The month that was....

OK, not actually a month since I last posted, and it's really only been a fortnight since life got ultra-hectic (and I thought I had no time before!...)

I do promise to get back to holiday updates sometime soon - if anyone out there is still interested... I might even be finished in time for the next holiday in Feb - here we come Tasmania.

But the last month.... well I got back from my birthday weekend to the normal busy working week that I have, plus playing catch-up for having a day off... And I also went straight on-call, so also a working weekend (and these are by no means light-weight weekends! and then on for another week of work.
Friday saw a good friend of mine get re-married (same wife). Their first wedding was in Las Vegas in July, so this one was for the family and friends. It was a wonderful, laughter-filled, layed-back re-commitment ceremony. The event took place in Geelong, so B and I had to leg it home from work and rush just a tad to get down there in time, B more than I, as he is traveling further and had to stop off at home first to get changed.

We arrived back after midnight and collapsed in a heap (well I did, but then I'd had a few wines and delegated driving duties to B). We had a nice long sleep in on Saturday and I awoke refreshed and began contemplating the possibilities of another weekend together. It wasn't until after our showers that I realised something was wrong. B was taking even longer than normal (I'm 15 mins in and out and hair dried - he's more likely to take an hour and still be wandering around half dressed...) He finally came out of the bathroom and was shaking and looking faint. He pointed down at his leg and there was a large, angry, red rash on his left calf. He said it hurt quite bad, he couldn't stand on it and he'd thrown up a number of times. I immediately thought spider bite, so rushed him off to the doctor, pausing only to get fully dressed first - although I did threaten to call an ambulance as he was.
The doctors put him straight into a treatment room and then called an ambulance. He finally stopped shivering (after being put on oxygen - his fingernails were quite blue...) And so off to Sunshine Emergency he went.

I then stopped to have breakfast, before heading over to join him.

We spent the day in emergency and then he got put in overnight and on an IV drip. On Sunday I went back to collect him, but the rash had grown so they were going to admit him. He finally came home a *week* later! He had a skin infection called cellulitis. His was an aggressive, severe infection that required rather large doses of IV antibiotics to get under control. He came home last Friday (I think the hospital were short of beds) and stayed with me for 5 days for more rest and broadband access.
If you click on the cellulitis link above, you can read more about it, and if you scroll right down that page, you'll see some pictures, the first one looks remarkably like B's leg.

And here's a pic of his actual leg. So as not to scare off the easily queasy - click on the pic of the hospital blanket to see his entire calf in all its redness....



He's doing much better know, but you'd better believe I'll be watching his leg like a hawk!

A Sign of the Times

So it was my birthday on Monday. I have a policy of not working on my birthday - saves no end of stress and heart-ache. Ever noticed that emotions just run stronger on your birthday? The day before, or the day after the world could come crashing down and I'd handle it with a smile, but on the day itself - nope, I'm a wreck if forced to deal with anything involving even the slightest bit of mediation or compromise.

B also took the day off and with just a little bit of prompting, arranged a weekend away for the two of us. He wouldn't tell me where we were going, although given I was driving, the options narrowed the further we went.

And we ended up in Ocean Grove - that's Seachange Country. So close to home (only an hour), but I'd never been there. We had wonderful weather - if a little windy on the Ocean side.
As is our want, we wandered around lighthouses and beach paths, investigated little towns and long piers, and ate great food!






We traveled by foot, horse and cart, and steam train.










We took in some exquisite sunsets.....


And we saw these signs, which had me rolling in the sand dunes in hysterics....
I have to wonder whether the designer of the graphics is sitting there having a giggle, or do they take themsleves very seriously....

I'm Just an Old fashioned Gal

The other weekend, a merry trio set off towards Ballarat to visit Kryal Castle and to partake in the Ballarat Medieval Fair.

We saw men in armor trying to dissect each other:
We saw jousting:
We tromped around Kryal Castle engaging in conversation with purveyors of fine wares such as hand beaten armor and bows and arrows....











We saw eagles flying, and I even got to hold one....


And did I mention the jousting?

External Brain

My computer has an external hard drive, but no, that's not what I'm talking about....

I've been getting so stressed with work that my life was getting ridiculous... I was spending all my time remembering things I needed to do at work and forgetting things I needed to do outside of work. This was getting a tad frustrating as I'd always had a near perfect memory... I came up with a solution however - I got an external brain.....



Now I can take notes on the train, both about work and home stuff, and never forget another thing - unless it doesn't make it in there in the first place - then all bets are off. It also plays music - Yah! No more listening to loud teens on the train, and plays games. Woo hoo!.

Where am I?

People are asking.... Sorry - I've been sick and busy working, and trying to save my relationship.... OK, a bit dramatic, but I've had issues - probably because I've been sick and busy working ;)

I have updates planned, and *promise* to put some real updates on soon!

Andrea.

Platypus Takeaway

We were quite late leaving Yeppoon, so we headed on straight up the coast to Mackay, rolling in just on dusk. As at Gladstone, the town was just about fully booked out by workers on the mines / shipyards etc, but we finally found a caravan park that had a spare cabin and was reasonably priced.

I'd picked up a virus somewhere, so was drugged and a bit out of sorts, sorry B.
The next morning we headed out west to Eungella National Park. Eungella means land of the clouds, and it certainly was. B was still on driving duties due to my virus drug taking, and the drive was long and curvy, many hair-pin bends and sharp drop-offs.

Eungella consists of Finch Hatton Gorge, where there are many bushwalks, and extends out to Broken River where there be platypuses/platypii. (Both are equally valid and acceptable.)

We headed straight on out to see the platypuses at Broken River first, it being the furtherest most point, with the idea we would work our way back.

And this is what we saw:

You can tell it is a platypus because of the wake. Unfortunately it didn't get much closer, and moved really fast, so no better photos than that, but we did get to see a couple of them.
Much slower moving were the turtles that hung around the viewing platform hoping for some bread:

By then it was lunch time, so we headed back along the winding road to find something reasonably priced for lunch. We came across the unassuming frontage of the 'Platypus Takeaway'. The absolute best burger I've tasted in a long, long time. But no platypii on the menu, not even to takeaway :(

After lunch we headed on back down the mountain, to find a shortish bushwalk or the forst flying - which I was really keenon, but unfortunately in no fit state to participate, still sore from the car accident and virus-ridden :(

We left the main road, following dubious signs in search of a waterfall walk. We found it! But only when we got all the way out to the start of it, did we find the length of it - 2-4 hours, and nothing to see until you get to the end of it. So no time and no point. B was most dissappointed. Note to NQ Tourism - you might want to put this important bit of information in your brochures, especially with long walks.

With afternoon closing in, we left the area, happy to have seen the platypuses at least. Continuing north, we reached the fine town of Ayr well after dark, and had a most excellent meal at one of the many hotels on the main street.

So I'm not, but.....

So I'm not celiac. However I do appear to be gluten (or wheat) sensitive, lactose intolerant and a fructose malabsorper.
I didn't even know there was such a thing as fructose malabsorption! But it does explain why I've always felt queasy after eating fruit (except bananas). Bananas happen to be the one fruit that fructose malabsorpers (FM) can handle.
All my life people have tried to make me eat fruit. To the point where they insinuated I was actually *trying* to be unhealthy because I didn't eat much fruit.

So the plan now? The plan is to give my GI system a break and only eat food that shouldn't cause any irritation for a month or so, then re-introduce potential candidates one at a time. I'm going to hunt out a dietician that understands these intolerances, and I'm going to line up some breath testing for these things - which is like a blood test for these intolerances. It's always useful to have some test results behind you when tackling the medical profession.

I did kind of wish I was celiac and only celiac - it would have explained most of my symptoms. And before you think me a freak for wishing that on myself, with what I'm now facing I have an even more restricted diet than a celiac. No gluten or wheat, no lactose bearing dairy and no fruit or anything that fructose is in, and fructose is used as a sweetener in an awful lot of things!
There is another extreme, and that's no sugars at all. But I don't think I'm that bad, just have to figure out which ones I react to. Once I do figure it out, then I can start figuring out what levels I react to, so that I can eat some of this stuff. Although about 5 pieces of rockmelon and watermelon was way too much last week...

On the positive side - I'm actually feeling pretty well. Better than I have in ages, although it is a day-to-day thing, and one bad meal washes me out for 2-3 days :(
I even have energy again! I cooked, cleaned, re-arranged furniture and did 4 hours paid work today, plus a bit more unpaid. Simple tasks that have just been beyond me for the last few months are now getting done.

And for those who know me, you probably don't see me as ill, or weary, or anything. That's me, I hide it, I use up what energy I have when I'm working and socialising, and there's nothing left over. I don't think B knew me when I had lots of energy, but he's noticed a huge drop off in the last 10-12 months. There are many far worse off than me. But I'm all I have, and I'm the one I'm concerned with - because no-one else is going to get me better, I have to do it myself.

Childhood remembrances

After an overnight stop in Gladstone (not the highlight of the trip), we headed on to Rockhampton and Yeppoon - where I had spent childhood holidays.

Given the caving people that we are, we took the opportunity to walk through Capricorn Caves. Blah, blah... "a unique system of above-ground caves " ...blah blah...
I wasn't personally all that impressed with it. What was interesting, though, was seeing the old bridges and tunnels that the guano (bat poo) miners used.

From there we headed East to the little seaside township of Yeppoon. My most favourite thing in the region is the Singing Ship at Emu Park. You won't necessarily find it on tourist brochures - probably because it is free,m so no-one makes any money off it. But at dawn and dusk:
it is absolutely gorgeous.

And special thanks to DM, who put us up at his mansion in Yeppoon. The afternoon previously there had been a flurry of SMS's between DM and I, as I updated him on the traffic jam, the accident, etc, etc. Sorry we arrived a day late - circumstances beyond our control :(

DM introduced us to Radio NAG, where he is a presenter. Unfortunately we didn't get to hear any of his shows, because NAG don't pod cast or have an on-line broadcast yet - unlike our station RRR. Don't worry NAG - you'll get there.

Am I, Aren't I....

No, not pregnant!

In about an hour I should know if I am celiac or not. I've been getting progresively sicker over the last 10 months, and I'm finally getting the proper test done. I've had the blood tests done, and they came back negative, but I understand that happens sometimes, and I also wonder whether I was actually eating enough gluten at the time to actually trigger the anti-bodies anyway. We'll know soon.
Celiac disease would explain an awful lot of my symptoms, so I am kind of hoping it is that. The "cure" is to not eat *anything* with gluten in it *ever* again. Which is hard - it basically excludes almost all packaged/pre-prepared foods - so lots of cooking in my future. I'll have to find the time somehow.

Of course, if it isn't celiac, then I have no real diagnosis, and just keep on being sick I guess... (Which is why I am hoping at least for a diagnosis.)

I am a little nervous about the test today. They will be putting me to sleep and sticking a camera down my throat to look at my stomach lining, and also taking a biopsy to examine it under a microscope.

B's taking care of me this morning, making sure I get home from the hospital-type place. No MIFF for me today, but he should still be able to make some later today.

Unplanned stop #1

We're not worried about those chips in the windscreen anymore
Oh - what a lovely sunset!

There we were, just south of Gladstone, merrily driving along the Bruce Highway, well actually stop, start along the highway and just prior to this we were at a dead stop. There'd been a fatality earlier in the day, and the traffic wasn't yet recovered. So cars in front of us stopped, we stopped. The 4WD behind us did not stop.
4 weeks later I still get a fear response when I hear screeching tyres - particularly if I'm driving at the time. Note to all music makers - please don't put car crash sounds / screeching tyres / etc in your songs. It really isn't a good thing for those of us in the drivers seat....

No broken bones, no dismembered limbs, but I do get quite annoyed when people take that to mean no-one was hurt. I had internal bruising and was extremely sore for 4-5 days after. I was even wondering if I'd be able to go on the camping trip we had planned, because anything involving bending my midriff - ie getting into and out of bed, was quite difficult. But pilates came to my rescue and lots of aspirin and some time later, it was all OK. Apart from having to pay the excess on the rental car and waiting, waiting for the insurance of the guy who hit us to come through. He's admitted complete responsibility and the police were wonderful.

So we stopped in Gladstone for a night. I reassured B (who was driving) that there was nothing he could have done. I'm still finding bits of glass in my holiday stuff, and not coping too well with the sound of tyres screeching....

We interrupt this program...

Yep, I'm interrupting the regularly scheduled program (of holiday blogging), to comment on MIFF and some stuff I've seen around Melbourne city over the last few days.

First off - I just love MIFF. Since I moved to Melbourne 10 years ago, I've attended some films just about every year (except for the few years I was working out in the wasteland that is Dandenong - but I did try then too). And I realised today just how much MIFF has become a time of "happenings and memories" for me - not necessarily about films, but about what's happening in my life at the time. First off there was the introduction to MIFF in my first year in Melbourne - and the film focus that year was gay and lesbian films - so a new friend and I just had a ball. The following year, I was still working in the city, so took a few days off to see some films - to the amusement of my co-workers who thought I was just an ordinary girl (apparently going to MIFF makes you extra-ordinary!). Then there was the courting a few years later (I thought MIFF films would be good dating material), and a few years after that the break-up which hindered me seeing films.
There were new friends found who also enjoyed MIFF and so new friendships developed in queues and over coffee fueled discussions. There was the year my boyfriend flew back from working overseas for just a night and so I skipped a film or two to spend it with him.
And then B came into my life, and apart from all the other things we had in common, he also had a passion for MIFF - which we discovered to our mutual delight 8 months after we'd met. It was during MIFF 2 years back that I successfully wooed him, and MIFF 1 year back I consolidated on that. MIFF is now just part of our life - it's a factor in our relationship, a reliable companion for 2.5 weeks every year into the future.

So - films I've seen so far at MIFF 06?
The Willow Tree - A great character study. I didn't like the behaviour of the main character, but still found sympathy for him.
Animation Shorts - Program 1 - some good, some bad - good mix.
Bubble - The blurb made it sound more interesting than it was. Not a bad story, but nothing to write home about.
Sa-Kwa - lovely character development.
2:37 - Absolutely fantastic. Must see. If you remember high school - or early 20's, you'll relate to this.
A Scanner Darkly - Most enjoyable
Invisible Waves - see it for the cinematography - but don't expect to get swept along by the story line - pleasant but not great. Interestingly the plot outline in imdb is incorrect. It says he "inadvertently" kills his girlfriend - it wasn't accidentally - it was planned - and is the whole crux of the film!
Thankyou for Smoking - excellent portrayal of a spin merchant and how he lives with himself.
McDull, the Alumni - excruciating
Looking for Cheyenne - other people seem to be raving about it, but I didn't think it was anything special.
The Circle - competently made, but if you've read the blurb, you really don't get anything more out of seeing the film.
Un Couple Parfait - Beautifully shot film, great character study of a relationship in breakdown.

So that's MIFF to date.

Ever been looking for one of these:
and not been able to find one? Click on the pic to see why.... Check out Lush Lane off Flinders Lane to find them.

And anyone who grew up in Melbourne is probably already aware of this - but I only noticed it a few days ago. So which came first? The company or the saying?

There's a little less sand on Fraser Island

The next day we arrived in Hervey Bay - rather late in the evening with no-where to stay... not an unusual thing for us really.

We didn't really try too hard to find somewhere, but haggled on the first place we found and got the asking price down from $100 pn to $85 is we stayed for 2. And so we ended up with a single-bed unit for two nights, very swishly done out, very, very comfortable, and walking distance to the beach and food.
B was keen on Fraser Island so we booked a tour for the next day.

Fraser Island is unique in that it is the only place in the world where there is a rainforest growing in sand. The whole island (bar a few started rocks) is 100% sand.
Below is one of the tourist features of the island - the coloured sands. Unfortunately it was raining on the day we were there, apparently the colours can be quite a lot more spectacular.

Next stop was a ship wreck - the Great Barrier Reef extends down this way too:

Another feature of the island are the fresh water creeks, which are crystal clear, and of course all sand. The touristy thing to do is to walk up the stream bare-foot. I really wanted to, but I'm a bit of an old fuddy-duddy, so we walked up the boardwalk. I'd had enough at the head of the creek - B can look around for hours, so I told him I was heading back. The look on his face was priceless when he turned around a couple of minutes later to see me with shoes off and heading down Eli Creek.

And yep - it was fun!

Because Fraser Island is a World Heritage place and a National Park, you get the feeling that it should be all untouched beaches...

But perhaps not, what with all the tourist companies on the island.
And so we left Fraser, as evening fell....


Yes, there's a little less sand on Fraser Island now. I didn't mean to take it with me, it followed me home, in my socks, in my shoes, in my clothes, it's everywhere!

They make things big in Qld

Monday 3 weeks ago (nearly 4 now) was our 2-yr anniversary. After driving back from Mullumbimby and picking up the hire care in Brisbane, we headed on to Mooloolaba where we had a lovely 3 course meal on the boardwalk.
With hire cars you may be familiar with the need for the damage report before driving it away. Unfortunately we didn't notice some bad chips in the windscreen on the car until an hour later when the sun hit them in just the right way. Oh well, maybe they wouldn't notice them either when we returned the car....
Tuesday saw us heading further up the coast, and as it was B's first time, I thought we should make the obligatory stop a the Big Pineapple - Qld's first(?) foray into all things big.

And yes, it is big - that's B down the bottom:

And you can also go inside it - click on the piccie below to zoom in on me up top:

Loose knitter?

Do you think you're a loose knitter? We have an official challenger.....

Well, we arrived in Mullumbimby on schedule and after the obligatory gift-giving (this time I was just the carrier from grandparents to grandchildren), we got down to the serious business of trying to teach knitting. I had not anticipated just how difficult it would be. Not only is it a matter of learning the movements, but co-ordinating small hands (6 and 9 year old) is quite challenging. I decided there was no point to a discussion regarding the theory behind knitting, or to even teaching how to cast-on - that's the job of my sister-in-law or one of the nannies. But after choosing their own ball of multi-coloured yarn, we got them both started on a basic 25 stitch scarf in garter stitch. It didn't take either of them very long to get the basic process, although the younger one kept forgetting where he was up to.

We stressed the point that knitting is fun and creative, and that yours is not supposed to look like everyone else's because it is an art-form and everyone does it differently and that's wonderful.
Nephew K - 6 took this concept on with gusto and is busily creating a free-form scarf - he's the ultimate in loose knitters!



Nephew J - 9 developed some real skill in a short period of time and is now teaching himself how to purl from the cheat-sheet diagrams I provided.
He's done the same number of rows as his brother - but what a difference!


Naturally there are some dropped stitches and many increased stitches - but that was not a problem. We never set any rules that you had to end with the same number of stitches as you started with.

It was so nice to be able to see these two kids knit without anxiety - they dropped needles out of multiple stitches as they talked and waved their knitting around, and just calmly brought it over to me for re-insertion. I so wish I could achieve the same level of anxiety-free knitting - but at least I know that I've set them up right for enjoying their knitting time.

Back in Time - the start of the holidays

I've been waiting over 3 weeks for decent internet access, so I can finally start blogging about my holidays. I'll only be able to cover a bit at a time, as I'm now back at work - and stress levels are mile high already.

So... Friday 3.3 weeks ago we flew out of Melbourne heading to Brisbane. Straight after work from Avalon - my first venture to this south of Melbourne / north of Geelong airport. We arrived in good time, yet the plane was delayed - groans all-round (except from us, who really didn't care half an hour one way or t'other). We officially arrived in Brisbane a few minutes past midnight on Saturday morning, jumped in a taxi to my folks place and crashed into a bed after politely declining the flannelette sheets, doona and extra blankets - yes I know it is winter - but not when you're from Melbourne!

Saturday saw a leisurely start, with gift giving - Dad liked his Father's Day scarf, and Mum liked her birthday knitted face-cloth. Then Mum and I were off to the shops so I could fulfill a mother's day gift of several years ago - a pedicure. The delay resulted from a promise that I'd arrange it next time we were in the same city, and so it arrived (even though she had to book it). It was the first time for both of us, and I can say I loved being pampered. A foot spa and rub down, my feet felt so good. I opted for nail polish even, but Mum wasn't able to be quite that outrageous and went the clear French polish look.

We'd dropped B at JB Hi-Fi on the way through, and he spent several blissful hours hunting out CD's he didn't yet own, (yes there are a few), while Mum and I bonded over pumice stones and flat whites.

Sunday saw an early start as we headed off south to Byron Bay to visit my brother and his family. Pete has a photographic stall at the markets, so we hunted him down before getting into the serious business of market browsing. Byron markets are huge! I'd only ever seen some of the smaller weekend markets down that-a-way before - Mullumbimby, Bangalow - so just was not prepared for the sheer size of the Byron Markets - and it seemed most of it was locally made too - a rarity in these days of commercial hippie-ness.

After a market lunch we headed to the beach - Wategoes - just 'cos you have to got to the beach at Byron,

and then I took B up to the lighthouse
and we walked out to the "Most Easterly Point on Mainland Australia",
which is just down the way from the lighthouse:
before heading to the hills and catching up with my bro's family.

You may recall that my nephew's expressed an interest in learning to knit? And learn they did. Photos and stories on that - next time.

She Returneths

I'm back!

Had an interesting, eventful but/and overall good holiday. Our flight back from Cairns this afternoon got delayed by 3 hours, so no more blogging tonight. Have to sort out a 1000 odd digital pics too....
Shiver - sudden change from walking around in 27 C weather to arriving in Melbourne to 7 C weather.

Also have to hunt down my MIFF Season Pass card as it arrived (and returned) when we were away...

Do I mention the "erk" word? Back to work tomorrow... Bummer! So many blog entries to make, so many blogs to read.... and lots of knitting to catch up on.

And yes, Oscar is still talking to me... But I almost don't recognise my house - away too long I'd forgotten what it looked like inside!

Enough for now. More tomorrow...

Procrastinating Knitting

I should be packing.
I should be cleaning.
I should be doing any of the million and one things that need to be done before I leave the state for warmer weather.
But here I am blogging. Why? because there are more knitting yummies today!

My 9 yr old nephew wants to learn to knit, so I'm going up north prepared. And with extra sticks and yarn in tow in case his 6 yr old brother is also interested.

And here is my latest lacy face-washer started last night and finished on the train this morning.


And again without the flash - the cotton really picks up the light!

Oscar's famous

My grumpy Oscar has his photo here: .
Of course, he doesn't look like this now - too cold for that kind of hair-cut. But he'll have his annual spa-day in late November again this year. Then not talk to me for a few days and then decide he loves it - excepting of course all the laughter from the neighbours.
Currently he is snuggled under the fold-over bit of the quilt on the couch. He's made his own little cave.

Knitting yummies

I shouldn't have mentioned the sun yesterday... I don't think it snuck through the clouds at all yesterday. But today I caught it and have caught up on my photos.

First off, the sari-silk I bought myself as a consolation present when I couldn't find the new edition of Yarn magazine: I have 300gms, and I'm not sure whether it will become a scarf or a bag - I'm leaning towards a bag at the moment - possibly something along the lines of Knitty's Unbiased. And yes, this classifies as a small project, so it bumps the larger knitting projects that I'm just not finding lap time for at the moment...

And then onto my newest Finished Object. A lacy cotton face-cloth. This is a trial run of prospective knitting when I am up in FNQ.
Many false starts on this one, and discovered after my 3rd repeat that I'd done a purl row instead of a knit row, but then I decided I liked the way it looked, so kept the "error". I've already started the next face-cloth - different lacy pattern. If this one looks good it will get added to my Mum's birthday present (which was last Monday, but she'll be receiving next Saturday when we arrive on her doorstep in Brisbane).

And then onto my extra special Yummy yarn related purchase. In the last couple of months I have received not one, but two recognition awards at work, and the prizes have been vouchers of various denominations to Dymocks. (How special am I? *s*) Although it is nice to get my hard slog at work recognised and rewarded!
So anyway, I finally dropped into Dymocks in the city (where I get a 10% courtesy of RRR. I had a short 30 minutes to dash to the knitting section and flip through the books. I finally selected two, and still have more money to spend.
And better yet, there was a 20% off sale, so even better value!

Woo hoo, many happy pattern designing days ahead :)

The geek in me..

Laughs at this: Nerdy t-shirt: "broken image"

Did this test: and got a measley 27%

And when I google myself - I'm the second entry, and a geek one at that!

I'm not really a geek.... I'd much rather be knitting!

The Weirdest Dream

Just woke up from the weirdest dream.

I was a CSI dude and we found all these mummified bodies that appeared to be still moving. Zombie alert! We finally traced it all back to an x-box type game that became total immersion for the players so that they played through death and just kept playing. The really scary part came when I discovered I'd been playing the game myself and had started losing track of time. There were cool plot twists where-in we found moth-ball size/shape/colour balls that became soporific when you held them so that you started to forget about what you'd found out, and there were yummy men trying to save me, who also needed saving.

I suspect I've been playing too much x-box... (and reading too many romantic novels *s*)

Oh - and it was the original CSI crew - not the poor excuses of the spin-offs.

So many photos to take today - just waiting for the sun to finally come out.

And no Rob, there is no spreadsheet!!!! Blame the new job - it's taken all my anal-ness and leaving me part-way to being a slob at home. I haven't even project planned our holiday which starts in only 6 more sleeps (but there is a basic spreadsheet there already). I have seen some "yarn in / yarn out" additions to blogs which I am considering. It's just that my total volume / weight / length is really not that impressive by their standards.

Stash Enhancement

I have started using the words "stash enhancement" in my everyday vocabulary.
Some have said to me that it is a sad thing to have a stash, as they feel the stress from all the things to be knitted. I feel it is a wondrous thing I do for myself. It's like buying chocolates to make yourself feel good - but without the added calories.

I did have one, very large tub that fit all my yarn. Now it doesn't close and I have bags of bulk yarn strewn around the craft room. So many projects, so little time. Not that I'll stop buying though - it may be an addiction, but it *is* healthier than chocolate. I could always recoup my investment via ebay if I wanted to too.

Photos of stash coming soon....

Only a decade out....

You Are 26 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

You Are Marge Simpson

You're a devoted family member who loves unconditionally. Sometimes, though, you dream about living a wild secret life! You will be remembered for: your good cooking and evading the police Your life philosophy: "You should listen to your heart, and not the voices in your head."

The Simpsons Personality Test

OK, I'll stop now....

E.R.M.....

Ever have one of those days? You leave your knitting at home because there's only a few rows to go and then you get to the train and discover that you've forgotten to bring anything to read - even my back copies of "The Big Issue" only last me half-way into the train ride. When this happens I dash into the closest place I can find that sells E.R.M. (Emergency Reading Matter) and pick up something. These are usually remainders (that's book trade lingo for "didn't sell well", or just plain "printed too many"). One can't hope for much with E.R.M., and it does require you to choose carefully. I had an E.R.M. situation this week. I survived the trip into work, but on the way home, stopped at the little newsagent inside Flagstaff to grab something from their bargain range. I really didn't hope for much and there wasn't much of a selection, but it was an emergency (I'd sooner give up chocolate than reading!). I didn't hold out much hope for the book I chose, especially with phrases like "intensive hours of whining" and "Big Kahuna" on the first page. And it was a moderately futuristic story about robots gone wild in a futuristic themepark - a'la Westworld. But I was hooked before I even got on the train. And just because you'll ask - the book is Utopia.

In other, knitting, news - The not-so-secret present (a) - Father's Day scarf is finished and ends darned in.
All rolled up:

And a close-up of the ribbing, and stretched ribbing.