The Odd God debate...

So Hawkings may have made a few enemies with his new book basically stating that ‘There is no God’ which immediately sparked off a mildly drunken debate last night about God, the Universe and everything (42)...whilst dressed as cowboys and Indians...with a live band playing just over there...It was an interesting night.

The conclusion we came to was: ‘Um...let’s get back to this when we’re a bit more sober...and when people’s other halfs aren’t desperately trying to drag them home...and when bar staff aren’t stood tapping their feet waiting oh so patiently to tidy up.’

Not the best answer, but then I think the three of us each had our own conclusions and failed completely to sway the other two.

1. People need a God to believe in; society needs religion as a moral compass.
2. Religion has caused so much pain and war and discrimination; isn’t it better to look at things rationally and come to our own conclusions rather than taking the word of some guy who says that ‘God’ told him so...possibly several thousand years ago.
3. I am perfectly happy to let you believe whatever you want to believe so long as you don’t try to make me do the same...or kill me for not doing so...oh and I don’t need religion to tell me what’s right or wrong thank you very much.

Being one of the ‘There is no God’ crowd I should probably feel a little hypocritical for stumbling into a church this afternoon mildly hung over and in search of free tea and biscuits and an art exhibition. Then again I was there for the art rather than the religion.

Stumbling back home from a fruitless shopping trip in which I bought only 1 of the 3 things I really needed (but did find cheap cuttlefish bones for my snails, so could be worse) I was suddenly stopped by a strange (but very friendly) old man who told me I should draw on a random piece of board. Why? Um...why not seemed to be the answer. I think the idea was that this large piece of board could be doodled on by random passersby in the hopes of creating something resembling art. This was the bait to drag people into the church proper where the arts and crafts exhibition was taking place with some of the artists around to demonstrate and chat with.

Despite being half asleep, mildly hung over and really ready to just get home I actually quite enjoyed myself chatting with a cross-stitcher and nibbling on cake. I am now fully motivated to finish knitting the next sock...once I’ve had a nap...
Then back to the God debate...is there, isn’t there & does it even matter?

Odd knitters...

I’ve finally finished knitting my second sock! And after only six months!! Not much of an achievement I know, especially given the state of the knitting. I mean neither sock is perfect with one too short and one with a really odd heel…but I think I may just about have worked the kinks out of the ‘pattern’ (or bits and pieces of advice randomly worked into some form of knitting) so that next time may also not be perfect…but should definitely be better.

So 6 months from now is about Christmas right? Ok random family and friends of Odd Bob, if for Christmas you get a prezzies from me about the size and shape of a pair of badly knitted socks…just smile and pretend that you love them! I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it eventually.


Until then I’ve decided to celebrate by hunting out photos of odd knitters, just look who I found:

Cary Grant:


I just love the look of concentration:P

Audrey Hepburn:


Looking a lot more elegant.

Franklin D Roosevelt:


Somehow I can’t imagine Bush or Obama knitting.

And my favourite, Dave Lister (aka Craig Charles):


Rewatched this episode vaguely recently and was amused to note that whilst he does seem to have half finished knitting in his hands throughout the scene he never actually does any knitting…

This may just have inspired me to get started on sock number 3…wish me luck:)

Odd Socks for Odd Bob...

I have finally finished knitting my first sock!! So more accurately this should probably be odd sock for Odd Bob…but anyway. I am so proud. You see my creative talents are rather minimal (surprising given that I come from a family of graphic designers, carving experts and fashion designers - ok so my sister isn’t exactly a fashion designer right now…but one dress she designed was made and sold so I’m using only a little creative licence.) But now I can officially knit socks (or sock…)


Admittedly there were a few teething troubles, for instance I started with way too many stitches which then had to be sneakily decreased (you can’t really tell…except that it’s very loose at the top) and then I decreased too much after the heel (so it’s rather tight at the bottom) o and then I finished the toe a little bit early (so it’s a little on the small side).

But hopefully I’ll learn from these mistakes and the second one will be even better, although at the moment it’s less than an inch and a half long.


But soon I will have 2 (slightly mismatched, far from perfect) socks!! Woo hoo! And if you think knitting is something that should be reserved for little old ladies rather than fitties obsessed, snail wrangling, bee tamers…you are wrong. Knitting is fun for all the family, even kick ass world saving cops (see demolition man!)


So I’ve mastered scarfs, getting the hang of socks…what next? Maybe gloves, hats, jumpers…the possibilities are endless!

Today socks, tomorrow the world!!