Keeping me warm in 2009

What comes from the heart, goes to the heart.

- Samuel Coleridge

Last June I left a comment on a blog that began a correspondence with a lovely Australian lady who was learning how to get better at knitting.

This Christmas I received a parcel in the post. It was one of the few presents I received and came as a total surprise. Inside a lovely handwritten card reading:

Dear Darragh

How are you? I hope you're feeling mighty fine. I'm not sure if you remember but earlier in the year we exchanged an email or two and I said I'd be thrilled to knit you a hat. Well here it is. plus a little bit extra.

I'm sorry though that it has taken me so long to post it over to you. I had read on your blog that your big birthday was in August so I knitted like crazy to get it done in time. And I almost made it, but wasn't sure of your exact birthday, and indeed fell in love with what I'd made for you that I wasn't sure I could part with it.

Having sadly not sent it in time for your celebrations I set the whole project aside for a time. I'd so furiously worked on it that I couldn't even stand to knit again for a long while. But, it was made just for you. And now I can't wait for it to get across the blue ocean to you and hopefully keep you snuggly and warm this winter.

The quality of the knitting on this scarf is excellent and the photos really can't do the vibrant colours justice. Even my mother, herself an avid knitter in her day, commented on the fine workmanship (and put dibs on the hat if I wasn't wearing it).

Coastal Aussie, thank you. I'm extremely touched by your thoughtfulness and kindness and thank you so much for taking the time to create such a lovely gift just for me, and all the way from Australia! Though I'll lend my mam the hat, that scarf will do me right up until St Patrick's Day, knowing Irish weather. Snuggly and warm is definitely what I'll be. I'll have to send you a pic of me in it.

I tell you, between blogger, knitted and toyboy badges, t-shirts, toys, posters and all the tickets from Movies.ie, I haven't done at all badly this year. Not at all.

Thanks again CA, and Happy New Year. There's something on the way to you as I type :)