Long distance family life

Big J and I do most things via email now and the odd Facebook call. It is a bit disconcerting that we are so efficient at not being together!
It helps though that I know the places he talks about and where things are.
When he visits my brother he sees this if he looks up outside bro's flat:

and this

the view down from bro's balcony...36 floors up!

And the workmen across the way on their bamboo scaffolding....note the hard hats!

If he goes to the markets he will see one of the butcher's stalls:

or he might fancy a snack of sticky rice and pork, (these are truely declicious):

The fishmongers has loads of live fish, I frequently bought our fish in this market, but road works are making it hard to get to....for now:

On a clear day the washing is hung outside to dry:

So, as most of these things are not far from Big J and he sees the building with the washing on his way to the MTR (subway), it is nice to be able to share these images.

There is much, much more to Hong Kong though. On the days when the hustle bustle is too much, one can escape.

I will leave those shots for another day.

Crochet motifs

This is one of the fab books I bought while I was away. 'Kagibari de amu Kawaii motif (and) komono', or Cute/pretty motifs and little things to make(actually knit) with a crochet hook....mmm...bit lost in translation that one! I love it though. Some of the samller motifs lend themselves to fine yarn and Sophie Degard type objects. I am thinking of something lacey with a lovely fine baby lace I have in my stash as well.....one day.....

My Lent blanket is motif number 5. It took a while to grasp it, but it does look a bit more interesting than a regular granny square.

For anyone wondering about the outcome of the mummy meltdown on Saturday, a long chat to Big J on Sunday and to granny from Japan lifted the mood, and then we went to IKEA and wore ourselves out looking at all the STUFF. A great day out for the three of us. Love those girlies.

Lent blanket

For the first time EVER, I am loving what I am working on. I have no colour fear/paranoia. The Lent blanket started with one ball of CROFTER yarn in blues and greens which dictated the other colours.

There is another 'jolly green giant' green as well. I am happy. What do you think?

Crochet camera strap

I started this on the flight out to Hong Kong and finished it the first jet lagged night! The strap on the camera is hard plastic and hurt the back of my neck so I made this sort of 'hippy chick' cover. Very comfy, but the girls were quick to return the camera to me if they borrowed it.
Too much like MUM.

Did you hear the band snapping?

The rubber band that coils around all the stuff inside me has been very, very stretched of late. Deadlines, distressed patients, piles and piles of ops to book and visits from outside surgeons to arrange. Work rarely comes home with me. I leave it there until I sit at my desk the next morning but it does drain my energy levels at times. At the same time, home is stressy. And youngest came to me again in tears this morning. It is time we did something about this. The problem is that am I her mum and probably too close to see things how they are. To cut a long story short, my attempts to help resulted in her anger and frustration that it was not what she wanted. 'I don't know' is the usual reaction. She wants help, she hates the suggestions, she does not know what to do.

It snapped then, that band of restraint. I got angry. With myself, with my children, with everything and everyone. It is hard to be the one that they rely on, but reviled at the same time. I had plans for today, for me, for us, but I have spent the day in youngest's room, helping her get it the way she wants it. I hate being interfering and yet I interfere. I hate being the enemy, yet I push. I would like to wrap them both up and keep them safe, but then I get cross and that must not feel safe to them at all.

At the root of all this is the feeling that as a mum I have a never ending supply of 'there,there's, of hugs, of Pollyanna like positivity. Fact is, it is not a constant supply. I get run down and cannot give as much.

Fortunately days like today are rare. We all feel a bit bruised, but I am hoping that this is part of the process of life and growing young adults.

40 days and 40 squares

I have decided to make a square a day for Lent and then sew them into a blanket to give to one of the local hospices/charities, if they will take it.
My friend Anne is going to join me and is going to knit her 40.

I have chosen the motif and colours and have been practicing the motif. It is from a Japanese book and it is the first time that I have used the symbols for crochet over worded instructions. Handy that the girls can help out when I am struggling with one of the few words in the book.

Wish me luck.

Pancakes

Up with the owls this morning, it was still dark, but the body clock was perky. Given the date I thought pancakes would be in order, but Em made herself some congee.

A rice 'soup' with, in her case, soya beans and a fish stock flavour.

So I had gluten free, sugar free blueberry pancakes with yoghurt. Not quite the naughty version, but good.

I am thinking of what to do for Lent. I am not religious, but do enjoy to challenge myself to do something for the duration. This year it is not about ME; this year, I want to do something that will benefit someone else, maybe a charity. Thinking caps on today - the deadline is looming.