'Allo all. Hope it's a good week for everyone. Ghastly news from Tunisia - those poor people, sitting on the beach enjoying the sunshine....
Heather: There's at least one situation like yours in every family (sometimes two or three!). Makes you wonder where these folks came from I mean, can they really be related to sensible grown-up like us? :-)
Diane: We're on the edges of a tropical storm system heading into the Southwest which could end up in your neighborhood in a few days. What a pain. It must keep on on edge the whole time. I do hope the trees around your house are sound We don't have many needs when it comes to cars, but we just have our trusty Honda Accord and our lovely old 73 Ford Ranger, which guzzles gas big time and is a bear to drive down Santa Barbara's narrow streets (narrow because of parking on both sides - and not narrow at all compared to some roads in England!). The truck is in great shape but sits out most of the time and it's is beginning to rust in a few places. It takes up the entire garage and I'm the one who takes it and the stepladder to the do-it-yourself car wash where I nearly get blown off the ladder by the water pressure. Truck is too big for a drive-through wash. Anyway, it's slowly deteriorating and I'd rather see it go to someone who will really care for it - it's pretty much a classic a this point. I'm thinking sort of long term for a newer SUV with minimal bells and whistles that is versatile and economical. We're looking at hybrids, but there's not a big choice in the smaller SUVs. The Toyota RAV 4 will come in a hybrid version for 2016 - at a cost of about $30K! Typically we buy newer used vehicles but with the recession, folks seem to have hung on to the popular models much longer than usual and the ones advertised on, say, craigslist, have lots of miles on them. Still, there are much, much worse dilemmas to deal with in the world.
Lindybird: Good news from Glaslyn then. Ha! Liked the 1-in-5 joke.
That tropical storm that's east of us has brought clouds, humidity - and a sprinkling of rain! More sprinkling possible in the next two days. Hey! It's wet. we'll take it.
OG - I am sorry to hear about your finger and I do hope you will get some relief now and that the others will rally round to help while you rest it.
You mention that I sound relaxed now and that is true but it will be a different story next week. Three days after I arrived here I managed to get an appointment to see a consultant at a hospital about a mile away from here and he had X-rays taken of my knee. The result was that he said it was very severe arthritis and the only answer to all my pain is to have a total knee replacement and so that is what I am doing next Tuesday, I have to go into hospital at 7.00am. I am rather nervous about it but it's just something I have got to do to get my life back to normal hopefully. I will just say that I have been on the waiting list at Raigmore in Inverness since January and my doctor says no hope of an appointment until about October or November so I decided to go ahead down here, better really as I will be able to recover here for a little while.
Will go now as In need of a nice cold drink! I have posted this long rigmarole to OG but it is really to everybody, I had to mention it sometime!
Back again – so bored – never was any good at resting!
On Sunday, we had an excellent meal out. In the evening, we all went to church, and it was refreshing to have one of the congregation giving the talk.
So, Monday was J’s birthday. He was sent home from work ill – possibly heat exhaustion. OH took a taxi to be able to drive him home in his own car. He didn’t attempt to go to lead youth group at church that evening, so was home to receive a special birthday surprise. Despite being told and receiving confirmation that he would be continuing at the Primary School in August, the head of pupil support called to say he would actually be returning to Annan Academy – so no more early mornings to travel, and, best of all, no more nursery sessions!
He was still at home on Tuesday but keeping cool and apparently recovering. I baked quiches for later use, and also got my hair cut.
J doesn’t work Wednesdays. So is home again – and tomorrow will be the final day of term, so he is busy completing his mileage claim, a sickness absence form and his casual hours claim for the Wednesdays when he did work this term. OH made soup and “black forest mess” for lunch – chocolate custard, fresh cherries and crushed meringues; he is now washing plant pots in the garage. Tea is not too demanding for him – just veg pizza. He won’t go to the museum tomorrow because of doing jobs for me.
Quite a dull week by most people’s standards, although we shall be going out Friday evening.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Early finish as we had completed the sales prep in good time. It will be mega busy tomorrow, but I shall be relaxing at home on a few days off.
RITA Great you had such good service and wish you all the best for the op next week.
Why, oh why, didn’t I do this on the Surface with its touch screen, instead of the desktop with a mouse?
Rita hi! Sorry you had to miss an afternoon out – is there somewhere you can go in the cool of the evening – if it does cool down today? The wedding headgear debate – I also hate wearing hats. I bought one for first Daughter’s wedding, and bought second outfit to go with it for second Daughter’s! I wouldn’t do it now, nearly 30 years on, and didn’t wear one for elder Grandson’s wedding in 2011.
Pleased that you have seen the consultant and can have the knee op while you are there; I know that it has been very painful and restricting for you. My advice is to have a spinal anaesthetic, rather than a general, if you are given the choice; it makes initial recovery so much faster and easier. It will be a while before you can drive, so you will need to extend your stay, or maybe the family will be driving you home. Anyway, all good wishes for Tuesday and a good outcome.
Rita: I wish you all the best for your operation, a rapid recovery, and a pain-free life. I'll be thinking of you and sending healing energy.
All: Happy Full Moon, everyone!
RITA- you don't have to say anything but it sounds as if you saw a consultant privately if it was within three days and if so, well done! We have done this before, with rapid results. Will be thinking of you. Who will be looking after your garden at home?
OG - at any time, your life sounds more interesting than ours!
We have a thrush family in the garden for the first time. Just lovely this evening, having our meal and watching Mum pulling worms out of the ground and feeding them to her little one.
Heather - Yes, I did see a private consultant after three days and operation booked for twelve days later! amazing. I just could not wait for Raigmore any longer, my doctor was in full agreement for me to do this, he gets fed up with his patients having to wait so long for an appointment at Raigmore. My leg is agony and beginning to bow outwards so it needs doing. I feel a bit guilty about it though when so many people have to wait.
The garden will be alright I hope as I have a gardener just round the corner who cuts my grass once a week (he only mows) and someone else who helps me out with the difficult things and he will keep an eye on it while I am away and take photos of anything that's looks nice so that I can see them when I get home.
RITA- so happy that you will be sorted out sooner rather than later. The way it was put to us after we requested a private consultation, was that it meant the NHS waiting list was shorter if we paid and got the op done quickly.Often, the private things are done outwith office hours, so to speak and your bill includes nursing care etc. Good luck xx
Evening all: Busy day - granddaughter and Ms D arriving early tomorrow for 5 days. Daughter coming down on the train so we'll all have breakfast together then head to the beach.
Heat in the UK and northern Europe sounds horrendous, especially as most places don't have a/c. Take care.
Diane: Looks like you're in the path of those storms - again. BTW, that's a lovely butterfly. I think they have Red Admirals in the UK.
dibnlib: Belated b/day wishes from me too (thank you OG!). A mint mini-magnum? What on earth are they?
OG: I had a couple of shots in my hand at one time - lots of bones and no fat to absorb the ouch; very uncomfortable. Did sort things out quickly though. I'm totally with you on the $$$$ spend on Proms. Makes me wonder.....
Lindybird: Good that M&S came through for you again, but I'm not sure I could dance in mules - I've been living in flats for years now.
Heather: Big smile here at the image of you as a standard lamp!! I feel exactly the same way - so can you imaging what we'd be like in high heels and a fascinator or hat? Maybe we'd work well at opposite ends of a sofa? Good thing there are women like Lindybird to wear all those fancy bits and bobs. :-) I find that I have to do the thorough dental routine early in the evening or I'm too tired to do it properly before I topple into bed. Naughty of me...
Rita: Gosh. That's a surprise - go on vacation and end up getting a new knee as a souvenir. Very original of you! AQ had one (or two?) a year or so ago so I'm sure she'll add her two cents. I have heard it's very important you faithfully do the exercises they give you afterward. As Lindy says, it's apparently something everyone is glad to have had done. You're in agony? Please don't feel guilty. No reason at all.
Just saw that Japan beat out England in the women's Soccer semi-final. :-(( At least I don't have to feel torn between teams during the finals on Sunday!
Have a good Thursday everyone; will catch up tomorrow evening when the family has had dinner and headed to daughter's house.