Very much over the olympics

I overdid the olympics last week, tried to watch everything at once, surfeited, and became so sick of it I didn't even watch Lochte race. I'm even over Lochte. I tuned in only a little to keep track of Jess Ennis, but mostly read a book*. Remember, Jenny is a mindworm. I really want to finish my Echo Flower Shawl but each rows takes forever and regardless of how little I'm now watching the olympics, I've less than a week to finish my socks.

I went to Balham yesterday to collect some old belonging that had been in storage care of a very good friend for several years.  There were old photos, paints, and books in there, even older photos and a few things that didn't belong to me.  So a box went in the bin, a box went to the charity shop and a suitcase came back home full when it had left empty.  I have to post a few things to the person they belong to or I could bin them.  I'm 80% devided on what I'll do.


*The woman Who Died A Lot, Jasper FForde

Inspired by the olympics

I went for a walk. It wasn't for very long but it was more about the principle of exercising every day to get back to fitness for running. I can't help being inspired by the Olympics - I've been glued to it since it started but I can't help thinking that it would be a shame if I spent the whole two weeks on the sofa watching it, especially as I spent the two weeks prior to it on the sofa feeling sorry for myself. I woke up last Friday, feeling the most miserable I've felt for ages. Not quite crying into my cereal a la Toni Collette in about a boy, but far closer than I feel comfortable with. I think the combination of poor weather, stress at work and lack of exercise came to a peak but since then I've been buoyant.  The opening ceremony was electric, I went for a walk on Saturday, a swim on Sunday and then a walk every day since.  The sunshine from last week must have filtered through to my brain and the cooler nights mean I'm sleeper better and waking up before my alarm.

I think I've done 13 repeats on my Echo Flower Shawl but I decided to work an extra repeat so I could use all of my Olympic RingOs. I even managed to use the in the correct (but reverse) order.  I'm now using three whole sets of ten for the pattern reps and 4 to make the edges and centre.  I'm currently having a minor mental battle about whether to buy some more, after a lovely message from their creator letting me know a new set is in stock.  I think I'll have to miss out this time as I'm sure they'll be plenty more temptation in future.

Each row is taking ages now and if there's exciting sport on, I switch to my sock.  That backfired today during the gymnastics though as I forgot I was still decreasing for the gusset. I had to tink a few rows, keeping one eye on Uchimura winning gold, with Kristian Thomas missing out due to not landing his vault properly.  I'm enjoying knitting with 100% silk but it is causing some aching in my arms and hands.  I was anticipating problems based on experience with cotton in the past, the lack of elasticity in the yarn being the culprit, but I managed to get far further through before it started. I'm pleased as I'm a much looser knitting than I used to be, dude, and this seems to be helping.

Olympic weekend

Wow to the opening ceremony! I watched it mostly open mouthed alternating between saying wow and amazing.

I went to my sister's to enjoy a pre-ceremony barbecue party, including union jack garden decorations and didn't go to bed until 2am.  There was a moment when we were all tired and it seemed that the torch would never be lit but when we heard it would only be another 15 minutes until team GB arrived we decided to stick it out.  I wasn't pleased with the incredibly boring speeches and Macca wasn't up to much but it was worth it for the torch bearers and the wonderful torch itself.

I didn't get up very early but I was glued to the tv in the morning, watching rowing, shooting, judo and so much more.  Then, I decided to see my younger sister to watch the women's football although not before visiting my aunty, to help walk the dogs and present Percy#3.

I needn't have worried about it. It went down very well. :)  I missed most of the tennis and football but there was still so much to watch, including beach volleyball which had a party atmosphere to it.  I then was glued to the basketball until gone midnight, whichw as so exciting, even if we didn't win.

On Sunday, I went back to my older sister's house for more knitting and olympics but we also went swimming ourselves.  I probably shouldn't spend the whole of the next two weeks on the sofa after all.  I missed the women's gymnastics but saw more volleyball and Rebecca Adlington win her medal. I have watched so much sport it feels like the olympics has been running for several weeks already. Today I had to go to work but kept an eye on the equestrian, tennis and diving and then caught up on gymnastics at home.  It was so tense I forgot to make any dinner so had to pause the swimming but gave up after that as none of team GB or Ryan Lochte won medals. 

I don't know how I'm going to keep this up, there's so much to see!