Hoping I've turned a corner

 I took the decision to drive to the shops today (for grub) - if I felt rough by town, I would get bare essentials from Co-op.  If I felt OK, I would go on to Llandod.  I felt OK.

In Christchurch.

I managed to find a parking space I could drive straight into in the town (thank heavens as brain wasn't quite up to doing parallel parking yet).  I posted a card, and walked slowly back to the art shop.  I was looking for a gift for little "I" but the books there didn't quite hit the mark.  Art stuff - that was what I needed, as part of a Christmas gift.  I couldn't believe it - no art stuff at all - instead LOTS of birthday cards etc and a nice little gift corner.  So I am afraid Mr Amazon had to have my business this late in the day.

I got a trolley for my meander around Tesco's.  Oh my goodness, that challenged me.  I was ok with it empty but as it filled up (cat food is always heavy), so are bags of spuds, and I began to struggle.  I got the essentials (about half the Christmas list) and stopped whilst I still had legs under me!  I unpacked in bits and bobs (some still in car and I won't be able to haul the cat litter in I don't think).  Then I had a double Time Team nap.  

My tea was cooked by the chippy, but at least I've had something hot and it's not just a handful of Ritz or half an apple . . .

A Lorna Doone sort of day

 Of course, I have been on the sofa all day again.  I fancied watching Lorna Doone earlier, but couldn't find the remote for the dvd player.  I watched the - much shortened to extracts - clips on You Tube, but then Tam phoned and told me I didn't need the remote for the dvd player so I watched it again in its entirety again.  The Lorna refrain is so beautiful.  It is now vieing with The 13th Warrior for most viewed film in our house (Keith loved the latter film).

Incidentally, the shooting of Lorna at her wedding to Jan Ridd was based on an actual happening, whem poor Mary Whiddon was shot and killed by a jealous former suitor, on 11th October 1641 at Chagford Church.

I have been feeling very emotional and run down today and had lots of tears on and off.  I've had this bug for 10 days now.  I didn't have the strength to drive down to town for some bread and so I forced myself to start off a half and half dough in the breadmaker, and now have a nice round crusty loaf baking in the oven.

I don't know what tea will be - probably just freshly-baked bread, although I did get a tin of Heinz Ravioli the other day, in case I fancied something quick (and not very nutritious!)  It cost an arm and a leg too . . .

I had a cat-flap delivery this morning - my beautiful little piece of Dartmoor - the jug from Powdermills pottery and I am absolutely delighted with it. The natural colours are peaty and soothing.  My connection with the moor and my ancestral roots.

Rosie's quilt

 

I couldn't wait to give Rosie this quilt and she was over the moon with it and put it on her bed straight away!  Anyone visiting the house has been taken through for a show-and-tell!

100 per cent hand quilted throughout.  I still marvel at those little Bear's Paw blocks!   The quilted border pattern is a Durham quilting one and Rosie's mum came from that area, so that gives a lovely link too.

Right now, I never want to pick up a needle again - my poor brain is still in neutral, but I've just had a link on my feed for The Other Bennet Sister on BBC iPlayer, and that looks SUCH fun, I am going to treat myself this morning.

Everything I wanted to do in the run up to Christmas has been knocked on the head.  I will be lucky to get the shopping done at this rate.  

Reports of my recovery are greatly exaggerated . . .

 In fact, I got blardy WORSE yesterday.  I managed to force down some tea (half a ready meal), had my teatime pills, and then began a dry irritating cough and coughed and coughed until I was sick in the sink several times.  (I do NOT enjoy being sick).  Around 1 a.m. I trotted down to the loo and back and suddenly my teefs began chattering like castanets and I had to quickly put a thick extra quilt on the bed and turn the bed heater on high.  The bed was shaking from my shaking.  When I woke next, it  was like starting a whole new other cold, though the Laryngitis was on the retreat and my breathing better, but my brain had gone walkabouts again.  I really DON'T know what I have, or even what combination!  I saw the GP yesterday, who gave me antibiotics just in case but said don't take them today, and see how you feel tomorrow etc, so they are there for some time in the future.  He thought this was probably viral.

The lovely view from my room at the Faulty Towers motel in Queenstown . . .

So I am still in my usual place on the sofa, sleeping a lot of the time, and feeling yuk.  I just want to be better again.  I can't see me driving down to Carms to see my quilting buddies and friends Pam and Nikki tomorrow, but hope to be able to manage it by Friday, if I get better.  I have had a fortnight of being nailed to the wall now and am so fed up with it.

I had to go out for provisions as Pam's car off road.  I had the windows wide open on the car to keep me alert.

Hoping to stay awake long enough to watch a Broadchurch episode this afternoon.

Still feeling grim - and quick update

 

Are you poorly mum?

After perking up a bit yesterday, and telling Tam and Rosie to come over after all, I did manage to stay awake till 9 p.m. but was bad in the night as I forgot my strong antihistamine which seems to help my chest.  So around 3 a.m. I had to come downstairs and take it, but it was a couple of hours before it made a difference.  It has been lovely having Tam and Rosie here, and Tam has cared for me, and changed my bedding etc.

Today we went and got the Christmas tree, from just out of town.  We chose a slightly smaller one than usual and Tam has it in its stand and with the lights on it, so when I am feeling better I can dress it.

Unfortunately in going to get the tree, I got chilled and was soon back on the sofa, smothered in heated blanket, hotty botty etc, teefs chattering.   I had a sharp pain in my chest too, but think this is more like Laryngitis than anything as I can barely croak, let alone speak.  I have no appetite but had to force down half a nice Cornish Pasty Jon bought back from Hereford (he'd been to a gig there).  I shall take my antihistamine in an hour or so, a bit early, but it's not forgotten.  I have lost 2 lbs in two days.  Drinking plenty to keep me hydrated though.

I'm home alone again now and will just rest up and tomorrow get a taxi down to collect the car and I will make an appointment to see a Dr, as not sure what this is.  Not Covid, not Flu, not even a proper cold.  But a right PITA to have!   Rosie is a little germ factory, and has a cold again now, so I have been washing my hands lots.

Update:  been to the GP and have antibiotics "just in case", so those have gone in the cupboard.  He reckons this will gradually improve and is viral.  Lovely new chap, who had worked in NZ for a year.  I was amazed he came back but he said they were VERY choosy about who they let in!

I've got the car back now too, thank heavens.  Not too much of a hit in the pocket either (under £300).  Chilled again now, so am sat here with a cuppa and my little velvet hotty botty, and heading for the sofa any minute, as I was found to still have a temperature. My head keeps leaping, which is most unpleasant.

Totally fed up

 It would appear that I have a chest infection.  Yesterday I was asleep nearly all day and evening and then got right through the night with no 3.15 a.m. get up.  Today I am aching, my head is still feeling groggy, and I have zero energy.  Panadol has no effect on the groggy head. My chest doesn't feel so congested though. I will have to do the washing up today before it meets me at the door!

The lighthouse at Akaroa.

I have had to cancel Tam and Rosie coming over, which is a blow.  But I wouldn't be much company and can't manage walking around the Christmas Fair at Hay.  I can't get my Christmas tree yet, and indeed, have no car as it is still in the garage awaiting the MoT work.    I can't get down to town to post parcels and cards either, so Christmas is definitely on hold.  New neighbour has offered to take me down to town, so I may take him up on that.

One of the little churches I managed to get a photo of, but they are only open when services are being held.  There is no tradition of church bothering it would seem.  This is at Akaroa.

I spent yesterday sleeping through Broadchurch, Time Team, a Victorian Christmas (at Llywn Celyn again), and various similar offerings.  I would watch the first five minutes, fall asleep sitting up, and wake up at the credits . . .

Some tongue-in-cheek taxidermy . . .  The possum is enemy no. 1 as it does so much damage to nesting NZ birds.  One of our drivers was saying if he sees one on the road, that is shortly going to be a dead possum . . .  We did see a lot of squashed ones.  Strangely, their fur can be incorporated into socks, with merino wool, and these stop any blisters . . .  £50 or so a pair though!!

I forced myself to make Kedgeree in a short awake period, but only had about five dessert spoons of it for my meal. I just couldn't force it down.  My "main meal" was a can of 4 pineapple rings and gosh, I DID enjoy that. At least they tasted like pineapple rings!  I will get some more today.  I have at least lost another pound in weight.  I opened a tin of soup earlier, but could only manage half of it.  

I have a video of this amazing waterfall, but have to wait till Tam comes over so she can show me how to shrink their size.

I had to scamper outside late afternoon as Alfie suddenly involved in a fight with the nasty black and white farm tom who comes calling sometimes.  He is very stiff and sore this morning, poor old chap.

So as you can see, absolutely fed up here.  Can't stay awake long enough to do anything and have absolutely no will to do anything either.  10 days of jet-lag and now this bug for the last 4, and I just want to feel normal again.

Ghostly stories

 I shouldn't be reading them, living alone, let alone in the middle of the night but just read a spooky one on Legendary Dartmoor, which I follow on Facebook.  If you are interested in Dartmoor at all, then visit their website, as SO much information on there about the traditions, history, folklore, flora and fauna etc.  This particular story told of a young man riding 20 miles across the moor on a snowy night, and happening upon an old lady - who ignored him - and later seeing her being murdered, whereupon his horse bolted.  This was all an action replay of course but spooky all the same.

We used to tell the kids about the Hairy Hands, which had been experienced in the Gunpowder Mills/Postbridge area of Dartmoor (where Keith, friend Stu and I used to "wild camp" as it's now called, in the 1980s).  These hands used to grab the wheel of a car and steer it off the road, or else the handlebars of a motorbike on a certain stretch of road.  Logical explanations put it down to the camber of the road . . .  Interestingly this tale - from 1910 - 1920s - faded away with the coming of the radio to these parts, so perhaps folk were less gullible after that.  As we walked back across the moor, beside the East Dart, I still remember shining my torch at the old grey stone wall which separated the moor from the oh-I-want-it house surrounded by beech trees, seeing the little green Maidenhair Spleenwort trembling in the night breeze.  I was so VERY glad never to come across a pair of Hairy Hands!!  

I was glad to leave such things behind me when we left the old house.  Too much happening there for my comfort and peace of mind.

A hanging valley on Milford Sound.  I can remember being taught about these when I was 15 . . .

I don't think that much happens in Builth itself, though there is a haunted hotel in the vicinity.  Not so far away, my mind takes me back to a lovely old stone house (1600s or so with a Latin inscription over the door) which Keith really liked, though it had no outside storage or parking.  It was a few miles from Talgarth.  I went into the living room and eyed the blocked up door in the corner.  I could pick up the vibes from feet away (Keith couldn't) and I told him in uncertain terms there was no way we were going to buy THAT house.  Violent death had happened in that doorway and there was something still lingering.   I heard from a friend in Hay, who knew the lady who used to live there, that it did come with "add ons" . . .

I am very popular now I'm back . . .

My sleep pattern is still all over the place.  I could NOT stay awake past 8.15 last night and of course, woke at 3.15 (not that I slept right through before that, waking every hour or so).  I may have to get some knock-out drops from the Dr or pharmacy.  Surely this can't still be jet lag, over a week on?  I need to get out for a good walk, weather permitting.  Tam & Rosie are here for the weekend, and we will get the Christmas tree, and we're also going to Hay Christmas Market on Saturday, so that will get me out and about.  I have written all the cards now but need to do a couple of letters and wrap a couple of gifts to post.  I am still binge-watching Broadchurch, but spotted the film of Under The Greenwood Tree (Thomas Hardy) and enjoyed that too.  Lots of archaeology/history as well.

Right, 5.30 a.m.  Perhaps I should head back to bed?  (I did, but a waste of time as I didn't sleep and came down at 7.)