As usual I am getting myself into a tizz with Christmas crafting. Shortly after last Christmas I vowed I would be more organised for Christmas 2014 and not have too many last minute projects to do. I bought, in January, a 'Knit Your Own Humphrey' kit to knit up for my daughter as she has always liked these drawings. However, I have procrastinated as usual, and have only just started work on it. Whilst it is easy to knit it is not proving very easy to put together and some bits really don't make sense at all. I am struggling to sew it together so that it looks nice, but trying to get the seaming nice and also get it stuffed correctly is a struggle. Of course, as I am knitting something for No1 daughter I also have to make something for No2 daughter, and while I would like to make her a teddy bear, I really can't face sewing up another toy - 'Jingles' is still languishing in a carrier bag upstairs, not to mention the wizard :(. As she is always having to borrow pashmina's etc from friends when she goes out, I though I would make her an evening shrug. This has proved difficult. I bought a book that had a perfect design in it, only to find that it all the patterns in it use Artyarns yarn, which is only available in the US. So I got a James Brett patterns which was nice, but the only DK sparkly yarn I can find is their Twinkle yarn which looks a bit cheap when knitted up. So after more searching I have found a pattern that uses Rowan KidSilk glamour, so I have ordered the book and pattern and am hoping that will work out. However, it's only 7 weeks and not only must I finish Humphrey and knit his clothes, but also knit this shrug/bolero, sew up Jingles, and make some beaded ornaments. I am itching to get back to my cross stitch - I have a multitude of Mirabilia patterns I want to work on, and was intending to enter a couple of projects into the retreat Best Finish of 2015 contes but I doubt if I am going to make it now :(
Next Saturday I will spend at Crafts for Christmas at the NEC, and on Sunday will be making more Christmas puddings and pickling some more shallots. After that my weekends will be pretty full of Christmas shopping, get togethers and other preparations so knitting and stitching time will be at a minimum. Next year, I must start my Christmas prep in January. Maybe Humphrey et al should be for Christmas 2016?

Like all good intentions everything went to pot within a few weeks. However, I did really well on the diet for a few weeks, so am gradually getting back to it.I have a big meal out this Friday but apart from that I have stuck to it for two days so far.
I am really back into my stitching and knitting - currently working on Mirabilia's Seaside Kingdom. It's a very simple ethereal design, but very hard to work on as it's case of playing hunt the stitch symbol between all the bead symbols! Anyway - here's a pic - not great - it was taken on my mobile.

Looking at this, I can see that I have achieved quite a bit since then, so another update this weekend!

I lost 7.5lb this week - a good start for a new diet. I know I didn't eat as much as I am supposed to but I'm very cautious as I'm not used to regimes where you don't weigh anything and can eat as much as you like! I have made up for it today - used half of my 'Syn' allowance (excuse the twee name for high calorie items - the main thing I don't like about Slimming World).
This week was hard - it's horrible going to back work after Christmas! The weather was pretty dreadful at the beginning of the week too - high winds and lots and lots of rain! It has calmed down a bit now and feels a little more like normal January temperatures. We've had hardly any frosts so far this winter though -  the USA seems to be having all the cold weather!
I'm doing well with stitching and knitting this week. I have finished the Robin - picture to follow - and am back working on Seaside Kingdom - which Ken got me for my birthday with the help of my friend Sandra. I've also finshed the back and one front of Tom's aran hoodie - mainly because I've spent almost every evening in front of the TV with Ken watching things like Sherlock and The Bridge. He has bought a new super duper TV, and although we are struggling to get my loop fitted properly to it, I'm managing by clipping the micophones onto Ken's soundbar.
Hardly seeing anything of the kids - Ben has been closeted up in his room all week, and Jenny and Debbie both seem to be very busy. Ken and I met Mum for coffee this morning and we took back the lamp she bought me that didn't work - the shop are going to try and get another. Mum still seems very down about her health - the doc seems to have told her that the neuropathy she has is an immuno response disorder and they can't do anything about it.
Still waiting for the job I want to be advertised so I can apply - but work has been better this week, so I don't feel quite so desperate!

So I went to Slimming World tonight and signed up. I'm nervous and not terrible confident about achieving anything but I have to try. I'm now the heaviest I have ever been and really struggling just to move around. I've set myself a target weight for next Christmas but I'm trying not to get too hung up on that. The plan seems straightforward with a few quirks, but I'm not confident that it will work for me - I need to weigh and count to restrict what I eat, but I'll give it a go. I have been to WW so many time with no real results. So - here I  go again!

Another New Year! 2013 was a better year for me - my Mum seems to have settled down now, although she is still very depressing to be around as she complains and moans about everything and is completely self absorbed by her health although for an 84 yr old lady she has excellent health - just a few aches and pains. Speaking of health - I am back on the antidepressants as my anxiety and panic attacks went into overdrive this year and finally around September I decided enough was enough and went back to the doctors again. Ken had a diagnosis of emphysema this year plus he also has Barrett cells in his oesophagus so is on stomach medication too. I am also using an inhaler now as my chest is quite bad and I stuggle to breathe at times. One brilliant thing did happen this year - we are now back in touch with Ken's nephew and his wife - I won't go into details as it's a long story, but it has been so good for Ken to have some of his family back in his life again.
This year has seen me lose some friends, mainly because my anxiety has been so overpowering I have found it difficult to cope with much interaction with people, but I am back into my stitching again plus I have also done quite a bit of knitting. I have given up my OU aspirations completely now - I just can't afford to do it, and my memory isn't so good now so I'm not even sure I could cope. My grandson has grown ito a very lively little boy - funny and loving, very like his Dad and looks to be very physical and sporty. He goes to his first football training this Sunday and will start school next September.
Stitching wise, I am spending a lot of time on a Mirabilia Round Robin. I hate the things and the time it takes but a sixth person was desperately needed so I succumbed rather than see the initiative fail. I did finish the stitching for Tom's Christmas stocking, and my Mum made the stocking up.

I've knitted a couple of jumpers for Tom this year, including this aran jumper:

The colour isn't good - it's a really nice holly berry red in real life.

As it's a new year I suppose I should make some resolutions - the only one I want to make is to do something about my job - stop letting it dominate my life and make me constantly anxious and upset and, if possible, to find a new job. Oh - and of course, to lose some weight - goes without saying - I say it every year...