Roll on spring.

To put us all in the mood for spring I share with you my Mother's Day [U.K.,last Sunday] bouquet.

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I've recently joined another knitters webring,for U.K. knitbloggers.U.K. Knitters.

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Very little knitting has been done this past week.I was surprised at how ill I was last weekend.I had viral gastoenteritis.Lovely ! Bestowed upon me by someone at school I've no doubt.Dangerous place,school ! The most alarming thing was that my lips would go blue,my fingers white and I'd shiver a deep,deep shiver,right from my core.
Saturday night was dreadful,mainly because it was the first night since we left hospital with the chick that I didn't settle him to sleep.He was fine.I was bereft.
I've only just started to feel normal.Managed to stagger to school and back and feed and entertain the chick,but that's about it,during the week.Of course now he's ill,with an ear infection and perforated ear drum.Allan's feeling rough too.Welcome to the house of sick people.

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I have managed to almost finish my Sockapalooza socks,but they will be late[sorry Alison].Still unsure about the long heel flaps.As an experienced sock knitter that tells me they're probably too long.Allan,who has smaller feet than I [just call me Big Foot !] tried them on and tells me they're a nice fit,so what do I know ?! I just hope that they fit and please the recipient.A photo will appear once they're completed.

My new waiting for chick knitting.This mohair yarn is divine.So soft.It will be a gorgeous scarf,if I say so myself.This is,I think,the first time I've knitted an item in the colour [Rosehip] specified other than the Fassett's of the 1980s ! There's even a blog devoted to the book - rather unnerving seeing exactly the same scarf being knitted.More than once.I shall have to do it again in another colour !

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My dear friend Kristin sent me some fantastic knitting post.

The new Knitpicks own brand yarns are fabulous.Just look at the baby Alpaca,in such a lovely soft green,and the lace-weight Alpaca/Silk blend [Shimmer] in a gorgeous variagation.

A rather lacy knitting future beckons.

Other delights in the post from Stacey.The result of a yarn swap.That was fun !

The chick was very well catered for [a wind-up duck is missing.It had sea trials in bath earlier !].My sock yarn is a glorious riot of colour.

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I forgot to show the close-up of the great card my Secret Pal sent me.

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The toughness of the week before I was struck down was related to the chick's health.On tuesday we went to the opticians.I needed ''a little more help...''according to the young,and somewhat patronising,'girl' optician ! So what if I can't read the small print anymore ?!
It had occured to me that the chick was learning his school book by heart.When I asked him to read a word he put his face close to the page.Major alarm bells starting ringing.This hadn't been the case last year,when he'd started learning to read.Apparently he's very long sighted.It's a growth/development thing that they expect to improve with time.Without glasses though the damage would be permanent.This isn't a tragedy in and of itself.It's just that it's yet another piece of equipment,and thing to worry about.Of course we shelled out for the very stylish designer frames he liked.I think that as he's going to wear them all the time he ought to have one's he loves ! It was only a £15 top-up - I love the N.H.S. I don't say that lightly.As a socialist humanist I really do feel we are blessed with our [almost] free National Health Service.
They were having a 50% off designer frames sale so my metallic burgandy,oval['ish],rather sexy frames only [cough] cost £86 ! As I pointed out to the chuntering male person,I saved £86 !

On thursday we had to be on the paediactric day unit by 8 a.m.That was a struggle as it was cold and snowing.The chick had his MRI scan.He had a general anaesthetic - always a worry.The scan lasted 40 minutes.He [nor I !] would have coped with that awake.It's a very noisy machine.A tad scary.
We get the results in a couple of weeks,and will get to see the images.We escaped at 2.15 p.m.,by which time we were all starving and stir crazy.Another stressful hospital visit passed without trauma.

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The next post will contain some of Sissel's lovely knitting.I'm thrilled to report that she's knitting again,now that her arm/wrist/hand problems have resolved.She survived [just !] months without knitting.
The horror !

GREETINGS TO MY SISTERS.

Happy International Women's Day !
Thanks to Dawn for the reminder.
I've just eaten something...first time since saturday morning...

SPOILT !

Look at these fantastic goodies from my Secret Pal.Two balls of lovely,purpley,Felted Tweed - a nice shawlette possibly.Smelly bath stuff,great hand cream,a little notebook,bookmark,herbal tea bags and three flower wash cloths.An uplifting gift,that really cheered me up.
Thank you so much Secret Pal for your thoughtful gift.

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We've had a tough week.I've had a really awful weekend.So ill I didn't knit a stitch or eat anything since my plain yoghurt on Saturday morning.Still feeling rough so I'll go to bed,and catch up with you all later.Bleuch.