It's been a difficult week here - James is at home every day as his school had been unable to recruit a new teacher for his classroom. I've gone from him being at playscheme 3 days a week or more, to him at home full time and was already feeling the burnout hitting me. To add to my woes, over the weekend I developed labyrinthitis/vestibular neuritis and have been confined to my bed - I can just about sit up to read things on the computer and was able to do a bit of knitting this afternoon, but I have mainly been sleeping. Luckily, my husband was able to work from home today and the children had their first settling in day with the childminder (in the hope that I'll be going to work soon - but that's a completely different thread).
Just after 5 o'clock I got a phone call from the Local Education Authority to inform me that the school have been able to recruit a teacher! Very last minute (there can't be that many teachers who are out of work in September!) but excellent news for everyone. There will be a three week induction period during which time the children won't be there, but at least he'll be at school before half term! I can't believe it - we were prepared for him to be off school until November or even all term so this is amazing.
I'm over the moon, although my emotions are a bit labile at the moment, and I'm suddenly thinking is my wee boy ready for big school already? How the last 5 years have flown by - to think that 5 years ago I was heavily pregnant, anticipating the arrival of our first born and planning my shopping! I had fallen hook, line and sinker for all the media pressure to have the best pram, the perfect cot, the cosiest floor rug and was buying into the "lifestyle" of being a parent. Had I known what I know now, I would have saved most of my pennies. If I were to do it all again, from scratch, I would buy about 3 things - a good quality sling, an Amby hammock and a supply of Tots Bots nappies and Weenotions wraps. Oh and a supply of yarn from Cafe Knit so I could knit up lots of lovely hand knitted garments. As we often say in medicine, the retrospectoscope is a wonderful invention....
Here I am five years on, two children under my belt and James is about to start school. OK, not the school we would have expected him to go to (my husband bought a copy of "The Good School's Guide" almost as soon as he was born) but then how many of us truly walk the path we'd planned throughout our lives? The most important thing is that it is right school for him, where he can make progress and thrive. I can only hope that this happens for him and for us.
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Monday, 8 September 2008
Saturday, 6 September 2008
The kindness of strangers...
I am just overwhelmed, amazed and speechless. That a group of strangers care enough about me and my family and our current difficulties that they have clubbed together and paid for some respite for us for James. But then I shouldn't be shocked, really, as that is the whole ethos of an internet forum - it's there to support people in all sorts of ways. I often find myself giving medical advice on threads about children's health issues (although I always cover myself by saying that I can't diagnose without seeing the child) and I am now considered an expert in baby led weaning and sling wearing, so I hope I have helped people with problems in the past. Now it's my turn to receive some greatly appreciated help and I am stunned. I am also angry as if the social services department was doing their job properly and handling their account appropriately, there would be plenty of funding for us to access respite through them, rather than having to depend on the kindness of strangers. It seems unfair that the government spout political nonsense about "Every Disabled Child Matters" and that families of children with disabilities are entitled to short breaks, yet the funding isn't avaialble to give this desperately needed respite. Or perhaps the money is there, it just isn't used properly. How the people who make their decisions, and suggest that our case isn't strong enough, can look at themselves in the mirror, I don't know...
Talking of kind deeds, on Ravelry, there's a forum called "Random Acts of Kindness" which is a wonderful set up where you make/give someone an item just because. You can make a wish list (I really struggled with that as I'm not particularly good at asking for things!) and then people either surprise you or contact you to offer something. This week I received a set of double pointed needles and have started knitting in the round - a skill I thought I'd never master, but which is deceptively easy! Another kind person sent my husband some gummy sweets - he's now stopped complaining about my knitting forums! I've sent out a couple of books and am making some scarves for people, so I feel I'm doing my bit. I am a strong believer in karma and it seems that the karma fairy is being good to me at the moment....
Talking of kind deeds, on Ravelry, there's a forum called "Random Acts of Kindness" which is a wonderful set up where you make/give someone an item just because. You can make a wish list (I really struggled with that as I'm not particularly good at asking for things!) and then people either surprise you or contact you to offer something. This week I received a set of double pointed needles and have started knitting in the round - a skill I thought I'd never master, but which is deceptively easy! Another kind person sent my husband some gummy sweets - he's now stopped complaining about my knitting forums! I've sent out a couple of books and am making some scarves for people, so I feel I'm doing my bit. I am a strong believer in karma and it seems that the karma fairy is being good to me at the moment....
Thursday, 14 August 2008
Branching out
Wow. How things are turning around and in a good way. I am quite stunned at the way this week has panned out.
First of all, I received all my goodies to embellish my items for "Made for you, by Shamu". I am now the proud owner of business cards, sticky labels and post it notes! Just waiting for my labels to arrive and I'll be off. I am in a very productive mode at the moment - Ravelry have been running an Olympic knit-a-long and I've signed up to create 11 projects before the end of the Olympic closing ceremony. My husband is now a crochet widow although he's not complaining too much as I am including items that I've left aside for ages and am determined to finish them. I'll load some photos and prices up on my website later so come and have a look! If things go well I may open an Etsy shop as I've been browsing a lot and am really excited by all the beautiful crafted items there.
Meanwhile, my husband has had three job offers in the last two weeks. This is the man who has been in the same job for over 8 years (this is quite unusual in his line of work, a fact that was celebrated at a lunch in his honour earlier this year!) so it's been quite an upheaval. He accepted one of the offers earlier this week, having considered the terms and pay rise (less holiday, more pay) and finally told his immediate boss yesterday. To our surprise, his current company have matched the offer so he gets all the perks of his current job and the pay rise we need so badly. Plus he doesn't have to write a letter of resignation!
Talking of jobs, I have my meeting with my consultant next week and am quite excited about the prospect of going back to work. I've just got my head around the thought of leaving the children while I swan off to work and childcare is almost sorted. Then a letter arrives on my doorstep asking whether I would be willing to meet some first year medical students and talk about James' condtion and the impact it has had on our lives. This will be their first exposure to "real life" patients and it is an important part of the curriculum so I was happy to agree. While I was on the phone I mentioned my professional interest and that I hold several medical education certificates, and asked whether I could work with the department in any other role. So as long as I can get my consultant to organise an honorary contract, it looks as though I've just got myself another job as a student tutor for the patient contact course! I am really excited about that and really pleased I took the bull by the horns and asked. Sometimes it pays to ask.
First of all, I received all my goodies to embellish my items for "Made for you, by Shamu". I am now the proud owner of business cards, sticky labels and post it notes! Just waiting for my labels to arrive and I'll be off. I am in a very productive mode at the moment - Ravelry have been running an Olympic knit-a-long and I've signed up to create 11 projects before the end of the Olympic closing ceremony. My husband is now a crochet widow although he's not complaining too much as I am including items that I've left aside for ages and am determined to finish them. I'll load some photos and prices up on my website later so come and have a look! If things go well I may open an Etsy shop as I've been browsing a lot and am really excited by all the beautiful crafted items there.
Meanwhile, my husband has had three job offers in the last two weeks. This is the man who has been in the same job for over 8 years (this is quite unusual in his line of work, a fact that was celebrated at a lunch in his honour earlier this year!) so it's been quite an upheaval. He accepted one of the offers earlier this week, having considered the terms and pay rise (less holiday, more pay) and finally told his immediate boss yesterday. To our surprise, his current company have matched the offer so he gets all the perks of his current job and the pay rise we need so badly. Plus he doesn't have to write a letter of resignation!
Talking of jobs, I have my meeting with my consultant next week and am quite excited about the prospect of going back to work. I've just got my head around the thought of leaving the children while I swan off to work and childcare is almost sorted. Then a letter arrives on my doorstep asking whether I would be willing to meet some first year medical students and talk about James' condtion and the impact it has had on our lives. This will be their first exposure to "real life" patients and it is an important part of the curriculum so I was happy to agree. While I was on the phone I mentioned my professional interest and that I hold several medical education certificates, and asked whether I could work with the department in any other role. So as long as I can get my consultant to organise an honorary contract, it looks as though I've just got myself another job as a student tutor for the patient contact course! I am really excited about that and really pleased I took the bull by the horns and asked. Sometimes it pays to ask.
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Hooked
We've had a busy couple of days so I haven't had a chance to update and fill in all our news. In the grand scheme of things, not much has been happening, but I am about to embark on a serious declutter of our house having received a rather large shipment of plastic boxes from here. I have promised my husband that I will tackle our bedroom today/this evening so had better get a move on....
I have another confession - I'm an addict. Less than a week ago I finally cracked how to crochet and ever since I've hardly stopped. I love how I can fling my project in my handbag without having to worry about the stitches slipping off the needles, unlike in knitting. I love how there's no "rules" and how quickly your project grows. I am planning to make all my presents this year even though that means I'd better start now. My husband thinks I'm going mad, especially as new yarn seems to arrive every three days or so. My latest purchase was some Rowan ribbon twist to make a rug for our lounge. I popped into our local charity shops on Tuesday and was able to buy a vintage 1960s crochet book - complete with colour plates of funky dresses and bags.
On Tuesday I went to my first knitting meet! It's an idea that started in the USA, under the title "Stitch 'n Bitch" and I organised a local meeting for other interested knitters. We went to a local pub and sat chatting and knitting (or stitching and bitching I guess!!!). There were only 4 of us this time, but I hadn't publicised it locally (in case it was a disaster) and I think we'll do it again. We got a lot of comments and several men wanted us to teach them - I've told them to look out for us at the next meet and join us! We'll see if it takes off. I'd really like to be involved in organising something like this - I enjoy teaching people and would love to spread the love of the craft.
If my knitting and crochet hobby is an addiction, well I guess there's worse things I could be doing with my time. Our lives are so full of challenges, worries, misery and stress that I need a creative outlet to express myself. I don't like having idle hands - if I am concentrating on my crafting then I'm less likely to be fretting over the latest problem we're having in nursery/ with the LEA/ with James' behaviour. It's important to have a way to let go and relax.
I have another confession - I'm an addict. Less than a week ago I finally cracked how to crochet and ever since I've hardly stopped. I love how I can fling my project in my handbag without having to worry about the stitches slipping off the needles, unlike in knitting. I love how there's no "rules" and how quickly your project grows. I am planning to make all my presents this year even though that means I'd better start now. My husband thinks I'm going mad, especially as new yarn seems to arrive every three days or so. My latest purchase was some Rowan ribbon twist to make a rug for our lounge. I popped into our local charity shops on Tuesday and was able to buy a vintage 1960s crochet book - complete with colour plates of funky dresses and bags.
On Tuesday I went to my first knitting meet! It's an idea that started in the USA, under the title "Stitch 'n Bitch" and I organised a local meeting for other interested knitters. We went to a local pub and sat chatting and knitting (or stitching and bitching I guess!!!). There were only 4 of us this time, but I hadn't publicised it locally (in case it was a disaster) and I think we'll do it again. We got a lot of comments and several men wanted us to teach them - I've told them to look out for us at the next meet and join us! We'll see if it takes off. I'd really like to be involved in organising something like this - I enjoy teaching people and would love to spread the love of the craft.
If my knitting and crochet hobby is an addiction, well I guess there's worse things I could be doing with my time. Our lives are so full of challenges, worries, misery and stress that I need a creative outlet to express myself. I don't like having idle hands - if I am concentrating on my crafting then I'm less likely to be fretting over the latest problem we're having in nursery/ with the LEA/ with James' behaviour. It's important to have a way to let go and relax.
Monday, 25 February 2008
Pay it Forward
Whilst trawling my various internet forums over the weekend (yes, I'm addicted and it's not healthy, but I have fun!) I stumbled across a forum on Ravelry called "Pay it Forward". I was intrigued so entered and have found a lovely forum based on a sort of variation of a chain letter. The premise is that you sign up to receive a handmade gift from someone through their blog and in turn you offer to send a gift to the first three people to respond to your invitation on your own blog. So unlike a chain letter, you're not expecting to receive half a million pounds, or be in the Guinness Book of Records - just joining in with a really thoughtful community. So I've signed up and will be making a gift for the first three people to sign up here! The "blurb" on the forum is below:
Let me tell you about it, these are the instructions: "It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.
I will now Pay It Forward to you THREE, I wonder who you will be?! Please, be a PIF! You will enjoy it just as much as we do!"
And, remember...you have 6 months to get your gifts done! Come on, you know you would love to be one of my angels. Then, one day, but you don't know when....you will get a gift that I have made especially for YOU!
Please remember, you don't have to knit or crochet to participate, anyone who can make a nice handmade gift is welcome to join :)
Apart from offering to make gifts for other people, it's been a day of giving for me. This morning a friend from another online forum, Damsels, drove over to see me. She has just found out she is expecting twins and I offered her my (virtually unused) double buggy. I had been given the buggy to product test two years ago and had only used it once (James has always been very happy to walk everywhere so I had no need for a double, plus I tended to wear Bea in a sling from an early age so hardly used a buggy at all) so I hope she gets lots of use out of it. Bea enjoyed playing with her 2 year old daughter - it's so nice to see Bea making efforts to interact with other children, as she gets no interaction from her brother.
The air is far from clear between me and my husband - I'm going to turn the computer off now and see if we can talk properly.
Let me tell you about it, these are the instructions: "It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.
I will now Pay It Forward to you THREE, I wonder who you will be?! Please, be a PIF! You will enjoy it just as much as we do!"
And, remember...you have 6 months to get your gifts done! Come on, you know you would love to be one of my angels. Then, one day, but you don't know when....you will get a gift that I have made especially for YOU!
Please remember, you don't have to knit or crochet to participate, anyone who can make a nice handmade gift is welcome to join :)
Apart from offering to make gifts for other people, it's been a day of giving for me. This morning a friend from another online forum, Damsels, drove over to see me. She has just found out she is expecting twins and I offered her my (virtually unused) double buggy. I had been given the buggy to product test two years ago and had only used it once (James has always been very happy to walk everywhere so I had no need for a double, plus I tended to wear Bea in a sling from an early age so hardly used a buggy at all) so I hope she gets lots of use out of it. Bea enjoyed playing with her 2 year old daughter - it's so nice to see Bea making efforts to interact with other children, as she gets no interaction from her brother.
The air is far from clear between me and my husband - I'm going to turn the computer off now and see if we can talk properly.
Friday, 22 February 2008
Love yourself
Making time for myself is something I've never really been that good at doing. When I was a junior doctor my life revolved around two things - work and sleep! If I got to sit down and watch a film then that was a huge plus. Socialising was integral to work - I was living in hospital accomodation and my friends were my colleagues so nights down the pub were an extension of our working day. I tried to keep up with my hobbies - I took singing lessons and sung in the hospital choir, but it's quite hard to practice singing when your neighbours are asleep after a night shift. My next few jobs involved long commutes so I hardly had time for any non work activities and then I started revising for exams. I finally passed my membership exam in 2001 but kept myself busy organising a wedding! It wasn't until I was pregnant and looking for simple, colourful knitted garments for the baby I was expecting that I took up knitting. The sea of pinks and blues was what spurred me on - we had decided not to find out the sex of the baby and so I was looking for gender neutral colours (browns, greens, beige) and all I could find was white or cream. Oh, and a few bits in yellow but I'd spent too many days on neonatal units sniggering about jaundiced babies dressed in yellow with fellow colleagues to inflict that on my offspring....
Armed with a few Debbie Bliss pattern books and a copy of Stitch 'n Bitch (the definitive knitting self help guide!) I set about teaching myself to knit. My mum had tried to teach me when I was at school so I had the very basics, but her patience (and mine, in all fairness) was not sufficient to keep me on track and I never grasped the important stuff like casting on and knitting two stitches together. Fast forward 5 years and I'm pretty confident, if not particulalry adventurous. My love of knitting has taken me to a rather fun website called Ravelry, which is a set of forums dedicated to all things yarn based. I have been trying to learn to crochet for about a year now, but last night I cracked it - Vic and I have been talking about her teaching me to crochet for ages now and we finally got together for a teaching session at her house yesterday. I am now inspired to make Bea a blanket for her bed from granny squares - if you don't know what I'm talking about look at this blog! Vic is a very bad influence on my yarn buying habit - and soon she's going to be a constant source of good quality yarn. Have a look at her blog and see what she's up to....
All this knitting and crocheting doesn't leave me a lot of time for much else but I have vowed to start making more effort to look after myself. I am going to enrol in a local pilates class and try and find a decent local swimming pool. Last Friday I went to a fundraising evening for our local ADHD support group and the remit was that everyone had two taster beauty or alternative treatments. I had a mini reflexology treatment and it was so wonderful I've vowed to go again soon. Next time I sound a bit harrassed and exhausted remind me to love myself.
Armed with a few Debbie Bliss pattern books and a copy of Stitch 'n Bitch (the definitive knitting self help guide!) I set about teaching myself to knit. My mum had tried to teach me when I was at school so I had the very basics, but her patience (and mine, in all fairness) was not sufficient to keep me on track and I never grasped the important stuff like casting on and knitting two stitches together. Fast forward 5 years and I'm pretty confident, if not particulalry adventurous. My love of knitting has taken me to a rather fun website called Ravelry, which is a set of forums dedicated to all things yarn based. I have been trying to learn to crochet for about a year now, but last night I cracked it - Vic and I have been talking about her teaching me to crochet for ages now and we finally got together for a teaching session at her house yesterday. I am now inspired to make Bea a blanket for her bed from granny squares - if you don't know what I'm talking about look at this blog! Vic is a very bad influence on my yarn buying habit - and soon she's going to be a constant source of good quality yarn. Have a look at her blog and see what she's up to....
All this knitting and crocheting doesn't leave me a lot of time for much else but I have vowed to start making more effort to look after myself. I am going to enrol in a local pilates class and try and find a decent local swimming pool. Last Friday I went to a fundraising evening for our local ADHD support group and the remit was that everyone had two taster beauty or alternative treatments. I had a mini reflexology treatment and it was so wonderful I've vowed to go again soon. Next time I sound a bit harrassed and exhausted remind me to love myself.
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