Blanket

Its been noisy here today, Betty's family have been making a start on clearing her flat so there has been a lot of banging and crashing. I know Betty kept a lot of cash in her flat so they were probably looking for that.

I went to the summer house this afternoon, Steve was out which means I get chance to talk to people. Unfortunately Steve arrived back in site whilst I was still chatting to the neighbours so he's now sulking, still it means it's quiet!

I've made a  start on turning the yarn scraps into a blanket, a lot of the yarn is very thin, probably 3 ply. Because of this I'm doubling the yarn as I work so it should be warm and it's growing quickly. There is a lot of white yarn so I'm using one strand of white and one strand of colour, it won't be a pretty blanket but it will definitely be warm.

I might back it with a brushed cotton sheet to stop any cold draughts creeping in.

Betty.

My lovely friend and neighbour Betty who was so kind to me and who took me out despite being shouted at by Steve has died this morning.

I have lit a candle for her.

Spending spree.

I went to a table top sale yesterday and I spent £5, I had a great time.

What did I buy?

A little knitted neckerchief, £3, it's very soft, not itchy and keeps my neck warm. This was brand new, knitted by the stallholder they were available in an assortment of colours. I chose one in dark dusty pink.

A small white milk jug 50p

Two large plastic cereal containers, 50p each

Two bags of wool scraps, 50p for the two of them.

The jug and the cereal containers will be useful when I move, the wool scraps will be made in to a crochet lap blanket.

Baking cupboard

I have a cupboard in the kitchen full of stuff like baking trays, mixing bowls, my food processor and mixer. I no longer use these, I enjoy cooking, I used to cook for the 30 people who went to Stroke Club when Steve was attending. I enjoyed it far too much so Steve stopped going and we moved the boat further away so I was unable to go.

When we moved here I joined the lunch club, we took it in turns to cook, there were about eight of us. This also didn't suit Steve so he started arguing with everyone and it closed down and then moved to someone's flat. I no longer go as Steve would create ructions if I did.

I stopped cooking for Steve when we left the boat, he hates my cooking, says it's shite. I did eventually start cooking Sunday lunch as I got fed up with it not being ready until late in the evening and Steve sobbing in the kitchen.

Steve recently came home from the Drs claiming the Dr had said I needed to start cooking proper meals again. I told Steve that the Dr was welcome to come and cook for Steve.

Walk a mile in my shoes.

Everything here is at standstill, I'm waiting for news about my new accommodation. These things take time and I need to be patient.

 I'm going back to the audiologist tomorrow as my aids are shrieking and whistling. They are driving me mad!

I went to the summer house y'day for a fish supper, it was very pleasant but I didn't stay long as I couldn't hear the conversation. One particular resident seems to have voted herself in as Queen of the May and has decided she needs to share her opinions of my dog with me. When she first moved in she complained about Beano barking incessantly, this was on a day when we were visiting friends on their narrow boat and had taken Beano with us. When I explained this she proceeded to approach the neighbours hoping to find someone to back her up, no one would. 

The Queens current topic of complaint is that Beano needs grooming. I am aware of this but I'm also aware that Beano would find this terrifying. He is ok as he is, he would look tidier if he was groomed but I'm not prepared to put him through unnecessary stress just to suit the opinions of the Queen.

As life stands at the moment I would also look better if I was better groomed. It's not something that I'm interested in. I'm clean but a bit dishevelled.

I'm back in the flat.

I'm back after spending a few days with my daughter and the children. 

The littlies are better, the washing mountain is less like a mountain and is now down to a small hill.  The central heating oil was delivered so things are now at the level of ordinary family chaos albeit with six children. Social services are pushing for the next oldest sibling of the littlies to join the family, the annex is being organised so the current oldest fosterchild can move into it as they are 16 and so make room for the newbie to move in.

Apart from sorting the washing and ironing I was also able to babysit when Cass was treated to a spa day. Apart from me cooking pizza, the children mainly sorted themselves out so it was wasn't difficult.

I need to make another appointment with regards to my hearing aids. When I went for my last appointment the assistant wasn't expecting me and claimed I'd misspelled my first name. Surely my surname and address were enough? I waited some time to be seen and didn't see the audiologist. My aids were cleaned and tweaked and I was sent on my way. I was warned that I'd need to wait for the aids to settle, though I never have before. Unfortunately all they do now is whistle and if I stand too close to a wall they shriek very loudly. My daughter said she could hear them and wondered how I could cope with the racket!

Wiped out

 I'm staying at Cass's for a few days, wading through lots and lots of washing. Her two littlies have both been unwell and consequently have reverted to not being toilet trained. Despite being back in nappies leaks are occurring, hence the mountains of washing I'm doing.

We've filled the washing line and all her airers many times, constantly swapping washing machine loads. The dishwasher has just been emptied for the third time today.

The littlies are in the bath being supervised by an older sibling, another one will read them a story. All the children are encouraged to help with the younger ones. I'm posting on here briefly and then I'll start the ironing. She has two older children due to visit soon to see how they settle.