Twice in one day

Having managed to get one photo on I thought I would post another while the going is good.
Emily went to her first formal evening on Friday. Her High School held their Year 11 Prom at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon.
It was a very emotional occasion, not just for the students, as many of the parents had a tear in the corner of their eye as we waved them off in their Limo.
I really feel old now! Emily is at school today for the last day of statutory education. It seems like five minutes since she started primary school.

Third Time Lucky

Third time lucky?

I am trying to get a photo onto the blog. If This works it is a photo of Charlie (my younger daughter), and Molly (my mad Labrador).
Knitting is at a standstill today. My wrists can't take any more for a while. I completed scarf number 15 last night. Thats 15 in two months. Not as many as I would have liked, but not bad given that I have to work as well!

Back to work today as the pleurisy has now gone....Yipee!!!
Luckily it was a quiet day at the centre where I work so I was able to take it gently. Even so I was absolutely shattered by the time I came home.

Yesterday I went to a really emotional christening. My friend's daughter sadly died last year, shortly after giving birth to her second child(a much longed for little girl). Daisy was born prem at 28 weeks and for a while it was touch and go. Amazingly she is now a bonny little thing who is developing well. Since leaving Hospital Daisy and her brother Kyle have lived with their Grandparents.

On the knitting front I have been getting into the scarves and have now completed eleven different styles and colours. As soon as I can get a photo to load onto this blog I will post a picture of my multicolour scarves.

My Stash:
I vowed not to add anything to my stash during May, but alas I went to a local budget shop and picked up a few balls of fluffy stuff! (actually it was 28 balls) . They are for the charity scarves so I think that excuses it. The rest of my stash currently occupies three large whicker boxes under the coffee table, Four black sacks in the loft, two drawers under the bed and a few odd balls scattered around the house in carrier bags. Oh well...I will have to make a new stash resolution in June!!! And I will have to try and keep it.

Rest..... Whats that?

Having been told by the doctor to rest, I thought it would be simple. Sit down, put my feet up and get the needles out!
No such luck.
Yesterday Emily managed to get hit on the back of the head by a badly placed football. The worst thing was that she was only chatting to mates during break time at school and was not even playing.
Emily is notorious at school for her continuous list of accidents. During her 5 years at high school she has broken her wrist twice, suffered concussion three times, cracked her coccyx and now has whiplash! Add to that viral meningitis and knee surgery, she has really made her mark!
Back to me... Guess who had to spend 3 1/2 hours in casualty while she had her neck xray done. At one point the doctors nearly offered me a bed due to the fact that I was getting breathless from coughing.

NATURE UPDATE
The nest is still safe. I really worry every time I see the Magpie approaching. Fortunately the parent birds are very observant and have seen it off.
They haven't finished building, but have started to decorate already. Today a piece of blue nylon rope has been added to the nest making it look very attractive.

I HATE STEROIDS
I've been on 30mg of prednisolone for 5 days and now feel like marshmallow man! My fingers are like puffed rice and I've had to take off my eternity ring. I would have taken off the wedding ring,but I couldn't get it off in time. Thus I sit here watching it dissappear into my folds of skin, knowing that if it gets any worse I will have to have it cut off......The ring not the finger ....hopefully!

spring fever!

Having thought the dreaded cough was improving I took myself off to Norfolk for a Physiotherapy course on the long term management of severe disablement in people with Multiple sclerosis.It was a very interesting course, but upon my return I suffered a setback(maybe caused by the driving followed by a birthday party for six kids, to celebrate charlie's 8th birthday). The wheezing and breathlessness were back accompanied by severe pain in the left side of the chest. I gave in and visited the gp.Result: Bronchitis, pleurisy and mild asthma. No wonder I felt so good!
Have now been stuck at home since Thursday without a computer as hubby took it on the boat to use it for navigation. (a chart and a pair of binoculars work just as well!!)Any way, I have completed three more scarves in jazzy yarn purchased in Norfolk. I managed to squeeze in a visit to both parents while I was there, plus a visit to one of my favourite wool shops. Well a girl has to have priorities doesn't she! I also saw my Grandmother which made it even more worthwhile.

I was hoping to go back to work in the morning, but as I am still breathless when I talk I don't think I can take my normal exercise classes for wheelchair users. Its a real bummer as I love my job.

NATURE NEWS
After a hectic weekend with my sister here, I am now sitting in my front room watching a nest being built by two very active song-thrushes. They have been continuously harrassed by a magpie, but have bravely seen it off all day. My video camera is trained on the nest so that I can get a closer view. Perhaps they will lay eggs soon and I can watch the babies.

My pond is absolutely full of tadpoles. I love going up the garden to watch them developing. What a great waste of time! Yesterday the water was so clear that I even saw a newt. My daughter Charlie can't work out why I call him MI. Well he is only small after all!!!

PARENT PANIC
My eldest daughter takes her GCSE exams in a few weeks, and I am feeling really old. I was reading on another blog about a mum whose son had just started school and I tried to leave a comment, but my laptop was so slow I kept getting cut-off mid stream. Anyway If you have a child just starting school, enjoy every moment, (even when they don't tell you anything), put your name down to help on school trips, join the pta, do anything to involve yourself in school life, as it will all be over in the blink of an eye. Ypu know the saying that school days are the best days of your life..... Well I think they're wrong... Your kids school days can be even better. It seems like five minutes since Emily started school and she leaves in June!!

Better go now as the Kids want to eat again. I really am getting hooked on blogging,although I spend more time reading other peoples than I do writing my own.
Can you believe I can no longer work out how to put photos on. The green dress was definately a fluke!

Where am I going wrong

Tried this from another blog. Where am I going wrong?
I have no head for business and I definately have no control over my money!!!

Your Birthdate: April 8

Watch out Donald Trump! You've got a head for business and money.You'll make it rich some day, even if you haven't figured out how yet.A supreme individualist, you shouldn't get stuck in a corporate job.Instead, make your own way - so that you can be the boss. Your strength: Your undying determination Your weakness: You require an opulent lifestyle Your power color: Plum Your power symbol: Dollar sign Your power month: August

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

The Green Dress

Here is a photo of oldest daughter wearing the green dress mentioned in a previous blog. The picture does not do it real credit as it doesn't show the silver and green spirals on the bottom of the skirt, the sewn in leotard and the silver bodice front which had to be added to preserve her dignity.
As a very amateur seamstress I am amazed that it held together for a dress rehearsal and three performances!

As I am blogging today it means we have not left yet for our sailing holiday. Weather not bril, and I got a rotten cough. My other half has decided its bad enough sharing a house with my cough let alone a 31ft boat!


Daughter featured in the photo currently in Norfolk staying with her Grandma, hopefully revising for her GCSE exams. Next weekend she will be youth hosteling on the North Norfolk coast with a group called the postellers.

Today i am enjoying a leisurely Saturday, with breakfast in bed and a trip out for lunch. Well a girl expects to be pampered on her birthday. My Dad really upset me though as he sent me a card with "life begins at 40" on it. I wouldn't mind except that I'm not 40 till next year! The other downside is that everyone has sent me choccies which could lead to disaster as I am trying to reduce my weight. Next year I will ask for something specific!

nutty-knitters nutty knits

I love e-bay
I have become hooked on buying stuff on e-bay. Last week I bought two lots of wool and this week I got another two bargains. It is a great way of getting yourself a stash at a reasonable price. You have to know what the original price was to grab a bargain (not forgetting to include the postage) but most knitters know a bargain when they see it.
Just wish there were more knitting hours in the day.
Schools out here so the kids are at home. The oldest is already driving me mad as she starts GCSE exams in five weeks. The little one is spending all day driving her dad crazy as he doesn't work during school hols, unlike me who has only booked next week off Good move really.
As I am married to a sailing enthusiast(nutcase) I will be spending next week sailing the south coast from Portsmouth to Weymouth, depending on wind and tide! In between pulling a few ropes, making tea for the captain, entertaining the seven year old whirlwind, taking the dog ashore in the dinghy and feeding the crew I hope to get a bit of knitting done. Most will have to be done when we are alongside during the evening so I won't be taking any intricate patterns!
Good job I've got loads of scarves to knit!!
I may not get another chance to blog before we go away so Happy Easter to anyone who reads my Blog!

nutty-knitters nutty knits

nutty-knitters nutty knits

Why is it so hard to keep to one project at a time? Currently got at least four things on the needles. I have started kniing those fluffy scarves for selling for chaity. I work at a centre for people with MS and we are always looking for ways of raising money. Being totally mad I suggested that some of us start knitting scarves to sell for xmas. It seems a long time away but I thought it best to start early. So far I have persuaded one of my ladies to knit. As it is over 10 years since she last picked up a pair of needles I was really pleased. Another has shown an interest, which is great news. MS can be so disabling it is great to encourage any activity which keeps people active, even if it is only their hands!
I have just finished my third scarf in two weeks, at this rate I will have quite a stash by xmas.
If anyone has odd balls of that lovely fluffy yarn I would love to receive it.
post to
Sutton & Croydon MS Centre
Bradbury House
LLoyd ave
The Mount
Coulsdon
surrey

Has anyone tried setting up a knitting group. My local craft shop has offered to host but I don't know how to start. Any ideas?

The Green dress mentoioned in previous blog is now finished and the dance show was fantastic, even if I was biased as my daughter had a solo to perform.

Now the spring weather has finally decided to show itself I have to get out ino the garden. The only downside is the fact that if I'm in the garden I can't be knitting.

I haven't managed to blog lately, due to not having access to my computer. My 16yr old seems to be on it all hours of the day (she says she is using it for revision, but I know she spends hours on MSN!).Well, I have completed the school cardigan and a couple of small baby cardis, and am now on the first of my bears! I bought 5 kits to knit Popcorn bears. I must have been having a funny turn! The pieces are all finished but I have put off sewing them together. I have to be in the right mood for sewing up! I must have about three or four things to sew together before the mood takes me. Thus I have started making a scarf and a pair of leg warmers for my 16yr old( the MSN fan).
Other projects currently under way include a dance dress in green lycra for aforementioned daughter's dance showcase at school, and wall paper and paint stripping in my bedroom. If only there were more hours in the day.
Just to add to the frantic life, my cat has developed a skin condition. She has lost half the hair on her back and tail. She now ressembles a poodle after a trip to the poodle parlour! Oh well another expensive vet bill on the horizon.
I must try and get into the habit of blogging more often. I find it very therapeutic. Only problem is I can't blog and knit at the same time!

what a week. My knitting teacher (ie my Grandma) turned 93. It was quite traumatic as she had a fall on the eve of her birthday and broke a rib. Fortunately my mum was able to stay with her which meant she didn't have to go to hospital. It seems remarkable that she has lived through two world wars, has seen two total eclipses, brought up two daughters, seen three grandchildren get married and has seven great grand children. I only hope I can last as long and achieve as much! As it is she has now lived longer than any other member of her family. Two of her sisters lived to be 92, and I know this thought has haunted her for the past twelve months.

This remarkable lady inspired me to learn to knit and crochet, producing cardigans and jumpers for myself and my brother and sister, even though she was partially sighted due to measles when she was a child. I was able to turn to her for help while trying to edge a crocheted baby blanket for my oldest daughter (now age 16).
Even now she always wants to know what my current knitting project is.
My only wish would be that she will be around long enough for my daughters to both grow up with similar memories of her that I grew up with.
I hope I can pass on my love of knitting to the next two generations the way she has.
This post is dedicated to my Grandma, Elsie Maud Edwards (nee Archer, born 05.12.1912)

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precious time

Why is it that at one of the busiest times of the knitting year, when I had planned to make presents for friends and family, that both my girls end up off school. This meant that the time when I would normally be able to knit in peace has been taken up with trips to the doctor and A&E! Also hours have been spent cuddling one or other of them until late in the evening when they were feeling too poorly to sleep.
At least I managed to fit in time for a PINK PARTY in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. I was really pleased to raise £100 by having a Body Shop party at home. I chose Breakthrough because my good friend lost her sister to breast cancer, and my sister in-law, my brothers mother in-law and my boss were all diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Seems to me that it's more common than ever these days.
Also I have introduced about 20 new knitters to the world. No I have not given birth to twenty babies ( although sometimes it feels like it). No, I have started teaching 24 brownies to knit, and I hold fortnightly clinics when the girls bring their knitting along for me to sort out their holes!
I am also teaching the daughter of a friend to use the kneedles to create magic.
I would love to join a knitting 'group' but nothing seems to happen in this area. If anyone reads this and knows how to start a group please e-mail me at mad-house@lineone.net.

why is knitting school cardigans so dull and boring? my daughter C. got a great big hole in her last cardy (which I have darned), but really needs a new one. The only problem is it is so dull that I have to make myself pick it up. I suppose it could have something to do with the fact that over the past 18 years I have knitted over 20 jumpers and cardys in the same colour for her older sister & her half brother & sister. Dark maroon gets very monotonous after a while. Perhaps I should give in and buy her one of those awful machine made acrylic things with floppy ribbing! But then again maybe not.
The house is currently in a state of disarray. I am halfway through decorating the bathroom, which i have tiled by myself(a very rewarding past time) and have now made a start on my (or i should say our)bedroom. Amazing how much yarn you find that you forgot you had. I had balls of the stuff hidden in all sorts of places! Hope the other half never goes poking around in the loft!!!
well thats all for now. Got to go and do the school pick up. Am going to learn how to upload pictures onto this blog as soon as i can.

first timer

Wow, what a discovery, a way of communicating with other like minded people about a subject that most of my friends find either terribly boring or just plain impossible.
I can't wait to have time to post some of my projects on the web.