Big Wool Forever 'Green' Tank

I wanted a quick knitting project to do, and this pattern by Sarah Hatton, which she called Forever Green. I obviously didn't use the green Rowan Big Wool, I used the Smoky colour instead (#07). This was a really great quick project to do, since the Big Wool is exactly that: a bulky wool knitted on 9 and 10mm needles. I love not having to do sleeves! This really only took two days to knit, but another two days to finish off the sewing up. I forgot to take a pic before I washed it. I really want to avoid handwashing (like most people I'm sure), so I just shoved it in the washing machine within a pillowcase on the delicates cycle. I think it shrunk a little, and has a slightly felted appearance, but it actually fits a bit better now! I'm really going to have to invest in a proper 'delicates' washing bag. I'm quite happy with it, am wearing it right now in fact. It's nice and cosy in the winter weather, and is great for fitting under winter coats.

Happy Hogmanay!

For those who don't know, Hogmanay is the Scottish term for the New Year's Eve. It's origins are probably back in the pagan celebrations of the winter solstice. Here in Scotland, a lot of tourists go to the famous Edinburgh Hogmanay, but for the second time during my time here, I went to the (almost) as famous Stonehaven Fireballs Festival. Also pagan in origin, there has been a recent revival in the ceremony, which involves residents of the town of Stonehaven swinging flaming poi. These poi are not the same as you would see in performances by the Maori. These things are massive, hung by chains and swung in a wide arc around the body. The crowd can get very close to the swinging fireballs, such that you can feel the singeing of your eyebrows. We saw one of the police officers in front of us get a small hole burnt in his uniform trousers from the flaming bits of debris!

Christmas Dinner.

I found myself still in Dundee over Christmas. Since Louise went down to her parents, it was quiet up here, but Barry and myself managed a lovely meaty Christmas dinner. A colleague of Barry's gave him a pheasant (to be found everywhere around here, although often as roadkill!). So for starters, Barry slathered the pheasant in butter and smoked streaky bacon (apparently this game can be quite dry, so you add lots of fat!), seasoned, and roasted in the oven. With it we had wholegrain mustard mashed potatoes (gorgeously creamy), and made a red wine gravy with the lovely sticky bits in the roasting tin. Barry also cooked the obligatory brussell sprouts, although I must admit that I didn't partake. Not a traditional xmas veg for me I'm afraid!

While this was happening, I prepared a half leg of lamb for roasting, making holes in the flesh and poking in slices of garlic and sprigs of fresh rosemary. After roasting, we made another gravy with the lamb bits from the tray. I also made roast carrots and red onions (in with the lamb) and goose-fat roasted potatoes... heaven! We were kind of stuffed by then, but after watching the Dr. Who christmas special (Kylie Minogue guest starring), we were ready for pud. I'm afraid it wasn't homemade christmas pudding, but it was very nice all the same (Tesco's Finest) and fresh egg custard to go with. After that, well, we didn't move from the couch, except to get another glass of good Scottish whisky.