In the interests of actually doing something about my burnout, and because it's really really cool, I've started the lovely braided belt kit by @sallypointer which I treated myself to for my birthday.

So far, I've got everything set up! The instructions are straightforward and I'm finding them easy to follow. I might have overdone it with the beeswax, but everything is tangle free so far so I'm taking that as a win!

#FibeArts

Is it time to re-engage with my lifelong obsession with the Bronze Age Collapse? I believe it is.

I just popped the heating on (more for Barney than me, but it's chilly indoors today), and as soon as the boiler started making noises, Barney jumped straight in his radiator bed!

He didn't stay in it long; he stamped around in circles a bit then came over to yell at me. I don't think he's impressed that it isn't hot yet

He's also not impressed that I won't let him explore outside solo, and I won't let him eat my breakfast either.

They need to invent a duvet that one's partner can't accidentally rotate 90 degrees leaving it too short and very confusing to the extremely sleepy person who just woke up from an unexpected sofa nap and stumbled to bed and now wonders why their feet won't fit in the bed any more.

I'm still angry about the way the call was phrased. I know this is just a normal aggressive sales technique, but the way the guy phrased it made it sound like it was a requirement. Also angry they got me to call them. The fucking nerve!

I'm guessing in about 20 years this will be the subject of one of those class action mis-sold insurance things.

While we were filling in the form they tried to get me to sign up to be sold broadband deals and expensive removals services. I have a strong feeling that anything bundled up in something like this is going to be a complete rip off. Nothing I've seen so far has given evidence to the contrary.

Especially not for max £5k of cover. That covers fuck all.

They have home contents insurance too, max of £10k. My partner's wheelchair would be a giant chuck of that by itself. Yeah, I'll stick with my current insurer.

A bit angry this morning. The referencing company sent a text saying I needed to call to 'discuss the next steps of our process'. I phone and it turns out to be an insurance sales thing. What the shit. I tried not to be terse with the sales guy, but holy shit. It took a while just to get him to admit this was a sales call. I was clear with him that I found that the text message was misleading. I'm not paying (minimum of) a tenner a month to 'protect' my deposit. What utter predatory bullshit.

More chores.

Sorted the washing up.
Sorted the bins and the recycling. In the process realised it was raining.
Congratulated myself for doing the shopping and wandering while it was still sunny.
Doubly congratulated myself for not buying the adorable little vampire needle felting kit from Boyes. Or the bat one. Or the Halloween fabric in the remnant bin. I bought only the beads I went for (for the winter wall hanging) and nowt else.

If that style worked with my body, I would wear that for work. I would wear it everywhere.

Sadly, it doesn't. Being a person gifted with hips at least 10" larger than my waist and a large amount of stomach, this style just doesn't work. I'd ruin it as soon as wear it because of the bend when I'm sitting down.

I need to keep this in mind, and make something that will work for me (a Swiss waist with similar detailing, for example).