Today I've been.....

Been taking senior GD back to the doctor. Poor girl is still very unwell and miserable. She has had swollen neck glands, a very painful jaw and her teeth and gums are also painful. A blood test has shown it isn't glandular fever but one of the inflammatory markers is raised, so the doc has given her an antibiotic and we hope that will work. She'd been sick a lot too so I asked to doc to give her an anti-emetic too. Pleased to say she managed not to throw up in my car. It had its annual valeting yesterday when it had its MOT.

Oh Anno poor GD; hope she feels better soon.
We had a day in a hospital in Slough on monday with the baby who had a strange blue rash on his legs which they don't seem to be able to diagnose. However they decided it wasn't 'sinister' (lovely word!) and he was allowed home.
Today I've been recovering from driving back home yesterday with DD3 having overcome the jetlag - 7 hours of b****y Peppa Pig in my left ear, but at least it kept Nell happy even if the baby did grumble all the way. It's sooo cold here, but the sky is blue, the sun is shining, the sea is glistening and the weeds have grown - after 11 weeks away the garden has just taken off, so I have my work cut out for the next few weeks. It's great to be back - to the pile of post, to the pile of washing, to my lovely neighbours and friends who keep popping in to see how things are going and to feel on the same time-scale as everyone else including all you lovely Gransnetters.

I hope your gd is soon better, Anno - it is hard work nursing young people!

Gally - we look forward to hearing a lot more from you now you are safely home.

We always measured journeys with our GDs in Charlie and Lola time. "How long is it now?", "Um three Charlie and Lolas" etc

Anno best wishes for the little one. How good of you to devote time to helping her on her way.

Today I've been looking after a lovely little girl, 2 years old- as her mummy was starting a new job and didn't have anybody to help. A delight - but exhausting. She was as good as gold and ate all her lunch - pasta with ham, mushrooms and peas and stewed apples and custard. Bravo.

On a hike with ten Beavers (aged 6-7), twelve Cubs (8-10), and ten Scouts (10-14). Hot chocolate, cake, biscuits and a very muddy hall at the end. One of the dads got the mop out so full marks to him.

anno, my good wishes for your gd's recovery too.

In bed in the hotel; the keys to my sparkling clean, (the cleaners were amazing) empty house ready to be handed over this morning. How strange that, after all the talking (and moaning to you all from time to time) it is all happening. And how pleasing -and exciting.

I wish I could send you a 'Welcome to your new home' card, Ariadne!

Bags - I am awestruck by your courage!

G, you'd be even more awestruck by the sheer quantity of mud that kids can collect on themselves on a walk. It was a muddy walk, admittedly, because we've had very heavy showers recently, but their skill at getting muddy water inside their wellies and up to their chests, is quite astonishing . Fortunately, we seem to have a bunch of non-fussy parents who just shrug and express gratitude that someone is mad enough to lead these expeditions.

This time at least I didn't have to delve up to my elbow in mud to rescue someone's trainer, though it came quite close to that once or twice. You say, send them in wellies or hiking boots, and ALWAYS, there'll be at least one in trainers that cannot be done up very tight. Hey ho.

The parents do tend to learn that I mean it, eventually

They also learn to bring a groundsheet or a thick towel to put on their car seats when they come to collect their muddy little darlings

Greatnan can we create one here.... Sorry, I've forgotten how to start a new thread!
Meantime, Ariadne : good luck in your new home.

Today I have had a brilliant day in Stratford. DH and I are members of NADFAS and today they had organised a coach to Stratford and tickets to A Comedy of Errors at the RSC. We left at 9.15 along with a coach load of similarily silver haired middle class "social stereotypes" and were in Stratford by 11 - so a gentle wander down Sheep Street, bit of window shopping and a coffee then on the the theatre where DH and I had lunch in the stunning new rooftop restaurant before the performance. The play was hilarious and we had really good stalls seats.It was just made by the funniest Dromios I have ever seen. A wander back afterwards to the coach and home by 6!! A lovely day out without the stress of the drive, the parking, finding the way and coping with motorway trafic on the way home. Am I getting old to admit to enjoying such things? Maybe, I loved it!

At a tribunal in Exeter. This meant an 7.45am departure and as [maniac will tell you, I DO NOT DO EARLY!

gracesm
Did you notice what the disabled facilities and access were lik?

gracesmum, that sounds like my ideal day. I don't know whether it's a sign of getting old that you enjoyed the lack of stress involved. I certainly enjoy our U3A theatre trips (as far away as Manchester - about 15 miles!) when we have a coach to the door and always excellent seats.

I was not aware of the disabled access although the theatre must have some. One of our party had a stroke some years ago and walks with a wheelie thing and he seemed to manage. That said, there were steps up to the main door (but perhaps there is a side door with a ramp) Lifts up to the restaurant of course and there must be seats for wheelchairs - isn't that a legal requirement? RSC website should show you. The one thing that slightly annoyed me was that the coach parked up by Shakespeare's birthplace and although DH managed the walk down through the town and back, if we had know he would have taken both his sticks instead of just one. Still, it was good for him.

[gron]

[gron]!

Why does my grin keep being a gron?i must be tired.

Crescent moo!

Moo to you too!Go to bed jeni! you are VERY tired

Today I have had my first annual checkup with my consultant after the lumpectomy last year. All has gone well and the mammogram was clear. I will see him again on 20th September next year. He said that I had done well, but really it was all down to him and his skill as a surgeon. He is a lovely man, very softly spoken and a true gentleman. I am very grateful.

Great news Glitabo

That's good to hear, glitabo.

That's very good news, glitabo! You can relax again.

Good news glita relax again