Year's End

On the last day of 2011: a few of the good things in a year that has often tried us to the limit.  Happy New Year to you all,  and all good wishes for 2012.

Seasonal Conversation

In the Morning shower:

M:  You know that lovely chocolate cheesecake with the brownies on top?

J:   Yes?

M:  Did you make it?

J:   No, I bought it from Able & Cole because R hates Christmas Pudding and I wanted him to have something nicer than chocolate pudding.  

M:  Hmm, thought you didn't.  It was the best thing I ate all Christmas.

 

On the telephone:

M:  No, I didn't go downstairs and have Christmas lunch with them - I wanted to watch a Poirot.

To D and R saying good bye on Boxing Day:

R:  Thank you for our present, we'll see you next year (they're busy until next Monday).

M: I hope not, I want to be dead by then.

To H:

H: Here's the cough mixture, then.

M: Good.  That cough mixture is good.   Those daft pastilles aren't any good, they aren't even for coughs.

H: Oh, that's probably why it says for coughs and catarrh on the packet then.

M:  Well I can't see that with my eyes.

As my brother was wont to say when my sister had a tantrum - 'Good here int it!'

I'm now officially a bad daughter-in-law - I didn't go up to help M dress in time as I thought, having for once slept till 8.45 she might not be ready at the usual time.  I reckoned without the non-flexible schedule .......  My Christmas present may be taken back :)

Still can't find a source for this terrific photo, so if you know tell me and I'll acknowledge.

Merry Christmas

A quick trip to Staples for toner, and I couldn't resist buying this cheery chap and his green friend for a tenner. He's on wheels so very useful to shove behind the sofa or under a chair or table and he makes me smile.  I'm going to put these into him and take him down to the sittingroom to wait for Sunday.

A report on the radio at this moment says that 12.44 today is the busiest time of the busiest day for Christmas food shopping.   I'm waiting for Abel& Cole to deliver mine for the princely sum of 99p, thus saving my sanity and blood pressure,  and I shall do a lot of advanced cooking tomorrow - it's only taken me 36 married Christmases to get to this point.  Everyone except M hates turkey so we have duck, M won't eat duck so I shall cook a turkey breast for her, otherwise sprouts and parsnips and roast potatoes are to the fore.   Daughter's partner hates all Christmas spices and dried fruit so chocolate pudding and sponge cake needs to make an appearance and this is the only time of year when H eats cheese since his heart problems so as long I remember to take it out the fridge and he can be persuaded to find some wine from his store before we're all sitting at table, all we have to worry about are M's derogatory comments!

   Hope you all have a very good Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.  And thank you for continuing to read even though I've been  rather less of a good blogger of late.

Happy Feet

I don't know where the time goes, but I've not found much time for blogging - or had anything much to blog about really.  So here a few photos of my latest makes:

The good news is that I've been discharged from the trauma clinic so arm is officially mended.  I suppose I shall have to acknowledge the fact that Christmas is nearly upon us now and start doing something about .......

There's always knitting....

At last,  a bright enough day to try photographing the knitting as I promised - though my camera and the computer are still conspiring to make all my photos rather too dark.  I fear the computer is failing  - one of the reasons I'm not blogging much .

This was the little mitred blanket I was halfway through when I broke my arm.  Each square is knitted separately from 23 stitches down to one, then picking up the next 23.  I used ends from the stash and I think it's rather nice - the pattern makes it quite warm but light.

This little hat and poncho is for baby E - now a toddler of 21 months, who is coming to see us next week.  I remember having a little poncho for my daughter at that age,  it was very useful as you could pop it quickly over a sweater or a coat for an extra layer without struggling with sleeves.  I particularly like the hat which should have tassels but I think they'd be too tickly on the cheeks!  The yarn is Sirdar Crofter and the 2-3yrs size took about 3 balls. 

Various babies are expected over the next few months so I've started doing the odd pair of bootees etc. as I don't know yet whether they will be boys or girls - hopefully, these pieces will finish up looking like those in the pattern photo!

Blogger absolutely refuses to turn this the right way round although it was taken at the same time as the other photos.

I've got this mitred blanket on the go in between other things - it's slightly larger than the first one and the yarn is from my sister's stash, so I hope I have enough to make a square 12 x12.  I can always use something else for the border.  It looks very blue in the photos but is actually a lavender grey colour.

Finally, I knitted daughter one of these (- no she's not the model!).  Although it's only knitted on 7 stitches it nearly drove me mad unravelling the gauze. Anyway, she's pleased with it and it didn't take long, but I'm not taking orders!  The yarn is Katia Ondas and there's a free pattern and instructions with the yarn if you fancy one - it's fairly widely available and one ball costs £6.75 on average and makes one scarf.

You'll realise from the amount of knitting that I haven't been out much - though the weather today cries out for a walk on the hills. It's been very busy here with endless adjustments to M's routine  and I'm now more or less on duty from early morning until she's showered and dressed - this involves actually being in the shower so I then have to go and shower or bath again afterwards, making the whole process rather lengthy. It's put paid to various plans daughter and I had for a few nights away, though I still hope to get away with my friend (postponed from September) when things settle a bit, as daughter will do the early morning for me.  H does  quite a lot of the day unless he has an organ lesson or some other committment, and we did actually go to Birmingham together this week leaving daughter to hold the fort.  M is revelling in her new-found power and each new concession to her needs opens up a new line of complaint.  We'd all be happier if she'd just stay in bed for half an hour longer but that's a vain hope!

I'm half way through making the squares for a quilt - some sewn together, about 2/3rds of the cutting done.  I'm using a pattern from Fat Quarterley No 6 called Summer Garden, as I had a layer cake of fabric ready to use.  I don't think mine will be quite as large.  It shouldn't really take very long but interruptions every hour or so to follow M's inflexible schedule ruins my concentration, so I waste time.  Photos to come......

Coming out of the gloom - we hope...

Views towards the Cotswolds imitating Japanese art

The view towards Worcester (completely vanished) makes us feel as if we're on the coast

Well, thank goodness October is over.  I may be tempting fate, but I'm sure November can't be as bad.  In fact I shall be pleased when this whole year is over as we've lurched from one crisis to another.   I already felt that the broken arm had lost me most of August and the whole of September, but October has been full of difficulties and sadness - it can surely only get better.  

Thank you to all the bloggy friends who missed me and emailed to find out if I was OK.   The arm is now back to working order in most ways - still have a numb thumb which is improving and it aches if I do certain things, but being able to drive again is wonderful.  I have to go back for a check up in December.

I'm back to knitting but I'm being careful to choose only things that use small numbers of stitches - photos will follow in another post.  I'm well stocked with fabric after the latest local quilting show, so hopefully the new sewing machine will come into its own in a few days, once we've finished sorting a few things out in the house.

We've had some fabulous mornings here lately - the landscape looks like a Japanese paintings with the mist in the valleys between us and the Cotswolds or Worcester depending on which way you look.  I'm off later to  a much-postponed lunch with a friend in Ledbury and the sun is struggling through the mist so we might get a few nice hours during the middle of the day.

Mid-morning escape

 

Even H couldn't find an excuse to stay indoors in this glorious weather, and there was a list of things to be purchased or collected, so we hastily made M's mid -morning drink, and having called at the Dr's for her prescription, went into Great Malvern.  To my surprise, after I'd visited the bank H's feet veered left into the Bluebird Tearooms - a real old-fashioned Malvern gem which is up above a shop in the High Street.  It was very quiet and I do worry that the more trendy spots opening up in the town are diminishing its custom - especially as one could easily walk past and not notice it.   

Upstairs it still retains many original chairs and tables which go back to Elgar's time though the decor is more modern.  There's a limited menu but it's all very good and caters for vegan and vegetarian too.  The prices are reasonable and the cakes are exceptional - I had a wonderful chunk of bread pudding made as my mother used to with piles of fruit and crunchy on top but soft inside.  H had a huge orange and chocolate slice which he said was fantastic.  

The best thing for us about going out even for a short while together is it's the only time we can have a conversation without fear of M overhearing - her deafness is of the convenient variety so we often have to go right down to the study in the basement to be sure of not being overheard (not very helpful is you want to have an argument or arrange something private that doesn't involve M!). 

Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary so daughter and partner are coming to lunch (I've shopped for it by Ocado so I hope it turns up in time!).   H is out in the evening but we felt we had to do something - 36 years isn't bad going especially when you think what the last three have been like!    Unfortunately, they cut my wedding ring off when I broke my arm so I need to see if it can be repaired when this wretched splint comes off.  Weather was as good as this when we got married though it didn't last into our honeymoon - the current forecast seems good for a few days though.  Hope you're enjoying it too!

It's been a dull week here in every sense.   The weather's been grey and rainy - until twenty minutes ago when the sun suddenly came out.  Still unable to drive, so apart from a quick trip with H to collect M's prescriptions - which is easier with two, one to run into the pharmacy and one to turn the car around - I've hardly been outside even into the garden (daughter's been away on holiday).   If this arm is not deemed to have healed when I go back in 10 days time, I shall have to start investigating the local bus routes, it's bit too far to walk into town and means walking along the bit of pavement where I fell over. H considers going out as unecessary unless there's a cast iron reason, preferring to spend his time in front of a computer or a musical keyboard of some sort.

I've done the food shopping, bought a few new 't'shirts, and some totally unecessary fabric (well it was in a sale) online, and had a small splurge on ebay on a couple more Britain's wild horses (see this post if this doesn't make sense), so the herd is expanding nicely.  Being stuck at home is not good for the finances.

Next week doesn't hold out much hope of further entertainment - H has lessons of various sorts on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening, and daughter is busy.  Saturday is our wedding anniversary but it clashes with an organ recital which H especially wants to go to (well, the player, Dr Francis Jackson, is about to celebrate his 94th birthday so I can see that it's a case of catch him while you can!)  It's very frustrating - I'm still doing all the boring things which I can manage easily and can't do the more amusing things.  Roll on 4th October!

Three or ninety-three

 93

Today is M's 93rd birthday.  So far she's - opened all her cards yesterday and thrown most of them away, tried the chocolates Grandson 1 sent and decided she won't eat them and they're now waiting to be given away, received two enormous bouquets of beautiful flowers which she says she can't see and has had them repositioned every half-hour because there isn't enough room in this silly room (- the room that's the same size as our sittingroom with an ensuite the size of our bathroom in which she insists on staying all day every day despite constant request to come down stairs to sit in the conservatory or eat in the kitchen),  said she won't eat the steak bought specially at the best local butchers because she said it was what she fancied.  Phoned most of her friends and told them that we aren't doing anything for her birthday.  (We offered to take her out for lunch or tea but that's been totally vetoed.)

Resolution did waiver when we gave her some truffles from a specialist shop (more fitting to her status than the mass produced ones sent by post, apparently).  If she won't eat the birthday cake, still to come, made by daughter, she may well find herself wearing it - daughter being of a less forgiving nature and less concerned with a quiet life!

She's told everyone that this will be her last birthday - as she's been saying that for at least 15 years and comes from a family where many have lived to be well over a hundred, we aren't making any plans!  If the person who found previous posts about M inappropriate would like to object to this one, they're very welcome... 

Not being in Devon

We decided to postpone our Devon trip, so I'm sitting here listening to 'The Men from the Ministry' on Radio 4 Extra (memories of cooking supper in our little flat when we were first married when there was a comedy programme every weekday evening at 6.30 when I got in from work) and feeling fairly pleased that the weather is dull so we're not missing out on sunshine and a sparkling sea view.

The view above is Bredon Hill taken with zoom from our bedroom window a few days ago - I was listening to Radio 4 that morning - a programme about A E Houseman which included a reading by Henry Sandon of Houseman's poem Bredon Hill.  I'd only known it as a song so to hear it read in Bredon Church was a delight:

In summertime on Bredon
The bells they sound so clear;
Round both the shires they ring them
In steeples far and near,
A happy noise to hear. 

Here of a Sunday morning
My love and I would lie,
And see the coloured counties,
And hear the larks so high
About us in the sky. 

The bells would ring to call her
In valleys miles away:
'Come to church, good people;
Good people, come and pray.'
But here my love would stay. 

And I would turn and answer
Among the springing thyme,
'Oh, peal upon our wedding,
And we will hear the chime,
And come to church in time.' 

But when the snows at Christmas
On Bredon top were strown,
My love rose up so early
And stole out unbeknown
And went to church alone. 

They tolled the one bell only,
Groom there was none to see,
The mourners followed after,
And so to church went she,
And would not wait for me. 

The bells they sound on Bredon,
And still the steeples hum.
'Come all to church, good people,' ---
Oh, noisy bells, be dumb;
I hear you, I will come.

H hates spoken radio - almost as much as he hates TV - especially daytime TV, and if he had his way we'd live with constant organ and harpsichord music (which sometimes sets my teeth on edge) so I listen in my office, in the sewing room or when I'm alone in the car.  I've loved Radio 4 (the Home Service then, I think) since I discovered its comedy programmes in my teens.  We'd always listened to The Archers, Woman's Hour, Children's Hour and, of course, Listen with Mother, but my mother's favourite channel was the Light programme - later Radio2 where she was devoted to Mrs Dale's Diary and various light music programmes.  Like all '60's teenagers I listened to Radio 1 and pirate stations like Radio Caroline on a tiny transistor, but struggling through the endless homework dished out by Grammar Schools in those days  was more bearable accompanied by The Navy Lark, I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again or Round The Horn - or one of the many amusing quiz programmes usually featuring Frank Muir and Dennis Norden.    I love the way radio allows you to do other things whilst TV anchors you to the sofa,  and a long drive alone is wonderful as you're obliged to listen to whatever comes on and that's often a revelation.  I attributed quite a lot of my miscellaneous collection of general knowledge and odd information to constant Radio 4 listening and I continue to learn.  Only yesterday I took delivery of some moth traps that I'd heard about on a radio programme - and jolly effective they're proving to be! 

The arm's now in a splint for 4 weeks, so still no driving, but it is getting better, and my delightful daughter is around at the moment to act as chauffeuse, so it definitely could be worse!

Things you can and can't do with one working hand :

You Can
Shower - with one hand in a plastic bag tied up with sellotape
Dress - though bras are tricky
Cook - most things and even wash up pans and frying pans but not cut bread - self defence as H's idea of a proper meal is not mine and tends to be short on quantity and variety
Iron
Clear up the kitchen and sweep up with a dustpan and brush
Put the washing in and out the machine/dryer - but not fold it up neatly or carry it back to the bedrooms/wardrobes
Use the computer and therefore blog, pay the bills, make purchases
Clean the bathrooms and M's horrible double shower
Water the garden
Use the exercise bike
Go for a walk if you avoid where you fell over in the first place and don't carry a bag and ignore the worry that you might fall over again.


You can't

Knit
Sew - either by hand or with the new macine which is sitting temptingly in full view
Cut out a pattern or fabric for a quilt
Draw or paint without fear of getting paint etc all over the plaster cast on your left hand - why? I don't get both hands dirty normally
Make anything requiring glue, water, stickers or intricate cutting
 Read comfortably, especially in bed.  A surprise this as you don't realise how you need the second hand especially with a paperback.
Drive the car
Food shop - unless taken by someone else who then dictates what can be bought, which means we have a strange selection of food which seems unlikely to make a satisfactory meal (why did H go to the local shop and buy onions, celery, bananas and mushrooms, all of which we have plenty of anyway, but nothing to put in a sandwich and no fruit?) 



I'd be very happy if someone else did all the things in the 'can' list - except the computer bit - but it's very dull not being able to do things on the can't list.  Onion sandwiches anyone?

I don't know if you watched the play and subsequent documentary about Hans Litten - the young German lawyer who tried to stop Hitler's rise to power by calling him as a witness during a trial in 1931 and discrediting him during a cross-examination.  The documentary would still be on i-player and is well worth watching.

Having succeeded to some extent in his efforts he became, of course, a target for Hitler's vengeance, and was arrested and imprisioned as soon as Hitler became Chancellor.  He spent the rest of his life in various prisons and concentration camps eventually committing suicide in 1938 in Dachau.  Quite apart from his heroic efforts against the Nazi regime, his personal bravery was immense.  For Hitler's 45th birthday all prisoners were required to create a beautiful gift.  The poem Hans Litten produced is surely a thing of beauty - a gift to us all,  I think, wherever people are oppressed and wrongly imprisoned or accused.

Thoughts are free, who can guess them?
They flee by like nocturnal shadows.
No man can know them, no hunter can shoot them
with powder and lead: 

Thoughts are free!

I think what I want, and what delights me,
still always reticent, and as it is suitable.
My wish and desire, no one can deny me
and so it will always be: 

Thoughts are free!

And if I am thrown into the darkest dungeon,
all this would be futile work,
because my thoughts tear all gates
and walls apart: 

Thoughts are free!

So I will renounce my sorrows forever,
and never again will torture myself with some fancy ideas.
In one's heart, one can always laugh and joke
and think at the same time: 

Thoughts are free!

I love wine, and my girl even more,
Only I like her best of all.
I'm not alone with my glass of wine,
my girl is with me: 

Thoughts are free!

It's obviously best read and heard in the original German. 

Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who's left comments, e-mailed or sent me a card.  I really appreciate all your kindness and good wishes.

Thursday started well - the hospital rang at 10 saying where was I - having told me to get there for 11!  Anyway, we threw ourselves into the car and got there at 10.30.  Then I waited in the ward - fortunately with two other delightful ladies who chatted and joked and filled me in with all the systems - until  3.30 (starving and thirsty as the others ate their rather good smelling lunch) when various people came and drew arrows on my plastered arm, asked me questions I'd already answered several times, and eventually about 4.15 took me off to theatre, where they had the usual problems putting in a drip, gave me a dose of some very strong pain killer (which I later found out was morphine) and sent me asleep.
Something in all that was not my body's liking and I eventually woke up feeling as if I was in a furnace and shivering so they kept wrapping me up in blankets.  They had hoped to send me home that evening but I'm glad they didn't as poor H would have had too much to deal with wth me and M.
The good news is that the arm is fine and doesn't hurt at all, but it's taken me two days to get over the anaesthetic - I came home yesterday and slept most of the rest of the day, and today started off still wobbly.   I've still got a sore throat from the breathing tube and terrific bruises on both arms.  Anyway, if all goes to plan, the upside of having a plate inserted is that the plaster will probably come off in 10 days as the plate does the job instead.  I've still got a slightly numb thumb but I'm sure that will go in time.
I must say, though, despite the administrative muddles, the care and kindness shown was terrific.  Everything was clean and in good order, all the staff from ward sister to cleaner were chatty without time-wasting and the doctors were efficient without making you feel that they were in a rush.   I've never had a problem with anaesthetic before so there was no reason to think I would this time - it was very strange, I had a bright red face all day yesterday.   Anyway, thank you staff at the Worcester Royal Hospital, you were great.   Fingers-crossed now that everything goes smoothly.

Quick ? update

Monday - 10.35 appt, arrive hospital having starved since midnight.  Wait 2 hours in totally packed trauma clinic where appts have been now replaced by number system.  12.45 see Dr.  Arm must have plate inserted to stop the break compressing, no beds today - 6 people before me needed to be admitted.  Go for blood tests and routine ECG.  Allowed a cup of coffee at last.  Return to clinic to see SHO to sign consent. Told to ring to confirm bed at 7.00 on  Tues - starve from midnight.  Eventually leave and get longed for sandwich at 2.00.  Daughter, also weak with hunger, drives me home - having spent a lot of time on Friday with me at Community Hospital, she's now lost the bulk of two days leave, but offers to be onstandby for admission on Tues.

Tuesday - ring at 7.00 am no beds but they will ring at 9.00 - don't eat or drink.   9.30 confirm no beds, ring again tomorrow.  Starve from midnight.  Alert Daughter who goes to work, spend day trying to sort out cover for M so  H can take me in on Weds.

Wednesday - ring at 7.30.  Admission unlikely, but don't eat or drink anything until confirmed.  Wait with splitting head, dying for a drink until confirmed at 11.00. 

Progress!  Go in tomorrow at 11.00 to be operated on in the afternoon, may or may not be in overnight.  (caveat - may get there and be sent home if too many emergencies come in overnight - don't eat or drink after 6.00 a.m.)

I know it's just a set of unfortunate circumstances, but I wish they'd make up their minds about when you have to stop eating - H had three different instructions when he went in twice last year, and it seems very unfair to give an appointment time then change it to first come first served when you get there.  I sympathise with the sheer numbers they were trying to deal with - I was number 40, the numbers went up to 50 then started again at 1. They were back up to 18 when I left with only two Drs.on duty.  They'd obviously decided on Friday when they got my Xrays from Malvern that it needed a plate or I wouldn't have been told not to eat, so I could have just done pre-admission tests locally.

Anyway, fingers crossed for tomorrow - temporary cast is no longer very secure as the swelling has gone down so I shall be glad to get rid of that.  I've already had to master taking a shower with it wrapped in a polythene bag!

August 2 - Oops

August had been going rather well.    A school friend I hadn't see for 27yrs came to stay, and we had a lovely girly night out with daughter in a good local restaurant.

I went to the Festival of Quilts at the NEC (plenty of photos on other blogs, mine are stuck on my camera at present) and bought a new sewing machine which is a delight to use and I anticipate it giving me lots of fun and inspiration. 

H and I went to an organ recital - not usually my thing, but he had a spare ticket and, as it was part of Three Choirs Festival, they were too dear to waste.  The player was a young Italian called Paulo Oreno and it was a most mind boggling performance  - even if, like me, organ music is not your thing, you must admire his technical skill, and sheer exhuberance especially when improvising.  Here's an example

His impro on 'God Save The Queen' at our concert brought the audience to its feet in a long standing ovation, and we all left the Cathedral slightly dazed and completely in awe.

We finished the Postman's Knock project this week - see the blog for our last efforts.  It's been great fun, sometimes taking each and every one of us out of our comfort zone, and producing an incredible varied response to each theme.  It's been great pleasure to meet such a talented group of fellow bloggers (some in person) and it's certainly made me dust off my rusty skills (and my rusty brain).

But... it's just as well that I made and posted my last card (on the subject 'Taking Fight' for Lesley), because  on Thurs I fell over on a badly patched area of pavement and broke my arm (ouch).  It's temporarily in a backcast, but on Monday I have to go and have it pulled into place and a proper cast put on :-(.   I'd already arranged to go away for a couple of days in three week's time with a friend, so we're hoping we can arrange alternative transport as I was the driver!  I'm typing this onehanded - using the shift key is very irritating.

Poor H is going to have a lot more to do, but fortunately, we're going to have a lot more help from Daughter - but that's for another post.

August

Having spent much of my adult life working (and sometimes living) in academic institutions I've always loved August as a time when the normal routine lets up and one can do a few different things.  Sadly, these days M's routine is relentless so some of my August treats can't happen, but I still get that feeling of lazy days to be followed by the new year excitement of September.   

We've more or less put the house back in order now, and H is heavily involved in going to summer organ recitals and the Three Choirs Festival which starts in Worcester today, so there's a sort of holiday feel.   There was something to do every day last week so I used the time when it was my turn to be the stay at home person to catch up with some making and finishing off UFOs.

I got the needle felting stuff out to make a Scottie for Judith at Relatively Retiring (you can see him on her blog as I forgot to take a photo and I can't find the photo of the one I made before, either), and having made one dog, I made another - a St Bernard inspired by the lovely ones we had many years ago.

I've kept the needle felting tools out in case I feel inspired to do some more!   Taking the scottie round to Judith was a good excuse to spend time sitting in her garden in the sun drinking coffee, too!

Knowing I'm going to see an old school friend soon,  I knitted a little sweater for her new grandson - hope it fits!  And having got the knitting basket back out,  I finished off the cardigan I'd knitted for little E.  Hope this will now fit as I've been ages getting it sewn up - it hasn't got funny buttons all over it, those are the pins I've used to block it!

And now, as promised, Here's the lovely Little Cotton Rabbit I bought from Julie - you can find out more over on her site here.  These are so delightful - look at his little trainers and cute face.  They are so much in demand and Julie is not overwhelmed with spare time (to put it mildly) so she runs a sort of lottery each time she has a batch available and this time my name came up against Harper.  I was thrilled, and daughter is jealous.  They are beautifully knitted and have such character.

Several nice things are happening next week (dv), and I'll tell you about them in due course.  But I must just mention that I am going to the Festival of Quilts at the NEC on Thursday (11th), by myself this time as I want to look at buying a new sewing machine.  Anyone else going that day?