Where in the World is Winnie this Week?

Winnie certainly is getting around the world quickly.  This week she returned to England, as she wanted to speak to Cyprian Youdle's ghost - he was killed in 1357 whilst refereeing a Quidditch match.  I think Winnie is getting a little muddled up though, she seemed to think that it was during the first ever Quidditch match, which took place on Queerditch Marsh.  But that was much earlier than 1357, as Gertie Keddle who wrote about it lived in the eleventh century!  Nevertheless, Winnie did mention that she was in a place where the team was in blue jerseys with silver arrows - yes, my very own team - Appleby Arrows!  She also mentioned that there are no shops or pubs there - so she was clearly referring to Appleby Village in Lincolnshire, rather than Appleby in Westmoreland which has plenty of shops being an historic market town!

It has been fun tracking her movements - she certainly is quick on that broom of hers.  I need to put in lots of practice to get that good on mine, speaking of which, I must fly!  Accio Broom!!!

Where in the World is Winnie?

We've had another intriguing postcard from our absent headmistress Professor Winifred Wartbobble.  She certainly is getting around the world at breakneck speed, I'm guessing she must be using a combination of portkeys, apparition, floo powder and good old broomwork. 

Anyway, she talked about being in a place with sheep and near a castle, where it is spring now.  There was a picture of a beautiful castle on her postcard, which looked to me to be this one, which is Larnach Castle near Dunedin in New Zealand.

She followed this up by saying she wanted to pop into a place to buy Maple Syrup, there being a factory in a town situated by a lake bordering Quebec, and that this town was formerly 3 towns.  It's taken me a while to track this one down, but I am now fairly certain that she is referring to Stanstead, Quebec.  This town was created in 1995 by the merger of the former towns of Stanstead Plain, Rock Island and Beebe Plain, and maple syrup is harvested throughout the region in which it is situated.

So those are my guesses - Dunedin, New Zealand and Stanstead in Quebec province, Canada.

Well, I'd better get on with pulling together items for Amethyst's package, so I must fly.  Accio Broom!!!

Where in the World is Winnie?

We had a letter from Winnie this week, who was clearly writing from somewhere in London, England.  She enclosed a photo of the Ministry of Magic, with lots of wizards and witches milling around in it.  Would you believe she had been accused of teaching apparition to underage wizards? 

Anyway, it looks like she may be heading off to Italy next, as she signed off her letter with "Ciao"!

Well, I'd best hurry along and put in some more quidditch practice.  Must fly... Accio Broom!

Quidditch Players of the World

What a fun assignment this week, I had to research my fellow Quidditch players to get to know them a little better.  Plus I had to find answers to this quiz...

1.Someone with the same craft as you (either those listed above or another one).
Olive Bumblebirch is a knitter like me - her RavID is Oliveknits!
I've left a comment on her gorgeous Herbology Washcloth, it uses a lovely stitch pattern that I used for a dress for my daughter's doll.

2.Someone who was born in the same month.
Emma Wigworthy - she's my twin sister!  But I figured I ought to try harder, so have established that Minerva Lovegood was also born in April.  I've left a comment on her Jaywalkers which are in fabulous colours, I'm planning to knit these myself at some point.

3.Someone from a different country.
That's easy - nearly everyone is from a different country to me!  So I've gone for one of our newbies, Ginny Lockheart (fellow Arrow), who is from Utah, USA.  I've left a comment on her Ravenclaw Sockettes, they gave me the urge to pick up my needles for another pair of socks.  I'm quashing it though, I have to get on with stuff for this swap!

4.A new HSKS Quidditch player.
Maisy Muddlestixs just joined the Wigtown Wanderers team all the way from Oz!  She's shaping up as a great player, having gone in for both the crochet and knit leagues in Shuntbumps!  I've left a comment on her Chains & Diamonds Crochet Quilt - it is beautiful, patchwork in blues and white.  I love patchwork, and have a stash of fabrics ready to make a quilt one day.

5.A player who has been in 3 or more HSKS swaps. 
Rowena Bladvak has been in several HSKS swaps - she even persuaded her husband to join in previous swaps, a very powerful witch she is!  I've left a comment on her Flight of Fancy shawl, which is stunning.  I'm knitting my first shawl in the HSKS shawl kal, which Rowena is also doing.

6.A player who has a bigger stash than you! (And if your stash is the biggest, proudly say so!)
Enna Kirts has 71 in her Ravelry stash compared to my 36!  I've left a comment on her Zitron Trekking XXL, which is in lovely pale blue colourways (very Arrows!).  I've used Trekking myself for a pair of socks (Luna's Twilight Socks), which I've been wearing all day - they are my most worn pair of home knit. 

7.A player who both knits and crochets.
My good friend Hermione Bagnold - I commented on her James' First Socks, which are just adorable, and in a lovely shade of blue, again perfect Arrows colour!  I'm missing sock knitting, it's June since I last knit a pair, and that was just in stocking stitch, I want to get my teeth into a lovely patterned pair.

8.Someone who has the same favorite color as you.
Selena Starfire has Blue, Purple, Green listed as her favourite colours.  Blue is my total favourite, and I also love purple and green.  I have left a comment on her Baby Surprise Jacket which is being knit up in a simply to die for colourway that is very reminiscent of peacocks.  This pattern is in the Knitters Almanac which I bought after attending a talk by Meg Swansen (Elizabeth Zimmerman's daughter) at UK Ravelry Day.

Now that I have completed this task, I'd better go check on Winnie's current whereabouts!  Must fly... Accio Broom!!!

Quidditch Season Wishes

I'm so made up because my pre-season broom practice has paid off - I've been selected for the Appleby Arrows team!  I must tell you that the tryouts were a nerve-racking experience, but both Emma and I made it in.  I think it is partly due to our experience in shuntbumping - we were joint Northern England champions for several years running in our prime.

You may have noticed that my excitement has spilled over onto my virtual pitch in a change of colour scheme, along with some new portkeys which will take you to the HSKS9 Quidditch arena, and the Appleby Arrows locker room.  Plus I've updated my wishlist in case I attract a stalker now that I am a member of the elite Appleby Arrows quidditch team.  Here's a few other pointers:

Favourite Colours: I love the Appleby Arrows colours of Blue and Silver. I also love Purple, Turquoise, Green and Pink.

Favourite Scents: At this time of year I love Sandalwood and Christmas aromas.

Favourite Yarn Brands: Knit Picks (won't deliver to the UK), Knitting Goddess, and British brands like Rowan, and King Cole, or Cygnet.

Favourite Yarn Types: I love natural fibres, especially wool and silk.  I'm not keen on acrylic/polyester/rayon except to to strengthen sock wool.  I prefer solids and semi solids to show off stitch patterns and designs.

Favourite Snacks: Blackcurrant liquorice, sherbet lemons, cheesy doritos, and I loved the Sour Apple Witch's Potion from Pelican Bay that I got in my HLBOES package! 

Allergies: None other than housework!

Wishlists: Etsy, Amazon

Still time to get in a little more practice before the season begins - I must fly! Accio Broom!!!