ToadyI have been mainly Vol. 7

Thank you Gally and bags - just bought some Sheep Dip for DS1's birthday on Monday.

It was XS size. I used to have a blouse that was difficult to get out of; very tight filtting with a zip at the side. That made me go all panicky when I tried to take it off [these things are always easier to get into, I find]. I wonder if I've spent time in a straight jacket in a previous incarnation [wouldn't surprise me] because claustophobic and panicky sums it up very well!

Today I will be filling out the on-line application for JSA. That'll be an hour of my life I won't get back!

Swimming, swimming and more swimming. Oh how I love the Mediterranean. Last day tomorrow.

Most of this is yesterday but I got in late last night.

Yesterday I had an NHS appointment at a local private hospital regarding my aching right arm and shoulder. The Xray gave the game away. Clear bony spurs on the top of the shoulder joint, against which the tendons are scraping when I move my arms.
Shoulder impingement syndrome. Which explains why for about 4 months now I have been waking up at about 4am with upper right arm throbbing. It needed me to pick blackberries, stir jam, or type on GN too much to really set it off.

Day keyhole surgery to clear the bony bits and allow the tendon to move freely is booked for 23rd October. Till then it will still be the pack of frozen peas at dawn sitting in a chair so I can dangle my arms. The compression gets worse lying in bed at night.

I will be glad to get it fixed. Right now I can't do anything much with my arm without my shoulder complaining later that night.

I have delayed the surgery date by two weeks as I have another geology trip booked. That is twice this year I have delayed elective surgery to pursue my hobbies.

Given the amount of pulling and tugging the surgeon did yesterday testing what was going on my arm hurts like B*****y today. I fear my left arm might be going the same way, but one thing at a a time.

I did end the day with a reunion meal with former colleagues. From 7:30 to 10:30 we were chatting and laughing it was great night!

Glad you enjoyed it Nellie and every good wish for successful surgery.

We are due to go away tomorrow for a weekend reunion with lots of friends, and I cannot work up any enthusiasm. Like you, Nellie I am in a lot of pain, although I am managing to control it with medication. I keep trying to put it (the pain) to the back of my mind, not let it take over, and can't. I feel such a wimp, and I hate being needy! And I know it could all be so much worse.

Right, that feels a bit better. Orthopaedic assessment on Tuesday.

Thank you, Nellie you have given me heart for the weekend!

Trying to get out of Devon!! Well on the road now, but it's taken us a good hour or so longer than we'd thought. Friday traffic, I suppose. And no, I am not driving!

Here we are! 2 already and feeling no pain...

Well! following my previous post. I have sorted the bag of peas issue.They were getting rather smelly after too many thawings.
A hot or cold pack £4.99 in co-op chemists. A very nice little sachet of freezable Gel designed to fold over the the offending painful body part or whatever with its own cloth bag and a piece of elastic to help keep it in place. Good value.

Two under twos all afternoon, 2 and takeaway curry. Peace!

Glad you have a diagnosis nellie and that there is something they can do.
Very intrepid today. Living here 1 month and not ventured up onto the world's first suspension bridge - only 5 minutes walk away. But having discovered that there is a hidden botanic garden at the other side, and being a calm sort of day, well...
Forgot I would get vertigo! But closed one eye (the one nearest the drop), fixed the other one on a point and breathed deeply to control it. There is one photo taken from the top, to prove I was there.
Amazing, Mr Telford! It's really high (to allow the tallest ship sail under it at the highest tide) and the arches over the deck high enough for a stage coach. Which turns out to be just wide enough to allow a bus to squeeze through. It is only 20 years off being 200 years old.
Botanic gardens included a lot of rather overgrown woodland and some lovely autumn crocus.

Having a day when I've completely lost the plot!
I ts my day off! I had to be up early to let the men in to measure for the new splash backs in the kitchen.
They want to do it next Wednesday and I have to get an electrician to take off the face plates off the sockets and make the connections safe!
I'm at work all week!
Rang several electricians ' can't be done! You won't have enough spare wire to rewire on top of the marble'
Yes I have. We've checked!'
' heard that before! It can't be done. Marble is too thick!'
This marble is not that thick. The marble firm have checked, and there is no problem!
'No, can't do it!'
Me! [scream]
Eventually found a nice man who believes me that there is plenty of slack in the wiring, he's coming Tuesday evening, to disconnect and make safe sockets.
Gary (Gardner) is moving coffee maker microwave off work surface on Monday at 8am.
My carpenter phoned me to ask what I wanted doing and I couldn't think who he was! So told him I didn't need him. Rang him back later to apologise and explain what I wanted him to do! He understood and said that he was worried when I'd answered as I sounded flustered and was thinking of getting his wife to phone me as I didn't sound my usual organised self!
I think I've now got everything organised.
Incidentally during all this I had the man calling to change my gas and electricity over to utility warehouse, ocadodo, Royal Mail and amazon deliveries taking place, plus my mobile hairdresser who came to do mine and old gits Angel wife's hair!

Exhausted!

This is my rest day!

you need a day off Galen to cope with your day off!

No way! My DD and DGD are arriving tomorrow to stay while her SO packs up to move into the new house they have bought!
I'm going on holiday next Sunday, so next Friday ( day off) will be spent packing. I have to leave the house at 3am Sunday.
I feel I'm going to be too exhausted to enjoy this cruise!

At least have Galen and a little sit down!

I have spent the day in full charge of dgs. Nearly 1. Dads gone off to usa early this am. Mum went off to work at 12:30 leaving me in charge! A bit scary.
I fed him peanut butter on toast and gave him his first taste of thinly spread Marmite. He also had carrot sticks and lots of fruit. He got a bit anxious just after dinner and a nappy change but I gave him some milk and after a few grizzles went to sleep for an hour. A bit anxious & grizzley but easily distracted.
We went off to see other nan. He ate dinner but got a bit anxious and upset as he got tired. Then there was about an hours crying and hugs from me before he finally fell asleep at 8pm.
I am a nervous wreck its the first time he has been put to bed by anyone but mum or dad. He felt asleep just as I was thinking omg I will have him screaming until 10pm when mum gets home. I am exhausted! I have not tried anything like this for 30 yrs. Now Wednesday Thursday and following Sunday pm and Monday am. some of that involves nursery drop off and pickup. When he will be expecting Mum.

Nellie it is nerve wracking isn't it, so much harder than looking after your own children. Although I have looked after DGS since he was a baby he didn't stay overnight till he was two, and I was an emotional wreck at first but now it's just second nature, and I predict that after a week of looking after him for such long hours it will be second nature to you too. That's when you will be able to properly enjoy it

Sitting playing on the iPad with DGD who is staying here with DD while her SO is packing up and painting prior to moving into their new house on Monday.
DGD was very grumpy when she arrived, but once she'd spied the iPad she settled down. DD is 34/52 pregnant so is happy to have me to entertain her.
She has been very unsettled with all this moving around, first to other GPs, then to a flat and now to new house! On top of it all she's had to go to a new childminder as well as the original one is pregnant.
And about due now!

I know how it feels to move house when pregnant, I was 34 weeks and the size of a cart horse. It was bonfire night and a new estate, the road was not finished and there were no pavements.
Hope everything goes smoothly with the move

Well done Nellie, it is much more scary, as nightowl says, to say nothing of how exhausting little ones are.

Enjoy Galen

Looks as though you did really well Nellie tired but exhilerated I should think.

Just about to check out of the Northampton Marriott after a superb reunion weekend with friends from all over the UK. Think I may have consumed all of week's calories already!

We went to Canons Ashby yesterday - what a lovely place - then lunch in a lovely pub down the road, then the canal museum somewhere..

We had a horrible journey up here from Devon, so we're hoping it will be better today, though the weather forecast looks grim. Hey ho!

Got back from archery with very sore fingers from this compound bow.
Need to get my own lighter (but more expensive ) the coach says he'll help me to choose and set it up.
Have to wait until I come back from n my cruise though!

A follow up to my Saturday baby sitting.
When DD arrived home at 9:45pm DGS was sleeping soundly but an hour later as often he does, he woke up for a feed. DD said she fed him and as she was moving him to pick him up and put him into his cot she discovered he was soaking wet right through to his Gro bag. He had to be completely changed.

Guess who had put his bedtime nappy on back to front.

I have now had a tutorial on identifying the front and the back of disposable nappies.