A Scary Day and an Update

 I decided I would try and get an appointment with my Optician yesterday, as the soreness from the stye I had 6 weeks ago still hadn't totally gone away.  She was very thorough and used a dye and checked it with her opthalmic machine.  I had two options - ignore it, and wait for it to heal, or I could spend £10 on a heating mask that you put in the microwave.  I chose the latter.

As I was driving home, my phone went.  It was the Optician.  I pulled over and phoned back.  She was writing up my notes she said, and she went to check her Big Book of Eyes . . . she was going to get an emergency appointment for me at the Hospital at Hereford, as she just wanted them to thoroughly check my eyelid just in case it was Squamous Cell Cancer.  She said she was 95% sure that I had just had a stye, because of the pus it had produced, but clearly she wanted to do due diligence . . .

Tiny catkins on the Hazel bushes.  A sign of hope . . . there will be a spring after all.

Needless to say, this hit me like a brick and I spent the evening trying not to think about it.  95% chance it wasn't, but still a teensy chance it was . . . We all take our health so much for granted.  Problems with limbs I can deal with, but anything to do with internal giblets or eyes/mouth etc, not so easy to think about . . . 

Much sewing today I think, to take my mind off it . . .  

A helpful little Pippi Cat . . .  I have to move from my place on the sofa so she can snuggle down beside or behind me!

Update:  I have an appt. to go to Outpatients early in October for an eye check with a consultant.  Not long to wait and not as far to go as Hereford, as it will be in Llandod.  That doesn't sound so worrying.

I have guests tomorrow - part-time neighbour and good friend Sam is bringing his girlfriend up to meet me.  I have galloped round with the vacuum, deep cleaned the bathroom, and baked two Chocolate Courgette Cakes (BBC Good Food recipe).  I have had a still warm slice and it is GOOD.  My friend Ann will get a slice on Sunday when I go to Malvern.

Postal deliveries too - a new (half price) sweat shirt from Cotton Traders, and my two yellow fabrics from The Cotton Patch.  A little brighter than yellows used but one is virtually the same pattern (which is like a little darker shadow) and I think they will tie in nicely.  

I have had my dehumidifier on this week as Tam was telling me last weekend I needed to as it had been so humid, and I had to empty it this morning. A container full of water.  So she was right . . .

My walk today was up to my horsey neighbour and my back/hip coped with the steady slope up there.  I was fed up with the same flat walk along the old railway line.

Now it's time to sit down with a cup of Earl Grey, my new library book (Agatha Christie's Evil Under the Sun) and an ice pack on my lower back.  

What happened to Pope (Popess!) Joan . . .

 

I had a bit of a wasted journey to Carmarthen yesterday, as I wanted to close my account with Nationwide and can only do that by going in person to their office.  I found out it is shut on a Wednesday . . .  So I will have to combine it with another journey south-westwards.  I allowed myself the luxury of going into Waterstones bookshop, but just had a quick look round the history/archaeology section and didn't indulge myself.  Then I popped a Welcome to your New Home card through Danny's front door (he was at work) and went to friend Pam's for lunch and a natter.

You can see what I was up to at my Patchwork class.  I am afraid I was cursing the lady who made this quilt as she used the TINIEST machine stitch to stich-in-the-ditch quilt it and it will take many hours of unpicking with my stitch-ripper to take this off.  Never mind, it was good to see my friends again and was able to sit with Pat, and talk about her horses and patchwork.

I am just about comfortable enough to get back to my x-stitch Puffin, so here he is.

I DID actually take this the right way up, then the camera/computer put it sideways and even after I had righted it, put it back sideways.  I give up.

Not much happening here today, but I shall go up and work on the bathroom curtains after I have had my walk.  Just simple 3" squares in blue and a pale cream print.  Should make up quickly.

Yesterday's The Rest is History podcast was a bit mind-blowing - a very clever Englishwoman who managed to go up through the ranks and finally became a female Pope, but who wasn't discovered to be female until she began giving birth as she was mounting her horse to take part in a religious parade (rather bad timing there!!)  Pope Joan she was (though Pope John as her male name).  She had one of two fates according to legend, the worst being tied by her ankles to a horse's tail and dragged through the streets being stoned to death.  Or else she went into a nunnery and her son became a Pope in due course.  Probably a mythical allegory, but you never know . . .  It made for good listening anyway.

WIld birds, blogger and new curtain plans

I wrote my post then checked on my side bar to see if Blogger had sorted itself out now, but no - it has shot itself in the foot, and several blogs have gone right out of order and when clicked on (Going Gently is one of them) just appear in gibberish - the HTML? view.  This is getting ridiculous.  Just done a search on this and last month lots of "hobbyist" blogs were blocked under a Malware False Positive issue.  Don't know quite what is happening but it is frustrating . . .   Moments later, refreshed again, and the blogs have returned!  Crazy.

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I must have slept awkwardly as I woke this morning with my SI pain stretching up to my right shoulder (that is the route of muscle attachment).  I have just checked my calendar and Sunday is Malvern Flea.  I don't think I shall be going, as hauling my camping trolley round would be the worst thing for shoulder and hip.  I'm not much good at Being Sensible . . . but needs must.

Yesterday I was auditioning fabrics for a new curtain for the main bathroom, and one for the door there too as the lace effort there at the moment doesn't really give total privacy.

These all tie in nicely with the tiles I have in there.  A good way of using up my stash.  It will be a simple pattern.  I'm not sure how long I can sit and sew right now though.  If only the painkillers worked. . .

Yesterday I had my asthma clinic check (OK), and then went on to do the shopping.  I needed some hair conditioner, as I have just about reached the end of a couple of  bottles left behind by my girls.  I was really quite shocked at the stupid prices on them in Tesco (I did my main shop in Lidl - £23).  Most were £4 plus, many £6 - £8.  Oh come on, that is just daft especially when I look on Amazon (not renowned for being cheap) and they are half that price on there!  I paid 89p for a bottle, on the principle you can only spend it once . . .

You can just about make out the little Swallow perched on the phone wire.  I noticed it sat there for 15 mins or so, resting on its way home to Africa.  A youngster, as full tail feathers not developed yet.  On the roof, I had 3 Spotted Flycatchers, and two Pied Wagtails, and it was a joy to see them.  In the shrubs on the bank this week, there has been a female Bullfinch and a couple of Chiff Chaffs.  It's lovely that my garden attracts so many different birds.

Close up of a Robin's Pin Cushion.  Tam from Llandod - best picking of blackberries up opposite the giant boulder blocking the gateway in the last few hundred yards of the path.

Not a lot happening here.  Still reading Death in a Desert Land, and yesterday's podcast was an interview with the proprietor - Christina Oakley Harrington - of Treadwell's bookshop in London, which specializes in Esoteric books - Pagan, Wicca, Occult etc. She grew up in several countries, speaks various dead languages and had an Anthropologist as her dad.  This podcast was on The Three Ravens.  Made quite a change from Samuel Johnson last week!

Both Pam and Tam bought me apples, so I am a bit unsure what I can do with them all now the freezer is full and Tam has my dehumidifier . . .  In the past I made chutney - but I can no longer make that as the fumes upset my asthma.

Looking outside, there are rainclouds, so I had best get out for my walk before it comes on to rain.

Where the blackberries grow

 

Here you go Tam fronm Llandod, when you reach this National Cycle Network sign, you are near the blackberries.  You will probably have to be quick though, as the heavy rain we had last night has knocked a few off.

The humidity is very high today - about 78 - which didn't help my breathing any when I was out on my walk.  I had zero energy as well, as Rosie is cutting the last big molars and wouldn't settle for bed until 11 p.m.!  Poor Tam is exhausted as it would appear she has Long Covid - no energy, breathing very reactive to struggling with a difficult toddler - she really did NOT want to be strapped in her car seat. Poor Tam had to step away to try and get her breath back whilst I kept Rosie from escaping.  She is very b-minded and determined, that little girl.  A true Aries!  Tam's also been losing her hair, and has a brain full of cotton wool.  She went to the GP in February, but the Symbicort inhaler he gave her just made her breathing worse.  I'm hoping she can remember to keep taking her iron tablets and then go back and have her health reviewed again.  

Anyway, they are on their way home now, but Tam has forgotten her little cool bag so the contents of that will be chucked/eaten (I don't eat Avocado).  

Before they left, we had a wander round the garden.  One of Tam's Winter Squash has been cross pollinated by what appears to be something in the pumpkin line as it is round and orange, and NOT more tubular and grey, which her Winter Squashes were meant to be.  The 3 ones on the other plant are the right beasties, but tiny and I doubt will get big enough to be worth harvesting before the colder weather knocks them back.  My Telegraph cucumbers are big and fat at one end with a pathetic growth to lengthen at the other.  Hmmm.  This hot summer did not encourage them in any way.

I am going to sit down with my book now I've tidied up a bit. I have been organized and put the recycling out as they are coming round earlier now and I don't want to be rushing in the morning.

Have a good week all.

Well that was a disappointment

 I arranged to meet up with Pam to go to the talk together.  I set off at the appropriate time, but found the car park packed - rugby practice on the Groe, folk for the talk and folk boozing up the town.  Found a place nearby but then discovered that the talk was over-supported and there was limited standing room only.  (I didn't know they had that many members!) NO WAY was I going to stand for two hours.  A hot fug of breath and warm people hit me at the door too, which boded ill if anyone had a cold!  So as soon as Pam arrived, we agreed to go for a drink instead.  It made a pleasant change, though my left ear is a little deaf/full of wax, whichever, and the background noise (din at times, as lots of young lads in the pub) made conversation difficult.  I can't remember the last time I went out for a drink of an evening, so it was a novelty!

From yesterday's walk - nice and level!  Just what my lower back requires.

Guelder rose berries.

It's a good year for Blackberries.  My freezer is full now though.

Sloes too - a shame I can't reach them.

As Tam and Rosie are here later, I had best do my walk sooner rather than later.  My back should hopefully ease up then too.

Enjoy your weekend.

All Around the World quilt and today's walk

 

Lizzy (Gone to the Beach) suggested removing the horrid polyester wadding and I am with her on that.  However, the lady who made this has machine quilted it to the central block, so that square will have to stay, along with that area of the ancient flannel sheeting she used.  It will be covered over anyway.  This is a king size bed so this must be nearly double in size.  I intend to add blocks to the top and bottom and a narrow border to the sides.  I will take it along to my quilting group next week and see what The Boss has to say about it!

Sorry, the light from the big window doesn't show the colours clearly at all.

I popped round to see my friend Pam earlier, for a natter, and then had my level walk along the old railway line.  Several cyclists using this (it is a cycle path) today.  One chap on his own and then 3 others, who were consulting their map and going on to Llanwrthwl (and possibly the Elan valley after as it's on the way).  I told them about the church there with the big standing stone by the entrance and they said they would check it out.

Pam and I are going to a talk given by the Heritage Society tonight, about the history of a local house (Pencerrig) - talented local artist Thomas Jones lived there.

Tam messaged me earlier on and she and Rosie are coming for the weekend.  I will make us a chicken curry and find something to tempt Rosie with . . .  She likes everything that is bad for her - salami and pepperoni and ham and sausage rolls . . .  I have a home made cheese and onion pasty in the freezer she may eat.

I enjoyed "Agatha" on Prime last night - it is very close to the book with her in I'm reading at the moment!  She meets up with Leonard and Katherine Woolley (he was THE archaeologist back in the 20s and 30s) at the dig at Ur in Mesopotamia.  Dastardly doings and of course she meets the love of her life, Max Mallowan, in the book and in the drama.  A nice evening's viewing.

Listened to a Podcast In Our Time yesterday, about The Battle of Crecy.  Then The Rest is History, and The Klu Klux Klan.  

A Country Bribe!

 

This was on my doorstep earlier on. The tomato is ENORMOUS.  My neighbour is away for the weekend, could I water round for him please?  I explained my sore back, and we agreed I would just use the hose.

I decided I would have a morning out and go to Doughty's in Hereford for fabric for binding.  Also some to try and finish this quilt off.  No way could I match any of these of course.  I took photos . . .

There was nothing remotely like any of it.  The colours weren't true in the photo either so the "may do" fabrics I use may be an outer border.  That blue print on white - NOTHING like it in the shop. Or the pale lemon, grey, white . . . or the stripe come to that!!

The bright pink print is backing width, so will do well for Danny's quilt with lots left over.  The next one in is the right pink for the quilt with no centre which I repaired, but was £24 and now I have it home I am thinking, that's a lot for binding and it's lovely fabric, so may think again on that.  The other three prints are pale lemon with snowflakes, a bright blue print which whilst absolutely nothing like the print used is at least a similar blue as a background, and the washy one is pale lemon butterflies which isn't a bad match for the pale lemon on the quilt.  Now looking on line for better matches as their selections today a bit disappointing . . .

Hawthorn berries on my walk today.  I shall be up and along the old railway line all week as I have to walk on the level. It's a mile each way.

A little hint that the farmer does NOT want you to drive through his gate thank you very much.  You can tell there's a quarry just up the road!

Looking across to Aberedw mynydd.  The farmer has been very proactive and cut his hedges already.

I went to Breinton Farm Shop for apples.  Lord Lamborne, Laxton Fortune and Red Windsor. Good heritage apples with SO much flavour.  MUCH cheaper than supermarket apples imported half way round the world.

Off to do my exercises again on my yoga mat.  

Rosehips here and a Robin's Pincushion at the top.