THE TURN OF THE YEAR.

I join those that mark the Winter Solstice in celebrating the beginning of the return of the light.
Like everyone else during this holiday season I've been very busy. For weeks, or so it seems. I was startled to realise it was friday today [well, yesterday, by the time I write and post this]. The end of the week, end of term and three days before Christmas. I am not quite ready. The tree has, at least/last made it out of the bucket in the garden and into the sitting room. It's been watered, the lights put on and the decorations go on tomorrow. We prefer to put the tree up closer to the day, then take it down on 12th night. To enjoy it's pine fragrance and pretty, twinkling decorations over the holiday period.

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Wheels keep turning too.
About four weeks ago we put the deposit down on the new manual wheelchair. Oh yes we did !
The old one is too small, unsupportive and uncomfortable. We were offered a new N.H.S. chair. The same make and size [!!!] with aditional thoracic support, as Oliver was getting a bit slumpy and leany in the old one.
This pic doesn't really show how bad it is. How saggy,.

Guess what ?!

It's here ! And look at the postural improvement already. It's very comfortable too, I'm told. Oliver loves it so very much. It looks pretty cool too. Look at the spokeguard.

This shows the glittery green of the frame. I'll need to take a good daylight pic to show the blue. The frame colour looks different depending on the angle. Also see the thigh supports which counter Oliver's tendancy to flop his knees out.

After the fit was fine tuned we signed the papers, and the boys went careering up the street at break neck speed !

No pics of that as it was pitch black outside by then. There was no squeaking and clanking. This new chair weighs half what the old one did, so is easier to push and more manoeuverable.
Fabulous, fantastic and wonderful !
We shall be twanging the Mastercard, hard, on monday, then feeding it with money in Oliver's Fund. The money so many generous and caring knitters paid for blanket raffle tickets. Thank you so much to everyone. especially Michaela, whose idea it was and who has been the driving force behind it. We really appreciate all her hard work, and all the time she has devoted to the blanket project. The same goes for Kay, the creative force behind the U.S. blanket/s. The first U.K. blanket has been won, but the U.S. blanket [no. 1] is up for raffle in January. A few days away ! Then there'll be another U.K. blanket. As they say, you have to be in it to win it !

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A little bit of knitting. Fabulously fetching Fetchings ! Gifts, not so much for Christmas, mostly as thanks and just because ! A lovely pair in a gorgeous cranberry coloured Cascade 220 evaded photography as they were finished just in time to be given !
Black [washed out by flash] Cash Iroha, nice soft blue Malabrigo worsted and Fyberspates delicious Scrumptious in Grenada. It's not in stock right now, but is a gorgeous colour. I haven't managed to capture the liquid, metallic quality of the colours, especially the old gold..



Right now I'm knitting a Malabrigo hat !