Hibernating the Sticks

Well I'm about to finish a yellow version of the baby set sans jacket (no time!). No pictures cos it was just the same thing but in yellow. There's still a few more projects I have queued but unfortunately, I've decided to give the sticks a bit of a rest. This blog is far way behind as it is and the knitting does nothing to help. Given that the warmer *cough* weather is approaching then it seems even more appropriate for the sticks to hibernate.

Stuff I still want to make include some toys (a knitted lobster!), a different shrug and the usual shawls, scarves and hats (just prettier ones). Aaah too many hobbies, so little time *sigh*

The Knitting Answer Book

My recent obsession with knitting has lead me to accrue an wondrous assortment of knitting related stuff. Anyone just learning how to knit? Come to me, I'll probably have something you can play with! The difficulty with not personally knowing a professional knitter can leave me in a sticky situation when I don't quite understand pattern instructions or just need good old fashion guidance. I could ask my dear Mummy, but hmmm she's on the other side of the world and hasn't knitted properly for a good two decades. Where's a Rental Knitting Grandma when you need one? I've found the next best thing - The Knitting Answer Book!

You could try and carry a laptop in your knitting bag and access the various helpful websites (Knitting Help is an excellent one and youtube has heaps of videos), but it's not exactly practical. This book is smaller than your average novel, more like a pocket dictionary but it's packed full of knitting tips, conversion tables and diagrams. It sits very happily in my Cath Kidston knitting bag. I first picked up the book in Loop and thought 'Hey! This is really useful!'. Of course, then I went to Amazon to find it cheaper haha. Hmm I just realised the author runs knitting classes. Useful to know, but I don't reside in the US.

I don't think I can apply my normal book rating scale here as it's not really something you read from start to finish but I'll rate it anyway:

Quality of Content: 4 if you're a knitter, 1 if you're not
Readability: 5 if you're a knitter (very plain English), 1 if you're not

For those who can't find the answer to your knitting dilemma and need a bit of human touch (via email or in person if you live in London!), then I totally recommend Aneeta Patel of Knitting SOS. She'll happily answer your email query (efficiently too! Roughly about a 24 hour turnaround) all free of charge! Aaaah, some people are just so generous!

Sushi Time

Finding a decent fishmonger in central London is difficult. Prove me wrong someone, prove me wrong. All the ones I come across are usually in a section of a supermarket chain (not the freshest array at all) and/or sells seafood in plastic packaging. I mean, I'm living on an island FFS and yet it is so so hard to find accessible fresh seafood. The closest traditional fishmonger to me is in Borough Market but I'm not always impressed with the pickings they have available. Borough itself is a bit touristy so they also like to inflate prices accordingly.

Smee and I have been to the Billingsgate Fish Market several times and replenish our freezer after each visit. It's mighty cheap and the assortment of seafood is enviable. The 4am wake up in order to get to the wholesale market is another thing altogether. The fact that a lot of the stock is sold only in bulk does not fare well either.

Well, Smee did a little bit of digging and discovered that an excellent fishmonger was in nearby Angel. Yay! *clap clap* After reading several gleaming reviews - here, here and here, we really had to go and see it for ourselves. Luckily for us, a direct bus transported us from home to Steve Hatt.

The actual store is nothing impressive - just glass windows and polystyrene signs identifying the fish and it's price. However, there goes the old saying 'Don't judge a book by it's cover'. The seafood all looks it's freshest and delish (even in it's raw state). The prices while not bargain basement like Billingsgate are on par or at times cheaper than your average supermarket. What will impress you is the queue outside the store especially on Saturday. Steve says he's not open on Sunday and Monday because if you buy a fish on either of those days, then it was caught on Friday - not fresh!

Hooray for Google's streetview. Steve Hatt storefront.

Once you've paid your debt to the queue, you'll be greeted by one of many Steve Hatt's fishie-men. They'll take your order, ask you if you want your seafood cleaned, gutted, scaled, de-boned, cut a certain way.... that's service! They sure know their produce too and will happily answer any queries. Be wary of the puddly floors and I strongly recommend you don't wear opened toed shoes. I'm more than content to stand outside while Smee does the ordering.

We bought a bundle of bamboo/razor clams and instead of steaming them as we normally do, we threw them under the griller with a bit of garlic and lemon. Yummy!

We also got some sashimi grade salmon and tuna. A few other accompaniments were purchased so we could make our own sushi platter.

Yum! That's all I need to say.

Yeah... we stuffed ourselves. What else is new?

So yes, if you're after a fishmonger and live around the N1 area I strongly recommend Steve Hatt!

Baby!

Here I am looking pretty sharp after giving birth to my own little midget. My face is looking a bit shiny there cos the maternity ward is so warm.

Ok, ok he's not really mine. He's my first cousin once removed and the recipient of the baby set I knitted. After looking at him and seeing how tiny he is, I figure he's not going to fit into the set until he's six months old by which it will be Summer. His jacket, mittens and hat will be redundant :( Oh well.

He's surprisingly cute for a newborn. I usually like my midgets at the 4 to 12 month stage when they've filled in with some baby fat and start developing a bit of personality. I've volunteered for baby-sitting jobs already :D