In with the new

Come on. What did you expect when the previous post was called “Out with the old”?

So, what’s new?

Well, this is WIP Wednesday Thursday, so here’s a quick run-down of what’s on my needles and active. Check out my Works in Progress page – it’s bad, kids, it really is!

1. Hedera socks in TOFUtsies sock yarn.

I’ve cast on for another sock because, apparently, I just don’t have enough to do! I’m probably one of the last people around to cast on for these, but I can see why they are popular. The pattern is really easy to memorise and works with a wide variety of yarns. The TOFUtsies is doing some really weird pooling, but I’m not too concerned about that. Let’s be honest here; who sees my socks? Me. Am I bothered about the pooling? No.

2. My dad’s Gansey/Jersey/Guernsey cardigan*

1st sleeve is done-ski and the back has been started. 74 rows of pure, unadulterated stocking stitch. Easy, or crazy-making? Come back soon to find out!

*I checked with my dad and it’s OK to called it a cardigan. If this were for my brother it would be a JACKET and it would have a ZIP and be MANLY.

3. Boudica Socks

Still going on the leg, but now almost at the horizontal detailing on the cuff (this seems to have been taking an age but progress is being made).

I’m not actively working on anything else at the moment, but I hope to keep stuff in rotation and work a few rows here and there on everything that are in my knitting boxes.

I had my birthday and my tribunal. Good and not so good, respectively. I still haven’t heard back from them as to whether or not my appeal has been successful (it’s now three days since the tribunal) although I’m absolutely certain that I’ll be turned down.

It was, without doubt, one of the most humiliating and traumatic events of my life. But, it’s all over and I got a caterpiller-shaped chocolate birthday cake the next day, so it’s not all bad!

To end on a positive note, here’s a sneak peek of my most recent finished object:

Out with the old

A new year, a new start?

Well, for my dad’s Aran Jacket, it’s a trip to the frog pond.

As it was on the 1st of December and thus it will ever be!

I realised over the Christmas break that 1) it wasn’t going to work for my dad and 2) I didn’t like what I’d made.

This epiphany lead me to Ravelry and to my old knitting magazines, wherein I found Bill.

Handsome devil, is he not (the model or the knitwear, you decide!)

Thank you, Debbie Bliss and Issue 28 of Rowan Magazine.

I’m keeping the pattern pretty much as-is, but knitting it as a cardigan. As given, the largest size (to fit 46″ chest) would have a finished size in excess of 52″, which is a little big for my dad’s tastes. As a result of this, I’m just knitting the next size down in the hope of a better look for him.

Next Week:

The 7th to the 11th of January is going to be a bit hectic for me.

On Monday I have my benefits tribunal (which, according to my amazing Citizen’s Advice Bureau caseworker relies pretty much on me alone now and the evidence I give on the day) which I’m fully expecting not to go my way.

Tuesday is my birthday (w00t – ironic)

Wednesday I’ll be sleeping off the effects of the giant party I will have had with the massive number of friends I’ve got (also ironic)

Thursday is another appointment-attendance with my mum and Friday is my physiotherapy appointment.

Busy times!

2007:

I don’t normally like to do a retrospective, but I think I’ll give a quick summary for posterity.

In conclusion, 2007 was a little like a rotten Curate’s Egg: good in parts, but basically a bit rancid!

Highlights were my holiday in the Highlands of Scotland in April, my trip to South Devon in October and the publishing of my sock pattern in the November issue of Magknits.

I won’t go into details of the lowlights, but it’s not been a good year to be a member of my family, with particular reference to health or generally being alive.

And on that positive note …

I do have a finished object to show, but the light has been really bad since it was completed and I haven’t been able to get the photos done. Soon, my pretties, soon …

Running on fumes

Note: this is my draft post, but I’m so tired at the moment, that I’ve decied to leave it as-is! Enjoy!

Ill (again) – relapse – slight recovery – physio (made me hurt, but will make me better)

Widdershins – Christmas – mum

Brother’s birthday pressie (yarn only)

No. of Christmas cards written: 0

No. of Christmas presents wrapped: 4

No of Christmas presents still to wrap: at least 7 (not including those ones I haven’t finished making yet)

No. of brother’s birthday presents wrapped: 0

Average no. of hours of sleep per night: 6

No. of hours needed: 14!

I’ll be back when the socks are done (hopefully before Christmas day, but you never know with me!)

I’m a baaaad blogger

I’m so far behind with comment reply and emails it’s not funny. I owe some people a very specific reply, but will the rest of you take a generic “Thank you for commenting and I really appreciate it”?

Thank you.

I ache all over and for some weird reason my right bicep hurts.

I woke up unable to breath properly so I knew I wasn’t on to a winner today.

I’ve worked on the first Mystery Stole clue, Boudica and Wren, but nothing today.

I’m going to watch a film and some TV and try to do better tomorrow when I might actually do something which warrants a proper post!

The aesthetics of disability

Do I look disabled?

What does a disabled person look like, anyway?

All people in wheelchairs are disabled. Therefore all disabled people are in wheelchairs, right?

Well, the first statement is incorrect, for a start, but you can see how these things get started.

I know I don’t look like a cripple, but I am. It’s taken me a long time to get to a place where I could call myself that, even though on several levels I still think that I’m just ill and I will get better.

I walk with a limp (sometimes it’s slight and sometimes it’s very pronounced), and I normally walk with a stick or sometimes with two crutches. I get some very strange looks when I pull out my folding walking stick and use it. Should someone who looks like I do need any assistance walking? Some of the looks can be down-right cruel and this really doesn’t help my self-esteem any.

And yet I can’t blame other people for looking at me in that way. I do it. My mum does it. Everyone does. Even the most left-wing, liberal amongst us will always glance at someone who does not fit our expectations. It’s built into our genetic code. However, persistent and deliberate discrimination is not. We have something that is supposed to be a civilisation in the developed world, although it often doesn’t feel like it if you are on the margins of society.

Discrimination on any grounds (race, religion, age, gender or physical or mental ability) should not be tolerated, never mind accepted. But I accept it. I am a young(ish) woman with some physical and mental limitations. I am a scientist who is probably virtually unemployable in her chosen field because I am not currently able to undertake lab or office work. I would have to work from home, but what employer would be willing to take on an inexperienced, part-time, home-worker?

I’m currently using the excuse of taking a year off to take care of my mum. But what happens when I’m still saying that in six months time?

I despise TV programmes that imply all disabled people need is some pluckiness and courage and they can do anything. I can’t abseil down a mountain. I can’t play wheelchair basketball. Nor do I want to be the jolly fat woman. I’m in pain and sometimes it shows on my face. On the other hand I refuse not to be happy sometimes, because my team has done well in the cricket or someone has praised something I’ve done.

Just because you can’t see my disability doesn’t mean that it’s not there. It’s doesn’t mean that as soon as I get home it all falls away and I can do anything a non-limited person can do.

This “thing” (for want of a better word) has been with me for 14 years, and it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere soon.

And there but for luck or divine intervention go all of us.