princessdeia

I have just realised that last weekend marked my one year anniversary on Ravelry - I was a little shocked it had only been a year to be honest - it seems like so much longer!

I thought I would list some of the reasons I love Ravelry…

1. I have finally managed to organise my stash, if I want to make some socks I can log on the Ravelry and look at all my sock yarn rather than have to hunt around the boxes - plus I can then see if someone else has used this yarn for a project and what it looks like knitted up.
2. I have discovered new patterns - yes we all see the new Knitty patterns when they go online, but would I have discovered Le Slouch or the February Lady Sweater without it.
3. Friends, the iKnit, Socktopod and Westenders groups make it so much easier to get out and knit with others.
4. De-stashing, I have no idea how I would have found the use of all my yarn if it wasn’t for ravelry - I am assuming it would have involved hours of googling!
5. Killing time reading the forums when I should be working (admit it you all do it).

Without a doubt I have become an organised knitter - now if only I would find a Ravelry for my paperwork

I am planning on getting around to posting about my adventure in America, however I have been kept away from the P.C. So far since I have been back I have been to Kent, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, and then back to Buckinghamshire.

What little time I have had to myself I have been working on my Clapotis (This is my current Viral Knitting Project). I can’t believe it has taken me so long to knit this pattern… Am I the last knitter on earth to make this shawl?

An important part of my life has always been my desire to travel - without a doubt this love came from my father. I have the memory of watching a documentary on whether the Hanging Gardens of Babylon existed, and my Dad explaining to me about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and how most of them had been destroyed. Years later we would discuss what the “must see” sites of the world would be now and we never did complete a final list.

Last summer, the new Seven Wonders of the World were announced, when I read the list a smiled knowing my dad had managed to see all these wonders, but also that I was lucky enough to share some of these experiences with him.

Our first major family holiday was for six weeks to India; although the holiday was intended for us to spend time with our family it was important for my dad that we saw the country as well. Although I was still very young for this holiday I remember the long coach ride from Delhi to Agra, to see the Taj Mahal. I had no idea then why the building was so important as far as I was concerned it was a place I had seen on the news when Princess Diana went there alone.

Over the years we continued to have many family adventures, but the last time all four Desais went away together was to China. For me personally it was a memorable trip, it was it was the start of my journey to giving up meat (and as a result I lived off rice and chocolate for two weeks), without a doubt the highlight of the holiday was the walk along the Great Wall of China at Badaling.

The following year my sister and I intended to have our own adventures, but when my parents told me they planned on spending three weeks travelling around Mexico, I decided to tag along. Early one morning towards the end of the vacation we were up at 5am to avoid the crowds and see Chichen Itza, we ended up spending the whole day there climbing ‘the castle,’ exploring the throne room and walking around the ball court.

The link to the Seven Wonders doesn’t end there, after Jason and I got engaged, my parents, sister and I started planning our final Desai Family holiday to Peru so I could see Machu Picchu before I got married, (Jason decided against joining us on the trip as he feared the spiders). Unfortunately a month before we were due to leave my dad was diagnosed with cancer and the holiday was cancelled.

So having seen three of the seven wonders I became determined to see the other four as a legacy to my dad. As the new most important man in the life, Jason has already started this quest taking me to Rome to celebrate our first wedding anniversary so I could see the Colosseum, and he is even talking about ways to avoid the spiders in Peru!

Published with wonder of Wordpress, whilst I am away.

Last month, Laura and Emma came up with the fabulous idea of getting all the Socktopus fans to make Alice a blanket for her wedding next month. It started with a group on Ravelry, and then we all secretly knitted our strips, before getting together for a “sewing party.” I have to admit I did no sewing at all; somehow I managed to knit another strip.

The plan was to throw a surprise knitting shower for Alice on Saturday and present her with the blanket all was going well for me until Saturday morning when I cracked my tooth, whilst the lovely ladies drunk, knitted and wore fake moustaches I sat at home in pain watching My So Called Life on DVD.

On Sunday, we were meant to be having a romantic meal to celebrate Valentines Day (Jason had to work late on the 14th), but instead we stayed at home watching the Ultimate Bourne box set and eating soup and ice cream.

After a trip to the dentist on Monday, I am now feeling a lot better and just to make sure everything is going my way my amazing husband has booked a weekend away for us next week to Rome so I can cross another wonder off my list.

1. Tree Decoration, 2. Jelly Belly Machine, 3. Kate Spade Books,
4. Newest Member of the family, 5. wii Bowling Scorecard, 6. Ill!,
7. Dashing Finished, 8. Midwest Moonlight Finished, 9. Monkey Toe

My Christmas started out great, at home with pretty tree, surrounded my my family and getting some fabulous presents. We got to catch up with the extended family at my in-laws Ruby wedding anniversary, I even got to finally meet the newest member of the family… and then over the weekend the deadly virus struck and I got the flu! I was even too ill to knit. So I didn’t get to finish all my projects in 2007.

You can’t help but notice my absence over the last few weeks, this was mainly due to me being in the Southern Hemisphere.

Last year, when my father was first taken ill, he made us make a few promises, one of them was no matter what Jason and I would get married on the 3rd March and the other was, that we would take his ashes to the Umgeni River in South Africa.

Traditionally, Hindus have their ashes scattered in the Ganges River, in Durban the crematorium can perform a ceremony where they use water imported from the Ganges before the ashes are scattered into the river.

My dad loved to travel, so rather than make this trip something more, we decided to do some travelling around South Africa. None of us had really seen South Africa - even though my mum and sister were born there (Mum only went to Cape Town last year), I had been over 10 years ago, so it was a real chance to travel.

We started off in Durban, then flew to Cape Town. This city has so much to offer, amazing both in the way of culture and scenery. Finally, we headed up north to Jo’burg, Sun City and we went on safari.

More photos.

One of Jason’s old school friends got married in Las Vegas last autumn, unfortunately we couldn’t attend the wedding - but they had a Wedding Reception for their family and friends this weekend in Cambridge.

The reception was in The Old Library of Trinity Hall, which was an amazing venue - whilst we had welcome drinks in the courtyard we watched all the punters - waiting for one to fall in! Their wedding cake was Vegas themed and so obviously we loved it!

Having watched the punting, we had to take part and after dinner, we had our little adventure (although Jason didn’t join in). having no idea about punting I ventured into a boat with some guests from America - which was the right choice as we were in the only boat with wine! Whilst enjoying the sites of Cambridge we discussed amongst other things our favourite Family Guy Quotes, mine being the whole Cookie Monster Addiction scene.

Last night, whilst at home suddenly realised that like my favourite blue monster that I am an addict, only I am addicted to Cookie A sock patterns and not choccy-chip treats. I cast on my Pomatomus socks last night and at around midnight I realised I had completed the ribbing and almost on repeat of the pattern (about 20 lines), I think I am hooked on the pattern.

It is very hard to update at the moment, as I am unable to talk about a lot that is going on. I am working on a something major and until it is all finalized, I can’t talk about it. As for my current knitting project, that currently for my One Skein Secret Pal, so I am unable to post about that either.

My World Cup Cardigan is still on hold, as it is too big to carry around with me (I am busy travelling a lot this week). After that, I think I will finally start knitting the Felted Tote from the One Skein book, oh and another pair of socks

Yesterday we went to Royal Ascot and we finally got to see the new grandstand, unfortunately I had dead batteries in my camera and was unable to buy replacements. here should be photos of my in my hat, drinking Pimms and losing money!

Also whilst I was out the postman delivered my first package from my Secret Pal. So this morning, after a quick trip to the post office and shop to buy some batteries, I got to examine my goodies.

Inside was two skeins of this amazing Colinette Point 5 yarn - I have never seen it before and it is amazing! I think it will make a luscious scarf for the autumn.

Also was a collection of scrap-booking supplies all in shades of blue - just in time for me to make my Postcard for June’s Project Spectrum.

Finally, a Su Duko book for some brain training and candles.

Part of the rules of the Knitting World Cup, you have to choose a project you will find a challenge. So what is challenging about my project after all it is a cardigan and I have knitted a few of them before.

Well first off, completing a project in 30 days is a major challenge for me, but most importantly this is the first project I will be knitting without a pattern. I have made a few items before where I have adapted a pattern but this is totally out of my head.

Originally, it was meant to knit the Chanel Jacket (pdf file) from Knit Scene, but I figured that wasn’t enough of a challenge. I love cardigans that are knitted top-down, as they knit up so quickly, so I figured this was the way to go, to insure that I will complete it in time… And it seems to be working!

This pretty much a “bear” representation of our weekend, Friday afternoon, Jason began his month long marathon of watching football matches and I started knitting, I manage to cast on my cardigan during the Germany/Costa Rica game, and did a little more over the Poland/Ecuador match.

Saturday was devoted to enjoying the sun, watching the England game and catching up with friends. On Sunday, I started knitting some blue squares for Knit-a-river, perfect for stash-busting and also for this month Project Spectrum.

I had a wonderful weekend helping my sister celebrate her birthday, on Saturday we went to Bicester Village, for some extreme shopping, my poor credit card. Then on Monday, we watched Friends with Money and had an amazing meal at Harlem (corn bread and mac and cheese).

Not much knitting has been done, I started the sleeve for my striped sweater, I am going to have cap sleeves, all in wine with raglan sleeve. I am hoping to finishe both of them this evening whilst watching TV.

I have also signed up for World Cup KAL, as I am already a football widow; it is just like the Knitting Olympics, only over 30 days rather than two weeks. I just need to think what I am going to make, I have some lovely Navy Aurora 4 Yarn that I have wanted to make into a cardigan, something like the Chanel Jacket (pdf file) from Knit Scene I guess I could make that in four weeks, or I could make the crochet dress (but this is meant to be a Knitting KAL). Once I have sorted out that dilemma, I can move on to my next one should I watch England in the final or complete the KAL (Yes I do Believe).