And now for some Dihydrocodeine Tartrate!

Going to the doctors yesterday was the single most painful journey I've ever undertaken in my life. Getting to the bus stop was bad enough. How the hell do disabled people manage in london? The bus was a nightmare. Must look into what I can do to support modification of transport once the pain dies down.

I suspect yesterday is what has caused the pain to be worse than ever today. Pooch and I had a bust up this morning because the doc had prescribed 30mg of the pills (one pill) and it didn't do anything. So I looked it up online and saw the max dose was 150mg and so took another one. Pooch doesn't think I ought to take more than was prescribed and he's obviously right, but if the pain is worse than when is was prescribed and it is safe then I think it's justified. He's also worried I'll get addicted to painkillers but at this point if it stopped the pain I'd drink bleach so it's not a major consideration. Even with two pills it's still agonising.

Fortunately though I am able to stay positive because I've finished my Titan Hat. This hat is the business.

That's me doing my evil-underwater-ruler pose. The back bit isn't standing up as much as I'd hoped. I'm pondering interfacing or possibly wire.

Top is good too. Am wearing it now. So it can be used other than in Stingray situations. Which is good.

Another reason to stay positive is the arrival of Kerplunk in the byrne/whittaker residence. Pooch asked me what the balls were for.

His childhood recollection seems to have not involved balls - just pulling the straws out and whoever pulled out the last one won. It's a rather zen version of the game but I suppose feasible as long as no one knows how many sticks there are.

Wanna hat

I think I may be entering a hat phase. Or maybe I've just been watching too much Stingray. I recently discovered that as part of my lovefilm subscription I can watch loads of stuff free online. So 22 episodes of Stingray later I want Titan's hat.

I'm thinking - knit flat in garter stitch and do mitre type decreases over the top of the head and then shape the edges and decrease the sides before casting off and then folding the cast off to form the back spine of the hat. Would mean cast on went round face. See what I mean? Maybe not. Not sure how would get it to stay on though. Maybe sellotape.

Finding it quite hard to stay positive at the moment. Sleeping is not going well and the pain in the mornings is just indescribable. Back to doc tomorrow to ask for stronger painkillers. Phoned NHS Direct for advice this morning but was told it would be 5 hours befor they could call me back. And this is before budget cuts. I know it's been said a lot before but why spend billions on private businesses who have got themselves into trouble and then cut public services to pay for it? I don't even think it is Labour particularly - this would have happened under the Tories too. End of this public service broadcast.

Been 5 days now since I left the flat

Meh. Leg is still bad. Sleep really hard as can't get comfy. Tired. Meh.

Positive mental attitude - that is the only way forward. My mug helps.

It's still a week til the specialist so must really on happy thoughts til then. God bless anti-d's.

The enforced sitting still has upped knitting output but that's putting a strain on my shoulders so I may have to ease off. But having said that Mum's cardi is progressing nicely.

The final purple is very subtle - probably too near the grey really, but I like it and I know she will so I'm going with it.

Much praise to the Pooch - he's only been grumpy once in the last 24 hours despite looking after me so much and having to do all the chores. He stood in front of his wardrobe full of clothes and declared he had nothing to wear. Bless him. He was very excited this morning because he told me he'd caught one of the enormous silverfish he claims live in the bathroom. Once I'd got upright, knocked back the painkillers and had a bit of a cry about how much it hurt, I staggered to the bathroom for the official unveiling. He lifted up the glass and....there was nothing there. He swears they're enormous and that they eat wool, but I don't know. Maybe the pressure is getting to him.

Roo-ting Tooting Secret Pal

A second parcel from the wonderful Roo.

There's three balls of dale of norway baby ull for the twist collective pattern, postwar mittens. And she's also sent me the pattern. Hoorah! Then there is the most menacing looking dark green posh sock yarn which really wants to be something terribly gothic. A large bag of mixed buttons, not 1, not 2 but 3 60's Stitchcraft magazines AND a big bar of chocolate, which has now gone to a better place. It's good timing because yesterday I just finished the socks with the first sock yarn she sent me.

It's a picture I came to regret. I had very carefully lifted my right lef up to take it, and on lifting it down added a new pain to me repetoire. As well as the numb foot, aching calf and painful hamstring, I now have a jabbing pain behind the knee. Life just doesn't get any more interesting than this.

Pooch has been very good about helping me hobble about. The flat was tidyish above waist height but below that it was looking pretty messy. I just can't bend down to reach the floor. So this morning I sat on the edge of the bed and pointed at stuff and told him where it should go. Was suprisingly effective and so in 10 mins it was all looking tonnes better.

In another burst of startitus I began the fairisle cardi I promised Mum. I've got this far...

...but I just don't like it. The top down thing isn't working. The pattern is nice but I don;t think it's working properly with the colours and because of the steek I can't try it on to see how it is looking. So I'm ripping and am going to go bottom up using this drops pattern. Using my DK the guage is about perfect and it will be so much easier to follow a pattern. Lazy, but easier. I've also started another pair of socks in a slip stitch pattern and a ripple cardi, although I'm having doubts about that too. I'm just so frustrated at my lack of movement that I'm getting impatient with other things as well. Mind you, in the last couple of weeks I've finished several pairs of socks, made a scarf, a ballaclava and a shawl and started and frogged several other things so I've certainly been getting enough knitting done. I suppose it is the one upside to so much enforced sitting about.

To finish on a positive...My secret pal has just received her final parcel so I'm about to send my 'reveal' email. She is An Odd Assortment - a crafty australian - and her blog is definitely worth a read. She's a brilliant photographer as well as baking and knitting and goodness knows what else. It's been a pleasure to spoil her!