bluerot

Disappointing, Kev...

2008-12-19T10:35:00.003+11:00

...5% is a pathetic target
....and to make any increase conditional on what other countries are doing is even more pathetic. Talk about ignoring an opportunity to take the lead.

It's embarrassing, really.

Yikes!

2008-08-28T14:43:00.011+10:00

I can't believe it's been 7 months since my last blog!

Actually, I can.

I'm a slack-arse blogger (sorry jen!), so this is really quite the norm, but I am quite taken aback at how quickly this year has flown by!

I must also confess that I've been spending far more time on Ravelry, doing my needle audit, lurking around the forums and reading other blogs - it's the voyeur in me!...does anyone else find that Ravelry actually inhibits rather than stimulates one's knitting?! In any case, all my knitting updates are on Ravelry, but I'll post any finished pieces here....just don't hold your breath ;)

Apart from Ravelry, I have also been pretty busy with work, study, getting hitched and honeymooning in France - whew!
One day I'll get some photos organised....in the meantime, here are some pictures of my favourite birthday present:

Mmmmm, red shoe love......!

Rainbows....

2008-02-04T18:07:00.006+11:00

Oh my.
It has been a long time since my last blog....and I'm sure it will be another long period before my next blog - I'd be kidding myself to state otherwise!
In the meantime, we had Christmas in New Zealand, New Year's in Sydney and Rainbow Serpent in Beaufort, Victoria. We had a lovely time at each occasion, but Rainbow Serpent is always a very special trip...
This year, we ventured north-west on our own, and managed to meet up with all our friends in the most random of ways....

Had friends over for afternoon tea...

Were invited to others' for dinner...

...and were blessed with the loveliest neighbors...

There was even a lovely lass who vacuumed our campsite with the upright vacuum cleaner she had brought with her!

I love Rainbow.

...some kitty-fillers

2007-10-26T14:36:00.001+10:00

Well, the lappy is back, but still offline as I've been too lazy to find and install the "anti-everything bad" software before hooking up to the internet....so still no new photos!

Here are some fillers to keep people amused and improve the aesthetics of my blog
- I do like blogs with pretty pictures...I like picture books too....so does my dad...

Dolly likes to examine things....we often hear her rummaging through our stuff at night....

...the tigress:...and here are both the kitty-winkles, in bollywood style splendour:

I'm getting inspired by the rapid growth of my tree-jacket, so I'm sure they'll be more photos by the end of the weekend.....stay tuned!

..still no pictures

2007-10-16T19:57:00.000+10:00

I ended up having to get a new hard drive for my poor little lappy....and then I slacked around for so long that now the keyboard's clapped out and it's back in the shop - at least I'm maximising the value of the extended warranty!

So, even though there's lots of exciting news including my fights with fifi, jen coming to visit, and rampant progress on the tree jacket, I've no pictures to share....but i swear I'll make up for it with an intensive pictorial upload as soon as I've my lappy back ;)

Oh yes - jen reminded me that I had to put up an sustainability/climate change/environmental message for today, being Blog Action Day, so I thought of sharing this single step action plan:
vote howard out

(Sorry - specific to Australians, with voting rights....and if you haven't enrolled yet, you have until 8pm tomorrow night, thanks to yet another insidious change in legislation)

I'll stop now, mind you, I haven't even started on this particular political rant, but it's probably best to stop before that even happens ;)

2007-07-05T15:36:00.000+10:00

I'm reduced to stealth blogging whilst at work - the home lappy has lost it and is need of new look: reimaging is on the cards this weekend!

In the meantime, I've signed up for the Fifi Knit-A-Long with the sexy knitters AND I've been making fabulous progress with my tempting II: I've just started the sleeves....it's my first time with double pointed needles (dpns) and I'm *loving* it!!

...alas, no pretty pictures 'til the lappy restoration project is complete!

Oh my!

2007-06-13T18:45:00.000+10:00

....I can't believe how quickly the last 2 weeks has passed!

It's been a huge 2 weeks: I finished up at my old job and started my new one;
our couches arrived, which of course meant a massive clean up and rearrangement of furniture;
we had two of my parents (I've got 3) and one of my nieces (of which I also have 3) stay for the long weekend just gone;
I've just started a new term for study;
we had to worm the kittywinkles (sounds pathetic, but they're still a bit feral, so it's a bit of a task); and
I finished the fan and shell wrap that I was knitting for my mother - yay!....I'd upload a photo but it's on my 'phone which is nowhere to be found!
Needless to say, I am looking forward to yoga tomorrow.....

...my visual dna...

2007-06-01T09:42:00.001+10:00

I'm feeling in need of some cosiness today!...combined effects of the cold weather, first day of period and hangover from an impromptu dinner party last night....the dinner party evolved from a quick catch up with my friend tara over coffee...the coffee never brewed; we got stuck into the wine* instead ;)
...feels like it's going to be a day of couch activities - knitting, reading, surfing (oh, the joy of wireless!)
...all to the sounds of miles davis and the taste of chai - miam!

* for the viti-curious: a gorgeous pinot noir and a lovely merlot

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

...needling issues

2007-05-31T08:50:00.000+10:00

...it's taken me a while, but I have finally made myself a nifty receptacle for my growing assortment of needles!

...such progress!

2007-05-27T09:53:00.000+10:00

...on two fronts: knitting and reading!

It delights me to see how nicely the shells and waves are forming on the scarf/wrap I'm knitting for my mother! - at this rate, it should be ready by the time she comes to visit in a few weeks! I'm really enjoying using the variegated yarn with this pattern - it's quite exciting to see the colours and pattern emerge!

I've also finished 'Counselling for Toads' which was such a delight to read - I loved the insight into the counselling process from such a unique perspective! I've since dived into 'Emotional Intelligence', but I'm really looking forward to starting 'Mansfield Park' this afternoon - next month's book at Knit the Classics

...it's crunch time!

2007-05-26T17:07:00.000+10:00

Above is the fabulous coffee I experienced at a newly discovered local cafe: crunch

...so good, I had to have another, albeit a 'piccolo' as I'd already had 2 double shot coffees that morning....still, there's no holding us back now that we've discovered this place! The fabulousness was not limited to the coffee - so was the breakfast (free range eggs + organic breads) and the service! Yay - a new local!

I was so hyper after the coffee that it no longer seemed a daunting task to frog the shell and wave shawl that I'd been knitting up for my mother. I usually baulk at having to unravel my work, but it's done now, and I'm keen to start afresh! It was quite inspiring to have 'sneak-peak' of the shawl in the yarn I've chosen: Artyarns 'silk rhapsody' in the gold/purple colour blend (101) - what a luxury yarn! I nabbed in on sale at my favourite online store: the woolshack whilst stocking up on double pointed needles.

Actually, I confess that I got so carried away with the yarns on sale that I completely forgot to buy the needed needles....so I had to go back and put another order in.....and then fell for the sock yarn that was also on sale!

I must take a break from this rampant consumerism!....time for a few 'buy nothing days'.....hmmm, it's actually been a while since either my partner in crime or I have been able to log one of those - we try to rack up as many bnd's as we can during the week; call it: 'physical' challenge if you will, in any case, it's kinda fun! ;)

moo...miam!

2007-05-19T22:29:00.000+10:00

What can I say?...I'm in love!!....I don't know how long it's been since a dining experience has uplifted my senses to such a divine level!...the food, the wine, the service and of course, the company of my honey-pie: hp....well, ok....I was a little disappointed with the mousse of the chocolate dessert selection (slightly gelatinous), but that was the only criticism of the entire evening.
We're planning our next visit....rowrrrrr!
....or should I say: mooooo!

audit

2007-05-18T11:43:00.000+10:00

I thought it would be a good idea to subject myself to a 'study skills audit' this morning - I've been struggling with my current mode of study. It's online....which is a little strange as I am no stranger to online communications - I've been online for so long that I remember paying for my monthly internet subsription my writing out and mailing a cheque to my isp!

mission: aborted

2007-05-06T18:23:00.000+10:00

Well, the yarn shop mission was a dismal failure...i'd been driving for ages with my own idea that the shop was closer to home than it actually is...a lot closer!
Self-doubt set in, navigational instruments were absent (left the street directory at home) and my navigator was awol (well, in meeting at work)!...and so, i made the call to abort....only to discover that i had in fact been one mere street away - aarrgghh!

oh well....by the time i'd arrived home, more yarn arrived in the mail which satisfied all yarn yearnings!

there was some deliciously warm and fuzzy dye-free brushed alpaca in a rather scrumptious chocolate...

....and some simply gorgeous 'glam queen green' banana silk yarn!!

both were purchased from alleco who are lovely to deal with and speedy - my order arrived within 2 days!

I was thrilled to find the brushed alpaca in the bargain bin! I'm keen to knit up a beanie and 'knucks' for my dad to match a scarf a knitted up for him ages ago in the same yarn...
....and perhaps a something for over the shoulders with that glamorous green...?
...we'll see!

...about bloody time!

2007-05-03T08:58:00.000+10:00

Yet again, jen has had to wait an inordinate amount of time for my next blogging entry - sorry! i promise to be a better blogger ;)

...i must admit, it is a bit unfair that I get to enjoy hearing about jen's rise to fame as a creative (and the antics of her lovely family) whilst she gets no updates on all the mischief i've been getting into, or at least my latest knitting adventures....at least now that i've finally found the battery charger for the camera i'm able to add visuals!

...and so i present my very first finished object (and only finished object to date, excluding scarves): "le poncho"

I'm very excited today - it'll be my first trip to a local specialist yarn store! thus far, i've been able to satisfy my yarn yearnings with internet consumerism....and sales at the local kmart. In fact, the only time i've been into a yarn shop was with my partner's mother in christchurch: "knitworld"
i got the distinct impression that the mixed racial aspect of our little trio rather confounded the sales assistant...hee hee!

Well, best be off then....i'll be back to report on the success of the mission: to find some extra balls of discontinued yarn so i can knit up a fetching piece for my mother's impending trip to greece!

...talk about fizzle!!

2007-03-29T14:42:00.000+10:00

I seem to have fizzled right out....sorry jen!

I feel it's time to move on with things - out with the old, in with the new; Or at least out of the old and into the new....HOUSE !

YAY!....we've been looking for over a year and our efforts have finally come to the most fabulous fruition (well, we think so)!....we're very happy with the new home and are very excited about the move, although now that the packing materials have arrived, the actual packing seems a bit daunting: how are going to fit all our stuff into these boxes!

we think we've found a good service for the boxes: you order and pay for them over the internet, they deliver them to you and then they pick them up once you're done with them and give you a refund for all the boxes you return in reusable condition...i'll give a report once we get the refund ;)

...better get into the packing - we've yet to start and the removalists will be arriving at 7.30am in 2 days time (the ridiculously early start seemed like such a good idea at the time)!

sizzle, fizzle and lots of dribble....

2006-11-03T12:41:00.000+11:00

It's been quite a while between posts - I've been stupidly busy at work and trying to get school work done ('trying' being the operative word!) as well as doing counselling shifts, being the supportive partner and househunting. It's all made quite a dint in my knitting time, and as such, I've really not much more to report on that front.
The sizzle has successfully been stripped back to before the increases - finally! - but I've yet to make a second attempt on them....maybe this weekend.
Maybe.
Now, onto the dribble:
The dramas at work have been ridiculous and centre around the Managing Director's acting personal assistant. Now I have done some serious time temping (in fact, the job I have currently is my very first permanent role in 15 years of working - how's that for avoiding commitment!?), but this woman has made me utter those exasperated words that I always swore I would never say: "that bloody temp!"
She is a right piece of work.
Counselling has been going pretty well, but I feel as though I've been spending some serious hours counselling within more personal spheres. I've still got so much work to get through for school - I've been stressing to the point where I'm having anxious dreams! I'm never really able to hide from my subconscious - the sneaky bugger always gets to me in my dreams ;)
The best one recently was dreaming about being in my old family home and then waking up abruptly and stating out loud: "I'm reverting to old behaviours and bad habits!". Talk about analysing on the spot!
My partner has been getting a lot more gigs out recently (he dj's; mainly uk hardhouse) which means that I've been going out a lot more too! We've discovered that since this is becoming a semi-regular occurrence, we needed to find way of managing it - it's amazing how a 'nana-nap' and a double-shot coffee can keep you going 'til the wee hours ;)
Well, that's about it for the dribble - I do have a rule of no blogging 'til my readings are done, so I better get back to it! I'm dead keen to get as much work done as possible as my dearest friend jen is coming down to visit tomorrow - YAY!!! I can't wait! It's been far too long since we last saw each other, let alone get up to mischief - we'll be making mischief on Cup Eve ;)

Increasing dramas

2006-10-15T22:11:00.000+10:00

Damn, damn, damn!

This sizzle is driving me crazy! The knitting was going off (at my personal knit-speed) until I hit the first increases. I was so pleased with myself until I saw the gaping hole that I'd left several rows previously. Couldn't figure out what the hell had happened (frantic stitch count eliminated the advent of the dreaded dropped stitch) so I 'unknitted' a few rows and managed to drop severl stiches in the process.

Damn!

I finally talked myself into ripping it back to before all the nice new holes; It took a few weeks. I think I was so dejected by the thought of 'frogging' that it killed all enthusiasm (I know it's not a particularly big deal, but I still can't bear the thought of undoing my work!). In any case, the winning argument against self was that I got to try a new technique which was quite clever and worked a treat! - I inserted a smaller needle through the right side of each stich a row and ripped away. So, feeling very pleased with myself yet again, I got back to work and did the first row of increases....only to make the same error again!!

Hmmmm......I think I'm picking up the wrong bit of yarn in between the stitches.

I've been debating with myself - 'maybe I won't really notice it'
HAH!
Time to unknit.
*sigh*

l

2006-10-11T22:50:00.000+10:00

oh bob...you were wonderful!

2006-09-28T08:52:00.000+10:00

We recently returned from a short trip to sydney where we had the absolute pleasure of seeing bob brozman in concert - that man makes my heart sing and my soul soar!....a most amazing performer with a philosophy i admire and respect...i thank my lovely father for the tickets to the dinner and show - the food was fabulous and they had a great range of local beer; after a few amber ales, i indulged in eggplant stacks with goats cheese and marscapone and finished off in a decandent manner with crème brûlée with persian fairy floss and raspberries - miam!... needless to say, we left the vanguard with some serious bounce in our steps!

Knitting-wise: whilst in sydney, i took to the butter bamboo and started to 'sizzle'....will let you know how it goes...!

bamboozled!

2006-09-20T17:14:00.000+10:00

...the days on which more yarn arrives always seem to be good days - yarn as an auspicious sign?
...today's mail brought an exciting package with bundles of bamboo yarn - yay!
i've been very excited about this latest bout of consumerism and have been searching for patterns of the top o' summer!!
well, two tops to be exact - i ordered the yarn in both black and 'butter'
so i do feel a bit spoilt for choice!...alas, the arrival of the black has been delayed, but only by a week or so....and i really do have enough on my plate not to be put out at all.
as for the butter...
let's see: I'm hunting down a sleeveless with an interesting neckline that's not too high....something that i can sex up with matching arm 'warmers' (considering that we're heading into summer, i don't want them to function as warmers as such, so the bamboo yarn should do the job)
...we'll see how i go!

c'est fini!

2006-09-13T06:56:00.000+10:00

ok....am getting a bit over the excessive work days!
have doubled my working days over the last few weeks which has been great for the $$ but not much else...well, except for learning a lot more about what goes on whilst i'm not at work!
i work 2 days a week in a jobshare situation which is just gold!...but i have found myself to be unfamiliar with a lot that the role demands simply because i don't get a chance to do it!...oh well, no real tears over that one ;)

...in more exciting news - i finished my poncho - YAY! (oh, for a digital camera!) ...the yarn used is just gorgeous: hand dyend brushed mohair and oh so warm....miam!
this is the first non-scarf item i've ever knitted for myself...actually, thinking about it, it's only the second item i've ever knitted myself!....i started knitting when i moved down to melbourne, victoria (australia) a fair few years ago as i needed scarves and couldn't bear to part with ridiculous amounts of money for items that weren't quite 'right' or were made from cheap synthetics - urgh...so i thought that instead of whinging about it, i'd be better off just making my own up to my own specifications....then i got so excited that i promptly knitted several scarves for several loved ones but none for self!...no wonder i lost interest...

i can't wait to get back on the needles...the only problem now is to decide which project to pick up (can't help myself with concurrent works)...or maybe i'll just start a new one entirely....looking forward to payday - am keen for some bamboo!

première étape...

2006-09-08T11:17:00.000+10:00

well, i must say that i'm getting a wee bit excited about this blogging stuff!...in addition to the food fests we've been whipping up in the kitchen and the knitting and the reading, i've been busy tweekin' my blog...
on the menu this evening...
eating: thai red curry
needling: poncho
reading: man walks into a pub

le commencement...

2006-08-26T17:36:00.000+10:00

...at long last - a blog: an appropriate recepticle for the detritus of my mind...it will surely relieve the verbal burden that my partner and two feline flatmates currently endure ;)