A little bit of everything!

I've been neglectful of my blog, so had better remedy the situation:o)

On the knitting front, I finally finished Flickering Flames socks (pattern by Black Dog Knits) and entered them into the monthly Sock-a-month challenge draw (Crafty Yarns n'Things forum) by the skin of my ... grafting! DD1 loves them and they are on her feet again! The pattern is really effective but when I do it again I'd prefer to take the pattern down the foot as the designer planned (DD1 only wanted the pattern on the cuff) and I'd use a different yarn. I found the Diploma 4ply was prone to splitting a little and was not that keen on the texture as I knitted. I've also nearly completed the back of a Celandine Tank for DD1 in Louisa Harding Kimono Angora... progress pics to follow!

We've had a lovely weekend so far - the girls and I went out shopping on Friday (resulting in 2 happy young ladies and one lighter maternal purse!). We ended the trip in Borders bookshop - with DD1 and I browsing to our hearts content and DD2 huffing and puffing, with a pained expression worthy of an Oscar before we provided refreshment anaesthetic in the form of a strawberry frappina and any cake of her choice from the cafe upstairs!!

Today, we drove to Rhondda valley on the outskirts of Pontypridd and walked the 3 dogs over the hillside. Islay, the fatted pup who came home, was in her element as I don't think she has had a walk like that before, with so much freedom ... and sooooo much scope to roll in ecstasy in various piles of nature's treasures (certainly the horse dung seemed to be her particular favourite). Yeuch!!!

DD2 has plans afoot for me tomorrow ... she hopes to drag me down to the retail area in Cardiff Bay. She is trying to convince me she needs a pair of yellow shoes. Mothers of the world unite here please and support me in my maternal protestation ... wants is not the same as needs!! My plans for tomorrow do not involve retail therapy of any description. The dissertation is to have the dust blown off for a couple of hours and I've to muster together at least a few paragraphs towards the next chapter:( And then, I plan to read a little more of the book I bought in Borders. My last read was 'The Island' by Victoria Hislop. It's the tale of several generations of a family ... of their past and secrets. I enjoyed it even more as its set in Crete and focuses on Spinalonga (a tiny island off the coast of Crete which served as a leper colony until 1957!!), Elounda and Aghios Nikolas ... all places I spent time in during a past holiday (err ... honeymoon actually ... but that feels like a different life ago!). This new read is more challenging to get into - Be Near Me by Andrew O'Hagan (longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2006). Its set in Ayrshire and the lead character is a priest in the local community, and explores class and religious divides.

The only other mini success around at the moment is that there's now less of me!! I've signed up to a GI diet plan online having had no success in shifting any weight by myself (and being thoroughly fed up off my ballooning weight since I started on steroids nearly 4 years ago). I can't pretend for a second I understand the dietetic theory behind how the diet works ... but have just followed it blindly for the past 2 weeks and have lost 5lbs so far!! Just think, the smaller I get ... the less yarn I'll need for a garment ... and smaller garments might be finished off quicker ... leading to a slightly more productive blog!! See, there IS method in my madness:o)

'Global' blethering!

Progressing ok with the Flickering Flames sock ... nearly down one as just have the toe to graft. DD1 didn't want the pattern to carry over the foot, which is a shame but certainly easier knitting!! I love the way the pattern develops and it works really well with this shade of yarn (Diploma Gold 4ply).

Talking of DD1, she subjected me to a tad of role reversal this past week. She texted me to say she'd booked appointments at the opticians for the entire Blether's gang:) Next, she'll be telling me to eat my greens ... wear a vest ... get enough sleep ...

Cruft's has been on TV this weekend and we've had a great time watching it. Well, more accurately, a great time watching Isla (the pup) watching her canine companions!! She sits at the end of our bed, glued to the 37" screen and we were convinced she was going to launch herself at the TV during the Flyball scenes ... If only she were as conscientious during the Obedience sets!!

I put a counter on my blog recently in attempt to reduce my technology phobia! What intriguing results! In the space of just over 10 days, I've become 'global' ... with visitors (by design or cyber error) from the UK, America, Australia, Sweden, Canada, Norway, Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland and Portugal!! Please feel free to say hello! I feel really humbled (and a tadge embarrassed!) that my blethering has been seen by so many and really must lead a more blog-worthy life:)

The flames are fanned...

Flickering Flames (pattern by Black Dog Knits, http://designsbyblackdog.blogspot.com/) is already on the needles as March's sock-a-month. As already mentioned (ok, mega-moaned/ranted about), all my knitting projects as fairly restricted until my dissertation is submitted. For that reason, and so that I retain sock-sanity, I plan to try to learn new techniques whilst producing each month's entry. This month's mini learning experience has been picot edging, which tops these socks. A word to the wise, especially if you knit to a fairly tight tension, metal pointy dpn's are a must when attempting to join the fold! Take it from the daftie that attempted it on beautiful, but bluntish, bamboo's... trying to knit the stitch on the needle with its original cast on was similar to knitting with 2 rolling pins:( The pattern is lovely and comprises of a fairly straightforward repeat. And the flames are now flickering ...

This Friday, I went out with friends for a meal to a Mongolian restaurant in Taff's Well - a small village on the outskirts of Cardiff. Now, for the life of me, I can't quite work out what the connection with South Wales and Genghis Khan is???? Honestly, I don't think I slept through the history lesson at school which explained any such link??? If anyone knows, please share! Regardless, what a fantastic meal! (Thank you, Anchor pub and Mongolian restaurant)

Dull brain and sock choices

Well, it's official ... academia is hazardous to your health!! I've spent most of the past week, tweaking and shaping the literature review for my dissertation. And the end result?? I do have words on paper but the most striking outcome is that my brain has taken on a blancmange-like state!! And its seriously interfered with the finer things of life ... like knitting!!

I have been attempting to select the pattern for next month's offering in the sock-a-month challenge. I'm torn just now between Flickering Flames socks, pattern by Black Dog Designs (http://designsbyblackdog.blogspot.com/2006/09/flickering-flames-socks-yarn-my-own.html) and Purple Iris socks, by Judy Sumner (pattern available at http://www.getknitted.com/acatalog/LLPatterns.html). At the minute, I am swaying more towards the Flickering Flames ... this would involve my first attempt at a picot edging. Given that all my knitting projects will be small :( until the dissertation is a painful past memory, then I'd like to try new techniques with socks in the meantime. Aha! Decision reached ... Flickering Flames it is!!