First post of the year

Hello everyone! Your favourite one-handed knitter/crocheter is back (oh, go on; how many do you know?) and, whilst not exactly raring (is it raring or rearing?) to go, is in gear.

I've been reading blogs and catching up with what various folks did for Christmas and New Year, and have decided that my family are just plain boring. We don't put up lots of beautiful decos, we don't stay up and toast the NY; we just pretty much carry on as normal. Which is okay. My brother and I did have a couple of cold beers on NY's Eve; and the family gathered at another brother's home for a barbeque lunch on NY's Day, and that was pleasant, but I was glad to get home to my place again.

I find gatherings to be a trial sometimes - there gets to be too many sources of noise and my head goes 'fuzzy'. And being on my own a lot of the time, any gathering of more than, say, four people can really make me feel out of it. It's very unpredictable though, I can be perfectly fine in a group or I can be miserable. When I'm unhappy I feel guilty because it upsets the people around me, which, surprise, surprise (not) makes me feel worse. At least I'm aware of the problem now and I take myself off for time out when I need to. My family are pretty understanding too, especially my mum; dad not so much but he has become more so over the years. I love being with my family, but I love to be alone just as much.

So, apart from being dull what have I been up to this year? I put together this kit set shelf set:

it will provide some much needed craft storage; there's never enough, is there? ; )

I crocheted these squares:

the pattern is called Light and shade, from Jan Eaton's book 200 Crochet Blocks. I'd had the book out from the library for weeks and a few days after Christmas when I was feeling listless and unmotivated, I suddenly got the urge to crochet. So I got out some yarn, a hook and the book, and away I went. I've been finding the pattern to be very soothing and meditative; in fact, when I tried a different block pattern I got most frustrated and had to come back to this one! I've got 18 blocks made so far; I ran out of the original gold/green colour and started on the cream/beige/oatmeal. I have some black to use as well. I'll be interested to see where this leads.

I'm making progress on the sweetener front - I've been making myself have my hot beverages with just 1 (ONE) tablet. Let me tell you, it isn't nice! I've never really enjoyed the taste of tea or coffee, and developed a sweet habit to mask the flavour (hence the 2-3 tsp of sugar). Whilst never having been a big drinker of coffee, I've really gone off it now - maybe 1 cup a week at the most. I can feel the coffee fans cringing he-he-he! I never could abide the flavour of ordinary tea - I don't know why anyone drinks the awful stuff - and have been quaffing Twinings Lemon-scented, and Earl and Lady Grey for years. With 1 tablet they're passable, but only just. In fact, the only thing to have improved with less sweetening has been a Tangerine and Orange fruit infusion - the slightly sour citrus taste is refreshing and most enjoyable. It was far too cloying with 2 tablets, but now it shines. I think there are about 2 tabs left (having warm weather means I don't have as many hot drinks, so the tabs have lasted longer than I thought they would) and then that will be that. I know I can do this with the help of the right teas.

So, what else? I have my slender feet and ankles back thanks to some diuretics my doctor prescribed. My feet and lower legs had been puffing up quite badly for some time (not heat related) and I finally did something about the situation. It meant adding another item to my pharmacopoeia but the results have been great. I love my ankles, they're about the thinnest part of my poor obese body!

Oh oh oh I'm so pleased to tell you that I achieved my goal of a handmade Christmas!!!! I got a little something made for everyone on my list. Some of them are still in transit, so I won't post any pictures yet (and I don't want to appear to be bragging either!). I tell you, it was hard work, and I'm not sure I'd do it again, but it was fun - some of the finished items just made me laugh!

Cheers!