How has your day been?

Ever have one of those days when you are just not at yourself but you can’t quite put your finger on it?

That was me today. Woke up bright and cheery, ready to meet the day.  Gave all my morning greetings and attended to all that needed. Then, still cheerily, settled down to work on my ideas for a new blog.

Bounced ideas back and forth with my cousin several hundred miles away in Greece. Then, quite freely requested she send me some feedback; in the certain knowledge whatever came back would be honest and constructive.  I knew what to expect, I asked for it.  Yet when the critique came back slowly but surely emotion got the better of me.

Don’t get me wrong, my cousin was not horrid or gratuitous in her comments and it was very helpful and constructive. As I came to tears I think I was just taken aback that so much of myself was hanging out there in what I had written. Cathy had picked up, accurately, my feelings and insecurities were reflected back at me. I emailed back to her in explanation of my response, “A mirror in front of you is fine when life is good, you have your face done and feel good in your clothes and skin. It’s quite different when you’re not quite there and feel the bulldozers have been in.” I had been surprised at my response as I genuinely thought I was feeling good, until that little chink of realism entered.

Nevertheless, it was a good experience in the long run.  It has helped to realise just where I am and how far I have to go.  So, with kind words and encouragement from my cousin I wiped my eyes, blew my nose and promptly fell asleep.

Since waking up I have discovered I have put on my big girl pants and straightened my stance to move on forward.  It helped that I made a delicious snack of toasted cheese and onions with tomato and a liberal sprinkle of black pepper.

Fortified with tears, snot, sleep and food; accompanied, with lashings of tea, here I am at my computer typing away.

Welcome

So, to begin, welcome to my blog. I am known as Kate.  I live in a small town on the west coast of Scotland just outside Glasgow.  It is a place which has changed dramatically in my life time both in size and character.  Nevertheless, it continues to provide a happy and warm home.

More recently I have been at home due to health concerns.  This is one of the reasons for the blog.  In these days of the pandemic and having a pre existing condition I have found myself spending many long days and nights on my own.  Whilst I am used to single living, I am also used to going out and about; sharing my interests and life with others.  This, as we all know, is  restricted now and may be for some time.

I have always had a hankering to write but not the confidence: one of the observations my cousin insightfully made. So, now I am where I am, with time on my hands. 

A blog should help. I am taking the plunge despite my nervousness; building that confidence. Working on my writing skills. It should start to give the structure and focus to my life which has been lacking of late. Although, I am not talking miracles or instantly sorting my whole life out. Just stitching another piece of the cloth of life and may this one be strong, useful, beautiful and not misshapen in any way. Even if there does appear a ‘bespoke’ knot in the yarn, it will be mine along with all the others I have gathered throughout life.

What’s in a title?

An inner voice tells me you want to know about the name of the blog and what it means.  Well, Bifo Kid was something my siblings used to call me when we were young. I never felt or believed it to be unkind but in fact, was a childish warm way of acknowledging my disability and its’ challenges.  I had been born with Spina Bifida.  Thus the The Bifo Kid. It was a play on all the names you used to get in the old western movies such as Billy the Kid. They used to fall around gesturing as if I was fighting my way through. The yarn comes from chatting and telling stories as well as working with actual yarn in crochet and knitting. The name of the blog seemed apt as it declares the Bifo Kid is still here and still fighting.

My interest are many and varied but in this blog I will be sticking mainly to crochet and knitting along with a healthy dose of chat. Can’t do without the chat.

Come, Join Me!

I would really welcome your input and maybe we could see where this journey takes us both. You are more than welcome to sign up to be notified of updates at the top of the page and if you would like to leave a comment, please do.

Work In Progress

As chri…oh gees, I nearly said it. As that time of the year is nearly upon us I have been thinking of what to do for presents.  So, a couple of weeks ago I ordered yarn from Lovecrafts and Woolfull.  They are both based in the United Kingdom. The presents to myself were a delight to receive.   Well, it was yaarrrrrn – why wouldn’t it be? (Note the stress on the ‘r’ with the scot’s accent.)

At least one of the projects is going to be Tinna Thorudottir Thorvaldsdottir’s crochet along(cal), The Queen. https://www.facebook.com/groups/TinnaCrochetClub https://www.ravelry.com/designers/tinna-thorudottir-thorvaldsdottir It is due to start on 18th September 2020. As far as I am aware there are three different levels of difficulty involved and would be appropriate for the new crocheter to the more experienced amongst us.

Another is Scheepjes 2020 CAL & Read-A-Long: d’Histoire Naturelle by Christina Hadderingh from  A Spoonful of Yarn. https://www.aspoonfulofyarn.nl/home/ The design which, according to the Scheepjes’ website, “explores many galleries of the breathtakingly beautiful Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Museum of Natural History) in Paris.” https://www.scheepjes.com/en/cals-and-mals/scheepjes-cals/scheepjes-cal-2020/information/ These galleries are featured in the book ‘All The Light We Cannot See’ by Anthony Doer which is the subject of the bookclub online. Both the CAL and the Read-A-Long begin on the 23 September 2020. Never read a book along with a cal before. It sounds fun and I would encourage anyone, who is interested, to get themselves organised to start. Can’t wait!

So far however, my yarn is still in its’ original packaging in containers.  It waits for me to either finish what I am working on or, yet again, have another work in progress (wip).  I wouldn’t give odds either way.

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I am trying so hard to be disciplined and not rip open the lovely firm brown paper to reveal the imagined wonder of colours and squishiness of yarn.

It is my intention to sit down before my next post to decide what I am making for who.  Once I have done this I can assess the work required and try to manage so that there is no mad dash at the end.  Some hope! There’s always a mad dash where I am concerned.

Well, I think I will go for now.  Thank you for reading this far and hopefully you will visit again.

Take care of yourself and be safe.