Thank you, my Fine Fibrous Friends, for your kind words after my last post. I’m doing OK, but part of the boob surgery wound just won’t heal, which is irritating ten weeks down the line because it’s preventing me from running. Given that my physical and mental health and menopause-resilience are closely correlated with running mileage, this is a problem. I was due to run the Oxford Half Marathon on 16th October, but common sense and a medical note said DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT, LOSER. Colour me gutted, because the Oxford Half is the most fun race ever.
But you’re here for the yarn not the boobs, right? I hope? Yes?
Yet again, the words of this post take a different path from the pictures. The pictures are mostly about food-growing, because that’s been the most obviously colourful part of my life, lately.
On the plus side, I have learned a word that quite perfectly captures something I’d observed but had struggled to describe, and because it’s relevant to knitting, I wanted to discuss it here. Bisociation. I’d been thinking about creativity, whether in the form of comedy or visual media such as knitting. And I’d noticed that the best examples of such creativity often involve combining two startlingly unrelated concepts.
Take comedy, for example. I’ve had plenty of cause to think about the nuts and bolts of humour, since my now-80-year-old father-in-law decided to re-train as a stand-up comedian a few years ago, and we occasionally had to assist him with his coursework. I often flick through the Stoic Spouse’s copy of Private Eye, a British satirical magazine that ensures that no bad deed goes un-mocked. If you look at its content, especially the cartoons, the best of the jokes slam two unrelated concepts together. Exhibit A:-
So I had this vaguely-formed theory in the wine-soaked fluff that has latterly replaced my brain. And then I began reading James Geary’s book about humour, Wit’s End, which discusses this exact phenomenon, and it has a name! Bisociation. And it’s an important aspect of all sorts of creativity. Feeling vindicated, I scurried off to wittily combine random stuff, secure in the knowledge that this would be hilarious or geniusly creative or preferably both.
Another example: many years ago on an Arvon writing course, we were given an exercise that involved writing a short piece in response to three prompt words, chosen at random from a bucket of ideas. I still remember the words that I pulled out of that bucket: regretful, carpenter, gazebo. (I guess that counts as trisociation.) You have no idea how much playful fun I had with my poor lost carpenter and his woefully remorseful travails in the gazebo. It was the startlingly unexpected combination of concepts that supercharged my imagination. There is something inspiring about examining the intermediate space between two or more unrelated phenomena. If the prompt had been merely, “Write a short piece about a carpenter,” my response would’ve probably been way too bland.
But let’s bring this back to the yarn. Bisociation is – now that I can put a name to it – a phenomenon that I love to use when designing knitted (or crocheted) items. I’m not saying that I do it well; I’m just saying that I do it, so please don’t assume that there’s any arrogance here. Some folk like to follow traditions – Fair Isle, the gansey, Latvian colourwork, and so on. That’s good and important because it would be a tragedy to lose such knitted heritage: I mean that from the bottom of my heart. And I’ve learned many such traditions because it’s always important to understand the rules before you break them. But. BUT. At heart, I have never been a follower. I just can’t do it. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse, I can’t help taking a trope and smashing it into another trope in order to explore what happens in the space between the two. That space is endlessly fascinating, in my arrogant opinion. That’s where the magic happens.
Examples? OK, here goes. But remember that I’m only claiming to do this thing, not to do it well. I wanted to recreate covid in yarn, and decided to combine it with Fair Isle.
I wanted to express my feelings about the corruption of our freshwater habitats, via the medium of stranded knitting.
You get the idea, I’m sure. And you doubtless do it far more wittily than I do. But at least we can both understand the phenomenon. Bisociation is actually rather wonderful, yes?
I k new we’d get there in the end .. [grin] And the journey was well worth making, Phil – especially for the vegie/fruit shots !
But I’m sorry to learn about the non-healing wound and its trickle-down effects. How about taking collagen ?
That IKB bridge ! – it’s a DESIGN ! What a truly extraordinary bloke he was, eh ? Are we sure ‘they’ don’t need to add some .. ahh .. stuff to the top left of your frame where the bricks now look as if they need grouting ?
Re the real subject of your post – and of all of them – your knitting .. You are creative, certainly. But you are also a BRILLIANT knitter. The combo is irresistible.
Love from Downunder.
If wound not healing so long after surgery there is a reason, often a suture is the focus or a little necrotic area. Hope you can see a wound care specialist (it was my specialist area many moons ago)
Your colourwork fills me with awe!
Thank you both. I’ve finally plucked up the courage to phone the breast nurses and they’re going to call me back tomorrow. They’re both awesome humans/professionals, but they must be sick of the sight of me by now!
You never cease to amaze me! Pack your unhealing wound with honey. ❤
Thank you. 🙂
It is extremely funny and my kids are deeply ashamed of their mum having so much fun with it. Could be my background that is manageable with a good witz. Bisociation makes life fun. I am sorry for your wound not healing, darn, 10 weeks is about time to get healed, don’t you think? Try to intercept that memopause with natural isoflavone. Lots on line about it. I don’t mind gardenstuff mixed with crafting, both my favorite pastime. And blimey, those grapes are big!
All kids are ashamed of their parents, so you may as well do something fun to earn it!
Will look into isoflavone, thank you.
Another post that’s visually gorgeous, brain tickling – to expanding and a quick whisper over the emotions. Thank you.
So sorry your wound is not being helpful, my 2 pennyworth suggestion is Arnica. My first late husband (I feel like a character from an Agatha Christie novel, married and widowed 3 times. Think I’d better stop now 🙂 used this before and after both hip operations and was back on his new hips surprisingly quickly.
Hope you heal soon and by the way your knitting creativity is incredible.
Thank you for all of this. I didn’t know about arnica – will have a look.
You always have something insightful to say. I learned something new! Sorry you missed out on your run. Gah! It’s no fun being a responsible adult and waiting for your body to heal up.
So inspired by your 80 year old father in law’s new occupation! How cool is that! Just thinking about it makes me grin!
I know, he’s a very cool father-in-law. Covid arrived soonish after he’d finished the course so he stopped performing, but I have so much respect for him anyway.
May you heal more quickly and get back to running soon. In the meantime, I’m loving the Bisociation… It feels as if it is supposed to be hyphenated? However, You’ve topped my favorite phrase: “In my never humble opinion,” and stated it more concisely…the question is, will I remember to use, ‘In my arrogant opinion’ in the future or will I keep using my old stand-by. Thank you for the post…and the joys of yarn bisociation.
Aww, thank you!
Either phrase expresses things perfectly IMAO, so use whichever comes to mind! Do people ever feel humble when they say ‘in my humble opinion’?
So sorry to hear that your wound isn’t healing. All of the suggestions above sound useful. Love the idea of bisociation, the photos of your crops, your amazing father-in-law (what an inspiration!) and your beautiful, clever knitting. Hang on in there. 🙂
Thank you, thank you, and thank you!
I love to learn new words and their meanings. I could also relate to the word, not in relation to comedy, but more in the manner you talk about regarding your tendencies,or perhaps need, to learn skills and put them together with other skills. I do that too, though I need a Lot more practice….while you do it wonderfully!
Heal soon!
Thanks for your blog.
Yay to a fellow bisocial person! And yes yes yes to an ever-expanding vocab. I tell my children that if you’re not learning, you’re not living. They ignore me.
I do wish I could send my Wound Care Specialist R.N. over your way to care for you. She’s a gifted healer. Hoping that the universe synchs with your body and heals your surg wound. Your carpenter-gazebo piece must have been a hoot! Approaching my 3rd year at university, we were all required to take an English Writing examination, in which we were randomly assigned one subject upon which to write a 1,500 word essay. In a large lecture hall, we all sat there, wondering what weird subject we’d be assigned. Fail this assignment meant one would not be allowed to continue to one’s 3rd year major and minor studies. The proctor approached me, reached into a large box, pulled out a small slip of paper (my fate…) and it read “Expound on your knowledge of baseball.” Woo-Hoo! I knew baseball from A to Z! My mother took me to my first San Francisco Giants game when I was 7 and I remain a fan. Those 1,500 words flew by. And, thank you for continuing to post images of pattern creating. I’ve created 3, in crochet, due solely to you and your page here. And, off Knitting and Crochet, sewed a Galadriel costume for my 9 year old granddaughter to wear today. Her Mom created the circlet. Thank goodness for 7th Grade Home Economics (here in the US one learns sewing, cooking etc.). All of those skills came right back to me, in order to make this character come alive in long dress, with long velvet cape. It is wonderful to not only have those skills, but to be able to pass them along. Presently teaching granddaughter to crochet first, then knit a bit later.
Thank you so much Rebecca! But goodness, that exam sounds like a cruel torment. Very glad you got lucky in the draw.
Keep creating more patterns, keep flexing those creative muscles, and enjoy.
Do hope the wound heals soon.
Lovely to hear from you again, and be educated further. One thing about the Menopause, it does end, honest, Phil. After which things are much more stable & less messy; though I suppose the Twinnage will see to that!
As for the magnificent grapes – try growing them on shorter vines? That way you might not need a ladder. I’ve been wondering about a vine, since DH is very slowly building me a pergola. It’s to support the honeysuckle when the Verbena bonariensis it’s currently clinging to dies back (any day now). Though it might need to grow a bit more to reach the top. There’s space the other side for a vine, isn’t there? How much space does one need?
You definitely definitely need a grapevine on your pergola. It’s practically the law: all pergolas must have grapevines. I’m sure the honeysuckle will understand…
Yeah our grapevine is growing across a pergola, too. The problem is that I am very short, and also quite rubbish with ladders. But no limbs were broken in the harvesting of the grapes, so all is well on that front.
Thank you for the menopause reassurance because honestly it’s hit me like a train!
Dear Phil, my husband had the same problem with a wound on his leg, where the doctors had harvested a vein. He dutifully used the cremes they gave him, nothing helped – it looked really obnoxious – and then the old herbalist Leelah/me ironed a healthy cabbage-leaf and bandaged it to his wound.
In three days we could see the start of a beautiful healing.
I have used it on myself too 🙂
I have always been deeply curious and interested in so called natural healing and herbs – have you ever read Maurice Messege? Famous herbalist of the last century.
And hey ho, you have nothing to lose – right?
I SO want you to be able to run your marathons!
hugs from Norway
Leelah Saachi
Wow, that’s seriously impressive! I might have to invest in a cabbage, then. (Sadly haven’t got any growing at the moment.)
Hugs back from the UK to Norway.
Typo: Maurice Messegue
Will investigate. Must admit that I hadn’t heard the name.
I love the idea of pulling two divergent ideas into one! Thank you for sharing the term for that!! I recently came across the word “bricolage,” and have decided that I’ve been a bricolage doula for a good many (many, many) long years. Now, however, I know my title!
p.s. I hope you get healed up soon, so you can be back to counting off miles!
THANK YOU for giving me a new word to learn, and I love the idea that you’re a bricolage doula – that sounds awesome.
Right back at you! I had never heard of bisociation, I love words, and playing with them. Now we both have new words to play with!
So sorry to hear about your wound being slow to heal and your missing the marathon. Life can be so unfair sometimes. But what lovely potatoes and fascinating beetroot. I like beetroot; makes me wonder if it tastes different to other ones. Interesting to learn a new word. Must think about what it means for creativity.
Thank you.
Must admit that I’ve never been a huge beetroot fan, but this one seems to taste a bit less earthy than others. Apparently there are golden beetroot too.
Your posts never fail to make me grin. This one is no exception but I had to read it twice. I thought everyone’s brain did two unrelated things at once! Mine finds something irreverent or irrelevant with whatever task I’m actually supposed to be doing which sends my goldfish induced brain (goldfish have an 8 or 9 second memory according to some scientists with nothing better to do or to spend research grants on) to some desert island with nothing important buried on it. In your world your garden and your yarn are always connected as they are what keeps you sane, challenged and happy.
I’m sorry your body is not healing and you cannot run, but you can walk and slow down. Walking your usual running routes may give you the opportunity to see new things and appreciate the sights and sounds of slowing down. And take more amazing pictures. There is often an Up in our Downs if we take the time to look. Sending you hugs across the pond.
Thank you for such an uplifting reply!
Maybe everyone’s brain does this, I don’t know, but it is nice to have a word to apply to the phenomenon.
Your garden harvest is wonderful- I intended to grow all manner of edibles in mine, but it turns out that the edibles I want to grow mostly feed other animals and bugs! I’m sorry to hear the boob is being difficult to heal and hope whomever you see for it is helpful. I agree with the person who suggested walking until you’re healed enough to run- altho I understand that it’s definitely a different vibe. I got blindsided by Menopause/Perimenopause this year as well, so you have my sympathies. It’s a real party, yeah? (Hah!) Fwiw I’m doing progesterone only at the moment and that has helped tremendously with my symptoms (oh anxiety, why…) Anyway, Cheers for a new word that was not what I expected it to be and all those lovely pictures!
That’s a fascinating word, and your work is pure art.
Phil, healing energy flowing for your wound. ❤ Sorry you can’t run, and love how you focus on growing, creating and bisocation. You are lovely. xXx
I’m in awe of your gardening talent (the knitting bit goes without saying – love the themes!); in the US hyperbaric therapy is often prescribed for non-healing wounds; it does require a month spent lying in a chamber an hour or so a day in a quiet and comfortable albeit weird bed of sorts. My cancer is currently is remission (10 years, thankfully) but the treatment side effects cause setbacks every few years in random and bizarre places. This situation has allowed me to embrace my inner curmudgeon and enjoy the strength of my own convictions. I wish you well, your diet should go a long way towards your continued healing.
So much to comment on here. But let me focus on the key issue: That spud photo is stupendous! And the taste of home grown spuds matters.
Lovely post. Thank you.