Farmers Market

This morning , TBSITW came over. She was quite early for the farmers market, so we were in time to get chicken livers from a really good free range chicken farm. Having bought that, I bought more leeks to add to the Cock - a - Leekie Soup I am making tomorrow, also sausages and streaky bacon from a wonderful piggery place, just down the road. Then it was on to the stall where I could get lamb chops followed by the fish stall for a salmon steak. To cap it all, we sat down in the local park and had an ice cream cone.

I think it is easier to go behind anyone rather than ahead, when we can't go side by side (when I am on my scooter) as it is very easy for me to match speeds that way.

I have now made chicken liver pate, put it into three dishes and frozen two, putting the other in the fridge. I have also frozen the sausages, divided into portions of three and two double loin chops.

It was really good to have TBSITW there to show me a better route and to show me that I am able to go to the farmers market on my scooter on my own (though it will be better when I get the saddle bag for the back (not to mention the stick holder!!!)

I am going to go to the Church tomorrow and look for help to get into the body of the Church.

If you don't try, you don't get...

On The Mend

Today I did two loads of washing - just nipped in in time to get the best machine - much to the disgust of one of the carers. I made this achievement by dint of pulling on my clothes and going down unwashed (oh the sin of it!)

Of course I quickly had my shower and got dressed properly.

After that TBSITW called round. She brought me some delicious smoked trout pate (which I ate on oatcakes with a glass of sherry. Bliss. In addition, she brought two pots of white daisies. They are so cheerful and last right through the the summer. Bless her.

She also brought me some round steak mince from an excellent butcher. She knew how much I missed having mince as I have not had any for ages.

This afternooon I gave in to a telephone cold caller. I am changing Internet Service Provider from Tesco to BT, where I get a wi-fi modem and free evening and weekend telephone calls. There are also cheap international calls but this was of really no interest to me.
I am also saving £5 a month in rental. Probably a sucker. Tesco were very polite about it: I have been with them a long time so am breaking no contracts. They are sending the MAC code by email.

Not a bad day all in all, though still rather unsteady on my feet. Got to get fit for the farmers market on Saturday.

It is beautiful and sunny looking out, but the wind is cold.

Yesterday....,

....all my troubles seemed so far away....

Sunday was a good day.

Until after I had gone to bed when I was awakened with chest pain. I was sure it was not heart, and was probably indigestion, but it hurt every time I breathed in.

I called Careline and a doctor came out. She said I had a chest infection and left 3 amoxicillin.

After she left, I went back to bed and at some point, probably on getting out of bed, I ended up on the floor. In my attempts to get to my feet again, I had to use mainly my shoulders and my forearms to reach a point where I could get up. No success, so try again..

and again.

Eventually I made it and immediately went back to bed.

This morning - and continuing I am very sore.


TBSITW came over in very short order to see how I was. She did so much, tidying, ordering my prescription and so on and making my bed.

And then my new printer,scanner/photocopier/singer and dancer arrived.

So she set that up for me before leaving with strict instructions to look after myself.

Casino Royale and TBSITW

Well, this has been a really good day. After lunch, I decided to be big and brave and watch a DVD: Quite a long time ago I set my TV to power on to DVD rather than TV, but some time ago I switched it off rather than leaving it on stand-by, and it remained switched off for about a year, so I was rather afraid that all the settings would be lost and I would have to re-programme the TV from scratch. However there it was, the DVD screen saying No Disc.

So, I settled down to watch Casino Royale, having lunch of chicken soup from the freezer.

I paused the film and went to the kitchen to wash up and noticed someone bent over in my "garden". It was the wonderful TBSITW.

I quickly went to the French windows and opened them. She asked for a bag to dispose of some of the small rubbish and for a pair of secateurs.

She had previously removed two pots and now returned them re potted - AND REPLANTED !.

What a difference her work has made to my view.

She has also taken away 2 more pots......

We then went off to Homebase for a new door bell. I have missed a number of callers, incluing delivery men, because of not hearing my useless bell. This one is good and loud. At the same time I bought light bulbs.

Then it was off to Tesco. I hired their electric chair and demonstrated to TBSITW that I really can control one! I also got some shopping, while TBSITW did a major shop.

Back home and a cup of tea, then TBSITW got back to work. She worked out how to get the bell set up, and I even chose the ring tone from a choice of eight. Having done all that, she hung the bell so that it is all up and running (or should that be "up and ringing"?

After she left, to the sound of heartfelt thanks, I finished watching the film.

After Dr No, I think that Casino Royale is the best Bond film and that Daniel Craig is an excellent 007.

Communion Sunday

Today was Communion Sunday and TBSITW volunteered (was forced?) to drive then walk me there. I made the comment that sometimes I am another dog requiring walking. The weather did its level best to make it impossible to go, very cold, windy and snow falling; however by dint of wrapping up well, I stayed warm.

By the time we got to the Church, there was no room in the car park and so TBSITW drove (illegally, although she was by no means alone) into the Church grounds and almost to the door. After she escorted me to my seat, she left to do some shopping and returned in time to collect me at the end of the service.

She left me with (amongst other goodies) some home made smoked trout pate which disappeared in shorter spread on oatcakes.

It was so good.

I am like Oliver Twist and want more!

After that delicious lunch I have put on a pot roast; silverside of beef with chopped swede, carrot, onions and a leek.

I finished reading Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngou Adidie. It was a big disappointment after Half of a Yellow Sun.

TBSITW phoned to say that she can come tomorrow to take me to the hospital to see the Neurologist (at 8.30). I then have an appointment at the surgery for a repeat blood test at 10.45. This could be cutting things a bit tight. If I don't make it to the surgery in time I shall ask at the Day Hospital if it can be done there.

The Whirlwind!

TBSITW visited yesterday and tidied out my freezer.

How can I be such a slut as to let it get in such an untidy mess?

And how can I let that lovely contents list, which she made for me not that long ago, get so WRONG?

She is coming back soon to defrost the freezer.

What a wonderful person.

She tempted me to half a glass of Manzanilla sherry. I complained about the quantity (as you do), but when I had finished and she offered me more, I said I had had enough.

Must be ill!!!

She also left me a small serving of "rib-sticking" roe soup and put me on my honour to eat it.

Must have done me good as I had two cooking apples, and peeled and stewed them. I served them up with some ice cream from the freezer.

Don't know if it is the antibiotics but the ice cream went from plate to sink after a small taste.

I really need to kick-start my appetite......

Had a really good night's sleep, but still feel tired this morning......

Farmers Market with TBSITW - and after

I can't remember much about what I did on Friday This may turn out to be significant. What I particularly remember is going to bed and having a wonderful night's sleep, getting up, showering, getting dressed and finding out it was 11.30 pm!!!!! After that I crawled back into bed.

On Saturday morning I felt better but did not have a shower as I felt too tired.

Later on Saturday morning TBSITW came round and took me to the Farmers Market. I didn't buy much, but I always like to look round. We then went on to Asda and got some shopping. You may not remember that my kind neighbours left some marshmallows, so I bought Thornton's toffees and Rice Krispies. This is to make these wonderful krispie cakes.

We came home and had cheese scone (me) and carrot cake TBSITW) and had a good blether. TBSITW sorted out some things on my laptop for me.

The BEST thing was that she brought me a gift of Molton Brown's Naran ji room spray. Now she knows how much I like Naran ji. I bought her liquid soap and hand cream for Christmas, and - as you do - bought some for myself at the same time.

After she left I felt rather tired and sat down.

Later, I got up to make a cup of tea, and managed to have yet another fall, once again onto my sit-upon. Unlike the other day, I could not get up onto my hands and knees and certainly not up to stand.

This is becoming a bit boring and repetitive, isn't it?

A lovely lady from the County Falls Response Service came and got me up using her wonderful machine.

Still not feeling great so I fell, once more, into bed. A bit of a disturbed night, and did not feel up to having a shower, but I have had a cup of tea and 2 cheese scones.

There is something of an irony about all these falls. The Day Hospital was trying to persuade me to get these special pants with inserts to protect the hips. Two things were off putting: I have never fallen on that part of my anatomy - face, head, shoulder, arm, back, knees, tail end and the other is that the pants are terribly reminiscent of incontinence pants. If they want to protect me from injury from falling, they will have to dress me up as the Michelin man, or put me in a padded cell. I would not mind the latter too much - as long as I could have access to plenty of books!

TBSITW

Today TBSITW once again lived up to her name. She came over and sorted out all the jumble of PC cables and labelled them to make reconnecting them after they go to dearest daughter easier. Before she allowed me to delete files she checked that my tiny pink thumb drive actually held all the files from my PC - the contrast is quite amazing. She uploaded them for me using the touch pad mouse which I find rather difficult and showed me how to access them.

Then she checked that the PC was reassembled and left me to delete my personal files. This is now done.

After that, my delivery from Tesco came. Now, bear in mind that I had planned to make the Brussels sprouts and chestnut puree tomorrow. I saw that there were several choices and selected a bag of baby sprouts as they looked nice and I thought they would be easier to shred than the bigger ones as well as less bitter.

What did I find when the delivery arrived? They were not available and some numpty did not think of substituting with one of the other lots of sprouts! This is where I feel so helpless. To make matters worse, TBSITW phoned from Tesco to ask if there was anything I needed and I said no as I had a delivery coming... Ah well, hope there are some sprouts with the organic veg delivery on Tuesday, but I somehow doubt it.

Back to the drawing board.

Off-line woes

Hello bloggers, it's TBSITW again.

Elaine has a new laptop and, in the process of setting it up, appears to have lost any internet connection. I can't go to help her in situ until Friday, so don't expect to hear again on her blog till after that at least.

All I can do to help is crawl around checking connections. The software side of connecting to the internet is a grey area to me (even though I was a computer programmer in the olden days!). So meantime a plea goes to "Elder Son", if he has a moment, to let Elaine know if he has any helpful hints on the subject.

If it's Thursday ........

I must have got it right this time. (!)



I have been given an award by Sage , which somewhat stuns me. Here it is:-




I shall award it on to Linda of Just another Day on the Prairie.


It is difficult to think of other women bloggers who might wish this accolade, but can keep it in mind.....



This morning TBSITW came across early (in fact the middle of the night, as it was only 8.30 am) to drive us both to the hairdresser. The appointments on the same day were needed when I had to surrender my driving licence on medical grounds, so mine was at 9.30 and hers was at 12.30.

What we did was she took me there and dropped me off with a book to read if needed and then went hot-foot to the local shopping mall. I gave her a small shopping list, then went on to finish the book "The Cruel Stars of the Night" by Kjell Eriksson, more of a mystery than the usual police procedural, very atmospheric and edge of the seat stuff.

TBSITW then returned and had her hair done, then off we went back home, where she was able to re-insert the sleeper in my right ear which came out a week or two ago.

At home, as well as that, she left me with a pan of lentil soup made with a ham shank stock. I could taste the smoked ham flavour through the soup. She also had cut some nice bits of ham into the soup. It was so good that I ate the whole thing!

I have just had my minister on the phone to see if I am all right. Good to have a blether.

A message from TBSITW

Hello to the loyal followers of Elaine's blog. She has asked me, the one she calls "The Best Sister in the World", to put on a post for her. As I've never done this before, I hope I get it right!

Elaine was taken into hospital today following another fall, and has been getting a few tests done to see what caused the latest one. I saw her in hospital this evening and she was well enough give me her password for her blog. I am honoured!

So there may be a break in her postings, though (if this one works) I can always give the odd update. I'll pass on any messages from you to her.

Alarums but no Excursions

Today was quite a quiet day as still feeling a bit wobbly. My friend J came down and we had a grand blether over a cup of tea.

After that I had some small lunch and then settled down with a glass of water to continue reading The Cruel Stars of the Night by Kjell Eriksson. So far, all well and good, when I was somewhat startled to discover TBSITW just behind my shoulder. She had been called by Careline as I had failed to answer the phone twice, so she was very worried when she got here.

Ah, I think I know what may have triggered this, and it was not me.

My front door rang and I answered and said to come in.

No sign of anybody, so I went to the front door and discovered that someone had pressed my door bell by mistake but had failed to clear it down.

This all caused an alarm at the switchboard and they telephoned me twice (presumably when I went to the front door) with no answer.

My poor sister, she was so worried.

I need to take this up with our House Manager.

No Alarums, but Excursions

Yesterday I had a grand day. TBSITW came to collect me to take me to the dental hygienist. This profession has really moved on from "picking off" any plaque then putting some toothpaste on an electric polishing tool and polishing the fronts of all the teeth to injecting Corsodyl gel under the gums to treat gum disease and much other preventive work.

TBSITW went shopping while I was there then came back to collect me and took me to a near by town for an excellent fishmonger. They have such a wide range of fish, but living on my own I confess to being less than adventurous and so bought only 2 small lemon sole fillets.

After that we went on to a Tesco Metro in another small town. Tesco is very "class conscious" and this particular Metro stocks many good and tempting things as well as the usual so it is worth the detour. Here I bought some sprouts and a tin of chestnut puree to make Le Chef's recipe for creamed Brussels sprouts. I also saw that they were selling, remarkably cheaply, a few packs each containing a half bottle of Lansons Rose and Lansons Brut Champagnes at a knockdown price. Another thing they stock is Fever-Tree Tonic Water. If you haven't tried this, you really should. It is so smoothe that you taste more of the gin rather than tasting only the tonic. Having tried it myself, I ordered some on-line.

Of course, having got the sprouts recipe, I did not make it, but just had steamed sprouts with the half remaining of my rib-eye steak.

The fish is for today.

It was so good to get out with TBSITW, partly for getting out, but also just for her company - I always love it when we are together.

Decisions, Decisions

Today I saw my GP and I have decided to voluntarily surrender my driving licence on medical grounds.

Regular readers will remeember that this is something that has been at the back of my mind for several months.

This is a very appropriate time to take this decision as my current car was due to be returned to Motability and I was due to collect a new car shortly - but had not already done so. It is now arranged that Motability will collect my car on 20 January.

TBSITW came over and emptied my car of all that should be taken away, and gained some useful things that were lying around in the boot. Unfortunately one of the things she found was a gift token for a £10 car valet. Given to me several years ago. Oh, sorry TBSITW

I am an ungrateful hussy.


Now, to top all that she has done for me she is offering to be my chauffeur for things like my physiotherapy and my hairdresser - the latter of which we shall try to synchronise.

Incidentally, she also put away all my Christmas decorations.

Later...

I managed to empty the hall cupboard in stages although I did find it a bit much.

Then I had a look at the tank, but couldn't get really near it.

So, I phoned The Best Sister in the World and asked for help.

She duly arrived shortly after and filled the header tank using (I lost count of how many) 500ml bottles of water.

After she had finished, she then put everything back in the cupboard - suitcases, bags, toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, coats, fleeces, raincoat and so on.

It is now really neat and tidy.

She is just magic.

Aftwe fielding an anxious call from TBSITW, who thought I should be seen sooner by my GP, I had a lazy day, sitting either at my computer or reading my book.

I have just finished Ian Rankin’s s “Doors Open”. This is his first book since the end of the Inspector Rebus series.

I have really enjoyed the Rebus books, to the extent that I bestowed my highest accolade of buying in hardback, rather than waiting for the paperback to be published.

Doors Open is basically a caper story, and, as in most capers, the characters are two-dimensional.

So, a thumbs-down on this one.

Ah well, I have always considered Iain Banks (or Iain M Banks) to be the better author and think that this book serves to confirm my view.

Now, back to another book.

Before I bring you Christmas Greetings....

Yesterday evening I went to the bridge club with my partner and before long started to feel cold and shivery and that my brain was not working properly. However I survived to the end and got home.

I am not quite clear what happened after that but at one point two nice paramedics came and got me up.

After some time I found myself on the floor again and no matter how I struggled I could not get up. Eventually the careline staff called my sister and she and her partner came at about 4am and picked me up and tucked me up in bed.

After a good sleep, I feel pretty well fine today and am now staying with TBSITW and Le Chef until Saturday when we go to visit best brother and extended family.

Happy Birthday to You!

Today is Best Brother's 65th birthday, and so TBSITW drove me over to wish him Happy Birthday and even to sing it. He dutifully blew out his candle and made a wish. We took with us, as well as a small gift to mark the event, the Christmas presents for his various grandchildren. We shall see them all over the festive season, but I do like to get gifts by the appropriate date.

I was most disgruntled to note that he is still younger than me, but catching up.......

After that we went to a store that was advertising a good deal on a particular electrical item and this purchase was successfully made. To my amazement, there is now a new Tesco store, and it was rather quiet (which made it more enticing).

Home, James, and don't spare the horses.

By this time I was far too late for the bridge club (as I had known), but was in time for Scrabbleesence made it 6 and so we had 2 tables of 3. Good fun to catch up with all of them again. Once we had had a cup of tea and mince pie, J. came round to have a G and T, with a slice of lemon

Farmers Market

This morning TBSITW and I went to the Farmers' Market - neither of us really needed anything, but I put a little money in my zipped pocket, just in case.

So, what was the first thing I saw? A stall with wreaths and wreath frames. Not for me (the artificial one I have had for four years now). However I then saw a string of red letters saying "happy Christmas", perfect for my mantelpiece, and then went on to buy a couple of rather sweet figures in felt and pipe cleaners. I managed to pull myself away before I got too ridiculous, with just a little help from TBSITW.

Mind you the tiny rocking horse was rather sweet.

After that we went on looking. TBSITW bought quite a few things but I ended up buying some chipolata sausages, 4 scones and a stalk of Brussels sprouts.

TBSITW then came back with me and we had a quick look at a box from the gentleman who took me out to dinner. There was a Christmas stocking, but TBSITW has spirited it away, so I shall now have to be very very good because I do want Santa Claus to come on Christmas Eve....

She left with her shopping and she is coming back on Monday to pick me up to visit Best Brother

A slight clash of dates...

... and no, it is not what you think, so before you get the wrong idea, the first people to arrive were my two cleaning ladies followed shortly by TBSITW. Somehow the cleaners managed to work round us while we had a small sherry and once they had left we had a bowl of spinach soup and a roll each which she brought from Marks and Spencer (the roll I mean, the soup was home made). She also brought a tub of potted meat from the local butcher and some carrots and sprouts from the near by farm shop.

After lunch she took away the two picture frames to be filled, She must be getting sick of the sight of them as none fit the frame exactly, so she is having to scan them in and adjust the size before printing them out and fitting them into their frames.

Now you see why I call her The Best Sister In The World.