Busy Weekend

Hello Dear Readers,

Due to the EXCESSIVE leave that I get working at Kew, I have enough left over to work only 4 days weeks until the end of my contract (Sept 10). I took last Friday off to take care of some business, including working on a paper for publication and finally registering for a GP! It seems the real problem I had before was going to the wrong one, one that as I was informed the first time I went there was "only for keeping English people healthy." I thought that didn't sound right, so the second time I went there to register they told me I had to prove that I was going to be in the UK for 6 months which I could only do by showing I was a registered student or had a job for 6 months. So when I went back with proof of my job at Kew and a letter from the place where I teach knitting, they informed me I needed to show I had been in the UK 6 months AND was going to be there 10 more months. I showed my letter from The Sewing Rooms, but since it didn't have an end date (it was open ended and implied I had a job as long as I wanted) it wasn't good proof I would be here 10 months. At the advice of some of my friends I went somewhere else, and guess what? All they wanted was proof I had an address in the UK and a copy of my passport for identity!! My first clue that I wouldn't get satisfaction should have been them saying it was only for keeping "English people" healthy, foreigners beware! Ah well, at least I finally got in the system!


In other news, I've been busy knitting! I made this cowl for keeping warm in the chilly herbarium. It works perfectly because it keeps me warm without dragging in the specimens.
It was a quick project that I could work on while chilling out watching movies on the weekend.
I did a double twist in the tube to make a pleasing drape on the neck, I think it works pretty well. Originally I did it about 5 times too big, but the second try is the charm.
I've also been working pretty steadily on my lace-weight cardigan which I'm making from some yarn Patrick got me for my birthday. I'm already under the arms and working down the body.
Madeleine was also here on Friday on her way back to Amarillo. She gave me a fantastic bag with dachshunds on it and a cute sewing kit that will be perfect for me to take with me while I'm working on a new quilt. She also dropped off these two gems of books for me to use while she's out of the country. Beautiful illustrations of a new flora to learn, perfect!!

Just working 4 days again this week, I will try not to get too used to it. The other thing I did Friday was to apply for 3 jobs at Kew that would be starting in a few months, so keep your fingers crossed for me.