It’s almost a year since the blog had any attention. I’m not sure why it’s been so long – probably me just proving to myself that I don’t have to do it.
One advantage of leaving it for a year is that there is a lot to say. One disadvantage is that that can be somewhat overwhelming. So … I’m not going to attempt to cover the missing months (most of 2013, and the start of 2014) – I’m just going to let it come off the top of my head.
The big change here is that Caerthan seems to have found his calling with dying yarn. Actually, I think his calling is colour, but at the moment that is enshrined in the luxury yarn business, which is helping our finances a bit. I’m still bringing in the lion’s share, and I’m still doing the lion’s share, so the sense of imbalance that has disturbed me for so long and hangs over our relationship is still there, but not as strongly. Sadly, I no longer have any expectation that Caerthan will help with the wood, or the field, or any of the other practical jobs that need doing but at least something is happening, so I am much happier. The dyed yarns he produces are beautiful and people from all over the world are buying them. You can see more on his website at Triskelion-Yarn.com.
There has been a change in me too – I’ve stopped struggling so much with trying to get everything done, and some things have been allowed to slide. I’ve done virtually no spinning or weaving. I don’t want to lose those skills, but I’ve realised that deep down I cannot ignore my creativity. I feel like I need to be doing music or writing or something. So armed with Dad’s video camera I made another short film – October – and I am currently working on another piece of music, which will no doubt find its way here quite soon.
The major event of the past year has been Dad going into hospital at New Year for a month. It was touch and go for a time, but has probably brought us closer. Time is precious. For me it meant tons of driving in January, going up every weekend to spend time with him in hospital as he was bored witless. Hospital is definitely not a place to be ill! Anyway, a couple of months further on he is fit and well again and getting ready for expeditions here.
In February we had trees coming down and torrential rain. We got off lightly of course – no floods up here. Our phone line was taken out and roads were blocked – it meant lots of swinging into action with the chainsaw.