RAMBLING,

as in stream of consciousness. That's too strong a word for my mental state right now. How about another ''c'' word ? Comatose. Well,semi ! There's a good chance that none of this makes sense.
Allan was away from tuesday lunchtime until thursday evening. A big deal in the unsupported home of a disabled child. I ache all over ! Oliver needs so much lifting and transferring,especially at bedtime and in the morning before school. Just getting him washed and dressed takes over half an hour. He tries his best to help,by lifting his hips off the bed for example,but it's still intense work. Our usual routine is that I feed breakfast,do spellings [i.e. help him learn the week's list of words],clean teeth,wash [in a bed bath/wipe down sort of way] dress,put on splints and boots,comb hair and clean his glasses,whilst Allan showers and dresses. Allan carries him to the stair lift,puts him in the wheelchair [proper positioning takes time. No sacral sitting in this house ! ] ,puts on jacket and,if cold or wet out,puts on foot muff. Then he takes him to school with minutes to spare [or not !]. I wave goodbye,then collapse !
''Just the two of us'' days start an hour earlier. I have to get myself washed and dressed as well. I'm not as strong as Allan,so the lift off the bed and short carry to the top of the stairs take the wind out of me. By the time we're stepping out of the house,leaving plenty of time for my slow walking,I'm out of breath.
Allan normally gets Oliver ready for bed,with either a proper wash or a bath. Not least because it gives them some time together. I do all the feeding,loving,chatting,etc. in the evenings before he gats home. Obviously ! I also sort out all the school stuff,charging up his speech aid,doing maintenance and adding stuff as required. Getting everything ready for his enormous,and full,back-pack. A fair distribution of labour. A physical strain when alone.
I don't resent it for one minute,but it does show up my physical frailties somewhat. I actually enjoy caring for my chick,in every way. It has always been so. I never once minded the baby chores. He's heavier now,and I'm not as strong.
It's a miracle I finished these socks. Well,I have the ends to sew in. I'd just Kitchenered [grafted] the bottom of the second short row toe. Ran short of the pink yarn,but they look well,I think. Rubbish pic. Odd angle,with flash.
This week I reknitted the last toe four times ! I should make notes if I fudge ! The yarn is so soft,yet held up really well to the ripping and knitting,over and over again. Lucia [scroll down] from Posh Yarn.

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I'm going to be off line for two weeks,starting on sunday night. We're going to a hotel,with a disabled room,for a week,then a converted barn in the North Yorkshire countryside for half term week. In the meantime the builder,who I already hate,is going to wreck the joint,covering everything in a thick layer of dust,and doing a good job of everything exactly how we want it...or he's in for it. What ''it'' may be is entirely dependant on how things pan out !
I've bought some [less than 1 metre sq] beautiful glass mosaic tiles for the window recess and a two tile wide trim around the bathroom. These tiles are so beautiful in real life. Sigh...
Where was I ? Ah yes. The floor colour we chose [non-slip,to go in the wheel-in shower as well] is a dark cobalt blue,with sparkly bits. A plain white bathroom suite. What colour tiles ? Plain white,of course ! That was agreed at the site meeting,with architect in attendance.
The next day the builder turns up with a large rectangular tile. Beige marble effect. Asks what I think.
Me : "I don't like it. We want white tiles. Rectangular would be nice.''
Him : "I'm really surprised ! Everyone else really likes these."
Me,to self : "If you think you're foisting those crap tiles on me,just because you've bought a few pallets of them dirt cheap,you'd better think again. Pal.''
Me,to idiot builder : "Really. We want plain white tiles."
Moron builder [MB] : "Well,just show it to your husband,then he can ring me to discuss what you want."
Me,to self : " **&!@!** !@*&^%^ **^£@!** ! "
To MB [through teeth gritted in false smile,verging on snarl : "I'll do that."
My husband says we're having white tiles.

I'd tell more,but I wouldn't want to jinx things. I'll tell you about where we're staying when we return. Wouldn't want to tip off stalkers ! :0)

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To calm myself I spun for a couple of hours yesterday,instead of finishing off clearing the decks and packing things away.

Using Liz's fabulous fibres. She has an Ebay store too. I'm spinning a light and airy chunky yarn,long draw,using the orifice to draw against whenever I need a little control. I attempted an action shot,which didn't really work. Still,it's nice stuff. Doesn't need any pre-drafting. Not butter soft merino,for you delicate flowers out there,but not at all harsh or scratchy. Not over processed either,so you the feel the crimp,and life,of the fibre. Great fun to spin.
I want to take my wheel away with us,but concede that there isn't enough room for it and Oliver's bath seat ! I may take a spindle. I have packed so many projects I doubt I'll have time to spin ! You know how it is. You pack the knitting first,then worry about the clothes. I'm hoping that,without the interruptions of everyday life,I'll get back into my knitting groove.

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I hate disruption. A dear friend has advised that I think Zen. Om.

OM,bloody OMMMMMMM...