Friday 5 January 2018

Happy New Year!


Happy New Year everyone, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. Christmas here has been packed away now, mostly in the loft. A new year brings a fresh start for taking stock, improving and trying harder. 


We still have some goodies left to eat - plenty of chocolate, sausage meat in the freezer, lots of Turkish Delight. I always buy several boxes of that, years ago I used to buy it by weight, fresh out of a large box. The taste was divine. Fresh dates are lovely too but unfortunately a local town fruit & veg shop has closed and this luxury has disappeared along with it.


M and the teens have been busy working on a jigsaw puzzle over the holidays. A present from Grandma to the three of them. We travelled to Hampshire to stay with Grandma (Mother-in-law) for a few days, we saw my brother in his new home, spent time 'parked on the M25 car park' as you do. We had a lovely time away and a week home with M easing back to work and the teens drifting back to school / college more reluctantly. 


I bought this Star Wars crochet kit last year, there's yarn and eyes for Yoda and a Stormtrooper. It's good being free of 'crocheting a blanket' albeit self inflicted. It was my choice but being a CAL (crochet a long) the pace was set to keep going. I tried to keep up but... I just wanted to do many other things. Attic24 has started another of her blanket CAL, but so far I've not succumbed, it's a Woodland one. It does look nice but too bright for me and I'm not keen on orange. 

So onto a new year.

Traditionally people sit and write new years resolutions. Mine tend to be the same each year, I never set new ones as these are still a work in progress, oops! 

Be more present / less on-line & social media. 
Finish projects such as craft wips (work in progress). 
Read more of my books. 
Another one I frequently see is 'Get Stuff Done', only the stuff is usually written less polite.

Craft and clutter
I've been following FlyLady which has helped motivate me to 'get stuff done' with clearing clutter. In 15 minutes it's amazing how much 'stuff' you can clear out of the house. In clearing stuff, I also want to clear craft projects off my 'to do list', to enjoy what I'm making and not feel like I'm running behind all the time. I'd like to crochet some more washcloths and knit socks, maybe even a pair of socks a month! I'd like to crochet some squares in a sort of sample blanket - coastal colours, representing Lincolnshire coastline. This will be completely random using different patterns and also some bunting using up yarn from the last blanket.

Reading
I found this Book Bucket List Challenge online and I'm going to join in. Usually the book lists I've seen, are to read as many books as possible in a year. If you wish to join me please do, I think I'll check back with you all in the first week of each month, with an update of how I'm doing and you can add your progress to mine (if you wish). 
For now I'm wondering about the first one - Read a book that you can finish in a day. Unless it's a 'quick reads' title, I'm not convinced I'd manage that one. Debbie Macomber's books can be read in about 2 days depending on what jobs need doing. Usually there are many, meaning I never sit about reading all day and night. 
  
                                       
 2018 Book Bucket List Challenge



1 _ Read a book that you can finish in a day

2 _ Read a book that's new this year

3 _ Read a book recommended by a friend

4 _ Read a book based on a true story

5 _ Read a book series

6 _ Read a book that makes you laugh

7 _ Read a book as a family

8 _ Read a book you already own, but haven't read

9 _ Read a book by an author you've never heard of

10 _ Read a book that turned into a movie.



At the moment as I sit writing, QT is sitting on the arm of my chair waiting for more biscuits. A film is on in the background - RED 2, seen many times before. We enjoyed Fish n Chips tonight at the local pub, courtesy of the gift vouchers from the book club, a lovely gift. QT's mane under his neck is slowly growing back. He had it shaved enabling the Vet to take a blood sample to check his thyroid drugs are working. Unfortunately in a few months time, he'll be shaved again as it's the only way to check.

This weekend I need to finish crocheting Yoda and listen to the book club read - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, read by Jeremy Irons. I'm really enjoying listening to audio books, at £7.99 a month (per book) it sounds expensive but comparing it to the full price CD at around £20 it sounds better. I've just finished Blueprints by Barbara Dylinski, I'd read Coast Road - which I loved and also Family Tree years ago. I wouldn't commit to recommending Blueprints, it was extremely slow with too many problems, one after the other. Also the women were meant to be strong but ended up taking their partners (men) into the boardroom. Very strange and not at all strong and independent.

Are you getting involved in any challenges this year? Did you do a jigsaw puzzle this Christmas? What are you making or reading?
Do leave a comment if you are interested in the reading bucket list. First week in February I'll let you know how it's going.

All the best for 2018
Cx 

21 comments:

  1. Happy New Year to you and your's. I spotted Attic24's crochet along but alas I am just too slow at crochet etc. Will look forward to seeing how yours turns out.

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    1. My blanket making is on hold at the moment as I'm enjoying doing other things. Reading, knitting some socks, finishing crocheting Yoda etc, Cx

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  2. Best wishes for the New Year. We like to work on jigsaws through the Winter months. At the moment we are working on a Disney Christmas one which we are enjoying.

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    1. I heard Mary Berry being interviewed on Radio 2 once saying, that she sets up a jigsaw puzzle in the kitchen each Christmas so family and friends visiting can join in, Cx

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  3. Happy New Year to you, Cathy. I was the girl that read a book a day when I was about 10. I'd go to the library during break at school (the village library was in my school) and swap books every day. I have slowed down a little but would happily ignore everything and read. x

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    1. Thanks Christina, It's only really Debbie Macomber's books I can't put down. They're not 'heavy going' at all. Just ordinary life with a good dose of romantic escapism thrown in, lol. I'm reading the Nicci French series of Freda Klein books at the moment, thought that ticks the series box nicely Cx

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  4. I used to read so much when I was younger, I still do but enjoy audio books so much now as I travel all the time in the car and I can listen to them there. Try The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah, it was my favorite last year. Happy 2018!

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    1. I enjoy listening to books but still try and read too. I've made a note of your recommendation, thank you. I'll order it from the library after I've read Nicci French and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho for the book club - I can't recommend that one but, as is normal in book clubs - we like some and some we don't! Cx

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  5. Happy New Year. The Star Wars crochet is fabulous! X

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    1. Thanks Jules, I think poor Yoda was overstuffed oops! His jacket was way too small and I needed to add both width on his jacket front top and bottom. I'll post a picture soon with him sporting a two colour toned jacket. Cx

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  6. I also enjoy a jigsaw or two at Christmas, it's my treat, and I get really annoyed if the kids take over when it's almost finished. That Star Wars crochet set is brilliant.

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    1. It's funny jigsaws, there's always a spark of interest and takeover when it's nearly complete. I tend to sort all the pieces out at the beginning of a puzzle, edges, sky etc then I've lost interest. M on the other hand seems to love them, Cx

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  7. awww thanks for the comment.Sorry I'v not been on Bloglovin,but I haven't got the time to blog stuff twice lol.Glad you enjoyed your Christmas,ours is always quiet as there is just the 2 of us and the mog.I have always LOVED Turkish Delight with a Passion,I also like Good Quality Dates.Great Jigsaw Puzzle.i really like that Crochet Kit.I saw Lucy had started another Blanket !!.Your moggy is so Beautiful,love that breed.My beloved "Ronni The Mog" had his Thyroid removed,Duffy is doing well,apart from having teeth out he is quite healthy so far.Happy New Year,and Happy Crafting.xx

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    1. Thanks Lee, glad you are getting sorting technically wise. Cx

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  8. PS.I'v just noticed my post IS on bloglovin,didn't know it was done automatic ??

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  9. Happy New Year. I love the idea of that reading bucket list and I'd definitely join in if I hadn't got so many books to read already. I've got books that I've had bought for Christmas and birthdays more than a year ago which I intend to read this year, as well as the Harry Potter books which are part of my 50 Before 50 challenge, and I've also got loads of Christmas themed books which I'd intended to read over the festive period and never got round to so I'm going to read them over the course of this year. Then there's the Agatha Christie books which I'm reading in chronological order, one per month. I will set myself these challenges, lol. Awww, QT is such a handsome boy, such a shame that he has to keep having his mane shaved but at least you know he's keeping well that way. Archie had to have his upper leg shaved when he was put on a drip at the vets and he's done nothing but nibble on it whilst it's been growing back, it must have been itchy. Have you managed to stay away from the Woodland blanket? I'm still half way through a CAL that I started a couple of years ago, it'll get finished in time but I'm all for my knitting at the moment. I've just cast on a jumper for Eleanor, it's the first garment I've knit for many years and I'm really enjoying it, though it's just plain knitting so good for when I'm watching TV.

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    1. Ooh 50! Trying not to think about that one just yet, it's this year!! You're right, there are so many challenges about. I don't usually take up challenges but apart from the reading bucket list one, I'm also doing your savings one. Opticians next year and for both of us it's quite costly. So thank you for the idea. No definitely not doing the Woodland blanket, at the moment I'm enjoying being free to crack on with my own craft list. I seem to be going at it like a bird though, a peck here and there. No staying power at the moment. All the best with the Agatha Christie book challenge, that actually sounds good. With the bucket list and the local book club I'd better not take on another challenge. For the book series I'm reading Nicci French (Freida Klein) books, starting with Blue Monday as I'd already read Thursday's Child with the book club. So far so good Cx

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  10. Thank you for the kind comment you left for me. QT is adorable! I'm happy to hear you had a great Christmas holiday. My son brought me yummy Turkish Delight for Christmas, too. I love the Star Wars crochet kit; my grandson would love it. There's lots of people making the woodland blanket. I'm knitting socks right now and there's a blanket waiting to be completed. Thank you for sharing the books and audio idea. Have a wonderful weekend dear friend. Pat xx

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    1. Thanks Pat, I'll aim for daylight QT photos in future, natural light is preferable for true colour. Cx

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