A blip on the radar

Morning all. My apologies for the silence.

There are many reasons for this silence. Firstly, this online age has expanded so rapidly, for me at least, and this blog is no longer my automatic port of call when I want to rant about knitting or show off something I figured out. Ravelry and FaceBook munch my project ranting, and once I've already posted once (or twice), the thought of waiting for photos to upload again does not trigger a deep need. Also, I've been sewing again (more on that later), and although I can't post those projects on Ravelry, I prefer the photo album method (as on FaceBook) of keeping like projects together over tagging random blog posts.

Secondly, I am finding it increasingly difficult not to write compromising things. Anyone with half a brain will tell you that teaching in an incredibly stressful job. In a high school it means a large number of very stressed adults trying to control teenagers (I was looking for an adjective to explain the frenetic, impulsive and occasionally deranged tendencies of some of our kids but decided that 'teenagers' covered it). Now putting aside a natural desire to whinge that may ensue from this sort of situation, imagine for a moment the enormous number of hilarious situations that must occur. My life is like a parody of a soap opera, and the thing I really want to write about is often either a violation of confidentiality or ill-advised.

I suppose there are bloggers that manage to do this, but there are far far more that manage to get themselves into hot water. Stressful as I find this job, I also find it immensely rewarding and affirming. So, the idea of losing it over a bad blogging decision isn't a joyful one. If and when I leave this profession, it's going to be on my terms.

Now, I'm not saying I'm going to close this blog or stop blogging. But it's not going to be an uber-regular thing. Obviously. I guess I just wanted to clue you in that I wasn't updating for reasons beyond sheer laziness (or wedded bliss).

So this is what I am going to do. I will try to post once a month (or oftener). I will give you an outline of what I have been making (knitting, sewing, weaving) but I have become such a fast knitter it's unlikely you'll see a project mentioned more than once (frog-pond exceptions allowed). I might give you a piece of dialogue I overheard at work. This will be something innocuous but something that amused me (I'm hoping this will satisfy my urge to tell you all the hilarious details of my life - swear to god, I must be cursed to be placed in ridiculous situations!). If I'm managing to have a life outside of work, I might tell you about that too.

If you read this for the knitting or actually know me very well in real life and think you deserve a bit more uncensored ranting, I direct you to Ravelry and FaceBook. I am happy for anyone to add me on Ravelry: happyspider6. As for FaceBook, send a friend request to my married name. If I know you (add a message if you think I might need reminding as to how I know you - I'm kind of hopeless with adults' names) I'll add you. Cool?

So, knitting, eh? For the second year running I have joined a group on Ravelry called International Sweater-a-Month Dodecathon. Last year it was 'National' not 'International', but same same. I was very pleased with my achievement last year, as I actually managed 13!
This year I am on number 3 and will finish it today if I can find some buttons.

So far this year:
1. Alatus vest in Zara2. Tangled Yoke Cardigan in Cleckheaton Machinewash 5ply3. Lorretto Vest in Cleckheaton County 12ply - It's so close to being finished I'm not going to bother with a progress shot.

I'm finding this bitsy knit-a-long very satisfying because I'm able to challenge myself without feeling like a sheep (in the 'following mindlessly' sense, not the 'woolly excellence' sense of the word).

I have now significantly run out of steam. I hope to post again soon, hopefully with some sewing news.

For now I will leave you with a comment from one of my students:

"Miss, these dictionaries are crap-acious!"

Peace out,
Ms Spider xo