Anyway, regular readers should know a fair bit now of who I am and why I write. However I can't write all the time or you'd all be sick of me(!) so I do other things too. A lot of things tire me out quite quickly so I've been scaling back on activities, especially where walking is concerned, as a lot of my problems are in my joints.
For all that I said I've been cleared of my depression, I've still been feeling pretty fed up with watching so much daytime television in lieu of too much activity.
With this all in mind, I set out last week in search of something new to occupy myself. The criteria was quite rigid: minimal walking, low cost, low impact, preferably social, during school hours, not too much brain power (e.g. not studying, which I tried and failed in autumn)... Quite hard to find something which ticks every box, isn't it? [Incidentally, I'm still open to new ideas, if anyone has something to suggest, please do so in the comments]
I had no grand plan of how to find something, but I gave myself a mission to have my eyes and ears open to opportunities whenever possible. On the Wednesday, something caught my eye. I was in the wool and crafts shop in the town, checking on some handmade knitted items I'd ordered, when I spotted a little sign on the desk that read: "Learn to knit or crochet - ask for details"
As a child, my Mum taught me how to knit, although I never actually retained the ability to cast on and off. My Gran and I spent many rainy Saturdays embroidering and cross-stitching. However what I've always really dreamed of is making my own clothes. In my head, I see myself living in the countryside, with my children and dog playing outside all day, me growing my own vegetables, keeping hens and making beautiful clothes for myself and my family.
The reality falls far, far short of this ideal. I do live on the last street in a small town with fields outside the window, but there's a very busy road outside and the house belongs to my parents who also happen to live here! My children can't play outside for fear of being run over by the cars who speed in and out of our street or on the main road, but even if they could they wouldn't because they're currently far too interested in watching other people play video games on Youtube (why is this a thing???) I don't have the energy to dig a vegetable patch, although my Dad has an allotment plot so we have fresh veg and I could maybe steal a little corner once I feel better (if he lets me, after all the teasing I've given him for being a wee old man in a greenhouse!) I can't keep hens because of the fact we live with my parents and the enclosed part of the garden has no space for a coop and no grass for any would-be hen residents. Oh and the fact that my dog is a nutter who'd probably eat them all. I've never made a single item of clothing for anyone, not even a doll, and I even had to get help sewing my son's badges on his jumper for Beaver Scouts.
As I said, the dream is a long way away.
So the idea of learning how to knit and crochet from a professional seemed like a step towards the dream. A teeny, tiny step. I asked the woman who owns the shop and she invited me to start learning there and then. By the end of that afternoon, I'd knitted a 10x10 square (read: postage stamp!) and crocheted a "granny square." The lovely lady in the shop is wonderful: I've known her for a couple of years now, since her shop opened, and she's always seemed like one of life's truly nice people. As a teacher, she was fab: explained clearly, very patient and has total faith in every student's ability to learn. The next day I went back to the shop and started my first project - an infinity scarf/cowl for myself, crocheted. It took a little bit of effort to get me started, but I finished it within a few days of going into the shop. By Monday of this week, I felt confident enough to bring my second project (another scarf, as my entire family decided they wanted one!) home after I got started in the shop.
The great thing is that I can work at home or in the shop, as the owner has cleverly used the space to create a community area for classes or just letting people come in and sit to work on their creations, get a little help with tricky parts or get pattern ideas. This means I can socialise, either with the owner if she's not busy or with the other people who come and go. There's only a small financial outlay: a small donation to the "tea fund" and whatever supplies I need. The joints in my hands are only affected when the rest of my body flares up, so there's nothing stopping me from working away for hours at a time. Although I need to learn the techniques and skills, once I start a project there's very little mental exertion required.
I've really enjoyed spending time in the shop a few days of the past week. I felt at first like I was being a pest to the poor woman, sitting in her shop and taking up space. But she's been so welcoming and warm, and she's reassured me constantly that it's okay, the space is there to be used by the community. And I realise now that I'm contributing to the tea fund and to the shop by buying my supplies, and making the place look busy which I suppose is good for business(?) She's been so kind letting me be there but it's been so good for me, being productive, not being lonely at home, socialising. It's definitely a hit.
So that's been what I've done recently. It's definitely helped my mood and kept me busy. I did have a little low morning this morning, but as the sun came out around 11am I headed to my favourite wee seaside town for a walk along the front with a good pal and we went for lunch. It blew away the cobwebs and the blether lifted my spirits.
Feel free to leave your suggestions below, if you have any!
Peace and love.
FGx
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