Evening all.
Well there's been lots going on again. I'm losing track, as ever, with what I've posted about and what I haven't; I just can't seem to hold much in my head anymore. Little surprise there I think....
Thursday was choir night again, second one last week as we did an extra on Monday. This time we tackled another new piece for us - The Lady in Red - for which Hannah has done an arrangement (which means she's written harmonies in four parts for the different sections). It took some getting down to I can tell you....still, once we've had a few stabs at it I'm sure it will, as ever, sound lovely - you'll have to let me know in July....
Friday I finished workd early as I was a bit worried about C - he's struggled with this round of treatment, feeling particularly tired and cold again, with the added downer of having a very acidy stomach. It's taken it out of him a bit this time I think, and he had to retire to bed on Friday lunchtime as he was so cold and tired. I came home early afternoon to find him tucked up in the back bedroom with Sidney, watching something on tv. He clearly needed to rest up, so that's where he stayed (once I'd managed to prise him out, get him into a warming bath and change the bedding before he got back in again) and it did him good - his BP was as low as it's been for a while and the next morning he felt much more rested. But it was worrying.
Romilly has been offered a contract for a job with TUI - which means she will have to move to Luton to be near their base at the airport there. I had been rather blase about her getting a job up there, thinking we had time to get used to it, she'd have to finish college etc etc; but no, they want her to start on 1 March - a mere four weeks away - and suddenly it's all very real and scary (for me). I never once in all her 18 years contemplated Empty Nest Syndrome happening this early. But I guess nothing's as it used to be, so come on life, chuck another change at me why don't you...I'm getting used to them!
We spent a fairly quiet weekend at home - I catch up on chores and things now I don't have so much spare time in the week - which was a good thing as C has been struggling (see above) and was feeling really rather low and tearful. This doesn't happen very often, so when he does get like that it's a bit of a jolt for me; he does need to let it out now and then, releasing the fear and anxiety about his situation...and this seemed to be the time. Bearing in mind what's going on in our lives right now quite frankly I'm surprised the pair of us aren't in bits more often - not only are we dealing with his life threatening illness (because let's face it, that's what it is in its barest terms), but my job (and therefore the majority of our livelihood) is under threat, and now Romilly is moving away; add onto that the fact that we have the scan tomorrow (remember, the one they told us over three months ago that he'd need to have to check out how the treatment is going - where the hell did those three months go?????) and then a review meeting with the oncologist on 17 February. So there it is; crunch time is approaching. I did wonder if it was worth trying to see the oncologist sooner, but as C said, what's the point? We'll find out soon enough what's happening, two weeks isn't going to make all that much difference one way or another.
We were having a discussion in the office today about my situation - and the girls asked me what medical and/or professional support I have to deal with all this. And I told them honestly - absolutely none. Nothing. I have no-one checking on us, offering us help, monitoring how things are going, suggesting ways to deal with the ups and downs, side effects. It's all down to me and C - we're doing this on our own, together. Just as we always do. So in a way we're lucky - we have each other to talk to, shout at, moan at, cry on...some people have to go through this alone. Be grateful for small mercies has never been more relevant, nor the fact that even when things seem so bad, there is always someone worse off than you. Even us.
Monday 31 January 2011
Wednesday 26 January 2011
D Days + 165, 166 & 167: Monday 24 January to Wednesday 26 January 2011
I am still struggling to fit a full time job into my life; I don't know how I did it before without drowning in chores...add into the equation that I am trying to do regular, consistent exercise every day and it seems like trying to squeeze an elephant into a mini, which sounds like the cue for a joke but I can't think of one!! It's also hard to still try to do something for me which isn't work and isn't chores, as there is precious little enough time for me to be at home anyway, and getting to do anything else makes me feel bad for leaving C alone, again. I'm up at 6am to do exercise, off to work for 8.15am, doing the day and trying to accrue flexi hours for when I need to take time off for hospital appointments with C, then chores or choir, then trying to get in enough sleep....ho hum.
C's been a bit naughty today - makes him sound like a small boy, but really I have just had to tell him off; he hasn't eaten properly today and consequently was running out of steam big time and had an upset stomach. To be fair to him, we are running low on supplies (yet another downside to me not being at home enough), but the fact that he was a piggy over crumpets for lunch didn't help - yes he was, he had crumpets for lunch and nothing else, and to top it all he had the cheek to ring me at work and taunt me with the fact!!!! Hot, buttered crumpets - fair made my mouth water, but clearly he got his comeuppance!!
Poor Rom has come home in a bit of a tizz as she and her college class got a wigging from their tutor; I obviously wasn't there, but if what she says is true (and why wouldn't it be) it sounds like her tutor has seriously lost the plot - ticking them off like a bunch of naughty eight year olds. She was apparently saying they had no respect for her - well quite frankly I think the way she apparently spoke to them and generally dealt with the situation leaves a lot to be desired and shows them precious little respect either. I feel a letter to the principal coming on....
Yesterday there was an accident on the dual carriageway in Newport, our own tiny little bit of 'motorway'. It was serious enough that they had to close it in both directions, which resulted in the whole town becoming gridlocked at rush hour. I mention this because, unusually and unfortunately I was in Newport yesterday afternoon, and it took me two and a half hours to get from Newport, out of Newport, and home. I left the car park at 4.15 and got home at 6.45. Not fun; I was not happy, and this was not made any more bearable by the events in Silent Witness, one of my favourite programmes. Dr Harry was apparently killed in Budapest; now I love Dr Harry, I know he's not real, but I love him anyway and he's mainly the reason I watch the show (it is good, but nothing draws me to it more than Tom Ward's fantastically stubbly lantern jawline). I felt really low after that and couldn't cope with watching Part 2. So I didn't, but C did and told me I should watch it. But I couldn't; well not until tonight anyway, when all was revealed and the lantern-jawed one reappeared large as life and twice as stubbly as part of some elaborate plot to get to the bottom of a sinister Hungarian baby trafficking scenario. I must get out more - oh wait, no, I don't have time (see paragraph 1).
More debating in the office this afternoon about how the Council is going to manage to run all the services we support with so fewer staff (again, I would refer the reader to my 'how to get an elephant into a mini' conundrum which is very similar). The news of last year's spending sticks in the craw just a tad too, bearing in mind that we're all at risk of redundancy or, at best, being forced into applying for jobs we don't really want just so we don't lose our redundancy payouts - the new of one of the Directors being paid £380,000 for two years work (which he charges the Council from his own company) quite frankly makes me sick. Fat Cats just doesn't cover it mate.
C's been a bit naughty today - makes him sound like a small boy, but really I have just had to tell him off; he hasn't eaten properly today and consequently was running out of steam big time and had an upset stomach. To be fair to him, we are running low on supplies (yet another downside to me not being at home enough), but the fact that he was a piggy over crumpets for lunch didn't help - yes he was, he had crumpets for lunch and nothing else, and to top it all he had the cheek to ring me at work and taunt me with the fact!!!! Hot, buttered crumpets - fair made my mouth water, but clearly he got his comeuppance!!
Poor Rom has come home in a bit of a tizz as she and her college class got a wigging from their tutor; I obviously wasn't there, but if what she says is true (and why wouldn't it be) it sounds like her tutor has seriously lost the plot - ticking them off like a bunch of naughty eight year olds. She was apparently saying they had no respect for her - well quite frankly I think the way she apparently spoke to them and generally dealt with the situation leaves a lot to be desired and shows them precious little respect either. I feel a letter to the principal coming on....
Yesterday there was an accident on the dual carriageway in Newport, our own tiny little bit of 'motorway'. It was serious enough that they had to close it in both directions, which resulted in the whole town becoming gridlocked at rush hour. I mention this because, unusually and unfortunately I was in Newport yesterday afternoon, and it took me two and a half hours to get from Newport, out of Newport, and home. I left the car park at 4.15 and got home at 6.45. Not fun; I was not happy, and this was not made any more bearable by the events in Silent Witness, one of my favourite programmes. Dr Harry was apparently killed in Budapest; now I love Dr Harry, I know he's not real, but I love him anyway and he's mainly the reason I watch the show (it is good, but nothing draws me to it more than Tom Ward's fantastically stubbly lantern jawline). I felt really low after that and couldn't cope with watching Part 2. So I didn't, but C did and told me I should watch it. But I couldn't; well not until tonight anyway, when all was revealed and the lantern-jawed one reappeared large as life and twice as stubbly as part of some elaborate plot to get to the bottom of a sinister Hungarian baby trafficking scenario. I must get out more - oh wait, no, I don't have time (see paragraph 1).
More debating in the office this afternoon about how the Council is going to manage to run all the services we support with so fewer staff (again, I would refer the reader to my 'how to get an elephant into a mini' conundrum which is very similar). The news of last year's spending sticks in the craw just a tad too, bearing in mind that we're all at risk of redundancy or, at best, being forced into applying for jobs we don't really want just so we don't lose our redundancy payouts - the new of one of the Directors being paid £380,000 for two years work (which he charges the Council from his own company) quite frankly makes me sick. Fat Cats just doesn't cover it mate.
Sunday 23 January 2011
D Day + 164 - Sunday 23 January 2011
C was out to breakfast this morning - back in that routine with his mate Neil, now that Christmas/New Year/illness is out of the way, and I'm glad as he really enjoys their catchup and a chance to get out of the house. Good food there too, which is a bonus - they go to Bluebells at Briddlesford Farm, and if he remembers C brings back one of their fantastic wholemeal multiseed loaves, which I then work my way through over the next couple of days!
So while he was out, and Romilly had stayed over at Dan's last night so wasn't back yet, I spent the morning doing some workouts from the new game(?) I got for the Wii. I think I've told you about my fascination with The Biggest Loser (on which, I might add, I am still hooked and still watch it...but the British version is nothing like as good as the US one in my opinion), well this new game(?) is their challenge thingy, which has loads of workout routines and monitoring system thingys to get you moving and fitter. This Wii thing has been an amazing investment, and is proving to be really useful as well as fun - as long as I can keep it up!! Apparently if you don't do well enough or log in regularly enough it chucks you out, just like in the TV programme, and you have to start again!! So in my four week programme I signed up for, I am two days down, and tomorrow they've lined me up for a 50 minute box-light (whatever that is) workout - so in order to fit this in and not incur the wrath of Bob and Jillian (perish the thought) I'm going to have to get up at 6am to get this done. Start as you mean to go on....
Once this was out of the way, and C was back, I cracked on with the laundry...again. I don't know if we're unusual, but we seem to produce a mountain of laundry every week; which in its turn produces a mountain of ironing which sadly can languish in the basket atop the fridge for weeks, until we either (a) run out of clothes or (b) want to wear something that's in it. And it's a devil of a job to get anything dry in this horrible damp January weather - I am a firm line-dry fanatic, and think there's nothing nicer with laundry than that it smells of fresh air; I resort to the tumble drier only as a last ditch effort to get things dry. Consequently I've done loads of loads (!), most of which is dry, ironed and put away, but some of which is now draped unceremoniously on airers and chair backs in the dining room.
Bren came round this afternoon after work, and we got talking about his upcoming nuptials (well, it's in September, but that's not long really in terms of planning the whole thing). It seems that the issue of the top table may have been worrying him - in this day and age although it's not unusual to have extended families due to remarriages etc, the old tradition still stands firm (as it rightly should) and I think he was concerned about me/C being upset about it. Which neither of us are, we don't do the petty issues really - the day is about Bren and Gem, and celebrating their wedding; seating plans and who is important just isn't, well, important! So I think we managed to convince him that C should be on the top table, sat next to Gem's mum, and Bren's mum would be up there sitting next to Gem's dad. All right and proper (which also means that I can sit at a table nearby, with Rom and other family peeps, and make fun of C sitting up there in front of everyone!!!! Hehehehe!!!!) We also discovered Spotify, thanks to Bren who has been compiling an amazing music playlist for the wedding (I want it, it's brilliant). I foresee hours of fun for C compiling lists of his own favourite music....
C's midway through this cycle of treatment now, and it's starting to be a struggle for him. Discomfort is kicking in and I know he's toughing it out but it's a job to know how to reassure him and try to alleviate any negative thoughts. Trouble is that we just don't know what's going on in there, so speculation can get pretty rife; best thing is not to think about it and put it down to overeating/undereating, wrong food, not enough water, too much moving about, sitting wrong, blah blah da da. It's hard to stay positive about it all when he's this uncomfortable - roll on the damn scan so we can at least know what, if anything, has changed. I've run him a nice deep foamy bath, which is where he is right now while I type this, to try and get him to relax and warm up (yep, the cold is a problem again).
And so the weekend is over, and Monday looms large and ugly. I may not get a chance to blog tomorrow as I'm on a course all day and have choir practice in Cowes at 7pm; fingers crossed I get back to you on Tuesday, and that I remember what's happened in the meantime!!
Love to all and thanks for reading.
K x
So while he was out, and Romilly had stayed over at Dan's last night so wasn't back yet, I spent the morning doing some workouts from the new game(?) I got for the Wii. I think I've told you about my fascination with The Biggest Loser (on which, I might add, I am still hooked and still watch it...but the British version is nothing like as good as the US one in my opinion), well this new game(?) is their challenge thingy, which has loads of workout routines and monitoring system thingys to get you moving and fitter. This Wii thing has been an amazing investment, and is proving to be really useful as well as fun - as long as I can keep it up!! Apparently if you don't do well enough or log in regularly enough it chucks you out, just like in the TV programme, and you have to start again!! So in my four week programme I signed up for, I am two days down, and tomorrow they've lined me up for a 50 minute box-light (whatever that is) workout - so in order to fit this in and not incur the wrath of Bob and Jillian (perish the thought) I'm going to have to get up at 6am to get this done. Start as you mean to go on....
Once this was out of the way, and C was back, I cracked on with the laundry...again. I don't know if we're unusual, but we seem to produce a mountain of laundry every week; which in its turn produces a mountain of ironing which sadly can languish in the basket atop the fridge for weeks, until we either (a) run out of clothes or (b) want to wear something that's in it. And it's a devil of a job to get anything dry in this horrible damp January weather - I am a firm line-dry fanatic, and think there's nothing nicer with laundry than that it smells of fresh air; I resort to the tumble drier only as a last ditch effort to get things dry. Consequently I've done loads of loads (!), most of which is dry, ironed and put away, but some of which is now draped unceremoniously on airers and chair backs in the dining room.
Bren came round this afternoon after work, and we got talking about his upcoming nuptials (well, it's in September, but that's not long really in terms of planning the whole thing). It seems that the issue of the top table may have been worrying him - in this day and age although it's not unusual to have extended families due to remarriages etc, the old tradition still stands firm (as it rightly should) and I think he was concerned about me/C being upset about it. Which neither of us are, we don't do the petty issues really - the day is about Bren and Gem, and celebrating their wedding; seating plans and who is important just isn't, well, important! So I think we managed to convince him that C should be on the top table, sat next to Gem's mum, and Bren's mum would be up there sitting next to Gem's dad. All right and proper (which also means that I can sit at a table nearby, with Rom and other family peeps, and make fun of C sitting up there in front of everyone!!!! Hehehehe!!!!) We also discovered Spotify, thanks to Bren who has been compiling an amazing music playlist for the wedding (I want it, it's brilliant). I foresee hours of fun for C compiling lists of his own favourite music....
C's midway through this cycle of treatment now, and it's starting to be a struggle for him. Discomfort is kicking in and I know he's toughing it out but it's a job to know how to reassure him and try to alleviate any negative thoughts. Trouble is that we just don't know what's going on in there, so speculation can get pretty rife; best thing is not to think about it and put it down to overeating/undereating, wrong food, not enough water, too much moving about, sitting wrong, blah blah da da. It's hard to stay positive about it all when he's this uncomfortable - roll on the damn scan so we can at least know what, if anything, has changed. I've run him a nice deep foamy bath, which is where he is right now while I type this, to try and get him to relax and warm up (yep, the cold is a problem again).
And so the weekend is over, and Monday looms large and ugly. I may not get a chance to blog tomorrow as I'm on a course all day and have choir practice in Cowes at 7pm; fingers crossed I get back to you on Tuesday, and that I remember what's happened in the meantime!!
Love to all and thanks for reading.
K x
Saturday 22 January 2011
D Days 142 to 163: 2011 up to Saturday 22 January
Hello!!!! Happy New Year - which I know is a bit belated. Have you missed us?
It's been a frantic three weeks really, and so much has happened I'm going to have to give it to you 'in a nutshell' and try to get up to date! I don't really know where to start!
I suppose the main thing is that I've gone back to work; it had to happen, and it felt like the right time as everyone was returning after the Christmas break, it's a new year, C was well and coping, so back I duly went on Tuesday 4 January. It wasn't easy; I've been used to waking up late, sitting in bed with C playing Scrabble on the ipad, very late breakfasts (you get the picture) so it came as a shock to the system to have to get up at 6.30 and be ready to leave the house at 7.45...so of course I didn't, and I went in later than usual on the first day back; but since then I've reverted to my old routine and it's scary how easy it has been to do that. It was horrible to leave C that first morning, and it's not easy even now - he's not used to being alone at home and I do worry that he will get bored and dwell on things; but I guess we'll never know how either of us will cope unless we try it.
Things at work are not good; I have missed the girls in the office, and the lovely people I support, but the situation as I'm sure most of you are aware is not good for Council employees in our directorate, and it's all so uncertain what is going to happen that there's not way to plan for the future...which I suppose is fine for me because I don't want to do that anyway.
Another major event is that Romilly had interviews for cabin crew posts at Luton and Gatwick airports, which involved travelling up there and staying overnight as they started fairly early. This meant that I had to step up, take a big gulp and....drive on the mainland!!! I have only ever done this before when I've been following someone else, so it was a real challenge for me. And one I rose to very well, if I say so myself, and managed perfectly alright, and managed to meet up with two friends while I was up there!! Thank goodness for TomTom; and thanks also to Tricia and Hazel for very enjoyable catch ups. Our experience of Travelodge was quite varied though; the Luton one was like bunking down in an old office block, and there were no staff around really, the place was deserted!! The Gatwick airport one was better though; at least there were other people around so it felt less lonely. Beds were good at Gatwick, but not at Luton; food was not really that brilliant in either. But I suppose for the price it's not really surprising! Rom's day at Luton on the Monday went well (and she got through and was accepted by TUI, which used to be Thomson/First Choice, so she's waiting to hear if there's a job available), but she decided not to go to the Easyjet one on the Tuesday as she really felt unwell and wasn't sure she could cope (but newsflash they offered her another interview date at the beginning of February!). We decided to have a run down to Ikea in Croydon on the Tuesday morning, and then went on to Brighton for lunch before heading home on an earlier ferry.
C decided to upgrate our TV, and we now have a daunting 40" television dominating the lounge! Something that took some getting used to, believe me. But it is fantastic for the Wii which Romilly and C bought between them...so lots of keep fit stuff going on at the moment; and I've developed a passion for golf, which I would never have thought possible for me....but there you go, things can change!
Romilly went for a fitting for her bridesmaid's dress today with Gemma (Bren's fiancee). She's very excited and looking forward to this - and told the people at her interview that she had to have that day off!!! Bless...I can't wait to see them all in their best bib and tucker; what a lovely thing to look forward to.
At time of typing C is halfway through the third cycle of treatment, which you may remember is the last one before the oncologist wants to rescan him. He's not too bad so far...blood pressure has been fine - not as raised as previously - and his sore mouth/throat/skin hasn't kicked in so far so let's hope it stays that way. He is tired though, and obviously when he feels like that it's easy to get emotional. But I guess we're getting good at dealing with all this.
So, the upshot is that he has an appointment for a scan on Tuesday 1 February, then we see the oncologist on Thursday 17 February to find out what's going on. We've been through so much these last few months, and it's all been leading up to this. Keep your fingers and everything else crossed that the results are good.
And I'll try to post more regularly, without so many gaps. But there is so much going on.....
It's been a frantic three weeks really, and so much has happened I'm going to have to give it to you 'in a nutshell' and try to get up to date! I don't really know where to start!
I suppose the main thing is that I've gone back to work; it had to happen, and it felt like the right time as everyone was returning after the Christmas break, it's a new year, C was well and coping, so back I duly went on Tuesday 4 January. It wasn't easy; I've been used to waking up late, sitting in bed with C playing Scrabble on the ipad, very late breakfasts (you get the picture) so it came as a shock to the system to have to get up at 6.30 and be ready to leave the house at 7.45...so of course I didn't, and I went in later than usual on the first day back; but since then I've reverted to my old routine and it's scary how easy it has been to do that. It was horrible to leave C that first morning, and it's not easy even now - he's not used to being alone at home and I do worry that he will get bored and dwell on things; but I guess we'll never know how either of us will cope unless we try it.
Things at work are not good; I have missed the girls in the office, and the lovely people I support, but the situation as I'm sure most of you are aware is not good for Council employees in our directorate, and it's all so uncertain what is going to happen that there's not way to plan for the future...which I suppose is fine for me because I don't want to do that anyway.
Another major event is that Romilly had interviews for cabin crew posts at Luton and Gatwick airports, which involved travelling up there and staying overnight as they started fairly early. This meant that I had to step up, take a big gulp and....drive on the mainland!!! I have only ever done this before when I've been following someone else, so it was a real challenge for me. And one I rose to very well, if I say so myself, and managed perfectly alright, and managed to meet up with two friends while I was up there!! Thank goodness for TomTom; and thanks also to Tricia and Hazel for very enjoyable catch ups. Our experience of Travelodge was quite varied though; the Luton one was like bunking down in an old office block, and there were no staff around really, the place was deserted!! The Gatwick airport one was better though; at least there were other people around so it felt less lonely. Beds were good at Gatwick, but not at Luton; food was not really that brilliant in either. But I suppose for the price it's not really surprising! Rom's day at Luton on the Monday went well (and she got through and was accepted by TUI, which used to be Thomson/First Choice, so she's waiting to hear if there's a job available), but she decided not to go to the Easyjet one on the Tuesday as she really felt unwell and wasn't sure she could cope (but newsflash they offered her another interview date at the beginning of February!). We decided to have a run down to Ikea in Croydon on the Tuesday morning, and then went on to Brighton for lunch before heading home on an earlier ferry.
C decided to upgrate our TV, and we now have a daunting 40" television dominating the lounge! Something that took some getting used to, believe me. But it is fantastic for the Wii which Romilly and C bought between them...so lots of keep fit stuff going on at the moment; and I've developed a passion for golf, which I would never have thought possible for me....but there you go, things can change!
Romilly went for a fitting for her bridesmaid's dress today with Gemma (Bren's fiancee). She's very excited and looking forward to this - and told the people at her interview that she had to have that day off!!! Bless...I can't wait to see them all in their best bib and tucker; what a lovely thing to look forward to.
At time of typing C is halfway through the third cycle of treatment, which you may remember is the last one before the oncologist wants to rescan him. He's not too bad so far...blood pressure has been fine - not as raised as previously - and his sore mouth/throat/skin hasn't kicked in so far so let's hope it stays that way. He is tired though, and obviously when he feels like that it's easy to get emotional. But I guess we're getting good at dealing with all this.
So, the upshot is that he has an appointment for a scan on Tuesday 1 February, then we see the oncologist on Thursday 17 February to find out what's going on. We've been through so much these last few months, and it's all been leading up to this. Keep your fingers and everything else crossed that the results are good.
And I'll try to post more regularly, without so many gaps. But there is so much going on.....
Saturday 1 January 2011
D Days + 139 to 141: Weds 29 December 2010 to Sunday 31 December 2010
So now New Year's Eve has been and gone, and it's New Year's Day. I'm glad to see the back of 2010 to be honest because it hasn't really been a spectacularly good year for me personally - I know there are bound to have been some good bits, but right now I'm having a job to remember them!! And given what challenges lay ahead, the first few months of 2011 are bound to be no less of a worry as we face C's ongoing treatment, and the possibility that I could be made redundant; the outcome of both those huge issues are still unknown at the moment obviously, but no less worrying because of that.
So back to the last four days - having had a lovely Christmas at home with family, it was nice to take some time out from the rush and relax a bit. My part was technically over, so it was time for feet up and a slower pace. It also meant eating the leftovers, which begin to lose their appear after a couple of days, but I hate throwing food away. I managed to stretch the nut stuffing to last to the day after Boxing Day, by which time I had had enought of it anyway!, and the rest of the dinner bits ended up in the bin (grrrrr, I hate that, but if I don't I end up eating all sorts of rubbish just for the sake of it). I caught up with TV programmes I'd recorded, took the dogs out for long muddy walks, and did the chores I'd been putting off - mainly the laundry and ironing as it had been piling up over the last week and I really don't think Romilly could have squeezed even a sock into her wash bin. The down side to it is that because the weather has been so horrible, foggy and damp, it is really difficult to get anything to dry very quickly - so we're left either draping stuff around the dining room on the airer, hanging it up in the (damp) outhouse or resorting to the tumble dryer (which is a horrifically expensive method at the best of times). And it seems that when you have a lot of laundry, no matter how much you get through there always seems to be more!!! I must try and get Romilly to wear things more than once before they go in the washbin...something her elder brother had a tendency to do when he lived at home!
We did the usual emergency top up shop at Tesco - I am thinking this is a good way to do the shopping as it means I don't spend as much money...as long as I only do this once a week I should be quids in...however I don't see it happening that easily! Ah money, how I hate you....!!!
C has continued to have really good days, feeling quite perky and active (and he's started singing in the mornings again...) I however am still struggling to get my a**e out of bed at a respectable time, and this is starting to worry me as I know I have to be up, dressed and ready to leave the house before 8am from next Tuesday onwards....ooh err.
New Year's Eve was lovely - my big brother was down from the mainland, and having extracted himself from my aunt's lovely cosy cottage, and their enjoyable session sitting side by side on her sofa, laptops on the go, doing some family history research, he arrived early evening and we started on the prosecco. Deb and Robin arrived a bit later, and once we'd cooked the posh nibbles they brought with them, we went up to the summer house and played silly card games, drank lovely fizzy wine and ate. All the while there were candles burning and the brazier was aglow, so the top of the garden was like a fairy grotto. Listening to Wave 105 we heard the chimes announce midnight, so we opened some champagne, watched the fireworks going off along the coast (and the Chinese lanterns being released) and toasted the New Year. I hope it's going to be a good one; I hope it's going to be an easy one, a positive one, a happy one. And I wish all that for you as well. x.
So back to the last four days - having had a lovely Christmas at home with family, it was nice to take some time out from the rush and relax a bit. My part was technically over, so it was time for feet up and a slower pace. It also meant eating the leftovers, which begin to lose their appear after a couple of days, but I hate throwing food away. I managed to stretch the nut stuffing to last to the day after Boxing Day, by which time I had had enought of it anyway!, and the rest of the dinner bits ended up in the bin (grrrrr, I hate that, but if I don't I end up eating all sorts of rubbish just for the sake of it). I caught up with TV programmes I'd recorded, took the dogs out for long muddy walks, and did the chores I'd been putting off - mainly the laundry and ironing as it had been piling up over the last week and I really don't think Romilly could have squeezed even a sock into her wash bin. The down side to it is that because the weather has been so horrible, foggy and damp, it is really difficult to get anything to dry very quickly - so we're left either draping stuff around the dining room on the airer, hanging it up in the (damp) outhouse or resorting to the tumble dryer (which is a horrifically expensive method at the best of times). And it seems that when you have a lot of laundry, no matter how much you get through there always seems to be more!!! I must try and get Romilly to wear things more than once before they go in the washbin...something her elder brother had a tendency to do when he lived at home!
We did the usual emergency top up shop at Tesco - I am thinking this is a good way to do the shopping as it means I don't spend as much money...as long as I only do this once a week I should be quids in...however I don't see it happening that easily! Ah money, how I hate you....!!!
C has continued to have really good days, feeling quite perky and active (and he's started singing in the mornings again...) I however am still struggling to get my a**e out of bed at a respectable time, and this is starting to worry me as I know I have to be up, dressed and ready to leave the house before 8am from next Tuesday onwards....ooh err.
New Year's Eve was lovely - my big brother was down from the mainland, and having extracted himself from my aunt's lovely cosy cottage, and their enjoyable session sitting side by side on her sofa, laptops on the go, doing some family history research, he arrived early evening and we started on the prosecco. Deb and Robin arrived a bit later, and once we'd cooked the posh nibbles they brought with them, we went up to the summer house and played silly card games, drank lovely fizzy wine and ate. All the while there were candles burning and the brazier was aglow, so the top of the garden was like a fairy grotto. Listening to Wave 105 we heard the chimes announce midnight, so we opened some champagne, watched the fireworks going off along the coast (and the Chinese lanterns being released) and toasted the New Year. I hope it's going to be a good one; I hope it's going to be an easy one, a positive one, a happy one. And I wish all that for you as well. x.
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