Christmas 2016

There they all are.  24 balls of Opal 4-ply.  They've been nominally the focus of my advent blogging, but now the advent calendar is empty, and in just a few minutes it will be Christmas day.

I've managed to get everything finished that needed to be finished, but only because there are people who I won't see until the new year, so I've got a few more days, or in some cases even weeks.  In particular, the crochet projects have been set aside completely until I have the brains to deal with them, and it might be quite a while before that happens.

So what I've been working on tonight isn't really my project!  I went to visit my Geordie godsons earlier today to take their presents, one of which was needles and yarn, because one of the sweetest, and steadiest 5 year olds you could ever hope to meet asked me to teach him how to knit.  Despite all of the excitement, and way too much sugar, he still settled for long enough to learn the basic knit stitch, and knit a few stitches for himself.  He then confessed that he thought he'd be too busy on Christmas day, and could I take his knitting and finish making a scarf for Mr Bunny?  Of course I agreed, and I've even started making him some mittens too:

I've also got a bit further with the cardigan for our little birthday girl, but I'm relieved to have a few more days to get it finished!

Here's a close up of the last 4 balls from the advent calendar:

And of course, there's a selection of additions to my colony:

I made up the lego penguins, and discovered that I'd mis-counted the number of orange pieces, so my somewhat unusually shaped baby penguin is beak-less.

I saw it when shopping for ingredients for dinner with Yasmin, and couldn't resist.  I must remember that I still owe Yasmin the money for this, as she paid for the entire shop!

There's a paperchase on Newcastle central station.  I was early for my train.  I don't see that any further explanation is necessary.

Today dad wanted to pop out for a short walk and to visit a cash machine.  Conveniently Davie rang and asked if we'd like to meet for a coffee in the Forum.  So we had a lovely half hour chatting and watching the world go by, before heading to the bank.  As we passed one shop they had all of their Christmas tat on already on sale for half price, and this fellow was all on his own among reindeer, unicorns, and owls.  I'm really not sure if the fluff is meant to be ear-muffs, crazy grandpa hair, or they couldn't find any yellow and were aiming for a knitted Macaroni penguin.  I don't care though, I love him :D

Well, now it actually is Christmas day, so I need to wash the dishes and get to bed.  In the morning, daddy and I have a little pile of gifts to open, our amazing friends are bringing us Christmas dinner, and we have a lovely lazy day of Christmas movies and snacking on nuts and satsumas ahead of us.  

Have a lovely Christmas everyone!  I'll be back in 2017.