Mike's musings

Post 1750

Ooh, that's an awfully big number.

Spent much of today thinking. I did some billable work, too, but it was great to have an opportunity to do some unhindered thought, and I'm pretty pleased with what came out of it. I had a good meeting with some of the folks from Tech, which I think will yield fruit - some soon, some later. And I now have a couple of major things to present to two different people tomorrow. In fact, I'm also giving a presentation to all of Professional Services - and hopefully lots of Tech and Support, too - on security tomorrow. Rather looking forward to that, I have to say.

Today's been a gouty day. I had some on Monday through Wednesday, but not too bad. Last night I had some lovely rare steak, and the gout transferred to the other foot, with extreme vigour. Ow. So, I've drunk a lot of water today, and hobbled.

And this evening, I went to my first Stitch 'n' Bitch meeting. I was the only male knitter there (another guy turned up with someone, but wasn't a knitter, and left), and everyone was very welcoming. I have to say that if there are any single guys out there looking to meet women, then taking up knitting would be a great way to do so! It really wasn't bitchy at all: just lots of women (and me) talking about knitting and everything else besides (I managed to avoid hearing much of a conversation about genetic counselling which was going on near me). One of the women there was also using a drop spindle, and I took a video of her doing it, with commentary, to show Moo, as I gave her a drop spindle for Christmas, and I think it should help her get the most out of it.

Labels: gout, knitting, work

Off to Reston, Virginia

(backposting) Left home at 0700, having seen the girls, which is always good. Took 3 hours to get to Heathrow, as the M25 was pretty awful. Once there, I was through check-in and security in 10 minutes, which wasn't bad, however you look at it. Failed to get an upgrade, but did get a bulkhead seat, so life could have been worse.

We were delayed by quite a while, but the flight itself was all right. Watched Whiteout (fairly diverting, but fairly obvious), read Thomas Pynchon's "The Crying of Lot 49", and did lots of knitting.

Took a good old time to get through immigration in the States, and then to my hotel. Had a good Thai meal round the corner, and then to bed.

Problems with home email. Hopefully I can get it fixed (maybe with Moo's help) tomorrow.

Labels: knitting, travel

A new week, a new customer

(backposting) So, into London for a week of workshops. Nice and close to Liverpool Street, which is good. I do enjoy the beginning of projects, where there's so much to learn, a new people to meet and get to know. I left this morning before girls were up, and thought I might not see them all day, but luckily made it back just in time to see them into bed, which was a real blessing.

More yarn arrived today, and I started a new scarf. Had to restart it once, but now going OK.

Labels: knitting, work

America, Minchin, and a hat

1. I'm not going to America tomorrow. Or next week, come to that. I'll go to London tomorrow and next week instead (assuming the weather holds and the roads/trains are operating as expected (do roads operate?))
2. Watching the Tim Minchin DVD So f**cking rock, which Moo bought me for Christmas. Bl**dy brilliant.
3. I made a hat. I knitted, all by myself. And it looks and feels and acts like a hat. So it _must_ be a duck. Or something. I'll be posting pictures, oh yes.

Labels: humour, knitting, travel

Casting off

Yes, I've completed my first garment! Well, I _say_ garment, but it's a short scarf: there wasn't enough yarn. Oh, and it's got _lots_ of errors in it. But I'm enjoying it.

Wondering whether I should only be knitting in the current liturgical colour, but Moo says that only counts if I'm knitting _during_ a service, so I'm probably OK.

I was planning to take the girls to the 10am service at St Andrew's Halstead, but we set off, and the roads were just too bad: I headed back within half a mile. So, we went to the Great Yeldham lessons and carols service, and the girls did OK (apart from 3 wee trips between them).

They're both so, so tired, and Jojo really needs adult time, but Miri keeps wanting to know where she is, so it requires some careful juggling.

Before lunch, I had an Armagnac (Moo was on her 2nd cherry brandy...), and then we had bacon butties for lunch. A snowball fight finished off the afternoon.

I went to the Halstead lessons and carols in evening, and read the 8th lesson (the Magi). As well as the choir (who did well), we had a group called the Cavendish Consort, who were very comp. I really enjoyed hearing some good music (at Baroque pitch, on proper instruments).

Labels: church, knitting

Business lounge

(backposting) So, we checked in after a short meeting and an early start (I was up at 0545 local, 0345 GMT), and I had some good news and some bad news. The bad news was that I only had _one_ guest pass to the business lounge. Well, bad news for Phil. Good news for Ryan, what with his being my boss and paying my expenses.

Got back in time for the girls' bedtime, which was a huge bonus.

Knitting on the plane again.

Labels: knitting, travel

And off to Finland

(backposting) The big thing was trying to get my knitting on the plane. The evidence via Ravelry was inconclusive - well, mixed - so I followed the advice of the person at check-in. I hadn't realised that I was allowed one piece of carry-on _plus_ my laptop bag, so I put the needles (bamboo, 5mm) in my other bag, with my clothes. This meant that if it was turned back, I could go back and check it in.

However, it went through first time, with no problem, so I was able to knit on the plane.

I'm getting better, but I'm still making some pretty egregious mistakes, and although I'm getting better at unknitting, I still have problems when I have to go over a row boundary. I made the decision to create a pattern, which was pretty complicated, but kept me nice and interested.

Labels: knitting, travel

Tea-lights and knitting

In order to make Archdruid Eileen happier, I've decided to mention tea-lights.

Well, that's that done. So, the other news is that I decided to try knitting today. I've spent quite a lot of time on this today, and it's not going well. I can knit just fine, but I average somewhere between 0.5 and 1.5 extra stitches per row. And I'm only knitting 10 stitch rows, so this isn't good. It seems that I'm forgetting to take the stitches off one needle and put them onto the next one, and this isn't entirely postive as an approved knitting technique.

Labels: knitting

39 today!

Yes, it's my birthday today, and I'm 39 years old. I woke up too late to make it to the 8 o'clock service, and decided that spending time with family was more important that the canon law requirement to receive Communion every Sunday. So, we headed off for brunch (I'd had pirate cake for breakfast, and had a knickerbocker glory. We then headed off to Freeport where I bought more shirts and a pair of trousers for work. The girls started to lose it, and Miri slept all the way home, and for 20-30 minutes even after we got back.

And then, a birthday party. It turns ot that one of Jojo's pre-school friends, Amber, shares my birthday, so we went there for a children's party. I took the pirate cake (I'd just have ended up eating it all over the week), and everyone had a great time. However, towards the end, Miri put her elbow out again. It was pretty obvious, and _this_ time, I managed to put it back in, which was an enormous relief.

The girls just about managed to stay awake until bedtime, and then Moo and I did more Wii Fit work. It's really impressive, I have to say, and I'm really getting into it. I did some ironing as Moo did her work-out, and then barbecued some lovely steak with a lovely bottle of red wine from James and Ruth (thanks!).

Tomorrow, I start my first day in the new job on a customer site - in Huntingdon, as it happens. Exciting, with some trepidation. It'll be good, I think.

I've had a good birthday, even if Moo's not finished knitting my present (a pair of lovely socks)...

Labels: birthday, drink, food, knitting, party, work

Yarn Addiction Rehabilitation Network

"Yarn Addiction": an state in which a person becomes so engrossed in yarn-based activities that he/she is unable to interact with the outside world. Affects: knitters, spinners, dyers, weavers, etc.

If you have a partner, spouse or relative who is a frequent - or recovering - Yarn Addict, then you are welcome to this (Facebook) support group.

Labels: facebook, humour, knitting

03/12/2008
Originally uploaded by MikeCamel

(backposting) We had meetings all day in an office in the Woolworth Tower in Manhattan, which had this great view. A good set of meetings, too.

Oh, and I also went and spent rather more than I meant to on some rather nice hand-dyed knitting for Moo, which I'm sure she'll like. There was a "Yarn Riot" in my hotel which people on Ravelry had told her about. Think I'll be popular.

Labels: knitting, meeting, travel, work

19-26

Bad news on two fronts. These numbers represent both the score that England managed against Wales and the relatives sizes of the jersey that Moo finished for me last night - as my Christmas present - and me. She's a bit gutted, but it does fit her, just. I can get my head through the neck - with my glasses off, and with Moo pulling - and with a bit of blocking, (wetting and stretching, apparently), the general size would probably be OKish, but the seams round the arm really won't manage.

Jo's a bit under the weather, but despite a trip round Colchester (never use the Park and Ride there, is all I can say), the cold and not much to interest her, she was a star. Both girls were, actually.

Now, if only Miri hadn't woken up just as we were going to bed and Jo had slept past 0430...

Labels: Jo, knitting, rugby