Long time no write

Been more than a  year since my last post, and although I don't think I have many followers.. ;-), I kind of fancied writing a bit again. :-)

Last I wrote I had started a diet, and I actually managed to loose 17 kilos! Unfortunately I have gained 6 again, but at least I have stayed fairly much on the same weight for the last 6 months or so, although I would have preferred it to have been on the lower number instead of the higher one! I am supposed to be good this week, after 9 days stay in hospital with complications after gallbladder surgery 5 weeks previously which meant 5 days in hospital at the time. In hospital this last time I actually managed to loose 1 kilo! Which isn't that much considering hospital food isn't known as being plenty-full or tasty. But as the 'jammy cow' (My boyfriend Neil's words, not mine.) I managed to get put into a single room on a private ward both times, and that meant lovely food, starter and dessert for lunch and dinner, so I didn't exactly starve! Not sure why I was so lucky to get such posh treatment, but a nurse friend of mine thinks it might be to keep me happy as the operation didn't go as well as planned. Whatever the reason, I know I would rather have been in my own room than sharing with 2 others, as I would just have kept them awake with snoring etc, and that would have meant little sleep for myself too as I would be so concious of it and wake myself up with every little or big snore! 

Anyway, back to being supposed to be good diet wise, that went to pot after I spent the morning with my Norwegian friend Silje, and we started talking about baking buns (Boller) and cinnamon swirls (Kanel boller) so now I have got a dough rising and about to be made into the above. I haven't made 'Boller' more than maybe once since I moved to the UK 16 years ago, and that is probably because I hardly ever managed to get them right, but fingers crossed that this time they will bake just perfectly! 

The gallbladder operation was a bit of a palaver. I have had pains with it on and off for maybe a year before the operation and a stone was seen on ultrasound, so I went in for planned keyhole surgery on the 15th of march. Unfortunately my gallbladder was stuck to the duodenum so couldn't be removed, hence it got converted to open surgery, gall bladder being opened and stone removed. Huge or what??? So no wonder I was in pain I suppose! As gallbladder couldn't be removed, it got closed up again, a drain inserted and meant to stay in place for about 4 weeks till the gall output was reduced and safe to take the drain out. The output hadn't decreased 5 weeks later, but I had an appointment with the consultant at the hospital to take it out on the 23rd of April. As it happened, the evening before I had terrible pains in the gallbladder side and area the drain was in, so ended up being taken to A&E in ambulance, with suspected bile leakage. Stuffed full of antibiotics, horses strength og 3100mg per day, scans and tests done, but the pain didn't start reducing significantly until 6 days later when drain was taken out. Was kept in another 3 days, but now feeling soooooo much better a week and half later. Still on pain relief, but cutting down gradually and hope this is the end of the gallbladder problem. My gall bladder is still functioning, which is probably a good thing, although the reason for the drain was to make the gallbladder shrink and be put out of use. Just hope the fact that is is still functioning doesn't mean I develop any more stones! But time will tell and all that. :-)

Having been unwell for so many weeks I haven't kept up with my sewing, but have knitted instead. Finished a big blanket and about 4-5 knitted pillows. Got picture of the blanket https://www.etsy.com/listing/97318750/cozy-and-warm-knitted-blanket and one of the pillows here. One of the other pillows is dark grey and 4 pillows in the same yarn as the blanket. Those aren't finished yet, need to stitch them together and add buttons, but will put them up for same in my etsy shop when done. Looking forward to start sewing again though as have got images of some nice messenger bags in my head! 

My child minding job isn't going very good at the moment. as since June last year I have only had one child part time and even he is moving on now, to go full time in nursery before starting school in the autumn, so not unexpected that he would move on eventually. Still, upsetting though as have looked after him for about 3 1/2 years now so will miss him. And of course, from a financial point of view it is not very good not to have any children to look after either. I very nearly started looking after the most gorgeous baby boy in the middle of march, but with the operation being converted from a one day in and out keyhole operation to open operation and a lot longer recovery period, I lost that job. But hopefully something else will come up soon. It normally does. :-)

Amy, my daughter is now 14 years old, and still drawing every day! This digital drawing of a Warrior Cat she did for me for my birthday in December, and it is now the screensaver for my phone!  Love it!

Amy was 14 years old on the 27th of April, and I ordered some custom made shoes for her with a character she likes. This is the result:

Gemma, a young lady living in Stroud, made them and both |Amy and I are thrilled with the result!  I quite fancy some ironic wonder woman shoes for myself, but with Wonder woman as older, with spare tyres, grey hair and wrinkles. ;-) Here is the link to Gemma's etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/gemsville 

Time to go bake out those buns!  Might post picture if they come out ok!