Some good some bad

Knitting

I've not got any pics (sorry, bad blogger), but I'm in the throes of making a sheep teacosy for a colleague. A friend saw the pattern and may also want one to give as a gift to a sheep fan, so that's keeping me busy.

Writing.

This is the reason for the blog title.

I've had two responses to my synopsis and three chapters.

1) "Thanks, it's fun but not for us". Well, fair enough. Much better than "well, that was crap", or "are you having a laugh" or similar.
2) "Thanks. Could I see the rest of the book?"
Well of course you can!!!

That was sent off last week, and a stony silence has ensued. I like to think it's because the agent is avidly reading it, pitching it to eager publishers, and negotiating my multi-million pound advance in the bidding war.

That's what I like to think. Realistically, it's probably stuck in the Mount Pleasant sorting office.

A magpie landed on my roof this morning (one for sorrow), and if I were superstitious, I would take it as a sign that the novel will never be published. Good job I don't believe in such nonsense then, isn't it?

Wish me luck.

Knitting's fine - photography's crap

Knitting

So I made a pair of plain black fingerless mitts for the daughter of a colleague.

No biggie, but I finished them before work one morning, so I took a quick piccie before giving them away.

I have a photograph of two ribbed wristbands.

D'Oh!

Writing
Well, butter my backside and call me a piece of toast, I've actually done some writing today!

For the first time in I can't remember how long I've had a spare hour (and a nagging feeling that I've forgotten something) so I edited chapter 8 of the interminable novel. I feel good..... I knew that I would now....

Life

Still hate my job. Except now I'm doing some serious planning to get myself out of there.

Focus, focus. Must not buy yarn, must not buy yarn.

Big projects and a sign of the times.

Knitting


Yet again, I've been trying to sort out my queue.





I've finished the crochet gloves,

but now must move on to other things (mainly gloves, tea cosies and socks), so it looks as though all of my projects are small.





However, I have completed one large project - mega in fact as it was using size 20mm needles. Inspired by all of the giant knitting at Ally Pally, I've made a monster bathmat, the pattern for which will appear in another post.



Writing
Precious little activity, although I am taking a long time to be rejected, following my latest submission. Is this a sign that my work is being pondered over, laughed at (in a good way) and generally heralded as the next big thing? Or is it that the slush pile is huge. Or is it that it got lost in the post. Ah well, no news is.....well, it's no news, to be honest.

Life

I witnessed a sign of the current economic climate yesterday - a Bentley in Lidl's carpark. Made me smile.

One down

Knitting.





I've finished the first of the small projects I had in my queue - a tea cosy for Delia.

Observant readers (!) may notice that Delia had a tea cosy not long ago - well she has two teapots (now that's what I call posh) and this is for the smaller pot. She wanted greens, so this turned into a nice little stash buster.

The next project will be a pair of tapestry crochet gloves for Ros, in time for her birthday (Nov 4th). Shouldn't be a problem.

Writing

After reading an article in one of the writer's mags, I've decided to send off my (re-ordered) first three chapters to another publisher. I'm so predictable - full of bravado when it goes off ("well, if it's rejected, that's fine") and full of upset when it's rejected, but it's definitely not going to get published sitting on my computer, that's a given.

Life

My work is busy at the moment, and on Monday I woke up thinking "I'll be glad when this training is over". It occurred to me that I am forever wishing my life away, waiting for something to finish. I think I may be happier if I learned to live in the moment. However, since coming to this point of view, I have turned into "Mr Creosote" and am eating everything in front of me (even the cat looks a bit worried), so I'm obviously not finding this new viewpoint to be a happy one!

Perhaps it will be better when..........

Bulimia? Aren't you supposed to throw up as well?

Life

So, John Prescott has Bulimia. I feel sorry for him, and admire his courage in speaking publicly about it.

Years ago (I have a long history of "issues" with food) I was discussing this condition, and said that I could understand the bingeing, but had never forced myself to throw up, or get rid of the food in any other unpleasant ways - I've thought about it, but never done it. This was considered funny - after all - what's more hilarious than a fat person stuffing their face? However, when John Prescott says all this (and there's been no mention of fingers down the throat or laxatives - thank God!) it's not hysterically funny after all. Is it because I'm not a politician or some other kind of public figure? Is it because I'm female? Or is it just because the sketch writers haven't put together the jokes yet?

I hope he gets over the condition - and if he raises awareness of men dealing with eating disorders too, that's all to the good. One life helped is worth it.

Anything that opens up the debate has got to be positive.

Knitting

I've finished one sock - yes, I had finished one before, but it wasn't long enough, so I've now finished the second sock, and am going back to lengthen the first one.

My stars in one of the knitting mags said that I should be less chaotic, and finish some of my UFOs (unfinished objects). Although astrology is largely bollocks, there is a certain logic in that, and so I shall finish the socks and try to finish everything else before I start anything new.

Writing

I've actually done some this morning! Well, some editing. I've had a knitting book idea rejected again, because that particular company isn't doing any more books on knitting at the mo. Ah well, shit occurs. It's a bit frustrating, as I think that I have quite a good idea, and when I see some of the books published on the subject, I do wonder who the target audience is, as they seem very limited in scope, but perhaps that's just another phrase for "specialisation" and actually, that's what I should be aiming for.

I've been editing the novel this morning, am now up to chapter three, so must keep on going. Considering I finished the first draft in November, I've done bugger all since, but I will shift the focus back.

Must. Do. Better.

It's a funny old life!

Writing



I've started torturing agents with the novel. I thought it was about time.



I've got some non-fiction work on Suite 101 about knitting and other stuff, and I've been busy with loads of stuff, so hope still springs eternal.



Knitting.


I've got five projects on the go at the moment.

1. Cinnamon bark in blue for Brenda



2. Lace shawl for me (my first attempt at a lace shawl pattern - perhaps I should have followed one rather than deciding to make my own)



3. Socks made out of the darning wool found in the loft - should be hardy!


4. Fake-isle dog coat using one of my stash balls


5. Domino crochet stash-busting afghan for the spare bed.

None of this stopped me shopping for more yarn today. Off to Wah Wah wools I went, in theory looking for 2.25mm needles (hard to get - not a standard size) and got a couple of others things instead.

Life

I was in the Oxfam shop, feeling a little down, when I met the mother of a friend of mine, and we stood chatting for a few minutes.

After we'd parted company, I felt good, and no longer felt the need to go and buy chocolate or cakes to cheer myself up.

That's the catch 22 of depression, I guess (I'm trying to wean myself off citalopram, as I'm not convinced that they're working). People stop you feeling so down, but when you're over on the dark side, you don't want to talk to anyone.

At last - the start of draft 2

Writing

That's it - I've crossed that bridge, I've made that step, I've started the second draft.

I've changed the line spacing to three, printed the first chapter and then I've gone back to the comments my by my writing group girls, marking all editing needed onto my new print. On the plus side, I've managed to put in a couple of jokes and funny lines, so maybe I'm the sort of writer who does her comedy on the re-writes.

I can only take small steps at a time, but as it's taken me this long to even put my shoes on, I'm feeling quite happy.

Knitting.

I've got so many things on the go - a draught excluder for Brenda, a pair of socks for me, and a bathmat, and I've also worked out how many stitches I will need for the back of a waistcoat. Just call me Mrs Productive!

Life

Feeling a bit out of control at the moment - so much to do, so little time. I'm spending an awful amount of time on ravelry, joining and reading forums (fora?) etc, instead of getting on with real life. Is this a natural hibernation type behaviour? Resting to prepare myself for the next onslaught?

Or am I just a lazy cow?

Positive thoughts

Knitting.

I've finished the first half of Brenda's tea cosy, and my niece would now like some socks, so I'm going to be knitting like crazy until Christmas!

I've been invited to join ravelry, which is very exciting. My ravelry name is LahLah.

Writing

The pace has picked up - I'm half way through chapter 20, the climactic chapter of the novel, and I'm having a whale of a time working on it.

Life
Yesterday was much better than I thought it would be. We went to the crematorium, and looked at Mum's entry in the book of remembrance. Then we all went for a huge lunch (ate far too much), and laughed all of the way through it. Mum liked us all together and laughing, so we all felt it was more respectful to her memory than wailing and gnashing teeth.

When I got home, I got an email which may lead me into a new job. I will tell more, when things are progressing.

Chapter 17 is finished

I went very soggy in the middle for a while, but chapter 17 is now finished, and I feel like I've picked up the pace again. Not only that, I've been able to drop a few little clues to guide the reader towards the end, without being too laborious (I hope).



I'm nearly 75,000 words in, and I really feel as if I might get the first draft finished by the end of the year after all.



As a little reward, I allowed myself listening to Open Book (radio 4 - listen again), whilst knitting. It was a joy - even if I immediately unpicked what I was making (it was an idea for a "domino knitting" dog coat, but I don't think it's really going to work in its original incarnation), it was still nice to combine two lovely things for half an hour.



It has made me feel better, as I've been somewhat low of late, so it's nice to feel as though I'm making progress.



I made a couple of knitted roses over the weekend. I'm fairly pleased with how they've come out (certainly the best leaves yet), but they still need a bit of work (and more petals!)

Work, work work.

My, my my

It's been a busy time, chez Lah Lah.

I've been knitting all summer, and have made a few bits to put onto eBay, including my golfer's tea cosy and my cute little Father Christmas cardigan (see pics).

They're now up for auction, so I hope to make a vast fortune (!) soon.

On the writing front, I've just written another 1200 words. I know where I'm going with the novel, but over the last few weeks I've had a reticence to start tying the threads together, and bring the book to a climax.

I would like to say that it's because I'm enjoying writing it so much, that I don't want it to end. More realistically, however, I know that when I've finished first draft, then I have to start editing, and that's the less fun bit.

Perhaps I should do the whole management speak bit, and think of it as an "opportunity".

Or then again......