Yesterday when I got home from work, one of the twins said “Mummy, I saw a grown-up cry today!” This had obviously made a big impression. I don’t think he’s witnessed adult tears before. Questioning revealed that the Stoic Spouse – who’d been looking after the boys all day – had taken them a few miles away to the village of Goring, where in the course of running some errands they’d walked past George Michael’s house, in which he died (far too young) last week. Outside his home was a sea of flowers and messages, and some very tearful locals.
It’s been a funny old year, hasn’t it? All those actors’ and musicians’ deaths. (I confess that I scarcely knew who most of them were, but people I know were quite upset by some of the news.) And let’s not even get on to the subject of elections and referendums…
I hope your year has had some thoroughly lovely stuff in it, and plenty of yarn of course.
Just to follow bloggy conventionality, here are some collages from my year in yarn (and in running shoes, and in the kitchen…)
I designed a few knitting and crochet patterns this year. Most of the patterns are here on this site (free), but a few haven’t been published yet…
…And we’re slowly seeing progress in our attempts to make this old brewery more homely, now that we no longer have the excuse of the twinnage being tiny…
I’ve been knitting and crocheting from other people’s designs, too. Here are some of the things that I’ve made:-
Of course, the biggest/craziest thing I’m designing is THAT ridiculous project that has been going on for years. Early in 2017, it will be DONE! Here’s some progress from the last few months:-
But I haven’t just sat around indoors knitting and crocheting. There have been plenty of walks (and runs) in the local countryside. I do love Oxfordshire:-
And whilst we’re outdoors, look at all this delicious food from the garden and the allotment!
Despite being the least-likely-to-do-so person, I’ve got more serious about running, too. I’ll never be an athlete, but I did manage to run all the way for the Oxford Half Marathon:-
When I’m not running (i.e. most of the time), I like to get out and about with my knitting. People in this village seem remarkably tolerant, and I haven’t walked into any lamp-posts yet.
There’s been a fair amount of cooking and baking, too:-
But most of all, I wanted to say thank YOU, because without you this blog is nothing… or at least it’s just a random knitter waffling into the ether. I love your comments and the generosity of your responses. I hope that 2017 is going to be a mighty fine year for you and yours. And if you’re celebrating tonight, ENJOY!
Right, I’m off to get my party frock on. Happy new year!
Happy new year! And here’s looking forward to lots more yarny goodness in 2017. 🙂
You HAVE been busy! Thank you for a year of your fab posts and all the best for 2017 x
You really know how to build anticipation with that big project of yours. Can’t wait to see it. You are very organized with your photos. It would take me ages to go back and put such a comprehensive post together. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for all the fun and knitting inspiration you’ve brought to us
this year, Phil! Your blog posts always cheer me up. Happy 2017!!!
Thank you for all the time you have managed to squeeze out of your busy life to produce such a personal blog. Some things have been sad, others riproriously bonkers. I have laughed and knitted and drunk a lot of wine.
Here comes another roller coaster year.
Good luck, good health, and lots of smiley days.
A happy new year to everyone.
Chris
I have been enjoying reading your blog, (I just started recently) and am totally in awe of everything you do! Gobsmacked with all you fit into your days – working, twins, knitting and crocheting, gardening, cooking , renovating, running, walking, photography. And a great sense of humour to boot! I have been knitting since I was about 5 – 62 years! You do the math of how old I am! I live on
the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria Australia, and we are enjoying a warm summer. 40 degrees celsius on Christmas day in fact!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Carole
Happy New Year! You have had a busy year on all fronts. It was nice to see them in review again. Wishing you and yours all the best for 2017 and I’m so looking forward to seeing THAT project All Finished.
Thank you for your hugely entertaining blog, I always enjoy reading your posts. Wishing you and your family health and happiness in 2017.
Thanks for all your ” maunderings” on this most enjoyable blog may 2017 bring you all the great things you desire
Happy New Year! Yours is one of my favourite blogs to read. I look forward to more twist and more yarn in 2017!
Happy new year, I hope it is yarny and full of lifes joys. Thank you for sharing your bogging adventure…when ever your post drops into my inbox I know I’m guaranteed a little 5min escape xx
I always enjoy your blog, You are always entertaining sharing the fun and laughter in your life as well as all your yarny projects………….. and I am looking forward to the big reveal of that……garden project?
Happy new year! Such a lot you accomplished. I hope to see that large project and find out what it is in the new year…in the meantime, keep on blogging and gardening and baking and knitting and running…
Happy New Year… looking forward to 2017 and finishing a knitted afghan… woo hoo… just the finishing bits to do but I’m close very close to getting it done. Do share photos of you in your New Year’s party dress… I’d love to see it 🙂
Happy New Year! I’ve been reading since you started *that* huge crochet project, and I’m just as excited to see it completed now as ever. Love your blog and looking forward to another year of lovely colors!
Happy New Year. Thank you for your wonderfully entertaining blog. You make me chuckle so often. Can’t wait to see the amazing furniture related garden project. Oxfordshire is glorious, I lived in the village of Combe near Woodstock for 12 years where our boys grew up. I have a weekend booked in Shipton under Wychwood this Spring. Goring is very pretty. Children are unusually upset when adults cry. Leonard Cohen is the musician I was sad about this year. Anyway, thanks for your fabulous blog, keep on running!
Do you actually knit while walking????
Most certainly, yes!
dear Phil. when i look at those images, I feel completely nourished. It must feel great to recapitulate your life and creations throughout a whole year. I LOVE the garden the most – oh the silliness and love you put into it is so very feelable. _I have posted by crazy Christmastrees on facebook. I love the most the one with an angel on top of it. That took some figuring out, not to make the tree bow
Have a good and steady year with your loved ones, dear. Keep that knitting and walking up. I crochet every were. I’ve peace of mind thinking of essential things in my work and I’m out in the open enjoying the beauty of were I live.Things pop up so easily out in the open. You just have to love childrens open mind do you. Big hug
I loved seeing your fireworks over London photo Ms T. We had a lovely quiet New Years Eve (complete with dispatching the gang of 5 roosters) and as midnight struck we headed out to see if anyone in our vicinity was celebrating. We could hear and see a few fireworks off in the distance and we figured we didn’t need fireworks as the sky was full to the brim with stars. I saw a shooting star over the top of our house and went to be content with knowing that 2017 is another year to explore, to experiment. to live, to learn and to enjoy the heck out of. Here’s to communal experiments 🙂
Congrats on a great 2016. I have really enjoyed your blog and cat wait to see what 2017 brings
Happy New Year! Looking forward to seeing THAT project soon. ?
What a lovely recap of your year. Thanks for sharing all your photos. I’m enamored with your crochet house. I think it’s a magical work of art and look forward to the updates.
Thanks for your entertaining and inspiring 2016. I too am intrigued to see you knitting as you walk. I think I would, at best, end up with very wonky stitches, at worst in A & E!
But perhaps I should give it a try ….