We seem to have our very own Constance Spry!

Purple Yarnalong

Just as I was taking the photo to illustrate this post, my little girl came in from the garden brandishing the perfect floral accompaniment.  No idea what it is but it is beautiful and thistle-like! 

My current no-brainer knitting is a very plain jumper with no shaping, all very basic.  The pattern I am using is Sirdar 2256 which is designed for use with its fairisle effect yarn, Crofter.  I have made the jumper once before with that yarn and it has been a really useful, chuck-it-on piece.  I thought this pattern would be a good way to use up some lovely heathery purple double knit from my stash. 

The pattern is so simple that it has been a perfect project to work on while watching telly, even the gripping subtitled stuff!

My reading matter is The Montana Stories by Katherine Mansfield, published by Persephone Books.   I do like it when my books coordinate with my knitting!

Joining in with Ginny for the Yarnalong.

Italy 2

The seaside town of Rimini is about an hour and a half by train from Bologna.  We found he beach was almost deserted, quite unlike how it would be in high summer.  

The UK has had the wettest April for 100 years so, as you can see, we were quite unprepared for the sunshine and heat of Italy!

Graffiti, according to the Oxford English Dictionary

[treated as singular or plural] writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place. Origin: mid 19th century: from Italian (plural), from graffio 'a scratch'

We've just had a lovely long weekend in beautiful Bologna.  I wish I could say we had a relaxing time but a city break with a boisterous four year old in tow is never going to be relaxing!  

Our council pledges to remove graffiti within ten days so for me, one of the most startling features of the city was the amount of graffiti sprayed absolutely everywhere!   

The vast majority was unimaginative - just tags, words, squiggles - but a few stood out and made me smile.

More Italy soon!