The day after the London Bridges Walk for Kidney Research UK

15 Monday Jul 2013

Tags

charity, kidney donation, kidney transplant

Yesterday was the day of the London Bridges Walk for Kidney Research UK. I told you about it in this post.

Pieter, Lizelle, Trinity, Uncle Les (a close family friend of Pieter), John and I completed the 7 mile (11.26 km) walk in 3 hours. We were kinda knackered, but it was a very scenic route and we had a lovely breeze from the Thames which made it easier. As you can see from the slideshow of photos we had a lot of laughs along the way. I’m a bit, okay a lot, stiff this morning but it’s worth it (and nothing compared to what people on dialysis have to go through every day).

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I found out today that the law firm where I work will contribute £250 if any of its employees raise £250 for a charity! I mananged to raise £255 out of the £571 we have so far. £5 over the mimimum needed to get an extra £250 for Kidney Research UK. Yeah!!! Our target is £1000 and it looks like we’ll make it! I’m so grateful to everyone in the Banking and SCM departments of Baker & McKenzie who donated, and even more grateful to the M.A.D. (Making A Difference) committee for doubling my contribtutions.

Kleenex does crochet hexagons

11 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

crochet, hexagon

I know!!!!! Your reaction to this photo, was my reaction in Boots a few minutes ago.

I was in Boots to buy something for John, when I saw a 6-pack of the smaller “Collection” Kleenex pocket packs. Two of the six were wrapped in this crochet hexagon print. I nearly knocked over a woman in my attempt to quickly throw it in my basket (not that any of the Suits in Boots Fleet Street would put up a fight for a crochet covered pack of tissues, but I grabbed and ran anyway).

I’ts only £1.29 for the pack of six. I’ll be using the other four – they have photos of a leaf and russian matryoshka dolls on them (I’m telling you this because I know you will be going to Boots to look for it) – but the two with the crochet hexagons will remain untouched. Obviously.

The Rainbow Room Installation

10 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings, Other people's crochet

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

crochet art

http://www.designboom.com/art/the-rainbow-room-installation-by-pierre-le-riche/?utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=e-mail&utm_source=subscribers

When I saw this I just had to share it with you. What drew me was the crochet covered furniture and, what seemed like, crocheted balloons in the ceiling. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be crochet covered rugby balls.

http://www.designboom.com/art/the-rainbow-room-installation-by-pierre-le-riche/?utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=e-mail&utm_source=subscribers

It all makes perfect sense when you read what Designboom says about the art installation:

the ‘rainbow room’ installation by cape town-based designer pierre le riche takes a critical look at the sociological implications of afrikaner masculine hegemony on homosexuality in post-apartheid south africa. the intervention, built from 17km of acrylic thread in colours of the gay pride flag, represents a traditional afrikaan family living room in the midst of the 1995 rugby world cup final match displayed on a television; an incredibly significant point in south african history, and perhaps the last chance the afrikaner male had to ‘prove his superiority’. through an implementation of colorful and playful yarn bombs onto traditional pieces of furniture and over 150 rugby balls, the concept of homosexuality and masculinity is juxtaposed, questioning the acceptance of same-sex relations.

I was in Grade 12 when South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 1995. It really was a huuuuuge deal. What better way to juxtapose masculinity and homosexuality than with pink crochet covered rugby balls?! South African men are crazy about rugby, so I totally get what Pierre le Riche is trying to say with this installation. Well thought out and and brilliantly executed, Pierre.

Terrific Tuesday

09 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings, Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 3 Comments

On a Monday I can still remember the fun I had over the weekend, Wednesday is the middle of the work week, on Thursday I start getting hopeful and on a Friday I can taste the weekend. But what about a Tuesday? It’s so…. just there. Weekend memories are too far away and the upcoming weekend might as well be a year away.

What we need is a bit of colourful inspiration to get us going on a Tuesday, don’t you think? A pretty picture, beautiful scenery or colourful imagery. Yup, that’ll liven up Tuesdays and turn it into a terrific day!

From now on I will go through my photos and Pinterest likes every Tuesday and find us a pretty picture to add colour and joy to the day.

xxxxxx

I took this photo about 30 minutes ago. London in Summer is a bustling and very lively place. St. Paul’s Cathedral is transformed into the lunch venue of choice for tourists and city workers. I didn’t stop to join the masses on the steps, but rather bought salad and meat at M&S for a BBQ at home this evening. A Tuesday evening BBQ tops a sandwich on the steps of St. Paul’s every time!

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday.

Natasja

Eastbourne weekend

08 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Eastbourne, holiday

John and I went on a mini holiday to Eastbourne in Sussex over the weekend. It was amazing! Eastbourne is under two hours drive from where we live, but it felt like we were in different country. It reminded us of France and of Belgium. They even had a Continental Market where you could buy food from all over Europe. We enjoyed Provence style pasta, German Frankfruter hot dogs, carrot cake, apple strudel, doughnuts, viennese fingers and churos over the course of the weekend. I think we were the pastry stallholder’s best clients – we went back three times! I thought of it as carbo loading for next Sunday’s walk 😉

Best of all, John found us a fabulous hotel right on the beach. It was truely an amazing weekend away (without the long drive, airport security or foreign languages) and just what we needed. It’s amazing what a difference it makes to a day at the beach, knowing that you won’t have to drive home that evening. Saturday felt soooo long and Sunday morning, after enjoying a super breakfast at the hotel, we were out in the morning sunshine by 10:30. (I just looooove hotel breakfast! Even the toast tastes better.)

On Sunday I even did some crocheting in the shade under the Bandstand.

If you live in the UK, I hope you enjoyed the sunshine. Did you see the weather forecast for this weekend? It looks like the sunshine is here to stay! Yeah!!!!

London Bridges Walk in aid of Kidney Research UK

08 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

kidney donation, kidney transplant

If you are a regular follower of this blog you may recall me telling you that a year ago my husband, John, met someone who suffered from full kidney failure. Pieter had been on dialysis for 4 years and on the Organ Donor’s List. John was so moved by his suffering and story, that he decided to donate one of his kidneys to him. Over the months of compatibility tests they became the best of friends, during which time we learnt that they were a very good match. The transplant operation was on 27 November 2012 and went extremely well. John’s donation also made history by being the first directed altruistic organ donation in the UK.

It’s now 7 months later and they are both in very good health. Pieter wants to pay it forward and has recently joined the Kidney Research UK Development Board who are actively organising events to help raise much needed funds to combat kidney disease, and to raise awareness. Pieter’s goal is to raise at least £25,000 in 3 years, and we’ve offered to help. John and Pieter also hope to encourage altruists to seriously consider saving a life by donating a kidney (or at least to join the organ donors register) by documenting every step of the kidney donation and transplant journey on their blog.

On Sunday 14 July Pieter, Pieter’s wife Lizelle, their dog Trinity, John and I will be taking part in the London Bridges Walk in aid of Kidney Research UK. Although anyone can enter, many of the participants will have varying stages of kidney disease / failure or be someone that has donated a kidney. I will be extremely grateful if you would be kind enough help us support this very worthy cause by sponsoring us with donations, however small.

As you can see from the poster, you can donate by texting UKGO88 £5 to 70070, or by visiting Pieter’s justgiving page www.justgiving.com/229days

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To put things into perspective, results from a survey, carried out by Usurv, indicate that while 87 per cent of people in the UK would accept a transplant if told they needed one, only one in three are actually on the organ donor register.

Around 50,000 people in the UK require some form of ongoing treatment for kidney failure, of which approximately 7,000 are currently waiting for a kidney transplant – accounting for 90 per cent of all patients on the NHS’s transplant waiting list.

With more than three million people in the UK at risk from kidney disease and an aging population expected to further increase demand for donor organs in years to come, Kidney Research UK fears demand for organs will continue to outstrip supply – placing the lives of more and more kidney patients at risk.

Your support will mean a lot to us and to Kidney Research UK.

Still Going Japanese

05 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My crochet, My ramblings

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

Japanese crochet, wearable crochet

In between working on photo tutorials and designing motifs I’ve been hooking away on my Japanese V-neck. The one on the cover of this book.

I really do love this and can’t wait for it to be finished.

My first public appearance

02 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 17 Comments

Today I can tell you about something that has been the highlight of my crocheting “career” thus far: I did a crochet demonstration at a local department store on Saturday! I didn’t want to say anything before the event as I didn’t know what to expect (or if anyone would turn up), but it went so well and people did arrive!

My “public appearance” took place at Tudor Williams in New Malden. I have a soft spot in my heart for Tudor Williams. It was there that I bought my first Pony 4 mm crochet hook and my first ball of Stylecraft Special DK on that fateful Saturday in August 2009 when I decided I wanted to learn to crochet. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that crochet would become such a big part of my life when I walked into the haberdashery department four years ago. I certainly didn’t think that I would return one day to give a demonstration on granny squares in that same department, or that the store manager, Peter, would announce my demonstration as “Our crochet queen, Natasja, will be giving a crochet demonstration…..” Hahahahaha for crochet queen! Very apt considering my surname is King 🙂

In the two hours that I was there, I taught three ladies how to crochet and chatted with another three or four customers and the haberdashery staff about crochet in general. I enjoyed every minute! I managed to be calm enough so that I could focus my mind and just be in the moment, taking my queues from the “students”. The teaching part was kinda huge for me. I’ve never taught anyone to crochet. I just told myself to take it slow and I made sure that the ladies took away a copy of my granny square photo tutorial, and photocopied pages from Simply Crochet magazine’s beginners guide on how to crochet. That way I knew that even if I messed up, or the student forgot everything I said, they will have something to refer back to. I repeated John’s supportive words “You’ve got this. Crochet is your thing.” to myself a couple of times too.

The best bit was when Tina arrived….. Tina came to the haberdashery department to buy a crochet hook for a friend, after having spent a morning in the coffee shop trying to figure out how to make a granny square. Imagine her surprise when she walks into the haberdashery department only to find me sitting there, ready to demonstrate granny squares! It was such an amazing serendipitous stroke of luck, we were both sooo happy! Tina showed me the granny square she had been working on. I pointed out the tiny mistakes and used her square to teach her further. She, and the other two ladies I had seen that morning, were extremely fast learners. When it was time for Tina to leave she actually told the cashier she thinks she is “hooked on crochet” now and that I was a great teacher. Wow! That made my day!!!

I hope Tudor Williams will have me back for more crochet demonstrations. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and it gave me a taste of what I would love to do full time.

If any of the ladies that I spoke to on Saturday is reading this, please let me know how you are getting on with your granny squares. I’d love to hear from you!

Terrific Tuesday

02 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by Natasja in My crochet, Terrific Tuesdays

≈ 4 Comments

From now on I will go through my photos and Pinterest likes every Tuesday and find us a pretty picture to add colour and joy to the day.

xxxxxx

I’ve been designing crochet motifs. This one is a work in progress for a guest blog I’ll be doing in July / August. It’s so much fun playing, trying something, writing it down, redoing it, changing my mind, changing the colour and playing some more. I have to say I’m kinda proud of myself for designing something from scratch. I didn’t even refer to a stitch guide or pattern book – the stitch choices and design sort of “flow” out of me and I just go with it.