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.

And The Winner is......

Congratulations, mazeltov, to SHARE!!! You were picked by the fair hand of my 12 year old Josh who shut his eyes and put his pen on my list of names to win my comp. I will find you on ravelry and convo you.

A HUGE Thank-you to everyone who left a comment about my Etsy shop. I have taken all suggestions on board and have and am making changes as I go along and learn

I've altered some of the shop announcements so hope they make easier reading,

I've re-categorised the yarn into types rather thatn just sock and lace,

Photographs are being worked on as we speak

I'm dying some semi-solids to make lace/paterend socks so whatch out for them.

On the shop front I have some Gorgeous Alpaca,silk,cashmere lace weight in in semi-solid pastels

Just a few of the colours. just realised I need a pink and an orange/yellow. off to work on that!!!

I've been busy dyeing more sock yarn too

These are machine washable BFL -gorgeous soft stuff.

Glacier

Rhubarb

Honeysuckle Boating

This one is Bamboo/merino

below is also a new line of BFL DK

Colourways Rachel and Disco fever.

its funny what inspires me with colours, for instance, one morning my daughter rachel came downstairs wearing bright pink pyjama bottoms, an orange T-shirt and a rred dressing gown. Instead of going 'Hi, good Morning' etc I went 'oh they'd make good colours for a skein!!!! caring mum that I am!:-)

Knitting

The Clapotis is nearly finished but I cant photograph it as Rach has taken my camrera to Spain and hers seems to be broken!!

FM

What can I say- business as usual. I was only thinking the other day that life is shit with this syndrome, but I do try and be cheerful if I can. It was a really mixed week. Saturday I felt dreadful. But we'd promised Josh we'd take him out for the afternoon to the coast. Norman put my scooter in the back of the car and I tried to look awake and lively. Nearly at the seaside Norman turned to me and said did I have the key for the scooter?-Deadly silence punctured by -Oh Shit- and other expletives. I wanted to cry!! so we turned round to head for home to pick up the key!!! I felt so ill and exhausted that I decided to stay home whilst norman and Josh headed back up the motorway-good job its only 1 hrs journey!

I fell into bed. I'm not sure how I crawled up the stairs and I slept and slept.

We were invited out to a Bar B Q at night and I phoned my cousin at 6 as I was still stranded in bed and didnt think we'd make it. It was awful feeling the way I did on Saturday as the house was empty and I needed a drink and couldnt go down to get one. I do wonder how people who live alone get on if they're bed bound. any how by 8pm I forced myself to go out. I'm really glad I did. In a perverse way I'm glad my friends and cousins saw me so bad. I only tend to go out If I'm O.K so I dont think they can really understand how awful FM can be. Norman had to help me up all the steps and to the loo upstairs.

on the social side though I really enjoyed myself. my cousins wife is a marvellous cook and we always get an amzing meal there. She even manages to make simple things like bar-b-q burgers and sausages different!!

The reast has been mixed. it was burning hot here for 3 whole days and I sta in the garden. the heat really helps my pain. My joints finally dried out from all that rain!!

yesterday I took Josh into manchester for some shopping. we enjoyed ourselves.

Home Life

rachel is sunning herself in Spain and I really miss her. I miss her lively chatter and her mad sense of humour plus all her friends constantly coming round. The house is very quiet. Plus sam and Josh dont get on and friday night dinner last week was murder with those two killing each other and the snidy comments and jibes at each other. I tell them to stop it and you get ' well he started it' no he started it' on and on -'no you started it. You invaded Poland!!!' etc/ I could cheerfully bang there heads together.

Sam , much as I love him, is irritating the hell out of me and Norman since he got home from Uni. he's done nothing in the house apart from sit on his bloody computer and play some on-line fantasy game to which he subscribes! he's working for the summer only because Norman secured him a job where he works.

that child is so lazy! At nearly 19 I'm shouting at him to get off the computer and help, go for a shower, etc. he's driving us potty. I worry about hubby as he's stressed at work, he's caring for me, he shops, cooks wahses up etc and in between he's trying to decorate the lounge and dining room and garden. Theres only so far a person can stretch themselves and I'm very worreid about how far he can go before he breaks. he's constantly exhausted. I wish we could afford a holiday but its out of the question.

Josh is having a mixed holiday. He is signed up for a local shceme that gives free travel to loads of free activities, but he would've had to travel salone this week and didnt fancy it. his friend is here next week so they'll travel togehter. he's also part of Bury young carers and is having a couple of days out with them plus 3 nights way in the lake district!!

Then My MUM and dad are treating us to a week in St Annes again.

Blogaversary Competition

COMPETITION
I cant beleive its 12 months since I started blogging so I've decided to hold a joint competition with my Etsy shop.
To win a prize what I'd like you to do is check out my Etsy shop-link at the side - and leave me an honest comment either here or on Etsy conversations , about what you like and dont like, colours you'd like to see, yarns, etc. Be honest, I can take it!!!! if you think something is revolting and will never sell in a million years let me know!!!!
in 2 weeks time I'll put everyones names in a bag and pick a winner.
The Prize? A skein of BFL machine washable sock yarn custom dyed to your choice. So get commenting!!!!!

Knitting
On the knitting front Mr Clapotis is coming along slowly. Thats because I'm a slow knitter! I've done lots more knitting so my fingers and my left elbow know about it!! I cant win.
I was on the verge of cancelling i-Knit in September because of the state of ym body, But I've persuaded hubby to accompany me and we're staying over an extra night too!!

FM
on the FM front I'm much the same. I did lots of dying again yesterday so I'm exhausted and in pain today. thats life .
i've just had somebody round from the Jewish social services to get me a volunteer to take me swimming in my wheelchair once a week. so I'm looking foirward to that.
I've also been given my tribunal date 1st october. The day after my birthday. Thats going to be a jolly birthday isnt it? at least I have time to prepare my case.

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.

Dyeing, Drying and Tyeing!

Phew! What ahectic week its been! I didnt realise setting up anEtsy shop was so time consuming. apart from dying all the yarn and re-skeining some of it I've had to re-photograph alot of it as my pictues were crap! Rachel showed me a really long winded way of upuloading pictures via Abode , then saving them to my folder. These pictures were too big for Etsy so I loaded them onto photobucket, re-sized them, which took forever and then uploaded them to Etsy. I was on here for hours with my eyes whizzing round in my head!! Then one day last week i was playing and chose an new upload option via some 'wizard' or other, (Sam would collaps laughing at my technicallity!!). This wizard gizmo saved the piccies staright to a folder and then I uploaded them straight to etsy!! Grrrr Non of that faffing about! anyway heres some of my latest dying;

BFL -colourway-party purple

BFL-colourway Lagoon

Merino 2ply cobweb lace-Partypurple

BFL-Victoria Plum.

I just love this BFL. Its so soft. I'm looking forward to making some socks of my own out of it. When re-skeining I got some knots in this skein so decided I cant sell it- How sad!!!!

This is actually my fave colourway so far-cherry-choc.

As far as my own knitting goes Its going very slowly as I've been spending the time doing the Etsy stuff, then being too knackered to knit!

But heres my progress,

This odd looking thing will eventually be a cushion cover!!Its fiddly as you pick up stitches to make frills and picking up a straight row on black is really hard. Its all done in Rowan and has cost me a fortune and I have enough yarn fro 2 cushion covers so I'll plod on

Next my lace jacket from Beads Buttons and Lace. I've managed to sew half of it wrongly with the seam on the outside!!! so it needs unpicking. there is a lace border to knit all the way up along and down which will take forever!

And last but not least my Jaywalker socks in Noro Kureyon Sock.

I read a funny remark on another blog and I cant remeber who's!! As this yarn is rather scratchy the comment was 'It'll either soften up in the wash or exfoliate your feet as you walk!!' Which I found very apt and amusing.

FM

I've been up and down like a yo-yo. I've now used up all the energy I had last week dying and skeining etc and I'm exhausted. My legs are killing me and I've had to be pushed up the stairs again from behind like a stuborn mule litterally!!!

I spent all of yesterday in bed and am off up there again now. no dying or re-skeining this week. Not that my stuff is exactly selling at the mo. Isp'ose it takes time to build up a shop.

I'm annoyed though as I missed Rachels art night at school, the chance to see her GCSE exhibition and she was awarded a prize for outstanding acheivemnt in art.

I need to rest as this weekend is my best pals sons Barmitzvah so there are steps to climb in the synagogue, hard wooden benches to sit on and aluncheon to be got through!!

Last Satruday we went to another friends house warming afternoon tea. it was nice but when we got home I went straight to bed and stayed there till Sunday mroning!! I missed art and an aromatherapy massage yesterday as I couldnt walk. Grrr!!!!

We are officially the worlds worst parents!!!

the law according to Josh!!! he loves and addores his hair. its his pride and joy. He was asked to get it cut at school as its long and passed his collar so he asked hubby to trim it. Only hubby's trim was about 3 " off it! Well you should have heard the tantrum when he saw it. 'You've ruined my life, I'm going to kill myself. My hair's the most important thing in my life' on and on hysterical!!! he cried himself to sleep. he wouldnt get up fro school, he texted Norman at lunchtime saying every one was laughing at him and he refused to speak to either of us for 24 hrs, then he started grunting at me, but is only just about speaking to his dad now!!!!

We apologised. O.K we made a mistake we're not perfect! But the way he carried on you'd think we'd cut his leg off or something.

Rachel has finished her exams and is home. Am I getting any help? Not alot!! I said to her she had to help and normn is frazzled tying to cope with me, the house, the kids and work, so yesterday she ironed 3 t-shirts and that seems to be it.

Sam is home for the summer in true teenage grunting, snarling style!!! he's working, hating it as its 'boring' and mundane sow e all know about it. But its money and when you're a student you cant scoff at money. If he moved himself, got off his backside instead of waitng for us to hand things to him on a plate he might have secured something he enjoyed! Gawd kids!!!

CINDERS KNITS ETSY IS UP AND RUNNING!!!!!!!

I'm soooo excited. I havnt blogged for ages, partly through being ill with the blasted FM. BUT mainly because I've been dying yarns. I adore dying yarns and built up quite a supply which I knew I'd never knit up, after all how many pairs of socks can I knit !!!! I know you're all going to tell me a girl can never have too much sock yarn!!!So I've been thinking of setting up an Etsy shop for a while , then my online pal Vixx set up a gorgeous one called WildFireFibres which seems to be proving succesful so I decided to follow suit.
I decided Etsy is an easy option as Its just a hobby. I dont expect to end up in the league if HipKnits and Fyberspates!!! And If I'm not too good I can leave it again until I feel able to dye more yarn.
You can find me Here- CIndersKnits-Etsy ANd!!!!! Ta, Da!!! I've already made a sale!!! I cant beleive it.
I have my last 3 skeins soaking in the sink and am off to dye them soon. Then I'm waiting for Mr Postie to bring me more supplies. Its soo exciting.
I havnt been doing alot of knitting. A few more rows of the Jaywalker socks and I started the lace border for my lace blouse. Its a 12 row repeat and is going to take ages to knit up and around the whole border of the jacket.

FM
On the FM front things eased up for a short while. I didnt feel as rough and was able to get up the stairs unaided which was a help. The lady who does my aromatherapy massages belongs to ym gym so she kindly offered to take me with the wheelchair which was wonderful and very kind of her. I managed 2 lenghts of the baby pool and a good soak in the hydrotherapy pool with all the jets.It was so good to go out as I'd not been to the gym for 6 weeks.
Of course it didnt last! Friday I had a funeral to go to, next doors dad, then I'd told Rachel we'd go to Manchester shopping for her holidays. I spent 4 hours on my scooter. I ws a bit knackered to say the least Saturday and yesterday. I spent yesterday setting up my Etsy shop so my eyes were boggled by the time I got off the computer. I've got more to add, but I'm to bog eyed at present so I'll post this and add bits as I need to.

Secret Knitting Projects revealed

KNITTING

it was rachels birthday last wednesday so here are the knitted monkeys i made for her. now dont laugh. The first one is a complete and total disaster!!! Its supposed to be the PG Tips 'Monkey'. the pattern being the original ITV digibox Monkey . But lets just say that I have actually knitted Monkeys genetically modified evil twin 'monkey-Pig-Thing'!!!!! It just looks really scary and a cross between a monkey and a pig!!! otherwise known as a punky or a mig!!!! The second monkey is felted and I quite like him. Rachel was suitably non-plussed and I have taken the felted monkey myself! good job the yarn for the whole lot only cost £6!

I'm knitting a cushion cover for the lounge as part of the furnishings for when its decorated . I's like to knit all the soft furnishings myself if I can.

I've taken up the lace jacket I started last year but there was a mistake in the back so I've had to undoe miles of lace!!! Plus dear Josh spilt a smoothie in my knitting bag last year. I'd forgotten about it until I frogged a few feet of stiff yarn!! just as well i undid it really!

I've dyed some lovely teal lace for myself. its silk. Silk absolutely stinks when you wet it . Everyone in the house was moaning about how our house smelt like a pig stye!!! I dunno why it pongs quite so much but it does. wet wool smells far less. I've also been doing some dying for presents so no photos of that! I've just soaked some wool now and am off to dye it once I've finished on here. I love dying and the whole process. I love thinking up colour combinations and seeing how it all comes out once its 'cooked'.

As part of the Angel yarns forum Sockathon I've cast on some Jaywalker socks on Kureyon Sock. I just adore this colour combination. The yarn itself feels a bit hard and scaratchy so we shall see how it knits up

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and look at these fab vintage patterns I found at the centre that I attend my art class at.I gave them all my old pattrns which I regeret now. Theyw ere 80's patterns. But someone else brought these 60's patterns in so I nabbed them for my collection. If you can see clearly enough on the photo , just look at thoae 2 blokes!!!! Lovely!!

FM

Same old same old I'm afraid. Up and down like a yo-yo. But a little bit improved from the last few eeks. I've had a really busy week. Monday I rested actually. I was supossed to be supervising RAchels cooking for her party on Wednesday night, but Hubby turned up in the kitchen and banished me!!! I just shouted instructions from the lounge whilst I sat and knitted. I've been out to lunch twice this week. Once on Wednesday with Mum and dad to a pub and secondly with my pls on Friday also for a pub lunch. two lots of baguette and chips! naughty me!!! I went for my massage on Tuesday and in between I've mainly rested or lspet on the bed. My legs are killing me and feel like I've just run up 10 flights of stairs.

Last Sunday we were invited up to Leeds to meet up with my cousins which was really nice as I've not seen them for a bout 6 years! considering we're 50 mins away from each other its bad really but we all get caught up with our own lives.

I was only thinking that with FM you really find out who your friends are. I can honestly say that The only people who regularly bother with me are my 2 old school friends Mandy and Karen. I did have a circle of 4 couples who have formed themselves into a clique and I may aswell be invisible. It did used to get me very upset that the 'gang' were all going out and chatting on the phone and not including me, but now I've decided I couldnt give a shit basically. infact I'm not even going to bother phoning them. if they're that concerned about me they know where I am.

Home

We just about survived Rachels party! she was supossed to sort out the food, but guess who ended up sitting in the kitchen like Cinderella !!!By 10am I was sick of the noise and was desperate for some peace and quiet. I was too ill to go out. hubby took Josh to the pictures but I wasnt up to it. ah well! at least its only once a year!

Josh was hilarious when we went to leeds. The family havnt seen him since he was a toddler. They were all going on about how gorgoeus he looked, how he should be a model! Mr vein was in his element strutting around like a peacock!!!! Its been half term but is been O.K. I did offer to have a freind of Josh's sleep over, but I felt so yuk and unable to cope that they stayed at his friends house. Then hubby took him out on business on a train one day which he loved. Last night Rachel wanted the family to go out for a meal for her birthday but she chose Pizza Express. YUk!!! the kids enjoyed it but it wasnt for us adults and it was too noisy. I feel very fat and overstuffed this week 3 meals out!!! its either litterally feast or famine!!! i'll be stuck in for weeks now with no socialising at all.

Plus We made a vat of chilli and a huge sweet and sour chicken for rachels party so I ate chilli virtually every night last week. Good job it wasnt cholesterol testing week!!!!

Sam is home this Friday for the summer. I cant beleive he's had a whole year at uni. it goes so quickly.

Look what I won!!!!

KNITTING

I won this beautiful felted knitting tote from Bearium. for her blogiversary. its beautifully made and lined . she also sent me a skein of her home dyed sock yarn Thank you bearium. the bag is in full use already!

I am continuing with the secret projects. nearly finished. The fun bit is going to be when, after felting,I then pin the thing in question out to dry! how do you hide blocking from someone?

I'm also busy with hubby's bee socks which are coming along slowly but nicely. They're really a foil at the mo for when a certain someone is home and I cant knit the secret projects.

But I'm itching to move on. I have an unfinished lace cardi for the summer from last year which I want to finish,plus the cotton top to go underneath it which was frogged. the yarn is still skeined after being re-washed so I have to wind it into balls but havnt the strenght at the mo.

Also, considering I'm broke and heavily overdrawn these balls of lace weight mohair fell into my lap. They're crystal palace and on offer from Knit and caboodle for just £2 per ball!! I decided that having messed up KSH which is expensive at £7 per ball, I would try these.!! This colour might not be to everyones taste but for winter with my brown outfits it'll do nicely. I can feel another cocked up shawl attempt coming on!!!!

I've fallen out with my Fibro!

Now for the boring moany bits so skip this! This is my self indulgence!!

I am no better physically. This is one BIG flare up!! Infact it feels more like CFS than FM! I am totally and utterly wipped out still. From Wednesday last week until Sunday night I literally hardly moved i was so weak.I slept in till 11 am, got up, had a long hot soak with my aromatherapy oils and sat in the garden or lay on the bed. I hardly knitted. I didnt have the strenght. I 've hardly been able to walk. I've shuffled around. I havnt been able to climb the stairs or up the steps into the house. I've been crawling upstairs on all fours with my tush stuck in the air! very dignified. The other problem has been, if I was on my own, once I got to the top of the stairs, how did I stand up? I couldnt pull myself upright, so I perfected this great manouver!! A sort of crab crawl, frog leap thingy!! I'm entering it for the olympics in the gymnastics section!!! Only I didnt end upright with my arms outstretched like when they finish in the real gymnastics..Ta,Da!!!

Infact talk about making choices and using up spoons! I would ensconce myself in the garden with drink, knititng, book ,phone if it was downstairs, if it was upsatirs forget it. But then I'd want another drink so I knew I couldnt climb the outside step to the kitchen so I'd have to go the longway round through the dining room french doors. This meant extra walking. Loo trips were down to a minimum! at least we have one downstairs!

If I was on the bed and needed a drink or felt hungry I was to exhausted to shout for attention so I just lay there waiting for someone to come upstairs. I wondered what do people who live alone do? starve or dehydrate. I have been totally dependent on hubby or the kids for virtually everything these last few weeks. I needed money for school diners and the cleaner and other bits so hubby wnet to the bank. How do you manage if you live alone and cant get out?

At some points I was so exhausted I didnt have the strenght to speak or think and I could see hubby was getting cross as he couldnt understand what I wanted. we resorted to miming!! The diet has gone out of the window. I'm not stuffing myself at all, but I'm eating whatever is made for me and if its oven chips and egg who cares!In fact I indulged in a chip butty-oooh with buttered bread and the egg inside!! loverrrly!! All the butter and egg yolk were running mmmmm. luckily this was a very rare happening! Dont think my cholesterol would like it too often!

Sunday night Josh was out at a disco so I sumoned some strenght from somewhere and we went for a meal. We tried a new restaurant near us which is the wierdest mix I've ever been to a Thai /Indian!!! I have to say stif fried chicken and noodles and naan bread really dont go, But the meal was lovely. The service appaling, but we couldnt get cross coz it was so hilarious. The waitress's were Indonesian, Thai, the chefs were Bangladeshi/Indian. They all had very little English and it was Fred Carno's! We got our starters twice, the wrong drinks were going to the wrong tables, the wrong food!!But the waitress's were so lovely you couldnt get angry! we'd go again.

Monday I was tired , but made it on my scooter to the library. Rachel accompanied me. Then I rested. Tuesday I went by taxi to my art class and massage. When I got home I collapsed again and spent Tuesday evening inbed and all yesterday shuffling around again! I was tempted to try a swim today as I've not been for about 3 weeks, but I'm resting and finishing some knitting instead. I hope I improve soon.

I'm getting very frustrated by it all. The garden has been mowed but not dug over. I cant weed. My next door neighbours father is dying and she's an only child and is nursing him. I'd go with for moral support or to help a bit If my body was normal!!!!

I'm worried incase I get depressed again. Its hard to feel cheerful when you feel like an amoeba all splodgy and plurrrrrp!!

The further adventures of Joshua 'Mole' aged 12 and 1 month!!

He's still going strong with his 'Pandora'. Its hilariously funny watching him in a morning. He straightens his hair. its all across his face like the rock stars have it and he's busy with the Lynx and aftershave. he even cleans his teeth in a mornign without a fight! Young love!!

He's been in trouble again at school this week. Its so exasperating. he's not a horror as his teachers say. They all like him. he's just silly and messes about. I was thinking that it does seem to tie in to my deterioration. I'm often in bed when he gets home and often asleep. I can see him not getting his Wii or x-box, whatever it was he wanted. I wish he's just settle down at school. This year is nearly over-can you beleive it so lets hope next school year is better for him.