HAPPY NEW WEEK and HAPPY NEW MOON
The moon turns new next Friday, 1 November, in UK and US.
I've just come in from giving the groundhog an apple. The pub/ bar on the highway is going to have a loud Halloween party tonight, and I want the groundhog to be able to get in his burrow.
I never feed wildlife, because it's generally a bad idea. It's often unhealthy, and it habituates animals to humans. But I break my rule for the groundhog. I used to have an apple tree near my bedroom window, and the groundhog dug his burrow under it, so he could feed on apples. But a big derecho storm knocked over the tree and it died. I feel sorry for the groundhog because he no longer has his tree and his fruit. Groundhogs need to double their weight in order to survive hibernation during our harsh winters. Their hearts only beat 4 times per minute in hibernation, and they breathe only once every six minutes.
The big one on my patch is a solitary ol' fella, and I'm his only human contact. He makes a tooth-grinding chuff, chuff, chuff happy sound when I pitch an apple to him. I NEVER get close to him.
I hope you all have an easy week. Love and hugs to all.
Groundhog info ( Wikipedia)
en.wikipedia.org/.../Groundhog
Well I'm here at last - kept putting it off for no good reason !
Daughter is home and has to adjust to sleeping on her sofa for a while. She has foot to below knee plaster, two crutches and can't get get upstairs. Fortunately her little house has a toilet and basin downstairs, she will come here for a shower etc every few days. Not ideal but no option. Sofa is uncomfortable for sleep - she's talking about going up the stairs on her bottom ! I've offered a recliner chair, a trolley that she could push with one crutch, a fold up bed, even staying with me - but she wants to be in her own home. Her daughter Amy is off duty until Sunday so is helping her Mum to settle in, also doing her Mum's daily anticoagulant injections. My Daughter is very frustrated - used to doing at least 20.000 steps a day ( works in the hospital children's ward as a cleaner) . She'll be off work until the New Year, at least.
AQ - I can understand your frustration regarding missing items. And the shrunken cardigan :-( My late neighbour had a good wool tartan skirt ruined that way when she was in the care home. I'm glad that the complaint has been taken forward.
OG - I was happy to read about your daughter's visit. I always thought that you and she had a good relationship... but circumstances change of course.
Now I'm going to post this in case it gets lost ! Back later, hopefully because I want to reply to RUSTY, LINDY et al
Good news about the mammogram AQ. I had a to have an ultrasound earlier this year after my annual appointment with the oncologist. The doctor doing the ultrasound was able to give me the results straight away. I am sure yours will be fine. Interesting to get an insight into your health system that you have to get another referral. Here, once in the system, the hospital just makes the next appointment. My next annual mammogram is in December. Hope the missing items are eventually located. I am popping to town this morning for a mooch round the market.
AQ -- Life can become one long round of appointments!! Bah! Hope your results remain clear.
The other week, I got a letter from a department of the NHS doing clinical trials for ladies over 75. It was to test for cervical cancer. It sounded simple, but ONLY TO BEGIN WITH... Reading between the lines I can see that eventually you would need to attend a lot of appointments. Not for me, I decided - I have enough of those in my life already! Then yesterday I received a whole testing kit through the post!! I had not agreed to take part, so was hopping mad and put it straight into the bin. They say they might contact me on the phone in their latest letter, so they will get an earful from me about waste!!
LINDY - another example of poor communication /inefficiency . It is indeed very annoying.
RUSTY – Our medical system. To go to a specialist, we need a referral from a GP, otherwise we don’t get the govt rebate. Funds for this come from a levy on tax returns, so we are only getting our own money back. Some referrals can be “indefinite”, eg my glaucoma as it is lifetime. Unfortunately my cancer surgeon requires an annual referral. It annoyed my old GP too.
LINDA – Have a great holiday. Lots of photos please and descriptions of food. Try not to stress too much in airports. I hope all your aches & ills melt away as you both laze in the sunshine.
HEATHER – Your Dau sounds very determined. As long as she doesn’t do too much too soon. I like my single storey house – no stairs.
With warmer weather coming, I have spent the day moving the hose from shrub to shrub to tomatoes & herbs.
LINDY Have a wonderful much needed holiday.
Yes, Lindy. I hope you and your OH have a good holiday. As Dibnlib says, you both need it. I have been birding with the ladies to a local woodland. Mixed forestry land and broad leaved trees. Heard lots of crossbills but only saw 1!! Goldcrests about too. Last year we saw lots of fungus at this time. This year - very little. We wondered if it was because it has been so damp. You will not be surprised to hear that we then went for a very tasty light lunch!!!
OH has now recovered from the cold -meanwhile I developed pharyngitis - I hardly ever get sore throats so don't know how this crept in! Feeling quite low. J is miserable as his friend from church may be moving away.Dau#2 had a successfull shopping trip at Braehead and then home safe on Tuesday. Dau#1 has been celebrating S-i-L's 60th birthday with their two Daughters and appendages (boyfriends). The young ones have returned to their respective homes (Durham and Brighton) and Dau and S-i-L will come here for lunch (out) with us then continue into the Lakes for few days - in Cockermouth.
LINDA - have a good time away wih the shoes!
Good wishes to all.
LINDY: I hope you have the best holiday EVER! You deserve it. I wish you and your OH good health, good food, and a good time!
OG: I hope you feel better immediately. I'm glad you've been able to enjoy some time with your family. Glad EE is better, too. Take care of yourself.