Thursday 14 December 2023

Starting the day in overdrive

 It turned out to be one of those days where it was foot to the floor with the gas pedal from the moment I got up as I woke to hear Keith coughing, so he was clearly awake.  He would have got himself to the bathroom, were he not tethered with the overnight bag for the catheter.  He has it reviewed next week and a trial period without it.  There was washing to do, dry things to fold before the new load could be hung up (that is always a trial for my slightly arthritic neck) and the usual morning chores here involving puss-cats.  

The Sloe Gin turned out very well and filled 3 bottles exactly.  In front is the big Cheese Scone roundel which I made for when our friends Pam and Duncan came to visit on Tuesday.  I had a slice (it makes 8) and got them to take the rest home with them, along with the Lemon Drizzle cake I made (their favourite).


The handyman was here around 10.30 to start on the concreting.  I contacted Danny to say was it still all right for this afternoon (to go to Carmarthen and pick up their Christmas gifts and some of their lighter belongings to bring home.)  Then I found out he had a meeting this afternoon so I had to get down there pronto.  It was into overdrive then . . .

I went to Charlies before meeting him and gave myself longer in there, forgoing the planned trip round TK-Maxx.  A couple of gifts came out with me, and some very small glass jars to fill with fresh spices as Christmas stocking fillers for the kids.  I got one of the last parking spaces at Wilko's and paid £1.80 (for 2 hrs parking) but only ended up staying 15 mins!  Then it was a quick shop in Tesco - the layout of which didn't seem to have changed much since we shopped there regularly so I knew where to look for things.  

I blew the dust off my sewing machine this week and set to and made Keith a neck support for mealtimes, to stop his head tipping forward if he is tired.  It is nice and soft and not a strangling device - honest!! The one requested by SALT from Physio was not forthcoming - I seem to remember them saying they didn't issue them any more.


Anyway, when I got back home, the Handyman had made good progress BUT, oh my goodness, had had to summon an ambulance as he had had chest pains, broken out in a sweat and thought he was having a heart attack.  They said he seemed to be ok, but strongly advised him to go home and rest.  Well, stubborn man, he just rested here for a couple of hours and then carried on!  He finished the job and was here until gone 6 p.m.  I kept going out to check he was still standing, and goodness, am very thankful I didn't come home to a stiffening corpse!

So, a busy day and I am looking forward to resting a bit now.  Keith sat too long whilst I was out, and ate late, and I know it will be a very slow journey upstairs to bed in a little while.  My bed will be very welcome too and hopefully I will have a day tomorrow where I can rest up a bit.  All week there have been visitors, as friends and medical providers, planned and "are you in today?" but all for the best.




18 comments:

  1. You have had a very busy day. Me too but only boring things like shopping,changing the bed and making sure I put our prescriptions in. Think I'm ready for Christmas and we will spend the day on our own as daughter likes to be with her little family in their house, but they will come to us on Boxing Day. I was sorry to read Pat (Weaver's) blog about her ill health, there are always people worse off than us (me). Hugs Gill Xx

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    1. Does your daughter live locally? (e.g. in the same county!) I sometimes think that a quiet Christmas day with less stress might be a good idea. I always enjoy Boxing Day more as there are cold cuts and you can sit and relax. It's sad about Pat - when you get to 90 it would be nicer to just fade away rather than die from Cancer. It happened to my ma-in-law too.

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  2. It sounds like you need to take the advice given your Handyman.

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    1. Chance would be a fine thing Anon! I like it when there is a Free Friday and there is a good race meeting on to settle down and watch. (Horses that is, not cars!)

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  3. I can see the pedal to the metal and all systems go, go, go in your post. I do hope that you have a restful day tomorrow

    God bless.

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    1. Yes, it is rarely through choice that I get in hurtle mode. Should be quieter here today although I still need to go to Llandod for something I couldn't find in the Carm. Tesco yesterday.

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  4. Glad to hear the greenhouse is at last underway! I had a sense that you were having some very busy days. I'm sure the cats are delighted to rush at you when you get in from errands. Ours become quite clingy when we've been out for a few hours. I see you have a Janome--wonderful machines!

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    1. Gosh, you and me both, although I was so worried that he was going to die on the job and kept looking through the window to check and see if he was still upright and drawing breath!

      The cats were very pleased to see me, but complained that tea was LATE (well, they shouldn't expect it so early I told them!) When I sit down on the sofa, I then have a migration of cats to join me and I only have to lean forward for something and Pippi slips in behind me, to where it's warm and cosy. The Janome is the best machine I've ever used.

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  5. I had to Google Charlies. Looks like a dangerous place!
    What a fright for you and your handyman!
    Really nice looking sewing machine you have there.

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  6. A very dangerous place! I just love their kitchen department as they cater for the country pursuits of making jams, jellies, chutneys, fruit gins, cider etc and have lots of goodies. All sorts of sensible country clothing too, animal food, and the garden centre. They are hefted to Wales - don't think they have any shops over the border yet.

    All I can say is thank heavens I went out - him having a possible heart attack wouldn't have done my nerves any good whatsoever!

    The sewing machine was partly a gift from my kids one Christmas.

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  7. Well you seem to be on top of things. That large cheese scone looks delicious and rather a good way to bake a scone, must try it.

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    1. I'll try and remember to put the recipe up Thelma, but it's basically "make cheese scone mix" and instead of using pastry cutters just make a big roundel and cut across 4 times, making 8 sections.

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  8. Good to hear the greenhouse is finally under way - hope he doesn't suffer any more chest pains though - quite a scare.
    The large cheese scone looks good - I have a recipe for a similar one by Mary Berry and its delicious with home made tomato soup!
    Hope you can get a few moments to relax.

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  9. Well, you've sent me off on a google trip to learn about cheese scones. It seems like they are basically a lot like a buscuit, which I make with a lot of layers as well. I think it would be a fun thing to try in my own kitchen.

    Dear heavens. Chest pains? I'd feel duty bound to stand outside and keep an eye on him. Probably wind up doing half the job as well, to save him. And then turning straight around and paying him the full job price.

    It will be nice to have your family around you. You need them. I really am quite taken aback that you are getting virtually no assistance. Pat makes a call, and things are organized. Why is that do you suppose? The difference in levels of service is a bit shocking to me. All that being said, you really are doing a fine job under very difficult circumstances.

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    1. I'll put the recipe up tomorrow Debby. It's soft inside, and the cheese melts into the dough.

      I know - I wanted to sent him home but he was busy mixing concrete (in a cement mixer) and wouldn't go. I kept looking out to check if he was still upright! Laying concrete is beyond my capabilities these days.

      Defo need the family here to cheer me up/for moral support.

      Pat is in Yorkshire and it's the palliative care team (from the hospice?) who are involved from now until the end. She seems very accepting of it. Carers are in very short supply here in Wales. With Danny and Emma here I have cover if Keith should need helping up to bed (perish the thought he might fall as I couldn't get him up). I will also be able to get some respite too - at the moment only when I have a short walk or do the grocery shopping, do I have a break.

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  10. Omgosh, that's what you don't need the handy man keeling over, good he was ok and was able to go home. Cheese scone looks very tasty, and we have sloe gin but a couple of years old, we only have a sip now and then!

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  11. Hope things have calmed down a bit now and that your handyman is ok? I had a nonstop week with yoga, swimming, meetings, working and on Friday I braved Chichester as S was keen to return to the same barber who cut his hair in October when we were last in town for his pre-op. We had a fun time and I even persuaded S into M&S where we bought the softest pair of Italian moleskin trousers and a forest green merino sweater. After the hair cut and shopping splurge we needed a sit down so we went to the cloisters cafe for a bowl of broccoli and Stilton soup and I left S in the cathedral (where Seaford college prep school were getting ready for their afternoon Carol concert) while I whizzed round some of my favourite independent shops and we were back at the car within our two hours parking slot (£2.10) with seconds to spare and home in 25mins/12 miles on the back road which is so much nicer than the fast dual carriageway. That is me done now and all the rest of the shopping will be done in the village shop and our two local farm shops. I avoid supermarkets at the best of times - it is after all just a roast dinner and shops are closed for about two days so goodness knows why people feel they need to prepare for a siege! We finished our busy week with a Christmas concert and a small party and yesterday I had a relaxing day. S went down to the village shop for the Saturday Guardian and bread and milk and we had a lazy morning and in the afternoon S brought in three barrowloads of logs and then went for a 16km cycle (he is completely recovered from his hernia op and he even came across a runaway horse and helped catch it!) while I gardened and collected material for wreath and garland making. The weather was perfect, still and not cold and I picked chard for our supper from the veg plot and more chillies from the greenhouse. I deadheaded, pruned and removed the leaves from all the roses growing under the pergola and gave them a dollop of homemade compost. I swept up a ton sack of leaves from the kitchen garden and put them on the woodland edge and spotted bulbs already peeping through. I top-dressed the asparagus with wood ash and sealed that in with a barrow of compost. I walked the meadow and spotted the silvery grey starfish leaves of the bee orchid - that made me fizz with anticipation, but I am not getting ahead of myself - there is so much to enjoy in the garden right now. The tidy roses, a finished compost heap, the leeks and garlic growing strongly in the veg plot, the bare outlines of trees and a garden alive with robins, blackbirds, thrushes, a green woodpecker and our kestrel who is always there keeping an eye on me. Today I will make the wreath to hang next to the little wooden gate we can see from the kitchen. I’ve picked rosemary, dried red sorrel, hazel with catkins, fruiting ivy, rose hips, Cornus sanguinea and some dried clematis seedheads that look like little stars against their rusty leaves - so pretty, I’m going to have fun now and later this afternoon we have our Carol concert in the church and I will go early to help my friend who is the church warden get things ready and light the candles. I know it will be lovely and singing carols by candlelight in our beautiful church is probably my favourite thing about Christmas. Have a wonderful day BB. Sarah x

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    1. Handyman very thorough worker. He's still drawing breath and now (Wednesday, a week on) has just put the greenhouse up, bar the door and the glass. I haven't been near a proper store, apart from a gallop round Charlies last week all year I don't think. Because I can't leave Keith for long I can't go to Aber to see Tam and go and buy my M&S undies in person - all has to be done on line.

      You have been busy in the garden. We have had a lot of rain and I can't really get out there but plan to address that problem over the Christmas break, should it be dry enough. Lucky you with your Bee Orchids. I plan to add some more wild seeds to the area beside the orchard, although I may also add some more garden plantings beloved of the bees above that bit.

      My wreath "ingredients" are still in the yard by the house, but I had a moment's inspiration and have taken the Dogwood prunings (scarlet) to use as the base. Hopefully tomorrow, along with the advance veg preparation.

      Envious of your candle lit carol service.

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