Planning

Wednesday 27^th April 2011

With a little holiday coming up, I love the planning element.  Aside from the plans regarding where to visit, what to do, and so on, there is the deep pleasure associated with planning the holiday reading, the knitting and the other small treats that make holidays more than a visit away. I’m planning to re-read Women and Ghosts by Alison Lurie: I really enjoy short stories and Alison Lurie is a favourite author.  It’s been about 10 years since I last read this collection of odd little ghost stories.  Her writing is something I have enjoyed over many years.  Having first read her novels when I was a student, they still captivate me, not something that all the literature of one’s extreme youth can continue to do in one’s, um, mature years. I’m also planning to read When We Were Orphans: I have owned this copy for a while now but never managed to fit in the time to read it.  I like his style, adored The Remains of the Day (book, film and film location, Powderham Castle). And also three plays by W Somerset Maugham, including The Letter.  A shot of the poster for the 1940 film of the The Letter, which starred Bette Davis and is a sublime film.  I have a very old copy of three Maugham plays, that I must have bought from the old book shop in Wellingborough when I was at school.  I really enjoy reading plays, especially as Maugham was so good at dialogue but in play format, everything is much more economical and sharply focused.  Aside from his stage directions to the actors, everything is up to me:  of course, Lesley in the play is Bette in my imagination, how could she be anyone else? I’m planning knitting, too.  The toe-up socks are going well, with several pattern changes, such as ways to increase after the seamless cast-on.  I cannot make it neat with knit-into-front-and-back increases, so I am using make one increases.  I have re-shaped the toe and also now got the tension about right – maybe still a little loose, but it’s alright.  And the lace hearts are placed correctly and assembling in a nice line up the front.  I still, despite a lot of work (mainly un-doing and re-doing) have not reached a heel…I’m nervous. So I plan to finish these, with my own needles.  Miss Millington kindly lent me two beautiful short fixed-cable Knit Pros, owing to me owning eleventy-hundred sets of DPNs and masses of very, very long fixed cable needles, but no short ones other than in big gauges.  Oh, hardship, but I had to buy some pairs of 40cm Addi lace-tip circs in 2mm, 2.5mm and 2.75mm gauges.  Can’t wait, they are on their way to their new home as I type.  Then I am knitting them again, as bed socks, adding beads to the front, a new cuff, with a lace turn down and retaining a lace motif.  These will be in Kidsilk Haze, two shades held together on, I think, 2.5mm needles.  I think I will use Majestic and Blushes…or Dewberry. I am also going to knit a lace scarf, the design for which is half-formed.  Kidsilk Haze or Pure Wool 4 ply options, so one can have a luxury or a (slightly) more practical version.  Both will be beaded. Finally, DVDs.  I almost never watch television, in the spring and summer especially.  The sitting room becomes an extended corridor between the dining room, kitchen and garden.  But I like films, so we’ll be taking some DVDs we haven’t yet watched. First, not really a film but a set of the BBC TV series, first aired in 1994.  I loved it and I don’t think it was ever repeated.  The TV series was an adaptation of a 1959 novel by John Hadfield, bring forth this question:  why haven’t I read that?  I’m going to order it now.  We’ve been saving the 2-disc set for the right time and a holiday on the Isle of Wight is that time.  If you like gentle, very English, evocative and tongue-in-cheek escapism, I do recommend this film to you.  I also wanted to live there, own his suitcase and wear twin-sets.  Who doesn’t? Plus, we’re taking Cinema Paradiso to re-watch.  Of course, one can’t knit and watch a film with sub-titles so it’s almost like being at the pictures.  There are always tears, even the music can set me off. In other news, I went to the garden centre for love-in-the-mist.  The garden centre.  Not so much emphasis on ‘garden’.  Twelve (12!) coaches were in attendance, with one departing and another arriving.  Getting into the building was like a Royal receiving line, so stately and slow was the shuffling forward.  Finally, you peel off as the coach parties practically break into a sprint for the loos.  If you want a new kitchen, an AGA, a conservatory, a new bedroom groaning with mirrors and fitted like a courtesan’s corset, this is your place.  Gas BBQ, madam?  An entire suite of Gothic-styled wooden garden furniture?  Mmmm yes please!  Or maybe some scented candles, Joules polo shirts, coal, logs, cards, plastic flowers, cakes, Ye Olde Somersetshire Cydrrr…in plastic casks…No?  Just seeds?  The Garden Centre shrugs its shoulders as if to say:  well, there is no pleasing you, is there? (over its shoulders, are draped some tartan picnic rugs, by the way).  Yes, I got the seeds.  I think there might be a brief window of opportunity to buy gardening-related products between the current spring-time/Easter/Royal wedding ferment and late August when the entire place is transformed into Santa’s Grotto.

One response to “Planning”

1. Sarah hazell says:

   27th April 2011 at 10:32 am

   This posting made me lol! Like you I love planning for activities, but wish somebody else would sort my wradrobe as I am bound to get it wrong. Also concur with view of garden centres – note that yarn shops seem able to remain focussed!!.
   Have a splendid hols!!

   Much love as always

   Sxxx

   Reply