Human - The Human Leauge

We are all only human but sometimes you have to think that some people are less human (or humane) than others.

I was just reading Dr Mel's blog and was upset to read about what had happened to a dog named Phoebe which resulted in her becoming one of Mel's patients. Click here to read more. It's one thing to have an accident but quite another to leave the scene of an accident to avoid one's responsibility. If you can help contribute in any way financially, no matter how big or small, towards Phoebe's treatment and rehabilitation please do so. Any help you can give will be gratefully received. My credit card is currently in Christmas meltdown mode (ie maxed out) but I'll be making a donation on pay day next week.

I was similarly distressed to read about the various cases the New Zealand SPCA has had to deal with over the holiday period. I was pleased to know that several of the pet owners concerned will be prosecuted for their cruelty and neglect. I can't remember a time when I've never had a pet and I've always considered them to be part of the family which is why I can't comprehend how someone can mistreat a pet. When I was a kid I had a pet cockatiel and when we went on holiday I always insisted that he came with us in the car... he was a bit nervous when he saw hawks in the sky but other than that he had a great time, likewise our dog Lass came with us once or twice... she always liked meeting new people to lick. Tinker the cat was different though as he would head off on his own holiday to the local cattery as he hated cars... not surprising since we got him as a rescue cat after having been beaten and thrown from a car into the paddock next to our house!

As it's now the New Year and the time when people make their resolutions for the year ahead perhaps people could make a resolution about how they could treat animals in their community a little better. You can help in many ways such as offering to feed and water animals for friends and neighbours when you know they are going away or if you see or hear an animal being neglected phone the authorities immediately.

As for me I have as usual been thinking about making some resolutions for the year ahead...

WEIGHT: I actually did rather well with my weight last year and managed to lose (and keep off!) twenty pounds. Despite the loss I'm still obese according to the BMI (If only I weren't so short for my weight!) so I guess this year I'll resolve to lose another twenty pounds....  (that does not mean that I am going to give up chocolate which I believe to be a vitally important food group in itself necessary for my emotional well being)

FITNESS: This tends to go hand in hand with my weight loss I suppose but I have become addicted to the Concept II rowing machine and this calender year I'll resolve to row one million metres...

YARN PURCHASES: I would love to say that I'll resolve to double the size of my yarn stash but my resolution is in fact the opposite... to not purchase any yarn at all for the year!. Ian thinks it a noble thought but completely unachievable given my track record. I did stock up on some beautiful yarns while I was away recently and that should keep me busy for a good chunk of the year but we'll see.

PERSONAL DEBT: Scary one this! 2007 was a fantastic year for me in that I was able to do quite a bit of travel both around New Zealand and overseas and I went to a few concerts and other events. I have many wonderful memories of these and don't regret a single penny I spent but the reality is that my personal debt level increased last year as a result of that fun and 2008 is the year I have to fix that. Sooooooo for 2008 I'm resolving to reduce my personal debts by $10,000. (Not buying any yarn will surely help me!)

I'm hoping I can honour these resolutions but we'll just have to see how strong my will power will be over the coming months. Has anyone else made any New Year's resolutions?!?

Last year I knitted up a ribbon to go around our Christmas tree but unfortunately it wasn't really long enough to have the desired effect. The plan this year was that we would have a smaller tree but unfortunately Ian ended up buying an even larger tree than the year before. I rummaged around in my stash to find the yarn I used last year in the hope that I could just pick up the stitches and make the ribbon longer. Alas I didn't have any of the same colours left so I had to start over again...

Here is a close up of the cable pattern. I'm using Utiku 8ply perendale in the colours Red Haze and Holly. I thought that holly was the perfect green to use for a Christmas ribbon!. So far I've completed fifty repeats of the sixteen row pattern and I intend to finish the ribbon once I've completed one hundred and twenty repeats. Obviously it was too late for Christmas 2007 but the ribbon will look great on the tree for Christmas 2008.

Once that's finished I'll be having some fun with this Shepherd 3ply baby wool which I conveniently purchased on Christmas Eve knowing that it would be my last yarn purchase for twelve months. My cousin Neville is getting married to his fiance Serena at Easter and he will be wearing a kilt featuring the Henderson tartan... not surprisingly I offered to knit his kilt hose. I guess that if I don't get then knitted in time I'll be dis-invited to the wedding!

Today was a public holiday over here and as the New Zealand women's open tennis tournament is on I decided to watch some of the matches on TV while I was knitting the Christmas ribbon. The great news is that New Zealand's #1 player Marina Erakovic won her match today and moved through to the quarter finals. She is ranked #125 in the world and she beat the American Ashley Harkleroad who is ranked #75 in the world. This is the first time in eighteen years that a New Zealander has made it that far in the competition. It just gets harder for Marina from here as she will be playing against the #1 seed Vera Zvonareva in her quarter final match tomorrow. Go Marina!!!   

    

Comments

[Charles "The Knitter"]

Hey~~~

I hope your having a great time on your NEW YEARS day!
Hope eveythings goes will and big luck wish your best~~

Also visit my blog...I made a post about preview of new knitting book 2008!

love,
Charles

[Cath]

Christmas package arrived over the holiday! Amazing that it seems to take 2 months for a parcel to travel there and only 2 or 3 weeks to come in this direction. The pouch is beautiful and I am looking forward to enjoying the tasty treat inside! Thank you. I hope you have a wonderful New Year.

[Renee]

Hey James,
Merry christmas and happy new year and all that :), I have been meaning to drop you a quick note for a while, let me know your email addy. Glad to see you and Ian had a nice quite christmas together. All the best for 2008. Renee

[Andres P. Nevarez]

You look good. SOmetimes the weight is mainly carbohydrates. I am more careful with the carbs than with the fat. My fat is mainly Olive Oil, love dark chocolate. Happy New Year!!!

[Lola-Dawn]

I've been a bad blogger this past year - lots of changes in my life - and haven't posted much, or kept up reading other people's blogs. (Haven't done all that much knitting either ...) However, it's winter here in Canada (minus 20 degrees today!), and the other day I wrapped up in the lovely and cozy amethyst-coloured babushka I knitted for myself out of one of the balls of kid mohair you sent me a couple of years ago. Naturally, that made me think of you, and your delightful blog, so I just dropped in to see what you've been knitting, say thank you again for that wonderful kid mohair, and Happy New Year!

[eldronius]

I have not commented in forever! I hope all is going well and that you are not going to avoid us for fear we might try and help you keep your resolutions.

One year without new yarn? That will be a true test of commitment. Exactly how big is your stash? haha. I assume you are allowed to have people send you new stash correct? So if the going gets too tough, just whistle!