The Civil Aviation Authority strike again

As some of you know, in a couple of weeks I will be taking a quick trip to the US :)

What better way to use up 8 hours of flying time than some solid knitting, I thought to myself. So I sent BA a quick e.mail to make sure it would be OK to take my knitting needles in my hand luggage, as I knew that there were some problems with that straight after 9/11.

This is the response I got:

"Dear Ms Atropos,

Recent Government directives have increased security activity at airports worldwide. BA is committed to remaining a safe and secure airline, the safety of our passengers, crew and aircraft is paramount. The normal security measures applied to aircraft departing from the UK and to UK registered airlines operating worldwide are amongst the highest in the world.

The following items are strictly forbidden to be carried on board the cabin of any BA aircraft:

Toy or replica guns, household cutlery, catapults, steel nail files, knives with any length blade, razor blades (non-safety), paper knives, darts, sporting bats/clubs, knitting needles, billiard/snooker/pool cues, darts, catapults, scissors of any size, tradesmen's tools, corkscrews with blades attached, hypodermic syringes (except with written evidence of medical need), any other article which the airport authority considers might be used, or could be adapted, for causing injury or incapacitation of a person.

If you are carrying any of the above items (with the exception of hypodermic needles when proven to have a medical need for it/them) will be asked to place it in their hold baggage/suitcase. If you only have hand baggage then you will be asked to hand over the restricted item for disposal by British Airways. "

This is what I wrote in response:

"Dear Crazy Airline People,

Curses! You have foiled my evil plans. I may look like a mild-mannered 30-something chartered accountant but you have uncovered my cunning super villain plot to take over the world using only 2mm knitting needles. I will now be forced to resort to Plan B which involves global domination through the use of a pair of stilleto heels and the contents of my pencil case, neither of which I see are on your prohibited list.

Mwa ha ha

Mwa ha,

Yours sincerely,

Atropos"

Well, to be truthful that's what I wanted to write in response. Anyone who thinks it's possible to threaten the security of a plane with a pair of Addi Turbos might not see the funny side of the above I imagine. So it looks like it's the inflight movie for me *le sigh*

Knitting wise I decided to take a break from socks and blankets, and am currently racing through a felted bag in the following yarn:


Noro Kureyon 181

It's for RLBF for Christmas. I've based it on the Booga Bag pattern but changed the dimensions so it should come out a slightly more practical size. If I have enough yarn left I might add Sophie's handles instead of the normal Booga Bag ones just to make a change. I do love these projects. It's so nice just to knit and knit, watching the stripes form and always thinking "just a little bit more and then I'll *insert chore that I am supposed to be doing instead of knitting*". Fun knitting is good knitting in my book.

In other more curious news, my sidebar seems to have disappeared. I hope this isn't permanent - I was just getting it the way I liked it. Anyone have any ideas as to where it might have got to? And while I'm on the subject, does anyone know where to get those nifty % completion bars for works in progress? I fancy installing those next.