Sconch Blog

Yesterday I went to the CFS clinic. I've had joint problems since I was about 12. I was finally diagnosed with M.E. when I was 19. Bouts of exhaustion and pretty much constant pain has been my life. It's not *that* much of a big deal in the grand scheme of things for me. For some people, M.E. is so life limiting it is the stuff of nightmares. One of my friends has a teenage daughter who is so crippled with it, she is tube fed and barely wakes for an hour a day.

For me it has always been about the pain. Most people wouldn't know. I'm quite a loud person. I prance around. I dance whenever I can. I do too much. I don't *look* like someone who is in pain. But that's the thing about invisible conditions. You quite often can't tell. Which makes it hard for people to understand.

So somehow I've managed to get to the middle of January without a blog post. Without a round up of last year, or an introduction to this year.

To be honest, life has been a little crazy since September. For those that missed the news, Mr Sconch had a change of career. He was made redundant from his job in finance in the city, and decided to use the opportunity to begin teacher training. He started the course in September, after a summer course to top up his knowledge in his chosen field, Physics. In addition to this, he began music tuition in the evenings. For those of you that are not familiar with teacher training, it means NO SALARY. And to burst the bubble that is the fantasy that many of you have of running a wool shop, it pays a pittance, and as I am still in the first few years, I don't actually take a wage, as we reinvest back into the business. So in order for us to eat, he's working in the evenings.

Chocolate Orange covers - they are everywhere at this time of year. But do you think I could find a pattern I was happy with?! Every time I started one, I decided I didn't quite like how it sat, or where it finished, or how it was done up at the bottom (sewing in elastic? If you read my last post, you'll see why that is a no-no). I just wanted to crochet and be done with it.

After all, I was making 8 of them - nursery teacher presents. And I'd (as usual) left it really late, and the last day of term was looming. So it needed to be right, but it also needed to be quick, and I'd run out of time to keep searching for the perfect pattern!