What I did today

We were going out today, but it is cold and damp. DH is tired and didn't sleep well last night. So a quiet day today. I have sorted two drawers, done the ironing and will make lunch soon. I shall also light the fire, which will make DH go to sleep instantly.

Sent most of the day driving (being driven) back from Cornwall through drenching rain and very grey skies - not a pleasure!

Few days in Cornwall were a bit challenging as there were 44 steps between my single room and the suite overlooking the sea where my family were. Pain - ouch - ooch!

I attended a pastel class and we did a white horse. Back home and did tea but felt flat after my busy and exciting day. Then had to see to my poorly pussycat. Did a bit of knitting. Waited for son to arrive. Tired out yet cannot sleep as I feel stressed and fedup. Got a headache now. Night night all. Whoops it's tomorrow now so I did that yesterday. X

Up betimes and made a Bakewell Tart and casseroled some lamb neck chops before 7am.

I don't get enough protein, so one of these gave me a boost at lunchtime with some swede.

Put together my shopping list for collection when my homecare lady comes at 2pm.

Also, now it's November, started looking at my Christmas shopping list, which will include gifts such as chocolates for friends.

My ddil has already arranged a subscription to a set of Master Classes my son wishes to take and to which I've made a small contribution. (https://www.masterclass.com)

And for her, I purchased a gift voucher to be used at the Seafood Cooking School (she loves seafood). So it is only really a few presents, easily acquired at the supermarket.

I used to miss wandering round town in winter, choosing gifts, listening to the Salvation Army Band and singing Christmas carols.

There is a special magic to the season which, however hard I try, I cannot feel as strongly in a summer Christmas.

Feeling a bit better but still a bit shaky. I feel old.

Yes, DD said that she was doing the same yesterday BradfordLass - winter to summer!
I must say I like warmer weather and only putting on 3 or 4 garments.
Still have to go through my jumpers and I feel like throwing most of them.

I hope you feel better soon.

Nothing exciting planned for today although I must pop into town

When we lived in Cornwall, I often took the boys for a summer pastie in a pub and sat outside with my shandy. Happy days.

You can't do that here, 'pubs' as we know them in the UK, simply don't exist.

I have had a strangely unco-ordinated day.

I expected to be picked up to go to the elders' group but wasn't (no room on the community van I would guess) but my disappointment was short lived.

At 10:30 was overcome by a huge wave of tiredness and felt very cold and sick so went back to bed. Slept until 1pm!

Got up and had swede, broccoli, cauliflower and white sauce then tried to work out a program which, theoritically, will allow me to change all the ordinary text on my computer to bold. It didn't work.

By 3pm I was again, unnaturally exhausted with pains in my tum - so yet again, went back to bed.

On the thread which talks about luxuries, I should have put that - the luxury which allows me to sleep when I need to.

Up again on this jack-in-a-box day, to clean the kitchen and drink two big mugs of rooibos tea.

I have been swigging water copiously all day. Couldn't face eating anything sensible but scooped a teaspoon of homemade lemon curd when I got up.

At 7pm felt like a bit of coleslaw with grated cheese. Managed 4 mouthfuls.

It's now 8:30pm and I am going back to the comfort of my warm bed, to listen to a Max Brand western called 'Jim Curry's Compromise.'
Hope I feel better tomorrow.

Callistemon me too in this case, changing from winter to summer clothing.

Urmstongran we took the DGD to a pub yesterday too! We ate as well as having well-deserved drinks then had a walk along the seafront (it was very chilly).

Today I need to sort out my clothes, put away the summer ones and go through the winter clothes to see what should be thrown out and what is wearable.
But I am procrastinating on here.

Well spotted BradfordLass! Oops!!
??

took 7y old grandson for his swimming lesson and a couple of well deserved drinks in a local bar Starting him on the grog early Urmstongran ?

Alexa how frustrating - did the dogs pull you out like huskies?

MiniMoon Not upside down, that's how GS3 will wear them - unless he's a surgeon and has to hold his hands up

Blimey Rufus I bet you're like a pirate on your Freda !

I went to CMA - a social group for elderly and handicapped persons this morning - picked up at 9am.

Talked to an old friend (a carer) I hadn't seen for ages.

Pulled apart all the new innovations now surrounding those in full-time care. Designed to help them live as normal a life as possible - a good thing of course, but with such stupid rules, that this proves impossible. To the frustration of all concerned.

Came home and roasted a bit of pumpkin, a carrot and some potatoes (all brushed with oil and garlic) for my tea.

Spent the rest of my time battling a complicated computer program which, if I could get it to work, would tweak the reg. edit files, to allow the drop-down menus and much else, to be in bold font. It didn't work first time so I'll fight it try again tomorrow when I'm not so tired.

It's vital, as I am coming to the stage where I will not be able to use my computer at all if I can't find a workaround.

Microsoft, in their "wisdom" have taken all the tweaks (which formerly helped people with visual impairment) out of Win 10.

Others are rapidly writing new progs, hence this thing I'm trying to use. Ironically, it's written in the tiniest, lightest font you could imagine!!

Alexa; That's terrible! Had it been raining? Presumably there was a spare tractor around to drag you out.!? As you probably don't know, I now have an electric mobility scooter (Freda, no relation to Ann's Fred!) covered by an RAC roadside assistance breakdown policy.
In your situation it would even cover helicopter assist. to recover us from the mud!
Happy scootering!

I did a whole pile of washing this morning, and then made mushroom soup.
DH and I had lunch and enjoyed said soup.
I ordered a Lego set for GS1 Christmas present.
I finished off the mittens that are to go with a hat for GS3. See photo. Sorry they are upside down.
Went out at 9pm so that DD and SiL could go to Tesco for party food as GS3 is 7 tomorrow.

Drove home from Devon today where I’ve been on Granny duty for a few days. Pretty chaotic so happy to be home! After 2 wild, stormy days, we had a long walk on the beach on Sunday in glorious weather (photo attached). I took the dgc’s bowling yesterday followed by lunch (pizza) and then to see Maleficent, Mistress of Evil which was surprisingly good despite its title! While there I viewed 3 properties. Thinking of relocating after only 2 years since I downsized radically and moved 400 miles south. Sadly I am not ‘procedable’ and the one house I loved was under offer the very next day. So, I have to decide whether to get my house on the market so I’m ready to jump, but I have to be sure I am doing it for the right reasons.

T took my dog fora walk and got my mobility scooter stuck with the wheels digging a muddy rut in the middel of a field..

Busy! Made a meal for ourselves, plated one up for my father who had his first cataract done yesterday and 2 for daughter and son in law. Called in to pick up prescription from chemist as off to Spain tomorrow for six weeks.

Then off to the library and finally took 7y old grandson for his swimming lesson and a couple of well deserved drinks in a local bar - off to bed now, alarm set for 7am (just in case!).

Nanight everyone. x

I was fine yesterday, thank you ann but thoroughly fed up tonight. Hair cut this morning, not too bad an outcome but the loud music was torture. Then off to a meeting about local care provision, freezing cold hall, hard chairs and as I feared a retrograde step. To cap it off Mr C has developed a cold, full on sniffing, sneezing, coughing, sighing type. I feel as flat as the proverbial pancake and wonder what joys tomorrow will bring. Suspect Mr C will need to stay in bed, at least it will muffle the sneezes but in fairness he does seem proper poorly. Sorry everyone, wish I could be cheerful. Love the sound of your boat trip nfk, I’m sure the dinosaur will be met with approval auntieflo, how could it not be?

As it was a lovely, if chilly, morning we decided to take our little boat for a last chug up the river before she’s lifted out for the winter. The trees are changing colour and it was beautiful, saw two kingfishers and a large dog otter enjoying a fish. Wonderful! Then back to the mooring to clean the boat and evict the spiders. I’d like to think they won’t swim back again.

I do like this thread, but often forget to post, get into bed, then think "oh bother". Other phrases are available!
On Sunday, I made it to Church, after an absence of 2/3 weeks, and it was lovely to catch up with all our friends. In the afternoon, DH decided to cut off the growth that our smoke bush has put on. It had got much too tall and was leaning badly in the heavy winds. I supervised ?, and he got a lot of it down.
So, on Monday morning DH went outside to tackle the remains of the bush/ tree, and managed to cut the branches into manageable sizes to take to the tip. It will all have to go in our new car, so tarpaulins at the ready to cover the seats.
As our lovely cleaner will not be coming, (children on half term), I thought that I would do the upstairs. Got tired out and had just had a shower and washed my hair, when we had visitors bring flowers and cheery faces. So we had to stop for coffee. By the time they had gone, my hair had dried without help from a hairdryer. ?
I have almost finished my crocheted baby dinosaur, to add to the collection of animals that I have done recently.
Dino, is to be a present for the cleaner's daughter, who is mad about them. Just hope she approves.

Hope you don't feel "wrecked" corner
I am no stranger to bad nights so I know how you feel.
I feel much better today though still a bit weary, yesterday again I never got dressed and we ate out of the freezer, no bad thing, I tend to put stuff in and forget it.
Today I have washed my hair, done two loads of washing and generally tidied up.
Sadly I can no longer put washing out.
It takes all my energy to reach up and down to the line, such a poor thing I have become.
However my neighbour rang this Morning and we are going shopping on Wednesday and out for a meal on Friday evening, hooray.

Wide awake for some, doubtlessly daft, reason. So, what did I do on Sunday? We joined the incredibly long queue for the car park at a local NT with me muttering about it being a waste of time. Sometimes Mr C’s (real or convenient) hearing loss is a blessing as once parked the stress I've been carrying just disappeared in the very welcome sunshine. It’s been so dark and dreary, to simply walk under the trees, see the changing colours and laugh at the antics of the children (not ours so no responsibility) worked magic. A cuppa and very good shortbread biscuit later I walked back to the car, a rarity as I usually head for the courtesy bus for the uphill return. I’m left with one question though. Why on earth aren’t I sound asleep?

Dragonfly can I echo ann’s wise advice, please do rest or at least pace yourself. Enjoy your break lucky, you deserve it. Look after yourself ann, gently does it.

Sounds as if you gave very wise advice bradfordlass. I also looked up energy vampire, my thanks for sharing the term, it exactly describes two people in my life at the moment. No wonder I’ve been stressed.

Now, will I sleep? Maybe, maybe not but I’ve a book to read so I’m not stressing about that. Take care everyone.

Yes, indeed, all of you, be kind to yourselves. Life does take a bit more work as you get older. I'm finding that as well.

Why don't I have the energy I had when I was a bouncing 60?

Better day for me, though the dregs of that awful confrontation are still lurking in the bottom of my consciousness.
Tomorrow is another day
to all xxx

Please dragonfly take it easy.
You may feel ok but your body is dealing with a lot.
I didn’t have chemo but 5 weeks of 5 days a week radiotherapy.
Half way through I just flagged , I was forced to take it easy then even though we still had our GD 2 days a week.
Fortunately Grandad was a firm favourite with her.
To all dealing with worries, problems, tomorrow is another day.

How lovely Lucky that you can finally get away and have time to yourself. I hope you have a wonderful time and come back fighting fit to do battle with the choral society. They are lucky to have you.

I hope you are feeling better today ann and can enjoy having your GD around.

I felt quite energised yesterday after my chemo session on Friday - must be the steroids. Must take it easier today although I really must tidy the house.

I so sympathise ann - I always put off home re-arranging tasks and tidying up. I make a desultory start then peter out. Maybe these things seem a bit less important now. But how lovely to have a GD staying, and a lovely room now ready for her - worth all the hassle.

I will enjoy my break - thank you! Can't wait. I have taken books and embroidery for when I am sitting overlooking the sea; and scarves, ear muffs and gloves for when I venture out for a walk along the sands. Ready for anything, me!!!!

I have been AWOL for a few days.
I haven’t felt well, very stressed with household things, it is a fact that the older one gets the more things get on top of you.
I have had a new bedroom carpet fitted in the room my GD is having.
The effort of getting the room empty and stuff everywhere really got me down.
It is all done now but much stuff to get rid of which is mostly cluttering my bedroom up.
I had been toying with the idea of having my kitchen refitted or at least new cupboard doors and worktops.
That idea is now firmly quashed, the present one will “see me out” as I am now saying about everything.
Enjoy your break Luckygirl I am very sure you are ready for it.

Didn't have time to post last night - so here is what I did yesterday:

Blew my top (politely) on email with the choral society I belong to and for whom I do all the publicity and programmes. There is a new young man on the committee (slightly lacking in social skills) who sent an email carping about the current programme draft I sent for proofing - it is no different from others that have gone before (in terms of the things he was carping about) but I bit my tongue. Then a message from the chair who has obviously seen the conversation and saying he too had decided he did not like it.

Now....this task takes weeks: researching music, composers, photos, biogs from soloists, adverts etc. etc. - never mind the artwork and design tasks.

I am going away now for 5 days and the plan was to have this at the printers while I was away - now not possible. I am so cross - I do all this for free!!!

Basically they are trying to avoid doing the proof reading, because it is a tedious task. I asked for a named person to do it and that fell on deaf ears.

I am pretty cross and have told them that before the next concert they need to decide what they want, so I do not have to go through this again.

Well - that's that off my chest!!!

Went to see OH in his nursing home. Things much the same, but he is getting slightly more muddled.

Back home to what should have been packing but finished up as vegging in front of TV!