General Chat

Good morning AnnG, Mel and all

5 degrees and light rain at the moment. Another busy day for me. Good luck with your appointments Ann and Mel.

Might bbl

Good luck Ml. pouring here so I am about to get wet.

Morning All,

Dry start here and its 7 degrees so gone up one degree from when I got up and pc says mostly sunny.

Had chicken at Stu's last night with roasties carrots and leeks. The chicken was in one of his made up sauces and was very tasty.

Lots to do before Em comes today so see you all later.

Good morning all. early up today as have to walk down the road to catch a different bus later. Have appointment at glos royal at 11am. If it rains while I am walking I will be very wet. 5 degrees at the moment and still dark.

The meeting yesterday was very good 10 of the group did silk squares. Over the weekend
I will get a couple of photos out over the weekend. My dried flowers came in useful for them to use and Rosalind will be taking the remainder home to use as there were a lot left over. It was a lot of fun.

the process was, the silk squares were laid flat in half with one half folded down over the edge of the table, they were then covered in all sorts of pieces of dried flowers, most chose to stick to one colour. When the half square was covered the square was then roled in very small folds until folded/rolled completely lengthwise then rolled again down the length until it was really tiny, then bound tightly with string until it could be treated like a tea bag and dumped into a steaming solution ( don't know what was in the water. After 20 minutes it was lifted out, cooled and unrolled and shaken to dislodge all the bits and then kept open and shaken until completely dry.

This is the restriction I mentioned in my last post.

The BBC has seen evidence or had confirmation from a host of health boards that restrictions have been put in places in parts of the north west, north east, south west, Yorkshire, the East Midlands and East Anglia.

A number of health boards refused to provide the BBC with information – and senior NHS sources said they expected many of England's 42 regional boards were now placing restrictions on individual hospitals in their areas.

They said they expected the number of hospitals affected would almost certainly grow before the end of the financial year, adding strike action by resident doctors had not helped with the NHS estimating the walkouts this year have cost hospitals more than £500m.

Your U3A meeting today sounds really interesting AnnG. Were you able to hear OK? I hope your appointment tomorrow will get your hearing aid fixed for you.

Annx, it sounds as though you had a nightmare journey back from dropping OH at the hospital this morning. Your poor OH, he has certainly had his share of problems. I had never heard of Uveitis but see from the NHS site that it is another name for Iritis which I remember he has had before, The site mentioned Ankylising Spondylitis as one of the causes. I think my OH was lucky in that he had 2 really bad bouts of Iritis about 50 years ago but has been fine since then. They never did find the cause. I hope your OH's drops get to work quickly to clear the inflammation and get rid of the pain. It's brilliant that you found your garage door remote. That will save you the expense and effort of ordering another.

7 weeks without smoking Mel :-) You deserve a big pat on the back. It's not easy stopping but it must be helping your health and your pocket. I agree with Mandy; treat yourself to something nice.

Well, I found the sample pot last night. I looked in the obvious place (the cabinet in his en-suite) and there it was. When I told OH where I found it he said he had looked there and didn't see it. Is it just my dearly beloved that can't see what's in front of his nose? It had a bright red top so stood out and was next to the tube of toothpaste he goes to twice a day. Sometimes I don't know whether to tear my hair out in despair or to just shrug my shoulders and laugh it off.

The hospital visit was as I feared from the time/convenience point of view. With the car we would have been out of the house for about 2 hours, by bus we were out for 6 hours. Partly it's the length of the journey as by car we take a direct route but the bus has to go round various villages on the way. Partly it's because the buses aren't very frequent so you have to come and go on the ones that fit in best with your appointment time. That meant we were at the hospital near enough an hour before his allotted time and then he was able to leave only 5 minutes before a bus was due. We wouldn't have been able to get to the bus stop in that time so had to wait 65 minutes for the next one. We stayed in the hospital in the warm till 15 minutes before the bus was due and then walked down to the stop and only had to wait a few minutes in the cold as it was dead on time.

Having moaned about the time spent on the visit, I was pleased that the news was as good as we could have expected. The doctor said there have been some changes since he last had these tests, 5 years ago, but the changes aren't anything to worry about unduly and he doesn't need more treatment at the moment. If OH feels things are worsening generally or he has any sudden problems he can be referred back but for now everything is OK.

I would like to say ‘you won’t believe this’ but I know you will. Cast your mind back to , I think, about November I had an appointment come for Tewkesbury hospital regarding a follow up to my nose operation August 2024. It was for January or something, I cancelled because I can’t get to Tewkesbury and they rescheduled for February after dark one day. Again I pointed out that at my age I should not be out on a dark icy evening so they rescheduled again for 1030 on April first at Glos Royal Not once has it been said what the appointment is for so I assume a check up. This afternoon I had another reschedule from 1st April to 22 April at Tewkesbury (sigh). And still not seeing the man who did the op. Anyway I can’t get to Tewkesbury (still) unless they have moved it. So I have gone back again and refused it. I did read that hospitals would be cutting down on some booked ops to save money and of course the change of dates moves the op to a new financial year

Take a kook at this. I'm going to try it tomorrow.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/y5lTQxVJK1U

7 weeks today. I still fancy one when I am making things or when I finish the ironing but I tell myself no its only a habit and I have a mint.

Ann thats good OH was only three hours and I hope the eye drops help tò take the inflammation down , he does go through it with his poor eyes doesn't he .
I have to say I don't enjoy driving like I use to with all the bad drivers on the roads and the town is chaos at ths moment with all this so called improvements , I managed to park near ths shops and went to the butchers and Jake served me ,I got sausages, sausage meat and some lovely lean braising steak , it was really quiet and Jake was saying the other day how much they were down in the shop , he said he'd heard the little paper shop might have to close and the co-op were down 80% so its not sounding very good for the shops ,they are now behind with the work in town and have added another month on the time scale .
I went into boots for tablets with no waiting which is unusual and into the bank where there was no one about ,we then went to Aldi and did our shopping ,came home put it all away ,had coffee and then lunch and now I'm having a rest .

Mel thats really good your not smoking ,well done keep it up ,the hospital will be pleased.
Treat yourself to something nice .

Well OH was only at the hospital 3 hours so better than some previous visits. He has two lots of eyedrops every two hours to start with and they want to see him again in a fortnight. To think he was only there on Monday this week as well. The scan picked up a dent in the back of his eye with all the lasering, so they want to check that again as well. He liked the smart young asian doctor who explained everything very well in perfect english. We got a pleasant surprise when we got home as OH put on an old anorak to do something and what should be in the pocket but the lost garage door remote!! He says he thought he'd looked in all his pockets, but they are big pockets so maybe it was caught in the fabric somehow. I've suggested we fix a big key ring and fob on it as we did that with the shed padlock key so it was easily seen and felt. I had looked up the number to phone to get another key and was going to have one last look this week before getting another, so finding it today was lucky. Now I just need to find the throw that went missing.

Yes it's important to have the test today Mel and shouldn't take too long, then you can look forward to your birthday. It's really good you are still not smoking and they will be pleased about that. You are lucky to have seen the sun today. I'm just glad there's been no rain yet here, but it's due soon..

Morning All,

Dull and dry again here. My plan to be up early and drive to see the Snowdrops at a church after looking at Valentine cards in a shop on the way fell by the wayside. OH asked me to look at his eye that had become painful last night and it looked ok till he pulled the eyelid down and I saw it was inflamed. It's considered urgent if that happens, so we were up and on our way to eye casualty by 7.15am this morning so he could be seen without there being such a big queue. The nurse has confirmed it is Uveitis connected with the arthritis so he is waiting to see the doctor now and have a scan and should then have to go and queue to get some eyedrops and I can go and pick him up. The traffic wasn't too bad taking him, but it took me over an hour to drive just 4 miles to get home! Stop and start with atrocious driving with people barging in and rushing to get to work and round a school I pass it was worse still. Then while waiting in a long queue to an island a police car with lights and sirens whizzed by on the other side of the road and I relised the road I wanted to turn right into had stationary traffic and likely an accident. Everyone, me included positioned ouselves to turn a different way at the island, but all the roads were at a standstill with others doing the same. At another junction with traffic lights further along, some cars were risking driving past us in the queue by driving onto the wrong side of the road, then swerving onto the forecourt of a garage on the corner and driving out again and turning right so they didn't have to queue or wait at the traffic lights! I see our county has the lowest rating for bad potholes and you can certainly feel it. I don't know why they bother with the cost of road humps when potholes do the same job.

I've called at the shop, but managed to get two packs of asparagus instead of one and when I got to the till I couldn't find my credit card and there was a queue behind me so I used cash. When I got in my car I had another look in my purse and there the credit card was all the time?? I keep yawning as I didn't sleep much knowing we had to be up early, so better get me a COC to liven me up for the trip back again.

AnnG today's meeting does sound an interesting one. I hope you will be able to hear the lady ok. At least with her showing you things it should be better.

Morning girls,

It started with sunshine this mornng and I had a lie in. Slept really well last night which was good after the night before.

Pc is telling me rainy days ahead and its 9 degrees.

Em has just texted me to see if I have been in touch with the hospital about the appointment tomorrow so she is picking me up at 1.15pm. Really don't want to go but I know I must. I'm still not smoking.

I have a whole bag of those sample bottles oh bought as he always had to take one to his appointments and they are not complecated ones.

Morning all,

Not very good here again very cloudy but at least its dry and its shopping day .

Anng that sounds an interesting meeting ,looking forward to hearing about that .

Vera what's the bet the sample pot has been left in the car ,good job you've got some ,hope its not like mine with the little white topped one to fill .

Good morning all. not actually raining at the moment but looks 'promising'. 7 degrees so still relatively warmer. no wind as far as I can see. A gardening interests meeting this afternoon but not at mine for a change One of our members has her daughter visiting from Canada and she is a florist who, during their very snowy winters, uses dried flowers from her garden. today she will show us how to put patterns on silk using dried flowers or rather parts of flowers.

Vera we are all guilty of brain overload/trying to remember too much at once.

Hope that you found the sample pot..

What am I like? Of course it's Valentine's Day on Saturday. I had another senior moment when I said it's tomorrow. My head's all over the place at the moment. I think I am trying to cope with too many things at once. Now I have to hunt for a little "sample" pot I gave OH as he has to take a sample to the hospital tomorrow and he can't remember where he put it. Luckily I bought a few at the chemist a little while ago so if I can't find where he has put that one, I can produce another one.

I'm going to close the computer down now so I'll wish you all goodnight, sleep tight.

Sorry you had such a bad night Mel. Even a bag of salted crisps will raise your blood pressure, so putting those salt flakes on the sore spot and then swallowing it may be why you felt strange.The mouth swarms with bacteria which is why you need to swish the salted water all round your mouth and teeth, not just on the sore bits. Vera has described exactly what to do and you don't swallow it. I agree that it would be a good idea to ring the dentist as well as it doesn't seem to be getting better. If the plate needs shaping to stop it rubbing you need to see him anyway.

Vera it isn't Valentine's Day tomorrow it's on Saturday! lol. I'm glad it's not just me that gets days mixed up. :-) OH always goes a bit mad with cards on Valentine's Day, always has, but finding nice cards for women is so much easier than finding them for men. It's the same with birthday cards too. Your car has obviously been well cared for so may be good for a long time once this work is done. My old schoolfriend still has her 17 year old people carrier from when she showed King Charles Spaniels and Fitz's car was about 19 or 20 years old and still going strong till he drove it onto an island and wrote it off!

Gwyn it's half term here next week too, so OH won't have any school meetings to go to. You mentioning Snowdrops has made me decide to go to a nice village a few miles away where we used to have lovely arvery lunches a few years ago. There is a nice luttle church there where the graves are all covered in Snowdrops. I can't walk far enough to go round the bigger garden displays, but I can even park right next to the church so it will be nice to see them. The old hall in the village usually has a pretty display along the drive to it as well and with Crocus too.

But it would to me. My birthday Saturday my hospital appointment Friday day before my birthday. Vera you never know he could surprise you yet!

It was a u3a meeting Vera, in the house of somebody who lives in the village. 10 of us. It was to talk about books but not like a book club. I suppose some of the talk was about books but to be honest, with my left hearing aid out of action I was not much of a participant. It is difficult to chat and initiate a conversation when you are not sure if everyone has finished talking. Still it was good to see people. and it is still sunny here.

Perfume sounds nice Mandy.

Vera Valentines day is the 14th, tomorrow is the 12th :-D not that it will make any difference to you of course.

You mentioned being picked up at 1.45 AnnG. Were you going somewhere nice or was it a medical appointment? I think you said your audiology appointment was on Friday.

Sorry to hear you had such a bad night Mel. I'm not sure the salt would have affected you unless you used way too much. I must admit I wouldn't have put raw salt flakes on the sore spot. OH puts a teaspoon of salt in a tumbler and fills it with hot water, stirring it till it dissolves. Then he uses that mixture a few times a day, swilling it round his mouth for a minute or two before spitting it out. It must put you off eating having such a sore spot. Is it worth giving your dentist a call? I hope it starts to feel more comfortable soon.

Valentine's Day tomorrow. It will pass my OH by. In all the years I've known him I have had one card when we were engaged and I am still convinced his mother sent that. He doesn't have a romantic bone in his body. Good job he has other qualities.

Yes, as you have all suggested, we will have to bite the bullet and pay up for the car. It's that or manage without a car as we wouldn't consider buying another one now. The problem is that it is an old car so other things might start going wrong as well. Fingers crossed that won't happen. We've had it from new so it's only ever been driven by myself or OH and it's the best and most comfortable car we've ever owned. We could manage without a car but we can't get to a lot of places by public transport so it will be expensive taxis and even when there are buses everything takes much, much longer. Tomorrow, for instance, OH has an appointment at 2.50 pm. We will have to leave home about 12.15 to catch the 12.29 bus so we will be at his appointment about 1.50. We can't get the next bus because that will get us there late. With the times of the buses back we are unlikely to be home before 6 pm. I moan all the time but things are what they are so I'll have to learn to accept them.

We're not sure when we are getting the car back. The chap on the phone said they have most items they need in stock but one thing has to be ordered in. I hope it won't take long to get it in. He said he'll ring again in 2 or 3 days.

I've got a list of 7 things I need to get done today and so far I have only done 2 so I had better stir my stumps and get on.