s o m e t i m e s

Very occasionally, we allow dirty paws access to nice clean sheets. It will be bath time later.

a l l c h a n g e

We have all our inductions and meetings and startings again tomorrow. Summer has ended, and Autumn is here. I wonder what this Autumn will bring? Lots to juggle, things to hope for, and things to avoid.

f i s h e r m a n

All my knitting energy since May has been dedicated to what I began to think of as 'the jumper of doom'. My present to my other half for his birthday in April was a pattern, a huge pile of yarn from Bergere de France, and a promise to knit all my affection into thousands of stitches. I must admit, I didn't anticipate just how long it would take, or how complicated fisherman's rib is, affecting 1 in 2 stitches so that you can't just get into a rhythmic flow (arggghhhh) and therefore that other emotions than just affection may be involved...

But now it's done, I'm pleased I did it and I don't mind really spending that much time on someone as nice as is the doglet's co-carer. The yarn used for the inside of the collar is very soft, so as not to irritate the delicate neck (!), and the main yarn has a very nice robust feel and is lovely and warm.

I may not tackle quite such a big thing for a long time, but it's good once in a while.

L a h n d o n

* iPhone photos

I spent a beautifully sunny and happy weekend in London last week with an old and dear friend and her Mum, followed by catching up with the littlest member of the family. We took her 'on a bear hunt...' at the theatre for her 2nd birthday. The auditorium was full very sweet and excited littles, who became especially enchanted when the place filled with falling snow.... wow! Before that I had a more sophisticated time in and around Hackney, shopping, having my hair cut, eating nice food, enjoying the sunshine, marvelling at the gentrification. And especially pleasingly, I managed to find a butter dish in the shape I've been looking for, made in a gratifyingly yolk-like yellow and out of melamine that has been manufactured by a Portuguese family since the mid-20th century. A Benjaminian object of aura (will post a photo of that another day).