Keeping warm

I finished the socks, but it was a struggle so much to prepare for the big day,

 

 and then I made this.. I don't usually use a hottie bottie but I saw this crochet cover and wanted to make one, so had to buy it!!

We had a really lovely Christmas altho' I found it all a struggle and I had a cold which DH caught as well.  I helped with all the cooking and I can unload and load the dishwasher one handed, but it is difficult for me. Because I don't go on about my arm, people assume it is ok, but it isn't,  far from it. But my appointment has come for the London Orthopaedic Hospital for January 11th, which in a way I am dreading and it's only an out patients app. but what if she says she can't do anything to help me?

DH's present of a Fitbit is great and so I am walking to try to do the 10,000 steps a day, which you can do if you wear it around the house too. DH set my target low to start off as I hate exercise including walking! So when I reach it, fireworks go off.  If I sit still for too long it buzzes me and says.. 'fancy a stroll!' LOL.
I love it. So far the highest number of steps I 've done is 6517 which I thought pretty good for me.  Today we haven't been for a walk as we needed a small shop, we had run out of dishwasher tabs, one day we filled the dishwasher 3 times! We'll have to leave it here, when we move, as it is build into  the kitchen,  but we'll  buy one asap once we are in Suffolk, as hand washing is ok for one or two days,  but the novelty soon wears off!

Happy New Year Everyone, and I hope it is a Healthy one and full of love.

XX

 

Christmas card but who are you?

Who are you???
I have received several cards from bloggers that I know and had cards ready to send for them.. but today I have received one from Jenny and David... I am sorry but for the life of me I can't place who you are.
Come forward and reveal yourself please!

Chris xx

PS... The mystery is solved. It was the parents of one of DH's daughter's boyfriend's parents!! And DH had written them a card but had forgotten their names!!

Progress and a different sort of news.

Life goes on slowly here although I feel I am making progress as I have dressed myself twice!! Bra and pop socks, albeit with some discomfort (discomfort is Dr's talk, really it's painful!) I am now waiting for a letter from The London Orthopaedic Hospital for further surgery.. just another wait and wait and wait time!
 I have  nearly finished that second pair of socks but I haven't done anything else, except I have walked most days and lost some weight. Only 10 pounds and so I still am not the weight I was before I broke my arm, but I am not giving up, I will carry on and not be dismayed when I don't lose 7 pounds over night!LOL
But our biggest news is we are moving to Suffolk. We saw a house that we fell in love with and ours sold in three days, so great excitement, we've been on a cloud all afternoon..
Our Christmas cakes are made and a huge pudding as DH's two DDs and one hubby and a partner are coming for Christmas. It will be lovely to have a great family Christmas.
Happy Happy days!

XX

Further progress...

....albeit small. This morning I was able to put on my own pop socks( still can't manage tights) hurrah!! DH said he was already beginning to feel redundant, but within a minute of him saying that I had to have help to put on my bra! And I still can't manage a cardi, jumper or jacket, so he still has his job as chief dressing helper!
But each little act of progress gives me such a happy feeling. My next hospital appointment is Nov 2nd, so I wonder what the x-ray will show? I am ever hopeful...

Around here the leaves are changing colour, autumn is truly here. I was remembering the excitement one year of my year 6 class in a school in Basildon, when I showed them how we could use the fallen leaves for printing and making patterns. Some of the children did some very pretty and attractive pictures, I wonder where those children are now? It was over 20 years ago, they'd all be 30 something now? Happy times for me! Do any of you reminisce about times past?

XX

Still knitting and good news...

 .... well good news to me. Today I have for the first time eaten a yogurt using  my right arm!! First time for 18months, does this mean my arm is healing? 4 weeks ago, because of various life threatening side effects notified to me by my own Dr, I stopped taking a high dose of dichlofenic, an anti-inflammatory drug. I thought I wouldn't be able to go without them; I have been taking them for years. It was suggested by the rep. of the Exergen treatment  (Ultra sonic treatment that I had last year, that failed),  that NSAIDS hinder healing..(Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( are a drug class that groups together drugs that provide analgesic (pain-killing) and antipyretic (fever-reducing) effects, and, in higher doses, anti-inflammatory effects.) At first I noticed my shoulder pain was worse,  but my knees for which I was taking them were no worse! And suddenly other things were good, no headaches and no constipation (I know you wanted to know  that, sorry !!)  So all in all it was a good thing to give them up. I just have two paracetamol at bed time. And today lifting up my arm to eat was a real air punching fist moment.. YEH!! (with my left arm!)

 

And life goes on.. into my 18th month..

I have tried to keep busy, a pair of socks for me..

And another pair on the go for a friend...

Being able to lift my right arm means I can use my machine, so it's a date for next week!

I am singing and almost back to my old polly-anna happy self.. I say nearly because today I jammed my finger in the door and burst into tears.. just a small hitch I said to DH but I had a kiss better and a wonderful hug.

XX

 

 

 

Arm news....

Not good news at the hospital, there is no change in my arm, none what so ever! I burst into tears and as it was only the registrar, I asked to see the consultant,  so he got Mr Ray. He has suggested an op in a couple of months time with him and another surgeon and at the same time have a complete shoulder replacement, it will be a big long op he said.. I asked could I wait till after Christmas so at least I can use my arm Christmas time,  as I am now, because with the other ops I was back to square one each time and not able to use my arm and of course a lot of pain.  It will at the  Middlesex hospital. So I am to have an appointment in 5 weeks time with both surgeons to discuss the op. and what are the complications etc.. so I haven't got a choice unless I want to stay as I am. We came home and I had a quick drink of water, grabbed the dog and went to the park as it is a glorious day here and I walked and walked, we had a coffee in the café, which was very good, never had one there before and then home and the sun shone the whole time! 
But I was miserable and very red eyed!!

One thing I discussed with DH is my attitude to exercise.. I don't like it but a lot of my problems is my mind set, I don't get up in the mornings thinking 'a walk.' I think what craft can I manage with my arm today?.. so if I want to lose  a substantial amount of weight, I need to move myself. I am well into the Slimming World food plan and liking it, and more importantly I am losing weight regularly, so walking it is.. tomorrow we have planned a visit to my favourite place.. Southend. The promenade is flat and easy to walk on although Sunday we did take a detour, so I walked a little way up the side that rises through the grassed area and beautifully maintained flower beds to the top that over looks the prom. There is an amazing round flower bed there, which is a clock! So watch this space.. 14 weeks till Christmas a chance to lose at least a stone, and I will, I am determined!!!

xx

So what is this going to be?

 I am working on this, I wonder if anyone can guess what it will be?

It is not a blanket!

 

We are still working on our jigsaw. We had a break as we had Dh's  mum here for 12 days to stay so we didn't do any then and she was happy to eat at one end of the table as the jigsaw was the other end! There will be a photo when it is finished, which we hope to do soon. I have asked my #1DS for one for crimbo! Anyone else ask for presents or do you like a surprise?

xx

 

 

Keeping me happy and busy

A jigsaw, it's a French river era scene and 1000 pieces and is so difficult.  But it is something I can do with only one working arm, and very enjoyable.

Different coloured houses with shutters on a hill over looking the sea. We have completed more than this, but it isn't finished yet, as we have had a week away in beautiful Southwold again.

We had such a lovely time, sunshiny happiness  every day. It was relaxing, I walked, one day 1.2 miles, we ate tasty food, crab was my favourite, I slept well and was woken by the gulls each morning. A perfect summer seaside holiday, our forth this last year!

We will carry on with our jigsaw and I am going to ask for a 1000 piece one for my birthday; I hadn't ever thought of that before. Do any of you complete jigsaws?

XX

At last a finish!!

I don't think I have ever been so long knitting a pair of socks, but at last I've finished these. A slightly longer leg part as they are for my cousin who wears wellies,  when she walks her friend's dog across the fields.

Now to do some crocheting, which is easier with my arm.

Arm news? It's more or less the same I haven't got an appointment to see the surgeon till the end of September, so I just have to wait and see. My patience is running out and although people show sympathy, no one really knows what it is like for me.

I can be a miserable old cow some days, thank God I have such a lovely DH

 

Happy Days!!

 

Ta-da !!

I have actually sewn myself a dress.. it seemed easy when I thought about it.

Just 2 pieces, front and back, no sleeves.

(Front)

The neck and arm holes are faced with bias tape and then 2 rows of top stitching.

I had problems cutting out the material as I can't move my arm forward, but I just kept moving the material till it was near me. Then placing the foot of the machine onto the seam to stitch with my right hand proved difficult because I needed my left hand to put the foot down.

But I managed and I am very pleased with the result. A loose dress, with half ties to give it some shape. Three buttons on the front add a little to off set the plainness of the style.

(Back showing the ties)

Not quite straight on the hanger, the hem is level when it's on. 

Actually I am very pleased I have been able to sew,  although my arm was aching last night, it was worth it. I kept thinking I have done some sewing... yeh!!!

XX

 

 

I haven't been idle!

Another pair of socks for #2GS.. These have a plain colour for the welt, heel and toe.

I like knitting them in that colour combination.

And he likes them too.

I always get a kick when I phone and he says, ' Grandma I am wearing your socks!'

And a second sock on my needles for my cousin, who walks in the countryside, so these are for her wellies!

And block 1 of that BOM I wrote about weeks ago.

There is still a little embroidery to finish on this one.

And plenty of fabric left to complete this small display quilt.  I think I will be a while finishing this! As it was a block a month, perhaps I could discipline myself to stitch one each month. There isn't much sewing needed, it's the embroidery that takes the time. 

Yesterday I made a cake, first one for over a year... I should write a book on what you can do when you're forced to become a one handed  'lefty'!!LOL

You can find the cake here,  on my new blog.

I am feeing a lot more positive about my arm

Thank you to all my on line friends for your good wishes and prayers.

XX

 

 

Been AWOL for weeks!!

It's been a while since I have written anything but we have been away. A week in my home town Porthcawl in Wales. We enjoyed ourselves even though we had rain some days, Nell didn't care, she loves the beach.

Since home I have done some one handed weeding, quite difficult as I always feel I will over balance. but the garden is beginning to look really nice again.

On the landing windowsill my orchids have continued to flower...

 

 

 

And this is our first lettuce from the garden, a Webbs Wonder which hearted up and was crunchy and delish. We ate it tonight with cold chicken, and English toms, grated carrot, cucumber finely sliced, sweet corn and crushed new potato, very nice.

We left our tomatoes in the green house when we went away with upside down lemonade bottles, with a needle hole in each neck, filled them with water and they were fine, so we won't mind leaving them again.

I haven't sewn my quilt,  but have knitted a pr of socks and have one done of a second pair. I suddenly had this urge to finish my knitting WIPs

My arm is more or less the same, still useless, so depressing. I have blood tests tomorrow checking on my vit.D and B12 levels. I have taken the 4 week dose of vit D3. so hope that shows improvement. It is now 14 1/2 months since I broke my right arm!!

 

So  now we're out of the EU but life goes on; I am walking every day and have a new pretty walking stick as my third leg,  as I kept feeling I would fall again,  so this has given me confidence and I can fairly fly along with it.  My new pedometer records my steps, aerobic steps, miles and calories.. the most I did in one day was 1.4 miles but had a few rests through the walk. And although I managed to lose a pound in weight when we were away, I put on 2 1/2 the week we came back!  

It's been lovely to read all your blogs, sorry I haven't commented but I have admired the work you all do and love all the .... we're trying to save and be frugal blogs.. it makes me feel we're blasé about shopping, we buy what we like regardless of cost most  weeks.

Stay happy.

 

XX

 

My Real Children ( Book review)

‘My Real Children’ by Jo Walton

If I had looked fully at the description of this book as being Sc-fi Fantasy I wouldn’t have picked it up at the library. I just looked at the author bit and read she was from Wales, but now living in Canada born 1964, the same year as my daughter, who is also called Jo, although I always call her Joanne and she too was born in Wales. I have silly reasons why I chose certain books. But omgosh I really liked this book. Even before the story started to unfold, I knew it was a book I would enjoy, because it was written well, no silly long facile descriptions of what people were wearing, which I hate and is often found in some books which I close unread after the first few pages.

It opens with the old Patricia very confused,  in a nursing home remembering her life but which life pathway was real? Patricia, Patty, Patsy, Pat or Tricia, Trish, all the same woman. But two different lives, all decided by an answer to a question, one answer ‘yes’, the other ‘never. That really is the crux of this story; how one decision, one answer, can shape a whole lifetime, and the lives of those who come next. How generations of one family can be formed because of what one single person decided to do. The two stories then run concurrently, a chapter at a time.

Who is Patricia? Is she Trish, or is she Pat? Was she married with a family, a supply teacher and homemaker, or was she a bohemian travel writer, fighting for her rights and determined to live her life as she wants to? Both of these women have a wonderfully intricate story to tell and Jo Walton has so cleverly created two hugely different lives. I loved both Pat, lesbian with partner Bee and Tricia down trodden wife of a sod of a husband. It is cleverly interweaved with the history of the fifties through to present time, but also fiction, which are absolutely fascinating. For example, we read of Pat struggling to get a mortgage in the 1950’s as a single woman; of her liberation from her husband, Mark and childbirth with the introduction of the contraceptive pill in 1961 but also of ‘Prince Charles and Princess Camilla’ and of couples getting married on the moon.
In one narrative we are in a world where John F. Kennedy was killed by a bomb in 1963, and in the other, transported to a world where Kennedy chose not to run in 1964 after an escalated Cuban Missile Crisis led to the nuclear obliteration of Miami and Kiev. In one, by 1985, AIDS and leukaemia could be cured. In the other, Pat loses a son to AIDS and because of the fallout from the nuclear bombs people die of cancers. For me, this is a story that is unique and original and beautiful. It's intriguing and it's confusing, yet it is filled with emotion and passion and characters who are forward-thinking and beyond the norm, yet are realistically portrayed.

A book well worth reading, perhaps more than once, in case some little details are missed. I think Jo Walton must know Italy well as her descriptions are completely delicious and along with Pat and Bee, I absolutely revelled in the art, the architecture, the scenery and the food. I am so glad I chanced upon this book.  I found this a completely fascinating, rich and enthralling read. I think I might look at other books by Jo Walton.

XX

Not good news..

Last week I couldn't sleep one night, there was something wrong with my arm. Dh helped me sit up with pillows propping me up so that my arm was resting on two pillows. It felt as though something had moved in my arm and it was pressing just by my under arm. I could feel something hard and so could Dh. When I phoned the hospital I was given an appointment to see the Consultant that afternoon. The x-rays showed the 'ironmongery' in my arm had not moved, it wasn't that causing the pain, but my shoulder has dislocated! The surgeon explained that my muscles in my arm have gone to 'sleep' and can't hold the joint in place. What else can go wrong? I am in despair and wonder will I ever be well again, I have been very weepy again.  Once again I have to wait, there is no treatment, just to wait again.. grrrrrr!!
But to cheer myself up I popped in to see my sewing group and chatting to them on Saturday morning, did me the world of good, so I am going to go back and join them in a couple of weeks time. One of my wips is a BOM I paid a lot for and I could quietly sew that with the help of paracetamol!!! Thank for all your comments and prayers.. and thank you too to my church which is praying for my recovery.
This is the BOM called 'Down in the Garden.'

There are 9 blocks and I had completed two, so quite a lot to keep me busy!

XX

 

 

Was it good news?

Well kinda good news about my arm, I'm not sure, was it good? Although the surgeon greeted me with..'it's good news.' None of the ironmongery in my arm has moved. It is the same on the x-ray as it was on my post op visit. The surgeon was very pleased with it, but I did say I wanted a second opinion if there was to be any further surgery. He agreed although he thought it best to wait and see how it is in 6 weeks time. No physio,  no lifting or moving my arm outwards away from my body yet, just gentle movements with it hanging down. I couldn't argue with that as it still gives me pain if I try to lift it, so just to carry on as I have been doing. At least I can knit and I did clean and tidy in the lounge on Monday although not the vac. It just takes me a long time one handed. We weren't as long at the hospital, as we have been in the past, but we had prepared a casserole ( no DH  had and cooked it in the morning!)  and so we came home to our tasty chicken chasseur... it was lovely! So roll on end of June,  by that time it will be 14 months since I broke my arm!!

XX

Dreading today.

 This bulb cost me £5 a few years ago. The first year I wondered why I had bought it as it only had one flower stem so looked pretty pathetic.. but this year it has five!!

It's name is Camassia alba, the more popular are blue.  

A close up showing the individual flowers open; I think it's a shame that the lower flowers die off as the top buds open, so there are only a few open at one time. So did I get my moneys worth, maybe?

I am writing my blog to take my mind off my appointment with the surgeon this afternoon. I have gone through various scenarios in my mind as to what he'll say and I am determined that whatever he says, I will ask for a second opinion.

At the moment my arm is kinda ok. It only hurts a little if I move it in a certain way, but I haven't got that awful pain that I had after that second operation.  

I've had a hiccup with #2 GS's socks I had forgotten how to do the Kitchener stitch at the toe, so had to watch a 'u-toob.' Whatever, knitting has made me feel more normal.

In the greenhouse, I have managed to pot on several seedlings and I have paid a 'gardener' to clear my main large flower border of the weeds and grass. I should say gardener loosely, as although he advertised himself as a gardener, he didn't even know the name of oxalis , that little pink flower that spreads everywhere!  And he needed close watching, even so annoyingly my white phlox disappeared. DH, being the love he is, did go through the wheel barrow of weeds to see if he could find it, but it wasn't there!

Ah well, the main flower bed is looking a lot better.

 

I am dreading this afternoon's appointment, but whatever happens I will have to go through it, if I am to get my life back and an arm that works! Thank you to those of you who left such encouraging comments.  

That pesky..Oxalis

 

XX

 

 

I want my life back!!

I want  my normal life back, I want to garden, cook, and even do housework. I can dust but that's about it. When I try to use the vacuum, I can't guide it properly and I hate it bumping into the legs of our furniture.  Although I clean the bathroom I haven't got enough strength in my left hand to clean the shower screen properly. I have an appointment with the surgeon next week, I am dreading what he will say, in the meantime ......my 'lefty' life goes on and on. I have tried knitting again, I can just about manage, so I decided to knit socks for my youngest GS who starts his GCSEs next Monday. I thought they would be nice for him to put on when he got in from school and kicks off his shoes. I always tuck 'note' in each sock, so he could buy some chocs or what ever.. he'll need the sugar to help him study.

DH is still looking after me but I oh so want to do things myself.

 

We are presently having our kitchen tarted up, new cupboard doors, new work surfaces and a new sink unit. It is looking very nice and nearly finished.. we are camping out in the lounge, the dining room is full of all the kitchen stuff, I had no idea we had so much stuff. It is piled on the table, sideboard, and on the  floor and even on the piano! (will I ever play again?)

It will be fantastic when it is finished I will post some pics as soon as the last bit is finished. I have been feeling a bit sorry for myself lately and weepy. It's now 1 year and 4 weeks since I broke my arm!

XX

 

 

A Week Away

We have had a week away in Southwold.. we had all four seasons in one day nearly every day. Rain, hail SNOW and sunshine!! Our cottage was very high spec and catered for our every need. Very comfortable and full central heating,  which with weather we really needed. And when the weather was horrid, we sat in and drank very good coffee, ate cherry almond tray bake and read, it was perfect. And when the sun shone, I walked.
I walked every day, yes me! I even walked 1.2 miles on Thursday, the most I have done for a very long time.
I coped with my arm ok,  as I do have it in a support as well as the sling but the ache goes on and on.. but we did enjoy ourselves and ate well. I am dreading weighing in the morning, but what ever I am back on the food plan and if I can commit myself to walking every day,  I can keep to this food plan..We needed the break and Southwold is such a lovely little town The beach huts sell for between £75,000 to £120,000, would you believe that?  They are very pretty but all that money for a hut???
Hope the weather warms up soon, my seedlings grew while we were away so I shall be potting some on this weekend and I have a gardener booked next week, I shall have a tidy garden again.. yeh!

xx

DEVASTATED

Yesterday was my post op. appointment with the surgeon. He did not have good news. This second op has not succeeded in keeping my bone together. The crisscross wires have held and the bolt through my bone, but the small plate at the shoulder end of my bone has come away and the' pins' supposingly holding it in place look on the x-ray as though they are coming out. I did say right away to him,  that I am not having anything else done for the moment as after this second op. the pain has been unbearable. So he agreed and I have a further appointment to see him in 5 weeks time but I am going to ask for a second opinion as to what can be done... he is a very nice person and a technically good surgeon, with a very good reputation,  but I can only take so much. I am upset as you can imagine, the thought of living the rest of my life like this is daunting.. I have had a bad night waking and crying, we were drinking tea at 3:30am again!
Lots of prayers needed please!

XX

Crafty bits

I did this before my first op.  March 10th Lots more squares which are lovely to knit as they don't take long and easy to do.

 

 And this little cross stitch is finished as far as I'm concerned. There is a little bit more that is in the design at the top, but I am happy with it as it is. 

I will make it into something when I can sew again.

Update on my arm, I still  have pain and of course I can't use it, but I feel better in myself. I am showered and dressed each day now and that makes me feel better. I have a hospital check up on Wednesday, so hopefully all will be well and the x-rays will show my bone has held together.

Thank you for all the messages, they are wonderful to read. 

XX

All over bar the pain!

Thank you for all your kind thoughts and prayers it has been lovely to come home and read them all.   So I am home and all done, but a lot of pain. I came home yesterday, in a hospital gown with my skirt and jacket over it, as the dressing is too big to put my arm into my blouse sleeve. This time I have a rod through the bone, wires crisscrossed from the top to the bottom and part plated, so that should hold it. I have strict instructions  about not moving my arm up or away from my body so I guess I will be in a hospital gown for a few days, anyway it is too painful to move.  DH  will help me to shower with just the hose part of the shower to keep the dressing dry.  My arm will be shorter but I can still reach my mouth to eat so what the heck???
We stopped off at one of the many Costas and brought home a coffee and of course a raspberry almond slice and we sat in the garden drinking it. So that made me feel I am really home.
My mother's cousin has just phoned from Porthcawl, my home town where I was born,  to arrange for us, my cousin from Shropshire and herself all to meet when we are down there. This is the first year ever that I didn't go to Wales on the weekend of Psalm Sunday to put flowers on my mother's  grave, we are to go in June.. perhaps I should have booked longer than a week as my cousin on my father's side of the family wants to meet up and my friend from school, that I have known since we sat together in school age 8!
I am very tired altho' I have slept an awful lot in hospital but I think that was the morphine.. and the best bit about my stay??? I was able to walk to the toilet Friday night about 10:30 and wee-ed...bliss!! Only a woman could understand that!
  Thank you again my on line friends, it's lovely to have you all xxxx

xx