Overwhelmed

 

When I am short on sleep, I find everything hard to cope with.  My shoulder has been so painful, at night particularly, in recent weeks and I am very sleep deprived.  The physio has helped it, but I woke after 3 hrs last night (1 a.m.) and was awake for 2 hrs, dozed a bit, then was awake for more than an hour again.  Tam and Rosie have been here, which is wonderful, but means rest is at a premium.   Tam has helped me with all the little jobs that needed doing - from changing the kitchen light bulb to writing out my NZ Itinerary, the trips I'm on, the route I need to get from hotel to bus stop and vice versa, for each day.  We've google mapped the places I'm staying and I've printed off route maps for the walks between the hotel and coach pick up etc.  I've seen what the hotels look like and traced the routes so I will be familiar - a little - with the area.  

We went into town late morning for a look round the charity shops and I found some brand new slip on fabric shoes, ideal for casual walking in NZ.  Then Tam took me for hot chocolate and cake, which means I have no appetite for tea yet.  This was a Ruby hot chocolate with berries in (I guess more of a hot milk shake!) and a White Choc Rocky Road that I nearly broke the fork on as it had been in the chiller.  (Excuse highlighting - I have pressed a wrong key and can't undo it . . .)

Rosie has been "drawing" and is clearly right handed.  I noticed yesterday that she has discovered on her own, a better way of holding the pen - just like she was being taught at school in a few year's time! This is an improvement on holding the top of the pen - she's found she has more control her new way. Excuse her breakfast bowl in shot . . .

I have a local day out to look forward to next week, as there is the 2nd Antiques in Tents being held next weekend. It will cheer me up just in time to shed my upper clothing and bare my all the next day!  

Hopefully I shall be comfortable enough to write up the post on St Nicholas Church in Grosmont.

Food - both good and disgusting . . .

 

After I had been to see my friend N yesterday, I drove into Carmarthen and went to Chris Thomas's brilliant greengrocery.  Nothing for me in the £1 boxes yesterday, but this lot came to £14.80.  Pumpkin (for Tam and Rosie - carving and soup) was £2.  Raspberries (I've eaten some of them) quite dear at £2 but they are huge and tasty; Two bags of small Russet apples - £1.50 each.  4 big juicy plums £1.  A Kilo bag of 9 lemons £1 (! I am turning them into Lemon Marmalade).  Strawberries £1.50.  3 cucumbers - use 'em up fast - for £1 the 3.  5 lbs Maris Piper spuds £2.50, and then bananas 80p.  As I have another 3 visits to town (as I still call it, that having been our nearest town when we lived in the Cothi Valley) I shall shop there each week for bargains like these.

New shoes to go with skirts/dresses on holiday.

As I was striding past M&S yesterday (clocked up nearly 9000 steps just around town), I thought I would go in on the way back (having bought shoes) and get a good stir fry mix for our tea tonight.  I've just got chicken breasts out of the freezer to go in it.  The sauce is Soy, Ginger and Garlic.

Now, the confession.  I hadn't really had breakfast before scooting out of the house, so stopped at a garage on the way and hastily grabbed a sausage roll without being AT ALL MINDFUL.  I got to the car and looked at the ingredients sticking it shut and was truly horrified at the number of them.  I know many of the bits are preservatives and natural flour ingredients, but even so I do not think I have ever seen anything quite so disgustingly UPF in my life and believe me never will again.  I am ashamed.  

Right, this won't do.  I need to go out for my walk now, change my library books, and make a healthy Minestrone soup for lunch.

Bad posture . . .

 Is what has caused my bad shoulder.  Main muscle and some underneath attached to ribs and one across to neck, all very inflamed and stiff.  Too big in the boob department, too much time on the computer, looking down and not enough movement/gardening etc.  I need another 3 appts.  Just as well I sold the pistols of K's at the weekend.  No lifting (even Rosie), no sleeping on that side and no sitting for long yof time. That flight to NZ will be a killer. . . 

Just off to put a hot water bottle on it, as recommended.  Anyway, I saw my dear friend N, and it felt like old times, when we just lived up the road from her.  I got some bits I needed for my holiday, and lovely new shoes at a sensible price.  

Back tomorrow.

"Remove clothing above the waist"

 Sunshine and it's dry again.  I'm looking forward to my walk.

I am also counting down the hours until my Chiro appt (30 if you must know).  My shoulder is just not at all comfortable, probably not helped by lifting Rosie up a few times yesterday, but needs must and I love our cuddles.  It was painful in the night and no better this morning.

It was lovely to have all my girls here, and they sorted out the last of the things I needed for NZ, fixed the printer for me (it wasn't working), hung the washing up, unloaded the car, fixed the curtains, sorted out the battery charging for my small camera and sorted out the parcel I have to send - well, that came under getting the printer to work, but I now know how to take a photo of the QR code should I need to use one in future.  That's a good list of ticks.

Gabby bought us lunch, and I threw together a slightly-curried turkey breast in bits, with mangetout and cauliflower and the other half of the Spanish grains, which are tasty on their own account.

I need to tidy up the paperwork littering one end of the kitchen table and think what tea might be tonight.  It will probably be something with the salmon I have in the freezer, though I find it rather boring to eat but can't spice it up with more than some grated ginger.

I got my NHS letter regarding my Echocardiogram appt and have the joy of stripping to the waist in front of strangers to be smothered in gel and ECG'd.  I know it's nothing they've not seen thousands of times before but when you no longer have pert little boobs it ain't so much fun to strip off and lie down!  I shall cheer myself up by going to Doughty's (fabric shop) afterwards.

I'm off out shortly to the PO, and then I need to trot round with the vacuum cleaner as no end of pine needles came in the front door yesterday.

Have a good Monday.

Not blown away, but under the weather

What a lovely display in the foyer.

 Storm Amy certainly left a mark.  I was glad to be "down South" where it was a lot less windy.  There were winds of up to nearly 100mph in the Outer Hebrides (96 mph in Tiree).  We just had a "bit of a gale" down in Powys, though with plenty of rain.  I finally put the loungers away lest they become airborne, and watched the trees on the steep slope down to the Dingle thrash around in the wind.  A good day to be indoors on Friday . . .  I got organized and had torches, candles, matches etc all to hand, ate an early meal, had the central heating on for a bit in case of power cuts later and was glad to be able to watch the last of the film I'd been watching - Mary Shelley - and couldn't help but think what miserable lives those poor women trailing in the wake of Shelley and Byron must have led.  Gosh, it was all about THEM and their desires, not about their women and familes.  Romantic icons be damned!

Flowers always light up a stall so (note to self!)

Of course, there is always some prat who has managed NOT to check the forecast before setting out to climb a mountain on his own, in his shorts! Apparently, "the weather didn't look too bad" . . . until 86 mph winds trapped him near the summit of Tryfan in North Wales. . .  I couldn't help but think perhaps he wasn't a good asset to the gene pool . . .

A beautiful Welsh quilt for £200. . .

The storm abated overnight, and although I set the alarm for 5.30, I didn't set off till just before 7 a.m. as I wanted to drive in daylight. The main road was absolutely clear and I had a good drive through.  Young Tom unloaded just about everything from the car for me - I just took in some very light things - and was soon set up.  I was downstairs this time, next to old friends of ours, but have to say I got colder and colder as the day went on and was shivering by mid-afternoon.  I was too mean to pay £2 (TWO POUNDS!) for a cup of tea.  It didn't help that the  front door was wide open (of course) and one of the middle doors and that just made our side a bit of a wind tunnel.  I'm not sure if I had a bit of a reaction to my latest flu jab (though it's a dead vaccine) - or got a bug, as I was so cold yesterday, my shoulder really hurt from lunchtime onwards (not from lifting) and my lungs not feeling 100%.  Today my legs are aching like I ran a marathon.  In the night I woke twice with sweat trickling down my chest (though I could put that down to being jammed in the middle of a kitten-cat sandwich - they couldn't have gotten closer if they'd tried!)  I would think it's a coincidence and I've picked up a bug in my travels last week as I've never had a reaction before and I've had the flu jab for many many years now, because of my chronic asthma.  

My wee stand yesterday.  I sold the usual amount of things (almost to the penny) but also something from Keith's side which will help the exchequer a bit.

Lovely jugs and the collectable Gwili Pottery pieces on part of Brita's stand (she runs the Fair).

Finally, Friday's home made bread rolls, using 8 grain flour.  I had two for lunch yesterday with cheese.

Today Gabby's here, and perhaps Tam and Rosie though they have had a cold and Rosie not at her best, bless her.  Gabby's doing the last of my NZ preparations for me.  

I hope you're all having a good weekend.

What to do with . . .

 . . .  a bag of frozen "Tasteless Spag. Bol."  Hmmm, I didn't fancy resurrecting it as a tastier Spag Bol a 2nd time round, so I have defrosted it, added a tin of  tasty chopped tomatoes, some leeks, some courgette which desperately needed using up, beef stock and some Smoked Paprika.  I have a pack of Popty Ping (microwave) Spanish Style Grains which will also be added later.  Perhaps only half of it or the spoon will be standing up on its own.  That will be stew/soup for several meals.  However - update - the blardy carrot, chopped SO fine, is taking forever to cook . . .  Will have to boil it up mightily in future, before adding it . . .

'Tis yummy.

The Physio appt. went well and I have much more mobility in my shoulder again now, but it's still sore.  I have some exercises to do.  She doesn't need to see me again.  It made a refreshing change to have her help me free the shoulder up rather than just giving you an exercise sheet, which has been the case in the past.  

I have sorted out the stuff I'm taking to tomorrow's Fair and the car is packed.  I just need to sort out what paintings I'm taking.  I am downstairs, just for tomorrow, so won't have so much room - only one table for stuff that isn't militaria, but I do need to try and clear Keith's old stock.

I'll make a Chocolate Courgette cake after lunch, and then rest up with a good book and the quilt binding.  I did most of a side last night whilst watching Foyle's War.  

I hope my UK followers are OK, especially those of you in Scotland - gz, thinking of you today.  There was a Facebook reel this morning, showing the extent of the damage done by Storm Amy - or at any rate, the torrential rain associated with it.  This was the Borlin valley in West Cork. That road will be closed for a while, that's for sure.

Sewing and chatting - back with my quilting tribe

 

Yesterday I was feeling low again, so looked forward to my sewing group in the afternoon.  I went to P&D's as usual for a bite to eat and a natter.  P can't drive these days so only goes out when D is out somewhere (local).  I meant to take them some Crab Apple Jelly, but left it on the side!  Dozo.  I made another five jars this week and still have another 5 or 6 lbs of crab apples left to cook up.

We had a full house at quilting group yesterday - 17 of us!  Many of the people are "new" to me - but then I had a break of several years after moving here, so not surprising.  I can barely remember people's names though and wish they had badges!  I only made four blocks (and yes, I know, some squiffy point joining in places), but there was lots of nattering, and looking at other people's work - we are all working on such different things - everything from Christmas Angels, to beginners' first quilts - Log Cabin and Maple Leaf.  There was a special all day group on Sunday where they made the most amazing folded stars:

Aren't these lovely, and of course, as Alex always tells us, they're EASY!!  I've just found a how-to short video on You Tube.  HERE.   It really does look doable!

I had a bit of a weepy moment when I was talking about Keith to M (who is French, and long time widowed) but she gave me a hug and got me over the bump.  Poor lady, she is finishing a hexagon quilt (1970s vintage) which she inherited from an aunty, who she was cursing heartily as she has been trying to work out aunty's intended design around the central ring of flowers.  Areas partly stitched but not seeming to be part of any real design as such.  NONE of the fabrics available now to fill up gaps of course.  Every time I looked up, M was muttering and rethreading her needle yet AGAIN!  She does not enjoy hand sewing . . .

Before I left yesterday I made up a feeble curry sauce (to have prawns added later) for my evening meal.  It was so feeble it barely justified the name of Korma, but was tasty enough to eat and doesn't seem to have any untoward repercussions. It's such a balancing act - more fibre actually causes me more discomfort.  I have just watched an interesting video by an expert (yup, sure there are many) but he said it isn't a one size fits all, but very individual and that some of his clients experienced worsening of discomfort if they ate lots of fibre.  You can read so much "expert" information on diet, but it can be extremely contradictory (which I have found).  For example, Kimchi is meant to be good for gut health, but NOT if you have diverticular problems - has cabbage and Korean chilli in it!  Sourdough bread too can cause problems in some folk - I haven't had any for ages but think I will stick to wholemeal/granary type breads which I know I'm ok with.  Wine - now and again, remembering it IS a toxin and the body sees it as such and wants to expel it, so uses water intake to do so (hence when you are drunk you are extremely dehydrated next day - a hangover . . .)  So, swings and roundabouts.   Touch wood, on an even keel at the moment.

From my walk the other day - empty wasp nests in a friend's hay barn.  The biggest one certainly looked to be supporting a big colony.

Today is a "free" day - nothing definitely planned but if it stays dry I really should crack on with painting the kitchen window.  I have my flu jab this afternoon.  Tomorrow is the Physio.  Saturday the Fair.  Depends on the weather though, and whether or not the tail end of recent hurricanes etc to our West drop down from Scotland into Wales (poor Scotland always gets it in the neck).

Enjoy your day.