Nothing has impacted my wanderings more than the $2.50 cap on public transport on a Sunday. $2.50 for all the public transport I could use? What could be better than that?

I spent a few Sundays heading up the mountains for breakfast... wandering in the city for the afternoon... exploring a wider range of libraries. But, being the obsessively inclined person that I am, it didn't take too long before that project part of my brain started firing.

If it doesn't really cost you anything... you could go anywhere.

If you don't have to find a lot of money... you could go everywhere.

Let's. Go. To. All. The. Places.

Did you know there are 178 train stations on the Sydney City Rail network? Well now I do.

The best part of this project is that I'm not by far the only train enthusiast in the world, and a lovely librarian I know shared with me one of her amazing Trove finds: The Railway Guide of New South Wales. Originally published in 1886, it has some delightful descriptions of the stations and their surroundings.



As with any good projects, there has to be guidelines, in this case, just one: to mark off a station, you have to be going to that specific station, for a specific purpose. I'm not entirely sure how long it will take me to get through them all, but let's give it a go.

STATIONS

• Allawah
• Arncliffe
• Artarmon
• Ashfield
• Asquith
• Auburn
• Banksia
• Bankstown
• Bardwell Park
• Beecroft
• Belmore
• Berala
• Berowra
• Beverly Hills
• Bexley North
• Birrong
• Blacktown
• Bondi Junction
• Burwood
• Cabramatta
• Camellia
• Campbelltown
• Campsie
• Canley Vale
• Canterbury
• Caringbah
• Carlingford
• Carlton
• Carramar
• Casula
• Central
• Chatswood
• Cheltenham
• Chester Hill
• Circular Quay
• Clarendon
• Clyde
• Como
• Concord West
• Cronulla
• Croydon
• Denistone
• Domestic Airport
• Doonside
• Dulwich Hill
• Dundas
• East Hills
• Eastwood
• Edgecliff
• Edmondson Park
• Emu Plains
• Engadine
• Epping
• Erskineville
• Fairfield
• Flemington
• Glenfield
• Gordon
• Granville
• Green Square
• Guildford
• Gymea
• Harris Park
• Heathcote
• Holsworthy
• Homebush
• Hornsby
• Hurlstone Park
• Hurstville
• Ingleburn
• International Airport
• Jannali
• Killara
• Kings Cross
• Kingsgrove
• Kingswood
• Kirawee
• Kogarah
• Lakemba
• Leightonfield
• Leppington
• Leumeah
• Lewisham
• Lidcombe
• Lindfield
• Liverpool
• Loftus
• Macarthur
• Macdonaldtown
• Macquarie Fields
• Macquarie Park
• Macquarie University
• Marayong
• Marrickville
• Martin Place
• Mascot
• Meadowbank
• Merrylands
• Milsons Point
• Minto
• Miranda
• Mortdale
• Mount Colah
• Mount Druitt
• Mount Kuring-gai
• Mulgrave
• Museum
• Narwee
• Newtown
• Normanhurst
• North Sydney
• Oatley
• Olympic Park
• Padstow
• Panania
• Parramatta
• Pendle Hills
• Pennant Hills
• Penrith
• Penshurst
• Petersham
• Punchbowl
• Pymble
• Quakers Hill
• Redfern
• Regents Park
• Revesby
• Rhodes
• Richmond
• Richmond, East
• Riverstone
• Riverwood
• Rockdale
• Rooty Hill
• Rosehill
• Roseville
• Rydalmere
• Ryde, North
• Ryde, West
• Schofields
• Sefton
• Seven Hills
• St James
• St Leonards
• St Marys
• St Peters
• Stanmore
• Strathfield
• Strathfield, North
• Summer Hill
• Sutherland
• Sydenham
• Telopea
• Tempe
• Thornleigh
• Toongabbie
• Town Hall
• Turramurra
• Turrella
• Villawood
• Vineyard
• Wahronga
• Waitara
• Warrawee
• Warwick Farm
• Waterfall
• Waverton
• Wentworthville
• Werrington
• Westmead
• Wiley Park
• Windsor
• Wolli Creek
• Wollstonecraft
• Woolooware
• Wynyard
• Yagoona
• Yennora

Total Books: 53

Total Pages: 13, 863

March (0 pages)

April (1245 pages)

• One Pot One Bowl: Rediscover the Wonders of Simple Home Cooked Meals - Kim McCosker
• Tomorrow Girls #1: Beyond the Gates - Eva Gray
• Cupcakes: For Every Occasion - Denise Gere
• The Great Australian Bake Off - Dan Lepard and Kerry Vincent

Way back at the start of 2014, Wendy and Renae tried to talk me into joining in on the #moodblanketchallenge2014. I was pretty adamantly against it, thinking that the last thing I needed was a visual representation of what was still, at that point, a pretty tight-holding depression. Having that right there in front of me seemed like a TERRIBLE idea. I caved, because that's what you do when good friends ask you to do something (and, come on, it was a pretty cool craft project), but I was pretty sure I would hate it.

Oh how I hate to be proven wrong.

Not only did I not hate it, I actually found it helpful in the exact way they wanted it to be. On my worst days it was hard to crochet those squares, but at the same time I had, securely in my hands, direct proof that those bad days WEREN'T all my days. I could point to all the good days and run my fingers over them, remembering how I had felt then. While I started the year in a terrible streak of greys and blues, it soon got to the point where I was counting good streaks, and that was wonderful.

It was lovely to crochet my squares alongside Wendy and Renae, but even better than that was all the people around me who, even though they weren't actively participating, became involved all the same. We had a streak of weddings in a short period of time so they brides picked out their squares (the two tone ones). Luke and Nicole would ask me what my colour would be for the day. Ash instituted a whole new mood category ('epic' was required as something higher than merely 'happy'). And best of all was Kira wishing me "yellow days" or messaging me after a particularly good day with all of us together and just matter-of-factly stating that it had been a yellow day for all. It was beautiful to have my friends support me in such a meaningful way without them probably realising how great it was. 

I managed to finish the blanket on time (okay so I just scraped through) and thought I'd share a little bit of it's journey...

I wouldn't be me doing a project like this if I didn't offer up some stats, so here you go, have a little pie chart.

There was a bit of hesitation on all our parts as to whether or not we'd be doing another blanket in 2015 - funnily enough, I was the first to sign up! I think having the opportunity to shop for more (and this year prettier) wool was definitely a large part of the decision making process.

I splurged (but not really, thank you massive sale!) and bought nice wool this year as I was discouraged using the acrylic last year. I selected the Morris & Sons Estate yarn in a huge array of beautiful colours, double the amount of last year. But the best part is the wonderful colour names,..

Mood         Colour

Happy        Nasturtium

Grey           Clay

Creative     Limelight

Loved        Tomato Sauce

Excited       Petunia

Sad             Clear Sky

Quite belated to be sure, but never mind!

Pattern: Noro Striped Scarf by Jared Flood

Materials: Noro Silk Garden; 45% mohair, 45% silk, 10% wool

Amount: 2 skeins in 87; 2 skeins in 376; Approx. 206m/100g

Needles: US 7/4.50 mm

Start Date: 3 July 2014

Finish Date: 21 July 2014

For: Luke

Pattern: Chevzam by Alex Tinsley

Materials: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted; 100% merino

Amount: 1 skein in 22 Sauterne; 1 skein in 35 Frank Ochre; 1 skein in 36 Pearl; 1 skein in 63 Natural; Approx. 192m/100g

Needles: US 9/5.50 mm

Start Date: 8 December 2014

Finish Date: 19 December 2014

For: Nicole

Pattern: Hermione Hearts Ron by Christy Aylesworth

Materials: Patons Big Baby 4ply; 60% acrylic, 40% nylon (small)
Heirloom Merino Magic 5ply; 100% Merino (big)

Amount: 1 skein in 2565 (small); 1 skein in 206 (big)

Needles: US 2/2.75mm  |  US 2.5/3.0mm (small)
US 2.5/3.0mm  |  3.50mm (big)

Dates: 2-4 November 2014 (small)

17-19 December 2014 (big)

For: Katie

Pattern: Song of the Sea by Louise Zass-Bangham

Materials: Heirloom Merino Magic 5ply; 100% merino

Amount: 4 skeins in 206; Approx. 119m/100g

Needles: US 6/4.0 mm

Start Date: 21 July 2014

Finish Date: 21 August 2014

For: Kira

Pattern: Vivace by Elizabeth Sullivan

Materials: Moda Vera Noir; 75% wool, 25% nylon

Amount: 1 skeins in Purple Mix; Approx. 400m/100g

Needles: US 2/2.75 mm

Start Date: 27 March 2014

Finish Date: 1 December 2014

For: Katie

There's something really special about having friends who know you really well, and while I've always had good friends in my life, this is something I've been really blessed with of late. Sometimes this means someone knowing the exact joke to make me laugh for hours on end. Sometimes it means someone knowing I'm not okay even when I say I am. Sometimes it means sitting in a cafe until getting kicked out at closing, or lounging about at home chatting away. Sometimes, the best times, it means having someone hold you while you cry even if you're not really sure why you're crying, having someone make you feel like you're not alone in the world.

Today it means having people who know how to pick the absolute best Christmas present anyone could ever pick for me ever!

I came home late tonight to find a package tucked behind my screen door. This is always a very welcome sight, but it's rarely a surprising one. I usually know when to be expecting a package, so as soon as I saw it sitting there tonight I starting wracking my brains to think what I had ordered and very quickly came up blank.

I had no idea what it was at all... and then I noticed that the return address said 'Jellywares'. That sounded familiar. But why?

And then it hit me. Renae, Wendy and I had had a brief conversation about monthly yarn clubs about a month ago, but we hadn't really done anything about it. Those sneaky little tricksters! It didn't take much to make them confess and admit that they had arranged this lovely Christmas gift for me.

I can already tell that my favourite part is going to be the unboxing each month. I mean look at this! It's all wrapped up so prettily, with washi tape and stamps and beautiful Christmas cards and crafty goodies!

There was a short, heartstopping moment when I thought they would make me wait until Christmas to open further than this, or at least wait until Saturday when we'd all be together, but thankfully they took pity on me and let me keep going.

And just look at that. Debbie Bliss cotton yarn in beautiful colours, a gorgeous Christmas card, pretty little buttons - what more could you ask for in a surprise package? I'm so very lucky to have such lovely friends who know how to spoil me so!