Too Cold for Strawberries!

It's June - isn't it? We've had the longest day, the nights are drawing in and and it's flipping cold! Mr A and I went to Wimbledon yesterday and I can at least say that my tootsies were warm in my razorshell socks, but very little else was. I needed every single one of my layers, and even added the pashmina I had popped in my bag too.

We woke yesterday morning to a detour - Upton on Severn was closed due to flooding, so we couldn't make for J1 of the M50 to get to the M5 South, Worcester was inaccessible from South of the city for the same reason so we decided, along with a great many other people, to head for Ledbury and J2 of the M50 which happily got us where we needed to be in the end.

We arrived later than planned, but all things considered a little travel disruption compared with what some people are enduring is nothing really. We were just in time for the first rain break, but when play did resume we saw a very tightly fought match on Court 13 between Safina and Bondarenko, 7:5, 7:6 ( 8:6 ) then a quite one-sided match with Martina Hingis.

Mr A went to find a up of tea and I remained in the stand, and watched the first few games of the Lubicic match. We had planned to drink our tea and make our way to Henman Hill. However, that was when the deluge started, and although it brightened once or twice it never looked like picking up and we called it a day t 6:00.

Martina Hingis

It was damn cold, and I had to wear my pashmina for extra neck warmth in spite of having a scarf. When the sun did make a fleeting appearance though, it was lovely.

There's no sadder sight at Wimbledon than covered courts

Every picture tells a story

We had some cracking good fish and chips on the way home though. I do hope the weather improves this weekend as I am driving up to Cockermouth tomorrow for Saturday's Woolfest.

A finished project and friendship!

At last - a finished project! I have had the knitting grumps these last few weeks, I have completed and discarded two knitted presents for friends' babies ( why is it that when we knit for someone else we are never satisfied ) so it is somewhat of a relief to have actually started and finished something and to be pleased with it!

Montego Bay

Yarn: Knitshop Mulberry in # Peacock

Needles 5.5mm Millwards

The pattern for Montego Bay can be found in the Summer Issue of Interweave. Now I know this wasn't the yarn called for, but I had this beautiful skein of Mulberry Silk ( 50% silk 50% merino wool which I had received from Chrissy in a Secret Santa swap, and I really wanted to use it to knit this with. I think it's a DK, but I really like the way it has knitted this pattern. And I think Peacock is just the right colour to call it - beautiful isn't it?

If anyone is thinking of knitting this - a word of caution if you are knitting in a finer yarn than I did. The pattern says US8's or 5.5mm, it wasn't till I was half way through I realised that a US8 is a 5mm not a 5.5mm - no problem for me with my yarn, but it may be with a finer yarn, depends what you want your stitch to look like I guess.

And now on to frindship! Now then, let me tell you that the on-line knitting community is by and large a wonderful place. If you had told me that I could be blogging away intermittently a few months ago I'd have laughed at you and yet here I am. And blogland takes you to some wonderful places I can tell you! And yesterday it led the postman to my door with these wonderful surprises.

This is what was written in the card.

Dear Joy,

I decided to have a "prize draw" for the regular commenters on my blog, and your name came out of the hat ( or rather bowl! ). I hope you like the contents of your parcel.

All the very best, knittyinpink

I can't tell you how overwhelmed I am by her generosity! Thank you!

And finally, another act of friendship here from Carolinne on the Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns forum. Carolinne does the most amazing sewing, and has introduced us all to ambigrams which are fascinating, and last week, when she knew I needed cheering up, Carolinne sent me this beautiful ambigrammed needle case, with an ambigram of Joy on it - isn't it beautiful

So, here's to the on-line knitting community and friendship, and long may we all go on with support and encouragement of each other!

Race For Life

There's nothing like the Race For Life to give you a reality check. I've been out of sorts this week, tired, emotional and very sorry for myself. I've had little motivation for anything really, just managing to do the bare minimum to get through the day.

Well Race day dawned and what a fabulous day. Blue skies with a cooling breeze. Not too hot. Perfect. And silly old grumpy me, prowling around this morning, I so did not want to do this. Mr A came with me ( a first ) and do you know the minute I stepped foot on Worcester Racecourse my spirits lifted a little. The carnival atmosphere was infectious, and I got generally caught up with all the high spirits and positivity.

I am so pleased I was wearing sunglasses, no-one could see the tears in my eyes when I was reading all those messages people were wearing on their backs. I had to make a difficult decison today though, sadly I wasn't able to run. Being post-viral I walked, I am tired and my dropped foot isn't working properly, and I really didn't want to fall. So my time was rubbish really, just under the hour, but not to worry. I'll run next year!

Here I am before the race

Progress

Getting over 5,000 runners organised well done to all the marshalls and organisers - a difficult job fantastically done

Never been so please to see the High Street - the end is in sight!

A lovely spot to rest afterwards, on the bridge overlooking the Cathedral


And for Jo and FatCat, a garden pose minus water butts, compost heaps and garden sheds!

All in all a great morning! A very uplifting morning too, and I've given myself a very good talking to. It's been my privilidge over the years to nurse some remarkably courageous people who have faced cancer with great dignity and spirit. And here am I allowing the minutiae of day to day life get me down. Well I'll tell you this, I have my health and a wonderful loving caring family and today I feel like the luckiest woman on earth.

And I know this isn't knitting - it's far more important than that!!!!!!!!! But it deserves a place on my blog. And I want to say "thank you" to everyone who has helped so much by sponsoring me, to Chrissy for her auction, Terri for the virtual encourgement, Noo for doing so well yesterday, and to everyone who has supported me recently. I'm still on virtual holiday, and I have the knitting grumps, but I'm recovering, and from today onwards I intend to enjoy every single minute of every single day!!!!! Starting now!!!!!!!!!

And buggrit - this is MY space and I'll post about what I jolly well please! And as long as people want to reply to my posts without any hidden agendas they will very welcome! After today, let me tell you that there is FAR more important stuff going on! Seeing a young child, no older then ten, with "In memory of my mum" on her back say it all. I'll remember her for a long time.

Aknita's Knits

I've made a couple of minor alterations to my blog. Firstly, the "other stories" has gone, my blog will now go by the highly unoriginal name of Aknita's Knits. No more little family references or anecdotes I'm afraid. From now on my blog will feature my knitting exploits only, which will probably make it a much less interesting place to visit, as these days not as much knitting takes place as it should! However, I will try to knit faster!

Secondly, sadly I have had to go along the lines of approving all blog comments before they appear.

I do hope you will still continue to pop in from time to time! I do enjoy your company and your comments.