Hello

Hi, I'm Mandy and work as a website manager in the Mayfair area of London, England. I live in the Kent countryside in a lovely little town called Tunbridge Wells. That means an hours commute on the train each way which is when I do my knitting. I'm 49 years old now and hadn't knitted since my teens but I took it up again about a year ago but ..... I couldn't stand the finishing and that sewing up business was too much! And don't talk about button holes - they completely defeated me! And pick up and knit - Aaaaaagh!

So I had 5 knitted garment in bits! And in bits they remained.

Then I came across KasCare .... perfect ... I can knit to my hearts content and not have to sew anything up. Ha! Ha! And I'm loving it. I undid all those garments and I sent my first 70 squares off last week. I'm becoming more creative now, using different stitches and colours. I think I'll be knitting squares until they beg me to stop!

On the serious side, I grew up in South Africa and have seen the poverty first hand. Africa gave me so much happiness when I was growing up - the beach, the wonderful people, the African music, those harmonious voices of the African people, the scenery and more, so I am happy to be able to give back. Africa has and always will hold a huge part of my heart.

Mandy

Replies

Elaine Jones May 28, 2010 at 5:09am

Hi Mandy, welcome from me too. I live in Shropshire now (on the Welsh border) but used to live in Kemsing nr Sevenoaks. We had friends in Tunbridge Wells and, apart from visiting them, we also used to love browsing the antique shops so I remember the town quite well. I share your dislike of making up garments even though I quite like sewing - can't really explain why. Making squares is just perfect, especially when you're travelling. I wish KAS had been around when I was commuting!
- Mandy Covington > Elaine Jones May 29, 2010 at 11:01pm
  
  I enjoy watching the tv programme, "A move to the country" and I'm sure they've had Shropshire on there a few times. We do have such beautiful countryside in England don't we.
Anne Powell May 26, 2010 at 11:57pm

Elizabeth - you got me Googling - as near as I can tell, I must have encountered Tunbridge Wells in Thomas Hardy - in Jude the Obscure, Tess of the Durbervilles or the Mayor of Casterbridge - or maybe all three. That area was Hardy's home turf. Could also have shown up in Jane Austen somewhere - she lived near there too. So I can either read through several big honkin' novels and give up knitting, or I can assume it one of these books....... think I'll stick to the knitting. Funny how a name can be buried somewhere in your brain...... why can't I ever pull it out when playing Trivial Pursuit??
- Mandy Covington > Anne Powell May 27, 2010 at 1:42am
  
  Wow! Nice to learn how 'famous' by little home town is!
  - Sandy McDonald > Mandy Covington May 27, 2010 at 5:10pm
    
    Hi Mandy, and I gather it is really very pretty too. So pleased that KAS has been able to provide you with the reason to take up the needles again and a hearty welcome to this rather fabulous community! And of course to those of us who have never been able to relinquish Africa from our hearts. Sandy
    
    Anne, did you see the latest adaptation of Tess of Durbervilles - truly depressing. A BBC version I think.
    - Elizabeth > Sandy McDonald May 27, 2010 at 10:14pm
      
      Sandy, that's my favourite version (although as you said truly deperessing at times). Did you see it when it was on the ABC in two parts a month or two ago? I watched it continually on iView until it expired - made about three slip overs while watching it too! Tess of the D'Urbervilles is one of my most favourite novels ever - so moving and with so many deep messages which are still just as relevant today in many ways. Love it.
      - Elizabeth > Elizabeth May 27, 2010 at 10:16pm
        
        I forgot to say, I studied Tess when I was in Grade 12 and loved the book (befoe I'd seen any of the movies), but none of the other movie adaptations ever really did it for me. However, that BBC adaptation really brought to life what I saw in my head, I really love it. I put in a DVD request for my birthday!
        
        P. Jeanne Haessler > Elizabeth May 29, 2010 at 8:43am
        
        Hi Mandy, welcome to KAS!
        
        Regarding Tess of the D'Urbs: One of these days I'm going to have to "pull up my literary socks" and either reread the book as I can't remember it at all, or see a tv adaptation of it. I remember that we took it in school and I found it deadly dull. Not Hardy's fault--they also nearly put me off Shakespeare for life too. Thankfully some top notch actors saved Shakespeare for me. Maybe they'd do the same for Tess? Worth a try! And a two parter means I'd get some squares done at the same time!
        
        Jeanne :)
        
        p.s. I never ever thought I'd say I miss the commuting I did as a youngling by bus and subway, but wow I could have gotten some squares done that way.
    - Sandy McDonald > Sandy McDonald May 27, 2010 at 5:11pm
      
      Oh and Mandy, amazingly I did not find your comment through the usual forum alerts but in my regular Google Alerts for the keyword knit-a-square and AIDS orphan. Would that have anything to do with you being a website manager?
      
      Or wouldn't it be awesome if everytime someone mentioned knit-a-square or AIDS orphans in their posts, it showed up in Google. Way to go as far as finding more knitters and raising awareness all at the same time.
      - Mandy Covington > Sandy McDonald May 29, 2010 at 10:58pm
        
        Hi Sandy,
        
        It wasn't intentional so no, afraid it wasn't because I'm a website manager. I did mention KasCare in my post though so maybe that's what google picked up? Have you got that word set as an alert too?
        
        It certainly would.
        
        Mandy

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