Taking a break from watching the US election results roll (or rather dribble) in – it’s a rather stressful process!

Knitting: Dave socks by Rachel Coopey in Naturally Waikiwi

It’s that time of the year – Christmas knitting! I don’t think anyone that I’m knitting for reads this, but just to be on the safe side, my Yarnalong blogs are going to get pretty vague for the next few weeks!

So I can’t tell you who these are for, but I can tell you about the yarn. It’s Naturally Waikiwi, a 4ply blend of wool, nylon, alpaca and possum.

Now, the stats page tells me a lot of my readers come from outside of New Zealand and Australia, so I feel the need to explain about possums (when I was in America last year I discovered there’s a bit of confusion). Possums are native to Australia; in New Zealand they are a pest and we are attempting to wipe them off our little collection of islands. Fortunately, their fur makes rather lovely yarn, which is super warm and fluffy.

So, in conclusion: possums in Australia = good. Possums in New Zealand = bad.

Reading: The Big Smoke: New Zealand Cities, 1840–1920 by Ben Schrader

Really getting into this now, it’s great read. Traditionally, New Zealanders have seen their history as being predominately rural-based and rural-focused; Schrader’s going to do a lot to challenge that with this book.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Just finished this last night and would thoroughly recommend it. It’s a story driven by ideas, rather than character development, but still has a really good plot. I can’t give too much away – you’ll have to read it yourself!

See what everyone else is knitting and reading over on the original Yarnalong.