Another what I did today thread

Been making apricot and poppy seed bread to eat with baked Camembert later.

We often get mice here - they sneak in through the tiniest gaps when the weather gets a bit chilly! They are so bold - one sat in the middle of the kitchen floor and just eyed us up.

Unfortunately we do finish up having to poison them as they chew the electric wiring given half a chance. We also had a rat that electrocuted itself chewing the wires - luckily it triggered the trip or we could have had a fire.

Today I have cuddled our new GD most of the afternoon - now 4 weeks old. What a treat! - don't they smell wonderful!?

definate phobia I would say!! Mine is cockroaches. We were on holiday a few years ago in the tropics and our room was a round thatched affair. After laying down in bed on the first night we looked up to ceiling and there was the biggest spider I have ever seen in my life. We both got up and stood on the bed goodness knows why, anyway I went to get help whilst DH kept watch. The chappy came armed with fly spray, by then I was back on the bed and whilst he was dealing with the spider totally ineffectually I may add with the spray I glanced around and on the bed head was the biggest cockroach you can imagine. I think that my brain must have shut down at that point as I decided that I couldn't function at this level and so refused to think about it for the rest of the holiday - which was wonderful. So I cannot expalin what happened to my phobia then but I still loath them.

I've never thought of a sparrow looking like a mouse before, its just a silly phoia of mine a few weeks ago we had the front door open loads because of the builder doing some work and we had a mouse, it was terrible, I was sitting in my front room watching the telly and I heard rummaging and it was a mouse!!! I jumped up on the couch and my son had to carry me out of the room, it was a nightmare....now do you see why I wish I was not sooo terrified of them

jadey now a rat I could understand - I am not keen on them although they have a perfect right to be here same as us really, but I would draw the line in my house or even in the garden, but I bet there are loads around we just don't see them.

I was watching the sparrows today pottering around and I remember someone saying that they are like flying brown mice, and I bet you don't mind them.

Gosh baubles your FIL must be a tough as old boots. Respect.

Nellie Did you enjoy your holiday?

How lucky are you whitewave to not be scared of mice, I am absolutly terrified of them and get convinced that they are going to climb up my leg, I so wish that I was not so terrified of them.

Spent the last 3 glorious days in the garden taking up and replanting a bed. Discovered that we have a tame mouse who has made her home outside of the greenhouse amongst all the pots and stuff and sits eating the bird seed that I offer her. Very Beatrice Potter - lovely bright eyes.

Tomorrow taking elderly mother (94) out for lunch, hope she is a better mood than today as when I phoned my usual daily call mother dear rather thought that I was getting terribly fat, and that she had read of a woman who had lost 2 husbands to what my DH had during the autumn. Hey Ho!

That sounds like a skilled procedure, Nellie. I'm sure it'll all go to plan as they sound well prepared. Make the most of the Verdi Requiem - it's a really powerful work, isn't it - a very 'operatic' requiem. Love that Dies Irae - it really does sound like a day of wrath.

What I did yesterday was have the pre-op assess for parathyroid surgery next Thursday. Hopefully all will all go ahead.
I gave blood, had my BP done, my nose swabbed my chest listened to and my pulse counted and ECG which seemed to last less than a minute.

Now on Monday I have to have a vocal chord check? I am not sure why?

The nursing sister doing the pre-op rather graphically described that to get to the Parathyroid gland underneath the thyroid they would have to move aside a few blood vessels as well as the nerve to the larynx. I knew there was a danger than this could affect my voice for a while but that was too much information really.

In preparation for the possibility of tghis affecting my voice for a while I have booked for a "come and sing day" for Verdi Requiem this Saturday.
For anyone who hasn't heard it is a glorious loud and tuneful piece of music, as are lots of Verdi operas.

Having psyched my self up now for next Thursday I just hope it will not be delayed. Please no "major incidents" on the M6. in the next week.

I feel as though I've been away for an age!

Last Friday I phoned home from my mini holiday to say hello and discovered that my FIL had suffered a ruptured abdominal aneurysm.

He was apparently extremely lucky to survive the trip to hospital, was judged too weak to survive traditional surgery so the surgeons decided on a procedure which was a first for them and the hospital. FIL was kept awake during a five hour op, he amazed the medical team with his stoicism and not only survived surgery but also the following crucial 24 hours.

To the family's surprise he was discharged yesterday. I think he and my MIL are both a little shell shocked by the whole experience. He is 89 years old, obviously they bred 'em tough in those days.

We had a tyre blow out on the trailer a few years back, coming home from a holiday in Wales. We were on the A1 in Yorkshire, disabled daughter with us, her mobility scooter on the trailer. It happened near to a small petrol station with a shop, so we pulled in there to use their phone (pre mobile days) to call Green Flag who we`d been with for years. The woman who answered insisted we weren`t members, wouldn`t be swayed on the matter, and we were feeling a bit stuck out there. Luckily, an AA man was in there, he said if we joined on the spot he could get us sorted, which he did, and we`ve been with them ever since. We did get an apology from Green Flag after our daughter rang and played holy hell, but we left them there and then.

anno; one of the scariest things that ever happened to me was my car breaking down in the nearby town. I've never felt so helpless/vulnerable in my life. The breakdown company I used then were cheaper that RAC/AA and, good as they were I'm happier now that I'm with [I think] RAC. When my son had problems with his car a couple of years ago the RAC/AA guy followed him back to my house to see he got home ok. I do sometimes ponder stopping the cover as my car does very little mileage but I think it would be a false economy.

I had just been pondering the amount I pay for AA breakdown cover and wondering if it was worth it, when lo and behold, a nail in a tyre persuaded me that perhaps it is!

Got the money, and it's not hot!

Kitty I've hot the money, it's the principle that I have to have my car serviced if it needs it or not!
To add insult to injury I have changed the insurance from RAC to Zurich at half the price and this morning I had an email from the RAC to say they were automatically renewing my insurance and have deducted the money from my account. They will not refund it until I return their now defunct certificate.
Hurried hunt in the circular filing cabinet to retrieve said cert. now posted.

I am just sitting watching Loose Women, before doing some ironing. I have been so lazy and relaxed this week me and my crutch because I have a proper excuse to do nothing if I feel like it.

I think it will be back to normal on Monday!

Great start to the day, phone call from neighbour at second home " your smoke alarm is going off " DH jumped in the car and drove to Cumbria 2+ hours. Wasn't the smoke alarm and there wasn't a fire it was a battery low signal on the carbon monoxide monitor arghhhh.
Pleased you have arrived safely Gally have a great time.
baubles I am so sounds idyllic.
kitty +++++

kitty to you too; you deserve them with all your tribulations! Keep letting off steam here - it does help.

Off to Fareham today, to see DS1 and family while Theseus runs a seminar somewhere. Then on to Kent to meet the Rotary funded Volunteer Team who are going out to a township school in KwaZuluNatal in May. Really looking forward to that - I'm doing the professional training section, so am up and ready with my PPT. Visual aid only, though, not "death by PPT"!

I love this thread!! It's like a chat over the garden wall!

Enjoy your trip Gally

gracesmum glad DH is brighter and love the fact that you are so upbeat.

soop good luck to mrsoop with his drawings?

Galen - you really should have saved the money to pay for your car - but what the hell!!!

to everyone.

On the other hand, I had a really rubbish day. I won't bore you with the details but I bet you'll all be as glad as me when we move mum to a different/better home. [steamcomingoutofearsemoticon]

Good wishes to all you energetic (and slightly less so) GNetters. I've just watched the sun rise over the sea in Rafina, just outside Athens,
My oldest friend was 60 yesterday and last night we celebrated with her family. I met her newest GS who is 6 weeks old
Today we are headed for the Acropolis in the

Actually, thinking of my friends on here, she isn't my 'oldest' friend

Here I am, safely delivered by Emirates to not so sunny Sydney. Landed in a storm this morning; the wind is blowing and the rain is falling but forecast is better for the weekend. Lovely to be greeted by all 4 gc's. The boys were allowed to wait until I arrived before leaving for school which delighted them - not me arriving but having a couple of hours off school! Haven't given in to sleep yet so must keep going for another 6 hours at least.
gracesmum you are a woman after my own heart
soop don't overdo the muscle-building
galen don't feel guilty

If it fits?

Don't - just enjoy.

Feel very guilty though .