Kissing it Better

I've been watching the news this morning and seen an item about a scheme called "Kissing it Better"www.kissingitbetter.co.uk. it details the work of local individuals, schools and businesses who go into hospitals and interact with the patients.  It was a very moving piece, and I can see how these interactions would be beneficial to patients, not only at Christmas, which for some can be a very lonely time, but throughout the year. 

I've been away... and now I'm back

I haven't blogged for a while.  There has been quite a lot going on.  As I had mentioned in an earlier post I was about to go back to work; or was looking to discuss my return to work... Well on that case, I returned to work and due to restructuring I was made redundant. I know, close to Christmas many would consider this to be a bad thing. However, I am taking the positive stance and considering this instead to be a chance for me to try something new. So my something new is I am looking to get into teaching - secondary schools. Watch this space!

On the knitting front, the knitting has been keeping me going.  I have completed a hat; and I have completed a coat for a Chihuahua!

On my personal feelings front. I'm a little up and down to be honest. For the first time I saw my diagnosis written down in black and white. "Anxiety and Depression" it never seemed real until that moment and it shocked me. I feel a lot of the time I am writing what has already been written by someone else, but at the same time I don't know how to really put into words how I feel. Confused I think covers it!

I haven't abandoned you!

I haven't abandoned you on purpose! There has been a lot going on, and a lot to sort out; I will be back soon! X

Videos which make me laugh!

I love how this pair look at each other on the first chord! 

Nothing needs to be said - adorable!!!!! 

A day closer to the weekend

I went to bed last night with anxious anticipation of going into the office today for the first time in three months. However, I did check my emails just before bed last night, to discover that I was not to go in as  other issues had arisen at work! Part of me was relieved, however the other part of me was slightly peeved as I had worked myself up a little in preparation to go into the office. I also missed a review with my doctor today; so I do feel a little all over the place. A little out of control and I don't like it.

Today was weigh-in day at my lovely Slimming World group. I'm not ashamed to say, that today, I gained a pound. Shock... horror... gasp... I'm ok about it, I'm not one of those to loose continuously... and to be honest, I don't have the easiest lifestyle in which to fit SW in sometimes.  I know that in theory it is easy to do, I also know that in practice it is easy to do.. however, with arrangements as they are now, it does make it difficult, and to be honest, sometimes it is like fighting a loosing battle. I love my SW group. They are the most amazing group of people, everyone is so supportive, and everyone is truly happy for you, or commiserate with you.
On the slimming world wagon, I started off promisingly well... Last Friday we did make the most amazing meal, which I was proud of "Thyme Lamb" and it was beautiful. If I can find a link to the recipe I will be sure to add it. But it seems that after Tuesday, I just didn't feel the mojo for it.

Knitting wise - considering this is a knitting blog!! I have started a beret hat... I am struggling a little with my knitting at the moment.  I am very keen to try all sorts of different things, and I think I start projects, and then can't get on with them, so they get shelved. Today I reluctantly frogged my skye cape. It had started quite well, but then with the pattern, I think I must have gone wrong in one area and then this caused me to be out of sync forever more! It sits off the needles in my basket, waiting for me to bobbin up the wool...

So onto the weekend. We're off to Somerset to stay with M's aunt.  It should be a great weekend. I'm nearly packed. I've just got to zip everything up, and then tidy the room and I'll be ready to go.  I just hope that I do not forget anything. I'll be annoyed if I do!

Oke poke. I'm off to get some sleep.

A little better today I think...

Good Morning World...

Good morning - well... what a night last night... I met with friends for coffee, which was lovely... however, the headache did not shift. On the way back in the car I had my head in my hands, and it was all I could do to not be sick, or not jump out of the car into the fresh air.  The most bizarre thing happened when I got home. I got out of the car, and I felt better. I walked the 10 or so steps to the front door, and as soon as I walked through the front door the headache was back. I made my way upstairs to the bathroom, and was quite sick. I wouldn't have said it was a migraine; as I do tend to down-play things.. but perhaps it was.... I felt exhausted afterwards, but keen to get into the fresh air.

I went to bed last night; M stayed after a night out with friends, and we both sat in bed with our Kindles... Ever the technical couple! Now M has gone off to work, I have put my hair into my fantastic Laurens Way Dream Rollers (To see the Dream Rollers click here!) and I'm going to have a nice soak in the tub, and let the steam work its magic! (NB. These rollers are nice and easy to put in, and I always get such lovely results... It can't be bad that you even get compliments when you've got your rollers in!!)

My mum has knitted me a snood - a lovely chunky-knit snood... Sainsburys stock Red Heart wool, and their Lisa Big yarn includes a one skein pattern for a snood, but it was one of those patterns that no matter how hard I tried I could not get my head around! So good ol' mum made it up for me.

Knitting wise I'm in between projects at the moment; I can't seem to settle on one project. I think that explains how I feel generally at the moment...

I'm going into work tomorrow, and I am a little apprehensive. I don't know what to expect, part of me is excited to see everyone, but generally I'm anxious about it. All my life I have been working towards achieving something, I've always had the end-goal of education, and now, having completed my education I do feel a little lost. Everything before was all leading towards my education.

I need to get feeling a little more upbeat. Christmas is getting closer, and so is 2013.... IT WILL BE A GOOD YEAR! IT WILL BE A GOOD YEAR

Where am I?

Today I feel a little lost... I have a very bad headache, and despite having a good nights sleep I was awake for two hours before feeling like I needed a full nights sleep again; what is going on? I can't decide whether it is as a result of the medication or whether it is simply a symptom of recovery. I must say I'm not as active as I probably should be, but to be honest I can not bring myself to do anything. I'm off out to meet friends in a couple of hours, maybe that will pull me out of my funk.

A little more closer to Christmas

Another week closer to Christmas we are... the songs are increasing in their frequency on the radio, and the music channels; discussions on presents are abound...

My readiness is at the level where I have started knitting Christmas Stockings; so far I have done one, and am in the process of a second, they are only small little token stocking - with no other use, than I thought we could use them as table decorations.

I should be thinking of presents for other people, but with funds as low as they are I am having trouble! I've made a list for myself though... So not all bad! :-)

Also's younger siblings graduating this week, I have achieved knitting a mortar board!

Apologies - you can't really see the Mortar Board... I didn't knit the Boofle and don't claim to! I only knitted the Mortar Board!

Out of the loop

I've been out of the (communication) loop for some time. We have a problem with our internet here at the moment, I try and post from my phone when I can but the posts don't seem to load... This will explain that over the weekend when I do have access to the internet some posts will appear which may seem out of chronological order.. Please bear with me whilst I sort it (or at least attempt to)...

So.. a quick update... This week I have driven my car for the first time.. I wish I had something better to report that to say that I need my car serviced! It appears that I am low on brake fluid...
Another update.. I may have counselling for the new year. This is a positive step. I will need to call them tomorrow to confirm.
My doctor has reduced my dose of medication which I start tomorrow. 10mg... I'm hoping that my headaches will reduce, and hopefully my fluid moods will level out somewhat. Also, I am hoping that I don't get as tired... time will tell.

Tonight was my first weigh-in at Slimming World... and I lost 1.5lbs... I know, for the first week on a new regime that is not a high loss, but it is a loss none the less. I do struggle at weekends as I stay with M, so I am going to have to make some changes... But I have got my SW head on a bit better now!

Anyhow... I'm getting tired here... hardly surprising as it is half twelve... but I felt I needed to write...

Write tomorrow!
xx

Trip to the department store

Today I've had a trip to our local department store. Luckily it's a large(ish) well known chain and for as long as I can remember there has been a large wool supply in the haberdashery department. In fact I do think that potentially my first memories of that store are of the haberdashery department. My grandmother was a keen knitter and my mum - I remember her knitting when I was younger, and it's only in the last few weeks that she's taken to the needles again.

I've picked up two pattern packs today... And I think I may order some yarn online.

I love my knitting memories... Please share yours! Xxx

Tailoring

Last week I posted about our visit to a tailor... Good news. M picked up his coat on Saturday and is very impressed with the service, £30 for two sleeves. Needless to say, we will be going there again!

Another week closer to Christmas

Ok... The realisation hit... we are just five weeks away from Christmas (eek). An "eek" of not only excitement (I do love Christmas); but also an "eek" of realisation that having been off work, I have very little spare money to buy any presents... Therefore, this year, everyone is getting hugs... or something knitted... which relates to another unfortunate problem all together...

I had quite a good week this week. The yarn had arrived for me to finish my snood... (picture attached), and just coming up to the end I had a little friend come and enjoy the fruits of my labour... (picture attached).  But I did finish it and have worn it nearly every day since. No one has really complemented me on it aside from my mum and M himself! But I haven't been out properly, so here's hoping (well - we all need nice compliments from time to time don't we?). So with the snood finished, I was excited to return to my cape... But I picked it up, and I could not get into it at all... It was frustrating an upsetting... And, since then, everything that I have tried to do I have not been able to "get into" I just can't find that rhythm. I keep finding projects and making a start, and I get so far and then :-P it just goes. I'm hoping today will be a better day for knitting.

Like I said, I had quite a good week... I've been discussing with work about returning, and I'm hoping to do this before Christmas... get myself back into some kind of routine whilst it's quiet. Work have suggested that I speak with my doctor again to seek advice, as they are happy for me to take what ever route to return is going to be best for me. If anyone finds this blog and has got this far - and has any advice about how to return to work after a long period of illness... please let me know. As although I feel well supported by friends and family, I've never been in this situation before, and I hope to never be in this situation again. There is very little advice that I can find that speaks about the after effects of Viral Meningitis.. but the information that I have found has come from some very good sources.  Continuing briefly on the subject of meningitis, I heard on the Radio yesterday that the government are planning to implement the immunisation of meningitis into the routine immunisation plans for children Link to Telegraph News Article .  I sincerely hope that this is a true plan for our government, and will be following these news stories with interest.

Continuing the theme of a good week, I returned to Slimming World; my lovely lovely Thursday group who I truly love dearly. It was good to be back, and I'm looking forward to getting back on the wagon.  Although the weekends do prove a struggle for me, as I stay with M and his family each weekend, it is difficult to implement SW needs into a whole family diet.  The furthest I have got is the introduction of FryLight, the low-cal oil spray.... I guess with SW it will be a case of "Watch this Space". I'll try to find some kind of ticker to track my losses (and let's face it.... gains)...

It's looking to be a beautuful Sunday. Might pull on the wellies and go stomping in the woods... might drag some inspiration into me to knit!!!

Oh what a wonderful weekend!

I love weekends. I love waking up, and sitting up in bed knowing that neither of us need to get up and do anything; well, anything other than making a cup of tea :-)

This weekend was quite a busy one, we had to make a trip to a tailor so that M's coat could be adjusted.  We've never been to a tailor before, and I sought recommendations from friends via the wonderful world of facebook. A recommendation that came up was a tailor in a nearby city (St Albans), Waterers http://www.waterers-menswear.co.uk.  We were both impressed with the service we received and the price. We pick the coat up next week, so we shall see what the workmanship is like. I do not doubt that it will be very good!

During the day I also transferred my knitting from straight needles onto circular needles so as to distribute the weight (as I have been finding that I'm beginning to get a strain on my right hand). Once I had transferred the stitches, I could not figure out how to knit without knitting in a circle.   A few tips if I may -

1. Don't think of how you knit when you are mid flow, think of how you start your knitting.  
2. Think of the two needles at either end of the cable as two separate needles, it helped me to push the stitches off of the back of the metal needle and onto the cable.

In the evening we were meeting friends. We had planned to go to an independent cinema; The Rex http://therexberkhamsted.com, and their restaurant The Gatsbyhttp://www.thegatsby.net/about.html. We can highly recommend the whole experience and we can not wait to go back.

Right, I'm going to have my first cup of tea of the day....
I'm sure I will be back before the end of today!

Skye cape | TheMakingSpot

Skye cape | TheMakingSpot

Here is the pattern of the cape I am making!

Additions to my blog

As I am in the beginning stages of writing and my building my blog, I am adding pages as I go along.

• Most recently I have added an about me page, where you can read about how I got started writing my blog. 
• I have added a page for photographs; at the moment these photographs are just of items I've knitted, but in time I'm sure I'll be adding others there too. 
• Down with the needles is where I write about current projects. As you may gather from recent readings I like to have a number of projects on the go! 

Anyhow, thats it for now! 

Started something new

It's always an exciting time when you have a new project ready to start. Mine is my largest yet! A cape!
Today I've been quite tired.. I've been busy for two days and today I felt quite wiped indeed!

To Market To Market

Growing up I used to go to many markets; I have fond memories of going to the local market towns with my parents; for some reason I always loved the clothes... I also remember a craft pack I picked up and became quite adept at; I'm going to call it websters punch and you had material in an embroidery loop, and a pen style needle that the yarn was threaded through and you would punch through the fabric and create a looped effect... Very effective, but I have not seen the kits for years... Anyhow; recently following my sudden resurgence into knitting I have rediscovered the markets as being a source of yarn... Thinking it would be cheaper I arrived with plans and projects going through my head... But not only was the price not what I expected for the market, the range was poor... Very poor indeed! Anyhow... Not to be put off, I looked further round the market and found a retro clothing stall and found a great dress; über classy... Then I went to primark and found a few cowl neck scarves which when comparing the wool used to what was available in primark it would have been cheaper to buy the scarf, unravel and knit as desired.... I won't lie. I was tempted.
Since taking up knitting I have found (and please let me know if you have experienced this too!) that when out shopping, or looking online and see a knitted garment I find myself counting rows/stitches and looking at the formations...
I think I've gone a lil knit crazy as opposed the stir crazy!

Knitting Apps

Has anyone found a good knitting app? Either for iPhone or iPad? I've downloaded a few freebies; nothing is jumping out at me unfortunately. Please please leave me a comment if you know of any good knitting apps!

Easy like Sunday morning...

It's a wet and cold Sunday morning, I am swaddled in a blanket and dressing gown and surrounded by pillows. I'm having a low day today, it's just the way it goes I guess. I can't really give any reason for the feeling this way, for the time being I just have to roll with the punches.

Anyhow, to the knitting. I abandoned the wrist-warmers, I have a feeling it was the yarn. People talk of the knitting curse of knitting sweaters for boyfriends and then the relationship breaks down, I have a similar cases with the colour blue. Ok. Relationships don't fail in the basis of the colour blue, it just seems with this blue yarn I have, anything I tried to knit would go wrong... Wrong... Wrong...

Knitting across the channel

Today has been a different day; an unexpected day! But my knitting has come along with me. Out of the blue (for reasons that will remain closeted to me) I was invited across the Channel to pay a visit to the aquarium "Norsicaa" it was an early start to be followed by a long day with a considerable amount of travelling. I do quite like the travelling aspect of a holiday/trip, especially if i have not experienced it before. Today was a new experience! I travelled via the Channel Tunnel. Having travelled by air more recently I was aware that there was/could be some restriction in knitting needles, so I was a little anxious that my knitting could jot make the trip across with me. I was concerned as I had just started a new project of cable knitting... (Wrist warmers) Which I am enjoying seeing the results so far but I do feel a little fingers and thumbs with the cable needle and do feel like it is going to slip (and has done) but determined as I am I am hoping it comes with practice. So the project I brought with me (along with a skills book) is a project of cable knit wrist warmers which I am knitting in a lovely royal/electric blue, a yarn which I picked up at my local branch of sainsburys (worth a look people!)

Anyhow - (k)needless to say 😊 the needles and yarn made it through all checks and was happily click-clacking across the channel! En-route on way home now and just about to arrive and disembark from the Chunnel.

Can't wait for my next trip - might have to see if there is any discount yarn shops across the boarder!

New toys

Since my last rambling post I have been out to two stores; John Lewis and Hobbycraft, where I was able to find circular needles, cable needles/holders, and some new knitting books/patterns (links to each to follow).
I have gained a new skill, I have (nearly) mastered basket weave... And I'm liking it! I'm not quite brave enough to try cabling yet! I want to but I am nervous!
I sent a knitted poppy to a friend yesterday, and this evening I got a text saying thank you for the poppy; gave me a warm glow!

Projects

Does anyone else ever get that feeling that there are a number of projects that they want to start and can't decide which one to do?
I don't know about anyone else but I often get the feeling when browsing through the various patterns that I'm waiting for one to jump of the page at me; also, I often (as a beginner get a number of small projects going, I eventually finish them; and then I want to move onto something else, this I then find is a step up on the skill ladder and I can't wait to start it. At this moment I am looking at projects which involve cabling or knitting in the round; and I have neither circular needles nor any cable needles! So I'm at a sticking point...

Another two completed projects...

Here we go! Two headband/ear warmers... Completed!

Sleepless night turns into a tired morning...

My sleepless night turned into 90 minutes of sleep and now a tired morning... But I've utilised the sleepless time and knitted. Which lead me to think about the yarn I'm using. I'm using a multi-coloured dk yarn, and whilst I love using multi-coloured yarns (I knit with the ball of wool on the floor, so its then a surprise when I get a new colour appearing on the yarn... Although I must say I keep coming across this yellow and brown stripe in the yarn which seems to break up the colour flow... And it seems to irritate me! But I'm liking what I see so far of my creation (it's going to be a headband/ear warmer - after all I am a newbie!)


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Sleepless nights...

Not because of my knitting! It's not that bad!

Normally I should be happy, the clocks have changed so it's an extra hour in bed.... But I am not sleepy, so awake I am, and so as not to wake my dear other half, I have crept downstairs with my snuggly dressing gown, my iPad and my knitting, and am setting myself up for some knitting me time before the house wakes up in about 4 hours. Some would say that this is probably quite a blissful situation... And I guess it is, but oh boy, how I do love the feeling of bed!


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Completed projects...

Well; I'm one of those beginner knitters who starts a project and can sometimes never finish... For a number of reasons; I get distracted with another project; I get fed up with current project, but generally it is the first option... I like having a go at lists of things!
So here are a few completed ones!

Well, hello!

Hello!
Welcome to my blog.. You've either found me by accident, or have sought to find me! Welcome either way!
I have decided to start this blog as a creative outlet... I'm currently recovering from meningitis and have found relaxation and enjoyment in knitting!
I plan to post not only about knitting, but anything that takes my fancy!


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