Stash relocation

So Saturday (hottest day for 6 or 7 years) was the day of the move. The removalists were great and nearly everything got relocated without too much drama. The new place has more living space but the bedrooms are smaller with fewer cupboards. This necessitated a trip to Ikea to buy a wardrobe. (Note to self: do not go to Ikea on a drizzly Sunday. Everybody has the same idea. It is not much fun for you or the hundreds of wailing infants!)

The knitting books are in here somewhere:

And part of the stash is in here........

.....somewhere!

Trials and tribulations

I'm generally fairly sanguine about my lot in life. I think that I have had a blessed life so far and regularly thank whichever force has decreed that I should be so fortunate (apart from the bunions, of course). However, the last few months has severely tested my (possibly) complacent view of the world.

Having spent most weekends looking for somewhere to live and submitting to quite intrusive examination to determine whether we were fit to live in some overpriced hovel, we finally had an application accepted and were all set to move out to the 'burbs. Although this meant an extended commute to work I was prepared to do it in order to live in a nice, new townhouse with plenty of space. The day before we were due to sign the lease it all fell through because the potential landlord hadn't settled the purchase. And settlement was going to be delayed at least four weeks and we have to be out of our current place at the end of the month. So the trawling of the websites, fruitless attempts to contact real estate agents and turning up with dozens of other hopefuls at the few places that were halfway decent began again. In desperation.

Fortunately the application we submitted on Saturday was approved and this weekend we move into a townhouse in the same suburb. Not as large as the other one but much closer to the City and easier to get home to after Thursday evening knitting group.

In with the new....

It's taken me a while to get around to tallying up the knitting output for 2009. This was partly due to me feeling hat my productivity was pathetic in comparison to others. We were talking about this at knitting group and I came to realise that it doesn't matter. I enjoyed most of the projects I embarked on during the year. Those that were less than satisfactory have been frogged and will become new, more enjoyable ones this year. So here it is - what I finished last year.

As for New Year's Resolutions - I never keep them so would be setting myself up for failure if I made any. And goals are far too specific for me. I have decided that I will have aspirations this year. I shall aspire to knit from my stash (packing up for the house move made me realise how much I had accumulated), to finish more projects this year and to not buy yarn unless I have a specific project in mind. My other aspirations include getting fit, losing weight (10 kilos in 2010) and staying in contact with friends and family.

Bobb's Christmas

I'm sure you've all been wondering about Bobb's Christmas presents. I took three packages out to him on Boxing Day.



He loves opening presents...




And was feeling very pleased with himself!

Yarn Confession

So here it is - time to admit to yarn acquisition in November. I think I've remembered everything and I may have doubled up one or two from October's haul (she says, hopefully).

First up is the "forgotten" yarn from Knitabulous. A glorious fifty-fifty called Citrus Punch. Next is the November shipment from Needlefood - Picnic in the Rain. On the right are two skeins from Angels & Elephants - Holly Berry and Damson Delight.

Then there is Poison from Yarn Lust, Wine Tasting from Sundara Yarns and another Needlefood - Lupin. The final three skeins are all from Posh Yarns - Miranda 4 ply in Holly Golightly, Elinor in Angel Eyes and a gorgeous Alpaca / Silk blend in Sanctuary. I don't think I've missed anything but I do seem to have a few more skeins than this lurking in my home stash and my secret office stash.

Off the needles last month was Rosered in Malabrigo Silky Yarn but that was all! So November was definitely a Yarn Positive month.

It Itches

Sadly not a reference to Frankin Habit's book of the same name. I have not been feeling 100% for some time and felt vaguely unwell at the excellent M&S Christmas High Tea. On Sunday morning I woke up itching from a rash on my trunk. Dr Google confirmed my suspicions that it was shingles and my real life doctor seconded that opinion. Which explains the burning back pain of earlier in the week and general malaise. So now I'm on aggressive anti-viral medication which I'm hoping will fix the shingles and also my knitting doldrums.

I am assured that barring physical contact with the rash I am not contagious so all my fellow tea party-goers should not be concerned.

I am using my ailment as a valid excuse to defer the stash total confession.

Current works in progress include Flutter Scarf using Posh yarn Beatrice. It's a lovely yarn and a soothing pattern to knit.

South of the Border

Yes, I'm working in our Melbourne office for a few days. The people in our office are very friendly and it is always a pleasure to come here. And the office is in a stunning building. Here is the foyer all dressed up for Christmas

I only had time for a quick dash to Clegs where I bought some organic cotton to make washcloths for Christmas gifts.

You will have noticed a deafening silence on the Yarn Neutral status this month. I haven't actually tallied it up but I fear that the input has far outweighed the output. This is partly due to the persistent knitting doldrums and also to some forgotten yarn arriving. I shall bite the bullet and record the month's totals when I get home.