My 2025 year in books

Chinese Waves Scarf

I knitted a scarf using the Chinese waves pattern to donate. It's surprisingly an easy pattern.

I used a Caron Anniversary Cake Special Edition (the colour is Jewels and Jolly) and 6.5mm needles. It's about 4.5 feet long.

Cast on an odd number on stitches (I cast on 23).

• Row 1:  Knit all stitches 
• Row 2:  Knit 1; (slip 1, knit 1) repeat
• Row 3:  Knit all stitches 
• Row 4:  Knit 2, (slip 1, knit 1) repeat
• Repeat rows 1 to 4

Book ~ "For the Love of a Son: A Memoir of Addiction, Loss, and Hope" (2025) Scott Oake

From Goodreads ~ When veteran broadcaster Scott Oake first held his infant son, Bruce, in his arms, he never imagined that Bruce would become a statistic in the losing battle to opioid abuse.

In those early days, Scott, a new father, watched Bruce with awe, marveling at the potential of his funny, charismatic boy. As Bruce got older, though, he struggled to fit in at school and began showing signs of having ADHD, including a streak of impulsiveness that often got him into trouble. Scott and his wife, Anne, did their best to support him, and for a time, he found community and belonging in boxing and local rap battles. But when Bruce was pulled into a world of drugs and gangs, Scott and Anne experienced a crash course in the reality of loving someone battling substance use disorder.

Then one quiet day in 2011, Scott got the phone call that every parent dreads. Bruce had accidentally overdosed. At just twenty-five, Scott’s vibrant, creative, first-born son was gone forever.

It was a loss that could have broken a man, a marriage, a family - but Scott, Anne, and their younger son, Darcy, instead turned the worst day of their lives into a way to help the thousands of Canadians struggling with addiction. After nearly a decade of fundraising and battling red tape and political machinations they launched the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre, a free, revolutionary treatment centre staffed by addicts and alcoholics in recovery.

For the Love of a Son: A Memoir of Addiction, Loss, and Hope by Scott Oake, a Canadian sportscaster, is an account of a father’s love in the face of loss. It follows Oake, his wife, Anne, and their younger son, Darcy, as he details his son, Bruce’s long and painful struggle with addiction. He describes what it was like as a family handling the fear, frustration and helplessness that go along with substance use. Oake tells of the many attempts to support Bruce, navigating treatment systems, relapses and moments of hope, while also dealing with the limits of what parents can control. 

I hadn't heard of Oake but I saw his book listed in the Toronto Star's 2025 Canadian top 20 non-fiction best sellers so I checked it out as I like reading bios/autobios. I'm glad I did as it's quite a story. I liked the writing style and found it honest as he doesn't shy away from telling about the family's guilt, denial, anger and constant worry. As a head's up, there is swearing.

With Bruce's death from an overdose in 2011 at the age of 25, the family turned it into something positive in 2013 by creating a foundation so other families wouldn't have to go through what they went through and to honour Bruce's memory. They created the Bruce Oake Centre, a 50-bed, nonprofit residential treatment program for in Winnipeg, Manitoba (long-term live-in and community-based services are offered to men seeking recovery from substance use disorder). The planning has started on the creation of the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre too offer something similar for women.

Diagonal garter stitch scarf

I knitted a diagonal garter stitch, which I found here, to donate.

I used a Caron Anniversary Cake Special Edition (the colour is Jewels and Jolly) and 6.5mm needles. It's about 4 feet long.

Cast on 3 stitches. 

First Section - increases:

• Row 1: KFB, knit to end, KFB.
• Row 2: Knit all stitches.
• Repeat rows 1 and 2 until there are 23 stitches on the needle.

You can adjust the width of the scarf by knitting more or fewer stitches. The finished edges of your beginning triangle (the two edges that do not have live stitches) give a close indication of how wide your scarf will be when complete.

Middle Section - main length of the scarf:

• Row 1: KFB, knit to end, k2tog.
• Row 2: Knit all stitches.
• Repeat these two rows until it's the length you want.

Final Section - decreases:

• Row 1: Ssk, knit to end, k2tog.
• Row 2: Knit all stitches.
• Repeat these two rows until there are 3 stitches left on the needle. Bind off.

Book ~ "The Deepest Fake" (2025) Daniel Kalla

From Goodreads ~ Liam Hirsch has it all - a loving family, a thriving career as CEO of an AI company, financial security and a bright future. But when he’s diagnosed with a terminal illness, just weeks after discovering his wife’s infidelity, his perfect life unravels. As he grapples with his fate, he prepares to face his final days on his own terms. 

However unexplained events inside his company make him question everything - including his diagnosis. In a world of deepfake videos, synthetic voices and digital deception, couldn’t these technologies be weaponized against him? What if nothing is as it seems? 

With time running out, Liam turns to Andrea DeWalt, a private investigator contending with her own feelings of betrayal, to help him uncover a conspiracy that threatens his life, his family and their future. In a world where nothing is as it seems and every digital footprint can be manipulated, who can Liam trust?

Liam is a successful AI company CEO who seems to have everything going for him until his life completely unravels. He suspects his wife is cheating on him so hires Andrea, a private investigator, who confirms her infidelity. But he's got other things to deal with as he has been diagnosed with ALS. Rather than have his family suffer as ALS robs him of his faculties, he decides to go the MAID route so he can leave on his own terms. But he wants to leave his family financially stable so he has to fix the strange inconsistencies within his company, push ahead with a breakthrough AI app and find out who is trying to sabotage his reputation and company. He can't do it alone so he asks Andrea to help.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it. I liked the write style and found it moved at a good pace. It's written in third person perspective with a focus on Liam and Andrea. There were so many people who could be messing with Liam so it was hard to figure out if someone really was. AI is moving us so quickly so it was interesting to see the creepy way it could be. As a head's up, there is swearing. I look forward to read other books by this author.

Fan and Feather Knitted Scarf

I knitted another scarf to donate using my favourite pattern, fan and feather.

I used a Caron Anniversary Cake Special Edition (the colour is Jewels and Jolly) and 6.5mm needles.

I cast on 24 stitches (a multiple of 18 plus 6).

• Knit 3 rows of garter stitch for the border
• Row 4: Knit
• Row 5: K 3, P to last 3 stitches K3
• Row 6: K3, *(K2 tog) 3 times, (yo, K1) 6 times, (K2 tog) 3 times, rep from * to last 3 sts K3
• Row 7: Knit
• Repeat Rows 4 - 7, keeping first and last 3 stitches in garter stitch, until piece measures desired length
• Knit 3 more rows of garter stitch to make the bottom border
• Cast off and darn in ends

Knitted Scarf

I knitted another scarf to donate.

I used a Caron Anniversary Cake Special Edition (the colour is Jewels and Jolly) and 6.5mm needles.

The pattern was easy. I cast on 23 stitches.

• Row 1: knit
• row 2 : knit 7, purl 1, knit 7, purl 1, knit 7
• Repeat rows 1 and 2 until desired length
• Bind off

Happy Boxing Day!

Merry Christmas!

Knitted Scarf

I knitted another scarf to donate.

I used a Caron Anniversary Cake Special Edition (the colour is Jewels and Jolly) and 6.5mm needles.

The pattern was easy.

• Cast on multiples of 4 stitches (I cast on 20)
• Rows 1 and 2: (knit knit purl purl) repeat
• Rows 3 and 4: (purl purl knit knit) repeat
• Repeat rows 1 to 4 until desired length
• Bind off

Book ~ "Sorry, Not Sorry: An Unapologetic Look at What Makes Canada Worth Fighting For" (2025) Mark Critch

From Goodreads ~ Known for his sharp-witted skits on CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes , Mark Critch uses his keen observational skills to explore the complexities of Canadian identity and the new wave of Canadian patriotism.

In Sorry, Not Sorry, Critch delves into the heart of what it means to be Canadian at a time when national pride is on the rise. Examining everything from the historical decision of Newfoundland to join Canada, to the modern-day implications of the Freedom Convoy, and the evolving symbolism of the Canadian flag, he reminds us of where we came from, and of the many reasons Canada is worth fighting for—elbows up!

In chapters like “The 51st State,” “I Want My Flag Back,” and “The Invasion,” Critch uses humour and satire to tackle serious questions about national identity, unity, and the future of Canada. He also offers a unique perspective on the country's relationship with the monarchy, the cultural impact of Canadian celebrities living abroad, and the hypothetical scenarios of provincial separations.

Sorry, Not Sorry is more than just a comedic take on Canadian life; it’s a deeply personal and insightful look at thefree country Critch has spent decades satirizing. Whether he’s writing as a war correspondent in a fictional American invasion or penning a love letter to Canada in the voice of Donald Trump, Critch’s essays are sure to entertain, provoke thought, and stir a sense of pride in listeners.

Mark Critch is a Canadian comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work on the CBC comedy series, This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

Sorry, Not Sorry is a collection of essays about what it means to be Canadian and why Canada is worth caring about. It was written in response to Trump saying that he'll make Canada the 51st state. Critch uses jokes, personal stories and satire to talk about Canadian identity, pride and unity. I liked the writing style and for the most part agreed with his opinions. He touches on everything including the Canadian flag, Newfoundland joining Confederation and Freedom Convoy. I enjoyed these essays and found them interesting and learned something. Some of the essays (like the letters Trump or Lt. Clem Boone might write) were too long and boring so I skipped over them.

Double Basket Stitch Knitted Scarf

I knitted a scarf to donate using a double basket stitch.

I used a Caron Anniversary Cake Special Edition (the colour is Jewels and Jolly) and 6.5mm needles.

Cast on a multiple of 6 stitches ... I cast on 24.

• Row 1: K
• Row 2: (P1, K5) repeat across 
• Row 3: K
• Row 4: (P1, K5) repeat across
• Row 5: K
• Row 6: K3, P1, K5, P1, K2
• Row 7: K
• Row 8: K3, P1, K5, P1, K2
• Repeat Rows 1–8
• Bind off

Double Moss Stitch Knitted Scarf

I knitted a scarf to donate using a double moss stitch (also known as a double seed stitch or Irish moss stitch). It's a stitch that gives you a chunky textured fabric and is great for scarves.

I used a Caron Anniversary Cake Special Edition (the colour is Jewels and Jolly) and 6.5mm needles.

Cast on a multiple of 2 stitches ... I cast on 20.

• Row 1: K1, P1 repeat across 
• Row 2: K1, P1 repeat across 
• Row 3: P1, K1 repeat across 
• Row 4: P1, K1 repeat across 
• Repeat Rows 1–4
• Bind off

Michael Collins Irish Pub, Toronto, ON

Gord and I checked out the Irish pub Michael Collins Irish Pub (on Bloor Street W, just west of Ossington Avenue) … it opened less than 2 months ago. 

Me and Gord

"Illumination at Colborne Lodge: Christmas Ghost Stories", Toronto, ON

Trish and I did Illumination at Colborne Lodge: Christmas Ghost Stories this evening. It was dark and rainy out … perfect atmosphere for a ghost tour!  The Toronto History Museums guides were entertaining and informative.

As the year's longest night approaches, come gather indoors to share cold weather traditions from the past and present: holiday decorations, singing to lighten the heart and a live candle-lit reading of a unique genre of literature - the Victorian Christmas ghost story.

After a short tour of cozy Colborne Lodge and the singing of a seasonal song, the evening finishes with warm beverages, sweet treats and a live reading of a spooky seasonal story.

We started in the coach house where there were lots of exhibits. 

Bruce let us know what we were to expect for the evening.

Then he took us outside where we split up into three groups.