Dear Diary

Here we are in November and I appear to have disappeared from the world. I'm not sure just why I have been so disconnected from everything recently but I'm hoping to get back to normal.

Firstly, health has been an issue. Since May I have had extreme hip/groin pain that wasn't getting any better despite physiotherapy. The Physio resorted to accupuncture and the pain did start to get better but has now come back a bit. Walking is out of the question as it is far too painful. I'm not sure where to go with this, but more on that below. Mid September I came down with what appeared to be Norovirus and was quite ill with that for a week or so, then I developed an abscess on a tooth, and had the tooth extracted on 12 October. However, that didn't go smoothly, and I had to make two return visits to the dentist because the tooth socket became septic and I had to have bone scraped out. The pain has gone away in the last two days, which is a relief, as believe me, I have never known pain like it. I am getting spontaneous bleeding from the site now and again, but I don't care, so long as it doesn't hurt. I still have a gaping hole in the gum, but hopefully that will soon heal up. I've just had a week off from work, but I was ill again with a virus of some knd last Monday and Tuesday, which was a bit of a waste. I picked up the virus from Tom, and the Norovirus as well. Nursery seems to be a breeding ground for bugs.

For various reasons I haven't started to cycle from work. I was without one of my hearing aids for four weeks around August /September (the dog chewed up my aid) so I wasn't confident cycling without being able to hear. And then I was ill, one way or another. I did get on the bike a couple of days ago and it nearly killed me!! I wasn't very fit before but I have lost whatever fitness I did have. I think this succession of 'events' has knocked me back a bit. It does seem that that short bike ride is what set off the hip pain again as well, so I am doubly cautious.
Ah well.

I am trying to wean off the anti depressants again, and have started on the regime of reducing the dose for the last 4 weeks, with no problems so far. I'll be down to half dose at Christmas and if all goes to plan, should be off them completely by 3 March next year. The dose reduces by 1/8 every three weeks. Slow, but with paroxetine there is no choice as the side effects of stopping are dreadful.

Hobby wise, I have been knitting and have made around 6 sweaters for Tom. I really should have taken photos, but I keep forgetting. No stitching at all, but lots of cooking which I am really enjoying. I'm making some food presents for people at Christmas this year, and so far have made some cupcakes, chutney and a spiced arancillo drink. I'll be making some sweets and biscuits to give away too, together with a small bottle of home made toffee cream liquer and a jar of ingredients for muffins that just need the eggs and milk adding. I've also signed up for some icing lessons at the local sugarcraft shop for a Royal Iced Christmas cake. I'm hoping they will be able to teach me how to do successful flat icing as I never managed to do it myself! There's a rolling pin in Lakeland that might help to get the marzipan even which is pretty crucial so I might get that later.

I'm sure there is more to say, but thats enough for today.

There is a fantastic Halloween giveaway being hosted on the Deep inside Missy and Annette's Acre blogs. Do please head over and see, using the button on the right!

Monday

I've really got the Monday blues!! Although this will be my last ever Monday at work, as after this week Istart my part time hours. I daresay I will get Tuesday blues instead!
In the end I started something completely different for Tom - I dug out the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino I bought when he was born. I only have enough yarn to knit one particular sweater, the polo shirt, so this I have started. I've done the back and have almost done the front. I think I am going to be tight for the yarn though.....maybe if I knit quicker I can finish before the yarn runs out???

Pondering

What do I knit next? I have finished an aran Jacket for Tom, and am halfway through a cardigan for a friend who is now almost and ex-friend, so I don't feel inspired to continue with that except for the sake of tidiness. But then what? I have started a coat for me but that is huge and would be best knitted in the winter. There is a jumper I want to get done for Tom, then I am itching to start a few crochet projects despite not having learnt to crochet yet - who says I am a pessimist?
Then there is a shawl thingy and a couple of scarves that I have ready to start. I'm off on a beach holiday in a week's time, so I need something small for that where I can keep it under control and not have the ball of wool go bouncing off into the sand. Maybe I should take my' learn to crochet' book and crocheted bag project for the beach, and a scarf for when I get fed up with crochet. But then what for the evenings? Can't be Tom's jumper as I don't want Jen to see it before it is done. The friend's cardigan then, which means I can start Tom's jumper tonight. Yes, I like the sound of that plan!!

A decision made

I have made my decision at last after a lot of agonising. I've decided not to carry on with the OU, at least not in the near future. I'm greatly disappointed yet at the same time wondering who I was kidding. I'm never going to be a great intellect, so what was I trying to prove. All it did was alienate my family and suck up lots of time. I have been trying to put myself up on a higher level, thinking I am toointelligent to spend hours in front of the TV, yet but by thinking wasn't I somehow looking down on the rest of my family who are happy to do precisiely that? It will be easy to slip back into old habits of just vegging on the sofa watching TV but at least I will be able to carry on crafting. I will miss the way my mind was opened by the OU, how I started to delight in the arts and appreciate other cultures and ways of thinking. But I am only Mrs Average and nothing special, so who am I do try and get above myself?
Plus, I can't afford it.

About the Starlight Walk

Here's an article about the Starlight Walk I did.

My group have raised over £1,200 for the hospice and I feel very proud to have been part of it.

Boy oh boy!!

Last night I joined a walking group for a 3.5 mile walk. I found it harder than anything I have done before, even last weeks 9 mile walk. I think maybe it's an accumultion of the 9 miles last Saturday and the 5 mile bike ride on Tuesday evening. I couldn't get into my stride last night and I was really out of breath. Today I am so, so tired and sleepy! The sleepines is no doubt down to the poor nights sleep on Tuesday night - the heat was really getting to me.
Anyway - tonight and tomorrow I will be just knitting in front of the tv, which hopefully will set me up for my cycle lesson on Saturday morning. Then I think it's a short walk on Sunday, just to keep up the momentum a bit, and I plan to cycle to work next Monday and Friday and walk again on the Wednesday. That way I will be alternating rest days with each activity day which seems sensible for now. I do want to fit in some gym work as well for upper body toning, but we'll see how I do next week!