Life has got very busy - exactly what I need to stop me going further into melancholy.
The day job is in transition from the predictable demands to a whole new scary project which I strongly believe in - we are trying to get in to work with young people at the first point of arrest. The first two weeks have at times been slow and at others been challenging. The old job winds up this week and the overlap has been crazy hours and very little time at home.
Sunday last week saw us run away to Margate for the day to a kite festival, it was good to feel the sand in my shoes, meet up with old friends and spend some fun time with Matt. We spent the evening at Broadstairs, I love the British seaside in the off-season!
This Sunday was spent doing far more mundane things such as cooking, nothing fancy just Shepherds Pie but it felt good to be pottering in the kitchen and wanting to eat.
There has been knitting but nothing complicated - lots of garter stitch squares for a MacMillan Blanket; a bag for felting and some slow progress on an xmas project.
There was also time with the family - as Mum says this lot can keep you busy! It was a sad day but meeting my Great-niece was awesome!
is saying "Goodbye" to one of your little sisters.
The service for Kate was held yesterday and there were some very moving tributes paid by the family, her friends, her colleagues and her ex-service manager. Even more moving for me was the fact that a number of her "service users" chose to attend.
My thanks to everyone who has commented on here; sent cards, lit candles, prayed, phoned and given me hugs during this time - you all helped me to be strong enough to cope.
Kate was a great believer in living your life to the full and enjoying each day.
She was also a firm believer that if you promised to do something you must carry it through - so I returned to London for a few days to help set up the Knitting and Crochet Guild stand at the i Knit Weekender.
I attended on the Friday to cover the stand as promised -`i didn't attend any workshops or talks ; bought a few cards and a calendar; was gifted with a skein of Cashmere and Silk for comfort; finally learnt how to do double filet crochet (thanks Nickerjac) and was comforted by the presence of friends both old and new. Guild members were fantastic in their support on the stand.
I think I managed to knit a single garter stitch square for the McMillan Blanket appeal but it felt good to get back in the groove.
Yesterday , Friday, I got a call to say my sister Kate had been taken into hospital. Matt drove me the 220 miles to Yorkshire and we managed to get to the hospital to see her before she died at 2am today.