Waterfront

I had a job interview today.
In a very strange area, the old free port, which is still a huge wastelandish port area.
With many big, big trucks and containers and rusty metal barriers everywhere you look.
And I am slightly afraid of big trucks.
Every adress there is something-kaj. And did I mention it was huge?
And so I got lost. Completely. Lost.
To me the rule is that if I'm not early for appointments I'm at least punctual. Always.
But no rules without exceptions, as they say.
I had, of course, given myself a 10-15 minutes margin to find the place.
But 7 minutes before the meeting I realized I was lost and called the recruitment firm for a confirmation of the adress and hopefully a bit of guidance.
And I was guided back down the long and winding road towards the outer end of the port area, and was told to just keep walking.
And it was raining. And windy. And cold.
And an old port is in all its photogenic decay really not the most charming place. Especially not in high heels in the wind and rain, feeling very small as the only pedestrian with huge big trucks rushing by, squirting even more water everywhere.
I ended up looking at nothing but a single shivering seagull and the big grey ocean in front of me .... and then turned back and in slight panic spotted a taxi down the road and ran to catch it before it went away.
And the very nice driver drove me back past starting point, not far from where I was standing when I called the recruiter, and then down a few more quays and around a bit, and then, there it was.
After bloody 45 minutes of determined walking hither and dither with no clue whatsoever.
At arrival I was reassured that noone could ever find it.
And the interview went well. For a full hour.
Fluid conversation, clever questions and answers, much knowledge displayed.
I'm just afraid that no matter how eloquent or insightful or very qualified you are, it will rarely outweigh a whopping 35 minutes of sheer lateness.
And the carefully applied discreet make up had of course been ruined by rain and wind, which left only freckles and fresh air cheeks and wet curly hair and a general mess.
Which was me.
However, going home I listened to Simple Minds' Waterfront.

Get in, get out of the rain
I'm goin' to move on up to the Waterfront
Step in, step out of the rain
I'm goin' to walk on up to the Waterfront
Said, one million years from today
I'm goin' to step on up to the Waterfront
Get in, get out of the rain
Come in, come out of the rain

So far, so good, so close, yet still so far
So far, so good, so close, yet still so
So far, so far, so far

It had already been rumbling at the back of my mind while I was searching for the right place, but I could not waste precious time fiddling with the iPod.
Oh, the worst thing is: I really would like that job.
But the lesson learned:
Next time I'll take a taxi to start with rather than do the full port area sightseeing first.

More snow

Is it snowing again?

It looks like it.

Dinner preparations part one

I have been happily playing in the kitchen this afternoon preparing as much of tomorrow's dinner as possible.
So far we have marinated goat cheese to form part of the anti pasti nibbles.
The recipe is from the amazing ZantiMissKnit.
I realized I only have white balsamico, and since that meant I was already straying away from her directions, I decided to add a bit of shredded lemon peel and lemon juice (organic).
Two logs of goat cheese are hiding here:
Then we have tomatoes, to be baked slowly, and yet more garlic and basil. A third of the batch is represented here:
Completely garlic free is the tiramisu.
I wish I had not test-tasted the mascarpone cream - now I don't feel like eating anything else.
And we have dough resting over-night before becoming focaccia and grissini.
And chickpeas happily soaking.
So there is very little work to do tomorrow.

The orchid

My birthday present for myself was an orchid.

A huge orchid.

Bought with the special Green Eyes discount.
I cannot stop looking at it.
While, luckily, the cats couldn't care less about it.
And, of course, I've decided to cook Saturday.
Only things which can be prepared in advance to minimize mess and stress.
Some antipasti nibbles, oven baked chicken, chickpeas, salad, tiramisu.
It will be lovely.

Why?

Why did I think it was a Very Good Idea to invite 14 lovely people for dinner, when this is the Full Extent of my kitchen.


Is it considered Ok to just order Something Nice from the Indian TakeAway when celebrating your 35th birthday?

Snow and sunshine

I love snow.
And I love sunshine.
And now I have both.

Uh, Winter Wonderland

Maybe not so much Wonderland, but we do have snow! The very first snow.

And while it is not much snow, what there is has arrived while I was sleeping.

And it feels like a bit more, when it blocks all windows.

The Pledge

I have taken the pledge!
And not just any pledge, but:
The Wardrobe Refashion Pledge
I pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing for the period of four months.
I Pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle pre-loved items for myself.
I Pledge that I shall create and craft items of clothing for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium.
I Pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovated, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings!
And that for a four month period to start with.
Of course there is the Good Old Old Fur Project which has remained unfinished for so long. After cutting apart the fur, it came to a standstill.
Mainly because the sleeves were narrow to start with, and even had a strip of not too delicate black leather adding to width, and that has left me a bit puzzled as to what to do and how to do it.
And then there has been life in general, and knitting and cats and exams and work and things.
But now that I have taken The Pledge, things are going to change around here!
It is such a wonderful and inspiring idea.

Big Mouth Strikes Again

This is how I found my carefully wound up sock yarn this morning.

Very bad Vincent with his great Fondness of Yarn.
I will have to find a box for yarn storage.
However the first sock is finished.

The second will follow as soon as possible.

Past the turning point

I love this pattern.
And it has proved a wonderful distraction from the Dreaded Writing of Exam Paper.

And for once I feel like diving into the world of variegated sock yarns, as I cannot help but think it would look even more wonderfully fishy in a shimmer of greys, greens and blues.

A very good day and more Big Plans

Oh, this has been a wonderful day so far.
The cats have been cuddly and somewhat well-behaved.
I have actually done a very thorough synopsis for my exam-paper, so now all I have to do is fill out the blanks.
Which is still a lot of work ahead, but the framework is in place and that's important.
I have been to two yarnstores fondling mohair-blends with the Knitted Robe of Insanity in mind. Yet went home empty-handed. The abundance of available colours and variations on the theme of softness always overwhelms me beyond purchasing-ability.
And now:
I have a bread in the oven, already filling the house with lovely fragrant bread-ness.
And somewhat more importantly:
Earlier today I picked up my very own copy of Jennifer Stafford's Domiknitrix.

My very first, very own knitting book. The other's have to return to the library, but this will stay with me.
It is brilliant.
I think her articles on techniques and how-to are among the best and most clear I've seen.
Her writing style is precise and very pleasant to read - charming, and a bit tongue-in-cheek, which is rather refreshing.
The layout is beautiful.
Even if the title may turn some off, it reflects her attitude and personality (I think), while the book itself reflects her creativity and skills.
And the patterns are wonderful, and surprisingly classic yet original.
Which has added more Big Plans for 2007.
I do not think I can live much longer without the L'il Red Riding Hoodie or the City Coat.
And I dream of having the skills to knit the Elphin Goth.
Maybe next year.
Then:
I remembered, that some time in December I cast on for the Child's French Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks. And while pondering the exam paper I managed a few more repeats.

And now it's dark outside and raining, making it just the perfect thing to sit here, with a paper to write and very nice cheese to go with fresh bread.
With the cats all soft and snuggly.

Great plans for 2007 (with insane number of pictures to prove I'm serious)

I have great plans for the new year.
Now that I am finally getting used to the idea that 2006 is another thing of the past.
1. Hand in exam paper in Digital Aesthetics.
Hey, I did that yesterday.
2. Hand in exam paper in Digital Communication Theory
To be done next week. I picked up the questions today and then have a week to do my cleverness. Hopefully.
3. Quit smoking.
Was done surprisingly easy when reading Allen Carr was combined with being very hungover from insane flood of champagne on the first day of this year.
Two out of three are down. Almost cheating. Yet all done in 2007.
4. I will finish Vigdis.
I am more than halfway through. Plan is to have "her" done come February.
5. I will finish the Simple Knitted Bodice.
I have finished both sleeves, but picking up the stitches for the neckline is killing me.
Still there is evidence of progress.

Including bottom-sleeve detail. I did not like the purling, so I chose to do 1 1/2 lace pattern repeat instead. And I like it.

6. Once these two are done I will knit Alice Starmore's Elizabeth I from Tudor Roses.
I have even splurged on some long-desired gorgeous merino/silk from Nydal for this.
These charming creatures have delivered the merino:

And as if my crush on the happy sheep wasn't enough:
7. I have fallen head over heels in love with this thing:

A knitted robe.
I think it is one of the most insane yet most beautiful knitted things I have ever seen, from "Romantic Style" by Jennie Atkinson.
And it has been chosen as my Big Project for 2007.
I have yet to get the book. And to find the yarn. (It takes a LOT of worsted weight wool/mohair.)
But come this time next year, I swear I will be deliciously enrobed. (And Vincent had better keep from the mohair in the future.)
8. I will finish the Old Fur Project.
9. I will do ashtanga yoga every day. Except Saturday.
So far not so very good. Hungoverness and exam-busyness has been in the way.
10. I will dance more.
And
11. I will do something about the state of my wardrobe.

This is embarrassing

And now I have the evidence

The cats are bad.
First Vincents "eats" my lovely, red mohair (which has been reduced from Branching-Out-to-be to cat-chew-toy).
(You will have to imagine the loud, happy snorting and grunting)

Then Laurenz eats the cake I bought myself earlier today to soothe my underslept mind with a bit of sugar (and forgot about).
And so, even I got a YouTube account. Having cats make you do strange things.
However the bad quality makes me consider a new mobile....