C.P. AND...OH, DID I NOT TELL YOU ABOUT WOOLFEST ?!

Of course I have an interest in the lives of those with cerebral palsy, and disabled lives in general. It is part of being a mother of a disabled son. More than that, I have an interest in people, and social anthropology. The many varied lives that people lead. Why else would I spend so much of my precious free time immersed in ''blogland'' ? Obviously knitting and spinning blogs are my main area of interest, as those are two of my passions, but I often wander further afield. Life, in general, is as interesting as you allow it to be. Expand your horizons amd open your mind is what I advocate. :0)
I do fully expect to lose readers, as happens every time disability is mentioned. What can I say ? The threads of my life intertwine, as the yarn on my needles.

I've mentioned Matt before. I have to say that, despite not knowing him in real life, I feel extremely proud of the fact that not only did he get his degree, he achieved a First ! Well done Matt.
He also gives his time as a mentor at 1 Voice. Matt wrote an interesting entry about the power of a voice. This youtube film was produced during the 1 Voice summer event. Matt can be glimpsed in it, as can Alan Martin.

Talking of Alan Martin, I am ever hopeful of convincing someone [anyone] to hold a dance workshop with him, that Oliver could attend. Think Ballet Rambert using power wheelchairs. I love the Rambert ballet !
Anyway, I think the chick may well enjoy it ! Here are a couple of pics of him amusing himself. on the garden ramp, at dusk.

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Glenda has kindly agreed to let me interview her during her virtual book tour. Her first interview is here. I will put my interview up on August 30th.

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So, many moons ago, I half visited Woolfest ! I say half because, for numerous reasons, I didn't embrace the full Woolfest experience. After a sleepless night [Oliver had a cold and the hotel room, the cost of which has since been refunded, was disgusting], we made our way to Woolfest. I confess that I wasn't overly enthusiastic. I even, somewhat shockingly, said that I didn't need any more fibre or yarn ! I know ! I did come down with a stinker of a cold and a chest infection the next day. That must explain my distorted view of the world ! I was thrilled to bump into Heather as we entered the main building. We talked for over an hour and a half. This was the hightlight of my day. After we parted company I found a seat. My knees and back were killing me. I spotted, and sat next to, someone I knew from Cleveland Fibre Arts. No, they're not that flash ! Just a small group of women getting together on a regular basis to persue mutual interests. You know how it is. I stopped going when I had Oliver as, on the couple of occassions that I popped in for a quick visit, it was made clear that they didn't want a baby around all day. Fair enough.
So, D was less than enthusiastic to see me, and before I even suggested a return to the group, she told me most pointedly that they now had a waiting list [ really ? !] and didn't focus so much on spinning and weaving anymore.
Nice ! I was left feeling rather down and a touch paranoid ! Not so much anymore, as I realise that the knitting friendships I have since formed, both in the real world and the knitblog universe, have been kinder, more rewarding and generally nicer. After all, there must have been a reason I didn't feel the need to dump my son and rush off to Fibre Art days !
The upshot is that I just wanted to leave, and didn't even feel inclined to look to see what was on offer. It seems, however, that my beloved grumpy git does, indeed, love me ! He went off to see if there was anything of interest, and came back swinging a gold bag.
Inside the gold bag was this.

A kit for an incredibly soft buffalo fibre yarn shawl.

It's from Buffalo Gold.
Love is a wonderful thing !
You'll have to come back for knitting...