Well I had my first day (well morning) back in the office yesterday and everyone made me feel really welcome - it was so nice to see everyone. We went for our Xmas meal in teh afternoon but it was a little unfortunate becasue I was taking some new painjkillers and they made me feel totally spaced out - quite a nice feeling really but not very sociable!! I was even struggling to cut up my food! The food was nice although I was left a little traumatised due to the fact that my turkey was served with boiled potatoes!
I had several offers of a lift home but I thought that the drugs would have worn off by the time I caught the 4:06 train! However on the train I was feeling even more spaced out and I was struggling to keep my eyes open - I was half expecting to end up in Weymouth!! I was also finding that the motion of the train was making me feel quite nauseous.
I got to Sway station and decided that I was on fit state to drive so thought I had better call a taxi - of course it had to be the day that I had forgotten my mobile!! There was no sign of life at the station so I walked to a pub and they rang a taxi for me, which took me home via H's childminder - but we had to stop on the way home for me to be sick - I kept on protesting that I was not pissed but I suspect the driver thought otherwise!!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Cold November
Hello everyone. I think I need to come back to work because this house is so cold during the winter!! Nala is very funny and is providing me with lots of first aid opportunities - I am covered from head to toe in puncture marks - she seems to love climbing up my legs and jumping high and attaching herself to the first bit of flesh she finds!
I am spending a lot of time at the gym trying to rebuild my core strength; -1 hour in the gym, half an hour walking in the pool and then an hour of pilates when I get home, provided that the cat doesn't jump on me too much.
I have been busy making Christmas puds and cakes; I think I know why I love doing this - it is the smell of freshly grated nutmeg - absolutely divine - one of my top 10 things to smell before you die (unlike Nala's litter tray!)
The scaffolding is down on the main part of the house now but some more will be going up the first week of December so that the roofer can re roof the lower part of the roof and install the rooflights. I am looking forward to this because it is a bit depressing to have spent so much money on the house but to still need to have buckets around the house in various awkward spots when it rains.
Hayden was 11 yesterday so we went out for a curry - very nice but I still feel stuffed now - probably not helped by the fact that I went out for lunch yesterday as well!! I can't believe he is really that old now :-(
My Sister and Sian have been trying to pressgang me into having a birthday party at home in February but I'm not sure - I am kind of thinking that if I had one at home it would be better for it to be belated and held in the spring/summer so people may be able to spill out into the garden - and of course I don't like being bullied into anything!! Maybe I will get my Husband to take me away somewhere nice for a weekend instead.
The inside of the house is nearly finished now apart from flooring downstairs, on the stairs and on the landing upstairs. The toilet is also still unconnected in the main bathroom and our plumber has gone AWOL again, but I think the builder has it in hand - he has dug a big hole outside anyway!! Once the rooflights have been done we can also do the roof in the entrance hall - and then we are more or less done inside and we can concentrate on the conservatory.
I am seeing the GP tomorrow so hopefully he will agree my back to work plan (mid december) and also the osteopath so he can do something nice to me such as stick needles in my neck!! Nala is having her second lot of jabs later this weeks so she will officially be allowed to go outside but I think she is a bit small to go out by herself just yet - so she may have to be taken out on her lead :-)
I am spending a lot of time at the gym trying to rebuild my core strength; -1 hour in the gym, half an hour walking in the pool and then an hour of pilates when I get home, provided that the cat doesn't jump on me too much.
I have been busy making Christmas puds and cakes; I think I know why I love doing this - it is the smell of freshly grated nutmeg - absolutely divine - one of my top 10 things to smell before you die (unlike Nala's litter tray!)
The scaffolding is down on the main part of the house now but some more will be going up the first week of December so that the roofer can re roof the lower part of the roof and install the rooflights. I am looking forward to this because it is a bit depressing to have spent so much money on the house but to still need to have buckets around the house in various awkward spots when it rains.
Hayden was 11 yesterday so we went out for a curry - very nice but I still feel stuffed now - probably not helped by the fact that I went out for lunch yesterday as well!! I can't believe he is really that old now :-(
My Sister and Sian have been trying to pressgang me into having a birthday party at home in February but I'm not sure - I am kind of thinking that if I had one at home it would be better for it to be belated and held in the spring/summer so people may be able to spill out into the garden - and of course I don't like being bullied into anything!! Maybe I will get my Husband to take me away somewhere nice for a weekend instead.
The inside of the house is nearly finished now apart from flooring downstairs, on the stairs and on the landing upstairs. The toilet is also still unconnected in the main bathroom and our plumber has gone AWOL again, but I think the builder has it in hand - he has dug a big hole outside anyway!! Once the rooflights have been done we can also do the roof in the entrance hall - and then we are more or less done inside and we can concentrate on the conservatory.
I am seeing the GP tomorrow so hopefully he will agree my back to work plan (mid december) and also the osteopath so he can do something nice to me such as stick needles in my neck!! Nala is having her second lot of jabs later this weeks so she will officially be allowed to go outside but I think she is a bit small to go out by herself just yet - so she may have to be taken out on her lead :-)
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Long Time No Blog
Sorry not to have added to this for ages - my excuse is that I couldn't find the charger for my camera poor excuse I know!
Anyway before my battery ran out I did take a few pictures of the progress on the house. http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee25/eatwell_album/ although I could probably do with taking some more now.
Progress seems a bit slow now, as we have been waiting for our new rooflights to arrive; it is a bit depressing when you think of all the money that we have spent and the fact that we have to have buckets around the house when it rains hard!!!
I found evidence of mice in one of the kitchen cupboards on Monday - I was too scared to tell Kev that I don't want to live in the countryside anymore, so I went out and bought a kitten instead - trouble is I think it would run a mile if it saw a mouse!!
It's ironic really because last Saturday evening we were lying in bed and Kev kept on saying that there was an animal in the bedroom and I told him he was going mad! In the end he got up and H's hamster had done a bit of a Houdini and was scuttling around our room. As it turned out this was a taste of things to come in the kitchen!
This is the puss.
Anyway before my battery ran out I did take a few pictures of the progress on the house. http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee25/eatwell_album/ although I could probably do with taking some more now.
Progress seems a bit slow now, as we have been waiting for our new rooflights to arrive; it is a bit depressing when you think of all the money that we have spent and the fact that we have to have buckets around the house when it rains hard!!!
I found evidence of mice in one of the kitchen cupboards on Monday - I was too scared to tell Kev that I don't want to live in the countryside anymore, so I went out and bought a kitten instead - trouble is I think it would run a mile if it saw a mouse!!
It's ironic really because last Saturday evening we were lying in bed and Kev kept on saying that there was an animal in the bedroom and I told him he was going mad! In the end he got up and H's hamster had done a bit of a Houdini and was scuttling around our room. As it turned out this was a taste of things to come in the kitchen!
This is the puss.
She is very cute but a bit of a time waster! She fell asleep lying on me yesterday evening much to the consternation of the kids who both wanted her!!
I had tickets to see Scouting for Girls last Saturday which I had to give up much to my disappointment as I didn't think I would be able to last - rather than waste them I made Kev take H!!
The new rooflights have now arrived which is good and there is a man on the roof which is even more promising.
I am feeling much stronger this week and had my first one to one pilates session yesterday, which was a little trying, since I try and avoid being the centre of attention at all times during classes - but this is simply not possible with a one to one and your core/neutral spine is the teacher's total focus; what a shame I've lost my core! Maybe I should advertise on Hantsnet for a new one!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Life, Death and Lollypops
Crikey can't believe it is so long since I posted. We're still moving in on the 27th; the kitchen is 99% finished and the tilers are starting tomorrow. When we went over last night (to drop more boxes off) two baths were in place (the whirlpool bath has a leak though) but no showers or new loos yet. The range has been unwrapped though and looks superb. I have also ordered a fantastically retro looking toaster but it has not yet arrived.
I went to order carpet for the upstairs bedrooms today but got a bit carried away I decided, when the bill came to £1600 for two rooms!! I think I will go in and choose something a bit cheaper tomorrow, after all it is only for bedrooms, and if I spend £1600 K will expect it to stay down for about the next 30 years!!
I picked H up from school today and he had that look on his face, as if he was about to burst into tears; I gave him a hug and he started..........my first instinct was to worry that he was being bullied. However it turned out the school had just held a memorial in the church for Mr Jim, the school lollypop man who died just before the summer holidays. Anyway apparently H was asked to hold Mr Jim's lollypop during the service, and it was all too much for him; poor little fella - he is so sensitive. I was just relieved he wasn't being bullied.
I am very disappointed with my gardening efforts this year - I have harvested one tomato, and I have been carefully watering what I thought were miniature aubergine plants, only to be informed that I have been nurturing weeds - how did that happen, when I grew the bloody things from seed? - and I thought they were growing so well!!
I have decided that I want to get a British shorthair kitten when we move - I have been cuddling Mr Fatty, the local specimen this afternoon - he is just so lovely and cuddly - almost teddy bear-like. I will try and take a picture of him to show you.
I am being very lazy and have arranged to have someone in to clean the oven next Friday - I just can't get down there - that's my excuse, and I am sticking to it!! I must admit I am also quite tempted to get someone in to clean once we have moved our stuff out too!!
In a way it will be sad to leave the beach house, but I am looking forward to having our own house again. Our landlord rang during the week to check when we were moving out, which I initially thought was a bit cheeky since the rent is paid until the 2nd - and then he said that we were very welcome to stay on a couple of weeks longer rent free if we wanted to - wow, how unbelievably kind of him - I was really touched.
I went to order carpet for the upstairs bedrooms today but got a bit carried away I decided, when the bill came to £1600 for two rooms!! I think I will go in and choose something a bit cheaper tomorrow, after all it is only for bedrooms, and if I spend £1600 K will expect it to stay down for about the next 30 years!!
I picked H up from school today and he had that look on his face, as if he was about to burst into tears; I gave him a hug and he started..........my first instinct was to worry that he was being bullied. However it turned out the school had just held a memorial in the church for Mr Jim, the school lollypop man who died just before the summer holidays. Anyway apparently H was asked to hold Mr Jim's lollypop during the service, and it was all too much for him; poor little fella - he is so sensitive. I was just relieved he wasn't being bullied.
I am very disappointed with my gardening efforts this year - I have harvested one tomato, and I have been carefully watering what I thought were miniature aubergine plants, only to be informed that I have been nurturing weeds - how did that happen, when I grew the bloody things from seed? - and I thought they were growing so well!!
I have decided that I want to get a British shorthair kitten when we move - I have been cuddling Mr Fatty, the local specimen this afternoon - he is just so lovely and cuddly - almost teddy bear-like. I will try and take a picture of him to show you.
I am being very lazy and have arranged to have someone in to clean the oven next Friday - I just can't get down there - that's my excuse, and I am sticking to it!! I must admit I am also quite tempted to get someone in to clean once we have moved our stuff out too!!
In a way it will be sad to leave the beach house, but I am looking forward to having our own house again. Our landlord rang during the week to check when we were moving out, which I initially thought was a bit cheeky since the rent is paid until the 2nd - and then he said that we were very welcome to stay on a couple of weeks longer rent free if we wanted to - wow, how unbelievably kind of him - I was really touched.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Work in Progress 2
Well I have gone blogger mad today; probably due to the fact that I overdid things on Saturday and I am in a lot of pain today - it's my own fault and I have totally negated the soothing affect of the acupuncture I had on Friday!!
Some updated photos from this morning.
http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee25/eatwell_album/WORK%20IN%20PROGRESS%202/
Things are starting to look a bit more civilised! The kids chose their own room colours - Hayden is colour blind - Sian doesn't really have an excuse!! I did however put my foot down when H asked if he could have his ceiling painted in squares of all the left over paint from the house!
The funny looking wall in our room is much nicer in real life - a kind of aubergine colour - quite spectacular.
Must go now and get back to packing for H - off on school trip for a week tomorrow.
Some updated photos from this morning.
http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee25/eatwell_album/WORK%20IN%20PROGRESS%202/
Things are starting to look a bit more civilised! The kids chose their own room colours - Hayden is colour blind - Sian doesn't really have an excuse!! I did however put my foot down when H asked if he could have his ceiling painted in squares of all the left over paint from the house!
The funny looking wall in our room is much nicer in real life - a kind of aubergine colour - quite spectacular.
Must go now and get back to packing for H - off on school trip for a week tomorrow.
The Aga Saga
- well the Rangemaster Saga at any rate - and they are now owned by Aga.
The Range
Delivery 1- 18th August
Cooker arrives, delivery people can't get it through kitchen/hall door without unwrapping it. Don't want to unwrap due to building work going on.
Back door is wide enough but they can't get through back gate due to skips in the way. Skips due to be emptied later in the week so they say they will redeliver the following Friday.
'Delivery' 2 - the following Friday
Get a call from builders at 4pm saying cooker hasn't arrived. Ring and am told that the delivery guys never rescheduled the delivery.
Delivery is rescheduled for the 27th.
'Delivery' 3 - August 27th
Get a call the evening before saying that the delivery will be between 10.30 and 2.30 the following day.
Get a call from the builder at 4pm saying that the cooker has not arrived. Ring delivery centre and am told that the cooker has been delivered. I assure them that it hasn't and they promise to get someone to ring me the following day.
At around 6pm when my visitors have just arrived, I get a call from the delivery drivers saying that they are running a little late and will be with me in about half an hour I tell them that it is too late, and that I am not living at the delivery address and I cannot get there due to visitors.
I ring the delivery centre the next day and they tell me that I have to go back into the branch where I bought the cooker, get a refund and rebuy it - a little difficult seeing as I bought it online!! Eventually get the delivery rescheduled for the following Saturday.
''Delivery' 4 - the following Saturday
No phone call the night before about delivery so after 9pm I ring the automated system in order to get a delivery slot. The system cannot give me a time and I know that the office is not manned until 9am so I get up on the Saturday and leave here at 7.30am to make sure that I get to the house by 8am just in case. Picture the scene - me sat in the kitchen on a camp chair in the freezing cold kitchen, rain coming through the roof in several places and no working lights!! At least the pouring rain gave me the opportunity to check out which bits of guttering were leaking!!
9am arrives so I ring the delivery centre to ask about my delivery slot, only to be told that 'your delivery has been changed to Tuesday because we are not coming to your area today'!! Nice of them to tell me!!
Delivery is rearrange for the following Tuesday.
Sunday night - get a phone call from the delivery centre asking me if I am aware that my delivery has been changed from Saturday to Tuesday!!! The irony was not wasted on me!!!
Monday night - receive a phone call from the delivery centre informing me that my Tuesday delivery will be coming between 7am and 11am, but advising us that we are the first delivery so they could be as early as 6.45!!!!!!!
'Delivery' 5 - The best one
Leave Mudeford at 6.15 to ensure that I am at the house by 6.45. Get a call at 7.15 saying they delivery guys will be with me within half an hour. The guys arrive at 7.45, and walk into the kitchen. They look at the obvious hole for the cooker and say 'We can see where the cooker is going, but where is it?' Good joke!!!
Alas they jested not - they had been sent on a service call to fit the cooker (we had never asked for it to be fitted) and thought it had already been delivered!!! Oh you've got to laugh!!! They rang the delivery centre and were told it could be delivered the following day - same time slot.
Delivery 6 - 3 September
Hooray - it has arrived, but still not unwrapped so hope it's ok!!!
I emailed customer services and had a little bit of a rant, and they clearly didn't appreciated how pissed off I was, as their response was to refund my £19.99 delivery charge!!!!!!! Personally I think I need a bloody medal for my patience!
The Range
Delivery 1- 18th August
Cooker arrives, delivery people can't get it through kitchen/hall door without unwrapping it. Don't want to unwrap due to building work going on.
Back door is wide enough but they can't get through back gate due to skips in the way. Skips due to be emptied later in the week so they say they will redeliver the following Friday.
'Delivery' 2 - the following Friday
Get a call from builders at 4pm saying cooker hasn't arrived. Ring and am told that the delivery guys never rescheduled the delivery.
Delivery is rescheduled for the 27th.
'Delivery' 3 - August 27th
Get a call the evening before saying that the delivery will be between 10.30 and 2.30 the following day.
Get a call from the builder at 4pm saying that the cooker has not arrived. Ring delivery centre and am told that the cooker has been delivered. I assure them that it hasn't and they promise to get someone to ring me the following day.
At around 6pm when my visitors have just arrived, I get a call from the delivery drivers saying that they are running a little late and will be with me in about half an hour I tell them that it is too late, and that I am not living at the delivery address and I cannot get there due to visitors.
I ring the delivery centre the next day and they tell me that I have to go back into the branch where I bought the cooker, get a refund and rebuy it - a little difficult seeing as I bought it online!! Eventually get the delivery rescheduled for the following Saturday.
''Delivery' 4 - the following Saturday
No phone call the night before about delivery so after 9pm I ring the automated system in order to get a delivery slot. The system cannot give me a time and I know that the office is not manned until 9am so I get up on the Saturday and leave here at 7.30am to make sure that I get to the house by 8am just in case. Picture the scene - me sat in the kitchen on a camp chair in the freezing cold kitchen, rain coming through the roof in several places and no working lights!! At least the pouring rain gave me the opportunity to check out which bits of guttering were leaking!!
9am arrives so I ring the delivery centre to ask about my delivery slot, only to be told that 'your delivery has been changed to Tuesday because we are not coming to your area today'!! Nice of them to tell me!!
Delivery is rearrange for the following Tuesday.
Sunday night - get a phone call from the delivery centre asking me if I am aware that my delivery has been changed from Saturday to Tuesday!!! The irony was not wasted on me!!!
Monday night - receive a phone call from the delivery centre informing me that my Tuesday delivery will be coming between 7am and 11am, but advising us that we are the first delivery so they could be as early as 6.45!!!!!!!
'Delivery' 5 - The best one
Leave Mudeford at 6.15 to ensure that I am at the house by 6.45. Get a call at 7.15 saying they delivery guys will be with me within half an hour. The guys arrive at 7.45, and walk into the kitchen. They look at the obvious hole for the cooker and say 'We can see where the cooker is going, but where is it?' Good joke!!!
Alas they jested not - they had been sent on a service call to fit the cooker (we had never asked for it to be fitted) and thought it had already been delivered!!! Oh you've got to laugh!!! They rang the delivery centre and were told it could be delivered the following day - same time slot.
Delivery 6 - 3 September
Hooray - it has arrived, but still not unwrapped so hope it's ok!!!
I emailed customer services and had a little bit of a rant, and they clearly didn't appreciated how pissed off I was, as their response was to refund my £19.99 delivery charge!!!!!!! Personally I think I need a bloody medal for my patience!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Work In Progress 1
Due to popular demand, an update on the house. We are definitely moving on on September 27th. This is the living room this week, although one of the baths has been moved into the conservatory. (could add a little something to social occasions!!)
The hall - shouldn't look too bad once the decorating stuff has been cleared up.
Utility room & fridge - there are some units in it now. In fact the whole kitchen is probably about 70% done now.
The living room looks as though a bomb has hit it!! I just can't picture myself sitting in here of an evening!
http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee25/eatwell_album/wORK%20iN%20PROGRESS%201/WORK%20IN%20PROGRESS%201/
http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee25/eatwell_album/wORK%20iN%20PROGRESS%201/WORK%20IN%20PROGRESS%201/
I will go over today and take some more photos as I am sure some progress has been made this week; hopefully the roof leaks have been fixed so the bloody place is a little more watertight!!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Where is my bloody range?
First meant to be delivered on the 18th but they couldn't get it through the kitchen door in its packaging and didn't want to unwrap it with all the building work going on. They said they would deliver it on the Friday instead, by which time the skip would have been emptied and moved. The poor guys had been driving around for ages because their printed delivery note was pointing them to number 5 and not number 57.
Friday came and went, as did the skip - but no cooker. When I rang the redelivery had never been scheduled, so they rescheduled for today. Being a helpful sort of person I rang the delivery centre to tell them about the address but they said they couldn't change it and I needed to ring another number; I rang the number and they told me I needed to contact the delivery centre - at which point (having been kept waiting for so long) I semi exploded, so they offered to inform the delivery centre for me. It all looked quite hopeful when we had a call yesterday, promising said delivery for between 10 and 2 today. I hold out little hope for the superfridge actually turning up as promised on Thursday!
The builder rang at 4 to say the cooker hadn't arrived and he was going home. I rang the Company I had bought the cooker from to relay my sorry tale - but it's ok, they say it has been delivered!!! Mmmm I will just have to tell the builder that he is mistaken and they slipped it into the house without him noticing!!
A quiet weekend this last one - which is good but I am suffering today having walked too far yesterday. I am starting physiotherapy tomorrow which should be interesting. The house is still horribly quiet with no H, but I had his foot damage repaired today - what a beautiful new clean windscreen! I am really missing the olympics now it has finished - no gushing of patriotic pride to wake up to anymore. it seems hard to believe that it is really three years since we were awarded the 2010 gig.
Friday came and went, as did the skip - but no cooker. When I rang the redelivery had never been scheduled, so they rescheduled for today. Being a helpful sort of person I rang the delivery centre to tell them about the address but they said they couldn't change it and I needed to ring another number; I rang the number and they told me I needed to contact the delivery centre - at which point (having been kept waiting for so long) I semi exploded, so they offered to inform the delivery centre for me. It all looked quite hopeful when we had a call yesterday, promising said delivery for between 10 and 2 today. I hold out little hope for the superfridge actually turning up as promised on Thursday!
The builder rang at 4 to say the cooker hadn't arrived and he was going home. I rang the Company I had bought the cooker from to relay my sorry tale - but it's ok, they say it has been delivered!!! Mmmm I will just have to tell the builder that he is mistaken and they slipped it into the house without him noticing!!
A quiet weekend this last one - which is good but I am suffering today having walked too far yesterday. I am starting physiotherapy tomorrow which should be interesting. The house is still horribly quiet with no H, but I had his foot damage repaired today - what a beautiful new clean windscreen! I am really missing the olympics now it has finished - no gushing of patriotic pride to wake up to anymore. it seems hard to believe that it is really three years since we were awarded the 2010 gig.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Kiss of Death on the Weather
Please will everyone accept my heartfelt apology for putting the kiss of death on the weather this summer, due to being off work! I can't believe it is so grotty! Saying that I can still hear kids playing on the beach and there is one windsurfer out, so I suppose the weather can't be that bad today. At least it is dry.
The house is still going through a destructive as opposed to constructive stage; the kitchen fitter has been delayed yet again but is meant to be starting this Friday now. I must admit I am a bit bored with being asked to choose things like tiles and paint colours - it is just so boring, and because we have so many rooms to do I constantly have to be budget conscious. We currently have decorators in and they are beavering away stripping wallpaper at the moment. It's quite sweet in the kitchen because there is some graffiti on the walls dating back to the 1950s, so I have told the builders that they should add their own 2008 additions - I am going to. The builders have also uncovered a screwed up sheet of newspaper dated April 14th 1914, reporting all kinds of interesting news, including a court case regarding the theft of 20 chickens valued at £5 - this seems an awful lot of money!
H has been in the kitchen making scones this morning, making lots of strange noises and lots of mess too - but at least it tears him away from the TV! I am trying not to look at the scones because they look bloody gorgeous, and I am trying not to go back down the slippery slope of eating that kind of thing! I may have to break out the cream and jam and encourage the kids to eat the whole lot! Oh as a beside, how funny is this - I was out with H once and he doesn't like dried fruit so he selected a cheese scone on M & S and then tried to pick up cream and jam to go with it!!!! LOL! I had to explain that they don't really go!! - a bit like my purple Crocs that the poor child has taken to wearing - they don't look very masculine so I did tell the poor colour blind child that they are bright purple but he didn't care - says he just wears them to save having to put on socks!!
We haven't been doing an awful lot as I am still meant to be taking it easy, so the kids have been glued to the Olympics. S the Slug is full of baloney about her sporting ability; one minute she is going to start cycling to school (about 8 miles each way) the next minute she is going to start swimming before school every day!! I am very good at taking it as seriously as she says it but privately find it pretty hilarious, coming from a child who doesn't get up until gone midday if she gets the chance!!
I have now got a physiotherapy appointment for next week which I am pleased about; it is at the Harbour Hospital in Poole, which is not as nice plush as the Nuffield in Poole, but nicer than some other places!!
It was lovely to see Lynda on Monday, but yet again the weather was terrible, and we got soaked whilst out for a walk, but at least she had brought her coat, as I knew she would as she likes walking in that kind of weather.
Not much planned for the rest of the week; the time is flying by and I do tend to forget what day of the week it is. I made an appointment this morning to see the doctor as I need some new painkillers - the first appointment available with any doctor was the 28th of August!!
The house is still going through a destructive as opposed to constructive stage; the kitchen fitter has been delayed yet again but is meant to be starting this Friday now. I must admit I am a bit bored with being asked to choose things like tiles and paint colours - it is just so boring, and because we have so many rooms to do I constantly have to be budget conscious. We currently have decorators in and they are beavering away stripping wallpaper at the moment. It's quite sweet in the kitchen because there is some graffiti on the walls dating back to the 1950s, so I have told the builders that they should add their own 2008 additions - I am going to. The builders have also uncovered a screwed up sheet of newspaper dated April 14th 1914, reporting all kinds of interesting news, including a court case regarding the theft of 20 chickens valued at £5 - this seems an awful lot of money!
H has been in the kitchen making scones this morning, making lots of strange noises and lots of mess too - but at least it tears him away from the TV! I am trying not to look at the scones because they look bloody gorgeous, and I am trying not to go back down the slippery slope of eating that kind of thing! I may have to break out the cream and jam and encourage the kids to eat the whole lot! Oh as a beside, how funny is this - I was out with H once and he doesn't like dried fruit so he selected a cheese scone on M & S and then tried to pick up cream and jam to go with it!!!! LOL! I had to explain that they don't really go!! - a bit like my purple Crocs that the poor child has taken to wearing - they don't look very masculine so I did tell the poor colour blind child that they are bright purple but he didn't care - says he just wears them to save having to put on socks!!
We haven't been doing an awful lot as I am still meant to be taking it easy, so the kids have been glued to the Olympics. S the Slug is full of baloney about her sporting ability; one minute she is going to start cycling to school (about 8 miles each way) the next minute she is going to start swimming before school every day!! I am very good at taking it as seriously as she says it but privately find it pretty hilarious, coming from a child who doesn't get up until gone midday if she gets the chance!!
I have now got a physiotherapy appointment for next week which I am pleased about; it is at the Harbour Hospital in Poole, which is not as nice plush as the Nuffield in Poole, but nicer than some other places!!
It was lovely to see Lynda on Monday, but yet again the weather was terrible, and we got soaked whilst out for a walk, but at least she had brought her coat, as I knew she would as she likes walking in that kind of weather.
Not much planned for the rest of the week; the time is flying by and I do tend to forget what day of the week it is. I made an appointment this morning to see the doctor as I need some new painkillers - the first appointment available with any doctor was the 28th of August!!
OOH I WANT A SCONE!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Cake Travesty
I went to the local fete today for (for the new house) for a short while but tired very easily. They appeared to take it all very seriously with a standard recipe and cake tin size and shape, so I made a real effort to get a cake tin the right size. I was a little bit pissed off when I got to the fete and there were cakes of all shapes and sizes on display so I asked (tongue in cheek) if all the round ones were going to be disqualified, only to be told that no one could find an 8 inch cake tin so they were allowing all shapes and sizes, and by the way, the metric ingredients list was wrong!! My cake tasted fine (as did the two practice ones :-) but it didn't look as big as some of the others.
We have been living in Mudeford for nearly a year now and for the first time this week I saw the lifeboat returning to base (I have since seen it for a second time this week). The first time I had my camera so took some photos. I didn't realise that the little tractor went so far into the water.
Tonight is the end of Christchurch Carnival week so we should get a good view of the fireworks tonight. I am not sure whether or not we will see anything of the Bournemouth air show over the bank holiday weekend. i have to admit to being slightly paranoid about the coastguard helicopter; it goes so close to the house it feels as though they can see into my bedroom although I'm sure they can't!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
The Mysterious Case of the Dead Fish
Well the fish head anyway. A fish head has appeared on my drive - where did it come from? Did it fall out of Emma's pocket when she visited, or was it dropped by a careless seagull? I guess I will never know. What I do know is that K keeps forgetting to dispose of it and I can't bend down far enough to do it myself!
I have had kitchen dramas this week as I have discovered that the kitchen door is too narrow for my lovely new fridge. It could come in the back door, but a skip is currently blocking access to the back of the property. The Aga lady assured me when I rang that the delivery men will take the doors off (the fridge doors) and put them back on afterwards - we shall see.
I drove for the first time last night - just up to the house to measure the doors, but it felt nice to be out and about, and now I know that if I want to go into Christchurch I don't have to go on the bus.
I have been looking at kittens online again; I am convinced that this is a must have after the builder found a dead mouse on the drive - yuk. I am going to make another practice Dorset Apple cake this afternoon, with apples picked by me from my own garden. I don't know who will eat it - I may leave it for the builders.
The children drove me batty yesterday - constantly bickering. It goes something like this - girl goads boy, boy wallops girl. Girl demands that I do something about him walloping her. The trouble is she just doesn't leave him alone and she probably deserves it - but he has to learn that it isn't acceptable to go around clobbering people. They reckon that they are going to walk up to McDonalds together for lunch - I'll believe it when I see it!!
I have had kitchen dramas this week as I have discovered that the kitchen door is too narrow for my lovely new fridge. It could come in the back door, but a skip is currently blocking access to the back of the property. The Aga lady assured me when I rang that the delivery men will take the doors off (the fridge doors) and put them back on afterwards - we shall see.
I drove for the first time last night - just up to the house to measure the doors, but it felt nice to be out and about, and now I know that if I want to go into Christchurch I don't have to go on the bus.
I have been looking at kittens online again; I am convinced that this is a must have after the builder found a dead mouse on the drive - yuk. I am going to make another practice Dorset Apple cake this afternoon, with apples picked by me from my own garden. I don't know who will eat it - I may leave it for the builders.
The children drove me batty yesterday - constantly bickering. It goes something like this - girl goads boy, boy wallops girl. Girl demands that I do something about him walloping her. The trouble is she just doesn't leave him alone and she probably deserves it - but he has to learn that it isn't acceptable to go around clobbering people. They reckon that they are going to walk up to McDonalds together for lunch - I'll believe it when I see it!!
Monday, August 11, 2008
The One Where I Show off My Lifesaving Skills
Well I was sat on the balcony yesterday, taking in some rays and getting some fresh air, when a dirty great big kestrel landed on the lawn below, with a pigeon in its mouth. Now, I really was planning to let nature take its course - after all it's just nature, and the kestrel has got to eat - and pigeons aren't exactly my favourite bird! Anyway I got up what I thought was quietly to get Kev out to come and watch, and the bloody kestrel flew off, leaving the pigeon (I think it was quite young) shaking on the lawn. it then went and hid behind the rosemary.
I checked half an hour later and it was still there; this was when I started to feel really guilty - not only had I caused a kestrel to go without its lunch, but I had an injured pigeon on my hands :-( I rang the RSPCA (I know I'm mad) and they said to catch it, wearing gloves, to confine it in a box, and they would come and collect it the following day. The following tableau of Kev doing his Dick Dastardly impression was quite amusing - and then the bloody thing flew off, looking decidedly lopsided!! Even though it was a pigeon, I hope it was alright and didn't just fly off to die somewhere, and I'm sure the kestrel didn't go hungry for long.
I had another lovely visitor on Saturday - thanks - it's so nice to see people; unfortunately the weather wasn't very good though.
My lovely Sister popped around on Sunday with her brood; she is excited because my Niece has got a screen test for a TV program on Wednesday.
I went to the house towards the end of the week for the first time since before my op; things are definitely happening, and hopefully the kitchen is being fitted (or started this week). We also have scaffolding around the whole house now, ready for the drain pipes and painting.
I also encountered a bit of a budget problem; I found some beautiful Fired Earth tiles for the kitchen; I looked up the price and thought they seemed a bit excessive - £340 per s q m. I showed Kev, just for the devilment, and he informed me that he has budgeted £10 per sq m :-)
I checked half an hour later and it was still there; this was when I started to feel really guilty - not only had I caused a kestrel to go without its lunch, but I had an injured pigeon on my hands :-( I rang the RSPCA (I know I'm mad) and they said to catch it, wearing gloves, to confine it in a box, and they would come and collect it the following day. The following tableau of Kev doing his Dick Dastardly impression was quite amusing - and then the bloody thing flew off, looking decidedly lopsided!! Even though it was a pigeon, I hope it was alright and didn't just fly off to die somewhere, and I'm sure the kestrel didn't go hungry for long.
I had another lovely visitor on Saturday - thanks - it's so nice to see people; unfortunately the weather wasn't very good though.
My lovely Sister popped around on Sunday with her brood; she is excited because my Niece has got a screen test for a TV program on Wednesday.
I went to the house towards the end of the week for the first time since before my op; things are definitely happening, and hopefully the kitchen is being fitted (or started this week). We also have scaffolding around the whole house now, ready for the drain pipes and painting.
I also encountered a bit of a budget problem; I found some beautiful Fired Earth tiles for the kitchen; I looked up the price and thought they seemed a bit excessive - £340 per s q m. I showed Kev, just for the devilment, and he informed me that he has budgeted £10 per sq m :-)
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Mandy Eatwell's Big Day Out
Hey I like. The other the ring of that title - they should make a movie - or am I showing my age?
Well I had my first proper trip out yesterday to Poole to see Super Surgeon at The Spire. My verdict? Not as plush as the Bournemouth Nuffield but nicer than the General :-) He is pleased with how things have gone and said that my nerve was wedged underneath my disc and if it had been left much longer I would have suffered permanent nerve damage. He said it was a tricky operation because of this wedged nerve and he lost weight during the operation - wasn't sure how to take that :-) The other good news is that I am no longer confined to my bed - hooray! I feel a lot more comfortable pottering around as opposed to lying down so that is good. I also went to Sainsbury's with K & H last night which was nice (how sad am I?) but I wasn't allowed to lift anything.
My new chair for the bedroom arrived on Tuesday which is a bit of a pain as it would have been nice to have it delivered to Yeovilton Cottage. It is in a very dark red leather and smells gorgeous.
http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/product/B000N40DS2/sr=1-2/qid=1218117677/ref=sr_1_2/202-6471914-8015043?ie=UTF8&node=42966030&m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&keywords=love%20seat&mnSBrand=core&size=9&rh=n%3A42966030%2Ck%3Alove%20seat&page=1
I have ordered my new fridge for the new kitchen (which is being fitted next week) http://www.rangecookers.co.uk/Rangemaster-SxS-(661)-Refrigeration-product,916.aspx It is lovely and it matches the cooker. Only trouble is that mastercard have been on the phone wanting authorisation from the main cardholder for the purchase :-( I forewarned them that I will be ordering the cooker hood, cooker and dishwasher today too :-)
it is a gorgeous day here today after last night's fantastic lightening. It was quite spectacular going around the bay; I was going to take some pictures but we were just watching the end of Die Hard 4 and I thought that I would take the pictures afterwards but of course it was over by then. I have taken my laptop outside and I am sat on the patio, but I may have to go in again as it is very hot and I can't see the screen that well :-0 Phew that's better - inside again!
I made my first practice Dorset Apple Cake in preparation for the Everton Village Fete Dorset Apple Cake Competition; it came out well considering I just bunged everything into the food processor because I didn't want to stand up for too long!! It's a good job I am not competitive or anything :-)
My runt tomato plants have fruit on them at last, and hopefully they will thrive a bit better now that I do not have to reply on anyone else to water them for me.
My walking is improving and I think that I may be able to make it to my favourite beach front cafe for coffee soon http://www.beachhutcafe.co.uk/ although I'm not sure I fancy crab sandwiches.
The children are making cakes together so I am just steering as clear as possible so they don't stress me out, but they have been threatened if they don't clean up properly afterwards!! Why do they always want to make cakes when an evening meal would be much handier.
Well I had my first proper trip out yesterday to Poole to see Super Surgeon at The Spire. My verdict? Not as plush as the Bournemouth Nuffield but nicer than the General :-) He is pleased with how things have gone and said that my nerve was wedged underneath my disc and if it had been left much longer I would have suffered permanent nerve damage. He said it was a tricky operation because of this wedged nerve and he lost weight during the operation - wasn't sure how to take that :-) The other good news is that I am no longer confined to my bed - hooray! I feel a lot more comfortable pottering around as opposed to lying down so that is good. I also went to Sainsbury's with K & H last night which was nice (how sad am I?) but I wasn't allowed to lift anything.
My new chair for the bedroom arrived on Tuesday which is a bit of a pain as it would have been nice to have it delivered to Yeovilton Cottage. It is in a very dark red leather and smells gorgeous.
http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/product/B000N40DS2/sr=1-2/qid=1218117677/ref=sr_1_2/202-6471914-8015043?ie=UTF8&node=42966030&m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&keywords=love%20seat&mnSBrand=core&size=9&rh=n%3A42966030%2Ck%3Alove%20seat&page=1
I have ordered my new fridge for the new kitchen (which is being fitted next week) http://www.rangecookers.co.uk/Rangemaster-SxS-(661)-Refrigeration-product,916.aspx It is lovely and it matches the cooker. Only trouble is that mastercard have been on the phone wanting authorisation from the main cardholder for the purchase :-( I forewarned them that I will be ordering the cooker hood, cooker and dishwasher today too :-)
it is a gorgeous day here today after last night's fantastic lightening. It was quite spectacular going around the bay; I was going to take some pictures but we were just watching the end of Die Hard 4 and I thought that I would take the pictures afterwards but of course it was over by then. I have taken my laptop outside and I am sat on the patio, but I may have to go in again as it is very hot and I can't see the screen that well :-0 Phew that's better - inside again!
I made my first practice Dorset Apple Cake in preparation for the Everton Village Fete Dorset Apple Cake Competition; it came out well considering I just bunged everything into the food processor because I didn't want to stand up for too long!! It's a good job I am not competitive or anything :-)
My runt tomato plants have fruit on them at last, and hopefully they will thrive a bit better now that I do not have to reply on anyone else to water them for me.
My walking is improving and I think that I may be able to make it to my favourite beach front cafe for coffee soon http://www.beachhutcafe.co.uk/ although I'm not sure I fancy crab sandwiches.
The children are making cakes together so I am just steering as clear as possible so they don't stress me out, but they have been threatened if they don't clean up properly afterwards!! Why do they always want to make cakes when an evening meal would be much handier.
Monday, August 4, 2008
A Smashing Time was had by All....
.........or by the builder and his Son at any rate. I haven't seen the result of the removal of the old kitchen in the house but K took a photo for me.They have also removed the suspended ceiling in the entrance hall to expose the vaulted ceiling, 
which revealed lots of wires and pipes and two mouse nests - empty ones.
which revealed lots of wires and pipes and two mouse nests - empty ones. After having seen the photos I dreamed that the builder had a sausage dog called Heather that we were looking after..........analyse that one any amateur dream doctors out there!!
H and I walked up to Mudeford Quay this morning; we went as far as the lifeboat station because on Saturday night we saw the lifeboat coming back on from a shout and after a shout there is usually a poster displayed giving details of the last call out - and find them quite interesting. Anyway we made it to the lifeboat station and back, but I had to stop and rest for about ten minutes on 3 occasions!!! - and the callout summary was very boring - a speed boat rescue - that'll teach me not to be so nosey!! It is quite scary that a walk that normally takes me about 10 minutes could take to long, and we nearly got overtaken by a 300 year old man with a walking stick!! However my physiotherapy sheet says that I should be doing two 30 minute walks by the end of week 3 so I need to keep up the pace!!
I had a visit from a lovely friend this evening which brightened up my day no end; she brought me a beautiful orchid and a nice house magazine which I hope to get some ideas from.
Talking of ideas I found these beautiful tiles today http://www.wallsandfloors.co.uk/product-details.php?tid=1118&cid=114 but seeing the price of them I think I might get away with one row as a splashback in the downstairs loo :-(
I have chosen my kitchen http://www.howdens.com/kitchens/ranges/classic-collection/haworth-white/ and I have chosen my cooker http://www.rangemaster.co.uk/index_243.htm I think I am going to have it in cream and hope that it goes ok with the white units. I do like the latte colour but it is new and costs about £600 more, which seems a lot especially to a stingy devil like me - the flipping thing costs enough as it is - but it is my compromise on having an Aga.
I have been trying to find tiles for the downstairs loo floor today - I quite fancied some rustic looking quarry tiles but I think I am going to go for plain white to make it a bit lighter in there because it is quite dark in there with only one tiddly (snigger) window.
I heard H getting up this morning and thought I would join him for breakfast; got upstairs and found him frying bacon to make himself a bacon sandwich :-) rest assured I will have my answer ready next time he asks if he can get me anything :-)
H and I walked up to Mudeford Quay this morning; we went as far as the lifeboat station because on Saturday night we saw the lifeboat coming back on from a shout and after a shout there is usually a poster displayed giving details of the last call out - and find them quite interesting. Anyway we made it to the lifeboat station and back, but I had to stop and rest for about ten minutes on 3 occasions!!! - and the callout summary was very boring - a speed boat rescue - that'll teach me not to be so nosey!! It is quite scary that a walk that normally takes me about 10 minutes could take to long, and we nearly got overtaken by a 300 year old man with a walking stick!! However my physiotherapy sheet says that I should be doing two 30 minute walks by the end of week 3 so I need to keep up the pace!!
I had a visit from a lovely friend this evening which brightened up my day no end; she brought me a beautiful orchid and a nice house magazine which I hope to get some ideas from.
Talking of ideas I found these beautiful tiles today http://www.wallsandfloors.co.uk/product-details.php?tid=1118&cid=114 but seeing the price of them I think I might get away with one row as a splashback in the downstairs loo :-(
I have chosen my kitchen http://www.howdens.com/kitchens/ranges/classic-collection/haworth-white/ and I have chosen my cooker http://www.rangemaster.co.uk/index_243.htm I think I am going to have it in cream and hope that it goes ok with the white units. I do like the latte colour but it is new and costs about £600 more, which seems a lot especially to a stingy devil like me - the flipping thing costs enough as it is - but it is my compromise on having an Aga.
I have been trying to find tiles for the downstairs loo floor today - I quite fancied some rustic looking quarry tiles but I think I am going to go for plain white to make it a bit lighter in there because it is quite dark in there with only one tiddly (snigger) window.
I heard H getting up this morning and thought I would join him for breakfast; got upstairs and found him frying bacon to make himself a bacon sandwich :-) rest assured I will have my answer ready next time he asks if he can get me anything :-)
Thursday, July 31, 2008
How to Write Something out of Nothing
How do I write something about the trivialities of my life when I have done nothing? It's quite hard work I can tell you! I have got a day's peace and quiet because Kev has taken the kids to Thorpe park again; at least I don't feel as if I am missing out because I loath rides and when we go to those places I am always the one who ends up hanging around for hours carrying bags, waiting for everyone else to come off the rides. At least we are not going to Florida this year.
The builder is starting to rip the old kitchen out of the 'new' house today so that is good - it will be nice to start to see something being done.
I have been in quite a lot of pain over the last few days - it involved setting Kevin on the GP - he is very good at that kind of thing whilst those of you who know me well will know that I shy away from confrontation.
A bit of a panicky email to Super Surgeon yesterday resulted in him ringing me today just offering reassurance really - apparently my body is going to take time to adjust to all my nerves being in the right place. What a nice man. I am due to see him next week in Poole which will be an adventure in itself because it will be the first time I have been out apart from going up to the doctors to get my staples out! Kev wants to drive me, but I think I would rather go on the train to be honest as it is only 20 minutes and it will give me more opportunity to move around during the journey, compared to being in the car for probably about 40 minutes.
I am signing off now as I am feeling quite sleepy; I think people are not emailing me because I am recuperating, but I am sleeping with my laptop and I do enjoy getting emails; if you don't know it my hotmail account is mandy_eatwell@hotmail.co.uk
The builder is starting to rip the old kitchen out of the 'new' house today so that is good - it will be nice to start to see something being done.
I have been in quite a lot of pain over the last few days - it involved setting Kevin on the GP - he is very good at that kind of thing whilst those of you who know me well will know that I shy away from confrontation.
A bit of a panicky email to Super Surgeon yesterday resulted in him ringing me today just offering reassurance really - apparently my body is going to take time to adjust to all my nerves being in the right place. What a nice man. I am due to see him next week in Poole which will be an adventure in itself because it will be the first time I have been out apart from going up to the doctors to get my staples out! Kev wants to drive me, but I think I would rather go on the train to be honest as it is only 20 minutes and it will give me more opportunity to move around during the journey, compared to being in the car for probably about 40 minutes.
I am signing off now as I am feeling quite sleepy; I think people are not emailing me because I am recuperating, but I am sleeping with my laptop and I do enjoy getting emails; if you don't know it my hotmail account is mandy_eatwell@hotmail.co.uk
Monday, July 28, 2008
Call Me a Wimp
Well I had my staples out - ouch - although some were more ouch than others! I had my first ten minute walk this morning and it really is quite frightening - it took me the whole time to get as far as I can normally get in about two minutes! - and I had to stop half way too; I must have looked like an old lady! My goal is to be able to get as far as my favourite beach front cafe for coffee - although amazingly I haven't had a single coffee since I came out of hospital - I think theirs has put me off for life :-)
The surgeon said it would be good for me to walk in the water so I set off this evening - all costumed up, and then it started pouring down - shame!! The trouble is I'm not sure how deep I need to be to get the benefit - I'm not sure that I want to be going as far up as my scar in salt water :-( I have emailed him to ask him.
I am feeling a little as though I have no idea what went on during that operation (the osteo was unable to make the new date) and I feel as though I want to know so I may have to grill the surgeon when I see him again next week.
It's Sian's 14th birthday tomorrow so I shall try and bite my tongue the whole day so there are no arguments. She should be happy as her smurf hoodie arrived from the states today as did her tickets to see The Feeling.
Oh I nearly forgot today's big news - I had my first shower for over a week, due to the removal of the staples! Oh it felt good, and my hair feels even better now it has been washed and is no longer sticking to my head! I know I am a wimp, but I did decide against using my salt scrub!
The surgeon said it would be good for me to walk in the water so I set off this evening - all costumed up, and then it started pouring down - shame!! The trouble is I'm not sure how deep I need to be to get the benefit - I'm not sure that I want to be going as far up as my scar in salt water :-( I have emailed him to ask him.
I am feeling a little as though I have no idea what went on during that operation (the osteo was unable to make the new date) and I feel as though I want to know so I may have to grill the surgeon when I see him again next week.
It's Sian's 14th birthday tomorrow so I shall try and bite my tongue the whole day so there are no arguments. She should be happy as her smurf hoodie arrived from the states today as did her tickets to see The Feeling.
Oh I nearly forgot today's big news - I had my first shower for over a week, due to the removal of the staples! Oh it felt good, and my hair feels even better now it has been washed and is no longer sticking to my head! I know I am a wimp, but I did decide against using my salt scrub!
Staples Out
Hooray, I am having my staples out today which is the highlight of my life at the moment; it may not sound very exciting to you but let me assure you that it would if you hadn't had a shower for a week!! Yesterday when I was getting semi dressed for my 10 minute walk I caught the staples on my jeans - ouch!!!!!! Last night I dreamed that the nurse couldn't get them all out - I hope that isn't an omen :-(
Kev is on leave this week to look after me, so he has taken the kids off out shopping and for lunch, but at least that means there is no squabbling for me to listen to. My surgeon said it would be really good to walk in water once I have had my staples out, so I have a dilemma - do I get driven 20 minutes to the pool, only to be in the water for about ten minutes, or do I bite the bullet and go in the sea this evening? Am I more worried about the cold or the salt?
Anyway I thought I would publish a picture of my whopping scar for the less squeamish amongst you; I did send it off to be airbrushed but the picture that came back was so small you couldn't see it :-) Anyway the cut is about as long as one and a half of my hands which surprised me.
The surgeon said my bones were so strong he got blisters on his hands cutting them :-( not sure if that was what I wanted to hear or not :-)
Kev is on leave this week to look after me, so he has taken the kids off out shopping and for lunch, but at least that means there is no squabbling for me to listen to. My surgeon said it would be really good to walk in water once I have had my staples out, so I have a dilemma - do I get driven 20 minutes to the pool, only to be in the water for about ten minutes, or do I bite the bullet and go in the sea this evening? Am I more worried about the cold or the salt?
Anyway I thought I would publish a picture of my whopping scar for the less squeamish amongst you; I did send it off to be airbrushed but the picture that came back was so small you couldn't see it :-) Anyway the cut is about as long as one and a half of my hands which surprised me.
The surgeon said my bones were so strong he got blisters on his hands cutting them :-( not sure if that was what I wanted to hear or not :-)
Thank You for the Flowers
Thank you to everyone who sent me the most gorgeous flowers; not only do they look beautiful but they smell fantastic too; they look more and more impressive every day as more flowers come into bloom. I have them in the vase in my bedroom and every so often I get a waft of their scent.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
What a Beautiful day
It really is a gorgeous day and I am living in my own little world, lying in bed, feeling the sea breeze, listening to the sounds of the beach and the world going by. Kev says that outside the beach and the prom are absolutely heaving - it's as though I have my own private sanctuary here. I a surreal moment earlier; today there is an RNLI fun day taking place at Mudeford Quay and I keep on hearing tannoy announcements. Suddenly I heard just the loudest noise ever and looked up to see what looked like a fighter jet going past my window! There was then a display up and down the coast - it was just really odd the way it seemed as if they were so close they were going straight past my window! I hope they didn't peek in at me in my PJs :-)
Kevin and the children were going to go shopping today of all things!!! I think I have talked them out of it and persuaded them to go tomorrow instead when it is meant to be wet, but Sian has still insisted on wearing a bloody fleecy hoody all day long, even when I managed to kick them out onto the beach for some fresh air!!
Kev has popped over to the house today. the damp course and the wood worm are now done and hopefully the builder can start on something more interesting next week.
I was dreading running out of painkillers as I don't want to have to feel as though I am beggging the GP for more, but today the pain does feel as though it has eased so maybe I won't need to. I can try walking today - 2 walks of up to 10 minutes. I am going to wait until the crowds have gone down outside and walk for 10, sit down and then do my other 10. The surgeon said it would be good to walk in water, so I may go in the sea tomorrow evening if I am feeling brave!! It seems a bit more environmentally friendly than being driven to the gym just to spend 10 minutes in the pool.
I am looking forward to having my staples out tomorrow - I think there are about 25 of them and they are not very comfortable. Hayden commete that they look just like the ones they get in paper at school :-) However, I assure you that if the work stationery cupboard is short of staples 'it wasn't me!!'
I'm not quite sure how they get these staples out, but I have been given what feels like an office staple extractor in a sealed envelope to give to the Practice Nurse :-) However much it hurts, it will be worth it knowing that I can have a shower afterwards! I haven't had one since last Monday at the hospital, when they covered my wound up with a waterproof dressing and my hair is kind of sticking to my head :-)
Talking of the hospital, did I share horror stories? First of all on my last day there a porter started to wheel me off for someone else's radiotherapy!! It's a good job he said where he was taking me because I was actually waiting to be wheeled off for x-rays!!! Mental note to self never to fall asleep during the day whilst in hospital!
The second thing made me laugh really; on my last day they had NHS inspectors in; one lady took a particular interest in the ventron in my hand. She was trying to decide whether or not the little cap should be closed on it or not. She then decided that it should be, proceeded to close it up and then wandered off. She didn't wash her hands before or after touching me; you;ve got to laugh really!!
Kevin and the children were going to go shopping today of all things!!! I think I have talked them out of it and persuaded them to go tomorrow instead when it is meant to be wet, but Sian has still insisted on wearing a bloody fleecy hoody all day long, even when I managed to kick them out onto the beach for some fresh air!!
Kev has popped over to the house today. the damp course and the wood worm are now done and hopefully the builder can start on something more interesting next week.
I was dreading running out of painkillers as I don't want to have to feel as though I am beggging the GP for more, but today the pain does feel as though it has eased so maybe I won't need to. I can try walking today - 2 walks of up to 10 minutes. I am going to wait until the crowds have gone down outside and walk for 10, sit down and then do my other 10. The surgeon said it would be good to walk in water, so I may go in the sea tomorrow evening if I am feeling brave!! It seems a bit more environmentally friendly than being driven to the gym just to spend 10 minutes in the pool.
I am looking forward to having my staples out tomorrow - I think there are about 25 of them and they are not very comfortable. Hayden commete that they look just like the ones they get in paper at school :-) However, I assure you that if the work stationery cupboard is short of staples 'it wasn't me!!'
I'm not quite sure how they get these staples out, but I have been given what feels like an office staple extractor in a sealed envelope to give to the Practice Nurse :-) However much it hurts, it will be worth it knowing that I can have a shower afterwards! I haven't had one since last Monday at the hospital, when they covered my wound up with a waterproof dressing and my hair is kind of sticking to my head :-)
Talking of the hospital, did I share horror stories? First of all on my last day there a porter started to wheel me off for someone else's radiotherapy!! It's a good job he said where he was taking me because I was actually waiting to be wheeled off for x-rays!!! Mental note to self never to fall asleep during the day whilst in hospital!
The second thing made me laugh really; on my last day they had NHS inspectors in; one lady took a particular interest in the ventron in my hand. She was trying to decide whether or not the little cap should be closed on it or not. She then decided that it should be, proceeded to close it up and then wandered off. She didn't wash her hands before or after touching me; you;ve got to laugh really!!
Friday, July 25, 2008
A Week Since Op
Well, hard to believe it is a week since my op. I am tiring of being 'looked after' - maybe I am just not a good patient :-)
I think I have been asleep most of the afternoon, but not been sleeping at night so it figures. Did have a really nice dream about my super surgeon and his lovely smile :-) He has been very attentive and sweet - I guess that is private healthcare for you.
I received some beautiful flowers from work the other day and I have them up in the bedroom; they still look gorgeous.
My Husband is off on leave next week rather than working from home; I think he will be better off doing things with the kids and getting them out and about rather than 'looking after' me.
I think the pain has lessened now and I can lie more comfortably; I am just really looking forward to getting the dammned staples taken out on Monday - they are just so uncomfortable - especially to a sensitive sole like me :-)
Today I have been thinking about the other ladies that were in hospital with me and I hope they get home soon - I think they had all been there a long time. I felt like a bit of a lightweight getting upset about being there on day 3 when they had all been there ages. I just hated the lack of privacy. However I have since decided that there is a double edged sword with this; hospital is less boring than being by yourself at home because there is always something going on to do with someone else to hear all about :-)
I was thinking about the private healthcare thing - although I was on a ward, I did get at least one visit a day from both the surgeon and the anaesthetist, which was really sweet as they didn't have to - particularly the anaesthetist as he can't really have had anything to add. He is off on holiday this weekend so I hope he has a good one. I do however keep seeing the look of horror on his face when they had wheeled me down for the op and I was on the bed in a strange sort of ante room with lots of people in it including him and Super Surgeon; I started joking about wanting an epidural - anyway the look on the anaesthetist's face was an absolute picture :-)
I think I have been asleep most of the afternoon, but not been sleeping at night so it figures. Did have a really nice dream about my super surgeon and his lovely smile :-) He has been very attentive and sweet - I guess that is private healthcare for you.
I received some beautiful flowers from work the other day and I have them up in the bedroom; they still look gorgeous.
My Husband is off on leave next week rather than working from home; I think he will be better off doing things with the kids and getting them out and about rather than 'looking after' me.
I think the pain has lessened now and I can lie more comfortably; I am just really looking forward to getting the dammned staples taken out on Monday - they are just so uncomfortable - especially to a sensitive sole like me :-)
Today I have been thinking about the other ladies that were in hospital with me and I hope they get home soon - I think they had all been there a long time. I felt like a bit of a lightweight getting upset about being there on day 3 when they had all been there ages. I just hated the lack of privacy. However I have since decided that there is a double edged sword with this; hospital is less boring than being by yourself at home because there is always something going on to do with someone else to hear all about :-)
I was thinking about the private healthcare thing - although I was on a ward, I did get at least one visit a day from both the surgeon and the anaesthetist, which was really sweet as they didn't have to - particularly the anaesthetist as he can't really have had anything to add. He is off on holiday this weekend so I hope he has a good one. I do however keep seeing the look of horror on his face when they had wheeled me down for the op and I was on the bed in a strange sort of ante room with lots of people in it including him and Super Surgeon; I started joking about wanting an epidural - anyway the look on the anaesthetist's face was an absolute picture :-)
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Post Op
Well I am back in the land of the living, if a little sore. Meant to be having as much bed rest as possible for 6 weeks but it is so boring. Hardly any pain killers now as they were making my gut bleed :-( oh well can't go on troughing pain killers forever.
I am typing in bed - trouble is it is so hard to get comfortable - another sleepless night last night. I have managed to stay awake all day so hopefully will get some sleep tonight. Looking forward to having my staples out on Monday as they are irritating me; although there is bound to be some kind of palaver - there always seems to be some kind of grief when it comes to me and my GP surgery :-(
I am typing in bed - trouble is it is so hard to get comfortable - another sleepless night last night. I have managed to stay awake all day so hopefully will get some sleep tonight. Looking forward to having my staples out on Monday as they are irritating me; although there is bound to be some kind of palaver - there always seems to be some kind of grief when it comes to me and my GP surgery :-(
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Ahh - a lovely moment - almost
I said to Kev this morning 'I wish I knew how many nights I have left with you before my operation ' (i.e I knew when I was going in - the Friday or the Saturday'.
He replied 'we will have the next 50 years of nights together'...., how sweet I though ..then he continued 'although by the time I am 97 you will have to be wiping my arse for me..'
CHARMING!
He replied 'we will have the next 50 years of nights together'...., how sweet I though ..then he continued 'although by the time I am 97 you will have to be wiping my arse for me..'
CHARMING!
Completion
Well we have completed at last - hope we haven't made an expensive mistake :-(
At least now I can publish some of my interior 'before' photos.
The kitchen really has to go - all that green carpet - yuk. Who is that man? Maybe he is a chef or a butler or something and he comes with the house?
The garden is lovely and we are hoping to get someone to keep it looking tidy before we move in; the previous gardener quoted me 40 hours per month - I don't think so!!! Oh and STOP PRESS when I went to the house yesterday, some bugger has nabbed every single fig off my bloody fig tree!!!
Sian still hasn't seen the house unbelievably and wasn't even tempted by the offer of fish and chip supper up there tomorrow! In a way I think she is doing us a favour as we would never hear the end of her moaning if she did see it before it is finished.
l
Bathrooms are going to prove a lot of works for us - the previous owners seemed really fond of these archway affairs over the bath - most odd. I am hoping to be able to fit one of those great big almost square baths in to replace the yellow bath.
At least now I can publish some of my interior 'before' photos.The conservatory has to go - it leaks, it is damp, it has green things growing in it and it is generally rather hideous. But the most hideous thing of all is those curtains; I fear they may once have been white!!
The kitchen is pretty grim and I discovered mouse droppings in there yesterday :-( I wonder if there is an ebay market for retro tiles?
The kitchen really has to go - all that green carpet - yuk. Who is that man? Maybe he is a chef or a butler or something and he comes with the house?
The garden is lovely and we are hoping to get someone to keep it looking tidy before we move in; the previous gardener quoted me 40 hours per month - I don't think so!!! Oh and STOP PRESS when I went to the house yesterday, some bugger has nabbed every single fig off my bloody fig tree!!!
Sian still hasn't seen the house unbelievably and wasn't even tempted by the offer of fish and chip supper up there tomorrow! In a way I think she is doing us a favour as we would never hear the end of her moaning if she did see it before it is finished.
I am hoping to get Noggers the woodworm man up to the house next week to quote for treatment - and to stop me having nightmares about wood boring beetles flying around my head.
I am thinking of opening an online retro lamshade shop; unless Briony really wants them - she is welcome to them if she does.
I am thinking of opening an online retro lamshade shop; unless Briony really wants them - she is welcome to them if she does.
lI also do a line of dodgy sweet wrapper electric fires.
Knobs - oh I love the doors and the door knobs in the house wooden latch and leather strap type affairs and brass looking knobs - they will be staying oh and keys - there are hundreds of the things lying around the house with strange labels on them. I got quite excited yesterday when I found a key labelled 'cellar'. I have always wanted a cellar so I went in search of it, finding it hard
to believe it I had missed it. I found it in the end - it was actually one of the outbuildings :-(
to believe it I had missed it. I found it in the end - it was actually one of the outbuildings :-(
t
o
oWhen I took H up there the other day every time I looked at him he had a different key in his hand. He was delighted to find a big key in his bedroom door, but couldn't get it to work - could prove a blessing :-)
Bathrooms are going to prove a lot of works for us - the previous owners seemed really fond of these archway affairs over the bath - most odd. I am hoping to be able to fit one of those great big almost square baths in to replace the yellow bath.
They must have put a lot of effort into matching up the wallpaper and the suite in the downstairs loo; thank God the listings people didn't declare that the brown and blue wallpaper was listed!!
Anyway if we run out of money I have decided that I will open a home for the vertically challenged; the front door will be perfect!!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
House Colour
As those of you that know me have realised by now, I do not like the colour of the new house. The conservation people have assured me that we may not need official planning permission to change the colour - they may just be able to agree it by letter, so I am going to finish drafting the letter today.The Tuscan Red walls (yes they are Tuscan Red and not Plaster Pink!!) are going to be Wimborne White, which is white with a very feint hint of blue (apparently). The bluey grey bits are going to be Blackened, which is a much paler blue colour and the white bits on the windows are going to stay white gloss. The lamppost is going to be Blackened too.
Took some pictures of the garden yesterday; this is the fig tree which is covered in fruit but I think they may be last year's so maybe they should be removed?
I have also tempted fate I fear, by buying seeds yesterday so that by the time we have completed I will have some plants ready yo go into the greenhouse; I have concentrated on the things I love to eat i.e tomatoes, aubergines, chillis and peppers. I have also got some spaghetti squash which look like fun - you apparently boil them whole and then scoop out the insides, which look like spaghetti.
I was going to plant the seeds this morning, but have suddenly twigged that there are no sodding windowsills in this house :-( why is that? I guess I will have to improvise :-)
Snowy Mudeford
Well it wasn't snowing at 4am because I got up and checked :-) However when I got up around 7 it was chucking it down but not settling so I thought I had better take some pictures while it was sti
Friday, April 4, 2008
Pictures of Mudeford
Towards Lymington
The back of the house - I am very jealous of the neighbour's tower.
Towards Hengistbury HeadThe House
Well at last we have had an offer accepted on a house but I do wonder whether we are slightly mad - a grade 2 listed farm house that has seen better days! Oh well you only live once and I am fed up with living my life out of boxes!
Anyway thought I had better chart my progress on my blog so I can just give people the link and actually get something done when I am in work.
I was put off this photo of the drive above because i thought it was the street but it's not it's the drive - I think the lampost was a bit of a red herring ;-0
The garden is lovely and it has a greenhouse so I am currently trying to decide what goodies I can get into the greenhouse for the summer.we are going to the hosue tomorrow to do some measuring and take some more pictures.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)