Tuesday, May 05, 2015

Thank you for all your kind messages, very much indeed.

My husband is making progress, I think, although not as briskly as I might have hoped. He is on a course of (fairly strong, I presume) antibiotics for the chest infection. That will finish this weekend, and it is entirely possible that he will feel more sprightly when it is done. I am to bring in slippers today – that's progress. He has been completely bedridden for five days now (counting today) and muscles must be wasting.

My sister was here when it all happened, thank goodness. In some ways Thursday was the worst, when he was visibly weaker than usual and lacking in appetite. I even asked if she could stay a few days longer. But on Friday morning it was obvious I had to call the dr and from there on out we were in the capable hands of the NHS.

I think we've arranged an Emergency Proxy Vote for him. It is greatly to the credit of British democracy, I feel, that there is provision for such a thing. Of course there's proxy voting, and postal voting (rather too much, if you listen to me). But there is also a special provision for people who are struck down in the last few days before a poll.

The only difficulty is, he wants to vote SNP. We've still got 48 hours to talk sense to him. I wish he could have seen the news last night. A perfectly harmless Labour election rally on the streets of Glasgow – involving their new leader, Jim Murphy, whom I'm rather keen on – had to be abandoned in the face of an aggressive-bordering-on-violent SNP attack. Then we saw Sturgeon saying it was nothing to do with her. I couldn't be the only one to have had a brief flicker in which I thought of Germany in the 30's. Austerity, financial crisis, it's-all-their-fault: the elements are familiar.

They'll probably come and get me before lunchtime.

Let's switch to knitting.

We had excellent pictures on Sunday of the new princess. Googling reveals that the shawl comes from the same firm (G.H. Hurt in Nottingham) as the one her brother was carried home in, and may indeed be the same shawl. The Mail says that one was presented to the royals when Prince Charles was born – that happened in Buckingham Palace, I think, so he didn't have to be carried anywhere. And then there was another for Prince William.

But Googling this morning produces nothing, zilch, nada, about that cap. It must be hand-knit, and it's very neat. Her elder brother Prince George was born in July and went home bare-headed. The knitosphere will inform us shortly, I'm sure. Let me know when you spot anything.

As for me, not much. Hospital visiting is enormously tiring, as you say. I come home and go to bed at 7 and then wake up in the early hours. I did a bit better yesterday (stayed up until 8) and finished off the 7th pattern repeat (of 10) on the back of the Sous Sous. Time to switch back to the Tokyo shawl.

Alexander is coming back today for another visit to his father, and today is the day for my cloudy eye to be laser-treated. It's all go.


19 comments:

  1. Jean I am glad you have retained your sense of humour in the midst of all this drama.
    Antibiotics take a few days to kick in and I am sure you will see a vast improvement in your husband's health over the next few days.
    Wish I lived closer to you give you some support .

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  2. You're giving the wrong impression of Nichola Sturgeon's reaction to the Glasgow fracas - See below:

    Nicola Sturgeon has commented on the incident earlier today in which Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy and comedian Eddie Izzard were shouted down by nationalists at a Glasgow rally. As the Guardian’s Scotland reporter Libby Brooks writes:

    Nicola Sturgeon continues her whistle-stop tour of Scotland, May 4, 2015.
    Arriving in Largs to crowds of hundreds thronging the high street in the sunshine, SNP leader Nicola sturgeon described the earlier fracas at a Labour event in Glasgow as “disgraceful” and “absolutely nothing to do with the SNP”.

    She said: “All parties have the right to make their case and they should be listened to respectfully”.

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  3. Anonymous11:27 AM

    The guy is actually a socialist/communist and does things like this on a weekly basis...At the end of the day its your husbands vote. Thinking of you both and wishing him a speedy recovery and you a wee chance to put your feet up for a while.

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  4. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/princess-bonnet

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    1. Sorry seemed to be unable to add comments to the link above.

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    2. There are a number of threads about the bonnet and shawl on Ravelry but that seems to be the first pattern up though I believe there is also a Norwegian one now. Some of the discussion was that the bonnet might have been put on back to front as the square patterning usually went on the back of the head and the thick ribbing looked like the neck edge! But no I have not seen any mention of where it came from and it certainly looks machine knit , comments from many with better eyesight than me indicate it was lemon yellow not cream. That would make sense

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    3. There was also a comment that someone had seen a matinee jacket! Not sure how but comments are long and involved. My apologies for multiple replies but the I pad keeps seizing up if I try and edit!

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  5. I so admire your strength, Jean. I hope things get less hectic soon. You are an inspiration to us all. As my aunt used to say, growing old is not for sissies.

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  6. Did you hear that Ruth Rendell died? As soon as I heard it, I thought of you. Now I really must read one of her books!

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  7. Speedy recovery ! I am a non commenting reader from NY and hope all goes well.
    I am even tempted to attempt the Sous Sous.

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  8. Having re-examined the photos of Princess Charlotte, I agree with the above comment that the bonnet was worn backwards. Quite charming, none the less.

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  9. I was sorry to have missed your post yesterday, Jean, but glad to hear more positive news of your husband. I hope things continue to improve.

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  10. I'm another (mostly) lurker. Jean, even though I rarely comment, your blog is on my daily "must read" list while others languish, sighing, longing for attention.

    I'm glad to read that your husband is making progress and hope that he is able to get up and get moving soon.

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  11. I'm so glad to hear your husband is making some progress. When my dad had a blood infection a number of years ago he was on a very potent antibiotic and it made him feel terrible. I think you are right about the possibility of your husband feeling more sprightly once he is finished with his meds.

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  12. Hope you husband is still mending - these antibiotics can be pretty unpleasant, regardless of what the disease is doing at the same time. So hope on. And knit on.
    Weighing in on the baby bonnet question - I have just looked at a picture of her in the car seat, on my large screen, and being able to see a bit of the hem-round-the-back-neck, it appears to be the same as the one framing her face - so can be worn either way, and I would have instinctively gone for the square bit the other way, since that is the more usual way with the panel on the back of the head rather than the top. Strongly suspect machine made - but nicely.

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  13. =Tamar4:15 PM

    Glad to hear he's doing better. After the antibiotics are done, perhaps he could have some probiotics to restore the normal intestinal flora?
    Re politics: it's happening over here, too, alas, and it's becoming very obvious.
    The bonnet is cute either way.

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  14. Hi Jean, knitter and physiotherapist here. Hoping to hear some cheery news about your husband getting up and walking soon as the antibiotics do their job. Make sure you have a really good think about what it is your husband would need to be able to do at home. Any steps or thresholds to get in and out of places. Heights of beds, chairs etc. A good physio and/or occupational therapist should help you through all that but just in case things slip through the net. I hope you're getting some more knitting done, you know it helps. x

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  15. The consensus on Ravelry is that this one is a better interpretation of the pattern.
    http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/prinsesseluen---princess-bonnet

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  16. Jan in California12:25 AM

    Hugs, amiga.

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