Blog award and a curious co-incidence.

I've been nominated for a blog award byBearium. if I can work out how to link to it!! which I cant so I cant show it!!!

now on to the curious incidences;
Sam was 19 on 28th August 1989. he was born on bank Holiday Monday at 9am, at 36 weeks. I was niggling on and off with sharp but irregular pains for 36 hours before I finally gave in and went to the hospital. I knew I wasnt in labour because of the contractions and also being a midwife I'd managed by some amazing feet on contortion to find my cervix and knew it wasnt dialting. ANyway On the sunday night I was at home, niggling with pains with a hot water bottle on my bump watching 'GoodMorning Vietnam' with Robin Williams. LAst Sunday 2008 I noticed on the TV at exactly the same time the same Film wsa showing!! boy did that bring some meories back!!!
Another curious thing. Mum lent me a book, 'The Pirates Daughter' by Somebody with a long double barrelled name!!! Not a very good book in my iponion, very overated. But the main characters were called Ida and May which was the name of my late , beloved grandma.

Knitting- I'm working on IVy still. I'm a very slow knitter. I'm off to i-knit today cant wait.

FM Front
The lastest 'fun' not-thing to happen is that I've got stuck in the bath twice now and been unable to get out!! its a good job Norman was home on Monday as I had no phone by me and would have sat there cold and wet for 4 hours until someone came home from school!!
I've now learnt to take a chair, phone, phone book and towel in incaes it happens again. I hope wwe dont end up with a bath contraption for lowering me in. my body is falling apart!!!


Home
school has re-started and Josh seems o.k. he seems to have got through his first week without any detentions or IRIS points!!! Its hilarious watching Rachel as she's started the sixth form and doesnt wear uniform, so every dau its adifferent poutfit and does this amtch and does that go with this etc, then its 10 mins for the make-up, so amny minutes for the hair etc!!! She's going to school when all said and done, not a fashion parade!!! its been very entertaining. Josh is back to straightening his hair and spraying aftershave all over the house!!! still at least he's clean.

Proud Mummy!!!!

Family

its family first this week! we're 'Kvelling'(yiddish term meaning glowing with pride). Rachel acheived 7A* and 3 A's for her GCSE'S!!!! obviously we're just a little bit proud of her!! After having a career a day for several weeks ,at least now she's finalised her A level subjects!!! Shes going to be studying art, history, english lit and biology.

I'm also very proud of Josh this week. He wins 'young carer of the week award'!! this is because we've been in St Annes all week with the grandparents.( I get the ' Endurance for putting up with parents for a week' award!!!!)

josh has been absolutely fantastic with me, wheeling me around in my wheelchair. he never moaned coz i couldnt do stuff. he seemed grateful for the time I did spent with him. he made a friend and when I needed to rest he went off around the hotel with his pal and amused himself. Rachel was with us until Wed Night when Norman picked her up to come home and get her exam results Thursday.

I wasnt looking forward to the week away at all. I was very depressed before I went. we have alot of personal stuff going on at the mo and I felt under tremendous pressure and I felt as if I was to blame because of my disabilities and illness. But being away has done me, (and hubby) the world of good.

I really enjoyed the change of scenery, going out every day. not worrying because I couldnt cook a meal or do stuff in the house. It was liberating!! I can understand why some older folk live in hotels when they retire!! The hotel we were in wasnt brilliant. It was shabby and in need of decorating and the hygeing wasnt the best, but there was a small pool and a games room for Josh. If you had little tots it was brilliant. constant entertainment for them.

We spent a day in the 'Sandcastle'-huge indoor pool and slide complex. I had fun with Josh whizzing around the Lazy river. I couldnt climb any stairs to go on the water slides but Rachel kept josh occupied.

The next day I was fit for nothing and Rachel took Josh out and about for a few hours whilst I slept. The last few days after Rach came home I managed to go out with Josh in my wheelchair and even played a game of crazy golf. When we went bowling I only managed to lift 2 balls before my body gave out, so Josh played for both of us!!

I'm getting back into the swing of things slowly now I'm home.

KNITTING

On the knitting front I've finished my rasberry choc ripple socks

I did cast on for Ivy, but I was doing the twisted rib on holiday and cocked it up.

I'm beginning to wonder about my foggy brain at the mo as to whether I can manage anything more complicated than plain knitting!! I'm carrying on with my Jaywalker socks to get them finished instead, then I'll frog the Ivy and re-start. Its going to be in a lovely Alpaca, merino blend from JojoLand on e-bay in black.

Talking of socks I saw on Minders blog that she has knitted some Pomatomus socks in MY YARN!!! I must say that when I dyed the 'green with Envy' colourway I didnt like it, but I've sold 2 so far and had requests for more so it just goes to show you. I think the yarn has knitted up beautifully. not that I'm biased or anything!!!!

I've not dyed any yarn for a few weeks but started again yesterday. its all drying at present so more photos next time.

FM

not too much to report. I covered most of it my bit about the holiday. i'm busy writing my extra evidence for the tribunal at present which is tremendous fun-NOT!!!!

the fog is bothering me a bit . I do and say the silliest things- E.G theres been a series on BBCcalled 'Britain From the Air' in which a reporter flies around in various helicopters and planes telling us all about Britain. Its been very interesting apart from whne they do the timelapse bit. Then I cant look as I cant tollerate any fast whizzy TV like that. ANyway , there we were watching the Programme when genious me pipes up..'doesnt he spend alot of time hopping from one helicopter to the next'!!! Duh this is a programme about britain from the air!!! I read an Item on a menu onholiday as 'granny's wild biscuits'!! and wondered what made them so wild!!! It was ofcourse Granny Wilds biscuits!!!

This is just me being me though.

Talking of TV programmes and nothing to do with FM I've got into The Tudors lately. Its so historically inaccurate and the costumes are sexed up but I rather like it.

My First Clapotis-And a sock from my own yarn

KNITTING

i've actually manage to find time to knit!!! here is my first Clapotis finished

and a sideways view

it actually isnt mishappen. its how i've laid it on the floor!!!

its knitted in Noro Silk garden and I'm going to moan about this bleeping Yarn!!!

There are loads of places in the yarn where its not twisted, or is plied the right terminology? it was like fluff and just came apart in my hands. There are quite a few joins and knots in this Clapotis that shouldnt be there! Grrrr! I'm not impressed with Noro overall to be honest. I adore the colourways, but I've knitted with 3 of their yarns now and the same thing. the areas of fluff just pull apart. i wouldnt knit a jumper in Noro. I can imagine it being ruined by knots where you've had to tie the yarn back togehter! Although I do like Kureyon for felting.

And now... Ta, Da!!! A sock knitted in Yarn from My Etsy shop!!!

This colourway is Rasberry Choc ripple and I'm pleased to report no pooling.

Personally this is one of my fave colours.

The yarn is gorgoeus BFL from my fave suppliers Hammonds-

its only a plain sock but with Etsy shoppers asking for samples heres the first one! i have 2 more dud skeins to knit up, a 4 colour hand dyed and a 2 colour, half and half as and when I can. so August is a plain sock knitting marathon for me to get 3 pairs done. I was just going to knit one of each as samples but thought.. no go the whole hog and at least knit pairs so I can wear them.

Shop Updates

I've been busy dying again of course. I've nearly used up my undyed stock now and I keep on thinking eeek!!! i'll have nothing to do until I've sold more and can re-stock!!!

anyway-latest up dates;

Merino-Yak! A great combination .

Some BFL DK-

aran Alpaca, merino Bamboo- this is actually a custom dye and stinks when wet. the whole house have been moaning about the smell!!!

and finally a sock BFL-

FM

life on the FM front is the same as ever. yesterday we went to B&Q and when I came home my legs went and i went to bed and slept and slept. I couldnt move when I woke up. we need a system where I can alert the household when I need something when I'm stranded in bed.. I thought of a baby monitor so I'm going to ask around and see if anyone has one to sell. Theres quite a list of things I need now to help me . Must chivy hubby to sort them out. I need a handle fixed to the back wall of the house so I can get up the step to the back door, I need a folding step so I can climb into hubby's car. he has a Freelander which is high up and I cant climb in.

I'm psyching myself up to right the letter containing my evidence for the Tribunal. My brain just doesnt seem to be able to focus.

The weather is damp and rainign and dull again. it really affects my mood and my body. Oh for some sunshine.

On Monday I went on my scooter to the post office to post some orders from my Etsy shop. The blasted scooter ran out of juice just near the post office!!! I managed to push it into a nearby car park, went to the post office, got my phone out to ring for a taxi and the phone battery went dead!!!! There was a working pay phone at least so I rang for a taxi and got driven home!! so much for an outing!!

I've made some lovely freinds through FM mostly from Stitchlinks . I cant recommend them enough for anyone who crafts and is in pain or sufferes from mental health problems.

Chatting on the phone to my pals is so important . we all understand each other and know what its like to feel so awful all the time and struggle with our lives.

So a huge thank-you to Mel, Chezza and Orysia for your friendship and support.

The continuing Saga of The waring brothers and the return of Little Miss Sunshine

Rachel came home on Wednesday. Thank god. I missed her so much. Immediately the house felt balanced again. She was chatty, funny, liveley. all the things her miserable elder brother isnt!! She'd enjoyed herself, but felt that 14 days with the same people is too much. I agree. Personally I'd never go on holiday now with friends. I'm too anti-social and like to do my own thing! I also think 14 days is a long time. 10 is enough for me. Mind you I'd like the chance to go on holiday and find out!!!

Sam and Josh have continued to kill each other. Life is so jolly when they're together!! Sam actually nutted Josh yesterday and got sent away from the table. Oh for a family meal when he stops sniping at Josh.

we always said , even when Sam was little , that if they ever made 'Victor Meldrew, The junior years' he would've got a staring role!!!

Josh is off on a residential 3 nights in the Lake District with Bury Young Carers tommorrow. he's very nervous bout going away, but it will be good for him. and me for that matter!!!

On the 18th we're going to St Annes on Sea with my parents. We're staying in a nice hotel with a pool. At least theres loads to do in nearby Blackpool. I loath it but the kids love it, all bright lights, noise and slot machines-yuk!!! St Annes is a bit more genteel. Rachel is coming up for 2 nights. I made a booboo. I didnt realise her GCSE results came out on the 21st! Norman is picking her up on the Wednesday night to come home and get her results. I wanted to be there when she gets them but she'll phone me straight away.

I'm worried my body may give out and I'll be no good on the Thursday and Friday to entertain Josh. we shall see.

anyway this is the last blog until I return.