The on going Blue Badge story!

 I think this handsome fella ears must have been burning this afternoon because of the number of times he was mentioned! I can't walk confidently without him and hang on to my Rhett Butler for dear life!

I actually had a phone at 08:00 this morning offering me an appointment to see a Dr this afternoon!

I reckon it was because of the mess up of the Friday afternoon appointment with the Physio out of town! Anyway the outcome of the appointment was the Surgery like the physios don't do assessment for Blue Badges, but he is willing to write a letter with his views on my ability to walk according to what I had told him.

Anyway I have resubmitted the form and if I get it or don't I've tried!

What a palaver!

Chrisxx

A wild goose chase

 We went walking late Thursday afternoon, it had cooled down and here by the harbour there was a sea breeze. We often ended up here when we had Nell.. she hated us sitting down for too long, even though we used to share our ice cream with her; we shared a small tub Thursday between us, bearing in mind Friday was SW weigh day!

So what happened on the scales Friday? I was 2 pounds up! I know I've lost weight because my clothes are loose but my feet have swollen, a combination of my tablets, the heat and not so much walking. I was so disappointed,  but I'll try again this coming week.

But then my Friday got even worse. I've reapplied for my Blue Badge, but had been told I needed an assessment from a physio.. My surgery had arranged an appointment with one, but not at our Surgery but Kenfig Hill?? Off we went, having had to look up where it was, parking was difficult, and the car park was away from the entrance, so I had to walk along a side road.  Then when we got there??

The physio said they don't do that and couldn't understand why I was there. He was very apologetic and said he'd email my surgery to tell them.

We drove back home and called into my surgery on the way. They were so unhelpful. A prissy receptionist said she couldn't give me an appointment till September to see a Dr,  as the manager was on her lunch break, so she'd phone me at home later. I didn't get a phone call.. so a complete waste of our afternoon. I was annoyed, tired and fed up.  

They have no idea what its like for people, who don't know the area, I know I was born here in Porthcawl, but had never been to the surrounding towns, we didn't have a car when I was a child. I'd never been to Kenfig Hill before and won't go there again! 

The new head of NHS England Sir Jim Mackey has said, the key parts of the NHS appear built to keep the public away because its an inconvenience. Phones are never answered or are only answering machines, (I can vouch for that as I have only ever spoken to a machine at the hospital) And to see a GP there is the 8 o'clock scramble... and that's certainly true.

I also have no evidence of my knee, or shoulder operations because I had them in another country... England!!! 

Chrisxx

Such a beautiful young woman,

On Wednesday the Princess of Wales visited a Wellness Centre at Colchester Hospital. She spoke openly about her own cancer diagnoses and that although she was now in remission, life was still not back to normal and that the fear was still there.

Although looking very thin she was radiant and her usual beautiful

 self.

She planted a rose there, actually planted it herself, down on her knees getting her hands in the earth and getting them dirty.

It's a rose named Catherine after her., a floribunda and with a fragrant scent.

I'm tempted to buy ir, such a lovely colour and I could  say I have Princess Catherine in my garden!

Chrisxx

The face of a woman yesterday in Parliament!

 When the PM was asked yesterday in Parliament about his Chancellor Rachel Reeves, he didn't actually state that she was to stay as a minister, so what did that mean? And sitting behind him her face crumbled and there were notable tears. Is she for the chop, we don't know, but what we do know is that she has caused misery in many  peoples' lives. Those who had their heating allowance stopped, and those who have lost their jobs, because of the increase in the basic pay and increased National Insurance, which many firms found they could not afford. Hence they had to let some people go.

    Her policies have forced the Government into their U turn on the heating allowance and down toning of the disability allowance. Should we saying 'Poor Rachel' she was only doing her job or join the protesting crowds and the back benchers, who want her gone?

Were her tears that of shame because of her policies, or because she was the cause of the Governments' fall from favour (did any one hold them in esteem?) or because she knew she was losing her job. Who knows?

Well one thing we do know, is she won't be short of a penny or two!!

It's not easy being an Member of Parliament even with their generous pay, that they voted for themselves.

Chrisxx

Just some pics of the garden

 Just some garden shots... everything is beginning to flower at last!

I'm loving these and we have three,,, all in  a pot which we'll keep in the pot, as they are supposed to flower better.. Agapanthus.

And the clematis survived that gusty wind from a few weeks ago.

And the blue geranium will soon be joined by the orange flowers of the crocosmia, buds are there,

We have been sitting on our bench in the cool of the mornings, too hot later on.

On one of the FB gardening groups I belong to, a member had written the joys of retirement, was sitting on her patio with a Magnum.. there were a few comments asking her for a glass, but of course she wasn't talking about champagne, but a chocolate covered ice cream!

But I agree, it is lovely being able to sit outside in our garden and admire all our hard work.

Chrisxx

Spring cleaning in the summer!!

 It is swelteringly hot here and we're keeping cool inside with the A/C at 18C. We bought this portable unit, 3 years ago and wondered if perhaps we had spent our money without thought, but we've really appreciated it in all this heat. I'm really appreciating it. happily watching the tennis, which I love. Our outside weather station says 29.4C and that's on the northside of our bungalow, round the side. On our west facing back, our thermometer is saying 32C!!

Dh has been busy painting our little pantry!! It is on the north side of our bungalow so cool in there. It measure about 4ft x 4ft and as we've been here 4 years it had been scuffed by tins, broom handles and the shelves we'd put in there, so the cream walls looked like they needed a freshen up.  He emptied it over the weekend and we found tins and packets well out of date! Foods we fancied, but never got round to eating, so I expect that would have been me!

Anyway in all this heat my lovely husband having decided it'd do it over the weekend and beginning of this week, he's carried on regardless of the heat! It seemed washing it was not really worth it, so as the paint was there in the garage, Dh decided to paint it.. he wouldn't let me take a photograph of him togged up to paint, because he had on an old shower cap to do the ceiling!! 

Tomorrow I am going to sort out the spice drawer and then the drawer with the kitchen bags, papers and cake bits like the rolling pin.

So then we need to do a deep clean in the cupboards and the under sink especially..        The window cleaner has been today so that means we should do insides too? 

What an exciting week we'll have!!

Chrisxx

Air rain!

 

Yesterday was a miserable day and the drizzly rain lasted for most of the day, I call it 'air rain!'  We did not go to town or the library. We've plenty of books to read. as we bought the Spring choice of Richard and Judy book club. We've decided not to buy any more till we've read them all.

I read faster than Dh so I usually read them and get them finished first.

I choose this one first as I like Tim Weaver books.

It started really well, but some how in the middle it lost the original story and I struggled to read it.

I did finish it, but I didn't think it was up to his usual standard and it was really long! So a bit of a disappointment for me.

I needed a lighter read after it. so I'm reading a free kindle book about a couple who have bought a wreck of a farm house in France, and its not brilliant. but an easy read and funny.

Why would you buy somewhere with out electricity inside the main building and water only an outside tap? Outside toilet, non flushing, no bath or shower and a loft bedroom only accessed by a ladder. Actually the bed room was just a bed and some boxes for their belongings.  The main rooms are earth floors and a leaky roof. I could not live like that, even if you paid me! Especially as they have no spare cash.

This bungalow was clean and decorated, albeit magnolia through out, but it was desperate for a new bathroom and kitchen although perfectly usable, but we had them done as soon as we could get the workmen organized. So to buy somewhere that was a wreck, they must have a lot of faith. I shall find out more as I read it,  I'll let you know...Its my bed time read...

I like reading my kindle in bed as its easy to hold!

Chrisxx

A new week!

 Everyone complimented me on my hair cut at SW! Well everyone I knew and the scales were nice to me after my eating on Wednesday, I maintained my weight, so not even 1/2  pound gain!

We came home and sat outside admiring our garden, with a cup of tea and then had our lunch out there.. Cooked perfectly by Dh, a flat omlette, with grilled bacon, baby toms and cheese grilled on top. It was delicious, made the Mary Berry's recipe of adding water to the eggs not milk and it is so lovely.. then a huge bowl of fresh fruit with Greek yoghurt and a teaspoon of honey and we were sated!! 

We actually won the raffle which is better than the basket for slimmer of the week! There was loads of fruit, potatoes, sprouts! broccoli, red onions and a nifty Tupperware container divided into 3 and a measuring jug.. so that was a bonus! We were delighted and came away smiling.. I need 2 1/2 pounds to get into the next stone down! So back on plan with strong ideas to lose that weight this week. 

And I phoned the surgery and wonder of wonders I have a physio appointment next Friday afternoon! So that's sorted which is now not worrying me, ( Yes I was worrying, just a bit|!)

Our Friday evening meal is nearly always cod and chips cooked the SW way. And so we've resisted the Friday cheat day, as the weighing is behind us!

A new week starts on Fridays for us

Chrisxx

Not my best day!

 I've had one of those days.. everything was wrong or it seemed that way to me. I was telling someone how excited I was that a plant we'd had four years had buds at last. It can take up to eight years and more to get to the flowering stage from seeds! I bought the plant with me from my Suffolk garden and it had taken four years there to flower too. 

Angel Fishing Rods, Dierama so pretty and delicate. 

 Of course she had loads in her previous garden.. couldn't she have just had said, 'thats nice?'

It took the wind out of my sails and I felt deflated.

The surgery are supposed to be phoning about some physiotherapy checks,  because I've reapplied for my Blue Badge which allows me to park in designated spaces nearer to shops etc.. having been told I would hear this week a while ago, I'm still waiting, by the time the appointment comes through, my Badge will have run out!

I went to my regular hair dresser for a tidy up, because I'm growing my hair into a loose Bob style.. he was chatting as usual and I reminded him I didn't want my fringe cut short. Before I could say anything else he'd cut one side of my hair, I stopped him to remind him I was growing my hair, because I didn't want the short fussy style.  Too late,  he had to cut the other side to match and then my  hair at the back short too..  I said no to lacquer and came home and brushed it straight. Actually it looks clean and shiny and not too bad, but I was upset at first. I won't go back there!!

I rarely complain about Dh cooking, but last night we'd arrange Bacon Carbonara. A favourite of mine and we save our cheese allowance for. He decided to look at one of the Pinch of Nom recipe books and followed that one and instead of a lovely cheesy taste it had a 'zing'... he'd added balsamic vinegar. I didn't like it, but ate it, because tomorrow is SW weighing day, any other evening I'd have wolfed down toast instead.. I think he thought it would be nice for a change. So the end of my day was like the beginning, deflated. 

But all said and done, I still have that gorgeous Dierama, the physio will get in touch eventually, my hair grows quickly and I have a lot of it, and I'm not hungry!! So not too bad after all!

Chrisxx

A garden group having fun.

I had,.... 

3 small triangular shaped salmon and cucumber sandwiches with  brown bread.                                                                                               1/8th of a pork pie, I know it was an 1/8 because we took it and Dh cut it.                                                                                                      Some crisps and those tiny salted biscuits.                                             A very small pasty, short crust pastry and some sort of meat, quite tasty... made by Kay

Then 2 small scones with jam and cream,  very small.                           3 small finger size chocolate eclairs, (they were the ones Tesco have in their frozen section, Dh saw the  boxes they had  come out of.)                   A Mr Kiplins pink French Fancy little cake.

There was a lot more food there, cakes, Strawberry Eton Mess, Trifle, salads, dips, pies, more sandwiches, and strawberries and fruit, 

There was wine there too, but I don't drink it anymore so had 2 cups of tea.

And as I am dieting, even though it all looked delicious, I restrained myself, sort of!!!

And a heap of laughter and chat and photographs of gardens on a big flat screen TV.  The photographs were run as a slide show and were of the members' gardens. A very enjoyable afternoon at our U3a garden group monthly meeting. The bring and share food was to celebrate 30 years of the U3a in Porthcawl.  

We talked and laughed, I heard all about Caroline's Jersey holiday, now I want to go! It was a lovely, lovely afternoon.

Chrisxx