General Chat

Morning all,

6 degrees here and pouring with rain ,I think it should clear later and we might have a few sunny spells .

Oh thats sad about TOFS I use to like looking round in there ,Colins nephew's wife works in there so she will be out of work .

I've put a nice piece of braising steak in the slow cooker with veg ,I've put it on low so I hope it will be OK for tonight , didn't know if I should do it on high for less hours or low for longer so i did low and I'll hope for the best .

Morning Anng and all,

Thats sad about TOFS as I always like to browse around there and usually bought something in there. I liked their cotton long sleeved t shirt and the polo neck ones and the cotton vest tops have worn them for years. I shall be sad to see the shops go.

Its 8 degrees here this morning and quite bright at the mo but pc says cloudy so I expect that later on.

It was wild and windy in the night with rain too so a wet and soggy day out there today even though the suns trying to shine through.

Until I saw it mentioned on here, I had not heard of the original factory shop but I have just seen the following in the DM.

The owner of the two chains, Modella Capital, confirmed the decision to place them into administration earlier this month.

Both Claire's - which garnered a cult following thanks to its ear-piercing services and friendship bracelets - and The Original Factory Shop were purchased last year in last-minute rescue deals.

Many hoped the acquisition would turn their fortunes around, but things continued to go downhill for the chains and the company's cash eventually ran out.

A spokesman for Modella previously said: 'Very sadly, we have had to initiate insolvency proceedings for The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) and Claire's Accessories UK & Ireland.

'This has been a very tough decision. We have worked intensively in an effort to save both businesses, having made last-ditch attempts to rescue them, but neither has a realistic possibility of trading profitably again.

Good morning all. Didn't sleep well last night, thankfully that doesn't happen so often now, still annoying when it does though, feel 'washed out' this morning so a good job I had not planned on going anywhere.
Pouring with rain and extremely dark and gloomy.
I have a wash load in so at least one thing will be done today.
The food bin lorry had just been round but I am not going out in the rain to bring that in.

Yes it was good to hear she didn't think there was any infection but, it is very strange, she was very pleasanr but didn't fill me with confidence somehow. Too ready to say everything was fine, almost as though she had rehearsed her lines. And she did keep referring to notes. Anyway. I shall assume she is right and it is just time.

Vera still fighting the medics then. I hope that the scan and blood test eventually fall into line. Hope dentist goes ok and you don't get wet getting there.

Mel, gave me a fright there I thought I had missed sending your card but I see your birthday is not just yet so the appointment must be in February.
That is a faff now sending your parcels isn't it. Progress again!!!

Ann glad you are on facebook, i saw that you were yesterday. Good card.

I think, in some update, my adblocker must have got delelted so I just ignore the ads on FB.

Good evening all

Just popped in to say hallo but I am not stopping long as I still have things to do this evening. I have read your posts.

Glad the nurse was able to reassure you AnnG. You must be fed up with your swimmy heads Mandy. I hope they improve soon. Annx, catching the tea towel alight must have been a bit scary but you managed to deal with it. Your OH sounds as though he is busier than ever.

OH had a response to his email to the urology consultant about not being able to get blood tests before 30th Jan. She said that would have to do but the CT scan might be delayed. He had the scan last week and told her in his email that he had already had it. She will still see him for his appointment on 2nd Feb. He's written back telling her again that he has had the scans and confirming that he will attend on 2nd Feb. So much for me saying how good our hospital are - in this case the left hand doesn't seem to know what the right hand is doing.

It's all medical at the moment. Having been through several visits to doctors, health centre, hospital and optician we're completing the set tomorrow with a visit to the dentist and a trip to the pharmacy for my meds.

Must get on. Sleep well tonight ladies.

Forgot to put my recycling out on Sunday but its knowhere near full so will happily go another week. What has annoyed me is that in that high wind the other night I lost the paper sack so I shall have to put them out in a carrier with a big note asking for another one.

I was rather cross my appointment with the ospital was the day before my birthday but at least it was'nt on my birthday!

Annx I have Cardicore which is Bisoprolol but I don't think I was told not to have gratefruit with that. I shall have to look on the instructons when I open the next packet. I really miss my pink gratefruit and all this talk about it is making me want it even more. Before I had the simvastatin I used to have three pink gratefruit a week and one day oh ate my last one and he should'nt have been eating gratefruit he told me he thought it was an orange but he ate it anyway.

Went up the shop with a little parcel and when I got there could I find the label on the tablet. I had to come all the way home again and take a picture of it on my tablet and go back up the shop and we did it from there. I was cross it was two trips but it had to be done.

Iv'e still got a cough and its worse when I turn the heating on. I'm still being a good girl and not smoking but I do miss it and so does Robby as he always got mealworms when I went out for a ciggy. I try to call him in the morning while I am making my coffee.

Anng it good the nurse said you had no infection and that you can moisturize three times a day knowing its safe to do so. Hope it starts to heal soon.

Can't make up my mind what to have for dinner tonight its either Lasagne or smoked haddock and sweetcorn.

That's good the nurse reassured you there is no infection in the wound AnnG. What a disappointment your Thursday appointment has been moved to such a bad time though. I'd be the same as you about sickness at the surgery. My ankles swell a bit in the summer and I've tried painting with elevated legs, but it just doesn't work for me either! I'm back on FB now. I found out how to pause my adblocker on just their site and then had to agree ofn the FB instruction to accept adverts and it was still free then.

Vera those little dogs are so good aren't they. I can just picture you playing chase in the garden. Your daughter did well getting those two. I'm glad your OH's back has started to improve. It sounds like the upright chair is best for now.

Mel I don't know about grapefruit with all beta blockers, I just know about it with Bisoprolol.

OH couldn't get his soluble aspirin with his meds this morning, due to the shortages that have been mentioned in the press recently. They told him to try again at the end of the week!! It's a good job he isn't desperate.

Sorry you keep getting the swimming heads Mandy which must be horrid. It might be that you need a bigger dose of the tablets. You asked about my Daffs and tjust about all the flowers are open now with a lovely scent when I walk past. OH said how bright and cheerful they look. Yes that's one towel for the bin now! I'm enjoying the pottery programme and thought how good the potters are this year and some of the decorating of things is so good and imaginative.

Gwyn I was lucky and noticed the flames straightaway and could smother them with the rest of the cloth. Plan B was to drop it on the tiled floor which has no carpet or rug. It would be better if the slow cooker container had a little handle or tab each side instead of the narrow rim to steady it with.

Yes OH has quite a busy patch just now which is unusual. He has given up most of his schools since his cardiac arrest, but kept 5 good ones with less travel to keep his hand in. Instead he agreed to become the Governance Professional for one of the school trusts, which he enjoys and involves only a few meetings a year. He's also an Independent Person for a few councils which is voluntary work involving him advising on complalnts they get and they are expected to take his advice. There are only few meetings a year for each thing. He still has a quick mind at age 72, doesn't find any of it stressful after being a public servant all of his working life. It's a welcome distraction from his health issues too which is good.

Do you have anymore hospital appointments for your pneumonia? When I asked OH about his he said he had two lots of I think it was xrays and it still showed a little amount in his lungs that they then said would clear on it's own.

Recycling bin collection tomorrow so I'd better see what else I can put in.

I thought I would just pop out and pull up the weeds growing in all the pots on the patio outside my lounge window. (why do so many weed grow when plants don't?)

Gosh it is bitterly cold out there now. Alexa says it is 6 degrees but with that strongNorth East wind it feel more like -6, my hands were frozen. I did pull up the weeds but I didn't stay out there long.

Well Thursday's appointment has just been changed (due to staff sickness) by 50 minutes so now 2.50 right in school pick up time and, as we have 5 schools on and around the short journey we travel on to the doctors, home time is really bad, parking everywhere, lots of traffick, kids on bikes all over the roads, they all seem to come out around the same time. There are also the school buses of course.

If there is staff sickness it makes me nervous going into the surgery.

Afternoon all,

Only 4 degrees here today so we've lit the fire so nice and cosy now ,I thought we were going to see the sun a while ago it really brightened up but no such luck it clouded over again .

Yesterday I really felt a bit less heady but today my head has been swimmy again ,I think its just going to take time .

Anng thats good she reassured you that there was no Infection and good to go in on time .
Did you enjoy your lunch yesterday.

Oh Ann thats one less t towel to wash, you were lucky you didn't burn yourself as its not easy to let go off the towel when your holding the pan , was that how Jane had her fire in the kitchen, I remember there was a bit smoke .

Gwyn are you now feeling back to your old self and going into your school again to hear them read .

Vera hope your OH's back is still improving , bet you were sorry to see the dogs go home they are lovely company ,it's nice to know they settled well and handy for your daughter if she needs you to have them again.

Right I'm going to sit now and watch Lost in the Lakes and do some knitting ,one little shoe to do for the rabbit .

Not wasted AnnG if you have had reassurance.
I'm glad there is no infection to worry about.
Good that your appointment was on time.I hope Thursday's is too.

Vera, it sounds as if you are ideal dog-sitters and it's good that the dogs seemed comfortable being left with you.
They'll be wanting to come and play Chase again :-)

Oh dear Annx Sorry to hear of your mishap with the teatowel.So easy for these things to happen, but I'm glad you were OK.
Your OH certainly seems to be very busy with his online or in-person meetings.

I hope Mandy has had a good weekend and is feeling better with the new medication.

How is your cough, Mel? Better I hope.
My friend, who I met for lunch last week said she'd had a cough for over 2 months and can't seem to shift it.She has even been for an X-ray, but nothing showed up, so it's just a case of time, I guess.
Very tiring though.

Busy sorting through some papers ready for recycling tomorrow. Mind you, if the weather is as grim as forecast, it might not get put out or the street will be strewn with leaflets etc. :-0

Saw the nurse, (Hannah something), I think she is actually some sort of trainee but I have to assume that she knew what she was talking about looked about 16 but I am sure that is just me, they all look so young these days.. She said nothing to worry about, no infection, skin dry so moisturise three times a day. Elevate legs (difficult sitting at my desk making cards.) antibiotics not needed. Just taking time. She was very nice exactly on time and exactly 10 minutes. At least she did speak to me as if I had a brain.

I was up early too but still feel I had a bit of a wasted morning. I had better find something useful to do.

Morning Ladies,

Brrr chilly here too! We were up early for a change and showered then went to Costa down the road for coffee and a small egg and spinach crispy warm bap. OH had a quick look at the books in Waterstones next door and I looked round Next. We had to get back then as OH needed to be online to speak to someone.

Well we were saying how good the non-stick metal liner slow cookers are and then I read how bad the non-stick teflon is for us. Isn't it always the same! Mine is on just now with pork steaks in it with onion, apple and carrot and a bought mustard sauce. I managed to set fire to the teacloth I was using to stop it tipping on the gas hob while browning the meat and onion, so I will have to find something better to grip it with.

I rubbed out and started again drawing the card I started the wrong way up and it's almost finished now. It is a 60th birthday card for Terry the pianist which I should finish today.

I always had low BP too till my heart rate whizzed up that time. I put it keeping low down to not adding salt to anything, even as a child. Mum's was low too and she would use little salt, but dad was always wanting salty sausages and bacon and adding it to his food on his plate every day. I remember him cooking sunday lunch once when mum was poorly in bed and none of us children would have any gravy it was so salty. It was encouraged when he was in the heat in India during and after WW2, but his BP was high. He didn't change though, even after his first heart attack in his 50s. Mind you he was a bad tempered, angry person all the time, which wouldn't have helped his BP either and there are various other reasons for BP going up as well.

Better go and fetch our meds and call at the shop now, so will read the posts later as OH is champing at the bit to go!

Morning all,

I got up for the loo and back to bed by 5.39am and lay for a while thinking I am not going to drop off again and the phone rang. It was Asda with a message about my delivery at 6.02am. Then I just lay there till it was light and had another message from the surgery at 8.01am. Then I must have dropped off for a while cos I had a dream about the beach and dogs smiling at me. Then I had another message to tell me I have a parcel arriving today at 10.40am so now I am all behind today.

OH was on Amlodapine.

Must renew my books at the library today.

Good morning all. 3 degrees here so a bit on the chilly side still quite dark but looks dry. Nurse this morning to check my wound at 11.20 so that messes up the day a bit. Luckily cynth is able to take me. Back again on Thurs afternoon for blood test.

good exercise for you Vera mind you don't overdo it in your enthusuasm. Pleased that OH's back is improving hopefully that will continue.

I have taken Amlodopine for many years my ankles do well a bit in the late afternoon but it is not enough to trouble me. I also take Bendroflumethiazide at the same time,this is a siuretic so I assume it is supposed to balance out the swelling. My BP these days tends to be low. I do.t miss grapefruit too much but would like to be able to have it occasionally. And not being able to take Nurofen is a nuisance.

We must be twins Gwyn. I too had always had lowish bp and was surprised when it suddenly went sky high and I was put on Amlopidine. I was told my ankles might swell but they would go down in a couple of weeks when my body had adjusted to the pills. In my case they got worse and worse until I couldn’t get any shoes on at all so couldn’t go out of the house. Doctor changed me to Lercanadipine and I’ve had no problems since then, apart from missing the taste of grapefruit and having to use co-codamol instead of Naproxen when my back is bad

I do feel for you Mandy and hope your head stops swimming soon. Rest as much as you need to.

OH’s back is improving already. Most of the day he has sat in a hard dining chair watching TV or reading but he did get up and make us a sandwich at lunchtime.

Daughter dropped dogs off about 9.30 am and should be back soon after 5.30 pm. They have been good as gold. For the first hour they sat in the hall just watching the front door. They were clearly waiting for mum to come back but they didn’t seem distressed at all. After a while they started settling wherever one of us was, so they lay on their blanket and watched TV with OH, then came into the kitchen while I was preparing dinner. Instead of our usual Sunday lunchtime meal we’ll eat tonight when daughter is back. The dogs came into the garden with me an hour or so ago and the younger one had a great time racing around our small space and playing games with me, making me go round a large flower bed in one direction while she hurtled off in the other direction and then stopping to check if I was chasing her. There was a bitter wind blowing and I got cold but she wouldn’t come in so I left her out there and eventually she appeared at the back door. They get a meal about 5 pm and after that, armed with poo bags, I’ll take them down the road to the rec for 10 minutes.

We had our lunch early so I think it’s time for a nice cup of tea now. Enjoy what’s left of the day.

Mandy, it must be hard waiting for the tablets to make you feel better, but as you say, your body has to adjust. I hope you feel better soon though.
I remember that Mum used to take blood pressure tablets, when I still lived at home. Obviously things have moved on a lot since those times, but I do remember her taking them, when she first woke, then having to stay in bed for a while until they kicked in. Only then would she get up and have something to eat.

I was put on Amlodipine, when I was found to have high B.P which was news to me, as it previously been on the low side. I took the tablets for some time, then for some reason had swollen ankles, so the GP changed me to another tablet, - can't remember what name, but it made me feel awful. Each day was a blur and I just couldn't function properly, so I went back to the GP and I said I couldn't live like that, actually it was an existance, not living.
I went back on Amlodopine and have had no ill effects since.
Like Mel, I would like to have grapefruit, but know I can't.
Ibroprofen used to be my go-to for painkillers, but that is out too.

I have found the pharmacists are really helpful, when it comes to advice about interaction of drugs.

It was only Tuesday when I went to the hospital Mel so I have to give them a chance to work as I said they want blood after a fortnight so it probably takes nearly that time to really kick in .

Mandy how long have you benn on these tablets now? Surely they should start to work properly soon. This must have been going on for over a week now.

Suns trying to shine here but its not really working but its not rianing and thats the main thing.