Clapotis

My Clapotis is coming on wonderfully well (I'm sure you're not supposed to say that this early on...), and I'm up to the seventh increase repeat, which would usually be the last. This is for my mum though, and it's to replace what's commonly known in the family as her 'horse blanket', so it's going to be a definite shawl size. I'm going to do a couple extra increase repeats and see how wide that ends up...I'm thinking nine ought to do it.

The yarn (Manos del Uruguay Silk, colour 7032) is wonderfully soft and warm - probably the best yarn I've ever knit really, and it's a joy to slip through your fingers. It's a bit pricey at £11.25 a skein, but it's fairly good in terms of yardage - you get 300 metres per 100g skein, which is better than most yarns of a similar weight. I've got 2 skeins, but will buy more if I need to.

I'll see if I can get some decent pictures taken tomorrow - my mobile is coming out all dark for some reason.

The pope is evil. Discuss.

So the pope visits the US for the first time. On his way out, he mumbles a few words of shame and regret over the scandal of unauthorised Fatherly Fiddling by his own clergy (about bloody time), and oh yes, reinforces his firm and unyielding views on abortion, contraception and gay marriage. Again.

The pope is under the misapprehension that the teachings of the church in this regard keep his flock on his straight and narrow road, ready to be beamed up to heaven when they die. The silly thing is that it doesn't at all - modern, western catholics, by and large, have the kind of (straight) sex they want to, when they want to, let their families grow according to how many children they want to have and can afford, and even get divorced when things don't work out. No, the people who actually listen to the pope, and his evil wizards, are POOR people in NON-WESTERN and developing nations with fewer human rights laws and much worse access to education. These are the people who are having very large families, with women who die in childbirth or after illegal and barbarous abortion procedures, and men women and children who are infected with HIV/AIDS. And the pope MIGHT consider 'allowing' condom use between married partners to protect an HIV negative partner. MIGHT. Tell me in the mean time, are these people supposed to not have sex, not procreate? Or should they risk their own lives and those of their children with unprotected sex?

The pope would do well to consider the harm the policies of the church are causing, not least to move forward with his congregation; according to Pink News, 60% of Catholics don't agree with the church's stance on, at the very least, contraception and abortion.

Initialise

I guess first thing is an introduction...it feels a little awkward starting these things...you're really writing to no-one (at least at first), and saying "hi" to yourself is often a sign of straitjackets to come...

What this space will become is a little undefined. It may also be sporadic; I won't know until I start. I'm a knitter - hopefully you picked up on that already - and a queer woman, sometime wishful scientist and philosopher, with a propensity to rant and to want to throw things at the TV. I get irritated by stupidity. Ignorance is not a good enough excuse.

I read: magazines, web sites, blogs, books - these things, and associated thoughts will probably crop up here.

I do: volunteering, sexual health & HIV prevention evangelism, LGBT awareness. I'm a PA at a sexual health clinic, and I'm hoping to do a Masters in health promotion some year.

I am: atheist, lesbian, left-wing, liberal, rock fan, biker, knitter, reader, questioner, changer. If these things turn you off, you don't belong here.

I'm also rather friendly, approachable, accepting, generous, wine-loving, scrabble-playing and loyal.

Any questions?