Totally Knackered

I love how sometimes the Aussie vernacular lends itself to a perfect expression of how I feel. Today is one such day where the only way to aptly sum up how I feel is to say I am totally knackered!

Who would have thought that making face masks could be so tiring? With the new regulations coming into effect this week I thought, “Let’s give it a go. Surely it can’t be that hard.” I should mention that I am a bit arty/crafty but sewing is one form I have never mastered. Pre-stroke I struggled to sew on a button so who knows what I was thinking.

Since my stroke I’ve used YouTube to relearn how to knit so trusted the same could be used for this endeavour. Mmm, if only it was that simple. Firstly, it had been so long since I had dragged the sewing machine out of its cupboard that it took me nearly an hour, a lot of cursing and a read of the manual to get it working. Five hours later I had numerous pin holes in my fingers, along with copious amounts of blood loss (actually they were only drops of blood but you get the gist), straps that ended up between two layers of material instead of on the outside, countless unpickings and three completed face masks…none of which are for me.

So 24 hours after I started my head is fuzzy, my arms are heavy and my eyelids keep threatening to close. My brain feels so addled that today is one of those days that comes with a warning of do not sign important documents. I also have bruised fingers from the pinholes and I hate the way my sewing machine keeps staring at me as if to say, “Ha ha, I beat you.”

But what that machine doesn’t know is that I don’t give up easily. I will be back for another go and once I’ve made my mask I’ll be able to go for a walk while said machine will once again be banished to the back of the cupboard. Wish me luck as I contemplate having more success tomorrow!