They're quite common in my area amongst all ages as a lot of people walk to the assorted local emporia. I have a flower-pattern wheeled trolley I use when I'm not using the pushchair.
I remember in Venice in 2006 being amazed how many youngish adults had them, but then you have to walk everywhere in your neighbourhood.
I always associate those with little old ladies (in my mind they seem to fall into the same category as those fold-up polythene rain-scarves that my granny wore), but with people using fewer plastic bags, maybe they're not such a daft idea!
Some years ago I badly damaged a few muscles in my shoulder and back, so got myself one of those 'old lady buggies' to see me through, much to the derision of one friend in particular. (Not that he ever lacked for an excuse.) I didn't care. Now, fully recovered, I still use it all the time! Damned handy!
I used a shopping trolley from my mid-twenties, later supplemented with a backpack.
On one memorable occasion I had the full trolly, backpack and a shopping bag when I tripped up the kerb at the far side of a pelican crossing, cracking my head against a low wall and causing chaos in the one way system on a Saturday morning.
That was the occasion when I decided that I should stop trying to be a pack rat and do my shopping more frequently.
Nowadays I use my Nordic walking poles whenever I go out, to support my back, which doesn't leave a hand free for a trolly or shopping bag. Fortunately the shops where I now live are near enough for daily shopping, if necessary, so the backpack suffices.
This morning I was in the office as usual when I started seeing flashing lights and strange sort of ripples across my vision. The first aider on my floor calls the equivalent of NHS direct and they tell me to go to the emergency department of the eye hospital.
After having my pupils dilated and staring into bright lights, it turns out my eyes are fine. So presumably it was just some sort of migraine. All a bit alarming tho.
I get the bright moving zigzags with migraines, it’s a neurological symptom.
A semi-efficient day for me, I got some tasks done and some marking and chatted to a student on the phone. Could have done with getting more marking done but at least I’ve started this batch.
The zigzags and such are called visual migraines. My own feeling is a significant proportion of migraineurs have, at least some of the time, this form either on its own or in conjunction with other migraine symptoms. I probably can count on my fingers the number of times I have had them but they can be quite fun if not accompanied by other migraine symptoms and you are in a situation where you can relax and watch the light show.
I get the zig zags and the sparkly, twinkly, wee, pastel coloured triangles. I don't get a headache but the moving patterns give me a sea-sick type nausea. I find a mixture of chocolate, coffee and slowing down my breathing helps.
Had them last night. They always begin small in the centre of the field of vision as an incomplete circle and then expand leaving it clear in the middle. Takes about 20 minutes, during which time I can't drive. On the way home I had a brief one-sided headache, the first time in years, the other side than I used to have them, and not nearly as intense. No nausea, thank goodness.
The late Oliver Sacks was convinced St Hildegarde of Bingen had migraines, from some of the descriptions of her visions. That’s not much comfort if you also get the symptoms of feeling someone’s bashing your skull in with a mallet, though.
We thought a Spanish dish of lambs' kidneys would be nice for tomorrow.
Firenze - could you post the recipe for the Spanish lamb kidneys, please? I love kidneys! The recipe I 'know' is onion, garlic, tomato, thyme, and amontillado. Does that sound right? I already have recipes for unicorn.
I have two recipes to hand: one uses bacon, both call for Fino. I think I would need to cook one (or the other) before I could conscientiously recommend it.
I used to have them (my doctor calls them Ocular Migraines) every few weeks. Now rarely. I am extremely grateful I've never had one when driving. Sitting somewhere that is not brightly lit, with my eyes closed, for about 20 minutes usually solves the problem. I'm also extremely grateful that I don't met the horrible headaches with them.
I've suffered migraines in the past - nothing for many years now - but have never had the Light Show version! Just the headache...and having to lie down for pretty much a week at a time...
I demand a refund. And a full enquiry.
Seriously, though, they sound like a really awful experience.
Driving... which brings me back to shopping trolleys: Living on the Continent occasionally does have its advantages, like in terms of inventiveness for users of public transport. Thus, I've had one of these for many years. Silly video available here.
Those things have a huge capacity and are practically indestructible. And they neatly fit on trains and buses. Love 'em, though they're about GBP 200. But you won't need a new one for 10 or 15 years, I reckon.
Quite a funky vision too, albeit slightly more handy than a migraine.
That’s quite a contraption @Wesley J! My son has an amazing attachment trailer for his bike for his baby daughter. It turns into a pram when clipped off.
I’m off out for the day for my friend’s birthday - six of us plus the puppy to Manchester and a posh restaurant.
I’m a bit ‘meh’ about it to be honest, but I’m sure it will be enjoyable when we get there.
We used a bicycle trailer which converted to a pram with our children. They are very common in Cambridge, as are other trailers and all sorts of odd bikes (I have a tricycle).
Nice to know I’m not alone. I wouldn’t describe it as an awful experience, but a rather frightening one if you don’t know what’s happening to you.
They sent me to hospital because visual distortions are a symptom either of a fairly harmless migraine, or of a retinal detachment, which is more much serious and requires immediate medical attention. It being the first time this had ever happened to me, they couldn’t rule out the latter.
Yes, that would be a routine thing to rule out with flashing lights. A precursor to a retinal detachment often involves flashing lights and an increase in ‘floaters’.
Glad it was nothing too serious, LVER. But it scares you, doesn't it? After all, we only have one pair of eyes!
I used to get terrible migraines, once or twice a month, laid me out for a whole day, but once I'd safely passed the menopause they cleared up. However, I did have a very strange visual disturbance earlier this year, which turned out to be a TIA (or sort of mini stroke) which necessitated frequent visits to the Stroke Hospital (not an easy journey), test and scans ad infinitum and finished with being put on blood thinning tablets (which means every little nick or cut bleeds for ages) and strict instructions that if anything like it happens again to go immediately to aforesaid hospital.
Migraines were a lot easier to manage. A darkened room, bed for several hours, cups of tea, and an offer by spouse to cook dinner (or tea as we say up here!)
Hope it was an isolated incident, La Vie - take care of yourself!
I didn't think I'd ever had migraines (I've never had the numbness or flashing lights), but I used to get "clusters" of sometimes quite debilitating headaches. I'd be fine in the morning, but by lunchtime my head would be thumping and I'd be feeling nauseous but unable to be sick.
A couple of doses of Solpadeine and a sleep would usually put it right, but after a normal start to the next day, it would be back by lunchtime. When I described it to my boss in St. John's (the geneticist), she reckoned it probably was a form of migraine. Thankfully it's a good many years since I've had one; I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
I've had an amble, but not an altogether satisfactory one: I went down to the village to see if the pharmacy had over-the-counter ear drops (the prescription ones having run out, partly due to my lack of dexterity in their application), but they were closed for lunch! I didn't know shops closed for lunch these days ...
I did, however manage to get the ingredients for a BACON sandwich for lunch, which was excellent, as Proper Bacon™ is one of the things I missed when living in Foreign Parts.
What really scared me the first time I had an ocular migraine was, not only did I not know what it was, but I had just been through two torn retinas (not detached), which involved floaters and flashes. So of course I assumed there was a connection.
@Wesley J i love the bike trailer. Much softer than overloading the bike racks and I’d consider one once the council has fixed the potholes big enough to swallow my bike (ok, I exaggerate but you know what I mean).
Today I’ve been tracking down free WiFi after someone dig through the fibre optic cable serving a huge area around me. I found a lovey cafe in an arts centre and made progress through my to-do list. The cable must have been taped together because I’m back online at home.
The area is feeling a bit battered - starting with a derailment on a main route, then a landslide on a side rail route, now losing an airline plus the internet vanishing. At least the port is still operating (no lack of water around here!).
No lack of water here, either - when will it stop bl**dy RA*NING?
@Baptist Trainfan, bike trailers (the child-carrying type) are available from Mr E Bay, but at about £500 each!!
@Piglet - not so many 'ordinary' shops close for lunch nowadays, I think, but it seems quite common for pharmacies (or at least the smaller ones).
My local place closes from 1pm-2pm, and can't dispense prescriptions until after 3pm, possibly to allow time to 'catch up'. The nearby GP closes the morning session at 12 noon, so peeps do have time to get to the pharmacy before they shut up shop!
I did, however manage to get the ingredients for a BACON sandwich for lunch, which was excellent, as Proper Bacon™ is one of the things I missed when living in Foreign Parts.
There's something disturbing in the idea of you eating a bacon sandwich, Piglet.
I used to get migraines fairly regularly and if I took medication in time they didn't become debilitating. Before I learned to manage them, or if they'd taken a hold, the only way forward was to go to bed in a darkened room and pray the medication would stay down long enough to ease the nausea sufficiently to permit sleep.
Mr Nen and I have been out and about today having breakfast and posh afternoon tea to celebrate his Significant Birthday. I'm now resting for a bit before a meal this evening with Nenlet2 and a couple more busy days of celebrations with family and friends.
We went for marvellous birthday meal for a friend at a posh restaurant in Manchester today. It is in a really nice up-and-coming posh district. There were six of us, we went on the train and Echo didn’t put a paw wrong. It was one of those places where they bring the meat to the table on giant skewers. He didn’t even put a sniffy nose up.
We went for marvellous birthday meal for a friend at a posh restaurant in Manchester today. It is in a really nice up-and-coming posh district. There were six of us, we went on the train and Echo didn’t put a paw wrong. It was one of those places where they bring the meat to the table on giant skewers. He didn’t even put a sniffy nose up.
I think the pharmacy-closing-for-lunch thing may be because they have to have a pharmacist or other qualified person on the premises even just to sell certain over-the-counter medicines.
Yes, our pharmacy also closes.
Still marking here, though I’m doing small batches so as not to be overloaded. Then I have to prep for an online tutorial tomorrow morning.
I think the pharmacy-closing-for-lunch thing may be because they have to have a pharmacist or other qualified person on the premises even just to sell certain over-the-counter medicines.
Yes, I believe that is so. I can't even collect my ready-packed black bin-bag full of meds unless the pharmacist is there to supervise...
It looks like a nice day here, made all the nicer by a delivery of CHOCOLATE from a Shippie who had a surplus (it was a sort she couldn't eat), and it happens to be one of my favourite sorts - CHOCOLATE sea-shells. Thank you again - you know who you are!
I really must try and not eat them all at once ...
I had planned to attack a small pile of Iron Ing today, but my sister's iron seems to have gone AWOL. She hates ironing so much that she pays someone to take it away and do it for her, and in the relocation of Things associated with her new kitchen, the iron seems to have taken umbrage and buggered off.
I may go and look for one for myself: I'll need to get one for the potential Château Piglet anyway. It's not that I particularly like Iron Ing - but I don't mind doing it when the mood takes me, and I have a few shirts that really don't look right without it.
Perhaps a visit to Argos might be in the offing - when I was looking on the interweb at small electricals, their prices seemed very competitive.
Somewhat late in the day, but I find that when I get "visual migraine" symptoms (in my case it's a sort of Greek key pattern in a really annoying part of my field of view, it's usually a sign that I've got dehydrated, and rehydrating seems to solve it. Thus far...
That's interesting, as it sounds a bit like the visual hallucination I got with an ill-judged drug during labor. An intensely annoying hexagon in my visual field, continually reconsructing itself--and an ugly shade of otange/chartreuse.
Several years ago I was in Hereford and wanted to pick up something from Boots. It was not a prescription, and I don't think it was even medical. I was quite surprised when I got there that they were closed (well after opening time), with a note on the door that the pharmacist hadn't arrived so they weren't able to open. In the U.S. the pharmacy department would be closed but the rest of the store would be open.
Ocular migraine.... My first one was when I was working in an investment bank. It was in an open concept office, as we had to be in easy immediate contact with one another. One morning, I was standing behind my chair, looking at my screen. I couldn't see it. I moved closer. I still couldn't see it. It was like looking through rippling water. I wasn't in pain, as such but there was a very strange sensation. My colleague in the neighbouring 'pen' noticed that I was behaving oddly and asked what was up. I said that I didn't want to be overly dramatic, but that I couldn't see my screen. I was genuinely alarmed. I handed her my wallet and told her that my optometrist's card was in there - could she call him and hand me the phone. I spoke to the receptionist, and she said that the doctor could see me next week. I explained that I suddenly couldn't see. Hold please. A moment later: He can see you in a half hour. (Worst case scenario: his office was at most ten minutes from four excellent hospitals.) He very much put me at ease. It passed after a few hours after 'waiting it out', but that hour of not knowing what the hell was happening to me was quite distressing. At least now when it happens (rarely), I know that this too shall pass.
Yes, I'm surprised, too - AFAIK my little local Farmer Sea will serve you, other than with prescription meds, even when the Farmer Cist is still stuffing himself with lunch...
Having said that, I'm not 100% sure. Maybe I'll pop in there some time, just to buy a box of aspirin (say).
Legal requirement. The restriction of buying paracetamol in large amounts has apparently been very effective in preventing suicide attempts. I’ve just looked up the stats on the nhs website: 43% reduction in paracetamol related deaths, 61% reduction in paracetamol related liver transplants.
Comments
I remember in Venice in 2006 being amazed how many youngish adults had them, but then you have to walk everywhere in your neighbourhood.
Some years ago I badly damaged a few muscles in my shoulder and back, so got myself one of those 'old lady buggies' to see me through, much to the derision of one friend in particular. (Not that he ever lacked for an excuse.) I didn't care. Now, fully recovered, I still use it all the time! Damned handy!
Having seen those in Venice, they do definitely work for climbing steps. (Like on most bridges there.)
I know I'm a spice wimp, but I'd never tried that brand of garam masala before, and I was worried about it being too spicy.
I thought it wasn't too bsd, but I will double the spice quantities next time.
On one memorable occasion I had the full trolly, backpack and a shopping bag when I tripped up the kerb at the far side of a pelican crossing, cracking my head against a low wall and causing chaos in the one way system on a Saturday morning.
That was the occasion when I decided that I should stop trying to be a pack rat and do my shopping more frequently.
Nowadays I use my Nordic walking poles whenever I go out, to support my back, which doesn't leave a hand free for a trolly or shopping bag. Fortunately the shops where I now live are near enough for daily shopping, if necessary, so the backpack suffices.
This morning I was in the office as usual when I started seeing flashing lights and strange sort of ripples across my vision. The first aider on my floor calls the equivalent of NHS direct and they tell me to go to the emergency department of the eye hospital.
After having my pupils dilated and staring into bright lights, it turns out my eyes are fine. So presumably it was just some sort of migraine. All a bit alarming tho.
A semi-efficient day for me, I got some tasks done and some marking and chatted to a student on the phone. Could have done with getting more marking done but at least I’ve started this batch.
Me too, without the headache.
I have two recipes to hand: one uses bacon, both call for Fino. I think I would need to cook one (or the other) before I could conscientiously recommend it.
I demand a refund. And a full enquiry.
Seriously, though, they sound like a really awful experience.
Those things have a huge capacity and are practically indestructible. And they neatly fit on trains and buses. Love 'em, though they're about GBP 200. But you won't need a new one for 10 or 15 years, I reckon.
Quite a funky vision too, albeit slightly more handy than a migraine.
<votive> for all sufferers
I’m off out for the day for my friend’s birthday - six of us plus the puppy to Manchester and a posh restaurant.
I’m a bit ‘meh’ about it to be honest, but I’m sure it will be enjoyable when we get there.
They sent me to hospital because visual distortions are a symptom either of a fairly harmless migraine, or of a retinal detachment, which is more much serious and requires immediate medical attention. It being the first time this had ever happened to me, they couldn’t rule out the latter.
I used to get terrible migraines, once or twice a month, laid me out for a whole day, but once I'd safely passed the menopause they cleared up. However, I did have a very strange visual disturbance earlier this year, which turned out to be a TIA (or sort of mini stroke) which necessitated frequent visits to the Stroke Hospital (not an easy journey), test and scans ad infinitum and finished with being put on blood thinning tablets (which means every little nick or cut bleeds for ages) and strict instructions that if anything like it happens again to go immediately to aforesaid hospital.
Migraines were a lot easier to manage. A darkened room, bed for several hours, cups of tea, and an offer by spouse to cook dinner (or tea as we say up here!)
I didn't think I'd ever had migraines (I've never had the numbness or flashing lights), but I used to get "clusters" of sometimes quite debilitating headaches. I'd be fine in the morning, but by lunchtime my head would be thumping and I'd be feeling nauseous but unable to be sick.
A couple of doses of Solpadeine and a sleep would usually put it right, but after a normal start to the next day, it would be back by lunchtime. When I described it to my boss in St. John's (the geneticist), she reckoned it probably was a form of migraine. Thankfully it's a good many years since I've had one; I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
I've had an amble, but not an altogether satisfactory one: I went down to the village to see if the pharmacy had over-the-counter ear drops (the prescription ones having run out, partly due to my lack of dexterity in their application), but they were closed for lunch! I didn't know shops closed for lunch these days ...
I did, however manage to get the ingredients for a BACON sandwich for lunch, which was excellent, as Proper Bacon™ is one of the things I missed when living in Foreign Parts.
Today I’ve been tracking down free WiFi after someone dig through the fibre optic cable serving a huge area around me. I found a lovey cafe in an arts centre and made progress through my to-do list. The cable must have been taped together because I’m back online at home.
The area is feeling a bit battered - starting with a derailment on a main route, then a landslide on a side rail route, now losing an airline plus the internet vanishing. At least the port is still operating (no lack of water around here!).
@Baptist Trainfan, bike trailers (the child-carrying type) are available from Mr E Bay, but at about £500 each!!
@Piglet - not so many 'ordinary' shops close for lunch nowadays, I think, but it seems quite common for pharmacies (or at least the smaller ones).
My local place closes from 1pm-2pm, and can't dispense prescriptions until after 3pm, possibly to allow time to 'catch up'. The nearby GP closes the morning session at 12 noon, so peeps do have time to get to the pharmacy before they shut up shop!
I used to get migraines fairly regularly and if I took medication in time they didn't become debilitating. Before I learned to manage them, or if they'd taken a hold, the only way forward was to go to bed in a darkened room and pray the medication would stay down long enough to ease the nausea sufficiently to permit sleep.
Mr Nen and I have been out and about today having breakfast and posh afternoon tea to celebrate his Significant Birthday. I'm now resting for a bit before a meal this evening with Nenlet2 and a couple more busy days of celebrations with family and friends.
Nen - tired already.
The staff adored him.
Here he is on the train - https://photos.app.goo.gl/WnXSS1wRdqbMbuAd9
Yes - I know I said I didn’t want to go - it just goes to show!
Oops, sorry - it was @TheOrganist - but if you had a bike, one of the shopping carrying trailers would be rather cool, no?
Lovely pic - though he looks a bit miffed, perhaps because he can't see out of the window?
It was much more than that and WE bought it for them!
This is it - https://photos.app.goo.gl/aftSpHp8hW9RVDWY7
It looks nice and sturdy.
(See what I did there? Neat, eh?)
And well done Echo - clever boy!
Still marking here, though I’m doing small batches so as not to be overloaded. Then I have to prep for an online tutorial tomorrow morning.
Yes, I believe that is so. I can't even collect my ready-packed black bin-bag full of meds unless the pharmacist is there to supervise...
I really must try and not eat them all at once ...
I had planned to attack a small pile of Iron Ing today, but my sister's iron seems to have gone AWOL. She hates ironing so much that she pays someone to take it away and do it for her, and in the relocation of Things associated with her new kitchen, the iron seems to have taken umbrage and buggered off.
I may go and look for one for myself: I'll need to get one for the potential Château Piglet anyway. It's not that I particularly like Iron Ing - but I don't mind doing it when the mood takes me, and I have a few shirts that really don't look right without it.
Perhaps a visit to Argos might be in the offing - when I was looking on the interweb at small electricals, their prices seemed very competitive.
AG
Having said that, I'm not 100% sure. Maybe I'll pop in there some time, just to buy a box of aspirin (say).
Certainly, some (most? all?) supermarkets limit the number of packets of analgesics (aspirin, ibuprofen, paracetamol, etc.) to two per customer.