What I've been up to

Hmmmm, it's been a while - how are you all?

First and foremost, let me reassure you that I am going to Woolfest! My gorgeous friend Claire beat Rita and Rosanna to the punch by phoning me and squealing "MEEEEEEEEE!" down the phone at me LOL.

We've got it all arranged - we're going to make a week of it and see some of the Lakes too, so if you live in that area and send me your address; you may get a visit!

OK, so catchup time.

I was soooooooo ill at the beginning of the month! On the first Saturday of the month, Kaz and I go to Colonel Bogey's nightclub for 80's night and although she wasn't here (she went on holiday the day before, tut); I decided to go without her!

All day Saturday, I battled a migraine. Nothing I tried worked, I had medication, I sat with my eyes closed, I took another whammy pill, I avoided knitting and reading, I took another whammy pill, it didn't really go but got down to manageable proportions.

I must've been quite stoned though (I've never taken 3 whammy pills in a day before) because I decided, in my infinite wisdom, to go to Bogey's anyway - because, you know, I'd probably feel loads better after a drink in a really noisy nightclub.

I was fine! For about three hours!

Then the migraine punched me in the head and I spent the next two hours in the toilet puking with my eyes tightly shut because the light was hurting.

The bouncers finally threw me out once everyone had gone, I know they thought I was drunk, but I had only had a couple of drinks! I tried to call my mum, but didn't get an answer so I focused on the floor directly in front of me and started walking.

I made it home and went straight into the loo as I was still really suffering! Half an hour later, Isis woke me by sniffing my feet. So I staggered back downstairs, grabbed a blanket and lay on the sofa - Isis naturally lay on top of me *sigh*

The migraine was now raging, I couldn't move, I couldn't lift my head, I had to lie on my left because lying on my right made me feel sick. I knew I was dehydrated from being sick, but wasn't able to get up and get a drink.

It was lunchtime before anyone appeared in the lounge where I was. But it was another two hours before I was able to ask for and drink a cup of tea - although I was only able to drink about half of it because sitting up made me feel ill.

It was 7pm before I was able to sit up, at which point Alex forced more tea and a yoghurt down my neck. I also risked two paracetamol (but not a whammy pill!).

Oh that all did wonders and about an hour later; I was able to get up and get in the bath (which I really needed as I sweat when I'm sick so must've been honking LOL). The bath felt great so I ate some rice too.

It all worked to calm my head enough that I was able to function, but over the following week I felt like I was recovering from the flu! My head was spongy and being so sick had set my IBS off. It was a week before I felt anything like normal!

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I've done some more sewing! I finished it last night, I made a Kindle cover for Mum's Kindle.


I'm really proud of it - it's not perfect, but it's only my second ever project so I'm not doing too bad at all! I'm going to make a case for my iPad this weekend!

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I've started going to bingo with Mel, my first session was last Wednesday and I won £80.70! Went again this Wednesday, but I didn't win a thing - one of the girls won £4500 though!

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On Tuesday I saw a Medium. I really wasn't sure to expect, but Dad came through. This guy said loads of things that he couldn't possibly have known, I can't remember it all, but he gave me a CD recording of our session so I can review it later.

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Oooooh, I finally finished my latest spinning project! I started out with 500g of 70% Black Alpaca/30% White Merino and spun it to a 2 ply laceweight.


I ended up with a massive 3019.1m/3301.7y! I'm not sure yet what I'm going to make, but I'm seriously considering a featherweight cardigan.

Socks! I'm still knitting away on the socks, I'm currently knitting the J socks which I have to get finished quickly as K is currently live and have to be cast on before the 3rd of June. I'm not doing too badly considering the three weeks we spent in Italy, being ill and having to reknit the I socks three times due to a chronically badly written pattern! I can't wait until I've finished the Z socks - then I'll do a huge sock post - I've saved all the pairs; I'm not going to wear any of them until I've finished the challenge!

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Um....that's pretty much it, I think. I'm going to a spin in over in Southampton on Sunday, bingo again on Saturday night, but other than that, I'm still just plowing on with the socks!

My son Matt says "Hi"

Message From My Sickbed

I have the flu.

I spent last night shivering in pyjamas (which I never normally wear), under a blanket, duvet and Isis the Fluffy Puppy.

I managed to sit up long enough to drink a cup of tea, then had to go back to sleep as I had a chronic migraine.

I didn't really manage to sit up until dinner time this evening, but I did manage to finish the first bobbin on Sherry The Cherry.

This is fibre from Sarah, it's 63% SW Merino/20% Silk/14% Nylon/3% Sterling Silver! How fab! Now I just need to find something to ply it with to do it justice!

I'm supposed to be going to spinning guild tomorrow, but I have a temperature, am coughing and generally feel bleurgh - so I doubt I'll go. Quite bummed really, guild is only once a month and something always seems to get in the bloody way of it!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The weather strikes again

After missing out on the tennis at the beginning of the month, I got myself into the mindset that if it was going to snow then so be it. I had ordered my shopping and I could just hole up here where it's warm and dry and look out the window and marvel how pretty it is!

On Sunday evening I was on my way home after taking Isis the Fluffy Puppy out for her daily walk - we have walked daily for over a month now! - we'd gone out on our own and were quite confident that we would be alright.

I was just coming down a small slope past the Co-op at the end of my village and I stood on a patch of ice.

I didn't even see it!

I fell - hard! I landed (narrowly avoiding Isis who looked completely baffled to find me suddenly on the floor beside her!) right on my backside with my left palm flat on the floor next to me.

After a minute or two, I managed to get back on my feet and head towards my house. I was so stunned and had scared myself so much I could barely move - a walk that usually takes a minute, took me 15 minutes.

By the time I got home, I was having a mild panic attack and shaking like a leaf. My left arm was alternating between agony and numbness, I had pins and needles in my left hand and couldn't make a fist, I had knots of pain on the inside of both thighs, my back was in spasm and my favourite jeans had split under the strain.

Alex rushed to make me tea and I took one of my whammy pills to help ease the spams and calm me down. I spent the rest of the evening hobbling around with my stick (which I haven't used it months!)

By the time I went to bed, several hours later, I had regained some use in my left arm and the pins and needles were easing.

I felt like I had been beaten when I woke, but I was able to move and the tingling in my hand had gone. I was ok providing I moved carefully.

Then I walked Kaz home after knit night. I do this every Monday. She comes to mine, rides with me there and back, then I walk her back to Sandown - that way I can still do my daily walk but not be too tired to go out!

I was doing fine, all the way to Kaz's house - we chatted about shopping, Christmas and tattoo ideas. I walked her to her door and kept going back towards town to come home.

By the time I reached the town centre, I knew I was in trouble. The pain in my left shoulder was intense! I also had pain in my back, all down my left arm and in the back of my right knee (that was new - I guess it must've happened as my right leg slipped out from underneath me). I couldn't walk very fast and basically shuffled along.

A walk that should've taken me half an hour tops, took approximately an hour and ten minutes!

I feel worse today than yesterday, my left shoulder is absolutely agony and clicks if I move it in a certain way (I'm pretty sure that's normal for an Ehlers Danlos sufferer like myself - I just hope it doesn't dislocate), my forearms ache, my back aches, my neck aches and I'm still fighting the flu I've had for three weeks too!

I've got a billion and one things to do, 3 fruit cakes, 2 almond slices and 2 chocolate cakes (at least) to bake and I feel like one huge bruise.

I've had enough of winter now :(

Bit of a catch up

Hmmmm things happen and I keep forgetting to add them in - you know how it goes! So I may come back and edit this post as I think of things (which, as I stated before; I hate other people doing LOL), but I'll try and remember it all before publishing the post!

First off; the 'Knitting Olympics' - Well, I failed miserably! I was knitting Mandala with the cobweb silk I got at Christmas. All was going well until my centre pull ball collapsed.

I then came up with the idea of rewinding the yarn to make another ball which I would knit from the outside. I got started. It took hours! I had to carefully detangle multiple snarls and knots. Unfortunately, I got right to the end and there was one knot I just couldn't undo and I had to break the yarn. I was gutted!

I kept knitting and was doing reasonably well until this week; I had left the shawl in my basket as I was working on something else for a while. I dropped my small project bag into my basket one evening and, unbeknownst to me; the zip got caught in the silk. I picked up the bag and pulled about six feet of silk before I saw it. I've fiddled but I can't draw back in all the silk and I've had enough of it.

I'm going to undo the shawl and work it in a heavier yarn. I'll either sell the silk on, or ply it in with something else.

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I've had a dreadful cough since Matt came out of hospital. My throat is so sore! I'm drinking several glasses of honey and lemon a day and taking painkillers regularly. I'm exhausted and fed up with the pain, so if it hasn't eased by Monday; I shall call the doctor!

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Alex told me a while ago that he wanted to see a dentist as he has a wonky front tooth and wants it fixed. I finally found somewhere and took him along.

While talking to me about treatment (Alex requires braces) the dentist told me I needed to see a dentist myself as I had visible gum disease.

I panicked!

I haven't seen a dentist since I was 16. I was scared quite badly as a child and as soon as I reached an age where I had a choice; I stopped going!

But I finally plucked up enough courage to make an appointment and go myself.

The dentist said I would benefit from visiting the hygienist (who would clean my teeth properly and teach me how to care for them), but other than that; I had 'good teeth'

I visited the hygienist this week, she took a lot of built up scale off my teeth. It was a very uncomfortable procedure and my teeth were very sensitive and really ached for a couple of days afterward.

I found this quite distressing as I've never suffered from pain in my mouth before. So people on twitter (luffs ya Claire) had to put up with a lot of moaning and complaining this past week!

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I am selling my Ashford Joy. I haven't used it at all since buying the Rose. I did consider keeping it purely for use in the camper, but space is limited in the camper really and it's easier to pull out my knitting than it is to set the wheel up (even a wheel as ready to go as a Joy).

I have everything that came in the original box (which is also included), as well as 4 extra bobbins, the WooLee Winder with five WW bobbins, all the receipts are also included.

I would like £450 for it. This price does not include postage. I am willing to catch the ferry over to Portsmouth/Southampton/Lymington to meet a buyer at my own cost and I'm also willing to transport it to Wonderwool. I will post, but the buyer must pay all shipping costs.

So if you know anyone after an Ashford Joy - send them to me!

I discovered that I don't need to take a wheel when we go camping because look what I can do!

When I first started spinning; I was told to learn on a spindle first as it would teach me control and how to draft properly. I was totally against it; I didn't like the look of the, they seemed slow and clumsy, awkward and they just weren't a wheel!

Then I saw a couple of people spinning on spindles over the last six months or so and slowly became intrigued.

Rachel agreed to loan me her spindle (made by a local man called Ian) so that I could practise in peace and this is my first attempt! I know own this spindle and I have placed an order for a Trindle too!