Merino Wool

A Pinch and a Punch

A pinch and a punch! And a punch and a kick for being so quick.

It is the first day of June as I tap out this post. Therefore, the first day of winter. I have had a week already, or even the year. Can we be done yet?

Don’t worry, I am indeed being overly dramatic. I will improve when I get serious and put on my merino wool pants. I bought two pairs last year. The first I bought at a sample sale of a favourite merino wool shop based in Clifton Hill. The only thing I found wrong with them was that they needed hemming. Being height-challenged, I find this to be the norm anyway, so what’s the difference? I then went and bought another pair in black as soon as the spring sale started. I got them online, so I didn’t miss out.

I’m serious about my need to be warm these days and if I’m neck to ankle in warmth, I can’t feel anything and I can’t complain. It’s worth every cent.

I went out for lunch with a friend today and had a delicious lunch not far away in Northcote. Returned home, my friend gave me my once-yearly haircut. Now I’m rugged up on the couch, the youngest child, Freddie, snuggled into my side on top of the lap blanket. The heater is on. And I’ve much to blog about.

Trying not to fall asleep. It’s now 6pm and it’s going to be a struggle to make it. I know I didn’t achieve big things today, but I only had one coffee and I did go out. Not out, out, but outdoors. And it feels like a big achievement some days. And if I reward myself with a kip, it will backfire.

I am halfway through the year, still trying to tick things off the list for 2025. And I only just made my Christmas Day French toast. Take that, 2025.

It has now been over twelve months without my mobility scooter, and while winter is not the season to be out in the elements on a scooter, it still means no fangin’ it out to my not-too-far-away weekly acupuncturist appointments, or my fortnightly physio appointments close to the stabby appointments. Both are free, with no out-of-pocket cost. I’ve not been to either in nearly the year since the loss of my wheels. It means I’ve given up the appointments to better use the time or a carer and her wheels.

Catching up on hunter-gathering, getting to further-away appointments and letting the painful things build up. It seems I can’t do/have both at the same time.

The Absence of Light

I confess, toward the end of winter I did a little retail therapy at a merino wool sample sale. I bought this fantastic black jacket that is a bit more original Helen. A term I use to refer to me before my disability. If weather permits, I would live in black. It’s my favourite colour despite black not actually being a colour officially. It’s an absence of light. I’ll give you a moment to ponder this.

I have a good wardrobe of woollens these days as I can’t always put a jacket over warmer items and a full jumper just hikes up in all the wrong places. Or I can’t put my arms down as I resemble a penguin?