Another ridiculously nice day on the turning basin

Half completed new floating dock.  when there is a ramp installed I can roll out on it and get close to the water. Pelicans and me just sitting around watching the water...

Physio room

Here's where all the physical jerks happens in the Mad Beach house.  Spare room with Scandinavian furnishings, stretchy band, rolled up towels, small weights, tiny weights, roller ball, and lots of carpet and books.

Sometimes I get distracted by the books.  After an early session, I picked up a book on clipper ships which I really had to read.

Getting stronger and more flexible.  Knee is bending nicely, scar not getting in the way to much.  Really looking forward to knowing that all is well after x-ray on 18 January.

I guess the wonderful Dennis (Physio guy) will then start the really cruel exercises.  Looking forward to it.

Boxing day humour

In my family, we go to a movie this picture was posted on the wall of the bar where we had lunch. Florida humour has never been so funny to me. There really are a lot of these electric scooter things here - its like a different race of non-walking humans inhabit the Sunshine State.

If you look closely you can see my Dad holding his coat open in the reflection.  He's not a flasher we just tried to take a picture that was legible - but it is funny.

I got a hand scaner for christmas

pillow scan

recipe scan

I am a scanning demon.  Look out world, if it sits still I'm gonna scan it and post it somewhere.  So far I've done pillows, books, pictures.  Next I'm gonna try my leg...

Merry Christmas everyone. 

Full moon in Carrollwood

Visiting My Friend Nancy Yost during the holiday season os always a joy, the house is be-decked.  Even the dock is becked out!  The moon rising above Lake Carroll made it even more picturesque.

Had a great time again this year.  Still haven't managed to try out that pool.  Must try and visit in the summer.

Tasty winter comfort

Here's a little pre-Christmas joy.  Its a 15 to 18 year old whisk(e)y tasting.  Its (relatively) cold here in Mad Beach so to keep the chill away we broke out the sipping stuff and had some with cheese.  Nice way to end the day.  Must remember to buy some to take back to the office.  Something tells me when I do finally get back there I will need some at the end of the day.

Nice staples, huh?

Target AND and electric wheelchair

My dreams are fulfilled.

11 weeks since that man knocked me off my vespa

10 weeks and three days since the surgery. I got a letter from the police saying they were going to make the guy take a driver's awareness course.  Hmmm, not really what I had in mind.

The invalid herself

Here she is, sitting on the new deck furniture in the sun.

View for recovery

John's Pass from near the new bridge

Bright and sunny day. No one at the boardwalk. no one on the boats and one lone jet ski idiot. 

Quiet stroll (ok, push from my Dad) around John's Pass Village ending in rocky road ice cream cone.

Wedding was fabulous

On Friday my Cousin was married to her long term squeeze in a beautiful wedding at a beautiful old church, St. John the Baptist Church outside of Oxford.  I can't find any information on the church but it was old, beautiful and very very cold inside.  Cousin Rhian and Husband Mark both looked amazing and the ceremony was grand. The reception was at this amazing hotel/event place called the Crazy Bear.   Since it was my first full day out of the house, I didn't make it too late to the reception.  It was rocking when I left at 1900.

Spent the next couple of days with family recovering form the event. 

New deck almost finished, next summer will be great. Snow gone after the rain of Saturday.

Snow

Just as the family arrives from Florida, the temperature plummets and it snows.   

Floridians in the snow are funny to watch.  This is the third time Ceri has seen snow.

Back garden in the snow with back deck half built.  No pictures of the frozen Floridians in the living room.

Dad, Mum and Ceri arrive in London

Dad has decided to help me get to and from physio. So today we did the first trip. Cab there, physio, then Dad gets his work out by pushing me home and of course stopping by the George for a celebratory pint of London Pride. This picture shows a happy man.

Week after next we are going to my cousin's wedding. That will take some doing; three days of not being in my little home cocoon. Luckily, I will be surrounded by family.  They can help haul the crutches and wheel chairs and bad leg. Have decide to go home and do some recuperating in the sun.

Carer falls asleep

'nuff said

Robert came to visit and we had an outing

It was a lovely sunny day and I actually crutched it down to the village! Had to get a push back up the hill as it was my first foray out of the house which didn't involve the hospital and a cab.

 So its now looking like at some point in the futuer I may actually get over this.  Also note that lovely pink cheek with no stitches.  Hope that swelling goes down

It was so lovely out we just paused at the corner and soaked up some sun.

Meanwhile.... 

After the push up the hill - my carer overreacts

OK, maybe not but still. Always the actor, Robert takes a break

Stitches out of my face

District nurse cam eout today and removed the stitches in my face from the BCC biopsy.  Of course, it looks a lot better than I had thought it would a week ago.  It is still a scar and its still in the middle of my face - right cheek close to my nose - and I will need to watch out carefully for others in the future.

I am so relieved that this week is over.  I didn't really need another thing to worry about while I am still trying to get over the motorcycle accident.  Technically I still have to wait for the results from the biopsy to make sure all the edges are clear and they got everything; but I am happy to be on my way to smiling and laughing again with out worrying that I am pulling on those stitches.

Six week X-ray for my broken leg

Enjoying the first London Pride out of house since the accident.  Note the lovely bandage covering up the site of the biopsy - does one woman deserve all this medical attention? Thanks to Kirsty for pushing me up the hill to the pub and then getting me back to the flat.

Today - its six weeks and three days since the surgery (ORIF - Open reduction, internal, fixation  with hardware, since you asked) on my fractured leg.  I have been back to the Royal Free for yet another Xray.  This will be the gazillionth since I was knocked off the lovely vespa on 2 October.  In this one they are looking to see if all the hardware remains where it should be and if there has been any bone growth. 


I think I was a little to optimistic about what happens after six weeks. I think I thought I would be at least getting to be off my crutches but no partial weight bearing just means you get to put your foot down and then work your way slowly back to walking but still with crutches....


Augh.  At least I md arrangements for Kirsty to come to the hospital to meet me so we could get a cab back together.  She talked me into a walk/push home with her doing all the work.  We made it up the hill to Haverstock then decided we needed a beer before going any further - so we nipped into The George, a local.  The London Pride was so good, I had to have dinner.


After a pint and dinner, we rolled home - well I rolled and Kirsty pushed.  Then we attacked the front steps - there has to be a way to get up those **blinking** four steps at the front of my building.  After much hilarity I ended up scooting up on my backside and wriggling onto the emergency stool kept just inside the door. Its scary that this much later I still cannot get back int othe flat by myself and therefore I cannot leave the flat unless I have a back up plan ready to receive me.  

Plus - how ridiculous do I look crawling up the steps on my behind (it always rains here) and wriggling up onto a stool.  Good think I'm not too hung up on my reputation for suavity.  Jeez.  


Anyway, Thanks Kirsty for the night out and lets see what the physio says now that he can come back and work with me.  


Tomorrow, sutures our from the BCC and continuing to get better

Basel Cell Carcinoma

When it rains it pours they say and so it is with our intrepid writer.  Before getting run over by Mr. Wong the Ford driver -- who it turns out is the dude who hit me on 2 October 2010. I went to the GP to have her check out a spot on my face.  Hmmm, better get that looked out by a dermatologist.

Two weeks later I am at the Royal Free awaiting the verdict.  Yes, indeed, Its a Basel Cell Carcinoma (aka BCC or delightfully here in jolly olde England a rodent ulcer).  Bad news, good news. Bad news - that spot on my face is actually a cancer but good news - its a milder form of skin cancer.  However its nothing to sneeze at and should be taken very seriously.  So I was scheduled for a biopsy and after several delays, today is the day.

I thought it would be a small incision - but it turned out to be a pretty big hole right on my cheek; several layers of stitches and the top layer looked pretty bad.  I am depressed but what the heck compared to the massive and still healing scar on my leg from the crash and the otehr scar on my face also from teh crash - this is really not that bad.

Gotta say, its been tough this last couple of weeks.  In seven days the stitches come out and we will see. 

Mum leaves! no no no

But before she goes, here's a picture of her in her foraging outfit.  She did a fabulous job of running around for me while I laid around the flat. 

Together we have worked on the flat so I can handle it on my own but I will still miss her. 

Wouldn't you?

My bedroom, with Laundry and bandaged leg

Here's the view from my bed. Its night time and there are clothes hanging to dry because this is Britain and for some reason they refuse to adopt decent dryer technology, therefore if you launder at home you end of with clothes draying all over the home.  Foot still has the mark on it so the surgeons wouldn't accidentally reconstruct the wrong leg.

Getting better. but its still a long way off.

A ramp means I can climb mount kitchen!

Note the excitement on my face.  I can now scale the Olympian heights of Mount Kitchen and begin to take care of myself. 

Not that I will until Mum leaves on the 8th but its all in the preparation. 

new chair to help getting around for the short term

isn't it breezy?

The end of the cat period in my life - for now

It has been beyond tough for the last month, what with the motorcycle accident on 2 October and now six weeks (minimum) at home>  Thank my lucky stars, Mum could come and stay with me for almost four of those weeks as I am now almost able to take care of myself in my flat. 

Sadly, today I had to put Dylan to sleep.  Morgana passed away this summer after a short illness which was a big surprise. I had been worrying about Dylan as he was at least 2 years older.  Finally, it just became too much to watch him get skinnier and skinnier and have more trouble getting around.  He was at least 21 years old to Morgana's 19.  This picture is from his San Francisco days - when he was a mere 14 years old.  He did have a good life. 

Saved from a vet in Knoxville in 1992, I took him in because Jen and Shannon and Susanne and Ross all thought I needed cats. He joined me in residence in Atlanta. Then boyfriend-at-the-time convinced me that two cats were easier than one, so Morgana joined our happy band.  Both moved with me to SF in 203 and then on to London, where they have been international cats of mystery for four years now. 

I will miss them both dearly.

My baby is total-ed

Well, if you look here you can see her when I first took possession of the bike in May.  Here you see the same side of the bike post-accident.  The insurance engineer decided it wasn't worth repairing. 

Right now I'm not sure what I am going to do about getting another one.  I have another several weeks before I can leave the house so I'll deal with that later.

Mum keeps timorous beastie at bay

lovely shiner

This was probably day 3 in hospital  - so round about 5 October.  Probably just before surgery on my leg.  The shiner was still pretty large and the cut on my nose from my glasses still healing.  Thank goodness for helmets.  At this point most of the body bruising hasn't even come to the surface yet and I didn't really take photos of that as it was just to gross.

Boy, did I want to have my hair washed.  Not sure which bits of hospital are worse dirty hair or bed pains of course there is also the endless round of needles.  

Some of the lovely flowers

Thanks to all of my friends who visited me and sent me flowers while I was in the hospital.  They really brightened up the ward - this was a particularly beautiful bouquet sent from my friends in San Fran.  At least I remembered to take a picture of these - they were so cheery.

Thanks

its been a pretty crappy couple of weeks

On 3 October, I was knocked off my scooter by a car that "didn't see" me. Incredibly painful broke two bones in my lower left leg.  Had to wait four days in hospital for surgery then another week before I could get out.  My Mother flew in from FLA to help me through the first weeks of recovery.  No wieght on my right leg for 6-9 weeks.  To say I have been a physical and emotional basket case is putting it mildly.

How ever on the plus side (I am very optimistic) I have had a lot of time to think and while not struck by any incredible insight, I have managed to not be my usual pissy self (though I have my moments) and found some moments of real laughter in the ward with the other patients, mostly women in the 70+ category getting knees and hips replaced.

Once I got over the whole bedpan things - why oh why hasn't someone designed something better for that function!! - and got through the surgery, then got home with Mum helping me out things began to look up.

So I thought I would spend the time I have stuck at home on getting a few things sorted out that I never did before.  1) get someone in to look at the garden.  2) get the flipping plumbing sorted out and 3) re carpet the really grotty bits of the flat.

So something to do/direct along with my physio for the next couple of weeks. 

big ole swollen leg with exoskeletan brace

couple of days after surgery

Here he is - my new baby

You may not have known but Cream Puff is no more. She was spirited away on one Sunday evening in April by bad men. Actually they were probably boys because who else would hotwire, steal, joyride and them dump trashed a 12 year old crapped out (but loved) vespa?

Anyway after hours on the phone and a measely check from my insurance company, I decided to spring for something from this century and even this decade. He's a 2004 GT in silver (grey?) with "Grantourismo" elegantly scrawled on the right hand side. I'm not showing the left or front as he was clearly dropped on the left and bumped into something on the front. But the newer and slightly larger frame with a nicer engine does feel pretty cushy. Interestingly he has over twice the mileage of cream puff.

what shall we name him?

Laura Lee's sweater is finally assembled!

Started this sweater two years ago on holiday in South Carolina. the actual knitting finished months ago,but assembly has been waiting for yonks. Mainly because its cotton and therefore a pain. Actually had to be blocked which required a big flat surface and even then it took several hours and a trip to my upstairs neighbor to see it on someone! The sweater is from Sally Melville's book The Knit Stitch, Its called "where's the opaque? sweater"

This is hard to picture and the photo doesn't show it well, but the top front, back and sleeves are all slightly see through and the main front is opaque. The opaque bit wraps around the back a bit so the sleeves have a lot of shaping and joining the opaque to the non-opaque took some serious attention ans the rows and fabric all all very different. I also forgot until I starting piecing it together that I had mad it a bit longer as LLG not short. Therefor as I am blocking the pieces out puzzled about how I managed to miss the measurements by over an inch, then I found my original notes. I should take better notes - especially as I take YEARS to knit things for adults.

Anyway over all I am happy and I hope she will be too when she gets it. Why did I finally manage to get it together? It's her birthday this weekend - so happy BDay LLG!

Here's where I frogged big portions of the sweater last summer

finally blocking LLG's sweater

Amazing

I love these trees. I know I seem to have an obsession with spring blossoms but these trees really give their all in the spring. Its kind of hard to believe that can put out that kind of energy and still remain standing. This week was lovely in London, of course it started raining was I walked home on Friday night, perfect rainy weather for a bank holiday weekend.

Guitarist - skinny legs and grills

skinny legs and grills
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.
Funny sign posted in Hackney - all over Hackney and East London actually.

Henry's sweater

Have been on bit of a binge of late with knitting. I started this project last month and finished this month and--even more shocking--I actually put it together this weekend. Now if I really behave in an un-Sian-like way I will actually mail it to San Francisco.

Good thing its cold-ish in San Fran all year around.

Summer Dressing Saturday Times

Summer Dressing Saturday Times
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.
I love the British press, we are two weeks away from an election and the cover shot of Saturday Times was this picture.

Lovely Saturday at Stratford, with Swimming and Stadium

stratford, swimming and stadium
Originally uploaded by sillewellyn.
Here's the view of the London Olympic Site on Saturday 25 April 2010. just over 2 years before the Games begin. We are standing on the top of the parking deck across the street from Stratford Train, Tube and Eurostar station with its lovely glass facade which will face onto the High Street.

Behind it with the big sweeping manta-ray roof is the swimming venue by Zaha Hadid and behind that is the Main Stadium by Populous (formerly HOK Sport) Way in the background you can just see the Gherkin (Swiss RE Building) a prominent feature in the City of London Skyline, so we are looking South-west-ish.


My firm (who shall remain nameless as this is a personal blog) did the Masterplanning for the Games and is now working on the post games or legacy planning.  Its a huge regeneration scheme and very exciting to see the bones now set up for the Games as well as the post-games neighbourhoods. Plans for the Legacy stage are now in the hands of the London Olympic Park Legacy Company.  

Very exciting, the Games are really coming.

Interactive art in the East End of London

Gary and Heather interact.

Clearer view of the stadium waiting for its roof

'The horses, as everyone knows, are brilliant' ... War Horse.

Photograph: Graeme Robertson

Really amazing theatre, I went with Robert for his birthday.  Usually Robert and I travel on Easter weekend but this year he just came to London to hang out at the flat and go and see a play for his birthday (ok it was six months agao but Oxford is so far away from London I don't see him that often.

anyway after much faffing, we decided on War Horse at the New London Theatre in Drury Lane.  It was amazing.  Calling them puppets doesn't really do the show justice.  It was really amazing, you suspend all belief in  fact that you are watching three people pretend to be a horse - or a duck or a bird or a tank...

After the play we indulged in too much gin and didn't get to sleep until 5 am.  Then we went to meet a friend for Easter lunch at Magdala pub in Hampstead at South End.  Turned into a lovely and leisurely walk around the Heath.  I think I may even have a bit of a tan.  Robert's friend John was a great find.  We laughed so hard we fell off furniture, made others uncomfortable and even laughed until we cried. 

All in all it was an excellent day - I am enjoying the last light of a dying fire and drinking water to overcome the dehydration last night's bout of gin drinking brought on.

Flat Stanly in the Olympic Stadium (model)

My Friend Nancy Yost, has a son and son Yost is doing a project in school which consists of sending Flat Stanley to friends around the world and having his picture taken. With me Stanley has been to Cannes, Warsaw, Ashridge Conference Centre in England. This is Stanly astride the Olympic Stadium in a large floor model of the Olympic site.

Flat Stanly in Warsaw

Flat Stanly gets ready for a plane ride

Can't help but feeling spring is in the air... the bloody birds are making too much noise

Traditionally February is a LONGGGG month for me despite its actual number of days. Since I moved (ages ago) from Sunny Florida I have missed the sun. Funnily moving to London - really far away and really far north.

--Caution Big Diversion ahead--
I got curious about how far north I really was so I started looking up Lats of places I have lived and here they are in chronological order:
TPA Latitude: 27° 58' 23'' N;
ATL Latitude: 33° 38' 27" N;
SFO Latitude: 37 °34' 5" N;
LHR Latitude: 51° 28' 39" N
Holy cow - Moscow's main airport (not that I live there or plan to, its just, you know, cold) is Lat 55° 58' 59" - thank you Gulf Stream

I guess I'm some sort of weird reverse snowbird. While I thought San Fran really was the frozen north it was only 10° north. A reminder for those of you who fell asleep in middle school there are 90° of Lat north of the equator to give you a comparison scale.
--Big Diversion now over--

Going to Tampa for Christmas I watched the sun come up most mornings because it was such a beautiful sight. In fact I frequently took a picture of it with my phone (I need to figure out how to get the phone pictures in the blog). Now I see why I did that - I actually crave the sunrise at about 6-7 am - when it really should be rising!

But you know you can always tell when after weeks of rain and darkness you wake up at 6 because the birds are making a bloody racket; you look out the window and its NOT dark. I swear sap rises in my soul.

But I'm getting British enough to know that I'll start moaning about something else soon. I bet I'll start complaining about not sleeping because it get too light to early.

sheep

sheep.
Click on the word sheep to hop to You tube and see a video. I know you can embed them but I don't feel like slowing down to learn how!

I am a knitter and my family is Welsh. I have heard sheep are not too bright. This link is from and it feels like home's blog - see link on list to the right.

so fabulous

First Country Music then Shootin'

As a friend just reminded me I am getting it all done this holiday season. Last week it was all about Country Music and today I'm out at a shooting range with my Daddy. Turns out I am a crack shot with a 22 pistol, so long as I'm shooting at a target and its no further from me than about 25 feet. BTW, that's 10 shots, eight of which went in th ered zone and that's my phone for scale purposes.

I disliked the 9 mm Beretta and the .45 Para-ordinace, but really liked the .22 Ruger. So if you are ever in a pinch and require some back up (remember only targets with in 25 feet) I'm your gal. Just call me Annie Oakley.