scratching a yarn itch

I have had a craving for some Lorna’s Laces ever since I exorcised my dirty Noro thoughts, as I keep reading about it and the colours are just fab. The prices in England are all comical, but I found someone on eBay who works out at just ‘expensive’, and treated myself (seems it’s still cheaper to have it shipped from the States than to buy it in the UK).

So when I went into work today, sitting on my desk were these little bundles of joy:

Shepherd Sport in Black Purl: earmarked for the ubiquitous Clapotis. I was going to start it tonight but settled for just rolling a ball instead, it looks so cool!

 

 

 

Shepherd Worsted in Baltic: earmarked for, er, well I had it in my head when I ordered it but have now forgotten what it was. The colours are so very ‘me’ though… In real life it’s not quite as vivid as I’d hoped, but I have the Noro for that.

 

 

 

Good news on the poorly girl front – turns out she’s not being admitted to hospital and they think they can sort it with drugs for the time being. She’s still poorly but I think will be much better for being at home and not all cooped up in a hospital. Honestly, the things some people will do to get me to make them a scarf… Apparently she is feeling perkier and asking for pizza, which has to be a good sign.

Had my penultimate consultation meeting today and determined my last day in work is next Tuesday. Yet another HR classic cropped up – I explained I’d had some time off last year after my mum died, and wanted to know if this would come up in a reference given to future employers. The HR director said “oh right, was this while you were working for us?” (OK, she’s new, but there’s a file!). I said “er, yes, I’ve been here over 6 years…”. Which in hindsight she actually knows as she prepared a whole load of info for me based on my 6 years service. Fecking muppet.

not blogging, but knitting

I haven’t posted in a few days as I’ve had a sisterly visit and all sorts of other stuff going on – largely feeling very discombobulated due to the fact I’m facing imminent unemployment (next Weds). I need to get back on that job-hunting wagon but am feeling quite negative and scared about the whole thing. It doesn’t help that recently I’ve had more than the average amount of ‘oh don’t be silly, you’ll be FINE. Anyway – about this thing I did’ comments, from certain quarters, from people who find it easier to do that than actually face you being anxious about the whole thing. Or somehow feel threatened by you having bad stuff happen and feel like it’s a competition – if you have the moon, they have the box it came in. Boo them and their lack of support. I’m going to miss that about where I work – there are some great people who are amazingly supportive – I will of course still see them, but there’s something nice about just being able to meet them in the hall for a chat if you’re having a crappy day.
Anyhoo in the spirit of running away and pretending the whole thing isn’t happening, I have been knitting

I started and finished a scarf for my sis in one evening – we went shopping and she picked up the wool, it was big, fat and an ugly olivey colour. But I was astounded at how quickly it knitted up (on needles that made me feel like a hobbit) and it actually turned out really nice – something I might actually wear!

One of my friends has the most gorgeous little girl, who has a painful largely unexplained illness and is quite poorly right now, and about to be readmitted to hospital for the umpteenth time this year. She lives abroad, too, so in the absence of any medical expertise and the inability to get over there right now and offer cups of tea, hugs, etc, I’m knitting… again.

It’s in the campest bright pink, as that seems to appeal to 5 yr old girls, but it’s also Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky so I know her mother will approve. The above pic doesn’t show the colour properly – it’s more like this:

Scarily pink! and covered in hearts, nicely reversible too… the pattern I just made up and as it’s mostly stockinette, it’s now rolling in on itself, which I’m hoping can be partially cured by some aggressive blocking. Don’t know till I get to that point really, so fingers crossed!

And yes, I took the pics as it lay on my lap, and they are my pyjamas as the backdrop, I couldn’t be arsed to get up and do the whole ‘photoshoot on my bedsheet’ thing as I would normally do. You know, if I had standards, I’d worry about them slipping.

eta: The pink scarf was finished, and pinned out blocking, then the cat ran over it with muddy feet and I felted the blimming thing trying to get the pawprints out. Bugger.

winter wonderland(-ish)

Coool! Nobody told me it was going to snow… I mean you forget to watch the news for one day, and look what happens!
And if it took me by surprise, I’m sure london transport will be utterly flummoxed by this freakish manifestation of frozen water in january, of all seasons -beware, heavy sarcasm- so getting into work this morning will be a riot.