Good morning Mick and all GN's on another very dark but still and not so cold morning in North Yorkshire. After my miserable day yesterday, I am pleased to say that , whilst I cant say I am pain free or able to bend much, things have improved, in general terms, and today I was able to have a shower and dress and get the bedding in to wash before sitting down here. So that is a great improvement, and is mentally good too, as I cant help getting very frustrated when I see jobs needing to be done, but no chance of doing them! Today it is going to be raining a lot according to the forecast,
but definitely warmer than yesterday, so no moaning about that. No doubt, partly the after effects of the hospital stuff etc, but I just could not get warm, no matter what I wore or did, and it took me all day before I was even walking in a normal manner, but I decided to still go to the whist drive, for the company as much as anything.
We already have a couple of people who stay at the same table, one in a wheelchair and another gentleman in his 90's , who is not able to walk very well , but is all there with his cough drops - as we used to say - when it comes to playing whist. All the rest of us move around according to who wins or loses etc., but last night I had to tell Ted that I would have to sit at one table = unless they had a spare crane from Harland and Wolff available! But seriously, I was taking so long to be able to get up and move about, that the whole room would have been held up waiting for me. So I had a pleasant evening with a good first half followed by a rubbish second half, but no matter, I had made the effort and it was worth it and very cheering to see everyone, and I won some grapes in the raffle so that was a pleasant ending to the evening. I got home, definitely feeling I had done enough, and decided to go to bed and try and get comfortable, but it took me a long time to get to sleep. However I am facing the day in a bit better shape today which is something.
Today the cleaners are coming, thank goodness. The mattress needs turning over, and the floors havent been hoovered for days as it is one of the jobs that really is difficult when my back is bad and darent risk making things worse. I have been doing a bit of a sort out and find that they have put some things away in cupboards tidily, but I havent always known where they have put things, so today I shall instigate a new method, where they can group things together that they think need putting away in cupboards, but not put anything away until I have looked at the stuff and said where I want them to go, and then they can move them. I have been quite frustrated looking for small bits and pieces and they are not in places I would have put stuff. So maybe they wont be able to make it look so tidy, but I will be able to lay my hands on things I need. The battery went in my torch and I looked where I usually keep them and nothing there. I know that I have some but where? At this time of year I need torches to hand and ready if we have a power cut or to look in the depths of somewhere I cant reach to.
This morning it is the womens group and I plan to go now , as I am able to move better and it is not so frosty. It will have to be in the car, as at the moment I dare not risk the buggy, until I have had time to read through the instructions, gone on line to look the model up to check it over and find out the cost of the batteries, and whether it is 2 batteries or a battery pack. Need to have my wits about me sorting that out so will start to gather some ideas and hope to get it sorted next week. Looking at some paperwork I cant believe it was a year ago when the disaster of the bathroom happened and my weeks wandering round the hotel, not knowing if I would be home for christmas and if not where was I going to sleep as the hotel was chock a block of course. Ah well I have survived a fair few things this year and am glad to use my safe and clean bathroom now, not that I shall forget the chaos of that time.
I need to make up my mind about christmas cards this year. Over the years, there are old friends who live a long way away and so we dont see each other a lot, but always sent christmas cards with epistles about the past year and family news. Well those I am going to continue to send, so I need to find my good writing pad and start getting those done. Local people I will write the cards out and have them in the car, in a clean bag, so any time I am near I can put them through the door, so that at least I will be sure that they will get them. My sons birthday card never turned up and many people round here are complaining that they are only getting a couple of deliveries a week from the po. So far, fingers crossed , I see our postie quite regularly going round the flats, so know we are still getting some posts . Then for other friends that I keep in touch more with emails etc ., we have on other years agreed to send greetings over the email and then we donate the costs of cards and postage to our charity. It can add up if you would be sending 10 - 15 cards, and we are all happy to do this.
I had hoped to meet with my son and family this weekend but it isnt going to work out, so will have to hope for a reasonable day on a saturday nearer christmas to meet up. At the moment I am feeling a bit stir crazy, as havent been up swaledale for so long and the weather and my back etc has meant that it would have been stupid to take any risks, Havent even been to the coast either, so fingers crossed for a day or two feeling more able to move about and have a chance to look at the countryside , which for me is always both cheering and calming. So the first combination day, when it is not freezing and icy, and I am able to move about better it will be off and away to somewhere that will raise my spirits and cheer me up. This afternoon when I get back from the meeting I plan to get the files out and go through looking at insurances and stuff and checking I am up to date with anything outstanding. I hate it when you suddenly realize you havent paid something or whatever. Much of my bills are on direct debit etc but it is so easy I have found to think I only paid for X a couple of months ago and then check and find it is 11 months and I need to be sorting out for the following month in a rush. I still tend to keep paper copies of things, because I feel that if I only do something via the internet or whatever and there is any query later on, without the paper copy I have no way of being able to check things and show that I have paid , whatever their computer says!! I also dont have my little pleasure fund any more. When I used mostly cash, I used to put 5ps and 10ps left in my purse after shopping in a jar, and when it was full would count it up, probably exchange the change for a note at the bank and then I would have some little treat with the money. Now things are paid more by cards that doesnt happen so much, so no little treat fund.
Glad to know that you are ok Mick and hope the results are good from your blood test, GrandMattie hope all goes well with the dental check and you escape quickly to a decent coffee somewhere. RoseandLilac lovely pictures of the dogs, who look very content. You will add lots of flavours when you have new herbs for you spice rack. Ladylof, very glad for you that your colonoscopy went ok and no worries. Karmalady, I also have that siege mentality. I think it first comes from being a little girl in the late 40's and 50's. Of course my grannies both had store cupboards and after the war nothing was thrown away that could be reused, and there was always a hoarded tin of ham if you were lucky or more likely spam or corned beef, so if you had a sudden visitor or money was tight you could always make a corned beef hash or something. Ah that might be quite a nice idea. I havent done a hash for a long time, make a change and have lots of vegetables available to stick into it.!
Just looked out and can see the outline of the tree so a little lighter here. So time to do some sorting for the day and hope that you all have a peaceful and pleasant day today and keep well and safe
