I Actually Managed some Knitting!!

KNITTING

its been so hectic with the Etsy shop that I've hardly had time to knit Or blog for that matter!. But thanks to Wimbledon,Nadal, federer etc I actually sat down and carried on with my Jaywalker socks. ! finished and 1 on the heel flap so it wont e too long. I'm now suffering from a sore left pinky from pushing the end of the DPN's back and forward for the pattern. I've also started Clapotis finally. I'm about 2 years behind everyone else with my knitting list. I joined a KAL for IVY on Angel Yarns forum 2 years ago! needless to say the yarn is still in my stash!!!

The yarn I'm using for Clapotis is Noro Silk garden. I got it reduced in a sale. No wonder!!! its really dull. Not what I expected from Noro at all!! It was obviously one of my many not thought through impulse buys!! Still I have a black coat so it'll be O.K for the winter

DYING

On the dying front, I've done a little bit more. I bought some Merino-Bamboo mix which has dyed up like washed denim as of course the Bamboo hasnt tken the yarn. I rather like the effect myself and 1 has already sold so hopefully my slowly growing customer base will too.

I've also dyed up some alpaca-Merino which is gorgeous and soft. One of these has already gone too so I'm very pleased.

Here is this months latest dying;

Bamboo-Merino

Bamboo-Merino

o

Alpaca-Merino-colour-Elecrical Storm-SOLD!

BFL 4Ply

Bamboo-Merino-colourway-Citrus Zing- SOLD!

I've done a load more dying on Friday messing about with different colours and ordered more yarns to play with ,including DK and ARAN so watch out!

FM

Life on the old FM front is the same. I seem to have levelled out again, but not back to where I was 7 months ago. It just seems that with each flare I go down just that bit more considering FM Isnt supposed to be degenerative. Think I've said all this before.

I'm doing less than I was though in terms of going out. I can no longer manage to go swimming on my own. so that means where as i was out of the house 4 days a week I'm only out once now for my art class IF I make it! its at 10.30am and that time is just impossible for me usually to be up and out for. Having said that the Etsy shop, dying and sorting it all out is keeping me busy, plus going on line- Ravellry is a real time consummer!!

Norman was given some care vouchers to use for me so I've contacted the Jewish social services to find me someone who can take me swimming with my wheelchair, or if I feel that I can walk, to carry my bag which I cant manage.

At the mo we're having great fun fighting the DWP over my DLA. They make me sick! Bloody beaurocracy. They've granted me lower rate Mobility and care indefinitely which is better than nothing, but they're not taking the FM into account . My GP gave a report. I dont know what bleeding planet she was on! No mention of my wheelchair, difficulty walking needing care during the day etc! Thanks a bunch. They asked me to go before a tribunal which basically is a group opf bastards making out you're a liar!! I played merry hell with them as they'd not asked my Rheumy for a report. Luckily I saw my Rheumy a month ago and went over my claim and what I can and cant do so I'm placing all my hope on him. If he doesnt deliver and I need to go to the tribunal heaven help me I dont stand a chance.I've enlisted the help of the CAB so some ones coming to the house this week.

yesterday I spent mostly in bed again as I'd been dyeing on Friday!

Books

I've been doing plenty of reading lately, some good, some rubbish. Good- The Kite Runner -Khalid Aziz. I loved this book. What struck me about some of it was how closely Judaism and Muslim religions are. E.G he describes and Eid tradition of slaughtering a sheep and I've conveniently forgotten its name now, but it was something like Eid Qhorban. the hebrew term for a scarifice is Korban. The term Tzedakah is hebrew for charity. I think Muslims spell it Sediqa or something similar. So where do they get the virulent Anti- Semitism that is ingrained in them?

Any way back to books. I also enjoyed Jodi Picoults-My Sisters Keeper.

I didnt enjoy Kate Mosse's Sepulchre. I thought it a weak story and just an excuse to ride on the back of the sucess of Labrynthe. A bit like Barbara Erskine. She found a formula and churns it out time and time again.