What's been happening !

So it been a hugely long time since I blogged but I thought I would start again..

I am at this moment in time much busier than I usually have to be so its a bit of a challenge to take this up again, but I found in the past just writing do stuff was good for my mental health so here goes.

My dear mum has decided to move into a retirement home shortly and is so excited it's lovely to see... She is off to Canada first to see her sister Connie and brother George and all the family. Is will be a healing time I hope as she lost her dear sister June to cancer just before Christmas and it was such a horrid time for all to see June reduced to such pain for so long....anyway a trip to Canada is jsut what she needs and coincidently means we can do the moving for her and hopefully she will arrive back feeling better and the hard work done... 

We meet with a carpet man today for choosing I hope.

At the same time as my poor aunt was so ill my dafty dog Cuillin had a bad accident in the back garden and was in such terrible pain too! I know some greys are not that brave but trust me he was and still is... After numerous trips to vts some really zonked out times he was over to the vet hospital in Stirling to see the amazing Jaqcues ! And have an MRI scan, the results show that poor lad had ruptured a disc and had a bulging one too! No wonder he had had such pain... Anyway his life was pretty grim from Christmas to now and we are now pleased to have a diagnosis and more importantly a plan of action! 

This photo of Cuillin was last year when he was fully active ! He's such a handsome lad ! 

He needs to be walking on soft uneven ground for his rehabilitation and so I now get up earlier and take him out in Vinnie ( Saab poorly and Cuillin can nearly always get into the lower side entrance of Vinnie  and it's also lower if I need to lift the 35k lad in). To say he is enjoying this is an under statement however it's tough for me as this generally means hills and well although I'm doing well with my walking this is over and above my normal stuff... So I should be earning lots of extra points at w.w.

I'm now a stone 10lbs lighter than first week of December having lost 9lb with the c9 diet...huge thanks to margo murray as I won this in a raffle. Then I joined weight watchers 4 weeks ago and I'm now 1st1lb lighter there too! 

Above is one of my chicken creations with dry roasted veg and wedges! All in my points allowance and also really yummy too.

So all in all im on the right track to having a healthier and fitter 2016. I am also going to Aqua yoga and if I can mange time wise a yoga class too with the lovely Junie ! 

As I get better at this tech stuff I hope to add photos and links but I'm not there yet! 

So today already I have Walked with Cuillin physio 1.89k and will be doing more later and also my walking to Easter challenge...

Knitting and spinning projects : I'm knitting a cardigan for india with some lovely Rowan rasp pink yarn gifted to me and I am aiming to do some spinning on my new to me wheel which is it appears a wee german  possibly barge wheel. More info when I find out more. 

Road to recovery

So it's been a long time since I posted on this blog... But I feel the need to record some of my road to recovery ... I'm just coming out the other side of a M.E. Flare up.... This is not a oh woe be me writing exercise though at times it might make me feel better I will try to start with  a Positive and end with a positive ......


 So I'm coming out the other side hurray... The weather has been a bit dryer and some sunshine today and I'm dressed and it's only 10.30 I have done some tidying up of kitchen and swept the floors .... Those jobs make me feel good just knowing they are done... Lots more desperately needs doing but hey oh they are done the others can wait...

Each day is a new day and sometimes I even break it down to each half a day and if that's too daunting it will be each hour...


My flare up came out of the blue to me... Though not to some of my family and friends.. It's been a very testing few months with lots of stress with in the family .... Some of it is getting better some should be much better shortly and some is just starting .... But that's life... The up shot of all the stress is I didn't take care I thought I was invincible as I hadn't had a real flare up for a couple of years the odd day I've needed to rest but not needed days no weeks in bed resting ...:(

So what is my action plan as how I will recover well and effectively...

Firstly writing this is going to be part of the recovery plan... I find I need to write things down these day and Facebook isn't always going to be the place to do it so a blog maybe better...we will see but at least with a blog if you don't want to read it you don't... If your still reading this then I am assuming your reading it to be supportive and I thank you.... But this is for me really 

Secondly I aim to give my self wee achievable targets for each day... These are to be things which will make me feel better and are not to be used to hit me around the head with...

Thirdly I am giving myself permission each day to rest when I need it and not feel bad/guilty for doing so... I cns only help others and myself if I have the energy to do so ... To get that energy I don't need to waste any on needless worrying...

So I have done part one by writing this so far..

Part two -my daily goal will vary but today they are these..

So today I want to achieve some light housework.....

 A. Sweep the floors. :) done 

B. Clean the kitchen and put out the recycling. :) done

C. Have a short walk. :) done 

D. Do the wee ones homework. :) done 

E. Craft..... I want to do a day of the advent callender cowl and a few rows of the double knitting new technique item.... ..... Not done any yet perhaps this evening...

One thing which always helps when it have had a relapse in the past is finding time to be thankful for all the little blessings I am surrounded with.

Blessing 1 I have seen the sun today hurrah and I got outside in it for about 10 mins.. 

Blessing 2 a lovely conversation with my pal Liz .... 

Blessing 3 .. Saw a wonderful photo of India eating a rice cake with two wee pups looking on longingly what a lovely sight... And what good puppies.

Blessing 4. Sitting and just looking at a lovely wee planter of tete a tete ... My gorgeous hubby bought me yesterday ...sitting with them and just really looking at them was a pleasure not ony because they were a thoughtful gift but because they are such a bright flash of colour and I think they are just gorgeous.. ..

Blessing 5 this wee picture I saw on the internet the other day.... I love it the whole sentiment of love and personalising that love and well wee feet they are just lovely wee things .... I love feet they are so under appreciated... 

Normality returns ?

Normality returns is the title but really in some respects what is normality to me?

Is it work ?
Nope not at this moment it isn't ... Though this week sees me attending interview 2  and 3 in the 3 interview process for Enable a local employer who works with disabled adults who need support in the community.   I have applied to be a sessional worker for them and am looking forward to the new challenge of time managing my energy to do the things I love and hold down regular employment..so no work to go to.

Is it volunteering?

Again not at this moment as the volunteer work I have just started a few weeks before Christmas with the gaelic mother and toddler group, were asked to find a new meeting place after the holidays.. It seems that the lovely cupboard space where all the wonderful toys, books etc we store so the experience of the toddlers and baby's of mums who are interested in finding out if they want their child to perhaps go into the gaelic medium for education ... Is needed for the cubs and scouts more than the money for the rent of the hall .... So we are looking for another handy local central hall with storage space to meet and that hasn't happened yet... So no volunteering..

Is it Rob going off to work this morning?

Nope not today he had booked today off to hopefully finish the work on Vinnie which needs to be done before his MOT retest this week... So rob is here and nope he isn't in the cottage working on vinnie because of the post disruption due to the Christmas holidays the parts haven't arrived yet.. So no house to myself...

Is it seeing friends and having a coffee?

Not today though hopefully tonight a wee trip to seasons spinning is going to occur.  But today I need to go over the water and collect some lovely camping bits and pieces a friend is turfing out and we can make good use of.  Oh and also to go to the mobile phone company to get replacement for Robe brand new blackberry which will not hold a signal at all even though his old blackberry always had a signal... Find it interesting we have to go to the expense of going to the shop when at the beginning it came by post... Oh well.will be nice to see my pap Moira for a wee while...

Is it sorting out the house after the Christmas festivities?

Nope that is all done though I could put on a load of washing if I wanted to....I don't as the weather is as ever..... AH HERE IS MY NORMALITY ..... The weather it is as ever raining.....

The ground is so wet it's beyond squelching its almost time to get the Ark finished its diabolical and has been for over a year truely it has...

Here is that statement being confirmed I have taken the liberty of copying a wee post by Andrew Leapers blog on rainfall statistics... Here it is

Sunday 6th January 2013 DECEMBER RAINFALL UPDATE The rainfall figures for 2012 have now been updated to include the rainfall data for December. December has turned out to be yet another wet month. This means that the yearly total for 2012 is now officially the highest annual rainfall, at 37.3 inches, since my records began back in 1984. The previous highest annual rainfall, at 36.97 inches, was recorded in 1992. Let's hope for everyone's sake that we have a little bit less rain in 2013! Posted by Andrew Leaper

Tree down and decorations packed away

So this morning saw me taking down our Christmas tree and all the festive lights from miltons windows.  I am always a wee bit sad when this happens as I am a sucker for fairy lights...still it had to be done twelfth night and all that..

 Am I still the only one who does all these old traditions I wonder? Was about to go first footing my mum the other day with rob and Emilidh and Andrew her dad asked "what's that?" Sorry I answered ! I mean he has lived in Scotland since he was a wee one and his parents where in the hotel/ tourist trade how can he have not known about first footing for goodness sake?

Ok so lots don't have coal fires but its the symbolism that counts to me anyway... We took along a nice Yule log to my mums and we even played nice and took along her favourite tipple so she was happy to partake of our bottle.. Lol..

Poor Cuillin today once again ran full speed into the closed back door, he really is still finding out about life as an indoors dog poor man.  He looked so stunned and not a little nervous when asked to come in when it was open.  He is starting to get a bit of shine on his coat now but saying that each time you brush him all the scurfy skin starts flaking off and the shine disappears and he looks like a project for head and shoulders poor lad.  Next week will take him back to the vets and get him micro chipped and weighed but am under no illusions he has put on weight since we collected him from the lovely foster parents Janice and Stewart up north of Perth.  He looks about the correct weight now so it will be my challenge to keep him at this weight... Not easy when he is totally fixated with food raiding anything and every thing and also needs encouraging to do anything when asked which of course means treats,  he is also managing to get through 2 lb carrots in about 5 days at the moment still hopefully once he starts to realise that we won't starve him or leave him for days without food or water he might become more relaxed... We can only hope.

So upstairs is all sorted now ready for the scalextric night tomorrow, seemed best to put this out upstairs and it might mean nothing gets broken because Cuillin goes and stands on it all lol.  While doing so I sorted out the handspun for next months KAL with the sheeple at Once a sheep. It's now lunch time then some knitting to do on the baby blanket followed by a wee nap and then the job interview....part 1.

On the needles :

Debbie Bliss striped baby blanket 20 rows done

Aeolian ..... Erm hibernated after first pattern ( will get out and look at it soon)

Herringbone shawl squares for waistcoat possibly

To finish off :

Sew up Debbie Bliss bow cardigan

Stuff v.w. campervan door stop

Spinning:

ply last of the cruise handspun to free up the bobbins for tomorrows spin Saturday

Thought for today is : nothing ever stays the same accept that and life is easier.....

Greyhound snood

Greyhound snood pattern overall length depends on size of your hound, generally 10 - 14 inches...


Using 4.5 mm needles, Cast on 84 sts join in the round making sure you don't twist the stitches place marker (pm)

Round 1: K2,P2, to marker.
Continue working rounds in K2 P2 Rib till work measures 4inches from the total desired length then knit lead hole row...

Lead hole row 1: K2, P2 till last 4 sts. Then turn work.

Lead hole row 2: work sts as they sit to continue the rib pattern.

Repeat these two rows 3more times. (4 times in total)

Next row: K2, P2, rib to the end of round, (this will close the top of the hole).
Continue in rib till work measures 2 inches shorter than final length.

Change to larger needles 5mm. ( this helps widen the last section to allow for sitting well on the shoulders...

Continue in established Rib till work is desired length.

Cast off loosely.

Sew in ends.

If you want to strengthen lead hole you can blanket stitch around the hole to give a stronger edge.

To blog or not to blog?

So it is the start of 2013 and today has seen me doing some housekeeping in the loose sense of the word.. I have sorted , updated my ravelry projects.  I have decided to start blipping but not sure if the blip will become diary like or whether to use the blog for that feature.
I have always aspired to writing a diary regularly like many people but usually fall down very short of being disciplined enough so here goes.

We have just had a crazy few weeks of cruises, adopting a greyhound, going on an holiday with said greyhound.  Then back to a recently rebuilt home 4 days before Christmas.  Janet arriving to stay and talk about hitting the ground running.  The short version is it all went well and I improvised brilliantly each time I found that we hadn't yet replaced something vital in the kitchen.

So rather than trying to get everything down and writing it up wittily try to take my word for it.

This year I want to do a better job of all things computer based ie I want to understand how to make my blog talk to my blips and Facebook and well my fairly new iPad is to be used for all these things... I think this could be frustrating and if any of my kind friends know how I am going  wrong can they kindly show me the errors of my ways.

Now. I wonder how I can link my blip onto here?
3 January blip

Part 2

So to continue vinnies summer jaunts.

Once we got back from the lakes we dropped of emilidh and did a quick turn round, throwing out the awning and all the holiday stuff and loaded him up again with biking gear and the two bikes ...nancy our adorable full suspension tandem and Robs solo bike and nice wee orange....http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/
 Rob loves Orange bikes they are hand made in Halifax and he is very loyal...when we first moved up here none of the locals rode them and he had his leg gently pulled for owning one... However at last count the club owned at least 10 between them..... Perhaps he should get some sort of loyalty award...lol

Anyway we were off up to glencoe for a trail building weekend..organised by Scottish rids a great group of guys and gals who we had never met before but were sure that would not make for any awkward moments.  The evening was that lovely dry warm sort and boded well for a good weekend.   Because of the quick turn round we had to stop at The Real Food Cafe at Tyndrum on the way...now if you have never called into this superb place please rectify this very soon. http://www.therealfoodcafe.com/so we had to call in not that this is a problem at all we love it there and admire the lovely Sarah for creating such a wonderful place to call to eat and so ethically ran too...please follow the links to find out more.

So after stopping for a wonderful venison burger we made it to glencoe in the dark...now generally when we go biking we wild camp in a handy car park or grassy verge... Now at glen Coe we use the car park and eat in the cafe and pay for the showers..they have the most interesting hobbits (wee wooden huts/gypsy caravan like places)..  These are run by http://www.glencoemountain.com/accommodation-mobile.html a fairly new venture which having met Andrew should do very well...

So there we are surrounded by majestic mountains and swarms of the dredged Midgie, Rob valiantly  went out and placed the ramps so we didnt sleep on the slope.  Then when all sorted with incense burning we left vinnie and ventured out to the cafe for a nice coffee/beer and meet some of the fellow workers...

Next morning dawned sunny and after a bacon butty in vinnie we went up and met the rest of the party...this was the start of a really super weekend... Tom from http://bigmountainscotland.com/ issued us with our lift pass so we could all ride the course for the morning so we would know what parts would need our brute strength and energy in the afternoon.






We have nevere done this route so it was a voyage of discovery for us andthe lift operators getting nancy up the chair lift...it was awesome.  Here is Rob with Nancy on the lift and as you can see he is as excited as I am to be doing this.... woo hoo

So after throwing ourselves down the track a few times it was time for lunch and then the work really began... now the idea from Tom was for the party to walk up half the mountain to begin work... I had other plans as if I had walked up with my big trog and a spade I would have one needed mountain rescue and I would have been no use nor ornament to man or beast...so I took the lift up to the top and walked back down the the working party.... this perhaps sounds a lazy option but I promise you it was not easy walking down the trail I had just come down at speed... and if I am honest I think walkers are amazing because its much easier for me to ride down rather than walk... I made to the others without landing on my bottom which is a major achievement in itself....lol so we spent a busy few hours in the sun working, digging, lifting and placing stones into berms under the talented Roddy who wasn't a novice trail builder... 

Tom had brought up refreshments for a wee pit stop mid afternoon and never has pear cider and biscuits gone down so well with a group of people... I didn't eat the biscuits as I am still being very careful with my fat intake... By the end of work time ie 6pm we were all quite exhausted and trudged down the mountain again... this was something which again I managed to do without falling down but others didn't manage so easily...

So back down at the bottom we all went our seperate ways to either tents, campers or hobbits...the wonderful wee micropods that are available for hire at Glencoe.... 

After wonderful hot showers and placing our towels into the drying area we set off for dinner... now to say that our meal was well deserved is putting it mildly the day had indeed been rather physical and I was very hungry so when the dinner arrived.  We sat with the funny lad Roddy and had a really brilliant evening chatting and finding out each others biking experiences.... now being with Roddy was great however it did mean that Rob ended up drinking more than he has ever done in recent memory and here is the picture to prove said partaking...lol So it was a rather merry Rob staggered back to vinnie for sleep that night...

next morning was once again to be a working one but have to admit that I didnt make it to this session, I took the opportunity to have a wee lie in and chat to the other females on the weekend...none of the others ride or infact did the trail building but had come along to be with the rest of us... and what a nice bunch of ladies I met... from the wonderfully fit young lady who went off trail running (madness in my eyes I could hardly walk down the trail), to the brilliant Jill who had two gorgeous labs who were the focul of attention for a wonderful ............................. a amazingly gorgeous dog who was such a sweetie even if a rather over sexually excited male....poor thing was distracted with love and lust by the end of the weekend...lol but such a big soft hearth rug of a dog.

By the afternoon it was time to go up again in the chair lift to try out the trails which had been built.  On the trip up I managed to get this photo of the decal on Nancy and felt considering what we were about to do it was very apt...

We managed some more runs before I was spent for the day and so I left Rob to go and spend the last hour before the lift closed riding down on his solo.... 

I spent the time packing up vinnie and getting him ready for the trip back to Milton and so after a nice cuppa tea with our new riding friends we set of home again to our beloved home and we both kept smiling at each other not only because of the wonderful weeks holiday with wee Emilidh and our massive weekend biking but that we were going home to Milton our own refurbished home... all was well with our world...