Domestic Blissless

Competition

2011-10-31T23:04:00.002Z

I am terrible for this lack of posting; I really should give the blog an entire overhaul but I really don't have time right now with work and uni and stuff.

In the meantime, here's a link to a fabulous competition that I really don't want everyone to enter as I want a shot at winning! Seriously, though, this dress is gorgeous and I have been drooling over it ever since it was first posted and it was co-designed by someone I both admire and know in a former life

Heyday Fleur dress competition

Gratuitous Lace

2011-08-18T14:25:00.001+01:00

Oh my, it's been a while again, hasn't it? Life, as always, is busy, what with work, planning holidays, applying for university stuff and choir. Oh and quite a bit of knitting.
Knitting doesn't always come easily to me. I enjoy it a lot but, unlike a lot of people, I find it very hard to do the mundane "TV" knitting (hence why the cardigan with OODLES of stocking stitch is still sat in the bag with 3/4 of one sleeve finished) To enjoy knitting (and a lot of other things in life), I need to push myself, to challenge my skills and do something that makes my brain think. And so I love lace. I love tackling the most complicated looking charts, breaking it down in my head and trundling on. I even enjoy the challenge of fixing mistakes in lace patterns, where I realise I've not got the right stitches quite 2 or 3 rows ago. Even rescuing dropped stitches has some enjoyment although I don't go as far as dropping them on purpose.

My latest project, having kept me amused and busy for a little while, is nearly done. It's now got to the horribly dull part of casting off and it's taking its toll. I don't think it helps that I have a deadline to get it finished and blocked by tomorrow and I have other things to do tonight. Half way there now...

Mobile Blogging

2011-06-30T09:34:00.001+01:00

As I have a shiny new-ish phone, it makes blogging on here a little easier so you might see a bit more of me but I make no promises.

As usual, life has been busy. Maybe one day it won't be but I'm not banking on that happening any time soon.

House Update

2011-02-20T22:08:00.002Z

Oh my, it's been a little while! I didn't mean to leave this blog so long; it's just that life seems to have gotten in the way a little bit.

I have done a lot of baking recently, as people seem to be very impressed with my muffins and chocolate brownie. I've also been busy learning how to Lindy Hop. It's lots of fun and I have a beginner's workshop coming up next weekend. I also have my St John Ambulance county dinner dance to look forward to, which will be fun.

Hopefully, I'm going to be able to move Peanut to the house next weekend. We've got the living room finished, we just need to get the floor sorted again in the utility room (some fun with the dishwasher). But it's very nice to have somewhere to sit that isn't a bed to write this blog post. Now, I should also be able to get on with knitting again.

I'll try to update more, although I have said that before!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-19T13:49:00.002Z

I've cut down on sending out Christmas cards this year to reduce wastage but I still want to say a special something to my friends:

Hope you have a very Merry Christmas

and

a wonderful New Year!

2010 has been a strange one for me with lots of ups and downs but I couldn't have done any of it without my friends and family

What the hell?

2010-12-11T22:10:00.002Z

How is it December? I've had so much going on in my life that I've barely had time to do it, never mind write about it! So, forgive me and maybe next year will be a better one for my blog!

Not Much to Report

2010-10-02T15:22:00.002+01:00

As it says, there's not much to report right now. I'm busy as always with work, the house etc and not getting enough knitting done, as usual.

I do, however, want to try and get back to writing so I shall try and make more effort to post photos etc.

Moved!

2010-08-08T15:25:00.002+01:00

We have moved! The house isn't totally done but I have a functioning bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and utility room. I will post photos in the near future but my washing machine is calling me! Bloody annoying beeping to be honest!

Time Flies

2010-07-07T17:36:00.002+01:00

Time flies when you're having fun! Or not so much fun just busy, busy, busy.

Things are mad here really. Lots of stuff has happened and I'm just very lazy blogging about it. At some point, I will have to have a good sit down and sort of photos and such as my Ravelry pages are suffering quite a bit too.

I've got stuff I want to do and say all the time and I really need to re-adjust my life a bit but that's not happening right now.

In more interesting news, the house is nearly liveable! I promise I will post photos when I get back to having some sanity in my life!

Domestic Updateless

2010-04-10T20:18:00.002+01:00

Sheesh, I really do seem to be falling off the edge of existence even more than I thought I was...I don't think it helps that I don't have an app on my phone for Blogger (do you hear that, Palm Pre developers; make me an app!)and I just end up briefly tweeting the random things that I may once have blogged about.

I don't know...I'm full of rant and talking and stuff but not very good at getting it down into words on the internet. There's plenty I could talk about, like new Who, or the Election or my thoughts on random internet fucktards but I'm lazy! Never did I have the reports at school with "must try harder" but it's what I feel someone marking my blog would say!

The problem is, I'm just not very interesting. I'm a geek, with very few close friends, but even worse is that I'm a bit of a fraud. I remember at uni, being surrounded by very cool, very clever people, I'd just nod and agree and try and act like I know what they're talking about. There's stuff I really know what I'm talking about and then there's the stuff that I know a bit and blag the rest but most of that is not the kind of thing you want me to talk about (anyone want a blagged WoW paladin conversation with me?!?!)

I just want to be honest to people but I hide behind a fear that if people realise how little I know, that they will stop listening to anything I have to say.

Really must try harder.

PS Is it just me or is Amy Pond really hot?!?!?!?

All Quiet on the North Western Front

2010-02-06T12:02:00.002Z

I'm sorry guys, I really am hopeless with this updating lark. I just don't seem to be in a writing mood these days, even though there is plenty going on in my life. I suppose I could summarise a little for those who care about what's going on with me at the moment:

- I might be doing an MSc in biomedical science through work. I'm not sure how it's going to work out or whether it'll even happen but I'm terrified at the idea of it!

- I'm happily levelling up a Blood Elf Paladin on WoW. Yes, I know it's one of the easy options but I find computer games hard enough without dying all the time too!

- I interviewed the singer from goth rock band Dommin last week and saw Lacuna Coil live again. They're still pretty damm awesome!

- I can touch type at a pretty reasonable speed now, thanks to free training through work

- Pythia have a few gigs coming up. Go look at their website for more details.

- I may be down in London at the end of Feb (see above)

- I'm going to be my lab's appointed first aider so I have to go on another training course, prob in April. It's also made me think about volunteering for St John's ambulance.

- My knitting is a slow process. Am busy with some slightly secret and uber geeky for a friend and have a cardigan on the go for me. Still need to block my Ishbel and also wondering when my pattern is being published, if it ever is!

And that is all for now.

Sorry...

2010-01-11T10:19:00.002Z

I seem to have fallen off the edge of the planet, haven't I?

It's not that things haven't been happening, I just haven't been in the mood to write about them and I'm still not really. Just here to say that I'm still alive and that, currently, 2010 sucks. I'm sure it can only get better though.

Guilt Free Knitting

2009-12-02T20:59:00.003Z

And for my 100th post...

2009-11-22T16:31:00.001Z

...I shall declare that World of Warcraft has me sucked in!

Earthen Ring Undead Mage herbalist/alchemist level 12 at this point

I may be planning other characters.

Trying to Stay Awake

2009-11-14T16:46:00.005Z

As usual, I am too tired. Don't know what's up with me right now, apart from the obvious slight down I've been having recently (slight might be an understatement but I seem to be ok for now again). Lots has been going on and I still have lots to do. I should be writing reviews and not my blog but I've got the feature done so just 3 CDs and a DVD to do...eep! Plus pattern tweaks, again!

I thought I could update with some photos though. Firstly, some from the gig. Sorry there's not one of Marc but the lighting was bad and Andy was taking up far too much of the stage to get a decent shot of the drummer! So here are Pythia, in most of their glory, with the new costumes by Veil of Visions and new banners, courtesy of Tom.

I didn't have as good a time at the gig as I should have as I let a few stupid things get to me but it did make realise that I need to stop moaning about the dream I've had for years and just get on and do something about it.

Anyway...on the knitting side of things, I have done squares of Laura's baby shower blanket, a felted purse, my Liesl is done, a mini sock, a hat and fingerless mitts that kind of go together and have bought yarn. I'm also knitting more bloody socks!

Not sure what else to say really. Loving my new phone and my number is getting transferred soon. Listening to film soundtracks too much. Not sleeping enough. Thinking about getting a second cat when we move. That is all...

Actually, that is not all. My new Donovan's Darlings set, Knitting in Nylons is live!

Too Much

2009-11-08T14:04:00.003Z

I have too much going on and not enough hours in the day. I'm currently sat in London as there's a Pythia gig tonight. I've got lots of writing to do. I'm reviewing lots for Bubblegum Slut, including a feature piece. Plus I'm writing for a new magazine called Metal Sanctuary. I'm trying to chase up people for reviewing gigs as I don't have my old contacts any more and that's a bit of a pain. And of course I have patterns to design and write up. And all the knitting!

Yesterday was a good day as I went to the Manchester Yarn Collective's 1st yarn day where I managed to get stuff for my swap partner and perhaps a gorgeous skein of yarn for myself (shhh, don't tell anyone). Definitely worth dragging myself out on a Saturday for.

I still have stuff to take photos of plus my phone to talk about (I'm on it right now) but I must go and get on with some writing.

Spending...

2009-10-30T11:37:00.002Z

All I seem to do right now is spend money. Granted, most of that is on the house, so it's not all that bad but it just seems to be a common theme. The house is actually moving on quite well at the moment, as we should have the plastering finished by next week and we're ordering kitchens and appliances soon. We still need to organise a boiler to be fitted and sort out the bathroom, plus buy tiles and decorate. The floors in the bathroom, hall and kitchen all need sanding and then we have lots of decorating to do. And instead of the money trickling away like it has been, it's going to disappear very quickly. But it needs to be done so we can try and get the house remotely finished. It's pretty scary really and I think we're going to be waiting a while to get it fully finished but at least it feels like it's getting somewhere now. Our biggest problem is the front windows though. We still don't know what to do about them. We had the back ones repleaced with uPVC and we were thinking of trying to repair the front ones as they are wooden frames but one of them is very badly damaged and I've been thinking that it'd be easier to get them replaced but the cost involved is going to be pretty scary, I think and I'm not sure about uPVC on the front. Off to look for more places to quote!

My New Phone

2009-10-20T22:51:00.002+01:00

So, I've got a new phone, the Palm Pre to be exact. I may blog more on the subject soon but it is time for bed and I am still ill. Back at work but still not brilliant. Plus I want to wait to give you my full opinion as I'm having teething problems that should be sorted soon. Hopefully!

I also have other exciting news but I can't talk about it yet. Sorry.

Goodnight for now

PS If you're interested, my number's not changing but, for the moment, is on my old phone.

Ill...again...and again

2009-10-16T14:06:00.002+01:00

This is becoming a bit of a theme for me lately, although it doesn't normally wipe me out so much. I was feeling a bit achey all of last week and not very happy on Saturday but I wasn't too bad and felt ok when I got up on Monday so I went to London for the Pythia album launch party and caught up with some friends (which was more than a lovely surprise). But I started to lose my voice and was coughing a lot so I stuck to mainly water and thought I'd be ok. I don't think the tightly laced corset helped much but I had a good time. And then I felt bareable on Tuesday...well, I didn't have much choice but to deal until I got my train home at 8pm. But I've spent a far amount of time in bed since, feeling miserable and barely able to knit. And I've still got the chesty cough. And I feel pretty down with it all.

So sorry for the lack of photos, happy thoughts and such. I have FOs and yarn to photograph and I really can't be bothered. Meh....

Photo catch up

2009-10-04T13:20:00.002+01:00

Here's some photos of my holiday in Edinburgh, various FOs and a couple from Bloodstock:

HPV Vaccine

2009-10-03T09:08:00.002+01:00

Normal service will resume, one day. I'm just not feeling as inspired as I should do to write nice long, pretty posts about my knitting etc. Weird frame of mind at the moment, I think. But I am still knitting, you'll be happy to know, although I have come to the conclusion that I don't want to do a sock club again. I love the Socktopus club and getting yarn and patterns and goodies every so often but I don't like the pressure I put myself under to get the socks knitted so that I ignore everything else I want to knit too.

Anyway...this post was not meant to be about all of that. It's meant to be about my feelings and opinions on the HPV vaccine, plus some counter arguments to a website mulene pointed me in the direction of.

My involvement with the HPV vaccine was that I was part of the phase 3 trial of GlaxoSmithKline's Cervarix vaccine. It was a four year trial that I started on about 5 years ago at the Manchester centre. When I was unblinded at the end of the trial, it turned out that I'd had the placebo (a hep A vaccine) but was offered the chance of having the HPV vaccine and I jumped at it. The basics of the trial were that I was given 3 injections (0, 1 and 6 months), having a pregnancy test before each one and had regular smears and blood tests throughout the 10 visits of the trial. Yes, I was paid for my time but not an extortionate amount and I had normally forgotten all about it until the trial nurse got out the money paperwork. I also had to answer questionnaires and read and sign updated info on the vaccine. When Merck were given licensing earlier, I was informed and given the opportunity to leave the trial and pay for that vaccine privately. At no time was I pressurised to stay on the trial and if I had questions, they were answered quickly. I knew I'd get followups if there were any problems with smears of my HPV status and I developed a good relationship with the trial nurse. I really feel that it was something important to be part of and I was delighted when they announced a vaccination programme in the UK.

But then I was informed of this website. Alongside the hysteria that will have ensued due to the tragic death of Natalie Morton, I thought I had to say something. Firstly, my heart goes out to Natalie's family and I thank them for being very open about her cause of death. The vaccine wasn't the cause, just a horrible coincidence. Secondly, if you are a parent and have any doubts about this vaccine, think about this statistic: 1 in 3 people with cervical cancer die. If I can do anything to reduce the chance that I might get HPV then I will do.

Obviously, things are not so simply and there are a lot of factors to take into consideration. Like the fact that they have no idea if boosters are going to be needed. That data just isn't available, although the latest published figures show immunity for at least 6.4 years. Due to the fact smear tests are still very necessary along with the vaccination, I'm sure it will be something looked into at those points. I don't hear people complaining that tetanus jabs have to be done periodically so I don't really see why this is any different for those who take care of their health. Other people seem very bothered about why the NHS chose Cervarix over Gardisil. To be honest, I don't know the full details and they're not readily available but the two vaccines both protect at least as well as each other against HPV 16 and 18 and those are the cancer causing ones. Chances are, money is involved but that doesn't mean Cervarix isn't as good. It was just licensed slightly later and most countries who have introduced vaccination programmes started theirs before Cervarix was fully licensed. A lot of this has to do with the way Merck chose to run their trial once the results looked promised; they chose to unblind early and GSK did not. But Holland are also using Cervarix in their programme and it has been licensed in lots of other countries too. Why would countries and the NHS put people at risk if it didn't look like it was safe?

Of course there are side effects when having the vaccine; there are for most vaccines. My arm was really, really painful when I had my doses but it's worth the discomfort and it was the same for other potentially life saving vaccinations I've had. There are obviously going to be some more serious reactions because there will always be someone who is unfortunately allergic to the vaccine but trained medical staff administer the vaccination and, if there are problems, they will deal with them promptly. I have heard of deaths they think are related to the vaccines (actually, mainly in America where they are using Gardisil) but a lot of them have been fetal deaths. There is a warning saying that you shouldn't have the vaccination whilst pregnant as I believe the effects are largely unknown (it's not something you take risks with as part of a trial).

I think one of largest concerns are that the vaccine was not trialled on the age range of girls who are now being vaccinated. This is a problem but, whilst talking to the trial nurse at Manchester, she explained how hard it was getting 15 and 16 year olds involved. It's because of the parental consent issue as HPV is sexually transmitted and parents don't want to think about their little girl having sex. But think about how you'd feel if your daughter died from cervical cancer? All drugs have to be trialled and it's often hard to know of the possible outcomes with different age groups and what will happen a long way down the line but most vaccines are based on several well established methods of action and most vaccinations are given at a young age so that they have the most benefit. The HPV vaccines are more effective if given before the person becomes sexually active so they have to start young. That isn't to say it doesn't have any effect if given later, just if you already have HPV, it won't get rid of it.

I think a lot of the statements made on that website are unfortunately going to make people worry. The website is run by a mother, who does not seem to have a heath background. There is a disclaimer on the site about not reading it as medical advise (and I will be posting similar) but I think it is likely to be read by other confused parents and make matters worse. And this will end up like the MMR jab were thousands of confused parents chose not to get their children vaccinated and then people died unnecessarily from measles. The pockets of the NHS are not lined with money from GSK (if they were, we wouldn't be having funding problems) and thus they will give out information based on the facts that are known. Yes, we don't know the long term effects but would it be ethical to deny possibly life saving treatment is that we could run the trial for 10, 20, 30, 50 etc years?

My main point of all of this is to say to parents and young women: make an informed decision. Talk to doctors and nurses, read information on reliable websites (I'll make a list at the bottom), think about the benefits, risks and consequences and above all, remember to get your smear test regularly. Just as we say, check your breasts and bodies carefully for changes, do the sensible thing and get yourself checked out fully too. It might be annoying, it might be uncomfortable but at the end of the day, it can save your life. Oh, and practice safe sex. Condoms are the only thing that will reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections AND pregnancy. Nothing it full proof (well, abstinence is) but you can dramatically reduce your risk.

Websites I suggest looking at:

http://www.cervarix.co.uk/ - if you have any understanding of more scientific talk, take a look at the heathcare professionals section too. This site is run by GSK

http://www.immunisation.nhs.uk/Vaccines/HPV

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HPV_vaccine - read with some caution as Wikipedia can be edited by anyone.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/HPV-vaccination - more NHS stuff

http://www.gardasil.com/ - Merck's website on their vaccine

http://www.fightcervicalcancer.org.uk - NHS Scotland's site on the vaccine

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/cervix/?a=5441

http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/

http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2009/03/18/behind-the-headlines-hpv-vaccines-and-cervical-cancer/

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or practising healthcare worker who should be giving out medical advice and thus anything that is said on this blog is personal opinion and summisation from the information available out there. Please see a registered practitioner for proper advice and information. I am also not paid by GSK (I was reimbursed by they as part of the trial), NHS (well, I am for my job) or any other organisation to condone the vaccination. I have personal opinions on this and if you choose not to again, that is your prerogative but if required, please make an informed decision rather than one based on media hysteria.

Cat Attack

2009-09-26T15:58:00.001+01:00

I was going to try and update a bit more properly but I have a cat wedged in between me and the laptop so I'll give up for now!

Gah....

2009-09-19T18:30:00.002+01:00

It wasn't intentional leaving my blog for a month! I've just been busy and ill and not really up to writing much, which is a problem as I have 3 CD reviews to do as a favour to a friend very shortly.

I'm sure lots of things have happened since I last blogged but I can't really remember the finer details. We went away to Edinburgh and had a good time. Went to K1 yarns and visited my grandma (and ran into my brother in the process). It was my dad's 60th birthday so we went out for a big meal for that and he liked his socks that I gave him too. Pythia have been very busy with sorting out publicity and such for their album release (on the 12th October). They had a gig in Manchester, that was pretty shambolic (not on their part, thankfully) and they're having an album launch party on 12th. I'm hoping to go along (it's at the Intrepid Fox in London) so if you fancy it, or fancy meeting up on the Monday or Tuesday, let me know.

And now I'm ill with a stinking cold and should have taken the week off work but I'm far too busy with getting stuff done. I've nearly been there a year, which is weird coz it doesn't feel that long.

The house is on standby at the moment. Plasterers are a pain and don't want to go the job they've quoted for. So we plod along.

And Andy is away all weekend so I'm home, vaguely alone, feeling sorry for myself. Maybe I should just go and fondle my yarn stash!

In Other News...

2009-08-19T08:47:00.000+01:00

...I was on the news last night, talking about student debt.

Oh, and we finally booked a holiday for the beginning of September. We're off to Edinburgh for a few days so if you have any suggestions of what to do, let me know.

Plus it's my mum's birthday today so I can blog about the socks I gave her sometime soon. I really need to get back into this blogging thing again!

Bloodstock

2009-08-18T22:17:00.002+01:00

So, I ended up going to Bloodstock after all, even though I wasn't meant to be. I won a pair of VIP tickets, X-Box 360 and Guitar Hero (not that I have them at the moment). It was fun, Pythia were actually awesome for once and drinking and bitching with Lorna was excellent. Everyone now actually realises I have anger issues. And I am blunt...but why shouldn't I be? I'm not blunt enough unfortunately though as there's plenty of stuff I should say to people but then they really would spend all their time treating me like crap and not just some of it. I do still need to complain to Travelodge though for the most miserable, horrible place I've ever stayed (well, apart from some horrible motels in the USA). And the Little Chef was depressing too.

On the knitting front, I have finished Clover and started Liesl! Yay!