It is always wonderful when you get positive feedback from the recipients of your knitting efforts. In July I gave my Dad a pair of socks for his birthday.  Sometime later I asked Mum if he liked them and the reply was that he loved them, and wore them all the time.  One of the times when I went to visit him in hospital I noticed the socks in the clothes to be washed pile, so knew he had recently worn them, which was a great feeling.  The other day I was chatting to my daughter in MSN (she had been staying with Nanna for a few days) and Mum asked her to ask me if I could knit Dad some more socks, and also if Natalie could too.  Of course, we both said yes and promptly looked for similar yarns to the one I had used.  We both ended up at Royal Yarns and found lots of lovely Regia sock yarn as well a lots of other lovely stuff........more to spend our hard earned money on.

Dad has done quite well, and Mum has been told that he should be coming home around the 13th or 14th of December, and she was supposed to have a home visit from the Occupational Therapist today to make sure the unit was all in readiness.  However, the therapists are all on strike now, so that has had to be delayed, which will also delay Dad's homecoming.  It is interesting to note that these people have gone on strike now, just over a week since the elections threw out the Liberal government and put in Labor who are very pro unionism; infact many Labor politicians are ex union officials.  Sign of things to come I wonder?  Hopefully though this strike won't go on for too long and Dad will still be able to get home well before Christmas.

Whilst all this was going on with my Dad, I was aware that a close friend was due to go into hospital for surgery on her bowel on the 24th November.  Diverticular disease was causing blockages and these had to be resected.  The surgery was successful and thankfully she didn't need to have a colostomy (temporary or otherwise), but post-op wasn't so good.  The operation was on Saturday 24th and on the Sunday night she apparently suffered a double stroke followed by a hear attack the following night.  Her family were called in on the Tuesday morning and advised to say their goodbyes as Lyn was critical, however, they didn't count on her fighting spirit.  Lyn is now due to go home tomorrow morning (Saturday) and the only residual effect from the stroke is a slight slur and mouth droop and some weakening of the right arm.  All in all she too has done extremely well.  It is likely that I will go to stay with her for a couple of weeks as her nurse and rehab therapist, so once again I will be away from home.  Hopefully though my knitting won't be affected too much.

On the knitting front, there has been precious little due to constant visits to hospitals etc, though my shawl is coming along.
According to the pattern, the second lot of fan patterns should have had 6 repeats, the another increase row followed by 4 pattern repeats, then the boarder.  That would have made for an extremely small shawl, and as I'm a big girl, a small shawl would look rather ridiculous.  Instead, I made the second lot only 4 repeats, then the increase row and the next series of patterns will be 6 repeats, followed by another increase row then I'll take it from there.  As I have plenty of yarn, I will make it as large as I feel like making it, probably finishing when I've had enough of knitting this particular pattern.  It WILL be big enough to wrap me up all snuggly though. hehe

BTW, I am typing this on my lap top.......yep, the one that got dropped at the hospital.  Lloyd (my #2 son) was thankfully able to fix it.  Apparently it was just the power outlet jack (female) that was bent and not able to accept the plug (male) so no power was getting through.  I had tried to manipulate the plug and  jack, but being pretty much computer illiterate, I didn't want to go too far in case I damaged it further.  All that Lloyd needed to do was bend the jack back into place and hey presto.  The plug is now a little looser than it was and is more likely  to come loose, so I  have to make sure it is in properly, but apart from that, all is well.  Lloyd will still bill the hospital though, for his time, and for my fear and suffering. heehee.  Perhaps $100 - $150 dollars.  That will teach them to be more careful around the patients things.

Darn,I nearly forgot.  I was visiting Deb's blog when I came across this great swap.  Now I know I said I wasn't going to participate in any more swaps for a while (well at least to myself I did), but how can anyone resist this one?  Go on, I dare you.

 

Well, that's all folks.  Stay well and happy knitting.

Comments

[deb]

My goodness Sue, your life is certainly very eventful! But the common link to all of the events I've noticed is that you touch everyone's life when they are having hardships and they all seem to get better! You must truly be an angel!

I'm so glad your Dad is doing well. It's a shame about the timing of the strike for his rehab, but at least he's coming along. I'm sure it's such a comfort to know that he so loves the socks you knit for him that he wears them all the time---the highest compliment when it comes to men and handknit items!

And I'm sure you're friend will blossom and recover completely with your loving help and care!

Hope you can find a little time to rest and take care of yourself amongst all of your caregiving! I never cease to be amazed at all you accomplish! All that, and delivering your own grandbaby, too! You are one of a kind, my dear, and I hope your family appreciates what a jewel you are!!!

So glad you'll be joining me in the swap! I just noticed the part about having to knit a "creature" to send along in the swap! Didn't notice that part when I signed up, but it will be a fun little adventure to try something different for the first time!

Sorry for the very-long post....I got on a roll. ;)
Hugs to you and yours.

[Sue]

I feel totally humbled by your comment Deb. Thanks for the vote of confidence in me.

[Katt]

glad to hear that your father and friend are doing better.

Sounds like a lot of socks are in your future.

Katt