I've two projects on the go. I will be able to go back to my shrink this week (six monthly review) and tell her that I have finished some projects, but I will have to confess that I've started two more.
There is a method in my ADHD driven quirkiness.
I have two projects with different deadlines.
One is a blanket for Blarney. I'm making this for her for Christmas. I'm using Bendigo Woolen Mills Wool - proper natural fibres. Expensive wool. It can be an heirloom if it's looked after, bit it will be serviceable, useful as well. She still has the one I made with cheap acrylic yarn some 20 years ago.
I'm using 12 ply yarn with a 4.5 mm crochet hook.
And if I'm going to be certain to finish it, crocheting while I'm in front of the telly, I need to start it now.
However, my other project - and I'm not sure who will be receiving this one, is made from cheapy Kmart cake yarn.
It's roughly a 12 ply. I'm crocheting up squares using a 3.5 mm hook - so they are tighter than the other blanket. I get around4 square per colour in the ball - there are five separate colours in each ball.
Then I sew them into to blanket.
I'm not the world's best sewer (nor crocheter either, but still - I'm consistent and quick). I'm learning not to berate myself if I put a square on the wrong way. I'm not fretting over the fact that some squares have to colours in them. I'm trying to ease myself out of getting this blanket perfect and overcome my addiction to perfection. It's lovely in its simplicity and incongruency.
I think this will be awesome when I'm done with it. Any spare yarn will be turned into cat and do blankets. Blarney's cats get a small blanket for Christmas most years. I also will make one for my Roman, my trainer Chuck's dog - he loves the one I made him last year.
All I know is that this keeps my busy brain happy. I'm so glad I have these skills.
I'm just back from fish and chips with friends. I'm going to have to think about doing a curry night at my place once of these days.
Being completely devoid of what to write about, I found the weekly questions up, hence, I'll give them a crack.
This week's questions were collated by Sunday Stealing, who asked we regulars to provide questions to make our own meme. I think we did a good job.
1. Would you rather have every traffic light turn green or always get the best parking spot? (Kwizgiver)
I'm going to go with the parking spot. I don't mind the odd red light. I either listen to audio books or make phone calls when I'm in the car, so it means a few extra minutes. I'm on reasonable terms with the Parking Fairy (it's a concept I can explain, but she helps me manifest good parking spots, and I am very grateful for her existence).
2. What's the most difficult thing you have ever done? (Gold in the Clouds)
It's one of these:
Giving up caffeine - I gave it up around 8 years ago and recently brought it back in. I know I'm better off without it - but I like it!
I've run five half-marathons.
And fallen out of love. That was hard.
3. What information do you know that you are proud of/happy about, but others say, "Who cares?" (Roger)
I have a lot of pet passion projects - one of the joys of being ADHD, and there are all sorts of things that nobody gives a toss about. I can go on ad infinitum about things like:
The Pixies
Talking Heads
Obscure English films
Tudor History
Australian politics
4. What mystery do you wish you knew the answer to? (Myra/Mevely)
One of the following:
What happened to the princes in the Tower.
What happened to the Beaumont children (Adelaide mystery from the sixties)
Why people voted in Donald Trump.
5. What small, ordinary thing brings you disproportionate joy? (Country Dew)
The smell of my cat's paws. Just the smell of my cat makes me happy.
6. What time do you go to sleep/wake up? (Annie)
I head to bed between midnight and one and wake around seven to seven thirty. I don't sleep much, but thankfully, that is normally good sleep.
7. What is your favorite sleeping position? (Lisa)
I start out on my stomach and gravitate towards my side. I rarely sleep on my back.
8. Describe your personal Utopia. (Pandora)
My personal Utopia is permanently set in an Australian winter in bushland, with an open fire, plenty of books, gin, a big, comfortable bed, with a jacuzzi out the back (near a sauna) and a big table for writing at. There are lots of big armchairs, a chaise lounge to kip on and some crafts to do. The kitchen is well stocked and there's a variety of gins to enjoy. Sound good?
9. Imagine that you have a machine that can create any new invention for you based on your description. What you ask the machine to create, and why? (Plastic Mancunian)
I'd love a machine that types out what I'm thinking without having to use my fingers or dictate. It would save me a lot of time.
I live in Richmond. I know how to get parking in Richmond.
I'm not so fond of finding parking in Brunswick. It's awful - though I have found that there's a Woolies car park near where I'm going - $10 for two to three hours.
It's that, or an hour each way on public transport. or $50 in Uber rides.
So, yeah, f*ck Brunswick.
I'd better get out there, get ready to tackle Hoddle Street and get to this jazz club.
The things you do for friends.
(And I'd also be saying the same things if I was going to Carlton, Fitzroy or St Kilda - parking is hard).
I like working out one-on-one with Chuck, even if he makes me work hard.
I did a PB on the lat pull down machine tonight. Think I scared the bloke on the next machine who was pulling half weight I was.
I was thrilled to see my gym mate come in a showoff his knitting. I have to take in my crochet next week.
I've also promised my trainer I'll make his dog a new blanket for Christmas - it's just the way I roll.
Today, I spent a bit of time watching Dutch football fans. To participate in this, for me, would be the eighth level of hell, but they look like they're having a good time.
Is it just me or are the Yanks doing everything in their power to ruin the World Cup. I don't give a fig about the World Cup, but it makes a lot of my friends happy and I am pissed off for them.
I'm hoping that's the three as I'm not sure I can handle much more.
Celebrity deaths come in threes.
First, Neale Daniher. Then Anthony Head. Now, this morning, Richard Collyer.
If I was still participating in that most questionable of games, Death Watch, a game which an old, cynical journalist, I will admit that Neale Daniher and Richard Collyer would probably be mentioned.
For those not aware of the Death Watch concept, the more cynical of journos make a list at the start of the year. A list of the great and good who they think may kick the bucket in the preceding calendar year. This is not a list made out of spite or malice. It's just your predictions of who you think may shrug the mortal coil. The death needs to be noted in at least two major papers. We're not talking about your 103-year-old uncle, or your nana. These are the passings of notable people whose names you know.
If I'm being honest, if was to make such a list, Neale Daniher and Richard Collyer would possibly be on there. Great men. Their amazing works have contributed to society. Their memories are a blessing, their works will continue. And they are no longer suffering. Daniher was given the Motor Neurone diagnosis over ten years ago. The normal life expectancy for MND is two years. Collyer's aggressive brain cancer was treated, and he was given some more time. Both will be remembered for their fighting spirits and generous ways. Can you ask for more than that?
The third passing, Anthony Head, is just very sad. He's been on our television screens for decades. Rupert Giles in Buffy. Uther Pendragon in Merlin. Rupert Manion in Ted Lasso. He played a mean Frankenfurter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. His performances were always nuanced. He got the best out of any performance he gave. And by all accounts, he was the nicest, kindest and most generous of colleagues, friends and performers.
It's never easy when one of your celebrity crushes goes by the way. Anthony Head was one of mine.
I'm hoping that's it for the while. That's the three celebrities gone.
And sure, they killed off a favourite character on Rivals the other night - it's not the same.
I'm also not sure Donald Trump will be around for much longer - he looks awful - and possibly the global response to him no longer being around might be met with something different to the sadness and reverence I'm feeling at the moment.
Of course, I was going to love this. It has the hallmarks of something I'd love - an English film, about art, set in London, directed by Steven Soderburgh, with a fantastic cast.
This had me spellbound. I'm not sure if it was Michaela Coel's cheekbones, or the slightly barking plot or the slightly shaky camerawork in places, but to me, this was gold. It's a dark comedy in many ways - but not overly so. I loved it. It hit the spot well good.
The action takes place in London, where Laurie (Michaela Coel) an art restorer and occasional forger, is approached by Sallie (Jessica Gunning) and Barnaby (James Corden) to go into their father's place and 'finish' a last set of his paintings. Their father, Julian (Ian McKellen) is dying. He's also irascible, painful, rather funny, and as it turns out, Laurie's nemesis. You see, Julian is a famous artist. He's also known for being a bastard. Sallie and Barnaby want Laurie to finish these painting so they will have an inheritance.
The movie shows the ins and outs of Laurie and Julian's relationship. It's a game of cat and mouse as Laurie tries to wheedle her way into Julian's world but also wrangles with the ethics of what the terrible twosome wants her to do. Added on top of this, her reasons for hating Julian are very relevant. You also want to find out just who Christopher is and why these paintings are such a source of pain for Julian.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, most of the film is set in Julian's dreadfully messy apartment. The warren like nature of the space us juxtaposed with the twists and turns of the story.
Both Michaela Coel and Ian McKellen are superb in this as the talented student and the established artist. It's tender, spit take funny in places and thought provoking. I mean in the scheme of things, what is art? What makes something art? And why are some things far more valuable than others. (I loved Julian's line "This will hang with the worst paintings of all time, along with dogs playing poker, velvet Elvis, and most of Warhol.")
This is definitely worth a look. You don't have to be an art lover to enjoy this thought-provoking, interesting film.
