What I did today

Don't despair Urmstongran get one of those elastic body shaper doo-daahs which come up to just below your bra (they have shoulder straps) and to just below your tummy. Some of them fasten between the legs too.

Takes inches off you - or in my case, distributes the podginess into a slighly less roly shape. They seem to be sold all over the UK and are pretty cheap.

Family came for breakfast again, this time for mixed fresh fruit salad and plain yoghurt although the men still chose croissants and grilled bacon with tomatoes.

My grandson and I had a quiet day as his hayfever is playing up and Mum advised rest.

He watched his (and my) favourite DVD 'Wild Kingdom',
helped me with a few chores, read his book, currently a 'Nancy Drew' and fed some newly-hatched ducklings which came peeping, with Mama, for food.

She must have been one of my last year's brood, no wild mallard would come right up as she did. They enjoyed a little softened oats. Last year the weather was so foul and cold I feared they may perish if I didn't feed them daily. Not so this Spring.

Everyone left at 8pm, laughing, happy and with many affectionate kisses and hugs.

By sad contrast, my poor friend who's just lost her father, sounded absolutely awful when I rang her a few minutes later.
'I wish my body and mind could just be switched off.' she said.
I told her time would help and felt very feeble doing so, however true that is.

Morning spent at the hospital meeting my new oncologist who I like much better than the other one. So it looks like 8 months of chemo then radiotherapy. It will give me something to do this winter. I have an appointment with my surgeon in a years time so she hasn’t written me off yet

Didn’t it used to be said gillybob that soaps were meant to be depressing so that our own lives would seem better, as in ‘phew, I’m glad I’m not going through THAT’ kind of thing!

I do hope your door catch is the right one.

My day has been quiet. We went over to see friends and she was showing me her ‘mother of the groom’ outfit. Bluddy gorgeous and swish. She asked me what I was wearing. Erm ... a nice frock (rose pinks and coffee voile with cap sleeves I bought 10 years ago) it was a little roomy once but it’ll be snug now. Actually I’m panicking a bit now I’ve set this down. I hope it fits. Oh dear. A friend is lending me a silk edge to edge coat (which I shall dry clean and return!)

I hate dressing up since I’ve put on so much weight - there’s little pleasure in seeing how I’ll look. My own fault entirely.
☹️

Was woken by nurse coming to take my bp etc. I had a new hip last Saturday. After the lovely young man bought us our breakfast I had a wash and finished my book. Did some exercises, saw pharmacist who told me what medication I will be taking home. After lunch I saw the physio who showed me how to go up and down the stairs. He said I can go HOME tomorrow! DH came to visit, then supper and so to bed. I'feel very lucky to have been referred here, NHS and one of the top places for elective orthopedic surgery.

How clever you are Auntieflo you should sell your little creatures for charity. I particularly loved your turtle from the other day how are you doing after your operation? I hope you are taking it easy .

Jeez corner we have had a little bit rain this evening but it sounds like you’ve had a monsoon . Mind you here in the NE I think we have had enough of a share to last us a few years.

Well I’ve had the usual kind of day. School runs , “that place” , more school runs, footy club, food and everything in between.

My washing machine door lock arrived . Fingers crossed it’s the right one . I hope DH will be well enough (and in the right frame of mind) to fit it tomorrow or else I will have a go myself. I will not be beat. The washing is piling up . 4 loads worth I reckon.

Watched Corrie tonight but wished I hadn’t it was so sad and depressing . As if I am not miserable enough !

DH sleeping now which is good . Roll on Friday .

Xx

Up early this morning, off courtesy of two buses for a coffee and a wander round the shops before a thoroughly enjoyable lunch and a fun theatre matinee. All was going so well until we came out of the theatre and couldn’t see across the road for the rain. Sort of swam towards the bus station stopping off for a hot drink then waited and waited and waited for our bus. Think one must have drowned! Got off that bus into what felt like a hurricane with horizontal rain to discover bus number two would be a 40 minute wait. Oh dear, so umbrellas held firmly we decided to walk, 30 minutes later and soaked we arrived home. Dry trousers and hot soup later all is well in my world. It was a good day but if someone could stop the rain I’d be oh so pleased.

Well I was a late riser, and then had to hurry for a blood test at the Dr's. The nurse is a lovely young mum, and asked if I wanted my Flu jab while I was there. She had taken it out of the fridge, to come to room temperature, and said that that it is more comfortable than giving it cold. Advised me to phone at 2pm for a Dr's appointment.
I tried, got through at 2.03, and all the appointments had gone. So am down for a telephone call tomorrow.
I finished my Mouse, and am starting a snail, for grandson.
DH was out for a couple of hours this afternoon, and I watched the recording of Trevor McDonald's programme, that had followed on after the series of A Confession, on Monday
Had a visit from the girl who is going to clean for us, for a month, till we get back on our feet. 2 hours on a Monday.
Folded the laundry, and DH took it upstairs.
Had a phone call from a poorly sick daughter, with a very sore throat, and tried to get her to take time off work. No luck.
Am now settling down for an evening's TV, and being lazy, again.

Went to see Downton this afternoon. A wonderful couple of feel good hours, even though quite predictable.

Not a lot doing today - laundry am, U3A Latin group this afternoon which DH has been leading for almost twenty years. He can’t remember what he has stood up for but can still spot an ablative absolute at a hundred yards! I am really only there to make the tea but have actually picked up something over the years by a process of osmosis, amazing given that I was chucked out of Latin at school for being idle and incompetent. Nothing you learn is useless.

More work on the WI archives this evening, so it won’t have been a wasted day.

It’s great to hear you are having such a lovely time with your friend Ann. Yesterday was a completely non-day for me. I had only slept for a couple of hours the night before. I’ve been considering another move and think worrying about the pros & cons, amongst a myriad of other mini worries had caused the insomnia. I slobbed in bed until 11 then made myself wake up in a shower, had brunch, put a load of washing on, stuck my head out of the bedroom window and cleared the gutter below of mouldy leaves as far as I could reach, stuffed washing in the drier then sat down in front of the telly (which I never do in daytime) and promptly fell asleep. I woke up and realised it was choir night. I could so easily have stayed put but made myself go. Best thing. I returned home feeling much better after a good sing. Cup of sleepy tea and bed. Zonked until the rain on the window awoke me at 5. Good job I cleared the gutter! Exciting times ?

Run this way gillybob I have a spare room

A gorgeously mild and sunny Spring day here.
The birds are singing their little hearts out; someone is using an electric drill in the far distance but that's all I can hear. Bliss.

The blackbird, whose ancestors also lived in the tree beside my deck, is currently ruining the bark mulch on my wee garden, grubbing for insects and possibly skinks - which abound there. Above him, the Banksia rose is in full, gloriously golden bloom.

I'm only half way through the day. It began with a cup of decaf which I drank listening to the Dawn Chorus.
Then I put away the pots washed last thing Tuesday (I lazily leave them to dry).

Then I sliced pork to put into the freezer. Prepared the vegetables for the stir-fry the family will eat later.
Gave the bathroom a good thrashing.

Made myself brunch at 12: croissant filled with coleslaw and a thin slice of pork - not often I eat meat but I enjoyed that; washed and dried the blossoms from the pomaderris kumeraho to be used as soap; decanted pumpkin soup into disposable cups, in the freezer when needed.

Spent far too long on this PC, writing up my diary (now over 40 years old) and answering emails.

This afternoon I plan to: open the new gluten free loaves and put slices together in twos, also for the freezer.
Eat half a cream cake bought yesterday as a rare treat.
Fold the laundry which dried yesterday and put it away.
Listen to an audio book whilst knitting.

Aren't you all envious of my wildly exciting life?

Today I did the washing. General mundane housework, cooking and tidying.
Getting ready to go 5 minutes up the road to my daughter's house in the morning.
There to look after 4 grandchildren while daughter and son-in-law go off to spend a couple of days in a tree house to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
Wish me luck!

I am so glad you have had a lovely day annsixty you really deserve it. Enjoy your dinner with your friend

Well today I gave the older DGC their breakfast then took them to their schools (miles apart) . Went to “that place” (had a wonderful day as usual) then went to DGS’ primary to pick him up followed by the senior school pick up half an hours drive away. Took them all to see my dad for an hour (he has had that awful lurgy too) made him and them a light tea then brought the children back to mine for another overnight. Much the same tomorrow .

I hope the part for my washing machine arrives tomorrow as the pile is now rather HUGE. Moreover I hope it’s the right part . I will never hear the last of if it if it isn’t . Might just run away some time this week. Still deciding when and where to though.

Goodnight all x

Sunny here for a couple of hours then really heavy showers. Of course the bedding had just reached the line when the deluge began. A home stuff day. Cleaning this morning, chatted to a friend in hospital, cooked lunch then spent the afternoon on admin and sorting photos on the pc. One year I may have sorted them all, it’s unlikely but could happen.

I’m delighted you are having fun ann, you deserve to.

We’re off to a theatre matinee tomorrow and had planned to go early to have a walk before our lunch. The weather person says it’s going to pour so we may be forced to go into shops instead. Oh dear. .

Hoping to hear the plumber has sourced the required spare part, he’s gone very quiet but I’m not worrying yet. Well, not much.

Today started off sunny and bright.
Another day of nothing much at all.
I did manage to waft a duster around, then had to have a coffee.
DH was out for the morning, and helped make some soup for lunch.
More crocheting this afternoon, and Mouse is only needing his legs to be sewn on, then he can introduce himself tomorrow.
Had two lovely phone calls from friends.
Rain deluged down, later on this afternoon.
Read a bit of my book, and kept on with the painkillers.
It's getting boring now.

Lovely day with my friend.
The sun has shone and we have been out and about.
She has done 2 beautiful meals, tomorrow I will take her out for dinner.
We have hardly stopped talking, so much to catch up on.
So enjoying myself.

The sun shone a lot in Norfolk today. We had a lovely lunch with friends at an old inn in a village time forgot.

I've just been sipping 10 year old home made sloe gin (the bottle got itself to the back of the cupboard) to sterilise my cough. I can recommend it - I'm feeling quite mellow!

I didn't know washing machines had locks. Why is that needed? My last 2 washing machines (over 25 years) both stopped mid-rinse) grrr.

Today I went with my Homecare lady (what a gem she is) to pick up, at the factory, new supplies of gluten-free bagels, rolls, sourdough and Paleo bread for self and Ddil.

Then on to collect pre-ordered supermarket stuff and annoyed to find no dairy-free cheese, which my grandson needs, in the order (it was on the website but not in store) .

But kei te pai, deep breath and move on.

Back home to poached gurnard and a bit of salad but I'm still not eating well, so couldn't finish it.

Made a mug of hot choc instead and completed the fourth week of the Book of Kells course with FutureLearn. Amazing - and I think it was someone on GN who alerted me to it.
Whoever you were Thankyou

It's now just after 8pm and I think I'll get horizontal and listen to the further adventures of Marcus Didius Falco.

My lost voice is back but very froggy.

Auntieflo your turtle has a very cheeky look - adorable.

Goodnight and God bless. everyone.

I love your turtle Auntieflo he is so cute . My 3 eldest DGC are all fast asleep in the next room, DH has been asleep for quite a while too. I’m playing “word soup” trying to stay awake as long as possible as I just know it’s gonna be “one of them nights” and quite an early morning with the breakfast cafe to open too.

Anyway just because I’m not quite miserable enough and to add insult to injury, the lock on my washing machine came off in my hand this evening just as I had piled a huge pile of washing in . Do you ever feel like screaming ?

Another day of doing not a lot at all. We did get the bed stripped and the laundry done, but as I am not supposed to lift anything heavier than bottle of water, I am frustrated. Mind you, as my hip has been playing up, I am glad to be sitting around. DH is being a star.
I did the face of my crocheted Turtle, and started on a Mouse.
Dinner was a lasagne from the freezer, with salad.
My preprepared stocks will soon run out.
Off to a clean and cosy bed now. Sleep tight everyone.

BradfordLass
The very thought that a 10 year old was in a situation that you thought he may never laugh again just breaks my heart.
I hope he is over whatever was troubling him.
Count Arthur Strong is hilarous, childish but hilarious.
I must rewatch it.

Sorry to read of your sadness and apprehension gillybob, I wish you calm and happy soon.

Luckygirl I have a 90 year old friend who lives in an old and very draughty house. At the first signs of cold weather, she wheels her TV and comfy chair into her bedroom and uses it almost like a bedsit! With little sorties out to fill a flask or grab the making for a sandwich, she stays in just one, heated room.

I have one of those heated, fleece throws, they are SO cosy to put round the shoulders or over the knee. Cheap to run too.

I've had my 10 year old grandson here today and he's a delight. A couple of threads on GN now have his mark

The family came for breakfast at 7am: croissants, bacon, sausage, preserves etc but because DGS is sugar free, gluten free and dairy free, I made him salmon with slices of avocado on GF sourdough toast.

Adults left for work. Dgs sprawled on the floor, laughing heartily as something called Count Arthur Strong, watching on a portable DVD player, whilst I made a healing drink from the pomaderris kumeraho I was able to gather yesterday on the first sunny day for ages. Today it's raining -again.

Once the leaves were strained I made them into a salve to be used as a poultice for my friend's very severe acne. She will drink the potion.

Then began all the preparation for a roast pork and vegetable dinner for when DS and Ddil come home from work.

Rhubarb and apple crumble for dessert plus a dairy free, sugar free, GF free custard. Dgs had stewed apple and custard.
He volunteered to wash up and did so.
He's a dear wee lad.

It was sheer delight to hear him shout with laughter at the antics on the DVD, especially as there have been times recently when I thought he may never laugh again.
A truly lovely day.

Crossed posts gilly. I hope you can sleep well and that feeling passes. It’s one I know well and it can be a heavy burden.

Sorry youv'e been sad gilly and sorry you've been cold lucky
Perhaps you're both tucked up in a warm bed now. I am!
A busy day here bùt nice and sociable.

Gilly