Today, I heard a story of hope that made me cry. One person, who is trying to make a difference in the world, by doing the sort of thing we read about in the newspaper, but rarely consider doing ourselves. I hope to be able to share this story at a later date, but in the meantime, read this. Link from Obsidian Wings, via Jonathan Shaw, via Mary-Helen.
(am I taking the attribution thing a bit too far there?)
From The Knitting Zone, via the Yarn Harlot. She went to sock camp, and in her post about it, you will see this cardi in the wild, and you will understand why I must possess it.
Good weekend (apart from taking the parental units to the airport, for Burma, Take 2), knitting saturday (with bonus Emma!), dinner saturday night (more Emma), Brunch with knitters on sunday morning (extremely good hot chocolate, but the food was forgettable), more knitters on sunday arvo at the Courthouse, a knit in at Simone’s house, and then home to a whinging but affectionate feline. He loves us more and more as the temperature drops….
This from the BBC website.
I heard the comment on the radio this evening on my way to picking Mark up from the train station. Apparently, our mighty leader doesn’t want HIV positive migrants. Funny thing is, the furore was cause by 70 HIV positive people moving to Victoria last year. 50 of them were diagnosed in Australia due to increasingly vigilant testing procedures, and the other 20 were born in Australia and diagnosed overseas.
Hardly an invasion.
And apparently, HIV infection is a reason why we deny asylum currently – as are disabilities. The most needy are turned away (UNHCR won’t even process the paperwork for Australia because they know a child with a limb that has been blown off by a land mine won’t get in), and yet the media stir up a frenzy to make the xenophobes spew more vileness.
On a lighter note, Sally rang this afternoon, and since misery loves company, I went round for a cuppa. Glad I did – left feeling much better, though still in danger of being very poor company. Thanks Sally.
Kurt Vonnegut, dead at 84. And despite being a smoker for most of those 84 years, it was a brain injury from a fall that finally did him in.
Another reason why the King Of Thailand is a top bloke and beloved by his people.
I finally heard from my KTA pal today, which was a relief – I tried an alternate contact method, which seemed to do the trick.
Yesterday brought exciting mail – some 15cm knitpicks DPN’s from Donyale, and the new Bendigo shade card. No exciting new colours with appalling names, and nothing new and noteworthy at all, but just more of the same, good old, reliable Bendy. Except that they seem to have dropped the black Harmony, which is a bummer – I was all inspired by Bex to make a cardi out of this stuff. If you haven’t tried it, give it a go – 200 grams for $11, and if you can handle the poxy colours limited colour range, it is lovely to knit with. A blend of cotton, wool ad lycra, it’s cool and lofty, sproingy and stretchy, and wonderful for kids clothes. I’ve done a few EZ BSJ’s out of it and a couple of stroller blankies too.
The picture at the top shows some progress on the melon lace knitted on border – I am getting the hang of the pattern, and speeding towards my first turn. I’ve joined on the border incorrectly, but I like the look of it, so I’m not going back.
Laura has a pair of socks made with the Lornas Laces Rainbow colourway that I have been swatching to find the perfect pattern for. I don’t think this is it, but they are gorgeous.
And this link is for Emma. Scout Badges for Science. I want the MacGyver badge.
I’m still feeling vile and snotty, so I am going to spend most of today in bed with my knitting. And Oprah. I have to do a product demonstration at 10am (anyone wanna buy an ECG machine?), but then it’s back to bed.
You know how you’re supposed to deal with an awkward social situation? You know, keep calm, state your case rationally and clearly, and then politely request a change of subject?
Well, apparently, tonight I was incapable, and made a complete tit of myself in front of about 15 Sydney knitters – a lot of whom I have never met before. Unfortunately though, some of them know where I live.
So, if you were there, and you were wondering why I was such an arse, I can only apologise and explain that I’ve still got this damn headcold, and that I don’t handle death very well. Apparently I’m overly emotional and fragile right now, and I should have explained that instead of growling at people.
I know that my moral compass is wired differently to other peoples, and that makes it my responsibility to navigate my way around dangerous waters, not start lobbing dynamite when things get interesting.
Most people don’t realise that I’m really socially awkward. That I never had a real friend until I was almost in high school (thanks Andrew), and that I still feel like people are only nice to me out of pity. I know that I have some good points, but when I’m sick, and life gets tricky, and somebody pokes at a sore spot, I regress to that little kid that nobody wanted to sit next to at playlunch.
Crazy Aunt Purl wrote a great post today. About how she used to react to triggers, and how she is living without her old crutches, and how she misses them, and knows they may not be gone for good, but that she knows she can live without them.
Maybe I can learn something.
Mum’s cousin Thomas died this morning. Aunty Emily wasn’t able to rouse him, and the paramedics couldn’t resuscitate. He was 65, and none of us had any idea he was in ill health.
Aunty Emily lived with, and for Thomas for sixty five years, and now she feels like the has nothing to live for. She has another son (famous for saying “it should have been me, I’m the alcoholic”), but Thomas never moved out of home. He was there every day of his life, except the Saturday Sabbath, which he spent at church.
I do hope there is a heaven, otherwise Thomas had a whole lot of boring saturdays for nothing.
There will be an autopsy, and then a funeral, and somehow we’ll have to convince Aunty Emily to move out of her home. And perhaps Cocky will come and join us at Club Denistone. Can anyone recommend a bird rehabber, or a cockatoo behaviour resource?
Please spare a thought for an old lady who has had a terrible shock. No parent should outlive their children, even at 89.
And on a happier note, hereis a little video of TBA doing the cute thing.
The US postal service is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars with R2-D2 Mail boxes.
Forget the 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, here’s the 7 pages of thin peoples habits. Some are useful, but the one that suggests having thin parents isn’t so useful.
The earliest known magicians manual has been found and translated into English.
I’ve received my swap buddies for the Knitters Treat Exchange. My spoiler has contacted me, and I’ve sent an email to my spoilee, but no word in reply yet. This is my first exchange, so i am unsure of what the etiquette is – should I send another email? An e-card? A postcard? Or just wait a few more days?
And here is a picture of Monkey Boy, relaxing after a hard day of being adorable. Apologies for the mess, the bunny houses will get cleaned out at some point. Isn’t that the cutest butt?
And from India, a timely warning – don’t mistreat elephants, particularly in front of large grey witnesses with large ears.
Place eggs in cold water – straight from the fridge is ok, as long as you bring the water temperature up slowly.
Stir to centre yolks as the water heats up. Boil for a few minutes – you need them to be hard boiled when you crack the shells.
Crack the shells – wrap in a doubled up tea towel and bash with the back of the spoon. The idea is to crack the shells all over, but keep the shell on the egg. The cracks allow flavour and colour to seep in, and makes the pretty patterns on the egg. Don’t panic if bits come off, it adds to the effect.
Put back in cold water with a few tablespoons of black tea, 2 star anise pods, a tablespoon of soy sauce, a cinnamon stick, a teaspoon of cooking salt, and a teaspoon or two of 5 spice.
Simmer for a few hours – making sure there is enough liquid to cover the eggs. If possible, leave in liquid overnight – flavour and colour will intensify the longer it steeps, but some might prefer a milder taste.
Cut into halves or quarters, serve with your favourite Chinese tea, and a game of Mah Jong.
PS. Let me know if you’re interested in finding a set – Mark found a place last week that has sets for less than $50. Possibly without English numbers – but you wanted to learn to read Chinese, didn’t you?
Disco Knitter 