Logistical and mental preparations (and a request)

With just a few more 'sleeps' until Unravel, my preparations have begun in earnest. As always there are various things that have to be done before the annual trip to my favourite festival. First there is the logistical organisation involved in handing the 'baton' to my husband for the weekend. (Little Miss has a party to get to - with the right gift and wearing appropriate clothing, the dog can't be left all day if they go out, My Boy has homework to do... that sort of thing.) Not to mention packing for an overnight trip.

Then there are the pre-festival preparations - making sure I have noted yarn requirements for the patterns I plan to make, and that I work out my budget. Listing any buttons and notions I'd like to buy. I wrote about these things last year in my post 10 Tips for Unravel Festival. (As it happens, the extra day and additional coffee shop last year meant that some of the things mentioned weren't necessary, but the rest remain valid.)


There is something else I'm trying to be prepared for this year, and I'm finding it difficult. In fact, I'm hesitant to write about it, but there are two things that I know: (1) the blog would be an incomplete record if I didn't, and (2) writing always helps to process my feelings. So here goes.

For the last few years my friend Wink travelled from the Netherlands for Unravel. She would fly in on Friday and spend time with my family, we'd travel to- and from- the event together and share a hotel room there. We would have a great time with friends (old and new).

As the weekend approaches it's hitting me all over again that Wink is no longer with us, and that I will be travelling to Farnham alone. I am trying to be prepared for the journey and for being in the places we'd usually be together. Many of our 'Unravel gang' will be there - that will be a huge comfort, but we haven't seen each other since her death, and so I'm also preparing myself for the feelings which are inevitable when you finally get the chance to have a hug - phone calls and messages just aren't the same.

I considered not going to Unravel this year. Staying at home would certainly be easier, but I really don't think it would be the right thing to do. It would probably mean I'd never go back. So, my plan is to be there and to keep busy and not to dwell on the massive hole Wink has left behind. It won't be the same - it will never be the same - but I can do it with the help of my friends. We will make some new memories, and next year it will be easier - first anniversaries are always the hardest. I know this from experience.

So if you are at Unravel and you see me there, please do come and say hello - show me what you've bought and tell me about your day. Please help me to stay focussed on the good stuff, and all the great things about this community, because that's how I hope to remember this trip. Let's make it a good one. 

15 comments

  1. Remind me to give you a very big hug when I see you in April. And I will fill you in on not fretting on packing for an overnight trip, you amateur ;-)
    Big hug!! She's with you, you know...

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    1. Thanks Esther. I'm relying on you to take her place in making fun of me :P

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  2. Oh Sarah, that's very sad! I'll be thinking of you. I'm sure she'd want you to go as well and I bet you'll be glad once you've done it. I've never done unravel, it always clashes with my little boy's birthday... Maybe I'll be organised next year, though I say it every time.

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    1. Thanks. I know it is a thing I must do and it *will* be ok - it's part of the process.

      I know what you mean about clashes - Wonderwool always clashes with my daughter's birthday celebrations xxx

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  3. Oh Sarah, that's very sad! I'll be thinking of you. I'm sure she'd want you to go as well and I bet you'll be glad once you've done it. I've never done unravel, it always clashes with my little boy's birthday... Maybe I'll be organised next year, though I say it every time.

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  4. I keep thinking about her all the time at the moment too and I can only imagine how sad you must be feeling. We'll raise a crochet hook to her on Saturday night. x

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  5. I might not be so good at knowing the right thing to say but i give good hugs. She'll be with us because we will be thinking of her.

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    1. That sounds perfect. I'm so glad you'll be there, we both enjoyed your company so much last year and I know we will have fun again xxxx

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  6. Wish I could jump on a plane and fly across the ocean to join you and your friends at Unravel. It's sad to lose a good friend but remember as long as you remember all the good things about her, you take her with you everywhere you go. So that means, she will be there with you at Unravel as you marvel at the colors and textures and once in a while say to yourself "Wink would be drooling over this". It will be bittersweet, but sweet non the less. Hope you have a truly enjoyable time there with your other friends, and the new ones you make.

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  7. Will be thinking of you and hope, if I get to go, to be able to say hello.xx

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  8. Sending you some big hugs Sarah. Wink was a very special lady and I was so glad that I met her at Unravel 2014. It was my first visit and I needed some much soul comforting after losing my hubby 5 months previously.

    I will always cherish that day as I got to meet so many lovely people in real life. Wink will be there in spirit. Wherever you see
    the bright, fun yarn, she will be there. Sorry I won't get to see you this year as I am going on the Friday. Maybe next year I can get a weekend day off.

    Much love from moleymakes xx

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    1. Ahhh thank you. It was lovely to see you there and it's a shame I'll miss seeing you this year, but I am sure you'll have fun on Friday - snagging all the best things before we get there! :D

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