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!

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

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!

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!!!