Festive Mischief at McIntosh HQ – A December Ramble
Life in our little flat in Peckham (the posh part) could honestly be a sitcom. This week’s episode? Festive chaos, wool everywhere, and a surprising number of Advent calendars.
First came the glorious ADDI Advent Calendar, which I’ve been opening with all the discipline of a toddler at Christmas. Then I found two more hiding behind the sofa. Neither Dr T nor I bought them, so I’ve decided they multiplied. Naturally, he’s opening all three — partly because retirement is only weeks away and he’s practising waving his soon-to-arrive bus pass like a Golden Ticket. And on Tuesday, he officially becomes British.
Life at McIntosh HQ rolls on.
I popped up to Bush House to meet this year’s King’s College London Business School students (see pic) — my fourth year hosting a “live project” with them. They helped run last year’s impact study, and this year they’re helping me shape something new for when Dr T retires.
I also finished a marketing course, so my brain is currently full of funnels and touchpoints. Dr T says he preferred me when I only talked about yarn. He also went to the Royal Society of Medicine and returned home talking only about the catering.
Back at the needles…
I knitted six hoops in the Symfonie Hand-Dyed variegated yarns, and the colours are gorgeous when worked up. They’ll be on the site next week — once I clear the Advent calendars, baubles, and damp Christmas tree long enough to take a photo.
The tree is up, the Christmas meat is ordered, and I’m back making my annual cranberry sauce. For newer members of the Clan: before knitting took over my life, I was a seasonal food writer, winning the Gourmand World Cookbook Award three times and even presenting food TV in China. So yes — the cranberry sauce is that good. Dr T always asks whether we’re eating it with turkey or with a spoon.
In short:
We’re thriving, we’re slightly deranged, and we’re very grateful to have you with us — sharing the wool, the warmth, and the wonderfully daft bits of December.
With all best wishes,
James
James McIntosh – the one-man band that is McIntosh and Dr Thomas my sidekick!
