One week to go....

Well it's one week until my operation and I'm on countdown.   I've been on a countdown since I got my date two weeks ago but with Christmas and New Year in between it's felt like a long way off.

I've got quite a lot to look forward to in the next week so this week will roll round quickly.  All will be revealed over the next week.

I've been thinking about what I can do and if I need anything to take into hospital with me.  I've been advised to get some big pyjama tops which is easy enough if you're a size 10 but if your a little bigger it's not that easy.  However, my mum found a couple of big nighties in The Co-op department store in Stafford.  I don't know what they look like or of they're any good but we can try.

I'm not sure if there's that much I can take in with me as I won't be there long and it's not like lower limb surgery where you need your whole life with you, well at least I do!

Christmas Singing

I realised I have never done a post on my singing and how much I do this time of year.

As some of you will know I have sang in choirs since I was about seven years old so singing at Christmas has always been a part of my life.

My Christmas schedule is getting quieter as each year rolls round.  When I was at university it was crazy this time of year.  One year I did fourteen concerts and gigs in fourteen days, I had two and even three gigs on one day.  It was all good fun but as my health was deteriorating I knew I couldn't continue doing that many gigs for much longer.

Now I sing with a local choir called Cantemus and have done for around ten years.  I am one of the youngest members and very much enjoy my time with them.  The whole choir have welcomed me and have been very understanding about my needs.  I usually sit at rehearsals and in concerts and I also use music stand when performing due to the heavy books.  Since I started using a music stand I have enjoyed singing far more than ever before as the pressure has been taken off me.

This years Christmas calendar started with a weekend of singing.  We had our Christmas concert at Trinity Church in Stafford.  I had a small solo which was lovely as I haven't done one for a while.  The concert went well and the church was quite full so we were very pleased.

The next day we sang at the Light up a Life service at Katherine House Hospice in Stafford.  Every year lights are illuminated to remember family and friends who have been looked after in the hospice.  It's a beautiful service but it's always cold as it is held outside on the car park.  There were well over a thousand lights on the tree this year and thousands of pounds were raised for the hospice.

The choir also sang at Foxwalls Care Home in Stafford.  We sang for half an hour and the people who live there seem to really enjoy it as they joined in with us.

On Christmas Eve we sing in Stafford for an hour and raise money for Katherine House.  I've been doing this for about ten years and we always get a good response for the public.  By the time we finished singing at midday on Christmas Eve, my carol book is, once again, closed until the next year.

A UFO's Update

I thought I'd update my UFO list as I haven't done it for ages.   The usual suspects are there but some new ones are joining them.

1. Rowan cardigan.

2. Sirdar 'Big Softie' scarf.

3. Sew buttons onto baby surprise jacket. 

4. Granny square blanket.

5. More socks for me.

6. Sock yarn blanket.

7. Little sisters dress.

8. Blue and white West Brom gloves for my Dad.

9. Lace shawl started at the lace class.

10. Mum's Noro scarf.

11. Mum's crochet scarf.

12. Katherine's Wedding Knit.

13. Secret Santa.

14. Sock Yarn Blanket.

ARRGGGHHH..I need to stop casting stuff on!

Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas 2012?

I've been thinking (as probably all knitters do) of all the Christmas presents I would have liked to have knitted for everyone.  So, I know it's early but I'm already planning!

As I live with my Mum and Dad I can't knit presents at home so I thought if I spent all my knitting days out doing presents then I might have done what I wanted to do for Christmas.  I thought I might do them a pair of socks each.  I also have my Mum's Noro scarf to finish so I could give that for her birthday or save it for next Christmas.

I'd like to do a pattern that was in Simply Knitting back in November.  It's for knitted advent lights that comes complete with a knitted plug!  As I won't be using it as an advent calender I could do a shorter version and stuff the lights.  I also have a Christmas Card pattern from Simply Knitting which would also be good for next year.  I might do about 4 cards.  These are made out of left over DK so they will be a cheap option.

I would also like to knit my Niece something, weather that will be a hat or a toy or something I'm not too sure.

So here is my list for Christmas 2012.  I've got 370 days to knit.  Wish me luck and I'll keep you posted!

Working hard for Christmas

Just thought I'd update on my progress with the Christmas present I'm making for my Mum.

I'm doing a crochet granny square scarf.  The pattern was in a magazine a few months ago and I like it so much, that I might do one for myself.

It doesn't say how many squares you need to make the scarf but I'm thinking I'll probably do about 18.  I think I've got about 15 already.

I'm crocheting the squares together with black yarn to make the scarf.

Dieting

I don't like to say that I'm on a diet, but I'm...erm... watching what I eat and exercising more so, therefore, I'm on a diet.

I don't really know where it all started but I had a go on the Wii Fit and now I can't stop playing on it.
I've been using the Wii Fit for almost 2 weeks now.  I like the balance games which are very low impact in my joints and I love the tennis on the Wii Sports.  I have to play with my left hand because of my shoulder but I'm doing ok and burning a lot of calories doing it.

I've also been using an app called My Fitness Pal where you can log the foods you eat and how much exercise you do.  There is also www.myfitnesspal.com which syncs in with the phone app so you can use both.  The app has a barcode scanner so you can tell how many calories are in something straight away.  The only criticisms I have is that people can put in what they think the values are so therefore I think some of the values might be a little far fetched.  Also, people don't cook anymore so trying to find the value of a parsnip was a little tricky.  My Mum is a proper cook so working out what's she's made can be a pain.  I have to add everything together and divide by how many portions she makes.

My Mum and Dad are really helping me, my Dad bought me some scales to weigh my food which was lovely of him.

After first week I lost 6lbs but then then the next day the Wii said I'd put 4lb back on so I don't know what happened there.

I didn't have a good weekend with food as I went to see my friend from university.  She's using the same website as I am and she's lost 2 and a half stone.  We were a little naughty this weekend but according to the scales I haven't put any weight on so that's good.

I'm weighing myself every Thursday morning to take an average over the week.

So from here on, I'm trying to lose weight and now I've written it on here I've got to do it!

Shoulder News

So after all my waiting I finally have an appointment for my surgery.  I will be having the operation in the 4th January, 11 months after my initial appointment.

I'm so pleased. I think the rheumatology dept had a lot to do with bringing it forward.

So I have 3 weeks to get organised. Oh dear!