Knits

Ruined. That sums up my weekend. I pulled out some knitting I hadn’t worked on in awhile just so I could use the bag. Inside I found one of my Addi 2mm circs with a very bent needle — that’s straightened out there. Damn. But I moved on. Packed my knitting, made sure I had snacks and all the things I’d need for a very long day out and went to bed. It had been raining pretty steadily for about 24 hours — that actually isn’t normal around here believe it or not. Sure it rains a lot, but it’s generally not heavy or steady like it was.

I woke up Saturday far earlier than one should ever wake up on a Saturday morning (this was earlier than when I go to work), showered, and then set straight out for the train station where I grabbed a very large coffee and muffin. My train arrived, I boarded, it was all well and good. We get down to the next station, pull out, and, not even a mile later, came to a stop. And we sat there. For ten minutes. Then the train manager came on to say that the line is down between here and The South due to flooding. We sat there a few more minutes and the manager came back on to say that the service is returning to the station we just left and we’d receive further instructions once there. By the time we get back to the station, a matter of minutes (we went slowly), the service was cancelled. Pretty much all trains headed directly south were cancelled as were those heading directly north. If I wanted to get to Manchester I probably could’ve, but that wasn’t my plan.

I was meant to be going to London for the day. For this. Yes, the Yarn Harlot. And I missed it because of weather. I was really annoyed about it. This was not a free event (nothing is free in the UK) so I was now out £14. I may also be out my train fare since I didn’t feel like hanging around in the giant queue. I’ve claimed unused tickets before, but via post — it seems there might be different rules for cancelled services as in you have to do it RIGHT THEN. I’ll investigate.

It’s not like the YH comes to England ALL THE TIME. This was the first time. I was really looking forward to hearing her speak and seeing various knitterly friends down south. It was not to be. Sigh. Hopefully she’ll come back. Or I’ll be some place she is…

Instead I came home and did more work on the mystery project. The picture previously was not the real thing. It was a practice run with the wrong yarn. I now have some of the right yarn, but I’m not entirely happy with my choices. They’re too dark and very little variance. Well what is it? HEY MOM, IF YOU READ THIS BLOG (I DON’T THINK YOU DO) YOU SHOULD LOOK AWAY RIGHT NOW.

Right, well it’s going to be a throw blanket. It’s Bobby’s Garden [Rav link] by Megan Rogers. It’s going to take a long time. I am so slow. I hope I’m done by Christmas. I don’t want this to be the only thing I work on for the next three months. Obviously it doesn’t make good travelling knitting because the point is to attach the hexagons by picking up stitches and not seaming approximately 209348209348 hexagons at the end which would make anyone go completely mad. So I’ve stuck with the Noro Kureyon for a blanket in the end (I had been considering the Lizard Ridge) despite the worry that she won’t really want to hand wash something like this on occasion.

Tuesday morning I’m off to Italy. Have I mentioned this? I think I mentioned I was off somewhere, but maybe wasn’t specific. Well it’s Italy. To give a talk. On libraries. Holy Moses. I’m okay right now, but the night before, and the morning, and during said talk, I will be really, REALLY nervous. I do not like speaking in front of people. I likely won’t have any internet access until next weekend and even then I might not have it… I have had a tremendous time with utility suppliers recently. I’m also in the process of moving. And giving another talk next week, but that one’s okay since I know that group pretty well.

Right, this is really long. I’m going to go eat dinner now.