Dearest Daughter

Today I was treated to a visit from dearest daughter. She brought with her two thank you letters, one from each grandson.

We headed out for lunch, going to another garden centre in the opposite direction as Dobbies. Here we had a grand lunch - I chose a fried egg roll (naughty but nice) and a pot of tea.

After, she put me in a wheelchair and wheeled me all round the garden centre - I am afraid that I did manage to buy something!

After this I directed her to the near by farm shop and we both got some things. The lady serving recognnised our bags (onya, being 5 very light bags inside a small bag which you put in your handbag so that it is always available. Apparently I was not the only person to get this for Christmas!

Physiotherapy and beyond

Serves me right for wearing my nice pale pink jersey to the physiotherapy exercise class this morning. Not long after I arrived I noticed two black marks on the front. At first I thought they were bits of fluff off my black fleece, but on further investigation, they were not. I then thought they must be Biro marks as we use black Biros to mark up our exercise charts. The physio came over and said she thought they looked more like chocolate! This was a puzzle as I rarely eat chocolate, but later I remembered taking the last biscuit from the barrel - an oat one with chocolate chips!

On my way home I made a quick visit to the garden centre and bought a cheese scone and a bottle of lemon refresher. I buttered the scone and took a mouthful when the fire alarm went off. Everybody out! I managed to wrap the scone in a napkin and grabbed my trolley and duly went out. It all turned out to be a false alarm.

When I got home I stripped off the pale pink jumper and changed into my usual black one. I then put the pink jumper and two others together with a pair of trousers and some underwear.

That's all done now apart from the jumpers which are drying flat on top of a towel on my bed.

I forgot to mention that I had forgotten to take my medications before I left for the class this morning. Lack of analgesia made it more difficult. I am also finding that, as requested, I increase the number of times I do each exercise, I am starting to run out of time before finishing.

Now for a rest and a read of The Times (I have cancelled The Scotsman as it has really gone downhill. I enjoy one columnist and am sorry not to read his articles, but I am not buying a paper just for that.

Physio-terrorists

This morning I have once again been to my exercise class and they are really putting me through my paces! I can feel almost every muscle crying out for a bit of gentle care and attention.

I decided to spoil myself and went straight away afterwards to the big garden centre for a cheese scone and lemon refresher.

I was disappointed but not surprised to see that quite a large part of the floor area has been set aside with stuff for Christmas. Mind you I can't really complain as I bought quite a lot in the January sale.

Yesterday evening I got a telephone call from my bridge partner and we are going to be big and brave and go to the bridge club tonight. This is excellent news.

Always providing I can stay awake, of course.....

The Albatross Strikes Again

Went out this morning to go to big garden centre for two or three things and to get some meat as well as to order lean ham and round steak minced together for collection next Wednesday.

When I got to the car, I could hardly believe my eyes.

The roof,

The windscreen,

The driver's window,

The front offside door.

All plastered with the stuff.

It was as though someone had placed a bleeper on my car calling the albatrosses to overfly and let go.

So, the first thing I had to do was to go to the car wash. On the way, I noticed quite a few people look at my car and start laughing.

Okay, clean car and off to the garden centre. Did my shopping and had a cheese scone with Lemon Refresher.

Back home in time for a cup of tea and a chat.

Wimping it!

I really didn’t feel too great today, and went back to bed, where I slept for 2 hours.

I am always sorry to miss Church on a Sunday, but particularly today as a choir from St Petersburg was coming to sing. The minister led a group on a holiday to Russia the other year, and this is how the connection was made.

This year, a group is going to Rome.

Eventually I looked at the mince which looked back at me. Now I usually cook mince with onions and mushrooms, but I had neither in the house. You may remember that I got the wrong fruit bag, but it later became evident that I got the wrong veg bag. There were lots of greens, lettuces, carrots and tomatoes, but very few potatoes and no onions at all!

I can make mince without mushrooms (at a push) but absolutely not without onions.

So I pulled myself together and went to the garden centre for onions, mushrooms, potatoes (Ayrshire), a punnet of raspberries and a lovely loaf.

The weather is cooler about 14.5 degrees.

There was no room to park the car where I usually do, but now I can see it from my window.

Daughter

Today daughter came over to visit. This is a rare event as she has two children and a job, not to mention a partner, so it is easier if I go to visit her.

It has been a lovely warm day, with the sun shining and the temperature up over 20 degrees. We headed off to the big garden centre where we had lunch, both settling for a salad where you could take two items of meat or fish and as much salad as you could put on the plate. I had a glass of wine as a change (usually I am driving) and she had a rather nice looking apple and something drink.

After lunch we spent a good long time "mooching" round all the aisles and I bought a little plate shaped like a teapot which is just the right size for holding a teabag. TBSITW gave me a lovely ceramic one some years ago, but it has disappeared somewhere along the way as good things do.

I also got a pot pourri for the bathroom as it is smelling a bit of mould, which has got its way into the shower. TBSITW has given me a spray of stuff that is supposed to be death to mould, but has made me promise not to use it myself because of my chest.

Finally I bought 2 bottles of beer - I find it difficult to get hold of small bottles and the bigger bottles hold too much for me to drink at lunchtime.

So daughter and I had a grand time doing what we both love, chatting and shopping (and eating too, of course)

Exercise Class and More

So, off to the exercise class this morning, passing the time of day with a good friend among the residents. Of course she's a good friend; she was admiring of the amount of weight I have lost recently. When I got in the car I realised I was running a bit late, but no point in worrying about that - that's the way accidents happen. As it happens I took the middle road out of town towards the motorway (usually I take the top one) and was delighted to discover that it was quicker so I got there in plenty of time.

Although still somewhat sore down my left side I was pleased to note that I managed to complete all the exercises. There was a small exception - I did the usual time at the usual resistance on the exercise bike, but was not pedalling as fast as usual, so the speed was not up to par.

After, being as boring and predictable as ever, I went to the big garden centre for my usual tea and scone. Afterwards I bought some salad veg to add to the stuff I already had and, to go with it, 2 slices of boiled ham and of corned beef. The quality of cold meats looked excellent and each one was labelled with the (high) percentage of meat content. There were strawberries too (local ones). I also bought a small pork pie - I haven't had one of them in AGES. I ate the pie for lunch.

Then - the best part of the day - an unexpected visit from the best sister in the world. It was so good to catch up with her news.

Unfortunately, and I hope it wasn't the pork pie, I am now having a slight medical problem, however any more detail would be FAR too much information.

Whew!

Up early this morning as I had an appointment with the leech (aka the phlebotomist) as the work up for my appointment next week or so at the vascular clinic. I had to fast for 14 hours for this, so, as you can imagine, my blood sugar was a bit low. Also, as usual when I have to get up early I have a disturbed night.

At any rate off I went clutching 2 slices of shortbread wrapped in kitchen towel to eat in the car after the blood was taken. Interestingly enough someone was shadowing the nurse practitioner this morning - so she learned that not everyone has beautiful easy veins. Brownie points to the nurse practitioner for managing to get it in one go!. On more than one occasion I have been sent home because the phlebotomist could not get any blood after several attempts. I think she came to wave garlic around as I approached.

Then out to the car for the shortbread and off for the physiotherapy exercises. Afterwards I had a tea and scone at the garden centre as usual, then went looking for plant fertiliser and compost (the smallest bag is rather large for me to heave around so it will remain in the boot of the car until some kind person comesto heave it over.)

I also bought (after a lot of searching) a simple selection of 4 plants "for patio pots" and eventually found a golden thyme for the empty pot (empty because I removed the old plant which was in a very sorry state.)

By this time I felt as though I had done more than enough and came in only to be reminded sharply by a guilty conscience that I had to brush the soil/compost off the patio. I have done this.

AND THAT IS DEFINITELY ALL!

More Exercises

Perhaps as a result of Saturday's fall, I found I was struggling a bit at the class this morning, but at least I managed to complete the circuit.

On my way home, my car was drawn irresistibly into the correct lane to enter the garden centre, so what could I do?

I managed to find a disabled parking bay near the front doors, and went in and had a cheese scone and butter with a glass of ginger and lemongrass presse.

The vegetable box this morning had potatoes, carrots and onions together with a white cabbage, a lettuce, a bag of spinach, and several stalks of rhubarb. The fruit comprised 2 apples, 2 onions, 2 bananas and a kiwi fruit, and as usual, half a dozen eggs.

I am going to make some spinach soup (the light version using semi-skimmed milk instead of cream), and I shall also have to make a rhubarb crumble. There was a recipe for this included with the rhubarb, so I shall try that out later this week.

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.....

"Oh What A Beautiful Morning"

Yesterday I went to my Respiratory rehabilitation class, still feeling my quads sore from overdoing things on Friday. However I was encouraged to try to keep the momentum going, so I “bagged” the cycle first and managed 6 minutes after several previous sessions of 5 minutes at resistance level 4. I really need to be concentrating on leg exercises because of peripheral vascular disease, not to mention general fitness.

Really enjoyed the class yesterday, and am getting to know some of the other “victims” better. Today’s teaching programme was about relaxation, which is of particular relevance to people with respiratory problems, as we tend to panic a bit during an acute exacerbation.

It was a beautiful day with blue skies and the sun splitting the heavens. The temperature was even managing to reach double figures. It really does you good to see weather like this, lifting the spirits and making you realize that there is indeed hope that spring may be on its way – even although there may well be some bad weather again before then.

After that I met daughter at a large garden centre quite near where I live. It is called a garden centre, and indeed it is so, with many plants both indoor and outdoor, together with all the usual compost and so on, but there are two primary reasons to go there, one for lunch (or morning coffee or afternoon tea – the selection of scones looks very inviting) - and the other for shopping. We had lunch and then went for a good browse. I bought some birthday cards and am rather pleased with the selection I have for this year.

After that we went round the Food Hall, where I was tempted by the wine, some nice ones which had screw caps (which are much better for me to open than ones needing a corkscrew). They are also easier to keep over several days.

Then it was home again.

Cooked the celeriac and the potatoes, then mashed them with the crème fraiche. (I think this may be a sign of Scottish meanness or as we would say thriftiness). I couldn’t bear to have thrown some of it away. Reheated the casserole enough to give it a good cook through as I don’t like just warming chicken. A glass of a nice dry Muscat went very well with it.

The Cars....

....but not "Drive" Do you remember "Who's going to drive you home, tonight"? over footage of starving African children as part of the 'Feed the World' event?

No, this is more banal.

My car is leased from Motability which is a charity which provides cars for disabled drivers. Part of the deal is that you don't have to remember anything - they post out your Road Fund Tax and they contact you about the annual service. My service was due towards the end of January, so I was reminded of it when the garage sent out the usual "Introduce a friend and get £xx". I phoned and expressed my dismay at not having heard.

After several telephone calls I am going tomorrow after the exercise class. It is a service expected to last an hour and a half and they don't give you a lift home as it is too far.

However, now they offer a token for tea and a scone at a near by garden centre, which is a much more salubrious environment in which to wait than a garage.

More Vegetable Shopping and a Dinner Guest

The title in chronological order rather than in order of importance!

Yesterday was a busy but really good day. In the morning I got my act together and got up in time to make a loaf of bread before lunch. I then looked at the soup I had taken from the freezer, and reckoned that the high proportion of cream had made it curdle, so I took another soup from the freezer (courgette) and defrosted it in the microwave. I had taken some of my beef casserole from the freezer the night before.

So now to work.

Defrosted soup into pan
Casseroles (from 4 single serving containers) into another pan.
Potatoes and carrots peeled and into portions, into pan and covered with water.
Sink cleaned out.
Washing up bowl filled with hot soapy water and 5 freezer dishes plus lids washed, dried and put away.

S. came to take me to a farm shop (to show me how to get there) I bought loads of veg: potatoes, carrots (purple ones and yellow ones) fennel, vine tomatoes, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, flat leaf parsley, satsumas and strawberries (wouldn’t usually at this time of year, but they looked so good). And it was all so cheap!

This is where I am in something of a dilemma. Can I really afford to eat virtually all organic? I shall certainly give the farm shop a few tries. They say they use very little chemicals.

On the way to the farm shop we went to a local garden centre as I was looking for something to make my flat look more festive. Was rather disappointed at what they had on show, but managed to get some rather pretty tinsel, one strand red and one gold which I put over the mantelpiece, and also a rather pretty artificial flower arrangement, which is also on the mantelpiece.

After all this we took a detour to buy some ice cream to go with the strawberries, and then she drove me home.

So started laying the table, polishing the glasses and the cutlery, then flopped down in my comfy chair with a glass of something.

In the evening I had a guest for dinner. He is a friend of many long years standing and I see him usually twice a year; once he takes me out to dinner and the other time I cook for him. He brought with him two interesting looking of boxes, on top of one of which was the famous CHRISTMAS STOCKING! (more about this later.)

I am starting to get quite excited about Christmas, which this year will be spent with the best sister in the world and her partner. Daughter and her partner are coming along too, so it should be a good party.

A Better Day

Today my daughter in law (the wife of elder son) came to visit and take me out to lunch. We went to a near by garden centre, and as she could not find a disabled parking bay, dropped me off at the entrance while she went off to park the car. Inside the front entrance I found 2 wheelchairs and commandeered one. (Little did she know that she was going to be pushing me around!) Anyway it was so much easier for both of us and we got our lunches and sat down to eat them and have a good chat.

After that we had a tour of the whole (non-gardening) bit where I purchased some wines, and had a good look round the Christmas (yes, Christmas already) stock. Bought some Christmas cards and a birthday card for an imminent birthday.

It was great fun, and d-i-l found pushing me around no hardship while I found it marvellous. In the short time I had waited for her at the door, I had started to feel light headed.

However over 24 hours of antibiotics seeem to be making an improvement, and the visit has bucked me up no end.