once again

I went for a fasting blood test. Given slip/bag for the 'wrong' hospital, decided to take the easy way out.
At great expense, local authority has built a medical/council centre near here. Thought I'd try out the new medical facilities. There's a dedicated phlebotomy centre with proper nurses, not just folk filling in.
Chatted with nurse n mentioned probs with bruising; also requested blue needle.
It worked!!!
Small puncture wound virtually no bruising! Not quite as good as the specialists, but then this clinic is in walking distance.

grumpy gal

Take person with some health probs and give them meds that cause yet more probs.
Let her take meds that cause ankles to swell up like balloons.
Reluctantly, change meds to others with their own nasty side effects

• dry throat with hacking cough
• swollen ankles (again)
• dizziness
• sudden loss of balance

Let her see 'health professional' to discuss problems, tell her you'll phone back (Monday)

So, I waited, waited and waited, Monday went with no phone call
Nurse apparently is there Mon., Wed. and Fri.
Try phoning. *nurse not due in until 10 am*
Leave message asking nurse to phone like she promised on Monday.

No she didn't phone, so I phoned her.

Like a game of 'Chinese whispers' but with my health.

Another 'promise' to contact me once more. No, I shall not be surprised when she fails to phone again.

Note to self
If only I could change doctors/surgeries, but what are the chances????

fun Monday

Mariposa is hosting this week and wants to know:

Let's talk about TEARS. What images spring to mind when you hear the word ‘tears’? Have you ever had tears of laughter and tears of joy? When was the last time you had tears of joy? Tears of laughter? Tell us about it!

The 1980s were a decade of *tears of sorrow*. Guess it was being an only child of 'old' parents. But, aunts, uncles, mother and father all departed this world in that decade. It seemed a constant round of funerals, wills and so on.

Tears of joy and laughter happen frequently whenever our god-daughter pays us a visit.
Also, the antics of our increasingly large 'puppy' cause laughter ending in tears. He reminds me of the cartoon character Scooby do bounding around or grabbing the older girlie by her tail and tugging.

ages ago

I thought it was time for an update, then life went pear-shaped in Cornwall.
:-((

When on holiday, one doesn't expect to learn that a friend has died suddenly, nor that the grieving widow wants to rely on you for as long as you can be **useful**

Neither does one want to become **piggy in the middle** between "warring" widow and ex-wife of the deceased.

So, as both females *lost it* and independently chucked their toys out of their pram as the saying goes...Good riddance to both say I.

Rites of passage such as funerals are public events, so relict stood no chance of banning wife no 1 from the funeral. Fortunately, we decided to stay home as it was too far to travel.

I know that an inquest was scheduled, but as communications with relict broke down, unless I ask/pay for copy of death certificate, I'll remain none the wiser.

flaming June and I do not mean the weather!

Events

1. dog-powered flight! led to black eye n fractured ribs
2. Cornwall friends -1 as guy died suddenly
3. Good news! The arrival of baby girl Evie Grace, daughter of Simon n Shelley

1. Take 2 large GSDs on leads, stand at caravan door n be hauled out as they chase after something
Land uncomfortably on grass, nose bleeding, one dog loose n other standing over you seeming concerned. Realise life has become painful.

2. Guy has argument with wife (again) goes missing (again) but unlike previous times fails to return home. Police find him deceased. Chaos n limbo ensue cos he needed to by identified, before post mortem to be followed by inquest.
Guy leaves behind a minefield of problems for widow to sort out i.e. debts etc.
Ex-wife makes a nuisance of herself thus upsetting n greatly annoying widow.
Series of vicious circles, inquest therefore only interim death certificate, police hang on to personal possessions including wallet, driving license and credit cards. Widow stymied unable to do much apart from organise funeral but ex-wife interferes.

3. Some good news! Simon n Shelley celebrate the safe arrival (today) baby Evie Grace 8lb 10oz. Time for me to finish n post crochet baby clothes n card

cornish trivia

D chatting with Ron n Beryl catching up on events n doings locally. Zaq (puppy) feeling left out vaulted over caravan 1/2 door and rushed to join them. Beryl with news that R & J have gone 'up country' for a few days (Surrey) to visit poorly relation.

Mike called round with a stack of aircraft mags for D to read. Update...M takes over as President 2009-2010 Mount's Bay Rotarians.

Road repairs to double S bends on main road, road closed n traffic diverted up local country lane. Suddenly, peace is shattered...heavy traffic along usually empty lane.

Peace is shattered again! This time by the weather...balmy Spring sunshine replaced by torrential rain and flash flooding!

Sadly the storm cut short 3 young lives near Zennor. Car they were in washed away downstream as a usually babbling brook transformed into wild raging torrent sweeping all before it. One young man escaped to raise the alarm, but was the only survivor. Two bodies found n one still missing.

From the Western Morning News-

"Divers, the fire service, Coastguard and rescue helicopters spent the weekend combing the rugged stretch of coast. A digger was brought in to aid the search, with 20 police officers and police dogs involved.

Meanwhile, a seven-mile stretch of the South West Coast Path has had to be closed because of damage caused by the torrential rain. Cornwall Council yesterday issued an emergency closure order for the stretch through Zennor, Morgan and Towednack. It hopes repairs can be carried out as soon as possible.

The council also announced it was closing B3306 in Zennor for safety reasons after the foundations of a culvert were damaged."

missing out

Missed out on this week's Fun Monday because of lacking internet access Doh!
21st century hasn't reached far-flung Cornwall and they are supposed to 'go digital' from beginning of July?
Peacefulness and tranquillity abound, manana is too fast in comparison to the Cornish 'drekkly'.
There are NO wi-fi spots for miles around!

Cell phone 'coverage' is a joke. Check it out the coverage is at best negligible.

Mobile broadband? Go figure!

Hence, laptop left at home, cell phone switched off unless I travel to somewhere with coverage.

Amusing to watch people wandering in search of phone signal. Feeling helpful, I say 'try up the lane, or up the hill'. The look on the face has to be seen to be believed.
Am only being truthful...

Along the lane, past the cottage, stand in the next gateway by the wall and you'll get a signal. Climb Richard's hill and the signal is stronger.

Sayre smiles hosts Fun Monday

Take a picture of the thing that helps you get through the day and inspires you to have the best day you can.

Already thinking of several things that inspire me, my dogs the garden flowers... One photo is not going to be 'enough' she says, laughing!

Grape hyacinths,standing proud in the Spring sunshine.



Hellebore aka Lenten Rose, looks fragile yet thrives in Winter thro' to Spring. Bright splashes of colour to brighten drab, dark days.

Fun Monday

Dreams!
Yes, I dream but rarely remember apart from the first few moments after I awake. For many years there was a recurring dream, probably a result of visits to the dentist as a child. In those days preventative dentistry did not exist; it was gas + extractions. There was no escape. I can still feel, smell and taste the rubber mask + gas they used.
My dream/nightmare? A conveyor belt of teeth seen between glowing red bars!

After my father passed away, there was another, vivid recurring dream, a much pleasanter one. It seemed to me I was home with him in a variety of pleasant situations, so life-like as to appear tangible. Sun-shining, warm with gentle breezes and the pair of us content in each other's company. Him pottering around the garden and greenhouse with my younger self for company.

news reporting

Isn't it odd, the different takes on the same news story! Listening as usual to Radio 5 live, heard interview security advisor about rescue of US captain. Interviewer asked the 'right' questions, nothing daft. Interviewee knowledgeable painted accurate picture of situation.

Later posts by the media bore no resemblance and were nothing like as truthful.

Another Wednesday

returned to Lowry, Lyric theatre this time to see "Brief Encounter" loosely based on the Noel Coward film of the same name. But, Noel Coward didn't have comedy in his film. Kneehigh Theatre Company injected their own comedy highlights into the production.
A miniature steam train crossing the stage.
Betty the waitress on a kid's scooter.

Lunched at Pan Asia, even quieter than last week, but the food was just a good.This time we took the Metro tram to Boundary, one stop later but similar distance from the theatre. Caught the return tram from there, managing the be seated unlike last week. We got to Oxford Rd. station in good time to get an earlier train, arriving back half an hour early.

Last theatre production for me to visit until July. Barbara's going in June to see Cabaret. I'm going with her in July to see West-side Story.

TweetPhoto

looking forward to

Wednesday and trip to Manchester (with Barbara) to the Lowry Theatre. Train from Hough Green to city centre, stroll to the Chinese Arch and Panasia restaurant (all day buffet).
Metro (tram)to the Lowry.
Calendar Girls

Hoping will lunch in Chinatown at the Pan Asia.

In Memoriam

Sadness clouds my world, Liz is dead!
In February 2007, Liz wrote:I've got my medical retirement; now I can take life off hold..(fibromyalgia).

In June 2008 - I've been having trouble with my eyesight for a while now - despite getting a new prescription last November. I've been perceiving things as "dim", noticed a slight change in my colour vision, and occasional difficulties in seeing things in certain areas of my peripheral vision, as well as increasing difficulty with "normal" sizes fonts & print.

July 2008

She was diagnosed as having a sub arachnoid haemorrhage...

Someone I knew years ago on having a similar diagnosis was immediately rushed into hospital (Walton specialised in brain surgery) and operated upon successfully.

Not my darling Liz, she was kept waiting throughout 2008 until March 2009. Her op was delayed until March 2009...now she is dead!

"Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned."

Edna St. Vincent Millay from Dirge Without Music

time it was, I have a photograph

Preserve you memories, they're all that's left of you (to paraphrase Simon n Garfunkel)

Today, my god-daughter arrived with her mother (my one true friend).
S ought to have attended a business meeting, but 10 minutes away from here, she had a message to say 'Meeting cancelled'.
Having almost reached her destination, she continued and arrived to spend the morning here.
Conversation ranged across topics old and new, as it does when we get together. A n I go back some 45 years so there are a lot of memories.
Dogs as in GSDs figure largely, from the original Shan, thro' Sheba, Major n Kira to our present day canine companions.
Shan was favourite when S was but a toddler, Sheba took over followed by Major.
Toddler S arrived to see Auntie Joanie, barged her way past two puzzled barking dogs saying to them "'lo dogs" then "bye dogs" as she made her way to me.
Another time, S was playing with Major whilst the adults chatted in the garden one sunny summer afternoon. Voice called out "the dog prickled me!"
D quickly extracted S from the pyracantha into which she had tumbled.Even today, S remembers the event well . Especially as both sets of parents n god-parents had at the time collapsed into fits of laughter.

suddenly

March arrived taking me completely by surprise.
Last couple of weeks have been eventful. GSD girlie diagnosed with pyometra (infection of the womb), fortunately, we got her to the vets in time and she was operated upon.
Pyometra is a silent killer if left untreated.

Wakes Weeks

Sarah Lancashire TV programme, Disappearing Britain about Lancashire Wakes Weeks.

Mill towns used to shut down for a fortnight each year, during which, maintenance was done on machinery in the cotton mills.

I grew up in the mill town Clitheroe, Lancs. in the mid 20th century when Wakes Weeks still survived. The various towns closed one after another, so no two were on 'holiday' at the same time. Families used to save up all year to have money for the fortnight because they weren't paid while the mills were closed.

Even in the 1950's - early 1960s, the tradition survived, and people by then had holidays with pay. Essential shops (grocers) opened in the mornings, newsagents sent lads to sell newspapers in parts of the town (mornings).

the Dust will Wait Hosts Fun Monday

Show me in pictures and/or tell me in words, what defines the place where you live.

First has to be The Bridge
Wherever you go, no matter how you travel you see the Bridge. Should the bridge be impassible or lanes reduced the whole area for miles around snarls up with traffic.

Next, the Airport Hotel former air traffic control tower and listed building.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

February 2009

began with warnings of severe weather particularly for SE England. Commentators remarking on the 'worst snow for 18 years' and the number of school closures.

1963 winter was much more severe, the River Ribble froze; I walked there with Dad to watch people on the ice; including a professional ice skater.

Schools remained open, I walked to school thro' lanes and streets banked up with snow.

No-one considered staying home even when they had to dig themselves out of their houses.

Steam trains kept running, Beeching hadn't yet axed most of the lines.
Moving on to grammar school, they too remained open throughout snowy winters. Anyone local remained in class, whilst those bussed in were sent home.

Mid 1970s at college in Liverpool, trudged along Queens Drive through the snow to attend early morning lectures, only to find them cancelled.

The school I worked in 1975-2002 also refused to close in winter. One memorable occasion, the heating failed, pupils were sent home, yet the Head insisted staff stay at work.

Staff were obliged to report to work whatever the weather on penalty of retribution by the Head .