Why hello there. I know I don't update very often at all, do I? I've been toying with the idea of closing the blog but I do get visits from other stroke survivors, so I think I'll leave it up for now. If I can help anyone get a bit of perspective and hope after their stroke or subarachnoid haemorrhage, then that's a good thing.
Brain-wise I'm doing really well at the moment. I still kid myself that I am back to how I was before... but I know I'm not really. I still hit that wall sometimes, and crash and have to go and lie down. Luckily it doesn't happen so often, but it's so unpredictable it's really annoying! The big difference I suppose is that I've learned to listen to my body now. If I have a headache and a pain where my scar is, instead of forcing myself to go to work or whatever, I call in sick and have a duvet day. Believe me, this has been a very hard lesson to learn! I've always just got on with it in the past, and struggled through whatever it was, but I just cannot afford to do that any more. I've even learned not to feel guilty about it! Health before wealth and all that ;)
I haven't really felt up to cooking much still, but every so often the baking bug bites and...
and
Claire's not complaining, anyway.
Otherwise, the big thing around here is crochet. My ripple blanket is coming along a treat. It's king size. Not that it was planned that way, haha. I'm a novice so I just guessed and this is what it looks like now, complete with model...
I deliberately made it with random colours. I love the colourfulness of it (is that even a word?). I have tried to spread out the colours and every so often I go and buy a new ball of wool: the lime green, which I love, comes from Wilko, some of the pinky/purple colours were donated yarn, the first colours I used were from my Secret Santa, and the rest come from a local discount linen shop. It's so warm and snuggly even though I'm only half way really. Considering I started it just before I went to see my mum in February, I think it's come on a treat. Can't wait to finish it now though. I am also doing a blanket with granny squares, which I'll take pictures of another time.
I can't quite believe I'm actually going to finish a project with wool! Years ago I learnt to knit but I never got into it. I found my tension was always way to tight and it was not relaxing at all. Crochet is much more fun.
One of the ladies at the community centre taught me. We hang out twice a month, pay £3 for tea and cake, and learn to knit or crochet. Most of the ladies are older than me, but there is one "young'un". All brought together for the love of yarn. Such fun. And very much "on trend", as it happens.
Anyway, that's how I'm doing. Hope you are all well too.... and if you've had a stroke or SAH, or someone in your family has, KEEP SMILING! Don't stress - and if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.