Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Dear Friends…

What I didn’t say yesterday, was how much I appreciated all your messages of sympathy.

Here's Perdita in my husband's chair. The shawl is one Alexander brought back from a trek in the Himalayas, a shepherd's shawl, when he and Ketki were living in Mumbai. It was meant for me.

...but for whatever reason, the picture hasn't arrived here from my iPad. We'll hope for better tomorrow...

Today’s mental activity, such as it has been, was largely devoted to the appalling fire in the tower block in west London. At first, one wondered, could this be Isis? (Perdita and I sleep with the radio on, and for the most part those calm BBC voices telling us about the terrible things happening around the world are wonderfully soporific.) But it sounds now as if it was a hideous miscalculation by our old friend Helff&Safety.

Not much knitting – but by now a single row of the Northmavine Hap takes quite a while. I did a couple.

And – oh, dear! This was ridiculous – I ordered the yarn for Marie Wallin’s Lovage pattern, from lovekntting.com.

Is this even more ridiculous – no! I applied for a place at Belmont House on Unst for Shetland Wool Week. It’s expensive; you get picked up in Lerwick and taken there; a tour of that magical island and a lesson in lace knitting from a native; two nights at Belmont House; you get taken back to Lerwick.


We shall see. That would still leave me to get to Shetland, find somewhere to stay in Lerwick, get back again. I’ll keep you posted. Kristie, I need you!

22 comments:

  1. No, it's not ridiculous. You need that treat to look forward to this year, with the cruise not until next year. Flights go from Edinburgh to Sumburgh, as you know from last time. Sounds wonderful

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    1. I so agree! (And another beautiful baby in the header!)

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  2. So glad to be able to read your blog again. Thinking of you as you adjust.

    I listen to R4 which sends me to sleep much faster than music; Agatha Christe and similar audiobooks have the same effect!

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  3. Nothing by Marie Wallin is ridiculous. And how very lovely to have a knitting excursion to anticipate and plan for.
    My former (thankfully) brother-in-law used to remark when he saw me knitting, that he wished he too had time to waste like that. He was clicking a pen open and closed repeatedly as he said this. Another brother-in-law forbid his wife to knit or read in his presence as it 'bothered' him. That was many years ago, but just thinking of his arrogance still raises my blood pressure.

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    1. I wouldn't have stay married to someone like that I'm afraid. I guess it might have worked if she didn't have to stay in the same room with him. But that is not usually the case.

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  4. Anonymous9:47 PM

    So glad to hear you will attend Shetland Wool Week!
    it will be fabulous and a well-deserved excursion.
    Order whatever yarn you like! You should definitely enjoy your knitting projects - great patterns, best yarn.
    LisaRR

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  5. Glad to have you back with us.

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  6. skeindalous10:06 PM

    What wonderful plans! Shetland Wool Week....deep sigh.

    And I also have ordered yarn for Lovage, although not in the original colors. I have shamelessly borrowed the color scheme of someone on ravelry. It is truly meant as an homage....her version was so very lovely.

    As we are on different sides of the Atlantic, she need not worry that I will bump into her on the high road, wearing HER sweater!

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  7. I love that you are back in full throat, Jean. You sound more like your wonderful self than you have in a while. As one who has been a caregiver, I know how you want to just "bust out" and do things. After my mother died I signed up and took a weaving class as our local community college, and enjoyed it immensely.

    Speaking of Shetland Wool Week, did you see Kate Davies today? She was at her most eloquent best, and she mentioned Shetland Wool Week especially. Be sure to check it out.

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  8. I think much self-care is in order after all you have gone through, Jean. Ordering the yarn for the Lovage sweater was such a good choice. But going to Shetland for wool week was not just a good choice. It was brilliant! I have to say I might be more than a wee bit jealous. I will actually be in London at the end of September and have a flight booked home on September 29. The temptation to delay my return and join you is great!

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  9. Jean it's perfectly fine that you extend kindness to yourself. A good dose of self care is in order. So happy to spend a few minutes at the end of my day catching up with you.

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  10. Glad you are back. I've missed reading you every day.

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  11. Anonymous11:12 AM

    Oh yes, bust out, as Julie says. And not just with Shetland Wool week. That Hebrides cruise is a long way away. (Alas.). Chloe

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  12. I listen to audio books as I sleep. I have learned I have to use books marks because I never remember when I fall asleep. Sometimes when I use the timer function and the book stops I wake up suddenly.
    The shetland trip sounds wonderful. And Marie Wallin's designs are the stuff of dreams. I look forward to your knitting!

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  13. Anonymous12:06 PM

    IMHO you are doing exactly the right things. I admire your positive attitude. A bit of delicious anticipation and stash acquisition is therapeutic. Enjoy all of it.
    Best wishes, Helen (anon)

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  14. Yea for trips to places you yearn to see and Yea for yarn for gorgeous patterns!!!

    You know we will never not approve such treats. And you deserve these AND MORE!!!!

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  15. Dear Jean - I've missed your "voice" and so happy you are not waiting to head to Shetland again. I wish I were going along. The blanket and baby are lovely and sweet. I hope you can shake the sadness out of Polliwog, but I know how emotions come up out of our knitting.

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  16. I have to put in a good word for the podcast I listen to to fall asleep. It's called Sleep With Me (sleepwithmepodcast.com), and is produced by an awkward young man ("Dearest Scooter) who had trouble falling asleep as a child because he was terrified of school because of undiagnosed dyslexia. He decided that his rambling storytelling ability might put adults to sleep, so he uses his "creaky dulcet tones" to tell a bedtime story. He is very often in the top ten downloads (millions a month). Many of his listeners have PTSD, anxiety disorders, abusive relationships or--like me--"minds that are racing". He takes a little getting used to, but I can now fall asleep in 10 minutes and look forward to bedtime. I never hear the stories because the intros put me to sleep.

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  17. I have a friend who sleeps with the BBC on. Is that a "thing" as they say? I'm happy to hear of your travel plans. The cruise and Shetland - wonderful!

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  18. =Tamar5:43 PM

    The Shetland Wool event sounds wonderful. I wonder, do they suggest bringing any specific needles? Or do they include a stop at a well-stocked yarn shop? I can't believe it would be spectator-only.
    I'll be interested to see the Himalayan shepherd's shawl.

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  19. You've been much in my thoughts, although I haven't got as far as writing you the email I've had in my head. I just wanted to say that this all sounds really positive, and if you are up for Wool Week, I hope we might get a chance to say hi and perhaps have some cake somewhere? Jim and I will be there Sun-Fri. :) With all good wishes, Jen

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  20. Well done you!!! I have been internally debating about that Lovage pattern as well! Am still working on Ms. Wallin's Springtime Collection Six - well worth every penny - and am working on Lily and Daffodil, but want to knit every pattern in the book!:) Lovage is a distant dream for me. Would love to see how you do with the pattern.
    As our knitting ancestor-in-common would say, "Knit on!"

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