I have had a busy morning. First off, I phoned the surgery to get an appointment as soon as possible, as they were supposed to be done urgently last week. I am not a happy bunny that the samples haemolysed for two reasons, one being the difficulty they have finding a vein and the other being that it costs me £7 a time for a taxi to and from the surgery. I have an appointment for Monday morning, I hope allowing enough time after the the neurologist appointment.
Then I waited patiently for As**'s delivery (due between 10 and 12). When I telephoned at 12.30 I was told the order had been cancelled. Why? I made no changes to the order. This is even worse than T****. Wish there were more options here, but I am stuck.
I have now placed an order with Tesco for tomorrow between 12 and 2, so hopefully THIS time they will get it right.
A small victory. I have discovered that I can do a hot sync between my handheld and the Palm desktop on the laptop. On top of that I have found that I can print a month at a time from the Palm desktop. I really should learn to maximise a screen sometimes.......
Then got a letter from NHS pensions about the error to my pension over the years. They have now told me what my pension will be from 1 April. Instead of a modest increase it is a (not too bad) reduction.
This afternoon the chiropodist comes.
TBSITW gave me some lovely freesias some time back. They have a wonderful scent. Interestingly, the flowerlets do not die back one by one so that you cut them off to keep the flowers looking good. These ones just open up more and more so that from time to time one after another falls over under the weight and has to be cut off and put into a smaller vase - still blooming away.
Friday, 6 March 2009
The Return by Victoria Hislop
Most young people in this country think of Spain in terms of the Costas, as they head off for Sun,Sea and Sand (and perhaps the other S) on cheap flights, but there is so much more to Spain than that. Even close to the Costa del Sol is Granada with the Alhambra built by the Moors during their occupation of Andalusia , which they called El Andalus. This is the most beautiful and awe-inspiring building with intricate carving. They probably don't even head inland to see the mountains behind the coast.
And what about Madrid, the capital of Spain? How many go there?
Or Salamanca, which is home to the oldest university in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe, founded in 1218?
The Return tells part of Spain's history using a family in Granada to help illustrate it.
This is a very dark part of Spain's history - the Spanish Civil War, fought in the late 1930s before the Second World War covering the successful attempt by the fascist General Franco to overthrow the government. The atrocities were many. The Republicans, many communist, were hopelessly outgunned and out manned.
My faithful reader knows that I enjoy reading detective stories, particularly those from the rest of Europe. They tend to be faithful to the tradition of detective stories, but are flavoured with the setting and history of the country in which they are set.
I can refer here to a series of books by Manuel Vasquez Montalban featuring the private detective Pepe Carvalho. He lives in Barcelona and the memories of the Civil War are still there. the Chief of Police was (and is, no doubt) a fascist and Carvalho was (and is) a communist. During the Civil War, the man now Chief of Police held a similar role and carried out torture on his prisoners, including Carvalho. Yet now they must rub along together.
This was my first real glimpse into the Civil War, as a peripheral part of the detective series, so it was enlightening to read more. Victoria Hislop has done her research and she does manage to make the past real. Of particular note was her overage of Guernica, a name that will go down in history as a town that was bombed out of existence from the air by the fascists, although Franco tried to deny it. There was a war correspondent on site who saw for himself and reported it back to Britain from where it was syndicated round the world.
Worth a read.
And what about Madrid, the capital of Spain? How many go there?
Or Salamanca, which is home to the oldest university in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe, founded in 1218?
The Return tells part of Spain's history using a family in Granada to help illustrate it.
This is a very dark part of Spain's history - the Spanish Civil War, fought in the late 1930s before the Second World War covering the successful attempt by the fascist General Franco to overthrow the government. The atrocities were many. The Republicans, many communist, were hopelessly outgunned and out manned.
My faithful reader knows that I enjoy reading detective stories, particularly those from the rest of Europe. They tend to be faithful to the tradition of detective stories, but are flavoured with the setting and history of the country in which they are set.
I can refer here to a series of books by Manuel Vasquez Montalban featuring the private detective Pepe Carvalho. He lives in Barcelona and the memories of the Civil War are still there. the Chief of Police was (and is, no doubt) a fascist and Carvalho was (and is) a communist. During the Civil War, the man now Chief of Police held a similar role and carried out torture on his prisoners, including Carvalho. Yet now they must rub along together.
This was my first real glimpse into the Civil War, as a peripheral part of the detective series, so it was enlightening to read more. Victoria Hislop has done her research and she does manage to make the past real. Of particular note was her overage of Guernica, a name that will go down in history as a town that was bombed out of existence from the air by the fascists, although Franco tried to deny it. There was a war correspondent on site who saw for himself and reported it back to Britain from where it was syndicated round the world.
Worth a read.
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Reminiscences
Some days at the Day Hospital there are gaps, occasionally long ones, when you have no appointments This is how I have managed to do so much reading.
Yesterday I had planned to populate the new handheld with address data.
However.
On arrival I was served with tea and biscuit.
Before I had even finished the tea, the doctor came and asked me to go and see her. She carried my cup of tea, bless her. She was very pleased to see how much improved I was on the previous week, and admitted that she had been quite worried about me. We had a chat and she examined my chest, saying that it was clear and told me that I would be having a repeat x-ray in 3 weeks.
No sooner had I sat down and put in about 3 names and addresses when it was the turn of the Occupational Therapist. 4 of us went along to the OT room for Reminiscence Therapy. Now, I was always an intellectual snob and could never see myself taking part in such a thing.
She produced a box of black and white photographs, about 9 ins x 5 and produced them one at a time. The lady opposite me was handed each one first, then it was passed round and reached me last. (Just as well it was in this order as it gave the others a chance!)
There were some I didn't know (such as Sylvia Peters - a very early announcer on British TV), but most I recognised. What was particularly good was that, after a photograph had been identified, memories were triggered. I thought the Coronation was in 1952, but that was the year King George 6th died and Princess Elizabeth became Queen. Many had seen the Coronation on television, but I remembered being taken with the school to the cinema to see two films "A Queen is Crowned" and "The Ascent of Everest".
A photograph of Marylin Monroe provoked memories of the Kennedies, and Chappaquiddick and so on as well as her 2 marriages - to Joe Di Maggio and Arthur Miller. It also led on to another photograph of Maria Callas. It all interrelated. The time just flew past.
And then it was lunchtime.
I had barely sat down after lunch to do some more data entry when the Physiotherapist arrived to do some more work with me.
A little more work then Sister came to discuss the visit I had had that morning with the Doctor.
And then it was home.......
I had bought a protective case for my last handheld, but it did not fit my new one. I was reluctant to shell out for another one, but found an elegant substitute.
When TBSITW and I were on holiday in Switzerland she bought me a very pretty soft spectacle case , white with little eidelweiss all over.
It holds my new handheld perfectly.
Thank you TBSITW.
Yesterday I had planned to populate the new handheld with address data.
However.
On arrival I was served with tea and biscuit.
Before I had even finished the tea, the doctor came and asked me to go and see her. She carried my cup of tea, bless her. She was very pleased to see how much improved I was on the previous week, and admitted that she had been quite worried about me. We had a chat and she examined my chest, saying that it was clear and told me that I would be having a repeat x-ray in 3 weeks.
No sooner had I sat down and put in about 3 names and addresses when it was the turn of the Occupational Therapist. 4 of us went along to the OT room for Reminiscence Therapy. Now, I was always an intellectual snob and could never see myself taking part in such a thing.
She produced a box of black and white photographs, about 9 ins x 5 and produced them one at a time. The lady opposite me was handed each one first, then it was passed round and reached me last. (Just as well it was in this order as it gave the others a chance!)
There were some I didn't know (such as Sylvia Peters - a very early announcer on British TV), but most I recognised. What was particularly good was that, after a photograph had been identified, memories were triggered. I thought the Coronation was in 1952, but that was the year King George 6th died and Princess Elizabeth became Queen. Many had seen the Coronation on television, but I remembered being taken with the school to the cinema to see two films "A Queen is Crowned" and "The Ascent of Everest".
A photograph of Marylin Monroe provoked memories of the Kennedies, and Chappaquiddick and so on as well as her 2 marriages - to Joe Di Maggio and Arthur Miller. It also led on to another photograph of Maria Callas. It all interrelated. The time just flew past.
And then it was lunchtime.
I had barely sat down after lunch to do some more data entry when the Physiotherapist arrived to do some more work with me.
A little more work then Sister came to discuss the visit I had had that morning with the Doctor.
And then it was home.......
I had bought a protective case for my last handheld, but it did not fit my new one. I was reluctant to shell out for another one, but found an elegant substitute.
When TBSITW and I were on holiday in Switzerland she bought me a very pretty soft spectacle case , white with little eidelweiss all over.
It holds my new handheld perfectly.
Thank you TBSITW.
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Did You Ever Feel Your Right Arm Had Been Cut Off?
(With apologies to those who have required an amputation, particularly our armed forces.)
For many years I have had a hand held electronic diary/address book.
Two things happened in quick succession.
The first was that I gave my computer to daughter as stage one in the rather complex project to get an electric scooter. This ran Windows XP and came with MS Outlook.
The second was that I bought a laptop which ran Windows Vista and did not carry MS Outlook.
The third, which followed in rather quick succession was that my handheld fell over.
Dead.
So, I had to order a new one.
Now this was surprisingly difficult as I did not want one of these raspberries/strawberries/whatever*, just a simple diary and address book.
*All right, I do know they are BlackBerries.
Yesterday the new one arrived and I am now populating it with data. I have to do this by hand as I don't have MS Outlook to do a HotSync.
For the addresses I am having to use my Christmas card list. I have made a start on my address book and am taking the diary and the Christmas card list to the Day Hospital as a useful way to pass the time when the Physioterrorists are not attacking.
I think I have all the appointments in, and am somewhat relieved to have discovered a conflict between the Dental Hygienist and the Day Hospital – the benefits of being able to enter recurring appointments. I can now give the dental practice a call to rearrange.
For many years I have had a hand held electronic diary/address book.
Two things happened in quick succession.
The first was that I gave my computer to daughter as stage one in the rather complex project to get an electric scooter. This ran Windows XP and came with MS Outlook.
The second was that I bought a laptop which ran Windows Vista and did not carry MS Outlook.
The third, which followed in rather quick succession was that my handheld fell over.
Dead.
So, I had to order a new one.
Now this was surprisingly difficult as I did not want one of these raspberries/strawberries/whatever*, just a simple diary and address book.
*All right, I do know they are BlackBerries.
Yesterday the new one arrived and I am now populating it with data. I have to do this by hand as I don't have MS Outlook to do a HotSync.
For the addresses I am having to use my Christmas card list. I have made a start on my address book and am taking the diary and the Christmas card list to the Day Hospital as a useful way to pass the time when the Physioterrorists are not attacking.
I think I have all the appointments in, and am somewhat relieved to have discovered a conflict between the Dental Hygienist and the Day Hospital – the benefits of being able to enter recurring appointments. I can now give the dental practice a call to rearrange.
Monday, 2 March 2009
The Vampire Strikes Again
This morning I attended the doctors' surgery for an appointment with the vampire.
Never mind, I have my defences against them.
After all those years of blood letting my veins are very friable, if not non-existent.
The first person had two tries with no success.
The second person made it on the second jab.
Just as well I am not an intravenous drug user!
Came home to find a letter from the District General Hospital to say that my appointment with the Neurologist on 6 April has been cancelled and a new one been made for next Monday, 9 March. Good to get it so soon.
Now that I have my laptop, I can see over into my small plot where the clumps of little daffodils are blooming away. In the middle of one clump two or 3 taller ones are starting to open up.
Spring is sprung.
And if anybody mentions rumours of snow, I shall be most unhappy.
Never mind, I have my defences against them.
After all those years of blood letting my veins are very friable, if not non-existent.
The first person had two tries with no success.
The second person made it on the second jab.
Just as well I am not an intravenous drug user!
Came home to find a letter from the District General Hospital to say that my appointment with the Neurologist on 6 April has been cancelled and a new one been made for next Monday, 9 March. Good to get it so soon.
Now that I have my laptop, I can see over into my small plot where the clumps of little daffodils are blooming away. In the middle of one clump two or 3 taller ones are starting to open up.
Spring is sprung.
And if anybody mentions rumours of snow, I shall be most unhappy.
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Last week I finished "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini.
It is set in war-torn Afghanistan and illustrated by the story of two women from separate backgrounds whose lives come together unexpectedly as a result of the war.
It is a beautiful story, and the best summing up I can give is that if you liked "the Kite Runner" you will love this.
It is set in war-torn Afghanistan and illustrated by the story of two women from separate backgrounds whose lives come together unexpectedly as a result of the war.
It is a beautiful story, and the best summing up I can give is that if you liked "the Kite Runner" you will love this.
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Back to Normal
This morning was catch up time with the washings.
I went down to the laundry room at 7.40 with 2 out of 3 bags to find the room busy and all three machines "booked". This was somewhat unexpected as you are not permitted to start a wash before 8am.
By dint of going up and down stairs and taking a book with me, I have now finished the three washes (washed, dried and put away.)
I pressed a lovely cashmere scarf given to me by TBSITW as the edges down the length rolled over. I also ironed two handkerchiefs.
Putting the iron away I knocked my left hand.
That was another trip upstairs for some Chinese ointment to apply.
Now I give no credence to homeopathy and other woo but when TBSITW and I were on holiday in China we were taken to a Chinese medicine place near Hangzhou. (We described this, among ourselves, as another shopping opportunity.)
We were in a group of about 20, many of whom were doctors.
Among other things, we were given a demonstration of a chain being held in a fire until it was red hot moving to white hot. One of the demonstrators then briefly held the chain. After that he applied this ointment and suddenly the pain was gone.
One of the doctors had a good look at the man's hand and said afterwards that, although there was no blistering, there was underlying tissue damage.
Nonetheless we bought some.
I still have some in a little pot and was very glad to have it to apply to the burn of this morning: the pain is almost gone, as is the blister.
I went down to the laundry room at 7.40 with 2 out of 3 bags to find the room busy and all three machines "booked". This was somewhat unexpected as you are not permitted to start a wash before 8am.
By dint of going up and down stairs and taking a book with me, I have now finished the three washes (washed, dried and put away.)
I pressed a lovely cashmere scarf given to me by TBSITW as the edges down the length rolled over. I also ironed two handkerchiefs.
Putting the iron away I knocked my left hand.
That was another trip upstairs for some Chinese ointment to apply.
Now I give no credence to homeopathy and other woo but when TBSITW and I were on holiday in China we were taken to a Chinese medicine place near Hangzhou. (We described this, among ourselves, as another shopping opportunity.)
We were in a group of about 20, many of whom were doctors.
Among other things, we were given a demonstration of a chain being held in a fire until it was red hot moving to white hot. One of the demonstrators then briefly held the chain. After that he applied this ointment and suddenly the pain was gone.
One of the doctors had a good look at the man's hand and said afterwards that, although there was no blistering, there was underlying tissue damage.
Nonetheless we bought some.
I still have some in a little pot and was very glad to have it to apply to the burn of this morning: the pain is almost gone, as is the blister.
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