Wonderwool 2025

It was a very sunny Wonderwool this year. I was still full of overwhelm (the mood for 2025; I read something the other day about perimenopause causing anxiety and idly wondered if that might be why but no, undoubtedly it's the colossal workload I stupidly took on so I only have myself to blame) so I was largely in retreat for much of the weekend and left at lunchtime on Sunday, but I had a good time and it's always so nice to be in Brecon Forest, even if the dawn chorus/weird intrusive dreams/unease about deadlines woke me at 5 something on Saturday morning and 4 something on Sunday morning. I managed to finish knitting the peppermint mocha cardigan and get all the ends sewn in, it just needs a blocking and a zip now. 

Onto the goodies. I tried to be as thoughtful as possible about what I was buying, but may have come home with a bit more than last year. 

Taking it from the top -

• Some neons with a UV nep from Sealy MacWheely. I couldn't resist the brights. I loved her set from a few years ago and made a favourite jumper using it, so I am looking forward to seeing what this becomes. 
• Some grey with UV nep from Mothy and Squid, along with a gradient set from the Yarn Artist. This is to make the unicorn jumper for my niece, that I bought the pattern for last year. 
• A Starry Nights set from the Yarn Artist - this is just so very definitely me. It's the new watermelon. 
• Bird yarn from Mothy and Squid in the robin colourway. This was a last minute, on my way home purchase. I want to knit a vest top out of it, I have the pattern already in mind, and also convinced myself it would go well with my recently-finished cardigan. 
• The splurge - this is a kit of 45 colours (plus the undyed for swatching) that will knit into a three-dimensional shawl. It is absolutely gorgeous and also made of cashmere. I really dithered about this one because a kit this beautiful doesn't deserve to sit in stash for many years and I'm afraid it might. But in the end, I couldn't let it escape me. The colours are too pretty and the finished scarf is glorious. 

There was also a vintage jewellery booth this year, with any number of old-lady brooches which I could have sifted through for hours, were it not for a forthright woman coming along and moving me on as I was chatting to the owner. A good indication of my overwhelm, because on a normal day I would have stood my ground, but instead I fled. I went back later for this pin on the right, though, which is a cheapy little thing but holds a flower; and then spotted this string of real, hand knotted pearls. There were actually two and I'm a bit sorry I didn't get both, but they are very long so they loop up for layering. 

I'm off to Oxford today for the final fortnight of my course. The two mini assignments are done. I've given the conference presentation I also had to be working on and launched the new policy I needed to write for work. This feels very much as though there will be a lull in workload. I am looking forward to lots of sleep and nerdy reading and wholesome activities. Interestingly, the brain is just whirring from all the effort of the past couple of months, like it is revved up and ready to go  but without a clear direction. I want to knit all the things and I've got lofty plans for some work projects. Torn between wanting to capitalise on this and wanting to just let it spin down for a bit.