Wakey Wakey

Last night I went to bed as usual, and as usual tossed and turned trying to get to sleep. Last night was worse than usual so at 4am I gave up and came downstairs for a drink and to watch some TV to see if that sent me to sleep. By 7.30am I had made some breakfast and when I went upstairs to shower and get ready for the day I suddenly felt really tired. I decided to lay on the bed for a short rest and woke up at 1.30pm. My body clock is so out of sync. Why can I not fall asleep during the night and yet sleep for almost 6 hours when I should be awake? Now I am wide awake and probably will be tonight when I try to lie down for a sleep. I have tried everything. Milky drinks, duvet on, duvet off, electric fan on or off, nightdress on or off and nothing has worked. I just toss about all night and can't seem to fall into that deep sleep that we all need.

Ironically enough a letter came today about the sleep study I did a month or so ago. The results were inconclusive as I was tossing and turning about and not falling into a deep sleep so they are going to repeat the study after my knee operation. The good news is that the CPAP machine is keeping my blood oxygenated.

I am still dithering crochet wise. I started the Blue Heaven Sweater from the Crochet Closet book by Lisa Gentry. I am jiggling about with wool as usual as I would like to make it a little longer but as the wool is from my stash a long time ago I cannot match it. I have therefore made one of the sleeves first to see how much length I can put into the body with the wool that I have left over. Being on the rounded side (fat) I do prefer things a little longer to cover the big butt.

I also started Springy Jacket by K Hay from the May/June issue of Crochet today but it seems to be coming out on the small side which is unusual for me as normally I have to downsize my hook to get the tension right. I am sure that it will fit one foster baby even if it turns out a bit small for the baby it is intended for. I only have 100 grams of the James C Brett baby wool so I can't afford to unrip it and start a larger size.

Talking about Crochet Today the latest version arrived in the post today. As usual with any crochet magazine there are just a couple of things in it that catch my eye. I like the cover wrap and the blue sleeveless cardi if I could add a few more rows on the arms to cover the old bingo wings. I like my shoulders to be a little more covered in a deeper cap sleeve. Whilst the bag is cute I am not really into crochet bags as they droop unless they are well lined and as I am no seamstress and my machine is broken that means that the bag is out. The rest of the book may appeal to someone but sadly not to me. I quite like the rug but it is crocheted in a sort of pom pom yarn which I find impossible to hook with.

Today I ordered the latest edition of Inside Crochet so let's hope that there is more in there to appeal to me. When I am back from hospital I must catalogue the things that I like and which book or magazine they are in as when I am in one of my indecisive moods I can look on the list and see what I like and not have to start ploughing through all the books and mags to get inspired.

The day is three quarters over and I have not done anything except write this blog and have breakfast. What a wasted day. Still I may be up half the night instead of sleeping so will catch up on the crochet then.

Thanks once again to everyone for your good wishes. It makes me feel very loved.

Midnight - One more night without sleeping

For those of you old enough to remember the late Frankie Vaughan you will understand today's title. It's from Green Door one of his biggest hits. I kept humming - Midnight one more night without sleeping. Watching until the morning came creeping. Green Door what's the secret you are keeping.

I was lying in bed last night sleep eluding me even though I am tired to the bone. I just could not find that magic formula that would tip me over the edge into sleep. I dozed for a few minutes at a time. Tried all the yoga tricks like focusing my mind on happy thoughts, holidays and waves gently lapping. I tried counting sheep and thinking of clouds. No success. I tried putting on headphones and having music gently playing. One minute I was freezing cold and the next raging hot and to make matters worse I developed a cough in the middle of the night. Probably through my constant trips in and out of the duvet!

My back pain has been good today I am just so tired.

I am still in the unravelling stage of my crochet. The Cinnabar that I had started for Vicky J would have fitted a size 0 when I reached the part where it joins together. Normally I crochet on the slack side and always automatically tighten my hook sizes to compensate but I must have crocheted to tension with the Colinette Lasso. I got up this morning from my restless night and pulled it all back again and restarted it. It is now looking the right size although I have had to add a couple of extra rows before I joined the jacket together for the body as I felt it was far too tight. It is now measuring 36" across the bust line so I hope that with the addition of the borders that it will fit. The next size on the pattern is 40" and I thought that would be too big. The pattern is very stretchy and could be blocked out if necessary to give a bit more ease. I have to do another couple of rows before I do the short rows to give the bust ease at the front. I don't want to make it too big as I think the style is more fitted than large and loose.

I will try to do a bit more on it tonight but I must admit that the tiredness is catching up with me big style and I find I am crocheted 3 rows and pulling one back as I have made a mistake on it.

Yesterday Charlie came for a visit and discussed whether I would be well enough to go to the Knit Out on Monday as the Manchester Evening News is coming to take photos of us and the knitted chandelier.

Caroline F came later to pick up her shrugs. I was giving her a bit of a crochet lesson. She mastered chain and double crochet and I got an e mail from her today to say she has progressed to trebles today. She is finding it difficult to find which hole to put her crochet hook in but it is more a question of tension as like most beginners she is gripping her crochet hook like grim death.

I do hope that I manage to get some sleep tonight. It is getting worse the longer this sleeplessness goes on and when I start thinking that I might stay awake then that doesn't help me to relax long enough to fall asleep! I lie awake worrying about why I can't sleep. Arghhh.