The blog has been neglected again, thank you everyone who commented on my last post, I have replied to some and Blogger has hindered replies to others and some I just have not got around to yet, but please know that I really appreciate when people take the time to comment and I love reading those comments and learning a little about the people who write them.
It seems over a week has gone by since my last post and in my defence I can tell you that it has been a busy week. A week which saw me grow a year older (although I am calling it 34 again, I reckon I have at least another 5 years of 34 to go.) I had a lovely birthday and The Technical Advisor surprised me with a new camera. The new camera is both wonderful and terrifying and we will need time to get to know each other really well, it can do so much more than the old camera and the instruction booklet is so much bigger. I am being brave (with advanced years comes bravery?) and tackling it head on, I love that the pictures it takes have so much depth, it makes a huge difference outdoors especiallly but I find all the knobs and buttons a little overwhelming, however I am not going to shy away from this, I am learning as I go, taking pictures everyday and repeatedly playing with those settings.
The camera had a special outing on Friday when I left the house at the rather ungodly hour of 5.50am in order to catch a train to Birmingham. I visited the Festival of Quilts for the first time last year and was determined to make a return trip this year. This time I met a very dear friend and after checking in to our really lovely hotel we made our way to the festival. It was brilliant of course, so much to see, inspire and buy and all the better for having such lovely company. We stayed in a rather splendid hotel and spent Saturday doing a little shopping and having very relaxing child free lunch. This was my second ever girly away night (the first was about seven years ago) since having children and my oh my, how it recharges the batteries! It was so good to chat and chat and chat some more, we are both determined to repeat the experience sooner rather than later.
It may seem that there is not a whole lot of knitting or making around here lately but that simply is not true. The basket is testament to the fact that there is plenty going on, just a lazy blogger who forgets to give the knitting the prime position it deserves. That mass of grey is an Hourglass Sweater, from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I am using an Alpaca yarn, considerably lighter weight than the Noro I should think but I seem to have gauge using 4mms so keep your fingers crossed for me. It is the first time I have ever made a sweater in the round and I am enjoying the process, I have reached the sleeves now and am awaiting the arrival of some shorter circular needles before proceeding. 
Then there is this bag too, the seaming bag. One Harry Potter sweater finished but in need of a tiny bit more seaming. Soon, very soon. Tonight I will finish Tilly's pink socks, photographs to follow this week. Suddenly I have realised that there will be no socks in progress so excuse me while I hot foot it to an online stash enhancement establishment immediately.
Comments
The bag is so sweet! I'm looking forward to many new knitting photos with your new camera. Enjoy!
How great you had a kid free trip. I've had one on my own for a couple of night and once I got over the "what should I do" stage, I slept deeply for the first time in years. And another with a friend went we went to Hanoi - so lovely to go with a friend.
I can't wait to see your experiments with your new camera.
It happens to me quite often too, that I suddenly notice it's been days since I've blogged. Where does the time go??
It is my (psht 40th) birthday next week. Isn't that the age where a woman stops getting older?
Bye the way, I want to buy a new sewing machine and wanted to ask you which one you use and if you would recommend it?