<insert crazy ramblings here>

I found a couple of envelopes blue-tacked to cash machines with A7 flyers for a pyramid scam in it. I took them down as I don't want someone to fall for it, or deal with the physical spam. I think I'm going to turn them into origami cranes.

I also started my first crochet Amigurumi. Using a 2.50 mm hook rather than a 4 mm. It's going to be about 4cm across rather than than 7cm. Oops.

On the plus side I see how it works now. I'm pretty sure I can write down a pattern for what I want to do next before I start on it.

I'll admit it. I don't like do the patterned bits on the hat I started ages ago.

They're fiddely, and slow it right down. I've got to the point where there's only a couple of rows left to do at the bottom of the hat part.So I need to start thinking about ribbing, and possibly switching to 6 needles, or using stitch markers to deliniate were the scarfs start. Bleh. I'm officially abandoning it for now.

However, I wanted to get started on some ideas I've had for Christmas prezzies, so I've started going to the Islington stitch 'n' bitch group again.

( Since I can't show prezzies, here's some small hats )

It's quite tempting to learn to crotchet little things next.

Speaking of razor blades, I need more shaving gel. So I'm off to Boots in Lower Marsh Street in a mo'.

I'll probably head down via Leake Street and see what's changed there. In the last couple of weeks a few cars have a appeared, and got slowly more colourful (with paint), and better ventilated (by smashed windows)
I'll probably stick my head in iKnit, I think I need to start on a new project, as my enthusiasm for finishing the fiddly bit of my hat waned, but simpler knitting is fun and relaxing. Maybe I'll make a little octopus or something weird and fun.

Finaly I think I'll go for a coffee, having run across this glowing review of Scooterworks and read the latest Plokta, which I managed to grab at the weekend.

{edit}
Looks like it was a busy weekend. Most of Leake Street is completely different. There was a couple of men with brooms clearing up what looked like the remnants of a bonfire party. There's a lot less stencil art, and lot more of the "classic" tags (huge multicouloured ones, but they're already starting to be covered with the crap sharpie ones). Most of the cars have gone. There was only one bumper left.

Things that deserve a longer post, so I may come back to:

• Great British Beer Festival
• Hilarious failure of cueing system
• Fullers serving chilled HSB. Gits.
• Yummy gluten free ale
• Much pig fat (pork scratchings) and burny jerky (chilly biltong)
• Stone jug bought as walked past the stage, where there was an auction on.
• Infamously rude waiters at Won Kei, brilliantly living up to reputation
• Flinging cups around
• Brining us food we didn't order
• Shunt
• Fantastic club in the vaults under London Bridge
• Part art gallery, part skate park, part disco, part live gig, part kids craft workshop
• Seats galore, pool table and pinball machines, late licence
• £10 entry, £3 cans of beer. Not bad.
• Simply amazing. Must go again.
• Fandom Origin Stories
• I've found a few, and have them bookmarked to blog on when I get a second.
• but much praise to the fishlifter who found a 7 year old fanzine in the archive with a multitude of them. I'm looking forward to reading it a lot.
• As we tell others about us.
• A book reviewed on Saturday's Loose Ends
• Bob Fischer: Wiffle Lever To Full!
• Tales from a few years in media fandom
• Why is nobody on LJ talking about this?

I've also fallen behind a bit on my LJ reading. I'll catch up eventually.

The food at the Cock has taken a turn for the worse.

No longer can you get a nice cheap fish finger sandwich, or chicken kiev. They won't even let you buy a couple of bowl of chips for the table to share.

I tried their steak and ale pie (small, Tesco's own), with chips (arrived as mash) and vegetables (luke warm carrots and peas). Most disappointing.

They did make up for it (with a free pint, and (top secret) bowl of chips) but I'm not eating there again unless they change the menu.

Instead I'm heading over the road to Carluchios. A nice Italian delicatessens, and restaurant. They stop selling sandwiches after lunch time, but you can pick up a hunk of the most amazing foccacia bread and several slices of fine salami for less than two quid. Bargin!

Sugar Reef bar has a January sale on, with 50% off food and drink (after 7:30, if you bring a voucher, one per customer per evening).

So I was a little surprised when one of the people we went with was late, as he'd stopped for a burger. I wasn't surprised when my (burnt) chicken burger turned up an hour and a half after I'd ordered it. Without the bacon and cheese.

Small wonder it was half deserted.

Seems to be a large fire out west London way. It looks larger than Bunsfield did, but it's probably just closer. Nothing on the beeb about it yet.

Edit:
purplecthulhu points out that the London Fire service have website where you can find out where the latest large incidents are.

EvilJ point's out that the Beeb have news now

Quoth iBon:
"It is not yet clear what has caused the blaze, say fire crews."

....... Although a combination of oxygen, heat and fuel might be the most likely explanation.......