the twisted yarn

Knitting, crochet, running, and silliness.

Another Year

by 34 Comments

Well hello, 2018. Are you going to play nice?

I’ve been really enjoying reading people’s new year posts, so I thought I’d add my own to the mix. But first, HAPPY NEW YEAR to your good self. May 2018 bring you laughter, health, and startlingly beautiful yarn. May you never drop a stitch and may you always achieve gauge on the very first attempt.

2017 was quite good to us, here at Twisted Towers. (We’ve certainly had tougher years.) There’s been a new – and much more rewarding – job for me, which has helped remind me why I became a clinical psychologist in the first place. The twinnage are growing in imagination and confidence. The Stoic Spouse remains stoic (and a spouse).

It was a year in which YOU wonderful people helped raise £566 for Cancer Research UK, when I ran the Oxford Half Marathon. YOU’RE AWESOME, D’YOU KNOW THAT?! I ran 510 miles (821 km) in 2017, which is apparently the equivalent of running a straight line from Oxford, UK, to Geneva, Switzerland. I might even have managed to run right out of Europe, had I not been plagued by viruses this year.

This was the year I took The Chair down to London so that we could both appear on TV. And there were two fun weekends in Yorkshire with the other Stylecraft Blogstars (e.g. here and here). I continued writing my quarterly column for Simply Knitting magazine, and also appeared in Crochet Now.

And one fine day in April, it suddenly seemed like a good idea to buy some vintage bricks and build a patio. (The rest of the garden remains a work-in-progress.)

I’ve done a fair bit of knitting and crochet, and designed a few things:-

And I’ve made things from other people’s patterns:-

But enough about 2017. As of yesterday, we’re all about 2018. I have big plans… which is a sure-fire sign that this’ll be the year I fall flat on my face and achieve absolutely zilch. But if I share those plans here, then you can all laugh at me come the end of this year when the only thing I’ve achieved is remembering to write the date as 2018 rather than 2017. Here we go, (with the assistance of some collages of my favourite images from 2017):

  • Take the twinnage whale-watching, somehow, somewhere. Right now, that would make their little seven-year-old hearts happier than anything else in the world.
  • Run a marathon. Half-marathons are great, but I’m in the mood for a heftier challenge.
  • Begin a professional knitwear design course. I think I might just have figured out which one, and they’ve indicated that they’d accept me…
  • Spend more time with friends. Too much time slips by without dates being fixed.
  • Finish re-designing the garden.
  • Send my novel off to agents, (and paper the walls with the rejection slips that come back).
  • Persuade the Stoic Spouse that we need a pet. (This will probably be the trickiest item on the list, by far.)

So there you have it: seven reasons for you to laugh at me on 31st December 2018. May your own ambitions for the new year all come to fruition, and may you knit or crochet your best work ever. Happy new year!

 

 

Comments

  3. What I’d like to know is just where do you find the time to do all that designing and knitting as well as mothering, wifing and the clinical role? I’m thinking you are actually twins….?
    Happy new year to you – long may you blog, knit, yarn, run, and all that stuff. You are, indeed, an inspiration

    Reply

    • Thank you but I don’t deserve such kind words! As you’ll see from the amount of time it’s taken to respond, it takes me quite a while to get things done. Sigh.

      Reply

  4. I agree with Gill, how do you find the time and yes you are an inspiration. All that lovely colourwork, just superb. And I recommend a visit to North Norway, the Lofoton islands to be presise, you would love it as would the Stoic spouse I should think and you can take the Twinnage whale watching too.. just a thought. Happy new year to you my dear friend. Let’s see that we get going togehter a bit faster on our project too… new year salutations x

    Reply

  5. Good plans, Stan! I’m secretly sort of vaguely maybe, perhaps considering thinking about aiming for a 10k run this year. A marathon is just crazy talk. But y’know, a hefty challenge is good here and there. Have fun running!

    Reply

  6. Love to read your antics. When I saw the photo of the snow, I was sweltering in 38c heat.down here in Australia. Gasping at the thought of knitting with wool.
    I am glad someone else does strange things with yarn. I recently entered a show that wanted a knitted bloom, and a crochet bloom, as two of the categories. Yes ! I was silly enough to try it. What do I do with them now ??? Oh, how I wish they think up something of use this year. I live in hope.
    May your New Year be a wonderful one. Keep up the antics, I get a smile or two (read outright chuckle) out of them . Good Health, and happy yarning to all
    Ps. I have a daughter who runs ultra marathons. I feel for your family.

    Reply

  8. Happy New Yarning to you. Whale watching is good in New Zealand. Just saying! And you could probably find a marathon here as well. 😀 Oh, and there’s lots of lovely yarn. Tempted?

    Reply

  9. Ugh, where did my comment go? Let’s try again. Happy New Yarning to you. Whale watching is good in New Zealand ~ just saying. I am sure you could find a marathon or two, and there’s no shortage of lovely yarn. Tempted?

    Reply

  10. Your achievements and ambitions are all fabulous, and your 2018 goals seem very realistic – given your levels of energy!!! 🙂 It makes me tired just to read them.
    Happy new year to you, too.

    Reply

  11. Happy healthy 2018 to you and yours. Good luck with your goals , I hope you achieve them . Keep on entertaining us mere mortals that only have half your energy !

    Reply

  13. I think you are a marvel, doing all this with wit and humour. The very best of luck with the marathon, the design course and the novel. As for Whale Watching, Tony Robinson went from Whitby. Happy New Year.

    Reply

  15. Wow that’s a plan but a great one. Happy New Year and the best of luck. Looking forward to reading all about it. Loving the idea of a professional knitwear design course.

    All I can add about whale watching is that it’s the most awesomest thing I have ever done. Watching humpback whales play off Fraser Island in Oz was jaw dropping. Do it ! X

    Reply

  16. First happy new year dear for you and your family, I stopped making new year resolutions long ago. If there’s no pressure I make all goals happen. And feel great about it. Keep in touch showing us these goals happen x

    Reply

  17. Looking at the collage of your 2017 designs, I am in awe of your talent. Wow. Just wow.
    We are going to Alaska in 2019 (We just booked it last month when the cruise line opened up the cabins) with a group of friends and family and whale watching is high on my list so I completely understand where the twinnage is coming from on that one!

    Reply

  18. I love your list. Even if you only get one or two things done, they will be terrific. Here’s to you in 2018!

    Reply

  19. After reading yours I hardly have the energy to write anything at all…I just love you and want you to continue with your life and loves and writing about it in your inimitable way so I can read it! I gave myself the Japanese Knitting Bible for Christmas and am happier than I’ve been in years (I’ve lived 81 of them so far) making little swatches and learning how to follow a chart. Never too old to learn! Happy New Year, dear girl.

    Reply

  20. I love your blogs, you are so very talented and funny, may you achieve all your wishes this year, me I just want to finish the last little bit of the waffle blanket I am making for my daughter to put in her holiday caravan, then, I can start something new, or, maybe finish the other projects shouting to me to complete them, only a couple though, why is it so alluring to start something new?! Happy new year to you and yours.

    Reply

  22. Happy New Year! I’ve heard a rumour you can go whale watching in Whitby of all places. Peak whale sightings in August/ September. Hope that helps 🙂 I really liked your mix of goals! I think I’ll add running to mine after reading about yours in 2017. Looking forward to reading more of your blog this year!

    Reply

  23. A novel! How exciting–your writing always captivates me, so I will be patiently awaiting one more of your so many accomplishments.

    Reply

  25. You had an amazing year! I really enjoyed the recap. I’m so happy you’ve found fulfillment in your new job and I’m equally delighted that you and your chair were featured on TV. All those makes are amazing. And you’re raising twins.

    I hope your year’s dreams come true. It’s so fun following along.

    Reply

Please do leave a comment - I love to read them.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

%d bloggers like this: