Sunday 17 November 2013

It's been a long time





My dear blogging friends.
It's been a long time, I know.
I'm so sorry that I haven't been in touch
but,
without long explanations,
I know you understand.



My son and family
invited me to stay in Scotland 
with them at the end of October..
the Doctor had said 
I needed a holiday...



and we spent the week
in the Trossachs
This is Lachlan Castle
first seen in the distance and then
getting closer



Such a pretty place to stay
if you can afford it!
We couldn't!!!
So we went to a nearby tearoom...



...drank wonderful hot chocolate,
were persuaded to have the most delicious scones - (almost(but not quite) as good as my mother's) -  straight from the oven and covered with strawberry jam and whipped cream


and sat and looked out at Old Castle Lachlan



The weather was really bad when we were there,
so any small ray of sunshine
had the cameras out!




I am sure that you can see 
the difference in the photos?!?




However, no matter what the weather,
the welcome 
in the little
tearoom
was always friendly and warm!




I did take more photos
but won't put them all on today.
I wanted to show you a couple of things
that I have made




I finished the Capo-Ktus shawl
The pattern can be downloaded from Ravelry



It is the most glorious yarn
with a lovely sheen
and just slips through your fingers as you work.
Handmaiden - Sea-silk.
It was very expensive but so worth it!
I bought it with




I  also knitted
another 
Lisa's Wrap

I had made one for my daughter in law in the summer and Mum loved it..
 so she chose the yarn
yes another Noro Kogarashi!

and I've just finished 
a baby blanket



The colours haven't come out too well on this photo
They really are a lot lighter!

So....I haven't made much really...
I have started a few things and then not been happy and so pulled them out!

It's been a strange couple of months...
thank you all so much
for writing
and even one friend sent a card!
I do so appreciate
the love and support that you have all shown..
sorry I haven't written back

It somehow feels 
as if time is in slow motion 
and everything takes so long to accomplish 
that I often don't even start!!
The result is that I seem to have got 
very little accomplished!

I've been in quite a lot of pain
(even with all the meds)
and it feels as if the op last September (2012)
hasn't had much effect.

However....
I am going to Cardiff
(100 miles away)
for a major back op
on 26th of this month!

At the moment I am trying to get everything ready
both for being in hospital for a week
but also..
for when I come out...
...especially with Christmas looming!

I so hope that this will do the trick
and that I will be out of pain and able to walk and get about more easily!

I am so sorry that I haven't visited any of you recently.
I just don't seem to have the energy.
It doesn't mean that 
I haven't thought and spoken of you all a lot!
Hopefully I will get to see some of you soon...
I might even be able to visit
if the hospital has Wifi.


Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, my friends in the USA

I'll show you 
just one more of the ruined castles we discovered