Thoughts from the Bus Stop

Captain Jack Sparrow knitted doll

Captain Jack Sparrow knitted doll (c) Kristen Bailey, 2008

It was The Blonde's 30th birthday, so I thought I'd better whip up (that's 'whip' with the emphasis on the 'h', Family Guy fans) something special. So here he is - a Captain Jack Sparrow doll, based on Jean Greenhowe's 'Pirate' doll pattern, from her Storybook Dolls booklet.

I ran out of time to knit a bandana, waistcoat and sash, so they're made of remnants from my fabric stash. His hair was done by French knitting (on a Clover Wonder Knitter), and then beads were sewn in. Yarrrr!!!!!!!

Pirate Penguin for The Blonde

Pirate Penguin doll (c) Kristen Bailey 2008

This little fella was knitted for my pirate- and penguin-obsessed sister. He's adapted from Jean Greenhowe's Christmas Penguin pattern (from her Knitted Animals booklet).

I added a bandana in 'skull and crossbones' fabric, a gold hoop earring and a cutlass and eyepatch stitched from felt. Click on the pic for a closer look. Yaaaarrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!

A book for Lisa at 30

Here, finally, is the special card/bookform I made my cousin for her 30th birthday. Yes, finished way behind schedule - she turned 30 in June - but leave me alone, I'm not well!

Lisa's my cousin, but she's also been a close friend. We were penpals from the ages of 12 and 10 - you know, back when folk used to write on paper, with a pen - and worked through a lot of teenage (and twenties!) angst together. Our correspondance went on for almost fifteen years, and is now meticulously archived in a series of shoeboxes kept on the tops of wardrobes in Galway City and Brighton.

Over the years she's acquired a husband, a house and a daughter, which I still can't quite get my head around... they grow up so fast, don't they? She's also a very busy wedding photographer, which I'm dead proud of.

These days we don't write letters to each other, just the occasional email or text. Sometimes one of us rings the other to note how crap we are at keeping in touch. But mainly we keep up with each other's news via my mum and her dad!

Dearest Lill, we are crap at keeping in touch...

The Blonde and the Bungee

The Blonde doing it for The Kids (c) Kristen Bailey, 2007

Yesterday I stood on Hove lawns with my little sister's camera and a bunch of her mates, all of us frantically taking photos and trying not to wet ourselves as she jumped from a 160ft crane with an elastic rope tied to her ankles (throwing horns as she fell).

The Blonde has long expressed a desire to some day do a bungee jump, and when she heard she could do one for charity right here in Brighton 'n' Hove... well, she jumped (sorry) at the chance. She's raised over £300 so far and donations are still very welcome!

Today Was A Good Day

A great day out today has really lifted my spirits. Good company, a change of scene, some culture, some shopping and some good food have done me the world of good.

Sarah, the Blonde and I went up to the Big Smoke to see the Kylie show at the V&A. I'd already seen it but it's free and they wanted to go so I didn't mind seeing it again at all. Lunch at the V&A wasn't cheap but at least the £7 sarnie the Blonde and I bought to share for economy reasons turned out to be huge and delicious.

Then we snuggled on a Surrealist sofa in the foyer...

Then off to Tottenham Court Road to lose myself in the wonders of Paperchase, and on to Oxford Street Topshop so Blonde could enlarge her sock collection and drool at anything with skulls on. I picked up a couple of David Shrigley cards for my wall - this one cos I've always loved it and this one to make me smile in the face of necessary medication. And, one trip to Schuh later, the Blonde had happy feet.

We headed over to Wardour Street (having warned Sarah about the loos) for lovely Thai food, but stopped off first at Soho Square so I could see Kirsty MacColl's memorial bench - every other time I've looked for it the place has been too crowded, so it was lovely to find it and have my picture taken sitting on it.

After dinner there was an unplanned stop for a crepe before getting the bus back to Victoria, very very full and completely knackered... but happy.

The Last Knit (Kutoja)

The Last Knit (2005) via YouTube

Props to me dear old Dad for flagging up this lovely, witty animated short. It's directed by Finnish director Laura Neuvonen and stars a clifftop knitter whose obsession gets her into some tricky situations. Fab.

Dad at RAF Cosford

As it's Father's Day, here's a picture of my dad when he was about 17, at RAF Cosford. He went into the Royal Air Force as a boy entrant at 16 and did 22 years' service.

The slim waist and thick glossy black hair are long gone (he's 63), but he's still a thoroughly bluddy nice bloke.

Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford

Nanna's pillowcase

Marks and Spencer pillowcase, c.1970s

Found this in a charity shop on London Road. I bought it partly because I love the pattern but mainly because it's the bedding my nanna had in her bedroom. She died twenty years ago, and seeing this again brought back loads of memories.

Eating Johnny Depp's head

Marks & Spencer Pirates of the Caribbean chocolate lollipop

It's not long now till Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - out on July 7. Look what The Blonde got me!

She also flagged this spoof Pirates of the Caribbean cereal commercial - "The only cereal you can eat with rum!"...

You Are What You Love

My auntie Diane died on 18 May. I've already mentioned this wonderful lady, who (with my uncle) kept homesickness and poor nutrition at bay while I studied and worked in Manchester, and lavished love and care on me when I needed it most - something I'll always remember with gratitude.

Her death was a shock. She was seriously ill but not supposed to be in any immediate danger - we know now that things were much further advanced than anyone had realised. I'm so thankful I got up to see her in March. I really didn't think it would be the last time I saw her.

Diane made a great impact on my life. It feels like part of me has gone. I'm weary with sadness.