Just Nicky

Speak up! April 28, 2006

Since losing the hearing in my left ear lots of things have become difficult or uncomfortable because of the issues around hearing things and processing the sounds I hear. Some of the most mundane things are the most difficult.

Yesterday I opened a bank account for Finn at our local branch of the Bendigo. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do since he was born. The branch has glass between tellers & customers with gaps in it for them to interact. My teller seemed to be very quietly spoken and I had to ask her to repeat each question at least once - mostly 2 or 3 times. All I could hear was the woman to my right (good ear) talking to her teller. I was frustrated almost to the point of tears and there was a moment when I considered just giving up and leaving. The account got opened, but it will be a while before I go back to deposit any money.

Today I’m going to do our grocery shopping. When Mark does it he goes to the butcher, fish shop, delicatessen and fruit shop seperately, rather than buying meat, cold meats and fruit & veg at the supermarket. It’s cheaper and we believe the quality is better. I’ll probably buy everything from the supermarket, though. I find the interactions over the counter in the butcher & the deli just about impossible. The counters are too broad and the staff speak too quietly for me to clearly understand them. I never quite know what I’m agreeing to.

Now I could probably solve a lot of this by telling people I have a hearing problem, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to have to explain myself multiple times a day to people I don’t know. I also tend to forget that there’s anything wrong with my hearing until these sorts of interactions occur. And I hate that people will shout at me once they know. I actually have very good hearing. It’s just that I only have it in one ear.

Sometimes thinking about it all makes me wish that I hadn’t had the tumour removed. It was slow growing - perhaps I could have left it another year or two… But I also know that’s ridiculous. If nothing else, I’d have gone made thinking about the thing in my head.

Lost my mojo April 22, 2006

I seemed to have lost my mojo for a little bit there. Fell into a bit of a funk.

I’m blaming a combination of migraine after effects, PMT, followed by actual period, combined with a little bit of seasonal affectiveness for it all. I’m planning to leap back into enjoying myself this week.

Part of my plan, though, involves staying away from the computer as much as possible, so there’s not likely to be much posting or commenting - not that there’s usually an avalanche. It just seems a bit healthier to be in more of a ‘doing’ mode than sitting in front of a screen (including the telly).

Knitting news April 14, 2006

Here’s what I’ve been doing knitting-wise.

I’ve finished the socks for Dad’s birthday. They’re in Cleckheaton Tapestry (colourway 3 - although it’s not that bright in real life) and Country 8 ply in Navy. I wanted to knit him another vest because it’s his 80th birthday this year and because I’m getting a bit bored with knitting him socks 3 times a year (birthday, christmas & father’s day), but he hasn’t worn the one I knitted him last year. He apparently has heaps of clothes he’s never going to wear because he won’t wear anything new until the stuff currently on rotation is so worn that Mum throws it out. Mum also insists that he loves the hand knitted socks I’ve done so far (not that he’d ever tell me himself, without me dragging it out of him).

I’m currently working on the LouLou comfort socks from the Fall 2004 Knitty Breast Cancer special for Mum for Mother’s Day. She’s been asking me for some little sockies for ages and these seem to fit the billOne done, one to go. I’m using some Patonyle in a defunct colourway that I’ve had for ages mixed with some white yarn I bought off eBay 18 months ago. I’m not entirely sure that it’s a successful combination. I’ll know for sure when I’ve finished the second sock and given them a wash. I have a suspicion that the white yarn might felt as soon as it looks at water, which makes it unsuitable for socks. I’m thinking of knitting another pair of these for Dad to wear as bed socks.

I also started another vest for Finn in Country 12 ply that I picked up super cheaply (like $1 a ball) at Spotlight. The yarn is in a blue (2230) which I didn’t think would be a good look for a little boy so I’ve been using it with some black stripes to try to toughen it up a bit, but I have my doubts. I’m currently debating whether to rip it out and and start again or not. All the sock knitting is helping me procrastinate about it.

And I’ve bought a swag of new yarn from The Knittery. Some sock yarn and a lot of 8 ply. The sock yarn is for socks for me and the 8 ply will probably go into gift knitting.

I know that photos are what makes all of this actually interesting. They’re coming. I just keep not getting around to taking them during the day and I’d rather do it in daylight so that the colours come up best.

The two of us April 13, 2006

I decided to keep Finn home from childcare today. He woke up really early and just seems very tired, so I figured a quiet day at home with Mum might be in order.

I do treasure the days I have all to myself and today would have been the last one until the week after next (Mark has next week off uni), but I really think the wee boy needs a break.

Of course, by Tuesday I’ll be more than happy to toss him through the door of the childcare centre and speed away in the car, but for now I like the idea of just him and I pottering around together.

At the beach April 11, 2006

Reactions to chooks April 10, 2006

Sarah asked about how the other animals have reacted to the chooks’ arrival. It’s been a bit varied.

At the moment the dogs are living in the part of the yard closest to the verandah, so there are 2 fences & gates between them and the chooks. They can see each other, but we’re keeping this arrangement in place until things settle a bit.

Indiana thinks they need to be wuffed at repeatedly to show them that she’s the boss of the house. She also thinks that Emmylou needs to be kept away from them, so she attacks her every time Em looks in their direction. I’m not sure Em is even all that aware that the chooks are there, given that she can’t get within 3 feet of the fence without being chased away.

Cosmo just stares at them balefully from the top of the cat run, while Zelda is using one of Indi’s tricks and refusing to acknowledge that the chooks even exist - we have invisible chickens.

Today Audrey & Lola are out of their house and foraging around in the weeds in their section of the yard. They’re having a great time and don’t seem at all fussed by anything the cats & dogs do. They’ve even tolerated having a toddler quite near them while he carrys on like a pork chop. They’re too busy eating and scratching to be bothered.

Introducing Audrey & Lola April 9, 2006

Audrey is on the left, with the darker chest.

Operation Chook Completed April 8, 2006

This afternoon Mark, Finn & I trundled off across the known world to Abundant Layers to select the latest additions to our menagerie.

My thinking on chooks had moved from large and calm to small and cute, but I was waiting until we actually got there to make up my mind. The chook woman immediately recommended ISA Browns, but we also looked at some Rhode Island bantams and another variety who were grey & very pretty. In the end we took up the original suggestion and went for 2 of the first ones we looked at. Apparently they’re very calm and easy to handle and that seemed like a good fit for beginners like us.

Their names are Audrey and Lola, after the neighbours who would arrive at 10 on the dot every morning for a cuppa with my mum. No pictures yet as the ladies need their beauty sleep, but they are most definitely gorgeous.

Spidey Update

I noticed over the last few days that Spidey was gradually moving down the wall, so I decided to leave her and her family to relocate themselves at their own pace. They were going at about a foot a day so I figured it might take a while.

Last night I noticed that she had stopped on the concrete directly in front of the door. A good spot to be stepped on by people or dogs, but I was reasonably confident that she would move on overnight.

When she was still there this morning I decided to give her some help using the long handled brush & pan we use outside. When I put the pan down near her I bumped her a little and expected her to scuttle off with her babies leaping off in all directions. A few babies jumped off, but Spidey just kind of staggered a bit. I suppose carrying all that extra weight is a big effort and she probably also can’t hunt very effectively while carrying them so she may not be feeling well.

In any case I scooped her and as many of the scuttling babies as I could up and deposited them under my Japanese Maple. I can’t see them in amongst the bark chips so I’ll chalk it up as a successful relocation.

Gardenshow April 7, 2006