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