When I was younger I imagined that once I was retired I would have time on my hands. When we moved back from France where we had had a very full social life (too full at times) I thought that as we wouldn't know anyone here I would have time to spare. But somehow it hasn't turned out like that at all.
a
I used to have time to go for an afternoon walk, on days I wasn't working - I taught part time, before the school run. I used to pick blackberries and make jams and preserves, I used to tend the allotment. I knitted and sewed for my daughter, met friends for coffee and lunch occasionally and was still at the school gate by 3.30!
Now the hours seem to disappear and nothing seems to be achieved why is that? I have just looked at the clock and discovered it has just gone 3.30 and there was me thinking it must be about 2.15!! Is there a time thief perhaps? (No I don't have clocks on the table in the conservatory but this was the only place light enough to get a picutre!)
Last week I mentioned the charity China Kidz and said that I had signed up to produce a jersey for a little Chinese orphan - that shouldn't be too difficult nor time consuming should it? Wrong!!!
I bought some yarn and a pattern - nothing too complicated since the child, now 6 months old, needed this to wear asap and not when she was a teenager. I busily cast on the required number of stitches and knitted the requisite 4 rows of garter stitch - so far so good. Then I realised that there was a chart to be followed for the next 14 rows. Even wearing my new reading glasses it was too tiny to see properly so it had to be scanned and enlarged.
a
However what looked quite simple I found incredibly complicated to follow as on the right side of the work the plain squares were knit stitches and on the reverse the plain squares were purl. To cut a long story short I decided to write out the pattern from the chart - more time spent and having knitted the 14 rows only to find the pattern wasn't looking quite right - more time spent checking the chart and my manuscript revealed that I had made a mistake in my transcription so have had to unrun it and having rewritten the manuscript I will now have to start again.... grrr!
a
Luckily the sleeves which I have finished have just a garter stitch border!
I get so frustrated when seemingly simple things are beyond me - am I really going senile perhaps? Why can't I do this? I am reasonably sensible why can I not figure out what is required. It reminds me of how frustrated I get when filling in my tax forms - it might just as well be written in Greek! This year I decided to pay and accountant to do it for me and save myself both time and stress but there is nobody who will knit the first 14 rows of a baby's jumper for me is there?!! I WILL get it right in the end but as time is of the essence I am wondering why I didn't just buy a sweater for the baby whose name appropriately enough is - wait for it - Patience!!!
I doubt if I will find time to get back with my Friday Favourites this week so am adding them on to the end of this post as they are appropriate ! These are 2 cards I bought myself some years ago and intended to frame - needless to say they are still in their packets!! I need a little quiet time in which to think about it all!
But maybe I shouldn't be too hard on myself - I do try!!!
a
a
Finally thank you all so very much for your lovely comments on my previous posts - it's good to know that you agree with me on some things and I hope I don't come across as too opinionated!
a
Postscript - I've done it! Finally managed to do those 14 rows right and now it's all downhill with plain knitting!
What a lovely post. I am chuckling to myself while reading it though....it all sounds so familiar :-)
ReplyDeleteA x
There is evidence that the perception of time changes as one ages, so that the days really do pass in a flash.
ReplyDeleteOh that is so frustrating, I feel your pain. I have had that happen also and it hard ro move on, but you have a deadline so it will be a beautiful sweater, the yarn is lovely. Good luck. xo Robin
ReplyDeleteI would knit the first 14 rows for you! Shame we aren't closer...
ReplyDeleteAlthough saying that I have noticed that I am increasingly finding it harder to focus on things close up!
As for time, it has been proven (apparently) that time goes faster the older you get!
I wonder if when our life's are full we always seem to find the time.
ReplyDeletetake care,
Nina xxx
Lovely post. Yes........where does time go? Have you got any to spare that I could posssibly borrow........?
ReplyDeleteJulie xxxxxxxx
I think Nina has hit it on the head! I know when my children were younger, I had an elderly father and pets, I seemed to fit more into my days! The only thing I didn't have then was a laptop!! Perhaps that's the answer, or maybe with all this global warming we are actually loosing some minutes from our days and they really are shorter!!!
ReplyDeleteVivienne x
I have the same problem, not enough hours in a day or days in a week! Hope the tickets arrived OK. Lizzie x
ReplyDeleteOh brave you! I am terrible at following knitting patterns, I wouldn't have been able to knit a jumper so I went out and bought one instead, lol. Such a worthwhile cause.
ReplyDeleteI find myself peering at things all the time now and am hoping my new glasses next week will solve the problem. It won't however, solve the lack of time problem.
ReplyDeleteI* have atime problem too - now I'm retired I can't believe how quickly the days go by!! i too bought those card years ago with the idea of producing something similar - mine too are in their packets!!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree that time seems to be spinning past way faster now than when I was a kid. And as for the knitting, I am in exactly the same quandary. I know I can do it, well I could way back when, just not too sure now that my mind might wander and ........ there goes the pattern. And I HATE undoing what I have knitted, crochet is so much easier. But my mind wanders with that too.
ReplyDeleteSo in other words - you are definitely not alone in this
Totally agree, time goes by so fast these days. Time flies when I start reading blogs and searching through flickr. Sometimes hours go by without me realising. I would have found that pattern so frustrating and would probably have given up and made something else, so good on you for giving it a go and congratulations for finally working out those 14 rows.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with knitting that little jumper. Knitting has never been something I've done well so I admire anyone who makes gorgeous things.
ReplyDeleteI understand the time thing. I really don't know where my days go either. :-( Too much blogging I suspect. :-)
What perseverence you have Jane. I would have found another pattern. No way would I ever attempt a pattern from a diagram, so you will feel a real sense of achievement when the little article is finished.
ReplyDeleteAs for Time - I think the more you have to fit in the more you DO fit in and these days I quite like a more sedate pace. I don't really like to cram too much in to every day and now that I don't have work to take up my time (during working hours and at home !!)I like to linger over things a little and spend more time with friends.
Oh and I find the thing that makes time pass the quickest is sitting here in front of my computer. I look up and find two hours have sped by while I've been visiting and "talking" to my blogland friends!
Cheers
Helen
I had finished a cardie for my teenage daughter, she loves it thankgod, but i did take ages and have another in progress, so good on you for figuring it out, love the cards, they would look good in a double photo frame, hope you have a fab weekend!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're my partner for the interview. Your words here are precious and I'm sure I will learn a lot from you.
ReplyDeletexxx
Jane you are a treasure - I would have given up and just knitted a bit of rib at the bottom, however these days I think I could only manage a scarf!
ReplyDeleteHi Jane, you are kindness itself to attempt the clothing for an orphaned child. Many would not. I am sure it will all come together and turn out fine.
ReplyDeleteTime does fly.......one day drifts into another. I personally believe each decade brings new challenges, it is how we deal with them that is important.....
Love the cards and the sentiment.....
I would have attempted those first few rows for you if you offered to do my school run. And I'm so pleased that little Patience will see her jumper after all, I was beginning to think they should rename her 'Hope'!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day - and stop the clock watching!! x
Thank you! Glad the tickets arrived, see you at le weekend! x
ReplyDeleteWell done, Jane. I hate patterns with charts - and nearly always resort to writing them out - too easy to lose track when you have to put it down! Luckily, I had quite a few things already knitted but I did knit one very quick simple sweater (purposely choosing something in garter stitch!). I'm now just trying to find time to get to the Post Office - know just what you mean about the passage of time, particularly frustating when one has several appointments to meet and a PO that only opens till 2.00pm and not at all on Mondays!
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed with the patience and perserverance you have for this pattern! I would have given up the second I couldn't read the tiny print. Your sleeves look lovely and with such neat knitting I am sure it will turn out beautifully.
ReplyDeletePatience is not a great virtue of mine, so following a pattern is always frustrating, but well done though - I've never knitted anything too complicated!
ReplyDeleteEvery year I say 'this year has gone quicker than last' - maybe it's an age thing!
x
Jane,
ReplyDeleteI was going to e mail and ask how the knitting was going? I'm still knitting the back of my cardigan after finally tracking down my knitting needles. I hope I make the deadline! If not it will have to be something warm and cosy from a shop! I'm with you on the time front. Some days I seem to perform miracles and on others time disappears faster than I can cope with. You're not alone! Lesley x
I've only just started knitting and find it quite difficult to follow patterns (I'm always missing or adding stitches too!) so I know how frustrating patterns can be, well done for persevering though! As for time I always get annoyed how it can be so slow when I'm in the office at work, but then so fast at the evenings and weekends when I have loads to do!
ReplyDeleteI wonder what bats you had out in France, they have the same species as we do here, but also lots of others that we don't. :) x
Glad you cracked the knitting. I admire anyone who can knit. As for time, Serenata is right, it definitely goes quicker the older you get!
ReplyDeleteThe thought of picking up knitting needles again is enough to send me screaming from the room. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteI do admire you for persevering with the knitting. I could have written this post myself - have knitted a pair of gloves for a friend for Christmas, 2 right hands, so a lot of unravelling going on!!
ReplyDeleteWell done on persevering with your knitting pattern! It's so easy to just give up when we hit these problems - but it's a lovely pattern, so well worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend.
Helen x
I knew that there was a "time thief" lurking about in life. He has surely robbed me too many times.
ReplyDeleteSending love from California, which is finally getting some gentle rains.
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
I love those cards. I feel we are all too hard on ourselves. We often forgive others their foibles- why not ourselves.
ReplyDeleteYour posts always ring bells for me!