This is so sparkling, so very, very entertaining… It’s camp and extremely musical. Don’t you love opera? Go! You cannot but love it. Be careful with what you drink in the interval, though…

It’s Handwerkbeurs in Rotterdam, not two but three days. Not in ‘De Van Nellefabriek’ but in Ahoy. I have not a real socktable (will do so again in february 2010 in Zwolle) but I joined the knitting café. We now are the stand with the longest name: the Dutch Knitters Sock Knitting Café. I was there for two days now and to be honest, I love every minute of it. I met some famous Dutch Knitters who preferred to stay anonymous (see photo). I bought Jo Ann’s and Marlies’ new sock knitting book (toe up!). Sas Knits it Again and HolyWoly asked me to mind their shop (if you do so, watch out, Malabrigo will be thrown at you!). I learned things, to be precise that you can - so to speak - kill your yarn in the dying process. I finished things. See this cute Little Vintage Charlis.

While chatting, I knit. My Gentleman’s socks with a lozenge pattern progress. I use yarn from Das Schneeschaf. Beautiful yarn! It’s about 3 years old … but will it be enough?

My Nancy Bush Mystery socks are finished. My inspiration isn’t finished at all, but time has its limits.

While knitting I chat. I chatted with my namesake Yvon, with Ballee, with the Dutch Knitters, with Fiona, with Brent, with Nelleke, with Corrie, with Juul, with…. Together with DutchJan I looked at the quilts. I was extremely touched by Hanne Capel. That was really artwork with textile. Most of the other works was just patchwork.

And now? School is finished for a week. And I finished this evening with a glass of Genépy and the beautiful tormented last aria of Madame Butterfly (and in the distance I hear Turandot). In this autumn holiday for a week I have to go to school two days, go to the hairdresser, my gym, ballet, finish socks, do the information desk for the National Ballet, write an article, prepare my lessons, knit, of course knit, go to SnB central and North, have a meeting with my best friend, read books, read logs and relax. Relax. Relax and knit. When???  Help. But tomorrow I will enjoy the third day of the Fair. With all my heart. Before life gets tough again.

Way back, may be it was 1985, someone from the Caribbean started salsa lessons in Amsterdam. I acted promptly and joined. Oh, it were very few people, pardon, women, and to learn how to dance with a partner we danced with the teacher in turns. I shouldn’t be surprised if this was the first salsa class in the Netherlands. Being classical trained I had a lot of trouble to learn but once I got it I couldn’t be stopped anymore.  I loved it… but, somehow I always have partners who can’t dance, so that’s the way it is.
Till last week. I saw a zumba lesson on the news (yes, the news…can’t help it). Immediately after the item I start googling and found a gym with zumba lessons. Went there, and loved it. And, you know, those salsa steps are still in my feet. Isn’t that remarkable?

In the mean time partner is in Taiwan (not really a salsa part of the world) doing conferential things and making nice pictures to show me (and you) the Taiwan world and he twitters. Modern technology makes it easy to stay in touch. All the same I miss him and that’s why I like my new gym membership even more. Besides zumba I did pilates and… ow, ouch, yow bodyshape. That meant aching muscles for two days. It’s better now. Thank you. Tomorrow another class!