Twice I went into Pearl Paint in NY to buy the Gocco kit… twice I umm-ed and ahh-ed about the cost, and the weight to carry home on the plane… but now? Well it looks like Gocco will be discontinued anyhow –
I’d really like another chance to head back the art shop and, third time lucky, buy the blasted thing to get printing! Please help and visit the Save Gocco campaign website…

This year squeezed in between Christmas and New Year, and even then some people couldn’t make it…
Apart from that, there was mulled wine, musical crackers (fabulously conducted by M), 3 types of baking, T’s Quiche and A’s magic sausage rolls.. yay!

Dec 24: Christmas Eve train picnic..

Went up to Wales to visit M’s family for a couple of days… Walks were walked up a mountain, and alongside waterfalls… The Cranberry cake was eaten (yum), presents opened, real ale drunk and news caught up on.. The ‘traditional family Christmas’ turned out to be had playing EyeToy on the Playstation with M, nephews and brother in law, watching Doctor Who save the world (again) and getting to fly the tardis after (yay! digital telly)

Dec 23: Last minute baking…

Just had time to make this (thanks Nigella) and use the cranberries that were bought on impulse earlier this week…
Turned out well!

Will wrap some and take it up on the train as part of our Christmas Eve picnic…

Dec 22: Good News

It’s always nice to finish off the year with a bit of good news – looks like I have 2 months work booked for the New Year starting in Feb. This, dear readers, is something unusual in the world of freelancers! It looks like it will be an interesting project too…

A free pattern from KnitPixie (now KPixie for legal schmegal reasons…). Am hoping this is the answer to all my mitten questions!

Dec 22: Bring a bottle and bauble!

What a great idea from R of North London – her blog is amazing anyhow so read the rest of it too…

Dec 21: Bring back Toga!

A baby Jackass penguin has been stolen from the Isle of Wight Zoo… he will die if he’s not returned soon; needing to be kept cool and only accepting food from it’s mother…

Dec 20: Guerilla Xmas

Some things to do instead of last minute shopping… Even better you could come to this tomorrow:

You are cordially invited to a public carol service in Parliament Square at 6pm on Wednesday the 21st of December 2005.

This inclusive service will contain both Christian and secular verse, and is expected to last no more than an hour.

Candles and song sheets will be made available, with donations going to Medical Aid for Iraqi Children.

Please note that if you attend this carol service, it will classify as a spontaneous demonstration (of faith, hope, joy and/or religious tolerance) and there is a possibility that you will be cautioned or arrested under Section 132 of the Serious and Organised Crimes and Police Act 2005.

Click here for more information.

Carols in front of Parliament – breaking the law?
Dec 21: update

Well maybe it isn’t – there were no police, we sang, thought of others, held candles, got cold, met R (though we missed the festive drinks as we had to cycle home). Felt proper Christmassy…

Well, I am cheating a bit because these don’t have to be finished until the 29th… But the Mrs Beeton wristwarmers were a great surprise in the latest issue of the mag. Having, only a week before, understood how to put beads onto yarn before knitting and also seeing some Norweigan wristwarmers that were beautiful, these were perfect to make. Also they are cute things to do to use up ends of wool too pretty to go in the bin, but too short to do anything with!
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Pattern: Mrs Beeton (Knitty Winter 05 issue)
Yarn: Cashcotton DK Quartz sh 606 / lot 29L4 and Kidsilk Haze Dewberry sh 600
Needles: Suggested – 4.5mm & 4mm dpns / actual – 3.5mm & 2.75mm dpns
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