Friday, January 18, 2013

Purl and plain - in all sorts of combinations.

I was listening to Radio National Breakfast this morning when the presenter, John Doyle, had a brief, informal interview with the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. They discussed the break she'd taken over the Christmas / New Year period and he asked the PM what she enjoyed doing in her 'down' time. She mentioned the pleasure she took in knitting.

John Doyle has the most ironic voice on radio - perhaps even in the entertainment business more generally. I never know when he is sending someone or something up or when (if ever) he is being serious. He compared her knitting to the leisure pastimes of previous PMs - Empire clocks and Mahler (Paul Keating), punting and sport (Bob Hawke) reading and history (Gough Whitlam). He commented that he really didn't get knitting as a hobby - though I'm not sure whether he was sending himself up with this comment.

Anyway, trust Julia Gillard to spring to the defence of knitting:
Being prime minister is a pretty stressful job. There’s a lot on your shoulders, you often get back at home late at night, and you’ve got to get some sleep, you can’t stay up pottering around for hours.'

The thing that’s good about the knitting is that it takes up enough of your attention that your mind can’t race at a million miles an hour, but it's repetitive and soothing, so it helps you transition from work.
She summed it up as 'purl and plain - in all sorts of combinations'.

I love the fact that we have a Prime Minister who is a knitter.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm glad the she is proud to be a knitter. I wonder where she shops, and whether she lurks on Ravelry...

Rose Red said...

I love it too.

Lynne said...

Yes, John Doyle can be hard to "read" especially when there's no visual references! Good on Julia, who'd have thought it?

DrK said...

i love her. i love kntting for exactly the reasons she describes. i think john doyle secretly knits (how can you not 'get' a hobby which has things you can wear as the end result?)

Brendaknits said...

Her description of it's soothing powers is so right on. All leaders shoudl take up the hobby.

Ruby Girl said...

Good on her for being a knitter, she is among great company.