I am no crafter, I can’t sew, knit badly -only squares, so all jumpers look like Mr Strong from the Mr Men. I can’t paint or drawer and have no desire to try and fashion felt animals or pom pom figurines. I do hate waste though so am always interested in ways that things can be re-used or given a new lease of life. More often then not I make a mess and an improbable creation which is neither use nor ornament but brings much merriment to my children. My poor daughter once went to school in a pair of home made leg warmers , one had the circumference of an elephant’s leg and the other almost cut her circulation off. She pretended to love them and wore them for almost an hour before they mysteriously disappeared - and who can blame her! they are still a firm family anecdote.

So when I think about making and doing it is more to do with trying new things - exercise and movement are really important to me but I am no gym bunny. I have practised yoga for 20 odd years but that has morphed and developed over the years- sometimes hard, structured dynamic and disciplined and at other times rolling around on the floor and wailing to Kate Bush - all of this I have found useful and essential. I have climbed mountains and spared against scary opponents in kick boxing, been super fit and at other times the embodiment of Homer Simpson. The one thing I have always done is walked - sometimes out of necessity but increasingly out of pleasure and good physical and mental health. Just being outside and moving my bones makes me happy. It can be intimidating and expensive to try new things but I care less and less about looking like a wally and more and more about keeping my mind and body alive and alert and having fun.

Other things I may make or do cover a wide gauntlet - some like learning Italian on duo lingo drift in and out of my consciousness - the intention is there but the time and effort are lacking. Others like learning about herbs and native plants seem to have stuck a little more - probably as they have more and more to do with my daily life. Everyone should have the encouragement to try new things instead of endless evenings being spoon fed repeats on telly. Some I will stick at, others will go the way of my piano playing - best long forgotten by all who had to endure it, including me.