The Calm After the Storm

I haven't posted over the last few days as I got sucked into the political drama that was the aftermath of the election. I find myself in a political minority in the communities/forums that I frequent, and having grown somewhat wiser, mellower, apathetic or lazier over the years, I no longer engage in heated debate in this area unless facts are incorrect. I no longer have the energy for ad hominem attacks in general, let alone those which are aimed at me. And I don't really want my blog to contain politics unless in the most general way. I don't even feel really comfortable with expressing my optimism about this coalition in case that jinxes it.

So back to your regularly scheduled programming - by the way, it was most amusing to see quite how many people were outraged by the BBC cancelling Eastenders last night to provide further coverage of an historic event.

Destructo Boy has started at his new kindergarten, at the primary school where he will be in September, as we were unsuccessful in our application for him to attend Mini-Diva's school - he is 24th on the waiting list, otherwise known as a snowball's chance in hell, even though we have lodged an appeal. Believe me, there has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth, since it means I cannot get both children to school on time, as Mini-Diva's school is 30 minutes away and also starts first. Destructo Boy's school also has no room for Mini-Diva. Mini-Diva is walking to school with a friend and his Mum, but had to be prised from me, howling, yesterday. And to add insult to injury, Destructo Boy's school is our catchment school, it's the reason DH took this house, and is so close I could drop the children off wearing my pyjamas and be back home before anyone noticed ...

And now I am off to block the Branching Out and Trellis Lace scarves ....

New Experience

Well, I've had an interesting couple of days ... yesterday I spent blitzing the house, as yesterday I hosted a meet & greet thingy for Ben Gummer, one of the candidate MPs for my town. How this happened, I'm really not quite sure, but I thoroughly enjoyed meeting some more of my neighbors, with most of whom I had a good chat. Ben is the only candidate so far who has bothered to go out and about, and actually talk to real people; he tried to answer at least some of the questions/concerns we had, which last night ranged from the NHS (a hospital matron), education (a school governor & parents), jobs/the economy (a retail manager), and disability funding right through to how on earth these MPs secured Legal Aid. Putting a real person behind the name and face has real impact, from the talk I heard between my neighbors afterwards. Although I'm not sure looking so young is helpful, having a solid local record and roots certainly will.

Something that raised my eyebrows into my hairline was a suggestion from the formidably efficient Kathy Kenna that I should consider becoming a local councillor, and could she talk to me about it next year. Currently I am sniffing round the idea like a child with broccoli on its plate for the first time - it's alien and looks dangerous.

So revelling in a clean house, with the kids on a playdate for the afternoon, I finished the scarf I've now named 'Spring Scarf' - 5 repeats of Vine Stitch, in Jojoland Melody. Even after blocking, I still don't like the yarn - it is softer after washing and fabric conditioner, but the color gradations are irregular, and although both balls that I used were the same dyelot, I don't think it looks like it: it varies from a deep teal to a light lime green.


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