I HAVEN'T DISAPPEARED ! I'VE JUST BEEN A BIT ILL. *

* A little dig at myself, the mistress of understatement. I told the doctor that I didn't ''feel so good''. I'll write more about that later. So you can choose to give it a miss.
I'd say ''au revoir'' to all those that have unsubbed from my bloglines feed, but as they've left there's no point ! :0)

It's nice to have a few days off. Gives a person a chance to work through the chocolate mountain now contained by our house.

I've done very little knitting, or anything, over the past few weeks. I did finish my first Pay It Forward gift, which I really enjoyed making. I'm really hoping that I've 'read' the recipient correctly, and they will love these. I'll link to their new owner when they arrive [if she likes them !].

Another variation of my favourite Scale Skin Socks pattern [details up on ravelry, or get the pattern, Snake Skin Socks,here ]. These are knitted from Posh Yarn "Emily", which is a plump, soft, lambswool/ angora/ cashmere blend [80% / 10% / 10% ]. Quite thick compared to sock yarn, but lovely for slobbing socks !
I love the fabric this pattern makes. It has a tweedy, almost woven quality to it.

The designer of this pattern is fund raising for medical equipment for her son, and is selling this pattern as part of that fundraising effort.
Another blogger is selling a sock pattern, using this stitch pattern, as her own, recent, design. I think that is immoral. I won't link to her, but have removed her from my bloglines list. A small gesture I know, but there's not much else I can do.
[An aside : I'm not talking about this particular blogger here, just generally. It is very difficult to blog about someone's dishonesty or dishonourable behaviour without looking like a complete bitch ! Unfortunately that can allow some people to carry on with lying and cheating unabated. What can one do ?]
I've tweaked this pattern, changing the cuff or heel, but wouldn't dream of saying those socks were my design.
~

So. I've been really quite ill...
[continues as an extended entry]

For the past three months or so I've been struggling with leg ulcers. Most have been relatively short lived, but a couple dragged on for weeks and weeks. I kept them clean [I'm nothing if not fastidious !] and followed the, apparently old fashioned, advice of my doctor to leave thenm open to the air. Not so clever really, especially when some were caused by inadverdent, rather forceful, collisions with bits of Oliver's equipment. Ouch.
I had one, quite big ulcer, that wouldn't clear, and which had dragged on for nine weeks [very depressing, not least because I thought only old ladies got these things !]. Another developed when I cracked my other shin on Oliver's standing frame and split the skin. Of course the oedema doesn't help one bit. Three weeks ago I developed severe cellulitis in both lower legs.A high temperature, even more swollen legs which were very hot and red, with a red tide mark travelling up toward my knees. Marvellous !
The last three weeks have been spent feeling really ill, taking very high doses of uber antibiotics,starting with 500mgs, every six hours, of Flucloxacillin [that'll upset your eqilibrium, and digestive tract !] and feeling worried.
The initial course seemed to stop the progression, but didn't clear it. The skin on my legs was so itchy I thought I'd go mad [really], and I just felt awful. And miserable. A second, overlapping, course of antibiotics, improved things, but it's only been during the last few days that I've been able to say that I'm feeling better. I finished the last of my second lot of Penicillin VK this morning. I have to keep an eye on things, to check for any signs of a reccurance, so feel a bit anxious about that. In the meantime I shall carry on slapping on the E45 lotion. The skin on my legs is incredibly dry, with the texture of parchment. The joy of it all !
I was going to write loads more. About sterile wound care, for which I get a gold star ! [no district nurse for me, thanks all the same !]. About how I was/am supposed to be on bed rest with legs elevated. On getting someone to undestand how serious it was/is, how very ill I felt. I have, however, lost the fire. Can't be bothered. Feel so tired that all I think about is my next napping opportunity, yet can't sleep. I suppose being ill, just managing to avoid admission to hospital for IV antibiotics, and having to carry on with daily life is quite stressful. That and worrying that the infection is just taking a short break, getting ready to return with a vengance.
I'm o.k. really. Just feeling a bit sorry for myself and looking for a little sympathy ! :0) I'm allowed. I've been ill !