The soothing powers of knitting
Before you ask, I did not have the best of wedding anniversaries, although it may be one that I won’t forget in a hurry. But I’ll come back to that later. The upshot was that I needed to spend time knitting to sooth my nerves – so my new project has made some progress. This is the back of a cardigan that I’m making using Lang Donegal yarn. The patter doesn’t have a fancy name and you probably won’t find it on Ravelry. I saw the cardigan knitted up in one of the wool shops in Zurich – it was one of those rather mean ‘you only get the pattern if you buy the wool’ deals – but then at least the pattern came for free. It’s called Damenjacke mit Zöpfchen im Oberteil – loosely translated – ladies jacket with little braids in the upper part. I think it should turn out to be pretty. We’ll see.
So why did the nerves need soothing?
Well for two reasons really….
I should tell you that we very often go for a family run in the woods early on Sunday mornings. I was up with the larks and raring to go, all the more so because I’d been resting my hip all week. However, the pain had been completely gone for two days, so I really thought that there shouldn’t be any problems. All it took was 5 measly steps and the pain was back. 5 steps. I have a doctor’s appointment for Wednesday, but I think the half-marathon I’m signed up for on Saturday is probably out of the window and it may well also be the end of the marathon. After months of training, moreover training that was going really well, I am as the young people say ‘gutted’. This is SO frustrating. I’m tearing my hair out and having to face up to the fact that my body may realistically be too old to ever actually manage a marathon. Some of you may find this hard to understand, but I feel like I’m on the verge of having to say goodbye to a life goal. OK, so maybe I’m over-reacting, but I’m really not happy.
Hence knitting while everyone else was out running.
Now we come to the second reason…
In the afternoon as the weather was nice my husband and I took our motorboat out on Lake Zurich and went swimming. It was beautiful weather, the sunny was shining, the water wasn’t too cold and the views of the mountains were magnificent. After a couple of hours the wind started to pick up and storm warnings were flashing on the lakeshore. Big black thunder clouds were heading our way – and fast. We got changed and started to make our way through the choppy waves to the shore. I sat in the front of the boat on a big old rubber boat that we sometimes tow the children along in, my weight stopping it from blowing away. (We’d been too lazy to take it out and put it away before we’d left). The wind picked up and I kept telling my husband to slow down as the wind together with the speed of the boat were lifting the front of the rubber boat…..being a typical man, he didn’t slow down.
Then quick as a flash the wind caught the rubber boat, lifted it up in the air, threw me FULLY CLOTHED over the side into the waves and then blew away. Don’t laugh. It was AWFUL. I swallowed half the lake and feel like I pulled a load of muscles.
Of course my husband rescued me and was very shamefaced….but it only took a couple of hours before he was cracking flying saucer jokes.
In the words of Queen Victoria: ‘We are not amused’.
So I found solace in a hot bath, lots of knitting, two episodes of Downton Abbey and refusing to do the washing up.
I’m a little fragile today, but at least I can knit. What do people do who can’t. Drink gin I imagine!
Helen
September 12th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Oh my, you poor thing. What a day! I really hope you are not too sore.
On a lighter note, you whip up a sweater more often than I change my undies! LOL!
Feel better and knit away! XOXO
September 12th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
How disappointing about your running, Helen. You have worked very hard toward this goal. 🙁
I liked Diane’s comment above – very funny! (Hi Diane….)
And I had to comment on Downton Abbey – my husband and I loved that series and were so upset when we realized we have to wait for the next season to finish before we can see it again. We’re really into British series these days – let me know if you need other recommendations. Or maybe you could recommend some to us!
Blessings on your week….
September 12th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Oh no!! Poor you!! I hope your feathers are feeling a little less ruffled over today after the shock of cold stormy waters… brrr. I think I would be feeling more than a little dented in the circumstances.
The cardi is coming along very nicely, though – that Donegal is lovely, I just haven’t found a project that justifies it so far (good excuse!). Also, I can’t find the light blue or turquoise anywhere, quick as a flash it’s all been scooped up, apparently, leaving the duller, more dismal colours that do NOT attract my attention! Ah well, shouldn’t complain, I have something like 6 WIPS on the go…
And btw, for Downton lovers: new episodes begin next Sunday evening on British TV – I will be firmly ensconced in front of a screen (laptop or ipad!) ;))
September 12th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
I hope you didn’t have to cook either!
September 12th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
That sounds REALLY scary!! Thank God you are okay Helen and finding comfort in knitting, which is looking fabulous. Yes, I`m looking forward to the new series of DA – roll on Sunday! Take care of yourself! x
September 12th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Oh dear – I’m sure you’ll laugh at your soggy story one day but I am definitely in support of the washing-up strike action, the hot bath and the knitting therapy! Also glad you have Downton Abbey – we were glued to it when the first series was on and are very excited at the thought of the impending second series. I especially love Maggie Smith in it – I hope I can say what I like when I am an old matriarch too!
Also wishing you all the best on your wedding anniversary and many more years of married bliss (none of which should be spent in a lake during a storm!)
September 12th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
You tell a story well, even if it is not a happy one. I don’t knit or drink gin. Guess it would be hand quilting and pink wine for me!
September 13th, 2011 at 1:04 am
Glad you’re OK, and you’ve at least gotten a good story to tell out of the incident! Hope the knitting and the hot bath helped at least a little.
September 13th, 2011 at 2:25 am
Hugs! I hope the doctor has some good news but if not indulge in as many hot baths and as much knitting as possible. Your husband owes you a few more days worth of washing up, especially if he’s going to joke about UFOs.
September 14th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Hello there Helen,
I just had to write. I am a runner and quilter and basically a crafter. I can so empathize with your qualms about your running life being over. I had a stroke a few years ago and felt that I would never run again…am running :). This past summer I had a huge plantar fasciitis and was training for a marathon….it was close but I thought it would never heal….still not 100% but Montreal, here I come. Keep hope and really get to the bottom of the problem.
September 14th, 2011 at 11:39 pm
What an awful weekend. I am so sorry. It sound however as though you know just what to do – a hot bath, favorite views and of course knitting.
You are so right about knitting. it is the most soothing, calming, healing thing, isn’t it?
About the marathon and your hip. I haven’t gotten to know you as i haven’t been following all that long, but I read a blog post the other day that helped me face and deal with some of my own challenges associated with fleeting youth and I thought you might also find it inspiring. I will send it by e-mail as I don’t like to leave links in comments.
I am sorry that your goal to run a marathon may not be possible. But one of the great things about life – there are millions of other possibilities.