SubscribeToday (I can’t do time zones so I can’t say exactly when), a plane will touch down in Halifax in Canada, and my Dad and my son will disembark, at the start of a trip that they’ve been planning for months.
The two of them will spend the next two weeks travelling around Halifax, Montreal and Toronto, which are the three cities on Ned’s university shortlist. And then my Dad will come home, and Ned will spend another three weeks travelling around Canada on his own.
Can you tell how calm I am? Well, I am calm. (Did you see how calmly I typed that ‘on his own’ thing?) Partly because I know they will have an amazing time. Partly because Ned is 18 now, and perfectly entitled to make this trip, and perfectly capable of managing…
But I am mostly calm because of the cunning plan I have made to keep these two of my three dearest men safe, and happy, and sure to have a brilliant time.
First, I knitted these two hats, and I knitted all of my love and hope for these two special men into them.
(You’ll notice that I made them subtly different, so that if anyone should lose their hat, I will know who it was and be able to make them suffer appropriately knit them another one.)
The next stage is to publish pictures of them wearing the hats. Look. Take a good look.
Because the next stage, O Canadian friends, is down to you. If you see these men in these hats, be kind to them, please. Help them if they look lost. Point them at a restaurant if they look hungry. If you see them in an airport or hotel lobby, give them a thumbs up and tell them I’m looking out for them. (That’ll freak them right out.)
If you’re not Canadian, that’s OK, you can join in too – just let your Canadian friends know to look out for Michael and Ned in their almost-matching hand-knitted maple leaf hats.
I know Canada is quite big, and everything, but if we add up the people who read this blog with all of the people they know who they can pass this along to…. I’m sure we can pull this off.
Have a lovely time, Dad, Ned.
People of Canada, I’m relying on you. Keep me posted.
Seeing the hats on their wearers makes the whole project make perfect sense!
What an awesome idea! Will definitely share and keep my eyes out for them as well!!
I am on the West Coast of BC, with two sons in university, both a little older than your son. Should he venture this far west, I will definitely make sure he know he is welcome out here.
Have a great time
Kate
I will be on the lookout! Those are great hats, and I just put the pattern in my Ravelry queue. Will they get as far west as BC?
Utterly too funny! I’ll be looking for them in Halifax! I wish I had thought of something like this when my son went to Europe… Love the hats.
So… um… Canada isn’t just “quite big”. It’s _forty_times_ the size of the UK. Yep. Take 40 UKs and that’s what it will take to fill Canada. The distance from Halifax to Toronto is more than double the distance from Kirkwall to Plymouth.
Now, all this vast space is only occupied by less than 35 million people, and most of us are huddled along the southern border which stretches over 6400 km. So, as you can imagine, we’re pretty spread out, especially at my end of the country. It’s about a twelve hour drive (on a straight highway, unlike your British twists-and-turns) from Vancouver to the next major Canadian city, Calgary.
So… basically… Sure! We’ll look out for your menfolk! Absolutely!
What an awesome idea. I am not in any of the cities that they will be visiting but maybe your son will visit my neck of the woods while touring. I will certainly keep a watch out for him & would gladly provide a good home cooked meal rather than direct him to a restaurant. I am sure he would enjoy a change after eating restuarant food.
Hello from Nova Scotia we will be on the lookout . . . . I’ve shared your story on my shops Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/From-Ewe-to-You/155647397784164?sk=wall).
‘From Ewe to You’ is a yarn shop located in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia – 25 mintues outside of Halifax.
Rachel
People of Canada, thank you! I knew you’d step up!
I’m not sure how far west Ned plans to travel but I will assure him of a warm welcome in BC if he gets that far!
Naomi, given your geography lesson, wouldn’t that be ironic if someone on this blog actually spots these two men! Stephanie, they will be well taken care of here in Canada. I too am on the west coast, but wish them well anyway.
I’m in Saskatchewan, a few thousand miles from Halifax, but if I see those hats, I’ll know where they came from! Very nice.
Oh, how wonderful. And 2 more adorable men I have never seen (in *almost* matching hats). Good thing they have them, too, because we did have a snow shower yesterday here in the Eastern Townships of QC! Best of luck to your son with his university choices — I live quite a ways from Montréal so don’t think our paths will cross, but – one never knows. Such a cutie.
Hi Stephanie,
The Yarn Harlot sent me over. I have 2 daughters at McGill, who absolutely love Montreal and their university, so we can highly recommend it. My only complaint is that they are far away from me and don’t get home too often. Best wishes to all of your men, and to you too. Regards.
Thanks again, all of you lovely people! Knitters rock. I think it’s only a question of time before someone spots them… Toronto, it’s your turn next, they arrive today (Tuesday)!