Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Today I am pimping

I like pimping, I get to wear the nattiest outfits. I think I look good in floor length purple coats and dalmation print hats. Oh, and a silver topped pimp cane, naturally.

Today, my trusty ho's (hos? hoes? how the hell do you spell that?) and I are promoting the UK Swap - Ravelry link here, normal blog link here. It's a swap (duh) for people in the UK (duh) for the sole purpose of swapping pretty pretty surprise presents with someone else in the UK for no good reason whatsoever! Because, seriously, when does yarn need a reason? It runs over the summer - til the beginning of September - signups have just opened and close on the second of June.

Of course, I am horribly, horribly mercenary and I'm only pimping this because there's a pimp the swap competition and I WANT THAT YARN. So, if you sign up, or even if you go look at the blog and decide not to, tell them I sent you and aid me in my pointless acquisition of more yarn I have no room for.



In other news, I'm leaving for Scotland to see the parenticals. I haven't seen my mother since January and I'm flying so I only have a small suitcase to fill. I'm currently struggling to decide which of my 5 new projects, 3 new magazines, 5 new books and gazillion bags of yarn she would be more excited about seeing. (OK fine, which of them I'd be more excited about showing off)

Friday, May 16, 2008

Aaaahahahaha. Four and a half months of freedom is MINE

I handed in my last project of second year this morning. Oh Thank God. It's about time, I think I was ever so slightly losing my mind by the end of it.

I suddenly ran out of ink at half past 6 last night, halfway through printing my workbook. There followed much high pitched swearing as I searched every inch of my room for the spare black cartridge I just knew I had, more high pitched swearing while frantically signing on to the internet to find the closing time of Staples, a fair bit of screaming and flailing at the less than efficient modem with the nearest thing that wasn't attached to the wall (a fold-up Christmas tree), and then more high pitching swearing, because I had found that I still had enough time to get to Staples but by that point the swearing had become a comforting thing.

Then I left the house. I got approximately halfway to the bus stop before I realised I had no money to buy ink. I don't mean that I picked up my purse without checking I had any cash,or picked up my bag without my purse in it. No. I left the house without my bag. I even went into my purse to get the bus fare, then put it back and left. Seriously, what?? Was an honest, hardworking life getting to me so much that I was subconciously planning to rob Staples?

It's possibly time for some proper sleep.

Today I need to go down to Sewing World and rip them a new one because my sewing machine is broken again. Ugh. I don't want to leave the house. My sewing machine is heavy and it's raining. Bah. The 2 weeks of beautiful sunshine I was stuck inside for has definitely disappeared now, it is crappy and English again. On the plus side, I don't get quite so many odd looks for knitting a jumper.

Ah yes, I'm knitting a jumper.





















This is the Cathay Ribbed Pullover I swatched for at the beginning of the year. I'm about two thirds of the way up the back now, so I should be finished next month, in time to go cavorting with sheep in the lake district. I try to conceal most of my excitement about this because it is unseemly for mature, well brought up young ladies to squeal.

Monday, May 05, 2008

101 in 1001

I think my list making has reached obsession.

Jumping on the latest of many bandwagons, 101 in 1001 is from Day Zero and gives me longer than a year to complete all those super important new years resolutions that never get done in time, plus a bunch of random bollocks just for the sake of it. Feel free to take bets on how long it takes me to give up/forget about it.

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Start date: May 5th, 2008
End date: January 31, 2011 (Yes, I engineered it to finish on my 25th birthday. Told you I was getting obsessive.)

So, starting off in categories and ending in a jumble when I got bored, here is my 101 in 1001:

1. Sort out my tax refund.
2. Fill out my student loan application for next year.
3. Get some costume work experience.
4. Copy all music, photos and documents from my parent’s computer.
5. Get the CD drive on my laptop fixed.
6. Get my favourite digital photos printed out and put into frames and albums.
7. Graduate from university.
8. Find a costume related job.
9. Find a flat in London with Laz.
10. Decorate bedroom of flat.
11. Decorate living room of flat.
12. Change all light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs.
13. Learn enough basic DIY not to get ripped off by repairmen.
14. Get everyone’s phone numbers and addresses into an address book.
15. Sell, donate or throw out 101 items I don’t need.
16. Give blood.
17. Start a savings account to take a second gap year, save at least £3000.
18. Start learning Spanish again.
19. Revamp my blog layout.
20. Reach 175 blog posts.
21. Put up a free pattern on my blog.
22. Submit a pattern to knitty.com.
23. Teach someone to knit.
24. Knit 12 garments.
25. Finish my hibernating jumpers.
26. Learn to knit continental.
27. Learn to knit Fair Isle.
28. Learn 3 new sock knitting techniques.
29. Go to the Bournemouth and Poole Stitch’n’Bitch at least once.
30. Do something with my yarn leftovers.
31. Make all my Christmas presents one year.
32. Learn to crochet.
33. Dye enough yarn for one project.
34. Spin enough yarn for one project.
35. Make a needle roll.
36. Sew my entire fabric stash.
37. Stop putting off my pile of clothes to be repaired.
38. Make a dress to wear to Nancy and Olly’s wedding.
39. Make a trench coat from my own pattern.
40. Make a corset from my own pattern.
41. Make a handbag or knitting bag.
42. Make myself a costume for each Hallowe’en and Summer Ball.
43. Do 4 beading or embroidery projects.
44. Grow a pot of basil.
45. Have a barbecue (don’t rely on the manly men to do the cooking)
46. Go to a concert or festival.
47. Get a decent haircut.
48. Make vodka jelly.
49. Sing karaoke.
50. Learn 3 card games.
51. Make 5 birthday cakes.
52. Go out to eat 4 times a year.
53. Go to see an opera.
54. Get a manicure.
55. Learn to hula-hoop.
56. Swim in the sea at Bournemouth beach.
57. Meet Jack for lunch.
58. Go to the cinema at least once a month, even if it means going on my own.
59. Play Poohsticks.
60. Go diving again.
61. Sign up to Titletrader or Swapshop to swap old books, videos etc.
62. Find a nice pair of summer shoes I will actually wear.
63. Make a curry from scratch.
64. Have a picnic on the beach.
65. Read all the books I haven’t read on my bookcase.
66. Read the entire works of Shakespeare.
67. Get a pedicure.
68. Buy myself a bunch of flowers for no reason.
69. Learn to ride a bike (Again. Yes, it is possible to forget.)
70. Carve a pumpkin.
71. Take a train up to Scotland.
72. Take a train out of the country.
73. Go swimming regularly in the summer holidays; attempt to keep it up when I go back to uni.
74. Host a dinner party.
75. See a sunset and a sunrise in the same day.
76. Give my number to a cute stranger. (Ha. Yeah right.)
77. Go to the park and feed the ducks.
78. Go to Bournemouth Oceanarium.
79. Go to Go Ape.
80. Go out on New Year’s Eve instead of going to a houseparty.
81. Start dancing again.
82. Try a new food every month.
83. Finish playing Zelda on the N64 (Pfft, who needs new fangled gadgetry)
84. See Shakespeare performed in Stratford-upon-Avon.
85. Build an awesome sandcastle.
86. Run for breast cancer. Or walk.
87. Get in contact and meet up with an old friend.
88. Go to Gala Bingo.
89. See a West End musical.
90. Find out something about my Mum’s side of the family tree.
91. Wear a skirt at least once a week.
92. Keep up a proper skincare routine.
93. Watch the Wizard of Oz while listening to the Dark Side of the Moon. Defy convention by not being stoned at the time.
94. Go to 5 different museums or galleries.
95. Buy from a local butcher/grocer/market instead of the supermarket once a month.
96. Left open for 2009
97. Left open for 2009
98. Left open for 2009
99. Left open for 2010
100. Left open for 2010
101. Left open for 2010