This month found me with time to luxuriate in lots of puzzling time. Although I started the month with 500s I soon moved back towards my happy place with some excellent 1000s. Lots of nice pictures and lots of nice complete puzzles ready to be sold!
Jigsaw Jollies
Just a little insight into my jigsaw hobby!
Friday 31 May 2024
Tuesday 30 April 2024
All about the 500s (and one cheeky 1000)
I’m a bit swamped with puzzles to check at the moment, with at least 40 in the garage waiting. To try and whizz through I spent the month going through 500s. These only take me about an hour so I can manage 2-3 at a time, the same amount of time to relax on a 1000. All were pleasing, although there were a couple more not photographed due to missing pieces.
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Sunday 31 March 2024
Marvellous March
Now, usually I always do 1000 piece puzzles, but this month has seen me enjoy a number of smaller ones. 500 tends to last me about an hour and means I can squeeze other things into the day as well as indulging in a puzzle….or 2. I also enjoyed the small wooden one of stamps - it only took 8 minutes.
Thursday 29 February 2024
One day I will say ‘no’!
I have a weakness – there, I’ve said it! If someone approaches me for help with a tricky puzzle, someone asks me to finish a puzzle they are struggling with, someone tells me I won’tbe able to finish a puzzle, or someone says the puzzle is impossible – my response is always the same – I’ll do it!
I’m not sure why – it inevitably means I spend hours of time feeling irritated and frustrated, questioning my choices and wondering why I just didn’t say ‘no’. The House Party weekend was no different and once again I was given a puzzle which even came with a note saying how ‘horrible’ it was. I quickly realised it wasn’t one for the weekend, but instead of handing it back, I simply asked to take it home where I could give it the time needed.
The puzzle itself was a devil. Each piece had the potential to fit into at least 2 spaces and I knew it would take time and logic to complete. I ended up gathering ‘like’ pieces into piles of 4 and then worked through a process of elimination until I finally had some small successes. Then of course, I was hooked, and had to finish. This is probably why I continue – these puzzles always ensure you get a small sniff of success, and then my stubbornness takes over.
It took me 3 hours to complete and was a battle most of the way. Someone asked me whether I enjoyed putting it together. Enjoyment isn’t the right word, but I definitely felt satisfaction that it hadn’t bested me.
The final questions is – will I ever be able to say no? Probably not…
BCD House Party
February is always a winning month for me as a puzzler as it’s when the BCD gets together for their annual house party weekend - a whole weekend in a hotel just puzzling. Even better this year was that I was not working so could drive up early on day one and leave later on the final day.
The weekend was marvellous and I completed so many different puzzles. I was part of the Club 3000 group who complete a 3000 piece puzzle each year, but also got to help with wooden creations and tackle some devilish cuts.
I even took part in a group speed competition - coming 3rd with my team.
Heaven.