Rather you than me @KarlLB. I can walk long distances, but any sort of steep up and down really throws me.
I'm still feeling a bit crap, but a day inside doing a bit of housework , admin and sleeping will hopefully make me feel at least a bit better tomorrow.
I went to the weekly coffee morning at the village hall and had a good chat with one of the people there I'm just starting to get to know.
Then some sorting and tidying here and starting to pack - we're away from tomorrow for a long weekend. Unfortunately I've developed a banger of a headache and am about to take some medication and crawl into bed with it. I very much hope it's not one of my three-day ones as that will mean I won't be feeling ok until the day we come home :rolleyes: .
I headed into town to do a few errands and popped into my favourite shoe shop to try on a pair of sandals. I chose the right day, they were having a celebration event and not only did I get some new sandals I received a goody bag and had a glass of prosecco too. I then headed to the wine shop to buy a bottle for tonight and ended up being given a taste of the wine from their Portuguese wine tasting evening yesterday. Have I mentioned lately how much I love living here.
On the down side I still feel rather crap, but hopefully an afternoon nap after lunch will sort things out a bit.
That’s a bugger, Sandemaniac. I hope something gets sorted.
I spent the morning sorting out Issues and the afternoon marking essays on grief.
Mr Heavenly is out at a work do and I was tempted to get a Nando’s delivered but I gave myself a talking to as we had chicken legs in the fridge, which I consequently cooked with leftover lemon and asparagus risotto. Having saved money by doing my own thing I decided to purchase some fabric on EBay as a reward .
Gin and tonic consumed.
I’m just back, exhausted from a day’s 3 choir rehearsal in Lincoln, university, in preparation for next Saturday’s concert, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, in Lincoln Cathedral.
It should be pretty good. I’ve no voice left for tomorrow’s Evensong, but hope a few hours of not speaking or singing will do the trick.
Yesterday my French group met at my house. We discussed whether retirement should be mandatory after a certain age for
(e.g.) politicians, amongst others.
Then in the evening I was invited for a meal at the house of some friends, which was lovely, except I had to get home for an early start this morning.
I absolutely agree about the retirement age, Puzzler - especially for American politicians ...
It's been a bonny day here: mostly sunny with a wee breeze. After having a post-lunch snoozette, I got a message from the Sewing Lady that my dress was ready, so met her to pick it up; it looks just right. Now we just need some nice weather so that I can wear it.
Supper was a concoction of pasta, prawns and chorizo with tomatoes and crème fraîche, and rather flavoursome.
Sounds like a good if exhausting day @puzzler. I too agree about retirement ages. Much as I enjoy being in local politics I don't think I'll stand again next year as I feel I am too old to do the job properly, and really don't want to end up turning in to the East Midland's version of Trump.
I'm still not feeling great and had to cancel going to help out at our local repair cafe today which was a shame as it sounds like it went really well. I'm heading to bed shortly as I have to go to an event tomorrow come what may, specially as my husband has gone and bought a new shirt for it.
We've had a very full weekend. On Friday lunchtime we went to a very chic and outrageously expensive restaurant to celebrate our wedding anniversary a bit early. It was totally worth it. The best bit, incidentally, was the one that wasn't originally in the menu. We got the fancy tasting menu, but the advertised fruit course was pineapple, which I am allergic to. They brought me strawberries instead, with strawberry coulis and a verbena cream. It was heavenly.
In the evening we went to the famous Wild West party. I totally had the best costume
Tomorrow we are leaving for the seaside (the Mediterranean end) so today has been full of Wash Ing, Pack Ing and Clean Ing, and all the other extreme hard work involved in getting ready to go on holiday.
Hope the pizza was good @piglet and that restaurant sounds great @la vie en rouge . Glad the costume worked, what did husband en rouge go as? The best fancy dress party I ever went to was a Biblical themed one. I didn't know I was going so wasn't in costume but a couple of my friends went as a plague of locusts.
We headed to our event which was a civic event for a local mayor in a neighbouring town. We got taken there by car, but our driver got the the time slightly wrong so got to the service with about a minute to spare. It was good to chat to various fellow councillors about things afterwards, but it wasn't till I got home I remembered I wanted to ask them about an event they ran a couple of years ago that I'd like to do in our town.
I'm still feeling rather crap, but slightly better (fingers crossed) I think.
We went to a fancy dress party a long time ago when we were both members of St John Ambulance and so had first aid mitt. I bandaged Darllenwr up as the accident which had found somewhere to happen!
Husband en rouge went as the sheriff. Given he's unlikely to wear the hat again any time soon, he gave it to Captain P to play with and the Captain is greatly enchuffed.
Our best fancy dress was hippie outfits, flares, cheesecloth, sandals, beads, CND symbol on a chain topped off with some authentic patchouli oil which was universally hated!
Still grumpy that the prize went to a couple who hired their costumes- what is the world coming too?
Just to pick upon comments about mandatory retiring age, as discussed in myFrench group last Friday, we didn’t reach the conclusion you appear to think, @Piglet, @Sarasa . We tried to avoid the American political scenario, though were all agreed anyway on that. There is value for individuals and for society in continuing to work beyond SRP age: expertise/ experience/ financial necessity etc. On the other hand, sometimes older workers prevent younger people from progressing in their career/ retirement provides opportunities for travel, leisure activities and for volunteering ( desperately needed in so many spheres). Some people should not even be still working in their job until retirement age.
Conclusion: flexibility, monitoring re capacity issues.
Yesterday my son decided to cook a Sunday lunch in my honour, though we all had to rush off afterwards. All change in their household: their eldest has had an offer accepted on a house, so is now accumulating items for their new home, and their youngest has moved back home, bringing all his stuff. He wants to save towards buying a property too.
I’m catching up with myself today. Covid jab tomorrow. Hoping for no side effects, but just in case, I need to get lots done today.
A busy but rewarding weekend. Friday: early swim and washing, then off to Norfolk to visit my sister (2 buses and 3 trains), a pleasant evening with her and my nephew. Saturday: in the morning we took a turn round our mother's pretty village and tended her grave (beautiful country churchyard with daffodils and bluebells); back then off to Norwich (Park and Ride) to meet up with the rest of the family for a birthday lunch at a very nice restaurant. Walked to station then travelled home (4 trains and bus).
Yesterday: woke early, did washing, led worship at church, then took my wife to a pizza restaurant for lunch (we really ought to go more often, we always like it). Back home, then in the late afternoon to see the opera "The Flying Dutchman" - intriguing production, outstanding singing and drama. Back home in time for "Antiques Roadshow" and the Forensics programme.
Covid jab tomorrow. Hoping for no side effects, but just in case, I need to get lots done today.
Had mine on Saturday. Felt really rough yesterday, which was a surprise as I have not had any similar side effects from the boosters since about the third one. Better today, but still not quite right.
The nurse said there was an additional ingredient to this year's vaccine, to counteract another strain of the virus, so maybe that was the cause. However, the soreness on the site of the injection is much less.
Emerging, I hope, from the Week From Hell. Like many others - to judge from the Macmillan fora - caught unawares by the intensity of the reaction to chemo. Edging carefully from toast and mulched banana towards something approaching an actual meal.
The way forward would seem to be strewn with ginger - biscuits, stem, tea, whatever.
Wise words re: retirement, @Puzzler. If it weren't for the gaping hole in my National Insurance contributions from living in Canada, I'd want to retire as soon as I could, but I think I'll be in it until I drop!
I've had a nicely lazy morning befitting a piglet on leave, and will shortly pootle off to Falkirk for a "financial health check" at the nearest bank. It really is a pain not having proper banks any more; we've got a "hub" , but they haven't the resources to do any more than make an appointment for you in a branch.
I'm planning to stop at M&S on the way home and pick up a few bits and bobs - my fridge would make Old Mother Hubbard look well stocked!
And that the next dose won't be quite as horrendous
Word is, it gets worse and then your hair falls out.
Though reading the posts on Macmillan, there's folk have it a lot more to put up with.
Anyway, that's the trip to the Health Centre done. And while I had my shoes on, walked to local shop and bought more bedders. Ambition for this week is to plant up the hanging baskets and patio pots.
Emerging, I hope, from the Week From Hell. Like many others - to judge from the Macmillan fora - caught unawares by the intensity of the reaction to chemo. Edging carefully from toast and mulched banana towards something approaching an actual meal.
The way forward would seem to be strewn with ginger - biscuits, stem, tea, whatever.
When youngest Beaky daughter (mother of Huxley/ Little Beaky) was undergoing chemotherapy ginger was one of the only things that helped with the nausea.
Thinking about you lots.
Thinking of you @firenze, and hoping there is a gin that helps a bit.
I've had another fairly lazy day though I did go and have a useful meeting about various Council things that are happening this year. I cancelled going to a briefing this evening as I still feel rather crap and didn't think I'd manage to keep awake.
I was debating whether going to my check up at the dentists tomorrow was sensible or not when the surgery phoned to say the dentist is off sick and to re-arrange the appointment. Obviously there are a lot of bugs going round at present.
Hugs to you, Firenze, I hope you can get some improvement.
We spent the weekend doing minor jobs but it did mean that Mr Heavenly finally fixed the broken drawer in the kitchen which has been sitting on the side for 2 years. He has also ordered laminate flooring for the hall and possibly the wood for the decking around my office. He even made a proper suet jam roly poly so he is in my good books.
Long day today with the usual admin this morning and marking essays this afternoon. But tomorrow will be worse, with a meeting, marking and an evening tutorial.
Tea will be a ramen with roasted veg and pork escalopes. Currently sipping a gin and tonic.
It's been a right bonny day here; I decided getting a taxi would be the easiest thing for getting to Falkirk, as I didn't really know where the bus would leave me.
Financial health check accomplished, and a couple of savings strategies started, which I hope will make me feel a bit better organised.
It turned out there was a bus stop right beside the bank, so getting back was easy. I stopped at M&S, and spent rather a lot on Nice Food That You Can't Get Anywhere Else, some of which I had for supper (cold meats and some of their nice salads).
*sending as many hugs as you can put up with*. Given what you've said about food in the past, you must be feeling pretty grim. Hopefully there are things you can eat to give you literally the strength to get through this. Hope they include proteins.
We had a long day on the train. The one from Paris to Nîmes was late leaving (I think someone had jumped under a train earlier in the day ) so we missed our connection. We had nearly a two hour wait and then another three hours to travel. We have now made it to Banyuls sur Mer, a delightful seaside place on the Catalan coast.
Thank you for the good wishes. It means a lot when people respond I realise. There are a lot of threads on Macmillan but not AFAICS much interaction.
Sadly the risotto was a fail - not as a dish, just as something I could persuade myself to eat.
Best wishes from me, too. When I was an Ambulance Person, we often transported patients to and from chemotherapy, and it was cheering to see what good progress many of them made, despite it all...
My brain tumour offered no treatment choice apart from surgery - radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy would have been of little or no avail - so I was lucky in some respects!
I think we went to Banyuls on the last holiday I went on with my family. We stayed somewhere around there, a little inland I think, in a gite. Beautiful area, if I remember rightly.
I don’t know how helpful this is but - if you eat something, then have an experience that makes you nauseous shortly afterward: your brain will link the two things even though you know otherwise about causation, it is pretty hardwired. So you may want to avoid pairing favourite foods by way of consolation - rather stick to things you are less bothered about going off.
Emerging, I hope, from the Week From Hell. Like many others - to judge from the Macmillan fora - caught unawares by the intensity of the reaction to chemo. Edging carefully from toast and mulched banana towards something approaching an actual meal.
The way forward would seem to be strewn with ginger - biscuits, stem, tea, whatever.
In the unsolicited and probably useless category, one of the first things my body agreed to process after (failed) chemo was small oatmeal biscuits.
I don’t know how helpful this is but - if you eat something, then have an experience that makes you nauseous shortly afterward: your brain will link the two things even though you know otherwise about causation, it is pretty hardwired. So you may want to avoid pairing favourite foods by way of consolation - rather stick to things you are less bothered about going off.
Thanks, I'm aware of that potential risk. But the nausea seems not to be of the sick-making kind. I. Just. Don't. Want. To. Eat.
Anyways, I can take the bedding I bought yesterday into the garden where, the forecast informs me, they can enjoy 'light rain showers and a gentle breeze'. Which is more than I would, but fortunately it looks to be dry the rest of the week.
That sounds grim @Firenze , I'm so sorry. I hope you feel much better very soon.
We had a very lovely long weekend away with friends, people we've known for years. Two of the couples have children similar ages to the Nenlets so there was a fair bit of reminiscing about that as well as contemplating What Life Looks Like Now and what the future might hold. Also the lovely weather meant that outdoor things were possible and those who wanted a Hearty Walk could have it.
This morning we had coffee with a couple we're just getting to know in the church here, but otherwise the day is all about catching up on the washing, trying to decide what to eat for the rest of the week (and adding to the food order arriving tomorrow) and gazing helplessly at all the boxes that still need to be unpacked and sorted.
Wonderful shenanigans on the transport network today. It started yesterday morning, when announcement was first made of Tube strikes. Still went into the office today, knowing I'd have to walk back to Waterloo from office near Tower Bridge. This meant I missed my usual train and got the service half an hour later.
Only it turns out that that earlier service broke down and now the later service has all the people from the broken down train on it as well. Though the folks who boarded the later train got a seat while the rest are currently doing a very good collective impression of a tin of sardines.
That sounds like a royal pain, Sipech - hope things sort themselves out for you tomorrow.
It's been another nice day here: sunny with a coolish breeze (it's not quite clout-casting weather yet).
I had an appointment with the optician this afternoon, which is probably going to cost me £££, and as I was at that end of the street, disposed of my old food processor by donating it to the only local charity shop that takes electric stuff.
This morning we pottered about the village buying the local produce. The strawberries cost half of what they do in Paris, and were very very delicious. Husband en rouge found his happy place among the barrels in a winery. We may have left with a bottle or three After that we pootled off to the beach for a bit.
On the way back, I spotted a shop for another wine producer of which the other half is fond - and also spotted a restaurant attached to it, with a fabulous terrace covered by olive trees and jasmine. We made a reservation for this evening, and weren't disappointed. I had Iberian ham (we are very close to Spain) and squid in Satay sauce. They get many bonus points for serving proper food to children instead of only nuggets and chips. Captain P isn't an angel all the time, but this evening he did us proud by polishing off his whole plate of grilled fish, grilled vegetables and potatoes, plus a piece of bread and a bit of my ham. To prove he is the model child, he entertained himself in between courses by reading a book The waitress was suitably impressed.
Comments
I'm still feeling a bit crap, but a day inside doing a bit of housework , admin and sleeping will hopefully make me feel at least a bit better tomorrow.
Sorry your cold is hanging on, Sarasa - you could do without that!
Quite a nice day here, although a bit breezy. Madly busy at work - I'll have deserved next week off!
Supper was the last of the paella; it'll be nice to have Not Paella tomorrow!
Then some sorting and tidying here and starting to pack - we're away from tomorrow for a long weekend. Unfortunately I've developed a banger of a headache and am about to take some medication and crawl into bed with it. I very much hope it's not one of my three-day ones as that will mean I won't be feeling ok until the day we come home :rolleyes: .
On the down side I still feel rather crap, but hopefully an afternoon nap after lunch will sort things out a bit.
Sounds interesting!
My brother fits air conditioning into coaches.
Got an email saying the position is on hold. Cunch of bunts!
Computer off, out-of-office reply on. Will try not to think of work for the next week, and have some R&R.
F&C for supper, because Friday.
I spent the morning sorting out Issues and the afternoon marking essays on grief.
Mr Heavenly is out at a work do and I was tempted to get a Nando’s delivered but I gave myself a talking to as we had chicken legs in the fridge, which I consequently cooked with leftover lemon and asparagus risotto. Having saved money by doing my own thing I decided to purchase some fabric on EBay as a reward
Gin and tonic consumed.
It should be pretty good. I’ve no voice left for tomorrow’s Evensong, but hope a few hours of not speaking or singing will do the trick.
Yesterday my French group met at my house. We discussed whether retirement should be mandatory after a certain age for
(e.g.) politicians, amongst others.
Then in the evening I was invited for a meal at the house of some friends, which was lovely, except I had to get home for an early start this morning.
It's been a bonny day here: mostly sunny with a wee breeze. After having a post-lunch snoozette, I got a message from the Sewing Lady that my dress was ready, so met her to pick it up; it looks just right. Now we just need some nice weather so that I can wear it.
Supper was a concoction of pasta, prawns and chorizo with tomatoes and crème fraîche, and rather flavoursome.
I'm still not feeling great and had to cancel going to help out at our local repair cafe today which was a shame as it sounds like it went really well. I'm heading to bed shortly as I have to go to an event tomorrow come what may, specially as my husband has gone and bought a new shirt for it.
Still not really warm here, but bright and sunny: it was nice chatting in the church garden over coffee.
Laundry has been laundered and put away, and snoozage (with the help of Quite Large Bear) has been accomplished.
As I've postponed shopping until tomorrow, I think I'll phone for a pizza for supper; it's quite a while since I last had one, so why not?
In the evening we went to the famous Wild West party. I totally had the best costume
Tomorrow we are leaving for the seaside (the Mediterranean end) so today has been full of Wash Ing, Pack Ing and Clean Ing, and all the other extreme hard work involved in getting ready to go on holiday.
We headed to our event which was a civic event for a local mayor in a neighbouring town. We got taken there by car, but our driver got the the time slightly wrong so got to the service with about a minute to spare. It was good to chat to various fellow councillors about things afterwards, but it wasn't till I got home I remembered I wanted to ask them about an event they ran a couple of years ago that I'd like to do in our town.
I'm still feeling rather crap, but slightly better (fingers crossed) I think.
Still grumpy that the prize went to a couple who hired their costumes- what is the world coming too?
@Sarasa . We tried to avoid the American political scenario, though were all agreed anyway on that. There is value for individuals and for society in continuing to work beyond SRP age: expertise/ experience/ financial necessity etc. On the other hand, sometimes older workers prevent younger people from progressing in their career/ retirement provides opportunities for travel, leisure activities and for volunteering ( desperately needed in so many spheres). Some people should not even be still working in their job until retirement age.
Conclusion: flexibility, monitoring re capacity issues.
Yesterday my son decided to cook a Sunday lunch in my honour, though we all had to rush off afterwards. All change in their household: their eldest has had an offer accepted on a house, so is now accumulating items for their new home, and their youngest has moved back home, bringing all his stuff. He wants to save towards buying a property too.
I’m catching up with myself today. Covid jab tomorrow. Hoping for no side effects, but just in case, I need to get lots done today.
Yesterday: woke early, did washing, led worship at church, then took my wife to a pizza restaurant for lunch (we really ought to go more often, we always like it). Back home, then in the late afternoon to see the opera "The Flying Dutchman" - intriguing production, outstanding singing and drama. Back home in time for "Antiques Roadshow" and the Forensics programme.
The nurse said there was an additional ingredient to this year's vaccine, to counteract another strain of the virus, so maybe that was the cause. However, the soreness on the site of the injection is much less.
The way forward would seem to be strewn with ginger - biscuits, stem, tea, whatever.
Wise words re: retirement, @Puzzler. If it weren't for the gaping hole in my National Insurance contributions from living in Canada, I'd want to retire as soon as I could, but I think I'll be in it until I drop!
I've had a nicely lazy morning befitting a piglet on leave, and will shortly pootle off to Falkirk for a "financial health check" at the nearest bank. It really is a pain not having proper banks any more; we've got a "hub" , but they haven't the resources to do any more than make an appointment for you in a branch.
I'm planning to stop at M&S on the way home and pick up a few bits and bobs - my fridge would make Old Mother Hubbard look well stocked!
Word is, it gets worse and then your hair falls out.
Though reading the posts on Macmillan, there's folk have it a lot more to put up with.
Anyway, that's the trip to the Health Centre done. And while I had my shoes on, walked to local shop and bought more bedders. Ambition for this week is to plant up the hanging baskets and patio pots.
When youngest Beaky daughter (mother of Huxley/ Little Beaky) was undergoing chemotherapy ginger was one of the only things that helped with the nausea.
Thinking about you lots.
I've had another fairly lazy day though I did go and have a useful meeting about various Council things that are happening this year. I cancelled going to a briefing this evening as I still feel rather crap and didn't think I'd manage to keep awake.
I was debating whether going to my check up at the dentists tomorrow was sensible or not when the surgery phoned to say the dentist is off sick and to re-arrange the appointment. Obviously there are a lot of bugs going round at present.
We spent the weekend doing minor jobs but it did mean that Mr Heavenly finally fixed the broken drawer in the kitchen which has been sitting on the side for 2 years. He has also ordered laminate flooring for the hall and possibly the wood for the decking around my office. He even made a proper suet jam roly poly so he is in my good books.
Long day today with the usual admin this morning and marking essays this afternoon. But tomorrow will be worse, with a meeting, marking and an evening tutorial.
Tea will be a ramen with roasted veg and pork escalopes. Currently sipping a gin and tonic.
Financial health check accomplished, and a couple of savings strategies started, which I hope will make me feel a bit better organised.
It turned out there was a bus stop right beside the bank, so getting back was easy. I stopped at M&S, and spent rather a lot on Nice Food That You Can't Get Anywhere Else, some of which I had for supper (cold meats and some of their nice salads).
Sadly the risotto was a fail - not as a dish, just as something I could persuade myself to eat.
We had a long day on the train. The one from Paris to Nîmes was late leaving (I think someone had jumped under a train earlier in the day
Best wishes from me, too. When I was an Ambulance Person, we often transported patients to and from chemotherapy, and it was cheering to see what good progress many of them made, despite it all...
My brain tumour offered no treatment choice apart from surgery - radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy would have been of little or no avail - so I was lucky in some respects!
But the most exciting was the first swifts of the year!!!!
As sure a sign of summer as cricketers watching it rain.
In the unsolicited and probably useless category, one of the first things my body agreed to process after (failed) chemo was small oatmeal biscuits.
Thanks, I'm aware of that potential risk. But the nausea seems not to be of the sick-making kind. I. Just. Don't. Want. To. Eat.
Anyways, I can take the bedding I bought yesterday into the garden where, the forecast informs me, they can enjoy 'light rain showers and a gentle breeze'. Which is more than I would, but fortunately it looks to be dry the rest of the week.
We had a very lovely long weekend away with friends, people we've known for years. Two of the couples have children similar ages to the Nenlets so there was a fair bit of reminiscing about that as well as contemplating What Life Looks Like Now and what the future might hold. Also the lovely weather meant that outdoor things were possible and those who wanted a Hearty Walk could have it.
This morning we had coffee with a couple we're just getting to know in the church here, but otherwise the day is all about catching up on the washing, trying to decide what to eat for the rest of the week (and adding to the food order arriving tomorrow) and gazing helplessly at all the boxes that still need to be unpacked and sorted.
Only it turns out that that earlier service broke down and now the later service has all the people from the broken down train on it as well. Though the folks who boarded the later train got a seat while the rest are currently doing a very good collective impression of a tin of sardines.
It's been another nice day here: sunny with a coolish breeze (it's not quite clout-casting weather yet).
I had an appointment with the optician this afternoon, which is probably going to cost me £££, and as I was at that end of the street, disposed of my old food processor by donating it to the only local charity shop that takes electric stuff.
Supper was more salads.
On the way back, I spotted a shop for another wine producer of which the other half is fond - and also spotted a restaurant attached to it, with a fabulous terrace covered by olive trees and jasmine. We made a reservation for this evening, and weren't disappointed. I had Iberian ham (we are very close to Spain) and squid in Satay sauce. They get many bonus points for serving proper food to children instead of only nuggets and chips. Captain P isn't an angel all the time, but this evening he did us proud by polishing off his whole plate of grilled fish, grilled vegetables and potatoes, plus a piece of bread and a bit of my ham. To prove he is the model child, he entertained himself in between courses by reading a book