Revenge of Mothra

Hello Dear Readers,
Well I had a pretty nice reverse staycation (went to work, but stayed in a different place) at my friend's place in Ealing. It's quite a bit different than Putney, more of a little town feeling in some ways. There is a lovely park with an old house that used to be Sir John Sloane's country house. It also has a nice mall and a good little organic grocery store. We also discovered a Cypriot restaurant with a lot of, shall we call it character? Big portions and bigger personalities on the owners/staff. It is certainly a place I'd visit again on a nice Saturday or Sunday for shopping and general wandering about. The kitties were good too, but a bit insistent in the mornings with their meowing. I really enjoyed having my own space for two weeks, listening to BBC radio 4 in the mornings with breakfast, enjoying Lucy's vast collection of teapots and catching up on knitting and tv watching. Yesterday we had an amazing event at the Natural History Museum, it was a "Science Uncovered" Friday night, with bars, jars, and life on mars at the theme.

There were scientists on soap boxes talking about controversial subjects, a science bar where you could have a drink and a chat with a "real scientist", and plenty of tables set up by different departments to talk to the public about what they do. There were also a bunch of tours, and I gave 3 of the area where I work, the Cryptogamic herbairum. It was so much fun, I was hyped up all night with excitement, though I crashed and burned when I finally got home (to Putney for the first time in two weeks).

Here are some photos of me taken by Chris who came on the last tour. I had a good time, and people were asking a lot of questions which is usually a sign they were engaged and enjoyed it. Hopefully I'm around next year to do the same thing!

I spent the rest of the weekend working on various projects that were percolating in my brain while I was away. One was to do more spinning, mix it up a bit, but unfortunately I found this little guy in a stash of fiber. AHHHHH, MOTH!! Certainly that's a four letter word in this house. I popped the offending wool in the freezer, and I think it's just isolated to this one section of un-spun wool since it was open, in my room and probably smelled irresistible to the moths since it still has some lanolin. Oh well, at least it's still spin-able, though I'm going to start organizing my other stash into zip lock bags.... I did tons of other knitting, and got some amazing yarn from my friend who I was cat sitting for, but I'll save that for next weekend's post as it's already Monday.

Cheerio!

Same old Same old

Hello Dear Readers,

Not too much going on here across the pond, we had a "Bank Holiday" weekend last weekend (Monday off) and due to some pain in my arm caused by working on the computer in an anxious fashion, I spent most of the weekend working my way through Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5...... I was so sore I didn't even knit all weekend (except for about 30 min with my toes, I just needed a little fix) and I didn't do any typing or computer work (hence no blog). I'm all better this week, I think I just needed severe rest and a few yoga classes to work it out.

I had finished a lot of knitting projects a few weeks ago, but didn't get a chance to photograph them until today.
I've also been helping my sister out with some wedding stuff (like which M&M's I liked best for the favors), and whipped up this little bolero to go over my smoking hot bridesmaid's dress should it turn chilly. I also have a more substantial sweater if the weather is really bad, or it may be balmy and hot, who knows?
Yesterday morning Patsquash and some friends cycled down to Brighton (55 miles, or 75 if you can't read a map). I got up at 6am to make them some banana muffins, used up the last of my imported from the USA Bisquick to make pancakes, fresh squeezed orange juice, the works. It's so nice to cook for a bunch of athletes who will eat just about anything, and lots of it! Here they are trying to figure out how to use the new bike pump.......who needs an instruction manual?

I also went to a Crafternoon with some friends from my Tuesday knitting group in Hammersmith. They are an amazing and diverse group of ladies, I'm so lucky to have found them, and so soon after I got here! Before some of you get too excited, the guys aren't knitters, they are just SO's along for the good conversation and to hold on to yarn hanks for winding. Tom and Lucy are in the back, winding some yarn, they are headed to China next week and Chris and I are cat sitting for them. I told Lucy, "You had me at one bedroom apartment!" It will be a nice stay-cation for Chris and I and give us a chance to explore a slightly different part of London, as well as pretend that we have our own place for a while. I plan on listening to loud music and leaving dishes in the sink overnight, heaven!!

Germany trip, part zwei.

Hello Dear Readers,

Finally all recovered from that cold I picked up on my trip, though it was a long slog. I felt well enough to jog into work yesterday to pick up my bike (I bussed it home Friday) and it felt really good to be up and active again.

When we last left our intrepid travelers, we were in the charming city of Rotenburg, home of a huge number of Christmas stores and specializing in large chunks of sizzling ham served in frying pans...... after gorging ourselves on these specialties, we soldiered on to the charming forest town of Freiburg. This was a true road trip, about 5 hours in the car, me resting for the first half, then enjoying a joyride down the Autobahn! God it felt good to be behind the wheel again, although having Reverse in the wrong place on the gear shift made for some interesting driving, and I may have whipped a doughnut the wrong way in a city traffic circle...... .
If you don't know what that means, you probably live somewhere where whipping doughnuts is either not feasible, illegal or both. I think it's a rural thing.......except apparently in Freiburg. We got in late and tired, so just had a brief jaunt around the place scouting for food and a large Munster. I'm sure we found it, but it's hard to describe, except for large, dark and gothic. We collapsed into bed to prepare for a day of hiking.
We took a stunning gondola ride up and up and up and up into the mountain. It was Chris's first time on a gondola and he was so excited, it made the whole thing worth it. At the chilly top we took a few moments for hot chocolate and Black Forest Chocolate Cake or Schwartzwalder Kirschkuchen. MMMMMM getting all that energy for the hike down.
It started out cold and overcast, but the views were stunning, huge trees, well maintained trails, and thank's to Amy's finely honed map and trail reading skills we didn't even get lost, and made it all the way to the bottom, sore but happy.

After such a big day of hiking, we were ready to head to another impossibly quaint and gorgous town in Bavaria, Treiburg, home of the famous black forest cuckoo clocks. It is also famous for being home to one of the largest waterfalls in Germany, even visited by Hemmingway.
Some kind tourists took our photo at the falls, it was such a great trip, the conversation and company were second to none. I forget how much being around Skippies makes me laugh, it's such good exercise for my abs and my soul I'm sure! See, we are laughing here, thinking about fanny packs, whipping doughnuts and milkshakes.........
I even got in one of my favorite hiking activities as we explored the falls, knitting hiking socks WHILE HIKING! These are my Tyrolean socks from Interweave 2007 (thanks for the magazine Jennifer!!). The Tyrolean region is in Austria, but hey, close enough! We walked around Treiburg enjoying the cuckoo clocks and wooden carvings, then drove up to see one of the two world's largest cuckoo clocks. We got there just after 1, so had to wait 3o min for it to go off but it was pretty neat.
Not the right time, but hey, you can't have everything in a giant cuckoo clock you can live in!

Yeah, now after all that I just have one question to ask myself. Great European vacation? or Greatest European Vacation!! I miss you already Amy, hope you are having a good hike in CA, and you arn't suffering too much from the cold I may have given you.....

Germany

Hello Dear Readers,

Well what a whirlwind trip I had! There is so much to tell I'm going to break it into multiple posts. Friday Chris and I trekked up north to the London Stanstead airport. We got a flight to Frankfort and drove a rental (an Opal!) to Heidelberg where my friend Amy was just finishing up attending a conference. The next day we drove the mostly scenic route, with some autobahn driving to Wurtzburg, my old home town!

The first and most important stop on the trip for me was to see my old house (above). The grounds had changed a bit, but I still recognized the old playground and the street. Thanks to Amy's intrepid-ness we went into my old building which was being renovated. They had added a few walls and redecorated, but my old room was still there with the same window and ancient radiator. It was very nostalgic, and I could probably have hung out there all day, but we pressed on to enjoy the beautiful city.


Old buildings, churches and palaces, and Wurtzburg isn't even that big of a town! We explored the markplatz on the first day and the next we hiked up to the Marionburg castle (in the background above), with a lovely winding descent into the vineyards. We ate lunch at the most exquisite and quaint wine house in the world, and headed up to Rothenburg, midevial quaint walled tourist town.

I remembered traveling there as a kid, and especially remember the neat clock building (the salmon colored one here) that has two windows that open showing a gentleman and a man drinking beer when the clock chimes. The other big memory I have of the town is the amazing Kathe Woflheart christmas shop.
And the medieval wall upon which you can walk around the entire old city.
It was so scenic, so picturesque, and so peaceful. I felt a real sense of familiarity with things and places, the items for sale at the shops that were so much a part of my childhood, like the ubiquitous wooden Christmas pyramids and cuckoo clocks. I could imagine my parents there 25 years ago, playing the tourist just as I was and buying those things that I would later grow up with and take for granted. It was a great pleasure to see them in their natural habitat, though I probably won't have a home of my own to populated with such things for many years to come.

We finished off most evenings with hearty German meals (I for one am glad to be back in the land of fiber, but it was nice to take a dietary vacation too.) I sampled local wines and Chris tried to do a beer and meat tour, not too difficult considering that's mostly what was on offer!

Giant hunks of meat served all on their own seems to be a restaurant staple there. And the beer, always the beer.

Next week, Freiburg, Triburg, and my nasty chest cold that knocked me down, but I still kept on trucking through my beloved Germany!

Busy As Usuall

Hello Dear Readers,

We've had some lovely weather these past two weekends here in London, nothing to rival the heat and sunshine baking the US but pretty nice for us. Last weekend I spent all Saturday with some knitting friends, we started the day with breakfast knitting in a cafe, then moved to a picnic lunch at Ravenscourt Park for the rest of the afternoon. It was lovely, and we got a new crocheter and a new sock knitter out of the day. Hurray for Icy and Sian!

I also finished my mother's sweater this weekend. It looks ok on me, I hope she will like it.

....and I finished the baby skirt for my friend, now I just need to find the time to give it to her!


Yesterday Patrick and I went down to the rowing club to clean our bikes. I got pretty filthy, but black beauty is looking pretty good. All that crap that I thought was actually part of the gears came off and though she doesn't look new, I like to think she rides a bit more smoothly. Hopefully this nice weather keeps up so that she doesn't get trashed again Monday morning.

In the afternoon Patrick, Jess, Chris and I went down to the SouthBank where they were having both a Vintage and a Street Food Festival. If you are ever in London on a weekend and want to do some people watching, the SouthBank is the place to do it, it was crammed! We had some cider, I had these interesting deep fried risotto ball wraps (with apple slices and corn) and we finished up with churros and chocolate and Flake ice cream.

Today I tried to do my taxes yet again, but realized that the last form that they sent me didn't have the activation code I needed, only my ID number, and the activation code will come in another letter soon. I hope. Sigh. Why doesn't the government make it easier for me to give it money? No wonder we are in such financial trouble! Chris starts his new job at HMRC (the tax office) on the 15 th of August, so maybe he can straighten them out for me!

This afternoon I have a friend coming over to learn to knit a sweater, I'm really looking forward to it, and then Friday Chris and I are headed to Germany! No post next weekend as I'm traveling, but I'm looking forward to posting pictures of my childhood home soon!

Auf Weidersein!

BINGO!

Hello Dear Readers,

Whew, it seems like a long time since I last blogged! I've been pretty tired in the weekends, and not too much exciting stuff has happened, but when it rains, it pours! I had a really crappy week this week, one to rival Alexander's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, that stretched on and on and on.... anyway, that's all in the past now, life moves on, and just as bad things often seem to come in three's, so apparently do good things. The first was on Thursday afternoon, when I arrived home, I realized my back pack was WIDE open! Fortunately the only thing that fell out was my top, but it was a nice red top my sister had just given me in May. Luckily, I was able to cycle back and found it not to far from home, undamaged, phew!

This week Chris's cousin Christiana graduated with a degree in Math from the university at Surrey. Congrats! That meant Chris's Aunt, Uncle and two cousins are visiting this weekend, with the usual whirlwind tour of London. Unfortunately for them we are getting a lot of good old fashioned London rain this weekend! Oh well, there is lots to do inside. On Friday we went and saw Chicago at the Cambridge Theater (by the way, for high school friends reading this, the program said that the Buddy Holly story played there in 1999, is that where we saw it?). The show was AMAZING!! The dancing is so phenomenal, and the show stared Christie Brinkley, yes, that Christie Brinkley.

Finally, last night I went to Knit Nation Bingo. I went to the Knit Nation last year, but decided just to do this special event this year. Before the bingo I met with some girlfriends from my Hammersmith Stitch and Bitch group. They had all been at the marketplace earlier in the day, and won books from Ysolda Teague. They assured me it would be my turn next, and you know what? IT WAS!!! I won on the two line bingo (don't ask, the system is much more complicated than American bingo) But I won this lovely book from Ysolda, and even got her to sign it for me there, how fantastic! I was so excited when I won I leapt into the air and shrieked BINGO!!! at the top of my voice, and was so surprised I sat right back down and covered my mouth! The kid calling said, was it a bingo or not? I said yes yes! Most of the other winners would just quietly announce bingo in a restrained English manner, but I couldn't help myself!

I also got a nice bag from the bingo, and two skeins of lace weight yarn from my friend who I made the shrug of many colors for. The great thing about the Knit Nation bingo is that everyone there was wearing knitting, working on knitting, talking about knitting, it's like being among my own people.

I was working on this sweater for my mother, for which I just have to finish the second sleeve and put some buttons on. I think it turned out pretty well, I just hope it fits right!

Kittin' to the Hittin'

Hello Dear Readers,

Wimbledon feaver is reaching a high pitch today, with number three Federer having won his match, and our Cypriot friend Bagdadis losing but playing really well. I was stitching away feverently, something about watching a tense game makes me knit faster. It also keeps me from eating the traditional strawberries and cream and champagne that they feast on at Wimbledon. Plus I'm watching on the fuzzy set upstairs in Pat's room, so that keeps the temptation at bay too.

I knocked out this baby, my sister's short sleeve sweater redux. This is my "To knit or not to knit (is not really a question)" pose.

The sun was just fading to the west here and I really liked the effect it gave to the photos.

I'm also working on this one for my mother, it's Salina from a book called Vintage Knits that Jennifer gave me when she came over in May. See Jennifer, it's already coming in handy! Knitting presents are always appreciated and used.....

It's beginning to feel more like summer here, although still cool temperatures. Chis and I are trekking all the way up to Alexandra Palace (1 and a half hour trip, but it's still in London technically) to go to a Cypriot Wine Festival tomorrow. I'm thinking of picking up some children's books in Greek to help me practice, if they have them. At least we know they will have wine and food, lots and lots and lots of food, this is Cypriot after all.