Nearly a week and no blogging. Oh dear

It's been a hectic old week. Let's start where we left off.

Last Thursday was Belfast Roller Derby's first training session at the Valley Leisure Centre. I had high hopes for the wooden floor but fear of a new venue.

The space we had in the main hall was great and we had a fab turn out. I wasn't in best form and after struggling to keep my knee pads in place during our pyramid pop ups warm up drill I had to swiftly exit to be sick.
Like a kitty cat that sorted me out and the rest of the session, including a scrimmage at the end, was ace.

I don't like wooden floors though. It felt all wrong under my wheels.
I'm sure I just need practice.

Friday was our second fresh meat intake skate. Not just as many present and this time I was included in the skating as I haven't passed my minimum skills yet (and am not skating in the advanced Tuesday session)

Part of me enjoyed getting to do basic skills all night, and it was great helping our lovely new girls and skating with them...but seeing my derby friends watching as I did knee falls and stops made me a little sad, and even more determined to up my game. (I have to admit it was nice having a session where I felt like I could actually do what was being asked of me!)

Saturday was a work day, then Sunday for Endurance training...
My least favourite session of the week :(

I'm happy to report that the pyramid pop up warm up drill did NOT make me puke that time!

Pace line of seven laps each was a killer...I ended up doing something ridiculous like 84 or 91 laps. Poor Hannahbolic Steriods and McSlay were at the 170 lap count though!
Then...horror...re sitting the rules test!
Fingers crossed I actually got it this time!

The big treats from Sunday though were
1. Getting my helmet name! Whoop!






And
2. Gutter Snipe telling me to bring my skates to Tuesday practice! Yes! I've passed enough mins to get into the advanced class aka lots if lovely scrimmaging!
So I was a tired but happy Kitty on Sunday







Crafting wise it's been an ok week. Nothing too special.
I've finally gotten round to trying bottle cap necklaces...dead easy!












(Cleaver one is a little gift to Sigourney Cleaver, I hope she likes it!)

Plus I got Ruby Murder's jumper finished







...
One last thing. The mystery of the straws that have started popping up in my back yard was solved when I witnessed Castiel bringing one over the fence this morning as a wee present for me...bless!






<3
Kitty

Knit knit knit

Wednesday.
I never did get the hang of Wednesday's.
At least it's not yesterday all over again.

Yesterday I slept in,forgot my work keys, got locked out of my emails and failed in having a committee meeting.
At one point I got so frustrated I kicked a wall and literally jumped up and down shouting in rage.
Thankfully an evening spent with the Belfast Roller Derby Crew sorted out my attitude problem.

This week has at least been more productive craft wise.

I finished the punky post apocalypse jumper




And made a necklace as a belated birthday gift for one of the derby girls.
Her derby name is Patricia the Ripper which makes me think of Jack the Ripper, so I went for a Victoriana style



Now I'm working on some asylum-chic /zombie style knitted stockings






<3
Kitty

The day after the derby intake

Last night was Belfast Roller Derby's first big proper skater intake...fresh meat time ;)

It was an awesome night, 40 new skaters trying out being on wheels and they all did so well! I was so proud oh Hannahbolic Steroids and Guttersnipe who took them through basic skills and then nearly burst with happiness to see the ladies scrimmaging at the end to show how it's all done!

We also got our awesome new BRD tees for the big night!






It was a great end to a disappointing week for me.
On Thursday we had our 25 in 5 at the WigWam. I knew I wasn't going to make it, 22 laps. Tests always freak me out and I never do very well...but it was the wrong day for me to be trying. Very much negative brain times and I got stroppy with myself and wouldn't try it again. I know, I know, pathetic. Sometimes I really am my own worst enemy.

Still, feeling much better now so moving on...

Next week starts FOUR practices a week and I cannot wait...all skating all the time :D, I'll let y'all know how it goes!

Not much crafting this week sadly. The workshops in conjunction with R-space continue, it was stitching this week. So I was mostly working in perfecting my assorted stitches and knots, useful to practice anyway.

I did finish one project, this 'the derby after the night before' hangover/derby first aid kit for my lovely friend Trixie Toxin.
A tight knit on 3.5mm needles, this water bottle cover has a handy pocket in the front for stashing pain relief gel and ibuprofen, plus a super strong I-cord wrist strap to keep it at hand on endurance practice Sunday's ;)



Now I've started work on a fishnet jumper in soft graduated grey colour yarn, a present for our coach Gutter Snipe who continuously keeps my head above water and stops me über wallowing!



<3
Kitty

Mondays are not my favourite

Yawwwwnnnnnn...
Mondays are killers aren't they? At least the temperature is more acceptable today, Kitty just does not do hot heat :-/

This week I have mostly been sticking to my resolutions...working out for an hour a day at least (although I did take Saturday off...sinful I know), tackling the cross stitch and embracing being able to skate again!

This week in work was our first workshop collaboration with the newly opened R-Space gallery. We had a look at Anna Demetri's work (loved the dresses!) and then made our way back to the museum for a natural dyeing workshop.



R-Space have the coolest wee 'cards' to take away, it's one of the original nails from the building, a couple if centuries old, awesome!



Derby sessions this week have been good and bad.

Friday night was amazing as it proved to me my knee was up to a full session.
(although my left ankle is not quite right....but we aren't saying anything about that, shhhhh)
I love Friday skills, edging, weaving, jumping...I wasn't awful at weaving, everything else needs work (practice practice, right?)
Also hitting practice (I'm a bit hopeless at this but I love it) I was trying to get into a good low derby stance for this...and got a shoulder in my throat. Oops. Think I will avoid being *that* low again!

Friday was also a treatly day, thanks to evilly I have these beautiful bordellos making their way to me :D


Sunday endurance at derby was more of a killer. I struggled all through it with a crazy aching left leg, just hitting 25laps (on our 10ft too small track so it doesn't count) and being almost out of control in the skills we had done over on Friday. I'm very disappointed in myself.

Still, looking forward to this Friday and our fresh meat intake.
My name is on my pads ready to lend them to new skaters




And I've finished my little cross stitch to pretty up my skate bag



Here's hoping it's going to be a good week!!

<3
Kitty

New month, new start, new mindset

July just wasn't a great month for me. Too much time off skates, too much soreness and far too much dark brain thoughts. But it's a whole new month so I'm going to make the changes and try and turn it all around.

First thing is getting back to the gym. My knee is (finally) nearly back to normal so I have no excuse! I've put on so much weight this month with lack of exercise and lost my hard earned endurance. It can't go on. This week is the start of looking after myself again, hopefully that will help my brain space too!

I'm also going to get a new craft under my belt, cross-stitch. I want to get to grips with it! I've become a little obsessed with the anticraft website this weekend so I'll be starting with their stitching patterns...
Go forth and anticraft

I've already made one of their (slightly dodgy and inappropriate...my favourite) knitted patterns...see the hugely magnified mutant 10week foetus purse...




I know, wrong...but so cute! I was making it dance for my kitties :D

Highlight from last weekend (for those interested) was the Vintage Rocks 2nd birthday hoedown...these are the cupcakes I made for the lovely girls and I have to say, I had a great evening with them! All parties should include bales of hay and awesome chilli!




So...here goes another month in which...

* I will go to the gym

* I will attend every derby session even if I'm not skating

* I will learn a new craft

Edit to add::
(on the note of new craft...this is my first attempt at cross stitch today. Old school knuckles tattoo 'cup cake')



<3
Kitty