Getting my creative mojo back....

Hi everyone, I'm not going to go on too much about my Christmas on here except to say it has been lovely, and although we have tried not to dwell on this time last year, it has been impossible not to. Last Christmas day me and my mum and dad had a hurried dinner before driving to Trafford General where my lovely Geordie was lying in intensive care on a respirator. He didn't know it was Christmas and we weren't sure what was going to happen. We have really looked forward to this Christmas and it was lovely to see him eating, laughing, walking a bit and just being here with us.
Anyway, as he has needed less help with things, I have had a bit of time to myself and have been feeling a bit creative and I have found it quite relaxing.
I found two old stools in the spare room that we had used as bedside tables. They were sturdy but quite scruffy and full of cup ring marks. I didn't fancy painting them so I thought I'd have a go at covering them with some kind of decoupage. I bought two packs of serviettes, one from Tesco for £1.00 and one from Cath Kidston for £3.50 (a bit dear in my opinion and not any better than the Tesco ones!) The only other thing I bought was PVA glue for £1.00.

 

All I did was tear the serviettes into strips and small pieces, brush PVA glue on the stools and stick the pieces on, then brush them into a kind of scrunchy texture. I let it dry then put about 4 or 5 coats of PVA glue on as a kind of varnish. 

 

 

 

 

This is the Tesco one which is now a small table with my Chorlton pottery vase on. (not a great picture but you get the idea!)

The Cath Kidston one is here.....

 

 

 

This one is now next to the fire with a big red candle on. I was really chuffed with these as it was something I could just do for 5 minutes when I got a bit of time and I think these stools would have been lying around forever waiting to be sanded down and painted.

 

I've also been doing a bit of crochet too. I made this scarf for myself out of my scraps....

 

 

....and my friend Ms M asked me to make a hat for her sister-in-laws birthday.

Now I don't often make things for people except maybe a present for family as I'm a bit self-conscious about my work and think it's not good enough or it will fall apart or unravel. Anyway I agreed and made this from some lovely Debbie Bliss cashmere and merino wool.....

It's actually the first hat I've ever made and I just went off what I would like myself. She was really happy with it and actually sent me a photo of said sister-in-law wearing my hat in Copenhagen where her husband had taken her for her birthday!! It was very simple to make. I did a Lucy circle but for 6 rounds then just straight rows-couldn't be easier. The flower was another Attic 24 design from here

I've been up to a few other crafty things but I'll tell you about them next time.

 

Hope you have all had a lovely Christmas.

XXXXX

 

 

 

Little update....Geordie's cancer battle.

Hi everyone, I just thought I'd do a little update as I'm hoping to get going with my blog again soon.

The last time I updated on here, my poor Geordie had just been told he had cancer and we were waiting the results of some tests. Well since then we have had an absolute nightmare. Geordie went into hospital in October last year for a few tests and his first course of chemotherapy. They wanted to monitor him and he was supposed to be in for 5 days. Things started to go downhill almost immediately.......

To cut a long story short, Geordie ended up getting infections, skin problems and breathing difficulties. He wasn't able to leave hospital and was there until recently. He suffered respiratory failure just before Christmas and was put onto a life support machine to breath for him. The doctors told me they had never seen a haematology patient come off a respirator in 25 years and we were preparing for the worst. ...

but Geordie is made of tough stuff and he was woken up a week later. He had to have a tracheostomy put in to help him breath and he couldn't talk or eat for weeks. He spent weeks in Intensive Care being looked after by the most attentive wonderful nurses I have ever met.

Then one day I walked into his room and the nurse said "He's got something to tell you..." I looked at Geordie and he said "Hello"...oh my god, I've never heard anything so wonderful!!!

His long battle is still going on. He has lost almost half his body weight and has been as low as 47 kilos. He has lost all his muscle and couldn't sit up unaided or stand up or anything. He will walk again but it will be a long process involving rehab and a lot of work. In January he could only lie on his back and wiggle his fingers, then he began to feed himself and if the nurses 'hoisted' him into a wheelchair he could propel himself down the hospital corridor.

We tried to enjoy our hospital visits together. We tried to enjoy pleasures such as fresh coffee and a cake and 'Dickinson's Real Deal'. He continued to have chemotherapy when he was well enough and we should find out soon if it has been successful and what happens next.

He was in hospital for 8 months without a break. He has had trauma after trauma which would fill a whole blog by itself.....

BUT....

he is now home!!! He is putting weight on, he is walking with a frame. He is standing up on his own to get dressed. His spirit is as strong as ever and he is determined to be back walking and doing all the things he loved before this happened. No one can quite believe what he has come through and how well he is doing. We have the most wonderful team of carers, physiotherapist's and occupational therapists who work with him at home as well as the fantastic Consultant who has saved his life (which sounds dramatic but is absolutely true!!)

I have now finished work to be his full time carer and I'm hoping to find some time to get back into my crafty things as well.

This has quite literally been the worst year of my life but some wonderful things have come out of it. First my family have been fantastic and looked after me when I couldn't eat or sleep for worrying. Second all the lovely neighbours. I didn't realise how much they all thought of Geordie till they were crying when they saw the ambulance bring him home. They have watched my house, hugged me and fed my cats, they've changed my tyres, done washing and cleaning for me and sent the most beautiful thoughtful cards. Third, my work colleagues who have offered me keys to their houses so I could sleep between hospital visits, one guy who brought me salads every day, fruit and soup to make sure I ate. They sent me flowers, bought me presents and basically let me text them at all hours.

People's kindness and love for us has made me feel really humbled and I hope I can be that person for someone else in need.

I now hope to get back to my original blog (with maybe a little Geordie update now and again!)

xxxx