Puppy hippy knitty news

So. I dropped past the Surgical Bookings office at the hospital today, just to see where I was on the waiting list for my hip replacement (cos using crutches all the time is getting old real fast).

And they say "Well, you're Category 3a, so it could be a while yet ..." - WTF? Uh. NO. I very sweetly ask (honest, I didn't get mad, ask Dotter!) if they could check that, as I'm supposed to be Category 2a (ie much more urgent, condition deteriorating). And sure enough, there, tucked away in some file on their wretched computer, is the letter from my surgeon from July ... which they hadn't done anything about.

So it's been fixed, and I have a rough date : November. Even if some Category 1 (ie super urgent) patients come onto his list, it'll only push me back a little. So the soonest would be in 6 weeks, the latest in 10 weeks. I'll still believe it when I see it.

Yay for hospital bureaucracy, hey?

On the knitting front I've finished these :

I wasn't aware that with ribbed socks it's a good idea to change to a smaller needle size for the ankles - they are rather baggy around there, unfortunately. But it's my own made-up-as-I-go-along pattern, so only myself to blame! Kaffe Fasset's Regia sock yarn, utterly stunning colours, and a joy to wear :)

And this is nearly done too, a Super Ben cape for my nephew Ben. I've actually finished the cape, it just needs an i-cord tie for the neck, and washing / blocking.

He's nearly 4, and - more importantly - is about to become a Big Brother. This is for him when his new baby arrives in a few weeks. I haven't done intarsia for ages, this one was fairly painless. Pattern is from New Knits on the Block (Rav link).

Young Petal had a play date with her sister Alexis last week, after being brave at the vet (heartworm vaccination). She's a whole 1.3 kg now (about 2.8 lb), and the vet thinks she's unlikely to get all the way to 2 kg! Much smaller than our last chihuahua, Lily.


The book is basically all done now - yaaaaaaay! They've even updated the Product Description so it's (gasp) accurate. I still have to write content for the online 'cheat sheet', and 50 more cryptograms for Wiley marketing to use, all by next week, but the worst of it is over :)

And I had a delightful birthday last weekend - thank you everyone who sent greetings and birthday wishes and cards and everything! Will do a separate post to show off the birthday goodies :)