TGCC 2011 Update 2

Today I finished my second cardigan of the challenge.  It's actually (bar buttons and blocking) the first one I've finished.  I've concentrated on it solely whilst I've had the first one's pieces blocking... all week!  So, without further ado, the second cardigan:

Proper photos in decent light will be taken once it's got buttons and has been blocked.


My next goal is to get the first one finished over the next couple of days.  I've started sewing together the bits, and so far, it's looking like the pre-blocking soak has got rid of excess dye.  No hints of blue fingers, just yet!

So this takes me to my checklist and a progress report.
 
1) Both parents, although not sure what I'll do for my dad.
2) Grandparents (UK ones only, it's not practical to get the SA ones things)
3) Brother - although haven't given it much thought as to what - I have the perfect fibre to spin and then knit a hat with.
4) Aunt and cousin - I have two hats, which are without ownership, they maybe heading here.
5) Sarah and Martin - I have a start of an idea
6) The Clark girls - 70% done
7) The Clark baby
8) Conner
(6, 7, 8 are all little kids, so they are to get a cardigan or sweater each, make this rule 6!)
9) Emma - There's a very Em hat here, that I think will take on her name, and maybe a little something else ;).
10) Lorri
11) Sam and Kev - potentially something for Sam
12) Mary - I have an idea
13) Fiona
14) Mrs Spoon

Not very far yet, but it's getting there.  The kids clothes were always going to be the biggest things, and I've made a fair dent in those, and between have made the biggest two, and with the thinnest/slowest yarn, I'm sure the other three with fly by.... does it sound like I'm trying to convince myself?

And in other news, I've spent the weekend barely leaving my bed.  I've had a cold, and whilst not a particularly bad one, I've luxuriated in it as my excuse to snuggle up and rest loads.  Friday night in particular, when I got in from work, dug out my hot water bottle, shoved on a pair of freshly washed hand-knitted socks and crawled into bed and didn't surface properly until Saturday afternoon.  The first half of the weekend in particular was the perfect autumny day to snug up under a blanket with toasty toes.  What did I do before my hand-knit socks - they're so wonderful at keeping me warm! I'm now feeling very lazy. But at least I've managed to rest, ready for the grind of work again tomorrow.  I just need to get through the week, and they I have a whole week of annual leave, and I can't wait.  It will no doubt give me a great opportunity to make TGCC progress.

Has it really been that long?

I've been on call today, and for the first time, chatting with various nurses, it dawned on me.  I have just two days left of my current placement.  And who would have ever thought it, but it actually fills me with a great deal of sadness.  In the two and a half months since I last blogged (!) I've come to love my job.  I've found my rhythm and I can actually say I enjoy my job.  There are now only fleeting moments when I'm feeling a little swamped that I slightly begrudge it all.  And I actually feel like I can cope, actually, it feels rather natural too, and dare I say it, at times I actually think I may be rather good at it.  There are moments when clearly I'm not... but still!  I can't believe how far I've come in what is such a short amount of time.  I've just read back at my previous few entries, and I feel like a different person to that overwhelmed and green doctor.  I still can't quite believe that this is where I am now, and that I'm actually here, doing this, that thing that was a pipe dream for so long.  And now, I have to prepare myself for all new adventures in my next rotation.

So, what have I been doing since I last posted?  Well, besides that crazy 10 hour days that I barely notice anymore, and sleeping, I have:
1) been on holiday to Dublin with Lorri, which was fun and exciting, and soooooo grown up - a girls weekend away.  With complimentary champagne courtesy of the hotel apologising for the 5am fire alarm, facials, shopping, getting Lorri to love and stroke the pretty yarns at the local yarn shop, Japanese cocktails over sushi and tasty food, the search for "real" Irish music, sipping Guiness whilst posing for photos, and then ditching the foul tasting stuff, looking in the window of EVERY jewellry shop we past, being gently reminded of the violent and colourful history of the country, crazy traffic lights with awesome robotic sounds, kicking up the leaves on St Stephen's green, admiring the beautiful autumn around us!  It was awesome, thanks Lorri!

2) Buying more stuff for crafting that I could even begin to think I had the time for!  But I have still squeezed in several hats, a couple of cowls, a couple of adult jumpers, a couple of scarfs, two pairs of socks, 100g of spun fibre.

3) Spending Halloween in Bristol with my nearest and dearest, after spending the day at Fibreflurry with Mary (bless her!) then shopping at the Bullring, on a whim!  Playing mini-golf and not coming last!

4) Many meals out, some just because, some to unwind, some to catch up, some for celebrating being paid!

5) Making peace with my SHO long enough to have a lovely photo taken with him and the other two doctors on my ward.

6) Obtaining 2.6kg of alpaca fleece, which I have no idea when I'll ever get round to finish washing, let alone picking, carding and spinning!

7) Enjoying Yeovil and pretty sunsets over the hospital

And that pretty much sums up the last few months for me.  It's not been too bad at all, and boy has it sped past!

Socks are finished!

Nothing really to comment about today, and am quite tired, but I just have to share:

 

Sorry about the hairy legs, but did warn you that I was tired!  So very proud of myself!  Now on to the next project... a hat for Harry, for which I brought the yarn today.