Floor-less-ness

We have finally had to tackle the floor problem in our lounge. The plasterers are booked for the end of the month to re-do the ceiling and walls, so the floor has to be done first. We started on Wednesday.

The sleeper wall which the joist rest on slid sideways in the Summer and we have now got to re-build the wall, replace the joist (3) and put down new floorboards in our lounge - in the coldest week of the winter!!!

The first photo shows DH getting started and replacing the wiring etc for the electric sockets. DH is not exactly thrilled to be acting like a mole in freezing conditions!!! We are lucky to have a joinery shop and the skills needed, but its still hard work. We have a 3-4 foot cavity under the floor, that's why DH looks like a midget LOL

This is the slab of concrete used to cover the original fireplace - it all fell apart when we removed the floorboards, so we have some bricking etc to do before going any further. We are also putting in a radiator and rewiring everything down here. I think the original work done in the 70's was done by Bodgit & Messy. The house was built in 1939 but was 'improved' in the 70's

Me acting as ballast for the joists while DH gets the remaining floor-boards up. I am wearing my coat because we found some dodgy gas pipes and have had to turn the gas off at the mains whilst it gets checked out so the heating is off - the fun never ends!!!

More towards the weekend : )

Giant Socks........

I thought I would share these socks with you. I have made them for my Hubby who has size 13 feet!!! I am feeling rather as if I have completed a mammoth project even if they are only plain socks. The pattern is just a basic sock pattern done on 2.25mm needles. Each sock used 50g of Sirdar Town and Country 4 ply which I bought from Melodyyarns.


The completed socks:

I pair down - 6 pairs to go : ) Now that DH has finally given in and admitted that hand knitted wooly socks are fantastic, soft, warm and not itchy, he wants a pair for each day of the week. It will give me lot of knitting to do when only a plain st st project is possible. He hadnt realised how uncomfortable slightly tight shop bought socks were until he tried my made-to-measure sock making service : )

And finally - the doting mother photo of my son on Christmas day wearing the jumper I designed and made for him. The yarn is Click DK and I adapted a basic drop shoulder sweater pattern for him. He now wants one 2 sizes up for next Christmas !!!

On the sickness front the physio for DH hasnt helped at all and we are waiting for a consultants appointment. We knew the pysio wouldnt do much but hoped for some pain relief or added mobility for DH while he waits for his referral. On the good side then, now he is in the system, the consultation should be very soon : )

I am still very tired and weepy, but on the mend and can get round Tesco unaided - which may not be a good thing LOL.

Swooning & Red Socks

Today I am feeling rather vulnerable. I went to Tesco, the first time I have tried shopping since I got ill, and I nearly fainted. Yep - me - swooning like a true Victorian heroine!!! I am glad DH was with me and managed to usher me to a seat before I acually fainted. A sit down and cup of hot chocolate did the trick but it has been a shock to realise how weak I am still. And the Victorian misses can keep this swooning stuff - being dizzy and shaky is horrid!!!

On a positive note I cn now show you the socks I knitted for my younger DD. She wanted red socks, girly but not screamingly so, and lacy just at the tops - oh, and they had to be machine washable too. I used Country Style 4 ply and Sue Morgans Slouch socks pattern and my DS loves them. She has already worn them to work : )

On the home front we are camped out in the front room with our bed down here whilst we have our bedroom decorated. Its quite cosy but we get odd looks from passers by from having a huge Kingsized bed under our front window for all to see. It makes watching the TV fun though - all warmly snuggled down with DH, Me, DS and 2 cats!!!

One step forward, One step back - and Cake!!!

On Thursday I felt as though I was returning to the land of the living and managed to finish sewing up this jumper for my 14 year old DS. He chose the yarn and described what he wanted. I got out the graph paper and duly obliged. I hope it has turned out just the way he wants :


On Friday it was my 40++ ish birthday and DH made me a chocolate sponge cake and decorated it himself with iced knitting. It looked and tasted wonderful !!!

On Saturday I was back in hospital but the second lot of antibiotics seem to be doing the trick and I can breathe properly - and without pain- for the first time in 2 weeks. I think I am going to survive - I have already booked my b & b at Woolfest so I had better get well LOL

Merry (insert appropriate felicitations depending on your personal belief system here) XXXXX

On The Mend

First - a great big Thank You to the girls at the Coventry Knit-wits group. I woke up this morning to dicover that one of them had put a Get Well Soon card through my letterbox. It was lovely to read all the messages and good wishes from them all XXXXX

I am on the mend. The antibiotics have kicked in, I dont have a blood clot on my lung (phew) and the terrible pain when I breathe has gone. I envisage lots of sleeping over the next few days as I feel weak as a kitten, but very much better than I was. Does anyone know how long it takes to feel 100% again after Pneumonia? I go back to the hospital in 10 days.

I havent had the strength or breath to knit since this started, but have taken photos of the Christmas pressies I made. I am so glad I got them finished early : ) I will post the photos up etc in a week or two. Thank goodness for the Snooker to watch or I would have gone loopy today. I cant concentrate to read yet, but I hope to pick up my needles and do some knitting at the weekend.

Pneumonia!!!

I have spent today in the company of the NHS. I have been like the living dead for a few days and have never felt so ill in my life. I didnt want to bother the Doctor so I waited until I just couldnt take any more - which was this morning after 3 nights and days without sleep cos I cant breathe properly and it hurts so much to cough.

I got to the Doctors at 11.20 am. I was immediately sent to the Hospital for x-rays etc and, by 2.30 pm I was on antibiotics, pain relief and had a diagnosis of Pneumonia and pleurisy.

I dont know whether I am relieved to actually know that I wasnt being a coward but am really ill. I am quite scared cos it is so painful and overwhelming.

To add to the whole experience, they suspect a blood clot in my lungs too so I have had 2 injections of a blood thinner and have to go back tomorrow for a CT scan - apparently I have 'sticky blood', whatever that is.

The NHS people were fantastic, from my Doctor, to the consultant, nurses and everyone involved. I cannot praise them highly enough. Even the nurse taking all the blood samples was fast and gentle. Thank God for the NHS!!!

I'm off to resume dying and sounding like a consumptive on my sofa cos I cant breathe properly unless I sit up. I will catch up again when the antibiotics etc have kicked in : )

Secrets

I have learned that it is very hard to post on on ones blog when everything is a secret.

I have been knitting - but I cant show you because they are secret presents.

I have been crocheting - ditto

I have even been sewing - guess what - yep, its a secret : )

Oh well. I will have plenty to show and talk about in the new year LOL

Meanwhile, the workshop has been re-organised, tidied up and spring cleaned and I am learning to use a Morticer (it cuts square holes in wood) and a Circular saw (which is like one of those big round rotating saws with teeth that James Bond nearly gets sawn in half on in the Movies). I have dinky new ear defenders which I have customised with pink fur fabric, and a 13" high wooden box to stand on to reach the workbench which is set at DH's height. I'm quite enjoying myself. I have always used the Pillar drill and Band Saw etc, but not the bigger stuff. I will tackle the Planer/Thicknesser (the big daddy of tools with lots of fearsome blades and whirring things) after Christmas.

I notice nobody interrupts me when I am using them : )