New Years Resolutions

I went back to last year to look for my resolutions to see if I'd actually managed to keep any...and I didn't make any! I did a meme thing that Keris had done but that was it.
This confused me.
But I decided to put the Stuff in my sidebar, I thought. I wrote something about stitching too, I thought.

Well I did, but not in Jan 2007...in Jan 2006!

It's this here post that talks about it all. Quite apt really. It mentions the cross-stitch projects as:

Oranges & Lemons design - finished.

Stained Glass Footstool - abandoned, why continue making a present for your exes granny?

Desperate/Domestic Zero/Hero - there's a funny story about these...

(They link to Flickr where it says how long it took to turn #2 into #3)

Yes...well...they ARE quick to stitch, I've just been doing other things!

I don't really have any New Year Resolutions, other than the Stuff in the sidebar which will be continuing. The 2008 goal was kindly supplied by my old neighbour Angela who also took me to Ikea yesterday and helped me buy useful things (including two beautiful plates that I must photograph).

I would like to not be drinking on my 30th birthday (I know, I may have only turned 29 seven days ago, but I will be 30 this year and 31 next year!) for a couple of reasons, I would like to have my divorce go through quick and easy without having to have any contact with the Yeti, I would like to be able to afford to buy a house when I move in June (oooh, a flying pig!). I think this year there are lots of "I'd like" things but not that many "I will" things.

I shall do a little more thinking on it, and probably eat one of those Creme Eggs while I take the Christmas tree down.

Happy New Year Folks.

Music to my ears

Well, not music, books.

You know that I'm a big fan of Audible thanks to Keris who introduced me to the site. Today I found out that they've teamed up with our Waterstone's site to offer downloads through there (or Waterstone's link to them or something). This is quite cool as it will now be much easier for me to recommend the site to customers who want something obscure and out of print.

(The fact that I just got the free Dracula download helps too of course)

So as I wandered home tonight I treated myself to an audiobook I've been saving for ages, and I wasn't disappointed.

84 Charing Cross Road is another one of those books that I spotted on my parents shelves because of its cover. I loved it. I could almost hear the voices in my head when I read it, so I was worried that the audio would spoil this. Nope, it's just perfect.
When I'm not listening to this I have been listening to bits of This Sceptred Isle: Twentieth Century. I am trying to learn a bit more modern history and I figured this would be a good way. So far I have learnt about suffragettes blowing up post boxes, the fact that the Daily Mirror was started as the first newspaper for women and the fact the Government were more worried about civil war in Ireland than war in Europe, plus many other things that have of course gone from my head since I listened to it (I've been asleep since then) but that amazed me at the time.

I love the fact that my twenty minute walk twice a day is an opportunity to learn things as well as get some exercise. (Helps distract me from the cold too!)

Homework

I have been having a day off today. A planned one because I worked Sunday rather than a phoning work at 8.45am to tell them I can't face getting out of bed day off(haven't hit that barrier yet but aware it may happen at any moment). I had a nice lie-in until 10ish because Anthony stayed at his house last night so I didn't get woken up at 6am. Since my sleeping is erratic at the moment any chance to get more is good.

Any hoo, I had to do a bit of tidying and sorting out today as Emily and Brychan will be staying the night here on Thursday before we head to Center Parcs for mum's birthday weekend. I didn't want Emily to walk in and announce that certain things hadn't actually be tidied up since she was here for Harry Potter (the boxes full of stuff in her bedroom for example) so thought I would attempt to add to the housework I did last week with some organising of clothes etc.

I didn't actually feel like it when I got up so I spent five minutes on the sofa with my new inspirational book.

*********

The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket.
yarnstorm
*********

It's about domesticity rather than domestication - the difference being that the former is about homemaking and the latter housework.

Now I'm definitely far from being the best at housework, I still don't own an iron, hate washing-up (mainly because sinks are always too low for me so my back hurts!), hoover when I feel like it and only dust because my feather dusters are too beautiful not to use them.
But domesticity I like. When I cook things I tend to enjoy it (but hate the washing-up bit so much it puts me off),I like making things for my home, I like choosing things to put in it, I like having things in my house that say that it's mine. Things that say "Kate".

Anyway, after a flick through looking at gorgeous pictures of quilts and fairy buns I got myself up and blitzed the bedroom - putting all the clean washing away and sorting out all the dirty stuff. I'm quite good at remembering to do washing, but not very good at putting it away once it's dried. The spare bed is usually its resting place but since Emily needs it all clothes have been banished to the wardrobe instead.

Once I'd done that and had a general tidy round I read a bit more book.

This meant that I then went and found the hammer and put up my fairy lights in the living room as I've been meaning to do since we moved in. I love fairy lights. I have them round my bedstead already but had been dissuaded from putting the ones up in the living room by a certain man who shall remain anonymous. But hey, it's not that long til Christmas now (and I'm sticking to that excuse).

I then had a wander round the house with my camera and took some pictures of bits of my house that are me. Some of it is just little things like my new oven gloves and watering can. Other things have come together as a collection that will change as needed but will still reflect me. It very much made me think of this post by Keris

So yes, today has been a day where I have made a discovery that I may not enjoy housework, but I do enjoy homework.

Reading my subconscious

I'm reading all sorts of things at the moment. After Potter I picked up Hexwood to reread as I wanted something fantasyish but not too over the top. I then reread her latest book The Pinhoe Egg which means that in the next few weeks I'll probably go through all of the Diana Wynne Jones books.

I also read Flora Segunda of Crackpot Hall which Campbelli had a proof of. It was ok, took a while for me to get into it and it's made me want to read some Sheri S. Tepper which I'll probably move onto after I've finished all the DWJ books.

I've bought, but not read yet, the fantastic reissues of Just Another Angel, Angel Touch and Angel Hunt by Mike Ripley. I can still remember when the third one of these had just been published and dad found it in Chelmsford library. The grin on his face as he said "Look what I've found" and flashed the front cover at me. I'm so glad they've been reissued at last.
They also have nice introductions by him which talk about how he started writing them, the tv rights and all sorts of other interesting asides. (This more than makes up for the fact that the insides are not as beautiful as the covers).

I also shot through Lean Mean Thirteen last night, Janet Evanovich's latest Stephanie Plum novel. All good fun as usual, shootouts, Grandma looking for a man and the eternal dilemma of Morelli or Ranger...
Extra: Keris has an essay in Perfectly Plum which I'm planning to buy in August.

My reading matter yesterday affected my brain...no honestly! I've been rereading Books, Baguettes & Bedbugs and The Child That Books Built and reading The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop for the first time. This means that I had a fabulous dream this morning.

I was walking down a little arcade alleyway when it started to rain. I ducked into a dress shop that I'd been in before to find a prom dress (not in real life, in another dream. I seem to have a remarkable internal world in dreams, places pop up repeatedly). I looked at the clothes for a while and then wandered through a door into this huge bookshop (again, I'd been in there before). It's in a huge stone market hall and most of the stuff is second-hand. Big old bookcases just leaning against the stone walls and everything all mixed in.

I walked through the halls looking at the shelves and found copies of all three of the books above, then I turned out into a small courtyard. I asked if I could take the books into the stall on the other side (it's like lots of separate bookstalls in there) and then went over there for a look around.

I found a large box of Chalet School paperbacks, 60's Armada covers (the ones I love) and all brand new and shiny - and all 10p each! I handed my sister (who'd just appeared) the list of the ones I already own (which I don't actually carry with me, I'm not quite that bad) and then spotted a big shelf of foreign children's books.

On there were a selection of Moomin flashcards (which I'm pretty sure don't exist) and lots of Babapapa books. I was just about to take my armfuls of books to the counter when my flipping alarm went off and they were lost to me! I shall get back into that shop at some point and try to sit and read them!

I have a craving for a visit to a second-hand bookshop now, not one of the charity shops that never have anything good, a proper twisty stair cased shop with treasure waiting to be discovered. Now I just have to find one, I wonder if Anthony would like to go on a drive on Saturday...

Inspired...

...to wash-up by Keris, I looked up at the two pictures stuck to the window frame above the sink and thought I'd try and find them to share with you.

So I Googled one of them and instead of what I expected, I found this...

Contemplating Washing-up

This is the one I was looking for



So I search for a picture for Keris...and find a picture from Mark instead.

We really are all interconnected in strange ways.

Hoicked from Keris

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?

Quite a few things: I'm living on my own for the first time which is the big one I guess.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I kept one of them which was finishing my Oranges and Lemons cross-stitch. Didn't keep any of the others.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

nope

4. Did anyone close to you die?

nope

5. What countries did you visit?

lol, Birmingham, Essex and London.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?

Dunno, last year was a blast in the the end. I guess a proper holiday.

7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

There were a couple of big ones. Feb 27th when the Yeti dumped me, and April 16th, when I first met Anthony.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Picking myself up and getting on with life from the lowest point I'd been at in years. If someone had told me back then, when I was mourning a miscarriage and a broken heart that now I'd be writing about a new relationship and being so very happy, I'd have said they were lying.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Even though my life has changed for the better because of it, even though I know it wasn't my fault - the miscarriage.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

See above, plus a little sunburn and a couple of very nasty colds.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I'm not sure if it counts as a thing but paying my own rent makes me feel very grown-up.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My sister's - she's a brightly shining star. Plus Missy Campbelli who proved she's the best Grade 5 bookseller I know.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

The Yeti, but only for a couple of weeks.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Rent and bills. I hardly bought any books compared to 2005.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Leyton Orient getting promoted.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?

Argh, tough. Probably Corrine Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

happier or sadder?

Happier, definately.

thinner or fatter?

thinner, but only by a little

richer or poorer?

richer I think, I've got no debt left and I'm (mostly) living on my earnings.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Relaxing.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying.

20. What was your favorite TV program?

Probably Veronica Mars.

21. Do you dislike anyone now that you didn’t dislike this time last year?

See no.13

22. What was the best book you read?

Growing Up Again by Catriona McCloud

23. What was your greatest musical discovery?

iTunes...drool.

24. What did you want and get?

A grown-up relationship

25. What did you want and not get?

The Unseen University Cut-Out Book (I'm gonna buy it on payday though)

26. What was your favorite film of this year?

The Lake House (which Anthony bought me on Sunday when I was hungover)

27. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 28 and spent the day with my folks and Anthony and then when for a nice meal at Cafe Champagne (without Anthony who had to work).

28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Kicking the Yeti repeatedly in the bollocks when he first told me he didn't love me anymore

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?

Jeans and boots.

30. What kept you sane?

Campbelli, my sister, Mark, this blog, my cats, Anthony.

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Robbie Williams...still

32. What political issue stirred you the most?

Nothing specific.

33. Who did you miss?

Campbelli while she was off converting the world.

34. Who was the best new person you met?

Anthony has to be top, but meeting Mark was bloody good too.

35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006?

To stick with it.

36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On

Three little birds, sat on my window.
And they told me I don’t need to worry.
Summer came like cinnamon
So sweet,
Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.

Maybe sometimes, we got it wrong, but it’s alright
the more things seems to change, the more they stay the same.
Oh, don’t you hesitate.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You’re gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

Blue as the sky, sombre and lonely,
Sipping tea in the bar by the road side,
(just relax, just relax)
Don’t you let those other boys fool you,
Gotta love that afro hairdo.

Maybe sometimes, we feel afraid, but it’s alright
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change.
Don’t you think it’s strange?

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You’re gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

Just more than I could take, pity for pity’s sake
Some nights kept me awake, I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realise, that you don’t even have to try any longer.
Do what you want to.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

Oh, You’re gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.