Something new

About a year ago I realised that there were lots of things I wanted to do to become the accomplished woman I knew I could be.  I wrote out a little list on facebook in which I wanted to learn how to use my 35mm SLR camera, sew, learn Spanish and start growing in-house tomatoes like they were going out of fashion.  I chucked in a bit of 'computer language' on the list too (not quite sure what was meant by that, but it sounds pretty smart) and also thought that losing a couple of pounds wouldn't go amiss.

Well, how times have changed.  Today you'll find me photographing with my fancy digital SLR, knitting up a storm and kicking Gav out of the house to spend time on the allotment with Pepper dog.  And of course my computer geekiness has been verified with the slow start of this blog... but that doesn't stop me from wanting to do more.  I thought a nice little 'What I Could Do' list would be a great thing to talk about because I am finding (is it my age?  Is it the economic times?) that people seem to be a little bit more back to basics now and I'd love to know what it is that you're doing to keep yourself entertained, challenged or generally out of trouble.  Or, if you're doing none of the above and spending a good portion of your time sitting watching Kirstie's Homemade Home and thinking 'I could do that' then maybe you could come up with some bits for me to add to my own 'What I Could Do' list.  Cause your ideas might be better than mine..


So far I have got:


1 - Now that I have the Digital SLR camera and have finally realised how to actually focus it manually (don't ask) I hope to take some beautiful pictures this summer.  Of Norwich, of friends, of Pepper, of the seaside, of family, of little bugs sitting amongst the bluebells on my walk to work.  You may all get photos for Christmas presents.


2 - Knitting, ah yes, my newest phase.  I have learned the basic knit and purl and am getting fairly accomplished at using the 8mm, 7.5mm and 4mm needles, sometimes even as a mix of the three.  At once, I'm that good.  I have Googled 'how to knit' and seen a pretty neat cable knit scarf pattern that I might actually understand.  You may all get scarfs for Christmas presents.


3 - Sewing, my mama's provided me with the most BEAUTIFUL Singer sewing machine.  I've never seen anything more wonderful and will leave it at that for now, I will do a whole post dedicated to its beauty.  I am hoping though that I will be able to create more practical delights along the lines of the doorstop I made earlier this year and learn how to put zippers in stuff.  You may all get a doorstop (or eyemask, cause I can do those too) for Christmas this year.


4 - Languages.  Well, I am getting pretty nifty at using the 'link' button on the blogger website.  Does that count as programming?  No language books for y'all for Christmas.


5 - Green fingers aplenty, I will be attempting to grow tomatoes, shallots, potatoes and many more vegetable delights with Gav on our allotment.  It's exciting.  You'll probably get veg all summer long, you lucky devils you.


6 - Read a book a month.  Cause I have more than enough to last me a lifetime, and I've not even considered a Kindle.  


So, Spring's given me the energy to create this list......what do  you want to do?

Bookspot

A friend of mine noticed Norwich got mentioned in the New York Times this week, which made me feel a little bit special and proud of where I get to spend my time. Isn't it funny how a little bit of international recognition makes you look at where you are in a slightly different way? The article is all about how wonderfully literary Norwich is; this suits my view of the city nicely, as I came to UEA to study literature. I remember my excitement when I realised that my A-Level text, Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day, had been written shortly after Ishiguro had left the building I found myself studying in. So I knew Norwich had many literary leanings, but I am definitely now going to have to look at visiting The Book Hive and see what readings they have in the pipeline. I am also going to have to look into seeing plays at the Cathedral, in my efforts to ensure that I am only culturally entertained within a 1 mile radius of my house and that I fully appreciate all the benefits of city centre living while Gav and I remain here.

What I found perhaps most exciting about the NY Times article was the fact that it finally answered a question I've had for a while - what is that building with all the writing all over it?


I found it one sunny Sunday afternoon while walking along the River Walk and have been trying to find out what the story is behind it. Apparently it's the entire text of Sir Thomas Moore's Utopia on this building - no, I've not heard of it either. But definitely something I'll look out for now, maybe on my trip to the Book Hive!

I guess what this all culminates to - we all know Norwich is indeed a wonderful place and it's nice to look just a little bit beneath the banality of your every day to find these hidden gems. I mean, New Yorkers are being told to come to this Fine City! Which is just great. If I happen to bump into any of the traveling Americans (Carrie picking her way down Elm Hill in her Manolo's??!!!)then I shall be sure to point them towards Tombland with its rickety old buildings and stories of the plague, recommend just popping into the Puppet Theater to see those puppets hanging from the roof tops and demand they take a trip out to UEA on the number 25 to see those strange old Ziggurats. before catching up with you all at the Playhouse while we ponder why exactly we would ever want to venture further afield.