What was it??

When we were getting ready for bed Thursday evening, I' d gone to get my drink for the night in the kitchen, and ouch something hurt my big toe on my left foot. as usual I had kicked off my shoes while we were watching TV, so was bare footed. 

I carried on to the bathroom, and gently brush the bottom of my foot. I asked Dh to look at my foot, he got our big torch to see if there was anything there. Then carefully with my tweezers he inched out what he thought was a very small splinter. Strange as we have laminate flooring in the kitchen, so couldn't have been that.

Anyway as my arm from my covid jab was 'buzzing' I took some paracetamol and I decided as Friday morning is our SW meeting, I put an antihistamine tab, that is prescribed for sleep ready to take, so I wouldn't be awake half the night. 

I did go to sleep, but woke at 1:00am for the loo and tried to get back to sleep.. my left big toe was hurting, it wasn't that bad but enough to stop me from sleeping. I huffed and puffed and got in and out of bed a few times. By now my toe was on fire and itching. I woke Dh and he had another look, yes my toe was red and hot. We found some TCP, yonks old, it calmed it down. We were now wide awake so we had a cup of tea and by this time, it was more than 4 hours when I had taken the paracetamol, so I had some with the tea. Dh rubbed my toe with the TCP and with the tabs it had calmed down. It was 4 when we were climbing back into bed. And I slept and slept, I did have to visit the loo again, after that cuppa, but then we over slept and it was nearly 9 when we woke, so we didn't get to SW.

After I'd showered Dh had another look at my toe and we decided it was a bite rather than a splinter, so cortisone cream for bites and bliss the itching stopped.. I have worn my slippers this evening, although I don't like them,  as they don't fit that well and I feel unsafe wearing them. 

It was not a good night and we haven't done anything to the garden, because the temps have been in the high twenties, much too hot to be in the sun. But we did go out and bought some new big garden pots for all the plants I've grown.. the tomatoes are looking good in their permanent pots in front of the west facing wall, it gets very hot there and they have done well there in other years.

So I wonder what it was that caused my toe so much grief! 

Chrisxx

Awful house but to others perfect!

 This is one of my favourite programmes and we watch it quite often, usually on iplayer. How Dh suffers watching it with me I wonder as I comment on most things.. the last one we watched Mantel was wearing a lacy type dress.

Me.. Her dress looks like a  lace curtain and she's wearing boots? I like her hair, I wonder if that colour is her own?

Criky, Does he think his hedgehog hair style makes him look younger??

Hasn't Dion a lovely smile, he always looks super.

And this is before they even show a house.

Some people must love what they do, as some of the houses that have been empty a while and have leaked rain must stink.. So a fair job to take on and when they show the finished house, they are gorgeous, if you like everything grey!

But when I bought my last house in Billericay, it wasn't wonderful when I moved in. But it had something that appealed to me. It had a biggish entrance  hall and a fair sized garden for a three bedroomed semi-detached house and I loved it right away.

One of my friends, who came to see it a few days after I moved in, burst into tears because she thought it was so awful. It did smell of animal pee, but I pulled up the carpet and that got rid of the smell, except I was left with broken the Marley tiles.

The previous owners had stuck beams on the walls and between them was deep artexing  almost like sea waves. The kitchen was small with only one wall cupboard and a couple of base units and it was dirty!

It had taken all my money to get rid of the mortgage on the house, I bought after my divorce so there wasn't a lot of spare cash and I had resigned from my job. I hated that job, the Head Teacher was never there. I had enough and decided to do Supply work. I had more work than I wanted and kept to 4 days, so I could have the time to sort out this little house, it was 2001. I hadn't reached retirement age so I had to work.

My son helped, the first things to go were the beams, artexing, old flooring. Then over time I had everything new starting with the windows and doors.. then new kitchen extension, a new downstairs loo put in and new bathroom, garage and I loved it all.

Friends helped me with the garden and it was perfect for me. 

I met my Dh in 2004 and we married in 2006.

When I sold that house after the 14 years I had lived there, the value had tripled.. we moved to that beautiful Victorian Villa in Suffolk and were just getting used to the area and surrounding villages and then .....lockdown. It was so quiet there, I really didn't like it and Wales was calling to me.. so here we are and we've had everything done here too to make our lives comfortable and we love it!

So I understand people buying what looks like an awful house, because I did!

Chrisxx

I don't believe it!!

 My umpteenth covid jab was booked for yesterday afternoon. Although I know it doesn't hurt I get anxious about them, so before we went I sat in the garden to relax. It was warm without the blazing sun of Sunday and there was a gentle breeze, so perfect.

There is still lots to do in the flower beds, we've got dahlia's and other flowers to plant, all sprouting in our little greenhouse. But the  green of the grass, the birds singing was all I needed.

 It was peaceful and calm and I felt calm, Dh brought me a drink and joined me.. we got ready to leave, even though it was a bit early. I hate to be late for appointments. It's about 25 mins drive at the 20mph, now law in Wales.. we were there in plenty of time and no queue so I went straight in. The nurse giving the jab was very pleasant and I hardly felt it.

Home before we been out an hour. We went straight to sit outside with a cuppa..... and shock horror there were cat paw prints across the patio, our beautifully clean patio!!!. I sounded like Victor Meldrew..as I shouted..'I don't believe it.'

We had put netting over a gap where the copper beech hedge meets the fence to keep him out.. grrrrrr he keeps pooping in our flower beds and veg patch, so war is declared.. we will spray him with water, just enough to frighten him off, not to drown him, but something I know that will work. In the past we've tried all sorts of things, even bought lion poo, to no avail, without Nell we're at the mercy of this furry poop machine.

Hope I haven't upset too many cat lovers, but cat poo is horrid!

Chrisxx

Is it the answer?

 'I've lost weight with no effort at all, eating what I like!' said my #1 son when we spoke on the phone the other evening. Over the last 10 years or so he had gradually become over weight and was fighting to lose it.

                                             *******

He had lost a lot of weight when he was younger as he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. If fact he looked like a skeleton, 6ft and only weighed 6st 4lb.  He had to have surgery to remove a large part of his large colon when he was 24 and thankfully didn't need a 'bag' which he was dreading.  When he first said. he wasn't well living away with some other young men at University, my reaction was too many greasy kababs.. But it persisted and it all came to a head, when his friend phoned to tell me my son had collapsed. I drove to Uxbridge where he was that evening to bring him home.

I managed to get one of the Drs at the Practice where I was a patient to agree to see him, because he wasn't a patient there anymore not living at home. A super caring Dr who actually came to the house and he said that my son needed to see a Consultant. I got him a private appointment the following week. In the mean time my son was getting weaker and weaker, no food would stay in him. 

The Consultant said he needed hospitalization and he was admitted the next day for an examination under anesthetic. It was all a very scary time and he diagnosed my son with Crohn's.

My son was treated medically for 3 years before we saw a Surgeon, who said he needed surgery and he'd never be better without it. 

He had dropped out of University earlier that year and was at home.  He was admitted to hospital to stay for 6 days before the operation to be built up with a drip infusion, I was so relieved that he would be in hospital being treated. However he'd only been there for 2 days when he collapsed and the school where I worked received a phone call to tell me. The nurse said that my son was already in Theatre and I wouldn't be able to visit him till the next day. 

I was there the next morning 8:15am before school and they let me see him. I don't know how I got through the day, but the blessing was I had the most loveliest class that year, never had one like it before nor after. Isn't God good, when you need things to go right? 

I used to go straight to the hospital each afternoon with a pile of books to mark and my planning folder. I sat beside my son every afternoon to late evening till he was discharged 4 weeks later.  It wasn't the best of times, but he got better and grew stronger and now he's trying to lose weight!

And how did he lose weight, he's bought an Air Fryer! 'You should get one Mum,' he said, 'they're so easy to use, no need to fry, so no oil.'    so may be we will? But I need to follow a plan and also look at portion control, so I don't think an air fryer will be my answer. Do you have an air fryer, are they worth it, is healthier eating?

Chrisxx

Is it true?

Dh and I are avid listeners of the Radio Soap ' The Archers.' We even tuned into it while on holiday in Australia, a few years ago. Over the years it has changed, no longer just the story of every day country folk, but a bit more the drama of the more exciting soaps.

 I take it as it comes, a story. But Dh often get quite passionate about it, saying the script writers should be shot, when the story line seemingly gets right off the 'quiet kind of country folk lives!' 

 The latest story line is around Alice (daughter of Jenny, nee Archer and Brian Aldridge) During lockdown her partying became a bit more than an occasional drink and she became an alcoholic. I've looked up how people become alcoholics and it is suggested that it is a combination of reasons, genetics, (her grandfather was an alcoholic) physiological, psychological and social factors. 

Lately several things have happened to Alice; her mother died; she met someone, Harry who appeared to just right for her, but it turned out he too was an alcoholic. And Alice being the sort of person she is, has tried to help him, forgetting her own needs, disaster!

She had been to rehab and got her life back on track, as she had a baby, named Martha, although she and her had husband split up. But now she has fallen right off the wagon and things are going horribly wrong. We are on tender hooks as she has been involved in a car accident, so Monday night's episode could be the end of Alice, or is it?

Dh's comments, 'Why are the script writers doing this, they're spoiling Alice's character?'                                                               

Me... ' It's so we'll tune in and listen,'

Dh..'But why? We were going to listen anyway!'

Me,,'It's only a story!'

Well it is only a story... but I remember when I was a Saturday girl as a teenager, older people coming into the veg shop, where I  worked,  saying, had we heard of the dreadful accident about some one, who had been killed in a barn fire trying to rescue her horse? Yes it was Christine Archer from the very same programme in 1955!

Even my other Aunt, Aunty Glad's sister phoned me to come to her aid, as the neighbours' boys were stealing her milk! I drove from Billericay to here in Porthcawl 223 miles, to sort it out. Listening to her and the Home Help, we realised it had happened on Coronation Street and in her confusion she thought it was happening to her!

Is it the acting, or what, that makes people think its real life? I watch Eastenders and never once have I thought it was real. Too daft to be real, but I still watch and really like it and hate to miss an episode.

What do you think?

Chrisxx

Can't wait to open these covers.

I have just finished reading this book, it was the Book Group choice for May. Like the other books by Mike Gayle it was an ok read. A story of a young woman's wish to become a museums curator.. well there's no accounting for taste, is there? She, named Jess, actually takes charge of what could be described as a heap of junk and presents each item as a museum piece. Does she make a success of it?  You'll have to read it to find out. I did enjoy reading it, and like other books I've read by Mike Gayle, there was an element of love in it and some twists and turns but no 'fireworks' for me. But as I have read other books by him, he must deem it worth the effort to me.

I had no other library books and then all five reserved books were ready for collection together!

True Colours by Kristin Hannah, My present choice as the top of the list of good authors.. I've read 5  other books by her and loved every one. This one's blurb says it about three sisters who are in strong competition with each another.. this will be my first read!

1979 by Val MacDermid, always a choice if I haven't anything else to read, as her books always keep me hooked and I haven't read one yet, that wasn't a page turner.

Friendly Fire by Patrick Gale, I have read several books by this author, my favourite being 'A Place Called Winter,' I have been to three talks by Patrick and he writes his first draft by hand! Anyway this book Friendly Fire, caught my interest as it is set in a boarding school and as I went to a boarding school, I thought it would be interesting, but I don't think it will be anything like my school, as the blurb states Sophie, the main protagonist has tough lessons outside school to learn, of class, sex, families and emotional disaster they can bring to even the most privileged lives.. ooo-er.. I wonder what that will be like?

Winter's Mourn by Mary Stone, is a new author to me, listed as book #1 of  5 so hope I like it as there are others. The blurb suggests its a masterful conceived psychological thriller, so can't wait to open the covers.

Reflection by Diane Chamberlain. My go to author when I want a comfortable read. Comfortable meaning, I like the stories, the writing style and I don't want to be frightened! However this book has secrets, love, lies and betrayal, a slow burning drama set in a small town still grieving for the past, sounds just my sort of read!

All these books will keep me happy for a few weeks and I'll happily traipse off to bed early each night to settle down to read. Thank goodness for books!

Chrisxx

A perfect day in the garden.

 When you plan a gardening day, first thing to do is to sit in the sun and talk about it over a coffee

So that's what we did and then walked round the garden. We started in the corner of the patio where there is this bright lime green acer, it

is doing really well in spite of the heat of last summer. Whew the heat last year! What's wrong with us we have days of rain and we complain, the sun comes out and its too hot! I really love this little tree so look after it and keep it in the cool. However our garden is SW facing so it does get very hot.

Before we started any weeding Dh wanted to pressure wash the patio; he does love that washer we bought and togs up in his wellies. First time he used it he didn't and got wet shoes and feet. I tried not to look when the splash of it sprayed the French doors windows, which the window cleaner had cleaned Wednesday, but hey ho, the patio is clean!

So as Dh was happy I walked round admiring our garden. We have a lot of free flowers, self seeded aquilegia, in a variety of deep purples and mauves, all towering above the lower growth of plants yet to flower.  

So pretty and I welcome them. Expert gardeners say they are hussies as they don't care who they pollinate with, so you never know what colour they'll be!

    And I love the drifts of Forget Me Nots, all arriving without being invited, but who cares when they put on such a beautiful display, each year. One year in another garden a friend and I sowed some Forget Me Not seeds. He was always boasting how well his were growing, while mine were merely tiny green shoots. He asked if I wanted him to come to see mine to give me his advice. What a cheek I thought.. but as it happened the Saturday before he was to call round, while shopping in the supermarket, they had the plants so I bought 3!

Wasn't he surprised?? Ha ha

And I have to show you this grape vine, I'm training it up the pergola and its doing really well. Its several years old and has travelled with me from other gardens but this is the first one in which I have planted it into the ground. We have lovely grapes, deep purple and sweet.

We've sat outside under an umbrella as it has been very hot; ate our evening meal out there and listened to the trickle of the water from my little water feature. Here she is, called Gladys, just like my Aunty.

I bought her with money left me by Aunt.

The water comes out of a flower on her hat, trickles round the brim and then down her shoulder. I absolutely love her!

Its been a perfect day.

                      Chrisxx

A Penny Book Shop!

 This little shop with the odd shaped rounded window has opened up as a little café by Fran, who has a 'pod' café on the front prom.  We might pop in just to see it, because my Aunty Glad rented it in the forties.  She was the aunt, who brought me up and paid for me to go to that private girls school. The shop is just round the corner from the street  where we lived.

It was a 'penny' book shop, that is a shop where you paid a penny to rent a book! I have no idea how that worked, I'm just remembering what she told me. She also sold items, because during the war people did what ever they could to survive.

Of course I don't remember this, but I do have somewhere a photograph of me sitting on cushions with a harness on in the  window. There was a pile of rhubarb in front of me, which was from my grandfathers allotment, that she was selling! I was about 18 months old, which was when my mother was ill, and my Aunt was baby sitting!

When I saw it on the Porthcawl FB page advertising its opening as a café, I had to go and look after we'd been to SW. (Slimming world) yesterday. Silly I know and can't possible be true, but when I thought about it, I thought I could remember smelling dusty old books!

What strange things our memories can conjure up! Although there is the probability that I spent some days there after my mother had died, when I was about 4 or 5 as I think I remember it being a narrow shaped interior with shelves of books.

I must look for that old black and white photo.

Chrisxx

10 Positives about you?

 At our SW meeting last week we were asked to think of 10 positive and /or good things about ourselves.

Me,, ummmm ??

People compliment me on my complexion. 

I have good nails. umm

I smile a lot.

and???

Prompted then by our SW consultant. 

I keep on trying.

I'm a happy person.

I compliment other people.

I give good ideas and suggestions 

And then I umm-ed and Ahh-ed and Dh said that I was a good supervisor when he gardened! Ha ha

And also I don't snore.(yes he can)

So now you know I'm not exactly scintillating! ( But I do have good skin and nails!)

What about you?

Chrisxx

Sorted!!

 Yeh, our handy man can do what I want and just like you suggested Maggie I'm having it on the side along the bungalow wall.. with a grab bar on the wall and a hand rail on the steps. It can be extended right down a further two steps onto the patio, so I am really relieved  and happy.

There's a variety of these hand rails on line. so we'll talk it over with Chris, our handy man and what batons and decking we need. and he can do it when he's finished the job he's doing now. I feel so happy and can sleep tonight as its been a worry.

Thank you for the comments, it is difficult with trades men, they're thinking safety and the look of something, but if its not suitable what's the point. When the steps were first done, when we moved here, they were ok for while, but I've not been properly well for the last two years and I think I've lost confidence and my balance isn't as good, but I'm doing exercises for that . Also my increased weight hasn't helped.. but that's going down at last!

Chrisxx