General Chat

The day started quite damp and dreary again but it brightened up mid-morning and has been lovely since then. It's cooling down quite quickly now. The garden hasn't had the attention it needs because it's been so wet but it is showing quite a lot of colour now so it's beginning to feel quite spring like. Added to the winter aconites and snowdrops my February Gold daffodils are all starting to come into bloom as well.

You're getting through your jobs AnnG. If your To Do list is anything like mine 3 jobs get added for every 2 that get crossed off. Well done on starting to listen to your CDs with the memories they bring back. It's another little step forward and all these baby steps add up to the enormous strides you have taken in the last 4 years.

If it weren't for the lovely cards and gifts I have received from family and kind friends, my birthday this year would be a bit of a non-event. Even today's lunch was OKish but nothing more. We went to a very large pub with rooms that we have been to before. There are several eating areas including a large conservatory and, as we came in the back door from the car park we had to walk right through. It was virtually empty so it was definitely lacking in atmosphere. We chose our meals and went up to the bar to order drinks. OH wanted bitter and they had 4 handpulls on. Would you believe not one was connected to the pumps so he had to have lager. I didn't have a starter. The only one I fancied was haddock and spring onion fishcakes and I thought that would fill me up too much before my main course. OH had 5 big chunks of deep fried brie with cranberry sauce. He had belly of pork for his main course and I chose Stifado. Now don't get me wrong - it was very nice and the meat was very tender but it wasn't Stifado as I know it. I would have called it beef stewed with onions. So that was a bit of a disappointment. We decided to look at the dessert menu. Well, we waited so long for someone to clear our plates and bring us the menu that in the end we decided not to bother and just went to the bar and paid. So, my lovely birthday lunch consisted of just a main course and that wasn't what it purported to be. For my dessert I had a Sainsbury's choc ice from the freezer when I got home

OH has said that he'll book a table at The Barn for our anniversary at the end of March. This is a rather special restaurant 10 or 12 miles from us that we have used for special occasion meals before. I'm looking forward to that.

And, I have ticked off two jobs from my list. I emptied the airing from the airing cupboard and put it away and I dusted the bedrooms and offies upstairs. Then I had lunch and sat and listened to a couple of CDs of Michael Crawford. That doesn't seem much but it is only in the last month or so that I have been able to sit and listen to CDs, they all have music that holds so many memories I just could not bring myself to listen to them. So I am feeling quite proud of myself.

I am fine as I was just saying on another post.

I have just made some carrot, parsnip and cauliflower soup. sounds an odd mixture but it was left overs in the fridge and smells and tastes really nice. So that is lunch. I also have mince, carrots, mushrooms and onions in the slow cooker for making a cottage pie this evening.

To answer the header question......

Walking on egg shells.

I hope you're all well

Morning girls,

Another nice mroning here and its 9 degrees. Had a lie in this morning then remembered its shopping day so got up quick.

Have a nice lunch today Vera and let us know what you had as we are all interested. You had some lovely presents and I would have loved to recieve the solar lights. I too need some new ones as I only have two working for the outside now on the patio. I have replaced their batteries a couple of times and they are still working now. I used totake them in over the winter but I hav'nt bothered this year.

Hope G gets on ok today at the dentist and the hospital and the stitches come out ok. The only time I had stitches in my gums was when I had my wisdom teeth out and when I went I had eaten one as it was'nt there so only one to come out. Hope he gets on ok with the clean too.

Better get the sack barrow out for the shopping so its ready for when it arrives. The driver wheeled it into the kitchen for me last week.

Morning Anng, morning all,

Cloudy here with a chance of showers through the day ,hope it stays dry as we have to walk up to specsavers for Colins eye test mid morning .

Enjoy your birthday lunch Vera

good morning all 5 degrees and fairly bright with pale blue sky and white clouds.. slept og, woke a couple of times. again nothing planned so I shall see what the day brings.

Hope that you all had a good (ish) night. at least the days are getting longer.

Sounds like you have had a pleasant day Vera and the lights will be a constant reminder of your birthday. Enjoy your lunch tomorrow too.

I hope all goes well for your OH at the dentist and hospital tomorrow Annx.

My present from my daughter eventually arrived and was a dozen solar garden lights. I had told her that I was thinking of getting some new lights as most of ours had given up so that was what she got for me. I’m a very lucky lady. And the icing on my cake tonight was an hour long phone call from my son :-)

You are both right about OH Mandy and Vera. It's night time when things prey on your mind and he's completely out of sorts with his routine and not having all his meetings to go to and talks to give. He got some work out yesterday that he needs to finish off, but couldn't concentrate enough. He's seemed more cheerful today since he saw the doctor. We've noticed since that the doctor he saw was a locum......pity he wasn't a new recruit!

Your weather's been like ours Mandy. We were just going to put the bin out for tomorrow, had unlocked the door when we had a downpour and so left it till the rain had stopped.

Vera, enjoy your birthday meal out tomorrow. It's the same round here with many of the nicest eating places closed on Mondays. It sounds like you have had some nice cards and presents, with several vouchers to chose yourself things and well done your OH getting the jumper right for you.

I'm off to bed now. We have another early start tomorrow as OH is at his dentists for the stitches to be removed first thing. Then he is at the Hospital dentists later in the afternoon for a check up and probably a clean.

I'm pleased G was abe to talk to a doctor who seems to have put his mind at rest. I do hope you both sleep better tonight. Fancy the trousers fitting him now, sorry charity shop you won't be getting those now.
Did a little tidy on the patio today as I wanted to get my mini daffs up there amoung the fairies. I did go down to the hsed to get the one I had left there last week. Nothing too taxing today. Put a coat on some moulds I am making and watched a bit on you tube and now I'm hungry so I am having mince and mash with broccoli. A batch meal out of the freezer so I just have to do the brocc.

Ann that was good OH were seen this morning and the doctor could reassure him a little ,there must be allsorts going through his mind wondering what is wrong and that's not helping especially at night when he's probably laying there worrying , things always seem worse at night ,he's always been busy with one thing or another and to have to stop can't be easy for him .

This afternoon the sky turned so black and we though it was going to tip down but it just went over and brightened up ,the sun came out and there's was lovely blue sky ,then it clouded over again and it did rain but just a short sharp shower just as it was time for the children coming out of school .

Sounds as if you have had a nice leisurely day today Vera and you have a birthday lunch to look forward to tomorrow.

Thank you, ladies, for your cards and birthday wishes. They are much appreciated.

We haven't done anything special today, though we usually do something on my birthday. However the original plan was that the loft boarding would be going in today so we didn't organise anything. When we found the job was being done on Wednesday instead it was a bit late. As it happens when we got up it was very wet and grey and a trip out wouldn't have been much fun. As most of the nice eating places round here close on Mondays OH is taking me out for lunch tomorrow instead.

The sun came out for me this afternoon and I have had lots of cards and pressies. OH had been out and bought me a jumper in a style I like and in the right size. I am very impressed as he usually needs lots of guidance to get the right thing. I have had smellies, garden voucher, Waitrose voucher, Johnn Lewis voucher, Sainsbury voucher and some cash. I also have a gift box to order afternoon tea for 2 at any of 150 places at a time that suits us. Daughter texted to say a present from her will be delivered this afternoon but there is no sign of it so far.

I have had a very leisurely day. I was still in pjs and dressing gown at lunchtime. I did shower and dress after lunch. I also spent an hour phoning and texting everyone who was coming for tea and cake on Wednesday to tell them not to come and also did thank-yous for those who had given me presents. I have also done the washing and prepared a meal for us tonight but all the jobs have been done as and when I felt like it.

Annx, I'm glad OH got seen by a sympathetic doctor who was able to give him some reassurance at least. The trouble is that it's a vicious circle. If you are in pain without knowing the cause you are bound to get stressed, the tension makes the pain worse, then you get stressed because the pain isn't improving. It's hard on you too but it's important to lead as normal a life as possible for both of you. Fingers crossed that OH will get his appointment very soon

Mel, it must be difficult for an active person like you to sit around but try to rest your foot as much as you can. It will heal all the quicker if you do.

Right, I had better get our dinner in the oven and there is a glass of Sauvignon with my name on it. I hope you all sleep well tonight, especially Annx and G.

OOh I remember when T had the bad pain in his back and we went up to visit daughter, we went out for the day with us in the back of the car and SiL always goes the shortest route to the main road, however it is a terrible road with lots of potholes and uneaven surface and T was in agony in the back of the car. when he was driving it still hurt but he could go over humps more slowly.
My back was aching the other day and the busdriver was treating the traffic calming humps as being put there to annoy or entertain him. Even siting upstairs it was painful.

Yes it is good he's been coming out with me AnnG and it's a bit of exercise for him too. He does try to interfere and comment on the varied routes I choose to go to places though. lol I went the way he said this morning, so we ended up on a road that had humps all along which didn't help his back, despite me crawling over them, so I think he wished he'd kept quiet. He ate all his lunch today, so that was good too. Then he appeared in the trousers of one of his suits he was giving to the charity shop as it was too tight and they were a perfect fit now! He then re-appeared in more trousers from another suit that was destined for the charity shop and they fit nicely now as well. How is your wifi today?

Mandy I got interrupted and posted later so missed your post. Yes, as soon as I started watching the Chapel prog I realised it was a repeat! When I record on Sky it doesn't tell you whether something is a repeat which is annoying. I think the new ones start soon. We thought it would be no good ringing the surgery as we know Mondays are very busy like you say, so decided to go there and queue instead. Luckily it wasn't raining. We've just had a downpour here, but the sun is out again. The doctor wouldn't be able to speed up his appointment now OH has gone the private route. OH should hear soon and is going to phone this week if not.

Mel keep off that foot as much as you can and it will get better even quicker.

I've just put a wash on and oiled the side gate as it is stiff for me to move the metal latch.

ann, good that the receptionist realised that his need to see a GP was urgent. I am pleased that the GP was able to put his mind at rest over some of his worries. And good to know that they are aware of how he is feeling. I think, in G's place we would all be having the thoughts that he has. We are so aware these days of how one pain can mask another. I doubt if the worry has completely gone away, Until he has answers there will always remain that niggling feeling. Counselling might also help. But answers to the problems would be better.

At least you are doing the sensible thing and he is going to the shop with you etc keeping to as normal a life as possible. Hopefully he will sleep better tonight and maybe you will too. you too need to keep to the same going to bed and getting up times.

Morning All,

<3 <3HAPPY BIRTHDAY VERA <3 <3 I hope you have a nice day whatever you are doing and that the weather is better than yesterday.

OH slept better last night after we had a long chat, but I've been woken so many times on so many nights now, I still woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. We went to the surgery and got a space with being so early but there were already quite a few people queuing half an hour before the surgery opened. There was no question of reception booking him in with a nurse once she heard what had happened, so he got an appointment with a new, but really nice asian doctor. He said OH has been through an enormous amount and he wasn't surprised he was anxious and having panic attacks anyway without the addition of waiting for a further diagnosis for his pain and numbness. He told him he looked well and it was good he hadn't had any breathlessness. He thinks the change of taste with food is down to the meds he is taking. He told him not to eat after 6.00pm, (which is something I've been telling him for years with his erratic hours with all the meetings). He said he did the right thing coming to see him, but didn't want to issue him with anything to make him sleep at this stage, but told him to keep to regular sleep times and getting up times and is arranging some counselling for him. OH is glad he went now. He's had a text from the surgery to get another blood test now.

AnnG, yes he has been frightened some of the pain might be masking heart pain which has added to his worry, and that his spine pain might be the cause of his thigh numbness and that he'll lose feeling in his legs. Strangely he hasn't needed to take painkillers this morning, but inflammatory conditions move about and flare up worse at times.

I need to order some of my meds that run out before the rest now, so will do that and then we are off to the main Co-op for a few things.

Morning all,
<3 <3 Happy birthday Vera <3 <3
I hope you have a lovely day with some nice presents and cards and get spolit .

Raining here but it does seem to be getting brighter .

Ann I hope you've managed to get a doctors appointment fod OH, not easy on a Monday morning if your doctors is anything like ours ,hopefully the doctor can give OH something to help the anxiety and maybe get the rheumatology appointment pushed through a bit quicker for him .
Ann those Chapel programmes are repeats of the first series I think ,well I hope they are I I haven't recorded them .

Sounds as if your foot is healing then Mel but be careful what your doing .

Better get on lots of little jobs to do

Morning girls pc is telling me rain in 44 mins but at the moment the suns shining and I hope it stays. still looks a bt windy out there but not been out yet so we'll see when I do.

Slept well as I hope you all did.

I only took 4 paracetamol yesterday so it must be getting better.

<3 <3 <3 Happy Birthday Vera <3 <3 <3 Have a wonderful day full of love and presents.