Crafty in the Med

I am here to enjoy meeting other bloggers and to share my love of craft ,mostly crochet, my thoughts and my daily happenings here in Alicante,Spain, my adopted country. I belong to a local choir because singing and music makes me happy. Flea markets and book shops are two of my favourite places to be. I read lots......sci´fi/fantasy,buried treasure, and off world adventures. I have a passion for history! I walk and walk and walk for about 10 months per year during the hot months I swim.

Sunday 11 May 2014

I lean too much



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"Clocking up thoughts" I find this would be a way to describe it!
I do this and frequently, most particularly where my blog is concerned. I often "clock up"  ideas of what I am going to write about on my blog throughout the day and store them to dig into when I find the time to blog.  I actually know for a fact I had some nice tidy ideas stored away since my last posting which was two weeks!!!

Oh! my,I  didn't realize it was so long since my last post!

However my life has not been my own these last two weeks and at present my mind is so dull and idealess (now that is an invented word for you!!!) that I've been looking at my blog thinking I have nothing to write about!  I just cannot find those ideas I had stored in the deep recesses of this dull dull Sunday afternoon mind!

I know I often harp on about I am so busy,I can't blog as much as I would like and the problems of lack of time and I work too much!   I am sure there are many bloggers out there in blogland who have the same problem and I so sympathize with them!  My work dominates my life and I feel more and more stressed. I try to settle with the idea that this is just the way it has to be at present living in a recession torn country where our life has been turned upside down economically. I am not moaning about this just stating a fact and trying to accept my lot and reminding myself constantly that there are many but many people here in worse circumstances than we are. We manage as long as I work. I am lucky in the fact I do have work and a lot of it. I also have to add I am fortunate in that I really enjoy my job. 

I have, as many of us, mentioned in the past that I turn to crochet as therapy. In fact I am inclined to wonder if I don't lean on it rather heavily to eliminate stress, so much so that these last two weeks which have been really work heavy, I haven't been able to get to my crochet as much as I would like and I've been quite grumpy!
My car breaking down as depicted by the cartoon has been one of the main reasons why it has been a very stressful time and having to rely on buses and my daughter as a taxi driver ( I work in some places where there is no bus!). This really upsets my work routine and the time to get from one job to the other. I don't really want to air here much about my work as my blog is about my other life. However  for those of you who wonder what I do. I am a self-employed and a free-lance ESL/BE teacher,Learning facilitator or Instructor depending on my title where I work. I have been doing this for over 30 years in the Uk and Spain. I work for many different organizations and companies and in fact I really enjoy the variety and it means I get to meet a lot of different types of people and travel around Alicante City and the province.

These are some of the places where I am giving courses at present.

Alicante Port
Hospital MediaMar
Red Cross Alicante

Fundesem Business School

Chamber of Commerce Alicante


Getting back to the use of crochet to unwind,I often wonder about this phenomenon,this use of crochet as therapy and have been reading a little here and there and found the following:

Crochet Saved My Life

By Kathryn Vercillo



Kathryn Vercillo writes “Crochet can serve as a form of meditation,” she writes. “It provides you with a focused task that distracts you from the drama that sometimes takes over the brain and tries to wreak havoc there. And it allows you to feel like you are producing and creating something even when you can’t get out of bed and you can barely open your eyes to notice the passing of one day into another.”






 I so like what Kathryn comments here. Her words seem to confirm to me that it is alright to be addictive to crochet and it is alright to use it as therapy and I am not alone as there are many more people out there who use crafts in this way!
Lets face it some people climb mountains ,I constantly crochet....not a great deal of difference!
It is after all meditation ....yes I like to think I am meditating as I wield my hook!!!!


**********************
Here is my latest make completed after nearly three weeks....three weeks to make a bonnet tch!!!
This one is all my own pattern and should fit an 18 month to 2 year old .


Hook Nº 2.50   Nº 5 Ofil perle cotton in purple and salmon

This will be sent off tomorrow to a little Devonshire maid who lives in Ellacombe.

I call it a Zinnia Bonnet




Keep smiling!!!!


Amanda :-)

17 comments:

  1. Teaching/tutoring is a very rewarding but stressful job (I speak from years of experience!).

    But crochet and other crafty pursuits are essential ways of finding some peace and balance I think.

    Helenxx

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  2. Well Amanda for one who had nothing to blog about I think that you did fine, I know how stressful teaching can be as my daughter works as an academic tutor at University part time and also as a pharmacist, the tales she has to tell and the marking! Anyway as long as you love what you do that is the main thing. Take a ball of wool and a hook with you you never know when you may have a free minute through the day, mine goes everywhere with me and you are so right it is very therapeutic, I read that book and loved it. I love your little bonnet it's really sweet. You keep smiling too and don't worry about the blogging or lack of it's meant to be fun just do it when you can or feel like it. :) xx

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  3. And you keep smiling too, Amanda. Keep crocheting away producing your wonderful creations.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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    1. Awww!!! That is so nice of you to say so Mum! In fact it makes my day!!

      A xx

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  4. I think we all feel like this sometimes and it feels like one thing after another happens (like your car breaking down). Like you crochet helps me to relax but when I'm stressed I don't crochet. Glad you beat the stress and made another bonnet. The colours are really pretty. Have a lovely, stress free week.
    Ali xx

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  5. I have often felt (and mentioned) about the good vibes I get from crafting and when I was working at a Dr's surgery a couple of years ago a scheme was being implemented for a 'prescription for exercise' and a prescription for crafting' where people were encouraged to exercise and take up a craft such as crochet or knitting to relieve stress instead of reaching for antidepressants - so it can't bad!

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  6. I love those bonnets! I've made a few of my own design too and just love them. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  7. Beautiful bonnet Amanda. Life does get very, very stressful at times. We all understand and are here when you have time to post. I know that is a very stressful job. My son was teaching English as a second language in a Japan before he went to work for Keio University. Teaching anything can just be plain hard.

    I hope you get your transportation sorted soon. That will ease some of the stress-I hope.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  8. Hi Amanda! I really enjoy reading your blog! I've nominated you for an award. If you are interested in participating, here's the link. http://bookfairy43.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-blog-award.html Hope you had a fantastic day today!

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  9. Keep smiling, Amanda! I hope your car is fixed which will help with the stress of travelling about.....your job does sound an interesting one! (Though I do know teaching can be very stressful too.) I love the little bonnet you made......so glad you have your crochet to relax you, I find it one of the most calming of crafts to do!
    Take care and have a happy week.
    Helen xox

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  10. Oh dear, I do feel for you. My recent total break from the blogging world came about from feeling overwhelmed and needing to create space. I hope things settle down soon.
    I love you bonnet, it's adorable.

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  11. I am so sorry you are stressed my friend. I have to agree with you that crochet and knitting really save my life, I lean on them so much to just help me settle down. Work and my new Little Buddy keep me so busy, I feel like I am constantly juggling just to stay afloat. And my yarn time is definitely limited which is making me feel even worse. I wish you a peaceful week, a fixed car and time to crochet.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  12. Keep working on the creative crocheting! Its beautiful. Stitches keep me going and I force myself to knit if I am in a bad way! Like Mere I wish you peace

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  13. I think crocheting is a great stress buster, well it is as long as I still keep it simple! Hope you car is now fixed :) x

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    1. It really is my life saver in many ways! Thanks for visiting and I am happy to say my car is fixed at last.

      A xx

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  14. Good Afternoon Amanda, I do hope your car is fixed soon, so that it will make life a little easier for you. I think any form of craft can help to remove stress, I do not crochet..... although I did years ago. Nowadays I make quilts and I love beadwork and I find when I am beading, I am so focused on what I am doing that any stress just disappears.... there is no place left for it.
    I would say, don't worry about ideas for your blog, you wrote a fabulous post, thinking you had nothing much to say.
    Take care of yourself and carry on crocheting!
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

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  15. Glimpses of where you work help me understand just how amazing you are Amanda. Traveling, navigating in large buildings in a city and focusing on the challenges of teaching are stressful for me just to think about :) Then add to that tight budgets and broken cars, it is no wonder you feel stressed. I'm glad that crochet is one of the creative outlets that bring peace into your life and joy to others as you generously share your beautiful work. Your adorable baby bonnets are definitely on my To Make List! xx

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Thank you for your comments. I do read them and try to reply to all as well.Please keep them coming. Amanda :-)