Hello, thank you for calling in, it's lovely to see you here. I didn't intend to be away for so long; I have had lots of ideas to share with you but somehow, I couldn't write about them coherently. They all got jumbled up together in my brain and I couldn't untangle them and the longer it took, the worse it got. I am a bit unsettled at the moment, there are changes afoot and the prospect is making me anxious so I think that's why my brain is fuddled. I have decided that the solution is to show you some bits and pieces of what I have been doing over the last three weeks, inspired by the monthly "...ing" posts which Jo writes over at Three Stories High and which I love to read.
1. Exploring - Last weekend, the Best Beloved and I spent several hours in the sunshine up Titterstone Clee Hill in South Shropshire and as I read my book and did some crochet while drinking in the glorious views, he went for a wander with his camera, right to the top of the hill.
2. Reading - I have just finished reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. I realise that this book may not be for everyone as it includes some sexual exploitation, violence and self-harm but I found it deeply moving and very affecting. I finished it last weekend and I can't stop thinking about it.
3. Crocheting - I have been making a blanket for myself. I've never made anything as big as this before and I have learned a lot, but I have enjoyed every single stitch of this one. I have crocheted on my sofa, in bed, on other people's sofas, in a cafe, in a National Trust property, in an hotel bar and out in the Shropshire Hills and all of those places are embedded into my blanket. When it's finished, I shall give it a post of its own.
4. Playing - I look after Tom Kitten one regular day a week, occasionally more, and he is a joy. I am grateful that I can do something practical to help his parents and for the opportunity to forge a special relationship with my grandchild. He is funny and smart and adorable and I am head-over-heels in love with him. Playing is very tiring, for both of us!
5. Stamping - I spent a day at a free event which combined history with an art workshop. I don't have any drawing or painting skills but I was encouraged to have a go at stamping, which I haven't really done before. I had to carve out my own stamp with A REAL LINO CUTTING TOOL and, having looked at a book for inspiration, I decided that I wanted to use Thomas Telford's mason's mark as the basis for my design. Did you read that? I'll type it again, slowly - My...Own...Design. Oh my! Can you tell that I got a bit excited about it? I had a wonderful time and am thinking about how stamping could become part of my life.
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| I am the smallest blue bridesmaid |
5. Remembering - My aunt and uncle were married in July 1969 and I was a bridesmaid. They celebrated this golden wedding anniversary in London with their daughter, her husband, some close friends and my parents and photos flew to the rest of the family across the internet, some new and some old, as we all sent them our love and shared our memories of a very happy day.
6. Adjusting - I have new spectacles for both close and distance work. My prescription has changed considerably since my last eye test and the optician warned me that for close work, I shall have to hold whatever I want to read closer to my face than I am used to. The joys of aging! My main difficulty is using a computer because I really can't hold it up to my face but at working distance, the screen is too far away for me to read it clearly but not far enough away for my distance specs to be useful. I haven't worked out how I'm going to resolve this one. I took a photo of myself wearing the new reading specs and sent it to my daughter - who replied that I look like a tortoise!!!!!! That's why I can't show it to you.
So now, we are waiting. My second grandchild is due any day now and Tom Kitten's travel cot and overnight bag are in my other bedroom in case he needs to come and stay here while his mummy is in hospital. I have cleared the decks so that I can give whatever help his parents need during the first, exhausting weeks. I just need to dye my hair and then I'll be ready!
See you soon.
Love, Mrs Tiggywinkle x
