Newest arrival

Let me introduce Freddie my youngest grandchild, my eighth! He was born on 18 October and weighed 7 lbs15 0z.



Isn't he gorgeous!








And here is his youngest cousin - Fearne now4 months old.



wearing Kalamazoo rib wrap booties - and they really do stay on!

And one more pair of almost instant booties

For my newborn great niece.

There are so many of us now I daren't count!
I can't believe Freddie is four weeks old!! It's funny isn't it - the more time that passes since the last blog post, the harder it becomes to know what to say.

Last post was easy...I had lots of FOs all waiting for finishing and photoing and it was *only* my three little grandchildren who are still in residence with us.

Back then perhaps I would have talked about the worries of dd2's pregnancy and obstetric cholestasis and her subsequent induction at 37weeks. And thank goodness everything went well. Then I would have talked about the worries of alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency that Freddie's oldest brother has and was suspected when he - Freddie was still jaundiced at 12 days.
But then my right eye began to have the same problems my left eye had had in November 07 and that had ended with two retinal reattachments - hard not to look on the black side, especially as I had plenty of time to think while having to keep my eye still and no computer and no knitting until I could see the consultant. Four weeks later it seems about the best outcome I could have hoped for. There were three little retinal holes that needed two separate sessions of laser repair and last week I was told they were all nicely sealed. So fingers crossed that that has sorted my right eye out.

So that was last week and all the worries of the previous four weeks are beginning to fade into irrelevancy and just the good things are remaining. And I'm almost feeling back to normal.

Thank goodness.

I'm still full of promises for future photos of FOs, it should be soon as they're blocking right now! But I do have one I could show you...

Gd1's wearing f.pea's " cowgirl butterfly astronaut vest" .

Eye Op Update

I now am the proud owner of a brand new lens!

I don't know why in all the preceding discussion about the cataract operation it hadn't dawned on me that my own cataract affected lens would be taken out and replaced with a completely new - artificial - one. I don't think I'd considered too carefully what exactly would happen and I didn't realise I would be able to choose what strength of lens to have. In fact under the guidance of the surgeon I chose a lens very close to the one in my other eye and my old glasses work well with this new lens and both my eyes can still read without glasses so that side of things has gone well and the surgeon said the operation itself went well.

The only thing is, I'm much more conscious of the shadowy patch in the corner of my eye. I've had this all the time since the second retina re-attachment operation and have needed constant reassurance that it wasn't the start of a third detachment. Neither of the two surgeons I've been seeing have known exactly what it is but both were sure that the retina was securely fixed. Now though, this seems more extensive and is worrying me more. Anyway, I'm seeing him tomorrow and hopefully it will be that because the eye is seeing better the contrast between normal vision and this shadow area is more pronounced and that's why it's more noticeable to me.
Hope so.

No photos of knitting because this is happening outside overlooking my favourite pho o-taking place.

So photos will have to wait until the chimney is fixed.

Decisions, decisions...

I don't seem any further forward in deciding which two yarns to use for my Tempest despite my new plan to make it easier by displaying the likely candidates around the kitchen. Michael's finding it quite unnerving when I have break off in mid-sentence to slightly alter their relative positions or go closer to get a better look or just fondle one or two as one does...

You wouldn't think it would be so difficult, would you? And this is the short list hanging here - I've already ruled out the less likely ones. But it's hard enough to imagine what one skein will be like knitted up let alone when it interacts with another.

I hope I decide soon because I can't do "normal" things with all of this in my kitchen.



Actually this sort of undemanding activity is all I've felt up to doing today after getting back from my pre-op assessment for my cataract operation next week. I know they have to tell you all the possible complications when you sign the consent form but it was rather disconcerting to know that a detached retina is one of the most common specific complications. Very disconcerting when you know that my cataract was a direct result of the original procedure to re-attach the retina!! I'm very apprehensive about it - not least the local anaesthetic injection in my eye. And the operation has to be done in the eye theatre because this sort of cataract is not the normal age-related one but what they call a "hard" cataract and bits can fall off into the back of the eye so the surgeon needs to have all his kit handy....

Anyway I'm going to try not to think too much about it. Sufficient unto the day... etc. Back to my wool choices. I did hit on a good aid to my decision making -

It's quick to do - and does help a bit. I've knitted a few stripes in both the pairs of pinky shades on the second row (all four are PoshYarns one pair Laura and the other Lei) and I'm going to do some in the vertical greeny one (Fleece Artist Merino and the limey green is Rowan Spun - unfortunately the Rowan is DK but it seems a thinnish one so maybe it'd be ok).
I hope I don't buy any more yarn...


I've been very lucky to get one of the Knit Picks options organiser case. I've wanted one of these for ages but Knitpicks won't ship to the UK and Get Knitted who stock the needles don't have the case so I thought could I possibly ask Laura to post an order on to me - and she said yes, so now I can start organising my bits and pieces. Thank you Laura!

Lily of the Valley SmokeRing

This is my second attempt at Susan Lawrence's lovely Lily of the Valley Smoke Ring. I think this colour suits me more than the Mushroom Jaggerspun Zephyr of the previous one did.



It's as yet unblocked but I couldn't wait to show you a close up of the lily of the valley pattern.

I used 3.75 Addi turbos to knit the lovely Qiviut I had for Christmas. It really is as soft and luxurious as everyone says!
ETA I didn't use Addis - it was Knit Picks Options.


Now this next one is Regia Bamboo Color #1064 Ethno - 45% Bamboo/40%Wool/15%Polyamid and I have actually completed the pair of socks. As soon as I started knitting I was absolutely in love with both the colour and drape of the yarn and in fact so much so that I've ordered more - lots more - to knit a little v-neck cardi. I hope it comes soon while I'm so enthusiastic because a 4ply cardi won't be the fastest thing and my attention span is poor.

What do you think?
As usual my photo does not do justice to the yarn.


My eye seems to be doing what it should and I'm doing my best to be relaxed about it. The surgeon that did this last operation could see that I was a worrier and he's given me his pager number, home number and several hospital numbers so that if I have any urgent worries I can get in touch with him quickly and I see him each week as well. All of which is very reassuring.

I've found this RNIB site and forum really helpful. It makes such a difference to hear of other peoples with similar experiences.

And another very useful aid is the Audio Description provided for lots of tv programmes. It does exactly what it says and where there's no dialogue it tells you what's going on. Good for knitting while tv watching.

From Bad to Worse

Just a quick doom and gloom health update..

My worst fear were realised when the consultant last week said the retina had re- detached and I needed to be seen urgently by a retinal surgeon so after lots of phoning and anxious waiting he found one in Nottingham who could see me the next day.

That was last Friday and that afternoon I had a second operation to re-attach the retina and fix the tiny tear. He has put in a longer lasting gas and also a sceral buckle which somehow physically holds the retina in place. As it was a longer operation he wanted me to have a general anaesthetic so I had to stay in hospital overnight.

I have to lie on my side all night and in the day lie down on my side for twenty minutes in each hour. Not too difficult..

Even with all this the odds aren't great. For a first re-attachment they say 97% but for the second they drop to 80%.... I'm still feeling really despondent and depressed... I know that was made worse by the anaesthetic but I'm over that now and still feeling unhopeful. I'm sure I can see a shadowy thing where the shadow was last week that was the retina detaching and I'm not seeing the consultant until Friday.

But on a lighter note have you seen this? It's a Colinette throw kit called Mondrian's Tree House and the colour I like (have got!) is Tableau - the one in the main picture. I had to have it as an advance birthday present because I think this sort of knitting is within my capabilities at the moment and it might cheer me up.

Not a Lot

I don't know what I would have done without Knitting over these past few weeks. It has been such a comfort and I'm sure it's what has kept me sane. Even the awful time when I had to keep my eyes still and couldn't knit at all - I could still think wool and plan the next things to make and what to buy...but thankfully that time was mercifully short. Thank you everyone for your support, I very much appreciate it.

I have some almost FOs from this time but few of them are actually totally finished enough for a photo and in fact taking photos is still not too easy...

See
I'm having a bit of a problem with the focussing.

But you can see well enough that it's a Jaywalker - I know I must be the last to knit these but I actually seem to prefer most of the multi-coloured sock wools just knit plain and then I saw these in Shepherd Sock colour Hawaii and they looked so stunning I felt obliged to cast on straight away. I just happened to have some Lorna's Laces in colour Seaside that I thought would stripe in the same sort of way....

I still love the pattern but mine isn't as nice as Jo's and worse than that I was sure I didn't need as many stitches as the pattern said. I was doing mine toe-up and they were fitting just fine right up to the heel - my usual short-row- when I could see why more stitches were needed. Lots more stitches. I *could* get them on but only just.

By now I'd found a simple slip stitch pattern that caught my fancy and they are now fast becoming these

It's a modification of Violet Green's Tapestry sock pattern

I've got an appointment with a consultant on Thursday - not my consultant but his colleague. My consultant is on holiday and I shan't see him until 29th but at least I shall know if things are going according to plan and if they're not then something will be done. It's difficult to assess your own eye health but from what I can see, the gas balloon is steadily going down and is now just a circle at the bottom edge of my vision. My actual vision is a bit smeary and there are one or two extra things in it... I'm trying not to worry as there is no big shadow like before so I have to assume that the retina is reattached. It's very hard not to worry.

Now...I need a Good Idea for a present for my grandson who'll be five on Monday and I'm still not up to going to the shops so it's the internet.

I don't know where I'd have been without that either. In fact I think the drop in M&S shares may reflect my lack of patronage, as since OctoberI haven't shopped anywhere except on-line ... oh and three "in the flesh" visits to Waitrose !! Thank goodness for Ocado. Hmm..I'm rambling.....better get back to my knitting.....

Torn Retina

The only thing worse than finding your house has been igored in your absence is to have it igored while you are actually there but unable to prevent it. This has been happening to me.

Since Tuesday 20th December, when I was diagnosed with two tears in my retina, I have had to lie down keeping my head still and on its side and, even harder, not moving my eyes either. You can imagine how difficult this was - not allowed to read, not allowed to use pc and no knitting. Scream. But to know that not following these instructions would result in retinal detachment is very strong motivation.

Two days after the diagnosis Iwas treated by cryotherapy which causes the edges of the tears to be irritated and in the susequent healing to knit. I won't bother you with the details of how they get the cold stuff near the tear edges......but it's only a local anaesthetic....I think the modern alternative laser treatment is slightly easier to do but couldn't be used on me because there was a blood vessel across one of the tears.

I was told I could begin to get back to normal last Friday afternoon and today I'm definitely feeling more like my old self although my face is still quite swollen. I shan't know whether the cryotherapy has been successful until I see the consultant tomorrow so needless to say I'm not able to relax about it yet. Just crossing my fingers.

And hopefully in the next few days I'll be able to catch up with all your blogs. Bloglines has got lots for me to read!

I did manage to get some knitting finished before this eye business started although I'm not able to do the photos yet but here's one that I'd already photoed.
It's Huckleberry Ascot this time in TeosHandspun Cashmere that I bought at AllyPally and with a few beads added to the bobbles.