More socks, WWKIP and the Tour.

Haven't done this for a while so I have a lot to catch up on. Those geeks reading this will be pleased to know that Georgie-Too is performing well after some software hiccoughs and, due to a consensus view along with the lack of major cables I have to travel with now, will become the PDA/phone of choice. RIP Georgie!

On the Sock Wars III front (pun intended), some will know of the sudden end forced on combatants in which the official winner was decided on a postcard draw. With the unofficial war continuing, I am currently very much alive but have reason to believe my death is now imminent. Depends whether I get SIPs or Detonators first. I have killed twice - a good record for my first Sock Wars I think - and survived to be one of the last 25% (approx) remaining. I have now become very appreciative of the value of a socky project as being extremely portable and very satisfying. I have also learned the mysteries of magic looping and never intend to return to dpns again!

You would all be aware (if not, go out and slap yourselves soundly now please) of World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKIP) on Saturday June 14th. Perth had a very satisfactory turnout due to my constant prodding I suspect as well as some great kindnesses on the part of the weather gods. Indeed it was so warm that sunburn was a serious risk for those of us who spent the large part of the day in residence. At our maximum, we had between 20 and 30 folk from a variety of Perth knitting groups as well as some coopted teddy bear making friends of mine and some others who have yet to join a knitting group.

Nicole's badges were delayed unfortunately so we had to verbally let people know of our intentions but some flyers were distributed with knitting group details and the Ravelry web address attached. For me the best part was putting faces to the Rav names that I have seen since I joined the fold in early February (it must have been longer than that!) Thanks go to Westozcat for her librarian-ish ways in bringing names stickers and a marker. For a non-name-enabled person such as myself, it was a Godsend.

You can see from the hat use and brightly lit backgrounds in the pics here that it was a beautiful winter's day for us. We had visitors of course. When somthing like this is scheduled at a public coffee spot in town centre, that's bound to happen. The anti-Scientology marchers went by twice but we were unable to persuade them to knit away their fears. Something to do with those masks of...Tom Cruise perhaps?? We had, early on, a small group of Perth City Council workers who put up a brave front but I think were secretly dying to have a go with sticks & string. A pharmacist colleague of mine who moved to work interstate a couple of years ago just happened to seat himself and his wife close by and I was able to catch up - very serendipitous! I had a bag of assorted oddments and some spare needles for those who came unequipped - fancy, going to a WWKIP with NO KNITTING! - and a friendship blanket was started. Of course I will now have to ensure that it gets completed.

In the photo above, you may also just see my bicycle chained to the barrier. Yes - I combined my love of knitting with a quick ride to town for coffee and a chat. I wasn't the only one and hopefully we will have more two-wheeled knitters as winter turns to spring. The Exomod knitters encompass three of those who cycle currently - some who cycle much more than me I know!

Which leads me nicely to the Tour. Which tour you ask? Only a non-cycling person would ask that I suggest - the Tour de France mes amis! I registered as a contender for the green jersy in a TDF KAL. Basically I have the timelines of the Tour - around three weeks - to start and complete a project. It is supposed to be themed but as the tour crosses boundaries (it started in London last year) and actually goes into Italy at one point, I am pushing to be able to do Bellini, one project that I have everything for already (no further purchases required - a good thing!) that I think I can manage. The aim of this colour jersy is not to do anything too difficult but to be able to sprint across the line and gain maximum points for your team - in my case Team Credit Agricole. Only one problem. As an Australian, I feel the need to go for Cadel Evans to win and he isn't in my team. Qu'elle domage!

I'm a survivor!!

As of this afternoon, I (or should I say) Sockittome! am one of 41% (474) remaining Sock Warriors in Sock Wars III - tale of The Detonator. And I have killed! There is blood on my needles. Liberty forwarded her socks of doom to me and I received these with Tuesday's post and am working my way through another Detonator-type situation. I feel that I know this pattern now. Doesn't make it any easier when you're tired to count those shifting rows when you forgot which pattern repeat you were up to but there you go! Stay tuned for regular updates. I fear as my first Sock War, death cannot be too far away however at least two above me (my assassin and my grand-assassin are already kaput so I have some breathing space I think. That postman just keeps coming though. Any day now.......

On a positive note, I have also enabled the New Widget, hereafter known as Georgie-Too or GT. GT is a replacement for the four-year-old Georgie my first PDA-phone. GT (admit you were waiting for this), goes faster but there are no stripes - that was my Top Gear-type reference in case you didn't spot it. Because of GTs bursts of speed, he seems to have a habit of going to sleep at inappropriate moments. Don't get me wrong, GT can work in his sleep but it is a little disconcerting to be doing something and the screen goes black. Pretty freaky the first time actually! Getting a bit used to it now.

When setting up the Widget I have always found that the putting on of the programmes is the tricky bit. Then comes the keeping them all running in a harmonious and central processor sharing kinda way so that you can use what you want when you like. With Georgie, I had issues at the start until we developed a good working relationship. I would load on all that useful info (like phone numbers and contact details and documents I needed), travel somewhere (like Sydney) and Georgie would promptly drop his bundle along with any useful information. This effectively meant that instead of Georgie the PDA-phone, I had Georgie the handbag weight. Hoping that apart from the sleepy time thing that GT doesn't give me the same issues because GT is easier to travel with. Less cables and other extraneous paraphernalia to keep him full of juice. With Georgie, I had to take the adaptor and the charging cable plus another cable if he wanted to chat with any of his computer friends. GT only requires one cable (same one as the MP3 player I already have) and that will do it all - no adaptor required. So for the price of two Widgets, I need one cable and a plug (or a friendly computer to sap the charge from!)
Stay tuned for the story of GT and his travels (will he respect Georgie too much not to do the same?) and the tale of Sockittome! and her death-defying project skills.....