Back, with my back

Well, I had my op two weeks ago today, and am coping really quite well; though I have not done any knitting!  I can sit for a short time, which means I can keep abreast of bloggings, thank goodness.  But, more than that I now just love my iPhone, and my Kindle!

They have been lifesavers for keeping in touch with the world, and I have even been able to keep up with work via the iPhone, as well.

The op was a bigger deal that I had anticipated as, previously, I have recovered remarkably quickly.  But, that must have been due to luck and being a tad younger, I think!  This time there have been headaches.  Now, apparently, these are to be expected as, when you have spinal surgery, there will be some leakage of the spinal fluid.  Yep.  Ugh!  I know.  But, though I was not expecting it, and a friend, a retired doctor, thank goodness was able to re-assure me of its normality.  However, I fear there is another problem, and that is I think something happened to my neck during or after the surgery, and that appears to be what is prolonging the sodding headaches.  But, hey ho, if these have not subsided in a couple of weeks, I have a lovely chiropractor I can visit, and I'm sure she will be able to help.

In the meantime, it was while I was at a weaving class, that I got the call to tell me there may be a cancellation for the op, and can I go in the Next Day, in readiness for the surgery first thing on Monday morning.  Yes.  I said.

But, in the meantime, on with the weaving.  Our tutor for the day was the very talented Cally Booker of  The Bonnie Claith, Dundee  (Carolyn to her mother) and she took us through all the stages of winding and setting up a loom for the weaving.  Very cleverly she set us to the weaving, and interrupted us to show us each of the other stages.  This meant that we are actually producing actual weaving, and adding in the other bits in the meantime.  This has also meant that all the 'stages' have stayed with us, well me, anyway.

Ta da!

The first is my piece still being woven on the loom, and the second is when I got it home.  I haven't washed it yet, being rather busy, but cannot wait to make something for Mr T out of it.  I have long wanted to learn weaving, but I know I will become addicted.  And, dear reader, I have!

I shall now be looking into second hand looms.  And, writing a very good letter to Santa!

So, am I back to blogging? We'll see.

Hi again, I'm in here again.

Just been busy as a busy bee, that's what's going on.

First off, we now have our new bathroom fitted.  It is the teeniest, tiniest of bathrooms, so took out the bath as, with my back I can't use it without Mr T helping me out of it, a sod if I wanted a bath when he was away on one of his motorbike jollies.  But, we now have the best shower I have ever used, a sink I have seen nowhere else, with drawers under instead of a cupboard I would have to rootle around to find stuff.  And, a high prize - a 'comfort height' loo!  Who'd have thought?!

I rang the hospital the other day and found that I am, 'on the waiting list' for my op, and there is no news as yet as to when I will be at the top of that list - apparently, the '12 week deadline' doesn't count for back operations.  However,  I can wait.  As I have hope now, that the pain will be reduced.  I will be able to walk further than I have been able to for, oh so long.

Patience.

In other news, I have been reading around the world of blogs, and finding some lovely knitting patterns to knit;

I have gathered together these three, that are top of my list to make first.

On the left is a pattern by Jane Lithgow, of Jane's Probably Knitting fame and I will be auditioning yarns in my stash, very soon.  The middle one I saw on Kate's blog,  Confessions of a Graveyard Gypsy  the yarn for which I am pretty sure I have in my stash, watch this space for which colours may be used (though nanny's lolly-dolly-pop, aged 6 now, has pink, purple and Hello Kitty, as her favourites, sigh.)  And, last but not least is Kate's 'braid hills' which arrived in the post today, hurrah!  I think I have most of Kate Davies Designs patterns - and this time I have ordered the yarn for it.  No, not the one suggested by Kate, as I am afraid that the £92 + I costed it out to on Blacker Yarns is so totally out of my league.  So, I went on to the Deramores site and ordered the King Cole Big Value DK, at the cost of about £17, including postage.

In the meantime my daughter and family are away, so I have been tasked with looking after the lovely Eva, their kitten.

She is really missing them all, and I have to sit and give her cuddles.  What a job, eh?

And, another long time has passed!

Since I last wrote on here, I don't know just where the time goes, but go it does, eh?

So, what has been happening in the meantime?  Erm, same old really.  Go to work, keep knitting etc, etc.

I had a visit from my sister and her husband, up from middle England, which went okay.  She twitters on, I keep it zipped, and we get along fine.  Luckily, we are both into crafts, so there is a lot to chat about.  She has two new grandchildren arriving this year, so lots of baby talk, too.  You can tell I am still keeping it zipped, can't you?!  If you can't say anything nice .....

I have been suffering a lot more with my back this year - since travelling down to England in late February, for our grandson's third birthday.  It has something to do with sleeping in different beds, and being in the car for long periods, though we stop for rests fairly regularly.  Anyhow, I had an MRI scan, and was very relieved to hear there was nothing 'sinister' happening.  But, after being persuaded to have an appointment with the neurological surgeon, I find out that there is not one slipped disc but two.  And, a third that has 'nerve compression' eek.  So, I am really thankful that technology has moved on greatly (other than the new kindle fire HD, iPhone, BBC iPlayer, of course) so that in fact they can do a third back operation on me.  And, it is agreed that the surgeon will tackle all three areas in one go.  A further plus is that there is only an eight week waiting list, and as I underwent a session at the pre-op clinic, I am basically a very well person, hurrah!

This has meant I have had to temporarily suspend my PG practice teacher's course at RGU, mainly due to the level of pain I have been suffering and the increase in medication, makes it very difficult to concentrate.  I had thought I was coping, but actually have not, as well indicated by the essay I produced.  As I said to the course leader, if I was marking it as a PE, it would not pass.  Luckily, as well, there is mediation for extenuating circumstances, and the uni could not be more helpful.

In other news, which is so good, we are having a new bathroom fitted, the week after next - woo, hoo! We are doing away with the bath, and having a shower fitted, as selected by Mr T, and I have the sink I love - easily pleased you see!    Speaking of which, I have the new loft conversion all planned out to the minutest detail, for me to be using it as a craft space.  Just have to win the lottery and it's all sorted, eh?  But, seriously, we do have the man lined up to change the bannisters to our stairs next, so that more light comes into the hall/landing space, and the heat can rise up more easily, thus cost us less.

Doncha just love Homes under the Hammer and Escape to the Country?  Gives me all the ideas for Mr T to undertake.  He is less happy with these 'Boring, bloody programmes!'

ta ta for now,
Karen

Oh my!

Yes, oh my!  I've done it again ..... been away for simply ages with nothing of the past year or so, written in here at all!

But, some of you will have noticed me lurking around your blogs as I skim past, making the odd comment as I flit by.

It has been quite a year though ... We moved house.  Twice.  The first time because we knew the place we were at as housekeeper and gardener was being sold, though initially we didn't know why.  It was because the owner, a very kind and lovely man, had cancer and was dying.  Which he did a couple of month after we moved, but he had been determined to come up to Scotland for his last stay.  He brought with him an air of peacefulness, of ending and saying goodbye.  It was a wonderful last visit, and we are so grateful to the nurse he brought with him; who looked after him so well and with great care.

We moved to what we thought was going to be another wonderful place, with what we thought were lovely people.  Who turned out to be horrors!  Unbelievable how some people think they can treat others in their employ.  So, off we went again.

This time to our own property, which we had kept and rented out for several years, despite the odd time we were tempted to sell it and spend the money wisely on holidays and having fun, phew!  We had thought to rent out this house, but sell it and buy something nicer, and in the country, when we retired.  However, when we needed it this house looked absolutely wonderful and perfect for us!

And, we have actually settled in here quite nicely.  Anyway, we now live much nearer to town, and for the first time in over ten years, we have a shop at the end of the road!  Because it is not stone, it is quick and cheap to heat, and fuel costs for travelling into Dundee or Perth are cut almost in half as we are now closer = result.

What are we doing for work?  Well, I still Practice teach social work students, and have taken on some contracted work for another local authority.  Mr T wanted me to 'go and get a job' but, to be honest, I really don't fancy going to work in an office - I have an aversion to being in the same room with the same people every day, with all the office politics and egos, etc.  So, I am quite happy that I can contribute to the household expenses in the way I want to, again phew!  Mr T has been for several interviews, and was able to land himself a little part-time driving job, and has some lovely customers whose gardens he is starting to keep in order.

I am still continuing with my City & Guilds, and this year have really found my feet, and feel like I know what I am doing, at last.  This year, at Level 3 Creative Textiles and Embroidery, my subject needed to be about something I really love.  I do love lots of things, but Tea is one of my favourite things, isn't it?  So, 'Tea' it is.  My overall theme is 'Journey' with specific interest in tea.  Therefore, the journey of where tea comes from, how it got here, the social history of the tea clippers, the women who pick the leaves, and through to our beloved cuppa and the teabags we use today.  And, I am enjoying it so much!  I have even made paper out of used, dried teabags - next is paper using cotton and silks, representing the place I am concentrating on, India.

I have, of course, been knitting up a storm, lots of gloves, mitts, hats and woolies for the grandchildren. Once I get photos uploaded, I'll put them on here.

So, life is starting to have its own rhythm, quite different to how we lived at the estate, and it is quite comfortable.  This is the next adventure, and I promise not to leave it so long 'til I write again.

Karen x

A New Year Catch Up blah

Hello!
Well, as everyone else is doing a new year catch up, I thought I should have a go, too.

Starting at the end, Mr T and I have been right poorly!  I started in on Boxing Day with a  vicious bout of the novo virus, to the point that the family felt they couldn't go off and visit brother and sister-in-law, and leave me alone.  Dah!  Then, Mr T succumbed to it in part; then we have both been down with colds.

But, we are very excited by the prospect of this year - due to stuff I can't write about here, yet.  But, I will spill the beans and tell all, as soon as I can.  Promise.

In the meantime, I started back at college for the 2nd part of my City & Guilds in september, and my theme this year began as 'Golden Wedding Veils'.  However, as some of you may know, what you start out with changes over the time and process of working on the project and it has already changed to 'A women's life as a wife'.  More to come on that, and when I've caught up with myself, I'll gen you up.

I am struggling with posting photos up at the moment as, in about October, I got myself an Apple MacBook Pro!  I love it, and it's super powers, but am still not au fait with how to work the blimmin' thing!  We have a book on it, and one of my Chrissy pressies is a course in March on 'Photoshop for the Mac' which I am really looking forwards to.

In March and October I did a course in screen printing which, though I enjoyed it, I found it physically demanding on my back.  To the point I had to miss a couple of my days at college as I was in so much pain.  However, I have now joined the print studio, which will mean I can pace myself as to when and how long I can be there.  Ideas of what to print, especially on fabric keep running around in my head, so I shall get started very soon.

Our boss didn't come up to visit this year, due to a serious illness.  This meant we had more free time and a bit less earnings but, he is hoping to come up again in the Spring.  It doesn't look as likely as he is hoping, but we'll see.  We hope he can come, as we like him very much.  He won't recover from this illness, but he is a very determined person, and we look forward to seeing him again, if he can make it.

Meanwhile, our daughter took a course as a nail technician.  I hadn't realised quite how popular gel nails, manicures and pedicures are and she is doing really well.   I had mine done and am so pleased with them.  Now, I wonder why I haven't had them done before, they are so pretty, and strong.  They were first done when I was mid screen printing course, and they stood up to all the paint and chemicals that involves, too.

I don't think I have made much this year, though I did a craft stall in August.  I seriously under-estimated the amount of products I needed for a stall, but did sell one of my paintings!  I was bowled over at that and vow to produce some more.  I do continue to knit, though and made a knitted vest for my grandson, as well as a colour work cardigan for one of my grand-daughters.  I am slowly coming around to knitting toys and tree ornaments - currently thee is a teddy bear, with clothes on the needles for one grand-daughter who will be five this year, and is well into dressing and undressing dolls.  One of her wishes at Christmas time was for some clothes for her Barbie and Ken - so they are now fully furnished with trousers, jumpers and hats!

Some of the blogs I have been reading have said about a word, or mantra, people are using this year and I have decided mine will be the following;

Health - I need to be and feel more healthy; lose the weight, ensure proper eating for balance and optimum health
Organisation - I work at several places and became very disorganised, so that I was late or missing various things, including outings and friends; this year menus will be written, appointments made and kept
Family and Friends - These are very important to me, and I neglect them.  This year this will not be happening.  Also, I have a propensity for 'sticking with it' and that includes, at times, being with people or in places that I don't need to be.  So, from now, I will nurture the ones who are important, and I will junk the rest.

My best wishes to you, for 2012
Karen x

Busy

Well, sorry for being away quite so long - I don't think I've had such a long gap between posts before, and wonder if anyone will still be looking in, even!

I have had a busy time of it lately, though, and will try to relate it all here!  In May I had my first 'blogger' meet, when I met up with Suzanne, from Fieldy (she writes about it in that link) and had a lovely time with our knitting, drinking coffe and chatting, in IKEA in Glasgow.  We swapped pressies, and I came away with the most gorgeous 100% wool, in various shades that I hope to use once I've perfected my colour work, bless you, Suzanne.

Also, we have barely been home, these last few months, it seems as we had a wedding darn sarf in Cambridgeshire of our very great pal, G to Mark.  Married in church G is not the sylph-like tall woman of the usual bride pictures, but she is very pretty and I found tears in my eyes as she walked down the aisle with her proud father, and looking so elegant and stunning, and they are such a happy and 'in love' couple.  Also, it was a strange phenomenon to be in the company of so many 'fat' women!  I know it might seem a strange thing to say, some might think me unkind, but I really felt so comfortable to be 'average' instead of the 'largest' person there. Though, of course, G and I made our usual statement of 'This time next year, I'll be thinn....'  to each other.

In June we went trolling darn to Milton Keynes to a family BBQ, which was great fun and so lovely to see all our family, on my side, anyway - though by this time I have fallen out of love with Travvvelllodge (comfy beds, not!) Just back from there, I turned straight around and went to Durham to see my bessy mate, and had such a lovely, relaxed time HERE  We talked and ate, slept and repeated same for three whole days = bliss. Walking around the grounds we saw two herds of deer in the deer park, the gorgeous flower gardens and, in a valley, a summer house - simply gorgeous!

  So lovely to just sit around and catch up, without any distractions of work etc and simply a 'must' again next year.

Just last week we made the journey back down to Hertfordshire this time, for my cousin's wedding H to another Mark.  A different experience this time as everything took place in the Country Manor House where the reception was, also.  I don't know which I prefer as I am not a religious person (my faith is in people, and their inner goodness - but that is discussion for another day, perhaps?) but Church is part of our culture.  However, a civil service can be made so personal, can't it?  But, this was a small wedding, with great focus on H and her sister's small children as they were very much part of the party.  It was lovely to meet them, as well as other cousin's babies, who are the next generation in line.

Our wedding anniversary was in June, and I was married in a Register Office in a cream and brown dress a la 1970s that I had bought in a sale!  This was 36 years ago now, and I don't regret any of my wedding, especially as it was just very close family and a couple of friends, and a Wedgwood blue wedding cake with a tea round at Mr T's dad's house, then a meal at a Chinese Restaurant in the evening with our best friends.  These friends had given us a bottle of champagne to have on our own, which fizzed all over our bed!  So, we slept in champagne, then my nan came around in the morning to collect my bouquet to take to my aunty's grave for me - and, as we only had one rented room, sat on the bed with Mr T still in it, undressed as it were, so he had to stay put for the duration of the visit!  Happy, happy days, and thank goodness, though we do bicker and argue we still love each other, deeply.  Thank goodness.

That is enough of the catching up for today.  See you soon, I hope.

Ta Da!

At last, it's finished.  And entered.  And in the exhibition.  At last, it's Ta Da!

My project, for the City and Guilds Creative Textiles and Embroidery course I'm on, is a pair of cushions.  The design is based upon Knitting, but I didn't want to include actual knitting in it.  Then, my granddaughter, who is very clever and loves photography, took a picture of some tractor tyre tracks in the snow, and voila! The design started to take shape. 

I painted some patterns onto paper, using bamboo skewers and ink, then built up my fabric, so that I could embroider the design. Choosing to just use a running stitch kept the design as the focus and, as my tutor suggested, the stitches found their own direction. Every, and each, stitch was placed in just the space, direction and size I chose; sometimes making a copy of the pattern, and at others being a representation.  One panel represents a cable pattern that was on my jumper, and the other is of a design from a jumper I knitted one of my granddaughters at Christmas - two rows of stocking stitch, two of garter and another of stocking stitch.

The 'V' shape became very important, and I wanted to use that for the 'framing' in the mitred edgings to the panels.  Then, the fabric I used for the edging has lines within the weave that I used to 'point' to the panel.

Ooh, I am really pleased with the process of making these pieces, and with the result I've produced.