A good day.

Today was a good day. Wanna know why?

For the first reason, you'll need some backstory. Just after Christmas, someone got hold of my credit card details and went on a little shopping spree at my expense. (Actually, it was quite a big shopping spree, but we won't go into that). I've spent the last two weeks talking back and forth with my Credit Union, trying to get the money refunded. This problem was compounded by the fact that I spent last week in Newcastle, seeing my friend and uni flatmate Jess get married-

Isn't she gorgeous? Sorry guys, but she's off the market now.

-and attempting to have a bit of a holiday (though it's quite difficult to do so when a) you have no money, and b) you spend half the trip phoning Credit Unions/Dispute Services/the Department of Fair Trading).

Anyway, today I marched myself down to the Credit Union offices. Turns out, they'd made a mistake in the handling of my case, and the money was refunded within hours. Phew!

Second good thing: I finished some socks.

Good ol' Monkey socks, in STR 'Space Dust'. (I know there's only one in the picture, but I have finished the pair, I promise. Would I lie?) They're a tiny bit big on me, but I don't mind that so much.

Third good thing: My package from Spiraling arrived, and inside was the yarn I ordered.

Noro sock yarn. That's right, people: Noro sock yarn. I spent much of the afternoon with it perched on my lap, patting it like a little fiber pet. I can't wait to see how it knits up.

There was also this badge...


...which I adore. Thanks, Spiraling!

Fourth good thing: I finally got a chance to photograph the finished body of my Boatneck Bluebell jumper.

It's fitting well, though the hip shaping laid out in the pattern has resulted in quite a large amount of flare at the back.

I mean, look at it. It looks like a duck's tail back there. I'm really, really hoping it will block out.

Fifth good thing: I'm in a magazine.
A couple of months ago, my knitting group buddy Vi sent my email address to the editor of a local women's magazine. The editor wrote to me, asking if I'd like to answer a few questions about my knitting for the magazine. I did, and now it's been published (complete with pictures of my Bellatrix socks, Cupcake tea cozy and Mohawk Hat. That's not me in the photo to the right of the column, by the way).

It's as close to fame as I'll ever get, I suspect.

Finally, hello to Becca and Mel, who I met at Tapestry Craft on Friday (I dropped in there on my way home from Newcastle to stock up on Knitpicks needles). They both read my blog, apparently (people read this thing! I was astounded) but I don't blame them for not recognizing me- the sweat stained, travel weary me in the shop that day bore little to no resemblance to the photo of me at the top of the page.