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Sunday 21 February 2010

I've Moved

When I started blogging I couldn't decide whether to use blogger or wordpress so I used both.  I've now decided on Wordpress so if you'd like to keep reading what I tripe please follow the following link...

My Wordpress Blog

Hope to continue to hear from you.

Saturday 20 February 2010

Hair Cut 3

I went for my hair cut again on Thursday. I didn’t give much thought to the maintenance side of short hair on the basis that it wouldn’t be there for that long. When it was long I religiously went for it cut twice a year whether it needed it or not. So I copied Roobeedoo this time and went for an asymmetrical look, a very much asymmetrical one, the first time I had it cut short was far enough. Did I mention that I’ve now gone from red to purple? I had to ask for maintenance tips since the red had really faded and apparently BRIGHT ones do. So there followed a shopping spree for colour treated hair shampoo, conditioner and some serum which have all been applied for the last two nights. The hairdresser was heard to say ... ‘You can always do this’ (light tousling with fingers) ‘for a funky look for a change from the sleek one’. Well yesterday I had a sleek top and a funky bottom and today I have a very funky everything and look like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards! Not too sure the sleek look is going to work out. I’ll post a picture if I can get B to take one that won’t scare small children.

Friday 19 February 2010

That was the Week that was

I would firstly like to point out that I am no way old enough to remember that programme. I wasn't even a twinkle when it aired but the title adquately describes last week.


Sunday - The toilet got blocked and leaked.

Monday - The mother in law got stuck in the bath it threw her because she let the water out before trying to get out. So three hours later we found her because the toilet was still blocked. I had to get her out and things like this regardless of my dodgy back are NOT MY DEPARTMENT. A friend after checking Mary was okay, nearly wet herself with hysterical laughter. I had my eyes closed at one point despite the numerous towels round her then decided nightmares were better than A&E if we slipped. I then slaved over three ready meals, and had to parcel Bernard's up because he had to go home and see the plumber who was working after hours so charged time and a turd! (That one belongs to the plumber's grandad.)

Plumber left, toilet still blocked. Plumber’s granddad went and got us some ‘Give it One Shot’ while B came back for me. Put ‘Give it One Shot’ down toilet later.

Tuesday – ‘Give it Second Shot’.

The mother in law was going to the doctors anyway with the brother in law. I spent five hours logged on to work and did 3:40 hours because apart from making the contractor a cup of tea I had a ‘couple’ of conversations with mother and brother in law.

In my defence I had no idea that Mary had been asked to provide a wee sample.

First call

Mary: ‘How do I get water in this thing?’ – No hello or anything
Me: ‘Take the lid off, it’s not like the other one’

Mary: ‘But how do I get water in’

Me: ‘Put it under the tap’

Now I can’t remember exactly what Mary said next because the penny was dropping

Me: ‘Do you mean a wee sample? I thought you meant the new kettle!’ Oops

Second call

Mary: ‘Do I use boiling water?’

I don’t know how I didn’t fall off my chair.

Third call

Mary: ‘I can’t go.’

Me: ‘Have you had a cup of tea?’

Mary: ‘No, can I?’

Me: ‘Yes and some breakfast’ – she’d had a fasting blood test

Mary: ‘I need to go today’

Me: ‘I’m sure you will at some point.’

Mary: ‘It needs to go back today’

Further enquiries of doctor's receptionist and then brother in law revealed it infact did ideally need to go back today. So the pressure was on...

Fourth call

Mary: ‘It’s orange. Is that okay? You know, this thing.’

Me: ‘What?’

Mary: ‘In this pot!’ exasperated.

Me: ‘Oh, yes, well you’ve not had much to drink.’ Penny dropping, we’ll be minted if this carries on.

Mary: ‘What colour’s yours?’

Me: ‘Light straw, I drink a lot of water.’

Mary: ‘Is this alright then’

Me: ‘Yes, it will be fine’

Fifth call

Mary: ‘I’ve kicked the bugger over!’

Me: ‘Well you can do another later’

Mary: ‘I don’t think I’ll bother. It’s not worth it.’ - Huge ‘I’m old what’s the point moment’

Me: ‘Would you like to stay with me tonight’

Mary: ‘Yes... but will he not mind’ – Oh, you mean your baby

Me: ‘No, Mary it’s fine, Bernard will be at work anyway’

Mary: ‘Okay, I’ll go and clear this up’

Sudden realisation that the toilet is still blocked – go and ‘Give it Third Shot’.

Sixth call

Mary: ‘I’ve not been yet’

Me: ‘Have another cup of tea. I’ll ring you in an hour. By the way would you prefer it if I stayed at yours?’

Mary: ‘No, the change will do me good.’

‘Give it Fourth Shot’ – Thinking of suing for false advertising

Seventh call – Okay so it was ten minutes after I should have rung –

Me: ‘Sorry, I was getting Bernard’s lunch’ (It’s okay if I’m doing something for B because that’s what I’m supposed to do being a fluffy female. ‘I was getting paving flags up with a crow bar and breaking them with a sledgehammer’ – ‘Did you not get his tea after that?’ – Actually at the time I did.)

Mary: ‘I’ve been!’

Toilet STILL blocked and we’re out of Shots!

Bernard was going to his mum’s to use the toilet, take wee to doctors and tell her she couldn’t spend night at ours but she agreed I could go there.

I used neighbour’s toilet and went to Blood Support Group Meeting. Came home. Got lift off brother in law to mother in law’s. There before nine. Catered to her every whim.

Went to bed about 12 and Mary managed to go to the toilet in the night about 50 times. Okay I exaggerate, slightly. I myself went once and then went and took some painkillers because my back was giving me a bit of gip – maybe different bed and lifting her on Monday and when I went back upstairs about half an hour later she nearly bowled me over going to the toilet as she’d been waiting because she thought I was in bathroom. And every time she got back in bed I had to pull the cover up – somehow she manages when there’s no-one else there. Little old lady act?

Wednesday - Bernard picked me up at 7:00 and Mary stayed in bed. She says she’s normally up at 6 ish!

Tried to get some work done but seemed to take forever.

Tea’d contractor.

Gave toilet whole new bottle of ‘Give it One Shot’. Manufacturer obviously can’t count.

Auntie En phoned to say x-ray showed collapsed vertebra and myeloma scan on blood test. (Still waiting for results of this.)

Phone calls from two friends and Auntie Ann re driving test.

Thursday – Awake at 4:30. Leave message for Blood Nurse re Auntie En’s news, go back to bed.

Up at 7:30. Bernard politely reminded me that I hadn’t transferred money to pay contractor. Locked myself out of internet banking service in rush to prove I wasn’t inept. Used neighbour’s toilet. Went to fail driving test dramatically.

Acupuncturist.

Lunch with friend.

Train to another friend’s (yes I’ve got two), trip to supermarket (oh, the excitement), tea at Chris’s.

So I was out from 8:20 to 22:30. I don’t know what Bernard means that he didn’t see me last week.

Friday – Few hours work.

Few hours Blood Clinic.

Contractor finished drive.

Drainage contractor turned up to clear toilet blockage.


This week... well I’ve been BORED!

Thursday 18 February 2010

Signature Needles

I love these needles. I only have four pairs, so far. I was a big fan of wooden and bamboo needles for a while and they still have a place in my heart and hands for some yarns and occasions but after reading that metallic needles go faster I went back to them but they didn’t feel the same. Then I came across Signature Needles in Vogue Knitting and love the stiletto tips. This is the only time I now ‘wear’ them. The last time I wore the shoe type for a night out from work my husband phoned the friend I worked with, bearing in mind that Pat and I worked within short stick poking distance of each other, and asked her to keep her eye on me and make sure I didn’t fall off them! I don’t know whether its health and safety but I’m sure points on modern needles are getting blunter. However with these needles you get to choose your point – stiletto, middy or blunt as well as the length and end shape and get to see what they look like on screen as you select each.

I’m attempting to knit a baby hat at the moment and I cast on last night on my stiletto needles and hit a snag. Well not a snag but the cut on my left index finger. I sustained the injury during an intense encounter with the foil top on a supplement bottle. They’re vicious little things if you don’t assert your authority. As any knitter knows it is nay on impossible to knit with a plaster on, unless it’s on your toe, of course. Anyway the stiletto point on my needles keeps prodding my cut but don’t worry I’m going to persevere. I’ve only done two rows and I want to give it someone tomorrow!

Wednesday 17 February 2010

Look at My Acupuncturist

Deb, who I have started going to again, is a TV star. Well, not quite but she has made an appearance on the TV and she wasn’t getting arrested or anything. It was on some digital channel that I I’d never heard of. I realised I might be able to post a link or view or something here, so here goes...



Deb on the TV

Apparently the glam presenter in her evening attire had manky shoes. And what was going on with the guy’s hair. You need to watch out for Deb’s dry teeth, she was really conscious of her lip sticking to them and so kept licking them and it was caught on camera. Overall an excellent performance I thought even though I’m slightly biased.

And you know what, Deb doesn't even own a telly.

Tuesday 16 February 2010

I think this is my Blood Doctor

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise.  Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer;  that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster.  Want to live longer? Take a nap.


Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn.  And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken.  Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).  And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.


Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine,  that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!


Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one.  If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.


Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?

A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!


Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ..... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil.  In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?


Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger.  You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.


Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans ! Another vegetable!!!  It's the best feel-good food around!


Q: Is swimming good for your figure?

A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.


Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?

A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!


Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

Monday 15 February 2010

Tiny, Tiny Balls of Wool and Other Knitting News

I handed the charity jumpers and hats into the doctor’s receptionist and she asked if I needed any more wool. Now I never refuse wool if offered and said that if she had some I’d be glad of it. Next time I went another receptionist after confirming it was me that did the jumpers handed over a carrier bag of yarn which when emptied expanded like a life raft and I physically couldn’t get it back into the bag. Here it is...



Now I know exactly what most of this is. It’s the last bits of yarn left from a knitting project that are too large by about two inches to be thrown away but too small to be of any real use. I know I have them. You keep them thinking they may come in handy if you need a little bit of that colour and under no circumstances can force yourself to throw them away even though they are taking up space. Then an opportunity arises to pass them on and then whether they are used or not they are off your conscience*. So I’ve tipped them into a box so I can see what’s going on and am going to knit wonderfully stripy tiny things.

Extreme novelty type wool normally brings me out in a cold sweat and sends me running from the shop but I was given some balls of this type of yarn and so I thought I’d give them a go. Apart from the cuff for a Christmas Stocking I made these two neck warmers.




I think they are really nice but strangely since I listed them in my etsy shop they haven’t raised any real interest. Meanwhile Tommy’s dinosaur is quite popular, so I think I need to get sewing.

                 And this                                                                       became this



* I couldn’t spell that either maybe it’s because a friend says I haven’t got one.

Sunday 14 February 2010

GOOD NEWS and Random Stuff

Went to the clinic (that always makes me think of an STD) on Friday and my blood results were all normal. Fantastic but you know how I know this, I asked after being told I only need to go back in three months. (Apart from SCT process but this is at a different hospital.) I am constantly amazed at how much information I see on other blogs regarding numbers, particularly your American ones, although admit that 99% of the numbers mean nothing to me. I think it would be easier to extract a tooth from my consultant than any detailed information. I only know I have IGA myeloma because I saw it on a blood test envelope in October.


Okay I’m being a little grouchy. I don't like being told I can't do something. After posting a comment re exercise on Myeloma UK a lady said that her husband had been referred by his consultant via his GP to a HeartSmart programme which despite its name dealt with any serious illness that would benefit from exercise. My haematologist (I can’t spell this word, I ALWAYS get it wrong, so I’m using blood from now on whether it looks right or not) who we saw on Friday won’t do me a letter saying what exercises I can’t do so my GP can’t refer me to an exercise programme . He says I should leave it for a while. I kind of knew we may have a problem there because when we said the professor we saw re the SCT said some weights may be okay, he said why would I want to do that!

Whilst at the hospital I got up to go to the toilet and hubby informed me that my new dress looked from the back like ‘one of those hospital gowns that doesn’t close at the back, but your dress does, but it is nice’.

I now have purple hair – hubby likes it better than the red.

We have a new driveway/front forecourt – it’s gorgeous, the neighbours have been looking possibly, apart from it being irresistible, because it’s a million times better than the previous eyesore.

Hubby doesn’t listen – I’ve suspected for a while but he excelled himself on Friday night. The flush on the now clear toilet wasn’t working. I managed to fix it. (That sounds like it was technical but it was actually just catching on the back of the cistern.) I rushed downstairs where B was just coming in from the garage. ‘I fixed it, I fixed it, I fixed it’ x about 10 whilst dancing a little ‘I fixed it’ nah, nah, na nah nah kind of jig, embarrassing but relevant. Half an hour later B’s in the bathroom, flushes and says ‘I fixed it’, thinking he’s being funny I say ‘Did you, that was clever of you’. Turns out he’d pulled the arm up firmly and it was flowing in but now won’t switch off. A little discussion ensued. I informed one of our extremely handy neighbours of this yesterday and am now under a gagging order. I finally managed to sort it properly today. So B either doesn’t listen or I get so excited about everything and jig about so much that B doesn’t notice anymore!!

B also likes his cherry tomatoes sliced in at least two. I think this is because when they are whole he wastes time chasing them round the plate so can’t get food in this mouth as fast.

I think I may be watching too much South Park because I've started to understand what Kenny is saying.

To Do List 4 – Times on List in Brackets

New

* Make 3 baby presents, 1 for friend’s grandson, Kaiden (new to me), 1 each for etsy mom’s. I like trying out new ideas with someone in mind, so decided to join the etsy baby shower. I thought I had until the end of February until the first arrival but Declan from House of Mouse has arrived early!

I’m one of those people who wait for the idea to materialise, they always just do, rather than force it out but Declan has arrived before my idea has completely appeared.

Still Hanging About – but started

* Make nosebands for donkeys (4)

* Sister in law’s birthday present (2)

* Aran cardigan for me in rose tinted colour (2)

* Post patterns and knitting to Ravelry (2) – if one pattern and one item knitting count as started

* Pattern for colourful baby blanket in squares (2) – again if four rows count

Still Hanging About – not started

* Make another pet toy for etsy – have two ideas for this (2)

Done

* Make fabric hearts – well heart, no s

And from last week's here's the sweater I designed and knit with the sleeve hand bits inspired by Roobeedoo.

Friday 12 February 2010

Driving Test – I Failed but... I now have a toilet I can flush

You’re allowed 15 minor faults for a pass but no serious or dangerous faults funnily enough.

I got THREE serious faults. Oops! And a few minors.

The edited highlights are as follows

Went to car to do show me, tell me questions

Examiner, we’ll call him Mike, because that’s his name: ‘Show me how you would check the indicators were working without starting the ignition.’

I click the button the keys to open the car I then put the key in the car door and lock the car. I then get a little confused. Realise what I have done and push the key fob button again. Put the keys in the ignition and turn far enough to get indicators, put on left indicator then decide that if I put the hazards on all four will be on at the same time. Do this and walk round the car.

Mike: ‘Happy they work’

Me: ‘Yes’

We get in the car and the next question.

Mike: ‘Tell me how you could check the tyres to ensure sufficient depth’

Me: ‘No cuts or bulges in tyre or side walls, 1.6mm of tread over centre ¾ of width and all round the tyre’

Mike: ‘You learned that well’

Then it went downhill faster than a freewheeling bike down K2 (don’t know how it got up there in the first place like).

Steering (3 minors) – swerve before we even got off the test centre car park, then first left turn just outside test centre I clipped the kerb with the back tyre, later on we went round a mini roundabout and I seemed to be pushing the steering wheel round and round and round

Observation (1 of each) – failed to look left before starting forward on last bit of turn in the road (this was the only one I didn’t realise I’d done but I did know it wasn’t as neat as normal but he said it the actual turning was fine), apparently he was looking at me intently and on parallel parking I didn’t look round enough. I remember thinking where did that car come from as it whizzed by!

Control (1 serious) – parallel parking after aborting the first attempt the second attempt was worse and I was on the kerb, I didn’t even notice this as it was lowered for a drive at that point but did think we were awfully close to the two wheelie bins on the pavement. And this always goes really, really well on my lessons. Before we moved off he went into a detailed description of where to go next and then when he started to do it again even though I said I understood, I had to say ‘I live just behind these houses’, ‘Oh, so you know the area?’ Yes, I just can’t park in it. I thought you may have a little rubbish you wanted to dispose of.

Mirror, single, manoeuvre (1 minor) – signalled on a side road before I checked my mirrors

And then my piste de résistance...

Road markings (1 serious)

Mike: ‘I’d like you to turn right at the top of the road and head for the town centre’

The road we were on splits into three at the top with a join from the right just before the junction and has a box junction if that makes any sense at all.

I check my mirrors and indicate and then don’t move into the correct lane, realise because I notice it says Hard Lane in the middle lane and Town Centre in the right hand line in letters two feet high. I move over but we are half and half. Mike feels so concerned that he tells me I need to be careful. Later on the debrief he said there was a car behind us trying to go straight ahead, well couldn’t it wait.

Then as we turned there is a pelican crossing literally just after the junction, you’re still at an angle, and the lights were on amber so I had to stop for this.

Ten minutes before this I was thinking let’s just get back and get me out of the car.

So we travel back without any further faults but he felt the need to say as we drove into the test centre car park and the parking space straight ahead so no manoeuvring required ‘Just drive in slowly’, well Der!

Me: ‘So, when can I take it again?’

Mike: ‘So you know then.’

Me: Thinking ‘Well if you drive like that and think you’ve passed you should never be allowed on the road again or even in a dodgem’

Apparently he did wonder if I would stop at the crossing after the disastrous turn and was and I quote ‘impressed’ that I had.

Me: ‘Why, because I couldn’t see two foot high letters on the road’

Mike: ‘No, because there was a lot going on and the sun was really bright’

Dave, my instructor, looked more disappointed than me. I’d ruined his current passing streak of seven but he told me not to worry about that. He couldn’t believe the steering faults I’d made and the parallel parking mess.

In other news since 15:08 this afternoon we have a flushing unblocked toilet. It still needs another visit and we need to sort the modern equivalent of a ball cock out (maybe they made it more mechanical looking because the name was politically incorrect) but we can use it. Yea! Bernard said to the nice young drain cleaning specialist we had to call that it was my back log that had caused the back log!

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Driving Test

I have my driving test at 9:17, my driving instructor is picking me up at 8:20ish, it’s currently 7:48. With the week we’ve had I haven’t had time to worry too much about it. I had to get my mother in law about of the bath where she had been stuck for three hours, subsequent water sample excitement, haematology support group meeting, sleepover at mother in law’s and continuing adventures with blocked toilet.


I now need to finish breakfast, get dressed (haven’t done yet in case I spilled breakfast), transfer money to pay for new driveway and go to neighbour’s to use toilet. But this has reconfirmed my conviction that the MM isn’t going to get me because I am going to have a heart attack this morning!

Knitting Thank You

The neighbours who took me and Tommy, the needle and thread eating puppy, to the vets have a 5ish month great grand-daughter.  So as a thank you I knit the following whether they want it or not - it's the way knitters show their appreciation.  A knitter may have to wait a while until a suitably sized opportunity arises (having a small child ensures a quick response).  So if you ever get a traditionally knit fairisle or a bedsized blanket you know you did something truly fantastic about ten years ago!

This potentially both sucks and blows

I know from what I read that myeloma is not genetic but that there may be a genetic susceptibility for the switch to be tripped by exposure to some toxins (possibly petrochemicals) ie, I get exposed and get myeloma but someone else doesn’t.

My Auntie En rang tonight to say that she’d had an x-ray that had shown up a collapsed vertebra and kind of a mass. It was like déjà vu. Plus some crumbly bones. They have said that her GP should start treatment for osteoporosis but wanted blood tests. Auntie En heard them discussing her age, she’s 83. The blood test envelope requested a myeloma scan. I don’t know whether this is routine for these symptoms at this age or not. No-one actually verbally mentioned myeloma to her but she’s as we would say ‘all there with her cough drops’ and read the envelope and obviously knew what myeloma was. The results will be in next week.

I can’t put into words how I feel.

Tuesday 9 February 2010

The Toilet Exploded

Well okay that’s not strictly true but it definitely leaked and since I was the one to flush at the time it’s my fault. It was Sunday evening, tea was in the oven and I decided to go to the toilet. I flushed and water and some other stuff came squeezing out of the pipe at the back. I reached for the toilet roll and decided that the only place for that was in the bath out of the way.

I shouted that the toilet was leaking, B shouted back ‘What Mum’, or so I thought. I rushed downstairs, because I now can, and said ‘Did you just call me Mum?????????’, ‘No, I said how come’, not ‘Stand back fluffy female, I’ll deal with this!’ Okay he knows way better than to call me that. So I got some old towels from the garage and whizzed back upstairs and threw then on the wet river fortunately it wasn’t too bad then I rushed back downstairs for more towels, bleach and a bin bag and what was my darling husband doing – ringing an emergency plumber, suiting up to go in and unblock it himself – no, putting up his barm cakes for work.

So after establishing that it was indeed leaking and another flush wouldn’t clear it while being looked at in an accusatory way B having finished making his ‘lunch’ had come to watch the show. Realising this may delay his tea he pitched in. Then he suggested I may want to finish tea. So after changing the towels, bleaching the floor and the toilet, a lot of washing, a change of clothes and liberal use of hand sanitizer I went to put the pasta on while B had his shower.

Then things hit crisis point. B is very much a creature of routine. He also goes to the toilet more than anyone I know. So normally there is a toilet visit before his shower and then another one after his tea, before work! I know you really wanted to know this. So routine had already gone out of the window. What to do? Ring the neighbours and ask to use the loo that’s what. I jokingly said take a toilet roll. I watched him walk up the road swinging said toilet roll.

When he got back he only wanted half a bowl of pasta because he didn’t want to have to go to the toilet again before he went to work. Now I know what you are thinking it is physically impossible and defies the laws of physics that any food consumed under normal circumstances (we all know medication can cause all sorts of stops and starts) could get through the system in less than half an hour, I know, I know it’s crazy but somehow this is how B’s system works. It may be like a relay team thing but without scientific investigation we’ll never know. It’s like Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

The neighbours’ grandson had a look at it last night but apparently the blockage is too far to reach, we have an internal soil pipe so there is no access to the hatch for rodding. He replaced the gasket where it leaked and I am currently having a whale of a time putting Just One Shot drain cleaner down. We’re currently on our third shot. So I feel a strong letter coming on.

Sunday 7 February 2010

Paper Heart Ornaments

I have a friend (hurrah for me). Chris. She’s not arty. She’s good with ideas but the actual practical follow through is not something we talk about MUCH – one time this resulted in me cross stitching the Virgin Mary’s face for a nativity. (I spent ages trying to find the right colour for her lips as it’s a big responsibility making sure she doesn’t look tarty.) Chris is one of the instructors, minders, I don’t actually know the right word, at the youth club at her church. Last week it was craft day and she didn’t know what to do. I suggested the following, she pretended to consider it, but she decided to put this off until later in the year so she could have a run up to it. They did paint by numbers! Does that even count as being taught a craft. So I decided to publish the instructions here, so once she’s got use to the internet on the laptop they’ve just got, she can look at them long and often. If you decide to give them a go pics would be great.

Now I’m typing slowing for the hard of understanding... (Chris – can you hear me okay? x)

Materials

Card or paper (at least A4 – you can get 2 out of this size)
Sellotape or double sided tape
Thread
Staples, glue or double sided tape



How to

Cut the paper or card into 1” wide strips in the following lengths

1 of 11 ½”
1 x 9"
2 x 7 ½”

Lay 11 ½” strip down flat. Take thread, fold in half and tape to piece between 3” and 4” from one end.



Place 7 ½” piece 3” from end of strip

Place 9” strip on top


Carefully turn strips over and place remaining 9” piece at same 3” point. Staple (or glue or double sided tape) all strips.



Fold two strips down on each side and ensuring all ends meet, staple here too.


Viola!


More Ideas

Decorate each strip with sequins, glitter, buttons.

Make them bigger or smaller by using longer or shorter strips.

Add more strips.

Punch a hole in the area first stapled and thread ribbon through. This could then act as the securing strip enabling a bigger heart to be made by not limiting the first strip size to the length of A4. Like this.

Punch a hole in the area where the second staple is and thread a ribbon through or even beads.


Saturday 6 February 2010

Free Knitting Pattern – Orange & Lime Heart

I decided to offer a free pattern in my etsy shop and have put the link on this blog.  So if you are interested it’s over there -> somewhere.

Here’s what you’ll be knitting to save you the trip if you don’t like the look of it...

Look at My Blog

Progress to date.  It may not be impressive compared to some but so far I’ve managed to add links, schedule a posting and change the description under the title.

Friday 5 February 2010

To Do List 3 – Times on List in Brackets

New

*  Make another pet toy for etsy – have two ideas for this

*  Post patterns and knitting to Ravelry

*  Pattern for colourful baby blanket in squares

*  Sister in law’s birthday present (end of Feb) – no details in case she’s reading this (Hi, Gill)

*  Aran cardigan for me in rose tinted colour

Still Hanging About

*  Make hearts (2.5) - half done - here are knitted ones – not yet done fabric ones

*  Make nosebands for donkeys (not mine) (3)

Done

*  Finish jumper pattern and most of jumper – Can’t take all the credit for the pattern sleeve ends these were from Roobeedoo’s idea on Central Park Hoodie with extra Lime – photo to follow

*  Finish/knit mitten pattern

*  Trousers turned into skirt and back to trousers when I bought more material

*  Learn show and tell items for driving test  - cancelled.  It’s now Thursday 11 Feb

*  Get more stuff for mother in law’s hamper – done and given albeit with snow a week late for her birthday.  Hubby keeps saying it was cheap stuff and I keep saying this is what she likes and there was no point getting caviar when she likes cup a soups!!!!!!!!!! So I was being thoughtful not mean well, that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

Thursday 4 February 2010

Back to Work

I’ve went back to work last week.  I'm doing 12 hours a week and it feels soooooooooooooo good.

I’m now a productive member of society again and not sponging off my husband. I don’t like feeling indebted which I think proves I’m feeling almost back to whatever my version of normal is.

I work from home as a typist so I can sit here in my jim jams and listen to surveyors saying things like
‘There are two large trees near the property growing...’ wait for it ‘upwards.’

Wednesday 3 February 2010

South Park and Stem Cells

We went to Australia a few years ago (just as well goodness knows what my insurance would be now) and we based our trip on a few travel guides and more importantly I watched Billy Connolly’s World Tour of Australia.  Now I’m having a stem cell transplant I’ve watched South Park and learned all about stem cells.  Apparently they can become anything including a Shakey’s Pizza restaurant.  I’ll have mine with pepperoni and jalapenos, please!

Tuesday 2 February 2010

Mock Driving Test

I went on my driving lesson yesterday and we did a mock driving test.  I failed.  After we’d got back to the test centre, Dave my instructor, said ‘Well I think you know you failed.  You did things that I’ve never seen you do before!'   And I had, I’d driven off from a junction in second gear TWICE!.  I still would have passed regardless of all this but then I took what seemed like half an hour to move onto a dual carriageway and this was a serious fault as a van moved alongside us, got tired of waiting and went before us.  I have another lesson tomorrow.  My test is 11 Feb at 9:17!  And if... I mean when I pass, I need a note from the examiner and Dave saying I can drive our car.

Monday 1 February 2010

Exercise Bike

I put it together and had a go. Apparently I’ve done 10 somethings. It doesn’t state the unit it may be miles but I think it’s probably metres. I’m going for a lie down.

Exercise, Nutrition and Needles - not sewing ones

I ordered an exercise bike on Thursday which arrived on Saturday. Last night I unpacked it and the very last bit I got out which was the main part looked like it had been charged by a rhino.  The company are sending me a new casing and in the meantime I’m going to put the rest of it together to see if it works because I need to get this fat shifting.

I have received from the nurse at Myeloma UK a couple of leaflets on stretching and strengthening exercises for people with Myeloma.  They are really good but a little basic compared to the Oxygen magazine I subscribe too but then I thought well they were probably originally designed with an older age group in mind and I need to consider my collapsed vertebra (just the one fortunately) so maybe no handstands yet.  The professor we meet re the stem cell transplant said no lower body exercises, that walking or cycling should be enough but I really liked doing squats and I don’t think I’m yet ready to part with my 7ft barbell.  Don’t tell hubby I’m even thinking about the barbell.

I’ve started going back to an acupuncturist.  I went when my back problem was thought to be muscular.  And am going to try eating from a ‘Traditional Chinese Food Energetics’ viewpoint to improve my overall health.  We had a very nice lamb dish yesterday which would benefit my Qi, Blood, Spleen and Kidney.  I’m not going to even pretend I know how it works but apparently it does (10 squillion Chinese can’t be wrong).

When I fell off my bike two years ago and needed nine stitches under my knee we were chatting with the orthopaedic surgeon who stitched me up (Eleanor).  (The A&E doctor wouldn’t do it and wanted someone from plastics obviously thinking I had very attractive knees.)  Anyway whilst we were chatting we got onto the subject of alternative therapies and Eleanor was saying that acupuncture is one that western medicine has proven scientifically to work but doesn’t know how.  So that’s good enough for me.

I also need to eat better because I am becoming a small round pudding.  I got on the scales last night and I am 64kg.  I have bought (on ebay auction) a dress mannequin to photograph my seductively draped scarves on for my etsy shop and also to make clothes.  I did not get an adjustable one but a fixed one – 36 26 36 because they look better and are cheaper AND as I am currently (I can’t believe I am going to put my current measurements in hard print but figure it will shame me into action) 39.5 34 39!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!