Déjà vu - Snit camp raised all over again.

We seemed to have come back to another time and place again this week in more than one way. Déjà vu SNIT Camp has come back into top of the cesspit  again. Again I have tried to ignore it and again I have failed miserably. Some of you know I am not exactly a full deck of cards as I have a couple of inter-related depression illnesses but I think the full disclosure is necessary when someone (JW) on Ravelry reappears. Be warned this is a rant post so if you want to move on do so now.

Think calming thoughts think calming thoughts 

Earlier this week I had a routine psychiatric review to confirm my diagnosis and need for medication script. Basically the NHS guidelines recommend that if you have been on these meds for more than 12 months they want to confirm that it was necessary and appropriate for you. My new GPs (about 12 months new) who seem to be a lot more proactive than my old UK GP sent me in for the required full psychiatric assessment to confirm that my perscription was appropriate. So I spent the other day at the local mental health assessment unit and was prodded and poked. Yes I can confirm that I am one brick short of a bbq but don't have another mental health illness than the ones I already knew about. As the psych commented it should be expected with your medical issues that you have pain related depression especially with your long term history of PSTD and SAD. No Shit Sherlock tell me something I don't already know.  

Don't worry I was polite cause I was very very conscious how close I was to the secure unit. You can not knit inside the secure unit because knitting needles are considered to be too high a risk. The outcome from this review is that I am getting my anti-Ds script confirmed.

I have been managing PSTD for over 30 years and some years are ok others not so. Christmas is my worst time as my stress trauma event is focused on Christmas Eve. Added to the PSTD is the issue of SAD I am a little (a lot) worse when it comes to a winter and Christmas combined.  Throw in a couple of auto immune illnesses such as OA/RA and now ?Fibromyalgia (still waiting for confirmation of the last one), and that explains the pain related depression. But as I am aware of all these issues and I use my light box, medication, exercise, talking therapy and family support to keep my head above the water. I also use a distraction technique of Knitting. Ok so here I am being upfront about my previous mental health history and now starts the rant.

Recently a special snowflake (JW) has been on Ravelry supposedly apologising about having an almost breakdown and how it was not her fault that Snit Camp  was a financial disaster. Sorry Honey the buck stops at you as you where the organiser of the Stirling Knit Camp event in 2010. I have just read the most insincere apology ever and OMG she sounds like a petulant teenager. I should know as I have two in the house at the moment. 

Falling down the rabbit hole of depression

Claiming that she had an almost breakdown is just something I can not swallow. I have tried to ignore the post for two weeks now but I cant. I am so steamed about it that I wont reply on Ravelry cause I know I wont be polite. I know about a depression breakdown and the effects it can have on an individual as I have been there and done that and never ever ever want to go back there type of experience of it. Not being able to feel, make minor decisions like what clothes to put on, missing chunks of time and the inability to communicate with family let alone the rest of the world. You do not have the ability to function socially or emotionally. So how the hell could you do a uni course and continue to play with your children and everything including a supposed research trip to France??? Don't claim that you have a mental illness when you don't as you undermine those who do and we have enough stigma and crap in our lives already.

I thought JW would at least attempt to pay her creditors before she had the gall to reappear in public. But to come out with an insincere apology and the continued non payment of monies owed just does not help her cause or improve my opinion of her -JW. It has just stirred up the whole drama all over again.

I want to thank the other ones who have continued to challenge the gall of this woman like JaneKAL and her recent efforts to get the word out including this post.  Keep up all the good work.

The complete gall

It appears that the knit camp dis-organiser has recovered. Some miracle there who has done a cure for you.  Would you like to share the name of your miracle worker? I am sure suklycat and I would be most appreciative of a miracle cure.

I am absolutely spitting chips this woman who has screwed staff and tutors over a large amount of money is back in business. We are talking tens of thousands. Hello how can she still be operating?? What planet are we on if this sort of bad trader is still getting away this crap? Get your pitch forks out cause I most certainly be protesting about this. Guess what ebay complaints about this trader will be made? Paypal?

What about an apology to all people and organisations you have screwed over then?  Are you going to pay them from your sales on ebay???  Do the people on Ebay realise that they have been very fortunate to have a "nice smooth transaction"?  So many of us, yarnies, have experienced transactions which were definitely not smooth or super fast.

I am so galled that she even thinks that she can continue to trade and use her website which was off line for a while with a please note the mobile phone number is no longer in use message.  How can this woman even think she can continue on her merry way and not do any sort of restitution?

Come on Karma! It is time we stop being polite and nice brits and bite back hard.

The start of Autumn

This week has had its up and downs but on Saturday I had a lovely trip into my favourite deli in the sunshine.  The deli is on Bold Street not far from Central station.  I had to go in to do some work so it was a 2 for 1 trip - work and deli. The trouble with where we live is that we don't have specialist food suppliers and the variety of world food in the local shops you can write on a postage stamp.

Our Cherry tree flashing a lovely
colour before dropping its leaves.

As a result of the supply run we are now stocked up on some of the essentials of life in our house, spring roll wrappers, a couple of tins of Milo, couscous, polenta, Thai fish sauce, and lots of herbs and spices that we go through at a great rate of knots.  Dinner last night was a breakout of the new package of spring roll wrappers.

Some of the Thai vegetable spring rolls
made and waiting to be fried.

Today it was another nice day of business in the sunshine. I now have another of post graduate TESOL students and this takes some of the pressure off with work and the cash finances but I will still be looking for a more permanent solution to the hourly job contracts. Came home from to town to the gorgeous smell of a crock pot full of French Onion Soup welcoming me in as I opened the front door.  

Old pic of duck socks but now at repeat 4
of 2 at time duckie socks

I seem to be back into the swing of knitting. Knitting wise for the last couple of 7 weeks or so has been a complete disaster. I have had my 15 minutes of fame but I wish it had not been over such a terrible thing. I have managed to get to the fourth repeat on the duckie socks during my trips to and from Liverpool Central on the train over this weekend. So things are looking up knitting wise. Thank goodness as I have a baby pattern test knit to finish and some time constraints for new baby items. One of the babies is scheduled to arrive this Thursday so I need to be knitting like the clappers. Nothing like a tight time frame.

Dear Bunnies

As I am strong believer in Karma your various messages that JW "is very seriously ill at the moment and any further negative comments or pressure could cause her to have a full blown Nervous Breakdown or worse. It would be desirable for people to stop posting things about knitcamp or JW in light of the further distress it is causing her" are not appreciated or accepted.  Karma is biting her back on the arse for all the trouble she has caused others. People are physically sick with worry over how they can go about meeting their financial responsibilities thanks to her failure to pay them.

I WILL NOT STOP POSTING about Knit camp and JW's total incompetence. I do not think her further distress has anything to do with matter as she has failed to meet or acknowledge her obligations to her staff and the tutors whom she had legal contracts with. They did their job and they have a right to payment. As I have previously stated work without recompense is slavery.

Her failure to run a business added to her previous business track record including Bankruptcy is more than enough evidence for me to continue to be shouting about KNIT CAMP to warn anyone who is unfortunate enough to come into contact with this woman or attempt to ensure that this type of incident does not happen again.

JW's failure to acknowledge the issues in addition to the failure to pay has created serious impact on tutors, staff members, traders and attendees. The form letters sent out by DW make a total mockery about the consideration that JW will eventually make recompense for the distress and financial losses especially if you read her post event posting on the Knit Camp blog it becomes particularly galling and reflects her total lack of professionalism.

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In the whole drama the only ones who I have sympathy for is the innocent children of JW and DW,who have done nothing to deserve the drama they have been dragged through and had to live through thanks to their mother.

The Saints of this World

JaneKal on Ravelry is one of the Saints of this world and she does not deserved the crap she has been getting online in PMs and some of those Posts in Ravelry threads.

Those who are now ranting and raving that the Stirling Tutor Fund is a scam need to pull their heads in as listen to the facts.

1. Tutors who attended Knit Camp and who this fund is for have nominated a neutral representative and they have had meetings about their situation.
2. The Accountancy firm has been appointed is held in good stead by the professional organisation, they are registered with company house and recommended by the regional business link office (Government approval for new businesses)
3. JaneKAL has gone above and beyond in ensuring that all queries have been answered in a timely manner and dotted her I's and crossed her T's to ensure the paperwork and administration matters have been set up to address the concerns for legitimate and best business practices.
4. The Stirling Tutor Fund is not stopping anyone from taking legal action but has stepped up to help tutors to address the missing income they need to pay the expenses they incurred by teaching at UK Knit camp.  
5. Casey and the Rav team would not have paypal link button setup for this fund or allow any of the posts announcing this fund to remain if they were not assured that the fund was legitimate and above board.

Fund raising for Knit Camp Tutors

The wonderful JaneKAL has come up trumps.  Details of how to make a donation to the Knit Camp Tutor Fund below this was JanKal post on Ravelry.

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Many people have expressed a wish to help with the situation regarding non-payment of teaching fees and travelling expenses to most of the Knit Camp Tutors (Instructors), so a fund account has now been set up. Respect & privacy for tutors and security & confidence for donors are paramount. Therefore the fund is being managed by Accountants, the cost of which has been donated, so every penny/cent donated will go straight into the Tutor Fund.

The Knit Camp Tutors have got together as a group and all money donated and raised will be paid by the accountant directly to each individual within the group. The group as a whole will decide distribution and this information will remain private.

The account is being managed by Clifford Towers Chartered Accountants, and audited accounts will be made available – note that details of individual donors and recipients will remain private. Clifford Towers is registered with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

The fund will be open for donations and proceeds of fund raising until the end of October 2010. There is a need for funds to be donated and distributed asap. Anyone with fund raising that may go on longer, please contact JaneKal (on Ravelry)

If you wish to donate to the fund using PayPal - here is how:

Email address to use :---- rostatum@cliffordtowers.com  (double click to send email, copy address to use on your PayPal account page)

Reference to use:  Stirling Tutor Group Fund. 

Enter this in the subject and/or message box at the bottom of the PayPal page in the ‘optional email to recipient’ box.

For further information, or to pay by cheque (UK only) you can telephone the number below or email Ros at the address above.

Telephone number: 01788 577613 (hours 9.30am to 12 noon, UK time, Monday to Friday)

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Go on give them your coffee or lunch money for one day. Chuck cost of one skein of your favourite yarn into the lolly jar. These people did not deserved to be treated this way. Keep these Creatives fed so they can create for you. 

Follow up to Knit camp continues

After finally putting my thoughts online about the whole debarkle that was knit camp life has not got any better for me knitting wise but that sort of matches the other sh*te what is happening in my Real Life.  Isnt it the way that trouble comes in threes.  Well hopefully we as a family have now had our three and are on our way to a more settled place.  Real life can be a complete pain in the arse and there are times you need to step back to work out what is important to you and your family.   The last weekend has been amazing with the husbeast and kids and it helped in so many ways to put life into perspective.  Also the husbeast is a fairly good cook and he certainly kept me fed with comfort food for the last couple of days.

It has been a windy road

While things will be tough for us for a little while thanks to the reduction of income stream, I have enough fingers in as many pies to help keep us afloat and explore the new opportinities that have developed in the last week. As a family we are all now geared with an action plan along with an attitude check for mother (me) to stop worrying about things I have no control over.

So many angels working to help
those suffering

I also have to say thank you to the wonderful fibreclaireuk who posted a link to my blog post over Knit camp in a couple of threads.  The personal responses and the public ones have been encouraging that I was being rational over issues which continue to cause pain and suffering for so many.  Yes the whole situation has been depressing and there appears to be limited recompence through the justice system for everyone involved but  I have been following the developments by JanKAL and am looking forward to announcing that when it is launched.  JanKAL has been working her golden fibre heart off to help with addressing the reinbursement of tutors so watch this space.  When it is all systems go I will be shouting about it from the roof tops.

Clearing the mind of the Knit Camp drama.

I have been trying to clear my mind of the chaos that was UK knit camp but I keep being distracted by the continuing drama. I had wanted to distance myself from the drama and bad karma that even saying the name of this event now creates in my presence. I tried to step out of the drama and issues by distancing myself. Due to the drama that was occurring while at Knit camp I decided not to attend the Saturday classes, market place and evening event that I had booked including not collecting the four meals I had paid for as I was going to take the family. I should of chased the money I was owed for cancelled classes but took the decision since the reason these classes were affected was out of the control of the tutors they should be reimbursed. I would have been better off getting the money back and paying the tutors directly. I was exhausted by the continued stress and strain of the repeated frustration, anger and drama that was effecting individuals including myself. I made some new friends and I put some faces to names I knew from blogs and ravelry. In the end I felt that one more day of chaos was not the best idea for me or for my family. As a result of this decision I ended up spinning Saturday away so I progressed with myself imposed challenge of a mini tour de fleece in Scotland.

Commando memorial with the
motto United we Conquer

Yes I had some great times at knit camp but it was only thanks to the attendees and the tutors who gave their all to make sure it was a best it could be.  The Dunkirk or British Blitz spirit was there and it was purely by the professionalism of the majority of the tutors and the combined will of the participants that we got through it.  We united together to make the most of the situation we were in. There was some nastiness and while it was not directed at me I did have to deal with it. I cannot walk away when someone is suffering. Don't speak to people who have volunteered their time like they are dirt due to your incompetence, JW. (Yes I called her on it in person.) I was particularly horrified by the highhanded abusive attitude of the so called manager, JW.  There were two or three tutors who I was not happy about and this is probably because I thought since they make their living as a professional tutor they would be a) prepared, b) organised and c) have some sodding tact. manners.  (Hello Dunblaine was less than four miles away)

It was the tip of the iceberg

It is a month or so since we returned home and as time has progressed the greater the awareness of the cluster FCUK this event was has been developed by the knitting/crochet/spinning world.   I am horrified to find out that the many of the tutors and staff have not been paid for their services and there are some serious financial implications. Vendors have also been shafted. There are people out there who are struggling to put food on the table and pay their mortgages.  Yes this event caused financial hardship to many individuals.   There have been personal verbal attacks on bloggers and ravlers who have dared to mention the lack of professionalism by the so called manager, JW. At this point I can no longer ignore the situation.  Don't attack those who are whistleblowing.  They have a right to be paid.

There are a tangle of various company entities that JW used involved in UK Knit Camp. The further details about the owner's business past and practices has been exposed but this does not help the tutors / staff members who have not been paid the income that they should have received. Labour by rights has to be fairly remunerated or it is slavery.

A bleak outlook across the moors.

The final fallout of this event will probably affect knitting events in UK and other events round the world for the next 10 years.  Many people have been burnt and this means we will all be super cautious in the future. Potentially international tutors may not want to travel or participate in newly established events. Established events may have to provide greater financial incentives increasing the costs for the participants and thus in the long run making it harder for some knitters to participate. Within the UK it could means that events will have to focus on the critical mass locations such as London. The issue with travelling for some will compound participation issues.  Some of the readers may not be aware that the further north of London you go the greater the difficulty to travel becomes for potential participant.  A 100 miles in the south may be relatively easy but in the North you may have to travel 200 miles to do the 20 miles as the crow flies.  Potentially events may be come London centric or southern centric. So people like some of the Scottish knitters I met will find participating in southern events impossible.  If you have to travel 5 or 6 hours including an expensive flight just to get you to the mainland to get to Stirling you might be priced out of attending more southerly events.

Some places don't have a ferry
shortcut available to them

I can see further litigation in the future for JW over her bad business practices but this does not provide remuneration for those who have not been paid.  We need to reimburse the tutors and staff so I would like to suggest that if you are considering a new purchase you visit SaumariKnitter's blog and see the list and make a purchase from one of the various shops/sites.

Light at the end

This post has taken a while to draft and the more I worked on it the more I have come to terms with the situation. I am now calmer about the situation hopefully my knitting will reflect this as everything I have knitted since the end of knit camp has gone tits up and had to be frogged. I think my knitting mojo issues have been because I bottled my anger and frustration.

UK Knit camp homework

Sometimes the reality that my dyslexia affects me in my everyday life comes and hits me square between the eyes with a 2 by 4. If you have not worked out by some of my antics I can be totally delusional ala last minute Xmas knitting. Anyone for knitting a hoddie jumper in less than 48 hours ???  I sometimes delude myself that my dyslexia does not affect me when I am knitting.

For once in my life I was being a cautious bunny and actually was doing a swatch trial run so as not to damage my pretty wool.  For one knit camp event you need a Clapotis so I was preparing my homework assignment by doing the swatch and little trial run of the instructions. I had got through section one and two parts of the swatch but I just could not get my noggin round section 3 of the pattern. I had read the text and reread the text; and each time my cartoon brain had interpreted the instructions in a different manner.

After whinging like a four year old, a Knitnight knitter with good googlefoo posted a link for me and even with the sound off I got it. Just looking at the pictures of the hands moving and how they were picking up the bar sorted my total confusion out. It just confirmed in so many ways that I am a visual-kinaesthetic learner. So if you decide to do a Clapotis, which is really pretty straight forward once you understand the written directions, you may want to check out this tutorial for doing the dropped stitch.

Knit Camp

Knit camp??? was a comment I recently got during a conversation online with a fellow knitter. Now as some may remember last year in Coventry was the first UK Ravelry day.  This year it has turned into a Ravelry weekend and a prequel knit camp week.

There were so many classes and so many teachers on Ravelry Day 2009 that many complained that too much choice too little time.  I personally crashed out with exhaustion and had to go back to my hotel for a snooze after falling asleep in the Meg Swanson talk  sooo embarrising...  There is also a shortage of events in the UK that you find elsewhere in the world like Knitting Camp which was first started in 1974 by Elizabeth Zimmerman (Meg Swanson's mum).

I have been recently reviewed what classes I have signed up and looking up the homework assignments as a result I think I have solved my dilemma of a new knitting project after the recent melady of meh!   Here is what I have stashed away for this project.  It will most definitely be a rainy day project.