West Cork, Ireland

So, at last here are some photos. This was the first morning, on Barleycove beach, just outside Goleen, where Sheila lives.

I think you can see James' mum Joan (right) was very pleased to see Sheila.

As I sat knitting in the window, this was my view, out over the Atlantic. Unfortunately yarn shopping oppertunitites are few and far between in Ireland. But I did do some actual knitting. For those of you who are familiar with the Shipping Forcast, in the distance is the Fastnet Lighthouse. We had a clear view from the house, but it's too far off for this pic.


It was lovely to go up and see Elli and Eddie in Galway. They met 5 years ago when Sarah, Elli and I were travelling in Ireland (sorry for the grainy pics!).

This is my favourite view, just outide Killarney, when we were driving back from Galway.

And, I really wish I could have bought this......

A great trip, as ever, I love Ireland.

Spoilt girlie

Today I am a spoilt girl. I really am. When we got home from Ireland (pics tomorrow) a flyer was waiting for me to say that a package was waiting at the post office. I went to get it today, and my word it is just amazing. My SP revealed herself as Kristen, aka The Kitchener Bitch.

There were 7 skeins of a delicious Acrylic/wool blend from Suss Yarns...


....Two skeins of Karabella Mohair, and two skeins of Ditto sock yarn (James has already baggsied it for some socks..)...


..a copy of Knit 1 from vogue, some celestial tea and lots of goodies from Trader Joes. Kristen knows I have a thing for chocolate and peanut butter! There was also some altoids mints (in the car!) and some catnip cat toys. I can't show you them, Daphne and Velma have squirrelled them away!
..and the peice de resistance, two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Aslan. My dream yarn!

Thank you so much Kristen, this package is so so generous. Way beyond what is expected, you are really really kind. It is a package of yarns and other things that I've just never seen before, so exciting. Kristen has really read my questionnaire and it is all spot on. I hope your SP sent you such lovely things too Kristen!

RIP Cutty Sark

The Cutty Sark has been destroyed by a fire. I am absolutely devastated. James woke me up to tell me this morning, and then I spent half an hour crying into my cornflakes whilst watching the Beeb this morning. It's just so sad. I have such happy childhood/teenage memories. The riding stables where Monty lived was just over the river, so we used to walk through the foot tunnel to Greenwich. The tunnel comes up right next to the Cutty Sark. We used to pass it on the way to the market/cinema/friends houses and later, the pub. One of my oldest friends lived near it too. I also based my GSCE art project on the ship, I spent ages there, drawing and sketching. It is just so sad.

Scary Bez went there recently too, you can see pictures of it in all it's glory on her blog too.

Unusual uses for knitting needles.....

The other day, I was finishing off my sister's PJs and I was trying to make the drawstring for the waistband. You know, when you cut a long strip , fold it lengthways, right sides together and stitch along the long side. Then you have to turn it the right way. I wandered around the house for much longer than was necessary, thinking 'what do I have that is long, thin and solid that I can use to turn this drawstring the right way. Hello! Duh! A whole collection of knitting needles. Honestly, I could not think of anything to use. A pen? A pencil, a peice of wire? I'm so dense sometimes! It got me thinking of what novel uses I have for needles.

Those bad cats keep sitting in my window boxes and have broken one of my snap-dragons. So, I staked it with a needle! Not sure it will grow back, but it was worth a try. My boxes were symmetrical before Velma sat in them!!

James tends to use one of my old needles for cake-testing (yes, he is the only one in this house who can and will bake...). Now this one lives in the utensil jar! When Mum was small she broke her leg and used to use a needle to scratching her leg under the plaster too!

I have also finished the left front (minus the buttonband) of Bianca. Here it is... I am really enjoying knitting this. Just enough interest to keep me interrested, but simple enough to be able to watch telly simultaneously. The last pic shows the colour best.

On Friday I sent the first chapter of my thesis to my supervisor to chekc over. Eeeek. Its getting a bit too real now...... roll on the next 100,000 words.....

We're off to Ireland to see some friends tomorrow, catch you all next week!

The Hulk

I'm not doing too well on the old blogging recently am I? Just a short post today. I had some bad news about Monty on Friday, so the weekend has been a bit tough. James has been away too, but I've seen my girls, my sister and my mum. I'll not go into Monty's problems too much, but basically the bone condition that he was diagnosed with two years ago has taken a dramatic turn for the worst. He's OK, and comfortable, but may go down hill quite quickly. But then again he may not. But I can't ride him again. My Vet, Tom, was fantastic, really sympathetic, and spent ages talking me through everything. Funny, I've had two training sessions recently, that were possibly some of the best rides I've ever had with him and they may have been the last. Something conspired to give us a few great last rides, after a couple of years of just mooching about.

Anyway, this blog is about knitting. I've got great knitting news, I'm waiting for light to photograph it..... watch this space. I have photos of todays completed project, some PJs for my sister's birthday. Well, kind of a birthday present (she got some perfume too!) and sort of a sorry. Last time I stayed with her I borrowed some pjyamas and strangely I woke up having ripped them all the way down one leg. Bizarre. She suggested I had a 'Hulk' moment in my sleep!