At last - some yarn shopping

I took myself off to London for the day last week. It takes about 20 minutes on the train which was full of family groups heading up to the big smoke. There were many adults standing and not one child (or parent of a child) offered up their seat. I know I sound like a grumpy old woman but that would not have happened when I (or my children) were young.

Having checked out several stores in an unsuccessful quest for shoes for the wedding I decided that it was time to go yarn shopping! So it was a quick trip on the Tube to Islington and Loop. I had a lovely browse there and was very taken with some Wagtails yarn. Which is, of course, from Queensland so I didn't think it made sense to buy some on this occasion. But definitely a future purchase. So what did I buy? Left to right is Jitterbug from Colinette, sumptuous Malabrigo Silky Merino and Alchemy merino.

Next I got on a bus heading for Waterloo and iKnit. All was going well and I was having a lovely chat to the lady next to me about sock knitting when the bus ground to a halt and it was clear that we weren't going any further. The road ahead was cordoned off by police and other emergency services because of a suspicious package. The traffic was at a complete standstill and buildings were about to be evacuated so I headed off to walk across Waterloo Bridge. I guess this is an everyday occurence in London - everyone just shrugged, got off the buses and out of taxis and continued their journeys on foot. I wonder how Sydneysiders would react?

I finally got to iKnit and had a lovely time browsing and chatting to the shop assistant who was very friendly and interested in the sock that she could see poking out of my bag.

The haul here included two skeins of Manos Silk blend and some seriously lovely Cherry Tree Hill Suri semi solid. Also some square DPNs.

On the knitting front there has been little progress. The sock that was the subject of discussion at iKnit has been frogged for the fourth time. I can't quite work out what I want to knit and am somewhat hampered by the fact that all my needles are back in Sydney.

The wedding is next Saturday and so next week will be busy with final preparations, meeting the bride's parents, and then the big day itself.

Greek tragedy and fine dining

This weekend I had a break from shopping for outfits for the wedding and all the attendant events. I just have to get shoes and a bag which is just as well as I am completely over it! I have not done much knitting since I got here and next to no yarn trawling.



The weather has been glorious and far too nice to be stuck inside shopping centres. I usually manage to get my morning walk in before it gets too warm. My normal route takes me past several places that have strong memories for me - the house where my family lived for many years and which my children always thought of as "home" because it was the one constant in their lives; the church where I was married and so on.



I was very indulged on Sunday. My son and almost daughter in law took me to the National Theatre to see Helen Mirren in Phedre. I love going to the theatre and to see a play so well acted by a superb cast was such a treat! After the play we went to the Wolsely for supper. This used to be a car showroom (hence the name) and is in a beautiful Grade II listed building. It is bizarre to think that such an incredible building was originally designed to showcase cars and I can't help feeling that it is much better suited to its current purpose.

A load off my mind

Having trawled through frock shops on both sides of the world, done battle with the moronic mothers of idiot children (another story) and diced with death with maniac continental lorry drivers, I am elated to report that I have finally purchased the all important outfit!

This has been a fairly stressful period as each time I have spoken to the bride the stakes have been raised. So not only have I had to buy an outfit for the wedding but also one for two events in the week running up to the Big Day.



Of course, you want to see what the mother of the groom outfit looks like:





This is, of course, the catalogue image from the Jacques Vert website but, apart from the shoes is what I will be wearing in a little over two weeks time.

In Beautiful, Boring, Bijou Bromley

A phrase coined by a good friend of ours from Korea - who used to live here so is entitled to describe it thus.

My brother met me at Heathrow yesterday morning and drove me here - to the town where I grew up and where my daughter now lives. It is always strange to come back here where things are so familiar and yet so changed.

The second leg of my trip to London was very pleasant as I was moved into the First Class cabin. Thirteen hours of being gratuitously fawned over made the journey much easier! I slept thanks to having a comfortable bed with doona and did actually get to do some more work on Boteh. Not sure that it will ever become a FO though.

Today was my daughter's birthday. We had a late night last night, a late start today and a long session at the pub this evening. Tomorrow my son, his fiancee and my brother are coming for a birthday barbecue. And no doubt The Wedding will be the main topic of conversation!

En route

A short break in Singapore. Not much progress on Boteh on the first part of the journey. Since I only ever crochet on long haul flights perhaps that is not surprising. My crochet did occasion some comments (and maybe some envy?) from my travelling neighbours - all positive I have to say.

I plan to break out the DPNs on the next leg (the longest and most tedious part of the journey) but also hope to get a few hours sleep.

At the airport

I've checked in, done battle with Duty Free, given up on the Tax Refund queue and am now enjoying the hospitality of the First Class lounge. Am on the second glass of Veuve as it happens. I'm not flying First Class unfortunately but have got an upgrade to Business so it should be a relatively comfortable flight.

The bamboo crochet hook and DPNs got through security so I'm all set for this leg at least.

Dipping my toe in the water

I have come to blogging a bit late. I think this is because I am by nature a very private person and I do feel somewhat self conscious here. However, I am inspired by the brave and generous way in which so many of my knitting friends share their thoughts about life and about the craft that we all love, so here I am dipping my toe in the water and seeing what happens. Also, as many (many) people know, I am about to take off to the UK for my son's wedding, so a blog seemed like a good way of sharing that experience.


So I have been very preoccupied with preparing for my trip, and searching without success for the perfect outfit. I have now resigned myself to intensive shopping as soon as I get there. With any luck that will be sorted soon after arrival and I can then focus on the serious business of yarn acquisition!

I am taking along a couple of projects. This has also been a major decision process and nearly as stressful as the fruitless search for a Mother of the Groom outfit. I am going to attempt Boteh (a crochet scarf) on the flight over as bamboo crochet hooks don't seem to be nearly as confronting as knitting needles. I have some Knitabulous yarn in Hyacinth for that. And I may get around to some more socks - Needlefood Lollipop is destined for that project.



In the meantime, an almost finished project: a jacket for my work colleagues soon-to-be-born baby boy.








Pattern: Phazelia's Mitred Jacket (Rav link)



Yarn: Grignasco Strong Print Sock Yarn