Diaries...how do you use yours?

 

Do you keep a diary? Or three? Currently all my dates are on my kitchen calendar. Bit big to stuff in my handbag. Although I have been known to do that on occasion when I used a slimline one. I have bought a 25 /26 diary which I’m trying to carry with me. Sadly, remembering to do so is very trying. 

I was thinking a week or two ago about getting organised for next year. Only thinking you understand, one absolutely cannot rush these things. 

After a suitable period of deliberation I pulled up my big girl pants (note to self… don’t forget to sign up to Slimming World in January – their invitation to come back came last week but I really couldn’t be cheeky enough to turn up for the first time on Christmas party day). 

A few restorative mugs of coffee (and maybe a glass of even more mind building wine) later I decided there was no time like the present (no, not talking about SW). I pulled this year’s Myslexia diary off the shelf. An amazing resource which I am ashamed to confess has remained pretty much unwritten in. I turned to the first week in December. 

In my happy place words and wool go together like cheese and wine. So, I was amazed and delighted to read the famous author bit in the corner. An author I hadn’t read, or even to my knowledge heard about, Stephanie Butland, was saying how important knitting was to her in her writing process. 

She keeps a sock by her desk to knit when she gets stuck for words. She thinks of knitting as a physical analogy for writing. 'It takes as long as it takes, which is always ages - but that's okay'. 

I was in love with her already. Must look on Amazon for her books (other sellers are available)..

Oh dear, that false friend memory strikes again… Not only did I see that I had purchased Lost for Words in 2021, but I then sheepishly looked at my pretty much alphabetically arranged fiction shelves… yes you’ve guessed. I bow my head in shame. 

‘Lost on my bookshelf’… Doesn’t quite have the same ring but could be a future inspiration. Must make a note of that. But in which notebook or diary? 

I have just bought another diary for next year. As in number three. Early new year’s resolution is that I will make full use of Myslexia 2026 and it won’t feature in a ‘Lost on my bookshelf’ blog post. 

The Works page a day diary has been my go to for ‘things to do’ for several years. But this year I have bought a second one (different cover to avoid confusion). I plan to use it, with immediate effect, for my knitspired thoughts. Not using it on a daily basis, but planning to have, by the end of the year, a good solid bank of meditations to turn into a book. 365 in fact. Whoops, my finger slipped there, and I wrote fat instead of fact… Yes, I know, Slimming World, you will be my first entry in diary number four. I promise. I always get diaries and calendars for Christmas. Love them all.  ‘Knitspiration, not just a good yarn’ here I come. 

Diaries: how do you use yours? Cadbury Creme Egg: how do you eat yours? But that’s a theme for another day… Wishing everyone many blessings at this wonderful and festive time.

Liz Pacey is a Reader at St Albans Church, Hull, and has a special interest in writing about knitting and spirituality.