Saturday, October 20, 2007

Countdown...

We have friends staying the weekend, who we haven't seen since our hols in Scotland in June, so it was a lot of fun catching up last night over homemade stew, fresh homemade bread and ale!

Everyone apart from me had a big day today. Our friends are flathunting, whilst my partner is doing an 11 mile sponsored walk to raise funds for a friend's university fees (www.sidalidonations.net), so I have the house to myself. I got up extra early to make them all a nice breakfast: eggs, tomatoes, hash browns and toast; apple juice and coffee! (Now I've just got to do the washing up!)

I'm resting my knees which were so bad yesterday I had to cancel my trip to foal farm. Nice start, my first day and I can't even turn up!

It's been a day categorised by deliveries. I had to pick one up today, and then have been waiting in for another one to arrive (which did arrive 20 mins ago). At least I now have a great new pair of jeans (which will go very well with my England shirt!) to watch the match tonight.

Ah, the match... I'm so nervous I'm not sure how I can even bear to watch, but I will, of course. Let's hope the rugby beer I bought (specially brewed for the World Cup) will help calm my nerves...

So all that remains is to say COME ON ENGLAND, STUFF THE SAFFAS! Lol... hope everyone enjoys the match, whoever you're supporting.

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Monday, October 15, 2007

A good mechanic and a nice piece of cake

What a domesticated weekend! We made bread, muffins, cakes and scones. Had family over for tea (and lots of cake), started on the big garden winter clear up and did some housework! I also watched a lot of rugby (see previous entries).

We also got the laptop wirelessly connected to the Internet. Ok, I say we, what I really mean is my partner. She was great and basically did all the work, including phoning our broadband provider when there were a few problems. I sat next to her making sympathetic and supporting noises. A tough job but somebody’s got to do it…

As it all kicked into life – the laptop saying, hey I can pick up the internet, the internet saying hello, I’m the internet would you like to go out sometime – a list of all the providers popped up with the prompt, which one do you want to pick? So we saw all the providers for our neighbours, and as there were 10 different choices, not just the neighbours upstairs and either side either. Their was even one that was unsecured so we could, in theory, just use the net without paying and presumably (although as you may have gathered I’m no expert) be able to see all of that persons internet files?! Naturally, we didn’t dream of doing that, well, not for long and just clicked on our provider and voila! The laptop is now truly mobile.

We were supposed to go to the cycle show and see Slighty’s Witcomb Bikes stand, but we didn’t make it in the end what with unexpected guests and a list of chores as long as your average inner tube. Apparently it went well though. They now have a 6 month waiting list. How fantastic! As I said in a text, in the sort of disposable ‘want it NOW!’ world we live in, how wonderful that people appreciate craftsmanship and quality and are prepared to wait for it.

We sent an email to a woman in Somerset who is selling land, which makes it even more imperative we see a mortgage advisor ASAP. It may come to nothing but for those of you that know me, you will appreciate I am a belt and braces sort and like having things organised and ready for when we do want to make a move…

Unfortunately I start off the week a little lame. (Even more so than usual.)Whilst clearing the garden yesterday I fell and banged my knees quite badly. I stopped work immediately, my partner ran me a bath and I rested for the rest of the afternoon – even using a crutch to take the weight off. I took painkillers and slept well and I think all that did make a huge difference although I am still sore. Ironically, tonight is my MRI scan. I have to move my legs and then they scan me as I move to see how bad the damage is. Think I might not tell them that I was carrying heavy stuff (a big no-no) and then fell on my knees because I’m a clumsy bugger.

By the way, before I sign off and throw myself into my work, I should say that I used Beekay garage in Hammersmith (near Ravenscourt tube) to get the car fixed last week. And so far I am very impressed. I am now booking the car in for a service. I liked the way they kept me informed and were so polite and friendly. When I asked for a quote for a service they told me they couldn’t give me one… I was a little perplexed, until they explained they check the car over for free and then call you and say this needs doing, this doesn’t need doing and then they give you a price and ask whether they can go ahead. In other words, they don’t do (or charge) you for work that doesn’t need doing. This seems to be both sensible and practical.

If you want reviews of garages, I think there is a website called the good garage scheme where real customers post their comments about the service and quality of work. For someone like me with no frame of reference with regards to garages or the work they do, and so who has to rely on trust, it’s really important to hear what other people think and have found using a particular garage. I’ve only used Beekay once, but I am impressed so far and will be using them again.

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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Knees

Realised I hadn’t really followed up from my hospital appointment last week. The whole thing was fairly civilised. I was seen quickly, the doctor was pleasant and I had x-rays done in record time but it turns out that as well as crumbling kneecaps, I also have arthritis in both knees. I must admit I was quite upset. Arthritis is a horrible condition. I was left wondering will the pain get worse, will one condition cancel out the other?! Anyway, I now have to have an MRI scan – a tracking scan to be precise; I move my knees as they are being scanned.

I did whack the doctor on the arm, completely unintentionally (although we now know I have excellent reflexes). It happens each time; they have to prod and poke and manipulate my knees to hear the interesting creaking noise they make and see what range of movement I have and it hurt and before I knew it, he had poked particularly hard and my hand flew out and hit him on the arm. Luckily I didn’t hit him hard but there was nothing I could do and he seemed quite understanding, noting with masterful understatement that my knees were particularly tender in that area.

He mentioned surgery but frankly I’m not interested, I’ve had two ops on my left knee and bugger all good they’ve done me! So time will tell, but I’m hopeful that they can provide some help. Fingers crossed anyway!

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Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Boot(y) call

I managed to drag myself in for 8.30 although I’m not sure it was strictly necessary. We pick the car up today! We have insurance, we did the HPI check (see yesterday’s entry), we have the money and we’re raring to go. I am very excited. It’s going to take me a week to sort out all the new controls, bless me. I’ve been used to a very basic Ford Escort. We now have air conditioning! It seems we’ve gone up in the world…

I’m particularly excited about the size of the boot, but then if you’ve read previous entries about how much gear we insist on taking with us, even just on weekends away, you can perhaps understand why.

I bought a chocolate croissant from a well known supermarket – a sort of celebration of the new car if you will – and it’s made me feel slightly sick. It’s that very cheap and nasty synthetic chocolate and really I wish I’d just stuck with my usual plain variety. You see, extras aren’t always a good thing.

Tomorrow I’m working from home so will have to be disciplined and not start packing or sorting out the car for our trip. I have the hospital in the afternoon. Many qualified consultants and doctors have tried to sort out my knees and/or organise effective pain relief and all of them have failed, but one more hardy individual is about to throw himself into the breech and bugger about with me orthopaedically speaking. I shall go with an open mind and crumbling knees. You never know, it might just work…

It’s autumnal – this morning I woke up and it was dark and I’m wearing a jumper. Not a big 4 inch thick, walking in the Dales sort of jumper, more a stylish v-neck actually, but still it is a second layer and that’s a little sad. Perhaps there will be a late bloom of summer or perhaps we’ve had the best weather we’re going to get, we just don’t know ladies and gentleman…

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