Knitting supports Indian community

Source: BBC

This is a lovely story in the news today. Hathay Bunano (meaning handmade), a company started by British/Bangladeshi founders has set up workrooms in some of India's poorest areas. The women were taught how to knit and are paid 25% above the minimum wage to make toys and other items for the West. What a beautiful idea? Great for Hathay Bunano too of course as it's still cheap labour, but nice all the same.

I'm feeling purple - or maybe blue?

No posts from me for a while. But there is a good reason - I haven't had internet access! I've managed to run my business and keep in contact with friends on email and facebook all via my black berry. Amazing really.

I spent the day nursing a sick little man. After gloating that Master R never gets sick, he's now been sick three times since we moved back to London in mid-Feb. It's been the same every time - high fever, running nose and grumpy - and has only lasted 48 hours before he's back to his usual self again.

While we were getting some fresh air in our garden I picked these lovely branches with purple flowers. I'm not sure what they're called but they look beautiful against the purple backboard of our Aga. Then I noticed that the pom poms I'm currently making for my new rug are also the same colour. This image lifted my blue mood slightly...

Miss you all xx

Fashion fuels death threats

Vogue recently reported that Peter Jensen is at the centre of a fashion feud over his interpretation of Greenland's national costume. Following the presentation of Peter Jensen's AW09 collection the designer received a series of complaints including a death threat.

Of particular concern to the native Greenlanders is Peter Jensen's interpretation of the kamic boots. Peter Jensen told Vogue "The collection and the boots were made out of pure love and meant as a celebration from the trip which we went on in November. That I am now getting death threats is really taking this thing out of proportion."

I love the boots and was disappointed to learn that they're only available from a certain high street retailer... We have however placed our AW09 order for the clothing. I can't wait for the beaded sweater dress and the digital print Citizens of the World blazer. This blazer is just so versatile and can be interpreted in so many ways from preppy to layered and geek chic. Preorders are now open with delivery in September.

Master R's new game

Source: Levintel.com

Master R has a new game. One that he finds hilarious. It must have started when I was changing him one day and he peed on me. I must have made a big deal about it and now it's turned into a game. Now whenever I'm changing him I can see him squeezing and squeezing. When a tiny dribble emerges he giggles away. When a large fountain appears he seems quite amazed.

Little boys...

Vogue on Vogue

Vogue Editor Alexandra Shulman. Source: FBC

On Thursday I went along to the Fashion Business Club meeting “Vogue on Vogue”. Online editor Dolly Jones was interviewing Vogue magazine editor Alexandra Shulman. While I’m not a magazine junky and prefer online to magazines, I was interested in what Alexandra had to say about supporting young British designers and her perceived or obligation of role of Vogue. One interesting fact for me is that we both have the same favorite magazine, The New Yorker.

Alexandra spoke openly and candidly about her experience and was actually quite witty. Upon taking the job she had no idea or even interest in fashion. She didn’t realize that fashion was in seasons and still claims to have a more pedestrian view of fashion while her fashion staff talk about referencing great artists and events.

Dolly (not her real name by the way) asked if Alexandra felt that she fitted the fashion mold. The crowded room laughed when Alexandra said that one comment she hears continuously is that she doesn’t look like the editor of Vogue magazine. She always replies that she’s been the editor for 17 years now so this is what the editor of Vogue looks like.

She believes that fashion has become the whipping post for the celeb culture, eating disorders and other woes of the world. She said it’s just wrong and she actually enjoys the debate. Vogue was recently heavily criticized for putting Cheryl Cole on the cover. Alexandra said she enjoyed having Cheryl and believes she is a face of fashion. Besides, it was incredible for sales.

I was about to ask about Vogue’s role and obligation in the support of young designers. Alexandra said she feels a duty to support them despite the fact that they don’t give a single penny of advertising revenue. She believes that during the last recession some of the greatest trends emerged and this time is no different. She saw signs of that at the recent LFW. In reply to Dolly’s questions about how Vogue are dealing with the recession and changes in spending habits Alexandra said that Vogue has always been about an aspirational lifestyle and it will continue to present that lifestyle in a way that is not offensive.

There were a lot of questions from the audience, most just wanting to draw Alexandra’s attention to their brand. Something I should really do but it’s not my style. I do hope that Vogue can continue to support young British designers, especially in these times.
On the way home from the meeting I did pick up the latest copy of Vogue. I haven’t read it yet though. Had a delivery of New Yorkers instead!

First day of nursery school - not quite as expected

Masters R's first day of nursery school today. I was excited and couldn't wait to drop him off so he could have some interaction with other kiddies. He's always been a mummy's boy and suffers from separation anxiety. But generally he'll cry for 5-10mins and then be fine. He was in a crèche at Snowbird in January and was fine so I thought this would be the same.

It's a 50 minute walk from our current temporary apartment. (It will be about 15mins from our new house.) So I trekked over there in the cold wind utterly exhausted and with an aching back. Master R was a little apprehensive and clingy when we first got there but it was food time and all the others were eating apple so soon enough he joined them and attempted to stuff as much apple into his mouth as possible and steal other kid's apple if they weren't eating fast enough. Because he’s quite big, running around and a bit rough, he’s actually in with a class of bigger kids. They were all born around June 07 and he’s the youngest by months with a birthday in February 08.

I stayed with him for a while and he seemed happy enough. I said goodbye and left and then waited a little while, heard that he stopped crying after less than a minute and was on my merry way. I waddled home, crashed into bed and promptly fell asleep. I woke up about 40mins later with a feeling that something was wrong. Turns out that the nursery director had called me 10mins before and I’d slept through it. The message said that I should come straight away as he “was in a great deal of distress”. Dragging on my jeans I jumped in a cab and arrived at there only to find him curled up on the playmates, snoring away with the kids running and playing around him.

Lucky I had my knitting and just sat in reception for an hour waiting for him. He woke up distressed so I took him home. Apparently he was fine until nap time and then be broke down and screamed – and yes, he really can howl! He just wouldn’t be settled and wouldn’t let anyone hold him. I’m actually dreading next week now and wondering what I can do to make it easier for him? Any suggestions?

Another mother dies needlessly

Source: Daily Mail

Today, "Mothering Sunday"*, brought news of the needless death of Jade Goody, a British celebrity. This is the needless death of yet another British mother this week, after Natasha Richardson, both mother to two boys.

Like Natasha Richardson, Jade Goody's death was preventable. She died of cervical cancer. One of the easiest to detect and easiest to treat if detected early. Jade had a positive pap test but decided to ignore it. Now she has left a husband, of a couple of weeks, and two beautiful boys, without a wife and mother. No matter what her past, it is tragic.

A number of years ago I stayed with my friend while her mother died of cervical cancer. The mother had chosen an alternative lifestyle and didn't believe in modern medicine instead treating herself with herbs and prayer, mostly prayer. The sight and smell of her dying needlessly in hospital and the turmoil it left the family in in the years after gave me a religious zeal about having regular pap tests.

Since then my mother and a very young aunt have received treatment for cervical cancer. While it's not genetic in any way, the thought of leaving my partner, beautiful boy and baby 2 will force me to endure the cold metal and discomfort of a pap test every two years, not the four recommended in the UK. That's not frequent enough. Please do it every two years. Please book yours today.

*The name has been changed from Mother's Day to Mothering Sunday after a US company bought the trademark for Mother's Day.