Full of loveliness #TinyJoys

Come and spend the day with me in a lovely castle just outside Durham, with space for some conversation, some creativity and some space to reflect and pray. I'm leading a series of 5 Creative Quiet Days over the next year and the first 2 are coming up. 21st February and 21st March.

I don't know why, but thinking all the way back to cultural anthropology at Southern CT State U. with Professor Dryfoos. "And when you've run out of shibboleths, you know what you are? Shibbolethless!" 🦶🦶🦶

I often find myself remembering this sign. If only all life's choices were so clearly labelled. (Taken at the RSPB reserve at Saltholme in the North East)

Come and spend the day with me in a lovely castle just outside Durham, with space for some conversation, some creativity and some space to reflect and pray. I'm leading a series of 5 Creative Quiet Days over the next year and the first 2 are coming up. 21st February and 21st March.

Thinking about Amber being pregnant and the number of unplanned pregnancies that happen in Ambridge....(Something in the water, maybe??) Has there ever been a story line that deals with the opposite - infertility in a couple who very much want to have kids? #TheArchers

I know Clive is a wrong 'un. But what exactly did he do that was dreadful? Characters have been alluding to it, but only with disconnected details. Holding someone hostage? Something bad with a horse?? it must have happened while I was going through a phase of not listening very often #TheArchers

Hats off to whoever did this (and the beautiful model).

I'm good at drawing out the stories and creativity of other people. I'm a jack of all trades with textile skills rather than excellent at any particular one, but I'm good at combining those skills in interesting ways, including in mending things. How about you? What are you good at?

Quite an empty week in my diary, this week, so I'm hoping to get on with some longer term stuff that needs doing. It's things I really enjoy (planning creative retreat days and writing things, but without looming deadlines, the possibilities for procrastination are immense. Wish me luck!

Two useful bits of Bluesky functionality: You can mute words for fixed periods of time (also applies to Alt text). If you need a break, do that. You can set up a custom list and pin it to the top of your feeds list. Put people who post recipes and nice photos in it, and never look anywhere else.

I'm finishing a long abandoned pair of socks for a friend. They got as far as the heel flap on the 2nd one before loosing steam. Can anyone suggest what stitch the heel flap might be? It feels thicker than the stocking stitch before it, but I'm not sure what the stitch is. #Knitsky #Craftsky

Getting a little nervous about listening to #TheArchers this evening 😬

I know it is the least controversial or enlightening take to say that AI sucks but yeesh, *so much* written content I encounter online now is obviously AI generated, with identical rhythms, the same urgent, bland, TED Talk tone. It makes me hunger for humans saying good smart helpful true things.

How was your midnight service, folks? I am grateful for Church Wardens who take an extra large swig of wine, at Communion, so there isn't lots left over for the clergy to consume. Impossible to judge the quantities right for this service. #ClergyMaltClub

Sorry to always repeat this, but it’s important: my trans kid saw multiple specialists +had therapy for over a year before receiving any gender-affirming care. My short cis child had hormones/puberty blockers aggressively pushed on him by drs starting at age 5 bc they were concerned about his height

I really love this, as a way of holding on to some hope and strengthening our connections with one another.

Congratulations and welcome (not quite yet) to Durham Diocese. Prayers for your goodbyes and packing and everything. Interviews for the new Bishop of Durham happened last week, so I briefly thought you were making a somewhat different job announcement!!

I love this so much. "You've done all the science, the lectures and the practicals and the book learning, you've passed all the exams. You're going into a demanding job, here are poems to sustain and strengthen you for the journey" #booksky What poems would you include in such an anthology?

I love this so much. "You've done all the science, the lectures and the practicals and the book learning, you've passed all the exams. You're going into a demanding job, here are poems to sustain and strengthen you for the journey" #booksky What poems would you include in such an anthology?

Ah, of course. There's a local derby this weekend. Sunderland v Newcastle. So it was mostly wall to wall football chat.

Last Friday at work before Christmas. A neighbouring community centre is having their Christmas party next Friday morning, which pretty much empties us out, so we've learned it's not worth opening that morning. Wonder what random places our conversations will end up today?

Decided to make it five signed books, not three, I'm giving away to people who share this. Because my thieving ex-publishers can fuck off. Because I believe this book is good enough to be read and enjoyed for many years. Because it's the only pension I'll have. And because why fucking not.

FINAL book giveaway of the year. To enter: reply below & repost this extract. Up for grabs: THREE signed Villager paperbacks with free art (bookmarks & postcards) by my parents. Enter if you enjoy Folklore Nature Rivers Hills Social history Lost art Ghost Tangled psychedelic narratives Silliness

I'm pretty sure this was my first attempt at mending a hole in knitting. Not a skilled or pretty mend, but it did the job and it helped to keep my favourite cardigan in regular (and frequent) use for another 10 years after that. #visiblemending

I'm pretty sure this was my first attempt at mending a hole in knitting. Not a skilled or pretty mend, but it did the job and it helped to keep my favourite cardigan in regular (and frequent) use for another 10 years after that. #visiblemending

I survived, but heck, it was a complicated Christmas tree. Every single branch was colour-coded and needed adding to the trunk individually. I was grateful to one of our service users who was enthusiastic about helping put the whole thing together!

For years I've spent Advent telling my family "You're welcome to pinup Christmas decorations if you want, but leave me out of it. I'm not having anything to do with them" So they are all deeply amused that I've ended up with the job of decorating the community centre where I work this morning.

A touchstone, as I try to convince those I care for (including myself) that we are precious & loved separate from labor or even effort.

Ready to go!

A teaching day today. How to patch holes in your clothes. A lot simpler than you might imagine, with only a couple of important things to notice, so that it lasts well.

I came to know that Virginia Woolf was a knitter only today!I love when my present passion meet my past passions.Knitting this Leaflette scarf kept me alive last year when everything seemed to be sucking the life out of me and I cannot agree more with Woolf on this and everything else 🧶 #knitsky

Things used in everyday life are the real archaeological treasures! These sewing #needles were made from animal bone some 15,000 years ago. Some designs simply don't need to be improved, because form and functions were perfectly matched from the start. Form follows function! 🧵1/2 🏺

Nostalgia burst! 💙

Could I employ someone to follow me around reminding me of this on an hourly basis do you think?

Overheard, said by a mother to a small child as they came out of nursery together: "Oh no! There is MORE lava! We'll have to do a Really Big Jump!" #TinyJoys

Today I am very grateful to Past Claire, who left very full and excellent notes, last time she did the darning your knitting workshop, including an outlines of the session, some excellent questions to work through with people and a full packing list of what I need to take with me. She did GREAT!

Today I am very grateful to Past Claire, who left very full and excellent notes, last time she did the darning your knitting workshop, including an outlines of the session, some excellent questions to work through with people and a full packing list of what I need to take with me. She did GREAT!

Still a couple of places left on my next workshop. This Saturday, 1st Nov, from 2 - 5pm, at a lovely little yarn shop in Durham, UK. Learn to mend your knits (hand knitted or shop bought) so you can keep on wearing it for longer. #visiblemending www.wingandabear.com/products/men...

What did you love doing at 6-8 years old? Is there a way you can still do those things? Our childhood pleasures can often be sources of adult joy too. For me it was (is) cycling around the city, ice skating, drawing, writing, crafting & nature spotting. Off to fit one of those into my day. ☺️

Still a couple of places left on my next workshop. This Saturday, 1st Nov, from 2 - 5pm, at a lovely little yarn shop in Durham, UK. Learn to mend your knits (hand knitted or shop bought) so you can keep on wearing it for longer. #visiblemending www.wingandabear.com/products/men...

Excellent suggestions for thicker sock yarn - many thanks. Have just ordered a couple of colours from West Yorkshire Spinners, so I will have toasty warm feet around the house, later in the winter.

I'm wanting to knit myself some really thick, super warm socks for wearing around the house this winter. What's a good yarn to use? I want the hard wearing qualities of a normal sock yarn, but much thicker. Is that a thing that exists? Can anyone recommend something suitable? #craftsky #knitsky

I'm wanting to knit myself some really thick, super warm socks for wearing around the house this winter. What's a good yarn to use? I want the hard wearing qualities of a normal sock yarn, but much thicker. Is that a thing that exists? Can anyone recommend something suitable? #craftsky #knitsky

Look there! A Fieldfare's popped by for some berries. How delightful. 🍒 📷 Peter Christian

Fall is nice because you can see what pockets you were going to get around to darning in the spring, but just didn't.

I'm in need of a new knitting project but haven't got the brain space to plan/swatch/measure etc. Something small I could knit lots of? A big project I could come back to whenever I have a gap? What are your favourite "pick up and go", not too demanding type knitting projects? #craftsky #knitsky

This has really caught people's imaginations - way more than I was expecting. Very lovely, but a tiny bit overwhelming and a tad surreal, too. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...