Avoidance tactics

How to avoid doing things you know you really *ought* to be doing ...
Ought to be doing housework / studying / revising (exams next month)?

1) Knit (‘nuff said?) – aside from the previously mentioned ladder yarn, also have a half finished stole in Kidsilk Haze (can’t do this one too much, it makes my hands hurt), several half-finished scarves, a tea cosy shaped like the Queen’s crown used at the Coronation (joke birthday present for my mother, though at the rate it’s going, it’ll probably only be finished in time for Christmas), and a mountain range of stash to be used up
2) Read - so far this week, I have managed to get through ‘Eragon’ by Christopher Paolini and ‘Going Postal’ by Terry Pratchett (which is finally out in paperback), Sally Melville ‘Styles’, 2 books by Maggie Righetti, and Vivian Hoxbro ‘Shadow Knitting’. Also dipped into vast number of knitting magazines whilst considering stash reduction/enhancement.
3) Go to lots of parent’s meetings at school. Son just started in 6th Form this term (work experience meeting). Older daughter started secondary school this term (meet her teachers). Younger daughter going to secondary school this time next year (lots of open evenings at local schools) – currently averaging 2 evenings per week on this activity. Far too tired to do anything by the time we get back home.
4) Watch TV, and failing that, fall asleep in front of TV. Watch videos if TV gets too dreary (have just managed to get hold of copy of ‘Moonlighting’ boxed set – having a real burst of 80’s nostalgia here).
5) Check e-mail (clear out spam), have another look at your blog (in case anyone’s left a comment), play a quick hand or 2 of spider solitaire
6) Help youngest daughter with 11+ practice papers ... explain the ones where she got it wrong / didn't understand it (etc)
7) Nit combing (yuk!) - the usual outbreak at the local primary school. Would obviously be so much easier if all parents did this, then the rest of us wouldn't find ourselves constantly having to do it
8) if all else fails, go to a tutorial - give up most of your Saturday travelling there and back - hope you might pick up some hints and tips re exam ...

Think that just about covers my week so far - doing it all over again next week!!

Every day in every way I'm getting better and ...

Another small success! - have found a more useful gallery at Yahoo Photos, this way you get to see thumbnails, which I hope will be a much better (and quicker) way to do it ...

pretty quiet today in the office

Looks like this blogging thing is quite addictive - would never have guessed before how much time you could spend taking sneaky peeps to see if anyone has looked / commented, since the last time you looked (five miinutes ago!) - I understand from people who've sold things on eBay that much the same is true there.

So meanwhile, I've managed to add a gallery of some finished items, though I'm not really sure yet whether I particularly like Flickr, and since I made a bit of a mess of uploading the photos I already had, I've managed to use up all my bandwidth for this month already (drat!) - never mind, I shall attempt to look on this as a learning experience. And another small victory, I've just found out how to add a hyperlink to my posting - that must be about 1000% more experience already (hooray!)

Was quite sad yesterday as I was at work, while other knitters from Kent were at the first meeting for Kent Knit 'n' Natter in Ashford. Very envious indeed ... hope I can make it to a meeting soon

On my needles ...

A draped neck evening top in a ladder yarn (bought dead cheap from Yarn Paradise UK on eBay) - here's a detail of how it knits up (just stocking stitch shown here)

You have to be a bit careful about forming stitches with this one, as it's very easy to catch only one of the holding threads, or miss stitches, but the finished effect is really nice, especially under artificial lighting, when the colours really shine... Think that if I manage to finish this, it'll probably be really good practice for the Sirdar Dune sitting in the stash ...!

Technical details for the yarn
Manufacturer is Ice Yarns (made in Turkey) -
Yarn length is approx120m per 50 gr, and content is nylon Knits up at about 16s x 20r to 4ins square on 6.5mm needles. I expect the finished top to use between 5 & 6 balls of yarn, and hooray hooray I've nearly finished it!!

Testing testing 1 2 3 .....

My first posting - might take a while before I get to grips with all the technology! - Bear with me while I figure out how to set up a gallery of FO's, and another one for WIP's - if any kind soul has any tips/hints, will be grsatefully received