When I 'come out'

Ooh, now it has happened.  I need to 'come out' locally, that is, to friends who I have been helping to learn how to start they're own blog. 

I have really been enjoying taking these workshops - and another friend has found others who want me to show them how to do this, as well! 

However, since I have the privilage of knowing others' blog details (though they can delete these and start new ones elsewhere, for privacy) it seems a bit silly to hold out the information about my own.  I have warned people, though, that they might see stuff on my own blog they may not like - such as swear words and/or views they may not agree with.  And, I suppose this goes for you as well, dear reader.  If you don't like it, you can use one of those little pinkies and click away from the page, ma'am!

More knitting, sewing and some bloggers

I knitted my mum a pair of socks - which I think she has secretly been wanting for a while now, but as you might remember, she has recently been in hospital again.  This time not with her heart, though they did revise her medication and we found out that her GP should have been monitoring her, and hasn't harrumph.  Anyhow, she is now coming to realise that rest, sometimes, she must.  And, to assist her with this unwelcome pastime I have produced a pair of lilac socks, which I think she'll love.

As you can see there is also a cream sock on the blockers, and that is mine.  It is such an easy pattern of six rows that I can mindlessly watch the telly while knitting.

Both these patterns are from the Interweave Press 'Favorite Socks - 25 timeless designs' book, (you'll have seen the others, here)  and are the third and fourth ones I've done from this one. There are many more that I want to do, too.  The yarn is Patons Fairytale 'Dreamtime' and is lovely and squishy, soft, though a bit 'splitty' to knit with.

I got the sock blockers from eebaay, and they came from USA, though I'm sure I have seen wooden sock blockers available in this country, somewhere on the world wide net, but, sorry, can't remember where.

And, folks, I have also been sewing.  We had a local competition with our rural last week, with a 'Toyland' theme.  In teams of four we had to come up with a knitted, sewn, embroidered and 'own choice' of items.  My idea for the sewing was to make a nursery book.  I chose the pattern from Simplicity for 'Baby's First Book' number S3709 and, though there were eight pages to do, I only managed four - you guessed it, I ran out of time, because I started late, doh!

page 1

page 2

                             page 3

                                                                                    page 4

I really enjoyed making this book, and did loads of things never before attempted, such as appliqué, satin stitch, covering my own buttons (the flowers - how easy was that?!) and the button-holing around the MY BOOK words. But, the amount of times I was changing my thread and bobbins, it got a bit confusing at times!

Speaking of confusing - I took a workshop today, on 'Building your own Blog' and have now introduced three more bloggers to the interweb, folks!  I won't link them here at the mo' as they might not want me to, but will if/when they give me their permissions.  It wasn't until I was making the lesson plan that I realised just how much I have learned over the past couple of years in blogland, and to be able to introduce people, some of whom were scared (I have another five people attending for the evening workshop, next week.)  And, then to see the lightbulb 'ping' on was gratifying.  I didn't even need to tell them to play around on it, they just wizzed ahead and, exactly as I had predicted, one said 'That was so easy!'  Yessssss.

Snow!

Yes, we had blimmin' snow this afternoon!  No, I don't believe it, either, but it was there - and, thankfully, gone again on this cold, but sunny day - bizarre.

I have been absent these couple of weeks as I've just been, well, busy I guess.  Just with work and stuff.  I didn't go to weight watchers this week, but lost a whole 2 lbs last week, yay!  So, that makes me 16 st 12 lbs, just 1 lb to go to get to my first stone, phew!  It just goes to show what can be done with counting points and sticking to the diet.

Anyway, must fly and will deffo be back this week, and with piccies - promise x

Eeek!

I had a bit of a fright this morning, when I looked into the mirror.  No, not a bad hair day, though it is, but I am off to the hairdressers this morning (and the dentist :() But, I found two lumps on my face!!!

Further investigation revealed that they are the defining lines of my new Cheeks!  Yes, Hurrah, my face is now losing weight, too.  Just how blimmin' cool is that?!

My actual weight stayed the same last week, boo hoo, but obv. the inches are coming off somewhere - and now my face!

I had an appointment at the hospital yesterday, and they have decided that to operate further would be 'treacherous' for my spine.  So, it will continue to worsen and they cannot do anything further.  So.  They are making a referral for me to attend the Pain Clinic, which I'm pleased about - and then I can hope to manage this myself.  Meanwhile, I am cutting down on my 'physical' employment, and continuing to increase, rather 'cherry-picking' the non-physical work that I can enjoy.

That isn't so bad, really.  And, my chiropractor is pleased that I have taken up walking, and recommends I return to horse-riding.

If I could give up work altogether, and retire (be at least 13 years older, to be able to afford it!) then I could walk, ride and take up golf - now, there's a good thought!

Strange times

I am still a lucky girl and lost a whole one and a half pounds this week - woo, hoo!  Which now brings me down to 17 stones.  However, I do realise that this means that I still weigh 17 stones. Hmm.  So, thankfully, my bezzy mate has been visiting, and as she's losing weight as well, I was able to stick to the plan, more or less, and Wrote Things Down.  Which has obv. helped.

In other news, my mum is quite poorly at the moment.  She was having more chest pains so went to the doc, who promptly sent her off to hospital, where they kept her in for tests.  I cannot believe the woman actually Drove herself there in her own Car, for chrissakes!  But, that's what she did, instead of ringing my sister, or getting a cab.  'Well, she was probably a bit worried' you might say.  Well, she had time to go home and pack a suitcase, ready for a possible admission.  Ah well.

She's been in hospital for over a week, where they've found she has Angina, her current medication is insufficient, and her GP should have made regular checks on her.  Then, she gets a cold the day before yesterday, so they couldn't do another Angiogram.  Now, she has pneumonia. So, she is really tired, and they are pumping her full of antibiotics.

My sister says it's not urgent enough for me to race down there from Scotland.  She would like one of my brothers to help out and pay a visit to mum, but, well, they're busy, apparently.  Now, my mother is an old fashioned woman, whereby men are gods, to be pampered and idolised.  For instance, they get their, larger, dinner first, and are consulted and revered just by dint of being male, grr.  But, these buggering brothers of mine - one of whom is a blimmin' Christian of all things, and the other has a disability that prevents him from working at a job, but not from visiting the pub or driving a car, are too busy.

I'm lighter, but no less bitter.

Phew! - Diet Update

Yes, it is a big Phew!  I lost 1 lb this week, hurrah!  I still have not been writing stuff down, or planning properly, but have been more conscious of what I've been eating and making the low-fat choices.  I cut down drastically on the chocolate - only having a half of a small Easter egg instead of several large ones.  And, not told myself that it is Thursday night, The weekend, boring Monday, or nearly at Thursday again as an excuse to scoff any and everything I might fancy!  Seems to work, though.

Also, I've joined up with several other women on a weekly, Friday walk.  I went for the third time this week, and walked at least four miles, instead of the two the route map said!  However, I woke up this morning and my legs weren't hurting - so another Yay!  I'm obviously getting used to it.  Oh, and I bought myself a new bike, that I am in love with, and have been out on it!  More than I did with the last one.

Me, posing on my bike, up the road, and with a waist!

Through the diet and exercise I am feeling a lot more positive in myself, and finding a lot more energy, as well.

I am keeping very busy with current work commitments, and negotiating more of the same, but different.  As my back is hurting more or less full time, I am having to switch away from the housekeeping, and looking at 'cherry picking' social work consultancy work.  This way, I get to choose the parts of the job that I enjoy most, such as making assessments and managing decisions.  Much less stressful than being employed full time, and being part of the rush and tear, methinks.

Hmm, perhaps it's the Spring finally making an appearance that makes a difference.  Certainly, my bezzy mate coming to stay for a week from tomorrow is a big boost, Hurrah!

Diet update -

...... - stayed the same last week.  Supposed to be writing EVERYTHING down, but not.  Trying to stick to it, anyways.  Bit more successful this week, so far.  Will weigh in again tomorrow.

Busy, busy, busy at the mo', with two country houses to get ready for Friday and Saturday, reports to write, books to update.  Luckily, I have been paid for one piece of work, yippee!  So, can pay my tax, Ni and credit card bills.  Ah, well.

Have my Bessy Mate coming to stay at the weekend woo, hoo!  Have NBG's birthday next week - a blimmin' 13 year old, if you please ... and lippy with it.  Ha, ha I always wished a 14 year old upon my daughter, when she was 14 years old .... mwaaa haaaaa!

Back soon. xx