We’re home! We got home Wednesday evening, and I’ve pretty much been in a fog since. The Budapest photos will have to wait a bit, since I don’t have them sorted. I came home with a nasty bug, and have been laid low by it, which is quite unusual for me. Most of the boat passengers were sick with some sort of respiratory bug; by the end of the cruise the ship sounded like a floating TB sanitarium. Mine kept getting worse and worse, and last Sunday I signed into my medical website and scheduled an appointment for Thursday (Group Health! Schedule your appointments from Budapest!). Both my primary care doc and I were at least a bit concerned about pertussis, so she consigned me to isolation for 5 days of antibiotics. I didn’t really want to go back to work after a nice vacation, but this is ridiculous. I just got the results this morning (Group Health! Get your test results Sunday morning online!) and it’s not whooping cough, though I still feel like crap, and I’m pretty sure most of my patients and co-workers would be glad I stayed home and didn’t spread whatever it is around.
I do have some good news to report, though. Not too long after the spinning bug bit me, I stumbled upon Watson spinning wheels, and developed a serious case of wheel lust. I ordered a Marie later that year, and mine finally came due earlier this summer. Andrew Watson is a genius and a marvelous craftsman, let me tell you. He came up with a plan after several back and forth emails, and it was done in September. He packed it up and planned delivery for when I returned home from vacation, and it arrived here the same day I got back. Let me tell you, I’m sick, but not so sick that I couldn’t unpack it and put it together. Here are some photos.
I was a little nervous about having to put it together myself, but Andrew sent explicit directions. John got the box open for me, and it was pretty simple after that. It’s a “Marie” wheel, mostly cherry wood with purpleheart accent bits. It is quite lovely, and spins like a dream.
That’s all the news I have, I’m off to take more sinus drugs.
ETA: Knitting Doctor now with Photo Embiggen! Click on that spinning wheel and get a close up view!
I have a cherry Elly Victoria that I bought secondhand, and it’s my favorite wheel. Yours is gorgeous. Andrew Watson is indeed a master craftsman, and a generous soul to boot: when I broke the screw inside my tensioning knob I wrote to him, asking if it would be possible to get a replacement, and he was kind enough to make and send me one free of charge, even though I’d told him it was a secondhand wheel and I’d be happy to pay for the new knob.
Enjoy! And I’ll await pix of Budapest.
It is gorgeous! Very lustworthy!
I got pertussis from my granddaughter a couple of years ago – all those vaccinations wearing out from old age. The cough was hideous and went on and on – actually making us throw up, but otherwise I didn’t actually feel that bad. Usually any respiratory thing, cold, allergies, whatever, knocks me out.
That is beautiful and matches the furniture in my bedroom 🙂 .
GORGEOUS wheel!
Beautiful (and I do not even spin).
Oh my goodness, that is beautiful! Are you sure you didn’t get sick just so you could stay home and play with it?
What a lovely wheel. Are you back to the grind tomorrow?
Hope you feel better soon! The spinning wheel is soooo pretty.
Welcome home! Sorry you are so sick but I’m sure you will get better soon with all those meds in you.
LOVE. YOUR. WHEEL!! Purpleheart is my favorite wood and it sure makes a statement on your wheel. You and Watson make a great design team. Now there’s just the little detail of spinning something on it. 😉
That wheel is a beauty! They spin so smoothly. Drafting needs to be FAST.
Glad it is not pertussis, but sad that it is not going away soon. Sucks.
Lorette, your spinning wheel is gorgeous! I love cherry wood.
Feel better! We are heading to Ireland on Thursday, and I’m really hoping I don’t catch a cold or anything before, during, or after. Being sick on vacation really sucks. Take good care of yourself.
Welcome home!!!
Congrats on your spinning wheel. It’s a beauty!
Sorry you feel puny…get well soon…
Gorgeous wheel! I’ve been wondering if I should get a pertussis vaccination. Seems to be making a comeback. I’ll have to check with my doctor next time I see her. Wish her practice had online appointments. I always think of it when the office is closed. And, when it’s open, I have to sit through several minutes of “notices” about new doctors who have joined the practice. By now, I think, they have enough to staff a smallish hospital!
Just back from our Greek cruise and a river cruise is on my list. I’m saving for it now as I know we won’t have it in the budget in our soon to be retirement. Any insights and advice appreciated. Hope you’re feeling better.