Watching the last series of Portrait Artist of the Year. And I can remember some of your moans about the judges choices. So I must very put of step with you all, because after 4 episodes I have agreed with at least 2 out of 3 of the final 3, and 3 put of 4 chosen as the person to go through

Lazy, loquacious, loyal, nosey, dancing

Have none of the faithfuls thought that if Rachel was actually a faithful tuebtraitirs would have got rid of her ages ago because she holds so much sway. Hashtag traitors

#traitors Jessie is the best contestant by far, the rest are as thick as 2 short planks

I remember Jessie Buckley on that search for Nancy show. I wanted her to win. The actual winner was too brassy and didn't have the vulnerability Jessie displayed. Even then she showed she could dig deep and reveal layers of emotion (watch The Man Who Got Away). Now she's a Hollywood star

This little girl is me at that age 😍 Who am I kidding - it's still me now www.instagram.com/reel/DTe1_Ji...

I just saw this. I think you need to too youtu.be/8fbc9DV1Pws?...

NONE of it is evidence. Whether on the offence or the defence its all anecdotal, circumstantial and gut feeling. When they come for you there is nothing you can say that will provebeyind reasonable doubt that you are truly a faithful, because there is no hard evidence either way. It's show's flaw

I spat out my tea at the likelihood of that being true. But apparently it probably is

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice is the best. However, I have yet to see a version of Little Women that matches the book I read. I've just watched the first episode of a 2017 BBC version though and it's the closest by far. Not perfect mind

I feel we need to team up. (Until now I had no knowledge of shortbreadfairy's existence)

Breaking news: I've just discovered it's Friday

Yes, I know you've all been watching Traitors, but I'm in bed with a swollen face (no idea) and feeling very under the weather. Have not long woken up and when I've struggled down the stairs to get a cuppa I'd like to watch something NICE. Like Twelve Dates 'Til Christmas. On main 5 UK free channels

Is Harriet on Traitors actually Jennifer Saunders as a character written by Dawn French?

Continuing the theme of watching Christmassy things after the event I'm now well stuck into Twelve Dates 'Til Christmas amd enjoying the heck out of it. I still have another 3 weeks or so until Imbolc/candlemas so I'll be looking for another Christmas series

I'm having a break from working on the computer, so I thought I'd spend it frogging the earwarmer. *hollow laughter* hahaha.... It's going to take as long to rip it out as it did to crochet. The fluffy bits are fiercely embracing other bits of yarn in a tight cuddle and don't want to let go

My working week is like a foxtrot perfumed by Widdershins: Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, quick, quick, slow, quick, slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, quick, slow, quick, quick, slow quick, quick, quick, slow, slow (Where quick is a work day and slow is a day off)

Dreaded earwarmer update: After sleeping on it (not literally, it was in the naughty corner) and looking at it on the cold light of day I have decided to frog it. The wool has a lovely alpaca-esque halo and it's sort of got a felted feel because of those close together back loop sts. I did it tho

So unnecessary. Just bite into it standing up 🙄

Breaking news: The earwarmer is finished. BUT... as I crocheted it seems to have drawn itself in, so instead of being the right size, its 3.5 ins too short. It's now in the naughty corner having a long hard think about what it's done. I might cobble something onto each end tomorrow

You know all those referential tips and rules for the perfect roast potato offered up by chefs and amateurs alike? Turns out its bollocks. Just roasted potatoes by putting raw potatoes in a pan of hot oil and roasting until brown. Crispy on the putside, soft and fluffy inside. Many compliments

Earwarmer update: My light arrived! The difference in my speed in wrangling the hook is significant. Having two strands of very dark wool made it tricky to see where the hook should go. It's still not easy to get the hook in, but at least I can SEE where it should go. Also, before it arrived I

We've got that light, icing sugar dusting of snow. Which frankly, why did it bother?

There's this idea people should challenge themselves. Better themselves In the summer I made a tiny granny square scarflette. Had always avoided granny sqs because of the joining. I did it. Hated it. Never doing again. Now I'm doing crochet faux knitting, w cables. Never doing it again.

Before social media I lived in a little yarn craft bubble where the most challenging project anybody knew did was an adult jumper with cables. Intarsia and Fair Isle was confined to accessories and children's clothes. I felt inferior even so. But now I see all manner of yarncraft genius/insanity 😱

Amazing help and input from so many of you. Thank you! Light now purchased and expected tomorrow

It's the 12 days of Christmas right? Because I've just discovered Miseltoe Murders on ITV. It's been a great accompaniment to the dreaded earwarmer. As many murderers as Midsommer and April from Greys Anatomy. Just what I can cope with. (Series 2 viewing might creep into Not Still Christmas tho)

Crafters and readers, I need a recommendation for a neck light to help me see when I'm crocheting in poor light. There's so many out there. I'm bamboozled. Basic criteria is comfortable and has good directional light without blinding others enjoying a more ambient glow

Well, I've managed thus far with the earwarmer but only on 4th go. (1st try just wrong; 2nd go too short; 3rd go too long; 4th go *just* about right length). The slip stitching through the back loop is pure torture. The hook wants to go elsewhere and I have to manipulate into each and every stitch

Earwarmer pattern update! There is no video for the actual pattern, but i found this short which shows how the rows work to construct it - which is exactly what I was struggling with! So though there are no instructions with the vid I can now see what I'm supposed to do! youtube.com/shorts/DusZ1...

Other people seem to have SNOW. It's v cold here, it didnt get above freezing all day and there was an icy wind blowing from somewhere like Siberia. But no snow. Just this

I've just spent good money on a crochet pattern I am way too incompetent/lazy to achieve. It's why I tend to go for free patterns - you can check out what's involved before committing to it. I appreciate why pattern makers who sell their patterns can't let you preview them, but... 🧶

Just caught up with last night's Taskmaster. I always thought Sam Ryder had a labrador/retriever cross energy. I don't know what happened in the filming but he went full on red setter mode. Absolutely bonkers

It's not anywhere on mainstream news but a friend has just told me that there are massive protests in Iran. Which seems... quite a big story?

Unpopular opinion but I don't like temperature blankets (too random, with too many splotches of one colour grouped together - it all looks like a mad mess.) Go and make a chart if you want to record the temperature over the year. And then go and make something really nice out of yarn

I bought some beautiful new yarn today with and for a friend (a gardener) to make an earwarmer for her. But it's a skein. Which means I have to wind it into a ball. Which I really hate because about 2/3 of the way through it always decides to misbehave and change direction and generally get messy.

Just threw together a bag of 5p parsnips, 2 carrots from a 5p bag, half a free swede, half an old onion and a handful of red lentils from a huge bag which cost less than £2. Oh and some old fresh (ish) sage. Blended it and now have a big batch of excellent soup for a total cost of... around 10p?

Today feels like a Tuesday

My couple of hours work is going in 20 min spurts. But I'm warm and cosy and if complete all the work then I might be required to go out and fresh air and exercise. And I don't want to

Quote with a GIF that depicts the energy you're going into 2026 with

Bah Humbug everybody!

Pete Doherty is 46 😯

Maisie Adams giving off a young, peroxided Cilla Black vibe in that outfit (on the Last Leg) Sorry Maisie. (I actually adore you)

I *think* I've done enough work today to only do a couple of hours tomorrow. Quite happy about that

This is IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Why did I not know before?

Picture of me with the staff who operate my account

Update: I've moved on. Not going to bother

Me at work carrying two bags of bed linen across the camping field and up to the bell tents at the top of the hill

I was looking for a poem that sums up my experience of and feelings about winter. I didn't find one. They're either too, too gloomy (Thomas Hardy and Robert Bridges) or romanticise it with sparkling snow etc (which is rare and accompanying blue skies even rarer). I'm going to have to write one

Just to be clear, I may not observe new year but I WILL be awake at midnight, as that's before my normal bedtime. It's not about trying to stay up, it's the fact it's a very poor concept