tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21929888469641136032024-03-13T04:07:56.061-07:00Knit 1 - Football 0cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-11767091727326465552012-05-01T14:35:00.000-07:002012-05-01T14:35:44.216-07:00Rainbows<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a week of contrasts, and summed up by a photograph</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt2ovwl98VuGXQZ882Vy2ZUMe55Kn6QWWAX5hgkDWLIboPqYuHeqb8U5CUULSjdnwCx4HsCgZK2CKCSsF8F9U2-cJekhZ4IkkcmlXKYAyDDLs5oM7JScmO4BVOK_bc7uSYW8WPCB5Pjo/s1600/rainbow+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt2ovwl98VuGXQZ882Vy2ZUMe55Kn6QWWAX5hgkDWLIboPqYuHeqb8U5CUULSjdnwCx4HsCgZK2CKCSsF8F9U2-cJekhZ4IkkcmlXKYAyDDLs5oM7JScmO4BVOK_bc7uSYW8WPCB5Pjo/s320/rainbow+005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A niece died, unexpectedly. She had cancer, but seemed stable. She went into hospital to have her medications balanced and died that night. Her lungs filled with fluid suddenly and her body shut down. She was in her early 40s.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the good news? Well, there has been rain ... a lot of it. Which usually is bad news, and wasn't the nicest of weather to live through, but at least the irony of a hosepipe ban after the wettest April on record has left me smiling. And there was a rainbow over my garden.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mum went for some tests, and is going for more. Not bad news, so that's good news really.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My new car arrived and looks lovely ... should I post a picture? Next time perhaps. The rainbow is beauty enough ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile knitting continues (and sanity remains), perhaps good things are on the horizon ... so the triteness of living through rain to sunshine heralded by a rainbow is cringe-worthy, but I'm not too cool to hope.</span>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com0Denham, Suffolk IP29, UK52.226778 0.56830352.217051500000004 0.548562 52.2365045 0.588044tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-82211677684964097612012-04-20T12:15:00.000-07:002012-04-20T12:15:43.152-07:00Treading Water<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a while I thought we were drowning, in a sea of anxiety, problems and unhappiness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But strange heroes stepped up to the mark to rescue me, whilst I was rescuing MadMum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were all the landmarks I decided to aspire for and try to achieve in the past year:-</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 10k run to raise money for Alzheimers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rock concerts I'd been missing</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fun and the laughter of days out, nights out and holidays</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a whistle stop summary, during the past year I ran (with my DD, her partner, and my DIL) 10k in the Great Manchester Run, raising over £3k for Alzheimers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to Hard Rock Calling with DD and her OH, to see the Kaiser Chiefs and the Killers. I went to Oxygen with my schooldays chum, for 4 nights and 3 great days of concerts and caught unforgettables such as Coldplay, Beyonce (pre-baby), Brandon Flowers, Black Eyed Peas and Slash as well as great performances from Ke$ha, Noah and the Whale, Tiny Tempah, The Strokes, Foo Fighters (awesome), Beady Eye and so many, many more fantastic acts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to Harvest at Jimmys Farm, and saw the Feeling and Eliza Doolittle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Went to BBC Good Food show and saw Jamie Oliver bantering with Gino; James Martin with a broken foot and so many foodies and ate awesome yumyums.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Went to Centre Parks with my DS, DIL, fantastic twins, DD and OH, and we cycled, swam, treasure hunted and canoed; we got sore bots and sore feet, we drank wine and we laughed and had enormous fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to LIsbon, for the first time and walked up nearly all of the ten or was it nine hills ... which nicely offset the pounds that would have been accumulating because of the awesome food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the strangest of heroes was Harry Potter with knitting. On Ravelry there is an HP Knitting and Crochet House Cup; the folk are fun and the challenges are awesome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When things got difficult with sisters who are angry, or loved ones who are ailing, there was knitting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I knit some fun things and some wonderful things. I sorted my stash and I found caring friends. Knitters are, for the most part, caring fun people who enjoy making things that make other people happy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found shawls. I will end with a random few</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so, after some absence, shawls, music and happiness have made their way back into my life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May happiness and laughter sneak back into yours too.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-53909593066344895982011-12-10T12:36:00.000-08:002011-12-10T12:47:29.386-08:0011 months later<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLeW1e7T3R6M9QSEm4mg6hVOfH-iPsVGpY8yq1h7RyIgyahCIjq4kOG5x4Pxso-TynPAb_63UGgCwXYJ2hyIgapkR4VoIugKHL5OGqqvOJ2OONieyk_kx-eI9lY2NsZi47kL5f-N5ubo/s1600/Nanny+004.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLeW1e7T3R6M9QSEm4mg6hVOfH-iPsVGpY8yq1h7RyIgyahCIjq4kOG5x4Pxso-TynPAb_63UGgCwXYJ2hyIgapkR4VoIugKHL5OGqqvOJ2OONieyk_kx-eI9lY2NsZi47kL5f-N5ubo/s200/Nanny+004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684604134758233746" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" >..</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >So much work, so much heartache but rewards too.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Mum is happy .. more happy and more secure than she has been for many years. She is warm, cosy, well fed, and no longer distressed. Her memory has stabilised and honestly, she's so much better.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I've had a wonderful year ... I've been to festivals, I've been camping, I've had time with my daughter, my son, and the kids. DH has stabilised, his granddaughter is charming and things are ticking over.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Of course the mean sister is still out there - her latest complaint revolves around the amount of money spent at Christmas ... she is jealous of the fact that other "families" get more. Mum has always gifted the person ... not the family. Who the hell says "this family has 1 child so each gets £60" "this family has 3 children so each gets £20" .. she is a mean hard woman. No happier for having</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >(a) got a wonderful husband </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >(b) got enough money</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >(c) is healthy ...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Her perception is, and always has been, coloured by what others may have that is more than she has. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I do feel for St Peter if she should die before her full 70 years are up .. his afterlife won't be worth living.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Anyway, she will moan and make discord, and it, in turn, will make others unhappy ... but it is almost Christmas, my mother is content ... and so (for now) am I.</span></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-26301772964428749572011-02-12T12:14:00.000-08:002011-02-12T12:43:34.413-08:00Visit from the angry sister<span class="Apple-style-span" >Here in pleasant valley life has been sort of moving in the right direction.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Hubby's meds are strengthening his heart. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Our little granddaughter is flourishing and is now 14 months. Her mum seems more in control of herself.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >But</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Mum's decline was increasing at speed. She wandered and had to be brought back. She forgot how to turn a key and got stuck between her porch and the front door, in freezing temperatures, and was only rescued because the neighbour was putting his rubbish out. She set fire to things on the hob, and dismantled her smoke alarms. She became increasingly incontinent. Her heating froze during the bad weather and she didn't realise, so she became hypothermic. She let "charity" collectors in at 7pm at night and gave them the contents of her purse ...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >After being declared by the Consultant Psychiatrist for Later Life Mental Health as lacking capacity, I had to place her fast. She would be placed "for her safety" in a dementia or EMI unit the next time there was a crisis.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The issue was, she was being turned down by mixed units -the minute dementia was mentioned they wanted her in a dementia unit. Mum, despite her memory issues, is bright, intelligent, funny and feisty. She just cant remember a few minutes previously and she can't recognise danger.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >So I battled hard and got her accepted into an award winning sheltered housing complex. She moved on Monday 31st January and has thrived. She loves it. She loves the company (she was on her own all evening most evenings), she loves having friends (carers) pop in on her to check on her. She loves having her own flat, with her own accommodation, and her own things and she is truly happy.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >But, this is my life, so things are never straight forward.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The sister who lives in Australia, who never came to visit for over 5 years, who didn't come when mum was mugged, nor when mum broke her hip, suddenly decided that I had pressured Mum into a <b>"home"</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Exning Court ( </b></span><a href="http://www.housingcare.org/downloads/facilities/generated-brochures/116671-exning-court-exning-england.pdf">http://www.housingcare.org/downloads/facilities/generated-brochures/116671-exning-court-exning-england.pdf</a> )<b> </b>is bright, airy, spacious, caring, loving and independence supporting. The staff are amazing, the grounds are stunning and Mum's flat is beautiful.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, despite giving all the links, all the information I could, on Weds I got my sister's first email:</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><i>Hi all,<br /><br />I am flying back to the UK to see mum next week. As long as all is well with her, I will only be in England for about a week. I would be obliged if you would all allow me to spend as much time with her as possible and rearrange anything you may have planned for the week of 14 - 20 February with her. Mum tells me she has an appointment with the doctor on Wednesday 16. I understand how difficult it is to rearrange those appointments so perhaps that one is best kept. I have spoken to Jacqueline separately about her weekend of 19/20 February.<br /><br />Thank you all for your cooperation.</i><br /><br /></span></div><div>Now, this email wasn't even directly addressed to me. I was copied in. Somewhat hurt I still replied with a bright hopeful email</div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">H<i>i Karen</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "><i> </i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">I spent about five hours with Mum today and she was very excited that you would be flying over from “ooorstrayleearrr” to see her. She asked if I could get a small bed put in her room, so I suggested that you might want to use the guest suite along the hall (it’s only £5 per night). </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "><i>She does have a couple of regular events that she wants to continue to do, but certainly you would be able do them with her. On Tuesdays she has her hair done in the hairdressing salon on site, and she would like to do that still if you are ok with it. I have asked the staff there and they would fit in an appointment to work around you if that is agreeable to you. On Fridays she has a day trip out to Newmarket Day Centre; the bus comes to pick her up and drops her back. She has another circle of friends there (including a Joan who comes from London and was born in 1928) She was keen to go to that again, and certainly the Day Centre would welcome you (lol, although it is for over 50’s I’m sure the average age is nearer 70!) if you wanted to go along.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; ">As she said to you, she has a full health screening on the afternoon of Weds 16<sup>th</sup>, and that would be difficult to rearrange; particularly as I need to get her repeat medications set up. Wednesday mornings typically I go and give the flat a thorough clean, but certainly can either leave that to you or do it when you have gone back.</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "><i>Obviously I have to book her meals and carers, so for now I shall wait to hear from you as to how you want me to play that. At the moment she has a full cooked lunch Mon-Thurs and a tea “picnic party” in the evenings. Friday she goes to NDC, where she has her lunch and the weekends there are no meal arrangements as typically she will have visits\outings with the family.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "><i>Please do let me know how I can help, and whether you want me to book the guest suite (or get a small bed!!) so that you can maximise the time you can spend with her. Obviously it would have been lovely to have spent some time with you, but I truly understand your first priority must be spending time with Mum.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">Travel safely</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D">C</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; ">hris </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; ">x</span></i></p> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->Bit too desperate, perhaps, but I still don't understand why she was so angry. But .. this was the response <!--[endif]--></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><i>Hi Chris,<br /><br />Nice of you to try and organise the details of my visit to mum, but I've got it covered. Thanks.<br /><br />I'm delighted that mum is still as excited about my trip as she was when we spoke about it on Sunday evening. I suppose that's the nice thing about being forgetful, you get to experience all the good news over again. I should have had her write my sleeping arrangements in her calendar along with the dates of my visit so she won't be upset at me turning down the bed in her room again when I speak to her on Thursday again. She had already suggested both the bed in her room and the suite, and I'd turned down both.<br /><br />I think for arrangements about what we will do during the week (apart from her medical visit), it will be best if mum and I work out what she wants to do when I arrive. She obviously isn't into a routine yet since she has been there less than two weeks and her previous routine was interrupted when she went into the care home. Let mum and I play it by ear, ok? If you email me the details of the Friday visit to NDC, then if mum tells me she wants to go next week I'll call and make whatever arrangements are needed. If mum wants her hair done then perhaps it can be their first appointment on Tuesday morning? <br /><br />Since you are operating with mum's Power of Attorney, I know you are concerned about what money of mummy's to spend. However, as I don't really know what we will do until I have seen mum's state of health and mind I suggest that carer arrangements should stay as they are. I'll notify the home if there are any changes. Perhaps you could ask them to be flexible about meal arrangements? I am sure that they can manage to rustle up a meal if she requires it or throw one away if she doesn't. <br /><br />What time is the medical appointment on Wednesday?<br /><br />I'm not looking forward to the UK in February. I'm going to be brave in a minute and look at the temperatures.<br /><br />Cheers<br />Karen</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">So, here I am, trying to ensure Mum is going to be ok for the next week, whilst I try to avoid my sister, who is angry at me ... and honestly guys I'm not sure why I feel guilty - I've been here, caring for my Mum, loving my Mum and supporting my Mum, all the while my sister has been enjoying her freedom in Australia. My Power of Attorney was first and foremost one for Health and Welfare. The Finance one came later, and Mum now is much better off since I have helped her out. The money comment is just plain mean and nasty: I've paid for most of Mum's care, hospital visits, food and clothing for the past 2 years.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Just send soothing thoughts to me, because I could cope with some virtual calming, for my Mum's benefit.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Hugs and hope life better with you</p></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-72186072548120808222010-07-18T12:20:00.000-07:002010-07-18T12:54:33.502-07:00Train wreck<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">When I was a kid and I went to the pictures (ok, movies or the cinema to those from a different culture or era) you knew something bad was gonna happen when the train was just chugging along smoothly ... before the bridge; before a crash, before a person strapped to the rails!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">My life has been that serene train, before the huge issues: I've been chugging along, breezing over the weeds, avoiding leaves on the line, not killing\maiming\injuring the local wildlife - just <b>chug, chug</b>, chugging. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This last 18 months has been the finale, the wreck, the crash, the bridge explosion, the carriage upon carriage upon carriage concertina of destruction!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">If I repeat the litany of events, it will seem Hollywood train crash - but here it goes, <b>chug chug</b>:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Madmother's decline; DH's daughter's alcoholism; Madmother's hip breaking accident; DH's daughter's pregnancy;<b> chug chug</b>; Madmother's increasing Alzheimers; DH's DD's attendance at intervention and AA meetings from her third trimester; Mum's slide into day care; DH's granddaughter born - Georgia (who seems AS free); DH's increasing indigestion problems, which weren't, metamorphosizing into Atrial Fibrillation, Mitral Valve prolapse and weak heart muscle issues; Madmother's increasing faecal incontinence (which she pretends doesn't exist); <b>chug chug</b>; brother-in-law's death from a heart attack at 61; his partner's stroke at the funeral; his partner's brother's death just 10 days later from an epileptic seizure;<b> chug chug</b>; DH's DD's partner has been identified as the father of a child by DNA testing, DH's DD and partner pay the CSA maintenance but ignore the paternity and the child, who apparently is "accident prone" and a regular visitor to the local A&E; <b>chug chug;</b> DH's meds give him dreadfully low blood pressure, affecting all manner of things from fatigue, to dizziness to more personal, body functional </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">issues; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><b>chug chug</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><b>; </b>I have been diagnosed with late onset asthma and a stress related blood pressure issue; I have too much on plate after coping with housework, gardening and Madmother to go to knit night; <b>chug chug; </b>my DS is worried about how I will cope with his gorgeous beautiful twin daughters, he's hesitant about me having the girls to stay this summer ... <b>bridge down, carriage after carriage collapse with me into the ravine </b>... </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">Dearest darling daughter is there to pour the water between my lips, to whisper words of encouragement, but I fear I am tied to the tracks and the next trainload of problems is just around the bend,<b> chug chug, chug chug, chug chug</b></span></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-28802023461158937592010-05-26T13:24:00.000-07:002010-05-26T13:42:36.237-07:00Rictus - fixed grin, or grimace!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 16px; ">If Schadenfreude is your idea of a good time ... step right up .. this blog is for you.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;">In the past couple of weeks my favourite aunt of all time ever died ... I owed her a phone call; she was my link to my father\her brother who died through his own choice nearly 26 years ago. I feel I've now lost two and I don't have Jacqueline to talk to.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;">My mother struggles through the fog that is Alzheimers; she has good days, and bad. She sometimes is incontinent and rarely tells the truth.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;">My 61 year old brother-in-law has suffered a massive coronary on Monday just gone - his prognosis is appalling. His son is travelling and, as yet un-locatable. We hope he will be found before the expected unhappy ending.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;">Chris, the husband, is on a million medications and appeared to be doing better, but today his blood pressure has fallen too low, so may have to come off the medication meant to repair his heart damage. His dangerously irregular heart rhythm cannot be put right unless his heart walls and prolapsed valve can be strengthened. They will not be strengthened without the medication.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;">DH's DD has been drinking again.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;">I have been diagnosed with late onset, stress activated asthma - whoop! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;">However, my garden looks gorgeous - I love late Spring in the UK; my knitting keeps me sane, and my twins, always, are a delight. My daughter is without equal and I would hold her up as a balance to just about all the worlds ills, so blessings I will count, sunshine and flowers I shall enjoy, and love I am sending out to you ... just pass the happiness on and stow the crap. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger - allegedly :)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size: small;">xxx</span></span></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-18533999173733851492010-03-26T12:26:00.000-07:002010-03-26T13:08:53.669-07:00Nearing the end of a decade<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Well, from close of play tonight I'm just 365 days away from the turn of a decade. Decade turns have always horrified me ... no longer in your teens, no longer in your twenties, then the crap starts ... no longer in your thirties ... how do you cope? (OK I know it goes on some from the count up, but I was depressed enough there!)</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I thought I would say what has happened in this past week, in this past month, in this past year, and whilst I'd love to tell you of the rest of this past decade we would then be here some time!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This week, DH was released (on probation, you might say) from hospital. He didn't have severe indigestion, or IBS or excess acid, he had atrial fibrillation (a wickedly erratic heartbeat which caused the mad dash to A&E not long after my last post), caused by heart congestion, a prolapsed mitral valve and pressure on the chamber of the heart that has caused the muscle to weaken and distort. Right now he is on warfarin, to thin the blood, ACE inhibitors to help the muscle consolidate and stop it weakening further, beta blockers and digitalis to try to slow the heart rate, thiamin and strong vitamin b compound tablets to help his liver, and finally a simple ant-acid dose of Gaviscon to soothe any indigestion. When his blood is thin enough (we are attending the Warfarin clinic 3 times a week for blood work testing) he will have an angiogram to analyse the state of his arteries - some plaque is suspected - and perhaps have cardioversion - electric shock treatment to the heart - to reinstate sinus (normal) rhythm to his heart. He may need angioplasty if the arteries are clogged, he may need valve replacement, the next few weeks will tell.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So the past month has seen me as nurse, medicator, chauffeur and confidante. (Won't bother to list the details of all the other roles that get offset to women - you know anyway).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">MadMother has been distressed because she knows DH is ill, but I'm shielding her from the details - she will worry with or without full disclosure, less I hope for knowing less. In this past year she has broken her hip and had her alzheimers diagnosed. I have enrolled her at 3 day care sessions, and she has found new friends, to replace those who have died or moved away into more sheltered housing, and new interests. She has forgotten old skills, and has forgotten to be safety conscious. I have been to rescue her from our local hospital so often the nurses recognise me. Still, she is no longer depressed or lonely and her mental deterioration has slowed enormously.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The past year has seen my knitting stash grow like a well cultivated crop, well that's apt then, it is a well cultivated crop. I've learned new cast ons, and I've increased my ability at ultra fine lace knitting, whilst churning out socks like I have to clad the world. For the second year running I made all my friends and family a hand knitted Christmas gift. I've joined sock clubs, a lace club and a blanket club. I've joined a new knitting group and made new friends. I've met up with old friends and gone to Harrogate for knitting meet ups, I've put friends on hold whilst my life spins and I try to control the skidding. I read other people's blogs as a life saver - to take me away from my anxiety, and I'm relying on snail mail post from a friend whom I struggle to answer.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">DH's daughter has been diagnosed as an alcoholic and she has successfully been off the booze for 5 months now. Her 3 month old daughter seems ok, putting on weight and thriving; time will tell if she has dodged the foetal alcohol syndrome bullet, but my fingers are crossed and holding.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">My own DS's twins are divine, I went on holiday with them in August, and they were a joy. As my problems have increased I have seen them less, but oh my god how I miss them.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">On Mother's Day this year, DH was in hospital in the cardiac unit, I was exhausted and tearful at the drain and pain of the previous months, when my gorgeous, wonderful daughter turned up at early o'clock. She had driven for an hour and a quarter to get to my house in time to make me a mother's day morning cup of tea; she had brought breakfast- eggs and croissants; she had brought gorgeous little knitting gifts. But the best gift of all, apart from the whole thought and deed, was home-made chicken soup. She had stayed up til almost midnight the night before making me soup, so that I would have something nourishing and comforting when I got home from the hospital after late evening visiting. I know how lucky I am and it makes me tearful. Really, seriously, distressingly happy but tearful.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This time last year I had a lump in my breast, ultrasound and a biopsy - the lump is benign. This time last year I was packing to jump on a plane and fly around the world to see a dear sister get married to a wonderful man. I spent hours on a plane and days making a house fit for a wedding, and I am pleased I was there for her. This time last year I was thinking life would slow down - HUH!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Life has been stressful and tiring, I have had the love and support of friends, family and the most wonderful daughter. If you have read this far, then thank you for hanging in there with me. I count you as friends, when you send comfort as a post, and support as a tweet. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Happy Birthday to me, for tomorrow. Virtual cake and bubbly to you all.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-12238657137346566092010-03-11T12:35:00.000-08:002010-03-11T12:53:07.056-08:00DH's drug issues!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjNH8dU8uX89E318t-RhXnCyKOC0paYsCtspCvdCM-9wkWZ9EtclPJdFLluNLsue3j9rXmXdZTqKqcaixKwaTZtxtC0qicFwSdoVsrs9uNN_COcX0KF4IjmOOOeMMHbaTrzGoJ1iQJQQ/s1600-h/yoyofairy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjNH8dU8uX89E318t-RhXnCyKOC0paYsCtspCvdCM-9wkWZ9EtclPJdFLluNLsue3j9rXmXdZTqKqcaixKwaTZtxtC0qicFwSdoVsrs9uNN_COcX0KF4IjmOOOeMMHbaTrzGoJ1iQJQQ/s200/yoyofairy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447478767391922818" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Life has frantic of late but, whilst I have been knitting without stopping as my very sanity is dependent on the stress relief I get from it, there has been little photographic evidence that has made it from my phone or my camera to my computer. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">As I felt the need to blog I thought I would share this photo with you. It is my most favourited project on Ravelry, and it is most beloved by my DD's cat Yoyo. Yoyo drags the fairy around with her and her once sleek blond hair is now well loved and dribbled upon. I like it that the cat appreciates my knitting!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Meanwhile today I drove the 16 mile round trip to my GP's practice 3 times: I took DH for his 9.10 appointment, sat in a cold car knitting for 20 mins, then DH appeared without having seen the doctor as he had been called away on an emergency. At home an hour later the surgery telephoned to say the GP was back and DH should scoot on down there - round trip no 2. The GP doubled the beta blocker dosage, doubled the PPI (protein pump inhibitor) dosage, doubled the renitidin (?) anti indigestion med, changed his soluble aspirin for a coated one, to try and reduce the adverse effect it was having on his stomach whilst maintaining the anti clot action and recommended regular paracetamol. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Four hours later DH in ever increasing pain and gets another appointment for 6pm this evening - the dreaded but wonderful emergency time. Journey to surgery and back - another 16 mile round trip. Extra drugs dispensed, to reduce bowel spasms.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Home, I'm self medicating with a glass of red and YH's Earl Grey socks for DD's partner's birthday in the lovely DIC Smooshy, blue lagoon. Missed my Knit and Natter evening, bugger.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">On the bright side - MMother sounded chirpy again tonight - I love it when she's happy and hanging in there!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Sending love, please send chocolate, red wine and hugs by return please, seriously, please, now!</span></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-27520295530250779362010-03-09T12:59:00.000-08:002010-03-09T13:20:41.778-08:00Not so easy jetting.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Life is sometimes a little too interesting. Lately, like this past couple of years, it's been too interesting and too complicated.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We flew to Spain for a quick respite break and, thanks to the wonderful people at Easyjet who cancelled our plane after technical difficulties, we spent 3 hours waiting for the flight, one our collecting our embarked then disembarked luggage, and 4 hours queuing to get a replacement flight. So, after around 10 hours at Alicante airport we had a flight for 2 days later, four cancelled appointments, a distressed madmother, who didn't know why I wasn't visiting or talking to her, an extra car hire bill of Euro 150 and aggravation from Easyjet customer service who appear not to want to abide by the terms of European legislation, particularly EU Regulation 261/2004 which says that Euro 400 should be payable to customers who have been denied flights. Automatic compensation - not claimed for; not argued about but payable. The "debate" rages on. But for now, my personal opinion, avoid any "service" that doesn't offer customer service.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Meanwhile DH's indigestion was getting worse, it became compounded by a gastric bug which gave him "traveller's diarheaa" Lovely! This was so bad that it affected his heart, and he now has atrial fibrillation which, coupled, with his slight heart murmur, has left him debilitated, breathless and weak. Once home the GP has popped him on beta blockers, asprin (totally aggravating the indigestion) and now PPIs to reduce the acid and hopefully diminish the acid levels in his stomach.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I've got a cold. Poor me. It's only a cold, but instead of being able to mope and keep warm I'm playing nurse to a sickly husband and minder to a mad mother.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">All bad things have a silver lining and the knitting is yomping home. on 3rd pair of socks ... the latest for "son-in-law", ie partner of daughter, whose birthday is next monday. Also going well is the Aeolian shawl, Kingscot, DA's mystery blanket, and sock of the month club.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZfVvG8HPQZV-id2M7RrVdFc9hhFHlnvXj_x-6fJuLwqvosFiOD8fXa-cvHoGpDhnNyPoacBVp1e33l91Ec0i81dMPGHBb2YKEDqD_knxZeOd9hBP4XpiSXxJUpZrvY-uEocQjr0ac0s/s200/Nanny+004.JPG" /> Meanwhile, as I have no knitting photos to show you, here's one of MM herself ... slightly puzzled as to why I am pointing a phone at her!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I've met up with a lovely friend, whose Mother is waiting for the results of investigative tests, and my fingers are crossed for the results of that. She's a knitter too ... we agreed, like so many others, that knitting keeps us (almost) sane during stressful times.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So wherever you, and whatever you are knitting, or frogging, or sewing up, or contemplating, may the needles treat you kindly.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Love and hugs</span></div></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-46902956361236818342010-02-14T11:05:00.000-08:002010-02-14T14:29:13.903-08:00More goose, much cat sitting, most everything<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGFWo5sdRxYyKfwAzEP3U5R2_xnzgzUDzn6gMImQgbkGoOc8LnTC-d03U9ZVDNe2-hyNi9Frwgxr2gq_JY-y1iDAqjlR0peXi6KcIkLLcptyQAhE0ExrtnwMz2zl9keP42xMYTTRX7kc/s1600-h/goosehead.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGFWo5sdRxYyKfwAzEP3U5R2_xnzgzUDzn6gMImQgbkGoOc8LnTC-d03U9ZVDNe2-hyNi9Frwgxr2gq_JY-y1iDAqjlR0peXi6KcIkLLcptyQAhE0ExrtnwMz2zl9keP42xMYTTRX7kc/s200/goosehead.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438181640223936818" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>So, the goose lived, despite the lack of help from RSPB and RSPCA, we shepherded him\her into the garage overnight, so s\he could recover from his head injury (which you can see if you enlarge the photo)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbmsYwH-Fx22Wky6cNV4Z8swtovvly3d1ZYQyFhGRUTDohKvDGP18iJUKnnFyg9TwLaydreZDSwgJiz4zEbn8IvOA5P-MPWKY9BiwXAG793EoGPjEIMVmaVRYsyL2ISEj340hWBo7cDA/s1600-h/knittingandgoose+003.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinbmsYwH-Fx22Wky6cNV4Z8swtovvly3d1ZYQyFhGRUTDohKvDGP18iJUKnnFyg9TwLaydreZDSwgJiz4zEbn8IvOA5P-MPWKY9BiwXAG793EoGPjEIMVmaVRYsyL2ISEj340hWBo7cDA/s200/knittingandgoose+003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438181636264287554" /></a>The next morning, goose recuperated under the bird table, and later stretched legs and wings by walking about for a while.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5NHCnKXIY6AP6U5fLzOUcst-DYW4i-KvaDdqrJGeYzpNIqN5ZyAknHMmrlq1IM5lBwveZdq8eNqbcV8rp59AP_fC7ilGWWXrYxg3mgdhVMqRyadt6LTuGXjEKrXtL_3Cf79k5tNB9MY/s1600-h/knittingandgoose+004.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5NHCnKXIY6AP6U5fLzOUcst-DYW4i-KvaDdqrJGeYzpNIqN5ZyAknHMmrlq1IM5lBwveZdq8eNqbcV8rp59AP_fC7ilGWWXrYxg3mgdhVMqRyadt6LTuGXjEKrXtL_3Cf79k5tNB9MY/s200/knittingandgoose+004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438181624902610546" /></a><br /></div><div>Then just before departure goose wandered around, still not having made any hissing or squarking, pooped a bit, then flew.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wherever goose is we miss him.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, joined a new local knitting group, managed mother best I can, am babysitting kittens whilst my lovely DD is in Sweden for Valentines Day. had DH's GD for 2 hours whilst her Mum and Dad did something (not quite sure of details and no thank yous as yet forthcoming), had Mad Mother her for weekend ...</div><div><br /></div><div>finished one pair of socks, 3 squares for blanket, started 2 new pairs of socks, knitted back and most of 2 fronts on grey Kingscot cardi for me, cooked a bit, drank a bit, and longed for sunshine a lot.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sending hugs, valentine wishes and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(102, 59, 18); line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b>Gung Hay Fat Choy - Happy new year, it's a tiger!</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(102, 59, 18); line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; color: rgb(102, 59, 18); line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b>xxx</b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWMNkGyklQ3wDuEaDbEH4ao5okt6hmBv6aRJsHUF6oEzHqW95sdsMnngs5acnocaQjU5JcMPeChkXCpc8p2I3LdUdt7RNvMbwBvoAtfTmut23eOdWED_Pb8jbmrjCO8-LNofhl-vzNHE/s1600-h/knittingandgoose+002.JPG"><br /></a><br /></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-88861631858796450522010-01-31T12:14:00.001-08:002010-01-31T12:26:32.590-08:00Seriously silly week<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">MMother set her alarm off twice more ... she now regularly talks to the wall - she has no idea who is asking her if she is all right, but she talks politely back. The alarm is situated next to the phone ... but even after nearly a year, she's not quite twigged it yet.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">On Thursday afternoon I spent an hour and a half at the audiology clinic, to get her a new hearing aid ... which she will lose, trash, deny she ever had, or swear she doesn't need.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">On Friday I telephoned to tell her I would be over first thing on Saturday morning with shopping for my sister's visit this weekend (this sister has to travel from her current role in Leeds by Network Rail, mmm, to Brandon!) and that I would also bring her hearing aid.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">On Saturday I am heading to pick up sister from Brandon station and take her to MM's, along with shopping and hearing aid. Needless to say NRail delays mean sister is delayed. I try to ring MM - no answer.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Having picked sister up we are heading to MM's house when we get call from paramedics, MM on her way to hospital she's had "funny turn" After 6 hours at West Suffolk she is discharged - she had walked too far and had a panic attack. I get home at 7pm having eaten nothing all day. (West Suffolk has norovirus so I didn't want to take the risk!) Worst thing ... hadn't taken knitting as I was driving ... so nothing to do for the 6 hours!!!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Today was RSPB BigGarden Birdwatch day ... perfect I thought for chilling out - just sitting and counting feathery things for an hour, knitting my KLC Rumpled socks (first project of the sock club this year) ... </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Was toying with grabbing glass of wine to go with the spanish beef casserole I was cooking, when ....</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Life just gets weirder … I swear I’m living in someone’s bizarre imagination.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cookknitwine/4319139089/" title="goose31110 001 by cookknitwine, on Flickr" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4319139089_9dc1dd32d7.jpg" height="375" alt="goose31110 001" width="500" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; max-width: 670px; " /></a></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">there was a very loud bang, the windows vibrated. A goose had flown into house. Seriously! Went outside, Goose is at least 1m+ tall and staggering. I back off fast. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">He (or she, who knows with geese) sits down in lavender bed and stares at me. No sign of blood or damage … Goose seems confused, but again who knows how non confused geese act? Later goose gets up, staggers across drive (bumping into DH’s large and unmissable car - obviously!) then climbs into lavender bed on other side of drive. Goose now has thing for lavender!! </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">I spoken to RSPB, who told me to ring RSPCA. I spoke to RSPCA who told me to leave it until morning. Goose now snuggling up to largest lavender bush.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">My conspiracy theory is that the goose had come to check out humans after humans had been checking out birds all weekend! He\She is still out there … do you think it wants wine or knitting to while away the time?</p></span>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-26973484226941760102010-01-21T12:26:00.000-08:002010-01-21T12:38:34.144-08:00And Happy New Year, etc, etc, etc<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxaTU5lfUoSKr1BjMYDegLCh56e9bTGUrbSoGNw3kO2B9kMrckq0Yw3dskSu0IdcIEIEZySUpxWcJdUi9ZTwDZlCHoseJZ3wKnsDpqUEwQxEmU3FcdiKu8aGdcN8BZL_o9_aV5jXDs5k/s1600-h/xmas-paddybaby+025.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxaTU5lfUoSKr1BjMYDegLCh56e9bTGUrbSoGNw3kO2B9kMrckq0Yw3dskSu0IdcIEIEZySUpxWcJdUi9ZTwDZlCHoseJZ3wKnsDpqUEwQxEmU3FcdiKu8aGdcN8BZL_o9_aV5jXDs5k/s200/xmas-paddybaby+025.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429292716699751954" /></a>So, my last post was in September ... what has happened since then? Well October, November and December since you ask ... also half of January. <div><br /></div><div>DH's daughter went on an AA\detox course... she endured and passed. She has been sober since the beginning of September. On 1 January baby daughter Georgia was born .. who looks lovely and whom we have our fingers crossed for. Wrap is lovely soft merino wrap in Feather and Fan pattern, knitted by me, worn by Georgia.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, MMother has not got better, but may have become less aggressive .. which is better for me ...</div><div><br /></div><div>My DD has been appointed the youngest ever AST - Advanced Skills Teacher - which is so deserved as she works enormously hard at giving each and every child all the opportunities she can possibly open up for them ...</div><div><br /></div><div>I knitted more gifts this Christmas than I did last Christmas, which means if I want to say that again next year I have to start knitting soon ...</div><div><br /></div><div>and I joined 2 sock clubs, one mystery blanket club and a lace club and I'm still here typing on t'internet so not enough knitting deadline yet!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Love hugs and sorry ... I really have missed blogging</div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-68632605711658061322009-09-22T13:48:00.000-07:002009-09-22T14:24:05.988-07:00Soctopuses, sausage fruits and sagacityLife is a series of moments and now is now, while the last now is gone. If that makes no sense then welcome to my world.<div><br /><div>The cough survived the antibiotics, laughed at them in fact and grew stronger. So I have been for an xray and tomorrow am off to discuss the result and to ascertain what I can take that will kick the damn cough into touch.</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile the garden has gone loopy: I have carrots that weigh 450 grams each ... are they edible that size? Also, I have the weirdest sausage tree, look:-</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2GIn8yLBw9cG060DvgFuJ6qRFSJuwz1oyaFcZZkXjXQmmbqyjEwMeHK66C1hfIhjw_QU1FTSAym2qpDdtxcajj2KV-yn1ssv0M-B2pwa0Kf1gE12AcXqRwVmBsvoUSEmoM3QQY9Akww/s200/akebiaripe+001.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384399584586332658" /><div>It's akebia quintata (5 leaves chocolate vine) in fruit ... honestly this odd plant has produced slightly unusual, somewhat disturbingly shaped and coloured fruit. However, it has been ripening in the sun (hah! what I would give to be a plant or a cat!) and today just split that teensy bit that showed it was perfectly ripe.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Edible, apparently, so I tried it ...</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCcy6Q5JMK6SBA4QdRUXe1x5K_AaHMhw90ZPq2eTQNy1kc0RuVtIvj1da8OG0evcTcfNiI6dQ6k7Lvyhxh3uVedXxqKN-L3pOsWlzS8VhcRRG5RS68ZlhcQofxv_SptURlgehQ9Z_6so/s200/akebiaripe+004.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384398827151990434" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9DVJ79wDUx0RrwNI5EV5uBIgKI72ca77k5pCq4rt9FbLXNXpvZddzNqvEnhQXJfy0pjzvjQl_v72Jd8JNqhJ5DMYZNQdMaX3iMoGBq-F9VPMGY18TKjoBOSfFf5oi8ES-q1w_Ofy_do/s200/akebiaripe+003.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384398833158184514" /><div>and actually, it's rather lovely! It's slightly sweet and elegant, rather like a non cold sorbet. It reminds me of passion fruit, except way less the colour of frog spawn! Although way more disturbing in terms of shape and colour.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, on another planet, MadMother has been driving me demented -- however, the nurse for Geriatric Mental Health has proposed a visit by the Consultant for Geriatric Mental Health and, fingers crossed, I am hoping that there may be a recommendation for anti-dementia drugs, within UK NICE guidelines, that may just aid my sanity and slow my mother's deterioration. More updates to follow after visit on Thursday 24th.</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, the most amazing news ... in the midst of mayhem and madness ... I entered Alice from Soctopus's competition <a href="http://www.socktopus.co.uk/blog/">www.socktopus.co.uk/blog/</a> . I want, I want, I WANT! subscription to KnitLoveSock Club 2010 so put my name down for the ballot. There was a twitter competition ... I entered and </div><div><br /></div><div>TADA .... WON ... woo woo wooo hoo.</div><div><br /></div><div>So!!! I now have a year's free membership - yep patterns, yarn and Socks!! Way to go and thank you so much Alice!</div><div><br /></div><div>There is more to tell, like the madness of making kilos of damson jam (even though I don't eat jam) just to be productive and not to waste a crop the likes of which have not been seen before in this garden; the making of twin "pretty in pink" cardi's - so good I knitted them twice; the traumas of hubby's hopes to buy a small home from home in Spain; the pain of the fear that comes with SD's decision to continue her pregnancy despite her alcoholism; my pride in my DD for her hardwork and progress with the able and less able in her teaching career ...</div><div><br /></div><div>But I have to blog more often or I have to choose how long these notes can be - so, for now, I shall send love, hugs and soft warm beautiful yarn hugs to you all. Silk, alpaca, qiviut and baby merino to you all and a small kiss on the cheek too. Whatever you are doing, here's a small spoonful of love to stir into the mix</div><div>xxx</div></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-46657444717674726892009-09-07T14:50:00.000-07:002009-09-07T15:02:03.854-07:00And the beat goes on ....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">... Although the pressure required to make the beat is way higher than it should be!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">After another bad MM day on Friday, when she shouted at me, at the GP and the social worker, I left her, distressed and coughing, exhausted and all but beaten. I booked a late appointment at my GP and, despite my fears I would be dismissed with "post viral, take paracetamol and live with it" I went in and explained the nearly 5 week long cough, headache and fatigue.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The cough is a crackle in my lungs ... hopefully some antibiotics will clear it. The headache may be tension, or it may be sky-high blood pressure! I never have high blood pressure, low blood pressure is my body norm, but no ... stratospheric it was.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So, I am attempting relaxation techniques. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Attempting though as DH's DD remains a problem, I still worry about MM and now I worry about my blood pressure ... arrrgh.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Altogether now close eyes, think beach, hear the waves, breath in deeply through the nose ..............</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">....</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">and out!</span></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-84811729763021527612009-08-25T13:31:00.000-07:002009-08-25T13:57:03.795-07:00Sometimes, just sometimes, hubby gets it rightI am all but dead ... being a zombie would be so much easier. I am tired, exhausted, fatigued and falling down drop dead bloody worn out. I am run ragged and on reactive respond mode.<div><br /><div>MadMother has become so difficult I am thinking of moving away, for ever, with no forwarding address. So, when I got home on Friday and hubby told me he had a plan, I just nodded, cooked, ate, had glass of wine, went to bed.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I got home on Saturday he had built a masterpiece. I now have a yarn room. A YARN ROOM! Not just stuff squeezed in a wardrobe, not just a cupboard ... but this ....</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXF8oWBWbfVVP-kzAxWY4BqSL-SsmyDxCbC1cE2m6HhK4XwDMy6BPgXHXxxczMHAnSGvH2KTtNhIYbT6bMOqcSNRbkyZo2IHITqzZX6MULhZWOxLvDP8q9RLJdFyu8yk9H08uRV9oOv8c/s200/DSC00139.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374005424687980610" /></div><div><br /></div><div>He knows that the OCD in me gets very anxious when I have no control over things in my life. He knows that the thing that soothes me is organising and controlling.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had the best weekend for ages ... even though the weekend was only Saturday evening and Sunday morning.</div><div><br /></div><div>I sorted; I organised; I labelled and I printed lists (not least the stash list from Ravelry). It was the best time I have had for at least six weeks.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtV9U23EslFZB9rTJJh5rV4Cm6KwPnE9C5UdqQHRilnbraHfzVRJBKO0eBAPi8GjL-bknyg-a2YWVwygo37_6V6M5Ku4Io2AexOzQSM7UwoTvbssPWXgfZV8O8544E9jcG8u8Uho5aInk/s200/camera0809+015.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374006829330771906" /></div><div>My books are organised, my yarn is organised, my needles are organised and even my buttons are organised ....</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Look .....</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7P8RPW7_nSQ06nSCz3BxvKrcwetiwRmxSHsQb4iSgNL_b80-XoMTC1vOl9bq2Dawz1JYSzdo7m0zZLZNhafwJL6bdS-XJ79PNXzfmIIE4dwFGF7HRgaxNhg5gyytzo932EX4ynLVccA/s200/camera0809+016.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374006836144802914" /></div><div>I have control, I have power. I don't have total control but I have some ... and do you know some is better than none.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do you know what else ...</div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes, just sometimes, hubby gets it REALLY right! Thank you.</div></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-27351433677629197412009-08-06T13:02:00.000-07:002009-08-06T13:27:18.014-07:00Interesting timesSo where have I been I hear the clamouring voices (ok 10 words in and I have already admitted to hearing voices, whoops!) ...<div><br /></div><div>Well, the old chinese curse is may you live in interesting times. Now all I have to do is find and kill the old chinese person who cursed me - interesting times indeed!</div><div><br /></div><div>Life has become a soap opera. My husband's daughter announced she was an alcoholic (here I should say we had already noticed), announced that she was going to go to AA meetings (but didn't) then a couple of weeks later announced she was pregnant. He now has a daughter whose drinking binges lasts for days, a potential grandchild being drowned in copious, regular drinking bouts also being subject to 30 cigarettes a day, and he is distraut. Meanwhile his daughter's drinking has been so out of control she has been arrested and held overnight in the local police station ... what hope for the child? Having searched out Fetal Alcohol Syndrome I am crushed with despair for the future of this tiny abused foetus.</div><div><br /></div><div>My mother has been having her own soap opera ... I have taken her to dermatology appointments (pre cancerous cells caught in time and zapped with liquid nitrogen); audiology - her hearing is no worse but she still keeps murdering hearing aids; the "eye" clinic - not only does she have glaucoma but is developing cataracts; and to the GP for her short term memory issues and habit of falling over (no alcohol involved).</div><div><br /></div><div>However 3+ weeks ago she fell and broke her hip; so I have spent 21 days, £55 on parking, about £90 on fuel and visited her 3 times a day in hospital. I've done her washing, and written her notes about her exercises (referring to her notes helps her memory issues), I've chased the physios to push her, the Occupational Therapists to supply her with aids and I've kept her chin up. One sister has been supportive by cleaning her house, clearing paths and complementing my visits. The sister in Oz has sent love and fruit. Another sister has come and spent the past few days staying in her house after MMs discharge. Meanwhile I have been rounding up home aids, like carers, extra equipment, district nurse, physios etc. Happy Days!</div><div><br /></div><div>My dearest Daughter's BF's grandfather has had a chest infection whilst in Austria, which led to a stroke and DD's BF's Dad has flown out there to be with him, missing family celebrations for his 50th birthday.</div><div><br /></div><div>My DIL's favourite aunt has just discovered a lymph cancer at the distressingly young age of 52 and is waiting for a full body scan tomorrow to ascertain whether it is contained or is migrating.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hold on there is more ... I have 4 sisters and a brother and there has been some falling out over the approach to adopt with my mother. I have a husband with whom I am perpetually arguing .. my problems or his both being too heavy to carry without rancour.</div><div><br /></div><div>However ... I am knitting like my life depends on it (which it probably does) so sometime will upload the squillions and trillions of knitted things that I have cast on, knitted, cast off and sewn up ....</div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile ... thanks for letting me take the load off and if you do have any spare fingers please keep them crossed for me, I could really do with a lightening of the load.</div><div><br /></div><div>Love hugs and hoping for kisses back</div><div>xxx</div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-52359361883340138462009-05-15T12:30:00.001-07:002009-05-15T12:45:04.371-07:00Who is mad?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">MM broke her hearing aid, whether wilfully or accidentally I know not. But I do know it was murdered and, without it in she is murder! </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">So, today, I took it along to the local hospital where there is a "drop in" repair session every afternoon between 2 and 4 pm. I sat there, along with the cast of Cocoon. You come in, take a ticket - rather like those at the deli counter in the supermarket, and wait your turn. My number was 70.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">70</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"> was called by a pleasant looking attendant, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Booth 3</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: medium;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">she said loudly, followed by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">What's the problem</span>?" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">"My mother's hearing aid is broken" I replied. "Sorry, about that" she replied "many of our clients can't hear and we have to shout!"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">She then told me that my mother had inflicted a cruel and unusual torture on the poor implement - she had virtually ripped the battery holder, hinge and connections from their socket. The technician was bemused that an 80yr old had the strength to inflict such carnage. She obviously has never met MM. So she went off, got a new hearing aid to attach to the ear piece - then with the most amazing computer interface aligned the hearing aid to the computer diagnostic of MM's hearing - amazing. She gave me new batteries and suggested it might be best if I hide these from MM and in future I replace them. OK. So now I have a new job every week - replace batteries, instruct MM against wanton and cruel torture of her hearing aid, and check the damn thing is clean.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">On the way back on what was a sunny May afternoon, I realised that I had spent it inside ... waiting on (excellent) repairs to MM's hearing aid. Where was she, you may ask? At the blooming seaside on a jolly with her geriatric and some friends, having fish and chips and a "small" glass of wine ...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Tell me ... who's mad??</span></div></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-64287696938711192712009-05-13T13:43:00.000-07:002009-05-13T14:02:30.877-07:00Over 80 support groupThere are days, and this is one of them, when you know your purpose in life is to be a supporting player. <div><br /></div><div>Today, on my way to meet MM, I met my 84.5 year old neighbour. He's selling up and moving south, to be in a secure gated community some 3 miles from his only son. The neighbour, Peter, is an ex WW2 fighter pilot, widowed some 7 years ago, who keeps a very neat and tidy house, who paints amazing water colours and some less than perfect oils; who makes me smile, but who is throwing in the towel on independance. He also shared the awkward news that another neighbour has major kidney failure and requires regular dialysis - the poor wife is struggling, herself aging and trying to be 100% perfect in a carer's role.</div><div><br /></div><div>MM, when I met her, was struggling and therefore, by association, so was I. She perhaps had forgotten her tablets, so her grasp on life was slippy, but she was pleased to see me; as I was her. Still, the letters she sent me when I was young, the words she sang to console me, the times she hugged me and hummed my name ... all those things are out there binding me to her and giving me the encouragement to support her. I took her home, hugged her, chatted to her cat, and drove home in tears.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later I had a phone call from my late Dad's sister, who is now 83. Jacqueline is well and fairly chirpy but begging me to visit her before she dies. I don't know how I quite answered that plea ... but still, tonight, I've been checking the cost of flights from here in the UK to Washington where she lives. How can I refuse her?</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank goodness for the numbing mindlessness of daft online games like Zuma .. my current highest score 111,076, and for a lovely glass of wine. Thank goodness for online friends who don't know me, so the guilt associated with remarks such as this is less ... I don't know you for real, so this isn't wholly disloyal. Thank goodness for earphones and music, and indeed for ITunes Genius which does actually provide some pretty amazing playlists based on one song.</div><div><br /></div><div>Haven't had the stamina to ring friends, haven't had the enthusiasm to pick up the knitting ... but hey dear blog still have the hope that lets me post the words and cast them out to the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever you are doing and whomever you are doing it with have fun and have a little bit extra for me ...</div><div><br /></div><div>Sending hugs</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-17906049112035147892009-05-12T13:38:00.001-07:002009-05-12T14:26:13.005-07:00Phone calls from the hedge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSwo2dDeTAzqGQRotoRoLlX9y-U4JcfMxtJgaO4vzBApmqx4RspFXrtkY5mYVddJE1WtUe07C0EnQ93qDffsx-Fpn6vtWogtXP8fOXvAyiiJdDue4gfD7pfUq0Mpg1I5pO_iTuZ2zEBY/s1600-h/mum80jacque+012.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSwo2dDeTAzqGQRotoRoLlX9y-U4JcfMxtJgaO4vzBApmqx4RspFXrtkY5mYVddJE1WtUe07C0EnQ93qDffsx-Fpn6vtWogtXP8fOXvAyiiJdDue4gfD7pfUq0Mpg1I5pO_iTuZ2zEBY/s200/mum80jacque+012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335040215444266274" /></a>S<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">o, this is MM (Mad Mother) who has had a great 80th birthday week-long celebration. However, just to make things a little more interesting for me she has stopped taking her tablets. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The tablets are to allieviate mood swings and depression; so today she telephoned her surgery to cancel a prebooked appointment at the hospital (for a hearing aid check up) - she told them she didn't want it, couldn't make it and they needn't ring me because I had dashed back to Australia.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">Of course they did ring me, and I said I would sort it. MM has denied the whole thing.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span>Then she told me she wants to go to the bank to check it hasn't been losing her money, and she wants to do that with me tomorrow. (The bank is as sound and honourable as it is possible for a UK bank to be). I am <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">really</span> looking forward to the cringe factor.</span></div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">She asked me to feed a cat balloon a tin of sardines - I thought she was joking so laughed. She wasnt and became very annoyed. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is all succinct, but the whole rambling conversations went round and round and round and round. Tomorrow I will go and check her tablets and if she has forgotten to take tomorrow's I may</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> just use them as a suppository for her!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLabG01u7yTzFm01HKzctl902bKZ66vmcSgZWYNpwkkhPRi-eXArsxcwXACKL19dcIkmxGYmlXwuNF-xCSIYzaTSK5or4Gdrn5z6QdFYFHPH56Pbgxv9Bw7tmvu7qrTWbtxoKAeo06wCY/s200/Mumbdayhome+015.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335045129516057154" /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Meanwhile this is DGD no1, Ellie, in her favourite cardigan :) playing cricket ... in the garden when my DS, DIL, 2 DGDs, DD & BF, 2 cats, my DH, MM and I had Mum's fourth 80th birthday party!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_ZmeCGkSko7RpjpZ6xcolHwzH40JJ1ni7twjlNgiIERTx2At-RUFj3kXUyLaZXihe9L9SUSG8HMx0n-JUWwWrgYWGfbdinob5awHR8OCETho55FguK2D_0PyCFcUZQ0W9CAmLdy7Zaw/s200/Mumbdayhome+016.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335045133531268594" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is DGD no 2 (some 10 mins younger) Beth, in her favourite cardigan cat sitting (it was YoYo's first wander around my garden).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1Dl8KA-S2WULmPRUNCd3gwkSW2GE5amCG4-G0WAQKig06pMiGaNYXw4aXGD-lpClS_PF5zDWBcu2lsSR7aGngiKyd7PZ4QN7O_KrGnx5raUtbKDNpWtV1rYuokISNEq1BIjq8OpFjgY/s200/Mumbdayhome+020.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335047617755766386" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is son and SIL, taken by one of the DGDs</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfeyDlWQoNNdy4u88AxtX54oSJ09mrzAGBhPMTFK6ZISFxr2EmixKkAlSc6CZwkcmZ7_T_AMDDOgZ4qTCJL46Pd9TapSt1JanuSiciEvhxTxXiMifvs2_8Ei2lgiqu9kYDEIWGkDt3i8/s200/Mumbdayhome+004.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335049059056153314" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is DD and BF taking the cat for a</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> wander ...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_8vDs4CYovihkdFRIqbENYVwqvLTcWpt4WPotDksPTTCETlEqh7iZayC3qX7WY1a8gH5HWDfsiXBjnT0K0_Yns6otHabtOTcWuJ4A93DbOFU131J4QeIOr92LYo-e1hmuNcW6fPryvs/s200/Mumbdayhome+003.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335050464678151890" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The game of cricket ...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKVMrEVC-EH6wrQ1kY8JHzB2CvcVSD2mVFIvZpY7UJSceLsuwGDIhEG3I8TMvkeCFqxjttAjzGQcyaRBkU73Gt_g_-TZyrgaiwdzJbo4L4cIu-7xPwFJuZO28b9W1kqAIR9nAbzlG-hE/s200/Mumbdayhome+010.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335050469809197506" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">and she's out!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Fantastic day ... nice enough to smooth over bad memories ... nice enough to remember for a long while!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Meanwhile, wherever you are and whatever you are doing, keep the good memories on file and bin the rest.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Sending hugs</span></div></div></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-22051480237514081632009-05-05T13:51:00.000-07:002009-05-05T14:26:29.903-07:00Say hi to the pretty things<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk3nCxU6nDawD3G_4T8xWGKxQ5d85xg5vSv_1RvjWbswEuYpwHrjfOrsIgvpounbZtdr-yGv-HDVSPASuu7DNwSniXLA2Rj4qtvfVlGXYRCbQ2__9O0KRbVXJfQTXoyW0HSRgD1Q3B1A/s1600-h/Australia+006.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk3nCxU6nDawD3G_4T8xWGKxQ5d85xg5vSv_1RvjWbswEuYpwHrjfOrsIgvpounbZtdr-yGv-HDVSPASuu7DNwSniXLA2Rj4qtvfVlGXYRCbQ2__9O0KRbVXJfQTXoyW0HSRgD1Q3B1A/s200/Australia+006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332448025725403842" /></a><br /><div>Well, not difficult to tell where I was when I found this pair ... but they hadn't seen any yarn shops and despite a perfect place to stash a project, they didn't seem to have any work in progress ...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOD6WmxjkDI3YbYpJ4pkrOxrlMr7WNnQ1JZ7k7m3gZk0eOqd1OlWsYrSYsymxj1rvDFw4dQ_CFUE0gbZJJG6XykmlZgfyLoEGhdK_DH93Ctd4s3Oubb6GAqzZQaKi9_iTHuOIhBg0r22s/s200/Australia+083.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332448032619198194" />And although hard to see, Koala is there, sleeping in the tree, so no socks or sweaters there either ...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6aSNcRXQsaxFq0BOQtkOMBUQDCkQHvnnoAS21FC_TaqckpbENbZwxClt8cbLg2u9WyseEoYIKffhFjYNekNqLvsSU23vBUBLolPvKN8K4e45QirIYSCgUEUl834wQmWUufc7mGQnNhP8/s200/ausphone+015.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332448036284476130" /></div><div>The ibis were happy</div><div> playing and paddling ... no knitting ...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8YTeQxfBZ6C7x0zA0RPoHjHg9abTCtDH8FfBYq-ITkTO-XnB6afj0V_KO0Iu05wCAqtRhzW3moPND9t8iJqImP8TkmZNJSgihH1NXfCQdO86YM9aNZwaFqeVLFlnYoyTmYbKnvAFhnA/s200/Australia+012.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332448044041528130" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6F1w5bdOPge_v7R0ZuGFD6C82D-QcUEbqPdQ9tqguZ6FM3H-hjJrcijgQBA1tXAILzvhkY7J-r1dCVFuZxcvjnIiohyhxsHFwudjqfhZ6ySFHKJWmvbeoW7zAbgeLTQRYHvGQDdIZ8CY/s1600-h/Australia+050.JPG"></a>The lizard was just catching the rays ...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8qCr_ohPU_xBmRnph11Qx64ek36tG4i-L31RaP3Sb3WUWJV0kskLQhoNvhK_U-UmwTPXRrY09R7iv8cd1JOGWuwWPE6FAz_KVXJJhhtAlBQCh5nLgQ0vxnMjMwfrQ2q4Wvm0B4hcOtA/s200/Australia+050.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332450090833150258" /></div><div><br /></div><div>The brush turkey (AKA bush turkey) was very happy ... a protected species and allowed to wander without fear of cranberry sauce ... but definitely not a yarn addict</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoFf_H9aezlY9qvN2qGle-xqggL5mPFonlAm0onSeIJyqo2fma8fZWS0MkR3Njmbq26HaxF5JRuwOpNPHqBAIB6CckJ39ukjqTZq8KtduW5awX95gWwTi5EaMOKQkoSzSBVz8TrYpbcM/s200/Australia+002.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332450092045897986" /> And a pair of homo barbequiens laetus maritum novitor (thank god there are no romans around to criticise my awful latin!) ... who were so busy with each other, being married and cooking breakfast that they had no time for knitting and are now convinced knitting is something you do when deprived of a partner and conjugal rights .. (actually let's not even go there!).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So that left me ... knitting and photographing all the amazing wild life that just wanders ... no zoo just out there. Of course I did do a little surfing (yay dude get me!!) and sailing, swimming and walking .... but when I got a little bit in need of something to be nice to me I got out my silk and merino!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd go back in a heartbeat ... but the knitting comes too!</div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-78867395799764877342009-05-04T11:37:00.000-07:002009-05-04T12:29:18.889-07:00A wedding, an 80th, a 60th and an honorable mention!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Well, this is the wedding I nearly never made. I live about 60 miles from Heathrow airport, so in good faith and anticipation I left home 5 hours before my flight was due ... yes 5 hours! That was to allow 2 hours to get there (no seriously, even at 30 miles an hour ...) and 3 hours to check in.</span><br /><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8X-M3ongJw-ZJrgtWIFO5bgUP6lkhPviSwQFvJp2eR0ZPYBBsBfpU5J6HA0mQPkX_wjQgTN2yx6_BsaQBBaQW-eJWoO9HlFfgolMPo-kKy_nJYDmjIVq0WmoEwdACsICc0fgfsx6uZM/s200/Wedding+98_8.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332042500236817122" /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Of course I travelled via the road from hell, aka M25 - London's orbital ring road - DO NOT USE THIS ROAD ever. Motorway my arse ... it's a carpark. On the day in question some fool had decided to trash his car at the M25 junction with Heathrow. There was a 30+ mile traffic jam ... with 4 hour delays reported. Arrrrrrgh. After racing up and down tiny roads, along with every other car who wanted off the road from hell, I arrived at Heathrow with 25 minutes before the flight was due to take off. The desk was shut, but a hugely kind Malaysian Airline check in girl took one look at my red face and sobs and took my bags ... she got 2 burly security guys to rush me through security and race for the gate .. of course it was the gate 43 - the furthest from the terminal! I made it but only because of the kindness of the check in staff.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qmr4u8FgQsKs3t9xIgn7o3LBDRb4WEp3aIAY667wuocqJziIqWfrKT9nnALAQdDmu_dQeyUTCeIsATGmYCjDpezDmWRLT0jxWyWdulBvE-LvILU2436HdVxGbupUV1WppL1uRIGbBJg/s200/knittingmarch+008.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332042511656359266" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">This is my little bride and groom gift ... not quite Karen and Andrew, but much loved all the same, as was the gift of funds from the family that I took out with me. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The day was gorgeous - the preceding 7 had been torrential rain, so someone somewhere heard a prayer!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByayxCb9sL8iWvmOTRbAnYDtQRI3nI11lzRYtao6eqaDATCgiQyuoCKsfQc5GUX3Y6aR07bqjPDITBEUEA5S7Km7Djh666H9WCjedAFkHNC062a2DfBw7gthA8WAQKge1ykfDl225ipI/s200/Wedding+90_7.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332045926782260290" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And this is the result of much hard work, I was out there to help my sister get married and to cater! She's a veggie, so I did the boned and stuffed turkey and, with less than an hour to spare was still de-shelling 2 kg of prawns - I was aromatic! It was accompanied by all manner of delicious salads and veggie dishes ... as well as intoxicated fruit salad which was happy to the tune of half a bottle of rum - yum!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToMfguxSxalX3b-GB0MykTc7Wc9EfzBkbaL6C4wv15Rn5Z97Hx4q7QT7VRVKwXZuh1I3R2iR829UBVBlPgLchJ50rmUSma25bJW8_JLKbgBT9jp7j8e7HqtcQtFEm9lAH0VUSleNjkKU/s200/Wedding+9914_6.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332045927658965314" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">At the end of the evening, I got rather carried away .. perhaps I should have been carried off! But I did my "I'm here to stand beside my sister as she gets married, and represent all her family" speech with enthusiasm, passion (and probably several glasses of champagne inside me).</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwck1u1jNzcEO5vf1cFiptBNIGsKuywVRwj0z0jKpbIlgDwBA5btyIwDB0APm8fLzHGHUHgoytHzbDNu92iELWehXAVRFbA-ao8k8wUQHygfI6bz4en6DGacfGjxKH5Tps3mBgU86Ej5c/s200/DSC02049.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332047422831115890" /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">After the wedding I took time out to do some traditional Aussie things, we BBQ'd on the pristine and free outdoor barbies; we sailed on Drew's boat; I attempted surfing without too much bodily damage and, of course, the knitting and Ravelry bag came too.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Do you know ... the UK weather just sucks after sub tropical Queensland, although we do have yarn shops to compensate - they seem to be missing over there!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">On Wednesday it will be my mother's 80th birthday ... do feel free to shout out "Happy 80th Joan" if you should see her on 6th May.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHOtBfldSxLDtAhQ_S41JjMejcyaRb7vCvb9hhvTNA5vbSKNAYlJt_yG20ROn23upg6hPtLBOiBDMf_-hzRl8VOY3MjVgKTUWY4LV8uSTNAxsyFedC4qvOUQ8GiTcgjy4TJTziTnCroI/s200/mum80jacque+012.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332043128515929570" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">Another of my sisters (I have so many it is embarrassing and don't blame me it's all my mother's fault) put on a birthday lunch yesterday (Sunday). Thank you Jacqueline who hosted family and friends to a rather yummy lunch - and this is my mother ... happy and enjoying the company (and possibly a small glass of sweet wine!).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I shall be taking her to lunch on Wednesday, the actual day, and then hosting another get togetheron Saturday for my kids and their families, who couldn't make Sunday. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Tomorrow, however, I'm cooking lunch (do I ever have a social occasion without food?)(yes, but never without wine!!) for my friend's 60th and I'm expecting that Hilary will get giggly, Treez will be droll and I shall be snapping a photo or two!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Finally an acceptance speech - thank you - to Sheila and to Suse-the-slow for their kind remarks, and to SMP for making me say "holy crap".</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">oh, and by the way, the project count is now up to 6 on the go (not counting those that have gone into hiding) and I have to finish one for my mother by Wednesday, so why am I still blogging ?????</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Love and hugs and sunshine</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">xxx</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-15399145894735407622009-03-31T12:42:00.001-07:002009-03-31T13:14:14.689-07:0014 hours 45 minutes and counting!Am off to Oz from the UK, seriously 1st April no joke, and cannot imagine the torture of not being able to knit during the most tedious of flights … so I have packed wooden needles, bamboo needles, yarn and the teensiest DPNs I can find along with some pencils which have a gauge of about 7mm - I am going to knit!!<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><br />Here’s the irony … Australia supplies one quarter of the world’s yarn .. but is the most stringent in banning needles … doh!</div><br /><div>I am hoping to knit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbF66R8HdRiljprBUBvO40FVulhSz6S8f34UZUqqnX1288Azt-FOfykGlI69TbZIpg5N0ZDSWxW67o4EqjZV_qKnK36s_rFCYyqz8JBoepFMYUzFgw1w3s_TDO29YyRkp2V9d_ksylPI/s1600-h/Wedding+Cake0009.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 142px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319439853189910370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbF66R8HdRiljprBUBvO40FVulhSz6S8f34UZUqqnX1288Azt-FOfykGlI69TbZIpg5N0ZDSWxW67o4EqjZV_qKnK36s_rFCYyqz8JBoepFMYUzFgw1w3s_TDO29YyRkp2V9d_ksylPI/s200/Wedding+Cake0009.JPG" /></a>:</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>a garter </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div>some socks </div><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1432/555487477_5435dd7ffa.jpg?v=0"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 152px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 185px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1432/555487477_5435dd7ffa.jpg?v=0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div></div><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3010/2864988243_613a5a1fc8_m.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3010/2864988243_613a5a1fc8_m.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>a Debbie Bliss cardigan </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>FLsweater</div><div></div><br /><div></div><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2557274228_3ace597a89.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 224px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 203px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2557274228_3ace597a89.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Depending on what knitting implements I am left with!</div><div></div><div>I have 1000 yards of Sundara Fingering silky merino in wine, 100 grams of Loutrais Mohair fingering in baby blue, some pale blue fine ribbon and a whole heap of patience (just not enough patience to see me through a 25 hour flight with just bubble gum tv and crap food).</div><div></div><div>When I will next blog I don't know .. but hopefully soon I will have photos of a real bride and a real groom in a lovely garden in Oz ...</div><div></div><div>Love and hugs</div><div>xxx</div><div>xxx</div><div>(and thanks for all the suggestions on what I should knit and how I get passed over-officious security folk; will pass on the smuggling DPNs in underwear!)</div></div></div></div></div></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-14284387836749482742009-03-28T15:22:00.000-07:002009-03-28T15:44:13.287-07:00Bride Groom and Bat-eared Bunny<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/3392716619_1f435dcc6d.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3425/3392716619_1f435dcc6d.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>So, at last, the groom is sewn and stuffed. He has a goatee, like the real groom and the hair colour match is pretty realistic! <div><br /><div>He has a teeny tiny cravat pin, wing collar on his shirt and a flower matching the ones in the brides bouquet ... aren't they dapper!</div><div><br /></div><div> I just hope the real groom will be as protective of my sister, the bride, as this groom is of his.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, I have been celebrating my birthday, perhaps with a little more fervour and champagne than government guidelines suggest is good for me; but hey it was good quality champagne, it lasted all day and it made me happy. And, lovely as it was, it's not going to be repeated for a bit of a while :(</div><div><br /></div><div>One special gift was from a dear friend, who crocheted me a lovely hug ...</div><div><br /></div><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3454/3393519154_f22358e980.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 375px; height: 500px;" border="0" alt="" /><div> a warm snuggly, merino cosy, beautifully made, with love, care and thought ... how nice is that!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, my first ever spinning to knitting project was a success ... ok only rabbit size ... but the sweater looks good. Next time I may try for something larger than hand sized!</div><div><br /></div><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3427/3393515080_4f46f00e1b.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" border="0" alt="" /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/3392710699_c593ed337a.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 375px; height: 500px;" border="0" alt="" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And here is chocolate bunny wearing the sweater ... it's not the best photo ever, but sadly I didn't check before BatBunny went to live with DD ...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Finally it's only 3 days until I fly out to Oz ... I haven't packed, or made a list. I haven't decided what I'll wear ... but I did finish my knitting!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Keep safe</div><div>xx</div></div>cookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-80362247262713775742009-03-17T14:38:00.000-07:002009-03-17T14:44:20.333-07:00And top of the evening to you ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3633/3363902102_7db7cb6b04_m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3633/3363902102_7db7cb6b04_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />So here I am with my camera, trying to get hat and head in focus. However, I'm really no good at it so you will have to make do with hat and eyes.<br /><br />I should be off sewing up groom, but am still in a quandary about bride. Bride is knitted with body and arms incorporating the colour for the dress, so I couldn't just knit a new dress to match the colour of my dear sister's dress ... I would have to knit a whole new bride and arms and legs ... I think tomorrow I may search for some burgundy silk ... and sew a weeny overdress and corset .. so she can be a mix and match bride - traditional vs dreamy, floaty and midsummery in burgundy.<br /><br />So, whilst in my quandary, I have taken heart; I have said naughty words to the sewing up and am sipping a wee glass of wine instead.<br /><br />I like my hat ... but I'm not sure it's the right look for the wedding.<br /><br />Happy St Patricks day ... sending hugs<br />xxxcookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192988846964113603.post-64563411127679698062009-03-16T13:58:00.001-07:002009-03-16T14:08:36.485-07:00Arggh ... now what do I do<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN5A899E1MAJMZmL4Oyh-jcFtRYd9g4fPbBNfb2EWnw0a_5iNmXiHgBt_ldM4ZM0NPmT0VQOqfXvKTwvCVtzP71x0xGTjt-fiSBqf9-n9_lzFvhVg6uoQKr2-HGB1ElAbMjT2F8lYks8/s1600-h/kaitlinx02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 118px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN5A899E1MAJMZmL4Oyh-jcFtRYd9g4fPbBNfb2EWnw0a_5iNmXiHgBt_ldM4ZM0NPmT0VQOqfXvKTwvCVtzP71x0xGTjt-fiSBqf9-n9_lzFvhVg6uoQKr2-HGB1ElAbMjT2F8lYks8/s200/kaitlinx02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313893311503314946" /></a><br /><br /><br />This is what my dear sister has decided to wear for her wedding - now there is no doubt that she will look lovely and it will suit her. There is absolutely no doubt that it is perfect for the "midsummer, dreamy, fantasy" type wedding theme she has as her goal.<br /><br />Question is fans ... Do I remake bride's dress in burgundy????<br /><br />Or, perhaps, I could just buy some burgundy satin and make an overdress ...<br /><br />help!!!<br /><br />Meanwhile, I now have to find something floaty and dreamy to wear to wedding. Actually make that floaty, dreamy and happy. Well, when texting her she said she was going with the dreamy fantasy idea and would be barefoot. When she wanted to know what I was wearing I replied "would find something from the closet that was dreamy and happy<br />to go barefoot." Texting being what it is ... she thought the outfit would be dreamy and happy, which it will of course!<br />Less than 15 days and counting ... and woo my birthday in 11 days and Suse's in less than 14!!! Actually is Sis's in 5 days on 21st ... so lovely trifecta!<br /><br />Advice on bride outfit welcomed!!!!!<br />xxxcookknitwinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093100893199326485noreply@blogger.com1