Challenge #14: Make Something

Some people paint, some draw, some write poems, some sew. Some people buy a kit from a shop in Keswick, Cumbria so that they can pretend they are actually genuinely creative.

So it was with the help of this kit that I undertook the challenge to 'Make Something'. The something being a knitted purse.

Knitting always reminds me of being a young-un and being taught by my mum. When she first showed me how to knit I marvelled at the way her fingers created stitches out of thin air, deftly working the wool around the needles. I couldn't believe that whole stitches could be created from one piece of wool, it was like a secret mum magic.

I always needed her to cast on for me, and cast off. This was still the case but as she's on the other side of the world, I utilised that amazing resource called 'YouTube' to remind myself how to 'cast on' and 'cast off'.

As I knitted I couldn't help but wonder why there wasn't a cat tugging on the other end of my wool. Growing up with cats, I was used to always having a knitting tug-of-war with one of them. I'd start to knit and it was like I was knitting with catnip. I would suddenly a have tension on my wool that wasn't actually required. I guess to them it was a game, the ball of wool rolling around on the floor, asking to be chased. They'd always find me, no matter where I hid.

Now I just need to find myself an appropriately gangster knitting name. Purl Knits? Gangster K? Knitty G?

Challenge #43: Make Eton Mess

Eton Mess. Britain's answer for people who can't make Pavlova.

The recipe is as follows:
- Crumble up meringue
- Whip cream and spoon over the top
- Top with berries

And that's it. It's the most fool proof dessert you can construct without just pulling it out of the packet.

Admittedly, buying pre-made meringue was a bit of a corner cut, so I'll probably have a go at making meringue once I get my hands on some electric beaters. Until then, I'm happy with my typically English approach (i.e. if you can buy it, why make it?).

So this was an easy challenge, and delicious!! It's worth noting that I did use vanilla yoghurt instead of cream so hopefully that doesn't make this effort null and void.

Challenge #46: Make up a secret handshake

Every secret society needs a secret handshake.

I'm not in such a society, however I don't think that precludes me me from having a secret handshake.

While others spent New Years Day hungover, comatose or mostly dead, my friend Alix and I had a productive handshaking think tank. To make our handshake truly 'secret', we added in sound effects that only true 'members' would know.

Of course, a few hours later, we had forgotten crucial elements of the shake.

Thankfully we recorded it for posterity.