shouldering the burden

For over a week I have been feeling very sorry for myself. An old shoulder injury came back to haunt me and I have been fairly immobile and full of painkillers, wincing and moaning and feeling generally crappy.

It is easing away now, and just in time as over the next few weeks I have to work long hours doing 'piece' work for a rush order of plastic flags for a company in the village. It pays well but is rather sporadic. It's not what I want to be doing, but at the moment is a necessary evil. Today is my last day off for a while!

I was so glad the sun shone this morning. 

 

I have had to lay off the knitting for a while as it aggravates my shoulder, but managed to finish off the squares for a cushion cover - all laid out ready for assembly.

The Country File photographic competition is upon the nation once again. So I set out with my camera for a short stroll round the field a couple of streets away - just me, the dog and the cat. Always a strange sight!

I don't think I managed to get any winning shots - and the animals are as far from wild as you can get - but they are so cute I can't help myself. 

I suppose I am going to have to get all extreme with the weather of the time or the situation to get the shots I really want! 

Poor old Jemmy having yet another rest. 

Lows and highs

For the past 6 years I have been working in a job I don't enjoy but that almost pays the bills. The levels of hatred, anger, bitterness and resentment the customers have to each other and to us dealing with them has taken it's toll on my nerves, made me almost loose my faith in humanity, put me onto anti depressants and finally I am off sick with stress.

I haven't been at home this much since my daughter was little, and now I would give anything to become a full time house wife again, or open my own yarn shop in my home village and get to know the locals whom I have lost touch with over the past 15 years while working full time - but until Mr Fig finds gainful employment or wins the lottery then - well, I don't know what the future holds.

Too much time to think!
We have been getting out and about locally though, exercise is good for my brain, if not for my knees. 2 pictures up - if you can see it, is a house I have dreamt of living in all my life - I think it is the turrets that do it for me! It is behind the majestic Stonyhurst collage, and the Fields in front sweep down to the River Hodder.

Here is my little poochikins, Jemmy, after her first swim of the year - we usually can't keep her out of the river, but age, creaking bones and freezing water meant she wasn't willing to go any deeper than legs and face!

Aha! but on a totally feel good note - inspired by the wonderful Angelesy Allsorts and her amazing car bootery, my Mum and Dad took me out on Easter sunday to our local car boot - none of us had been in years - and look what my super dad found for me!!!!! he even bargained the seller down to £30 - and it works! (well, it spins round and round, all I need to do now is learn how to spin!)