Final instalments

My final instalments of the steeplechase club and the GBWC arrived so click on the photo above if you want to see them. The steeplechase club was a one off lace club from the Yarnyard.  There were a couple of delays to the parcels from the original schedule which I would bear in mind for next time but I would recommend signing up to a club from Natalie. The yarn was beautiful, each time not something I would have bought for myself so it did the job of helping me try something new. The GBWC from the Natural Dye Studio is also one I would recommend with the caveat that some of the parcels smelled extra sheepy.  The club is run to promote and support unusual breeds of British sheep and is run in three monthly segments.  I don't know whether to just stick with the 300g that I have, and make three separate projects or possibly a tank top out of them, sign up for another quarter (if there is space) or buy some more skeins from previous months so I could knit a whole jumper.  Decisions, decisions...

I've been busy

Saturday: paralympics
Sunday: not so much
Monday: aqua aerobics
Tuesday: the Dark Knight Rises (just as good second time around)
Wednesday: opening my xmas shopping

I'm a bit worn out, mostly from the late night at the cinema last night.  I'm pleased I went to aqua aerobics, even if I did get a little lost on the way, and am only mildly concerned about my ongoing but very dull leg injury.  I've enjoyed being busier than usual but I can't decide if I want it to continue.  I'll have to see how Bokwa is tomorrow before I make up my mind.

I've only taken one week and a couple of half days of holiday this year  and I don't know how I feel about that either.  I'm planning a night away at a spa next month but really should take a week off in each of October, November and December.  Can't see that flying though.

Paralympics and Christmas knitting

Back when everyone else was still fighting over Olympic tickets, I went straight for Paralympic tickets and ending up with three days full of paralympic greatness. I'm going again tomorrow, but here are some pictures from the park venues from Wednesday.

When I booked the tickets, there was almost no interest in the paralympics but I thought more people would want to join in once they'd been unable to get olympic tickets.  I didn't expect it to be the first paralympics to be sold out though.  I think Channel 4 have done a great job of promoting it even if the coverage hasn't felt as comprehensive as for the olympics.

Having seen the stadium so many times on tv, being there in person felt amazing.  After about an hour of cheering, I was already hoarse.  A few more hours trotting around, including spiralling down the orbit, and I felt like you needed to be an olympian to survive a day at the paralympics.  

My legs are still sore but whining about sore legs is probably a faux pas when surrounded by super athletes.

I'm making great progress on my dad's xmas present.  It's Tiger's Head Illusion by Steve Plummer.

At this early stage, about 40 rows (20 ridges) in, I can't really see the pattern yet, especially as my needle is too short for it to lie flat.  There's a fluffy bit in the acrylic which may need removing at the end.  I had to buy two 100g balls each of brown and cream but I expect to use about 150g of each colour.

I was supposed to finish an existing project before starting a new one, but I keep wanting to use my stitch markers and choosing projects accordingly.  This project has 150 main stitches with three edge stitches making a total of 156. I've marked each edge, with dusky sunset ringOs, every odd 10 sts with simple solid oval markers, every even 10 sts with breakfast at tiffany's ringOs, with the 70th and 100th st marked by and XL ringO.  See, I did need all sorts of millions of ringOs after all.

Dilemma

I've finished my Mum's Christmas present (aside from blocking)and here is a sneaky peak. I thought I might run out of yarn and have to use another colour to finish it off, but I had a little left over to spare.

I have tidied up nicely - there is far less of a yarn explosion feel about the living room now, although there is still plenty of yarn debris around.

So my dilemma is was this: do I start my Dad's Christmas present or finish a WIP? I think we all know the answer to that.