Knitting:
I have been picking away at the lace shawl and I'm getting into a rhythm with it. I really love knitting lace because it's like magic - I cannot understand how that combination of stitches results in that pattern. Alchemy.
Going to:
My 100th bikram! Woohoo!
Dinner with Team Humanities from school. We had a Christmas meal out on Thursday at the Canteen in Bristol, which does a really good meal and delicious local cider (ginger and chilli, this week). I had mussels and it came with a free bowl of soup. I am a fan.
With most of them same people, I've been to a carol concert this evening in Cotham, because N was singing in the choir. Mr Z came too and it was all very festive, and we went to a proper old man pub afterwards. Our colleague Z is pregnant and probably not coming back after her maternity leave, so we're doing quite a lot of hanging out at the moment.
I had the ski trip meeting on Wednesday, so now I am very excited about skiing.
Learning:
How to use a formula to get Excel to calculate an age on a certain date. It involves a lot of brackets. This is the formula: =INT(YEARFRAC(A1,DATE(2018,1,1))) where the date in the final set of brackets equals the date on which you want the age calculated.
Yes, I've been doing the ski trip spreadsheet.
Obsessed with:
My workload. ARGGGHHH!! Why did I avoid the mock papers last weekend? And the weekend before? Why didn't I use any of the three extra frees I had last week to actually mark something? This weekend is brutal, I have so much to do.
I cannot WAIT to break up next Friday.
Entertained by:
I enjoyed the end of Howard's End although it went very quickly.
I listened to a new podcast this week, thanks to Sib recommending it. It is the Joe Rogan Experience, episode 725: Graham Hancock and Russell Carlson. It is LONG and I am still only halfway through. It is very interesting though: it's all about a cataclysmic event that happened 12,000 years ago (possibly being hit by a meteor 100km wide) and the evidence there is that there was a significant human civilisation that pre-dates that, and possibly why 'the establishment' won't get on board with it. I am really interested in the topic but I am a bit over the academic posturing.
Feeling:
Fraught. Hurry up, holidays.
Saturday, 9 December 2017
Tuesday, 5 December 2017
Bikram milestone
I made it to class number 100 today!
I nearly didn't go. My usual instructor was not teaching and it was a new-to-me person. I decided I didn't want class number 100 to be with a new person; but then I said it out loud and realised how stupid and unyoga it sounded, so I duly went. I forgot my contact lenses and it was a crowded class, so I ended up on the front row, for the first time. PRESSURE. And I have been feeling very giddy now and again for the past day or two, which came back in spades during any and all the backbends, but luckily I didn't fall over on anybody. Or at all.
The instructor had some kind of problem half way through and had to leave briefly; for a minute I thought the class was going to be cut short, which would have been ironic as I'd have got to 99 and a half, and who knows how that would have sat with my slightly obsessive brain.
I had to ask for permission to go on the front row (not officially, but for my own comfort) because there is still a lot I can't do. I think I will list here because, assuming I carry on going, this will be nice to look back on in the future. You may prefer to stop reading now.
That's quite a list. But there are lots of things that have improved and some of them are quite subtle. I remember when I started and I couldn't do the simplest of things. Standing with my feet together was uncomfortable. It was basically impossible to breathe in through my nose for a count of six (I used to fake it). I couldn't kneel for any length of time. These are all things I have conquered, along with the heat and the necessity of showering naked in front of a changing roomful of women.
My particular successes are in anything involving long hamstrings or backbends - I seem to be able to do those OK. I was astonished to find, being on the front row, that I was backbending further than most of the other people in my eyeline. I could almost see the floor. Pleasing. I also think I'm quite good at triangle, now I understand how to do it, and balancing stick.
I nearly didn't go. My usual instructor was not teaching and it was a new-to-me person. I decided I didn't want class number 100 to be with a new person; but then I said it out loud and realised how stupid and unyoga it sounded, so I duly went. I forgot my contact lenses and it was a crowded class, so I ended up on the front row, for the first time. PRESSURE. And I have been feeling very giddy now and again for the past day or two, which came back in spades during any and all the backbends, but luckily I didn't fall over on anybody. Or at all.
The instructor had some kind of problem half way through and had to leave briefly; for a minute I thought the class was going to be cut short, which would have been ironic as I'd have got to 99 and a half, and who knows how that would have sat with my slightly obsessive brain.
I had to ask for permission to go on the front row (not officially, but for my own comfort) because there is still a lot I can't do. I think I will list here because, assuming I carry on going, this will be nice to look back on in the future. You may prefer to stop reading now.
- I can't catch my foot in standing head to knee, or standing bow
- I can't catch both feet in bow
- I can't reach my feet in camel, or rabbit...basically I don't know how I even cut my toenails sometimes
- I can't get my hands to meet over my knees in wind removing pose
- I can't get my leg in the right place in tree
- I can't get my arms in the right place for locust, let alone do the legs
- I can't get a full wrap in eagle, or get my hands looking vaguely right
- I can't really manage all the bits of awkward because it makes my feet hurt too much
- My bum still does not touch my feet when kneeling
- My hips still don't reach the floor
- I still need to stick one leg out in the twist at the end
- My head has not touched my knee for at least a year, in any pose
That's quite a list. But there are lots of things that have improved and some of them are quite subtle. I remember when I started and I couldn't do the simplest of things. Standing with my feet together was uncomfortable. It was basically impossible to breathe in through my nose for a count of six (I used to fake it). I couldn't kneel for any length of time. These are all things I have conquered, along with the heat and the necessity of showering naked in front of a changing roomful of women.
My particular successes are in anything involving long hamstrings or backbends - I seem to be able to do those OK. I was astonished to find, being on the front row, that I was backbending further than most of the other people in my eyeline. I could almost see the floor. Pleasing. I also think I'm quite good at triangle, now I understand how to do it, and balancing stick.
I like to practise it. I think my standing knee is a bit bent here and I need to lift my other leg from the glute, but it's all good practice.
Monday, 4 December 2017
Blue Monday
Throwback all the way to summer 2016, when Tutt and I visited some of the Normandy D-day beaches on a long weekend in France.
Patriotic in three different countries, that picture is.
Patriotic in three different countries, that picture is.
Sunday, 3 December 2017
Sunday Selfie
I do like a good plane selfie when I'm jetting off. Here I am in the summer of 2016, enjoying a glass of fizz before take off on the way to Vietnam. Tutt had managed to get us a very reasonable upgrade to Premium Economy and I was feeling very pleased with myself.
Had my own footrest and everything.
Had my own footrest and everything.
Weekend WIP
Yesterday I cast on for a new shawl, from Victorian Lace Today. It will be the first pattern from that book that I've knitted for myself. I got through 12 rows at knitting group before realising that the mistakes I had made were not fixable by tinking and, although nobody else would have noticed, I would always have known that that fourth row of circles had a strike across the middle as though they were zeroes.
I've been working on it again today, having ripped back and cast on while still at knitting group. Row 1 is not fun: trying to K3tog on a cast on row is just maddening; doing it for the second time made it easier because I cast on very loosely.
The gorgeous confection is Artisan pure silk laceweight, dyed with cochineal and a tin mordaunt (I am repeating this straight from the label without a strong understanding of what I mean....how can a metal be used as a fixative?) I've written on Ravelry that I got it in 2009, at UK Rav Day, but I bought a purple one then and the red one later, possibly at Fibrefest. For some reason I never wrote about Fibrefest on my blog, so I can't be sure, but I definitely didn't get it at Wonderwool and I can't think where else it might have come from.
I might use the purple for the border, but will see how I feel when I get there.
I've also been blocking last weekend's FO. It has come out predictably large.
I've been working on it again today, having ripped back and cast on while still at knitting group. Row 1 is not fun: trying to K3tog on a cast on row is just maddening; doing it for the second time made it easier because I cast on very loosely.
The gorgeous confection is Artisan pure silk laceweight, dyed with cochineal and a tin mordaunt (I am repeating this straight from the label without a strong understanding of what I mean....how can a metal be used as a fixative?) I've written on Ravelry that I got it in 2009, at UK Rav Day, but I bought a purple one then and the red one later, possibly at Fibrefest. For some reason I never wrote about Fibrefest on my blog, so I can't be sure, but I definitely didn't get it at Wonderwool and I can't think where else it might have come from.
I might use the purple for the border, but will see how I feel when I get there.
I've also been blocking last weekend's FO. It has come out predictably large.
Saturday, 2 December 2017
Strictly: My Dance of the Night
I love musicals week. I spent too long watching old video clips from musicals week on Thursday night this week, so I was pleased when I realised this weekend's show was also musicals.
Lots of choice here. I liked the Cabaret samba a lot. However, this was my winner - I love all that old-style Hollywood glamour. Look at her hair! How do you even get hair to do that? I thought it was impeccably choreographed, too. I know they didn't score very well and I fear she might be out this weekend, but if I have to watch her dance this again, I won't be sorry.
Lots of choice here. I liked the Cabaret samba a lot. However, this was my winner - I love all that old-style Hollywood glamour. Look at her hair! How do you even get hair to do that? I thought it was impeccably choreographed, too. I know they didn't score very well and I fear she might be out this weekend, but if I have to watch her dance this again, I won't be sorry.
Weeknote: 2/12
Knitting:
I haven't done any knitting this week, since finishing Mother Hand's shawl. I did cast on for a new shawl today, but had to rip it all back when I realised my mistakes were too numerous and hidden to easily fix. I have cast on again but I think it's going to take a while.
Going to:
I caught up with friends for sushi on Monday night. Fun, as always.
I caught up with R, a fellow teacher friend, on Wednesday. He's been working extremely hard, having achieved a senior secondment for no extra money, so we haven't caught up for a couple of months. It was good to geek out.
On Wednesday I went back to Bath to see some old colleagues. The Christmas market was closing for the night so we just went to eat at Yum Yum Thai (well-named) and caught up on gossip.
I've managed yoga twice. My next class will be class number 100.
Learning:
How to make lemon cornmeal pancakes. So. good. I didn't even need syrup. The lemon in them makes them taste of the thin pancakes with lemon and sugar we used to have on pancake day when we were small. Squeezy-lemon-tastic.
Obsessed with:
Avoiding marking mock papers. I have managed this to such a degree that, on Friday, I planned all of my lessons for next week except for the year 11 ones. It's unprecedented. I even spent time I could have spent marking the mocks, making a marksheet to use while marking the mocks. I've marked two out of 39. I've had them for 10 days. Time really is up....guess what I'm doing tomorrow.
Tidying, and sorting, and throwing stuff away. I am determined to get rid of all the nooks and crannies full of stuff I never use and don't need. All this week I've been looking to buy a new blusher brush to use with my NARS palette and tonight I was going through an old bagful of bits from My Little Box subscriptions that I'd never used, when lo and behold - a perfect little blusher brush. So, I have boxed up a lot of it that I will never use and we will use it for prizes at the house charity even next week.
Entertained by:
Impending Christmas! I'm so excited about getting all the decorations up.
Mother Hand still sending me an advent calendar. A chocolate one. Perfect.
Feeling:
Oh so tired and clumsy. I scraped the back wing of my car on a pillar in the school car park on Tuesday. I fell asleep on the bus to Bath on Wednesday. And yet, still, I can't make myself get into bed at a reasonable time, not even on Thursday, when I had no work to do for the next day. This is definitely something I need to improve. I think getting more sleep would solve a lot of my problems.
I haven't done any knitting this week, since finishing Mother Hand's shawl. I did cast on for a new shawl today, but had to rip it all back when I realised my mistakes were too numerous and hidden to easily fix. I have cast on again but I think it's going to take a while.
Going to:
I caught up with friends for sushi on Monday night. Fun, as always.
I caught up with R, a fellow teacher friend, on Wednesday. He's been working extremely hard, having achieved a senior secondment for no extra money, so we haven't caught up for a couple of months. It was good to geek out.
On Wednesday I went back to Bath to see some old colleagues. The Christmas market was closing for the night so we just went to eat at Yum Yum Thai (well-named) and caught up on gossip.
I've managed yoga twice. My next class will be class number 100.
Learning:
How to make lemon cornmeal pancakes. So. good. I didn't even need syrup. The lemon in them makes them taste of the thin pancakes with lemon and sugar we used to have on pancake day when we were small. Squeezy-lemon-tastic.
Obsessed with:
Avoiding marking mock papers. I have managed this to such a degree that, on Friday, I planned all of my lessons for next week except for the year 11 ones. It's unprecedented. I even spent time I could have spent marking the mocks, making a marksheet to use while marking the mocks. I've marked two out of 39. I've had them for 10 days. Time really is up....guess what I'm doing tomorrow.
Tidying, and sorting, and throwing stuff away. I am determined to get rid of all the nooks and crannies full of stuff I never use and don't need. All this week I've been looking to buy a new blusher brush to use with my NARS palette and tonight I was going through an old bagful of bits from My Little Box subscriptions that I'd never used, when lo and behold - a perfect little blusher brush. So, I have boxed up a lot of it that I will never use and we will use it for prizes at the house charity even next week.
Entertained by:
Impending Christmas! I'm so excited about getting all the decorations up.
Mother Hand still sending me an advent calendar. A chocolate one. Perfect.
Feeling:
Oh so tired and clumsy. I scraped the back wing of my car on a pillar in the school car park on Tuesday. I fell asleep on the bus to Bath on Wednesday. And yet, still, I can't make myself get into bed at a reasonable time, not even on Thursday, when I had no work to do for the next day. This is definitely something I need to improve. I think getting more sleep would solve a lot of my problems.
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