Wow!

I've just received my first pack of commissioned greetings cards from our very own Fairhand http://www.fairhand.co.uk. All I can say is 'buy now'! These are even better - much better, in fact - in the flesh. It is impossible to appreciate the quality from a photograph. I shall be buying more (if supply can keep up with demand!)
By the way, it is still snowing here, but not settling. Somehow, although it is cold enough for it to be snowing, it is not cold enough on the ground for it to settle. I can never understand how that happens.
I've had my customary 'knackered and slobbing out' day yesterday (how can two days working be that exhausting? I still don't get it) and hope to get more done today. Not much writing happening at the moment. I seem to have lost the knack. Knitting is still where my creative energy lies, and I've only got one sleeve left to do before I can make up my sweater and add the neck. A photo shall follow when it's all done.
I quite fancy experimenting with yarns and stitches, and designing my own stuff. Since when have I been into textiles? What is going on here?

Exhausted

This week, as R was in Scotland with our car, I hired a little Peugeot 206 and drove myself to Warwick on Monday. To avoid traffic, I set off at 6.30 am. Despite this, I was astonished on arriving at Coventry to find the usual queues of traffic completely absent. Then someone pointed out that it is half-term. Doh.
I stayed in a cheap hotel overnight, as I could not face commuting both days again. However, I woke at 3 in the morning, then when I finally decided to get up at 6.30 there was no hot water. I don’t like cold showers.
It was a huge relief to get home safely again. Although I am enjoying work more now, I am also much busier. The whole pace at which I have to move is faster than I am used to. You have to move fast to get a job done in two days!
Yesterday, I was exhausted again (not helped by my efficient body clock waking me at 5.45!) There was a lot that I wanted to do, but the energy just was not there. I slept in the afternoon, and then parked myself on the sofa with my knitting. I’ve finished the back of my jumper now, and started on the front. I have never made it this far through a jumper before! I have great hopes of finishing this one.
Today I’ve felt much better. I’ve caught up with my writing course and been for a walk in the drizzle. It is warmer today, and those ‘woodsy’ smells are very much in evidence. The quality of birdsong is spring like too – I think there must be certain calls or certain birds that start in the spring. I wish I knew what they are so I could be more descriptive.

Spring

It's 7:30 am and it is light already. The baby daffodils are out, as are snowdrops, crocuses, and red and violet primroses. It is officially spring, folks!
R is off for his annual ice-climbing holiday tonight - a week with the lads in Scotland going for steep, slippy walks armed with ice axes and scary metal teeth on his boots. So I've got a week to myself. Not that I see much of him in the week, poor lad, he arrived home at 8 o'clock last night. But the weekend - well, I'll miss him. But it's an opportunity to catch up on all the things I should have done this week.

Still here

It seems like a long time since I’ve written anything here. So what have I been up to?
Work is starting to get easier (thank goodness). I’ve had a horrible first few weeks, feeling out of my depth and doubting whether I can do it. However, I had my first ‘good’ day last Tuesday – and realised it was the first day that I had not started the day exhausted. We had finished work at a normal time on the Monday, gone to a local hotel and gone to bed at 9pm! So Tuesday was the first day that I felt I had enough energy to face the day. Yesterday was similar, and I had my best day yet. I ran my first unaccompanied face-to-face guidance session, and it went really well. My client said it had been very productive and she had lots to go away and do. Success!
Last week, I went up to Darlington for the funeral of my Great Aunt. I got the train up on Thursday morning and helped my Gran wrestle a trolley around Morrisons in the afternoon. My Uncle came up from near Taunton, arriving in the evening. It was strange to see him again. The last time I saw, or even spoke to him, was 20 years ago. It was lovely to watch him and Mum catching up with each other. The old photos came out, and there was lots of ‘do you remember?’ and ‘what was his name again?’ I went to bed and left them to it, I think they talked well into the night.
I travelled with my Gran in the limousine to the funeral. When we arrived at the Crem, we sat waiting in the car. Everyone seemed to be waiting for something. Eventually they let us out, and apologised that the organist hadn’t turned up. We later found out that they phoned him to ask if he was coming. “Yes,” he said. “Two fifteen, it’s in my diary.” “No, ten fifteen,” they said. Well, he is 90.
On the knitting front, I’m experimenting with big needles and doubled-up chunky weight wool. I like the big jumpers that Rowan have patterns for, but the wool is £6.75 a ball which is just a bit steep for a part-time salary to cope with. I’ve yet to prove that I can finish a large garment anyway, so I’d rather experiment with something cheaper. It doesn’t feel at all as nice as wool, but it has the advantage of being washable (oh, I’m so practical).
No news on the house I’m afraid. I know it will make a big difference to me when we don’t have to travel so far to work, leaving me with much more energy to actually do my job. But the market will pick up again eventually, I’m sure.