Nicola
@craftybookworm.bsky.social
Loves cats, the rain, books, making stuff, and mending old things.
Writes a bit, does some needlework, covered in ink and wrangles pain all the time. Will talk about Eddie the kitten, and Henry his predecessor at length.
Writes a bit, does some needlework, covered in ink and wrangles pain all the time. Will talk about Eddie the kitten, and Henry his predecessor at length.
Desensitising Eddie who is so exhausted from playing he doesn’t want to move, and decided to conk out on the windowsill regardless of the fireworks.
November 8, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Desensitising Eddie who is so exhausted from playing he doesn’t want to move, and decided to conk out on the windowsill regardless of the fireworks.
Things are OK kitten wrangling, Eddie is a delight. Lucy is warming up to him, which involves a lot of spying on her part and me going all Pulp Fiction telling them that ‘we’re three little Fonzies, be cool’. Today they ate together separated by the gate and Lucy def ate more than she had done 🙌
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Things are OK kitten wrangling, Eddie is a delight. Lucy is warming up to him, which involves a lot of spying on her part and me going all Pulp Fiction telling them that ‘we’re three little Fonzies, be cool’. Today they ate together separated by the gate and Lucy def ate more than she had done 🙌
Jane Austen’s statue has been unveiled in Winchester and I’m astonished how, with so many fantastic female sculptors around locally, we ended up with such a ropey statue. He said it was the product of his imagination, tbf he seems to have put her father in a dress 🙄
October 18, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Jane Austen’s statue has been unveiled in Winchester and I’m astonished how, with so many fantastic female sculptors around locally, we ended up with such a ropey statue. He said it was the product of his imagination, tbf he seems to have put her father in a dress 🙄
Guys, help! I collect Victorian ladies magazines and the seller on eBay ‘helpfully’ sent me some ‘other bits’ that I really don’t want. Including some turn of the century photos. Do you know someone who wants them? I’ll happily pop them in the post
#oldphotos
#oldphotos
September 15, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Guys, help! I collect Victorian ladies magazines and the seller on eBay ‘helpfully’ sent me some ‘other bits’ that I really don’t want. Including some turn of the century photos. Do you know someone who wants them? I’ll happily pop them in the post
#oldphotos
#oldphotos
I’m getting a thermometer for Henry and this is the picture in one of them - every time I look at it I get the giggles
July 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
I’m getting a thermometer for Henry and this is the picture in one of them - every time I look at it I get the giggles
Yes, we have a stunning Iris that is a deep velvety purple and black, and she is a little surprise too. It’s amazing how some flowers just glow!
June 13, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Yes, we have a stunning Iris that is a deep velvety purple and black, and she is a little surprise too. It’s amazing how some flowers just glow!
I often think about Jeff Buckley singing Dido’s Lament. It was mentioned in his manager’s book and how impactful it was - like so many of his songs that talked about death, this had the line
‘Remember me, but forget my fate’ which feels eerily prescient.
youtu.be/sA5UAbl1OWY?...
‘Remember me, but forget my fate’ which feels eerily prescient.
youtu.be/sA5UAbl1OWY?...
June 4, 2025 at 12:12 AM
I often think about Jeff Buckley singing Dido’s Lament. It was mentioned in his manager’s book and how impactful it was - like so many of his songs that talked about death, this had the line
‘Remember me, but forget my fate’ which feels eerily prescient.
youtu.be/sA5UAbl1OWY?...
‘Remember me, but forget my fate’ which feels eerily prescient.
youtu.be/sA5UAbl1OWY?...
While we’re talking about VE Day, does anyone recognise their relative? I have 100+
of Grandad’s photos, who was on a #RNPS #BYMS minesweeper and many of them are of his crewmates I would love to share them with any relatives. This was taken in 1945 when they were changing crew.
#VEday #VJday #ww2
of Grandad’s photos, who was on a #RNPS #BYMS minesweeper and many of them are of his crewmates I would love to share them with any relatives. This was taken in 1945 when they were changing crew.
#VEday #VJday #ww2
May 8, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Finished the beading of Lucy’s face - still on the net and not finished yet but I’m really pleased with her. Ended up bending several needles and my fingerprint is no longer recognised by my iPad but I’m going to definitely do her body and make it into a bigger piece
March 28, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Finished the beading of Lucy’s face - still on the net and not finished yet but I’m really pleased with her. Ended up bending several needles and my fingerprint is no longer recognised by my iPad but I’m going to definitely do her body and make it into a bigger piece
Currently beading a picture of Lucy for my sister’s birthday in 6 days time 😬 I decided to do it at the start of the month but life got in the way. I’m hoping a few days powered by tea & wine gums will sort me out. Turns out I’ll never have enough shades of grey beads
March 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Currently beading a picture of Lucy for my sister’s birthday in 6 days time 😬 I decided to do it at the start of the month but life got in the way. I’m hoping a few days powered by tea & wine gums will sort me out. Turns out I’ll never have enough shades of grey beads
And the issue seems to be that 45% of the male respondents think that they are being discriminated against because of giving women equality - this is Tateism at work, and I think that Tateism leaks into Farageism. This is a massive issue
January 28, 2025 at 12:02 PM
And the issue seems to be that 45% of the male respondents think that they are being discriminated against because of giving women equality - this is Tateism at work, and I think that Tateism leaks into Farageism. This is a massive issue
I’ve just written an email to a lady I know whose husband is dying and wasn’t sure how to end it without sounding trite so did a quick search and came across this website which was third on the search result.
No doubt AI written because it is The Worst advice on what to write. FFS
No doubt AI written because it is The Worst advice on what to write. FFS
January 14, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I’ve just written an email to a lady I know whose husband is dying and wasn’t sure how to end it without sounding trite so did a quick search and came across this website which was third on the search result.
No doubt AI written because it is The Worst advice on what to write. FFS
No doubt AI written because it is The Worst advice on what to write. FFS
I think the biggest thing this year for me was seeing the Aurora. I’m disabled with a chronic illness so I couldn’t even imagine seeing it in real life - yet several times this year I saw it from the garden in Hampshire (in my PJs) and it totally blew me
away. The world is amazing
away. The world is amazing
December 31, 2024 at 10:58 AM
I think the biggest thing this year for me was seeing the Aurora. I’m disabled with a chronic illness so I couldn’t even imagine seeing it in real life - yet several times this year I saw it from the garden in Hampshire (in my PJs) and it totally blew me
away. The world is amazing
away. The world is amazing
I’m so glad that beloved cats still live on in your collection. It reminds me of this needlepoint of Charlie the cat from around 1840, we are not so different from people back then who wanted to capture the likeness of their precious kitties even if it’s a bit blurry!
December 31, 2024 at 1:25 AM
I’m so glad that beloved cats still live on in your collection. It reminds me of this needlepoint of Charlie the cat from around 1840, we are not so different from people back then who wanted to capture the likeness of their precious kitties even if it’s a bit blurry!
You still have enough time to make Fanny’s Royal Mincemeat
Also the recipe for the large Mince Pie
#FannyCradock
Also the recipe for the large Mince Pie
#FannyCradock
December 21, 2024 at 8:51 PM
You still have enough time to make Fanny’s Royal Mincemeat
Also the recipe for the large Mince Pie
#FannyCradock
Also the recipe for the large Mince Pie
#FannyCradock
I got the booklet off of eBay and her excellent Christmas book too, Fanny writes how she speaks
It’s magnificent
#FannyCradock
It’s magnificent
#FannyCradock
December 21, 2024 at 8:26 PM
I got the booklet off of eBay and her excellent Christmas book too, Fanny writes how she speaks
It’s magnificent
#FannyCradock
It’s magnificent
#FannyCradock
I only knew one Grandfather who never talked about the war at all, although probably more because I was a girl 🙄
It was when Grandma died that we found a bag of Grandad’s photos from the war with the RNPS - none labelled,but Twitter did help me find relatives of one of the men in this photo
It was when Grandma died that we found a bag of Grandad’s photos from the war with the RNPS - none labelled,but Twitter did help me find relatives of one of the men in this photo
November 10, 2024 at 12:11 PM
I only knew one Grandfather who never talked about the war at all, although probably more because I was a girl 🙄
It was when Grandma died that we found a bag of Grandad’s photos from the war with the RNPS - none labelled,but Twitter did help me find relatives of one of the men in this photo
It was when Grandma died that we found a bag of Grandad’s photos from the war with the RNPS - none labelled,but Twitter did help me find relatives of one of the men in this photo
This is Tom, he’d just turned 19 when he died a fortnight before the ceasefire. We have some of his letters - the last one particularly heartbreaking as he said he would walk home if he could just to see his family. Just one of many.
#remembranceday
#remembranceday
November 10, 2024 at 11:48 AM
This is Tom, he’d just turned 19 when he died a fortnight before the ceasefire. We have some of his letters - the last one particularly heartbreaking as he said he would walk home if he could just to see his family. Just one of many.
#remembranceday
#remembranceday
Grey hair, thick neck, shouts a lot - who can tell the difference?
Who is your pet named after?
Who is your pet named after?
October 22, 2024 at 10:45 PM
Grey hair, thick neck, shouts a lot - who can tell the difference?
Who is your pet named after?
Who is your pet named after?
I saw the northern lights in Hampshire again! The clouds keep on making it disappear, but it is amazing!
I think I’ll be peeking out throughout the night so I don’t miss anything (it’s also so very cold!)
I think I’ll be peeking out throughout the night so I don’t miss anything (it’s also so very cold!)
October 10, 2024 at 9:31 PM
I saw the northern lights in Hampshire again! The clouds keep on making it disappear, but it is amazing!
I think I’ll be peeking out throughout the night so I don’t miss anything (it’s also so very cold!)
I think I’ll be peeking out throughout the night so I don’t miss anything (it’s also so very cold!)
Dammit. Why is it raining when we have conditions for likely aurora sightings! I saw it very briefly last night but this is so disappointing.
If it’s not raining, check out the window with your phone
If it’s not raining, check out the window with your phone
October 8, 2024 at 12:23 AM
Dammit. Why is it raining when we have conditions for likely aurora sightings! I saw it very briefly last night but this is so disappointing.
If it’s not raining, check out the window with your phone
If it’s not raining, check out the window with your phone
I finished my moss embroidery and am most definitely ready to move onto something bright and sparkly.
I think the fun bits were the little mushrooms and the spider
#textileart #embroidery
I think the fun bits were the little mushrooms and the spider
#textileart #embroidery
September 16, 2024 at 7:47 PM
I finished my moss embroidery and am most definitely ready to move onto something bright and sparkly.
I think the fun bits were the little mushrooms and the spider
#textileart #embroidery
I think the fun bits were the little mushrooms and the spider
#textileart #embroidery
The moss embroidery is going well and has been given the Henry tap of approval
#embroidery #caturday
#embroidery #caturday
August 31, 2024 at 2:27 PM
The moss embroidery is going well and has been given the Henry tap of approval
#embroidery #caturday
#embroidery #caturday
This is my current embroidery project I’m trying to finish for the Village Show. It is unlike anything I normally do, inspired by an Embroiderer’s Guild workshop - it’s moss covered bark and will have tiny mushrooms and a cobweb on it.
I’m spending a lot of time painting sequins with nail varnish
I’m spending a lot of time painting sequins with nail varnish
August 15, 2024 at 11:36 AM
This is my current embroidery project I’m trying to finish for the Village Show. It is unlike anything I normally do, inspired by an Embroiderer’s Guild workshop - it’s moss covered bark and will have tiny mushrooms and a cobweb on it.
I’m spending a lot of time painting sequins with nail varnish
I’m spending a lot of time painting sequins with nail varnish
I love a dramatic reshuffle with the Tories in turmoil
November 13, 2023 at 2:32 PM
I love a dramatic reshuffle with the Tories in turmoil