Planet Earth… Closed!

So, how are we all doing out there? I hope that you are all well, and keeping safe in this Stephen King novel we all seem to be part of. Or are we part of a Black Mirror episode?

On Monday night, we were told that we could not go out unless, for essential shopping, medicine and exercise once a day. The company I work for was part of the companies that are able to stay open (construction), but, the owner decided that we would finish on that Tuesday. We came in and finished off what we needed to do and got out products that were needed, I did the month-end accounts and then did out lockdown procedures. However, the next day there was talk about opening up again as construction was still continuing and the government had no intention to stop it. I was chatting to the owner who’s son wanted to open and carry on, but after me telling her of a girl who had just died due to the virus at the age of 21, she decided that it was not going to happen and we would remain closed until the government lifts restrictions. We have all kept in touch via WhatsApp and are checking up on each other. One of the lads who is a driver for us told me yesterday that he thinks his wife has the virus, but from what he said she does not have the symptoms. She is a hypochondriac which does not help, and he seems to believe everything he reads on Facebook. On the last day of work, he told me that over 500 people had died in the UK the night before and argued that it was right. I did point him to the official website tracking the infection and deaths and the conversation was quickly changed. Therefore I am not concerned for them just yet.

I have noticed that the streets are a lot quieter, but from what another workmate tells me when he had to go out that the local town was busting with people going about as though it is a national holiday. Some really do not get it.

I had to go to the shop to get some supplies and although the place had very few people in it, some were not observing the social distancing that is in place, which they are reminded of when entering as there are signs quite literally everywhere. I was rude to a woman who had as much etiquette as a truffle pig, as she was sidling up to people as she was shopping, touching everything including people. She gave me a look that said fuck off, to which I responded with “wanker”. It was all I could do rather than punch her in the face, which I could have done as I was wearing latex gloves. I also noted that the main culprits were old men, I say old, ones in their 60’s. I think if you do not follow the rules and become infected then you do not deserve to be treated in hospital in a live by the sword die by the sword attitude.

We have been out to walk the dogs and get our once a day exercise, but we have been doing this at dawn, no one about and social distancing achieved, but the dogs are not too happy as they are walked a few times a day when I am at home, but I am sure they will get used to it soon enough.

As well as finishing M’s scarf I have frogged 2 projects and am well on my way with another Stephen West blanket “Bit of Iceland”. I have made this before for us and one for M’s mum, but I decided to do another on in colours that would compliment the bedroom. I am enjoying it as it is a large project, and those who know me, know I love big projects.

Yesterday I decided to bake cinnamon swirls as I have 1kg of fresh yeast, although I have frozen most of it.

One final thing I got was the Vogue Knitting book. I kept seeing it, but thought the £35 price tag was a little excessive, however, I found it in my rewards catalogue, therefore cost me nothing. Not expecting it for a few weeks and it arrived on Friday so bonus lockdown reading.

Let me know how you are all doing…

Competition Winner

I decided to enter a competition on LoveKnitting.com entitled #HappyKnitter.  Not expecting to win as there are so many talented people out there, I promptly forgot about it.  I was checking my email as I tend to leave it sitting there with only a cursory glance over to see if there is something important, and on the weekend flying through it getting rid of crap and scan reading the things I want to.

Cast forward a few weeks and an email is sitting in my email box, being ignored as it was not the weekend, from LoveKnitting.com asking if I had received the first email as they did not want me to lose out on the competition and that I had won.  Talk about bowled away.  I quickly messaged back and the next day was presented with my prize, £100 voucher for yarn from their site. The only snag was I could only use the code once and if I did not use the full total of the voucher then I would lose out. Pressure then crept into what I was going to purchase.  After an agonising week, I finally decided on what I wanted, coming to a grand total of £130.

Some of the yarn had to come from the USA, but withing about 7 to 10 days all of my yarn arrived, and I was astounded by the quantity I now added to my stash, so much so, I had to go out and purchase two more huge plastic boxes to store it.

This is the blanket that I had made and entered into the competition.  It is called “A Bit of Ireland”, and is based on Stephen West’s “A Bit of Iceland”, which I have also made too.

I have not got round to starting any or my project with the new yarn but will do quite soon, well, as soon as I finish the baby stuff for my brother and make my partner his socks.