A little bit of knitting

And I mean very little...

In my quest for viable procrastination, I decided to knit a cardigan for my cousin's little girl who's due in September.  I have a vague recollection of promising something similar whilst a bit tipsy at a family get together back in May.  I figure that being pregnant and therefore not being drunk, she'll probably remember the conversation so I should try to make good my promise.

We're seeing her on Saturday, by which time she'll be roughly barge proportions, for a wedding (of another cousin).  I was aiming to have it ready and bingo! Deadline hit... Hooray!

The results:

A tiny cardi for a tiny Owls fan

I used this pattern, and it came up a bit small even though I made a gauge and everything.  Luckily I decided to make the 6 month version.  Thus when I made it little it only shrunk to newborn.  I reckon that if I'd begun at newborn it'd probably fit the guinea pig.

Despite its diminutive size, I'm really pleased with my effort.  This is the first entire garment I've made (beside scarves and gloves) and therefore represents an evolution in my knitting career.

Aaand... Breathe!

Final draft for dissertation done.  Still lots of work to do on it though, and it'll get shredded by my supervisor.  Never mind... It's definitely something better than nothing.

On a much brighter note, I've been staying with my cousin and his new-ish wife for the last few days: quicker to get to the library, less distractions, etc.  It's always nice to go round theirs as not only do they cook amazing food - barbeque extraordinaire, yesterday - but they also have amazing cats.  Affectionately know as Princess Lightning Snowball and the little furry shouty man (although this last could equally apply to fish husband) they are cute enough to make anyone forget dissertation woes.

Zara being less lightning, more snowball

Now the dissertation is on the way to being finished, I've got to start thinking about packing up my bindle and heading off to seek my fortune in gay Paris!

Some quick thoughts on writing a dissertation

1) The library is a depressing place to be on a beautiful day.

I think it looks like the Ministry of Love from Orwell

2) This skirt, beautiful though it is, is noisy and is therefore a bad choice of library skirt.

This is what has been called my Esmerelda skirt

3) I am a master of procrastination.

Tickets booked!

So... I guess that makes it official.

I have a job.  I have a flat.  I have my tickets.  I'm moving to Paris!

Don't get me wrong, I am so excited.  I am also absolutely terrified.

Not only am I moving to Paris, I am moving there on my and fish-husband's second anniversary.  Nothing says 'I'm abandoning you' like doing it on an especially romantic day!  Uh oh.  Hopefully it can be salvaged by a romantic day in London and a romantic dinner in Paris - that's possible, right?

Not only am I moving to Paris, but I am moving there in less than twenty days.  In that time I have to finish my dissertation (actually, I only have until Tuesday to get a completed draft it), attend my cousin's wedding (and buy a gift), pack, plan a going away party, finish the accounts for work, get my passport, celebrate my dad's birthday, celebrate my mum's anniversary, change my euros... oh, and probably try to find a bit of time for shopping.  Whew!

Time to get cracking then.  Number one on the list: dissertation.