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If you are interested, here is the ABC coverage of the Dawn Service (scroll down to video). There is a close up of Purl – she is the dark haired gorgeous girl in the Akubra hat. I could barely cope with the whole thing! I was so proud I thought I might actually explode! She is enjoying herself immensely and has fallen in love with Turkey and the Turkish people.

Our staycation is going well. Tiny Madam has slept in a room by herself two nights in a row – for the first time ever! She is growing up! Yesterday we went to Kids Paradise and let them run loose. The Spunk and I had a very civilised coffee and next time might go a bit earlier for breakfast in the cafe there. Not too many people and the kids had a ball. Today we have a cooking class – ANZAC biscuits of course!

I am making a blanket with the brown yarn, and I think it will be quite good. Just a simple ripple stitch, but it looks effective and is a good colour for my lounge room:

I haven’t been doing much work on the black jumper, except that I picked up around the neckline to make it into a cowl. I think I am not going to have enough yarn to make long sleeves, but that’s fine. The jumper will end up looking like a cross between Ingenue and something else entirely! It should be done soon I think. Perhaps I will work on it today. It is knitting weather, that’s for sure.

See my slanty stitches? It must be something to do with the yarn – I don’t usually have this issue!

Student free day tomorrow. I had the kids convinced on Friday that we turn the music up loud and play football in the corridors. Sometimes this is not far from the truth. School is great without kids!

Purl left on her epic journey last night and was upset to leave – she was very teary at the airport. However, I have since heard that she made it to Dubai without too much drama and will head out in about half an hour for Istanbul and then on to Canakkale on a bus. Then Friday a tour of the Gallipoli Peninsula, and of course Saturday is ANZAC Day. I had quite the minor breakdown last night! I am okay now – she is in good hands and will have the time of her life!

I am trying to keep very busy. At work this is not a problem – there is never a dull moment! I teach Historical Inquiry and met a new class today. I started the day with 18 students and had 27 by the end. I am sure they have all heard what a fantastic class it is (cough choke) and it’s not that they couldn’t be bothered going to football (choke splutter!). Anyway, we had a good start and they have some fantastic ideas about what they are going to Inquire about.

This weekend, we are having a STAYCATION inspired by this blog. We have showers and rain forecast, so it seems like a good idea to batten down the hatches somewhat and have fun at home. We may, or may not, go out. I am cutting out door signs and itineraries. Tiny Madam is going to sleep in Purl’s room for the weekend (shh don’t tell! While the cat’s on the other side of the world . . .) and they can have room service and some pampering. I might even go as far as getting them a little chocolate for their pillows! Sounds like fun, don’t you think?

This evening whilst watching the brilliant Wednesday night television line up I am going to unknit the Nut Brown Seamless Sweater I made the Spunk. I can’t stand to look at it a minute longer.  He has ordered a round neck jumper in Graphite Bendigo 8 ply as a substitution, rather than having the same yarn knitted into a different jumper. Now I need to find a pattern for myself with the nut brown yarn. I think there needs to be some texture, as the yarn is not terribly inspiring really. Any suggestions? I could make another Central Park Hoodie, but leave off the hoodie bit. Rogue has been in my queue for just about forever. I even bought the pattern. Should I try that?

Sans pictures today. Sorry!

Two sleeps . . .

Here is the prize that Purl won last year – how amazing!

We had a meeting yesterday and talked through her itinerary. She leaves on Tuesday and won’t be back until 8 May. It’s the longest she has been away from home, and obviously the furthest. She is going to the dawn service at Gallipoli, through Belgium and France, following the trail of Frank MacDonald, one of the last surviving ANZACs. Today just about everyone we know flowed through the house starting at 9am to say Bon Voyage. I am fluctuating between panic, pride and have a constant lump in my throat. She is packed and ready. WHAT AN ADVENTURE.

I, of course, knitted through the meeting and barely elicited a glance from the others. They must be very well adjusted people. I am making another placket jumper for my friend’s son. It is coming along very nicely.

Number One Son turned 9 last week. Another milestone! He is growing to be such a lovely boy. We took him and his friends to see Monsters VS Aliens and it was great!

Here is Tiny Madam in her Oriental. I modified the pattern as it is intended for little teeny girls. I think she looks very cute. She is a teapot, not so short and not so stout.

Tip me over . . .

I am knitting furiously, because I have to finish all of everything I have before I can order more yarn. This, in my mind, includes re-knitting a Spunk sized jumper because I can’t live with the ugly neckline of the Seamless that I knitted recently.

However, if Mr Rudd manages to stimulate me in the next week all bets are off! Like many people, I am very excited that Bendigo has released Luxury yarn and it comes in 10 ply! Woo hooo! I have so much stuff in my Ravelry queue I barely know what to do first!

We have just had a lovely week off school, with a kind of do-nothing philosophy. It has been great. However, I probably should get going and organise myself for tomorrow. I will be on deck in twelve hours and have barely given school a thought! Time to start counting down to our next holiday! Six weeks . . .

I mentioned our trip away for the decade of wedded bliss. Here I am at Pyengana where we had lunch. Look at the green paddock! Imagine the smell of cow poo! It was lovely!

I love the smell of cow poo in the morning!

Happy Autumn!