You know that old saying: If you want something doing, ask a busy person? Well, if you want something doing this month DON’T ASK ME! Yes, I’ve done it again and taken on too much, such is the story of my life. I think I have some kind of omnipotence complex – I really seem to think that I am capable of anything, no matter how tight or pressured the deadline.
Argghhhh!!!!!………
For starters, my MA dissertation – or novel, to you and me – is due in on the 26th March. For a while I had it in my head that this was the actual deadline – we do everything online these days, don’t we, and all the essays and assignments for the past 3 years have been uploaded to something called ‘Turnitin’ on the university’s website. But then I remembered reading something, back in the early days when I had time to read the Student Handbook, about submitting the novel in the form of a printed and bound copy. Actually, not one but two printed and bound copies! Which means I also have to find time to get that sorted, and dissertations have to be a certain size and layout and … OMG, stress.
Second, because I want to graduate this July, I also have to submit a final assignment for the Teaching Creative Writing element of the Masters. This is a 4,000 word report on some teaching practice, with evidence and all sorts of other stuff. This is also due by the 26th March. Did I mention I haven’t even started this yet? Or thought about it much?
And there’s more …
If that weren’t enough, March and April are always super-busy times of the year for indexing work – and I forget this every year. Every year! So I now have three massive indexes lined up for March, and another smaller indexing job to squeeze in too. Turning indexes down is never an option, and neither is being even slightly late with them. I just have to get them done. End of.
Knitting? Are you insane?
And (you’re starting to wince now, aren’t you?) tomorrow is World Book Day. For reasons I can’t yet understand, I decided to knit – yes, knit – my six-year-old daughter a Katie Morag jumper to wear to school. I bought the kilt, and the wellies, but could I find a proper Katie Morag jumper anywhere for sale? No I could not. But I could find a pattern, and some wool.
So last Thursday I embarked upon a mammoth knitting project that is far more complicated than anything I’ve knitted before. I can manage hats and scarves, and I’m not bad at crocheting, but knitting items of clothing? With an insartia yoke? Raglan sleeves? OMG, it has been so stressful. I’ve been up until midnight every night for the past three days knitting. My eyes are out on sticks.
Will it be worth it? Definitely 🙂 This is something that is just for my lovely daughter, and I think one of the reasons I was so intent on doing it myself, and doing it perfectly, was because I wanted to carve out a chunk of time in my packed schedule that was to do something just for her. Never mind the hideous impact on all my other work – never mind that I can barely open my eyes today. If my daughter wants to dress up as Katie Morag, she damn well will!
(Make sure you Like my Facebook page as I’ll be posting a photo of my daughter in her special outfit tomorrow.)
And now for some really big news …
Now for my final bit of news. Something else I’ve been working hard on recently was a proposal to study for a PhD in Creative Writing. And I’m happy to announce that I have been accepted onto the programme, and I will start in September this year! Dr Jo, here we come 🙂 More news on the topic of the PhD to follow later in the year, but I’m just so proud and excited to have been accepted that I wanted to share it with you all as soon as possible. But don’t worry, it’s only part-time and there will be plenty of time for me to write more books, and blog about it all, and keep doing what I always do. I might even knit more jumpers.
Simplify things? Make life less busy? Not me. I’m just gonna keep on going!
Joanne Phillips 
March 4, 2015 at 11:10 am
That’s loads of deadlines, Jo, but knowing you – you’ll meet them! Have you finished the novel for your dissertation? Congratulations on the PhD acceptance. Brilliant news!
March 4, 2015 at 3:57 pm
Thanks Lindsay 🙂 Yes, I will meet them – or at least I’ll do my very best! This Beautiful World is all finished, just in the middle of editing it now. It has a bit of a saggy second chapter at the moment – I’m going to have to be ruthless with that. x
March 4, 2015 at 11:13 am
Congratulations on the PhD, Jo! What fantastic news. In the words of one very wise fish “Just keep swimming” and you’ll get where you want to go.
All the best, Mandy
March 4, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Thanks Mandy – I love that saying! Is that from Finding Nemo? We tried to watch that recently, but my daughter is super-sensitive and we didn’t get past the first scene where Nemo’s mum and and all the eggs get eaten!
March 4, 2015 at 11:26 am
Mad, mad, I tell you! But delightfully so! Well done, Jo, for all the good news and good luck with everything.
March 4, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Thanks Marina 🙂 Yes, I am mad. But it’s all good fun right? xxx
March 4, 2015 at 11:34 am
Gosh, and you still found time to share your excitement via a blog post! That’s got to be a good sign! Huge congratulations, Jo, that’s all terrific news. By the way, you might like to know that knitting is renowned for its soothing powers – I’m sure I fall into an almost meditative trance when I knit, and I always realise after a particularly stressful time in my life that I’ve been doing more knitting, an unconscious coping mechanism! Maybe you need to add another target to your list – to knit a lovely patchwork afghan rug for your writing hut. A great accessory for anyone who loves bunting! 😉
March 4, 2015 at 4:00 pm
Hi Debbie,
I think you must be a far more competent knitter than me. Mind you, I think the ridiculous deadline didn’t help – I would have enjoyed making this jumper a lot more if I hadn’t had to do it in such a short time. Jez says I should make something for myself next – the rug sounds like a fab idea 🙂
March 4, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Gosh you are busy. Just think how amazing it will feel when it’s all over though. Congratulations on getting on the PhD Jo. 🙂
March 4, 2015 at 4:01 pm
Thanks Steph 🙂 x
March 4, 2015 at 3:59 pm
Well, all this makes my head spin, of course, but the part that really makes my jaw drop is the knitting! I know the jumper will look wonderful, but I can only imagine the number of woman-hours that’s demanded from you. I’ve noticed recently how tired my eyes are getting by the end of the day, so am sure knit-one-purl-one must be a huge strain too.
Many, many congratulations on your PhD decision.
March 4, 2015 at 4:03 pm
Oh, Pauline, it has been incredibly tedious. Knitting just seems to grow so slowly! You can spend like two hours on it, and when you measure it it’s only grown another three centimeters! As of right now I only have the sewing up to do, but that’s an art-form in its own right. Imagine my horror when my daughter comes back from school tomorrow with half her lunch splashed down it 😉 x
March 5, 2015 at 8:04 am
Superwoman or what! I feel totally wimpish in comparison!
But fantastic news about the PhD.
March 5, 2015 at 10:41 am
Thanks Sally 🙂 I don’t feel like Superwoman, more like Super-stressed woman! xxx
March 5, 2015 at 10:38 am
I advise you to look into that printing job urgently. If you plan on using the uni print shop, what with everyone having similar deadlines, they can get waiting lists weeks long and you might run into issues… Of course if you plan on using a local pro firm instead it might not be so bad, but do please check asap! It might need to be in the print shop for 2 weeks! At least you’d have plenty to get on with while you waited 🙂
That’s just my experience of course, your printer might be faster, but don’t put off checking, please 🙂
The knitting’s looking good! I’d just have bought a plain white jumper and embroidered the blue on, I’m too slow a knitter and I daren’t try that kind of garment yet. You’re evidently braver and faster than me!
March 5, 2015 at 10:40 am
That’s a really good point about the printing! I’m right on it. Yes, the plain white jumper and embroidery option did occur to me when I was halfway through knitting the bloody thing – and boy do I wish I’d done that now! 🙂 But it’s finished and it looks fab. Do pop over to Facebook to see it x
March 5, 2015 at 4:35 pm
And breathe Jo …
Congratulations on being accepted for the PhD in Creative Writing 😀 x
March 5, 2015 at 6:20 pm
Amazed you can find time to blog! Good luck with it all.
March 14, 2015 at 4:34 pm
Wow Jo, exciting times for you. I hope you can manage to get everything done on time – I’m sure you will, you seem like an eminently capable person, even though you may not feel like it!
Many congrats on being accepted for the PhD – that’s wonderful news. I’m sure you’re excel at it. 🙂 xx
June 4, 2015 at 7:39 am
Can you tell me where you got the pattern for the sweater. I want to knit it for our grand daughter’s birthday – in September so at least quite a lot of time!
June 5, 2015 at 7:58 pm
Hi Maggie,
I’ll photocopy it and email it to you xxx
June 5, 2015 at 8:40 pm
Thank you so much. . Much appreciated. x