So round came Friday (as Fridays are wont to do) and off I headed to the exercise class. The House Manager here had parked next to me and told me that the rear windscreen wiper blade needed replacing; in fact I had thought that but was burying my head in the sand. On my way home I went to one of these large chains beginning with an H and they fitted a new one for me before I had time even to put in my pin no!. The charge was £8.78 including the fitting charge. Much cheaper than the garage that sold me the car, no doubt.
The exercise class is starting to show that I have made real progress, which is so encouraging. I even managed to get from sitting to standing without using my arms at all, though on a typist type chair. Wonderful!.
So today I got up, washed and dressed as usual, then walked along the corridor outside my front door, along and back 10 times, at a brisk pace. I cannot do this outside as my balance is still poor, and walking with a stick slows me down a great deal. I then went on to do as many of my exercises as I could without equipment:.
Toe rises, marching on the spot, sit to stand, knee bends, wall presses.
After that I reckoned I had earned a glass of sherry.
Thereby undoing all the good!
Saturday, 8 March 2008
Friday, 7 March 2008
The Full Monty!
Yesterday my two cleaners arrived as usual, and on top of the usual housework, they started off the slightly complicated process of cleaning my kitchen floor.
I have Karndean tiles laid and they get a usual clean every week.
But every 6 months comes the deep clean and polish.
First is an ordinary wash, then leave to dry.
Then a scrub using a special scouring pad and the scrub cleaner.
Thirdly is a wipe on of the low gleam polish, first in one direction, then after half an hour later in a direction 90 degrees to the first application.
After that it needs to be left for at least 6 hours or preferably overnight.
Sounds complicated, but it is only twice a year.
Because the scrub took so long to dry, I said that I could manage the polish (as it is a very gentle process with no scrubbing).
So I did it.
And managed to get upright again both times.
I know I am going to get a row for doing this.
More important to me was putting my evening meal on a tray in the living room, together with cutlery, a previously opened bottle of wine and a wine glass as I could not go into the kitchen until this morning.
I am so glad this needs doing only twice a year!
However, I must say it is worth the effort, as the floor looks beautiful, being a warm terracotta colour with black narrow strips inlaid between each tile.
I have Karndean tiles laid and they get a usual clean every week.
But every 6 months comes the deep clean and polish.
First is an ordinary wash, then leave to dry.
Then a scrub using a special scouring pad and the scrub cleaner.
Thirdly is a wipe on of the low gleam polish, first in one direction, then after half an hour later in a direction 90 degrees to the first application.
After that it needs to be left for at least 6 hours or preferably overnight.
Sounds complicated, but it is only twice a year.
Because the scrub took so long to dry, I said that I could manage the polish (as it is a very gentle process with no scrubbing).
So I did it.
And managed to get upright again both times.
I know I am going to get a row for doing this.
More important to me was putting my evening meal on a tray in the living room, together with cutlery, a previously opened bottle of wine and a wine glass as I could not go into the kitchen until this morning.
I am so glad this needs doing only twice a year!
However, I must say it is worth the effort, as the floor looks beautiful, being a warm terracotta colour with black narrow strips inlaid between each tile.
Thursday, 6 March 2008
Pride Goes After the Fall....
...being a reverse of the usual.
Seaspray wrote a very long, caring comment about my falls and inadequate provision or use of alarm systems.
I really appreciated all that she wrote. She is also absolutely correct.
However here she comes across the patient, who being a retired nurse and health visitor, knows perfectly well what she ought to be doing but who is too stubborn or proud or both to do it!
All is not quite as bad as it seems.
In each room in my flat and in the residents lounge, the laundry room and every corridor there is a pull cord or push button. The one in my bedroom hangs in reach at the top of the bed. The one in my bathroom is recessed into the vanity unit and is reachable from ground level. All this, plus a pendant alarm.
So, really unless I was knocked unconscious, I am perfectly well covered as regards calling for help.
As long as I am conscious, I refuse to call for help until I am sure that I cannot resolve things myself.
Told you I was too proud and/or too stubborn (or in this case, both).
Seaspray wrote a very long, caring comment about my falls and inadequate provision or use of alarm systems.
I really appreciated all that she wrote. She is also absolutely correct.
However here she comes across the patient, who being a retired nurse and health visitor, knows perfectly well what she ought to be doing but who is too stubborn or proud or both to do it!
All is not quite as bad as it seems.
In each room in my flat and in the residents lounge, the laundry room and every corridor there is a pull cord or push button. The one in my bedroom hangs in reach at the top of the bed. The one in my bathroom is recessed into the vanity unit and is reachable from ground level. All this, plus a pendant alarm.
So, really unless I was knocked unconscious, I am perfectly well covered as regards calling for help.
As long as I am conscious, I refuse to call for help until I am sure that I cannot resolve things myself.
Told you I was too proud and/or too stubborn (or in this case, both).
Q.O.F.
At 8.10 am today the telephone rings and I pick it up. I have difficulty hearing what was being said, but the caller display had showed “WITHHELD”, so I was deeply suspicious that it was some cold caller or something of that ilk and I was all ready to be very cross.
Then in the middle of a jumble of words I made out the word “surgery”.
So I moderated my tone to pleasant, and asked the caller to speak more slowly as I was having difficulty hearing.
It transpired that the caller was a GP at my Practice.
The subject was that she had written with an appointment for a telephone consultation re my epilepsy (known to me and all you medical blog readers as a QOF call).
Unfortunately she now found that she would not be able to keep that appointment. However we agreed to do it then and there.
Glad she had the courtesy to apologise for calling so early, as I might very well have been still asleep at that time.
At least this morning I was up and showered and dressed, so was reasonably compos mentis.
Anyway as expected we agreed to leave everything exactly as it was.
Then in the middle of a jumble of words I made out the word “surgery”.
So I moderated my tone to pleasant, and asked the caller to speak more slowly as I was having difficulty hearing.
It transpired that the caller was a GP at my Practice.
The subject was that she had written with an appointment for a telephone consultation re my epilepsy (known to me and all you medical blog readers as a QOF call).
Unfortunately she now found that she would not be able to keep that appointment. However we agreed to do it then and there.
Glad she had the courtesy to apologise for calling so early, as I might very well have been still asleep at that time.
At least this morning I was up and showered and dressed, so was reasonably compos mentis.
Anyway as expected we agreed to leave everything exactly as it was.
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
May You Live in Interesting Times!...
... ancient Chinese curse (allegedly)
It's been a funny old morning.
First I heard that a very good friend was going into hospital as a day case to have a blemish below her eye removed. She needed to be taken there as there was a chance that she might have to wear an eye patch for a while.
Second, I almost killed myself on a roundabout. Perhaps I had my mind otherwise occupied, but I am certain that the car already on the roundabout had not indicated that he was continuing to go round, so I pulled forward..
..and we nearly met (and by this time it was almost a 3-car pile up) Fortunately we all had good reactions and 3 sets of brakes came on quite rapidly. (Typical British understatement).
Then to the exeercise class with heart rate already raised to find that the husband of one of our group had died suddenly, although not unexpectedly. Our physio went to get a card to send to his widow from all of us.
So I decided that all I could do was keep my head down and work away at my exercises.
And then I got a text message from best friend to say that she had been seen, and sent home having been told it would probably go away.
Aaaargh, this is so frustrating for her!
It's been a funny old morning.
First I heard that a very good friend was going into hospital as a day case to have a blemish below her eye removed. She needed to be taken there as there was a chance that she might have to wear an eye patch for a while.
Second, I almost killed myself on a roundabout. Perhaps I had my mind otherwise occupied, but I am certain that the car already on the roundabout had not indicated that he was continuing to go round, so I pulled forward..
..and we nearly met (and by this time it was almost a 3-car pile up) Fortunately we all had good reactions and 3 sets of brakes came on quite rapidly. (Typical British understatement).
Then to the exeercise class with heart rate already raised to find that the husband of one of our group had died suddenly, although not unexpectedly. Our physio went to get a card to send to his widow from all of us.
So I decided that all I could do was keep my head down and work away at my exercises.
And then I got a text message from best friend to say that she had been seen, and sent home having been told it would probably go away.
Aaaargh, this is so frustrating for her!
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, 2 March 2008
Mothers' Day
Today I had a visit from daughter. She said she hadn't brought me flowers as she knew from reading my blog that I had some already!
She brought with her two lovely fruit scones and bramble jelly, together with a pack of organic Earl Grey teabags. She spread the scones and made the tea and we had a great blether. She left behind her a Sunday Times, always my favourite Sunday newspaper, but one I seldom get the chance to lay my hands on.
Scalp still swollen and tender, but improving, everything else fine now.
She brought with her two lovely fruit scones and bramble jelly, together with a pack of organic Earl Grey teabags. She spread the scones and made the tea and we had a great blether. She left behind her a Sunday Times, always my favourite Sunday newspaper, but one I seldom get the chance to lay my hands on.
Scalp still swollen and tender, but improving, everything else fine now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
