Hrumph

I want to show you pictures, of my quilts at the show and of what I am working on, but my computer isn't playing. For some reason it doesn't like my new big memory card. I do have a plan for getting the pictures off, it involves trying to smile sweetly at others to do it for me, so bear with me. The pictures will be here eventually.

Tuesday I went into London, primarily to get new chair arms, but while I was there I felt I needed to get value for money out of my travel card so a minor shopping trip followed. The most arty purchase was a book of art. I've seen a few pieces by Ilene Meyer in other books, but I now have a whole book of them. They are very surreal but I think they have a lot of great quilt concepts in them. If you haven't seen any do go and have a look at at Meyer World. I will warn you that it is a site that needs flash to view it, something I am normally very much against, but in the case of artists I will sometimes make an exception. I think this particular site is worth the effort.

I don't know if it is common knowledge but in London we have free papers given away to commuters every evening. There are vendors clustered around all the central London tube stations. I find them very annoying, they block the pavement and seem to really enjoy thwacking me with their papers. I used to try taking one paper to see if it would at least stop the others of the same time assaulting me, but it doesn't so mostly I just try to catch their arms before I get hit in the chest. I got hit by three in a short walk Tuesday. Not my best effort. However that was nothing, just outside Leicester Square station there were several vendors and I was working hard trying to dodge them. I didn't see the packing straps they had left on the floor (and were standing on the end of) and I caught my foot. I went flying. Apparently it looked very impressive. From my point of view I had long enough to think "why isn't my foot moving?" "It's caught, feels like plastic strapping" "OUCH!". Followed by lying on the pavement then thinking I needed to move before I got trampled. I hit my elbow, breast and knee. The first two are annoying but my knee is something of a concern. I've knocked my knees about a lot and they are very unforgiving these days. Even at the time I knew this was going to be trouble. I did take the time to suggest (OK I wasn't that polite, I was annoyed) that they might like to use their rubbish bags instead of just dropping the litter on the floor. I don't know if they took any notice.

Anyway there was a point to that, I can't stand for any length of time at the moment. My knee just isn't playing that game. It is bruised and swollen and I can't even wear my braces without causing it more pain. This is not ideal for a longarm quilter, and actually it isn't too good for drawing designs. I often kneel on my chair, and always with my right knee. I didn't know I was right kneed until today. I have tried to rest on it so many times it is just silly.

I have managed to trace off my wings design in two sizes, which is good. I've prepared my design for Hever, and the Guild Challenge at the NEC. It's all things I needed to do, but I would have like to have been able to plan my own work order. Still I have lots more sitting work to do, so I think that is what I will be doing the next few days.