Nome sweet nome

J2 brought this book "Truckers" home from the school library and its ages since I read it, so while she's been doing her piano practice I've been having a good giggle reading it. Terry Pratchett is such a good writer, I could read his shopping list and enjoy it.

This fantasy tale of 4" high creatures called nomes who are nigh on invisible to the naked eye because they move so fast are trapped on our planet and many of them live in a dept store ( Arnold Bros, est 1905) which is due for demolition. The nomes have to face up to this and escape and they do this by stealing a truck.

Some of the Ravellers on the Ankh-Morpork knitting guild joined together to make Terry his own afghan celebrating all aspects of Discworld. I've signed up today to make my own blanket in a knit-along ( the first I've committed to).*

We have to read the books in order, 1 each month, starting with "The Colour of Magic" and knit a 8"x8" square for each book and in about 3 years time I'll have a fabby blanket (which J1 will probably half-inch before he goes off to uni or whatever).

The question is, can I limit myself to one book per month?

Probably not!

* many thanks to Spinningerin for highlighting this on Faery Knitting, as I hadn't noticed it while I was meandering around Ravelry.

Pan's Labyrinth

I enjoyed watching a grown-up film last night on Channel 4 Pan's Labyrinth. Its ages since I watched a film with subtitles, and as this was in Spanish I was doubly enthralled.

This is a wonderful mix of dark fantasy and historical drama showing the suffering of Spain under the civil war.

The imagery is very powerful, the reflection of what is around Ofelia at the mill with Francoist soldiers and what she experiences with the faun.

I enjoyed a glass of wine with this but did not pick up my knitting, as I wanted to enjoy the whole Guillermo del Toro experience ( I'm so glad I didn't have a tot of whisky with me as I would have felt very uncomfortable drinking this along with Captain Vidal.)

The advent tree is coming along, once I'd realised what the branch shaping was doing: it's like a series of toecaps that I made on the Lorelei sock, but as the yarn is so fluffy it was difficult to make it out until the first cap was done. It was fine to do while we were watching Merlin on Saturday and Strictly Come Dancing ( c'mon Heather Small!) but not for something as wonderful as El laberinto del fauno.

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright,

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright,

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

William Blake (1757-1827)

Hull's tigers took on Arsenal at the Emirates, and by jiminy, they won (2-1)! Geovanni's goal was an absolute peach, and Hull were organised they knew how Arsenal played, they blocked the channels and really took them on. They were great! To be fair, Arsenal weren't really switched on, and didn't play their best even though they took the lead early, but Hull took on the team that was there and they were great!!

It certainly made up for an awful day for the North East ( Phil Brown, the Hull manager is from South Tyneside, so we can claim him as one of ours).

D & J had a miserable time at St James', the Toon being beat 2-1 by Blackburn. The interim manager Joe Kinnear will have his work cut out. (I was a bit confused when I heard the name, I was thinking Roy Kinnear and wondering why he'd given up acting!).

Sunderland played reasonably well at Villa park took the lead but were beaten 2-1, and the Boro outplayed West Brom but were beaten 1-0!

Thank heavens for the cricket! Durham won the championship for the first time in their history, they've only been in the top flight for 16 years, so its a wonderful achievement. Dad will be chuffed to bits!

Paul Newman RIP

Paul Newman (1925-2008)

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was one of the first grown up films that I saw, and the first crush I ever had was on Paul Newman.

He was a tremendous actor, and unusually for Hollywood, stayed happily married to the same woman for half a century.

We will not see another like him.

¡Y viva España!

My Spanish class started again today!



Hace tres años que estudiando Español, and my brain still defaults to the French that I learned 30 years ago. ¡Madre de Dios!

Still, it was great fun to see everyone again. We're not sure if the class will continue in its present format as there may be too few of us to make it viable, so I might have to move to the Thurs class.


I immersed myself in Brisingr yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it, only finishing it today. The story should finish in book 4 ......aaaaaaaaaahhhhh another two years to wait!


I've cast on some fun fur yarn today to knit a Christmas tree designed by Alan Dart.. It's a great idea in theory but I think it's going to drive me mad.


Cricket news! Durham CCC may win their first championship title tomorrow, and my dear old Dad will be going bonkers. He loves going to the matches at Chester-le-Street and last year he went to Lords to see them win the Friends Provident Trophy. He had me searching the Internet for the best travel deals for him and his pal Albert and they ended up travelling by coach from Durham to London in the wee small hours.They had a fantastic time, and got back at something like 3 am Sunday. Not bad for two old blokes!

Here be Dragons

and amazingly enough, a bit of knitting too.

Brisingr arrived yesterday and is a riveting read as you would expect from Chris Paolini. That's if you can keep other people's grubby mitts off it. When my son came home he swiped the book as I was making dinner "don't lose my place" I called after him, more in hope than expectation.

After dinner I was hunting around looking for my book only to find his pal JF had arrived and he had his nose in the book too. I had to scowl at him pretty fiercely before he relinquished his grasp.

I kept the book by me while I untangled the soya yarn, listening to the football on 5live. I enjoy radio coverage, the commentators go off at such tangents if they get bored, and man, was it boring as St James' Park. Two teams (Newcastle & Spurs) without confidence, losing their way, one managerless, the other trying to reassert itself in London. The football was so bad the radio guys started discussing the thick soup that they were having.

D and J1 couldn't even bear to listen to it, and are only going to the match on Saturday out of a sense of duty (had Keegan still been there, they would have headed south for the match full of excitement and anticipation. Ah well. ).

Thankfully Spurs managed to win (2-1), it would have been awful had it gone to extra-time and then penalties I don't think anyone, the fans, the commentators, myself, could have stood any more. Pompey were probably relieved that the night was over too, as they had another walloping , 4-0 at the hands of Chelsea. Their normally lively fans were pretty quiet too.

At least I had dragons to look forward to. Brisingr is an excellent tale. I enjoyed the film Eragon but it only told half the story. Book 3 sees Eragon and Roran trying to rescue Katrina from the clutches of the Ra'zac. Nasuada is building forces with Men, Elves, Dwarves and Urgals and at the camp is Angela the herbalist, fortune teller and heavens knows what else, with her werecat Solembum. Paolini is such a good writer he remembers to add the little details. Angela is stood talking to Nasuada about the whereabouts of Eragon :

'Angela laughed. She was knitting a sock using five bone needles which clicked and clacked and scraped against each other with a steady, if peculiar, rhythm. " How? He'll be traveling during the day, and Saphira daren't fly around searching for him when the sun's up and anyone might spot her and alert Galbatorix." '

How cool is that? Dragons and sock knitting!

Young guns

I was so engrossed listening to Arsenal's young guns wallop Sheffield Utd 6-0 last night that I didn't notice my soya yarn get in a tangle in the yarn (un)tidy. Jack Wilshere is 16 and was the youngest in a a team with an average age of 18 1/2 . They played wonderful flowing football and were keen to play and hungry for the ball.

Sunderland weren't so fabulous, scraping past Northampton on penalties after drawing 2-2. Northampton are struggling in League 1 and have only one win this season but they nearly got their second last night. Roy Keane blasted the Black Cats saying they were "a shambles" and that it was one of the worst night of his footballing career.

Well, my yarn was a shambles too after getting so engrossed in the fluid play of the Wenger Boys. Definitely " Boom Boom Boom Boom" ( and two more Booms). At least I don't have to face Roy Keane today, I might prefer to be in Ibiza!

I'm not sure if I want to listen to Toon vs Spurs tonight. It might be too depressing. I think I'll just tackle the soya mess.

Slug Wars episode 2

Last week I lifted inside 3 large potted palm plants to improve their chances of survival over the winter.

Two of the palms looked like they wouldn't last the week, but one looked OK. I checked the outside of the pots for insects and webs, brushed them down ,weeded them and stood them on large saucer like bases.

Yesterday morning I noticed that my son's jacket ( which was hanging next to the pots) had an interesting new decoration of wavy shiny lines over it.

I was pretty sure he hadn't rejected noughties indie music in favour of 7o's glam rock ( foolish boy! who can beat the incomparable Slade*, TRex Sweet or Mud? Must dig out my vinyl and listen to "Cum on Feel the Noize" again) so I had to conclude that the sliding beasties had invaded my house. Somehow they had hidden in the soil and had bided their time before making a break for it.

The cupboard next to the plant pots is where I keep the wine, spirits and beer so presumably that was their destination. Having given them a taste for beer they were taken advantage of their relocation and were heading for a drop of the hard stuff.

I checked the pots again, after I cleaned my sons jacket of course, I couldn't let him go to school looking like a 70's throwback, not without silver glitter platform boots anyway. Still no sign of the sliding slithering beer-crazed monsters. so I had to wait till after 11pm, when the house was dark and I could catch them in the act.

I debated whether to put a saucer of beer on the floor to lure them out but then I was concerned that the slugs outside would try to beat down the door to get in and I would be knee deep in the bl***y things. Ugh what a thought.

Darkness would have to do. ( Not The Darkness, I don't like their faux rock stance.)

At 11.15 I carefully opened the living room door into the darkened hall and sure enough there were two medium sized slugs sliding down the sides of the pots. Hah! I disposed of them and then wondered if there were more slugs lying in wait behind this advance party. Only one thing for it, I liberally poured salt in the saucers around the pots. It's a horrible death for them, but die they must. and die they die, two more slugs melting away when I checked this morning and my beer is safe.

*I'm delighted to see that the boys are still going strong and have a massive tour planned. shame they they are not coming to Scotland. Must find that vinyl .

All shook up

A well'a bless my soul,

what'sa wrong with me?

I'm itchin' like a man on a fuzzy tree,

my friends say I'm actin as wild as bug,

I'm in love,

I'm all shook up

mm mm mm

(Elvis Presley)

I was all shook up on Saturday when I managed to run down my own son at 30mph. I'd dropped him off and as I was coming back he stepped out into the road 3 feet in front of me. Thankfully he only had a grazed elbow*, and the severe embarrassment of knowing that he would teased at school.

I was shaken by the experience and have stayed at home all weekend knitting, craving dullness and hoping for a total lack of excitement for the rest of my life.

* As he was OK, the paramedics, the police and the hospital staff all found it very funny. I probably should have entitled this some "Mothers do 'Ave 'em" but I never enjoyed that programme so Elvis gets the nod instead.

cheeky chops

Michael Chopra* scored twice today to ensure a 2-0 win over Boro which was great as we had been outplayed by Boro for most of the match and Boro missed a penalty. I enjoyed listening to the commentary on 5 live as I did a few more rows on Passionflower.

The Toon in Turmoil saga continues as they were beaten 3-1 by West Ham. Stoke did well to get a point at 'Pool, Gerrard's goal was disallowed for offside, but that was a poor call by the linesman.

Arsenal went top after beating Bolton 3-1 and Fulham were beaten by Rovers. Sunderland are an unbelievable 6th in the table, but of course that will change after tomorrow's fixtures. I'll just enjoy it while it lasts.

* bizarrely enough I woke up thinking about Chopra, hoping that his personal difficulties are behind him and pleased by the support that the club have given him. I don't know if it was prescience or coincidence, but it was certainly odd!

passionflower x 2

Passionflower 1
The back of Passionflower is finished and I've cast on the front, although I have no hope of wearing this top this year I would like to have it ready for when a warm spring day comes next year.

I could put it away and start a (more readily useful) winter top but then there's no guarantee that I would remember to finish Passionflower next year. I have too many UFO's in cross-stitch to think for one minute that I would pick it up again.

I also think that the cold weather will last long enough for me to make several winter sweaters scarves hats and gloves. ;-)

Passionflower 2

I planted a passionflower climber in the garden this year and, despite the cool wet weather, it has grown rather well, although it has not had the hot sun that it needs to produce its spectacular flowers. I'll have to protect this tender plant with a fleece covering so that it survives the winter and hope that it flowers next year, when I'm wearing my Passionflower top.

In a hopeful mood I decided to plant some daffodil bulbs for next spring. I love daffs, the showier the better. I love their exuberant golden trumpets, I love them if they're white, orange or even pink tinged, if they are dwarf or doubles, any type at all. They are such a welcome splash of brilliant colour after a long cold, wet winter.

I tend to plant them in random clumps and put some in pots so that they can be moved to brighten up gloomy parts of the garden. We gardeners are always looking to the future, planning for next year's delights, knowing that weird looking oniony things are going to produce spectacular blooms.

So, as I tidy up the fallen leaves and continue my battle with the slugs, I will keep planting my bulbs of hope and expectation and when I come inside, I'll sit down with a (large) mug of tea and finish Passionflower in expectation of warm spring weather next year.

a-tisket a-tasket

my new knitting basket!

I got this lovely basket from New Look for half price (£7.5o). It's lined with pretty blue and white striped fabric which matches the tie and has an integral pocket for my notions.

It feels too heavy to use as a handbag (purse) or shopper but I like it because of its weight, it won't get knocked over in the living room by the pooch's wagging tail and spill my yarn on the floor.

I have been using bags designed by Cath Kidston ( from Tesco's) to hold my stuff and that was great on holiday as I needed something soft & flexible that would fit into small gaps in the luggage in the car ( if I had The Luggage from Discworld I would not have this problem and I would have clean laundry automatically every day. If only.)

So the soft bags are now storing yarn in the guest room and this is to keep by my chair in the living room. Thankfully my pooch is not interested in the basket and I don't have a cat who might use as it as a bed and/or scratching post.

I bought the basket on Saturday while shopping with J2 and her pal CR. I stayed with them for a while and then let them have an hour unsupervised shopping while I had a coffee. Its important to gradually increase the amount of freedom that children have. She would like to go shopping on her own and I need to increase her social and economic skills at a sensible pace that suits us both.

I've decided to give her simple lessons in economics: she will get £20 per month for her clothes (except for school stuff and basics like underwear) and the rests she can choose herself. She can carry forward any savings that she makes from month to month and top it up from her pocket money. On Sat, she got a pair of jeans and a top then added extra to get herself a little bag.

She also wants some ankle boots from New Look but they cost £25, so she has said she will save the money till November and get them then. Good. That's exactly what I want her to learn. At the moment I'm not handing over the clothes cash to her unless I'm shopping with her but as she matures I'll encourage her to set up a bank account and arrange a DD for her money like I do with J1.

I want her to start understanding that there is an unlimited supply of money and to make sensible choices, for example if she wants party stuff for Christmas then she needs to save up the money or make do with what she has. She's already quite good at putting outfits together (she has organised her clothes by colour in her wardrobe!) and she has a good sense about her own style , she tends not to follow the crowd (hurray!) and she's quite modest about exposing her body (hurray, hurray!).

I want both kids to learn sound financial sense, which sadly the economy is only just thinking about. The credit crunch has forced another 2 banks to merge ( Lloyds TSB and HBoS), the Northern Rock is still in public ownership, the US Federal reserve has had to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac the two biggest mortgage lenders, the Lehman Bros bank has gone bankrupt, and AIG is looking a bit wobbly.

This all sounds dreadful, until you read that some lenders were offering people mortgages at 125% of the value of the property, and it seems that banks/lenders do not have a clue about managing money. Lending someone more than the value of the asset is crazy (after all if they default on the loan then the bank keeps the asset, but it is worth less than the loan. So the bank has set itself up to lose!)

We all need to follow the sound financial principles set down by Mr Wilkins Micawber in David Copperfield ( even if he couldn't follow it himself)

"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery."

SQUEAK!

presenting Death of Rats!

SQUEAK!!!

I love Terry Pratchett's novels and one of the first things I found on Ravelry was the Ankh-Morpork Knitting Guild (I didn't look for the Seamstresses, I don't think I have the energy for that now.) and one of the first patterns that I fave'd was Stephieface's DoR. She dressed the original in a black robe but I couldn't find any black fabric in J2's sewing box so I had to knit one for him. His is sleeveless as I ran out of black yarn!

J1 is delighted with him and they are sat watching Firefly together as I blog ( which is appropriate in an odd kind of way!)

peaches & creme for my little peach

I've had an easy knit today. I've made a wash cloth for J2 using some lovely cotton from Peaches & Creme. I used reverse stocking stitch to hide some motifs in the cloth. She thought it was a smiley face but its really 3 hearts.

I used some the free needles from Lets Knit - blue swirly plastic 5mm. They were fun to use and I'll use them again.

As its a while since I've made anything for J1 I've cast on the Death of Rats toy designed by Stephieface on Ravelry. I'm using some spare white yarn on 2mm dpns, the stitches are tiny and you have to cast on 6 sts at first: 2 on each dpn. The fun part will be putting together his cowl and scythe.

Today I've done something that I rarely do: I've preordered a book. I'm eagerly anticipating the release of Brisingr by Christopher Paolini which is due to be released this month. J1 and I enjoyed Eragon and then Eldest and I'm sure we'll be fighting over the book when it arrives. Hopefully I'll see the postie first!.

socktastic!

the Lorelei socks are finished.

I've been so dozy today that all I could do was sit on the sofa and finish these socks for J2.

I've learnt such a lot from this pattern: toe-up socks, wrapped stitches, the difference between ssk and k2tog. I can see how people get really into lace knitting as it's satisfying watching the pattern take shape. I'm definitely a product knitter though because having learnt the pattern I want to get them finished and not just put them to one side and cast on something new (much to J2's relief, as she has some lovely new socks!!).

I like Let's Knit mag because there are so many projects which encourage knitters to try something new. This bridges the gap between the first garter stitch scarf and making a patterned socks. Just what I want!

one for sorrow, two for joy

but 50,000 Magpies is for collective unhappy madness.

50,000 people poured out their anger and hatred on the owner Mike Ashley and the board, in particular Denis Wise. Now Mr Ashley has said the club is up for sale, but who is going to want to buy a club in turmoil where the abuse heaped on people's heads can be so personal and vindictive? Mr Ashley says he is selling because he can no longer take his kids to the match in safety and I for one don't blame him.

It has turned into a soap opera.

Oh, and they got beat 2-1 at home by Hull. Good grief.

Precious Ramotswe

One of my favourite series is The No1 Ladies Detectice Agency by Alexander McCall Smith and I've been listening to this story today. He writes so well I feel like I'm in Botswana driving along in the little white van with his heroine Precious Ramotswe.

Its quite a contrast from the scifi that I've been listening to and has suited my mood today (my limbs feel numb and I felt so dizzy this morning). However Precious and her companions have improved my mood considerable. What a blessing.

I've been knitting Lorelei very slowly today, I'm at the heel now but I managed to get into a pickle and had to rip back a few rows. I think I'm back on track now. CC was impressed with my Windermere socks the other day, she might get the urge to get her dpns out as well.

Zola to coach West Ham

In an interesting development in football the new West Ham coach is to be French literary giant Emile Zola (1840-1902).

His view that "Man's hereditary bloom and nervous system are his doom. This physiological doom maybe be modified by the man's environment- his social position etc- but cannot be escaped" (LW Tancock) is going to have a profound effect on selection and tactics. The long injury list must have an impact too, and as West ham sold so many of their not-crocked players in the transfer window, he may have to call on some of his own characters.

Initial discussions on the Hammers forums have suggested that the back four must be led by Etienne ( Germinal), his mining skills will help him dig deep. He should be ably supported by Jacques Bonhomme (La Terre) who's tough , harsh character makes John Terry look like a blubbering big girls blouse (wait a minute.....). Delphin's (La Terre) bulk makes him a cert for goal.

But there is concern that Laurent (Therese Raquin) in the midfield might divert his amazing speed and energy into frequenting the fleshpots of London rather than trying to screw the opposition.

So the discussion goes, and its all academic until the team takes to the pitch against the Baggies on Sat 13th.

What? Its not Emile? Its some Italian called Gianfranco? Why? What has he ever written?

James the First

James has the goldfish has died and this is J2's first lesson in mortality.

It's never easy losing a pet, even when they are only 2 inches long, live in water and make no noise. He seemed to have some internal problem as he had gone quite thin over a few days then had trouble swimming and eventually his body was twisted, so it was probably a swim bladder problem, and there's nothing you can do for your fish when that happens.

J2 was distraught. She had been meticulous in keeping the tank clean and only feeding the fish the right amount. Those who think fish have no memory have never kept them before. The fish always swam to the side of the tank when J2 came to them, not for anyone else. Yes, they knew she would feed them, but even after being fed they would come to watch her as she sat beside the tank to watch them. If I go to the tank they take no notice.

So when she knew James' time was up she stayed for a long while beside the tank and watched how Matt and Charlie kept nudging him trying to get him to move.

There were tears, of course. I had to look away as my eyes went glassy too. It gets me every time. My budgies Jimmy & Joey when I was a kid, our family collie Judy, all of J1's hamsters when they left this mortal coil, it always gets to me. I'll be heartbroken when its Megan's turn. Even now I can see her ageing: I've had to get her some glucosamine supplements as she seems to have stiffened up in one leg in the last few weeks.

So farewell James we'll miss you.

still here!

thankfully!......as I haven't finished Lorelei yet, although I am making progress. I can get a lot done as I listen to podcasts and the weather has been too horrible to get any tidying up done in the garden.

I'm flitting through a lot of knitting /crochet podcasts today and I'll mention those that I like ( and draw a veil of those that I don't*).

Stash and Burn is a big favourite and Nicole & Jenny have a good balance of personal knitting and other trends/reviews that are out there.Their tone is light and friendly and they do reply to comments too. ( Just downloaded this week's ep and I'll be listening later!)

Craftlit is wonderful. Heather is bright, funny, warm and interesting and I love my fix of classic fiction.

Faeryknitting is unusual in that it includes goat farming along with faery stories and knitting/spinning updates. Erin is such a lovely young woman and her recent goat imitations (when the males are fighting over the females!) have been the funniest thing that I've heard in ages. She describes it as a spicy narrative! Some people might not want their children to listen to it, but I think most children would find it very very funny.

I enjoy Cast On too with Brenda Dayne and while I wish she could podcast more often, (I appreciate that she has had health problems this year.) I'm grateful that she is still producing an ep each month. The sound quality is excellent, and believe me that that is not common amongst many 'casts.

David Reidy in Australia has a fab podcast Sticks and String. That man has such a lovely voice and an amusing take on knitting. His "essays" are a great listen.

Knitpicks with Kelley Petkun is very practical & useful. I respect the fact that she doesn't use it to plug her company. I think Knitpicks needles are available in the UK but I don't think the yarns are. She does some great interviews with knitting luminaries.

Two wonderful UK knitting podcasts are Knitty Nora and Lixie Knits it.

Knitty Nora has done some very practical discussions about cabling and blocking, and I love listening to her 'Boro accent. Its such a long time since I worked in Stockton ( 20+ years) and it takes me back. I also love the opening music from the late great Arthur Askey.

Lixie Knits It is charming and funny and I hope she comes back to 'casting. I know it takes hours and hours (20, 30, 40?) to put a 'cast together well, and again she does a great job, well organised, interesting, no umming and aahing, good sound quality. Hopefully the feedback she got from the recent I Knit day will encourage her.

I wish I could find more UK casts while its interesting hearing about what's going on over the pond, it would be good to hear more about British ( & Irish) events.

New on my mp3 today are The Yarn Thing. Marly is passionate about crochet and is warm and funny. her blog is interesting too. Her designs are very funky and contemporary and I love the Fino long gloves.
Its a purlman with Guido is a delight. He seems like such a fun guy, I'm def listening to him regularly.
Knitting at night is a really good practical look at knitting, done in a very friendly style. I've learned so much more about circular needles by listening to ep.39. Thanks Casey!
Stitch it by Meghan is a delight and also another to visit often. Her son giggling was charming!



* some of the casts have had poor sound quality, hissing on the mics, odd echoing, one voice OK but the partner sounding like they are down the hall, too much giggling, too much umming and ahhing, not much structure, and the worst I heard was whiney and complaining.

I realise that these are ordinary people having a go at something new, and that's great, I'm all for that, they are doing this unpaid, and that's wonderful, & its free for listeners, but some, I feel, are jumping on a bandwagon or using it as a form of therapy (one person complained that she thought it would be a good earner and was giving up because it wasn't!!). That just doesn't appeal to me, in the same way I don't watch soaps because they are too depressing and have ridiculous plot lines, I won't listen to 'casts that are irritating.

Goblin lullaby

I've just listened to the funniest story that I've heard in ages. "Goblin Lullaby" by Jim C Hines on Podcastle ep 17.

The main character is a grumpy old goblin nursery maid, Grell, who hasn't had a good nights sleep for ages because of the ongoing battles between elves and goblins. The goblins' drums and the elves' horns make such a racket and wake up the goblin babes who wail something dreadful. I loved it, it made me laugh out loud.

The stories have included dragons, zombies, a ghost cat, a sparrow magician, a dancing wizard, tattooed pigs and personal yetis. Its a great mix of US , Japanese and Hindi stories. It's great to knit to, although I think most people enjoy it on their daily commute.

I've enjoyed a lot of the Escapepod stories too, but I won't try out the horror stories on clonepod as I find horror stories, well, horrifying.

As a really odd contrast I've had an episode of Craftlit as well today, and the book at the moment is LM Alcott's Little Women.

Podcasts are an interesting development from mp3's and the Internet and at mypodcast.com there are hundreds and hundreds of 'casts produced for all manner of subjects and can be done for free.I'm impressed by the professionalism of many of the podcasts and people's commitment to producing regular casts.

I can imagine that as J1 builds up his sound ability he will want to create his own 'cast about indie music, SF and football.

Well, if he does, I'll certainly listen.

its the end of the world

as we know it, and I feel fine..

some heid cases in Switzerland have decided to test our faith by colliding Hadron particles *to recreate what might have happened at the beginning of the Universe. Physicists are convinced it's safe, but all the physicists that I know are bonkers and I wouldn't trust them to boil a kettle never mind anything else. More sane people are worried that miniature black holes might be created which the Earth could be sucked into. It's a possibility.

Have they not read Terry Pratchett? If there's a million to one chance that something will happen then it will.

From Guards! Guards!

'Sergeant Colon adjusted his armour haughtily.
"When you really need them most' he said 'million -to-one chances always crop up. Well known fact."
"The Sergeant is right Nobby," said Carrot virtuously. "You know that when there's just one chance which might work - well it works. Otherwise there'd be no-" he lowered his voice-"I mean, it stands to reason, if last desperate chances didn't work, there's be no..... well the gods wouldn't let it be any other way. They wouldn't." '


I'd better get that second Lorelei sock finished then before Wednesday.

* this huge particle accelerator has cost billions of euros. Where has the money come from? Us? the dozy taxpayer?

food metres

there's nothing quite like fresh potatoes from the garden.

I've been growing potatoes in tubs and these have been safe from the slugs (hooray!). Yesterday I lifted some pink potatoes , which were delicious and remained pink after being boiled. There are still 4 tubs to empty, which makes up for the loss of the beans ( a bit!). Lifting these counts as food metres instead of food miles, which means I can buy chocolate and coffee with a clear conscience.

The second Lorelei sock has been cast on and while I'm knitting it I've been listening to different podcasts. The best of those that I've sampled this week are:

The Classic Tales podcast, by B J Harrison. I've listened to a Wilkie Collins ghost story, a witty short story from F Scott Fitzgerald and some depressing stuff from Maupassant. Its like doing my A Levels all over again!

Next up is EscapePod which is for sci-fi and is very funny and clever. I particularly liked "Robots Don't Cry" by Mike Resnick.

Another sci-fi 'cast is Starship Sofa by Tony C Smith and is inspired by Ronnie Corbett. I wonder if he knows?

If I need a dragon fix I can head over to Podcastle which is for fantasy fiction lovers. Sounds perfect, and I love the logo!

I've added all these to my RSS feedcatcher but my faves are still Craftlit and Faeryknitting.

halfway there

the first sock is finished and fits J2 beautifully.

Of course now I have to knit another one otherwise she will have to hop everywhere!

There was a slight delay in finishing as I needed some 2mm dpns for the rib and I had to send of to Create & Knit for some . They look like cocktail sticks!

While I was waiting a did few cms of passionflower but the back is still not
finished. I can't believe I managed to knit J2's Candy sweater so quickly.

I also got some Peaches and Cream cotton from C&K to make some face cloths and wash cloths, this is the first for the kitchen. I'm going to make some fancier ones for J2 as she loves using face cloths.



The wet weather is back although we did have a few warm days and the butterflies were out in full force, although I couldn't manage to take any photos of the peacocks, even though there were 3 on the same flower branch of the buddleia.

I did see this butterfly though for the first time, I think it is a dingy skipper which is under threat in Scotland, but if anyone can properly identify it I would be grateful.

The recent events at Newcastle United are thoroughly depressing, I can't understand how the board managed to make such a hash of their relationship with Kevin Keegan. It's just as well there is no home match this weekend as the mood in Newcastle is ugly.

Innocent fun

I've been knitting little hats for Innocent smoothie bottles for the Big Knit project.

These are sold and 50p for each bottle with a hat goes to Age Concern to raise much needed funds for the elderly .




The hats are great fun to knit , are a great stashbuster and a good way for me to try out different techniques such as intarsia and fairisle.

I'm sure the bottles will look fantastic when they are displayed for sale in Sainsbury's supermarkets from 5 th Nov.


While I've been knitting my wee hats I've been listening to The Traveller by John Twelve Hawks which is a really gripping modern scifi/fantasy fiction.