Extreme Knitting Redhead: Allie & a marathon

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Allie & a marathon

I loved the look of this shawl by Wood House Knits when I first saw it so delved into my stash and found the perfect combination of yarns:

Left to right: 'Beauty' sock 4ply yarn from Lime Green Jelly on Etsy, 'Stormy fat lace/skinny sock (held double) from Debonnaire at Ally Pally last year, 'Spiced Plum' Fyberspates Vivacious 4ply

i-cord cast-on with 3 stitch i-cord edging at each side (photo before blocking)

i-cord cast-on with 3 stitch i-cord edging at each side (photo after blocking)

3 stitch i-cord edging on reverse (photo after blocking)

Starting the mosaic stitch section - front

Starting the mosaic stitch section - reverse

I enjoyed the mosaic stitch section so much that I did an extra pattern repeat

It's such a simple yet absorbing stitch pattern

Tilly helped enormously

I loved watching the sections develop

For the final section I started to do the mosaic stitch but ripped it back as the contrast of the paler colour looked better, which of course the designer knew all along! I also thought I might like to add pompoms to the 3 points but Mike shook his head and said it looked better without (I might not be fully convinced about that yet........)

It will be having its first outing very soon!

My Favourite Trail marathon

A few days before the Beachy Head marathon, Sussex County Council issued a safety warning because another huge crack had developed along part of the 7 Sisters (the group of hills we traverse near the end of the marathon).

As a result of this the Race Director re-routed us away from that section but sadly some tourists still ventured close to the cliff edge!

This is always a very sociable event with lots of runners I know taking part, plus of course the lovely Ant Bliss and his crew from Sussex Sports Photography taking photos of us. Traviss asked us all to wear our Mega Marathoners tee shirts so we could have a group photo at the start (I opted for my pink flamingo cap for a change!):

Although it was cold at the start, the weather was perfect with bright sunshine and just a bit of a breeze to freshen us up. The views were stunning and I really had to resist spending all my time taking snaps.

It was incredibly congested at the start as it seemed that a lot of walkers had started too near to the front and after we'd scrambled up the first hill it was impossible to get going properly for the first 1.5 miles. There was also a hold-up at each road crossing. No worries though as I wasn't looking for a specific time, just a lovely day out in the beautiful countryside. I chatted with lots of different people throughout, got hugs from marshalls/chums and a kiss from Ant when he spotted me coming towards him as he crouched down taking photos.

Here are my photos taken at various intervals throughout:

Spot the White Horse of Litlington in the distance, far left

I loved the folds of the land in this valley

I always take a photo of this field as each time it seems to have been mown or planted in a different way to create beautiful patterns

Looking over the Rathfinney vineyard Litlington

The talented duo entertaining us outside the pub at the checkpoint before Cuckmere Haven

Beautiful Cuckmere Haven shimmering in the sunlight

Heading out of Cuckmere Haven up the 1st of the 7 Sisters

Looking back down from whence we'd come!

The colour of the sea was magical

Despite warnings to stay away from the edge of the cliff, as the chalk is unstable and liable to fall into the sea, these Japanese tourists still risked their lives by posing for photos right on the edge!

Marathon 159 completed in 6:39:57

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Mum's Story

In 1997 my mother, then aged 81, had a series of minor strokes. Shortly after that we started to notice behavioural changes notably memory loss and confusion over everyday items. We thought it was just old age finally catching up with her. Then she started wandering and had violent mood swings. Although she already lived with us it became obvious that she couldn't be left alone for long and so I left my job to care for her. The next few years saw a gradual decline into the blackness that is 'vascular dementia'. My normally placid mum became violent and aggressive. She had psychotic incidents where she would see imaginary people (children hiding in her wardrobe, Russians sitting on the stairs, women stealing her clothes) and she would shout at them and sometimes throw things too. She was so convincing that we used to go and check that there wasn't anyone there! When my sister died mum did not know who Judy was or that she was her daughter. There came a point when I suddenly realised she no longer knew that I was her daughter and this was a terrible time for me. In the last 2 years that she lived with us, life for us all became almost unbearable as she needed 24 hour care - she couldn't be left alone at all because she would either wander off or hurt herself, she never slept for more than 30 minutes at a time during the night, she became incontinent and incapable of doing anything for herself. Finally my husband and I realised that we could no longer provide her with the care that she needed and she went to live in a special care home where the team did a splendid job caring for her in the last few months of her life. There she lived a zombified existence unaware of who she was, what she was or where she was. It was heartbreaking. She died in March 2005, the day after her 89th birthday.

Thank you for taking the time to read mum's story and I hope you'll dig deep and sponsor me using the link below to help find a way of beating this destructive disease.