After finishing my granny sqaure cardigan I felt like I was on a crochet roll and decided to apply to be a pattern tester for this wonderful looking jumper by Yarn by Beck. She stated it was begginer friendly and I ended up being chosen to test her new Floret Pop Pullover pattern, which I was chuffed about.
As summer was approaching I thought I’d try and make a loose and lightweight version of the jumper and, after some deliberation, went for a lovely multicoloured recyled cotton yarn in wonderful warm shades.
The beginning was the hardest. After getting used to working in squares, it took a while to adjust to building up a pattern in a linear fashion. I also wasn’t quite sure how big to make it and continually worried I’d accidentally increase or decrease stitches. However as I got used to the pattern I slowly got comfortable and managed to retain a straight shape.
I spent many an hour listening to an audiobook and building my first jumper row by row. As I’m still a relative newbie this stich combination was not known to me but I absolutely love how the pattern comes together and the overall look of the Floret Pop Pullover.
At one point I was off to Sheffield to visit my best frind Emily from Peak Knits, and of course I had to take my crochet with me. We explored a beautiful local garden and spent some time sitting in the sun working on our projects. It’s also a great activity to keep you occupoied on the train whilst listening to an audibook.
I was really happy with how the front and back panels came together but I did feel somewhat stressed towards the end as I knew I wouldn’t have time to finish the sleeves before the deadline, and thus decided to make a t-shirt version by only adding short selves for the time being. They weren’t amazing as I winged the pattern, but I knew I’d be able to go back and add long sleeves later down the line.
And voila – my first finished pattern test! The Floret Pop Pullover by Yarn By Beck. If you want a beginner friendly pattern to make a jumper tailored to you, please make sure to check out the pattern here!
Completing my first pattern test was a big learning curve for me and although it had it’s challenges I loved the experience. I’m not 100% sure on the colour of the yarn on me personally, and the neckline and jumper in general ended up a tad too big, however, the recycled cotton has created a very loose fitting and airy version of this jumper which is perfect for summer and exactly what I was after.
I do love this pattern and am hoping to make another Floret Pop Pullover with a thicker warmer yarn for winter. Do let me know if you decide to buy this pattern and have a go – I can highly recommend!
I’m back after having to take a bit of a blogging break recently due to work commitments having been a bit hectic. So here’s an extremely belated and long round up of my March and April reads. I managed to tick some more books off my initial to read list plan for the year, but also picked up some new books through the Audible 241 sales. March and April were decent reading, or should I say listening, months as I was busy crocheting most evenings trying to finish a pattern test, or often out and about getting my steps in with my spaniel Maya. Thus, I spent a lot of time primarily listening to audiobooks over reading physical hard copies. I only picked up one actual book and it took me 2 whole months to complete! So my goal for the next two months is to pick up more physical books!
Here’s what I’ve read so far and what I thought:
The Outrun: A Memoir – by Amy Liptrot (audiobook)
At the age of thirty, Amy Liptrot finds herself washed up back home on Orkney. Standing unstable on the island, she tries to come to terms with the addiction that has swallowed the last decade of her life. As she spends her mornings swimming in the bracingly cold sea, her days tracking Orkney’s wildlife, and her nights searching the sky for the Merry Dancers, Amy discovers how the wild can restore life and renew hope.
3 STARS: Having seen the trailer to the movie of this book released late last year and being intrigued by it, I wanted to read the book first, before watching the adaptation. There are some beautiful depictions of rural life on the Orkney Islands and vivid descriptions of finding solace in nature. However, Liptrot’s narrative as she navigates her road to recovery from addiction, jumps backwards and forwards too much for my liking and with a lack of intrigue and fluidity becomes a bit boring to listen to. I wanted to like it, but it sadly wasn’t for me.
Disorder – by Rokia (audiobook)
Meet Olivia, Sia, Derek and Edgar. Four young people scarred by various mental health illnesses and each of them searching for a way to heal. Brought together by an unorthodox doctor, they’re pushed to battle their respective demons through a series of increasingly demanding challenges deliberately chosen to make them face their pasts. As their relationships grow, the past is never too far away and with wounds constantly being re-openedtheir friendship becomes instrumental in learning to process their pain
4 STARS: I didn’t know what to expect from this book’s blurb and it took me a very long time to get into it. The fairytale element of the story was extremely confusing and almost made me want to quit at times as it was so odd; but I rarely give up on a book and I’m glad I didn’t. Once it clicked, I realised just how much I rated this book. It’s not an easy read, but an insightful rollercoaster of feeling. It’s filled with equal parts despair and hope; it’s dark but also beautiful. A story friendship and resilience and overcoming one’s demons.
*Please note: this book includes descriptions of mental illness, death, child abuse, violence, domestic violence, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, miscarriage and substance abuse.
The Married Man – by K.L. Slater (audiobook)
Everyone thinks my husband is dead. Just like we planned…
Eleven years ago, my husband disappeared. Eleven long hard years I waited, my heart breaking for our son, who didn’t know his father was coming back.Today, my hands shake as I try to understand what I’ve just learned: my husband has a new wife. This wasn’t part of our plan.
Eleven years ago, my husband made a terrible mistake. I sacrificed everything to help him fix it. But now he’s put our son and me in danger again.We had a plan. He broke the rules. But who will pay the price?
3.5 STARS: A mysterious weave of points of view that kept me guessing until the end. Well narrated with good intrigue and an exciting enough narrative. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t grip me as much as Colleen Hoovers Verity which I read the month before, son it’s only getting a 3.5 stars from me. Not a bad easy read to switch off though.
The Crimson Moth (Crimson Moth, #1) – by Kristen Ciccarelli (audiobook)
Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. She decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – an unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can’t help but find herself falling for.
Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but to gain intel, he pretends to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?
4 STARS: I think I struggled with the first chapter or so but it didn’t take long after that too get hooked. Who doesn’t love a good old enemy to lover’s plot. It’s an easy story to follow and rather predictable when it comes to the romance side of things, but that doesn’t deter from it being an enjoyable read which has you rooting for the protagonists to figure things out. Although elements were predictable there were some unexpected surprises that kept things interesting and I’m already eagerly anticipating the next book now.
When The Moon Hatched (Moonfall, #1) – by Sarah A. Parker (audiobook)
Raeve’s job is to kill. To complete orders and never get caught. When a renowned bounty hunter is employed by The Crown to capture a member of the Ath, Raeve’s world is turned upside down. Blood spills, hearts break, and Raeve finds herself at the mercy of the Guild of Nobles – a group of dual-beaded elementals who intend to turn her into a political statement. Only death will set her free.
Crushed beneath a mourning weight, Kaan Vaegor took the head of a king and donned his melted crown. Now on a tireless quest to assuage the never-ebbing ache in his chest, his hunt for a moonshard lures him into the belly of Gore’s notorious prison where he stumbles upon something that rips apart his perception of reality. A shackled miracle with eyes full of rage and blood on her hands.
The echo of the past sings louder than the Creators themselves, and even Raeve can’t ignore the truths blaring at her from a warmer, happier time. However. There’s more to this song than meets the eye, and some truths …They’re too poisonous to swallow.”
2.5 STARS: After seeing this book mentioned multiple times across BookTok, I finally went ahead and purchased it without even listening to a sample – big mistake. The narrator just didn’t do it for me, which made an already difficult story even harder to get through. I continually felt lost and like I was missing parts of the story. I had no idea what moonplumes, saber… or various other creatures where and was only able to hazard a guess due to the fact that the word dragon is mentioned like once? A map or index of creatures etc would dreally be helpful and I’m assuming physical copies had these additions.
It’s also the first time I kind of caught myself drifting occasionally whilst listening and thus feeling even more lost because of it. The whole experience was sadly such a let down and a real struggle to finish.
However, saying that, I do feel like it had potential and that it essentially wasn’t made to be an audiobook. Had I picked it up as an actual hard copy I think I would have enjoyed it more as I’d have been able to skip back easier and go over areas, I felt unsure of.
A Touch Of Darkness (Hades & Persephone, #1) – by St. Clair Scarlette (audiobook)
“Persephone is the Goddess of Spring in title only. Since she was a little girl, flowers have only shrivelled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hoped to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist. All of that changes however when she sits down in a forbidden nightclub to play a hand of cards with a hypnotic and mysterious stranger.
Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favourite bets are rumoured to be impossible. But nothing has ever intrigued him as much as the goddess offering him a bargain he can’t resist.
After her encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead, and his terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever. The bet does more than expose Persephone’s failure as a goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows―a love that is both captivating and forbidden.”
4 STARS: Another good romantasy, even if predictable. I love romantasies for their usual easy escapism and thus they also tend to receive quite high scores for me. A Touch Of Darkness had a decent plot and good character chemistry but we’ll see how the story continues over 3 books.
Unravel Me (Shatter Me, #2) – by Tahereh Mafi(book)
“It should have taken Juliette a single touch to kill Warner. But his mysterious immunity to her deadly power has left her shaken, wondering why her ultimate defence mechanism failed against the person she most needs protection from.
She and Adam were able to escape Warner’s clutches and join up with a group of rebels, many of whom have powers of their own. Juliette will finally be able to actively fight against The Reestablishment and try to fix her broken world. And perhaps these new allies can help her shed light on the secret behind Adam’s—and Warner’s—immunity to her killer skin.”
3.5 STARS: I was going to give this book 3 stars originally, same as the first in the series, as it took me forever to finish due to the start of this book just being a bit meh, however, it was the ending of the book that upped my rating in the end. I feel like characters and their development were just a bit slow and uninteresting; that is until Warner came into play towards the end of the book. I’m most intrigued by his and Juliette’s interactions and am looking forward to seeing how their story develops.
Have you read any of these? If so, what were your thoughts – I’d love to know. Also, if you want to stay up to date with my current reads why not give me a follow on Goodreads – I love seeing what everyone else is reading too!
We hadn’t planned on updating the carpets straight away and were going to make do with the rather funky green carpet in the living room. However once we got the keys to the empty property we realised just how manky the bedroom carpets really were and decided to replace some of most of carpets straight away. We went to the local Franks Carpets round the corner from us and picked up a few samples. There wasn’t too much choice in line with our 0 budget and we ended up choosing 2 different styles, one for the living room and a different one for the bedrooms.
To save money we got rid of the old carpet ourselves, but due to time restraints we left the installation of the new carpets to the professionals.
Having removed the carpets and falling in love with the look of the wooden floor boards, we were a little sad that we did not have the time or finances at that point in time to restore the floor / put new wooden floors down. I suppose that’s a dream that can still be fulfilled in the future and for now the new carpets were a much needed and welcome improvement.
We had a good week overlap between getting our keys to the new house and having to hand back the keys to our old rental. Although it was nice to not have to move in 1 day and feel like we had a bit more time, it still ended up being an extremely stressful week especially when we decided we needed the carpets replacing and ideally before we moved all the furniture in.
But we ended up being really lucky, as Franks Carpets managed to squeeze us into their schedule on the Thursday, the day before we’d hired a van to move all the large furniture across. This was great as it meant the house was still pretty much empty allowing for a quick and easy carpet installation.
Here’s the after shots – such an improvement.
Living / Dining RoomMaster BedroomOffice / Art Studio
I may have mentioned my anxiety in passing on this blog before, and I’ll probably talk about it in more detail one day, but for now, let’s just say my anxiety essentially impacts all forms of travel and just generally being out and about. I’m telling you this because for me a trip to Wallington wasn’t the easiest, but as part of my action plan to overcome my anxiety I have to face my fears head on in the hopes of creating positive memories; and thus I pushed myself to finally go tick another National Trust site of our list.
For us Wallington is about a 1h drive away depending on traffic, and for me a journey this long, is very anxiety inducing, especially when it’s one I’ve not done before. However, after multiple checks of google maps to see which way was the fastest there and locating a good halfway point should I need to stop, we eventually set off.
We decided to travel up the A1 and head for breakfast at The Running Fox cafe in Kirkhill before heading to Wallington, after seeing Chloe from New Girl In Toon’s recommendation on Instagram. Although this was another 10 minutes further than Wallington, I’d pinpointed Dobbies Garden Centre as a good half way point stop should I need it, which made the journey feel a bit less daunting. I ended up feeling okay as we reached the halfway point and I decided to brave it and continued on without giving into my anxiety to make a stop.
It was such a lovely sunny morning that when we arrived and saw there were outside tables we immediately decided to make the most of the glorious weather and sit outside. They had a decent menu with plenty of breakfast options and although I was very tempted by the French toast, I decided for the Avocado on sourdough with fried egg and siracha , whilst Luis went for the full English. Now usually I would be wary of eating a big breakfast and having a cup of coffee when out and about in case it upsets my stomach and raises my anxiety, however, as the drive from The Running Fox Cafe to Wallington was only 7 mins or so I decided to face my fears and enjoy breakfast.
The food was good, portion sizes were huge, and my filter coffee was ok. My only complaint would be that the coffee came quite a while before food and whilst it was nice to have something to sip on, I didn’t want to drink a whole cup of coffee on an empty stomach, and so it was lukewarm by the time I drank the majority of it alongside my breakfast. We took our time savouring breakfast and basking in the sun.
We were both rather full when we finally left and annoyingly my anxiety did end up spiking because as drove up to Wallington we ended up joining a very long queue to enter. The stop and start and uncertainty of how long we’d be waiting made me very anxious. What should have been a short 7 minute drive ended up taking at least 20+ minutes, but I made it through.
Once parked we grabbed a map and a very friendly lady greeted us and answered our questions regarding the site. We were told the biggest walk marked on the map which takes you around most of the site would take about 1h and so we slowly set off to enjoy a spring walk in the sunshine.
The sun was out the whole time we were there and it was warm enough to enjoy a walk without a coat which was so nice. The 1h walk meandered through some forest and along the river, with streaks of sunlight bursting through the trees making the water sparkle. Although it had been very busy on arrival, the path we followed wasn’t crowded and with a gentle breeze and bird song in the air, it was really rather peaceful. I would recommend sturdy outdoor shoes however, as the path was quite muddy in areas and not properly paved as in some other National Trust sites.
Just over half way round the circular walk, you come across these cute little stepping stones to cross the river and Maya, who does not like the water, was very unsure of how to cross. Luis tried to guide her across but she just ended falling straight into the water as if she didn’t quite grasp there was a gap between the stones and she had to hop over; it was rather amusing. Don’t worry though, the river isn’t deep so she didn’t get fully drenched. After her second attempt went no better than the first however, Luis decided to scoop her up and carry her across.
Once you’ve crossed the stepping stones, you soon come across Wallington’s famous crocus lawn and it really was stunning. We were so lucky to have snagged such a glorious day for a visit. This was definitely one of the busier areas as people stopped to admire and take photos of the beautiful purple crocuses.
Following our wander round the walled gardens we slowly made our way back to the main entrance. Passing small lakes and snowdrops scattered around the shady woodland we also came across some beautiful nature inspired sculptures and a tree that looked strangely like the Dark Tower from Mordor and was just missing the eye of Sauron haha.
By the time we got back to the car at around 3pm Maya seemed rather exhausted as she just plonked herself on the cool grass refusing to move – too cute! All in all we had a lush day out and I’m really glad I pushed myself to face my anxiety and make the trip.
Have you been to Wallington before? What are your favourite National Trust sites?
Opening Times:
All Week | 10am – 5pm
Admission:
Ticket type
With Gift Aid
Without Gift Aid
Adult (18+)
£22.00
£20.00
Child (5-17) under 5s free
£11.00
£10.00
Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children)
£55.00
£50.00
Family One Adult
£33.00
£30.00
Main Season from March 24th (includes house)
Facilities:
Car Park, Cafe, Shop, Kiosk, Adventure Playground for kids, Toilets (albeit, in my opinion, not many for the amount of potential visitors)
Let me introduce you to our 1970’s doer upper – our very first own home.
I love a good old house browse and could waste hours nosying at what was for sale / to rent in the local area and further afield, dreaming of finding my own perfect property one day. On one of these searches I came across 2 properties in my village and decided that, although we weren’t looking to buy yet (especially in my partners opinion who was still happy to rent for a couple of years), it would be good to at least start viewing houses to gain a better insight into the housing market and what to expect. Luis agreed and so we booked to view the two properties. On the day however one of the properties had already been sold and so we only had one house left to view.
We pulled into a quiet cul de sac and met the estate agent out front. The property in question was a semi detached house built in the 1970’s and with décor inside to match. It had a front and back garden as well as a detached garage. We didn’t know what to expect, but as soon as we entered, there was something about the house which immediately made us feel at home.
The downstairs was comprised of an open plan kitchen-dinning area which felt spacious and welcoming and a large living room with windows that stretched right across the room and let in soo much light, which was such a welcome feature compared to the lack of light in our current rental. The upstairs had two double bedrooms, a third single box room with a wall of built in cupboards and one decent sized family bathroom. Throughout the viewing there was no traffic noise to note and the peace and quiet gave a calming presence to the place; another plus for Luis and me who don’t deal well with lots of noise. The house also backed onto a big open field which was an absolute bonus in our minds as it would be perfect for walking Maya and letting her have a run around.
Ignoring the dated décor and slightly musty smell, we could see the potential and upon leaving I was surprised to find Luis saying he could actually envision us buying after all. I was giddy with excitement at his statement and I think he was just as surprised at himself as I was. Once we got home we just kinda looked at each other in incredulity – were we actually going to consider buying a house?
We hadn’t even hit our 2 year anniversary at this point and had so far only dreamt about buying a house together one day, so the fact that we were suddenly seriously considering it, somewhat outta the blue, was a big deal and a big decision for us to make. We spent the next couple of days working through all the details and letting the idea settle as well as also booking a second viewing to have another look around and show our parents, who also liked the house and could see the potential.
Our minds were made up pretty soon to be honest as we didn’t want to miss out on the property and so after a few months for the legal stuff to be sorted we finally picked up to keys to our very own 1970’s doer upper house in June 2023.
It was all kind of surreal to be honest, but also felt amazing; what a feeling, being able to come home to our very own first home together!
Now enough rambling, I’m sure you’re curious to see what our blast from the past semi looked liked when we first moved in, so here are the photos from the listing:
Would love to know if any of you are also renovating a property and what you’ve been getting up to. I’ve got a lot more renovation content coming up, so make sure to be following along as we slowly bring this blast form the past into the 21st century and make it our home. If you’re curious for more up to date sneak peaks of our home, make sure to follow along on Instagram and Tiktok @simplycarinaxo .
On our way back from our holiday at the caravan a few weeks ago we decided to make a stop off at Washington Old Hall; another National Trust site which we’d not yet visited. Although it’s the second closest National Trust site to where we live, about 20mins in the car, we’d just never made the time to explore it yet, and so I was eager to finally go and make the most of our National Trust passes before they run out in May.
Having checked out of the caravan at 10am, we arrived at around 10.50am and found somewhere to park along the side of the road (which was free) as there didn’t seem to be any parking onsite.
Note:Being a weekday and not the best weather when we went, we didn’t struggle to acquire a parking spot close by, however, I’m not sure what the parking situation would be like on a busy sunny day.
Washington Old Hall is a relatively small yet picturesque National Trust site that sits in the heart of historic Washington village. The stone manor house and gardens feature parts of the original medieval home of George Washington’s direct ancestors, from where the family took their surname of ‘Washington’.
We must have come on one of the coldest days as snowflakes danced from the sky I wrapped myself up in my big scarf. The first signs of spring were slowly showing their face though as snowdrops were out in abundance next to daffodils still shrouded in their protective layers.
Exploring the Gardens didn’t take too long as in my opinion there wasn’t really too much to see this time of year (it would be interesting to see what is in bloom later on in the year). Saying that I do think that with the big field at the back, I can imagine it’s a great place for kids to have a run around on a slightly warmer day.
Dogs are welcome in the gardens, but not in the manor house, and so we took it in turns to have a quick look around, albeit a short one, as we didn’t want to leave the other waiting with Maya in the freezing cold outside for too long.
The manor house is set up to reflect gentry life following the turbulence of the English Civil War and incorporates parts of the original medieval home of George Washington’s direct ancestors. The staff are attentive, letting you explore in peace or at hand to tell you more about the history of the place.
Being a small enough exhibit means you can take your time to read all the information given without feeling overwhelmed or it taking too long. It’s a shame I only had time for a whistlestop tour on this visit, but perhaps I’ll get another chance when the weather is warmer to read all the information boards and learn more.
On our way out, near the entrance, the friends of Washington Old Hall also run a mini second hand book & antiques shop and although tiny, they allow dogs in, so we decided to have a quick nosy. There’s not much admittedly but I did find a cute little vase and bought one of their mystery books*. At only 50p a book I though it was a nice way to support them.
*the mystery book I ended up picking was Greyfriars Bobby. Although I loosely know the story from having seen a movie as a kid, it’s a classic I’ve not read before, so perhaps I’ll make time for it this year.
All in all we enjoyed our little mooch around Washington Old Hall and it makes for a nice half day trip I would say – especially when the weather is warmer and you can enjoy being outside a little more.
Have you visited Washington Old Hall before? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Opening Times:
Thursday – Monday | 10am – 5pm
Admission:
Ticket type
With Gift Aid
Without Gift Aid
Adult (18+)
£7.20
£6.50
Child (5-17) under 5s free
£3.60
£3.25
Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children)
£17.90
£16.25
Family (1 Adult and up to 3 children)
£10.80
£9.75
Facilities:
There is no cafe on site, but there are toilets, a picnic area and a small play ground for young children.
I thought it’d be nice to recap my reads so far. It’s been a good start to the year for me, in terms of ticking books off on my to read list. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying quiet evenings snuggled up on the sofa with cups of tea and a book or getting stuck into my crochet projects whilst listening to an audiobook.
Here’s what I’ve read so far and what I thought:
Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2)– by Rebecca Yarros (book)
4.5 STARS: I couldn’t wait to dig my claws into this much anticipated sequel and it didn’t disappoint. However, whereas Fourth Wing got a 5 Star rating from me, I did knock this one down 1 star because, in comparison, it just didn’t grip me in quite the same way. Perhaps it’s because in book one, the initial relationship building between characters held a lot more sexual tension and was new and enthralling, whereas in book two I felt it flatlined a little. If I’m being harsh in my comparison, I also wasn’t quite as captivated by the storyline in book two. Although I know a lot technically happens I suppose, on reflection, it just has more middle book filler vibes, if that makes sense. Anyway, not sure why I’m only pointing out the negatives here cause all in all I still totally rate this book, it gets a 4 star and I am eagerly awaiting for Onyx Storm to be released in paperback so I can finally continue with this story.
Verity – by Colleen Hoover (book)
4.5 STARS: After being stuck on a train of romantasy novels for what feels like a very long time, it was nice to finally pick up something different. I hadn’t read any Colleen Hoover books yet but had seen multiple book covers cross my screen over the past year, and so was eager to jump on the bandwagon and see what all the fuss was about. It did not disappoint – I wolfed Verity down in 2 days I think. Great tension building throughout and I love that it’s all kind of ambiguous and you’re left in the dark suspecting but never truly knowing what’s true or not, right until, and even past, the very end!
Shatter Me (Shatter Me, #1) – by Tahereh Mafi (book)
3 STARS: I didn’t know what to expect from this series, but it definitely wasn’t this. The dystopian / post-apocalyptic kinda vibe totally took me by surprise. I don’t know why, but I’d envisioned more of a fantasy world from the blurb, thus it took a while to settle into the story. But it was nice to read something a bit different. It’s a relatively short book, but a fair amount happens and the story progresses quickly. As a reader you’re also very much in line with the protagonist’s point of view and knowledge base. Because she’s been locked away and thus shielded from learning what has transpired in the outside world, you’re on a journey of discovery alongside her. I did enjoy it, (and am currently on book two) just not as much as other books I’ve read and thus it’s only getting a 3 stars from me.
Sunburn – by Chloe Michelle Howarth (audiobook)
4 STARS: Poignant and heartfelt. A slow burn that beautifully portrays the turbulence, intensity and tragedy of first love and finding and accepting one’s true self within a very conservative community. Can only recommend.
Playing With Fire – by L.J. Shen (audiobook)
3.5 STARS: Playing with Fire was an interesting story. It has a predictable hate to love narrative, but adds a bit of thrill and mystery through the backstory of the two emotionally scarred protagonists. This deeper element of the narrative explores trauma, and the journey to recovery and self growth.
Nocticadia – by Keri Lake (audiobook)
4.5 STARS: An unexpected favourite. My initial thoughts were what on earth have I got myself into as I’m not really used to gothic narratives and it took me a while to settle into the vibe of this dark academia world. However, great storytelling with plenty of mystery, intrigue and a chemistry between protagonists that got to me, ooft – I was soon engrossed in this novel which had me hooked until the end. Keri Lake was a new author to me and I now need to check out some more of her books.
Have you read any of these? If so, what were your thoughts – I’d love to know. Also, if you want to stay up to date with my current reads why not give me a follow on Goodreads – I love seeing what everyone else is reading too!
After the success of my first crochet project I was eager to take on another, and once I came across the hexagon crochet cardigan I knew this would be it. I popped to my local Boyes to browse the yarns and decided for a chunky marble in a greeny blue shade.
This design still followed the basic granny square pattern I’d already learned, but instead of going round in a square, you add two extra sides, making a hexagon which will eventually folded in half to create one sleeve and side panel.
Once I had both sides made to the same size (which I almost managed, the tensions was slightly off), I went on to sew up the sleeve seams and decide how to connect the two at the back.
I decided to make a series of smaller granny squares in a lush deep blue for the joining back panel and then also went on to add a border on the sleeves and bottom of the cardigan. I’m so happy with how well the dark blue compliments the green / blue marble yarn.
To finish off the cardigan I made 2 larger granny squares with a mix of the deep blue and green / blue marble yarns. These two granny squares I then sewed on to be pockets at the front of the cardigan.
And voila – there you have it – my first ever hexagon granny square cardigan! I am so so pleased with how it turned out and it really is quite satisfying being able to say I made a cardigan from scratch! I love how it all came together, the pattern, the colours and the fit!
For now it’s a finished project. However, in future I might still experiment with making the cardigan a little longer. Generally speaking, I prefer my cardigans a bit longer, sitting below the bum, so I might still add a few rows to the bottom one day.
Finishing my second crochet project has been even more rewarding than my first. There’s something so satisfying about making your own clothing.
My next project is a jumper. I’ve been chosen as a pattern tester for the Floret Pop Pullover by Yarn by Beck and I’m super excited to get stuck into this new crochet project. I’ve already started and it’s such a lush stitch I can’t wait to see how it all comes together!
Have you been busy with any craft projects or learning new skills??? Do let me know in the comments below!
Last weekend Luis and I packed up the car and headed up to Cresswell for a long weekend at our favourite caravan. We first came across this holiday let on Airbnb last year and enjoyed our time there so much that we keep returning. I think this was our fourth visit. The caravan is situated in the Cresswell Towers Holiday Park and is only about a 5-10 minute walk away from the beach. It’s really reasonably priced, always clean and well kept, and offers a quiet and relaxing spot for a seaside holiday. Note, we’ve only ever gone off season, so can’t speak for what it’s like during peak times.
Cresswell is about an hours drive for us so a good distance for a long weekend away. With my travel anxiety I don’t like being in the car too long, especially if we’re only going away for a couple of nights, so this is an easy enough drive for me to do. The first 30 mins are just up the A1 and then we tend to turn off at the Seaton Burn services, which although kinda dirty, rough and run down, are in a good location as a half way stop to settle my anxiety before we continue on through Cramlington, past Blyth and up to Cresswell.
We both still had to get some work done on Friday, but managed to finish a bit earlier and ended up leaving the house at about 4pm. Once we arrived we unpacked and before wrapping up warm and heading out for a short walk to the beach.
For Valentines dinner I made a vegan spaghetti bolognese which turned out yummy even though I forgot the herbs and spices at home. After dinner we cosied up and unpacked Patchwork, a new game we’d got for Christmas from our friends. I didn’t know what to expect but it turned out to be an easy to understand and really enjoyable 2 player game.
On Saturday we headed out to Amble for a mooch around the Marina. It was icy cold and rather miserable, but it was good to get out. We stopped off at the supermarket on our way back and got some pastries to enjoy with a coffee for once we got back to the caravan and settled down to another game of Patchwork.
On Sunday it rained on and off for most of the day and we enjoyed a cosy day inside. I read my book, Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi, spent a lot of the day crocheting, trying to finish my granny square cardigan and got stuck into trying to solve some Murdle logic puzzles with Luis which was good fun. It was a lovely relaxed day.
Check out was at 10am on Monday and so we got up early to start our day by heading out to watch the sunrise before having to pack up. It’s something we’ve been doing since our first visit. Although I always find the 10am checkouts somewhat stressful, starting the day by watching the sunrise is always so worth it. We really should make the effort more often to get up early to watch the sunrise – it’s always so beautiful – such a magical time.
Frozen after our early morning beach walk we headed back to the caravan to have breakfast and then pack up the car. It’s always sad having to leave the caravan – we’ll have to stay longer than a weekend one day, but it was another lush weekend away for Valentines. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend too.
On a random day at the end of 2024 I decided to follow a crochet tutorial by one of my favourite YouTubers by Helen Anderson. Managing to pick it up pretty quickly, I instantly became hooked – it’s such an addictive hobby.
Early in January, after completing 3 large granny squares as practice, I decided to embark on my first full project. One of my oldest friends was coming to visit from France with her baby and as she had just moved house I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to make her a cosy blanket for a housewarming present.
I browsed the yarn section in my local Boyes for forever, trying to decide which colours to go for and how to combine them. Eventually I made my choice and got started as soon as I got home, eager to see my vision come to life. I had chosen a mustard yellow, a pinky red, a light blue and a white to create two different designs by inverting the order of colours used for the squares. I also went for a darker blue to border the squares and be the join colour.
As the pile of squares grew, so did my excitement – the squares were looking soo good. A little niggle of worry did cross my mind too though as the tension wasn’t always 100% equal. I just hoped they’d all join together nice and evenly. Working every evening after work, I managed to get all my squares completed in about 2 weeks.
The joining of the squares was another new learning curve as I’d never done it before. I had a look online at a few different methods before settling on one that seemed simple enough. It was a little confusing at times and I accidentally joined the wrong sides once or twice and had to back track, but seeing the squares gradually transform into a cohesive blanket was very rewarding.
Crocheting my first granny square blanket has been such an enjoyable and rewarding experience and I can’t wait to make more – who knows, perhaps I’ll make everyone a blanket for Christmas this year aha!? The success of my first project has spurred me on to learn more and also try some more challenging projects.
Next stop – a granny square cardigan!
I’d love to know if any of you also crochet or knit??? Do let me know in the comments below!
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