I haven’t been inspired to do a jigsaw this winter – until now. The last one I did was in the winter of 2021. Then, a couple of weeks ago I came across a 1000 piece puzzle featuring the characters and places in Jane Austen’s novels. Mum has recently finished reading – and re-reading – every Austen novel we had in the house, so I thought she might find it interesting too. Yesterday I made a start. Felix came to take a look.

I quite like the beginning stage, where you search out the edge pieces. The good thing about this puzzle is that you can put all the pieces into the box and lid without having to lift the lid and peer at the picture. There is a large poster of the whole scene and, on the other side an explanation of the places and people.

So you can be putting together pieces of the Bath Royal Crescent, or Pemberley, or Lyme Regis or Jane Austen’s own home at Chawton and re-acquainting yourself with the inhabitants and their stories at the same time.

Today I’m continuing to pick out edge pieces while catching up on radio programmes I have missed, such as an interview about the importance of routines and rituals. Doing a jigsaw could fit into those categories. I’m not working at it obsessively, however. I don’t see it as a race but a slow process with time for thought.

Time to stop now and continue reading the Veronica Heley series a friend recommended in her blog. I’m onto the third book (thank goodness for library ebooks) having finished the second at 1.30am this morning! That sounds a little obsessive to me, but who cares? I’m hooked.