Bridge revisited.

Yesterday evening I went out to the bridge club again, this time for a teaching session. We are all at different stages of ability, but that can still work. Sometimes if you just keep quiet when the tutor is teaching one of the less able players you can learn something new or something that you had forgotten. It is also helping my partner and me to play as a better team.

Another late night, so I slept in this morning but still managed to get my towels all washed and dried before lunch.

It is another dull day, but not windy judging by the trees opposite.

It must be terrible for the people in the Gulf States with Hurricane Ike making landfall. I understand Galveston is now flooded. It would appear that some 20,000 people did not follow instructions to evacuate and move inland.

Exercises, Hair, Shopping and so on

This morning I headed off bright and early (or, at least, early) to my physiotherapy exercise class. I was able to do everything (much to my surprise) apart from the walk exercise. I found that every time I put my right foot down, it seemed to jolt my sore rib, which is, incidentally, a lot better.

After that I headed towards big city when the heavens opened. It was really quite scary driving through such driving, heavy rain. I just managed to keep an eye on the rear lights of the car in front and stayed in position behind him.

Don’t know what I would have done if he were going to London…….

I then went to M and S to try and get a sandwich for my lunch, but there were no disabled bays left, so I went on to the hairdresser to get my hair cut. After I came out, the sun was shining so I went to the supermarket to get a bottle or two of Noilly Prat. TBSITW had bought the last bottle on the shelves the last time she was there, but they had restocked.

Back in the car and heading home, the heavens once again opened, but by the time I got home it was more of a drizzle.

I have just finished reading The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Eriksson. Funnily enough, it was quite some time before I bought it as the title sounded rather twee. However, it is anything but twee (the princesses are fish).

I have long been an aficionado of detective novels particularly romans policiers, having started many years ago with Ian Rankin and his detective Rebus. Fairly recently I moved on to European fiction, starting with Italy and Sicily moving on to Spain, then Sweden with Henning Mankell, who led the way for many others from Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Germany (all in translation, of course). Police procedural novels have much in common whichever country they come from, but the different countries and authors bring quite different flavours to their books.

Then a. called to my attention a French author, Fred Vargas, and sent me a copy in French. I was quite surprised how easy I found it to read. Since then I have read all her works which are translated into English, but have now found some in French available through Amazon and my first is winging its way to me even as I write this.

Le Chef has given me a copy of Madame Bovary in French to read, but I feel I need a bit more practice with the language first.

The Princess of Burundi differs from most of the others by not having a prominent hero so much as an ensemble cast; someone likened it to Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct novels.

Do you remember how I wrote on Sunday’s post that I had walked out of M and S in high dudgeon when the assistant denied that the label saying “2 for £5” about flowers which had been £2.99.

Well, today I got 2 bunches just as good from the supermarket – and at only £1.99 each.

Later, I had to go to the surgery for the asthma clinic run by the Nurse Practitioner. I had hoped for some improvement on last year, but at least it is stable, and people with c.o.p.d. usually deteriorate from year to year.

Finally and very briefly...

In the days of our youth, when I went with my family to Church, the above words used to fill me with dread, "briefly" was not the word I would have used as he seemed to go on for EVER!

However, this post is not final but shall be brief.

I am still having some discomfort from my rib, but at least I had a good sleep last night. The lovely cleaners have been and my flat looks lovely and clean.

Today's project is jigsaw and reading.

Outside the sun is shining and it makes you feel good to be alive. Somewhat reluctantly I have placed an order with T**** home delivery for tomorrow as I am not ready to tackle a shop.

I hope to do a bit better on Tuesday when I next go to big city.

If it's Monday, it must be Bridge!

... and it was. There were only eight of us today, so we played in two teams. My partner has some difficulty in keeping the game going. The "boss lady" said something about reading body language, and I commented that her body language indicated a need for some beta blockers!

Nevertheless a good afternoon.

I saw that last Monday when I played with a partner I had never played with before that we came 3rd out of 5. Not bad!

Haven't been able to find the results of last Tuesday evening's game.

It is a beautiful sunny day today, and I returned to a cup of tea with the Scrabble group.

Looking out of the window as I type I can see that, although my car is parked within its bay, it is at something of an angle. I have difficulty in telling the gap between the opposite side of mine to the side off the one next door - I always think I am about to hit it, but I am within walking distance of it ............... ;-)

A Shopping Opportunity

TBSITW came over at 1pm (after my cleaners had left) and drove me to shopping mall at outskirts of Big City. She drove my car (as she doesn't like being a passenger when I am driving - can't think why :-D)

First stop was to buy 2 bottles of Noilly Prat with the voucher sent by younger son and daughter in law. Of course we both picked up a few other things.

Then TBSITW loaded that lot into the car and we both headed towards Marks and Spencer, but we met the Ancient Mariner en route - she stoppeth one of two instead of three, but was very persuasive about the marvels of a wonderful nail buffer, not to mention various other related things. I have to say that we were both very impressed with the quality of the sheen, but felt that £25 was a bit steep. We said we would catch her on the way back, but we lied, and managed to avoid her.

In M&S she bought a couple of things and having had a brief look round we had a welcome cup of tea. I had a sticky pastry, but felt it was really a bit late for breakfast!

Coming home, the skies were just chucking it down and it looked as though it might even develop into a thunderstorm, with no sign of it abating. Now as I look out out of the window, the sun is shining.

A trial of strikethrough (amongst other things)

Up early for the veg box man; also wanted my milk delivery. Our usual delivery man is on holiday and this one is not so efficient. The veg box man missed me as I had to go to my physiotherapy class. This was a real pity as I had not had time to pay him last time, so it is three lots next time.

After the class I went as usual for my tea and scone - they were giving 2 scones for the price of one, so I smuggled one out!

After that I had to go for 2 photographs for my new disabled motorist card, so went to big supermarket. As usual they are not like me at all - who is that ugly old hag then?

Got home to discover the house manager had put my milk in the fridge and the veggies in the kitchen. Now all packed away.

I always call my disabled badge my "get out of jail free card" and I tried to put in a bit about that with a strikethrough, but it did not work the bit between the left sharp bracket and the right sharp bracket was deleted.

The veg today were the usual potatoes, carrots and onions plus a kohl rabi, a beautiful lettuce, some beetroot and broad beans

The weather was cold and chucking it down, so it was rather an unpleasant drive to the physiotherapy class, but it seems to be brightening up now.

Of Returns and Mixed Weather

This morning I was on the phone to Lands End as I discovered I had ordered the wrong item by mistake (in fact 2 of them in different colours)..The girl at the call centre couldn't have been more helpful and between us we tracked down exactly what I wanted. I chose a black fleece, but didn't really want any of the other 3 colours; however the girl said that they did in fact have some in a creamy colour, which will be nice for summer (if we get summer). She said she had one in that colour and really liked it.

So I now have the two incorrect ones parcelled up for a full refund, and await the new ones.

She asked me what the weather was like here, so I opened the bedroom curtains and said it was wet and horrible and promptly closed the curtains again!

I should point out that my computer and so on are at one end of my bedroom, (making a bedroom/study) so I am up, showered and dressed, often for quite some time before I open the curtains!

Later, the best sister in the world came with her three legged friend, who had just been to the vet. We had a grand chat and a cup of tea (and water and biscuits for the dog) and then when I saw her out to the car, I discovered that, not only did the day look nice, but also it was really warm.

Summer again.

Mark it well in case this is the last day of summer!

That Stepper Again

Today the weather is back to being grey, but still not bad for a spring day. I get so much pleasure from the plants I have planted...

... even although my family and certainly my GP would have been most displeased that I had, once again, put myself in harm's way putting them in. Okay, they would have been right, but I do feel that there is a difference between just being alive and living life to the full...

My 2 cleaning ladies arrived and admired my planting and were made somewhat hungry (as was I) by the smell of baking bread.

This evening I had 3 lamb and mint sausages, from the butcher at the garden centre, with two stalks of white sprouting broccoli and a stalk of leek (chopped) and a carrot and some potato. Really good, but so easy that it was not worth posting to my recipe blog.

I have not been mentioning the stepper., but have been using it since the day it arrived. and am now up to 100 steps a day.

I am hoping that this will eventually improve the development of collateral blood supply to my lower limbs and to improve my muscle development.

Ne'er Cast A Clout.....

Well, as they say (and who are they anyway?) Ne'er cast a clout 'ere May be out.

There is some debate as to whether that is the month of May or the may blossom.

However, yesterday saw the removal of all my thermals (I know, I know, but I am a cold person)

In the middle of the night I was too warm and removed my pyjamas.

Then, back in bed, I realised that the night store heaters would come on soon, so I went through to the living room to turn it off. I had not shut the curtains in the living room, of course........

However I reckoned that if anyone was around at that time of night they would get a bigger fright than I would. After all, what can you do, but wave?

Today I have been punished for this as it is a rather wet day.

However, The Best Sister In The World called round with canine friend, and we had a cup of tea and a biccie. She also changed the light bulb in the hall for me (I am forbidden to do such tasks in case of a fall).

I am having rather a struggle with my current jigsaw. This serves me right for choosing a difficult one for sister's birthday..... I am in need of something of a breakthrough and then it should take off a bit better.

Sis and friend came in through the French windows, and I could gather that the temperature is still good. It is drier outside and the sun looks as though it is trying to struggle through.

Weather and so on......

What a beautiful day - a veritable scorcher! (especially compared to what we have been used to. Thermal undies off and even fleece off. Is this a first, I ask myself? It was all of 13.5 Celsius sun shining, blue skies.

I refuse to think about the forecasts of rain to come.

Off to the Physio exercise programme again this morning, and into Kwik-Fit on the way home.

No, the wheel is not in yet.

This afternoon to my GP to discuss a number of issues but chiefly the falls. I went in to his surgery and said "God afternoon, and now is your cue to take a deep breath, sigh and say what is it THIS time?" He is always such a gentleman, although I did raise a smile with a description of the Meehan Streak cartoon that comment derives from.

He checked everything he should and went over my medications, and reckons that as much as can be done is being done. I explained that it was Occupational Therapy who referred me on to him. However he is going to refer me properly to the local Falls Responce Service, which means that they will have to visit and assess me and my flat. While I was there, we discussed another couple of issues that had concerned me, and I am afraid I rabitted on too long.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Today is another lovely sunny day, but cold in the wind. Never mind, it is always so good to see the sun shining...

... and now my flat is shining too as my 2 cleaning ladies have come and rubbed and scrubbed and washed and polished.

I have done my hair today for the first time since the new cut, and sadly, but as expected, haven't got it to look as good as the hairdresser did; I found it much easier to manage, as I had hoped.

Two parcels arrived from M&S (taking advantage of their free delivery offer; they are both hopefully awaiting the best sister in the world to give them her dexterity, which I sadly lack.

The postman arrived and I nearly had a heart attack. It was an official looking envelope which looked as though it was from the factors.

It was far too soon to have heard a positive response from the insurance company.

Panic over - it was an acknowledgement that they had received my direct debit form for the alarm pendant.

okay, so nothing very bad, so I shall have to allocate the good to my cleaners, and that leaves the ugly for.......

I bet both my readers will be whistling that (once heard, never forgotten) theme music.

Breaking News....

So what happened after I was unable to get to Church.

You are right - the snow stopped falling and the temperature rose enough to melt all the lying snow.

So after not getting to Church, I sat down to watch the first disc of 24 series six.

And then I found there were no subtitles.

I think it was Adrian Mole who said Chiz, chiz, chiz.

The next step was to wrap up the disc ready for returning to Amazon and to cancel all the rest of that 24 series.

This is so frustrating as I rent dvds only because of the subtitles......

Fear Of Flying

(or, more accurately, fear of falling.)

Got up and dressed in my clothes for going to Church, opened the curtains and what did I see?

Snow, piled on the parked cars and lying on the ground. I am sure the roads are clear, but doubt that the long walk to the Church is completely clear.

My GP told me to stop putting myself into harm's way following one of my falls. I try, honestly.

So I am worried about the walk from the car to the Church. If I were to fall, I could not get back on my feet by myself, and I would hate it if some of the rather elderly gentlemen were to try to get me up and in doing so hurt themselves.

I looked briefly at yesterday's post before typing this one. Sorry folks, I think it might be my fault that the weatherman is throwing all this snow at us. It has resumed snowing and it is falling quite fast.

Down - And Up Again...

...physically and metaphorically.

Wednesday evening I hung up my jacket on the back of the hall cupboard door, lost my balance and went down on my tail end. No harm done and quickly up again using the arm of the settee.

Yesterday was overcast, but still pleasantly mild. I did my usual of up, shower, wait for hair to dry then finish dressing.

Then I made my Golden Krispie recipe.
Sweet and crispy at the same time, who has the willpower to stop eating before they get sick?

Well

Just.

My wonderful cleaners came yesterday, and now the flat is sparkling. They also did the time change on my kitchen clock and re-hung it – a new hole was necessary, as the nail kept getting pushed through into the hollow wall.

One of them is a brand new granny. She was showing me a picture of the baby who looked just so gorgeous. I could almost get broody again.

But there are several very good reasons why this is unlikely in the extreme!

They also changed my bed for me.

After they left I went through to join the exercise class having their cup of tea (in the hopes of scrounging one too!) I took along some of my krispie cakes but the tea was over and only the two washers - up were there. Still they greeted the krispie cakes with glad cries of joy.

This morning it is another beautiful day, white fluffy clouds in a blue sky.

So why have I gone and got a sore throat?

Never mind, I got on and did the washing, falling lucky and getting the big washing machine and the big tumble drier.

Outside it is beautiful in the sun, but the breeze is quite strong and cold. Typical good spring day.

Oh What A Beautiful Morning....

....Oh what a beautiful day. (with apologies to Oklahoma.)

Yesterday as a contrast from the day before was a lovely day with the sun shining from a clear blue sky and temperatures up to 14.5 C. I needed sunglasses on and the air conditioning on in the car.

The Best Sister In The World came for a visit with a lovely 3-legged friend. She popped out to the shops and got me the toffee and marshmallows that I would need for my golden krispie recipe, along with some other goodies including to-die-for millionaire shortbread pieces. It is very dangerous to visit Thorntons…..

While she was out I went to finish some stuff on the computer, and when I went back, my 3-legged friend was lying looking very comfortable on the settee. I hadn’t the heart to push her off, and in fact didn’t mind at all. I decided to take a photograph, but before I could sister returned and she hopped off. Sister was most surprised that she was able to get up there, but I can promise she got no help from me.

After she left, I went to big supermarket that I don’t like, but needs must, and got the bun tin, a new roasting tin (mine was a disgrace!) and a couple of storage containers as well as some household and cooking things (like caster sugar and icing sugar as well as apples and brie.

It is so good to sit looking out at the sun shining on the honey coloured wall opposite. Hope it lasts.

Came back from said supermarket and realised I had forgotten a couple of things. So off I trudged (in the car!) to the near by supermarket and got the shopping finished. If the weather hadn’t been so good, you would never have tempted me out again.

So, what with 2 visits from sister (and 2 cups of tea) a successful shop and such lovely weather, it was a really good day.

Had a salad for my tea including my famous potato salad.

(Ran blog spellcheck . It does not like didn't or hadn't!)

Et Cetera, Et Cetera, Et Cetera........

.......(with apologies to "The King and I")

Mothers' Day concluded fittingly with a telephone call from younger son, making a full set of contacts from my children.

Monday meant another visit to the Bridge Club where I discovered (as expected) that my partner and I came 6th equal out of 7. Played with a different partner yesterday and feeling quite handicapped without my hearing aids - left them at home, and by the time I realised that, it was too late to go back to get them. So no hopes for doing any better this week. But it is still great fun.

Came home in time for a cup of tea with the Scrabble crew. They miss me, and I miss them, but not enough to give up the Bridge Club.

Both yesterday and today the sun has been shining, but the wind is still cold. When I got to the car at about 9.30 am there was ice on the windscreen, but it was the slushy kind which came off with one sweep of the wiper blades.

Went to the big city for a hairdressing appointment, but arrived at the mall early to look into obtaining new spectacles. A chemist shop which deals with spectacles had a stand in the doorway giving two free times for today, both much later on, so went to one of these multiple outlet places, where I could be seen right away.

Very interesting getting my eyes tested as, although my prescription has not changed much, she pointed out that my pupils were somewhat dilated and did I have trouble with glare. Yes, May get driving glasses coated. Wonder if the pupil enlargement could be due to one or more of my many prescription drugs. She also noted that I had the beginnings of cataracts, which was not news I ever wished to hear. Although the operation is simple, I am rather afraid that the NHS will not provide it until you are severely sight impaired.

However, with apologies to "Gone With The Wind", I'll think about that tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day.

Continued......

After the flowers arrived, I grabbed my things and went to the class. Not wonderful weather, still a wind and rain.

Class, in spite of everything, was good. I managed to keep the impetus going, and really enjoyed not just the class but the group - they were all so concerned and welcoming.

Came home and decided that doing a washing wasn't going to make me feel worse, so off I went and was in luck, there was an empty machine. So all washed, dried and put away.

Then through to the lounge to have a cup of tea. The milkman called (and there was a queue waiting to propose on the 29th February.)

Apart from the bruising to the head, I have really got off lightly.

While we were drinking our tea, our attention was drawn to the windows. The weather has turned from unpleasant to really wild, wet and windy. The rain was being blown horizontally by the wind.

Busy Day

Today has been quite a busy one.

First of all came the organic veg. box delivery; this time I got potatoes, carrots, onions and two turnips (swedes), plus 1 leek, 1 cauliflower, 1 spring cabbage.

The fruit consisted of 3 apples, 1 orange and 2 pears

Also, as usual, came my half dozen eggs.

After that was a gap until a Tesco delivery arrived – mostly heavy stuff, and some butter and cheese.

Following that, I checked my watch and reckoned I had enough time to put on a load of washing, and YES, there was 1 empty machine. So on went my dark wash. In an hour, I went back to put it on a long spin, and then still had time to put it in the tumble dryer before leaving…..

……to go to the dentist and the hygienist. Not my favourite way of passing an afternoon.

The weather is still very windy, and I was almost blown off my feet twice. I have found the best way to hold up against a really severe gust is just to stand still, trying to present as small a silhouette to the wind as I can.

Came home, unloaded the tumble dryer, ironed what needed to be ironed, folded the rest and put it away.

Phew!

Bridge

Today I went again to the Bridge Club, where I partnered someone new, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings in the bidding. However, we got on well together, and even managed to bid AND MAKE a slam! We played 21 boards which meant we were running late at the end, so I was too late home for the cup of tea.

I heard from someone at the club that a new neighbour (although she didn't know the name) plays bridge, so need to do some detective work here.

On checking last week's scores, I was delighted to find that my partner and I had come first of 5.

The weather today is still cold, wet and windy (typical February)

Well, What A Day!

Well, what a day. There was a gale blowing, and it was pouring with rain. Anyway, being small and brave, I set off for my physiotherapy exercise class.

One stretch of the motorway has a sign posted saying “side winds”, so I was a little apprehensive. Got there ok, but was almost blown completely off my feet. Luckily one of the gentlemen who goes to the class offered me an arm in support (I think, in fact, it was mutual support.)

A good class today, managed to go to resistance 5 on the cycle. Just did 4 minutes, but this was a great improvement on Wednesday as it is the first time I have managed at resistance 5. I had intended to go to a near by farm shop on my way home, and nearly chickened out as the weather was so foul. I also wondered if the shop would be open in the circumstances.

Yes they were, and I was by no means the only customer.

Got a goodly supply of veg, together with some fruit, as I don’t eat enough.

Just as I approached home, the sun burst out of the sky. Mind you, it was a false promise. The sky is grey again and the wind is still strong.

At least it is really good to feel that I have achieved something.