Welcome back to Canada, Eh?

I now officially live in Canada. My agent at customs was lovely and didn't charge me any tax on the items I was bringing into the country. To be fair, I don't really have much of value aside from my yarn collection and I'm sure no one cares about that in the slightest unless they are crazy knitters like me.

I haven't knit much since I've been back. But I was teaching my step sister the other day. She's progressing well. I think she also wants to learn crochet so I will have to brush up on that! I am heading to my Dads today for Christmas Day celebrations. We usually have Christmas Eve with my moms family, and Day with my Dad.

Last night was really fun seeing everyone. I was so sleepy by 8pm though, with the jet lag so I ended up in bed really early. AND I had a nap before everyone arrived! Now its 6am and I'm wide awake. Not good.

On the first day of Christmas....

I have been a very busy little bee.

My last day of working in England happened today. Tomorrow is one of my most favouritest people's birthdays. We are spending the day in London learning to make Sock Monkeys - hello awesomeness!!

Yesterday was a day spent in London, at Winter Wonderland. I was very good and only bought food and some small things, like a belt that has three owls on it.

I wanted to buy this from Joules, and I still might if they have my size tomorrow!

I finished my dragon FINALLY. 

Christmas Celebrations!

Tonight is my first Christmas party of the season. And, happily, it's my knit group's christmas!

We do a gift exchange where we buy crafty supplies or make something. Last year I got some lovely Rowan Cocoon and a copy of the Bella's Mittens from Ravelry. I gave a handmade hat, and others got things like craft books, home sewn needle holders, all sorts of awesome things!

I cannot wait to see what my lovely ladies have come up with this year!

And to socialise with them and eat a lot of crap (I bought a lot of crap).  I am giving a gift that keeps on giving - my favourite interchangeable needles. Well not mine, but the same as mine. I hope whoever gets them loves them!

Here is a picture of something I made earlier, for another secret santa that we're doing at work. :)

The Pressure Is On - 100 blog posts later....

This is my 100th post.

I feel it should be monumental, profound, you know. all that stuff that my dedicated readers deserve.

Today I did some non-knitterly things - like hiking up a hill in the mud. And buying groceries. And I actually took some pictures!

Here is the hill I walked up. It's called St Martha's Mount in Chilworth, Guildford, Surrey. Veeerrry close to where I live but this was my first time up!

I have also been working on knitting. This is true.

These are my next pattern that I shall be writing up! I didnt like the big "purled" gap between the cable and the stockinette starting in the pink ones, and while I love that twisted knit stitch up the side, I just didn't think it was working right, so I have fixed that in the blues and voila: 

Ive also started working more on my Maxfield. The front panels are single rows, and the sleeves will be double colour rows with 10 rows of navy to separate them. Hurrah. The sleeve stripes are my favourite. 

I also happened to put on facebook about wanting to start a knit group in Toronto and so far I've had a lot of positive response, and as I organised the one here in England, I think I'm more than capable of developing another perhaps! Challenge accepted. 

I also got a funny response to come knit at someone's work. Sounds like it could be interesting, meet some different people, volunteer some time, and while I love me some old ladies and their stories of life I think this won't be seniors but a variety of people from all walks of life. So while I might be unemployed when I get back home, that might not last long and in the meantime I might be able to do some really interesting things!