This was a dispute in the 1970s between Britain and Iceland about territorial waters and fishing zones, which led to confrontations between British and Icelandic fishing trawlers. Go here to read all about it or here to download the audio.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
astonishing tales of the sea
Radio National strikes again! This afternoon I was listening to Rear Vision, and managed to learn all about a mad historical incident involving the sea, which I'd never even heard of before - The Cod Wars!!
This was a dispute in the 1970s between Britain and Iceland about territorial waters and fishing zones, which led to confrontations between British and Icelandic fishing trawlers. Go here to read all about it or here to download the audio.
This was a dispute in the 1970s between Britain and Iceland about territorial waters and fishing zones, which led to confrontations between British and Icelandic fishing trawlers. Go here to read all about it or here to download the audio.
Friday, November 28, 2008
midnight maniac
well well well, here we have an actual unadulterated blog post with a finished knitting item!! Has the world gone topsy-turvy?!
I have a strange knitting habit, wherein I like to try and match projects to yarns in a thematic sense. For example, for Midnight Meadows I was looking for a pattern which reflected both the name and the colour of the yarn. So for ages I had Vinnland queued, due to its pagan influences (apparently inspired by the Green Man) - although it's quite possible I was just mesmerised by the Type O Negative references. I had grandiose visions of knitting these socks and becoming some sort of cavorting druid. Sadly it was not to be, as I realised that (a) I am unlikely to become a druid, not being within easy access of a henge, and (b) it was likely that the Vinnland pattern would be obscured by the dark murkiness of this yarn. So I went through my sock knitting books and chose a simple rib sock from one of my favourite designers, Nancy Bush.
Pattern: Spey Valley Socks by Nancy Bush (from Knitting on the Road)
Yarn: Sundara sock yarn in Midnight Meadows
Needles: 2.25mm
So I'm still striving for that magic thematic connection of pattern and yarn. I have another skein of Sundara yarn in a colourway called Deadly Nightshade. Perhaps I'll design my own sock pattern and call it Belladonna.
I have a strange knitting habit, wherein I like to try and match projects to yarns in a thematic sense. For example, for Midnight Meadows I was looking for a pattern which reflected both the name and the colour of the yarn. So for ages I had Vinnland queued, due to its pagan influences (apparently inspired by the Green Man) - although it's quite possible I was just mesmerised by the Type O Negative references. I had grandiose visions of knitting these socks and becoming some sort of cavorting druid. Sadly it was not to be, as I realised that (a) I am unlikely to become a druid, not being within easy access of a henge, and (b) it was likely that the Vinnland pattern would be obscured by the dark murkiness of this yarn. So I went through my sock knitting books and chose a simple rib sock from one of my favourite designers, Nancy Bush.
Pattern: Spey Valley Socks by Nancy Bush (from Knitting on the Road)
Yarn: Sundara sock yarn in Midnight Meadows
Needles: 2.25mm
So I'm still striving for that magic thematic connection of pattern and yarn. I have another skein of Sundara yarn in a colourway called Deadly Nightshade. Perhaps I'll design my own sock pattern and call it Belladonna.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
President Barack Obama
Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
(from "Still I Rise", Maya Angelou)
I really didn't think America could do it. I don't think I've ever been more overjoyed about being wrong.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)