Re-approaching Normality

Yesterday was another day at the Day Hospital. I always offer my neighbour my pen to fill in her menu (she still does not have one!) Virtue brings its own reward as she encouraged me somewhat forcefully to get up and go over to the the table for lunch. There were 3 tables for ladies and 3 for men.

At the last moment, one poor lady came up, but there were no seats left at the ladies' tables, so she had to sit with the men.

I knew there were a lot of people there but had not realised that possible consequence.

It must have been a bit boring for her as 'men talk' as different from 'women talk'.

I had a good going over with the physiotherapist, working not only on building up muscle strength, but also balance. She has a special balance mat, about 3 foot by 2 foot 6inches and 4 inches deep.

These measurements are guesstimates, you understand.

I call it an instrument of torture as I find it very difficult to balance on it. Good for me.

This morning the doctor's surgery called to ask me to come in on Monday for a blood test and a blood pressure check (there you are, they do read the discharge letter!)

With my appetite coming back, I fancied some potted haugh (don't ask) and phoned the butcher to ask if he had any in. Yes.

I then phoned the taxi firm to ask if I could have a taxi to the bottom of the High Street, to wait while I went to the butcher and to bring me home.

Yes.

So, I did it, although the short walk to the butcher was very hard and I was afraid of falling.

We won't mention the fact that the taxi cost more than the meat!

Can't wait to get an electric scooter.

Shopping and Cooking

This morning I got up, showered and washed and did my hair, with the intention of trying to make myself look as good as possible (and, yes, only for myself).

I then got ready to go out and saw the rain.

Ah, the rain..

So, back I went to find my Berghaus rain jacket and put it on. I even had to put the hood on. Aargh. I have a small head (and a big brain, of course), so the hood absolutely flattened my hair even before I got to the car.

Oh well, then. Off I went to the big garden centre to visit the butcher who has a concession there (his shop is fairly local, but garden centre is much nearer). I duly collected the meat I had ordered for the meat loaf from my mother's recipe. I also managed to find a bottle of Worcestershire sauce, but I could not open it as it had one of those pull tabs in plastic.

I shall get my lovely cleaning ladies to open it tomorrow.

While I was there I picked up some raspberries and some interesting wine at £12 for 3 bottles and also a rather nice brown sauce, which looks better than H.P.

I was directed to try a different route there, and found most of it, but forgot about a right turn near the end - on my way back I retraced my steps and was pretty sure I had found the road I should have taken. Missing the correct road meant only that I ended up back on the main road which I was trying to avoid.

I got back to discover the coffee morning in full swing. I don't usually bother going, but felt rather in the need of being looked after, so scrounged a cup of tea and a biscuit.

Then I had to make the meat loaf; it turned out I had too much of the mix, so I steamed one and then, once I had turned that one out, I steamed the second (smaller) one.

There is quite a lot - so if anyone wants some, they had better come soon.....

Another Baptism in the Family

Today has been an excellent day. My younger brother's son's son was baptised today, so sister drove me to their Church in big city. There were 4 baptisms today, so the Church was really full.

There were so many of my brother's family and my family (daughter, M, and 2 grandchildren made it) not to mention the proud mother's family. Afterwards we all went back to a groaning buffet at the baby's mother's mother's home. This is getting a bit complicated isn't it, so I hope you are paying attention.

I had contributed a bottle of Champagne to help out, but it was probably not necessary as they already had so many bottles on ice. I took a little gift for the baby (just a soft toy), and he treated it with all the contempt a 6-week old baby can muster! I also took a small toy for his big sister, because it is terrible at 4 years old to have your nose put out of joint by a new arrival. Funnily enough I just happened on it - it was a little doll, about 2 inches high, which could hold a message. On its base it said "Sister".

She couldn't really believe that I was her grandfather's big sister (and that my sister is our little sister.)

Sadly, elder son and his family could not go because of work commitments.

I discovered that my brother's wife's sister in law reads my blog! My sister in law had given her the address. I had no idea, but am delighted, and would be glad if they were to comment along with other friends.

I managed to have a chat with many of the people there, but did not manage into the garden.

We were very lucky that the weather held dry as there were black clouds ahead at many times during the day.

After, we went to shopping mall and went to M and S where I got some nibbles and also some crudites with a dip. I was going to buy some flowers as there was a sign above saying 2 for £5, but when I got to the counter I was told that the ones I had chosen were full price - of course I laid them down on the counter and said "Thank you very much. Good bye".

Also on the way home TBSITW took me round to show me where a local butcher is, who has very good quality meat and makes his own sausages, black pudding and so on. I shall certainly try it sometime.

The Return of Physiotherapy

(it sounds like the sequel to a horror movie).

After an absence of 2 weeks, I found everything a bit of a struggle, but in the end managed to do everything. Quite a few faces missing this week.

Afterwards I stopped off on my way home to visit the big garden centre where I had a most welcome glass of chilled lemon refresher (with a cheese scone and butter, of course).

Went on to buy two bigger pots for the windowsill parsley as it has obviously rooted well - in fact the roots are out of the bottom of the pot. Chose a dark brown one this time for a change.

I then went on to the food bit and picked up 1 garlic (I was horrified last week to find I was completely out), 2 good sized onions - again they were now finished as I used up the last two in the spinach soup last week. Along with that I bought some new potatoes a broccoli head and then went on to the butcher shop where I bought some lambs' liver (which I haven't eaten in ages), a sirloin steak and 3 lamb and mint sausages.

Okay, confession time - I also bought a bottle of Australian wine.

Back home quite exhausted, but feeling good.

I think another Dick Francis is called for!

Later.....

After the exercise class, which I must confess I found rather an effort today although I completed almost everything in the list, I paid a visit to the very large garden centre at the edge of the town. First off I found a disabled parking bay - hurray! - and then I grabbed a trolley; these make an excellent substitute for a zimmer frame.

To start with I went to the food hall and had a chat to the butcher, deciding on a bit of silverside for a pot roast and a chicken breast slit and stuffed with haggis then wrapped in bacon. I shall cook this tonight, eat half then keep the rest.

This would be easy to make at home as you can buy haggis in small quantities, as you just make a slit on the longest side, stuff it with haggis and wrap streaky bacon round it to cover. To cook you would just wrap it in foil and put in the oven at 180 Celsius for about 40 minutes.

I also bought 3 bottles of wine and 2 slices of banana and toffee pie. I went to eat some when I got home but it was SO rich I could not finish one portion. Daughter may fall lucky.

After the shopping I went for lunch; it was so good having room in the trolley for the tray, so I was able to be indepent while I chose lunch, (salad with ham and an assortment of cold salads) with a bottle of lemon refresher. Ate it while looking out at the sunshine.

Got back home and all the parking places were taken, but managed to find a space in front of someone's window.

Got a doctor's appointment to discuss my falls. I am pretty sure there is absolutely nothing he can do, but when you get sent to Occupational Therapy by the ambulance service, and sent to your GP by the OT you just have to go through the motions.*

*for all nursing and medical readers, these are not brown.....

A New Butcher

On Thursday I had a piece of pork fillet stuffed with haggis, and put it in a non stick foil wrapping and left it to cook for 40 minutes at 180 degrees. Inspired by missbliss, I tried to make an onion gravy. The pork was delicious, but the gravy was foul. Misssbliss started with a roasting joint, but I didn’t have that so I fried a chopped onion in a knob of butter, then added a made up proprietary gravy powder to the recipe on the packet. The gravy was so strong and so salty that I couldn’t eat it, but the pork was delicious.

When I unwrapped the little parcel of meat (all wrapped separately) it had the name of a family butcher in the next county but not far from here.

While the pork was cooking I was preparing the vegetables: potatoes, with cauliflower and leek steaming over.

I find it somewhat amazing to discover at my time of life that you can cook leeks as vegetables, and not just in soups! This is all down to the wonderful new steamer which fits in place of the pot lid on top of the pot and the pot lid goes on top of the steamer.

Today I had rib eye steak fried at same time as the potatoes also with cauliflower and leek.

To change the subject, I know I reported that I had upped my walk to half a mile from quarter of a mile, but then I found that hard to sustain. I think instead of pushing myself I should do as much as I comfortably can.