grumpygirl

Confessions

I watched Confessions of a Shopaholic today. So funny I snorted.

I must also confess that I barely left my armchair this weekend and I have finished another 21 crochet squares of the pinky/purple blankies. So now I can put it aside, as I've done the major thinking/planning work in terms of mixing the colours and getting the most mileage that I could out of colours of which I only had two balls each.

I'm now left with many, many balls of the two main purples to crochet at a more leisurely pace.

I'm back on the teal squares and I must say that 100% wool is MUCH easier on the hands that even 50/50 wool/cotton, soft and squishy as it is.

Lately

What have I been up to lately?

Trying to get a good picture of the blocked Sublime Organic Blanket. And failing miserably. It's partly the light and the fact that I really should have blocked it with pins to shape it properly rather than just laying it out to dry. It's a bit bumpy and not as smooth as I'd like, and this really shows in the shots. This is the main reason that I miss having carpet - it was great to stick the blocking pins into. That and my handknit socks are taking a SERIOUS beating on the floorboards and slate in this house. I have two pairs with holes and the other socks are looking perilously close. I might have to buy some slippers. Or explorers from the factory outlet. Or start on a new pair and reinforce the sole.

But I digress. What else? I've spent a considerable amount of time lately entering my projects into Ravelry. I was feeling guilty about how much I use this fantastic resource and how I was contributing nothing. Alas, having reached my monthly upload limit on Flickr, I'll have to wait until next month to upload the remaining 50+ socks. And then I'll be done, done, done. I quite like the cataloguing though. Appeals to the (sometimes) neat freak in me.

Finished Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy. Why didn't you guys tell me the ending? That's not romantic. Into the next series which is not as compelling.

Erm, watched all of series 1 of True Blood. And United States of Tara. Slightly dubious about the former. LOVED the latter. Watching Midsomer Murders. And Last Chance Harvey. Did they really need to spend quite so much time trying to convince us how miserable Emma and Al were before they met? I persevered though. I mean, it's Emma, people. I heart Emma. Even when she's not in period clothing.

Knitted many dishcloths as crochet doesn't allow me to look up at the TV as much.

Learning to make more home-cooked meals. Learning to plan meals better so I'm not shopping every day. Learning to eat cereal for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch so I don't have to plan as many meals.

Being jealous of those who are in Portland for Sock Summit.

Taking WB to Mini Maestros.  Contemplating enrolling him in Monday morning swimming lessons.
Trying to get off my bum more. I'm trying to stay away from shopping centres, so today, I took WB out for a 45 min walk to and around the park; up hills and in the rain (for the last 10 mins). So I'm slooowly becoming more active.

Tweedy aran

I've worked out my problem. I want to crochet. A tweedy aran baby blanket. It just ain't gonna work. So I'm mulling over it whilst I knit more washcloths. And watching Spooks on iView.

Enabler

I introduced someone to Peters the other day. She couldn't stop talking about it. I sat back and admired my handiwork.

I also introduced a few people to the Book Depository. I haven't actually done the maths, but what the with the GB pound doing so badly, it must be cheaper than Amazon. And without those hidden shipping costs. Free delivery worldwide people. Free.

So, can I introduce you to Natalie upon whom I chanced yesterday?

6-9am

Finally, something intelligent to watch in the mornings! Hosts with brains! ABC News Breakfast on ABC2.

An article I was reading said that the show "is expected to capitalise on the space left by Seven's Sunrise and Nine's Today, which have moved into softer breakfast territory".

Softer? SOFTER? There are many adjectives which I would use to describe Mel & Koshie and those people on channel Nine (let's start with brainless), but hard is certainly not one of them.

Social commentary

This last fortnight or so, I've been true to my procrastination instincts and spent every free moment (and some un-free ones) watching Buffy. In between the baking. Yup. If the deadlines don't let up, I might even start cleaning the house. But back to Buffy.

Series 1-5 were thoroughly enjoyable. Maybe not so much for BD due to my taking up some of that kicking and punching and wot not. But hey, gotta learn something from television, right?

Anyway, I'm currently halfway through the sixth, and I'm finding it rather disturbing. The previous series were full of vampires, demons and evil gods banned from other dimensions; I can handle those no probs. But the villains in the sixth series are three bumbling pathetic human nerds. And somehow I find evil humans to be so so much worse. Those demons ain't got nothin' on us.

Last year, this year

I was out two nights this week. And will be out again tomorrow night.
Anymore of this and I might start thinking I actually have a life.

I'd highly recommend seeing the MTC's production of The History Boys before it ends on 12 May.
And Geraldine Hickey in the Comedy Festival. Still really really funny. Funnier last year, but still funny.

I love the CBD at this time of year. It's a weeknight and people are out being merry and in no hurry to rush home for work tomorrow.

The weather is very odd though. This time last year, it was wet and freezing. Not so much this year.

Isobel's Cardigan

Having spent the last 12 hours immersed in Hamish Macbeth, I've a mind ta be slipping a wee 'aye' or 'cannae' into every conversation.

Wanderlust levels have increased too. Who wouldn't want to wake up to such scenery? Perhaps the theme of our next european sojourn will be lochs and laghi.

I also love this cardigan that Isobel wears. The raglan sleeves, the stand-up neck, the bigger cables interlaced with the smaller ones.

See how the pattern goes up almost all the way to the top of the neck? And well, can you blame the lass for looking at Hamish so longingly?

From the front:

And lastly, a side view

Socceroo madness

Last night reminded me of why I don't tend to get too involved in watching team sports.
Given the right conditions, I am, erm really competitive and erm, really really like to win.
No, really.

So the last 8 minutes of last night's match against Japan was really really fun!
Especially after Japan's goal in the first half which was SO a foul, you rubbish referee!!
See, it infuriates me still. However, I'm able to resist the urge to froth at the mouth, so there is progress.

I feel asleep after the first half and asked BD to wake me up after the first goal.

So yay oh yay oh yay!!!

But tell me, is there some sort of yay I have scored a goal, now I must run to the corner and dance before a flag or run about with my shirt upraised and expose my chest to the world ritual?

What I did this weekend

- watched the entire season 6 of The West Wing
- watched tv on my MacBook Pro
- converted all four seasons of Coupling for my ipod
- knitted a top-down set-in sleeve for my Barbara Walker vest
- frogged said sleeve
- finished said vest