While the cat's away

This little mouse had intended to learn something new.

Usually when DH takes to the hills goes walking in the Lake District on his own, I sort my self out a treat or two and teach myself a new craft, or variation on a theme. I decided on Knooking and even bought the beginners set and a book from Amazon, but then I decided to be a good girl and finish off all those odd bits that have been waiting just for buttons or blocking or for ends to be darned in - and so I did.

First the Handspun Delight Shawlette

Which had been waiting to be blocked for far too long, it is made from the gorgeous Araucania Aysen that RhondaH (co-moderator from the Knit-a-square group on Ravelry) so kindly sent me. It was as lovely to knit with as I thought it would be and not at all splitty as I expected, it blocked beautifully too but will have to wait to be worn as it seems that summer has finally arrived this weekend - although the air conditioning at work has gone beserk again so may be it will get used sooner than I think.

Out of the remainder of the two skeins of this colour way I had also made

a hat and an 8" square to send off to Knit-a-Square

Then I got to work on some ends and buttons

and now have another collection of knits ready for The Little Love Project

Other than that I have been merrily working away on my tunisian crochet Refuge blanket and knitting the border on another baby blanket for The Little Love Project, oh and I might just have popped down to the wonderful, small family run department store in our little town and bought (a bit too much) baby wool in their sale - well after all, it is important to support these great independent local stores, isn't it?

Easily led

I do I find it hard to stay loyal to just one cause with my charity knitting.

I've had to scale back what I was making for Knit-a-Square because the postal costs to South Africa became ridiculous after the price hike in April, but I am very happily knitting away for The Little Love Project and thoroughly enjoying it, as well as making the odd Innocent Smoothie hat when I need something really small and simple.

I was very tempted when I first saw the Bears & Squares appeal for Refuge in Simply Knitting, but I told myself, no, Little Love was enough, and besides, this year they want whole blankets (not individual squares like last year), and for a while I was happy.

Yesterday, however, at the Lacemakers meeting several friends were teaching themselves Tunisian Crochet, and I realised I hadn't done any of that for a long time. I came home and before I knew what had happened......

a handful of yarns had jumped out of the cupboard along with my Denise Interchangeable hook and the first strip for the blanket was appearing (blow casting on, casting off and then sewing squares together - it's 6 in a row for me!)

These yarns are fluffy or textured so they aren't any good for the preemie babies delicate skin, and I will take the blanket with me to Ally Pally where they are collecting them to save postage. I'm alternating the green brushed DK with oddments in different colours and different stitches and I have already done 4 and a bit of the 24 squares needed.

Emirates Air Line

Also known as the Thames Cable Car

Reading the paper at the end of last week, DH suddenly announced "I'd like to go on that!"
The new Emirates Air Line had just opened, and despite it being the least likely thing I would have expected him to want to do, that's just what we did.

Sadly the weather wasn't as kind as it could have been, so apologies for the photo quality - the camera tried to focus through the rain on the gondala windows, but didn't succeed too well.
The cable car goes from the Royal Docks, reached by the Docklands Light Railway (weird not having a driver and being able to see down the track out of the front of the train) approx 1km across the Thames to Greenwich reaching a 'cruising height' of 300ft (yes everything is termed as if you are flying, including the boarding passes -instead of tickets) and it was BRILLIANT!

The views were stunning, even given the weather

Thames Barrier

The Dome and Canary Wharf

The veiw with the Olympic erm... 'sculpture'

And coming in to 'land'

It was really great and over far too quickly. We wanted to do it all again, and will do soon, hopefully in better weather. From Greenwich we walked along the Thames back to Charing Cross, as is our wont, via a Costa or two, with a picnic lunch on the way. It was such a good day I can definitely see us incorporating the Cable car into our London walks again, though hopefully in better weather next time.

And of course I have to show you what I made on the train

Three little Innocent Smoothie Hats