Blogger sucked my brain

Blogger just tried to steal my blog away from me...might be time to actually think about paying to blog.

Anyway, long time, no writey. There's been no reason, just a confluence of circumstance. First, my book group was reading what can only be described as a weighty tome, which took a lot of time to get through, even if it was enjoyable. Then, my birthday present finally arrived, a Kindle, so I've been spending a lot of time downloading crappy novels and having a great time reading them. I know that the Kindle is only going to get better over time, and that it would have been better to wait until the second generation of them, but they're SOOOOO cool. I also know that there are folks who have real difficulty about the DRM issue, but it doesn't bother me so much. I'll still fork out the big bucks for the books I really want to handle and keep, and the Kindle will be for all the crap (I am a big fan of trash).



A finished object from Bernat, and I love it. It's the very first colourwork I've ever done, and I'm a bit hooked. F is a bit ungrateful about it, because "It's scratchy", but he'll wear it anyway, by God. I'm just getting geared up for the Feb installment of my sock group on Ravelry. Socks for R. In the meantime, I'm doing some toe-up socks for myself - my very first ones.

Hmmm

It's been a kind of a strange day today. Last might was a complete wash-out. I've been having weird headaches that totally wipe me out, and yesterday brought one of them. I've had them since I was a little girl, usually 2 or 3 a month. I suspect they must be hormone related because I don't get them when I'm pregnant and they've only just come back after having A. The best way to describe how I feel with them is BLECH.

This morning brought what I like to call a headache hangover - no more headache, just a general feeling of malaise. It seems to have spread over the whole household. F has been acting up since yesterday morning, when we made the unwise move to having his swimming and sports lessons all on the same day. It appears his little head can't handle all that at once. R is spending the day doing his UK taxes. Yes, the poor man has the joyous task of having to submit taxes not once, but twice. We end up getting hammered on the US taxes because of our immigration situation, so it really irks when we end up owing the UK too (which we shouldn't this year, because things have been running at a slight loss over there).

It's my mum's birthday today, and when I phoned her, all my aunties, uncles and cousins were there helping her to celebrate. It made me kind of homesick, and also brought the familiar dread when I contemplate our move back to Scotland. We've been away so long, it feels like everything as changed over there, and we'll have to take our time to acclimatize again. I used to keep up with all the political ins and outs, now all I know is gleaned from the BBC headlines. To be honest, that's the least of our worries. The property boom in Scotland is still going on and I frequently wonder where we're going to end up living. Oh, and there's the small issue of me being out of the work market for four years, so how will I ever get back in? Circular worries without any conclusion.


When A wakes up from her afternoon nap I'll take the kids out on a long walk to try and blow the cobwebs away.

R has just come in and told me that the UK tax people owe us the princely sum of one pound. There you go, a little bright spot.

I have done some knitting. I've started a jumper for F's birthday at the end of the month. I'd take a picture of it, but the only person who would be interested in an expanse of green stocking stitch would be F himself. It's got a patterned yoke, though, so things should get more fun when I get that far.

Evil Socks

Bellatrix socks are finished. Details are on Ravelry. I really enjoyed using the Noro Kureyon Sock yarn. I've finally decided that, yes, I am weird because I like to use variegated yarn as a motivating tool, but I don't care.

I enjoyed the pattern. It was easy enough to do mindlessly in front of the tv, or when refereeing the kids, but mindful enough that I didn't get bored. Anyone wanting to do this should be aware that if you like well fitting socks, this probably isn't the pattern for you. Gauge is critically important, and even little variations have a big effect on fit.

Help Me

I need to stop messing around in Ravelry NOW and actually do some knitting. I'm procrastinating because I'm about to turn the heel in my sock, and I can't be bothered doing any counting. I am SO lazy.

In other news, I ventured out on Tuesday (my birthday) to see Sweeney Todd. Not sure about the Sondheim musical bit (just not my thing), but the production design was absolutely incredible. Going to the cinema during the day always adds to the experience, I find. I like the idea of entering a deep dark world, only to emerge blinking into the daylight at the end of it all.

Habit Forming

This is getting to be quite the daily diary!



Progress continues on the socks. I wonder if I'm the the only person who gets anticipatory joy when knitting yarn that changes colour. I can't wait to get to the , hmm, is chartreuse the correct term? What ever it is, it's a lovely lurid snot green, and I can't wait to get there.

Also, a bonus finished object for my mum's birthday. I must confess, I finished this months ago, but only got around to blocking it today. Her birthday is on Sunday, so I fear I've already left it too late to get to her in time. I am the BAD daughter.

On a Roll

Well, here I am again. I'll probably never update again in 2008! Here is my Bellatrix Sock in progress. I LOVE this pattern. I'd never normally knit this kind of thing, but in weird and wonderful confluence of circumstance I found the perfect yarn. Noro Kureyon sock yarn in a colourway that just screams "Bellatrix" to me.

Howdy 2008!

Well, it's 2008, and part of my New Year's decisions (I refuse to call them resolutions) is to try and update this a bit more, as well as keeping up with Ravelry a bit better. With this in mind, I'm posting my first finished thing of 2008. A Cobblestone Sweater. In a surprising turn of events, I don't like this now that I've finished it. Perhaps it was because it was supposed to be for Xmas, but I didn't finish it (including the washing) until yesterday. Or perhaps it is the way the yoke doesn't quite fit (too puffy). I also think the yarn had something to do with it, and I say "Yay!" that it's been discontinued. Seriously, it was like knitting with scratchy cotton wool.