So This is Me, Come Along For the Ride.

How I came to Substack, who I am, what I will do - hopefully. Sort of an intro post.

3 Red Cabbage Heads a free and reader supported publication. Subscribe now to support me, you can upgrade to a paid subscription, it doesn’t give you any more access to my words, but a handwritten note and a small gift are yours. My words are free.

So, this is me, a person with a lot of curly hair. It’s my crowning glory don’t you know? I love my Terry Pratchett hat and the witchety vibe it gives me.

Who am I?

I am Tamsin, ex teacher, chronically ill with ME/CFS, autist, enby, mother, ex military RAF wife (still the wife ex the military). Oddly weird and weirdly odd. Quirky. Apparently these are things you shouldn’t say when asked to describe yourself in a job interview. Who know?! Not me, and I have said these things. Things like hard working, a team player, punctual are what they are looking for. Boring!

I live in Yorkshire now. In my 31st house. Lived in many varied places. I love it when the sun shines and the world glows. I love spinning at the top of the moors when all I can hear is the birds and the wind (preferably a gentle breeze not a gale). Errant thoughts often make me smile. I also have a very cynical side, often warranted. 

When I was asked by well meaning adults aged 6 what I wanted to do when I grew up, I often answered ‘a writer’, and occasionally a jockey, and sometimes a ballerina. I don’t think I ever considered knitting would become a big thing in my life. I learnt to knit around aged 5 and learnt to crochet around aged 38. I’m left handed and for a long time crochet didn’t stick.

So I knit. Knitted frogs seem to have taken over my life. You can also find them at My Website. I knit frogs and other animals and have jointly published a book ‘Franklin Finds a Home’ with NJ Simat 🤍 - it’s available at all good book stores.

Why 3 Red Cabbage Heads?

Weeeeeeelllll. Wait for it.

The Boy and I were talking about passwords, mainly the ludicrousness of one uppercase, one lowercase, one number, one special character, more than 8 characters long and the way it’s impossible to remember them. He said actually the best and safest passwords are three random words stuck together a bit like the words generated on the What Three Words app. And to make it even better stick in a number. We were playing around and I came up with 3 red cabbage heads. (Don’t worry I don’t use it as a password for anything). My brain likes to make connections and I have three kids, and three of us are red heads, and we are all fairly brainy and cross sections of cabbages look like brains. Simples, eh?

What Will I Do?

Come on this weird and wacky journey as I find myself and venture further into the Substack and literary world. See my photos, hear my voice, listen to my frustration, revel in my achievements. Be there with me.

I will write about knitted things, arts and crafts, and do a monthly photo journal. I may write about other stuff too occasionally. I will try to post regularly, but I’m not going to hold myself to it. It’s important to me to be honest with myself and you and not just post because it on a calendar. I tend to post in spurts though, and then have a rest.

Me in Saudi Arabia watching the patterns the sand on the dune made when I wiggled my feet. I spent ages doing this and remember it precisely and how happy it made me.

What Won’t I Do?

I don’t envisage doing any livestreams, workshops or events - but never say never, I can not guarantee the energy I have from one day to then next, and I also I don’t really fancy them.

I won’t limit my blogging but I also won’t stick to a schedule if it’s not working for me.

I won’t stick to one subject.

I won’t guarantee to not be a bit political and I won’t tolerate hate speech etc. I’m basically a ‘woke snowflake socialist’, so let that guide you.

If you don’t fancy any of this crazy assortment then this may not be the stack for you. But, otherwise, I would love for you to join me on my journey.

Rock runs on the road to Stanley, Falklands Islands. I love patterns, wilderness, and nature.

So why am I here?

What to I want to achieve?

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Testimonials

Husband - She’s alright, she’ll do.

Adult child - Have we got any bread?

Margaret Ann Silver - Tam Chennell makes me laugh until I feel like my head is going to fall off. (note from me, I am not a comedian I do not intend to write comedy, but apparently I occasionally do)

thisaintkansas - so oddly interesting

Lisa Andradez all round wonderful human (note from me, I think she’s muddling me with someone else)

Friend - When one trims one vibrissa, one should do so in private! (That one is actually true)

Come join me.

An ‘doer upper’ in Ireland, and amazing scenery.