Thursday 28 November 2013

Beating the Glums



Oh isn't it annoying, when you just can't drag yourself out of the Glums? Especially when you know that really, if you are honest, you don't have much to be glum about. In the Great Scheme of Things sinus troubles do not rank terribly high, and at the moment I can't say there is even much pain, just a dull discomfort, because , yes, once again I am on a course of antibiotics; infection nailed - swelling goes, acute pain abates. However, four days or so after the course ends the symptoms return and so the whole cycle begins again. And I guess until I get my ENT appointment at the hospital that is how it will continue.  So, you know, no-one died, I'm not on the critical list, and I can cope with the symptoms. But actually you do become a bit weary, and just want to bury yourself at home, go nowhere, see no-one. I'm very fortunate that my good friend Yvonne did the ferrying about last Friday and Saturday, or I wouldn't have got to Harrogate or to Jane-Ann's.


So I have been hunkered down at home for ages - no Mollying, no box lesson, even no weekly musical soiree with Rob and Marj last night - pootling about doing a bit of cooking and housework, and spending quite a bit of time in my sewing room.


 Audio book on the machine, surrounded by colourful yarn, threads, and fabric, it is quite soothing and spirit - lifting. Here, then, are some peeps at what I've been up to. It's cheered me up, I hope it does the same for you if you' re having your own personal Glums!


Another pincushion completed - and spoken for - and a couple more in the pipe-line.


A few more bangles completed, trying various colour combinations.





I started this quilt some years ago. It had been put away and almost forgotten. I just felt the need to spend some time gently quilting, and this quilt, with its soft flannel fabrics, was just the ticket. I've added some appliquéd text to the border as well. All in all it has been a very comforting, cosy reunion.

So, even an attack of the Glums can have its productive side, and it has been quite satisfying gathering this little lot together to photograph. How do you deal with the Glums when they arrive at your door?

28 comments:

  1. oh lynne - i can understand that it gets you down - i'm exactly the same with my knees - i can get so miserable and then i only have to watch the news and i feel really guilty - i cried today at the thought of little old ladies and gents being cold when i can put the heating at any time - they worked all their lives probably but only have the state pension - no company pensions then!!! lets just hope your appointment comes through sooner rather than later and it can be sorted - in the meantime i think you have been very industrious (???!!) with your sewing - i've said it before but i adore your pin cushions and - i know it will sound daft but - i hadn't thought of tacking the felt pieces on first - that would make it a lot easier - i can sew but i'm not a sewer obviously - you have shown me how to attempt one myself - what do you stuff them with please? take care and keep warm and if you get fed up of audio books they show lots of lovely soppy films at this time of year on the telly in the afternoons!!!! lynne xx

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    1. Thanks for your lovely comment, Lynne. I know, I feel guilty as soon as the complaint has passed my lips. But there we are.
      The pincushions - right, I stitch the little circles onto the 2nd layer first. Then I stitch THAT layer to the main piece - it means you don't have to stitch through too many layers. And yes, I started by tacking the pieces together, but nowadays I just pin because I've got used to handling the pieces and can make them quicker now. Mind you I don't make them like a mini production line I would get very bored that way! Lx

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  2. I know that infected sinuses are miserable, never mind the constant flow of green mucus, the constant pain gets to you. Any chronic condition is tiring and it does grind you down. I get the blue devils and become " a bear chewing a wasp" or sink into apathy. My remedy is a good walk with Ben followed by a play in the kitchen and then a session with fabric. I make sure to wear my brightest colours, I have ended up with purple tights and red shoes, a bright blue/green checked dress with a red polo-neck under it.

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    1. The weird thing, Pam ,is that there is no flow, green or otherwise! No head cold no sense of congestion - which is why I want it sorted. A good walk is probably a good idea - the apathy is the worst thing and I slide easily into it. BTW you would be a good recruit to the Mollys in that get up! Beautiful colour scheme!

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  3. Feeling guilty about having the glums is par for the course isn't it as there are always those worse off than oneself but I fnd that the guilt just adds another thing to be glum about too! I passed a little pile of blankets neatly rolled under a bridge on Monday in London and felt sad that somebody had nowhere warmer to lie down that night and it was freezing. I love your handiwork and that bracelet in shades of orange and pink would certainly be cheering - I adore it. This time of year often brings the black dog calling to many of us and when you feel under the weather with sinus problems it is not easy to be cheerful I'm sue. Do hope that your appointment comes soon and that there will be some solution to your problem. I find a walk helps me but of course the weather is not always conducive to that option in November!

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    1. A brisk walk seems to be the order if the day! Certainly the warmth and colours of my fabric/wool stash is my main comfort and stay at the moment. Lx

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  4. You are right, it is most annoying and oh so easy to feel in the dumps. Usually a walk does it for me. Sometimes I go to Sandringham and give my favourite, hairy tree a good hug!

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    1. Another vote for the brisk walk, eh? If only I was a natural strider-outer!

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  5. Well the glums are well and truly with me... very weepy yesterday all down to pinning my hopes on a medical professional being able to sort out my problems, only to find he has made them worse and I need to see someone else, but can't for a couple of weeks. Lots of clinic appointments, blood tests and so on in the next week or so, and definitely not in the mood for my birthday next week.... but since birthdays are a bit of a non-event in our house, it won't really matter. What do I do with the glums... depends how bad it is and I go through stages. Initially yesterday I wanted to go and kick seven shades of whatsit out of this person that let me down.... then I got the weepy bit... then stuck into a piece of chocolate cheesecake which I shouldn't really eat but what the heck... now reading and crafting and hunkering down on the sofa by the fire.
    And to be frank, even knowing there are others worse off doesn't make any difference at all. But it is so rare for me to get the glums, it probably hits harder when it happens. It will pass, everything does.
    Hope you get painfree for Christmas!

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    1. Hello Edwina, nice to 'meet' you. I think the best bit of advice is something I have learned the hard way - and that is - everything changes. Eventually the feelings pass away and moods shift. Then the thing is just to keep on top of the physical manifestations if you can; the thing is when things drag on you lose the will to gee yourself up yet again. Hoping you too manage to keep on top of things and that your appointments arrive in good time.

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  6. I think a wonderful collection of attractive and colourful hand made items would lift the spirits of any crafter :-)

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    1. You are right, Kath, just need to keep on top of the accompanying apathy and get stuck into something interesting.

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  7. Hello Lynne, thank you for your comment on my blog. Yes, that kind of ongoing, low level illness can be very trying. But it seems to have made you very creative!

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    1. Hi Gillian, yes, the colour helps - colour therapy!

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  8. Do not feel guilty about saying you feel unwell. We could all do the "someone else is always worse off than you" line but at the same time saying you feel glum and ill is not a crime it is the truth. I think anything to do with the head whether it be eyes, ears, throat, nose etc can be very painful and affect your sleep. We should have the capacity to offer a bit of sympathy whatever it might be. So I am sending you virtual hugs and hope you come out of the other side of it soon.
    xx

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    1. Thank you so much for your lovely post. I know, I KNOW all about the 'some one always worse off' thingy - I used to say it to my mum's when I was Health Visiting, all the time, when they would feel guilty about having Post Natal Depression. So yes, I know, but you still feel it away, dont you! Than you for your hugs and kind words. xx

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  9. Meant to ask where you find your lovely flannel material pieces?

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    1. Oh gosh, that's a hard one, Edwina! I've had those fabrics for so long - more than 10 years I'd say. Probably from the various quilt shows I've been to - I certainly can't remember the shop names. I may have bought some fro our local fabric shop in Kings Lynn - the Fent Shop, not a quilt shop but they have a wide variety.

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  10. Oh dear you need to stay snuggled up indoors with plenty of warm drinks and hopefully feel better soon. I always want to hibernate and disappear from the world for a few days when I'm under the weather.

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    1. Yes, I gradually disappeared from view, Jay! Being more philosophical about it now - or trying to. Just so irritated by the lack of info from the hospital.

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  11. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!! And look what lovely colourful crafty works you are producing! I sympathise with the glums, but hopefully they will get sorted and life will be great again! I have just had a brilliant 4 days in Rome , and a great day out at the West Country quilt show- offset a little by the fact that my dad is very poorly and hospitalised- cant imagine life without him- but tomorrow is another day and I have so much to be thankful for.
    Very best wishes for a speedy recovery Lynne
    Heather x

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    1. Oh Heather, I do hope things go well for your dad. This is what I mean by feeling guilty about mooching when really nothing very terrible has happened. But that doesn't mean can't enjoy it when good things come your way - so pleased you had a lovely time in Rome, lucky you! Lx

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  12. Oh I do hope you get out of the glums soon as your sinus problem is sorted out. It's awful when you have something that just nags at the back of your mind and you can't be yourself. At least you can dive into your crafts and spend the time creating such beauties! xx

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    1. Hi Chel - yes, and we had a lovely night out on Friday which cheered me up no end. Will be posting about it later on. Lxx

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  13. I hope you are able to get your sinus problems sorted. It's lovely to see your work, it definately cheers me up! There's always the next project to get your teeth into, and the next.....
    As for my clouds, well I tend to try distraction and I find going out into town, maybe to the library is a positive thing. I'm not good when I'm ill, I tend not to slow down and try to ignore symptoms, until I end up in a heap - and then ask for help!

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    1. Thanks Felicity, for your comments. I am on the up - slightly - but still have an age to wait to be seen. I spent a lot of time at work 'carrying on' when I should have gone off sick, it doesn't do you any good ultimately. Lovely cloth and colourful threads have been a BIG help!

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  14. I do hope you're feeling better now Lynne x

    So much gorgeous colour in this post again ... gorgeous stuff :D

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    1. Much better thanks, Annie, and you just slipped this comment in as I was posting the next post! Lxx

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