Milestone

I am so excited. Cute neighbour guy and I are heading away for a weekend together without children! It's going to be so good to be alone with him at last. Of course it's taken the kind of organisation that would make organising a world conference seem like a walk in the park.
Between us we have 6 children, 3 dogs, 2 cats, 10 rabbits, and 2 fish to find carers for. It wouldn't have surprised us if arrangements had gone on well into the next decade. But somehow the planets have aligned in our favour and things have fallen magically into place.
So early on Saturday morning we're heading South to Thames, a beautiful town on the Coromandel, for some well deserved us time. Let's hope the sunshines on us and we have a wonderful time.

Finished

Despite serious motivation issues (or more precisely lack of motivation issues) Tatijana's top is finished. As you can tell by the photo she is totally delighted with it. Me, well let's just say I think I could have done better.
No I'm being too harsh. It was always going to be a challenge, dearest Tatijana had decided on a completely different top and we went looking for the yarn for that. Nothing in the shop was just right, it was the wrong ply, the wrong,colour, the wrong texture. At times I wondered if we might be in the wrong universe! Then she found a new pattern (the above top) and fell in love with it, but again didn't like the suggested Yarn, Natautica. She had been drawn to the Zhivago home several times and in a moment of lunacy I told her that of course I would be able to knit her top in a completely different yarn. No problem that the pattern stated it had a very particular tension.
There the issues began, the dreaded tension square was an absolute must, no way round it this time. If only there had been just one tension square. It took 8, yes 8 to get even close to the right tension. But finally knitting could begin in earnest. Notice the loops. They created the second issue. Despite the tension being almost right the loops when knitted were way, way, way too big. So another round of minor experimentation was called for. Finally I discovered that by using a much smaller needle just for the loop row I could get the effect desired.
The top is knitted sideways and is only about 100 rows. It should have taken days but instead took weeks. Am I pleased with it? Not entirely. Am I glad I made it? Absolutely. It looks beautiful on Tatijana and I am very pleased to have been able to make her something she will take back to Germany with her.

Drum roll if you please

At last you all get to see a picture of cute neighbour guy. Last Friday was the biannual Officers Ball and my date was no other than cute neighbour guy. I asked him way back in October to be my date and he agreed but as regular readers know it's been a bit of a rocky journey since then. I am very happy to say that the path has smoothed and we are now officially a couple.

The ball was fantastic, red carpet,guard of honour on entry and lots and lots of dancing. I had the best time and I know my man did too.
Now hopefully I will be able to concentrate on some knitting.
For those who asked here's one without the shades

I wish

I had some knitting news to share but sadly I have been terribly slack in the yarn department. I have three projects on the go, a second sock for middle daughter,a pink beaded affair that is progressing in minute increments. At the current rate she may be able to pass it on to a daughter of her own, or possibly a grand-daughter.
Then there's the sweater for you know who that is in abeyance because of the you know what curse. Let's not give fate any more ammunition at this point. A cease fire has been declared and it maybe wise to build up stocks and reconstruct before facing another onslaught.
And last but not least I am knitting a top for a friend. I started out very enthusiastic and willing, the project isn't complex and the back was knitted in days, but now I am procrastinating like a greek philosopher over finishing the front.
It is a lesson to be learned here that agreeing to knit for someone else is likely to end in tears, probably theirs.

Dilemma

As you know from the previous post I have been busy. Busy trying to not be hurt because cute neighbour guy doesn't know what he wants. For a few weeks it was all full on and then I asked him outright if he was willing to be my boyfriend. I know that you're not supposed to do this but really seven months is long enough surely to decide if you like a person enough to do more than have a cuppa with them. I knew after the first week but then I do tend to operate at super sonic speed. His answer was vague and confusing, so I took it to be a resounding NO. Luckily having wept several continents previously I was able to avoid being washed away this time. I met someone else online and we decided to meet. It was fun, it was relaxed and it definitely has potential to continue. So we met severl more times and then he asked to meet the kids. Then my youngest let slip to cute neighbour guy mummy had a boyfriend. Funnily enough cute neighbour guy's reaction was that he thought he was my boyfriend. Maybe I'd skipped off to another planet during that discussion!! He then said he was ready to see where things might take us, if I wanted to.
My dilemma, what if he's only doing this because he doesn't want anyone else to have me. Should I trust him given that he's inadvertently hurt me twice now. My heart says him, regardless of the pain, but my head says new guy is a much happier and healthier option. See how dizzy my head is with it all.

Ok there's busy

and then there's just plain stupid. I have decided I need to slow down as the relentless pace just can't be good for me. So many things to do so little time, so I have been trying to focus and prioritise in an attempt to regain a sense of slow. it might be working but everything is still going too fast to be sure!!

The Curse

There is no doubt December has been a tough month to live through. Not withstanding the challenges of living with two teenage girls, it seemed for a while that the sweater curse was going to land on my head with a resounding "Take That" and how dare you be so smug as to think you could avoid me. Needles lay neglected mid row, I add in deep shame. Yarn held no attraction despite its siren call and the lure of wondrous things to make. The duvet looked warm and snuggly and more inviting that getting up and pasting a smile on my face.
But I am a big girl and there are only so many tears you can cry before you start to feel distinctly soggy and in need of wringing out. Plus puffy eyes and a red nose only works on those blessed with supernatural beauty. I just look plain ugly when I cry. Having run out of brown bags to wear over my head and thus unable to avoid scaring the neighbourhood kids, (Halloween being long gone,) it was time to shake off the dust and step out bravely.
Cute neighbour guy realised after my short hibernation period that I was more important to him than he had realised and the curse has been beaten back to a respectable distance. I fear it may still be hovering somewhere in the vicinity and I am not yet ready to continue with the sweater requested and started. Perhaps a safe pair of socks instead!
Happy Christmas to you all and roll on 2010.