[on the bright side, April 2023] A tad later than planned, thanks to Covid, but here are some of the things which featured on the bright side of 2023. Reading, enjoyable Many good books. Highlight: I joined a Proust reading group here in Cambridge because I was desperate to talk about
Happy New Year! Couldn’t agree more over book editing and hyped reviews. Maybe we need to name names... I much prefer Amazon reviews though you do have to sift these. I’ve a cupboard full of stinkers about to go to charity shop. Unfortunately for the purchasers - like you I do add my notes as I read. But then as a student I loved marginalia.
Happy New Year and thank you for this very rich post - amazingly in your post-Covid state. I'm with you on the Swedish-learning, for myself via Coffee Break Swedish https://coffeebreaklanguages.com/coffeebreakswedish/. As a linguist by degree I have a short fuse for iffy language learning resources (looking at you, Duolingo), but I'm enjoying the Coffee Break stuff. It has the bonus for me of a Scottish-accented co-presenter. Also good for practice in listening is the rather creaky crime series (but with lovely Swedish summer interiors and island life) on Amazon, The Sandhamn Murders. As someone who normally avoids murder and crime stuff I find this bearable.
Last year I failed to re-read Proust so will return to it this year.
Thanks to Yarnstorm, your sock-knitting and encouragement from some of your readers, I have signed up for knitting classes and am finally laying to rest the ghosts of past knitting trauma.
Happy New Year Jane, thanks for the inspiration you give me, and the paths that you open up to me to discover so many interesting and wonderful subjects. You are a ray of sunshine.
Jane, you are so inspiring to me. When compared to what I accomplished this year, it’s hardly worth noting. I would love to find places to take classes of any kind but not a lot around. We are a medium sized beach resort and cater to the tourists. I am also introverted which doesn’t help. But your story has encouraged me to try to change. I’m pretty good in the mornings but tend to slack off later in the day. I always wondered why people journal but I think that might be a good thing for me. I need to be more productive and proactive and to just do. This is a good plan for me I think. Thanks for the encouragement. Chris
Happy New Year, Jane! Your comment about looking forward to learning Swedish plurals made me laugh - once a linguist, always a linguist... Remember, you once mastered Russian verbs of motion, so you can do this and then there will be no stopping you ordering multiple coffees and pastries. Good luck!
Happy New Year! Every time you post about rock buns it reminds me of my mum making them for me as an after-school treat as a child. Really fond memories. Looking forward to learning more from you and seeing what you get up to in 2024.
HNY, Jane. As always, your blog/writings are a treat to read. Ironically, I was thinking this morning about a Proust reading group. Recently, I found a copy of Germaine Bree's 'Marcel Proust and Deliverance from Time' and thought, wouldn't it be grand to talk about this with others. I, too, read all of Proust almost 20 years ago and want to re-read it this year. Pondering the new Penguin translations and wondered which translation you read, and if you had thoughts. Thanks so much for your writing and making. All the best for 2024. Cheers, Brece
What a delight to start the morning opening your email with a glorious bunch of tulips right at the top! Thanks for sharing all the color and inspiration of the past year with us--I wish you more of the same in the year to come (minus the covid). I decided this year to spend more time at a Scandinavian bakery-cafe near my home in San Francisco, and went there yesterday for a coffee and a cardamom knot, so your post was even more on target, even if I'm not learning Swedish.
Happy New Year and thanks for the lovely posts and the round up. I started reading Proust last year and am looking for an online reading group if you come across one! 🙏🏼
This was such an inspiring post--so many types of ways to create and learn. You have my brain thinking of ways I want to grow in the coming year and beyond. One question: Can you share the Swedish course you're taking? My daughter married a Swedish man and is planning to make her life in Sweden. I'd like to learn at least a bit of the language and was discouraged by my Duolingo experience.
Happy New Year and thank you for reminding me of things I love and for starting me off in so many new adventures over the years. (My first visit to Bekonscot was prompted by you!) A reminder that the world does contain a lot of delights.
Happy New Year to you Jane. I do hope you know what a cheerful ray of sunshine your blog is. It has been a delight in 2023 & I hope it continues in 2024. Good health & happiness to you and yours.
Happy New Year! Couldn’t agree more over book editing and hyped reviews. Maybe we need to name names... I much prefer Amazon reviews though you do have to sift these. I’ve a cupboard full of stinkers about to go to charity shop. Unfortunately for the purchasers - like you I do add my notes as I read. But then as a student I loved marginalia.
Happy New Year and thank you for this very rich post - amazingly in your post-Covid state. I'm with you on the Swedish-learning, for myself via Coffee Break Swedish https://coffeebreaklanguages.com/coffeebreakswedish/. As a linguist by degree I have a short fuse for iffy language learning resources (looking at you, Duolingo), but I'm enjoying the Coffee Break stuff. It has the bonus for me of a Scottish-accented co-presenter. Also good for practice in listening is the rather creaky crime series (but with lovely Swedish summer interiors and island life) on Amazon, The Sandhamn Murders. As someone who normally avoids murder and crime stuff I find this bearable.
Last year I failed to re-read Proust so will return to it this year.
Thanks to Yarnstorm, your sock-knitting and encouragement from some of your readers, I have signed up for knitting classes and am finally laying to rest the ghosts of past knitting trauma.
Happy New Year Jane, thanks for the inspiration you give me, and the paths that you open up to me to discover so many interesting and wonderful subjects. You are a ray of sunshine.
Hi Jane,
Thank you for your wonderful read every Sunday. I so look forward to reading them and they just make me feel good about life!!!
Happy New Year and looking forward to reading your next year of life.
Jane, you are so inspiring to me. When compared to what I accomplished this year, it’s hardly worth noting. I would love to find places to take classes of any kind but not a lot around. We are a medium sized beach resort and cater to the tourists. I am also introverted which doesn’t help. But your story has encouraged me to try to change. I’m pretty good in the mornings but tend to slack off later in the day. I always wondered why people journal but I think that might be a good thing for me. I need to be more productive and proactive and to just do. This is a good plan for me I think. Thanks for the encouragement. Chris
Happy New Year, Jane! Your comment about looking forward to learning Swedish plurals made me laugh - once a linguist, always a linguist... Remember, you once mastered Russian verbs of motion, so you can do this and then there will be no stopping you ordering multiple coffees and pastries. Good luck!
Happy New Year! Every time you post about rock buns it reminds me of my mum making them for me as an after-school treat as a child. Really fond memories. Looking forward to learning more from you and seeing what you get up to in 2024.
Thank you, Jane. This was wonderful! You do inspire and make me excited about the world. Something we need in January, I think.
HNY, Jane. As always, your blog/writings are a treat to read. Ironically, I was thinking this morning about a Proust reading group. Recently, I found a copy of Germaine Bree's 'Marcel Proust and Deliverance from Time' and thought, wouldn't it be grand to talk about this with others. I, too, read all of Proust almost 20 years ago and want to re-read it this year. Pondering the new Penguin translations and wondered which translation you read, and if you had thoughts. Thanks so much for your writing and making. All the best for 2024. Cheers, Brece
happy new year , what a lovely read. xx
What a delight to start the morning opening your email with a glorious bunch of tulips right at the top! Thanks for sharing all the color and inspiration of the past year with us--I wish you more of the same in the year to come (minus the covid). I decided this year to spend more time at a Scandinavian bakery-cafe near my home in San Francisco, and went there yesterday for a coffee and a cardamom knot, so your post was even more on target, even if I'm not learning Swedish.
Happy New Year and thanks for the lovely posts and the round up. I started reading Proust last year and am looking for an online reading group if you come across one! 🙏🏼
This was such an inspiring post--so many types of ways to create and learn. You have my brain thinking of ways I want to grow in the coming year and beyond. One question: Can you share the Swedish course you're taking? My daughter married a Swedish man and is planning to make her life in Sweden. I'd like to learn at least a bit of the language and was discouraged by my Duolingo experience.
Thank you for sharing your year’s activities with us. Your CPD continues to inspire me. Happy New Year to you and your family.
Happy New Year and thank you for reminding me of things I love and for starting me off in so many new adventures over the years. (My first visit to Bekonscot was prompted by you!) A reminder that the world does contain a lot of delights.
Happy New Year to you Jane. I do hope you know what a cheerful ray of sunshine your blog is. It has been a delight in 2023 & I hope it continues in 2024. Good health & happiness to you and yours.