Written in 2010 after returning from India ... We've been back home for a busy, frantic and FREEZING 15 days. When we left Gurgaon the temperature was ranging from 31c - 49c. Here in Pukerua Bay it's ranging from about 3c - 12c. Just a wee bit of a contrast there! To make life a little more interesting than it is already conspiring to be, a week or so before we got home our heat pump died. Pat had arrived home from University in Auckland to a double whammy 'Welcome Home!' First up was the pump followed closely by a really wonderful chaser of discovering that the linen cupboard had been invaded by mice...
So, his first 10 days at home were spent; and he was supposed to be on study leave for his final exams during this time, running diagnostics on the heat pump to work out if it was salvageable and doing dozens of loads of washing. Now this wouldn't have been a big problem for him under normal circumstances but it just so happened that the weather took a nasty turn just as he arrived home and it rained non-stop which made things a trifle more challenging. After Pat finally managed to establish that the heat pump was most probably terminal he called in our supply company to quote for a replacement unit. Great. Sorted. New unit ordered and eagerly awaited.... trouble is the install date was 10 days after Geri and I were due home. Hmmm. This was a problem; not for Pat, but because he knew Geri and I wouldn't cope without heating for that long.
The reason that lack of heating isn't much of a problem for Pat is that he is well known as a bit of a polar bear within our circle of family and friends. He very rarely feels the cold - and has been like that from day one. When I was pregnant with him I knitted and sewed all manner of warm baby clothing as he was due mid winter. His unique 'antifreeze for blood' properties first became apparent a few days after he was born as he was a rather large baby; especially his head, and I had knitted a newborn size layette for him to wear home from hospital. Not one to admit defeat, I managed to cram the jacket and bonnet onto him; and it took a truly heroic effort to get the bonnet on, for his trip home from hospital. Geri subsequently grew into this same outfit when she was one year old - my two offspring are polar opposites in so many ways!
All good? Happy baby? NOT! By the time we arrived home Pat was a beetroot red squalling bundle of fury. Being a first time mum I did all of the prescribed 'to-dos' and finally tried peeling some of his clothing off. This instantly pushed his reset button and he calmed down. Over the next few weeks I learned that Pat needed very little in the way of wrapping up. When she made her first call to see us, the Plunket nurse was horrified to find my newborn in just a nightgown and a single blanket. Inviting her to put what she thought was an appropriate amount of clothing/bedding on him, I took cover behind the door and waited with baited breath for Pat to oblige me with one of the truly remarkable performances I was coming to understand were part of his daily routine. He didn't disappoint and in short order became his own version of Mt Vesuvius until admitting defeat, the Plunket nurse sheepishly undid all of her 'good' work.
And so, we return to the lack of heating dilemma. Pat solved this by buying a portable gas heater for the lounge and borrowing an oil filled heater for Geri's room. Whilst we haven't been toasty warm since we got home we also haven't developed frostbite so I can't complain. In fact I am just so relieved to have Geri home safe that I don't think I would have minded if Pat had lit a fire in the middle of the lounge!
Wellington kindly took pity on us and for the last 4-5 days prior HPI (Heat Pump Installation) day we had a run of glorious sunny days with accompanying beautiful sunsets. As they say, you really can't beat Wellington on a good day 8-}
HPI day arrived and the new heat pump was duly installed. Consequently readings on the Geri and Jen "We are warmer and much happier" meter have risen and those on the "We are cold and very grumpy" meter began to fall immediately, much to Pat's relief! He was his usual extremely useful self and made the installer's job a lot easier than it would have been otherwise. As you can see, ladders are a bit redundant when it comes to Pat !
Now, to get back on point ... During the two weeks we waited for the heat pump I happened to notice Pat's feet ... or rather the chilblains that were decorating his toes. YOUCH! This isn't a new issue for Pat, he's always suffered from them in winter, especially when he was a little guy when he used to play outside in bare feet during winter. BRRRRRR.
Recently, he had an epiphany and realised that the reason he doesn't wear shoes or slippers inside is that whilst his feet might be marginally warmer; and hence suffer from fewer chilblains, slipper wearing has an unfortunate side effect for him. Said side effect is rather irritating and grumpy inducing and is namely that with the addition of a sole to the bottom of his foot Pat bashes his head when he walks through the doorways. Do I see a question mark hovering over your head? Yes? Well, you see Pat is 2m (or 6'8") tall so for him head bashing is an occupational hazard and he has no room to move when it comes to doorways.
I hypothesised that there must be a solution to this problem and got to head scratching. Eventually I decided that something felted; being both thin and warm, might just do the job. I hunted around until I found this pattern -
Fibre Trends Felted Clogs
It uses an NZ wool which I sourced from an online supplier in Tauranga -
Naurally Aran 10 Ply Alpine
The colours I've chosen are 2011 Bottle; main colour, and 2016 Grey; cuff colour.
I've not knitted anything like this before and it's interesting to see how the shaping; similar to that used to knit socks I think, works. I started knitting yesterday so they are going to be a quick knit. At the moment they remind me of Shrek Slippers! With Chris due home on leave from India in September I think a pair for him may well be in the works ... and .... I am wondering if a pair of my orthotics might just fit inside them as I would like to have warm tootsies too. And Miss Geri? Well at present her feet and legs are well ensconced inside a long pair of Ugg boots which I ordered for her as soon as we got home. Maybe some time in the future a pair of tall felted boots will be in the offing - I see another scheming and plotting session coming over the horizon...
So, his first 10 days at home were spent; and he was supposed to be on study leave for his final exams during this time, running diagnostics on the heat pump to work out if it was salvageable and doing dozens of loads of washing. Now this wouldn't have been a big problem for him under normal circumstances but it just so happened that the weather took a nasty turn just as he arrived home and it rained non-stop which made things a trifle more challenging. After Pat finally managed to establish that the heat pump was most probably terminal he called in our supply company to quote for a replacement unit. Great. Sorted. New unit ordered and eagerly awaited.... trouble is the install date was 10 days after Geri and I were due home. Hmmm. This was a problem; not for Pat, but because he knew Geri and I wouldn't cope without heating for that long.
The reason that lack of heating isn't much of a problem for Pat is that he is well known as a bit of a polar bear within our circle of family and friends. He very rarely feels the cold - and has been like that from day one. When I was pregnant with him I knitted and sewed all manner of warm baby clothing as he was due mid winter. His unique 'antifreeze for blood' properties first became apparent a few days after he was born as he was a rather large baby; especially his head, and I had knitted a newborn size layette for him to wear home from hospital. Not one to admit defeat, I managed to cram the jacket and bonnet onto him; and it took a truly heroic effort to get the bonnet on, for his trip home from hospital. Geri subsequently grew into this same outfit when she was one year old - my two offspring are polar opposites in so many ways!
All good? Happy baby? NOT! By the time we arrived home Pat was a beetroot red squalling bundle of fury. Being a first time mum I did all of the prescribed 'to-dos' and finally tried peeling some of his clothing off. This instantly pushed his reset button and he calmed down. Over the next few weeks I learned that Pat needed very little in the way of wrapping up. When she made her first call to see us, the Plunket nurse was horrified to find my newborn in just a nightgown and a single blanket. Inviting her to put what she thought was an appropriate amount of clothing/bedding on him, I took cover behind the door and waited with baited breath for Pat to oblige me with one of the truly remarkable performances I was coming to understand were part of his daily routine. He didn't disappoint and in short order became his own version of Mt Vesuvius until admitting defeat, the Plunket nurse sheepishly undid all of her 'good' work.
And so, we return to the lack of heating dilemma. Pat solved this by buying a portable gas heater for the lounge and borrowing an oil filled heater for Geri's room. Whilst we haven't been toasty warm since we got home we also haven't developed frostbite so I can't complain. In fact I am just so relieved to have Geri home safe that I don't think I would have minded if Pat had lit a fire in the middle of the lounge!
Wellington kindly took pity on us and for the last 4-5 days prior HPI (Heat Pump Installation) day we had a run of glorious sunny days with accompanying beautiful sunsets. As they say, you really can't beat Wellington on a good day 8-}
HPI day arrived and the new heat pump was duly installed. Consequently readings on the Geri and Jen "We are warmer and much happier" meter have risen and those on the "We are cold and very grumpy" meter began to fall immediately, much to Pat's relief! He was his usual extremely useful self and made the installer's job a lot easier than it would have been otherwise. As you can see, ladders are a bit redundant when it comes to Pat !Now, to get back on point ... During the two weeks we waited for the heat pump I happened to notice Pat's feet ... or rather the chilblains that were decorating his toes. YOUCH! This isn't a new issue for Pat, he's always suffered from them in winter, especially when he was a little guy when he used to play outside in bare feet during winter. BRRRRRR.
Recently, he had an epiphany and realised that the reason he doesn't wear shoes or slippers inside is that whilst his feet might be marginally warmer; and hence suffer from fewer chilblains, slipper wearing has an unfortunate side effect for him. Said side effect is rather irritating and grumpy inducing and is namely that with the addition of a sole to the bottom of his foot Pat bashes his head when he walks through the doorways. Do I see a question mark hovering over your head? Yes? Well, you see Pat is 2m (or 6'8") tall so for him head bashing is an occupational hazard and he has no room to move when it comes to doorways.
I hypothesised that there must be a solution to this problem and got to head scratching. Eventually I decided that something felted; being both thin and warm, might just do the job. I hunted around until I found this pattern -
Fibre Trends Felted Clogs
It uses an NZ wool which I sourced from an online supplier in Tauranga -
Naurally Aran 10 Ply Alpine
I've not knitted anything like this before and it's interesting to see how the shaping; similar to that used to knit socks I think, works. I started knitting yesterday so they are going to be a quick knit. At the moment they remind me of Shrek Slippers! With Chris due home on leave from India in September I think a pair for him may well be in the works ... and .... I am wondering if a pair of my orthotics might just fit inside them as I would like to have warm tootsies too. And Miss Geri? Well at present her feet and legs are well ensconced inside a long pair of Ugg boots which I ordered for her as soon as we got home. Maybe some time in the future a pair of tall felted boots will be in the offing - I see another scheming and plotting session coming over the horizon...
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