Second Year of Projects Week 50-51

I can't believe how close we are to the end of this year! (and somehow, I'm going to end up with 53 weeks in the year, not sure how that happened...)

I've finally got around to finishing a few long lasting projects, so this is a very picture heavy post. The biggest is my School Days socks.

For such an easy pattern, it has taken me a ridiculously long time to finish these. I'm really pleased with them, although the toes are a bit blocky, and I would start with less stitches if I were to make these again.

I've also finished a couple of preemie cardigans. I have enough of this yarn left to make another two cardigans before I donate them, so I'll probably knit those in the next week.

And finally, I finished my longest project ever. This has been on my list for the last two years, and it was started in May 2010. It's been waiting for raindrops for that long, and it only took me an hour to finish once I picked it up again, don't know why I didn't do it before!

I've also finished a few non-list projects. I decided to learn to crochet, as a summer project, and I've made a couple of "squares" (which aren't very square), to practise my stitches. Not sure what to do with them now, but they don't look too bad.

It's a good job I decided to learn, because I got a gift of Creepy Cute Crochet from my best friend for my birthday, and I will have to make a Ninja at some point soon.

I needed to learn to crochet, to make the eyes for my Owly cushion, which I've also finished. It was a massive success with my friend, who did comment that I wasn't supposed to give her a present on my birthday! I've already had several requests from other people for one of these.

I had fun when I came to stuff it. I had a little bag of stuffing, and I commented that I wasn't sure I would have enough. Then I opened the packet, and there was a stuffing explosion! I was sitting on the sofa with stuffing covering me from head to toe, not sure how they crammed it all into that little package.

Since I did a bit of travelling, I've also made about five Doctor Who themed dishcloths (so far), but I don't have pictures of those yet. So, all in all, a lot of knitting, which has been good for the summer. I'm back to University tomorrow, so I think that the rate of projects will slow down a bit again now though.

The rest of this post is not knitting related, you have been warned!

I did have a bit of a disappointment last weekend though. We were meant to be going to Spain for a few days, and originally we were delayed for six hours, due to the French air traffic controllers' strike, then we got onto the plane, and after an hour's waiting, the flight was cancelled, and we had to get off and go home.

There were no more flights for the next two days, due to the strike, so we were out one holiday and quite a bit of money, as well as the holiday being my birthday present for my entire family. Since I don't really get any time off now for the next year, I was really upset about it, and my Mum (who is a star), stepped in to put money towards a spa day and a night in a hotel for me and Connor.

(Click to enlarge, you can see the whole spa)

It was gorgeous, with a swimming pool and whirlpool, sauna, steam room, and outdoor hot tub that we sat in in the rain.

And I got a free mini pedicure, so I have pretty pink toes.

So it wasn't a complete wash out of a holiday, and then yesterday we went to Download Festival 2013, a rock festival, with my Dad, and had a really great day, seeing some amazing bands.

So in the end, it was a great end to the holiday!