made it.

phew. yesterday was my last day of official classes and consultations. there are still essay drafts to read and then 80 essays to mark but i feel like a big burden has been lifted. i have not dealt with teaching as well as i would like this session, i think because i am 'feeling' so much since the submission and it makes me feel a bit vulnerable in front of young people. they can smell fear you know. i got some nice feedback at the end of classes this week though, so that helps.

meanwhile the search for a room of my own continues, and i am about to get thwarted. i have annoyed the powers that be by questioning their actions and making noises of dissatisfaction, and i actually had to prove that i was still working for people so as to avoid getting thrown out of the building entirely. nice. on monday i move yet again to a shared space for research assistants on the ground floor. my view is of the carpark. no more lofty treetops and duck ponds for me. thats what you get.

the thing is i actually have heaps of work, i am working on course guides and on proof reading other peoples books and this week i met with a dean of another faculty who had heard about me and he has heaps of work as well for at least the next six months, plus i have already been approached for teaching for next session. i am going to take as much of the research work and as little of the teaching as i can get away with. so it basically means i will have full time work for the rest of the year. (apparently this means i need to get a cleaner. ok, so i am not the best housekeeper.) i am happy about this turn of events, it takes the money worry off, means i dont have to go visit centrelink, and gives me space to work on job and research funding applications for the new year. i may even get a paper or two written.

in more important news, i got a little parcel in the mail yesterday!

yes i am now the proud owner of two of olivia's pods, although the black and white striped one is for a present. can you believe i went all the way to the can for the markets and stood there and fondled the pods and squeaked hello at olivia and then scurried off. i am pathetic. anyway, i have them now and i love them.

i also finally managed to figure out how to cast on clapotis:


i took a hint from bells and rosered about no stitch markers and purling the stitches that are going to be dropped instead. this is great, i hate using stitch markers, and i am managing to get this right i think. i ripped it back twice though, i wasnt happy with the larger needle size (6mm) and have gone back to 5mm, despite what the label says i dont think this is 8 ply. its making a lovely light silky feeling fabric that will be perfect for spring. i have put it aside for the moment because i really want to finish the second shetland:

i have booked into knitting camp, yay, and i want to wear it there. i also am hoping that someone at knitting camp can help me get an idea i have for scarf/hat pattern for my brown merino out of my head. by the way, if someone reading this feels like making larger versions of her sock bags, like large enough for a shawl, someone may pay her for her time and effort....

i am feeling a bit flustered knitting wise as now that i have cast on clappy i have four things on the needles and i am used to just having three - simple socks, fancy sock and the shawl (or something like it). three i can manage. four starts to feel like i have a problem :)

we are off to sydney again this weekend, it is trents birthday on sunday and we are going to see a rugby league game. go the bunnies. i am making cheesecake. george recommends this recipe. i am tempted to try this one.

but first, i must go clean the house myself. one last time. no, i am not sad about that.

k xx