IT"S A FUNNY THING.

Stress, that is. When I'm caught up in worry and stress [I have a tendancy to dwell !] I am, strangely, rendered incapable of e-mailing people or writing blog posts. Blog posts are easier. Just goes to show how stressed my last 12 or so months have been, if you consider my sporadic e-mailing.

A quick aside here ; I can't tell you how annoying it is when someone, for example, e-mails me asking how, exactly, to order from a German site. Despite not speaking German I hold their hand through the process, that I have used my gumption to work out. Then I don't even get a ''thank you'' back. How rude is that ? It's not the first time it's happened. I really must ignore such pleas for help. It's not as if I have an abundance of time. I rarely respond to comments as it is.

So, I really must try to do better. Luckily, most of my friends understand.
I can't, or won't, talk about most of what occupies my mind. There are some issues I need to clear up with a friend, but I don't want to ruin the friendship. At the same time I'm really stressing, in an unhealthy, consuming way, about these issues. So, I'm completely paralized. Can't bring myself to e-mail her. The days tick by. Tick, tock.
I'm worried about a relative whose life is starting to look like a train crash. I don't have the resources to rescue him. Then there are the health worries which, in the early hours, develop into long thoughts on mortality. The usual parental worries.
Of course, with a disabled child, there are extra worries. We startled ourselves the other day when we noticed that Oliver is over the recommended weight for his car seat. Despite there still being room for growth. despite being under the impression that it would last him until he was 11 or 12, when we bought it. A year and a half ago. For £1,7000. Bl**dy h*ll ! I wonder if they do part exchange for a larger size ? We couldn't have bought it for him without the generosity of the knitting community.
I don't tell you this to extract money from you, although every single penny is very much appreciated and sits in the Oliver's Fund savings account waiting for it's big day ! I'm telling you about this because Michaela is very, very kindly making a blanket to raffle for Oliver's Fund. If any of you would like to knit a square or two that would be a lovely and generous gift. Thank you.
We're looking at another manual wheelchair on thursday. This one will be a better size for Oliver, with some of the additions he needs. The figure for that is creeping toward £2,500. Methinks that someone is taking advantage of a needy and captive market.
I feel I need to add that yes, I am putting money into Oliver's Fund. Yes, I have restricted yarn and fibre purchases. Except for a slight rush of blood to the brain last night. Which I'm not prepared to discuss right now, even though I don't feel guilty. Much.
This is no great hardship for me as I have enough fluffy stuff to keep me knitting and spinning for a little while.
Snort !
When stressed I knit and drink a little wine. See. It's only a small bottle.

A baby hat, for a precious new person [aren't they all ?] in aran weight 100% cashmere, from Posh Yarn.

Every baby should wear cashmere !