life in a Northern town Archives - Page 8 of 9

Another milestone

September 28, 2009

Saturday would have been my parents 45th wedding anniversary.

: Christmas 2008

Normally at this time of the year, the Aged Stitches would have been in Cornwall for the annual holiday. This year Ma came to us.

She arrived late on Monday evening but Little Stitch woke up, insisted on getting out of bed, and greeted her with the biggest hug.

We had a lovely week of shopping and playing and generally having fun, rounded off with dinner with the Stitches-in-Law on Saturday evening. It was another bittersweet evening as we were so obviously one seat short at the dinner table and Pa had so wished to be with us for this evening. But it was not to be.

Ma is home again now and Little Stitch is running around the house shouting “Grandma”. Thankfully her work is done…Ma is moving back to Lancashire as soon as we can make the necessary arrangements. We are thrilled.

Gratitude

September 11, 2009

As we reach the end of the summer, the weather has finally broken and today has been glorious.

So we abandoned all other plans and headed to the park to practice our walking skills, eat ice cream and generally have a lovely time in the sun.

065 But whilst we enjoy this day, and look forward to Mr Stitch being on holiday next week, we took time out to remember those families whose joy was shattered forever 8 years ago today and whose loved ones will not walk in the park with them again.

Our prayers go out to them.

And to those who risk, and lose, their lives on a daily basis to ensure that I can play with my daughter in the park in safety.

We are grateful.

Busy doing nothing

August 19, 2009

Mr S has marshaled the support of all my chums in his campaign to make me take it easy.

It seems he’s even convinced Little Stitch to help, as daily she works hard to master this walking thing, thus meaning that Mummy has less carrying of her to do. She astonishes me daily as she masters new skills and we found out last week that all developmental delay has been made up and she’s now doing all the things she should be by now, and some that would be expected of a 2 year old. She’s just the most amazing little person.

I’ve been banned from the workroom again this week…sigh. But then, to be fair, other than the black checked wrap blouse and some curtain projects, I really don’t know what I’d be sewing at the moment.

I have to own to feeling blocked. My wardrobe is so sparse that even the moths have moved out due to the starvation rations. I’m also still carrying far too much weight, which isn’t really conducive to fashion because you feel like everything looks wrong, and it sure as eggs is eggs feels wrong.

It all becomes the most ridiculous vicious circle where you feel like nothing looks good on you, so you don’t make anything, then you have an empty wardrobe, so don’t know where to start to fill it up because its such a ginormous task, and you don’t feel that anything looks good on you anyway.

So I know I need to stop, take stock and make a plan. I’m thinking of making a small wardrobe of quick to make basics to see me through whilst I work on losing the weight and getting back to my normal tiggerish self. Just not sure what it looks like yet.

Which is perfect timing seeing as the Rest and Relaxation Mafia are hard at work.

But one good thing about the R&R Mafia is that Ma and Pa Stitches-in-Law had Little Stitch yesterday for her usual visit, but she’s stayed with them a wee bit longer than normal whilst I snuck off to the cinema to see Coco Avant Chanel.

Picture courtesy of www.apple.com

All I can say, is if you haven’t seen this film yet…hotfoot off to your local cinema and give yourself a treat. It really is just the most marvellous film. I was left breathless by the cinematography. Audrey Tautou is her usual luminescent self, and the whole production is just glorious. I’m tempted to go again to see it at the cinema and will definitely be buying the DVD as soon as it hits the shelves.

I’ve also finished the little multi coloured cardigan for Little Stitch. I’m so thrilled with it that I’ve pulled out the orphaned raspberry merino yarn and worked a swatch for that tonight and cast on another one for her. The multi one is currently blocking overnight and I’ll photograph it in the next couple of days once I’ve got a button on it.

What a difference a (few) day(s) makes.

August 9, 2009

Well, I feel like a different woman….but where would you find one on a Sunday evening? I know, terrible joke.

Seriously though, Alice arrived late on Thursday morning, just in time for us to bundle Little Stitch into the car and go out for lunch. We had a great time, Little Stitch mostly enjoyed flirting with the waiter. In the afternoon I was pummelled by Ryan the magic osteopath and came home feeling (and, I’m told, looking) about 3 inches taller. The evening was spent knitting and chatting with Black Purl, Himmelbjerget and Tallie the Polar Dog. In fairness Tallie and Charlie didn’t do much in the way of knitting.

Friday was a quiet day with Mr and Little Stitch as Alice had to work, but in the evening I found my cooking mojo enough to make us all a pea and asparagus risotto.

Saturday we were joined by Kelly and decided to head off to Lytham for a stroll by the sea. It was only when we got back to the car that I realised that I’d managed to walk for several hours without any difficulty. It seems the osteo is working.

Picture courtesy of www.visitlythamstannes.co.uk

Another relaxing evening, lots more sleep and lunch out with the Stitches-in-Law and, though I’ve still quite some way to go to being back to my normal tiggerish self, I’m feeling better than I’ve done for quite some time. I’m blessed with the best friends and family a girl could wish for.

Crazy

August 5, 2009

Image courtesy of http://www.patsycline.com/

I’m having a Patsy Cline moment. And not in a glamorous way.

This exhaustion thingy is driving me crazy.

Obviously Little Stitch is numero uno priority Chez Stitches and then everything else gets a cursory glance.

So the house is clean enough that you’re probably not going to get MRSA if you pop by for a cuppa, but for goodness sake don’t look under furniture or at the skirting boards. And step back if you open a cupboard. Concussion can be a nasty thing.

The ironing is done fairly regularly but only when prompted by Mr S who’s down to his last white shirt for the office. I know this makes him sound like some South American Dictator, but the prompt is usually him sneaking off to iron a shirt himself, which sets my guilt gene in motion.

A 15 minute walk to the post office takes me about 45 minutes. Thankfully Charlie likes the slow pace.

I’m getting good with leftovers. And am blessed with a fiance who is just happy to have homecooked food in whatever guise it comes in.

To add to the idiocy of it all, my back has reverted to type and I’m seized from calf to ear. I feel like my back is 3 inches shorter than my front. I haven’t sewn more than two stitches on the machine in the last week, and we won’t discuss the knitting, which has just been completely frogged back to the beginning. Or the incredible increasing waistline as my cortisol levels send my need for cake through the roof.

I have lists up the wazoo for things that I need to get done, stuff I want to get done, a really cool study plan for my French, and ideas for my Autumn wardrobe. If my Autumn sewing is as (non)productive as my Spring and Summer sewing, I’ll be hobbling round in my dressing gown for the whole season.

It would appear that something had to give and the something was me. Even typing feels like my fingers are running through treacle. And it’s nearly midnight and I can’t sleep so here I am!

Crazy!

I’m off to see Ryan the magic osteopath tomorrow, and have Alice-who-isn’t-a-cat and Kelly coming to visit for the weekend. Mr S is taking Friday off and we’re having a family day. Hopefully that will be enough to break the cycle and start me back on the road to some energy and enthusiasm to get done the things I want to get done, as well as the things I need to.

10 weeks

July 23, 2009

What is it they say about the best laid plans?

Whilst I’d intended to get to work on the gingham wrap blouse this week, I’ve been absolutely floored by exhaustion. The doctor tells me I need to rest and I can just about summon up the energy to laugh at that notion in a world weary way.

He seems to think I’ve been completely overdoing it for the last year physically, which, coupled with the emotional roller-coaster of the last year or so, and particularly the past 11 weeks, has resulted in my body whimpering “enough”. I have no idea what he means. Said with wry smile

So Mr S has put his foot down and I’ve been banned from the workroom this week. And to be fair, I’m not really missing it. I’ve not even done that much knitting either, although I do only have about eight rows of cuff to do to finish Little Stitch’s cable cardigan. I’m determined to finish that this week.

The good news is that we now have in our happy hands the paperwork we need to complete to finalise Little Stitches adoption. As we’ve completed the obligatory 10 week period, we just need to fill in the form in triplicate, hand over a cheque, and wait for the court to squeeze us into the schedule. Then she’ll be our little girl in law as well as our hearts.

Ooooooooh weeeeeee!!!!!

July 17, 2009

The plan for today was a visit en famille to the zoo as Mr Stitches has a rare day off from work.

Unfortunately we had forgotten to take into consideration that we’re in the middle of British Summertime. Which means that today we have torrential rain and weather warnings for flooding and high winds. Of course!

So in a last minute change of plans we went to the aquarium instead. I can’t say that I was particularly enamoured with the idea. I didn’t really think that oversized fish tanks was my idea of a particularly good day out.

How wrong can you be?

089 We had such a good time. All three of us. 043 Little Stitch was mesmerised. All we could hear was ooooooooooooohhhhh weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

All in all a good alternative to the zoo, I think.

AND we’ve got an appointment next week to draw up the application for the final adoption order.

Ooooooooooh weeeeee indeed.

Quiet!

July 1, 2009

It’s a statement. Not an instruction.

Ma Stitches is back in the civilisation of Surrey (after a 7 1/2 hour 450 mile round trip on Monday).

Mr Stitch is at the office. No doubt sweltering in the heat.

Little Stitch is at her grandparents.

Charlie is asleep on the rug. Alice is asleep in the garden.

I am tackling the European Laundry Mountain. I’ve done 2 loads already this morning. Just the 7 to go!

However, in between, I’m off to put the workroom back together after the boiler engineer had to move everything to get to the boiler each of the 4 times it took him to visit and finally figure out what the hell was wrong with the boiler. No, wait! It was Mr S who worked it out. Silly me.

Once that’s done I should get a couple of hours of cutting out done before I go collect the wee one. Bliss.

In the meantime, here are a couple of photos to prove that even in our inclement climate, you can still have a little bit of summer in your garden:

Our first fruit from the tree gifted to celebrate Little Stitch and remember Pa Stitch

Despite studiously ignoring last year's plants, we have delicious fruit

Should’ve gone to Specsavers!

June 25, 2009

On Monday I called into Tesco to pick up a few groceries, which included a bottle of cognac.

At the till, all the items beep, beep, beeped their way through the scanner until the bottle of cognac arrived in the hands of the assistant.

She looked at me with an apologetic smile.

“Do you have any ID? I’m sorry but we have to ask. We need to be sure you’re over 25.”

Monday was my 43rd birthday!!!!!!!!

Happy birthday to ME!

The best laid plans…

June 11, 2009

I woke up this morning and realised that it’s Thursday. And whilst I’ve cleaned and cooked, baked and ironed, visited friends, had friends to visit, met with social workers and health visitors, walked in the park,played, shopped, gotten really pissed off with people disrespecting me and mine, and a million other tasks and daily events, the one thing I haven’t done is any sewing.

I’ve done a tiny bit of knitting, but nothing to write home about.

And to cap it all Baby Jacob is in hospital. My niece is understandably beside herself. We’re hoping that surgery won’t be necessary (and if he does it’s routine stuff) but he’s so small and only 7 weeks old and it’s just a big fat worry that puts everything else into perspective.

So today I’ll be walking and cleaning and playing and hopefully a bit of sewing and a bit more knitting. And lots of praying for the wee small boy.

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