And I Thought I Was Rebellious

I’ve always thought I was a bit of a rebel.  And I’m a knitter.  But apparently I’m not a rebel knitter.

Well, not according to the Guardian’s Rebelknitters Guide, published last weekend.

I thought it was a joke (the Guardian does great April Fool’s Day articles, but this was 26th July).  Apparently it’s not. 

I know there was a craze in the 80’s for Willy Warmers (not sure what they were called in the USA as I don’t think ‘willy’ has the same connotations).  But a Willy Warmer for a banana??!  An apple cozy to keep your fruit undamaged??!  Wrist warmers??!  Other than as a joke (which wears rather thin, as we saw with the Willy Warmers) what exactly is the point?  If you can knit, why waste your time on this?

And if you’re just learning to knit, you’re not going to learn much from making any of these. 

Where does the rebellion bit come into it? 

“I have such a rebellious streak, I’m not going to knit myself a sweater/hat/socks/shawl.  No, I’m going to knit a condom for my banana”

Technorati Tags: Guardian, Rebel knitting

Thank you, Kevin

It isn’t often one wants to thank the Government – criticism comes more freely from my lips than thanks in such matters. 

But the Rudd Government has done something to make us proud again and they are at least being seen to carry out their election promises.

First Kevin Rudd signed Kyoto within minutes of being sworn in as Prime Minister.  Before Parliament had its first proper day’s sitting, he apologised to the Stolen Generation.  And now he’s doing something about the horrendous regime that kept families in detention centres in the middle of nowhere for years on end.

It isn’t perfect but at least it isn’t in total contravention of human rights’ conventions that Australia signed and then ignored.   

Technorati Tags: Asylum Seekers, Kevin Rudd

WYD – The Edited Highlights

Now that World Youth Day has come and gone, I think it’s about time we looked at what I thought were the highlights of this Catholic Woodstock, as I’ve seen it referred to a few times.

There was Cardinal Pell getting his knickers in a twist at every available opportunity.   Some of this was just downright immoral and revolting (when talking about child abuse by Catholic priests) and some rather bizarre.  The Pope gave a press conference on the flight over here to talk about climate change and the world’s responsibilities.  The Cardinal, interviewed on ABC’s Lateline that night, said (and I really do quote), “I’m a bit of a sceptic about the claim that human activity is likely to produce a man-made catastrophe”.   Well, I learnt something there.  I’d always assumed that’s why it’s called “man-made”.

Randwick Racecourse (re-named Southern Cross Precinct for the duration of WYD) was used for 2 days, with a singalong on the Saturday, an overnight vigil and a Mass on the Sunday – at a cost to the NSW taxpayer of some $40+ million paid to the racecourse as compensation. 

Sydney brothels claim they had a 20% increase in business, but the press is kindly attributing that to the increase in the number of their members in town.   

But the highlight for me was the re-enactment of the Stations of The Cross, culminating in an actor being hoisted onto a cross down by the Harbour.  I do hope the tourists that this event was hoping to encourage won’t be disappointed to discover that torture and flagellation at the Bridge aren’t normal parts of Sydney life.

The WinterWarm Project

I’ve been trying for ages to find a charity which supplies warm clothes to babies and children in REALLY cold countries – Afghanistan, Nepal, Tibet etc. 

But I preferred one with an Australian address (easier on the postage costs) AND without religious affiliations, if at all possible.  I’m not fanatical about the latter – I’m certainly not going to deprive children of clothing because it’s distributed by nuns.  All I would ask is that the recipients don’t have to pay or pray for the garments.

And at last I found such an organisation.  The WinterWarm Project.    

It’s run from Melbourne and provides clothing to Afghanistan through the Save The Children Fund.  Babies die for lack of a warm hat.  The temperature drops to levels below our comprehension ( minus 15 degrees celsius during the day is quite common).  Dianne, who runs Winterwarm with her daughter Lani, worked in Afghanistan and has seen the effect that the weather has on the health of the residents.  In the first month of last winter, 1000 people died from hypothermia and 800 had limbs amputated.

So I’m asking my friends in Sydney to get knitting – WARM clothing:  hats, gloves, mittens, socks, bootees, jumpers, cardigans.  Knitted or crocheted in wool for newborn babies upwards.   

If you’re in Sydney and would like to help, I’ll be collecting items at the end of August from the various knitting groups round town.

Rubi & Lana group in Gordon (meets in Bar Fresko) on Saturday 23rd August

Tapestry Craft group on Thursday 28th August

SSK (meets in Barmuda Cafe, Newtown) on Saturday 30th August

Or contact me, and I’m sure I’ll be able to arrange to get your donations.  (Incidentally, the Winterwarm Project doesn’t accept money).

I think this is a really good cause.  We’ve all got leftovers of wool that could become a baby hat, or a striped jumper.  These are all things that are quick and easy to knit.  We’re not talking intricate designs and high fashion here. 

We’re not even really talking about keeping babies warm.  It’s more a matter of keeping them alive.   

Technorati Tags: Charity Knitting, Winterwarm Project

The New Steve Irwin

I think we all know that the Pope (and a hundred thousand or so of his followers) has been in Sydney this week.

On Thursday, he and his entourage sailed down the Harbour, on a lovely sunny day, past all the world-renowned Sydney icons.  I have to say that it was a beautiful sight. As the pictures were beamed around the world, David said, “For the tourism industry, that sort of publicity is priceless”. 

Nope.  Wrong there.  That publicity cost us $163 million (give or take a few million.  Will we ever know the final cost?) 

And then I had a sudden realisation.  The days of Paul Hogan (too old) and Steve Irwin (too dead) promoting the Australian tourism industry are over. 

I wouldn’t imagine the Pope normally does ads.  Not great at throwing prawns on the barbie or wrestling with crocodiles.  But he’s just accepted a $163 million appearance fee. 

I hope we get our money’s worth.

 

PS:  And it’s interesting to see that the only person arrested at the NoToPope demonstration in Sydney on Saturday was a pilgrim – for abusive and violent behaviour.   

Technorati Tags: World Youth Day

Little Teddy Got A New Outfit

What does an experienced knitter, with a stash large enough to stock any self-respecting yarn shop, do with her time?  Some intricate lace perhaps?  Or a spot of fairisle.

No.  She knits a new outfit for Little Teddy of course.

 He’s not mine.  He’s the office mascot of one of the companies where I work and is about 15cms tall.  He’s got a new cardigan, trousers, scarf and beanie.  And a crocheted backpack out of sight. Last summer he went to Queensland with a cream and red T-shirt, red shorts and a sun visor.  Very fetching!   I think he needs a more formal outfit for special company occasions and then a new ensemble for the summer.

Knitting Rules . . . OK?

If you’re reading this, it’s probable that knitting is your hobby.  That’s right – YOUR hobby.  As far as I’m concerned, you can knit what you want, when you want, in whatever yarn you want.  Whatever makes you happy. 

There are no Knitting Police.  And there are no Knitting Rules.

Well, I’m now wondering if perhaps there should be.  Or one, at least.  So here goes:

 

Knitting Rule No. 1:

If you are aged 10 years or over with English as your first language, you will not be permitted to commence knitting until it has been satisfactorily determined that you are able to spell the word ‘GAUGE’.

It has only 5 letters and is included in practically every knitting pattern you’re likely to have seen (unless, of course, it’s an older English one, in which case it will be called ’tension’)

The Time Is Nigh

Since I started what appeared at first to be a one-woman campaign against the raiding of the public purse to fund World Youth Day, I’ve been asked more than a few times what I’ve got against the Catholic Church.  Well,  this is probably not the place to go into that in any detail but anyway it’s not really relevant. 

My argument isn’t with the church that wants to bring 100,000 or so people to Sydney on some mass recruitment drive.  It’s with the Government who think this is a perfectly acceptable way to use taxpayers’ money. AND has introduced a law which is totally out of line with our civil rights and is utterly sectarian in nature – we can’t annoy them; they can annoy the Hell out of us. (I would point out that I’ve no intention of deliberately annoying a participant.  My argument is not with them)  

There are still no exact figures available, despite the Sydney Morning Herald’s request for budget documents to be released in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.  But better people than me have done what I think will turn out to be pretty accurate guesswork and the figures are stunning.

Some of you outside Australia may not be totally familiar with the demographics here.  The State of New South Wales has a population somewhere in the region of 7 million.  The whole of Australia has a population of about 21 million.

The NSW State Government is spending about $108 million on this.  That is 7 million of us, less the elderly, schoolchildren, babies and the unemployed, are very kindly (and without any consultation) donating $108 million.  AND we’re also contributing, along with the other 14 million residents,  towards the $55 million that the Federal Government is spending.  And for those of you not very good at sums, yes, that totals ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE MILLION DOLLARS.

Apparently, the original agreement was that we would put up $20 million.  When WYD was held in Toronto, the city contributed $C13m. 

This isn’t the Olympics.  This is a meeting of people who belong to a particular organisation.  And that organisation is one of the richest in the world.   

I’m a cynic – I admit it.  And I’ve given a lot of thought to what might be in this for the NSW Government.  Well, there are votes, of course.  But Catholics make up only about 25% of the population, according to the latest census.  That probably includes people who were brought up as Catholics and don’t think of ticking another box on the form.  Only 10% of those apparently attend Mass regularly.  

Then there is the fact that the Premier of NSW (Morris Iemma) and a lot of his frontbench are Catholics.  AND the leader of the Opposition and  a lot of his front bench are also Catholics.  Maybe this is just their personal crusade.  Organise WYD, guarantee your place in Heaven.  Last week the Pope announced Plenary Indulgences for all WYD participants.  God is going to grant Morris forgiveness for his sins. 

I’m not.

Technorati Tags: World Youth Day

A Whinger, Moi?

If you’re not happy with the service or the goods, complain.

I’ve always done that, politely of course, and generally got satisfaction.  And have you noticed that if you have cause to complain, you remember the company not by the object of the complaint, but by the way it was dealt with?  A restaurant that serves me a tough steak will get my business again IF they immediately replace it, without question, with an edible one.

But I don’t just complain (am I a whinging Pom?  No, I’m not).  I also try to give praise where it’s due.  And that’s been known to put people in a complete tizz.  I recently asked a woman in a cafe if she was the owner.  She immediately took about 3 steps backwards before admitting she was.  I then told her that although I only go there about twice a week for a coffee, her staff make me feel as though I’m their most valued customer and I really appreciate that.  She didn’t know what to say for a few seconds.  (And of course the service I get is EVEN better than it was before). 

My sister, who is blogless, has asked me to tell you about her recent complaint to a yarn company in England.

“Nearly everyone who knits knows of Thomas B Ramsden  -  Wendy, Peter Pan, Twilleys of Stamford etc.  I recently knitted a cotton sweater for my 13 year old grand-daughter (Sally’s great niece) and found that only one ball was knot-free, the others all having some – four in one case.  I wrote a letter to the company (politely) and by return received a very helpful letter from Julia Herridge in Customer Services and FOUR balls of cotton to replace those I was complaining about.

My thanks are on their way to her, but I thought that the wider knitting world should know what a great service this company provides“.

You see.  It works.  Judith no longer feels annoyed about the quality of the cotton, and for the cost of 4 balls and a letter, the company has kept a customer, who’s happy to recommend them, instead of losing a very disgruntled one.   

So our only complaint about Ramsdens now is that, despite the fact that our mother was a Ramsden, we don’t seem to have any family connection with the company.  Wouldn’t it be great to own a yarn manufacturer? 

 

Technorati Tags: Thomas B Ramsden

Judging by Appearance?

A few days ago, Ingrid Betancourt, a former Columbian Presidential candidate, who for 6 years had been held hostage by Colombia’s Farc rebels, was released after a daring plot carried out by a group of soldiers. They conned her captors into handing her and 14 other hostages over to them and they were whisked away in a helicopter.  Only then were the hostages told that they’d been rescued.

Very “Boy’s Own” and very impressive.

As further details and video footage have come to light, they’ve been reported in detail by the press both here and internationally.  But the ABC’s coverage of the event tonight has me totally baffled.

According to their report, one of the rescuers was described as “dressed like an Australian”.

!  !  !  !

What on earth was he wearing to warrant such a description?  Was he flying in the Colombian jungle in Speedos, perhaps?  Or protecting his head with an Akubra hats, dangling the requisite number of corks, of course?  What does a man have to wear to be described as dressing “like an Australian”? 

All suggestions welcome.