What a day!

I was visiting a class maye yesterday when I saw the news about Peter Brock, two outstanding Australians in one week!

While not trying to be (I'm not going to try I'm just going to be) a harbinger of doom, these things come in threes.

Ms Stash has vacated herself away for a few days, the Panta pattern confuses me. So I've mooched about reading cookbooks and watching Nigella videos. And periodically shooshing the white cat who is not merely daft but disturbed. I don't know what's got into him today.

A quick search of google provided me with a link to a supplier for the malva non-alcoholic syrups suitable for flavouring mocktails and such. Non-Alcoholic Wine, an Australian supplier of non-alcoholic and dealcohised wine, beer and mixers.
A very interesting site. And not too badly priced I'm looking at $11 including frieght to get the particular bottle I want.

I've also typed up my cocktail recpies so you all can get mixing at home, there over at the Inn so just click here for a direct link.

Reading labels, which is how I orignally found out some suppliers for other products I found out and about and wanted to have at home to use, was the Da Vinci Gourmet syrups. It had a website on it's label, but most of the information relates to it's home country of USA. But it has a massive recipe section, so if short of ideas of how to use your syrups it's the place to look.

Then there is Bondi Chai, I love their cinnamon one! Absolutly delish. They have a website based here in Australia. With recipes no less!!

House has a website, slightly boring I might add. Habitat has one that is much mroe interactive and includes the latest catalogue to look at.

Now somewhere I am going to get lost in is the Fox Run Craftsmen site. That close to that many cookie cutters???

Until next time,
Suzi.
A bona fide red head and damn proud of it.

Schools out! For summer! It's been blown to hell!

I do believe I may have passed my course.

We had our evaluaiton this morning where our teacher cheerfully(of course he's cheerful he's about to go on holiday) that most of us still have stuff to complete before we can get our Cert 3.

I was the last person to drag myself over for the "little talk", only apparently it seems there was nothing to talk about as it looks so far as I have passed everything.

Nothing as yet stands out as needing to be done still. Nothing???? Nothing??? But then I did have the good fortune not to be here all yesterday afternoon trying to finish assignments and various other assessments.
For once in my life!

Off to lunch soon with some of the class I think??? We keep dwindling in numbers. Kind of like our class in general.

On a side note Bill and Ted have resurfeced, and yesterday Ted had to teach me to tie a tie in our coach others practical. I couldn't tie a tie before and think I am only more vaguely aware now.

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide red head and damn proud of it.

Extras are easy!

My pirate name is:

Mad Bess Bonney

Every pirate is a little bit crazy. You, though, are more than just a little bit. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Found it on Monster Crochet's blog, which I eneded up at after reading about their Wearable Cobweb on Stigmata Knits. Now all I ned is a yellow submarine and the ability to crochet....

School's Out!

I am a free woman! Everything is done, handed in or acted out. Today I had to coach someone in making a pot of tea. I had to imagine they just landed form Mars and knew nothing about tea.

So I found some interesting sites on tea to have as a reference.

www.tea.co.uk
www.theteacentre.com.au
www.stashtea.com
www.lipton.com

Now that I am all done, I finally have a Thursday night that’s mine and I plan to watch Bones for the first time. And work on some knitting.

I am going to decipher the Panta Code! I have been meaning to start this forever, I have the pattern and some yarn earmarked. I just need to figure out the equations.

Well I have two lots ear marked, some Wine 12ply and some Burgundy 12ply I bought with the Panta in mind.

Any advice on Panta making???? And don’t anybody say don’t do it, I have made up my mind.

I’m looking forward to my next trip to the coven. I have a calamity with a sock that needs urgent attention. What was supposed to be the heel needles, I have inadvertnly managed to knit one heel needle and one of the “reserve” needles.

And also I miss the intelligent conversation that goes on! I fear class has been too much of a pressure cooker situation.
I’m going to eat a Mexican wrap, and drink a Chai latte and it will all be good. I can visulise it now.

Fiinally done my questionairre for PRGE, I can't wait for it to start and find out who I will get! I'll ahve to check and see if Igor has my parcell ready. Igor! Igor! Igor!

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide red head looking for a reliable Igor and damn annoyed about it.

Punk Rock Gift Exchange Questionaire

1) How long have you been spinning/Knitting/Crocheting?
Knitting - 3 years? About I think.
2) Do you consider yourself a beginner, novice, or experienced Yarn Artist?
A Novice by this stage.
3) What type of fibers have you worked with?
Everything just about, no alpaca or cotton yet.
4) What types are you dying to try?
Alpaca? Cotton?
5) Are you allergic to anything, (Fibers, Food, Smells that make you want to puke, etc.)?
No, nothing that I am yet aware of.
6) Do you have any Disorders, ex: Diabetes?
Aside from being insanity?
7) What is your Favorite Time/Style period, ex: Romatic, Grecian,Metal, Goth,etc?
Goth!!!
8) What fibers do you dislike?
Some acrylics, they feel naaasty!
9) Name some of your favorite Artist, Movie wise, Television if you watch it ex: I heart Keanu, some things cant be helped, and Rachel loves Mike Ness !?
Johnny Depp
10) Whos your favorite Character ex: Jack or Cpt Jack?
Buffy
11) Do you prefer natural colored fibers, or handpainted/dyed fiber?
No preference - just so long as it's dark colours I'm happy
12) What are you favorite colors?
Black, Blue, Purple and red
13) What colors do you dislike?
PINK!!!! Not to fond of yellow and orange either.
14) What projects are you currently working on?
Far too many socks!
15) Do you have a wishlist?
Ah, no. Well I do but it's huge and completly insane.
16) Do you have any other favorite hobbies?
Cooking! Pirates? Is that a hobby? Being a pirate perhaps?
17) Whens your birthday?(mm/dd) (Thanks Rach')
23rd October
18) What is your favorite food, candy, scents that you love!! Etc.?
Choclate! Coffee! Chocolate! Did I mention coffee???
19) Are you pierced at all? Any tattoos? Can you/would you wear jewelery that isn't real?
Not currently but have been nose/ears/navel and will probably be once again. No tatts as of yet. Sob.
20) What do you like Culturally, ex: Celtic, African, Devil Worshiping, Kidding!?
Celtic - a lot of my ancestry is form there! Asian.
21) What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
My knitting bags and an ice bucket (a Millienum one no less)
22) What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Metal/Rock but I do also like Madonna and Cher and a bit of that stuff called rap. Yes, I think so.
23) What's your favorite season and why?
Winter, because it's more likely to be cold and wet and it's easier to be miserable old miser.
24) What season do you abhor?
Summer - Far too hot!
25) How about Sports, any that you just cant get enough of or do they make you throw up in your mouth just a little?
Sports? Bah no! Unlessyou include pole dancing.
26) What is your family situation Do you live alone?
I live with Mr Invisable and a number of action figures.
27) Do you have any pets?
The Daft white Cat and rebel band of lint.
28) Do you like handmade gifts?
Love them! That added personal touch is very heart warming - but not too much!
29) What's your favorite thing to make, knit/crochet or other craft wise?
Scarfs? I seem to make a lot, proabbly because there so versatile. Closely followed by hats. I am a hat person.
30) Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Either or, depending on my project.
31) Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No.
32) Tell us how you learned to knit/crochet?
I saw the first SnB book and started with squares to see if I caould do it and boom! Here I am.
33) Do you enjoy getting helpful hints from others or does it just piss you off?
Ummmmmm, yes and no. Depending on what it is.
34) How old is your oldest UFO?
Probably 3 years?
35) Is there anything that you collect?
Cookie cutters! Anything Halloween related, anything with skulls, oh and aprons!
36) Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Happy Hooker! Noro Gemstones. Skull Needles. 2.5mm bamboo/pony pearl double points. LoTech Sweat Silk Corset Domknitrix Book
37) What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have if any?
None.
38) Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Crochet.
39) Do you enjoy knitting socks? How big are yer boats (feet)?
Yeah, size 9 Aussie which is about a US 9/10 in cms/inches ??????

When I Was Young

The rooms were much colder then...

As the Animals famously sang.

I do believe they also sang about Spillling the Wine which may have been an equal refrence, but no wine was actually spilt.
Fortunatly.

I awoke yesterday with a incredibly sore throat, and Iwsn't he only one, Ms Stash also seemed to be suffering this malady. Today I awoke with a slightly less sore thorat, but my voice was starting to go.

I've finished my last assignment ready to hand in tomorrow, completed all the theroy that goes with my practical tomorrow as well, so I am off to have a hot, hot shower in an attempt to warm my cold, cold bones.

But tomorrow is the last class! The very last! And it will all be over, I just have to hand in my work diary. To show what I have been signed of for. Then I am a free woman till my certificate comes and I find out how I did or at least till Friday morning when I have to go back for the end of course wrap up where we all find out (I guess if it's like the mid course) what we haven't done, what if anything we can do make up.

Would it surprise you at all dear readers if I told you I was ready for it to be over? Cert 2 turned out to be less scary than I thought it would be, and I coped very well. Cert 3 has been not difficult, but harder and as someone who is best left to count the railings under close supervision it has been a challenge.
If nothing else I can see myself happily washing dishes, I love washing dishes. I think it's because I get to play with the dishwasher. Always fun!

Not fun - trying to open bottles of wine with a waiters friend, I struggled on the Bar course and I struggled this time around.

Do you know, when I did the bar course Boags was in partnership with class at the time so we got Boags t-shirts mine is still in it's plastic wrap never worn, because we never got our Friday night prac. They closed for Christmas.
But since I have my certificate, everybody seems to think I know what I'm doing in the bar. Isn't faith a wonderful thing?

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide red head and damn proud of it.

I'm the Woman!

I've passed my Cocktail unit in class today, another one bites the dust!

Only another three to go and I've covered everythign, if I'll pass is a nother matter. Food and Bev I'm confident about, I know my food. Wine evaulation ahs me bothered, I give a tutired tasting tomorrow on wine. And then the day after it is coaching others, not looking forward to that one at all.

So far so good, I will come out with a certificate with something on it.


When blogger is being less disagreeable I will post the rest of the Smokey Joes pictures.
As for Fitknit's question, well, my fellow coven goers are a bit fo a rabble rousing lot....Oh wait did you mean Captian Denny and The Matt?????

However on the downside I awoke this morning to disocever my cold had returned with a vengance! Hence my cocktail today was a Tart Vengance. A little true to it's name, in future we will avoid soda water and go for lemon squash.

Today was Knitting Coven day, and I didn't get to go, but the very lovely Cndy me a present, it's a very awesome crocheted pot holder with a skull on it! A visit to the Green Woman's blog will reveal it!

As many of you who follow my blog know, I frequently ahve dinner with Ms Stash. Well now it's my turn to cook dinner for once, on Thursday we will be having one of Ainsley's recipes. A very yummy sounding spaghetti bake from his Gourmet Expres 2.

Friday I am meant to be out with my class, I presume were all still going out. (Long story, very long story.)

As for Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter. He'll certainly leave a bit of a gap. But I suppose he went boots on figurtivly speaking. Which is how I intend to go.

Plans are a foot to make Nigella's Malteaser Cake, possibly next week and see what it is actually like. It sounds very nice, but then most of her chocolate cake chapter in Feast does. I'm keen to make the Espresso Cakee with cappacino Cream, but fear that may be a private indulgence, as Ms Stash dosen't like coffee....

On Sunday being Fathers day, Ms Stash and I did our duty and made lunch, Beef in Oyster Sauce and Chincken in Lemon Sauce.
So we finally got to try the new deep fryer. The chicken came up beautiful! The plans now are to try a bit of fish, and do our own fish and chips - in a beer batter of course!

Lunch was followed by Pavlova, not form scratch this time, I was a sligtly lazy and bought the magic egg, but he batter fr the lemon chicken provided me with two left over egg whites which are now stashed int eh freezer waiting for more so I can have them ready for my next pav.

What else is on my list? Some knitting of course, after Thursday I should be back into it. I have to finish off some assignments the ext couple of nights and then my life replys to semi normal, hopefully!

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide redhead and damn proud of it.

Put this in your pipe and smoke it!

Well here we have today the long awaited (I'm sure) pictures from the Knitting Coven's Evening Outing for our 2nd Birthday. In no particular order as of yet, and the story will have to unfold as I write.

To start here we have the Chicken Fajitas ordered by Ms Stash.

See her eaing the rice?















Here's Captain Denny with the Chicken Fajitas.


"I'm picking up strange readings from this! Perhaps I should test it? Write about it in my Captian's Log? Captain's Log Year 23.45.67.22222 on the 4th day of Frogwiggler, discovered new and amazing dish."















Here we have some maurading cave woman eating ribs....try not to get to close!













Ah, here's THE Matt Hardy with my Beff Fajitas, this is also what Mrs Dr Who who was sitting next to me ordered. They were absolutely delicious!


TMH was not playing nice, I think he was eyeing off Mrs Dr Who's fajitas and planned to steal it while she wasn't looking.









This is the Muddy Creme Brulee! Creme Brulee with a layer of melted chocolate just beneath the surface. I put on my Birthday list last year a Brulee set from one of my local kitchen shops, it was a mini blowtorch and four ramekins. I'm still waiting and suspest I may have to transfer to this year's list, or the mini blowtorch at least!
Make my own creme brulee, Nigella has at least 2 recipies for it. One for a Brulee and another she calls Christmas Brulee.







And now for a minor interruption while I try to get Blogger to upload more pictures!
I saw this book while out and about today and just new I had to add it to my collection, I collect kitschy cookbooks and when I saw Ralph's Tongmaster I had to have a laugh.
Aside from being a BBQ book aimed at the good old Aussie "bloke", the names where too much! Especially in the chapter for cooking to impress women. "Give Mary Her Little Lamb!" - declared one page in bold print. Another bore the title "A Nice Rack!" and was a rack of lamb BBQ'ed.
I'll have to see if it's still there when I go back, otherwise I'll have to see if someone somewhere will order it for me.

New day dawns and another sets.

I had a rare thing today, a failure form one of Nigella's recipies!

Ms Stash and I made the Arabian Breakfast from Feast, I don't know if my rose water ahs been knockign about too long or if it was the particualr brand but it was like eating perfume. Blah!!!
Waste of what would have otherwsie been a nice piece of watermelon.

I'm very excited, I have been invited to join a new grup blog! By the lovely Ms Fortuknit (who I think I still ahve to tell what season of Boston Legal were up to? I'm not sure the number but Denny has married and divorced Bev, and that was a few weeks maybe a month ago? About 4 episodes ago. If anyone esle can supply more precise details I would be grateful!)
Stigmata Knits is the name, very excited to see what creative impulses we can come up with!

The new MagKnits is up, and unlike the latest Knitty it hasn't taken me an eon to get over and see it, my two picks are Seaside and Inner Truth (which reminds me of my aran ear warmer and also I really liked the colour).

Has anybody else been following Punk Rock Knit Girls? Some of the designs and patterns are amazing! And I have been inspired all over again by a link someone provided for a Skinny Skull Scarf!
And one for if I ever do! A handspun ear warmer with ankhs!

Something very exciting has happened! Yes, the casket lid has been closed and sealed on the Punk Rock Gift Exchange and very soon it'll start!
It's Alive! It's Alive! It's Alive! Igor!!! Quickly fetch my goods for postage!!!

Jeramiah Was A Bullfrog!

Well he didn't come Tuesday night to the knitting coven's 2nd Birthday evening outing. So I couldn't help him drink his wine, but I helped everyone else, Mrs M's (or should that be ex-Mrs M?) white wine very nice, some of Sharon's red wine a very nice one, we tasted some horrendous ones in class on Monday like vinegar! And can you believe these things retail for about $25 a bottle???

Finally I got to Smokey Joes! After the Green Woman taunted us for so long about the food - Chili Cheese Fries! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!
After the first failed outing, it simply got more and more excitng as Tuesday night approached. No I don't have much of a life.
My only regret? Not ordering more! I should have worn the eating pants!!

Actually I don't know what eating pants are, it's just something I keep saying to Ms Stash on various occasions and she collapses laughing saying "No! Stop it! Stop sayng it!". I won't till she gives me a shrubery, a really nice one!

For starters I had Chilli Cheese Fries and Popcorn Chicken which I shared with Ms Stash, next time I'm not sharing the Fries! Followed up by beef fajitas, they were nice. I was tempted by other things and momentarily regretted it, but when they arrived at the table I knew I had made the right choice.
I had to brandish a piece under Ms Stash's nose and say "Look! It's pink in the middle and I'm still eating it!". Actually when she made the Beef in Oyster Sauce she thought I hadn't noticed the beef was still pink in the middle, I did notice. I just didn't care.

For dessert, the very wonderful and I so should have ordered two, Muddy Creme Brulee. It was pure bliss! Then I decided to finish the night off with a Chocolate Milkshake, more like a thickshake. It was nice, a little too nice. Ms Stash ended up finishing it for me, she is very dutiful.

Mae West I think said "Too much of a good thing is wonderful", normally the only thing I put in this catergory is the Me Wah, Nigella or perhaps Ms Stash's cook-along of Kylie Kwong (that beef in oyster sauce was orgasmic!). But now Smokey Joes is going to be put in that catergory.

I enjoyed myself throughly, haven't had that good a time since I don't know when. As for everyone else, I can't speak for them, and quite honestly as much as I like them all, I really don't care.

Aside from eating beef that is pink in the middle, on Monday in class we had Laksa (chicken and prawn) and I love laksa! But we also had cherry tomatoes with pesto and boccacini, I am a late convert to pesto, good pesto that is I have had some nasty ones hence the late conversion. Also we had Mussels, didn't really taste of anything probably needed more wine when being steamed.
Marinated feta, I don't like feta it tastes like soap, but the marinated stuff was nice and I ate for the first time ever artichoke hearts! And they were nice and all, especially with the feta.
And Ceaser salad! I love Caeser Salad, the orignal not any of these new added in stuff ones.

And cavair - only the red stuff. It was on pumpernickel with egg mayonaise, didn't really taste of much except pumpernickel?

And we had some dips, standered supermarket choice. Nothing wildly exciting there.

Tuesday afternoon we had the exciting cocktail class I made a frappe Hell Froze Over, a shaken cocktail which has the boring title of Choc Orange and then a Mocktail which I am naming Death on the Beach.
I've also designed a 3 layer shooter, which I haven't tested yet, the Mad Monk. And of course my very wonderful Redhead's Revenge which needs to be finalised and perfected. I feel a trip to the supermarket.

I'll post the recipies up for anyone who is interested in trying them at home over here. (proabbly not there yet though, check back later!).

Then we had practical last night, I did not have a good day. I needed a time out, I blame the implant (really its my fault for not getting it done sooner) I think is was a shock to the system. I cried for 40 mins and I just couldn't stop, I had to see my teacher to say I would go and come back. I felt like such a fraud, but he kept asking me is something wrong, has something happened. No, I'm just not having a good day and I just need to go away.
The stupid thing is there was nothing wrong, I was just miserable for no reason.
Although haivng said that, I'm not feeling very bright this morning either.

Ah well, no class today so I can work on all my assignments. One big one on beverage knowledge I think is all it is? Wine regions, methods of making spirits ( a case for the CFI's I think!) and beer and stuff like that.
Then my tutored wine tasting, and now some stuff for my cocktails class and somethign else, I don't know? I didn't really look at them, and I wasn't haveing a real brillant night. I'll have to find them this morning and see what they are.

But so far, I actually seem to have done really well with all my assignmetns, I haven't had to redo any of the tests either. What I am very pleased about is that despite missing a week of classes last week. And not beign there to do the word lists in our food knowledge. I got all but one in the test, it was Kipfler. I knew the name but I couldn't place where I knew it from. After I handed it in, the word potato popped into my head.

But I got every other one right! All this time of not living a life has given me years and years to watch all the coking shows and read all the food magazines, and finally it hasn't been in vain!

But back to what I was actually talking about last night, I don't know maybe it was a full moon, maybe it was the final night of practical and some of us will still have class to finish off our certificates but some only had to do the practicals to finish so we won't see them now after last night so perhaps people felt it was perhaps time to say what they'd been waiting the whole time to say, I don't know, I really don't, and also I really didn't care bucause I had my own shit to deal with and try to keep together to manage last night.

It was on for young and old, one bruhaha after another. Everybody's coming out to the stillroom and scullery to have a bitch out of sight of the teachers. (If you want to know gossip, or hear who did what or who said what and who dosen't like who, the scullery is the place to linger.)
I just nodded at appropiate intervals and did my work. However last night was worse than ever, so I'm kind of glad it was the last.

I've rambled enough I think today, I'm about to go and make some breakfast and a good cup of tea. Wonder what it will be like next Friday as we're meant to be haivng a lunch together. Eeeeep!

Suzi
A bonafide very tired and miserable redhead.

Now I'm Pissed!

I worte a rivetign post, included losts of fun links, and what happens it got eaten!!!

Not happy, to top it off, instead of bar work last night which I htought would be nice and safe since I had to go and be sliced and diced yesterday afternoon. No I ende upon the floor having to look after people, didn't do a very good job of it, probably because I was in pain. But Wonder Owman as I shall thinkof her was workign the tables near mine so she was able bodies and minded and very helpful. Usually when I was stranded at the bar waiting for someone to tak emy order, then make it, and then come ack to the table with it, and the other table would have probably decided they wanted somehting.

I just couldn't function last night. I have done three tables before and it was fab, did two last time and it was kind of dull. Got two last night and I wanted to be anywhere but there.
Ah well I'm in Scullery tonight, where no one can hear me scream!

Suzi
A bonafide pissed off and very angry redhead.

How exciting!

Further proof that I need to get out more.

We use these very fab syrups in the bar produced by a French company called Monin. Well the label on the bottle bears a web address, a uick visit, a referal to the Australian importer, from there to his Tasmanian distributer and I know now where I can buy them from locally.

Monin syrups are all non-alcoholic and come in a variety of flavours. The importer here has 71 flavours available, I don't know if that's the full range I may have to double check the French site.
But a couple of the drinks I've made, use these syrups and I am super keen to recreate them at home.

See? See how it all comes out? I sit at home making drinks!

Of ocurse the fact that I find I have little in common to converse with my fellow classmates on is eased by the fact that I am one of the most anti-social creatures of all.
I am a non-smoker!

I find I lack the motivation to go and sit with the smokers, mainly because I can't stand the smell, secondly why should I freeze my arse off on the cold boogelly days? Thirdly, I prefer to eat my lunch while not being assulted by cigrette smoke.

However having said that, I want on that balcony in Boston! To be on that balcony with a stiff drink, a cigar and James Spader (and of course we can't forget Denny Crane!).
You know as shaming as it is to admit it, oh wait you all know I sit at home drinking, William Shatner never did all that for me. But now, I do believe it's the power of those two words!
I don't know what turns me on more James Spader or those now infamous words "Denny Crane!". I can't help but think of Monty Python and their Holy Grail and the Knights who wanted a shrubbery when I think of infamous words that entertain me greatly!

Season one of Boston Legal is being advertised in all the catalogues, you know I'm going to have to have it.

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide red head and damn proud of it.
(On a side note I have to create a cocktail so as to pass my advanced bar wenching, I will say this much now. It will be called the Redhead's Revenge - I shan't disclose the secret ingredient just yet. The walls have ears you know!)

Call For Submissions of Interest!

Today dear readers, I am seeking some input. It is time I became a more rounded person, with less sharp corners, so I need to expand my interests and hobbies.

To start with I have cooking, knitting, recycling and pole dancing. And pirates of course. And the overwhelming need to be the supreme ruler of the world and most awesome bar wench ever.

But I kind of need something more, I need some inspiration, I was discussing with Ms Stash over hot chocolate about my need for this today.

In conclusion I need something that is un-naff un-twee disorganised aloneness. Any suggestions????

Ms Stash suggested yoga, which is very good, because I like yoga and it doesn’t involve organised team sport – bah!

And it’s kind of normal. Everybody does yoga now, not just longhaired tree dwelling unwashed hippies.

It’s very exciting, Ms Stash is cooking her way through the latest Kylie Kwong book. Unfortunately I was working the night she made the Mongolian Beef, but she has promised to make it for me again. We’re also going to have Crispy Prawns with Honey and Garlic Sauce, yum!

But tonight we are having Beef in Oyster Sauce one of my all time fave dishes.

Asian cooking has all ways been a passion of mine, spanning the region from Indonesia up and across to India and China.

Japanese cooking is something I know very little about, I think because for a long time it was so unknown and unavailable. The Asian cookbooks expanded slowly beyond Chinese into other cuisines but Japan was one of the last areas. Which means I own not one Japanese cookbook. Not a single one!

I actually bought myself some Soba Noodles (organic to boot) so as to make Nigella’s soba noodle dish from Forever Summer, which I haven’t got around to as it’s served cold and well I just can’t come at cold noodles at the moment. I want my food to be at least warm.

Speaking of Nigella I am planning to make some more of her dishes from Forever Summer as I have tracked an obscure liqueur. It was so exciting when I found it I e-mailed the Green Woman and waxed lyrical because I knew she could empathise with my excitement.

I treated myself to a new DVD on Tuesday; it’s one of the Simpson’s Classics series. They usually have about four episodes on them and are titled by the sort of theme they are put into. This one is the Dark Secrets of the Simpsons it was only $10 and it has what has to be one of my all time fave episodes.

When none other than three people of notoriety all came to Springfield, Leonard Nimoy along with Mulder and Scully!!!

Now we are actually having a mini Chinese banquet, beef in oyster sauce followed by chicken and cashews all washed down with some very lovely Tasmanian cider.

Absolutely delicious!

Well tonight is Dr Who night, so I must go and prepare myself. Get into my slippers, make a coffee and find something worthy of nibbling. What to follow a mini Chinese banquet with? Hmmm, I'm thinking of mushrooms on toast while I watch Parky though, Bette Middler is on tonight. Wouldn't mind seeing what she has to say for herself.

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide red head and damn proud of it.

Denny Crane! and THE Matt Hardy's Day Out at the Knitting Coven

The long awaited sequal to the boys day out at the cinema has now fianlly with bloggers help come to plan!

Upon arriving at the Knitting Coven, Denny secured himself a luncheon invitation from a beautiful lady in green.

"Denny Crane! Pleased to meet you beautiful lady! Would you mind passing some of that fish over here?"








Meanwhile the best THE Matt Hardy could secure was a gig modeling half finished socks much to his displeasure.

"Damn that Denny Crane! Vengence shall be mine! GRRR ARRGGGHH!!!"
















Vengence took place when THE Matt Hardy challenged Captain Denny to one of my fave types of matches - a COFFIN match!! Which also included a popular theme from womens wrestling, a food stuff.

I present to you the Mintie Coffin Match of Doom!

In the very black, black, angry corner THE Matt Hardy. The challeneger!
"Grrr Arrrgghhh!"

In the very fetching Trekking outfit is the challengee, Captain Denny!
"Denny Crane! I will sign autographs after!"







Ding ding! First bell indicating the start of the round and Denny has come up with a cunning plan to outmanouvre the troll man and escape his angry clutches....










"Take that! Think you can outsmart Denny Crane? I'm a lawyer dammit!"


Ding ding! Bring out your dead! Ding ding! Bring out your dead!

The match concludes when the crafty Captain Denny slams the lid of the coffin closed on the angry troll man!


And your winner! And champion of the Mintie Coffin Death Match is......DENNY CRANE!!!!!!


Much applause from the onlookers, or at least much laughing.







"Denny Crane! Pleased to meet you beautiful lady! You know I seem to meet lots of beautiful ladies here today....what the?????"

"Grr Arrghh! You lollygagger! Think stuffing me in a coffin would stop me? Vengence shall be mine! AH HA HA HA AH HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!"

Oh dear I fear the angry troll man may have gone mad.







"Look here! I'll teach you to terrorise pretty ladies. And more imprtantly how dare you interrupt me while talking to pretty ladies! I'm going to trap you in this escape pod and jetson you into space and then well see if you can come back!"

"Grr Arrggh! I'll be back!! From the future and get you! And your little dog!"



Ohhh nooooo! Will Captain Denny be able to rid our world of the evil troll man? Or will the evil troll man return as promised???

Stay tuned! We will bring you more reports as they come to hand. Next tonight we have a report on a flying saucer which landed on the front lawn of.......

We apologise for this interruption to normal services.

Blogger is being rejectable. Once again I will have to delay Denny and Matt's day out at the Knitting Coven.

BOOO!!!!

Sockful of Success

This is Denny Crane and The Matt Hardy holding up the Sister Sock so as you can all see how beautiful it came out. At this point all it needed was the Afterthought Heel which wasn't as boogelly as I feared it would turn out.

















This is the finished result later that night, complete with heel. Denny and Matt were lollygagging somewhere and of no use.













Now a sample of the Skull Sock of Fury (you must say htis in the TOTAL ANNHILATION voice from Cats and Dogs to get the true effect.)

Once again proudly held up to be photographed by Denny and Matt!











And a final example of the sock that night, with some more work done on it and the beginning of it's empty eye sockets! Have you ever seen something more beautiful????

Whoo hoo! Me time!

Yes, that's right I have a few days to myself, so I intend to use it to do borign things like catch up on my washing and ironing. Maybe do a litttle baking...I have two new books on baking!

And of course some sock work I will have some pictures forthcoming. Very exciitng. I have started, drum roll please!

The very first Skull Sock of Fury! So quake with fear puny mortals!

I wil also catch up with some e-mails and some blogs I have to catch up with. See what everyone else is doing.

NOw is time for Mushrooms on Toast, I've already ahd it four times this week buta fifth should be good.

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide red head and damn cold!

Fear Not Evil Doers! I am on a coffee break...

Cindy started it! If only I had been Catwoman, she was BAD!!!

Your results:You are Wonder Woman
You are a beautiful princess
with great strength of character.

Wonder Woman		95%
Supergirl		90%
Hulk		80%
The Flash		75%
Catwoman		70%
Robin		60%
Iron Man		60%
Green Lantern		55%
Batman		50%
Spider-Man		40%
Superman		30%

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test

And because i am a compulsive link follower - and quiz junkie I had to do these two thanks to Yarnivorous.





What type of Fae are you?

I am a Lily What Flower Are You?

"Your artistic expression tends to show up in flamboyant bursts. When you are feeling creative, it consumes your every thought and action. But just as quickly as the muse shows up, it leaves you and you are back to your relatively normal self."

Awww, how nice. My fave flower! And how very true! The Muse is back and some knitting shall take place of the next few days, either that or I could do housework. BOOO!

Breaking News Update!

Nearly forgot again. I have been meaning to update the Inn with some recipes so I will finally upload them today.

One of those days.

Well, well, well, well. Well.

What a day today turned out to be, yes I am going to have a rant. I don't know if it's because I'm a redhead or because I may just be a bit of a crochety old bag. But it all happened today.

Today was market day, those of you who are regular readers you will be familiar with these outings. Those of you new to my blog, let me explain, a local market started up a few months ago and advertised for stall holders of local goods – Sharon had the brainwave that this was just what we at the coven had all been talking about – somewhere to sell excess knit items.

And it has been a small success, nobody's become a millionaire out of it, but we have had some sales, and generally a good gossip and some serious knitting time.

Today, aside from the fact that it was quite blah weather we (Sandra D, Ms Stash and myself) turned up for the market, it started to rain so we had to rush to move the stall back under cover. Wet knit wear is not promising sales wise.

Then the irrepressable Cindy arrived and there were 4. There was much talking and lots of news. Cindy told us how she had told off some able bodied people without a disability permit for parking in the disabled bay. Which we all heartily agreed upon. That's one of my pet peeves.

Then Cindy went off to do some shopping and this woman (who shall hence forth be known as Crotchety Old Bag aka COB for short) appeared round the corner and announced we were all making too much noise and it was difficult to hear on the phone let alone think.

I did what I do best in these situations, I ignored her and knitted. As most other things I am prone to do in these situations Ms Stash always tells me off for.

Cindy returned more talking ensued, and then there was a knocking sound I noticed when I was looking round so did Cindy so she must have heard it and then we went back to yaffling.

Then I spied COB out puffing on a cancer stick, having a conversation at a level the entire market could have heard with someone standing all of about a half a meter away.

Soon as she disappeared – flicking her cigrette butt on the ground I might add, another of my pet peeves. I was whispering to Cindy how the COB had come out after she'd gone to the bakery and told us we were all making so much noise she couldn't think.

About a minute later, the grand wizard for the market appeared at our stall and told us that “the lady in the office was doing some critical computer work and she had asked us nicely to be quiet, she didn't want to cause any problems, but we needed to be quiet.”

How f*****g precious can you be? How she works when the market isn't on and the square reverts to a car park I don't know. All those cars driving around and through, car doors being slammed and I am sure people are talking then as well.

Instantly made me think of a former co-worker who was a bit precious and would have coped so much better if we had elimanted all face to face contact, telephones and anything that required a great deal of thought.

The first two solutions would have overcome the problem of her not listening to anything anyone else actually said.

But I digress, I got annoyed, very annoyed. May be the red hair, may be I was a COB, but I announced I would not stay and would not be back. Being treated like naughty school children. Be quiet? I am a little uncertain about this one, were we meant to sit in silence for the rest of the market? I am also also considerable pissed off, that if we were making so much noise where we were they didn't offer to help us move somewhere else in the market with our stall.

Then Sharon arrived and then there were 5. We were all trying to whisper loudly enough so she would hear on her way over to us that she couldn't talk.

Which led to more discussion about COB, and we all decided to pack up and go home since we had had no customers and it looked like it was going to fully rain.

After we've all packed up we were standing out in the car park whispering with Sharon catching upon all the gossip. And one of the other stall holders was packing up near by making a bit of noise, when Cindy noticed the COB was at the window staring through the blinds at us. Sharon being the most polite, friendly member of the group waved and sung out goodbye her.

Maybe it was just the weather for them, because at one point another COB was on the other side of the market shouting at a woman running a stall before marching past us and back around the corner somewhere. What????

I don't understand people who go round shouting abuse at people in public. That's not saying I wouldn't do it, had I been in a lesser mood this morning I would have got stuck into it with our COB.

I still think we should have taken her, there was only 1 of her and 5 of us. Not to mention smoking those cancer sticks she would have been fair game.

I actually successfully finished the toe on the first Sister Sock, now I have picked up the stitches for the heel it almost a completely finished sock. I just need a completely finished sock that matches one of the other 3 now. No tot mentio the half finsihed Feather and Fan, the Sock Curse has struck again I am three stiches short as I am about to start the heel. NOOOOOOOOOOO!

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide angry red head and damn cranky about everything!

I'll have what she's having!

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

Finally for the first time in weeks I made it to the covne meet-up. So exciting to see everybody again. But there was so much to talk about and so little time.
Some valuable knitting time was got in,drank a latte, ate a chocolate brownie which wasn't half bad, actually it was reasonably good.

Finally picked up a copy of the Filati knitting this afternnon after the meeting. It's put out by Lana Grossa and is a sumer edition so has lots of very cute little tops and wraps in it.

I'd like to take htis opportunity to lament the restrctions on becoming Renassionce Woman. While I would like tobe a an all spinning, all dyeing, all knitting and all crocheting. I just ahve the time, more's the pity. I will have to content myself with getting on top of my UFO's and mastering the art of crochet.

There is simply not enough hours in the day or enough money in my budget to indulge all my passions. However having said that I am getting a bit crafty with some fabric and velcro for a special project. That is all I will say for the moment as there is some more work to be done before all can be revealed......

Some discussion at the coven this afternoon has got me thinking. About deed polls and name changes, and how many peole hate their names. Maybe after my advanced wenchng (food as well as beverage service) course is over maybe I oculd reinvent myself? Nothing major, it's not like reinventing the wheel. Or is it??????

If you do change your name can you apply to have all oyur schoola nd educational certificates reissued in your new name? Or do oyu merely have to have accompyning proof with you when being interveiwed to show you are the person who got those results?
Hmmmmmmm....so many questions! And so many other quesitons! And projects and ideas and things to do!

Where will it end? Perhaps when I become Buffy! Buffy Summers! Or better yet Xena, yes I could pictue myself as a Xena.

Until next time,
Suzi (or possibly Buffy or possibly Xena)
A bona fide red head (or maybe blonde or brunette) who has to go and still the mind and do some actually more knitting - socks to finish!

YEAH!

I am so exctied! If I knew what the Friends elbows were I would so be doing it!

With any luck and I can get out of class early as well, I may actaully make the knitting coven meet up tomorrow.

Now if you excuse me I have to go and go "Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo" and wring my hands lots.

Suzi.
Too excited to tell you anything here today!

New clicky link!

http://countyoursocks.blogspot.com/

Just for Ms Stash and anyone else who is interested. How many pairs socks have you knitted yourself?

I Live To Write Again!

>

I did not as I feared, simply write fish all over my order book. Not that this would have been a bad thing as we were serving fish.

Tonight was our first restaurant practical, despite what we all thought we all weren't on these tow nights. I was in Group A and we worked by ourselves tonight. Four of us in total plus our supervising staff, and the kitchen crew of course.

Tomorrow night Groups B, C and D get to work and we all get the night off. They aren't as talented as us, that's why were Group A and get the customers to ourselves.

However I still need to finish off an assignment so I will have to go into school tomorrow after all. BOOO!!!

Then Friday I get to do the oh so thrilling, and much looked forward to breakfast shift. No, really I am looking forward to it, because once it's done it's done. And fortunately there is only one breakfast shift.

The Daft White Cat wasn't too impressed with my knowledge gathering excursion. I heard all about it when I came home, well just after I came home since he was actually sound asleep. Blissfully unaware of me coming in with all my bags of stuff.

I had better check and see what it is I am meant to be doing next week. As I am missing my knitting coven get togethers. Bill and I seem to be still getting on like a house on fire, Ted has been noticeably absent. Which is probably a good thing because he has those pants that the crotch is down around his knees and I just want to go over and grab the back of them and pull up. It irritates me to no end, I have my true grumpy old bag moments then.

Anyway my beloved readers, I am off to bed, the DWC is giving me the eyes and sitting on the desk sending me telepathic requests. Lets go to bed, I want to curl up on the blanket. Lets go to bed I want to sit on your hot water bottle. Lets go to bed I can bury myself under the covers next to your feet.

That last one has me beat, quite frankly at the end of the day I'd rather be far away from my feet. But cats are strange creatures, or at least all mine have been. One of them was a definite foot fetishist, wouldn't get up and sit in your lap, but he adored feet. He had to be as close as possible to them.

Ah well I'm of to bed to get some rest, busy day tomorrow. Actually I'm glad I don't ave to work tomorrow, it gives me plenty of time to do stuff during the day and the opportunity to get early to bed so I can be ready to report for work at 7am.

Until next time,
Suzi.
A bona fide red head who is not a morning person and is damn cranky because of it.

Good news!

Being laid up with my sore and still swollen ankle - fortunatly not bruised - Ms Stash came to visit me and keep me company. I actually got some more work done on the Sister Sock. Very exciting!

Since then I've logged on to finally look at the new Magknits and Knitty's that are up.

Nothing in Magknits really screamed make me now! The stuff was nice, but not I have to make it! Knitty on the other hand, I mean literally on the hand here, has inspired me and also a number of people I discovered while catching up on Punk Rock Knit Girls.

The Knucks are very cool, and seeing what others have done on the Knucks KAL has really inspired me. I was just looking at the Tiger Paws and Tabby Paws in the Yarn magazine earlier this afternoon thinking I would make some of those. Well I will be making a lot more as it now seems.

Other inspiring patterns I found while catching up on the PRKG was these socks and stockings. The wonderufl DIY Network site for Knitty Gritty, listing all the episodes so you can see hat htey all featured.
However back at Knitty I found these to add to my ever growing list of things to make - Carpathia, Reptilian Lace, Baudelaire, Swell and my two absolute faves from fab factor alone Allete and Lilies (my absolute fave flowers ever!).

I've also found a new web ring I've fallen in love with, The Bad Ass Knitters Webring. Bad ass aside, I am enamoured with their choice of buttons - which despite the name of the ring also cater for spinners and crochters.


To finish off, a little something I know Sharon will appreciate as well! Betty Boop herself x2.

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide red head who will answer people's questions, I swear - alot! But it will be done.

So many good things and so few.

I have been so distracted, I have failed to blog about some of the more important knitting things that have happened.

My much coveted Tiger ayrn has long isnce arrived, very exciting! All the way from Germany. Unfortuantly Ms Stash dosen't have her borrowed camera so I can't take a picture of my lovely yarn to show you. However, the wonderful Sharon has a pair knitted up.

On my way home from class today I encountered the rabble that is other people's children, fortunatly their are a number of buses close together so I managed having to avoid traveling with a large number of them.
The hair cuts alone are enough to drive you mad! Being one of the last on the bus, the bus driver took off before I could even sit down and I odn't know what I did but my ankle has been sore ever since.

I met Ms Stash as I was dragging myself home, after deciding not to come and see her now I was all miserable but she espied me so I went to visit her and the Boy.
She was also brave enough to take my sock and shoe off for me, after I complained I had a fat ankle. Apparently it's not just fat, upon looking at it she also thinks there is a bruise coming up.
Now we just wait and see, either I'll wake up tomorow and it'll be fine or I'll wake up and it'll be even more hideous than now.

I guess there will be no excuse to not sit and knit this weekend, now all I need is something to watch. I've been re-watching everything I possess latley as there seems to be nothing but rubbish on tv. Rubbish!
Having re-seen St Trinians and the Train Robbery, I ma more than doubly determined ot find some more of this classic if nonsical series.

Also on the knitting front, I saw a new knit magazine while in the newsagent. Filati? Filata? It was only $9.95 and there looked to be quite a few copies there so I am going to go back next week and pick up a copy as it was full of things I loved. Which is more than I can say for the Creative Knitting which was the same price but no where near the same excitement level.

Until next time,
Suzi.
A bona fide red head in pain and damn unhappy.

My loyal subjects!

I address you now to let you know I have not forgotton you or our plan to rule the world.

When the day comes and I am supreme ruler your loyalty and patience shall be remembered. However I fear I may have bit off more than I can chew. And I didn't once think those immmortal words "How hard can it be?"

I don't think I am quite cut out to be a food and beverage wench. Bar wenching I could handle, add food to the mix and it gets complicated. You have to know things!
I don't know I can explain menu's to people, or discuss wine choices. To me either it is drinkable or not. Which reminds me I discovered on a foray into a bottleshop that Hardy's produce their Merlot in 10 litre casks. Very pleasing.

Also you will all have to have black coffee's or flat white's, possibly a latte if your lucky or flat cappacino's. I'd advise the black it's going to be the least disappointing.

The Thrilling Adventures of Matt Hardy and Denny Crane are temporarily on hold, Matt needs to think about the meaning of good customer service and can't come out of the corner till he does.
I am his customer and I expect to be serviced promptly and politely regardless of personal meltdowns, hot blondes or crazy cranks, as would any of my customer's.
Do you think they are really interested if I am getting good customer service elsewhere? Or if they are going to get their drink promptly?
Now that is a hard one, can I have some thinking music please Bob?

"At the age of thirty-seven she knew she'd found forever
As she rode along through Paris with the warm wind in her hair ..."

Alright Bob, I'm going to go with the first option! What???? I'm wrong??? Aww!
Wait, there's a booby prize what do I get?
A Matt Hardy action figure? In a skull and cross bones top?!?!?!?! Perhaps not a complete loss then...

Fear not!

As for Bill and Ted, well, I got my own back in class yesterday on Bill. We had a class on communicating on the telephone, yes, they actuually tach you about telephone etiquette and handling.

Well since Bill and Ted and our other group member voted me into being secretary, I was outvoted by threemales as Bill told me. Soemthing in our group discussion, we somehow got onto perky. I made osme crack about how we wern't talking about the kind of sex phone lines Bill rings up...much to great amusement.

Today, today was anew day. Bill and I got along a lot better, I wouldn't say a house on fire, but considerably better, especially since we got assigned to a group together along with the two R's (yes, both girls have the same name).

And the wonderful Che put me onto this, aren't these the coolest lookign oven gloves you've ever seen??

I Spy With My Little Eye...

Did anybody else see Miami CSI last night? I do believe that was a not a Hottie Clicker or something very much like it that boy had.

I had to do a practical for my Advanced bar Wenching aka Food and Beverage Wenching course on Friday night, so my father taped Blackbeard for me, which went well till towards the end were first someoen had chnged the channel while it was recording and then it had stopped recording altoghether after giving me brief hope when someone had turned it back to the right channel.

So no I don't actually know how Blackbeard ended...

I ended up sitting next to Bill and Ted today in class, or more to the point they sat next to me. I had to work with them, I got voted 'secretary' because I was the only girl in the group.
But honestly I look at bill and Ted and I see myself as a prime candidte fro that Grumpy Old Women show. What I could say!

Suzi.
A bona fide cranky red head.

What a day!

We had originally intended to try and organise a lunch at Smokey Joes since I had a rare day of freedom and missed out on last weeks coven meeting. But Smokey Joes was not to be as they don't appear to have opened yet in their new premises. SO I thought plan number two, I would take advantage of cheap tickets at the movies and go see the much advertised Pirates of the Caribbean 2.
Dosen't open till Thursday.

But to my delight I discovered X-Men 3 had not finished but was in it's final days. 10:30 this morning I was not at the cinema. 10:40 Miss Stash and I got to the cinema
And wouldn't you know it? The movie had actually started! No never ending preveiws!
I had planned to take some pictures of Matt's day at the movies to detract form the lack of knitting but that didn't go to plan, you can't take pictures of empty popcorn boxes in empty theatres with blank screens....Poor boy, if only he had relaised it was all a lure on my part to liberate him of his bandana!

So when we got home which was very quickly, something did not agree with me. I'm blaming the cinema popcorn. Matt and his new friend Captain Kirk (so he dosen't look a total Nigel) re-enacted their day's outing. Below is the humourous story. It is very amusing, and you will find it so or you will be shot.
Now that my stomache has settled I think I can safely dash to the corner store for a packet of rice.

"Denny Crane! Beam me up some popcorn Scottie!"

"Dude, I'm THE Matt Hardy! I'm not into sci-fi so I don't know who you are, or what your qouting at me because I didn't see the Lord of the Rings!"

"Denny Crane! What do you mean you don't know who I am? Denny Crane! I wasn't in Lord of the Rings - that was some other old guy! I'm Denny Crane I was in Star Trek you boob!"

All been distracted long enough? Good, Ms Stash when she went shopping was good enough to pick me up the new Simply Knitting with the free circulars. And the circulars turned out to be the size I keep meaning to buy so I can pick up the stitches on my Aran Earwarmer. There may be knitting progress yet.

LOOK!!! ELVIS!!!

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide red head trying to distract people from her lack of knitting reports on her kniting blog.

The Coolest Exchange of the Millenium!!

Who haven't I told about this? Probably you my dear blog readers, I have how ever been talking people's ears off about how Che asked me if I'd like to participate in a gift exchange similar to secret pal but more suited to those of us with, ahem, similar asthetic tastes.

It now has it's own blog page, yes it has grown, evolved into it's own being, soon it will take over the world (and rightly so!). The Punk Rock Gift Exchange!
I think you all should take the time to admire and marvel at it! This is truly a revolution in gift exchanges, where would we be without the internet?

My father (who is from Scotland) talks about Anoraks - people who are obsessed with a particular hobby or collecting certain things and how the internet is like a giant anorak allowing Anoraks not only to meet in clubs and classes in their own area but converse and view pictures of what fellow Anoraks are doing on the other side of the world.
To which I say: Bloody Marvelous!!!

And in closing, Matt my little knitting helper has now got a big head and the fact that he has acquired a small number of fans. There'll be no living with him now.

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide red head who is going to find out exactly why the rum is gone!

Last week on the Darkside....

We acquired a new knitting bag, and Emily the strange tote. Let me count the ways I love it!















These were the goodies I picked up at he last market we attended. A couple of patterns, 3 pairs of 4mm, a pair of Pony Pearls 3.25, a 4mm circular and for sheer novelty value a 2mm circular. I may use it for socks yet.









The feather and fan sock which is now one repeat away from the heel











And would you believe here we have Matt Hardy, doing some work on the Sister sock.
Johnny Knoxville claimed ina n interview that the Rock not only knitted but made him a pair of socks on set while they were filiming Welcome to the Jungle. Would you believe that?

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's not time to party!

I didin't expect to go back and furthur my bar wenching skills would be so tiring!

Tomorrow I go on a quest to organise my unform I will need to wear out on my practical placement. Told us on Monday what we needed and that we needed it by Wednesday next week. Nothing like plenty of warning, then it turns out the reccommended supplier is closed on Mondays....
By this afternoon I was done, all I wanted was to come home, take my clothes off and have a cup of coffee before embarkign onmy homework, some light reading. I also have to read the entire Barista handbook, fortuantly it's not long. And I have of course already been through it, we start our first coffee class Friday. Oue teacher said it shouldn't tkae more than two weeks if that to read it all. I don;t have much to read up on for tomorrow so I figure I can get it started and finished by Friday.
Get it out the road. Not to mention my other text books all have a chapter on coffee making so I figure I can read all them as well to refresh my memory. I did over the weekend dig out my notes and books from bar wenching last year to brush up my skills.

Tomorrow I odn't have to be at class as it's aunit I've already done and passed, so I figure I'll go in late, after following up on my uniform. But get in early in case anything has to be ordered.
I'm hoping they will do the wine service early and then the cocktail garnishes second, my wine service, opening and doing all that junk is fine. What I would lke to do is re go over the garnishes, my memory is a little blurred about the kinds we made, fairly basic ones I think?
Ah, well it dosen't matter. I have all the books, I will just have to practice at home if they've done it before I get there.
Perhaps I should pack some knitting and go cocoon myself in the cafeteria and wile away the time if there doing the broing wine junk.

RSA which I also did is all in one day, so I guess I will just have a day off! Might have to try and schedule a special SNB meet-up somewhere. Maybe I can convince some of them to come out for lunch? Theres a few places I'd liek to try, Smokey Joes being one of them.

Anyway too much talking, I need to go make coffee and do some reading. And possibly a little knitting. However the sock curse has struck again this time it has stolen my knitting journal and sock pattern folder which I had together. It has made all sock work come to a grinding halt....

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide red head and damn proud of it.

For whom the bell tolls....

I have been having a bit of a crisis of conscious. I have not got a lot of knitting done, I've read a fair number of Agatha Christies, spent slightly more time thinking about the very delectable Matt Hardy and generally occupying my time by discovering the most amazing things, like someone thinks I'm cool! That someone else out there wants Metallica to serve them breakfast.

As you can see I have got some more work on the remake of the Feather and Fan Socks, the lovely Sharon's pattern. I had hoped to do one of those Proof of Life photos, holding today's newspaper. But the Sock was having a Diva moment. Apprently it's trailer wasn't big enough, and there was no fresh ORCHIDS! ORCHIDS!

Well I have been wasting several hours watching my new, just arrived Matt Hardy Show Season 1 DVD. I'm not sure I actually like it, but I won't say I don't like it either. To say at times it confuses me would only be honest, how did Matt's brother Jeff get from Moses to cows in under a nano second has me lost. I did contemplate doing what the evil man with the long hair (no idea what his name is off the top my head, Bai Ling was his other half) in The Crow wanted to do with Skank, video tape it and play it back in slow motion. Well it was already on DVD, unfortunately slow mo only did my head in and I had to go lie down.

Matt Hardy, as you know dear readers is very dear to me, very dear, I put him up on the pedestal and super glued the soles of his shoes (didn't work he still got away). Do you know that moment when the perfect vision of loveliness open their mouths and speak and suddenly it's not perfect?
It all started with a discussion about trolls, I thought they were short and scaly but Matt and Jeff between them didn't seem to certain about trolls themselves. When out of Matt Hardy's mouth came the absolute clanger, someone, his cameraman I think said something about trolls in relation to Lord of the Rings. Jeff hadn't seen it, neither had Matt because he's not into sci-fi stuff.

WHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTT?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?

No no no no no no no no no no....say it isn't true! Can the greatest obsession of my life not tell sci-fi and fantasy apart? Even I can and I'm not into sci-fi and fantasy (except for Terry Pratchett but that's another post another day when I'm less traumatised).

The lovely Ms Stash has been dying me some wool, I told her something dark and stormy and the results I am sure will be spectacular. There will be some before and after pictures on her blog. Or maybe not, the sock is not the only Diva today, so I will display here the finished dyed wool. Nice isn't it? I like to call it Stormy Sisters.

Anyway I am off to get ready for tonight's viewing, possibly some more Matt, but maybe we'll go for superheros, Wolverine hasn't disappointed me yet. That man is a bad, bad man. I like that. Still to see the third instalment, I will get there, I may even take Ms Stash if she so desires and doesn’t roll her eyes. No, wait that's only when I want her to come to the Rock's movies with me...


The bell tolls for thee......


Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide red head and damn proud of it.

How Now White Cat?

Edit: Almost forgot about one of the new sites the lovely Ms Fortuknit sent my way. Punk Rock Knit Girls, pink and skulls? Strangely I am not as averse to pink as I once was, I shall balme the person who sits across from me at Knitting Coven who keeps knitting pink socks....

The Daft White Cat finds it incredibly delightful of an evening when the heater goes on, he sees it as his personal luxury to roll around in front of and generally hog the heat by sleeping right on top of it just about.

My knitting mojo hasn't returned, I can only presume it migrated to a warmer clime. I would have liked to have gone with it, but then it didn't invite me.

It's like Denny Crane getting married, my mojo and I are drifting apart. I have become an avid fan of Boston Legal. Denny Crane. And James Spader? Not the James Spader mentioned in the very first episode of the very first season of Buffy????

I'll have to consult the oracle. Cindy!!!

Tomorrow is Knitting Coven and I have no idea what I will be taking along to knit, maybe one of the socks? I am keen to restart teh feather and fan sock. It was all going so well before being struck down by the dreaded sock curse...

Until next time,
Suzi.
A bona fide red head without her mojo and damn sad about it.

Another day, another dollar not in my pocket.

I think my knitting mojo may be coming back, perhaps it regrows?

Last night I started a hat for the Guardian Angel to Mongolia program. It's a made up stripey beanie made out of Angora Supreme in a pale mauve and a (yech!) pale pink. It is going rather well, I am knitting it in the round to avoid that boogelly job known as sewing up.

Also after my shoulders started to ache I converted back to straight needles and the mystery chunky yarn and started a rib scarf for Dulaan. Originally the mystery yarn must have been in hanks, because some of it still is and some is half wound into an ball and all boogelly. I wound a smallish hank into a ball last night after I knitted up the oddment first and I am nearly out so will have to finish rolling the boogelly hank, why can't people at least finish what they've started before donating it away?

I have taken Cindy's advice and indulged in chocolate and cute wrestling men. I am very soon going to be the owner of the DVD of the first season of the Matt Hardy show.
Yes, he has his own show. How vain can he be thinking people might want to watch a show about him? About right on the money it would seem. Albeit mine comes via ebay as I have been in two minds about ordering it direct from him.
It can hardly disappoint I know since the world has already seen the public melt down followed by the premature mid-life crisis that resulted in the red corvette (ooo yes!) and the overinflated blonde (she left to go model in New York shortly after, actually she was an ex-girlfriend but it all ended when she took up with one of his firends, which incidentlly was what prompted the recent meltdown as the then girlfriend ran off with one of his friends as well. Hmmmmm? Could this be a sign?)

Back on track, I actually secured my copy on ebay, much to my surprise as given the early interest in it I never thought I'd win it. To date it's the first copy to come up since it's release, yes I know the fact that I have been lying in wait all this time for it, implies I need a life. The fact that I would want a reality showesqe dvd of someone else's life is probably indictive of the fact that I clearly need a life of my own.

But if I had one, I wouldn't have time to knit for Mongolia, read other people's blogs and generally keep adding to my list of things I am sooooo going to make!

Actually after all that editing and rearranging of my blog sidebar yesterday I needed another percentage bar for my Dulaan Cloud Hat. I suppose I really should add one for the made-up angora beanie and the mystery yarn scarf.

And because nobody loves me, and I'm all alone and my Matt Hardy DVD is away off getting to me, maybe the end of the week (maybe) I need to fill in time so I have been cruising the net working my way through Google. I love Google, I just think (insert anything at all here), type it in and away I go on my merry way through cyber space reading about (insert whatever topic you picked here), and learning many new and wonderful things.
Today from my educational foray I offer you these two hot links Emily the Strange and The Addams Family. Notice they both include links to further increase your brain knowledge by explaining about other things associated with them. I like Wikipedia almost as much as Google.

Until next time,
Suzi.
A bona fide redheaded freak and damn proud of it.

Yes, I can knit.

Yes, I could knit. But I awoke this morning with a splitting headache, where is Matt Hardy when you need him? He could have made me cups of tea and occupied the Daft white Cat who felt the need to go MEOW! at me all morning, what he wanted was apparently nothing.
I was as they say, thankful of small mercys as the DWC did not wail or worse scream at me this morning. Although he felt the need to scream at the front door last night, clearly it was doing something very, very wrong.

Mostly I have been looking at what other people have been knitting. And then I found the Department of Craft.
Ah, lots of fun and merging into that wonderful thing known as craftivism.
Then I found Skulls n Bats, how could I not go look with a name like that?

I have located some Angora Supreme in Moon (a relly bright blue), I have four balls so not enough to do the scarf for myself which I really wanted. I am going to do the smaller size for a girl and pack it off to Mongolia.
Consulting the Guardian Angel booklet I think I can scrounge up some stray balls and make a few striped hats. Some industrius people have started a jumper....

I also have some chunky yarn knocking about that I thought probably a ribbed scarf with, I know, I know, I hate rib! But I knitted myself a ribbed scarf in 12-ply in about 3 days. It should be (fingers crossed the curse dosen't strike again) be done in next to no time.

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide red head and damn proud of it.

Trials and Tribulations

I am a cursed sock knitter, I started my second Jaywalker with delight. Here I was actually knitting a second sock! But all did not go well, when I discovered I had inadvertently ended up with two too many stitches on each needle.

I put it to one side and finally started my first Feather and fan Sock, which was going absolutely brilliantly, and the pattern was beautiful! But I somehow ended up with way more stitches than I should have had. The curse strikes again.

I am afraid to knit anything now, and so decided to finish my Angora Supreme hooded scarf, it's only been waiting 2 years to be finished. And it is now on the home stretch, I am coming down the other side of tech scarf section. But I only seem to have one needle. Back on hold, also on hold the small sized one I was going to do for Mongolia as Dulaan will go for 2007 after all!

However, I did get a copy of the new Guardian Angel booklet today and figure I may as well attempt to make something by the end of August for them, as they are after all focusing on Mongolia this year!

Then temptation struck, a new MagKnits. I am quite enamored with Rufflette, the Market Bag and the vest.

But the question remains, do I dare knit anything at all? if so what? I fear anything that involves any lace, patterning of any sort and colour changes even if only stripes. Perhaps garter stitch in one colour? Maybe a scarf with no shaping or decreasing required?

Until next time,
Suzi
A scared red headed knitter and not afraid to hide!

It's Sunday, tomorrow then is Manic Monday...

After a lot of work that got accomplished at the market, I was able when I came home in the afternoon to finish knitting the second mitten before tea!

I am very pleased with how they came out, and even more so with how much yarn they used. I have at least half a ball of Patonyle left maybe a little less.

How many of you read the Sunday Tasmanian today? I didn't but my mother pointed out an article of interest to me and you can follow the link here.

Two words, dear readers. ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!
It's getting closer, one day I will open that pole dancing circus in Vegas or maybe I'll just take to the high seas as the all dancing all world ruling pirarte. Do you think it will matter I can't sing? Or act? Sailing on the seven seas I think will at least involve some singing and maybe the need to act brave?

Late last night I cast on my second Jaywalker. Yes, at long last I am managing to do seconds. First eh mitten, and now a sock. Only another two socks to go.

Until next time,
Suzi.
A bona fide red head and knitter who is completing pairs!

Decisions, decisions!

I'd like to offer up a thnakyou to Cathy for providing me with the corrections fro the Aran Earwarmer, it is now back underway and looking like th picture!

I have a hankering (hank! get it?) to make a project of the decade. ie something lacey and Oh My! So I have compiled a short list of possible candidates. The three catergories are Socks, Shawls/Wraps and finally Scarves.

Falling Leaves
Pomatomus
Straight Laced Socks
Happy Socks
Broadripple

Cobweb
Bloom
Ella
Leaves and Waves
Frilling
Shawl Trifecta - The Frozen Lake is my personal pick.
New Vintage Capelet

Ziggy
Branching Out

This is perhaps only the tip of the iceberg as far as potential patterns go, but I have to start compiling a list somewhere. As much as I'd like to do a wrap or shawl it would probably become a project of the centery and perhaps socks or a scarf would be better suited to a decade.
My dear readers, I'm willing to hear anybody's opinions/experiences with the above patterns or perhaps any other suggestions you can make. I do have a decade so there is plenty of time to choose!

Until next time,
Suzi
A bona fide red head who is making more UFO's as opposed to less and not to proud about it.