Day 262: Wednesday 27th November

It has been a while...... quite a while.



Lots has been happening at the homestead. Even more has been happening out there where the wild things are. 



It's sometimes difficult to put into words how things are going, when one is at risk of appearing to be a 'whiner'. 

It's not all bad though. The new 'happy pills' seem to be working now, so things are looking up.


The innards are still wonky, so the lovely consultant Mr P has given me 2 extra things to keep in the large ice-cream box along with all the other 'tummy and pain-management' stuff. 

With careful thought, all seems to be OK, as long as I stick to the rules of engagement - tricky!

C1 and C2 have managed to get through Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night unscathed. Cats and rabbits also. 

Christmas cakes have been baked, in anticipation of some jolly old seasonal fun.

There has been feverish activity on the 'making stuff' front' in preparation for a couple of Coffee & Cake mornings in aid of Alzheimer's, where S, H and me all present our hand-made stuff to willing folk who would like to support a worthy charity, and support local crafters too. I have to admit that I have run out of time, and energy. But am going to do my best - can do no more. 

Spending a lot of time with M&D now - it is going really well, and lovely to see how a little of me can go such a long way. 

Day 226: Tuesday 22nd Octoberi

Well it all looked so promising.....

Then I checked the details, did some working out, and found that it wasn't what I had hoped at all.

A lovely job in a lovely place, but once I had paid for the pre and post-school childcare for C2, encouraged C1 to become a latch-key kid, and gained 100% more stress, I would be worse off financially for certain, and mentally, on the road to ruin again.

So it's back to the drawing board. Or the yarn bin. Or something else to try to make ends meet a little better. What with Christmas coming up and all.

I also discovered that I had un-knowingly taken on a loan last year, in the false awareness that it was a kind of gift. I did check, I know I did. I would never have taken a loan for a hundred quid at a time when I cannot pay it back. Oh god. Now I feel awkward, a bit cross, and more than a little embarrassed that it has taken her a whole year to ask her husband to ask for it back. Have offered to pay it back in small amounts, which will have to be SMALL amounts due to my lack of expendable cash. Hmmmmm. Lost enough sleep over this now. Envelope for loose change.....

Visit to the lovely Bariatric Emma on Friday confirmed that I am seriously depleted in vitamin B12, so now need to have an injection of the stuff every 3 months for life. Ow. I had my first one yesterday. Feels like I have been punched on the arm by a small oaf.

Still, the weight is still coming off. And the diarrhoea (sorry folks) is still purging every day. Time for Mr Consultant to step in. (Not literally, of course, that would be very yucky!). I see him on Thursday to discuss poo, weight loss and floppy skin.

2 of our little baby bunnies are now on the way to a new home care of the RSPCA. It wasn't difficult, as the lady I handed them over to was lovely and reassuring. 

Gone but not forgotten.

Fur-baby 3 is on his way to pastures new on Friday too. That is going to be sadder. The trouble is that he causes fights, causes stress to the other older 2, and it's not fair. He deserves a one-cat home, with someone to love him, and he doesn't like to share, so he's off to Franny-Pan's mum. 

Adieu, Dubster. xx

So it's an emotional roller-coaster this week. Keeping on top of it all has been a bit of a challenge, but with C1 and C2 being particularly great about it all, it could be a whole lot worse.

And I made 3 robins while Doc Martin was on. Whoop!

Day 219: Tuesday 15th October

Lots of time has passed since my last entry. 19 days, in fact. 

Time shared between C1 and C2, Mummy and Daddy, Mr 1957, various other relatives in varying lengths of time, school teachers, doctors, dietician, phlebotomists, vets, old mates and rabbits.

Babies for my babies...

Phew!

Also need to mention the oodles of job applications which are winging their way from me to 'them' - so far with not so much as a peep of response other than 'thanks but no thanks'. Ah well, at least I have a lot of ways to make good use of my time!

Babies ready to be rehomed...

Experimental rhubarb upside-down cake... winner!

Day 200: Thursday 26th September

Drains all clear. Thank you water board. Much excitement last night involving pressure hoses, cameras and some deft fence-panel removal. 

2 bottoms. Neither of them mine!

As they left, though, the hilarity quickly dissipated as I discovered that my lovely neighbour's mum had died only an hour ago, and the cloud of bereavement was hovering over her home.

Lightened mood this morning, due to the morning bike ride, and the anticipation of a new 'Craft' group starting up. My mate Ronnie had the idea that instead of stressing about hosting a fortnightly group at her house, instead, we should meet up somewhere nice and friendly with refreshment options and comfy chairs. This morning we met up at a local tapas cafe, for a shared pot of tea and diary comparisons. Nobody else turned up, which wasn't a problem in itself, as we still had a great time. 

   

Tea for two, knitting and colouring in. 

All good. Hoping for a roughly fortnightly get-together. 

Then I popped for a coffee with another mate and then home for another session with my trusty bike. Chain came off (again) so got my hands oily. Never mind. 

C1 is at Book Club tonight - I hope she enjoys it, as it's the first after-school club she has agreed to participate in, and I would like it to be a success for her. 

Back at Mummy & Daddy's house tomorrow. A trip to the optician is booked, and note to self: remember to remind Mummy about the footplates for Daddy's wheelchair!!!!
And collect some house-bricks.

And to top it all off nicely, C1 got home from book club, said it was OK, and presented me with her latest DT project - a hand-felted, hand sewn, own-designed pillow. Proud moment. I am proud of her too!!!!  :)
Following in Granny's creative footsteps.

C1 and her project.

Hand-felted snake design.

Day199: Wednesday 25th September

The fact that it is only 4:45am is an indication of my need to get on with things. Woke up, unable to switch off my internal 'to-do list' so washing machine is on, cats fed, knitting project completed, and no sign of sleep returning.

Boot Cuffs

Minus the boots!

Last night's exciting event (!!!!!) was the doorbell ringing at 9:30pm - just as all had quietened down upstairs. Lucky I wasn't already in my pyjamas!

It was 2 gentlemen from the water board wanting to inspect my manhole. 

Ooh Matron!

After a short intake of breath, some careful controlling of my smut-gene, and a call upstairs to reassure C1 and C2 that all was well, they came in through the garage with torches. 

After quite a palaver involving lifting a fence panel, me holding half a large buddleia out of the way, lifting a concrete baseboard and some heavy breathing (them not me!) it was confirmed that there is no blockage on my (Landlord Ian's) property, or that of my lovely neighbour. 

I now have the joy of looking forward to a return visit after 4pm today from a 4-man gang with hoses, who would like to repeat the fence-lifting and aim a gallon or so of high-pressure water towards my other neighbour's property, as apparently there IS a blockage further down the road, with very unpleasant contents. 

Wondering whether any of this is down to me and my current toilet issues only lasted a few seconds, until the blame was placed on the chip shop up the road. I had no idea there was a blockage!!! 

Further pauses for 'Ooh Matron' opportunities, and off they went again, only to return 15 seconds later (giving me time to simply sniff the Rich Tea stress-buster in my hand) as they had left their jemmy and screwdriver on the picnic bench. 

Couldn't make it up really. 

So it was off to bed, sleeplessness like a cloud of gnats, and here I am, in the still of the early morning (aka stupid o'clock) planning a 'disposable' packed lunch for C2's day-trip to an environmental education centre later today with his new class, new knitting project, how to prevent a rabbit from digging a Colditz-grade tunnel under the hutch, and further delving into the Rich Tea stash. 

Day 198: Tuesday 24th September

Another week or so has flown by - I am starting to question the speed variations compared to the amount of 'stuff' done. It seems to go that the more busy I am, the slower time goes. This is not what I am used to!

Lots of lovely time spent with Mummy and Daddy - trying for 3 days a week while the search continues for employment. The amazing thing is that my being there with them seems to help towards a calmer, more settled approach. Whether this is wishful thinking or not, it seems to work. 

Several appointments (in person and over the phone) aiming to get my inner health on a more even keel. Still suffering from the effects of missing bits of bowel, which is making life somewhat risky when away from civilisation (and a loo!). There is also the ongoing problem of the small quantity of food I can take in at one time, and the amount of vitamins and minerals included therein. Hair still falling out, achey bits, wobbly legs etc still giving me grief, but it isn't stopping me. Oh no.

I think I am enjoying the new regime of 'no car for the school run' more than C2! My bike is now my friend. Mr 1957 donated a special addition to my bike, which is now installed in the correct position. 

Ring, ring....... outta the way, peeps.

Am facing some expensive requests from both schools at the moment. The clause about 'voluntary contributions' is being read carefully, as a total of £36.50 is needed so far this term to pay for educational trips, activities and materials for making a 'jitterbug'. I don't want them to miss out, so am adding little messages to the consent slips about 'waiting for my benefit to arrive' and such, which I hope are being read, noted, and not affecting the children's potential for participating in such activities. I can't sustain such extra outgoings, and the children know this. I just hope that the 'free school meals' tag on both of them helps to indicate to the powers that be that I am not telling fibs!

Children of parents who are unable, or unwilling, to contribute may not be discriminated against. However, if there are insufficient voluntary contributions made to cover the cost of the trip, or activity, and there is no alternative method to make up the shortfall, then the school should cancel the activity.

There was a slight hassle at the weekend when both C1 and C2 needed swimming goggles (have they added more chemicals to the water, I want to know!) and having failed to acquire them at the weekend, Mr 1957 had a rummage and found 2 pairs, one pink and one blue, that were used by his children in days gone by. They fit! Phew! Problem solved. I hope. Now we just need to make it out of the door for our planned swimming night once a week!

Goggle-boy!

Goggle-girl!

I have also been checking through my list of things to make for people, and........

Ta daaaaaaa - melodion-player gloves Mk I

Melodion-player gloves Mk II

And a new venture into 'welly-cuffs' - prototype coming along nicely - just need to finish the 2nd leg!

Welly Cuff - first leg - please note the cables!!

The lovely Ronnie made me a meal planning board, which is working really well. Sticking to a weekly food budget is so much easier when we know what we're having.

All in all a good life. 

Amen!

Day 186: Thursday 12th September

Having a day to myself - like hen's teeth, but made all the sweeter because I am calm, have purpose, and have made a list!

2 more days for C2 at his current school. He is very happy to be transferring, but will miss his friends. We have collected phone numbers for park and play days etc. That makes it all better.

It amazes me how many of the playground people are now talking to me! I have been invisible on there apart from a couple of lovely ladies who I talk to regularly. It's taken 18 months of standing there, and now I only have 2 days left, they start acknowledging my smiles and actually speak! Humans are strange.

Yesterday was great - Mum and I managed to clear some space in the garden, and will be back in there tomorrow facing Part 2 of 'Metal Pole and Goosegog Root War'.

Part 1 of Plan A

I have successfully de-cluttered the dining room - except that I don't think it counts. I have simply put things in boxes and stacked them in a corner. Looks much tidier though, and the table is now reclaimed for mealtimes and homework. Goodie!!!!!

Now I have stopped decluttering, I have managed to allow myself 30 minutes of creative time, to stick all the lovely cockle shells I collected on Rhossili and Oxwich Beaches on The Gower Peninsula in August onto an old mirror from the garage. I love it. It may look a little crappy, but the thing is, I LOVE IT. That is what matters. It is not for sale. It is a memory of a lovely couple of days. 

Before........

After :)

Better tidy up now before the children come home to discover that I have been gluing and sticking without them!  Ha ha!!!