Original Carrollwood and the new Yost Estate

Part of my Florida Christmas was the annual Yost pilgrimage. She and all of hers has moved into the new residence and its lovely. The night I stayed was also the night that daughter had a sleep over and the next morning we had breakfast with the girls and their Mums. So here we are in the new chairs enjoying a sunny morning between Christmas and new year in The Original Carollwood.

Now the funny thing is about The Original Carrollwood is that if you grew up in north Tampa way back when. There was no need for the "the original" part of that moniker there was only Carrollwood. Then across Dale Mabry they built Carrollwood Village. That was where the 1970s nouveau riche lived. I was decidedly out in the regular 'burbs in Lake Mag. Anyway, apparantly The Original Carrollwood had to stake its claim as everything north of, say, Waters Avenue is now know as generic Carrollwood. So now its famous in a song and everything. Here's Piece of Paradise as sung on WMNF.

Note my Mum is a volunteer at WMNF so this is kind of a plug.

Sunday morning with papers and lace

sunday morning with papers and lace
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

Am trying to learn to knit lace because I found this amazing book; Victorian Lace Today. This woman from Oxford did all this amazing research on old Victorian patterns for knitted lace. Its funny, the actual patterns are fascinating, but not something I would wear myself. They do seem like they would be at home draped over a large overstuffed sofa in a crowded room.

But the challenge is really something I am up for! Plus lace weight yarn is so wonderful and light. Once I have put that much effort into something I'm not sure I would actually want anyone to wear it...

Of course its also just a big excuse to sit by a window and knit in the soft winter light.

Green Acres is the place to be...

green acres
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

At the end of October several of us went to the wilds of Kent to celebrate a birthday. We stayed in a renovated oast house

and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

On Sunday we took a long walk and I was delighted to pass by the Green Acres farm. Do you think they know they named it after an old American television program? As it happens, there wasn't another American on the weekend (three Australians and a Brit) so I didn't get to have a big giggle with anyone else - so giggle with me now, please.

snow on creampuff

snow on creampuff
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

Here is day 2 of the big London snow. Actually, it has not been that bad but I did have to leave creampuff at home for the day. I'm not that confident of London drivers, icy roads and my ability to negotiate both of them. It would have been cold but I am now getting used to dressing for the weather.

I still say there is nothing better to put an exclamation point at the end of your day than riding home through the streets of London. If its been a particularly harrowing day; I drive across town and go up through Regent's Park. Its dark and green and in the summer lovely. IN the winter its cold and dark and lonely but its still a nice end.

Hope your last Saturday before Christmas is not too busy.

4th Plinth - extreme knitting

http://www.oneandother.co.uk/participants/Knitsib

I fogot to show a link to this fabulous article about planners in Croyden

The boys and girls in the band - or the future of planning in the UK

It's supposed to snow tonight

Yikes, travel tomorrow will be hell but hopefully there will be some good photo's to link too. Not much happening now - other than darkness but you know that don't you.

Left the office

Tonight I went to a great party at nla. With my new job I get to leave the office on occasion, now. The exhibit was interesting and there was a great model of London on display. I missed the talk given by Peter Finch, but had a lovely conversation with nla chairman Peter Murray, programme director Debbie Whitfield and Managing Director Nick McKeogh. I highly recommend that you go by the Building Centre if you are in London.

Good wine and I met some wonderful new London people; perfect pre-christmas open house. Despite the fact that it was raining and I had to get a proposal out the door, I still went with our new marketing director and it was great.

Note to self: leave the office.

gosh, I have let down the side and not blogged in an age

It's ridiculously dark in London by 3:30, so I am looking forward to my visit home. I'm scheduled to fly BA next week and on Monday BA flight crew scheduled a 12 day strike! Oh no, much gnashing of teeth and then I just said, "what will be will be." Guess what? Today a court said the ballot was illegal and so (hopefully) I fly on Christmas Eve as planned.

Makes me think is BA too big to fail? How many times have you heard that phrase "too big to fail" in the last year? So, I have decided to start thinking of myself as too big to fail.

I am toatlly going to cheat and retroactively post an entry about the ladies who knit!

Ladies who knit

ladies who knit
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

had to post a pipcture of the newest knitting group. barely holds a candle to the pub group when I first got here.

Yesterday we had the first domestic meeting of the Ladies "who all work together at an un-named place" knitting session. There were loads of tea sandwiches, I even made cucumber ones. I broke out the tiered cake stand, and made massive amounts of coffee. Of course, we all ended up drinking gin and tonics and then wine as the afternoon wore on.

We did get some knitting done though as can be seen in the photo above. Sarah's working on a sampler scarf (which she promptly left in a cab two days later!). Kirsty is working on a small house - she's an architect so I guess that explains it. Rachael is just knitting, we think it may be a scarf but mostly she's just learning.

We also had a roaring fire so it was a wonderful Saturday well spent.

Financial Times visits Macon and Athens

How weird is that? Macon and Athens (GEORGIA!) are the travel spots in this Saturday's Financial Times. Bizarre.

Plus the mention Chad's Band Hank Vegas. The world is officially getting too small.

Saturday night fun

This week I managed to catch a miserable cold. So I've collapsed today and just lounged around at home. Knitting and catching up on some reading. Started feeling better -- day 3 you always feel better -- around 20:00. Just as the Ocado man was supposed to be delivering my groceries. In a whirlwind of activity I cleaned up the kitchen and mopped up the crap that accumulates when you are not feeling well. I knew I had reached a moment of craziness when I found myself cleaning the kitchen garbage bin/can lid. So, do you ever get stir crazy and find yourself cleaning things?

Yipes.

Unravel or rip!

unravel
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

Oh, no, I finally admitted that I had messed up this sleeve for a UFO (unfinished object) that has been languishing in my basket for over a year. so on a sunny day in the summer I just ripped it out. Painful to see but I documented it. Here it is partially ripped

Rip and wind

unravel and wind
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

here its is all ripped out and partially balled/wound up. Note the lovely day outside and the dappled sunlight. sigh

All neatly re-wound

all wound
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

Here is the sleeve all ripped and wound up neatly. Funny thing about knitting all the labour just disapears -- a bit like life I guess

Shira's unfinished gloves

shira's gloves
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

One of the benefits of being home is you get to knit all the time. Two days in bed mean that I finished one fingerless glove and started the second. Really like this pattern, but it is the yarn which is so yummy. I bought it at Christmas last year in Florida but its a Welsh Collinette yummy yarn. I've lost the ball band but I think its called Jitterbug. It travelled from Wales to Florida and back to the UK. This summer it went on vacation with me to Egypt; last month it went to Tahoe and Chicago; and now its back in the UK.



The pattern is called Porphyria by Cissy Black. I got it off the web when I was home for Christmas. However; when I went to put a link to the pattern to give some props to the designer I find Porphiria is a disease as well as a glove pattern.

Knits up nice and springy, I think its meant to be a sock yarn. I'm sure Lawyer Shira will find a use for them when they make there way back to Chicago! Thanks for the hospitality, Shira and Jeremy!

Bench in Westminster dedicated to some Atlantan

atl bench
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

I sat on this bench in Westminster and as I sat down I noticed that the bench had a plaque on it (most benches do in London). I turned around to see th estory and was shocked to see the bench was dedicated to the "honor (spelled wrong) of Mr. Boggs, beloved Director of Choral music at Westminster School, Atlanta Georgia."

How odd is that? Any of my Atlanta friends know of Mr. Boggs - sadly it looks as if he passed in 1992, holy cow he was born in 1969 - he was super young.

Sarah's new front door (hopefully)

Sarah's new front door (hopefully)
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

Last week, I went to south (pronounced "sowf" and north London is pronounced "norf") London to see my friend Sarah's (hopefully) new home. I say hopefully because buying a place to live in the UK is a long and onerous process. Found this place ages ago, did all her homework, made, offer, accepted, back and forthing now for MONTHS. I do not have her patience. Anyway, its super cute with a nice back garden we went there to speak with builders ---- so she may be getting close to possessing it!!!

Anyway, here she is at the front door saying, "I can't belive you are going to take another picture." But isn't it fun to have something almost yours. I remember both places I bought and how it felt to know that all those changes I made were mine. Hmmmm. maybe its time to settle down again and buy something.

or I could always just live vicariously...

Sarah in her soon to be dining room

Sarah in her soon to be dining room
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.

more of Sarah's home buying adventures. Funny thing was once I got home and looked at the pictures there were none of her house just her texting builders and standing in doorways - oh well, the floor boards look nice and that will soon be here living room.

On a roll

Just finished the Debbie Bliss Baby bolero for Sally and Lucy's baby girl. It fits my old teddy bear perfectly but will look incredibly cute on the six month old. Now I just need to mail it to her - I'm not good at mailing.

So I'll send them this post!