Getting all self-reflexive and so on

Oh man, do I miss writing essays. I remember about this time last year, I literally broke down because I wanted to spend more time on my essays (and, well, relaxing/partying) and I couldn't because of the amount of hours being piled onto me by the restaurant I was working at. I know, I know, there are so many out there who do so much more, but I'm not one of them, and shifting gears between smiley-smiley-on-my-feet-memory-index-face-of-the-pizzeria-waitress to essay machine was irreducably painful.
This year, while I'm still thankful I'm not a waitress, I wish to god I had some academic influence in my life. I have a few friends who are doing the course that I did, but lord knows they dont need my help. In fact with my background in literature I'm categorically unuseful to these stellar philosophy types, and my poor memory doesn't help. Derrida's what, now?
I was hopeful I'd carry on writing vaguely academic papers as time wore on, but without access to the academic library, I am unsurprisingly letting it all slip. For shame.
I have, however, managed to learn to knit rather effectively. Swings and roundabouts? From one equally ineffective and unapplicable skill, outside of a very intense and devoted field which pays very little if you are lucky enough to be earning in it, to another. Go me.
Still, check it, yo:







I'm proud of him :)
Zombie Christmas and a Zombie New Year, folks!

The 'C' Word

That's right...... "Christmas."
I've decided this year to make something cinnamon-y for my family... Possibly with root ginger or white chocolateas well, although that might be a bit of a flavour overload. I'm thinking maybe cinnamon pastries although I don't know how well they'll keep, and as I'm not going home til the 24th they have to be transportable. Cookies could be nice but aren't very seasonal. Plus I have the urge to employ the sewing machine this year so am thinking about fancier packaging than usual (Kath Kidston rip-offs perhaps? Fabric lined boxes?)
As you can tell, I'm excited about getting to spend this season not thinking about essays for once.
I'm also preparing a knitted zombie for one of my friends and a knitted hot water bottle cover for another as I finally (after a Lot of inattention) completed Sam's scarf!!!! Both zombie and hot watter bottle will be a challenge as I can barely understand pattern instructions, let alone follow them. Also I've forgotten how to cast on...
Pics shortly!

Aaaaaaaaaaaand this is my current favourite thing of which I cannot stop playing: