A belated Happy New Year

 

Hello and a very belated Happy New Year to you all.  Not been here for a while but sometimes life just takes over.  I don’t make New Year’s resolutions as I never manage to keep up with them and then I put too much pressure on myself to keep them. I always think that if you’re going to make resolutions then they have to have an element of enjoyment and achievability.   

 

About five years ago I challenged myself to make a pair of knitted socks every month and I did enjoy that so I have decided to give that another go again this year but without any pressure and these are the first pair off the needles for January.  This pair is made using James C Brett Funny Feetz sock yarn which is made up of 25% Polymide, 50% Wool and 25% Bamboo in shade FZB12. I’ve not used this yarn before but it knitted up well and I would use again.  I may well keep them for myself as it is a while since I made any socks for me or they will be a great start to Birthday or Christmas presents for 2022.

 

I can also show you my latest completed and framed cross stitch.  This is Clair de Lune [Harvest Moon] produced by Nimue a French producer of cross stitch charts which are becoming more widely available.  I purchased my copy of the chart from Katie at Sparklies who has a good range of Nimue charts and provides a fabulous service.   It was meant to be completed in time for when my daughter and her partner moved into their new home in October 2020 but I didn’t manage to meet the deadline and finally completed in August 2021 when it went off to the framers who as always have done a fabulous job.  It is stitched on 28ct Brittney evenweave in colourway Flax purchased from Willow Fabrics who are a small company based in Devon but do a great online service.

 

I also like to share the books I have been reading and last year I was really bad at keeping up with this mainly because life was a little hectic and finding time to read was a bit of an issue.  I usually like to read a chapter a night or for at least 10 minutes before I go to sleep but work and life were so busy that I would go bed exhausted and just fall asleep and a book that would normally take me a week to read took me a month.  I also challenged myself not to purchase any actual books and to use my kindle a lot more which I did but I do like to hold a physical book in my hand to read.  I love my kindle for ease when I am away or waiting on an appointments but I do prefer to hold a book in my hand to read.  When my eldest son came for Christmas last year he got off the train and announced he still needed to get my present and what did I want and I immediately I knew what to ask for.  I had seen the new Paula Hawkins book A Slow Fire Burning in the supermarket but resisted the temptation to buy it myself as I was on target not to have bought any physical books and only to read those purchased on my kindle or those books given to me, so that’s what I asked for and so glad I did.  It has been some four years since Paula Hawkins last book and I can honestly say it did not disappoint. The scenario is that a young man is found dead on a narrow boat just weeks after the death of his mother.  A young girl is seen leaving the canal path with blood on her face and her clothes is she the killer or is it just coincidence and are the two deaths within one family connected.   I was very good and didn’t ignore the family whilst they visited but as soon as they all went home I climbed inside this book and allowed myself to absorb the story getting to know each of the main characters and just when you thought you had got it all worked out another twist and turn would appear. I would definitely recommend this as a good read for 2022.

 

Whilst I had a few days off over Christmas and New Year I also caught up on some programes that had been recommended.  Stay Close and The Stranger both starred Richard Armitage [the handsome young man that Geraldine Grainger marries at the end of the Vicar of Dibley]. Both series are made up of eight episodes for Netflix and are based on novels written by Harlan Coben.  Both are psychological thrillers which are Mr Cobens speciality and are both well worth a watch if you are looking for something to binge watch as once you’ve watched one you will want to carry on and watch the whole series.  But great if you want a sofa day with your knitting, crocheting or cross stich.

 

I watched Anne starring Maxine Peake and spent the majority of it in tears.  I am not a follower of football but for whatever reason on that fateful day in April 1989 I happened to have the TV on. I couldn’t tell you whether I actually had the football on or the news but as soon as I saw what was unfolding on the screen I stopped what I was doing and was transfixed.  From that day Anne Williams fought to find out what had happened to her son and the other 95 fans that lost their lives. Sadly Anne Williams died before she got to see justice but justice was finally served.

Also watched this weekend was the film The Father starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman.  Oh my goodness what a film.  Anthony Hopkins plays the father of Olivia Coleman.  He refuses all help as he gets older and refuses to accept that his memory isn’t what it was and gets very  confused and frustrated between what he thinks is happening and reality.  Both Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman are phenomenal and I can see why it won a whole host of awards. All told there are only six characters to the film and is mainly based within the flat that Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins share.

 

The other film I watched over Christmas was the new adaptation of the Amazing Mr. Blunden on Sky Max. The original was released in 1972 and starred Diana Dors as Mrs Wiggins and she completely terrified me at the time. The adaptation starred Tom Callow as the kind solicitor Mr Blunden who visits a recently widowed mother and offers her a job looking after an old house in the country that comes with accommodation. She decides this is the best option for her family and they make the move.  Once they arrive the two children explore their new surroundings but they couldn’t know at the time is they are about to become involved in a mystery discovering ghost children who require their help to right a terrible wrong which will in turn change the children’s lives forever.   Definitely worth watching on a cold winters day.

 

Well I think that’s all from me for now. I hope that so far 2022 is being kind to you and I am certainly looking forward to showing you what I have been up to over the months whilst I was absent and look forward to sharing new projects going forward.

Take care for now

Mx