Three Wishes

Better late than never I suppose - I've been procrastinating for a couple of weeks over this post for the Crafty Treads n Yarns blogroll. Making a wish sounds the easiest thing in the world till you actually THINK about it - then to make THREE wishes - and remain apolitical and non-controversial - is very hard.

On general terms - I would so like everyone just to be able to have a decent stab at this life of ours. Some people are so disadvantaged, through no fault of their own, that I marvel how they get through the day, and I don't just mean in Third World Countries or War Zones either. Poor health and lack of a good education is rife much closer to home, so my first wish would be for folk wherever and whoever they are to be able to lead a "good" life.

Which leads me onto my second wish. Health and Education. I won't elaborate save to say the two go hand in IMO and we seem to have a whole generation in this country who expect a "qick fix" for everything and have lost the ability to think for themselves.

Finally - I'm so happy with my life at present and so lucky - apart from bloody Alzheimers and what it's doing to MIL and FIL - if I could wish to turn the clock back I would - but failing that and a "cure" I'd just like life to continue pretty much as it is at present.

I'm sorry to have rambled here - thinking about this post has been really challenging.

I'm a very lucky girl!

Today is my birthday - I have been 27 for many years now and today is no exception! I am so incredibly lucky to have so many friends - and to have been thoroughly spoiled. Peter bought me a membership for the Under Cover Club , my daughter has bought me a beautiful necklace and earrings and in the picture you can see some of my other lovely presents - beautiful stitch markers, some Posh Yarn Lucia which is gorgeous, some Fyberspates including some divine laceweight, some beautiful stitchmarkers and a lovely quilted bookmark with my name on from my friend Yvonne. My eldest son has bought me a book called One Skein Wonders but Amazon has been tardy in it's delivery!

I have also been so very lucky to receive this beautiful present in the Spring Birthday Swap from the very kind and thoughtful Jon. Folk Shawls has been on my wish list for a while, and to have a copy signed by Cheryl Oberle herself is very special - so thank you Jon.

The yarn is absolutely divine - it is a machine washable tencel/merino blend from The Yarn Place and is called Heaven which is very apt. There are 3,100 yards of it so I had better get clicking! I'd just like to say a big thank you again to ALL of you - you know who you are!

Hurrah for another UFO busted!

Marguerite

From Louisa Harding's Design Collection
Yarn: LH Impression #07
Needles: Size 10 Aeros
Size 8 Aeros

Well just over a year ago I bought 8 balls of LH Impression and the Design Collection book to make Marguerite. It's been an on/off project - more off than on ;) not the least because I gained weight while it was otn, and I was quite sure it wouldn't fit - but didn't have the yarn for a size bigger and couldn't match the dye lot.

Losing a stone has given me confidence to finish it - sadly there is no-one at home at present to take a photo, so you'll have to make do with Monica the manneqin.

I'm really pleased with it. It fits very well, and is a beautifully shaped feminine cardigan. It's a wonderful feeling to have finished something else, and I'm all inspired to cast on for another project.

I have so many projects whizzing round in my head at the moment I want to knit them all - but I am going to starting Rosa from Debbie Bliss Summer Essentials in Cathay as soon as I get home from work tonight!

Hillsborough

My lovely cyber friends know that I am an avid and passionate Liverpool supporter and have been for many years. Tomorrow marks the 18th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Hillsborough for me is one of those events where you remember where you were and what you were doing with absolute clarity. It's almost incomprehensible that 96 ordinary people like myself could lose their lives attending a football match - but they did and the face of British football changed for ever.

There's a memorial at Anfield to the 96, every time I attend a match I leave flowers. It's a routine my children and I have developed, and is always a time for quiet reflection.

I'm not about to get controversial or political here - there are still very bad feelings between Liverpool supporters and certain elements of the press all these years on, but I won't dwell on that. What I would ask you to do however is to spare a thought for the 96 tomorrow and remember them in your prayers.

Central Park Hoodie

Central Park Hoodie

Yarn: Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran #Hero

Needles: Size 6 Millwards ( 5mm )

At last - out of the Knitting doldrums and an FO! I am so pleased with this hoodie I really am. I should have finished it yonks ago, but a break from it when we went on holiday in February and the Sock a Month haven't helped!

It feels great to have finished something again. I love the yarn, and have 2 balls left from the 10 I bought from Jannettes, so should have enough to make another Sharfik

Time for some summer knits now I think.

Easter Greetings

It's been a quiet time for me in Blogland recently - mainly because Real Life has been particularly hectic and stressful. Never mind, another Bank Holiday weekend is upon us which means my working all the hours God sends as usual, although I am managing lunch out this Sunday with SIL and BIL.

I wish I could show you some knitting progress, but sadly there isn't any. I HAVE however been cross stitching, I can't show you 'cos it's for cyber friend by way of a thank you, but I can't tell you how therapeutically relaxing it has been.

The knits are another "family heirloom" knitted by my mum when she still remembered how to knit, bless her!

A happy and peaceful Easter weekend to you all.