What I did today No.2

Have a really tired dog here, he seems a lot happier now we’ve exhausted him in the lovely woods at our local stately pile. They were lovely in the sunshine today. Having a dog got us out and walking. Should do it more often. Perhaps borrow a dog more often.

Sorry to hear things are getting so bad for you Lucky. Perhaps its time to ‘loose’ his phone?

Bless you Luckygirl Hope you have a good evening.

Got some carpet cleaning done his morning - OH's incontinence had caused problem in the bedroom; and even though I am planning to get the proper bed in there and covered up, I just could not leave it as it was.

Went to see OH in NH - he is utterly hopeless today and it breaks my heart to see him. He cannot hold his head up and leans to the right so he is mostly in a crumpled heap with his head over on the chair arm. It makes it very hard to feed him. And he was very paranoid - he has usually got over it by the afternoon, but the litany of persecution was endless.

I had to leave in the end as I could not take any more in - went to Lidl for the first time - that was pure chaos!

back to a phone message from OH telling me they are going to put him outside in a caravan and leave him to freeze to death and that I must come and get him straight away.

Going out with friends tonight to an inter-village quiz - I will have to try and put OH in one compartment of my brain and having a jolly evening out in another.

A dry day here but no promised sunshine. So back to leaf clearing. Cleared most of the back lawn. We have a little orchard at the end of the garden , but that can stay covered in leaves for the time being. My back feels a bit sore, but DH fell quite hard over the wire for the leaf sucker. It was a bit alarming and he says he is fine. ! So indoors now, he will be asleep in moments. Perhaps there might be a film on tv . He is asleep. !!!!!?

and (((hugs))) for GA. Texts are like a knock on the door when you’re half expecting bad news. There’s always a lurch when the news arrives.

We went shopping in Holt (Norfolk) yesterday. I love visiting as it has so many posh shops. Great for browsing!

Then we drove to our DS’s to collect their dog as they’ve gone to Lapland UK. He loves coming to our house but spends much of his time door watching for their return. If he’s coming for the week he seems to understand and settle but not an overnight. Strange things, dogs.

So sorry to hear that GA ?

Sorry to hear that ga. Two friends have died from pancreatic cancer in the last two years.Take care of yourself and wishing you happy memories.

A very sad day ga

It is sad when a parent dies but when it is a sibling more so in a way.

I’m so sorry ga, our posts crossed. A sad day indeed. Look after yourself. .

oh how very sad grannyactivist
I know how we take our siblings for granted. You knew she was sick but even so.

BBbevan I too was awake in the night. I woke up at just after two and could not get back to sleep. I was to have a wisdom tooth out this morning and feeling very anxious.

Should explain that about three years ago the dentist wanted to extract that tooth and I persuaded him to fill it. He grumped a bit and said he couldn't guarantee it would work, etc. Fast forward to last week and I felt something crunchy in my porridge - a piece of filling. Made an appointment for an extraction as I was sure he would want it gone this time. Was very nervous as I sat in the chair. He looked at the tooth and said, 'No need to lose this tooth, I can fill it.' I breathed a huge sigh of relief, but it was the same dentist who had wanted to remove it years ago! I just paid up and skipped out!

Although my face was numb from the injections, I went to the garden centre and bought cyclamen and some bright primulas. I also bought some pellets with wild flower seeds in them. Intrigued to see how they turn out.

After lunch I swept up a bag of leaves and planted up some pots and troughs to brighten the front of the house. It was very cold and my fingers were going white. A hot chocolate soon warmed me up.

Watched the political debate whilst doing stuff and trying to stay awake until a reasonable time to turn in, or I'll be awake again in the early hours.

I got up a bit foggy headed this morning, as I had had a nightmare and woke DH up by shouting out. Don't know what it was all about, but was terrified, until I realised DH was hugging me and saying it's alright.
Had to go for a blood test that was postponed from last week. It was so nice to be walking in the bright sunshine. I met a neighbour that I hadn't seen for ages and we had a catch up chat, and we were passed by another neighbour, striding home to get ready for his trip to Australia imminently.
DH made us a coffee when I got home, and I prepared stuff for supper tonight.
Then we drove to town, both of us volunteering in different charity shops this afternoon.
In 'my' shop we had the first day of our Christmas event. It was lovely, busy and happy. The shop looked beautiful, thanks to the wonderful girl who dresses our windows and displays. There were many compliments and the shop was much praised by our customers.
Came home to another cuppa and a piece of my disaster cake. Cooked supper and then our DD phoned and chatted for 20 minutes or more.
I have caught up with GN and also watched the Sound of Song, like Lemongrove. Great wasn't it?
Am now watching/ listening to an old TOTP, and writing this. ( multi tasking)
DH asked whether he should get out all his old records, no
Then there is going to be a Ken Burns Country Music programme, just right for a Friday night.

My days often seem humdrum in comparison with others but here goes. Climbed into the upper storage area this morning for the Christmas decorations. I’m organising the room for our development Christmas tea next week and wanted things for the tables that light up. To avoid freezing in the roof they all came down so I could it search in the warm. Not decorating here yet. Settled on some and a miracle, found the right batteries for the lights, hooray.

On to making some sausage rolls which mostly made it to the freezer. The previous batch seem to have disappeared . Decided to put our (soft white) winter lights in the shrubs back and front, these will stay until March to brighten the dark evenings. As usual the designer and labourer found communication difficult .

A quick lunch then off to deliver our daughter in laws birthday present and be instructed about Christmas gifts for one of the grandchildren. On to visit a garden centre where I found just the right small gift for a neighbour before a dash into town to comply with gift suggestions. Success .

Some tv, cooked a meal, sorted some photos now it’s feet up with a glass of dry white. If I’d been asked what I did today I would have said ‘not much’. Maybe not but definitely humdrum. .

for ga

This morning, as planned, I gave a presentation about the work of my homelessness charity. I came away feeling extremely tired, but pleased that I'd managed a fairly good job of it and was able to answer all the questions knowledgeably.

When I got home I switched my phone back on and received the news that my older sister has died; she was just sixty eight and had pancreatic cancer.

Even though it was expected at some time soon I am devastated. You think you're prepared for it, but somehow you never think it's actually going to happen today.

Luckygirl I really feel for you with your visits to DH and can imagine what it must be like ( for both of you) but your bits of normal life that go on around the visits must keep you sane.
Hope you feel better soon BradfordL ??

Spent all day inside today ( not prison!)☺️
Christmas wrapping presents, housework and hosting my book club here.
Must try and get an early night.Just watching a fascinating tv programme called Sound Of Song ( BBC4 ) about innovative recording sessions.

Beautiful sunny day here with blue skies. Pottered in house, then went out into the lovely day to wheelbarrow logs round for the wood burner - I cannot manage many at a time!

Wrote up minutes from school governor staffing committee; and got stuck into a decluttering list - list looks great! - will I ever actually tick anything off it I wonder?!

Off to NH to visit OH and help feed him his lunch - he is just a crumpled over sleeping heap most of the time and he really struggled with getting food to his mouth. His quality of life is zilch really - but at least he is getting good care.

Then picked up two lovely grandsons from school and looked after them till parents returned from a meeting, and enjoyed evening meal with them - but then had to drive back in the dark and fog and zero temperature. It is lovely to watch these two boys growing up - older one (10) has grown his hair and looks dead cool - it really suits him.

Giddiness has been troublesome again today so I am heading for an early night.

Night night all!

That drive sounds a nightmare Marmight
Today the sun shone and I drove, following the gritting lorry, to my yoga class. Unfortunately there's no bus.
I almost forgot my hair appointment so was 30 mins late but he fitted me in when I pleaded.

I was delayed making up 5 beds for visitors this weekend. My DS arrived today. This is for the 75th wedding anniversary of my in-laws. Quite something. I hope the Queen remembers to send them a card what with such a lot going on in her life

Did a few chores before I left the house at 8am. Had the morning at work, chatted with a few of the elderly people (I'm Warden of a sheltered housing complex), made a few 'phone calls and visits.

Went to the automated car wash on the way home, then got a few bits of shopping. Vacuumed the car, wiped the insides of the doors, the dashboard, etc. Vacuumed, polished and mopped all through the downstairs rooms at home. Cleaned the kitchen. Wrapped some Christmas presents (each of the 4 grandchildren has a different wrapping paper).

Changed the bed, put the washer on. Done a bit more online present shopping. Going to meet son no. 1 from work at 5.45, go and collect his 2 girls from their mum, take them back to son's house. After that, I'll pick up something from the chip shop for dinner, then have a relaxing evening in.

Walked the dog this morning on a glorious sunny windless late autumn day.
Then went to Waitrose to get some pheasant breasts, as I couldn’t find them in my local Sainsbury’s

Just sat watching “Top Hat” ?

Out tonight to a. thanksgiving supper being given by a good friend. Must move myself to get ready.

I love the tree BradfordLass even if it’s not yours! Hope you are feeling better GA?
I finally emptied my Aunt’s property and returned home on Wednesday night loaded to the gunnels. A hell of a journey; 2 serious accidents involving 2 diversions, appalling rain and some crazy drivers. 5 hours instead of 2.5. I now have to go through all the stuff I brought back. Today I’ve helped at the school assembly, shopped for Christmas jumpers for 2 GS -needed for Sunday when the village lights are turned on after carols in the Church, done a big Tesco shop and hoovered the inside of my car. Now feet up, cup of tea and naughty cake & watching Top Hat. Unbelievably filmed 84 years ago

BTW, I must confess the paper tree (above pic) is not the one I made, though mine was very like it. I was going to decorate it today but didn't have the energy.

New Homecare lady arrived; only 22 but very efficient. Bed was changed perfectly and bathroom cleaned meticulously at last.

She apologised for being 'A bit OCD' but I explained that having such poor sight meant I needed someone like her to look for poorly cleaned crockery and cutlery; murky surfaces and other signs that the cleaner (who is mostly me) hasn't done a good job.

I have asked the agency if she can come each week instead of the other sweet lady who had no idea of health and safety in the home of an elderly, partially sighted old bat.

MiniMoon did I read that right? You bought and then exchanged ankle boots at a garden centre ???

For case read vase.

Yesterday I rose fairly late, it was after 9am. Showered and dressed ready to go out with DH. We set off for a well known garden centre, but turned off our usual route and went to Prudhoe. Apparently DH had been instructed by his manager at the Co-op to see if he could find any cauliflower cheese crisps as his Co-op had none left and a customer had requested some. They hadn't any either.
He went I to the store and left me in the car. My phone was on the back seat, I had to
pull the door handle twice as he had locked me in! The alarm went off, so I stood there, very embarrassed, apologising to the people who had stopped to see who's car was making the noise.
We went to a pub for lunch and had a lovely carvery.
On to the garden centre where I exchanged a pair of ankle boots that DH had bought me but were too wide.
We bought various Christmas items and some little lights to go into a case to light up a dark corner of the hall.
Home by 5pm to spend a relaxing evening watching the telly.

Yesterday from 10.30 am was non stop. Caught the bus into town to my voluntary work. En route I looked for some birthday items for a party, serviettes etc, but shops had nothing but Christmas stuff.
Voluntary work- just had time to eat half my lunch then it was all systems go, non stop, including supporting a trainee, no time to finish my lunch or even make a cup of tea from 11.45 till 4.30, then it was better to get off home which took an hour at that time of day. Quick meal and half an hour sit down with a cup of tea before going off to choir ( second of two in the week).
Home at 9.40, treated myself to fruit cake, cheese, jelly and cup of tea. TV, papers and online, bed at. Midnight. Phew.