Saturday 27 August 2011

New Beginnings (and this time I mean it!)

Anyone who has known me for a while (and if you've stuck around you have my thanks for your patience!) will know that for the past few years I've been going through a particularly gruelling insurance process following a brain injury.
Thankfully on Wednesday this came to an end in a highly pressurised game of Deal or no Deal that lasted 7 hours in a windowless, underground room. I could take the bankers offer and run or I could stick it out for another two years during which I was promised (threatened?) things would get much nastier. As they had already been pretty nasty - being followed by private detectives, having my post box rummaged through at 3 am, being forced to try treatment that made me worse, having every aspect of my medical and personal history raked over, being squeezed financially to the point of homelessness and being unable to afford food, being lied about, threatened and even blackmailed - my mind boggled as to how things could get even worse.
So, with great relief I decided to take the money and run, or in my case stagger, home. I've been so shattered I can barely take it in but finally it's dawning that all the energy I expended on the insurance reports and rehabilitation can now be channeled back into writing and that, more than any amount of money, is what is making me happy :-)
Now I can finish that requested full (finally!) and maybe even dip a toe in the waters of New Voices. Just for fun though as I've been way too sick lately to sign myself up for the kind of rosemania that swept the internet waves last year ;-)

And in case you were wondering what I've been up to all this time, well even though I've been unable to face a computer screen my creativity still insisted on finding an outlet and these are a few of the things I've made this year. It's patchwork but not as my nan would know it...


8 comments:

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

I'm so glad the nasty stuff's over - and so very proud of the way you've coped with it all.

Just love the patchwork. Are you selling them like you did with the handbags?

XX

Kat said...

When you put it like that, you should prosecute the buggers. Am so glad it's all over for you.
Love love love the patchwork - is the second one your place in Scotland?
I adore the patchwork animals!

Rachael Johns said...

I adore all those patchworks. I've ALWAYS wanted to learn how to patchwork. And I'm so glad all that stress is over for you. xox

Scarlet Wilson said...

Lorraine honey, glad to know you've taken the money and run!!!
About time, glad it's all over for you.
I am really looking forward to your New Voices entry this year!

Sally Clements said...

Golly, Lorraine, your patchwork stuff is gorgeous! I'm so glad it's all over, you've had a rotten time, but now you can relax, recover and do what you want to do, rather than have to face all that every day. woo!

Jackie Ashenden said...

Lorraine, I didn't know you did quilting! That's beautiful. Aren't you clever? So glad you're coming to the end of all this stuff - you so deserve some R&R. Big hugs, m'dear.

Lorraine said...

Thanks Suz, I haven't been selling but have plenty of orders from friends and family!

Hi Jo, I'm glad it's over too :-) Yes, it is my house in Scotland, didn't plan it that way but when it was finished i realised I had subconsciously done my own house!

Thanks Rach - patchwork is easy to learn, I learnt the basics from my nan but now do free drawing to make my own desgns.

Thank you Scarlet - I'm looking forward to writing my entry (!) but have at least made a start now!

Think it's finally sinking in Sally - was so tired to begin with I could hardly be happy.

Hi Jackie, lovely to see you, you are always good for my ego :-)

Romy Sommer said...

Those are gorgeous. Is the second one of your crofter's cottage? You are so clever!