Ugh this was hard. I'll keep thinking and trying to add things but mostly what I need is time! Amazon.co.uk vouchers always welcome too, of course. And be sure to email John to tell him if you've chosen something off the list!
Philip Pullman's new book in the prequel series to His Dark Materials, The Secret Commonwealth: https://www.bookdepository.com/The-Secret-Commonwealth--The-Book-of-Dust-Volume-Two/9780241373330
This is a weird and complicated one: Part of the RSI problem I'm having with the viola is that my shoulder rest has never been right (this is apparently common - as soon as I mention the words 'shoulder rest' to any string player they get a sad defeatist look on their face) so the whole thing slides down my shoulder. BUT when a lovely new conference friend let me play with his viola d'amore this week, I realised that his shoulder rest felt just right. He's given me the details of where he got it, but it's a little music shop in Italy and they don't have the viola version on their website although they do sell it. So I'm going to need to write to them in Italian to ask if they'll please sell me one. Looks like it'll be about £25 or so. I'm thinking I'll go ahead and just buy it because if it helps even a little with the pain it'll be worth it, but if you're interested in sponsoring this one, tell John (so there's some element of surprise as to who it's from!) and I'll hand it over to him for wrapping if it arrives before Christmas.
Breaking the Pattern - pattern book from Named Clothing. I've used their patterns before and they're great and I'm seeing some great clothes from this book all over Instagram
A B.Wear gift card: https://www.bwear.se/en/giftcard/ - this is an online shop that sells bra-making kits. Looks like a basic kit is about 250kroner (around £20) but I don't have time to work out what I'd want and it looks like it might be complicated and stressful to explain to another. Also I don't know yet what size wires I'd need or if there are specifics for the pattern I have! But a gift card would allow me to get started with bra-making.
A travel light - this one by Moleskine has some excellent reviews and looks exactly what I need - but also has some seriously bad reviews, so who knows what to think, but this is the sort of thing I'd like - I'd be using it in the youth hostel mainly when I go to Bath, because they keep the lighting so dim in the common areas that it's near-impossible to read a proper book or do any longhand writing: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moleskine-Journey-Scarlet-Travel-Light/dp/B015NG45EW/ref=sr_1_15?keywords=moleskine+light&qid=1575672089&sr=8-15 I like that it's chargeable via USB so doesn't require batteries.
Extra viola lessons with Stephen Upshaw. I think he charges about £50 each - I've got one more to go which was in exchange for the website work I did for him, but would very much like to keep having these every now and then. Not really sure how we would go about this for a surprise but it would be greatly appreciated. Maybe contact him via his website and say it's for me? God, this is hard. How easy was everything when all I wanted was All The Cookbooks???
Daniel Smith watercolour paints - I met an artist-composer at the collaboration conference in Antwerp who has been using these and raved over them - apparently they can be excitingly unpredictable when you start to combine them, which sounds like fun: https://www.cassart.co.uk/brand/daniel-smith/daniel-smith-tube-essentials-watercolour-5ml-set-of-6.htm
There are a few books I'd like to read but I just don't have any time! Still haven't read most of the lovely ones I was given for the birthday. That being said, if there's something you think I'd enjoy (esp. for bedtime reading when I don't read PhD stuff but prefer lighter fare) please send it over - just because I don't want to ask for specific things because I may not have time to read them for several years doesn't mean I don't want to be surprised by other stuff!
What It Is by Lynda Barry - this was recommended by a uni friend as a good book for encouraging one to just get making and stop thinking about what something might be: https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Lynda-Barry/dp/1897299354/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YKGN7XW3BQP7&keywords=what+it+is+lynda+barry&qid=1575730894&sprefix=what+it+is+%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1
Seasalt socks, always: https://www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk/accessories/socks-tights/+womens The Postcard Socks set looks lovely but all their socks give joy.
Pattern weights! https://www.foxgloveandfield.co.uk/product/jewel-linen/
Low/no-cost John things: Towel rack finished? Cables tidied away in the loungeroom so I can get at the Wii Fit board and actually vacuum the floor by the telly?
Outrageously expensive, in case somebody wins the lottery: Lightweight, high-protection viola case (mine is sturdy but weighs an absolute ton. My violinist friend Mayah's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she picked it up!): https://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/BAM-2200XL-Hightech-Shaped-Viola-Case-Black-Carbon/1DP1
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