Its a lovely day to day and the callers gone away

I have had an awful return to work the callers are terrible and things are just not quite organised yet for next weeks changes. Still to when I left work tonight there are no rosters to start on Sunday and they still have problems to solve with these I really do not want the job of sorting them out it is a big headache to do so. I have had terrible news about people I know in the last week 3 have passed away and have now found out some are gravely ill and are not always being able to have treatment as it is past that stage.


SO I sit at work knitting on a square for this weekend and said to a friend "I hope I have nice mail today". I had no idea that I would come home to my Tribe parcel from Marti that was packed with yummy yarns I have never had before. I have my first ever skein of socks that rock yarn in the Titana colourway, there is some Reynolds sock yarn and KId mohair with the instructions to knit a laceweight scarf. Also Hershseys Kisses and Origami Papers. I have a lovely skein of what I can only guess is Handspun in a black and I guess it is a laceweight also.


Last but no least a Houndstooth Bully woolies knit kit in a box to make a coin purse. I have been good and just had one Hersheys and walked away from the room as these are a rare thing to get around my area. I dont know why they are addictive but there is something in them I love. Thank you so much Marti its all great and I am itching to start something.

Boss had fallen asleep on the chair beside me and for some reason this is also how he watches TV. For some odd reason he will pay attention and stay awake for Family Affairs, Coronation Street and Eastenders. If hes not to fussed with a movie he goes off to sleep also.

Ailsa has started a worldwide protest to get Knitpicks to help service the wider world of knitters. Go have you say put yourself on the soap box for a moment and let them know what they are up against. Just do it.

Today Cinderella went to her new Mummy and her and Maygan have returned home to Tasmania leaving me with a monkey request. I will make this one in my next mad fit of toy madness maybe for one of the shows. For now square number 3 for the knitting frenzy.

Monday recap

NO not my Mother nor my Grandmother. As supporters and financial sponsors for the Special children's Christmas party held in Wollongong today our group from the Piccadilly Crafters went along and Shirley wanted to hop on a Harley and have a picture. Shirley is now in her 70's and was just wrapped to get on the bike. The lovely bikers took a real liking to her and looked after her even for lunchtime. Our group sponsors 5 children and on the day they invite all supporters to come and enjoy seeing the children play on the rides get their toys and all the other fun including Santa arriving. The kids were able to have ice creams and fairy floss. Lunch was from subway and a juice. I did have subway and fairy floss. A great day to see the underprivileged and disabled kids have a great time out.
Some of the crowd with their folks or carers and St George the dragon.

Beanie number 5 done and ready to be sent with the 4 from other kniters for the Soaring Eagles Project. I missed the post office today and will go tomorrow. There was a special mission needing my attention first. Now my attention is turned to this Saturdays Knitting Frenzy at Gerringong and need to make a few squares for that.

I'm my madness of being on holidays not only Cinderella was made but also This little dolly. I am not making any more toys they were in a fit of madness as the toys are so fiddly. I do have a great home in mind for her as well.

Achievements for 7 days off mmm well knitting 2 dollies and a beanie. A special mission that will land itself on peoples doorsteps from tomorrow. A PRGE parcel sent and the next one worked out and purchased. Christmas presents done and next year started. A great excursion that well left me lost for what to say next. I did have a wonderful guide and did seem to get the royal treatment from the others as well. Found a great restaurant and will return real soon. So now work for 4 days then weekend off and then again 4 days and a special photo shoot on the Friday to do. But, for now Squares it will be.

Oh its Saturday is it

Another day in wonderful Wollongong. This is the Vietnam Memorial at Flagstaff point. Such a nice place for it as it looks over the water in both ways and the guys who served deserve a good memorial as they never got thanked properly for many years.

Cinderella as the poor little slave to her step family.

Cinderella as the glorious girl for the Ball. Hope she is liked so Maygan get Mummy to tell me and Ill post her after Grandma see her this week. I have survived that marathon. I can say iot is a fiddly job and this type of toy is not my type to knit.

As my tour guide yesterday this one was a bit brighter. Steve after an afternoon of playing grease monkey it is very hard and heavy work and watching them is best described as seeing playgroup for big boys with even bigger toys. I can see how it would tire them out but they are so excited as they work thinking about how they are trying to restore them to full glory and where possible back to flying them too. Maverick now you may have permission for a fly past in the Moth.

Today was the last Stich n Bitch for the year and we had a Secret Santa and I got a lovely gift of a sewing kit in a pouch and some nice chocolates which I did share with my parents. The back of my 5ply vest got quite a bit further today as well soon shall get to the shaping. I just need to whip up a cardi for a 6 mth old child and Ill be well accomplised this holidays.

Back to the knitting I go.

The plane!!! The plane !!!!!!

Today well an exciting excursion was had I picked up my mate Steve and went to his work for a visit. We started with a lovely relaxed lunch and it was a year since our last decent sit down meal together so that tied in well today just this year it was not a work function and I was not stuffed in some formal dress.

I spent an afternoon in awe whilst I toured the HARS hanger. I had never been close to a p-lane until this year when in March Steve and AJ took me along to the Nowra Air Show there I was amazed by what I saw and well was close to the planes. Today I went the steps further I went inside one of the nicest ones there.

Still being set up after arriving the day before is the Sabre. They guys were still getting her wings on and she is not yet complete a few other pieces were to go on. Steve was able to get her full glory complete after I had left.

I was taken by the graphic on the Dakota for some reason plane graphics and me are a real hit.

Now the first plane I have ever stood in and seen inside of a beautiful Lockheed Super Constellation VH-EAG - Connie.
The pride opf the fleet and well a step back into time To the 1940's and 50's to see what air travel was like. I looked out of a window over the wing to see the awesome view of it all.
The Radio Nav panel where I was in amazement at the original condition of of it all.
The view from the door down at the seats. I would like to maybe go oneday in her.

I did get the privilege of going in 2 of the non public viewing planes. The Neptune gave me the taste of the life of a Bomber and what the condions were like for them in WW2. Also a peek inside the new Grumman Tracker which sustained some nasty damage in transit to the Albion Park site. I also got the closest to the planes as I have ever been and just to see the electrics and panels in some was something too hard to describe. I guess it is like a Skein of laceweight yarn and seeing it be connected to many patterns and needles.

In late breaking news a dolly is done Maygan will have a Topsy Turvey Cinderella. I will do pics after I wrestle with what I have to get done from my Nephews Formal today. I have been busy for the holidays I have had. Time for more knitting. Someone remember to tell the pilot that I am not ready to come down yet.

Those were the younger years

Some total randomness from my playing with the toy I call the little baby. ( my digital camera) I found a phot from when I was 16 in 1993. My year 10 school photo as you can see the hair do has not changed just the body has got a bit older as I guess you can expect. The photo is one taken from the original. The badge is only worn by SRC members ( Student Representive Council) I was on that for 4 years. This was also the time my toy knitting started in ernest as to relax during exam times I made toys. Bananas and Alfred from ABC in this year and others in the 2 following years. That was before I heard of making money knitting.

My PRGE pal Rachel sent me a nice ice cream card and a great sock pattern to keep in a knitting bag or sack. I have then explained to my Mother about the knitting sack idea for her to make me a few. I dont sew to save myself.

A friend recommended this Author Robert G Barrett and well I got the first Les Norton book and as I wont give much away fiollowing his adventures will be great.

The fifth beanie which will be completed tomorrow and then it will be ready for hte post next week. We delayed it to give a fraction more time to get more done. Speaking of which must get back to the knitting.

Knitters christmas checklist for 2007

I had an early start to get my hampers today you can expect them between 7 am and 7 pm. Up early and cup of Earl Grey and some avocado on toast. While sitting watching tv having breakfast knitting topsy turvy dolly I thought I must snap my last years animated christmas toy for Donna my little polar bear. He also sings and moves but my next one I want is well out of the budget .

At precisely 10.55am ( Telstra Time ) 16 boxes inside ready to be opened and unpacked divided into my Sisters hampers and what Mum and Dad keep for us as well as make the kids christmas stockings from one as well. It is so nice as we have foods we dont normally buy and well it is all nice food. The red ones are frozen goods and the green is the pantry goods.
We placed the empties in Boss's play area and well we sorta lost a dog for a bit.

Some how it was a game to make the pile spread so he could leap around them all.

So hampers made and to save storing them both have been picked up and now I started on next year and even have some presents done ready for then.

Fetch 1, Fetch 2

Ok it was nice but cool and well I was in Kiama again, Knitter Guild week and I spent the free time shopping and even helped out a few friends with the staff christmas gifts in basically one shop. I love it how I can walk into a shop and say were after some things like this and well do most of the list like that. For the more so locals nice gifts at Quarry Gifts.

As it was the Knitters Guild AGM things changed just a bit in the Executive Comittee. Annie is now Treasurer and I have filled the role of Secretary for the next year. I only miss my knitting time while I write the minutes of the meeting each month.

Late last night well actually early this morning I finished the Fetching mitts. Excuse the bad photo but at 1am in the morning on a really cold night it is hard to take a photo unassisted lucky the camera has a timer function. So nice to use the Cleckheaton Country Silk for these and I am sure they will be warm.

To help keep up the stamina we have a small supply of these wonderful treats from afar. A nice pot of tea and a nice Krispy Kreme Original Glaze donut for supper. I managed to get 2 dozen from a fundraiser as the nearest ones are just over a 30 min drive away and when I want to go and get them it is either awful weather or something else comes along to occupy my time. I wrap them all individually and freeze them so they are as good as the day they are cooked when I defrost them.

I have my battle plan well organised and tonight I have made my Ornamental gift for my pal and have my next PRGE parcel ready to package and then I have a few Christmas treats ready to wrap. I need to whip up a baby cardigan and finish some ufos and then the attack plan is past the frontline of defence. Heres to a good knitting weekend and a better week.

Its begining to look a lot like White Christmas

The decorating is slowly coming out for Christmas and if I was in other areas of Australia I would be in the white stuff from a beautiful but unheard of cold snap. I am hoping it will stay about for a bit to allow for good knitting time. We have quite a number of the noisy moving figures that get spread all around the lounge room and just a little tree as Boss would lke to play with a regular one.
I got another parcel from Rachel my PRGE pal today with a yummy ball of sock yarn and a fab postcard from San Francisco. I love how it had a rainbow in the sky.

Knitting is getting so good on the track that Fetching is just fetching the right mitt now. I hope to get this done then ill be making a few ornaments and next week doing the ufo pile. I must think about the Easter show as well. So much to think about.

More Parcel Goodies

My Pal Racheal was not able to find a swan so she got me a great Devil Duckie. I cant wait to have him bobbing in my bath.
I also reveived a Monet postcard that was from Germany when my pal lived there in the 80's a musician for the fact I play cornet.

I super book of Halloween pictures that I will enjoy looking at and a great card.

The jam packed parcel also contained Pirate bandaids /plasters I looked closer at the tin there was a toy inside a Pencil topper pirate duckie. I also have a Harry Potter snitch model and stickers, Mcdonalds French Fries pencil eraser, a scrubber, a tiny skull key ring and Maverick again.

So many great gifts in a parcel I am so happy tonight that the fact the fetchin left hand is so close to the end I cant focus to get it done just yet.

The Forces Contingent of my PRGE Parcel

This parcel contained lots of stuff that needed to be in parts. Lets got to the forces and see the wonderful patches and figure from this part. Lets start with Maverick, A pilot figure complete with dog tags. I have dubbed him Maverick for now and it is funny as I also call a friend of mine Maverick due to the love of planes and the movie Top Gun.




For my patch collection I have a US Air Force Patch to add but I think it will have to go in prime place for my new wings.










The USS Enterprise patch and the pot holder and wash cloth that has what I beleive is a beetle on it. Ed oops on better lok today It is a skull and cross bones was not in the best of sight last night when I was surveying all the goodies

The USAF Civil Engineering patch that is the Air Force Reserves. We only have Army Reserves so it is something so new to me.

I loved all this box contained but wait there is more

I have been doing some work it seems

These are in no particular order. I have been trying to get further on a 5ply Bendigo vest for me but it hasnt got to far just yet. I should have taken it to work on Saturday it would have staved the boredom. It does make good mindless group style knitting.

The Alpaca/silk scarf is done just need to weave the ends in and block it. Now I need to finish Branching out also in the same yarn and then get the baby cardigan completed. I do still have a Broomstick scarf or so to make but they can wait till next week when Im on Holidays from work for a few days rest. Good timing as Chrisco hampers arrive on the Thursday and as I have to be at home until they arrive I can knit to pass the time.

Boss wants to say hello to all his pals and fans. He is a bit lost with no regular tv programming but right now settled on the lounge watching Cry Baby. He says we are watchign that tonight for Ms Darkside and tomorrow will be Edward Scissorhands. We had the plane movies over the weekend to keep us happy. I so miss my Austar says Boss who loves the UKTV by day when alone.

A little bit of a play with Fetching in Cleckheaton Country Silk I am enjoying them and well see how I go with them I have to figure the thumb part yet. Hopefully I can finish then or if I get stuck they can be sorted back out on Saturday at Guild as Annie has made them before.

I shall plug back along with some more knitting and hope to get some things done this week. I do want to whip up another beanie some time this week. MMMM where does the time go to .....it will have to put the brakes on this week.

Convoy for the kids

Today was the Camp Quality Convoy where a large number of about 350 trucks drove from Westcliff Colliery and by the time they got to King Street Warrawong where I took a short drive ( I could have walked but too the car just incase) they had been driving for an hour atleast. I stood there with the 2 babies (cameras ) at the ready and did shoot mostly to film today but remembered to get a few shots of the trucks as they passed.

The armaguard or money trucks.

Another truck and some from the heavy cement mixers and industry of Cleary Bros.

For good measure a motorbike to cast a difference. There was supposed to be bikes but I really didnt find any other than regular traffic.

I have had my PRGE pall pusedo bunny also note herself to me. Now I am getting another parcel ready for my pal and knitting something warm for her as well. I am still ever so lost without my Austar have watched Top Gun today and while knitting the collar of the jumper found that it will need another ball to finish despite already having ample more than the pattern requested by 200 grams. Ill just have to wait for another ball from Bendigo this week. I still need to get other stuff done though and should knit more and type less.

We will remember them

Ok this was not the actual point of todays post but he had to arrive for the children. Personally I would have preferred it to wait just another week not on Armistice Day. In some ways I find this a tad on the disrespectful side. I was at the cenotapth for 11 am and then at 12pm santa arrive only a few hundred meters away.

I chose to have the memorial to those who served to help hide the fact it was a beautiful warm and fine day. It really was too nice and I would have still welcomed rain again, we did get a few good days of just steady drizzle that helped.

Since I was working today I went on a little shopping spree and got half a kilo of peppermint patties from David Jones ( a pound in the imperial) and some nice other little treats of tea for work and some fudge From Tasmania. I had to reward myself for going to work for the 6th day in a row. I didnt take any knitting or anything as I was the only supervisor on duty today for my 4 hours and didnt feel it was appropriate. It turned out to be a whole 6mins before I was itching for some knitting or something. There was some grace I made it through and was just glad to get back home to pick up the knitting.

We have a slight problem here at the clan metal as the Austar Box has died after many years service and will not be up again til Wednesday so I have no Tv and no regular programmes to watch. I am resorting to my dvd collection but am angry that it will take a week to have the box replaced. So till then im out of sorts.

I can even reveal that my PRGE pal I have been secretly corresponding with is none other than The Spinning Goth. It has been fun so far and will continue until January.

Well I must get back to the knitting this collar and it is taking some effort to get it done.

Always look on the knit side of life!!!!!

Right mother is happy she has a dishcloth from the bundle of given stuff and well now she has put my jumper on my seat to make me knit the shawl neck collar and finish it. I always get the job of knitting the basks and necks or finishings of her projects as I have a better tension for them. I tend to be firmer on the tension there but a slight bit less on the main area.

Beanie 4 for the Soaring Eagles Project. This pic has no bi focal line as it is with my reading only glasses on. Hopefully over the weekend I can get another one done ready to post very soon. I have to say that Australia Post have done good for me with a Sea Mail parcel that arrived in record time to my Penfriend in England for her gifts for christmas and her lovely son's birthday in January. I know they enjoy reading what is happening and like to see what I have made.

I have been a bit engrosed for a day or 2 in this book about a young girl of 16 or less at the end of World War 1 and into the 1918 -19 Flu pandemic. It caught me in and I had trouble getting back out of it. It was a good glimpse into that time and the health care system of that era.

I have to get my self to do the collar of the jumper put that together and then make some christmas ornaments for ornamental and get one more beanie done. Then there is the topsy turvy to work on and a tea cosy to create further.

Not Happy Jan!!!!!!

OK this has limited to none in the knitting content. I have barely had time to catch up on my own life let alone figure out what I am doing at the moment everything is upside down it seems.

How was my Melbourne Cup spent see above picture. Very close to what it looked like today.

Ok today was The Melbourne Cup the Race that stops a nation........WRONG I spent the entire race taking escalated calls about stuff we could not have any possible way to help them it had not one thing to do with Directory Assistance. The Managers all stand seeing if they won and I'm stuck not knowing what is going on with some guy from a hotline wanting me to go and check on a lady who is not answering her phone. She called this hotline at 1.30am and it was 3pm and they wanted to return her call. HELLLOOO!!!!! call the police to check on her she probably had gone to the doctors to see what could be done with her problem. So one not to happy camper there.

For those in Australia who have rang Directory Assistance lately will know it is about to be restructured. There is massive centrewide training for this and I am doing a short shift on Saturday arvo to cover the managers who are in the training. It will mean me giving up another sat arvos knitting for 4 hours. Sunday Ill try to return to normal programming. I have one person at work constantly saying bring your tea cosy in. I have barely got any done and when I get it finished I will.

If only I could just walk away from the hassles and sit back and knit. I did loose majority of last week and last weekend to either work, training or Musicians weekend. Musicians weekend ate the most. This Sunday will be a gentle one to relax and knit, maybe some photo work if it is a good day for it. I have a few alpaca items so close to finished and then Ill just have to pack and send for some extra $$$. Soon I'll treat myself to a scenic flight as my first ever flying experience.

Well back to beanie 4 and hope fully get this done and the 5th one by the end of the weekend. Got a list of items to tackle after that.

Next time there will be real knitting as things return to normal routine again.

Musicians Weekend opps its Saturday again

It was a grey drizzling and good sleep in weather. I did the sleep in bit but did also want to go to the new JB Hi Fi to get some cds. I also got to be delighted with one of those boxes of wool that gets given as you knit.
I found this and snatched it away from my mother at once proclaiming loudly do you know what this is and how much it is worth. So a lucky grab of 6 balls of cotton suitable for more dishcloths. I now have my mother wanting them now. Must get some done for her to keep her quiet.

This weekend is what we call Musicians Weekend and I had a rare afternoon band practice and then a dinner to follow. As like all of our dinners due to the fact we have wonderful chefs in our church we had a good filling meal for a good cheap price. Actually I had so much I am full as anything. Between band and dinner I sat and knitted instead of joining in on Songsters practice ( choir) as a result I will now be able to turn the heel of my sock.

To keep me going a few treats Faith No More - The Platinum Collection, Twisted Sister - Big Hits and Nasty Cuts and Dio - The Collection. Considering I am an old and classic metal person ( according to a survey I took, followed by glam/hair) it was a great deal of fun trying to pick what to get in this trip. I will have to set myself a limit now.

I must get back to some real knitting there are a few items so close to finishing it aint funny. Plus finishing these will mean I can have some pocket money.

A wash out of a week

I have got stuff all done this week, hardly any knitting due to work. We have a bit of a major change to our system and what type of service we do. So I am enduring 3 days of classroom training to learn what I will actually do in another months time. Ok so why train now?? We have to train all the current staff on the Directory contract in my centre in time for it. It is what I have done before slightly changed. So there has been little time to do my normal stuff or even knit between calls. So knitting will suffer till tomorrow night.

I have 4 pieces of music to learn for this weekend even this has suffered I would normally sit there looking at it between calls but no time either. I have to knit and read music tomorrow night.

There is the new opportunity for me to coach agents in the newer styled contract and use the knowledge I gained on the Yellow Pages Connect cotract before it left us over 2 years ago. I was the YPC agent of the year for 2003 - 2004. This meant filling out paperwork to apply and see what happens next.

The dusty trophy I was given for my efforts all that time ago. Also what I wore that night to the formal awards night.

Well must go other things to do and organise knitting will return in full force soon.