There’s no such thing as a typical semi-retired researcher! But my mail this week pretty much sums up my current preoccupations: a tripod for the Zoom 5 Handy Recorder (research) and assorted double-ended knitting needles (semi-retirement sock project)! I now have all the tech I need, both for my oral history interviews, and for learning how to knit socks.
Researchwise, I’ve designated this week, The Last Week of Procrastination. I need to get started on my interviews – no more ‘I must just …’ prevarication. Florence Nightingale’s ‘invalid’ of last week is not technically an invalid this week; I do know how my various technical options work – why, I even have a wee tripod to help me look the part! – all that remains is to start scheduling.
Retirement-wise, though, I’m not quite sure where the sock-knitting fixation came from. My feet feel the cold, true. And I need something else to do other than embroidery, at times when I find myself ‘relaxing’ in front of the TV. (Let’s just park those inverted commas for now.)
Sheer Bloody-Minded Determination
But I’ve been driving myself crazy with this knitting malarky! If only I had an amenable granny sitting beside me telling me what to do next. As it is, I’ve downloaded instructions off the internet, bought a couple of books, and sworn quite a bit … I absolutely hate being beaten by a circular needle and a variable quantity of double-ended needles. (Manipulating these is worse than trying to hold bagpipes.*) I can’t admit defeat to a 4-ply woollen sock, for heaven’s sake. I’m meant to be intelligent. As my late mother said about cookery, surely anyone who can read instructions can do this thing?
If nothing else, it’s proof that I don’t give up easily. In the grand scheme of things, I made a second attempt at a PhD. On this micro level, I will work out how to knit socks.
I finally (at the fourth attempt) turned a heel, and arrived at something resembling a sock. If it’s on my foot, it’s a sock, right? Even if Kitchener Stitch is a form of torture, and the sock foot is really only just long enough.
The other one of the pair will be better. And quicker. I’m getting there. The BBC recently showcased research proving knitting to be good for one’s mental health. Relaxing. Well …
*Postscript. I did give up on the bagpipes. Learning whilst completing the second PhD was really not a good idea!
Karen McAulay, Musicologist 