A new toy and revisiting old hobbies and skills for the future

 The big advantage of a Boxing Day birthday is that you are never likely to be in the office, the disadvantages, arguably, include log splitting or skip filling (we’ve done that in previous years) starting to sound almost celebratory in a way others seem to greet a bottomless brunch.  Another might be considered to being caught very much on the hop when you do get back to the office.  Last Tuesday saw me put my phone on DND so I could prepare in peace ahead of an important video call.  One of my colleagues came to my room because Reception couldn’t get through and (ostensibly) someone was in reception needing to talk to me.  She’s very good at a straight face, even when my language was perhaps less than it ought to be in the office.  Suffice to say I walked straight into a presentation with a very personalised birthday card (I know exactly who collaborated with the photos for that!), several short poems inside the card from various of my colleagues and a generous cash gift.  

The evening was spent regretting being quite so grumpy and giving consideration to what I could spend the cash on by way of specific item before it got frittered on ‘stuff’.  Eventually thinking to check my own retirement planning lists I settled on an overlocker.  I got a Singer sewing machine for my 18th birthday which is still going strong (possibly due to limited use) so an overlocker at 60 has a nice continuity feel to it.  I may be less sentimental when I try to use it!

I haven’t made my own clothes since my early 20s and I wasn’t very good then so it is something of a presumption on my part that I am going to undertake more sewing going into and during retirement.  However, there are lessons on the retirement activity plan list which have even been sourced, somewhat prematurely.   It does seem to be a bit of a thing right now, possibly driven by TV shows but I had a I had a  conversation with a friend recently who is setting up a ‘knit and natter’ group after decades of doing very little knitting herself.  She does, however, have a HND in knitwear and a higher education teaching qualification from her 20s so she is well placed for this.  Knitting is not for me.  I did, in my teens, once knit a jumper, which I did wear, but it was a very basic pattern and was still right at the limit of skills I remain surprised I ever had and have long since forgotten.  I suspect my mum helped more than I remember!

Over the last decade or so I have outsourced most of my mending pile to a seamstress or the man at the dry cleaners down the road from the office.  They have also done some major alterations that I have no intention of ever getting into eg one replaced a whole ‘lightweight’ lining into a Mulberry trench coat of S’s.  This wasn’t a cheap endeavour but then neither was the coat and he had completely shredded the lightweight lining to the point when it was only wearable if the winter lining was zipped into it.  Not really ideal for an (all)season option and the wonderful job she did remedied that.  Another took a couple of linen tops I was given up by three inches, in by 2 inches on both sides and the sleeves up by 1.25 inches.  Bizarrely the shoulders were fine.  I’ve never thought I looked like an American football playing dwarf but maybe M&S know better.  The tops came out lovely and are proving a summer staple. 

Both those particular jobs will, most likely, always exceed my abilities but more basic repairs, alterations and the odd summer dress should be within my capabilities.  I even have my first project lined up - a white, broderie anglaise, tiered gypsy skirt I got for next to nothing on eBay.  It will be perfect for summer holidays in hot climes just as soon as it is taken in, up and has the fastenings tweaked.   Suddenly this is sounding rather more of a project than I initially thought - still one can but try.

Having made the decision, done a bit of research and placed the order I thought I would let everyone know what I was spending their money on so I put a message out on the firm WhatsApp group.  Should have posted a photo!  Those in the know are standing by to provide advice and instruction on threading it.  I die, however, have to  explain to several what an overlocker is, one assumed it was a car roof top box.   I think we have to put him down as even less likely to be appearing on Sewing Bee any time soon than me!

Anyway it has now arrived, so I have instructions to read and a DVD to watch.  The latter may be trickier than actually threading it but I’m sure YouTube can come to the rescue.