Getting Back to Normal

What a wonderful thing time is. It passes quickly, slowly, imperceptibly, irrevocably. If you can get through it, you can get through anything. And so here we are. After one year, two months and fifteen days, I finally feel as if I am getting back some of my own time, and I have to tell you, it feels wonderful! I love being a mum, but it is not the only thing about me. Today is not a landmark day, nothing major has happened to make me feel like this, but the sun is shining and as I took the time to walk the last part of my journey to work along the river, I realised that yes, I am getting my life back.

Taking time back has been a gradual process, which started with the little lady going to nursery. It wasn't the smoothest process initially and we both struggled at times, but she cracked it and now she loves it. It has enabled me to go back to work, which again hasn't been easy – there's been a certain amount of guilt, my priorities have altered and I have frequently questioned whether or not I'm doing the right thing, but I have (at least today, I think I have), and it's good for both of us. I get to use my brain and can engage in adult conversation about something other than babies; and she gets to throw powder paint onto the snow and feed baby goats from a bottle. I work for three days a week, which means that the majority of my week is spent with her – it's a better balance all round. More than this, it's not just rejoining the world of work that has been a good thing. The time that I spend either side of my working day is a wonderful thing, the commute which used to be a bit of a chore has now become my own precious time to read, knit,  daydream or even freelance. I have read more in the last ten weeks than in the entire year of my maternity leave and I LOVE it!

Most recently, I've been reading a lots of great books. Highlights have been Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield, The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins the two 'Cormoran Strike' novels by Robert Galbraith (aka J. K. Rowling), Waffle Hearts by Maria Parr, The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell, The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer and Perfect  by Rachel Joyce. I'm currently devouring Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay and can't wait to get stuck into The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman. Catriona is currently reading Hippos Go Beserk! by Sandra Boynton, Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins and Noodle Loves to Cuddle by Marion Billet.

It is wonderful to be back in the world of books, both reading and making. But beyond books,  I've also taken up yoga again and have found a really enjoyable vinyasa flow class in a village just outside of Salisbury. I have picked up my needles again in earnest and am knitting a sweet little cabled cardigan for Catriona's friend Janey. I'm gradually doing the things that I used to enjoy so very much before having a baby. 

To be honest, the baby isn't really such a baby anymore. She is walking (clumsily) and talking (in an almost intelligible way) and full of cuddles and kisses. Developmentally, it seems like there is something new every single day. This week, she climbed the stairs for the first time and last week, she walked over to the fridge, opened the door and helped herself to a punnet of raspberries. This morning, before I left for work she said, "Bye" and gave me a lovely, lovely kiss. I can't tell you how hard it was to leave the house. She has everything ahead of her and she amazes me every day.

Looking forward, I want to carry on keeping the balance; looking after her and looking after me. I want to appreciate my lovely husband more, get out running regularly, make more, read other people's blogs more, get out in the garden more and maybe even go out on a date... (Oh, and blog more – see you soon.)

Hello Again

Well, hello there! I'm sorry I've been away for so long (has it really been five months?) but I've had my hands a bit full with the charming creature that is becoming more and more of a little girl every day. 

Today she is eight months old and eight months wonderful. The last couple of months in particular have been such great fun, as Catriona grows, develops and her individuality shines through. Her favourite things just now are the cat and food. Her adorable little face lights up and she squeals in delight whenever he ventures near. They've had a couple of close encounters and Coleman's patience has been sorely tested, but he turns out to have the patience of a saint and so far they're the best of friends. I really hope that it'll stay that way...

Food is her other great love and I have say that she's a natural born eater! She hasn't turned her nose up at a single thing we've put in front of her. (Though she does pull a brilliant face if presented with anything really cold!) We waited until she was a full six months before embarking on this particular adventure, as we wanted to try baby-led weaning, and she was very, very ready. We hit the ground running with three full meals - and a lot of milk besides - eating together and sharing exactly the same foods. Mealtimes are my favourite times of the day, even if the clearing up afterwards is quite challenging!

When she's not eating or beaming at Coleman, the little lady has a fabulous social life. (Oh, so much better than ours!) Catriona goes to classes twice a week with her little baby buddies and loves to swim at the leisure centre. We like to keep busy so we have our own little adventures, which this week have included a morning out at Mottisfont and a day out in glorious Bath Spa tomorrow with Lois and Janey. 

As you can imagine, this doesn't exactly leave much time for me to create, craft or read, but I do keep trying. I'm currently reading The Apothecary by Maile Meloy and The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson and I'm knitting a fox-face hat and a cloudy sky blanket for Catriona, of which more in my next post. (Which hopefully won't be such a long time coming!) See you here again soon. Nx

Hot Off the Press!

This week has been one of very great excitement in the world of The Bookish Maker. On Monday I received a direct message via Twitter from none other than Gathered by Mollie Makes, asking if they could use a photo of my first granny square on the Show and Tell page of their next issue! I can't tell you how flattered I was. Imagine - one of my photos in my favourite digital magazine! Whoop, whoop! 

I could hardly wait for the issue to come out and very nearly ran out of battery through constantly checking for an update on my iPad. I am absolutely pleased as punch to be part of such a great publication, so thanks everyone at Gathered for the honour. It's a fabulous magazine - keep it coming!

On the needles, I've started my little embroidery project and am using all kinds of coloured silk to bring life to a plain cushion cover. I'm festooning it with a border of crafty images - needles, thread, sticks and string. There's even a thimble, a sewing machine and a mannequin. 

Also, I've very nearly finished my colour block cardigan. I'm at the cuffs of both sleeves, and it's looking really lovely. The only slight hiccough is that after having tried it on, I do think it's a little bit short in the body so I'm going to have to undo the cast off edge and add a little bit more length in. It's still cold enough for coats but when it's a little bit warmer, I'm looking forward to actually wearing something that I've made with my own two hands and I want it to be as good as it possibly can be!

One of the many great perks of my job is getting to read books before they are actually published and this week I was lucky enough to be given an advance book proof of The Golden Day by Ursula Dubosarsky. I'd heard about the book in-house and read a synopsis on the notes for Candlewick's covers meeting. It sounded intriguing straight away so I made a note to ask for a rating copy, but then on Monday, the very lovely Jo came to my desk brandishing a beautiful proof, telling me that she'd read it at the weekend and that I must read it. Jo is a great reader and I take her recommendations incredibly seriously - we have similar taste in fiction and I will always be grateful for her introducing me to Patrick Gale. 

And of course, she was absolutely right. It is a brilliant book. It is beautifully written and reminiscent of the nostalgic lyricism and intrigue of Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay or What the Birds See by Sonya Hartnett. It's not going to be published for a little while yet, but when it is - make sure you get a copy. I could hardly bear to put it down and read it in one day over two train journeys. 

I've had a bit of a break from buying books over the last six weeks or so in an attempt to reduce the size of the pile by the side of my bed. It's been a dismal failure to be honest with you as I've swapped or been given books instead, but I decided to treat myself anyway with some lovely new (and secondhand) books to read over the long Easter weekend. Happy reading!