Of Trees and Fighting

Tonight was going to be a nice blog post about how well the second Hanami is doing (onto the final cherry blossom chart now), and how much I'm looking forward to going to a knitting group for the first time ever tomorrow evening (it's at Borders in Gateshead - I'll give it a go, as they do have a great range of knitterly books and magazines, so even if I find it's not "me" I can go for a browse). However, I'm in a right paddywhack and all over three lime trees.

We live on a modern (about 25 year old) estate. And I've been here for 12 years or so. I like the area. One of the reasons I bought the house, is that while we both love the country, Jon doesn't drive, so being on good bus routes is a bonus - however the estate has loads of street trees around, which enhance the visual aspect. We're 20 minutes or so from the Toon by bus, about half an hour from the coast, and a short walk from local nature reserves at Sugley Dene, The Brickworks, Percy Pit, and Newburn Riverside Country Park. It's convenient, it's nice, and considering how some estates can end up as soul-less MacMansion collections, I find the trees break it up and make it appear more homely.

We have a small carpark in front of our house, for the use of the four houses in our block (if you imagine a big square, flat on the ground, we each have a quarter square of that). Until earlier this year, there were 6 mature lime trees along the side, adjacent to another house's garden. Earlier this year, the people who had lived there 12 months had a conservatory erected, all UPVC, and but for the trees, uncomfortably visible from our upstairs. They then had three of the trees cut down by the council, on the grounds that they were blocking out their light. It was a done deal - no consultation, or anything - and we were promised that no further trees would be cut. By the way - under English Law, no-one has a right to light per se - there are cases when the erection of a new structure can interfere with your light, but these trees to my knowledge had been here for 9 years longer than these folks, so they hardly sprung up overnight.

Today, Jon rang me at work, distressed to his wits end. He's prone to stress and has suffered its effects in the past. Apparently, the council were back and had an order to cut down the trees at the request of the same neighbours. Again - no consultation or anything - just what they want, they get. I told Jon to call our local councillor, who's a complete star - 100% for the area, and has so much time for everyone, I don't know where he gets it from, while I called the council. When I got through to the right person, I was lovely and polite, with my very best Bury Grammar Girl tones (Thank You Miss Batty for insisting we learned how to speak without the Lanky accent - even though I only ever get the elocution out for "posh" - normally I'm broader than a very broad thing). He explained the request was because of property damage (or its potential). So I asked him to not cut the trees down, as we think they contribute to the area.

So the work is stopped for now - we now need to try and get a TPO placed on these trees. Apparently Neighbour is threatening to "take" the council. So we need to hurry. And find out more about Lime Trees (lots of cases of applications for felling on the same grounds being turned down - but only where there's a TPO). And Tree Preservation Orders. And living with awkward wotsits. I think it's less of the "property damage" - there are loads of these trees closer to houses on the estate, and nobody's house appears to be falling down yet - and more what I heard a muttering about last weekend - which was what a pain it is when the leaves fall off, and what a mess they make.

I feel sometimes that this is trivial, but then, how many more trees need to be taken down one by one until we all live in Concretia? I know they can be a pain, but they're a feature of the estate. Don't buy a house next to a sewage farm if you don't like the smell - and don't buy one next to 6 mature trees, unless you're prepared to sweep!

That's enough for now - I need to do lots of stress-busting knitting now to calm myself down a tad. I'll be fine - just wrong woman, wrong day.

A Learning Curve

Firstly, I have learned that if Flickr isn't playing, it's wise to make sure that one is logging on with one's correct account. (ahem).
Newcastle also does not have congestion. That is Official. Even though it took me one hour and ten minutes to get 10 miles tonight, it is not congestion. That is why we will not be getting a congestion charge here. Which I would pay, as it's a pain for me to get to work by public transport - not to mention I'm not happy about hanging around dark bus stops on my own - especially not with Bonfire Night coming up). It would also be cheaper than moving house.
Someone is looking after me - I had got in too late for the Posh Yarn that I wanted (boo!) but Dee had a cancellation - and it was for the yarn I wanted - I was browsing and dreaming, and nipped on and got it.
So I'm feeling a lot better about things. I need to stop being grumpy, as with me, it just breeds grumpiness. I also picked up a Knitmaster Wool Winder for £4 + postage on Ebay, which is going to be great for winding all my skeins. And it's just like the one my Mum used to let me wind her wool with when I was younger, so I got a bit misty eyed when I was playing with it tonight. Small things and all that.
We had a pretty good weekend - Jon is from Walsall, and supports the football team - they were playing in Hartlepool on Saturday, so I drove us down, and we had a really good afternoon. Hartlepool's a great ground to visit - the fans are friendly, there's tonnes of free parking, the food's good (meat and potato pies - heaven for a Lancashire Lass), and there's a pretty good pub on Jackson's Wharf. Then we went to the local pub quiz last night (are we spotting a theme here?), and came second - which was much better than we expected. AND I got the yarn I wanted in the Posh Yarn sale last night.
Good things do happen to me - I should just notice them more. I'm cracking on with my second Hanami, too - I'm into the Transition chart now - and from now, the charts are all different, which will keep me on my toes. I've also been getting on with my second Tyrolean Stocking. Unfortunately, there's no pictures as yet - when I dug out the camera, I remembered that I needed to recharge the batteries... Silly me. Maybe I'll get myself together for next time.
But now I shall go, as Murphy's Law is on tonight, and Jim Nesbitt is a tonic for any female!

Rough Day

Bit of a whinge-fest today - I've felt a bit icky all day, and it's been raining, which never helps. Then I've had to cover late-ish at work, got caught up in what appeared to be a flash mob of cars in the City Centre (30 minute queue for about half a mile, then everything disappearing, without anyone appearing to have turned off) and now Flickr's not playing with me. So Grrrrrr!

But to try and look at some positives, I'd like to thank everyone who has left comments on the blog over the last few posts. It makes me feel better to read them, and it doesn't half perk me up and make me feel that the world's not completely full of twits (just the car in front of me ;-)). I knit, largely for me, and it's lovely that you think that I'm doing some nice work. I'm always a bit funny about posting photos - I think I'm "showing off" sometimes, and possibly showing myself up (especially when I see some of the work others do) - so thank you again for your comments and keep them coming (now I have an ego, I need to feed it!)

I've been poddling along with the knitting - I have finished one of the Tyrolean Stockings, and I love it. I've been wondering if I can get away with wearing odd socks, as I'm really getting a compulsion to wear it. It's the lovely cabled design, coupled with Dee and Tony's wonderful Helena wool in Myrtle - toning greeny variagated loveliness. But, it's twin is having to wait, as I've begun Hanami No 2 - this time for a Christmas present. I'm using the same Colourmart Cashmere as before, and have managed 2 repeats of the basketweave so far. I'm using the second Tyrolean as a motivator - there's 7 repeats of the basketweave, and I found on my first one that if I'm not going to muck up the pattern, I need to break every now and then, so it's one repeat of basketweave to 12 rows of sock at the moment, to keep the variation. It's not that I'm getting bored, but giving myself a little bit of a change every now and then is helping me stay fresh at it.

And I've been so good this week - I have not dipped into the Posh Yarn shop this week, as I am building up quite a stash, and think I should get cracking on using some of it up before I indulge again... I do try to be good - but sometimes my halo slips a little and there's something I've got to play Fastest Finger First for!

And - if anyone liked the Mystery Stole 3 - Swan Lake that's a couple of posts further down, but didn't get onto the sign up in time, Melanie has now relased the pattern, which includes the stole as knit, plus directions for a Symmetrical pointed stole, plus a divine double winged version. For us UK knitters, the pattern's on the good side of bargain at $6, and can be ordered via Melanie's Blog. I found it a challenge, but tackling one chart at a time, and not thinking about the final item meant I could knit it one stitch at a time. Melanie's directions helped as well - I found the pattern easy to understand.

So - back to Hanami - it's a lovely knit and it's keeping me sane this evening.

Thordis, Hanami and Finland...

This will teach me to update my blog regularly or pay the price with a long blog post... I have finished knitting the first of three Hanami Stoles, designed by Melanie. This one is knitted for a birthday present, and requires blocking out properly. I've used Colourmart cashmere for this, in Honeysuckle, a soft, warm pinky-peach shade, and it knitted itself. I've got plenty of the cone left for a second one (for a Christmas present) and will be knitting a third, for myself, in Posh Yarns Eva 2 Ply in Petal. All will be beaded on the cast on edge, as well. This picture is of the Cherry Blossom pattern:

And this is the Basket Weave.

The pattern begins with a beaded cast on, reminscent of light spring raindrops, and then moves into the Basket Weave, which is taken from a traditional Japanese quilting pattern, symbolising friendship and family. It then transitions into a pattern of Cherry Blossom falling. Hanami is the Japanese term for watching the Cherry Trees shed their blossom.

Next, I have finished the Thordis (Icelandic) Shawl. The pattern was from Piecework magazine, first published in 1996 by Interweave press, and was found by a member of the MS3 group, and has been Knit A Long-ed by a couple of Yahoo groups. Interweave kindly released the pattern via their Knitting Daily newsletter, and Sarah Siegel made up kits of Jaggerspun Maine Line. It was a very quick knit - just under two weeks from casting on to finishing the crocheted edge, and used a variety of lace stitches. I've been busy at work these past two weeks, with trips up to Aberdeen and Finland, so it's not been a time where I could dedicate myself to knitting too much, but I found the shawl very easy to pick up and put down. And I cannot recommend Sarah's Yarns enough - prices are very keen (especially now, with the dollar to pound exchange rate), and her service is exceptional - from Brooklyn to Newcastle upon Tyne in a week - during the UK's postal strike as well. Lovely lady, good range, and good prices - AND she'll wind you custom sized balls as well, which is great, if, like me, you're not very good at joins...

More Lace News - I won Piglottie's Lace Booty Auction, in aid of her friend Charlotte's charity trek to Peru for the Rainbow Trust. And what booty it is, too - a Fiber Trends Leaf Lace Shawl pattern, enough Fyberspates Laceweight in Ocean to complete the shawl, three fab Piglottie Productions cards, and a lovely little bag, which is the perfect size for a sock project. So thank you Piglottie, and GO CHARLOTTE!!!!

Finally on Knitting News, I've cast on again... I tried Pomotamus, I did, but have put them aside for now. I don't know if it's me, or the pattern, or the wool (not likely, as I love Fyberspates wool), but it's not gelling, so not for me for now. Maybe later, I'll be in the right mood. What I am getting on with, is the Tyrolean Stockings from Interweave Fall 2007. I'm using Posh Yarns Helena in Myrtle, and they're looking lovely to me - they look like snuggly winter socks, and the weather is putting me in mind of snuggles, and wrapping up.

And in non-knitting news, I've been somewhere I've never been before. I was sent to Finland for work, which was great - My main problem was getting there. I'm a very nervous flyer - I panic about it, and can't help it. But KLM and FinnComm looked after me without any drama. All 6 planes on time, and the flights were even quite enjoyable. But I have to admit that my favourite sound on a plane is "Welcome to Newcastle". I found the Moomin Shop, and now have Moomintroll hanging off my phone. I also discovered a new range of alcoholic drinks to enjoy - Finnish Vodka with Arctic Cloudberry Juice was very moreish, and I have brought home Licorice Vodka (yummy) and Tar Schapps (made from the sap of a tree in Finland, and tastes like alcoholic BBQ sauce). And Stroopwafelen from Schiphol (can't go through there without picking up a box - even though they do sell them in Lakeland, it's not the same). What I saw of Finland from the local plane looked beautiful - forests and lakes in abundance, but what I saw on the ground was largely hotel, factory and airport. I shall definitely book some holiday if I am lucky enough to go there again.

Then last weekend, I drove up to Eyemouth, and we had a lovely Sunday. Fish and Chips on the front, and a nice wander - and (the reason why we went) a chance to feed the seals in the harbour. I'll leave you with one of our new friends for now - if anyone's still reading the marathon entry!

Pictures of FOs!

So here we have some photos. The "model" has not done her hair, is wearing weekend attire, but is proud as proud can be of her efforts. Firstly, we have the Fir Cone Shawl, in Merino laceweight from http://www.handpaintedyarn.com/. It is in soft shades of brown and russet, and just suggested Autumn to me - hence why I used it for the Fir Cone. It has blocked to a beautiful soft shawl, which will be great for when the Autumn breezes start to bite (although to get Autumn, we're meant to have had a summer, and apart from one Wednesday afternoon in mid-May, we've not been getting that round here.

Next, we have Swan Lake, aka Mystery Stole 3. It is in Fiddlesticks Jaggerspun Zephyr laceweight in Ebony, (from the Knitting and Crochet Guild stall at Woolfest), beaded with black 8/0 beads from Pogles (also Woolfest) and I used Addi Turbo Lace circulars in 3.5mm. I love it. No other words for it. I keep unfolding it, and just looking and marvelling at it. I would like to thank Piglottie, who first mentioned the MS3 in her blog. She enabled me, and for that I am grateful. Artis-Anne, Artyfartykat, Arianwen, and Carrie Anne for their encouragement. Everyone who took part in the KAL for their advice, questions, encouragement, tenacity and humour. And finally, Melanie, who designed Swan Lake, and ran the KAL. Christine, who kept an escrow copy of the pattern, just in case anything were to happen to Melanie, and who co-moderated, and provided tech support (I twist my knit stitches too, Christine, and now, I too have stopped!), and Georgina Bow, mother of Melanie, another Keeper of the Pattern, and the designer for MS4 - starting sometime in Autumn 2008 - can't wait for that one now!

So - we have pictures - proof that I CAN finish something. I have learned so much on these projects - not least that I can do lace!

Happy Dance Sunday!

Today's been a Good Day. So far, I have blocked out my Swan Lake (Mystery Stole 3) and my Fir Cone Shawl. Jon has promised to take pictures tomorrow, so I will post then, hopefully. Both are absolutely beautiful - I was in love with Swan Lake as I knitted it, went a little doubtful on the wing, but have fallen madly back in love with it once blocked. The Fir Cone has been well worth it, as well. And whoever first mentioned the Strimmer cable as a blocking aid has my heartfelt thanks. It worked like a charm, and was well worth the muttered curses as I threaded it through the straight edges of Swan Lake, and the straight edge and points of the Fir Cone.
Then, after arriving home nearly 2 hours late, the Helena I had my eye on on the Posh Yarn shop was still there, so I snaffled that as well, as a reward for my blocking.
Finally, upon checking my email, I found my Ravelry Invite! So Panperoxide is now officially there, and will be adding her stash bit by bit. This is going to be a revelation to me - all those skeins of wool I have hidden in nice little hidey holes are going to be forced out into the light for all to see. Ulp.
I've also got up to 5 repeats of the basket weave done on my first Hanami. It's looking very pretty - but I need a little distraction after each repeat so I don't start to get bored... Once I get off the basket weave, it's a new chart every 32 rows, so there's no chance to get bored - not a criticism, just I am a very impatient person, and I'm likely to muck it all up by thinking - well - six isn't so much less than seven, if I'm not careful.
So - more photos tomorrow. Off to carry on happy dancing...

Back from V and under the 500...

Finally, I can see a Ravelry invite with my name on it! Now I need to get organised - only 436 people ahead of me!
We arrived back from the V Festival yesterday, and I immediately printed out the final MS3 clue - beads galore! I've knitted a few rows last night after driving back 250 miles (not a bad drive, but every time I blinked last night I saw brake lights). There were some good acts on this year we got to see the Goo Goo Dolls (I've loved "Iris" forever, and now find I like their other songs), Stephen Fretwell, a little bit of Mika, Cherry Ghost, a bit of KT Tunstall, James, Kasabian and the Killers. Then on Sunday, the Proclaimers, The Thrills, Paolo Nutini, Sinead O'Connor, Snow Patrol and Primal Scream. I've already booked tickets for next year.
So knitting has taken a back seat this weekend - we stayed with Jon's family, who live about 20 minutes from the Weston Park site, which is great for us - hot showers and comfy beds - I'm too nesh for the full festival experience now! I did do half a repeat on Pomatomus, but that was my lot. Still. Long Bank Holiday Weekend and Business Trip to Aberdeen coming up!