AWSOME!!!!

I'm still on a high from seeing U2 live on aug 20th at Don Valley, Sheffield. It was such an amzing concert. The support act Elbow-from my home town, were Good, But of course no one can supace U2 when it comes to live performances. The stage set 'The Claw' was an awsome sight (I sound like my teens with this awsome business!!). They opened the set with Breathe, not my favourite song but o.k Then they did a few from NLOTH and went into their old stuff. Everysong except MLK were songs I like and some I love. Hearing 'the Unforgetable Fire' live was amazing.

We had a fiasco with the disabled seating-so are you ready for a moan? My tickets had seat numbers on them, so Rachel and I didnt rush to the stadium as sitting in my wheelchair kills my back after a while. We got there at 7pm. The disabled section was just a concrete platform surrounded by rails which was full to bursting with wheelchairs and people in folding chairs!!! We couldnt get in the section we were supposed to be in and got wheeled round to another section which was also full! I was fuming. I'd presumed that we had fixed seats, not a free for all first come first serve. Also what they'd done was allow the disabled person as many other able bodied people as they wanted so the disabled section was full of say one wheelchair then 12 ordinary people on folding chairs. It was ridiculous. Luckily a kind steward moved us to behing the top of the seating area. I had a great view of the stage until U2 came on ofcourse and everybody stood up!!! luckily as I'm not wheelchair bound I could stand up and see for a while and when I sat down I could jig around and peer through peoples legs and still see. I've written to complain as it was so disorganised and the stewards were wheeling wheelchirs all over the place trying to find gaps to plonk poor diasabled people in. I'm sure many more didnt see the concert either.

Still it didnt detract frfm my joy and utter delight at seeing U2 live. We also had a fiasco with getting away from the venue, but I've repeated this tale so many times to people and typed it all in my complaint letter that I cant be bothered re-iterating it here!!

So Much to Say!

I've got so much to say and I'm too tired and in too much pain to do it all now so you'll have ot bear with me over the next few weeks as I type myself up to date. Firstly we have the Awsome, amazing U2 concert, then we had a few days holidays.
So I'll get round to describing them as and when. Going to concerts and then going on holiday dont mix well with FM!!
c u all soon

Fibreholics UK

I am a member of Fibreholics U.K- we send out sample boxes of fibe and yarns via ravelry. These are my contributions for the september box;
peach -Flakland Fibre, black,lime and turquiose- BFL Fibre, BFL sock Yarn in Summer berries and merino/tencwel yarn in Hope colourway

Musing on Books and Brain Fog!-and litterary snobbery

My reading this year has been rather interesting and reflective of the state of my mind and concentration. recently I surprised myself by enjoying Dan Brown books! I avoided them like the plague when The DaVinci Code came out as I dont like thrillers. I scoffed at the thought of reading such books as beneath my intellect. But Fibromyalgia is a strange beast. It affects your concentration and ability to take anything in. Commonly known as Brain Fog. I think I'm having a peasouper at the mo!! Rachel is studying English Lit at A level and wants to do it as a degree, hopefully at Cambrigde- I really hope she gets in-but thats another story!
back to books. Rachels school reading has been wide and varied. I own most of the books she has to read. We've been discussing classics as I love classical books. I have quite a collection. Recently I tried to read The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens. I couldnt make sense of it! My brain is so foggy I cant decipher and process the language! oh Boy!! We both want to read more DH Lawrence. I really enjoyed him when younger. Rachel has started on Lady Chatterly and I fancied Women In Love. But at present my dim brain is on stike!!
Back to Dan Brown. The Film of the Da Vinci Code was on TV recently. I like Tom Hanks and esp as in this film his hair is like Bono'S During the Vertigo era!! so I decided to watch it and see what all the fuss and hype had been about. I enjoyed the film although I guessed the who the baddie was straight away!! So I decided to read the book out of curiosity and enjoyed it. It has intelligent facts in and I like history. I then moved onto ANgels and Demons which I thought was a bit lame, but I enjoyed Deception Point. Although, again, I guessed who was behind it all at the very beginning. Its easy, pick out the goodie boss. Its always the one you'd least susspect!!

Anyway I've picked 4 books up in WH Smiths at the weekend which are more intelligent i Hope!!! at least my brain isnt so foggy I'm reduced to reading Womans Own which has happened in the past!!

Been AWOL!!-plus Etsy sale!!!

Where did the time go? Actually I havnt blogged because the pain in my neck and shoulders has been so bad that by the time I've read my e-mails and sorted out my business I've been in too much pain for the peripheral things.

So what has been happening in Cinders Land?

Mr Cinders Turns 50
Yep hubby reached his half century on 7th July. He wanted a party which was a bit like 'This Is your Life' with freinds old and new dreged up from all over the place!! in the end about 40 people turned up. Mr Cinders bought a cheap Gazebo and as it was dry and warm lots of people spilled out onto the garden so we wernt squashed. Mr Cinders did all the catering himself. he made curried meatballs, chinese chicken, veg chilli with rice, salad and baguettes. I farmed the desserts out to kind friends who'd offered. My contribution was setting the table, blowing balloons up and putting the nibles out!!! We had a great time. I bought him a fabulous cake. I must get the photos off him. The cake was a camera with a model mr cinders sat on top.

On his actuall birthday I made him his favourite meal. Pickled brisket and chips!! I'd had the peice of brisket in the fridge pickling away for 2 weeks, then I cooked it on The day of his birthday. I'm very pleased with myself as I've not pickled a brisket for years. the secret is that M-I-L manages somehow to get hold of saltpetre which gives it that red colour. I can never get hold of saltpetre as is an explosive and the chemist wont give it to me any more!

Knitting Front

I'm still making the bamboo cardi. I've finished the back, 1 front and have nearly finished a sleeve. I cant sit for too long at the mo so knitting is very slow.

Spinning is virtually non existent. legs too bad. boo, hoo

Etsy SAle

I've been trading just over 1 year so I'm having a sale on at my Etsy store. pop in for a 10% discount on everything and grab a bargain I'm just re-skeining some Organic MERINO Aran, so look out for it appearing in my shop soon.

I'd like to thank everyone who's bought off me in the last year and esp those of you who have returned to buy more. I feel very flattered that you like my yarns.

FM

Oh boy!! same as usual I'm afraid. days of extreme energy followed by total knackeredness. The lack of energy is driving me mad again. But I did manage 5 hours on Manchester a few weeks ago shopping with Rachel.!! I must be mad!! I ent to the Trafford Centre with Hubby yesterday and we had a bite of lunch out which was very nice. Other than that its the same old struggle and frstration. E.G. the week of Mr Cinders Birthday. I had to get my neighbour to take me to choose the cake as the shop is about 4 miles away. then my S-I_L picked it up. I get so frustrated having to rely on people to take me errands. If I could only drive again . But theres little chance of that. ah well.

At least My condition, whilst irritating isnt a fatal one. My MUms just commencing her 5th lot of chemo on as many years so if you're religoius please say a prayer for her. Its puts my pains into perspective really.

And on a lighter note my tickets for U2 finally arrived. I am sooo excited I cant wait. But I have a few weeks of school holiday to contend with first. hey ho!!!

Monkey Socks

KNITTING
Finally! I have some knitting to show. I'm very pleased with myself that I've been able to produce alot more knitting lately than I have for ages.

First off 1 Monkey sock! its knitted in Opal sock yarn and I love the pattern. Its so easy and looks great!! Finally a pattern I can knit without cocking it all up!!!

secondly a new jacket I'm knitting in Sirdar bamboo. now I know I said I'd never touch Sirdar again because all the yarns I've used I've hated , but this was on sale at Kemps wool for 89p per ball!! scrol down the page! I really like this yarn. Its a tape and knits like cotton, but unlike cotton it doesnt split.

I cant move the photos on here, its very strange. just the codes are showing not the actual piccies. mad Blogger!!

I havnt done any spinning as my neck and shoulders and back are too bad.


FM
on the FM front. I loved the 4 burning hot days we had. I felt so well! But the pain moved to my neck ,shoulders and lpwer back. its been really painful. I've had the TENS machine out, the wheat packs, heated blanket..you name it. The pain has been keeping me awake at night too which annoys Mr Cinders as I toss and turn and get up and down.

Some Nice Trips out

On the Friday of the heatwave, Mr Cinders had business in Hull. I have a friend up in Hull, Chezza, who I met through Stitchlinks So whilst Mr Cinders did his business I went for a visit and a natter. She lives in a one street village next to the Humber. Its lovely. We had a brew and a natter, the Mr Cinders joined us and we went for a pub lunch. Later we sat on the banks of the Humber watching the tugs going up and down, chatting. It was great to catch up with Chezza and a lovely day out.

I was exhausted the day after so I lay in the sun... Bliss! Monday Rachel took me swimming, Tuesday was hospital appts, but Wednesday I usaually go for a massage and my neighbour takes me. She wasnt around so I decided to take myself. I got on my scooter and whizzed up to the metro into Bury. Then I got a taxi up to the centre. I was very pleased with my independence. After my wonderful massage I got a taxi back Into Bury town centre and did a bit of shopping, then got the metro home. I was out for 5 hours and felt tired but good.

Thurday it rained and I felt knackered and damp again.
The weather definitely affects my FM. I need to emigrate to California or somewhere where its always hot!!!

I will post some photos of Josh's barmitzvah when I can, but for some reason my computer will not recognise hubby's web site !! so I'll have to pich his 'pooter and upload some

Books- I've just finished reading James Clavells epic Shogun. I remeber seeing my dad and friends dads reading it in the 80's. I loved this book. it was so realisitc. very gory but full of duplicity, romance, mad Samuri with death wishes!! All details of Japanese life and culture was there in detail and made fascinating reading

Finally!! some finished Knitting!!!

YAY!!! I can finally, nearly 6 months into the year show off some knitting!!
I knitted the Veronique shawl from French Girl Knits, finished Normski's socks and finished my Ivy cardi from Knitty!!!
here they are.
I cant seem to access the photos. my blogger has gone bonkers!!! Rachel is moddeling the Veronigue as I look to fat. I reasoned I didnt look too bad in the Ivy!!!

I cant do any spinning at the mo as My legs are too bad-booh--, but I'm managing to dye some stuff in between being ehxausted!!!

PLEASE SUPPORT RACHEL IN THE RACE FOR LIFE BY BUYING MY SPECIAL SOCK YARN
I have dyed a beautiful merino/tencel sock yarn in the colours of breast cancer and ovarian cancer and am asking £2 above the normal price. this will all go with rachels sponsor money to cancer research U.K the yarn is called Hope. please support us in this very worthy cause.

FM
On the FM front life is tough, but I'm cheerful. I managed to go into Manchester last Saturday with Mr Cinders to do some shopping and we went out for lunch which was v nice. I've been trawling the internet for a holiday and spent so much time on it I'm having yet another flare. I had to be in bed Tuesday and some of yesterday which is very frustrating, but thats life Jim!!- but we've managed to book a 4 day break at the end of August on a camp site in great Yarmouth. we'e in a chalet not a tent!!! Josh is coming with us which is why we've plumped for this type of holiday. If it was just me and Mr Cinders we'd go somewhere quieter. But if I'm resting in an afternoon or having a bad day there needs to be some facilities to keep a teenage boy happy, so at least on a camp site theres load to do. I'm really looking forward to it as I want to see Norfolk, particularly the Broads and North coast which I beleive are beautiful and I love the seaside anyway. we havnt had a holiday for 2 years so this is exciting

This Sunday M-I-L is 80 so we're having afternoon tea chez nous for the immediate family. Sam is coming home which is good.

Rachel is in the middle of her 'A.S' levels at present and stressed and we all know about it!! My cleaner is ill today so RAch is in her element cleaning and re-organisng my untidy drawers