Just one for July…

…but what a beautiful one, reminding me that summer is out there and happiness to boot! 

Jigging in different places

June was a great month to puzzle. I was lucky enough to be invited on holiday with some puzzling friends and after a day of sightseeing we spent our evenings puzzling. I finished the month hosting my own puzzle meeting in Bourton on the Water. The theme was ‘Bold, bright and colourful’ and the puzzles presented did not disappoint. 

A rather successful May

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! 

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. 

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. 

February

….just a couple of the puzzles I did not at the House Party of because I was challenged. 

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…