WOYWW 769

Another week and things are looking up.  Last Wednesday was spent all day more or less on the internet trying to track down a Dolomite Jazz Rollator to replace the one that had no brakes.  The phone call to Chessington was so disappointing, they no longer make the Dolomite!!!  And so began my day of internet searching.

Tracked a second hand one down (after much searching) that was only £90 (mine had cost £360 brand new years ago) but on reading lower down it was in Southampton and 'collection only'.  A little too far to travel from up north.  And so eventually I gave up and began looking for something similar.  Eventually narrowed it down to two, a Drive X and a Force Premium Luxury Lightweight.

By this time I had decided to buy locally in the hopes that they could help if anything went wrong but on ringing our local store I found they had the Drive Nitro (similar to the X) but had not heard of the other.  Price £249.95.  On looking to see the Nitro on the internet I found that the same company had this one in their showrooms for £50 less but at another branch.  Still not too far away.  What to do?

That is quite a substantial difference in price but the lady at our local branch had been so kind measuring the height of the handles on the two rollators they had.  I have such a soft heart I really was tied.  Fifty pounds is fifty pounds!  What would you have done?  

Well, I do have a little papercrafting to show you WOYWW members that is new.  A lovely friend sent me some images for me to colour in if I wanted to and I did.  And now I can show you a bit of what I did with my Inktense pencils.  It was done on my lap on one of those trays with a bag attached underneath full of polystyrene balls.  I balanced my pencils on the chair arm and then dribbled water from my straw in my drink onto the craft mat in order to wet the crayoning with a brush and turn it into watercolours.  Get the picture?

Sorry about the shadow

here's an old blog page from 2022

and here are some flowers I received this week

from a lovely friend

Aren't they lovely?  But there is a funny story goes with them which is why I am showing them to you,  Now as you may remember I am stuck in a chair most of the time with my leg up.  These flowers arrived in a cardboard box and I wanted to arrange them myself so I had the box balanced on one chair arm, a tray with a vase (no water) on my lap and a pair of secateurs.  Once I had the flowers arranged I sent them off for a much needed drink and began tidying up the tray when I felt a "nip" on my arm.  To my amazement I had a little brown beetle gnawing away at me.  A hasty flick with some paper and a shout for 'help' got him removed to the compost heap.  Talk about the flowers being fresh!  And they smell beautiful.

The crochet is not progressing as intended I am having problems turning a corner and going in the row already done.  I have tried and tried but it looks awful.  I just don't seem to be able to count the chains.  Any ideas you ladies who crochet?  This is me trying to go and do a second row:

Now be honest, my second attempt is worse than my first here.  I think I am one of those learners who needs the teacher sat at the side of her.  But I will persevere.  I cannot believe I once crocheted that mat I showed on here some time ago, but I know I did, and with no help.

Well, that had better be it for today, another good report from the District Nurses.  It doesn't look much different when you see the photos but the swelling is going down all the time, and the hole is shrinking.  They are pleased and so am I.  That spurred me on to go to the Podiatrist and get my feet sorted so that is happening on the 7th March - next step is the hairdressers.  I wonder if I could go with my hair newly washed at home and just have it cut and blown to cut down time sat with my leg down?

WOYWW 768

 Another Wednesday is nigh.  That means it is time to chat and see what the lovely WOYWW'ers have been up to and are planning to do.  This is my contact with the outside world at the moment except for my other friends who keep me sane with messages and phone calls and the wonderful DN's who I see Tuesdays and Fridays.  My WOYWW friends have been a Godsend.  Thanks for giving me a touch with the outside world, especially of crfafting.

I'm about to have a major spend!  My rollator brakes have gone and so I need to replace it with a new one as they do not seem to be able to repair them.   I desperately need to have my rollator at the moment and I love the one I first bought which is for people up to 6'4" tall.  It is as Dolomite Jazz 2 610 and I have tracked one down at a salesroom in Chessington.  A bit far for us to travel so I am hoping that a phone call later today will result in them getting one to me pronto.  At the moment I am managing to use it with DH putting his foot against the wheel so I can use it to get up into a standing position,

Monday night I went to bed for the first time since the accident but had a bad night as I could not lay flat because of the broken ribs.  But then it set my neck off again and the pain got too much for me.  Now my neck is what is giving me the most pain - go figure!  It's an old injury and my chiropractor usually puts it right but at the moment I cannot travel to see her.  What a pickle.  Gosh this is turning into a pity party, sorry, not meaning to.

So the crochet has not been growing, in fact nothing has.  Sorting out the hot and cold treatment on the various parts of the body, making sure I am doing all the things I am supposed to be doing and not doing what I have not to be doing means there has not been much time for recreation.

Sadly once more nothing to show you so in order to put something on my blog I searched through my old photos and decided to show you a couple of my blog pages from yonks ago.

and a card above and some tins below

Now to see what I can find to keep me busy and happy - searching WOYWW for inspiration.

WOYWW 767

 Here we are all again, our little happy band of WOYWW crafters.  One of the nicest groups of people I know.  If you feel like joining in all you need do is show us what your desk is like.  It doesn't even have to be a desk, it can be a table, the floor, a lap tray or, in my case, the arm of a chair.

Yes, I am still not crafting and I am not getting on very fast with my crochet.  The main reason is that I am falling asleep the whole time.  Even if I have a good night's sleep I drift off during the day as well.  I did some reasonable chains last week, was happy with my tension but kept on trying to improve.  This week my chains have not been that good, my reasonable tension has up and gone.  However, I have progressed in that I learned how to turn a corner and do a second row.  Now don't laugh

I am never going to be like the Lynne's of this world or any of our other crochet ladies.  But I am going to persist.

On the health front I finished my two courses of antibiotics and the nurse (and I) were absolutely delighted, over the moon in fact, with my knee yesterday at clinic.  It has started to clean up at last thanks to the second course of antibiotics and the type of dressing they use on the open wound each time I go to clinic.  Those District Nurses are worth their weight in gold.

Remember the cutaneous horn I had removed before Christmas?  Well, I started treatment on the site it had been removed from and my three weeks finish today.  Tonight will be the last application of the Efudix - hurrah!

So all is working well at the moment.  I might even do a bit of paper crafting one day soon.  Pretty basic as I can't bend my knee so it will have to be done on my lap as what I do.

Hope you all are having a lovely Valentine's Day if you celebrate it;  and if you are single, hope you got a load of cards from all your secret admirers. Ever practical I bought my other half a new Pinch of Nom cookbook.  He needs some new recipes to try out on me.  Now where did he put that package last week?

WOYWW 766

Today's nurse was one I have seen before and she said she could see a slight improvement on what she saw just over a week ago so that was good news.  Another week and my crochet has not proceeded as quickly as I first thought but I am hoping to get the tension right before I proceed with anything else.  So its chain, chain, chain.

So again there is nothing on my desk.  I am sleeping most of the time and find myself replying to an email or message and dropping off, waking to find a row of "c's" or some other letter as my finger has hit the key.  So that has kept me busy.

Healing has been helped with more antibiotics following an emergency dash from the District Nurses to my GP.  That was last Friday and it was the DN who rang the surgery to get an emergency face to face appointment.  The receptionist at the other end asked if I could make it within 25 minutes and I said I could only try, but it would be a push.  The DN's practically pushed me out quickly.

Well, teatime traffic going through the centre of town meant nothing but jams and it got to five minutes away from the appointment so being the considerate person I am (really am most of the time and certainly in situations like this) I decided to ring the surgery to explain the situation.  Do these receptionists get training by 'Adolf'?  I got a right ticking off and told how if I was late it would throw every other appointment out of line.  "I know that, I am not stupid and we are doing our best".

Arriving in the surgery only 5 minutes late I was surprised to find the place empty apart from the cleaners working down one of the corridors.  'Adolf' nowhere to be seen but then which receptionist it was I had no idea anyway.  Thank goodness the Advanced Practitioner Nurse (who was ex casualty/lovely) on seeng the photos said I needed more antibiotics and so she extended the Flucloxicillin and gave me Clarithromycin 500mg which works alongside it.

On a brighter note Chas made the stove top "mac n' cheese" again and this time it was delicious.  When asked he said it was easy to make and he was willing to do it again.  I think, even when this is all over, this will be one meal I can rely on him to make.  Anyone want the recipe for their WOYWW husband just shout.

Well as I can't show you a desk here's some flowers on the coffee table which I look at each day.  On the left from my son and his wife and the two rose bouquets are from dear friends.

Hopefully a bit of crafting next week

WOYWW 765

 Determined not to miss a post since joining WOYWW I am sat here in my chair with my leg in the air and my lap top balanced precariously on my lap.  I thought  I would make a start on my non existent desk.

Things are not progressing with the knee injury (bag of peas on it at moment) as hoped and on Saturday it was so bad they could not even see the stitches to take them out.  I was convinced there was one left in. Yesterday morning a new nurse found the stitch, it is now out.  It is infected so Saturday a doctor was called and he has put me on a strong dose of penicillin.  Fingers crossed and all prayers welcome.

The ribs are just the same and the mouth infection ever so slightly better today maybe.  Gosh I sound a whinge bag don't I? Sorry.  Nurse told me, this morning ribs flap about and then get sticky and start to stick to one another.  Roll on sticky ribs.

Anyway, life has been just a case of sitting in my chair 24/7, toilet trips and District nurse visits only, watching tv and falling asleep.  We did binge watch "After the Flood" enjoying watching as it was set in the next town to us, well part of it was there so it was a 'spot the building' but we didn't see much truth be told.

I am missing my paper crafting and despite sending for some of Lavinia's new stamps I don't know when they will get used.  Mind you, when they come I can enjoy looking and stroking them.  Just think, when I can sit down properly I will be able to get them catalogued and start using them.  Given another couple of days if the knee starts to feel better I might be able to do some colouring with my pencil crayons or even my watercolour ones.

Well, I am trying out a new hobby.  I can't imagine knitting with these ribs as I like needles to tuck under my arms so short needles are crochet hooks.  Aren't they?  I did once (and only once) crochet a mat.  So, rather than try with cotton I am setting off on my new adventure with wool in my old age.  Keep fingers crossed I manage something other than chain.  Got to get my tension right so this has been pulled back time and time again.  Tonight a chain - Next week a square?  

Jeudi Journal - Oreos

 Now I must confess that these biscuits do nothing at all for me.  Oreos are a cream biscuit but the biscuit itself is black.  Give me a Bourbon or a Custard Cream any time.  However, our quote from Time Holtz this week is "Cleaning with children in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos."  Who on earth would brush their teeth whilst eating any biscuit ... but Oreos??

"We are back with the cat family and Mrs Cat is tearing her hair out, it's the end of the Christmas holiday and the children are "wild".  Tom, her husband is bringing some clients home for dinner so the place needs to be spick and span and the children on best behaviour and ready for bed when 'pop' arrives home.  She realises that they need to tire themselves out so that they will go to bed and hopefully sleep but how the dickens is she supposed to get the house sorted - and dinner made?  What she really needs is a fairy with a magic wand.  Well, that isn't going to happen so she needs to make a cuppa, sit down and plan what move is next.

Mrs Cat goes off into the kitchen, puts the kettle on and makes herself a nice cup of tea, then sinking down into a favourite armchair, just for a moment's calm, she allows her eyes to close for a moment.  Or so she thinks.

"What's that bright light" she asks herself.  "It can't be, surely not, there's no such thing as a fairy" she says out loud.  But sure enough there is a little fairy hovering above her, wand poised and a twinkling of stars around her.

"Can I be of help?" the fairy enquires.  "You seem to be ever so stressed, and the children are having a wonderful time next door, is the noise too much for you?"

"N n n no" stammers Mrs Cat, "I was cleaning up, you see my husband is bringing some important guests home and the children are so full of energy I can't get on.  Cleaning with children in the house is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos."

"Would you like me to help you?" asked the fairy.

"If you could it would be wonderful" Mrs Cat replied.  And with that the fairy gave two shakes of her wand and the room was immediately transformed.  All the children's toys had been put away and it was so much tidier.

"Thank you" said Mrs Cat, and she stood up, but the fairy had vanished.  "So it was just a dream" thought Mrs Cat.  I'm no closer to being ready and I don't know what to do.  With that she walked into the other room to find that it was, indeed, much tidier.  The children were nowhere to be seen and there was a wonderful smell coming from the oven.  Just then the kitchen door opened and in walked Grandma Cat.

"Hello my dear" she said.  "Feeling better for that sleep?  You work so hard you know. We've got the little ones to tidy their toys away and Grandad has taken the kiddies off to play in the park and I've started that casserole you love.  Tabby said that you were making it for some special people tonight."

"Oh Mum, I do love you.  What a saint you are, coming along at the right moment and saving me like this."

"That's what mum's are for" replied Grandma Cat.  "Now come on, we have the table to set and I've brought a lovely dessert for you all to enjoy."

The background was made using Oxides on an acrylic background, spritzing and transferring to the page.   I used all pale colours, Spun Sugar, Milled Lavender etc.  Accessories are from Aall & Create, the fairy is unknown, but the cat figures are Dylusions.

My thanks to Erika for the delightful challenge this month at Art Journal Journey, it was nice to be able to use our Jeudi Journal posting with it incorporated.

WOYWW 764

 Well, my desk hasn't changed since last week except what was on it last week has been kind of packed up.  Well, the journal is in the cover and other things are 'parked'.  As some of you know I had a bit of a fall last week and spent most of the day in the hospital where it was found I had broken ribs and I had an almighty gash right across the middle of my knee.  Both were x rayed because the doctor (a wee Scottish lassie who was the sweetest person you could wish to meet, I landed lucky there) was worried there might be internal bleeding.

Anyway I got home and have been sat in a chair since then with my leg permanently up.  I have a sore throat at the moment and am hoping I am not coming down with an infection picked up in the hospital.  It was so busy, those poor doctors and nurses, but they were all nice.  (not so much the radiographer)

Anyway, we don't want to dwell on it so here is my desk.  Chas took the photo for me and it will probably remain like that for some time but I will get him to take shots of various parts for my WOYWW which is something I refuse to miss.    Hope you are all well and happy.

My old calendar (not going to get one done this year am I?), my handmade Christmas cards, a canvas that wants repainting and my mat that I sometimes stamp on.  Yes, those leaves I picked up in Preston are still there.  And my old guillotine just peeking in at the back.