And another thing...

I seem to be getting my brain back.

What you need to understand, is that I am always been a voracious reader. I had a mother who used to say, "Get your nose out of that book and listen to me!" I read the Chronicles of Narnia in 2 days when I was off school being ill. My first taste of the Brontes came when I was 12 and in the 7th grade and Sister Anne Kieran recommended Jayne Eyre.   My BA is in Literature, and my MA in American Studies meant I got to read things like Edith Wharton and Henry James. Bliss.

But for some reason, I have really struggled with reading since having The Babe. Keep in mind she is nearly 3 and a half now. I have been knitting like mad. And crocheting. And lactating. And being all hormonal. But not really reading. I have read a few things - Bel Canto, The Tiger's Wife, Never Let Me Go, A Pale View of Hills, the first three books of The Tales of the Otori - but nothing like my 'usual' self. There was a time when that would be a month's reading list, not 3 years.

I was going to do a reading challenge that Martine is doing. Something about reading a book a month that has been on your to be read pile for at least a year. I starting doing a pile. But in the end, there weren't enough and then I got stressed about having to do it. So I just picked up a book and started reading. Geraldine Brooks, The People of the Book. Then it was Sandi Toksvig's Flying Under Bridges. Now I am reading another William Boyd. I do like William Boyd. And I have a present from Martine which is waiting to be next - Miss Peregrine's home for Peculiar Children. Sounds intriguing, doesn't it? :-)

Yes, I think my literary appetite may at last be returning. I shall have conversations with people about books, I shall carry my books around the house, I shall lose my page markers with abandon. It is all beginning to feel a bit 'normal'.

I may even put down my knitting. :-)

Is it really Feb already?

Back in September, I started making a jumper for Al. Nothing too exciting, just an every day casual thing which will probably be worn down at the allotment. I didn't think that much about it. He choose a pattern, and I choose some practical yarn, and now I wish it were more exciting because I am struggling to finish it. I just don't want to work on it. Blah.


But my displacement activity has been very productive...


I have made a lot of hats...

...and some bunnies...

... a pair of shorts...

...a 30th birthday present...

...an 18th birthday present...

...a fifth birthday present...

 ...and a few things for Christmas...

...plus four Xmas hats that didn't get photographed.


I only have one sleeve to go on the Jumper. It will get finished. Eventually. But in the mean time, not finishing it seems to be motivating me to finish everything else. :-)