What I did today

Please may I talk about yesterda?
Slightly more interesting than today during which I did nothing but sit at my PC, didn't even get dressed. Tummy upset too

Flew back from Christchurch yesteday. After having written on GN that I was saving the planet by never flying, within hours I'd been offered a trip to the South iskand!

Plane slightly late at 7:30pm. My son went to get the car and the battery was flat.
Rang the AA. Two hours later, very sweet man turned up, jumped the battery and drove away.

We exited the airport environs (by this time it was almost 10pm) and the car stalled at a very busy junction.

AA man very kindly came back at son's call and tried again but under the bright LED light he brought with him, saw the old battery was actually leaking.

$225 later, new battery was fitted and my son drove me home saying he was so glad I'd been with him as the hassle and the long wait would have been far worse had he been alone.

He'd been up since 3am to catch the early morning flight to Christchurch for his job, so by the time he got me home it was 11pm and he had 45 min drive home and up again at 5am to go to work.

I was so hyper after the anxious time with the car that I couldn't sleep and was awake most of the night, some of it here, catching up on what GN had been doing whilst I'd been away for 4 days.

Hence my totally do-nowt day today.

Had a salmon portion with winter salad for lunch (hadn't felt like breakfast) but gurgling tummy has kept me on water the rest of the time.

Tomorrow is the AGM of my elder's group, so it'll be nice to catch up as I haven't been able to participate since 24th September.

Anyone who has trouble sleeping, get some dried lime flowers (Linden tree) and make a tea. They are the best soporific I know.

Oh Lucky I hope you feel better very soon.
I spent 5 hours at a crochet workshop yesterday. It was exhausting and I don’t think I’ll be pursuing this in future!! At least I can now tick it off my list of ‘To Do’. My fingers are aching not to mention my brain. Maybe I’ll take up knitting instead .....

I also will tell if the last two days, not exciting but busy.
On Monday my neighbour asked me if I would go to Matalan with her, she didn't know where it was ,so we had a couple of hours browsing.
I lost my walking stick but the staff very kindly found it, I had left it by the changing rooms while my neighbour tried a couple of things on.
We then had some lunch and she wanted to visit the new Range store but I was shattered by then , it is huge, so we went to buy her C.......s cards at a card shop.
It was nearly 4pm by the time I got home, very tired and achy.
I had a cup of tea then made soup which my GD likes to take for her lunch. Cooked a dinner and was in bed very early.
Yesterday I had coffee out with a friend, made a casserole , enough for 3 meals, did some washing and made stock from Sunday's roast chicken carcass.
Today will be a lazy day, although I am going for a meal later with my GD and her friend who will come back and stay for the night.
My life has certainly livened up since my GD came here to live.
Is it keeping me young or wearing me out?

Saturday - on the way to Rye with DD3 and family, where we are staying for half term hols, we stopped off to scatter my late Aunt’s ashes in a beautiful ‘secret’ spot near her home. We chose a sycamore tree on a path leading down to the cliffs with a beautiful view of the sea. I think she’d approve. Now ensconced in an ancient cottage with 2 squabbling GCs. Their Daddy took them to the old fashioned sweety shop yesterday (?) so a case of sugar overload. Today we are going to Dungeness for a walk on the beach in the shadow of the nuclear power station (another?). DD is obsessed with the area particularly as Derek Jarman lived there in an old wooden shack on the beach! She yearns to do the same (yet another ?). The rain is tipping down on the roof above my attic room, which is why I am awake at stupid o’ clock so should be fun on the beach! I hope you all had a good weekend.

A very busy few days for me.
We have been organising my GD's bedroom so therefore the whole upstairs is a tip.
Her room is now painted a lovely silver grey but the man who was coming over the weekend to give me a price for a carpet was a no show .
The carpet that was in there has gone to the tip so it is bare floorboards, most of the furniture is is my room so I can't get round without stubbing my toe or bumping into something.
My D and GD are coming on Sunday for 4 days so I am panicking as GD1 is sleeping in their room.
Ah well, worst things happen.

The lady who has been one of my homecare workers for the past 3 years and is now a dear friend, was diagnosed with breast cancer in September.
She had a mastectomy but now they want her to start chemo.

She is, as you may imagine, dreading it.
So we went to a local cafe to cheer ourselves up and had spinach and feta muffins and hot chocolate and talked and cried a little.
She'll be off work for at least 5 months.

Her wage, of course, has stopped and now she is on State benefit, which with two teenage girls to look after alone, will not be easy.

She jokes that she'll save on food and hairdressing as she won't feel like eating and her lovely long, auburn hair will fall out.

It's made me very sad because she is such a bright spark and we've always got along so well.

I came home and did some laundry, as it was a gorgeous Spring day - until I pegged it all out - then it rained.

Made myself a cuppa and a slice of GF toast with cream cheese but it felt like straw going down.

If you believe in prayer, please remember my lovely friend.

That is sad news - poor lady. So many women going through all this - it feels like an epidemic.

Luckygirl
when I was young people didn't mention it. It was as taboo as VD. The difference now is most people survive cancer and are generally more open.

Today DH has been totally confused about what is happening this week despite the kitchen diary showing clearly what is happening every day. He is convinced that his Latin group on Wednesday and Jazz Appreciation on Thursday will somehow run into one another and I am being driven scatty trying to find new ways to explain the same thing again and again.

I have decided that the skills needed for dealing with the very young are the ones needed for dealing with the elderly who are losing the plot. I wasn’t very good at the very young, either!

How I wish for the gift of patience.

My house was draped with drying washing on radiators and clothes horses and a neighbour called to show me photos of his son's posh wedding in an expensive hotel.

A quiet day as I was feeling very tired and achy today.
I took the curtains down I the bedroom

Fat finger there.
Took the curtains down and washed them but nothing else, was going to have an early night and then the absent carpet man rang to say he will be here at 8pm to measure up, but the good news is he will be able to fit it before Sunday when my visitors arrive.

BradfordLass72 - sorry to hear about your friend and, as requested, prayed for her just now.

Today I attended my weekly 10.30am doctors appointment. Unfortunately the surgery was packed, the doctors were running late and I ended up waiting an hour and five minutes before I was called in. I didn't mind waiting at all as my local surgery is staffed with wonderful people doing the best job they can, but by the time I got in to see my doctor I was feeling very unwell.

Amongst other things I have a dreadful, hacking cough and I'm very conscious that sick people do not want to be close enough to catch it, so I sat as far away from other people as I could and fully sympathised with the two people who apologised for moving away from me after explaining that they (like me) have compromised immunity systems. (I should say that I had a fistful of tissues and always cover my mouth when I cough and make good use of use hand gel.)

After leaving the surgery I went to the local pharmacy to pick up my prescription, they are always very kind and pop me in the little side room and bring me water whilst I wait. Several kindly people there commented on how ill I seemed to be and offered advice for dealing with my cough.

And then...........

I walked towards the bus stop and had a really bad coughing fit where I actually felt quite faint and had to lean against a wall for support. Then a woman, a complete stranger, approached me and literally shouted in my face, "you should be ashamed to be out and about with that cough where people can catch it off you - get indoors!" And she marched off.

I was so upset - and I still am. I keep replaying it in my mind and although it probably lasted only about ten seconds in reality it felt like time stood still, I really can't describe how dreadful it was. It was said with real venom and she actually had to cross the pavement diagonally to reach me, so it's not even as if she was close by. I actually teared up and a couple of passers-by were very kind to me, but I did feel like scurrying home and never leaving the house again.

Oh dear, some folk are so angry and rude.
We could try to justify and think they are just unhappy but there really is no excuse for bad manners and rudeness.
I hope you feel better soon.
My carpet man has been and I have chosen.

Oh, GA that must have been awful. Did the stupid woman really think you'd come out for pleasure? Some people are so selfish - and thick!

I too have a hacking cough left over from a bad cold I had five weeks ago. I've started taking anti-histamines in case its not the cold aftereffects but the dying leaves. Apparently they give off a chemical which irritates the lungs which could be right as I don't cough at night. I think its helping, I'm certainly better for half the day, so perhaps it is the leaves.

I've had an indulgent day. A leisurely bath this morning and an at home reflexology appointment this afternoon has left me feeling very relaxed and at peace with the world.

I know that tomorrow I'll feel energised, which is lucky as I've volunteered to help at a science fair in Norwich all day and it's going to be hectic.

ga - how very bizarre - why would anyone do this? Perhaps there is some family medical history that made her so touchy and so very rude. You really did not need this. I hope that you will be feeling better soon.

GrannySomerset - so sorry to hear that your OH is struggling with memory - I do know how hard it is to remain patient in this sort of situation.

I had a GP appointment this morning; and the spectre of CFS was mentioned again. I will just try and let it wash by me.

Went to see OH in NH - he was very sleepy indeed, and absolutely convinced that it was Sunday. He had had a lovely jacuzzi bath this morning with bubbles and colours and he loved it - but I think it knocked him out.

Picked two little GC up from school and brought them home for tea, which was lovely.

Just been looking online for houses to downsize to(to raise money for NH fees) in the place I want - and there is one with a stairlift in just the right situation - I must take a look.

Spent evening round woodburner watching Only Connect and Uni Challenge - I managed a few answers in both!

Night night all.

Had a play with my new toy. We bought a Karcher window cleaner on Saturday, and it is great. So lightweight and efficient.
My lovely cleaner lady came at one and worked hard until three.
I ordered a weed killer thing on line before I got up, and had an email a few hours later to say that it was ready to collect, so DH will do that tomorrow, when he goes out to his usual meeting.
We put out the rubbish bins for collection, early tomorrow morning and I have included the broken chair that deposited me on the floor on Saturday morning, plus a lamp that is past it's best.
Fingers crossed that the bin men take them away.
We have watched Dublin Murders, but still none the wiser ?
Off to bed now, night, night.

Sort of a mundane day but it’s been more than good enough. Came back late Saturday from spending a few days with a close friend and her daughter coping with the aftermath of our friends brain haemorrhage. Left them with a very heavy heart. Yesterday was recovery day so today was catch up. Admin this morning, lots of tidying and then after lunch a food shop. It feels good to have completed it all, simple enough though it was.

Struggles with memory are distressing for everyone grannysomerset, I’ve seen something of it and understand a little of the strain you will be under. Lucky please don’t ignore CFS if that is indeed a diagnosis, it’s not something to be trifled with but can be managed. My diagnosis came nearly 30 years ago, I soon learned ignoring it didn’t help. What a horrible experience grannya, please put it behind you, goodness knows what was behind her reaction. Good news about the carpet ann, I’m pleased for you.

Off again tomorrow visiting another friend with health issues. It makes us realise how lucky we are to be as well as we are. Goodnight everyone, sleep tight.

I'm feeling thoroughly rejected!

Three different people were due at my house today and ALL have cancelled.
No, I don't have BO (remember that advert?) they all had good reasons, one of which was a bad case of flu if his poor voice was anything to go by when he rang me.

So I pottered, had Ricies and a banana for breakfast and looked at GN for a wee while.

Luckygirl just in case it is CFS, do some research and learn how it's managed.
You'll learn something which may benefit you and others as as well.
There's an old army saying, 'Time spent on reconnaissance is seldom wasted" - neither is research

It's almost lunchtime so I'm assembling my old library audio books so that at 2:30pm when my other homecare lady** comes, we can go get my new ones - and the foods for Friday when my son, who is finally taking some long-postponed time off, will spend the day here.

**I must jinx my carers.

This one, after 2 years away recovering from 2 accidents, has finally returned.

She rang at 8:30am today to say, "I kicked the door frame yesterday," (I have yet to learn why) "so my foot is blue and swollen and I can hardly walk, so I may be late coming to you."
She swears she is safe to drive. I seriously doubt it but we shall see.

I may have an Epsom Salts foot soak waiting for her.
Who is caring for whom I wonder?

What a lovely thread!

The weather was sunny, windless and almost warm here yesterday so OH mowed the lawns, look a lot better.

I took the dogs out twice up footpaths and gave silent thanks for living in such a beautiful, peaceful place. Saw redwings (autumn visiting thrushes) for the first time since they left in March.

Made (and ate) pheasant gougons for dinner. Should have eaten them with healthy vegetables but had chips instead! Delicious.

Very little housework done. Far too many visits to GN instead.

Yoga class in the evening. Have missed a couple of weeks so needed it. Love the candles and scents.

Tried to ring my brother for a chat but he was out and about as usual. We do not meet up often enough so I will try again later today.

As you can see, a lazy day.

I went on a boat through the Blue Grotto in Malta ;)

Auntieflo I bought a Karcher window thingy many months ago and it is still in the box?
You have encouraged me to have a go.

I think I have encountered every single set of temporary traffic lights in the area today! What should have taken no more than 20 minutes drive time (popping to JL for something pampering for stepdaughter's birthday) took half an hour going. So I thought I'd use my local knowledge of back roads coming home .... but of course they are all having things done to them and in the end it was at least 40 minutes. Who knew that "Openreach" could be such a bad word?

It seems you cannot drive anywhere lately without encountering road works and temporary lights gulligranny

I have just arrived home after a pleasant walk in the sunshine to town. Bought a couple of birthday cards, also vegetables to make homemade soup. Then ordered a birthday cake for Mums 90th in January.

Made arrangements to meet a friend for coffee tomorrow at a local garden centre.

No housework done, and the ironing is hiding in the spare bedroom There is always another day!

I headed for the bus stop after shopping. On one of the seats at the stop there was a large see through wallet/folder. I was the only person at the stop. I looked more closely and it was obviously a student who had left it on the seat. I could see the name of a college on some of the papers so I googled and found the phone number for them. I explained what I'd found and the lady told me to look in the folder to see if there was a name in there. There wasn't. She thanked me for contacting them and told me to leave it where it was. It made me sad that someone's hard work was left in a bus stop. I hope it gets reconciled with its owner.