalistic world. I am an avid fan and read *every* edition cover to cover even when the topic doesn't interest me. Wow, dude wowowowowowowowowow. Ahem. WOW.

Hmmm

Bit of a catch up. But first thing's first...don't forget about this one:

More details at www.proudtobecrafty.co.uk

So do you remember during the summer I had a dream and it told me to knit three yarns together into a skinny scarf? Of course you do. Well anyway, I never wore it so frogged it which was no easy thing as was two fancy yarns and a cotton so took ages to untangle. And have started reknitting the eyelash and the yarn I dyed two days ago together as a...actually maybe I shouldn't say....cause the recipient does check in here every now and again.

No intention in the photographic grouping although it does look quite sweetly innocent.

Found a couple of socks to photograph. This one is WIP and is fortissimo socko or whatever it's called that I got from web of wool at ally pally. I *adore* the colour changes.

The other are for pooch's dad for xmas. Town and County is the brand and the colourway is chocolate. It is VERY 70s but hey, Pooch assures me he'll love them!


My Sandra magazine arrived today and was rather miffed with the patterns. Only one sprung out at me and that would require some altering. This is it anyway...

Not going to keep my subscription going after it runs out.

And finally here is the finished cardigan for Vitas's littl'un if he ever gets in touch. I think the white edging really finishes it beautifully! Someone asked where the patterns came from.

This one is the erika whatsit simple knits for soggy babies book and the other is a different take on the zimmermann baby coat which can be found here. I warn you you won't get it and will continue to believe it is all a load of rubbish until you're halfway through when suddenly all becomes clear. Well written pattern though - keeps you interested but not taxing.

Didn't make it to my conference which is really irritating. I used to see conferences as ordeals or penances but now, when I actually want to hob with the nobs and meet new people I get all sickly. Am on the mend - entirely due to all your good wishes I know. Pooch is improved too - plus he gets his test results on Friday and will have had the ECGs by then too. He hasn't had any other episodes recently though so hopefully it will turn out to be a temporary thing.

Too weak to knit

Have had enough of all this illness now. Have managed about 3 rows of a sock in the last two days. Hmph. So, nothing to say really, ho hum. L8rs

Two idiots

Pooch and I are at last united in our experiences, opinions and body cycles - we both have exactly the same symptoms with the same severity at the same time. It's quite sweet really. Means he came and woke me up from a little nap (OK it was about 4 hours) telling me I'd need some paracetamol because his head was hurting. 5t has its downpoints though as well. We've been at home together all day and he is feeling too poorly to actually act on any manly impulses but this doesn't stop him alternating between pushing my 'byrne germed' lips away and going for a quick fumble.

Did some kool aid dyeing this afternoon pre-nap. Made a 12 metre skein (I may be exaggerating slightly) and hand painted it with concentrated kool aid which made my nose hurt. Then steamed it. Yet to rinse out the results but....frankly the colours look quite horrible because I've done my usual trick of getting more excited about changing colours than the actual colours involved.

I am still off to this conference tomorrow although the only reason really is because I know they have a sauna and I'm hoping that will help a bit.

All my stitch marker lots on ebay sold within 12 hours - i think offering the free postage was the killer touch. Will have to bang out some more in time for xmas!

Look what the postman brought!!!

20 packets for £8!

Ow. Self-pity central

Ow. Have got the lurgy. Again. This time it is this cold that is going around so nothing crazily awful but I still feel like poo. Enough of that though. My day confined to a house full of damp tissues will be put to good use with knitting and blogging.

I can see why my cold got worst - cause I spent 2 hours yesterday walking round regents park without my hat on. It was my first meeting with my new mentor who is a complete dude. He works as a facilitator for PWC and is the source of all kinds of knowledge. He seems fascinated by everything and I just really like talking to him. This was our 3rd or 4th meeting as I first bumped into him last year at a conference but it was the first one where I was going "so what do you think" and he was saying "Well what do you think" and so on. The meeting was so useful and really helped me think about the change management stuff I am doing at the moment and a couple of potentially awkward one-to-one meetings I've got coming up. For those of you who have not yet sprung upon the joys of mentoring there is lots here which is not specific to any particular profession, however it might look. I can recommend it as good stuff as, ahem, I wrote it myself in my former job.

I think I might have omitted to mention the impending arrival of a baby girl this week, curtesy of my first true love Vitas who was my first proper boyfriend. He and his girlfriend Charlie have been together for about 5 years and I am so excited that someone is having a baby who I actually know properly. I have already done this little cardi....what amazes me about this pattern is how you start from this mess which I kept folding this way and that and couldn't see how it would work:

to this:

It's the James C Brett marble again. Dianne's knitting yarns (link in list in the left margin) has got some new colours in this yarn so I am just waiting for them to come out in singles rather than packs. She says it won't be too long.

A little hat...

And am well into the wrap top from erika knights "simple knits for soggy babies" book.


So really i have way too many WIP at the moment. Let's just list them shall we, so we can shame me into not starting anything else....
1. wrap top for the baby
2. Brown socks for Pooch's dad
3. Peacock curly whirly
4. Fortissima red tone socks for mum
5. Cargo jumper
6. Aran jumper
7. The eternal kaffe fasset v-neck

I think that's it but I am sure there are probably more unfinished pairs of socks about too.

One thing I did manage to finish was the scarf for Alex. He is picking it up toorrow from work but I'm not there so I'll have to wait and see what he makes of it.


My SP played a blinder and sent me a lovely parcel yesterday. The highlight...actually it was all great but there were two things I especially loved. 495g wool in a lovely red. Don't want to waste it so am not going to rush into using it. Am thinking jumper or, actually, maybe, one of those low scoop v-necks. Hmmmm.

The joint favourite is this keyring. I've been meaning to get a keyring for ages as I haven't had one since I moved house. Isn't this sweet?

I also got body cream, a lush massage bar and a fruit bar (bless you for trying to make me healthier).

Still no word from my pal recipient. Have sent her a last ditch email today. My only concern is that she might be ill, but then she's been like this all the time.

Am selling a load of knitting bits on ebay at the moment. Click here to have a look at what's what. I'm going to add more of my beaded stitch markers later today and possibly some of those little fimo knit brooches. For now I think I might just nip back to bed for a bit of a snooze....

Keep your friends close...

Yes people - I have finally "arrived"!!! I have, wait for it, an official enemy. I hear all the best people have one and mine is called CD (full name witheld because she'll come to her senses soon and feel all silly). Below is her most recent email...

You were not 'flamed ' by somone you were told by me

remember the name i will remember yours.

you are most aggresive

I blame it on all the wrestling I watch. All because I complained about my pal on the UKHK list and she felt it was an inappropriate forum. She's been flaming Fred and Colin too. Poor thing. I kind of feel sorry for her as she might actually have a problem or something. Today is a two-pill day for me (the cutdown continues) and I know I feel stroppier on the two-pill days. Pooch has them marked on his phone's calender! I think of the moods more like sport now - makes it more entertaining for me to allocate points when I'm in a real stinker.

Pooch's hospital tests are on Thursday....thanks to those who have contacted me with good wishes.

Am just off to lobby this lot for a doll pattern.

Long long long

Having the internet at home the way it is is turning out to be almost worse than not having it at all. It keeps freezing and stopping so poor Pooch is going to be having yet more conversations with the call centres of the world.

Anyway, let's wrap up paris and then move on.

I was quite astonished at Phildar who I haven't had anything to do with before. From the outside it looks like a normal clothes shop

But on the inside (as well as the clothes) it was packed with yummy stuff and all the latest Phildar magazines.

Did I manage to buy anything? Well..... you know me. Just one or two things. From top left clockwise...

Two colours of lovely 50% wool. There were single colours as well but I just loved the red/green/purple one and this is a dream to knit with. Doesn't feel acrylicy at all and gives lovely even stitch definition. The lettuce looking one is actually called 'clapotis' and appears to be made out of j-cloth. Not my usual fair but with a name like that I kind of had to. Plus none of these were more than about 4 euros (and the nice 50%wool was 2.80). Bottom right is another possible kid silk haze contender. The leery green in the middle is quite a tight, thin boucle that I thought might be nice plied with something and then bottom left is a chunky i-cord type thing a little bit felted which I basically bought to dye. Is this is? Oh, no I don't think so....

Top left is a novelty thing that either creates lacy madness by itself or looks good used with another yarn as an accent. On the right are two colours of plied wool/acrylic that I just liked the look of and then bottom left is a mohair in a wicked pink colour. The woman in the shop was very nice and very patient with my french. I also got three pattern books which have a number of lovely things in. I hadn't seen Phildar in the UK so I asked the UKHK list where one gets such stuff and there is a place called strands in scotland that has it but where the euro prices just have a pound sign put in front or there is another one in france with cost postage prices and the same cheaper prices so I might use that one. I would like a jumper in that red/green/purple one.

I did pretty well for wool shops. There was another one I would have visited near the hotel which sold this stuff...

I haven't seen it before and couldn't see the price. I would have gone in and bought some to try but the place was never open. Ah well, reckon I still did pretty well!

Knitting seems to be as popular in france as it is dans angleterre. My eagle ears caught the word 'tricot' one morning while Pooch was flicking through the TV channels and lo and behold....

Yes, a news item on a knitting group. They reminded me of the lovely golders green possy who I am missing mightily at the moment after a two week absence. And why two weeks? Well because on the final morning at about 3am I woke up from a nightmare with the *worst* food poisoning ever. I don't want to go into details but I needed to get from the hotel to the gare du nord and then onto the eurostar and then from waterloo to home and combined that was probably the hardest journey I have ever undertaken. The actually nastiness stopped late Thursday but I am still not completely recovered. One of the most annoying things has been me suddenly running out of energy which meant I missed the big handover last week or Liz's wedding blanket. You see the golders green posse all did 2 12 inch squares and we sewed them all together and hemmed it in crochet and it looked wicked bad and the handover was last wednesday. And I missed it! Will try and get a photo of the finished thing from one of the others as it really is very lovely.

I have managed to finish several pairs of socks recently but not when I have a camera around. I have also just the tassles to add to a cobnut scarf for my friend Alex that I've done with two strands of cashmerino from coldspring. Took 4 balls all together. Just started another curly whirly yesterday in cherry tree hill peacock for my best mate Louise for xmas. Again, no actual pictures. Plus I have a *huge* pile of magazines and pattern books to sell on ebay, as well as a load of lovely stitch markers except I can't get the internet reliable enough to list them. If anyone can recommend a free listing programme for macs that would be much appreciated.

Woke up this morning convinced it was Tuesday - weird - so had a rather unnecessarily sudden start to the day as I then leapt out of bed. Joe, Ellie and Denning are coming round for lunch today so Pooch is deep into his Ric Stein cookbook (it was our anniversary - 18 months - last week so got him a little present) and is threatening 'roast cheese'.

So I think to wrap up I just have to have the same rant here that I've already had on UKHK - my secret pal is rubbish. Not the one giving to me - she is a definite dude. The one I'm sending to. Unanswered emails, unacknowledged parcels, blog last updated 3rd October. Have decided to give her til the end of next week to respond to the last parcel then will send her the 'balance' in john lewis vouchers and not bother with it anymore. So off-putting as I really enjoy the spoiling-others part. Pooch has suggested the two of us have a secret pal of our own with the same guidelines regarding spending and postal delivery (except to work addresses). I think it might be quite sweet and I'm not going to join the next SP after recent experiences.

Wow - long post. Sorry guys. Have another busy week coming up - mentoring in birmingham on wednesday, hair makeover (oh yes there will be pics) in....weston-super-mare (obviously) on Thurs and then I am at a conference friday/saturday at lovely Ashridge business school. I'll be sure to check in though and hopefully have some pictures of these FOs to share!