Would you like to see something astonishing?

Recently, a friend gave me a gift that she had been working on for almost a year. It was initially a gift for my 40th, but it took longer to make than she anticipated (BIG UNDERSTATEMENT).

It is - I cannot stress this enough - the coolest and most incredible thing I have ever owned, and I am moved beyond words that someone would put the time in to create something this awesome. For me (!!!).

Here is the London Underground Map... in cross stitch.

Nerds may note that
a) the Vicky line is unfinished (for various reasons, it was PERFECT timing for her to give this to me now, and she will finish that line later, DO NOT even THINK about being a dick and commenting on this when she's made such an incredible thing)
b) the Overground has since been renamed and recoloured (ALL London transport stuff evolves and changes, that is the beauty of it and why I love it - she's annoyed by this but I am not in any way).

It is BREATHTAKING

As I say, I can't put into words how moved I am that somebody would do this just for me. It's powerful and incredible and beautiful, and I will treasure this for the rest of my fucking LIFE. The DETAIL on it. The TIME it took. The SKILL and PATIENCE. I am just so absolutely in awe of her, what a phenomenal thing to do.