It’s done! If my broken hands would allow me to cartwheel I think I would. I’ve been through french knot hell and come out of the other side with a slight twitch. My hands have swollen every night for weeks but finally this frigging (other more sweary words have been used) unicorn is done.

Finished 'Unicorn Mystique' cross stitch. Dark blue cloth with a white unicorn stitched. The unicorn is standing on a colourful rock overlook (browns, yellows, oranges) surrounded with green and black bushes. The sky is at late sunset with yellows, oranges, pinks, lilacs. Stars and shooting stars are embellished in the sky.

I’ve said it before and I’m not ashamed to admit I now hate this thing. However, I’m stubborn and sick of not completing things I start – so no matter how physically or mentally pained I was it was getting finished. I found a Facebook group where you can donate old unloved UFOs (unfinished objects) and I was so close to rehoming it or filing it under B1n on many occasions… But the finish was more important to me.

JC asked me how long I’d had it and we worked out about 20 years. I think I’ve now got a pretty low bar set for time to complete other UFO projects, new projects or to complete anything really!

Next I think is a smaller simpler geekier project for JC and a copy for Mr Dragon a good friend. I think I need the gratification of something I’ll enjoy doing and a few quick wins. I’ve also increase the back catalogue of shame and lots more has happened to catch up on. For now I’m going to head to sleep somewhat smugly with a little less darkness and hate in my heart. (That’s a lie, my heart is probably a similar colour to my dark soul and even darker sense of humour – that’s not going to change any time soon 😂)