Oh dear....

I can't believe it's been a year since I last posted.  Things have changed lately!

I've been back at work since last June.  I'm working full time in an insurance company in Manchester.  On the phones!  It's been 10 years since I did this kind of work and it's a bit weird being back on the phones.  I've had a lot to learn about insurance.  It's one of those things that you get to be legal, but you don't think much about.

As it's in Manchester which is about 25 miles away, the commute isn't much fun.  I made the decision to use public transport.  Mostly because I'm a 10 minute walk away from the bus stop and probably a 20 minute walk away from the train station (that's if they can get their arse together and get the rolling stock to actually use the bend they put in for the direct link to Manchester from Burnley.  I still have the car, mostly because if I want to go to Wales (and indeed anywhere outside of Burnley), a car is necessary.  Also, the Mr. has the use of a van as part of his work and while he gets to drive it home, he can only use it to drive about on work related gubbins.

The foot is much better, although it does like to twinge in the cold weather.

Knitting wise, I've been in a mood to finish all the things, except the blanket mentioned in my last post.  I have to sew them together and quite honestly, I can't be arsed.  I think the sizes of the hexagons are a bit weird, but I will get round to it at some point.

I actually finished my Margot which I love.  I didn't think I'd have enough yarn, but I have one ball left :D I even made it 2 inches longer :)

I've also discovered the fun of Craftsy.  I signed up for Jacey Boggs-Faulkner's class called Spinning from Worsted to Woolen and also Jillian Moreno's class called Ply to Knit: Spin the Yarn you Really Want.  I've only watched Jacey Boggs-Faulkner's class so far and love it.  I've learned so much so far and still have a lot to learn.

I've also been thinking about podcasting.  I'm not sure though.  I'll have to plan it.  I'd have to get a decent microphone first though and I'd have to decide how to do it, and how often I'd do it. We'll see - I'm not convinced I'd have anything interesting to say though.  I am currently listening to a lot of British knitting podcasts though, so maybe that's influencing me.

I'm going to leave it here though, as I've been up since 5:45 and it's now midnight.  Zzzzzz..

What is it with me and blankets?

New year, new blanket!

I don't know what it is with me and blankets, but as soon as I finish one, I start another. Having said that, the cat has claimed the handspun one I finished.

Now onto the next one.  This time, crocheted hexagons, in creams, beige and browns.

I am not much of a crocheter though. I can do granny squares though, so I'm trying to extend my skills. I have no idea how to join them though and I don't know whether I'll do a square one or a random edge one.

We'll see!

In other news, the foot is slowly healing. I'm beginning to walk on it now. It's a bit sore. I finally have a physiotherapy appointment next week. I'm a bit nervous though so I don't know where I am on the progress scheme of things, although I suppose I am where I am.

Getting there!

Yay

So 6 weeks has passed since I broke my right foot.  It's a Lisfranc fracture of 2 metatarsals, with a break in 1 and a comminuted break in 2 for the medically minded.  Bone 1 is my big toe and 2 is the toe next to it.  Quite an odd fracture apparently, as it's commonly the little toe that's fractured in my type of injury (falling off a step).

Sitting on my arse all day has not been good for me mentally.  I'm sure that if I was measured on the test that Doctors do for depression, I'd score quite highly.  Whether that would have been enough for intervention, I'm not sure.  I decided not to seek treatment for it (the potential depression) because I was more aware this time over and I knew that it had a cause and a light at the end of the tunnel for a cure.  That didn't stop the anxiety kicking in, but I am dealing with that through meditation and distraction (more on that in a minute).

6 weeks down the line and I now have a boot fitted and I am now allowed to weight bear.  I've been given some basic exercises to do, until the referral for physio comes through.  I'm doing better than I thought I would.  I am somewhat of a fidget and something I tend to do is wiggle my toes a lot, so when my toes were sticking out of the plaster cast, I have actually got them pretty mobile.  It's just the strength in my ankle and foot now that I need to build up.

All of the stress has kicked my eczema up a notch with a massive patch under my cast, which I couldn't do anything about.  I had it checked by the doctor who wasn't too worried - I however am quite concerned and think it's worse than the time I got antibiotics from my last GP in Nottingham.  I've been given the OK to use my strong steroid cream on it though, so if it hasn't improved in a week, I will have to go to my GP and get some antibiotics.  Gah, I hate Fluoxacillin, it gives me the tummy rumbles.

It was heaven to get it washed though.  Think I might have accidentally pulled my sex face while it was being washed and scared the nurse :D

Naturally, as I've been sat on my arse, I've been watching a lot of TV.  I'm addicted to Homes Under the Hammer.  I never got into Jeremy Kyle - I think he's a bit of an idiot and I don't really get the show.  It's the kind of show that shames it's participants and I have no time for shaming. 

I lost my job too, which is a shame.  I can't say I blame them - I was on a temporary ongoing contract which I was unable to fulfil.  They were a retail company who need people to answer emails coming up to Christmas.  I'm still a bit frustrated though, however I did get a call from an employment agency and I *might* have some more work lined up, starting mid January.  My note runs out on New Years Eve, so I may need to pop and get another couple of weeks.

But, I need to be up on my feet and moving about and putting weight on it, so we shall see.  I impressed myself by tackling TWO steps using a walker.  TWO!!  I'm still unable to go up the stairs in my house as I have a walker and not crutches, but we'll see what the physio's say when I go and see them.

I have been getting plenty of knitting done.  I've finished a pair of socks, a crochet granny square blanket and have got considerable work done on the Mr's socks (2 at a time, toe up - go me!!!).  I've stated and restarted multiple times a sweater from knitty in some sport weight SMC superfine merino fino that I got from John Lewis in a sale last year. 

Oh, oh!  I've got a new car as well.  One that I've only been able to glare at through the window of my house.  It's a Rover 25.  I miss my unusual Pug though (a saloon 306, which are uncommon), but I won't miss it's hissy fits in the winter.

Now, it's time for dinner.  I'm starving!!

Oh bugger

Oops. Tripped up and broke my foot on Halloween.

Bugger.

No spinning for a while and I have to sit with my foot up for at least 6 weeks, possibly longer.

Ugh. I feel a bit bad because I've been in my new job for a grand total of a month and now I'm signed off by the doctor. I am struggling to get about, even with a Zimmer frame (I can't manage crutches).

I had surgery and had a plate put in and have been joking that I'm collecting a set (I already have one in my wrist).

I can't get up stairs without pulling myself up and even going short distances on the frame tires me out. I've frightened myself a bit because I've been neglecting my health a bit, so am overweight and am unfit (I have no upper body strength).

I can knit for short times but my leg is a bit sore, so my concentration isn't there.

So, I'm a bit fed up, a bit scared about the state of my own health and am worried about still having a job at the end of it :/

Blargh!

Mojo

So I am enjoying being back at work.  It's hard getting used to a different work environment and understanding what the policies are, but then that's going to be the same anywhere, I think.

I do sometimes wonder how I come across - some of the stuff I talk about is long winded and I do think I ramble on a bit. Or maybe, I'm just wanting to be liked, so start talking a lot of crap (or so I think!).

I'm not entirely sure.

However, I like the company I'm working for, I like the work, the day goes quickly and it's all good.

I'm finding that I've finished quite a few of my recent projects.  I finished my Lightening Shawl and then I finished my Handspun Socks so quickly after I finished my Mabelle (look back a few entries for pictures), that all I have left is my 3 long term blankets on the go. 

I am thinking of knitting another Mabelle.  Well, thinking about it.  I have lots of SMC Superfine Merino Fino that I got in a sale in John Lewis earlier this year.  Thing is, the SMC is sport weight and Mabelle calls for DK weight yarn.  So, I was thinking that I might use the general shaping of Mabelle and convert the stitch counts to the sport weight, then look for a stitch pattern in my Barbara Walker book.  I am procrastinating though.

I've got some fibre on Doris the wheel - not for a particular project.  I dyed some merino up with some onion skins, some of it mordanted, some not.  I got green and reddish brown.  I am thinking that I'd like to ply up the red brown stuff with some commercially dyed orange fibre of indeterminate origin (it was cheap!!),  I was thinking 2 plies of the reddish brown and one of the orange.  I am really enjoying doing 3 plies at the moment.  The handspun socks were najavo plied to retain their colours and I liked the way the 3 ply came out so I thought of doing it again.

The yarn for my celestarium is finished and is waiting for me to wind into balls, but I can't be arsed.  I also haven't got the motivation to do any sums for the Mabelle and neither can I be arsed to knit any of my blankets, although I am knitting a bit of the handspun 10 stitch blanket as I go along.

I've got yarn there to knit the lovely gloves from knitty, but I need buttons and I can't be bothered with that either. 

Gah.  I hope this passes.  I'm thinking that I could do a load of winding this weekend and catch up on a load of podcasts that I've got to listen to.  I might even wind some sock yarn so that I can have a pair of socks on the go. 

Someone give me a kick up the bum?!!

Yarndale!

This last weekend brought Yarndale, a yarn / sheep / spinning / knitting / crocheting / crafting festival in Skipton.  As I only live 25 miles away, it seemed rude not to go.

I had the most excellent news that I got a job and started yesterday, so felt that I was able to go and treat myself a little as it means that I'll have money coming in now.  Yay! 

I went with the intention of buying a swift, as the homemade one I had got damaged in the move, plus I left some bits behind.  I thought that I might buy some fibre and some buttons as well.

I got there at about 11:30, after queueing for half an hour on the A59 and trying to find a parking space.  It was absolutely packed out.  The walk from where I'd parked was lovely, decorated with crocheted bunting, which was beautiful.  I didn't know they had been collecting any, otherwise I'd have crocheted a few triangles. 

It was very very busy inside, so I decided that I was going to do a circuit of all the stalls before buying anything and spotted a few bits.

I stopped to admire the animals.  Lookit it's adorable face!!!

Then after a break, I got down to some shopping.  My first buy was some fivemoons sock yarn with stelina in it.  It's called Artemis, but I can't remember what the colourway was, however, it spoke to me! I blame my cat, who is a yarn snob.  He will sometimes sleep on the cat bed I knitted within the first year that I learned to knit.  Problem is, it's acrylic and fun fur and he has a habit of pulling it out of his basket and snoozing in his basket instead.  Plank of a cat.

Next up was a Sunflower Swift bought from Purlescence.  My Welsh accent got recognised - to within 5 miles of where I was brought up :)

Then some alpaca from John Arbon Textiles.  I got 200g, but he gave me a teeny bit more. It's so gorgeous!  I keep on petting it!

Then I got some bargain merino and silk from Winghams.  I just adore the colours on these - I got 100g in each colour.

I decided that would do me, as I have plenty to be getting on with!  I came out gasping for a cuppa - I was too lazy to queue for a brew as it was so busy; I wish I'd taken my own. 

Everyone seemed so happy and cheerful and it was great to chat to a few people.  I did get a bit overcome with yarn fumes and debated pestering the Mr. to let me get an alpaca!  They are so gorgeous, plus they make awesome guards.

I didn't get any buttons as it was so busy and I couldn't get to the stall I wanted to, but it's no biggie, as I can get them again. 

I only went on the Saturday and was a bit gutted that I didn't go on the Sunday as apparently it was a bit quieter and a bit more chilled.  Plus a few people that I knew were going.  All in all, a great day out and good fun.  I wish I'd taken coffee and sarnies and gone a bit earlier, but other than that, it was ace!

Spinning

So on Saturday, I went to my local spinning guild.  I was the youngest there which felt a bit odd, but it was good to go and meet other people who spin.

I was a bit worried about going and couldn't figure out why.  I realised that it was because I'm beginning to get to a place where I'm proud of my spinning.  I had spun 100g of an alpaca and silk blend that I got sent as part of a swap and I najavo plied it and it's come out as a 4ply! It's pretty even and it's really beautiful stuff.  I can't decide what to make with it yet, but I'm thinking a hat.  I did have a Wooly Wormhead pattern in mind, but I realised that the stitch pattern wouldn't really show in the resulting yarn, so I don't feel that I'd be doing the yarn or the pattern justice.

I was worried, that my burgeoning pride in something that I've made is in that risky, fragile stage where I'm worried about what other people would make of it and I was worried that I'd get shot down for my spinning.  Then I realised how daft I was being.  It doesn't really matter how I got here or the path that I'll take in the future.  It's more important to enjoy what I've made now and enjoy my talent as it is now. 

I'm really enjoying spinning for projects in mind.  I have the yarn spun up for my Celestarium, but I have another shawl on the needles that I want to finish that I've been trying to knit for the last 3 years.  It's been frogged multiple times, but I'm now on the home straight!  I have about half a pattern repeat and the border to knit and then I'm done with the knitting.  It's just the blocking and photographs to do now. 

In the meantime, I am spinning for a pair of socks, as once I realised that I could spin fairly consistent 4ply yarn, if I triple ply it, then I thought I could knit a pair of socks.  I have some Easy Knits fibre that I bought at Pendle Stitches, that has some tencel in it.  It's yellow, reds and purples and I figured that if I maintained the colours when spinning and plying, I could have stripy socks! 

I'm really excited :)