Boo!

I am here just lacking in energy to post.

Right, a quick catch up.

Health:
mostly crap with a dashing of below average and a generous dollop of fed upness.
Occupational therapy on Wednesday to check existing splints, sort new ones, check any other aids for the house I need and look at a new walking stick.

The consultant wants me to start on Enbrel as well as the methotrexate (which will be injected into my tum, how nice) asap as things are not improving as hoped. I have stopped the amitriptyline(sp) and the hydrochloroquine tablets to see if they were causing the awful nightmares - so far so good, still many dreams but not horrific ones and I think the bloating is easing a bit too. Fingers crossed.

Home:
my beloved piggy became ill recently, I was really worried as guinea pigs tend to go downhill rapidly (not literally. Then again he is so fat he probably would roll downhill rather quickly) and after a recommendation for an excellent vet in Leeds it seemed he had a bit of twig or something stuck in his throat. Since that was removed he has gained 3 oz, and is definitely perking back up and getting back to his usual greedy, noisy, lovely self. Long may it last.

Craftiness:
am almost almost finished with a very special test knit for one of my very favourite knitwear designers, once that is out of the way I have  LONG list of things to finish off. I seem to have done a lot of knitting this year with very little to show for it, so must get buttons sewn on, sleeves sewn in, things blocked and photos taken.

Sewing wise, I have some rather nice new things to launch - one is already on Artfire but I am toying with setting up my own little site to avoid the selling fees. I am rather proud of this though - KiT, Knitting in Transit, the idea being that pretty mjuch anything and everything a knitter could need is close at hand. Here's the one currently listed:

which opens up to have pockets galore - it comes with ALL of this

Like it?
In my Artfire shop at the moment and several more to come this week - some bright cheerful patterns, a lovely linen one with blue and white shepherds and sheep, a bit of all sorts.

Also the FREE pattern for these wrist warmers will be finished this week all being well.

I am almost finished with a scarf and matching mitts, pattern also to come but that will take a little longer to write up. Any recommendations for pattern writing tools online would be enormously welcome, especially for charts and / or cables, thank you in advance.

I am also working on some rather nice knitter's Christmas cards and some decorations, all to come soon - will include them on here as they go into the shop just in case any of you faithful readers are interested!

Hope all are well x

oh, by the way - if someone could check that my new shop site works so far that would be great! Nothing to actually buy on it yet as I am adding things slowly, but is the layout ok?
thesulkycat  Thanks.

Lynne.

To a lovely woman. Sleep well Lynne, you will be missed  xxx

Social Pariah Part 1

Things that make me a social pariah:

I don't drink tea or coffee.
I had no idea what TOWIE was and guessed it might be a band.
I have never seen nor ever want to see an episode of TOWIE or the Chelsea / Geordie equivalent. Ever.
I have zero interest in the life and loves of Cheryl Cole.
I do not watch X Factor.
I do not watch Strictly Come Dancing.
I do not buy a newspaper, ever.
I do however watch Jeremy Vile, as it is a good reminder that however rough it gets my life isn't actually all that bad ;-)
I think those fish foot spa thingies are vile - cruel for the fish and who on earth wants to put their feet in water a total stranger has been using, Eeeeeew!
I do not watch Downton Abbey.
I cannot see why Kate Middleton is classed as a fashion icon. To me she dresses in a dull, safe manner and is beginning to look like a lollipop head - EAT SOMETHING.
I never wear jeans.
I hate custard with a vengeance. And rice pudding, and mushy peas. And butterflies.
I know the full dance routine for Reach for the Stars.
I have never been able to walk in high heels.

Somehow I suspect this list will grow and grow ....

Sex in the City?

Taxi drivers are a strange breed. Or they are here anyway.
Last week I nipped into scary Armley by taxi.

Taxi journey there consisted of a bonkersmad (but funny) driver who told me I am ill because I apparently need 'hot man! Hot man cuddle you, make pain go!'
er .....

'Dr taxi driver say so! You lovely lady, you need hot man!'
I replied that I don't have the energy for even a stone cold one.

When he dropped me off at the Drs he asked if I would go for coffee with him .... help!

But this was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING compared to the taxi home again.

For some utterly bizarre reason the young driver told me he had recently split with his partner and had joined a swingers site.
I then made the ultimate mistake of saying 'Isn't there some manky pseudo Egyptian swingers place in Leeds?' and lo and behold he has been there. And the scariest bit? There's apparently one in bloody Armley too.

Armley consists of lots of charity shops, loads of betting shops, and plenty of those Cash Convertor type places (or Smack Convertors as they are known here). The places where skanky chav types in track suits and caps wander in with dodgy looking dvd players under their arms still trailing wires. Been robbed recently? Pop into your local Smack Convertors and you might just spot your missing electrical items.
I didn't even know these places existed until I moved here!

As for the classy emporium named Bargain Booze .... lordy.

The locals here seem to do a sort of shuffle, many seem to have bits missing (mostly teeth)(sometimes limbs) and there is a constant smell of cannabis. I swear walking round Wilko for more than ten minutes is enough to ease all your troubles away just by breathing in.
Unbelievably Barbara Taylor Bradford was an Armley lass, Alan Bennett is from here as are - er - Chumbawumba. The only evidence I have seen of 'culture' are the gangs of pensioners getting drunk on cheap cider and Special Brew by the Scary Bench on pension day.

Anyway - this is the sort of place that apparently has a swingers' club. EEEEEWWWWW!!!

See - I don't even have to venture into the big bad city to have an interesting trip out.

Onwards.

Seems like ages since I posted on here. The last week has been hard, not at all well and rather fed up with the whole carry on, have hardly left the house. And the house is a damned mess!

Last Saturday I finally made it to Knit Group at the mills down the hill - have been trying to get there for ages. Very lovely group of people who made me at home straight away, lots of laughter, chat and some knitting (most of which I had to unpick when I got home, which I suspect is the norm with chatty knitting groups).

Really perked me up to be with nice folk and then to have a wander outside and get some air - it was the last of the fabulous heatwave we had (seems so long ago now!).

The photos are very much point and shoot as I was waiting for my taxi home but they do give an idea of how pretty this area can be. I think lots of berries are supposed to be a sign of a harsh winter ahead, in which case we are in trouble!

Happy birdies though.

Since Saturday it pretty much went downhill fast - I slept for a couple of hours when I got home, had blood tests at the Drs on the Monday and spent the rest of the week in pain, exhausted and generally feeling unwell.

So no knitting group yesterday sadly. Last night was meths injection night which never bodes well and today is the first time in years that I didn't get up to watch the early Grand Prix.

Dreams dreams dreams, I am so sick of them. I don't mean one or two, but constant dreams every night and every single time I have a kip during the day. I have started jotting them down as the hospital were concerned about them last month, I read last night's lot to my mum and she said she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Washing hundreds of towels for Ashley and Laurel from Emmerdale? What the hell's that about - and as for me going to fight in Vietnam, then being in an archery contest with arrows that looked like cocktail umbrellas - and that's just a tiny fraction of last night's insanity.

More pretty pictures needed I think.

Spot the apples! This tree was absolutely laden with HUGE apples - I didn't think to hit some off with my stick until I got home, twit that I am.

Crafting wise some has been happening - have finished 'something' for a swap that was posted last week, but the more exciting thing is some Secret Test Knitting that I am thrilled to be involved in.
I also have some sewing to unleash when I get some decent piccies - we seem to have no daylight at the moment, yesterday was grim and today equally so but minus the gale force winds.

Ah - the ginormous mystery box that arrived a while ago - here it is with a real snowman for size:

Being a twit I didn't get a photo when the flowers were in their full glory, this was taken when they were just past their best.

There were over 30 HUGE stems of glads in pinks, white and lilac.
Friends are fabulous.

A Mishmash.

1.
Most important part of this post - a massive THANK YOU for the replies,both on here and via Ravelry. I really needed to off load a bit about the health issues but didn't want it to come across as a woe is me, pity me post. Instead, I have had nothing but excellent advice (a timer? Why on earth didn't I think of a timer? Genius idea!) and kindness, and it helps enormously.

As a small thank you could the people who commented on my last post, there are five of you, contact me either through Ravelry (sulkycat there too) or my email (theg1ggler@msn.com)(might remove that in a few days) because I have a little summat to send each of you.

And no, don't panic, it isn't Keef. Talking of Keef - he and Daffers are loving the weather.

I am a tad concerned that Keef may end up being half the (snow)man he once was if he stays in the heat too long.

2.
Another big THANK YOU to the fabulous staff at Chapel Allerton Hospital. My usual RA appointments there so far have all been excellent, but on Tuesday my scans seriously impressed me - not the actual scans you understand, but the whole set up.
I had a call on Monday to double check that the appointment time was OK with me, to confirm transport had been booked, and to check whether or not I required a wheelchair.

My transport arrived promptly, lovely driver, but the biggest surprise was when we went to the main reception and the lady at the desk said 'Is it Julie? We are expecting you and have a porter ready with a chair as it's a long walk.'

WOW! I didn't even mind being called Julie ...

Upstairs (after being told off by the porter at every door we came to - 'Put your hands down and stop trying to help with the door! Stop!') in the rather nice LMBRU building the receptionist again did the 'Julie? You don't have long to wait, the porter will take you back again afterwards' thing.
Either I have gained a reputation or they are extremely orgainised!
I quite like the thought of the former ;-)

And the scanning itself -VERY WARM GEL. What a superb idea for scanning (ie prodding and manhandling) sore arthritic joints. Subloodyperb. She also talked me through everything she did (bones of my wrists relatively OK still, many cysts and tendonitis, knees OKish, both feet fooked up) (recognised medical term - madam, your footsies are totally fooked up) and I have the same scans done at six monthly intervals. She also chatted about my medication, especially the meths. Whilst waiting for my taxi home one of the RA nurses was passing, she stopped to hug me and chat for a minute.

I have never used a wheelchair since I gave birth and found it rather hard to relinquish control to the porter but blimey, what a difference - my leggies weren't agony by the time I got home. Thank you hospital folk, you are wonderful.

3.
Everyone enjoying this weather? Bonkers isn't it! I nipped to the corner shop to grab several copies of the local paper as my daughter is in it today, and hobbling home it was so odd to see trees and shrubs laden with red berries, trees dropping crisp autumnal leaves - and the sun blazing down. I have thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the garden having a knit / read / slobbing session.

4.
Knitting is happening and some rather exciting secret stuff is happening too.
I highly recommend the KnitPro cubics needles, squared and lightweight, MUCH easier on sore hands.

Pretty too.

Considering how crap things are in general, the last few days have really cheered me up - and I haven't even mentioned the GINORMOUS box that arrived the other day, more of that tomorrow, or the GINORMOUS parcel that arrived too!

Enjoy the sunshine x

Being Ill.

OK, not much of the light / amusing / crafty variety here - I am comforted that people DO read this blog (not sure 'comforted' is the right word - whatever the word is it is lovely, and thank you). But please feel free to skip this post as it is really more a personal record for me. In an ideal world I will be able to read this again a few months down the line and see improvements in my health. So do skip this post entirely if health issues bore you rigid!

Right - I haven't been online much for the last few days, and things have been bad enough for me to need to record them, as I say hopefully there will be an improvement soon.

On Wednesday I was hoping to go and meet a very lovely friend who was having a holiday of a lifetime, travelling from America to do a whirlwind tour of Britain. She was spending a night in York, which is so close to me that it seemed bonkers not to meet up - she rang me and even offered her room for the night to save me travelling home.

But I had to turn the opportunity down - I am babbling and this is probably all out of chronological order but hey ho.

This is how my world goes at the moment.

Night time - a handful of assorted tablets. Painkillers, tablets to help me sleep (not the actual sleeping tablets - I take those maybe three times a week),  tablets aimed at the RA. A warm bed helps but going up stairs to put the electric blanket on, then down, then up again at bedtime is too much so I usually put it on as I climb in.
The 'norm' is to toss and turn for anything, hours sometimes (2am ish) until I manage to nod off. Then the dreams start - every night, dream upon dream - very vivid, very clear, often nonsense, often horrific. More often than not I wake up several times shouting or panicking. It is rare to get a full night's solid sleep.

I still tend to set my alarm, usually for 7.30am - trying to keep some sense of normality. On a good day I can get up and downstairs carefully but Ok. Most mornings I have to plan it in advance - what can I grab to wear, do I need anything from upstairs, is it the sort of day when I will be back in bed soon so should I leave the electric blanket on?
My stairs are twisty and steep, so it's a case of gripping the banister and taking it slowly - I usually throw my clothes for the day downstairs so I have my hands free. Classy eh.

I won't detail the entire day because I KNOW how bad it can be.

It's slow. Very slow - when the pain is bad, as it has been lately, I lie in bed and the tears trickle like some wimpy olden days girly. Someone online described it as 'someone sawing slowly through your bone, and just when you think it HAS to stop it all starts again' - dramatic yes, but it's true. The pain is incredible - my hands, arms, elbows - it's the sort of pain where you cannot specify where it's coming from as everything hurts so much. And it doesn't stop. Tramadol eases it (and zonks me out which is wonderful), but I am only allowed 3 a day. The sheets hurt my hands, I can't roll over in bed, can't get comfortable anywhere. Hot water bottle helps (or the microwave one I use as I can't use a kettle safely) but once it goes cold that's it as I am stuck in bed - do I risk getting up and doing the stairs when I am woozy? Arggghhhh!! I once rang my mum because I was past myself, but then felt really guilty as there's nothing she can do and I know she worries so much about me. She always says ring absolutely anytime just to hear a friendly voice.

Then there is the tiredness. Not just 'tired' but utterly drained, the sort of tired that hits you like a big wall and all you can do is sit or lie down and let it do what it wants. I have ME as well as the fatigue that comes with RA, lucky me.
If I have things I need to do - exciting things like the post office - I tend to do even more sitting than usual. I don't have much energy and am learning to be careful with what little I have. I have to thiunk ahead - if I have a hospital appointment on the Wednesday, is it wise to go out on Tuesday? Planning anything for the Thursday is out of the question. A hospital trip means straight to bed afterwards then a very quiet day - pathetic isn't it, the hospital trip becomes a day out.

So the trip to York - see, I mentioned it for a reason! Travelling on my own to York, with an overnight bag, sleeping in a hotel or travelling back again the same day - the after effects of either would not be good.Wednesday ended up being a tough day and I spent most of it in bed. Physically crap and mentally pissed off.

Tomorrow I have scans on all my joints at hospital - pretty straightforward, but because they will be manhandling my bod I know it will hurt (if not at the time then afterwards) and I know I will be shattered. Buggerit!

That's morte than enough for now - I haven't even started on the bloating and weight gain from the medication / immobility!

Anyone who has this bloody illness has my utmost empathy and sympathy.