My lovely friend Kezzie who pops by recently left a message asking was everything OK since I hadn't posted in a while. When I go quiet here it is usually because either life stuff has got in the way or my health has taken a dip, it is the latter this time. I have had another fibro flare and it has been steadily creeping up on me since Christmas.
Life with a chronic illness can be annoying, frustrating and disappointing. Over time I have adjusted to the vagaries of unpredictability but even now it can catch me unawares and leave me feeling discombobulated! I feel sorry for Ben and Pip as they look forward to events that might be highlighted on the calendar, only to find them cancelled last minute due to my health. The most recent case in point a chance to meet Eva and her family who are over here from the States. We should have met two years ago when they visited but yes you guessed it health got in the way and try as I might I haven't been able to make it work this time as well :-( Truth be told, I don't even get to see my family who live just over an hour down the road!
However it is not all doom and gloom and I try most days to look for the good and capture it where I can, so I thought I would share the goings on over the past few weeks in this post. It will be a bit different though as I am going to borrow the suggestions found in Kezzie's recent blog post, so here is our weeks in VERBS!
Watching: Knitting podcasts :-) These are my go to when I am not well, they are uplifting and informative. I have found many a new pattern or yarn as a result of these podcasts!
Playing: Not a musical instrument like Kezzie although in the dim and distant past I used to play the folk guitar and sing with a group of friends from high school. We used to travel to the elderly folks' homes in the area and they were treated to a variety of songs, John Denver, Carly Simon and Abba! However I did play a word game with Pip over tea today and we also had fun with a Doctor Who quiz whilst waiting for Mad Science to start this morning. That Dr Who 2011 Album from the charity shop was well worth the 50p!
Eating: The same old, same old anti candida diet :-) In June it will have been a year exactly since I ate fruit, gluten free bread, honey and vinegar dressing, milk, cheese and anything containing sugar. When Dave and I popped to Barton Grange for a breakfast date this week I gave the guy serving a headache with the dietary needs. It was a straight forward meal for Dave but mine needed to be not only gluten free so no sausage but also no mushrooms, gluten free bread or baked beans. His comment was priceless, " Er, so what can you eat?!!" I did help him out and had a lovely meal of bacon, hash browns and scrambled egg.
Wearing: Not " One Outfit 100 Days," although Julia aced the challenge and wore her tunic dress every school day for 100 days. She started the project in the late summer and added layers as the seasons changed. I found her on Instagram as she was part way through the project and enjoyed cheering her on toward the finish line. I do however have a small wardrobe and basically wear my clothes until they have holes in them and are no longer repairable. I try and by second hand but more often than not my clothes are bought in the supermarket when I do the shopping! It takes way too much precious energy to shlep around for clothes, so it is done sparingly. Having said that, we are in Gloucester next week and Gloucester Quays is a place that houses 'seconds shops.' This will be a chance to buy some good brands at reasonable prices and both kids are desperate for a few summer items.
Going To: Gloucester next week. Sadly Uncle Mike won't be there as he passed away on the 31st January but I'd like to think he would be pleased that we are still visiting the area. It will be a lovely chance for Dave to meet one of his cousins and we will also be there when Uncle Mike's ashes are interred in the local church grounds. As usual Uncle Andy will be stopping with us and that dude always makes our holiday extra special :-)
Gobsmacked about ... The Bonkers Brexit! I don't think I have ever followed the political debate as much as this. We have been fed a daily diet of the brexit debacle and I am heartily tired of the whole procedure. I am hoping for a people's vote and if a credible solution cannot be reached that article 50 will be revoked. Our new deadline date is the 31st October and Dave has dubbed it ' Nightmare on Brexit Street!"
Reading: Not enough! I have a box of half finished library books beside my chair. I think it is safe to say that I am spending too much knitting and crocheting.
Creating: a pair of socks for me, a cardigan for Sara and a blanket for Pip.
Car knitting whilst waiting for Pip to finish Mad Science.
Over 250 stitches on the needles! The cardigan is knit in one piece and then you section off the fronts, back and sleeves. It is a Kate Davies design and is one I have had in my Ravelry library for quite some time, so it is nice to actually have it on the needles even if it isn't for me!
Failing: at the 40 act challenges and the plastic free Lent, boo! I have continued with reading the challenges and undertaking those that are feasible given my current health. Being plastic free is so hard and our food bill shot through the roof, most embarrassing! Last week I had to make the depressing decision to buy our vegetables and fruit from Aldi, which meant that most of the produce came wrapped in plastic bags. We have however continued buying our meat from the butcher and have made swaps from laundry liquid to powder, bottled soap to bar soap and pasta in cardboard boxes.
Baking: A yummy sugar free lemon curd and coconut cake! It is a winner and will be taken along with some sugar free scones, jam (not for me) and cream for Ollie's baptism which is on the 27th April.
Listening to ... Ben rummaging in the kitchen cupboards! After all it is nearly 10pm and he is a teenage diabetic boy, need I say any more :-)
Sharing: some random things that have made me smile this week
A beautiful Camilia flower at Barton Grange.
Yummy cupcakes, most definitely not my diet friendly!
A fish and chip tea, mother and daughter date with one very tired, Pip.
Grateful: for family, friends both near and far, and for you if you have managed to reach the bottom of this rambly update, God Bless You. THANK YOU KEZZIE FOR THE FAB BLOG IDEA xx
