Weeks 5/52 to 8/52 - where did those weeks go?
Feb. 23rd, 2026 06:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ruricSo much for doing a weekly round up! Whoops.
HOME: life got busy and my decluttering/#orjenising stalled.
HEALTH my sleep patterns are still FUBAR'd but otherwise good.
LIFE ADMIN: looking at European alternatives to Gmail and Dropbox - eyeing up Proton.
DIGITAL DECLUTTER: have kept email at mail at 11,000 but not managed to reduce it; staying on top of transferring To Keep items from tablet to dropbox, my phone images storage is a mess.
GARDENING/ALLOTMENTING: nope - too cold and/or wet and lacked motivation.
COOKING/EATING: a few too many coffee shop lunches but resisting the lure of takeaways.
READING/LISTENING: not the last few weeks.
WATCHING: Still not caught up on Stranger Things and have only managed one episode of Heated Rivalry. Keeping up with returning shows and trying to avoid picking up new ones! Did bing Marple and Miss Marple in Wales.
CREATING/LEARNING: dealing with sewing in ends on Halloween blanket then need to block it and the granny square blanket. Hecicardi 75% finished but need to frog a bit and redo. While in Wales did 24 granny squares for small project bags and 13 for large bag. Just need to decide if I want more to make bags larger. Have plenty of wool - then must stitch together, line and finish.
CATS: all good.
VOLUNTEERING: still have one outstanding task.
SOCIALISING: nope - not even phone calls. Proper hermitting other than crochet club and class.
WORK: a bit meh for the last few weeks and have unfortunately scheduled 3 consecutive weeks of weekend working.
Plan for this coming week - work long office days Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, TOIL Wednesday, off Friday and Sunday, working Saturday.
HOME: life got busy and my decluttering/#orjenising stalled.
HEALTH my sleep patterns are still FUBAR'd but otherwise good.
LIFE ADMIN: looking at European alternatives to Gmail and Dropbox - eyeing up Proton.
DIGITAL DECLUTTER: have kept email at mail at 11,000 but not managed to reduce it; staying on top of transferring To Keep items from tablet to dropbox, my phone images storage is a mess.
GARDENING/ALLOTMENTING: nope - too cold and/or wet and lacked motivation.
COOKING/EATING: a few too many coffee shop lunches but resisting the lure of takeaways.
READING/LISTENING: not the last few weeks.
WATCHING: Still not caught up on Stranger Things and have only managed one episode of Heated Rivalry. Keeping up with returning shows and trying to avoid picking up new ones! Did bing Marple and Miss Marple in Wales.
CREATING/LEARNING: dealing with sewing in ends on Halloween blanket then need to block it and the granny square blanket. Hecicardi 75% finished but need to frog a bit and redo. While in Wales did 24 granny squares for small project bags and 13 for large bag. Just need to decide if I want more to make bags larger. Have plenty of wool - then must stitch together, line and finish.
CATS: all good.
VOLUNTEERING: still have one outstanding task.
SOCIALISING: nope - not even phone calls. Proper hermitting other than crochet club and class.
WORK: a bit meh for the last few weeks and have unfortunately scheduled 3 consecutive weeks of weekend working.
Plan for this coming week - work long office days Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, TOIL Wednesday, off Friday and Sunday, working Saturday.
current stitching, and
Feb. 21st, 2026 11:07 amthistleingreyI've finished the green Lille Kolding (former low-attention project for waiting variously). Without knowing, I added the right number of stitches to make it possible to drape atop my head, cross under my chin, and tie behind my neck on very cold mornings. Guess I've already made myself a hood, stereotypical-babushka style. (The neck protection from crossing the ends is helpful when it's cold.)
The much-revised slipover or sleeveless pullover is okay for shoulder/yoke/mid-torso, which means it'll be sloppily fine otherwise. Though its neckline is larger than I'd intended, it's similar to how the pattern's model wears the official sample; adding the pattern's edging near the end will pull it in a bit. That's so much better than my earlier tries with other patterns, which followed conventional measuring instructions and then wouldn't let my arms in.
The current slipover's editing struggles may've bestowed enough info to allow knitting myself summery sleeveless or cap-sleeve tops. Then perhaps I can see about editing saddle-shoulder tops with sleeves.
Post-shingles, I may even be able to wear summery tops, now that thermoregulation seems slowly to be righting itself, and now that stuff beneath my skin is no longer upset by sunlight. Going out in the sun has been good for other reasons; I'd keep all those times if there were magically a chance to redo. But I'm glad I'm past when there wasn't enough air sometimes to speak properly, overlapping it.
The only link that came to mind while I wrote this post is Cocoon Chokki, which looks lovely and would never be drop-shoulder on me. After knitting several oversized drop-shoulder garments that weren't, I can quit trying it as a workaround for garment drape/fit, heh.
The much-revised slipover or sleeveless pullover is okay for shoulder/yoke/mid-torso, which means it'll be sloppily fine otherwise. Though its neckline is larger than I'd intended, it's similar to how the pattern's model wears the official sample; adding the pattern's edging near the end will pull it in a bit. That's so much better than my earlier tries with other patterns, which followed conventional measuring instructions and then wouldn't let my arms in.
The current slipover's editing struggles may've bestowed enough info to allow knitting myself summery sleeveless or cap-sleeve tops. Then perhaps I can see about editing saddle-shoulder tops with sleeves.
Post-shingles, I may even be able to wear summery tops, now that thermoregulation seems slowly to be righting itself, and now that stuff beneath my skin is no longer upset by sunlight. Going out in the sun has been good for other reasons; I'd keep all those times if there were magically a chance to redo. But I'm glad I'm past when there wasn't enough air sometimes to speak properly, overlapping it.
The only link that came to mind while I wrote this post is Cocoon Chokki, which looks lovely and would never be drop-shoulder on me. After knitting several oversized drop-shoulder garments that weren't, I can quit trying it as a workaround for garment drape/fit, heh.
The Oh Noes and the Hell Yes's!
Feb. 19th, 2026 09:57 pmruricI realise it's only mid month but February has been a MONTH.
( The Oh Noes cut for those who'd rather avoid them- not personal ones cos I'm OK )
7. It has been grey and wet here in London for ever - at least from the start of the year with maybe 2 days of blue skies and sunshine and it's taking a toll.
8. Went to Wales last week and only took one of the two cats. The other hid and so stayed home with a pile of food. Athena - the usually quiet reserved cat - came with me and we had some bonding time without her sister getting in the way. Artemis, the little fiend who stayed home, has been making up for the fact that she was cruelly abandoned - in a warm flat with plenty of food and water and oodles of toys - ever since!
9. Relatedly having spent the week in the cosy, tidy cottage I'm even more determined to subdue and sort out the utter chaos of my living situation in London where I have tried to effectively cram the. Contents of a 3 bed house into what is essentially a two room flat.
10. I've not been able to get to the allotment or do any gardening because WET. Not amused.
The Hell Yes's
1. I spent last week working remotely from the cottage which also included a lot of naps, TV, good food and a ridiculous amount of crocheting. And though it took me 2 days to get the cottage warm - it was Wales and the mountains looked fancy with a good dusting of snow. I beached myself on the couch and barely moved from Monday to Saturday (it was grey, wet and cold there too). Of course coming home on Saturday the weather did change and for a few precious hours there were blue skies and sunshine.
2. I gave myself a pass this week and lived on ready meals while trying to bring some order to 3 work related email inboxes and 2 personal ones. I'm getting there.
3. Work has at least been productive if not enjoyable. But tomorrow I'm going to a Park colleague's community planting day for a couple of hours, next week I'm spending a day handing out free trees and the week after we are having our borough wide seed swap - all of which should be fun things.
4. Crocheting has been super productive - at the beginning of the month I finished a blanket I started the week before Xmas, I've got about half a hexi cardigan finished (even though I have to frog some back), I've almost finished the granny squares for two project bags (just need to stitch them together, line them and make handles), and I'm just over halfway through some Wednesday evening classes to crochet an Easter/Spring wreath. Crochet club every Friday from 1 to 2:30pm is the non-negotiable in my diary. Time to be creative, learn new stuff, have a chat and hang out with 5-7 other fun women.
5. The ex is at the cottage this week which means I get to use his washing machine tomorrow before and after work (2-3 loads of washing) and do some more if needed early Saturday morning.
6. On that note I'm taking myself off to bed with a giant mug of Horlicks and a couple of eps of Starfleet Academy!
( The Oh Noes cut for those who'd rather avoid them- not personal ones cos I'm OK )
7. It has been grey and wet here in London for ever - at least from the start of the year with maybe 2 days of blue skies and sunshine and it's taking a toll.
8. Went to Wales last week and only took one of the two cats. The other hid and so stayed home with a pile of food. Athena - the usually quiet reserved cat - came with me and we had some bonding time without her sister getting in the way. Artemis, the little fiend who stayed home, has been making up for the fact that she was cruelly abandoned - in a warm flat with plenty of food and water and oodles of toys - ever since!
9. Relatedly having spent the week in the cosy, tidy cottage I'm even more determined to subdue and sort out the utter chaos of my living situation in London where I have tried to effectively cram the. Contents of a 3 bed house into what is essentially a two room flat.
10. I've not been able to get to the allotment or do any gardening because WET. Not amused.
The Hell Yes's
1. I spent last week working remotely from the cottage which also included a lot of naps, TV, good food and a ridiculous amount of crocheting. And though it took me 2 days to get the cottage warm - it was Wales and the mountains looked fancy with a good dusting of snow. I beached myself on the couch and barely moved from Monday to Saturday (it was grey, wet and cold there too). Of course coming home on Saturday the weather did change and for a few precious hours there were blue skies and sunshine.
2. I gave myself a pass this week and lived on ready meals while trying to bring some order to 3 work related email inboxes and 2 personal ones. I'm getting there.
3. Work has at least been productive if not enjoyable. But tomorrow I'm going to a Park colleague's community planting day for a couple of hours, next week I'm spending a day handing out free trees and the week after we are having our borough wide seed swap - all of which should be fun things.
4. Crocheting has been super productive - at the beginning of the month I finished a blanket I started the week before Xmas, I've got about half a hexi cardigan finished (even though I have to frog some back), I've almost finished the granny squares for two project bags (just need to stitch them together, line them and make handles), and I'm just over halfway through some Wednesday evening classes to crochet an Easter/Spring wreath. Crochet club every Friday from 1 to 2:30pm is the non-negotiable in my diary. Time to be creative, learn new stuff, have a chat and hang out with 5-7 other fun women.
5. The ex is at the cottage this week which means I get to use his washing machine tomorrow before and after work (2-3 loads of washing) and do some more if needed early Saturday morning.
6. On that note I'm taking myself off to bed with a giant mug of Horlicks and a couple of eps of Starfleet Academy!
bleh
Feb. 18th, 2026 10:44 pmviridian5I haven't been feeling well. Between that and being afraid I won't find a parking spot if I drive back home late-ish--the snow/ice mounds are only starting to disappear now, weeks later--I haven't been going out and doing much. (I'm so glad I'm not doing physical therapy, since finding parking near their office would be a nightmare.) Certainly, no late-night trips to the city to see and photograph window displays, which means I've missed Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day displays.
+++
From The Onion:
"Terrified Conservatives Lose Ability To Speak English After Exposure To Bad Bunny Performance (‘¡Dios Mío!’ Cry Millions Of Panicking Republicans)"
Curse you, Conejito Malo.
+++
From The Onion:
"Terrified Conservatives Lose Ability To Speak English After Exposure To Bad Bunny Performance (‘¡Dios Mío!’ Cry Millions Of Panicking Republicans)"
Curse you, Conejito Malo.
Current listening
Feb. 17th, 2026 08:18 amrilinaHappy lunar new year to everyone celebrating! 새해 복 많이 받으세요!
Here are a few things that I have on heavy rotation.
TWS has released the Korean version of the Japanese debut song: 다시 만난 오늘 [Nice to see you again (Korean ver.). The original Japanese version is one of my favorite TWS songs, so I quite enjoy the Korean version too, once my brain got past the inevitable linguistic confusion of hearing a different version of a familiar song. They did a short round of promos on Korean music shows, and it was fun to see how they added small easter eggs to the choreography for each performance.
Dokyeom and Seungkwan, the two main vocalists of Seventeen, released a unit album last month. It's packed full of songs to show off their voices. The title track is Blue. I also quite like Seungkwan's solo track, Dream Serenade, and the b-side, Prelude of Love.
I've also being doing a deep dive into all of ILLIT's 2025 music, and I really missed a lot! I really love their entire June 2025 EP, bomb, but if you need a more specific starting place, try 빌려온 고양이 (Do the Dance) or bamsopoong.
I'm also listening to NMIXX's Blue Valentine.
What are you listening to lately?
Here are a few things that I have on heavy rotation.
TWS has released the Korean version of the Japanese debut song: 다시 만난 오늘 [Nice to see you again (Korean ver.). The original Japanese version is one of my favorite TWS songs, so I quite enjoy the Korean version too, once my brain got past the inevitable linguistic confusion of hearing a different version of a familiar song. They did a short round of promos on Korean music shows, and it was fun to see how they added small easter eggs to the choreography for each performance.
Dokyeom and Seungkwan, the two main vocalists of Seventeen, released a unit album last month. It's packed full of songs to show off their voices. The title track is Blue. I also quite like Seungkwan's solo track, Dream Serenade, and the b-side, Prelude of Love.
I've also being doing a deep dive into all of ILLIT's 2025 music, and I really missed a lot! I really love their entire June 2025 EP, bomb, but if you need a more specific starting place, try 빌려온 고양이 (Do the Dance) or bamsopoong.
I'm also listening to NMIXX's Blue Valentine.
What are you listening to lately?
3 Good Things
Feb. 15th, 2026 08:51 pmjjhunter1. The snow has stayed on the ground here long enough that we're finally Acquiring Some Sleds in anticipation of going sledding with friends next weekend. It is so wonderful to have a winter feel like winter again.
2. Hosted a neat new-to-me game yesterday with some close friends and a potential new friend I met through my Awesome Neighbor friend. We all had a great time! We immediately rolled right into plotting More Fun Like This Soon. It's good to be exercising my making-new-friends muscles again.
2a. The game being Molly House, with its gripping shifts between personal queer joy, community delight, and pressuring fears (constables, rogues, and gossip all threatening to trigger police raids of the central molly houses),( I would be fascinated to play it again... )
3. I am looking forward to some quiet time at home tomorrow, I say, also having ambitions of Bake & Roast All The Things, do my taxes so I can get my solar panel credits reimbursed (yay, solar!), and maybe get some extra time in at the local studio before my pottery class starts.
Bonus: This being the cold hard dark slog time of year, it helps to have something joyous to move to. I went and looked up what all the musicians I last bought music from (mostly 5+ years ago) have put out in the last few years since, and bought the latest album of each. So far I'm particularly enjoying Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn's debut collaboration merging American old-time music and Chinese folksong, and the latest from MEUTE.
Have you been listening to anything particularly good lately? What is bringing you joy, defiant or otherwise?
2. Hosted a neat new-to-me game yesterday with some close friends and a potential new friend I met through my Awesome Neighbor friend. We all had a great time! We immediately rolled right into plotting More Fun Like This Soon. It's good to be exercising my making-new-friends muscles again.
2a. The game being Molly House, with its gripping shifts between personal queer joy, community delight, and pressuring fears (constables, rogues, and gossip all threatening to trigger police raids of the central molly houses),( I would be fascinated to play it again... )
3. I am looking forward to some quiet time at home tomorrow, I say, also having ambitions of Bake & Roast All The Things, do my taxes so I can get my solar panel credits reimbursed (yay, solar!), and maybe get some extra time in at the local studio before my pottery class starts.
Bonus: This being the cold hard dark slog time of year, it helps to have something joyous to move to. I went and looked up what all the musicians I last bought music from (mostly 5+ years ago) have put out in the last few years since, and bought the latest album of each. So far I'm particularly enjoying Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn's debut collaboration merging American old-time music and Chinese folksong, and the latest from MEUTE.
Have you been listening to anything particularly good lately? What is bringing you joy, defiant or otherwise?
