General Chat

I must admit I felt proud of myself for getting the CD player sorted and I have enjoyed listening to Michael Ball and Jack Jones this afternoon. The first time I have actually listened to Jack Jones for over four years. Since T died I have just not been able to listen to ballad type music.
Strange the way loss affects us. When daughter’s late husband died she stopped reading. I have read a tremendous amount in the past four years but couldn’t listen to music.
Mel I would have to sit right near the player and concentrate to listen to books. I would rather read.

Ann although both daughter and som in laws cars have similar controls to yours, they are both automatics so a bit different. But the hand brake came as a bit of a shock to daughter. She is used to it now of course.

What a good job you've made of getting the CD player down to the lounge. See you can do these things when you put your mind to it. Have you ever thought of having the talking book? I find they are great company having someone elses voice in the background.

Gwyn I now have two months supply of my heart pill as they have trouble getting it as its quite often out of stock. I shall order more when I have got through the first 28. We have to give 5 days notice for our scripts now, it used to be three days.

No Mandy again yet today.

BIL came and he has started clearing the apple tree in the orchard he has cut lots of the small twiggy branches off and put them over the side of the orchard where I can burn them up when I get a nice dry spell as the wood is so wet at the moment with all the rain we've had and it may need a bit more cutting up.

Annx what a lot to remember with oh's car but I am sure you will get there in the end as you're a clever girl. I would'nt know where to start with driving one of those I think I may have to give up driving if all cars are going to be like that, I'd nevedr remember the way to so these things. Did you both ahve a better night last night?

Vera you've done a lot of HW today and with oh helping its good he will do some hoovering and dusting even if you have to go round with the duster again thats not heavy work. The hoovering always hurts my back.

Sorry Gwyn and Annx, I somehow missed the last post from you both. Sending you a wave ~~~~~~~~~~

I’m sorry you had such a bad night AnnG. I hope you sleep better tonight. Well done in sorting out your CD player, you should be pleased with yourself.

Annx, you are an experienced driver so I am sure you will be fine driving G’s car. I hope he is feeling a little better today. It doesn’t really matter whether Tramadol or Codeine are stronger. It’s what suits you and eases your pain that matters. They are both opioids, Codeine is natural and Tramadol is synthetic. They both come in different strengths. I know a little bit about it because I have looked into it in the past as I have had a strong co-codamol on prescription for 22 years. I am allowed to take 8 of my tablets a day (I never do) and that’s the equivalent of 20mg of morphine in a day. But, as I say, if your tablets suit you and ease your pain that’s all that really matters and here endeth the lecture.

We have had a h/w day. Having been away for a couple of days this week and having granddaughter and boyfriend coming for Monday and Tuesday I thought I had better get a bit organised. I’ve done some washing and all sorts of little jobs, cleaned the glass oven doors and the sinks in the utility and kitchen and generally sorted and tidied while OH has dusted and vacuumed through. He does a good job of vaccing but I am less impressed with the dusting. However I bite my tongue and keep quiet. At least he offers to help which is more than you can say for some partners.

It’s been another cold, grey day though it has stayed dry. We got up to 6 degrees but the temperature will apparently soon be dropping again. Fingers crossed for a good night’s sleep for all of us.

You did well to carry all that AnnG. It always surprises me how heavy paper is. Well done sorting out moving your CD Player too. It's always a nice feeling when you have solved a problem! :-)

I got the car adjusted for me first before we set off Mel. I don't like that it has 'stop start' on it, so whenever you stop, so does the engine and you think you've stalled it. Dipping the clutch starts it again. Also, when you stop the handbrake comes on itself (usually!). If it doesn't there is a switch next to you that puts it on. You don't let the handbrake off yourself when starting off, you just accelerate gently against the resistance you feel and away it goes. You can switch the stop start off on the dashboard, but every time you switch the engine off, eg to pop in a shop, you have to remember to switch it off again when you get back in the car, as it reverts to it being on! The car's a bit high for me to get in, but much better for OH's neck and back. It doesn't have the acceleration of my coupe, so there is more gear changing, but the body is narrower so easier to get through gaps and to park in small spaces. I found it fine to drIve, it's just remembering about the handbrake and stopstart. I will drive it more over the coming week to get more used to it. I've intended for ages to drive it more to get used to it in case my car was off the road, but never got round to it.

Gwyn thank you for the info about your experience with the dentist etc and your blood thinners. I'll tell him. I think we should hear from the hospital on Monday and his appointment with the dentist is in about a fortnight, so plenty of time for him to stop the blood thinners beforehand if needs be. The dentist seemed to think it would be ok and said he could always put a stitch in as well.

Oh well done AnnG managing to sort out your CD player. It may seem a little thing, but to have achieved a good result is very pleasing.
I hope you have a better night tonight.

Annx
I hope you get an answer back from the hospital regarding the proposed dental work.
I had to have several roots removed and as I am on bloodthinners, I wondered what would happen. I was advised to stop taking the tablets for 24 hours before the procedure.
Similarly, when I needed a facial op.3 years ago, the surgeon requested I stop taking them, I think possibly 2 days before that time and because I had a neck drain, I had to wait 24 hours after the op. too. All was fine, it just prevents undue blood loss.
Maybe your OH will be given a similar plan, but each situation is different, so go by their advice. As long as all people giving treatment are aware of the situation, they can cope with these things.

Vera
It sounds a lovely setting for S's resting place and a very fitting peaceful service. It seems that the young saplings flourish to produce lovely woodland.

Mel
Will they let you request your tablets a bit earlier? I remember you said you can only get one month at a time. We get 2 months at a time, - well actually 8 weeks, hence the pharmacist having to chop into a pack of 60 tablets to give me 56. I hate it when I occasionally get given all the snipped-off bits to make up my amount. They have such sharp edges :-0 :-|
As soon as I start on week 3, I make sure I put my request in that week to give them time to make it up, before I actually need it.

Mandy
I thought of you in Aldi today, when I saw all the fat quarters and lovely yarns for sale. Are you making any Spring themed things, when you have finished the doll?

Lovely sunshine again today, but tomorrow is forecast to be quite different.
No frost or high winds though, so we must be grateful for that.

I am just back from a walk down to Irene’s with two carrier bags of stuff. One full of craft papers etc and the other a mix of stuff and one book and three CDsJust about as heavy as I can manage comfortably.

It is a very grey day, almost Misty but 7 degrees and no wind so doesn’t feel too cold.

Quite pleased with myself. About five years ago T bought me a small CD player which I had in my office. But it never got played because I was always in and out busy with other things. I decided to have it downstairs but the lead went over and behind a shelf before going down to the socket. I sat looking at it and wondering how he got the plug down thinking he must have done it before the shelf was built. If he had been here I would have given up then but he isn’t so I had to use a bit of lateral thinking. Next I looked T the player. Ah the lead is plugged into it at the back. Pull that out, now there is only a small socket plug (as opposed to a three pin)’ decided to empty a part of the shelf and lo and behold the small gap against the wall was just wide enough to pull the lead through.

So now the player is downstairs and plugged in and eventually playing. That did take a while to work out the controls but I am quietly pleased with myself. :-D

Its coming over cloudy here now after a beautiful morning. I was hoping for another nice sunny day all day.

Hope you get on alright driving oh's car Ann. It will be good to get to know it for the future if yours should go wrong at any time. Thats a good idea to put his work away out of site out of mind. Good too that the blood pressure check was good today too.

Not done the shop yet but must get myself into gear and get up thee. Still not heard from BIL hope he's ok.

I have put lots of ironing away this morning and cleaned all around the sink and work tops.

Morning All,

Weak sunshine here , but chilly. Sorry you had an uncomfortable night AnnG, with aches and pains. We had a better night and I feel more human today. We've added daily BP checks for OH now to fill this chart and his was good today.

I'm driving his car to the shop and we are coming back a longer way to enjoy a change of scenery and to charge it up a bit. I suppose even EVs lose charge when they aren't being used. OH has put all his work to write up in a cupboard out of sight for now, which is a good idea so it won't be on his mind. He can't drive for 6 weeks anyway, so he doesn't need to think about it for a few weeks.Then I can do some admin. The alarm service is due, but I'd sooner book that after my PC is fixed, hopefully next week.

Sorry t hear you had a bad night Anng. Hope its a better one tonight.

Good morning all. I just didn’t sleep well last night seemed to wake after one or two hours all night. Just couldn’t get comfortable, first back ache, then shoulder, neck and arm, then nose stuffed up, as well as frequent loo breaks. So a bit of a zombie today 6 degrees and don’t think there was a frost. Maybe take a few bits down to Irene for a walk this morning. Tesco 3-4 this afternoon.

Only 11 months till Christmas and a pinch and a punch and all that.

Brrrr on this cold and frosty morning. Everything is white this morning a d its 4 degrees. the front of my car roof has a crew cut its all sticking up in tiny peaks.

I have to go to the hsop today and thats all I am glad I went and got my deisel yesterday.

How did you all sleep?

Evening All,

We had rain this morning and it was much colder than I expected.

What a start to a day Vera with the power off! We started putting a torch in the drawer beside the bed after we had a power cut at night and were groping our way round the bungalow. I can just imagine you trying to dress in the dark! The woodland burial ground sounded very nice and I like the idea of a tree planted beside each grave to mark it. Your OH sounded like a sit com with his nocturnal noise and then cramp! I hope you had a better night last night!

I didn't have a great night as OH was uncomfortable and I think a bit unsettled which is only natural. We made a bit more progress today as I suggested instead of ringing the ward, (hard to get through) to ring the switchboard and ask to speak to the cardiologist's secretary, so he could leave a message o ask for him to clear it was ok for the tooth extractions. He did this and she said she would find out and ring him, so he's waiting for that call now. We've also started his eyedrops again as the eye was painful again and already it is looking much better. He's seeing them on Monday but we thought it best not to let it get worse. This appointment will be at yet another hospital. He had a pack of leaflets and a chart come from the hospital today. He should have been discharged with it as he's supposed to be taking and charting his BP since he came out.

I remembered this morning that I hadn't collected my prescription. so we did that and I now have yet another make of one of my meds and with a change of shape to the pills. It was raining today so we went in my car and him crouching low to get in isn't helping his back, so tomorrow I'll at least sit in his and make myself familiar with the controls and it's gizmos and quirks and may drive it to the shop. It's much narrower than mine and displays what's behind you on a screen so is easier to park and being tall, easier to get in and out of. If I'm ok I can drive him in it instead of in mine for the time being.

I've had the slow cooker on with chicken thighs, a made up sauce and veg this afternoon. I weighed myself the other day with not wanting to eat much for so long and found I'd lost 11 pounds in 11 days. I'm going to lose weight anyway with OH's new regime that will suit me too, but that was a bit drastic!

I like raw celery, so will try some with that soft cheese which I like as well Mel, as it will be similar to what I have on a sandwich. I've never heard of Nik Naks either.

AnnG that's a shame you will have to change your PC, but don't worry too much about W11. I held off having it at frst, but they sorted the early glitches with it and I think you may find it easier than you imagine to use the sites you usually do. You can always ask on here as well if you do get stuck with anything.

I'm getting fed up with companies wanting Apps to be used and payments with your phone. I really don't want to do banking on my phone. Today I tried to close a small monthly savings account online that had matured. They aren't daft these banks. It took ages to find in the menus where I could cancel it. I had to ask google in the end! I suppose they don't want people to cancel, but it isn't good custmer service to hide these actions away in obscure menus.

Off to bed now and I hope we all have a good night.

I’ve never heard of Nik Naks Mel. I’m jealous of your sunshine. Even when it’s cold a bit of sun seems to cheer everything up. It did stop raining earlier today but it just stayed grey and damp. I deliberately don’t take my phone into the bedroom. I’m so often awake for long spells in the night that I would be tempted to start scrolling and I don’t want to do that. I can easily put a torch in my bedside cabinet.

Shame about your computer AnnG. I must look that company up as I’ve never heard of them either but it’s good to buy British if you can. Don’t worry about W11. OH put it on our PCs almost as soon as it came out and I had no problems with it. Things might look a bit different but you will soon get used to it.

With the woodland burial it sounds as though it’s very much like your late sil’s AnnG, with the graves under the trees, but it is being developed as it goes along. The original area is now mature woodland and the area where our neighbour was buried about 15 years ago is well grown as well now. S is in an area of grassland that is currently about a third full. A sapling is planted by each new grave and as they grow it will become woodland with the graves among the trees. It’s a lovely spot by the River Stour and very peaceful.

I was getting low on fish in the freezer so we popped out to Waitrose and stocked up. Their fish is expensive but you get 20% off on Friday if you have a Waitrose card and it always looks so fresh. I got some veggie bits as well. OH managed to notice that they had his favourite beer on special offer so just had to get a few bottles “as granddaughter’s boyfriend might like it”. They are only here two days and we don’t even know if he drinks.

I suppose I had better start thinking about dinner. I am beginning to get a bit peckish and it will be another hour before we eat if I start getting it ready now. If I leave it any later I’ll be diving into the biscuit tin.

I had read Vera's post so why I said that in my post I don't know.

I waited for BIL to arrive or at least phone me but he did'nt do either. I could'nt settle into anything as I thought he ws coming so hung around till the afternoon and went and picked up my meds and from there I went to Hatherleigh for deisel as the car was extremly low.

Souds like you may have an expensive bill from Dom. My pc is ancient but if I have to have a new one I always have oh's in the study which already has Windows 11. I am still on w10 at the mo.

When I went to pay for my fuel I spied on one of their shelves Nik Naks which I have'nt seen for years and I used to like those so I bought myself a packet of the scampi and lemon ones which I used to like also a packet of scampi fries which I have eaten reading your posts. Not bad for a person who dos'nt like shellfish of any knid.

I must get a drink now as I am as dry as the dessert after those fries.

Not planned anything for dinner shall just dive down the feezer and come up with something, biut like a lucky dip!! :-D :-D :-D

We've had another sunny day all day but it still bitterly cold out even though when you're in the sun you can feel wwrmth from it.

Vera if you took you phone to bed with you you would have the torch on it to use if the leccy went out. Hope the house has warmed up for you now.

So this is going to be an adventure/ long learning curve. Not to say frustrating.
Computer is done for, hard drive is also done for. Although Dad’s fired up when Dom looked at it, it is too old to replace mine as likely won’t easily take W11 not having been used for over four years.

Soo Dom is sourcing me a new computer, almost as slim line as the one I have. The one he is getting is one he has put in for a lot of people it is a Xenta. No I have not heard of it, apparently it is British from a small British firm. He will also organise new office for me (ours is out of date now) He will order it and Office and hopefully have it next week. He is going to send me the estimate with his work today (about two hours)
And all the rest.

Oh goodness Vera, that was a cold dark start to the day. It sounds as if the funeral and burial were all done very well. I have been in a couple of woodland burial centres and they were both very different. Where Jon is buried is real woodland, a forest with graves among the trees and from autumn it is hard to find the graves. In the Isle of Wight we stayed next to a woodland burial site and walked round one evening. This one was a bit more formal and lawns not trees. Both were so peaceful though.
I am pleased it all went off well.
I am sure that your daughter is feeling a bit lost today now there is nothing left to be planned.

I have had the first male here sorting out the U3A problem. Only hope I can remember what he did when I get a proper Pc

Good morning from a cold (4 degrees), very gloomy and very wet Suffolk

Mel, I did post last night but perhaps you missed me. Anyway, here I am again now. Could you order your pills a little bit earlier so that you don’t run out? You don’t want to run out if you are supposed to take them every day. I’m not sure how your system works as I don’t have to order mine. It’s all done automatically and I just have to collect them from the pharmacy every 28 days.

I see it’s your day for men AnnG. I hope your PC can be brought back to life. I prefer a desktop as well.

Regarding the last couple of days, things did not start well. We had both showered Tuesday night and all our clothes and bits and pieces were laid out ready so Wednesday morning we just had to have some cereal and a cuppa, get dressed and go. I set the alarm for 7 am. At one point I woke with a start and the room was pitch black, too black. Then I realized that there was no glow from my bedside clock. Panic!! If the clock had broken down how late was it? Switched on the bedroom light – no light. Then I realized that the power must have gone off during the night and wasn’t yet back on. So I carefully staggered downstairs in the dark to my phone and found it was only just 6 am (Memo to self: No sense in having all the torches downstairs, put one upstairs!) It wasn’t much fun trying to get dressed properly in the dark but we managed and had a glass of water and some cereal with cold milk. Just as we were leaving at 8.15 the power came back on which was a relief because I had been worried about my freezer but could see that it was still registering -6. I think the power must have been off quite a while as it is usually -18 so the temperature had risen 12 degrees. I didn’t have time to check on anything else and we got on our way.

It was good we had left plenty of time as, with work and school traffic and one set of road works, it took us 20 minutes longer than usual.

(Just had a 30 minute phone call to interrupt me here)

The chapel for the service was at the funeral directors so the coffin was already there. There was no point in bringing it all the way to daughter’s so that we could follow it all the way back. Instead they sent a large funeral car which took S’s mother, brother and sister,, his ex-wife and my daughter. We followed in grandson’s car with him and our granddaughter. Everyone else had just been given the time of the service so went straight to the chapel. It was a lovely service, very personal to S. He didn’t have a faith so it was non-religious except my daughter had asked the celebrant just to include the Lord’s Prayer for anyone who felt they would like to join in with it and most people did. At the end all those not attending the burial were invited to go to the large pub where the reception was being held where they would be able to get coffee and tea and wait in comfort in the room set aside for us.

So to the actual burial. It was another half hour’s drive to the woodland burial site. This time there was the hearse, the funeral car and about 5 others following and I was very impressed at how respectful and courteous other drivers were. At roundabouts people seemed to know instinctively which cars were in the funeral group and let us all through in one stream so no-one got separated or lost. This was a lovely little ceremony in beautiful sunshine in a spot S would have loved and at the end there was a moment that made us all smile. A large Chinook helicopter flew over quite low, hovered over the field for a moment and then flew off. It would have appealed to S’s sense of humour – his own personal fly past.

I won’t bore you with details of the reception except to say the pub did an excellent job with the food and we were all given a specially labelled packet of cornflower seeds which were S’s favourite flower.

I got virtually no sleep that night as, released from driving, OH had had a couple of large glasses of wine at the reception and once back at daughter’s house he and grandson were making inroads into a bottle of port. Consequently, though OK in himself, he did snore and snort and grunt all night long. Just before 6 am he quietened down and I had just dozed off when he leapt out of bed with cramp. At that point I got up.

We came home to a very cold house. The power cut had knocked our underfloor heating off. We got it back on but it takes forever to heat up from scratch. Then I discovered by chance that the water heater which is usually on from 6.30 am for an hour was on late last night so I think it had reset itself to be permanently on. This morning OH has had to spend a while resetting all the controls and timers.

Well I have rabbited on for far too long. I can’t think you really wanted all the funeral details but it helps me to remember if I write things down. I’m now going to go and sort out some vegetarian recipes as veggie granddaughter is coming on Monday. Enjoy your day whatever you are doing.

Mel Vera was on here after she got home.

Yes the cast were very good and the singing excellent. Gilbert and Sullivan I always remember being with bright costumes for the pirates and a bright stage scene but, in common with all things these days it was very minimalistic. Hardly any scenery and drab costumes.