Planning My Retirement!

 

Today has been one of pottering around.

With the weather being so foul first thing, I took pity on Teen One and drove her to college, its on the way to Morrisons, so it was a good excuse to get some shopping done before it got too busy.

 

 

 

Too much "doing stuff" still leaves me rather breathless, so once the shopping was unpacked, it was time to sit down for a bit, with a cuppa and some knitting.

 

 

 

Before I knew it, it was lunch time, I finished off the last bowl of carrot and lentil soup and tomorrow will make some butternut squash and sweet potato soup for the family I think.

 

 

It was then time to get a sausage casserole on for dinner time.

We always have to have dinner early on a Friday....either that or very late.

 

As I am not 100%  and we had the promise of a helper for Teen One at kids club, I stayed home, which is extremely unusual!

All seems to have gone well without me...so I am planning my retirement...hee hee!

Remember Remember The 5th of November

 

Here in the UK, today is of course Bonfire Night.

The night when we remember the time Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

Most families have traditions for tonight and it's one children up and down the country look forward to.

Over the years traditions have changed, for safety amongst other reasons.

Few people now have a bonfire in their garden, few children ( I am personally glad to say) actually make  a guy, and sit for weeks beforehand outside shops calling "Penny for the Guy," expecting money to then be given to them.

As children we almost always had sparklers....a kind of love hate relationship existed with these amazing sticks of joy.

The love was the excitement of making weird and wonderful patterns in front of your eyes.

The hate was, the fear your little hands ( usually freezing to death) might get burnt by the sparks...of course they never did and we were always lectured about not touching the stick once the sparks had died.

Jacket potatoes and sausages and toffee apples were the food tradition.

 

 

Our own family tradition has been to try and make our own toffee apples!

Teen One is the one who really loves to do this.

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight was therefore no different.

We had decided to halve the ingredients rather than make enough for eight apples.

 

 

 

 

It was only as she was dipping the apples she remembered she only halved the sugar!

Oh well....it seemed to work ok.

We always do apple chunks as opposed to whole apples, much easier to eat.

 

 

Sparklers these days come in "Monster" sizes! At a price of £1 for a pack of 5 they are extremely affordable!

 

 

Around supper time, the Teens and Hubby are going out to a local hill to view the fireworks around the area.

Teen One is making a flask of hot chocolate and we popped into Lidls on the way home from piano lessons for some fresh doughnuts.

I have decided I don't really want to be out in the cold damp air, plus, if I am honest....fireworks don't fill me with  as much joy as it does the others.

The bangs always make me jump and I worry about the danger side of things.

 

I wonder what family traditions you have for tonight?

 

 

Cover Your Tracks!

 

Well last night was very similar to the last few nights...having to sleep upright to ensure the bubbling and crackling doesn't start.

I must have at some point slid down somewhat though as I woke coughing and spluttering around 3am and never managed to get back off to sleep properly.

Maybe tonight I will be so tired I will sleep regardless of the position!

I do however, feel more able every day. Its just a shame this week was always going to be so busy!

I am only doing essentials, but did decide to take a quick trip to the supermarket.

My body was craving its usual fresh veg and vitamins and I was just in the mood for a bowl of home made soup.

I must admit the short trip was more taxing than I had expected, but being home, with the larder once again having fresh food in, and a bowl of carrot and lentil soup before me, it was worth all the effort.

The soup only took about 40mins to make, just carrots, onion, lentils and some seasoning.

There is enough left for another couple of days :)

 

 

 

I saw these on special offer, so they just have to be tried don't they!

Teen Two has just tried one and came rushing into the kitchen saying "it tastes like medicine!"

Having taken a sip myself, I can only think its the cherry flavour that he is associating with most children's medicines.

We will see what Teen One thinks.

 

 

I had to go and collect Teen Two at lunchtime for his last dentist appointment.

They are very caring ladies, which is just as well...despite having numbing gel, two injections...the second of which bent the needle at a 45 degree angle.....he was still in considerable pain when the drilling started!

However, he soldiered on in good spirits.

Needless to say, his cheeks are very numb now and getting more numb by the minute!

(Did type number...but it doesn't work does it!)

 

 

We are just home for an hour or so for a cuppa and to catch my breath, before having to head back to school for parents evening.

I could really do without it, but being GCSE year its a small effort to make really.

We had planned to go on to a firework display...well get in good sight of it at least, but have decided to give that a miss, shame as Teen One was looking forward to it.

Hopefully she will be able to see something from the attic window.

I would also have then dropped Teen Two off at his internet café evening, but once again have said I just know, after being at school, then having a late dinner, I wont have any energy left.

So what was a very busy evening has now become just a busy evening.

 

 

Finally...there has been a rather unpleasant smell in the living room for a few days.

I suspect our fluffy cat has not managed to clean herself properly ( I'll go no further!)

Despite having cleaned every where I could  think of, the room still smelt decidedly dodgy.

The proper thing to do would be go to the garage and unearth the vax...but that is just too much effort right now, so I came upon the idea of sprinkling talcum powder all over the carpet and leaving it for a few hours.

When I came back....look what I could see on the chair seat!

 

 

These sneaky little paw prints went from the seat of the chair,

to the arm of the chair...

 

 

...to the top of the chair....

 

 

 

...right to the gerbilarium!

 

 

And we know just who made those tracks don't we!

She can't even hide her evil intentions can she!

It's no good Crystal, you are going to have to learn to cover your tracks!

 

Happy Wedding Anniversary!

 

Last night was rather a long one, although I can't account for all the hours, so clearly I did get some sleep! My body must be adjusting to the unusual sleeping position!

The first thing I noticed was....not the beautiful vase of red roses....they were the second thing....the first thing was...I could open my eyes...and keep them open!

I hadn't managed to do that without a lot of struggle for days!

I then sat there and thought...hmm....I think I could actually get out of bed without too much effort!

It was then I noticed the lovely the beautiful roses hubby had brought it yesterday, but I wasn't really with it enough to appreciate.

 

Teen One was due in court today ...sounds bad doesn't it! Thankfully it was part of her psychology course!

I had promised to drop her off ages ago, but yesterday said I was unlikely to be able to do it, however, having managed a bath and getting dressed....I felt almost back to normal, as whilst not able to take on anything involving a lot of effort...driving didn't seem to pose any problems.

So for the first time in a few days I felt part of the human race again!

When I got home I felt like some breakfast, and then as I could feel a few palpitations, decided to be a good girl and take it easy for a while.

After watching some catch up programmes I then felt able to put away some washing, put some more loads on, and generally potter.

I had lunch at lunchtime and then spent the afternoon on the sofa.

Its amazing the difference 3or 4 little antibiotics  can bring about isn't it!

 

 

 

As the title of today's blog suggests, today is our wedding anniversary.

Twenty two years ago hubby and I "eloped" to Gretna Green!

We have always bought each other a small gift following the traditional anniversary list, and for the "in between"  years, use the year we are celebrating and the corresponding letter of the alphabet.

If you haven't quiet followed, this year we had to look for something beginning with "V"

At first I struggled to come up with anything, but then remembered hubby's car is a Vauxhall Vectra...there must be something I can buy related to that!

 

 

After a peruse on ebay, I found what I thought was the almost perfect gift...a Vintage ( counts as a V too!) Vauxhall Vectra Parker pen!

Hubby has a "thing" about several items..one of which is pens!

Had the picture of the car been blue it would have been perfect.

 

 

For me, he made excellent choices....a Yankee Candle Jar fragranced "Vanilla Cupcake", some home made vanilla fudge, which he had bought at the Pumpkin festival ( forward thinking!) and a box of chocs (I guess we can forgive him the lack of a V on that one!)

If you are ever have the pleasure of finding yourself in Massachusetts USA, then you really must take a trip to the Yankee Candle store there.

It's the home of Yankee Candle and is almost a village its so big!

We had never heard of Yankee Candle before we lived in Connecticut almost twenty years ago, and I feel sure they weren't available here then.
Nowadays they pop up in most places and are big on shopping channels of course.

 

 

Teen One designed and hand drew this beautiful card for us.

I remember being about eight years old and asking my primary school teacher how to spell anniversary.

She wasn't completely sure...I remember the shock of discovering teachers didn't actually KNOW everything!

I will ensure Teen One's future pupils know how to spell it :)

 

So life it seems, is getting back to normal

I am sad to have missed the fun of the past few days, we had looked forward to it all so much, but I am grateful that my family have pulled together to try and keep things ticking along and of course their constant " are you ok" "is there anything you want?"

To see Teen Two's face about an hour ago, when he came home from school and found me up and about and my usual chirpy chatty self, was a picture.
He fist pumped the air and gave a loud cheer, then gave me a big hug.

He has felt the last few days more than anyone...probably more than the misery I was in!

Hopefully tonight we can celebrate our anniversary with those posh pizzas, and be ever thankful for the health and strength we all so often take for granted.

 

 

 

Nov 2nd: A Diagnosis!

 

With yet another night of relatively no sleep and the pain not getting any better plus my energy levels dropping more every day, there was nothing for it but to get an appointment with the doctor.

I am very thankful that our doctors make it possible to see you any day...it may not be the doctor you want, but that has never worried me, I figure, if I am that ill, anyone will do!

All my stats were taken and the symptoms listened to.

All my stats were elevated, heart rate, oxygen levels, temperature, blah blah blah.

The diagnosis was, pleurisy.

I was given some antibiotics and told to go back in two days if I wasn't seeing an improvement.

 

 

The rest of the day was spent in a blur on the sofa.

Just going to the doctors seemed to have sapped me of every last ounce of energy.

The Teens were great and between them sorted out the tea and the washing ( funny how no one thinks about that isn't it!) whilst I didn't even have the strength to keep my eyes open...if only sleep followed!

I sent Hubby a text saying bring some milk in and pizza from the supermarket (I would fall ill when a big shop was due!) incase I wasn't feeling better the next day.

He has chosen two lovely pizzas....but its as well he isn't the one usually doing the shopping...fresh top of the range pizzas don't come cheap!

I went to bed early and spent another night in that miserable bolt upright position, longing to be able to lie down.

Nov 1st More Car Sitting!

 

It was a long night, and when morning finally came, I was surprised to actually feel a bit peckish.

I wasn't up to a shower...now I have washed my hair every day since I was 14 so you can imagine how weak I was feeling to not have a showed! But did feel I could make it to the restaurant for some breakfast.

I suppose I was a little spurred on by the knowledge this Hilton as an american pancake maker.

 

 

Whilst the Teens and Hubby enjoyed the pool, you guessed it...I laid on the bed!

On their return Hubby mentioned that we would be passing Gloucester en route to the next photo shoot, and part of Harry Potter was filmed there.

Teen One was keen to see inside the catherdral, so it was decided we would stop off there.

 

 

 

Once again, it was a time of sitting in the car for me. A multi storey car park is not the most impressive of places to be looking out on to...however it was amusing to see the various little happenings in that short time.

 

 

Our next stop was Ross on Wye

and yes you guessed it again...I stayed in the car!

 

 

 

By early evening we were back home and I actually managed to cook up a quick pasta supper for everyone, although after a few mouthfuls I realised I still hadn't got my appetite back.

I went to bed early, but discovered I was unable to lie down...a rather unpleasant bubbling and crackling sound developed,which then made me cough, which inturn made the pain in the side worse!

So, packed up with pillows behind me, I spent the night sitting upright...I cant say I found it easy to sleep but did manage a few zzzz's here and there.

 

Saturday 31st Oct: Segway Fun

 

Saturday was due to be the start of a much looked forward to weekend away, to celebrate our 22nd Wedding Anniversary.

For a few years, Hubby has been recreating old pictures from a This England postcard book, showing how life has changed in the past 100 years.

Castle Combe was going to be our first stop off that day, along with a picnic of course.

What we hadn't planned for, was me waking up with flu!

I was unable to do anything at all for the first few hours of the morning and said the only option was to go without me.

We had paid for a hotel and also the Segway experience, booked a restaurant table, and of course looked forward to all those things.

It didn't make any sense to just not turn up when three members of the family were fit and healthy, and I really didn't feel I could move from the sofa where I had placed myself around 6am after coming down for  some painkillers.

The three of them got on with packing their stuff, making their own sandwiches etc.

Teen One made some delicious strawberry shortcake jam jar puds too!

But as the time got nearer for them leaving, Teen Two got more and more upset at the thought of leaving me behind.

The last little spark of adrenalin ( which I didn't know I had!) kicked in and I bargained with him that if I could manage to get dressed, then I would come...figuring it wouldn't be any different sitting in a car to sitting at home.

Dosed up with lemsip and the like, I was able to summons the energy to get dressed and make it to the car.

I slept most of the journey and stayed dosing in the car whilst the family took a short walk to what looks like the very pleasant village of Castle Combe

 

 

 

It was then on to the main event ( for The Teens anyway!)

Segway Bristol, based in the most beautiful surroundings of The Old Down Estate, near Thornbury.

Our previous Segway experience had been in the pouring rain, in what looked like an old quarry!

Saturday was a stunning day , as you can see Hubby was in his t-shirt!

Teen Two was keen that I join them, and I foolishly thought that it might just be possible, after all... I only had to stand there, there was no effort involved.

 

 

 

The views really were stunning, but unfortunately, part way round, I felt extremely unwell and on the verge of passing out.

 

 

So whilst everyone else continued on the "safari" I stayed "in the middle of nowhere" on a bench.

The views were stunning and helped to take my mind of how ill I felt, but I clearly wasn't seeing straight....how little of the scenery  I actually managed to capture in this shot!

 

 

 

Our last port of call was to visit Cribbs Causeway.

We have heard a lot about it but never actually been there, so we booked  a Café Rouge, using our Gourmet Society card once again and intended having a good browse around.

For me, sadly, it meant staying in the car.

I didn't feel able to even get out of the car let alone walk around a huge mall.

I had no appetite for food so wasn't missing out on the meal anyway.

 

 

It was then on to our final destination Hilton Bristol.

I was by this time feeling very unwell and when we got to our room I just kicked off my shoes and went to bed in my clothes...I didn't even have the energy to visit the bathroom!

I spent a very uncomfortable night, in a considerable amount  of pain in my side whenever I breathed...I had a feeling this flu was turning into something else!

Poor Teen Two was by this time coming out in sympathy and went to bed with the bin by him ( hopefully you have worked out why!)

I was pretty sure it was worry, he doesn't cope well with realising his mum is a mere mortal!

As I was awake most of the night, I am happy to report he fell asleep soon after his head hit the pillow and the bin was not needed!