Sunday 30 March 2008

The therapeutic power of knitting

I've been on a course for the last few days, and took my knitting with me (natch).

There wasn't much opportunity for it, but there you go.

My journey home was beset by problems caused by engineering works.

Having already had to use a replacement bus service in London because of tube engineering works, I also had to get off my train and try to get another bus for 2 stops. That would have been great, had there been buses available, so we were all standing out in the rain getting bad tempered for about 20 minutes.

When our bus had eventually turned up, and taken us to where the rail service was being resumed, there was no train, and a half hour wait until the next one.

There were two options here:

1) To stand around with my fellow travellers and bemoan the poor service
or
2) Put some music in my ears, and sit knitting for half an hour. I did the latter, and the benefits were many:

I didn't feel as stressed as the others who were winding themselves up.
I was doing something creative, rather than just kicking my heels and feeling like my time was being wasted.
This was clear time - the project in question is a lace shawl, and is still at the 400 sts on the needle stage, so to be able to work through the stitch pattern without interruptions was welcome.

So, avoid stress - carry sharp pointy sticks.

Wednesday 19 March 2008

The lows and highs of being a writer

First, the bad news.......

I haven't made the shortlist for the "wanna be a writer" comp.

On a realistic level, I didn't expect to, but there's always the dream.

Not only that, but when you're not given feedback (and none was promised, I'm not complaining), you have no idea of knowing if you were a nearly ran, or are, in fact, complete shite.

Then the good news......

Feedback from Assignment 4 of the Writers' Bureau course was much more positive. I should send my stuff of, says my tutor. (This is the course that has to give me my money back if I haven't earned my course fees back by the time I've finished).

Perhaps I will.

And the very exciting news........

One of my writing posse went to an "Agents and Publishers" day as part of her MA. The agent she spoke to wants to see more of her stuff. Of course I'm jealous - but very happy for her.

Onwards.....................................................

Saturday 15 March 2008

Saturday 8 March 2008

Far flung knitting


Great hilarity!


My mate Tracey in Oz has put some pictures onto Flickr. When she invited me to look at them, she noticed that I already have a flickr account. She went to have a look, and was a bit confused, as they all seemed to be pictures of yarn and knitting.


I explained about the ravelry thing, but I'm not sure that she's convinced that I don't have some weird fetish going on.


Impressed by my FOs, however, she asked for a couple of matching hats, for her three year old, and her new baby.


Happy to oblige, as always.