Or at least, everyone seems to think they are! This weekend the summer appeared for a brief, shining, glorious few days and so I seized the moment. I spent saturday gutting out my flat, packed up my car, and dragged my ass out of bed at the ungodly hour of 5.45am this morning. My Destination? The local car boot sale. I had been assured that the picking were rich, and that people would buy anything, so I had selected a wide range of items to sell to Joe Public.
I had two friends with me, and we arrived at the sale grounds in a heavily weighed down cavalcade about 6.40 this morning. I hadn't even turn off the engine of the car when there was a tap on my window. 'I look at your stuff!' ' I see what you sell!' Seriously! These guys were like locusts, peering in the windows of the car, trying to pull at the contents of the bags as I got them out of the car. Being as I am far from being a morning person, they got a pretty short shrift. I sent them packing, with a curt 'come back when I've unpacked'.
Once they were out from under my feet, I got the stuff out nice and quickly. I kicked back in the chair I'd actually remembered to bring along, whipped out the knitting and relaxed in the bright monring sun. I didn't get to relax long, before the Vultures returned. I get haggling, and honestly? I quite enjoy it it, but these guys weren't haggling, they were just plain rude. They'd ask the price of an item, I'd give them my first quote, but no matter how high I started they'd just go '50p'. Dude, these were brand new shoes, with the label still on, that cost £40 to buy in the shop. Not a freaking chance love. They'd come back every 20 mins or so, clearly thinking they could wear me down. One lady Vulture was not amused when she returned to find the handbag she had coveted had been sold. 'what price you sell at?' ummm the same one I quoted you originally love.
The vultures weren't the only ones though. I know there is a credit crunch, but these people seemed to want something for nothing. No matter how cheap it already was, they wanted it cheaper. There were times when I felt like asking if they wanted me to open a vein while I was there since they were already ripping me off.
While I had fun with my friends, I don't think I'll be doing it again for quite a while. It was an awful lot of work, for very little return. I came home with almost as much as I left with, and immediately put the lot of it on freecycle. I guess I'm not destined to be a Delboy anytime soon ;)
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Monday, 10 May 2010
where has this year gone?
It's been nearly a year since I finally let my mum teach me to knit...again. Mum is an amazing knitter, creating gorgeous traditional Irish arans off the top of her head. How could anyone compete with that?
Back when I was a school girl in Northern Ireland, it was compulsory for both boys and girls to knit something each year, though the only thing I can remember doing was a very badly knitted bear. I really didn't like knitting back then and I was very relieved when I moved to secondary school and I was able to give it up.
Six years later, with the long summer holidays stretching before me, I decided to teach myself to crochet. I figured that since Mum didn't do it, I would be able to learn at my own pace, and not have to live up to the high standard she had set. I picked it up really quickly and thoroughly enjoyed seeing pretty lacy finished items flowing off my hooks.
I've crocheted off and on over the last sixteen years mainly cos I find it such a relaxing pasttime. Last summer, I discovered Ravelry, and my eyes were opened. I was a mere neophyte, nothing but a dabbler in the art. The many varied projects there were works of art, and more importantly, their range of patterns was vast. Way beyond my scope of imagination that's for sure.
Seeing the many beautiful objects on offer there, I decided it was time to get over my aversion to knitting. Mum had planned a visit to my place, and when she arrived we took a wander up the High Street to the LYS. One set of needles and a ball of sock yarn later, we strolled back down the street and my lessons began.
Perhaps becuase of my many years crocheting, I took to knitting quite well. Granted it's a whole new language, and sometimes it's far from straight forward, but I do really enjoy it. I started out small with scarves and fingerless mitts, and have worked my way up to shawls.
For mum's birthday this year, I knitted her a lace shawl. It was the hardest thing I'd tried, and to call it a labour of love would be an understatement. I cried over that thing, and sweated, and cursed, but I persevered and was thrilled with the final result.
I love knitting lace patterns, and I love the way blocking the project can make such a huge difference to the finished item. However, having started a new lace project, I've discovered something new about myself. I hate knitting with lace weight yarn. It's like knitting with thread! I'm using the most gorgeous yarn created by Jen over at Fresh From The Cauldron, and the colours are the only thing keeping me going with this wrap. I can't wait for it to be finished!
www.ravelry.com
Back when I was a school girl in Northern Ireland, it was compulsory for both boys and girls to knit something each year, though the only thing I can remember doing was a very badly knitted bear. I really didn't like knitting back then and I was very relieved when I moved to secondary school and I was able to give it up.
Six years later, with the long summer holidays stretching before me, I decided to teach myself to crochet. I figured that since Mum didn't do it, I would be able to learn at my own pace, and not have to live up to the high standard she had set. I picked it up really quickly and thoroughly enjoyed seeing pretty lacy finished items flowing off my hooks.
I've crocheted off and on over the last sixteen years mainly cos I find it such a relaxing pasttime. Last summer, I discovered Ravelry, and my eyes were opened. I was a mere neophyte, nothing but a dabbler in the art. The many varied projects there were works of art, and more importantly, their range of patterns was vast. Way beyond my scope of imagination that's for sure.
Seeing the many beautiful objects on offer there, I decided it was time to get over my aversion to knitting. Mum had planned a visit to my place, and when she arrived we took a wander up the High Street to the LYS. One set of needles and a ball of sock yarn later, we strolled back down the street and my lessons began.
Perhaps becuase of my many years crocheting, I took to knitting quite well. Granted it's a whole new language, and sometimes it's far from straight forward, but I do really enjoy it. I started out small with scarves and fingerless mitts, and have worked my way up to shawls.
For mum's birthday this year, I knitted her a lace shawl. It was the hardest thing I'd tried, and to call it a labour of love would be an understatement. I cried over that thing, and sweated, and cursed, but I persevered and was thrilled with the final result.
I love knitting lace patterns, and I love the way blocking the project can make such a huge difference to the finished item. However, having started a new lace project, I've discovered something new about myself. I hate knitting with lace weight yarn. It's like knitting with thread! I'm using the most gorgeous yarn created by Jen over at Fresh From The Cauldron, and the colours are the only thing keeping me going with this wrap. I can't wait for it to be finished!
www.ravelry.com
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Rainy days and sundays
I don't know what happened to me this weekend. I usually adore listening to the sound of the rain on the roof, but for some unknown reason, the familiar drumbeat bossanova just made me feel melancholy.
I've been so much happier this last 2 months, getting my mojo back you could say. My smile has been getting wider and wider, though I haven't really found where I stashed my patience yet. Unfortunately, this weekend, my smile and happiness has been MIA. No matter how I've tried (and trust me I've tried all the usual methods as well as a fe unusual ones), I can't seem to perk myself up. Is it just the rain? or a natural slump after weeks on high?
I am a quite solitary person. I love coming home after a long day of full, busy classrooms, and locking the door behind me, just savouring the peace and quiet of my wee flat. I love knowing that if I want to get into my jammies at 5pm and just veg on the sofa, I can, but for some reason, lately, it's just made me feel more and more lonely.
I moved to my new flat, knowing only a few work colleagues in the area and I've tried very hard to make friends since getting here. But I have one big problem, and it's one which has haunted me all my life. People let me down. No one thinks twice about cancelling plans they have made with me. I throw a party? no one comes. 'Toots won't mind' is the perpetual cry. However, should it be the other way around, it's a totally different story. God forbid, I should decide that I can't go to someone's soiree. I'm the worst in the world...obviously.
Oh well, I guess I'll find my way back to happiness eventually.
I've been so much happier this last 2 months, getting my mojo back you could say. My smile has been getting wider and wider, though I haven't really found where I stashed my patience yet. Unfortunately, this weekend, my smile and happiness has been MIA. No matter how I've tried (and trust me I've tried all the usual methods as well as a fe unusual ones), I can't seem to perk myself up. Is it just the rain? or a natural slump after weeks on high?
I am a quite solitary person. I love coming home after a long day of full, busy classrooms, and locking the door behind me, just savouring the peace and quiet of my wee flat. I love knowing that if I want to get into my jammies at 5pm and just veg on the sofa, I can, but for some reason, lately, it's just made me feel more and more lonely.
I moved to my new flat, knowing only a few work colleagues in the area and I've tried very hard to make friends since getting here. But I have one big problem, and it's one which has haunted me all my life. People let me down. No one thinks twice about cancelling plans they have made with me. I throw a party? no one comes. 'Toots won't mind' is the perpetual cry. However, should it be the other way around, it's a totally different story. God forbid, I should decide that I can't go to someone's soiree. I'm the worst in the world...obviously.
Oh well, I guess I'll find my way back to happiness eventually.
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