I managed to scare the life out of Mike yesterday morning by turning blue and passing out for a good minute. I'd already told him I wasn't feeling too great so he'll sure take notice next time I say that lol.
I spent the rest of the day in bed in case I fell over again but have been fine today.
Think it was another vasovagal attack. Really can't be bothered going to the Dr unless it happens more often as I'm sure they won't be very interested.

Worst thing about it is that I haven't finished plying the Plum Possum with ecru BFL. It seems to be taking forever but at least it gives me time to decide what to spin next. I'm using

Luke had another day off school Friday and had a wonderful time round at grandma's with his cousins making an ice fort. The poor dog was exhausted when she came home.
Luke then spent the weekend sleeping over at his cousins house. His best friend lives almost next door to them and he had the most fantastic weekend. It so lovely to see his little 9 yr old face so happy and full of enjoyment. He is the best days work I've ever done.
Its snowing a bit now but is supposed to really snow again tomorrow night.

I'm knitting up some handspun baby alpaca at the moment into a cowl. I bought it last May off Etsy (where else?) and it took a whole EIGHT months to arrive, despite being posted the day I bought it. Its lovely and soft:


Its a bit duller in colour in real life but still gorgeous. I started doing a lacy patterned cowl but made a mistake about 2 inches in so frogged it and have just done plain stocking stitch with a garter stitch/ eyelets/ garter stitch border. Its soothing mindless knitting which helps me avoid finish plying Plum Possum with some ecru BFL. For some reason the bobbin is slipping and I can't be bothered trying to find out why at the moment so it awaits me.

I've just ordered some of this beauty from Frecklefacefibers. It merino and looked very icy/ wintery:


We had lots of snow (for us anyway) overnight so Luke got his wish and school was closed today. We didn't find out until 8am when we were already up and dressed ready to take Rosie out path making to get him to school! He is desperately hoping school will be closed tomorrow too so is booked into Grandma 's just in case. The country has almost run out of salt and grit for the roads so it should be interesting getting to work tomorrow.

Luke had a fabulous time making snow forts in the garden and Rosie ate her own body weight in snow (at last, a low calorie labrador food!). We had lots of birds at the bird feeders, including a robin who was at maximum puff to keep himself warm. They are hard little ratbags. He was chasing off everything else until he'd finished his breakfast. We saw blackbirds (pair who live in next doors hedge), starlings, sparrows, chaffinches, one big fat pigeon and another type whose name escapes me.

I actually made it back to work today. I was SO nervous! Two colleagues couldn't make it to work because of the snow we've been having so instead of reading protocols etc like I thought I would be doing, I was right in cannulating, giving chemotherapy, venesecting etc. It felt really good but I am so exhausted and I was only there for 3 hours.
It was really nice to see everyone and patients I've known for years. So not so worried anymore.

Its supposed to snow really badly again tonight so Luke had all his fingers crossed that school will be closed tomorrow.

I've managed to get two weeks annual leave over the summer (the first two weeks of Luke's school holidays) so if the weather is good (please g*d) we can go camping or something.

I've been feeling really low this week which is not like me, worrying about going back to work I think - and then this was delivered which really cheered me up from one of my bestest friends who lives in Tahiti (merci beaucoup Maeva!).



Its been really snowing here today. Mike spent 8 hrs trying to get to Gatwick Airport and had to come home. He is going to try to get to Ireland tomorrow for work. I was supposed to start work with a study day tomorrow but thats been cancelled as so many people can't make it so I'm starting Wednesday morning instead.

Luke, Rosie and Sparky have all been out enjoying the snow.



I spent the day spinning. I've started the lovely Plum Possum from FatCatKnits. I needed something which was a beautiful colour and I could just enjoy spinning. Its lovely. and still matches the cat.



I'm also pissed off because I really want to do some further studies, either in Literature or Anthropology. I'd love to do this course here but because its distance learning I can't get a Government loan to pay for it. I can't guarantee I'll ever be well enough to commit to a 3 yr course I have to drive to because of my fecking migraines ... saying that, I've only got another few modules to do to complete a degree from the Open University so I'll have to look into that again.

I just feel so demotivated at the moment. Everything is such an uphill struggle and its just going to be so humiliating if I get back to work and then have to go off sick again.

But I'm fed up with wallowing now so I'm gonna pop on over to Kiva and see if I can plan to give some loans once I get paid at end of February

I've finally got some decent photos of some superwash BFL (8oz) I got from Wildcraft ages ago. Its Nplyed. I haven't worked out yardage yet but don't think its enough for socks :0(
I love the colours:



I discovered that Wonderwool in on in Wales on the last weekend in April. Mandy is going to come with me so really looking forward to a fibery day out.

The work meeting went well. I'm going back the first week in Feb. Only 3 hrs per day Mon/ Wed/ Fri for 2 weeks, then increasing to 4 hrs for 2 weeks, then 5 hours for 2 weeks, then up to 6 hrs. I went up to see my work colleagues and they were really welcoming and keen for me to come back. I saw some patients I know well and they were very kind and pleased to see me too. But I am a bit terrified about it all really.

we've got the house back to ourselves after Mum's month long visit. She seemed to enjoy herself despite not being able to get out too much.
I've been a lot better migraine wise over the past 3 weeks which is just so fabulous. They have reduced to 2 - 3 per week (rather than 6 - 7) and are generally a lot less severe.

I've got a meeting at work this afternoon to discuss what happens next. I'm hoping I'll be able to return slowly in February. It will be great to get back to doing what I do best. I love being a Chemotherapy Nurse.

Trouble is, I'm bound to get every virus going as I've been in virtual isolation for past 6 months.

I've been doing a lot of spinning and have learnt to Navajo ply. Its very addictive.

this is Romney from PigeonRoof Studios on etsy. It was lovely to spin:



this is from Spindlefrog on Etsy:


and this is some lovely roving I got from FatCatKnits on etsy (one of three in my queue - her colourways are just lush). Its called Plum Possum and I know where the possum colour comes from!:

I got some hand cards which I'm slowly learning to use to make alpaca rolags and are spinning it up a bit at a time. I'm a bit worried as it looks very hairy:

Long time No blog. Actually been busy rather than stuck in bed with migraines. The migraines I am still having are definately less severe and seem to be getting less frequent so I am really hopeful the operation helped. Saw the cardiologist today and he does not think I need surgery on my dodgy mitral valve either. My ECG looks really weird tho. Its just not right but I'll leave the Dr's to worry about that.

I've managed to get quite a bit of spinning done (photos to follow) and also have kept up the stash enhancement. Mum makes snipy comments each time I receive a package - as if its anything to do with her what the hell I spend my money on, especially as she's getting free bed and board for a whole month (I usually limit myself to 2-3 new fibres per month but happened to receive all three of Decembers on consecutive days. Why the hell I feel I have to explain this I don't know?).

So drumroll please for these beauties:

From Teresa Levite Studio (superwash merino):


From FatCatKnits (both Falkland):


We went for a day out to Stratford upon Avon which was really interesting. I've joined an online Shakespeare reading group - the first book we are going to read together is Hamlet. which is also the one I spent painful hours reading in English class. I can only remember 'take thee to a nunnery' and lots of tittering about country matters. I've bought the Royal Shakespeare Company's book called Complete Works of Shakespeare so are waiting anxiously for it to arrive.

And I've bought a pair of hand carders from Wingham Wool Work so I can start carding the huge bin bag of chocolate alpaca in our shoe cupboard. Unfortunately the handle on one was broken when I got them today so I'm sending them back for replacement. They were lovely on the phone when I rang them about it.