Motorbiking

I was right to be worried about Andrew going out last night as he came off his bike on the way home. He is not hurt just very shaken, the bike faired less well loosing front and rear indicators on one side and bending the gear shift. The panelling is scratched and cracked but that is only cosmetic thank goodness. So repairs have to be carried out before he can ride it again. Felt so sorry for him but glad he was fine afterwards. I sort of knew something was wrong, it must be mum's instinct because I got out of bed to see him when he arrived home, something I don'r usually do. How do we know these things. Peter will order up the parts tomorrow and we should get him back on the road by the weekend, not sure I am happy with this though. I'd rather he never got on the thing again.

Felt so much better today I baked a cake. It was deep rich velvety chocolate with fluffy choc cream on top, absolutely delicious. Amazing the change sickness tablets can make, the thought of cake would have had me bent over the loo yesterday.

Laurence was a little hung over today following a night out at the Bedford beer festival. He was quite taken with a beer call 'The Town Bike' but what really did for him was two pints of 7% scrumpy from Hertfordshire. He says he doesn't remember much after drinking them.

I'm now looking forward to going back to work next week, I'm back on Thurday when I have to see the Occupational Health doctor to discuss what hours I can do. I'm still not back up to my full hours from when I had my line put in so as you can imagine mega frustration as I doubt he's going to let me back full time for a while yet. If I can be full time again by Christmas then I will think myself lucky but that depaends on me not catching anything else. A bit of an ask in a room full of people but I will try.

Hanging On The Telephone

Has had a rough twenty four hours. Forgot one of my anti sickness tablets and it took me half a day to get back to normal. It is frightening how close I am to being ill without the tablets, I must make sure never, ever to run out.

Andrew went out for his birthday pub crawl last night and came back remarkably sober. He had three pints and said that it was pointless getting drunk because he wouldn't enjoy himself. When did he get so sensible?

Peter went out to buy a new set of phones for the house. The current lot must be all of fifteen years old if not older and have started doing funny things. The handset on my desk refuses to charge and the handset in the living room never rings until you pick it up, then it cuts you off about five minutes into a conversation. Definitely time to get some new ones. I was feeling too rough to go out with Peter so was quite curious to see what he came back with because almost everything we buy for the house we choose together as our tastes are so different. This time he came up trumps with four thin black handsets and a base station with integral answer machine all for one hundred pounds from John Lewis. Not bad when you consider that the ones we had cost over seventy pounds all those years ago.

It has been a day for cold callers, both on the phone and door to door. Peter dealt with the phone callers in his usual elegant style by telling them to 'fuck off'. I dealt with the double glazing man who kicked our solid matured oak front door and surround and offered to 'replace this old rubbish' with his plastic monstrocity. I pointed out that we had chosen our door because we liked wood and  thief would need more than just a screwdriver to break in throught it. He took offence at that and said I was a bit rude. Excuse me! You are the one who kicked MY door and told me it was 'rubbish' and you are calling me rude. I shut the door in his face for fear of vomitting on him. Peter reckoned I should have lingered.

It is such a dull, cold day today, I've had to put my cardigan on after a glorious week wandering around in tee shirt and shorts. Now I'm in socks, thick joggers, tee shirt, jumper and cardigan. Not sure how much of the shivers is down to the flu jab, my arm still looks like a sausage. though a smaller one, and how much is due to my vomiting. No one else seems to be feeling the cold quite as much as I am so it can't just be the weather.

Tonight Andrew is off to another party, this time a mates so another anxious evening waiting up for the call to go and get him. But I'd rather do that than he come to grief. What parent wouldn't?

Accidents Will Happen.

Wednesday

We talk about stress. First off was my flu jab, I hate these things and my GP has a unique was of increasing the tension. Everyone is called in at ten thirty and on arrival given a number, we then play flu jab bingo. You pray your number is an early one then you get less of the horror stories from people coming out. Being a village surgery everyone knows everyone and they are not above sharing gems such as 'threw it like a dart' with those still waiting. Thankfully I was number three so didn't have to wait to long.

Then it was a trip out with Peter to pick up some car parts and a brush with white van man and the police. We were parked in a disabled bay outside the shop when white van man swung in and clouted the side of our car. Before we knew it white van man was out and bellowing at us that it was all our fault. We were parked for God's sake! Anyway he came swinging at Peter so I called the police. While waiting a very brave employee, who'd been out collecting trolleys, stepped in and told white van man we were definitely there first and he'd hit us. White van man calmed a bit at this, possibly realising with a witness he was on to a loser. The manager then came out and asked why white van man was in a disabled bay anyway, the answer was astonishing. 'I have just stopped for a quick pee and the law says I can use the bays for that.' How blatantly can this man lie? In the end the police had words about his threatening behaviour. We won't be going through insurance because he didn't have any so we've lost out all ways. I was so shaken by this that I couldn't concentrate for the rest of the day. Obviously he knew he was in trouble and decided intimidation was the way to go, well he's had his van ceased so a result of sorts but it still leaves us with a huge repair bill or losing our no claims bonus. Bastard I hope they crush the thing with him in it..

Thursday

Today is Andrew's birthday and he's stopped saying 'last time I ...... as a child' and is now saying 'first time I ..... as an adult'. I'm sure the novelty will wear off soon, at least I hope so. We are having a special tea for him as he didn't want a party but is going out with friends tomorrow.

Peter took a good look at the damage today and thank goodness it turns out to be mostly pain transferance which he has got off. There is a small scratch but nothing as bad as we first thought. Big sigh of relief all around.

My arm looks like a sausage and is burning and itching and aching and I feel 'fluey'. Damn these flipping vaccinations, sometimes I think they cause more problems than they cure. And I might be having a pneumonia one once the Brompton get back to me to say whether I need a renewal. So I can look forward to more shivers, shakes and aches then.

Sales of my book seem to have picked up and I've had an unexpected flurry over the last few days. Good news for me but even better for the PHA who will be benefiting.

Hoping I feel better tomorrow, do I seem to be saying that all the time these days? I have clearance to return to work on the 13th so something to look forward to at last. Can't wait, I feel so out of the loop and isolated at the moment. Maybe good times are a coming.

Angels Watching Over Me With Smiles Upon Their Face

Great consternation at the Warfarin clinic today. It seems that once again the hospital is running things for it's own convenience rather than that of the patients. We were all issued with a letter saying the Tuesday afternoon clinics are being switched to the morning and we are to have fixed appointment times. Brilliant! So instead of turning up between say 8am and 11.30am each patient will be given a ten minute window to turn up in. So what happens if there is a road problem, or the car park is full and you cannot get a space? What if the clinic is a nusre or two down due to holidays or illness? Will you be turned away? This is supposedly to cut costs and waiting times. I bet, I can't see it working and a lot of people are very upset about it. I see rebellion ahead. Of course if the staff actually worked rather than spending half their time gossiping with the receptionist or away on tea breaks there wouldn't be any backlogs.

I could not get near my ladies again today as the clinic was packed out, what a shame I bet their comments would have been worth listening to, but I did get a seat so that was a blessing. I sat opposite another elderly lady who was rude enough to spend the entire time, until her name was called, staring at me. She spotted the line as soon as I sat down and blatantly stared trying to work out what it was. At one point she even lent right over to try and see where it was attached. I'm used to people looking by now and usually ignore it, which I did this time but it was really hard. I felt like lifting up my top and flashing her while saying 'there are you satisfied now?' The thing is if she'd actually asked about it I'd have been happy to explain what it was and what it was for. I don't know what she'd have done if I had the full kit on.

Yes today I was able to leave my oxygen in the car. I even made it around Tesco without oxygen or a wheelchair, I felt so proud of myself and so encouraged. I'm obviously better but oh have I lost weight. Even my smallest jeans keep slipping down without a belt and all my tee shirts hang off me. Now I was a busty girl so to have a tee shirt 'hang' is quite a feat. I still cannot manage a proper meal but what I do eat is staying down now. I guess I'll just have to keep picking and hope for the best but I am going to have to speak to the Brompton again about this as I'm now under seven stone and even for a short arse like me that isn't healthy. Peter reckons I'm not eating because I'm not doing anything, he could be right and my appetite might pick up once I'm back at work. In the meantime bring on the chocolate raisins, crisps and cheese.

I had a lovely surprise when I returned home from the clinic. Laurence had dusted and polished and tidied the house, my kitchen and living room sparkle. I am lucky to have such kind and thoughtful boys.

Andrew is still on countdown for his eighteenth on Thursday and is driving us all mad. 'This is the last time I ..... as a child' now follows every activity, goodness knows what he will be like tomorrow.

Haircut 100

I don't believe it! Laurence slept through all that noise, how? Some people have all the luck.

The weather is changing with high winds arriving this afternoon and temperatures dipping by a couple of degrees. Still lovely though and despite battling the breeze I enjoyed a brief sit out in the sun with my book. It is great drying weather so I washed all my sheets and duvet covers as they never smell as fresh when tumble dried.

I slept like a log last night and feel so much better but my stomach is still playing me up. I fancied some Heinz chicken soup for lunch, I used to love it when I was ill as a kid but was so disappointed. It had so little taste it was like drinking dishwater. So no lunch for me today, again. I'm wondering whether the drug is affecting my taste buds because a lot of things taste different these days.

Today was ironing day and I faced a pile of sports wear and work wear but I got it done and can now relax for a few days before I have to start again.

Larence was home today but I didn't see much of him as he slept until late and then went to the gym for most of the afternoon. He came home with one of those Babyliss hair shavers that are mean to be dead easy to use.  As he has really thick hair he elected to try it for the first time out in the garden. I'm quite glad the neighbours are away at prsent because he looked so odd standing stripped to the waist running a shaver around his head. It didn't do a bad job but it will take some getting used to.

It is car insurance tinme for me and I gritted my teeth to go on the comparison sites to find the best deals. I hate using these things as you get bombarded with e mails for weeks afterwards. For a joke I put Andrew on the policy and nearly fainted when quotes came back ranging from £2000 - £7000. For just me and my husband they all hovered around the £300 mark. As it happened none beat the quote from my current insurer so things will be simple this year, I just pay my money and relax.

Make Some Noise

What a night and I'm not talking along the lines of fantastic.

Went to be at eleven thirty and noticed a noisy party going on just up the road, by half twelve the party had descended into a loud argument which resulted in a large noisy contingent making their way up the road and away from our house. Then all went quiet. Bliss! Ten minutes later we were treated to loud bangs and crashes, it sounded like someone throwing sheets of metal around. By half one Peter had had enough and phoned the police who informed us they were already on their way. Several minutes later two police cars came hurtling up the road. The policemen got out of the cars and stood around listening then got back in their cars and took of a speed. Fifteen minutes later after some shouting it all went quiet again, bliss! The the alarms went off, a car and a house intermittently for about an hour, by three I was asleep.I feel like a zombie this morning. Andrew slept throught it all, his room is at the back of the house and Laurence went to work early so I have no idea what he thought of things. I have a feeling I will be in no doubt once he gets home.

While watching all this unfold I noticed a fat little hedgehog scuttling about on the law. I haven't seen our hedgehog for a few weeks so it was nice to see he was safe, well and thriving.

So all in all I've been like a wet rag all day. Part of me wants to sleep but the other half cannot relax so I keep drifting off then waking myself up. I've also been feeling queasy and I'm convinced it is the lack of sleep that is responsible. Peter has been out fixing the shed roof, I don't know how he finds the energy.

 It is weight check day and I've managed to lose more, how? I've been eating more than I was so it just doesn't make sense. The boys say it is because I am eating the wrong things, all healthy stuff and not much in the way of fat. Trouble is anything 'fatty' makes me feel sick. It is hard but maybe I should up my intake of Complan and see what happens.
  

Out In The Parking Lot

Strictly is back and I am in seventh heaven, I love, love, love this show so my evening my weekend has been made no matter what the weather does.

Hot or what? Twenty eight degrees in my back garden and climbing. Terrible night last night, so, so hot just couldn't sleep. With the weather being so warm we had lunch on the decking and marvelled that normally we'd be in the dining room watching it rain at this time of year. The cats were confused and could not work out what was going on. They kept coming to look at us as though we were mad. It was gone three before I ventured to sit out in the garden and read, the heat was oppressive until the shadows started to lengthen. Until then I hid in the living room with the cutains drawn and the windows flung wide. It is the coolest room in the house until late afternoon and the sun swings round to the front of the house. Unfortunately my peace was shattered by next door's screaming child which was ignored for at least ten minutes then it got told to 'shut up' which made it scream more. I eneded up back in the living room.

We went out in the morning to get some roofing felt for the garden shed (it had come off in the high winds a few weeeks ago) and there was hardly a car on the road. This trip made me furious though. I went along just for the ride so sat in the car why Peter went in to buy the felting. I noticed during the twenty minutes or so that I sat there how many people were abusing the disabled parking. At least three cars pulled up, we were parked opposite as I was not getting out, and parked without badges while the drivers nipped into the shop. Now admittedly none stayed long, all left before we did, and the drivers would argue that they were only nipping in for a couple of minutes but that is not the point. During those few minutes someone in genuine need might have arrived and not been able to park or use the shop because of these peoples thoughtlessness. Why do people do this? Do they really HAVE to park in disabled spaces. I can't help but wonder what it is going take to get the message through to some people.

At half five Andrew went for a run but still came back dripping. The weather is due to continue into Monday but rain has been forecast for Tuesday. Would I be classed as an old grump if I said I was looking forward to a bit of water falling fron the sky? Yes probably but I do.