breispace

Last lessons have finished; the students have one last week of sweating and testing to get through and I have to mark the things they’ll have wrought. Then there’ll be a week of report meetings, deciding who will pass and who won’t, last-minute resits and tasks, and then all will be finished on July the 11th. In the mean time I still have one essay, one POP (personal development plan) and one evaluation to write, and hopefully then I’ll be finished for this year as well. Just to keep you abreast with other things, here’s a small overview of this last month.

About a month ago I got a call from someone who told me I had won first prize in the Swalmen Ceramics Market buyers’ draw; a flowery vase by a Polish ceramist called Bozena Wislicka. She doesn’t have a website of her own that I know of, so for other work you’ll have to google her name for images. About three weeks later, the prize arrived. I was hoping for one of her pots with red roses, but this one is nice too. The winged legged box on the right is by a German potter whose name I don’t remember, alas.

Today is Summer Solstice, but I’ve had proof of summer for a while: this was the garden a month ago (it looks more lush now) with M’s flax plants at the back and red shallots and rocket in front.

The strawberries and raspberries were ripening nicely (more raspberries to come, lots of yellow ones this year). Also in the picture: pumpkin (back) and tomato (front left) seedlings, to be planted later.

Last Saturday, the 14th, was worldwide Knit In Public day. The Dutch Knitters decided to celebrate by organising a canal boat tour of Amsterdam. M and I wore matching “Yarrrnn” Tshirts.

Knitters from allover the country joined us, including the Guinness record holder for speedknitting, and Dagmar (Ravelry link) from SnB Amsterdam Noord.

Good times were had by all. I decided to mark the occasion by starting a new scarf on a nautical theme; a wavy dropped-stitch pattern (free from Drops) in a suitably watery greenish yarn. This’ll also get me through the boring invigilating to come next week, once my Tucan sock is finished.

Piggy wasn’t doing so well last week: she was licking her fur all the time, a sign of her food allergies playing up, and something seemed to be stuck in/up her throat. So I took her to the vet’s, who gave her a shot for her allergies and concluded that she also had a throat infection and dental difficulties. I may have to get all her remaining teeth pulled. In the mean time she’s on soft food (canned and kibble soaked in water) and doing a lot better again.

Today, apart from Summer Solstice, is also S.O.S.A.D. (Strangely Orange Snack Appreciation Day), in celebration of all snacks orange, sometimes for no good reason. I didn’t feel like having Cheetos or anything with paprika on it, so I decided to have a bowl of orange rice crackers whilst watching Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train.

Happy Solstice everybody! Blessed Be!