I have been sleeping better - until last night, when I made it through to 4.30 and then couldn't sleep after that. I finished the Elizabeth Chadwick book I have been reading (Shadows and Strongholds) and it mentioned Lords of the White Castle - which it just so happens I had found on one charity table or another and had on one side, so I will read that next, as the main character in it was in Shadows and Strongholds. I will find out if it is actually the "White Castle" I know and love, part of a triumvirate of Marcher castles, the other two being Skenfrith and Grosmont, or a.n.other. Kidwelly Castle used to be limewashed white, so perhaps many others were too. If you enjoy historical novels, Elizabeth Chadwick's are amongst the best.
Most of the snow has gone now, roads all just wet road again. Storm Bert is going to make its presence felt this weekend and we will either have blizzards and gales or torrential rain, flooding and gales. Rain is probably preferable, if I am sensible . . . The country finds it difficult to cope with snow as the Council thinks gritters are efficient and you don't really need more than one snowplough per county (or so it seems). Whilst we don't often get snow, when we DO, people still have to get from a to b, and so does food. Dartmoor had a lot of snow yesterday and people were going up to "look at the snow" and then getting stuck and sending out frantic texts for help! Even the main A30 was hard hit and lorries and cars stranded.
I had to take to the sofa again this morning and even struggled to concentrate enough to read my book (Phil Rickman's The Magus of Hay, much recommended). I had to have a nap later too, but then was out for my Covid jab and the results of my test, so now I have a targeted antibiotic. I've taken the first one.
My plumber has been and changed the UV filter although THAT won't stay clean for long. The neighbour who had changed it last had managed to put it back on with crossed threads. He's also been up to look at the en-suite bathroom (I am having a new shower and cubicle fitted) and he will drop me round some brochures for showers, tiles etc. We have decided just 3 wall height tiles are the best bet. I will get in touch with my carpenter too, and get him to fit a replacement window in there as that is rather elderly and shabby, with a metal frame. Not pretty. I want a wooden frame and plain glass that I can stick a decorative design over for a stained glass effect. Not that anyone is going to be stood in the Big House Drive waiting for anyone to have a shower as they'd not see through the rhododendrons!
Lulu is now finally speaking to me after I gave her and Pippi their combo wormer/flea treatment. It is just cold medication on their necks but you would have thought I'd plugged her into the mains! She was hiding under the bed after that, and the same this morning - when I touched her as she was eating breakfast, she shot off like someone demented. Finally she has accepted that I am not going to murder her. She's had it before, don't know what made it different this time.
Anyway, have a lovely weekend all and stay safe from Storm Bert, if you're in the UK.
I didn't sleep at all well last night, no idea why. I went to Pre-Raphaelite talk this morning and my friend and I spent a lot of the time acting like two giggling schoolgirls although we are both in our 70s. At lease it made both of us feel better. My cats never spoke to me for months last year after their flea shots and they changed even though they have been having them for a long time. I am beginning to wonder what these neck shots actually make them feel like. I won't be using them again. Thanks for the comment this morning, it helps me to carry on.
ReplyDeleteWell, we can't blame a full moonanyway. Oooh, envious of your Pre-Raphaelite talk and glad to hear you got schoolgirl giggles - SO good for you.
DeleteI only do the cats 2 or 3 times a year, and when they become old cats, they just have the wormer in their food as I know that whatever's in the combo treatment is not good for them. I think it was the coldness which surprised Lulu, plus she was on the bed (her safe place) and so I will get Tam to hold her another time, when she is scoffing. I think using treatments like these every month affects cats' immune systems and causes illness. Worried about fleas - treat the HOUSE regularly, rather than the cat.
Sorry I have been lax with comments (for many fellow bloggers). Please keep writing - you have SUCH a take on the world and what's going on in it - and good for you in your cinema trips. We have a good one down in the town, but it is under-used by moi . . .
I too am sick of being sick. I think people (healthcare) don't pay nearly enough attention to the psychological effects of illness. OK, got that out of my system. Finally you have the targeted antibiotic, I hope it does the job and fast too. We had a storm a few days ago, thousands without power, another one expected tonight. I'm downloading an audiobook so at least I have something to listen to in the dark. Our dogs had to have a bath yesterday, too much rolling in stinky stuff so we also had the reproachful/ planning revenge look. One of these days I'll have to talk to you about being an empath, has it pros and cons in my opinion but as it's part of me I have to learn to live with it. Take care.
ReplyDelete(((HUGS))) Susan. It is very wearing. I think I got so run down nursing Keith and it's going to take a while to climb back out of the run down pit again. My kidneys aren't hurting now so let's hope that whilst the last kidney-specific drug was holding things at bay, this will now go in and nobble it for good.
DeleteAh yes, being an empath. Being able to read people is not good when you are not in control of what appears on your face as a result!!! I find it very hard to be near some folk.
Sheva always reacts to her flea medication as if I'm going to murder her, I have to hide the tube in my hand, OH has to hold her then I dab it on, and she's off normally under the duvet. Still no shed erected, but the shed boss came and covered it up, base coming next Thursday - we hope. Glad you are feeling better and have the proper antibiotics. Have a good weekend, although it looks as everywhere is going to be WET! Xx
ReplyDeleteBracing for Bertie!
ReplyDeleteLet's hope the targeted antibiotics do the business now!
The one thing I dislike intently about being an empath is picking up on negativity. It is hard to cope with and often I can feel the energy spreading and growing. It's why I'd rather be on my own. The other thing I do not cope with well are energy vampires.
I have dozed most of the day. Waking up just in time for nighttime.
I wonder what woke us both at 4.30 am!! That was a definite improvement though.. possibly due to my having enough exercise going up and downstairs repeatedly, sorting things!!
ReplyDeleteIt does take a long time to haul oneself up to be physically and mentally on an even keel again...but we are getting there, both of us, step by step. ((Hugs)) X
Good to hear you have now got the targeted antibiotic. Snow is lovely, but I hate driving in it.
ReplyDeleteHope the proper antibiotic sorts you out PDQ and storm Bert does no damage.
ReplyDeleteSeems all cats are the same with flea treatment - all the cats we ever 'owned' always dashed off to hide after being done.
I will look out for Elizabeth Chadwick in the library. We walked the three castles (White, Grosmont and Skenfrith) in September 2021, and climbed the Skirrid and from Llanthony and the little owl church we drove down into Hay along the winding road stopping to climb Hay Bluff. I remember S was tired by the end of this 3-night holiday and I drove all the way home. We have been advised by the neurologist we spoke to on Wednesday that his slowness means he should no longer drive. He was also told that he’s reached the limit of the medication for PD. He’s on 8 Sinemet/levadopa daily, but takes no other medication apart from Vitamin D. It feels like the end of the road and Thursday was a bad day but yesterday was a coming to terms with it day and I began by cleaning windows as the window cleaner had just done the outside (cleaning is therapy for me, good for the mind and it has a tangible end result). I then went food shopping at the village shop and farm shop (nice chats with friendly folk) and in the afternoon I had a WhatsApp call with my best friend. I lit the fire at four and we had a cup of tea in the sitting room watching an episode of Wolf Hall, we had a glass of wine, a bowl of mushroom risotto, watched a programme about the North York moors followed by Adam in his garden (I much prefer Adam to Monty) and then we both went to bath and bed. I slept until 7am and feel better. I just need to accept what I cannot change and there are much worse diseases than PD. I took the kitchen compost down yesterday and enjoyed walking around the garden in the sunshine and reminding myself I can always escape into the garden without being far from home. Good for you on the home improvement plans. We’re awaiting a visit about grab rails in the shower and I’m dreading them saying I need to remove all the rugs. At least we have two new comfort height loos and our downstairs is suitable for a wheelchair.
ReplyDeleteKeep safe while Storm Bert rages. The local tree surgeon was coming this morning to cut out all the dead branches in my red acer but sensibly he’s postponed until next week. We’ll be hunkering down and I’ll take my mind off the weather by making the first mince pies of the season and a shepherdess pie for supper which we’ll have with sprout tops cooked in butter - yum! Sarah x
Fingers crossed that this lot of antibiotics does the trick. I am not a cat person. When I was a child my aunt had a big black tom who was quite happy to be petted, but would then scratch or sink his teeth into the person doing the petting without any warning. It took many years for me to be at all comfortable around cats because of him.
ReplyDeleteI do hope the new targeted medicine is effective and you feel better soon. I haven't read any Elizabeth Chadwick books for years - I must check some out. I am so sorry that Phil Rickman has died - the Merrily books were one of my favourite series. I think there may be a final book published next year. Hope you aren't too badly affected by the storm.
ReplyDeleteGinger used to react like that to his medication, but he's calmed down a bit recently, he does REALLY fall out with me for a day though. Anyway it's the time of the year when we always give them a three month break from all flea/worm medication. But now that neither Ginger or Mavis go out catching things to murder and they don't mix much with other animals we think this years break might be a permanent one.
ReplyDeleteI hope your new targeted antibiotics really kick in quickly for you, relaxing and healing sofa days start off feeling okay but then the urge to be better and busy again soon overcomes us doesn't it.
I think that I am going through a kind of sleep, yet not sleep phase. Tossed and turned last night and so as to not wake up the Hubby, transferred myself to the couch.
ReplyDeleteWe are supposed to get snow this weekend, but as of yet it isn't falling. I sure hope this round of antibiotics works for you.
God bless.