2024 and lethargy

 Still alive but still dealing with the after effects of a bout of COVID last Easter... I've spent a year struggling to do ANYTHING beyond eat, work and sleep, and I'm almost permanently exhausted. So, yeah, Long COVID sucks... In addition, there has been various issues for my wider family which has taken up the few spare spoons I've had. Medically for me, COVID has left me with asthma, which is annoying in itself but has also meant changing other medication I've been stable on for years because that was aggravating it! 

I am making plans, but I've followed through on so little that it shames me and I am loath to share them out loud in case I fail yet again. However, with the intent of pointing out to myself what I HAVE achieved, I'm going to write some things out here:

Books read

I've completed approximately 8 books this year, which is a bit less than hoped, but also fairly realistic for me. I am neither commuting regularly (my traditional reading time), nor do I have all my energy or concentration back, so I must not compare myself now to the person who was reading 200+ books a year a decade ago...

This is what I know I've read during 2024 so far, although there may be a few more titles that I've forgotten to record:

1. Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes, #0.1)
2. The Library of the Dead (Edinburgh Nights #1)
3. The Beyond (Devil's Isle #4)
4. She and Her Cat
5. A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1)
6. Gertie's Charmed Sewing Studio: Pattern Making and Couture-Style Techniques for Perfect Vintage Looks
7. Nettle and Bone
8. Iron Widow (Iron Widow #1)

I also did a lot of sample/extract reading for the Hugo Award voting, which I've just noticed aren't on my list as I read them while I was away on holiday.

Crafting

Almost Sweet Fanny Adams. I've consciously stripped back my expectations for 2024 now. The projects listed below have fabric and patterns ready, but just haven't been made. I've consciously not added any costuming projects because I know I don't have the focus just yet. If I continue to progress and feel somewhat better, I plan to work on simple costuming projects like accessories, which could spruce up the not-so-good and bought stuff I have at present.

So the purpose of this list is items for me - clothes for wearing on a daily basis only - and a few gifts.

1. Finish off a peg bag I was making for my mother just before I got ill. Target: Christmas 2024
2. Coquelicot skirt: I bought the pattern for this and it's addons last year (I think). It was always behind costuming work, but I've wanted this for AGES and I'm thinking it will be a nice gentle make to ease me back in. I'm only going to do the skirt to begin with, to not overwhelm myself.
3. I have two "draft at home" patterns I bought even longer ago than the Coquelicot patterns. Both are for "house dresses", which appeals to me. My target here, however isn't to MAKE the dresses, but to do the work to size up and make the Pattern only. If I have the energy, I may make a cheapo mockup to see how they fit me.

That's it. I could add millions of things I want to make, but I need to be realistic about my capacity right now, and how limited that is... So no stretch goals listed and no deadlines to make me feel inadequate and depressed.

I think I'm going to do a separate post later, with my "Long List of patterns I want to make" on it. No deadlines, just a list that I will pick things off in future...