As we dive head long into the start of 2013, I have been reminded of both the fact we are only half way through Christmas. If nothing else there is a song the 12 days of Christmas. Apart from the fact that this song is the cause of the annual Christmas argument in my house as to which order everything goes in. There is actually a very strong message in the song.
Has any one in your household ever added up the total number of gifts given over the 12 days in the song? Before I start another family argument I will give you the total and it is 364, the number of days from boxing day till the next Christmas day. It is meant to be a way of singing a gift for every day tween those days.
With that in mind why not add challenge to your new years resolution, why not have a jar on your dinner table and put a coin in every day between now and then, and then give it to a charity. We all know it is a hard financial time, but every one has those 1p 2p or 5p rattling at the bottom of your purse /wallet etc at the end of the day. Seriously what happens to them? So if you do this it will hurt less and at the end of the year I am sure you will have at least £5 extra to give to your chosen charity.
Why not let the 12 days of Christmas become the true 364 days of giving. With that though happy new year to all my readers and see you in 2013.
Monday, 31 December 2012
New Years Kandee Treat
For all my followers and readers who haven't yet noticed the news. For today only Kandee are offering 60% off all shoes and accessories for today only.
I know there have been a few flash sales by Kandee, but this has to be the best way to end the year and spend any Christmas money you may have gained. The thriller boot is now £96 reduced from £239.99 and my favourite the cinder is £68 reduced from £169.99. With offers like this it is hard for any lover of Kandee not to justify at least one pair.
Remember this are hand made shoes rather than machine made, so with the price you are paying for quality. Most of all these won't break any new years resolutions of diets and giving up chocolate as they are calorie free Kandee.
I know there have been a few flash sales by Kandee, but this has to be the best way to end the year and spend any Christmas money you may have gained. The thriller boot is now £96 reduced from £239.99 and my favourite the cinder is £68 reduced from £169.99. With offers like this it is hard for any lover of Kandee not to justify at least one pair.
Remember this are hand made shoes rather than machine made, so with the price you are paying for quality. Most of all these won't break any new years resolutions of diets and giving up chocolate as they are calorie free Kandee.
Ashes of 2012
I honestly thought it was just my family that had a run of continual bad luck this last year, but as I read twitter and facebook I see there are plenty of people who want rid of this year. Between the natural disasters and the down turn in wealth I guess a lot of people have had enough.
Personally I have plenty of reasons to hate this last year, lost my job, as did my hubby, lost my health still haven't got a resolution out of an insurance claim from 2011 thus living with bare floor boards and walls, waiting for a resolution on a ppi case etc etc. Yet I suspect that in years to come I won't look back on the year in the same light. I think I will remember the paralympic game I went to, the watching of the diamond jubilee and events like that as will so many others.
For this year seems to have been traumatic for so many on a personal level, but on a national level especially for Britain it has been one where we reiterated our status, we held our own in running the Olympics, arrived on through wind and rain during the diamond jubilee, and I dare to say changed our views. Since the torch relay there has been a different feel of community in areas, I certainly notice it in our area, people want more local events. Us disabled people have been seen in a different light at long last.
So for the last post of 2012 I would like to let you know what happened to me on Christmas eve. I decided in my wisdom to go and get the last bits of Christmas shopping on my own, thinking I could manage, I should have known better when it took me 30 minutes to find a parking space and that was the in the furthest away car park and not even a disabled bay at that.Then I seemed to be on a wild goose chase looking for oil of peppermint for home made peppermint creams. A search that took me near on an hour and to every shop in town. Anyway to cut a long story short I took well over an hour and ended up with way too much to carry on my sticks especially in the now pouring rain. By now I had collapsed on one side as I do when my back packs up, but I still had to struggle to the car by walking through one car park and crossing the road to the other. As I did this struggle a lady asked me if I was ok? I said I would survive but thanked her for the concern, mainly as I am not used to being noticed. But this lady was very concerned and insisted I let her help. She took the heavy bags off me and helped me all the way to my car insisting on loading them in for me. She asked for nothing, and accepted nothing. But without her help I would not have made it home with out calling hubby out to rescue me.
I don't know who the lady was, but I do know she was trying to get her own laundry done, despite her own needs she still took the time out to help me. If there is one thing to carry forward to 2012, it is the fact that it is the year, we re learnt how to be compassionate to others, and not see their weaknesses, but their talents.
Personally I have plenty of reasons to hate this last year, lost my job, as did my hubby, lost my health still haven't got a resolution out of an insurance claim from 2011 thus living with bare floor boards and walls, waiting for a resolution on a ppi case etc etc. Yet I suspect that in years to come I won't look back on the year in the same light. I think I will remember the paralympic game I went to, the watching of the diamond jubilee and events like that as will so many others.
For this year seems to have been traumatic for so many on a personal level, but on a national level especially for Britain it has been one where we reiterated our status, we held our own in running the Olympics, arrived on through wind and rain during the diamond jubilee, and I dare to say changed our views. Since the torch relay there has been a different feel of community in areas, I certainly notice it in our area, people want more local events. Us disabled people have been seen in a different light at long last.
So for the last post of 2012 I would like to let you know what happened to me on Christmas eve. I decided in my wisdom to go and get the last bits of Christmas shopping on my own, thinking I could manage, I should have known better when it took me 30 minutes to find a parking space and that was the in the furthest away car park and not even a disabled bay at that.Then I seemed to be on a wild goose chase looking for oil of peppermint for home made peppermint creams. A search that took me near on an hour and to every shop in town. Anyway to cut a long story short I took well over an hour and ended up with way too much to carry on my sticks especially in the now pouring rain. By now I had collapsed on one side as I do when my back packs up, but I still had to struggle to the car by walking through one car park and crossing the road to the other. As I did this struggle a lady asked me if I was ok? I said I would survive but thanked her for the concern, mainly as I am not used to being noticed. But this lady was very concerned and insisted I let her help. She took the heavy bags off me and helped me all the way to my car insisting on loading them in for me. She asked for nothing, and accepted nothing. But without her help I would not have made it home with out calling hubby out to rescue me.
I don't know who the lady was, but I do know she was trying to get her own laundry done, despite her own needs she still took the time out to help me. If there is one thing to carry forward to 2012, it is the fact that it is the year, we re learnt how to be compassionate to others, and not see their weaknesses, but their talents.
Sunday, 30 December 2012
The Christmas Plague
I am one day of putting a red x on the door to warn of plague. Yes a little melodramatic, but this virus just won't go away, no sooner does one person have a good day than the other two go either backwards or develop a new symptom.
Hubby bless him felt a little better to be able to nip out for the Sunday papers, as mum and I lay sickening in our beds, but yesterday it was the other way round. It doesn't matter what we do, or sleep or eat this dam thing is going round and round in circles. The GP who saw hubby on Friday said there was little could but paracetamol and rest,although he was a little concerned with the temperatures, hubby was reading 100 on Friday. His parting remark was if we weren't any better we should return tomorrow, especially me who has had it on and of since the week before Christmas.
It has made for a rather subdued Christmas for us all, highlighting the facts that Christmas TV sucks, board games are lost on the sick and we haven't even touched half the food we bought for Christmas. There is an untouched baileys dessert in the freezer along with a joint of beef. There are crackers in their box and the tree is still laden with chocolate. Such happening are a rarity in our house especially as we have an American in our midst.
At the moment we are tossing coins to bet who is capable to cook the new years dinner, I am betting it will be me, as poor mum has really taken a down turn, if that's the case some one else is defiantly cooking the 12th night dinner as I will have done all the meals prior. In the mean time though anyone got cure for endless coughing, noses that would provide Rudolf with competition and chills that wouldn't be out of place in the north pole, but run in direct contrast to the fevers with desert like throats.
As for the cross on the door, well for now the garland will have to do as I haven't the energy to go and change it.
Hubby bless him felt a little better to be able to nip out for the Sunday papers, as mum and I lay sickening in our beds, but yesterday it was the other way round. It doesn't matter what we do, or sleep or eat this dam thing is going round and round in circles. The GP who saw hubby on Friday said there was little could but paracetamol and rest,although he was a little concerned with the temperatures, hubby was reading 100 on Friday. His parting remark was if we weren't any better we should return tomorrow, especially me who has had it on and of since the week before Christmas.
It has made for a rather subdued Christmas for us all, highlighting the facts that Christmas TV sucks, board games are lost on the sick and we haven't even touched half the food we bought for Christmas. There is an untouched baileys dessert in the freezer along with a joint of beef. There are crackers in their box and the tree is still laden with chocolate. Such happening are a rarity in our house especially as we have an American in our midst.
At the moment we are tossing coins to bet who is capable to cook the new years dinner, I am betting it will be me, as poor mum has really taken a down turn, if that's the case some one else is defiantly cooking the 12th night dinner as I will have done all the meals prior. In the mean time though anyone got cure for endless coughing, noses that would provide Rudolf with competition and chills that wouldn't be out of place in the north pole, but run in direct contrast to the fevers with desert like throats.
As for the cross on the door, well for now the garland will have to do as I haven't the energy to go and change it.
Friday, 28 December 2012
Twilight highlights
Not I am not a fan of these films, despite having Gothic tendencies these books and films left me stone cold. No what I like is the style or in particular the make up theme it encourages.
Call me over dramatic but I love the smokey eyes, strong lips and blacken nails effects. I always have done. I have never been brave enough to find a red lipstick I have the courage to wear, but the lightened face and strong eye effects have been used. Most of all I really dig dark nails. Against my better judgement and due to the lack of normal TV I have forcibly been made to sit through the Twilight film. and saw my ideal makeup on the Rosalie character.
So for the last hour rather than reduce what is left of my brain to mush, I have been trawling the sales for the perfect red lipstick.But can I find one? Hell no I can't, I can see this turning into a shopping mission and ending up being very expensive. At the moment my options vary from either Barry M lip paint 121 at £4.49 or lip lacquer crayon in cherry red at £4.99, then there is MUA lipstick shade 12 at £1. Those are at the lower end of the market but from there on the only way is up. Oh how I wish the more expensive brands did little samples like Avon do so I don't end up wasting my money on a product that won't suite me. Personally after much research I am likely to opt for the MUA and the Barry M Lip Lacquer Crayon, partly to do with cost, but mainly because I have had success with those products before in different shades But especially with the MUA what else can you get at £1 anyway so I may as well try it out.
If all goes well I master my Rosalie look, and if it goes wrong well it can be saved for Halloween and I can use it for a bride of Dracula after feeding look.
Call me over dramatic but I love the smokey eyes, strong lips and blacken nails effects. I always have done. I have never been brave enough to find a red lipstick I have the courage to wear, but the lightened face and strong eye effects have been used. Most of all I really dig dark nails. Against my better judgement and due to the lack of normal TV I have forcibly been made to sit through the Twilight film. and saw my ideal makeup on the Rosalie character.
So for the last hour rather than reduce what is left of my brain to mush, I have been trawling the sales for the perfect red lipstick.But can I find one? Hell no I can't, I can see this turning into a shopping mission and ending up being very expensive. At the moment my options vary from either Barry M lip paint 121 at £4.49 or lip lacquer crayon in cherry red at £4.99, then there is MUA lipstick shade 12 at £1. Those are at the lower end of the market but from there on the only way is up. Oh how I wish the more expensive brands did little samples like Avon do so I don't end up wasting my money on a product that won't suite me. Personally after much research I am likely to opt for the MUA and the Barry M Lip Lacquer Crayon, partly to do with cost, but mainly because I have had success with those products before in different shades But especially with the MUA what else can you get at £1 anyway so I may as well try it out.
Thursday, 27 December 2012
Could you survive?
Yes I have been watching way too much TV over the last few days. But one or two caused discussion in my house. The one about the big snow storms in Britain and the cookery ones. Like my mum I am able to make dinner out of nothing, but unlike my mum I have never lived through the snow storms of 1947 and 1963 like she has. Snow so bad her grand parents got stranded at the Deon farm from Christmas till March when it thawed.
I did blog about our madness at Harvest and all the pickling and such like, but now the tradition sort of makes sense, knowing she has lived through that and the shortages it caused. Yes I know we have greater access to shops than they did then, and bigger gritters. But seriously could you survive a full week with out being able to leave your house once? No nipping to corner shop for milk and bread? Or driving to the nearest supermarket for basics? In reality it is hard to imagine it, but the possibility is still very much there. The snow of 2009 freaked people out a bit and that was mild compared to the ones mum has lived through.
There is no way to predict when it will hit but all that can be guaranteed is it will happen again, and there will be panic as knowing Britain they are never expecting it. Like the hurricane of 1987 it wouldn't hit here is our attitude. What I do know is much as I hate to admit this we would survive in our house. Granted we wouldn't last with cigarettes, but that wouldn't kill us. But with the basis of milk, bread etc we would. Not because we have a massive freezer, but because we always keep dried and uht milk in the house, along with flour and yeast, sugar,tea and coffee. We also have a selection of frozen, canned and preserved fruit and veg. We also keep excess animal food in so they are ok, along with pasta and rice.
We don't hoard, but over winter there is a little bit extra held in our larder until the spring when anything that has been rolled over gets used up until next autumn when the pattern starts again. Yes we are working on the principle what if, but I would prefer that to not being able to survive and causing more problems venturing out when it is dangerous to.
This year has seen enough scaremongering over possible end of the world threats and so on. But this isn't meant to scare but instead inform and make people aware. How hard is to add an extra couple of tins into your trolley over winter? In regards to bread, I know making stuff from raw seems scary but there are enough cookery programs on TV you never need to by a cookery book. But if you do look around for one that suites you and try out what appeals to you. Home made bread lasts longer as it has no additives and is more filling as well. The same with home made soups.
Mum gave me a challenge to make weeks lunch's from raw this year which I achieved and it turned out to be fun, making breads and soups, then experimenting further. I don't know what this winter will hold, but I do know we will survive, will you?
I did blog about our madness at Harvest and all the pickling and such like, but now the tradition sort of makes sense, knowing she has lived through that and the shortages it caused. Yes I know we have greater access to shops than they did then, and bigger gritters. But seriously could you survive a full week with out being able to leave your house once? No nipping to corner shop for milk and bread? Or driving to the nearest supermarket for basics? In reality it is hard to imagine it, but the possibility is still very much there. The snow of 2009 freaked people out a bit and that was mild compared to the ones mum has lived through.
There is no way to predict when it will hit but all that can be guaranteed is it will happen again, and there will be panic as knowing Britain they are never expecting it. Like the hurricane of 1987 it wouldn't hit here is our attitude. What I do know is much as I hate to admit this we would survive in our house. Granted we wouldn't last with cigarettes, but that wouldn't kill us. But with the basis of milk, bread etc we would. Not because we have a massive freezer, but because we always keep dried and uht milk in the house, along with flour and yeast, sugar,tea and coffee. We also have a selection of frozen, canned and preserved fruit and veg. We also keep excess animal food in so they are ok, along with pasta and rice.
We don't hoard, but over winter there is a little bit extra held in our larder until the spring when anything that has been rolled over gets used up until next autumn when the pattern starts again. Yes we are working on the principle what if, but I would prefer that to not being able to survive and causing more problems venturing out when it is dangerous to.
This year has seen enough scaremongering over possible end of the world threats and so on. But this isn't meant to scare but instead inform and make people aware. How hard is to add an extra couple of tins into your trolley over winter? In regards to bread, I know making stuff from raw seems scary but there are enough cookery programs on TV you never need to by a cookery book. But if you do look around for one that suites you and try out what appeals to you. Home made bread lasts longer as it has no additives and is more filling as well. The same with home made soups.
Mum gave me a challenge to make weeks lunch's from raw this year which I achieved and it turned out to be fun, making breads and soups, then experimenting further. I don't know what this winter will hold, but I do know we will survive, will you?
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
Every girl needs her inner alice
No I haven't over done the cheap plonk, or smoked weird cigerettes, but I did watch Alice on tv today. Tim Burtons version actually and as a massive Alice fan I was very impressed !, Making it a continuation of the books rather than a re vamp. The one book that I can say links me to my oldest friends is our Alice fondness, so to see this was an eye opener.
The main part of the theme of the story in this version is Alice has forgotten her childhood adventures and has written them off as a dream, but for her to grow as an adult she needs to be reminded just who she was as a child. Now I am not saying we all need to recapture our dreams of being a damsel in distress or a princess looking for prince charming, God forbid I never got those dreams. But how many of us take ourselves to seriously, and forget to go a little crazy at times and lie outside the box.
"The Mad Hatter: There is a place. Like no place on Earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger! Some say to survive it: You need to be as mad as a hatter "
There is so much truth in that opening trailer line, and you can read it how you like but it still holds the same meaning. To be successful you have to loosen the strings a bit. Maybe even be a little bit naive and take risks. The line that keeps reoccurring is the principle of thinking 6 impossible before breakfast.
Personally I just love the original Alice just for the chaos it causes when you start thinking about the logic in it. Start from the top, who on earth can think about the caterpillar on the mushroom without wondering how dangerous that is. As a child it seemed hypnotic, as an adult it holds a whole different meaning. My favourites as both a child and an adult is the mad hatter, a character that straddles the line between genius and insanity, and the white rabbit the adult like character obessed with maintaining a schedule in a chaotic world.
That probably says more about my persoanlity than I wish to admit, but I still stand by view. Every girl needs to recapture that inner Alice and return to her wonderland. If it be in fashion and style or lifestyle. That said will someone pass the teapot. It is always time for tea.
The main part of the theme of the story in this version is Alice has forgotten her childhood adventures and has written them off as a dream, but for her to grow as an adult she needs to be reminded just who she was as a child. Now I am not saying we all need to recapture our dreams of being a damsel in distress or a princess looking for prince charming, God forbid I never got those dreams. But how many of us take ourselves to seriously, and forget to go a little crazy at times and lie outside the box.
"The Mad Hatter: There is a place. Like no place on Earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger! Some say to survive it: You need to be as mad as a hatter "
There is so much truth in that opening trailer line, and you can read it how you like but it still holds the same meaning. To be successful you have to loosen the strings a bit. Maybe even be a little bit naive and take risks. The line that keeps reoccurring is the principle of thinking 6 impossible before breakfast.
Personally I just love the original Alice just for the chaos it causes when you start thinking about the logic in it. Start from the top, who on earth can think about the caterpillar on the mushroom without wondering how dangerous that is. As a child it seemed hypnotic, as an adult it holds a whole different meaning. My favourites as both a child and an adult is the mad hatter, a character that straddles the line between genius and insanity, and the white rabbit the adult like character obessed with maintaining a schedule in a chaotic world.
That probably says more about my persoanlity than I wish to admit, but I still stand by view. Every girl needs to recapture that inner Alice and return to her wonderland. If it be in fashion and style or lifestyle. That said will someone pass the teapot. It is always time for tea.
After the wrapping paper
So the turkey has been carved and the pudding set alight, the big deflate happens. Well in some houses it has. Not really in this house hold though. Why? simple really we celebrate the 12 days of Christmas not just the one. The reason being that if you are true to the Christian religion the wise men didn't get there till 12 th night, that and my wedding anniversary is also on 12th night.
But it also means we divide the present giving up across the two days and also celebrate New year with a meal. So we don't get totally bloated on one day as not every thing is served up in the one meal. I know it wouldn't work for most house holds, but for us it does.
That said we got stockings full of useful things like pens and key chains, and presents in my case bears and nail stuff. But it means I also can expect presents from my husband on 12 th night and that gives me something to look forward to. This year I am so grateful that has happened, as we are all ill with a virus and it resulted in me attempting to cook my first ever Christmas dinner on my busted back. Still it worked and everyone ate their fill, toasted the Queen and tore through their wrapping paper. However its only today we are even looking at a box of chocolates and the cheese and crackers.
I have a feeling this season isn't going to be as easy as some, as Christmas eve and day feel on me as the others suffered in bed, and now I am paying the price having to lie flat on my back for a part of the day. But why is it rushed anyway? I don't remember Mary ushering the Shepperd's out the stable. As for the sales, well there is always the Internet.
But it also means we divide the present giving up across the two days and also celebrate New year with a meal. So we don't get totally bloated on one day as not every thing is served up in the one meal. I know it wouldn't work for most house holds, but for us it does.
That said we got stockings full of useful things like pens and key chains, and presents in my case bears and nail stuff. But it means I also can expect presents from my husband on 12 th night and that gives me something to look forward to. This year I am so grateful that has happened, as we are all ill with a virus and it resulted in me attempting to cook my first ever Christmas dinner on my busted back. Still it worked and everyone ate their fill, toasted the Queen and tore through their wrapping paper. However its only today we are even looking at a box of chocolates and the cheese and crackers.
I have a feeling this season isn't going to be as easy as some, as Christmas eve and day feel on me as the others suffered in bed, and now I am paying the price having to lie flat on my back for a part of the day. But why is it rushed anyway? I don't remember Mary ushering the Shepperd's out the stable. As for the sales, well there is always the Internet.
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Countdown to Christmas
I swear I am about at my wits end, at the moment it will be more than the turkey told to get stuffed this Christmas. To be honest with the year I have had why should I be surprised?
On Monday hubby had his bank account hacked and the contents of his account cleared. After much stress and jumping up and down, the bank fraud department assured hubby dearest money would be returned to his account by Wednesday (today). Then yesterday, Tuesday hubby went to his night job, only to get robbed on one of his deliveries. Fortunately unharmed, but the entire delivery stolen and the rest of his shift and some spent filling in police forms.
So why oh why did I expect today to go any easier? Because I am stupid or jinxed, I am not sure which. Any way we headed off to the bank today to check his money has been returned and mum's pension was in ready for the last blast of Christmas food shopping. The computer said no on both accounts. Not only has Hubby's fraud money gone awol, now we don't have the foggiest when mum's pay is going in.
It took two conversations in the bank to get anywhere regarding Hubby's money. It turns out a company he makes normal monthly payments, thought they would be clever and take it twice in 3 days using different names. After the bank pointed out to us that what they have done has broken ever rule in the financial code of conduct and many other rules, they told us unless the company would react to a call from hubby, and returned the money that way, then they would have to take the matter through the legal channels and that would take till the middle of January. Hubby did what he was told and phoned the company, the first time they hung up on him. So he tried again, with me growling in the back ground. After being put on hold 3 times and 30 minutes on a premium rate number they admitted they had acted fraudulently and the money would be returned However apparently this can take up to 4 working days. That means the day after Boxing day then, which equates to the car insurance bouncing and no Christmas presents for me. Fortunately the car insurance company has a bit more common sense than most and agreed to take payment next Friday with out penalty.
Mum's money however. well a crystal ball would give us the best answer. You see it's a council workers pension and the pay system is this. They pay normal workers the last working day of the month, and the pensioners anything from 2 to 5 days before that, except at Christmas, because they don't like doing a payment run between Christmas and New year. For the last few years this has entailed the pay coming in a week before Christmas. As Christmas is a Tuesday this year, the logical day would have been today for the pensioners and Friday for the workers at the latest. But with this years luck anything goes.
All I know is unless either of these missing monies appear between now and Friday, there will be no Christmas in this house, as there is no way anyone can get the food shopping in on Christmas Eve. I am long past waiting for Santa Claus, but I can still pray for Christmas magic , because that is what will get us out of this mess. If not then we will be skipping it this year.
On Monday hubby had his bank account hacked and the contents of his account cleared. After much stress and jumping up and down, the bank fraud department assured hubby dearest money would be returned to his account by Wednesday (today). Then yesterday, Tuesday hubby went to his night job, only to get robbed on one of his deliveries. Fortunately unharmed, but the entire delivery stolen and the rest of his shift and some spent filling in police forms.
So why oh why did I expect today to go any easier? Because I am stupid or jinxed, I am not sure which. Any way we headed off to the bank today to check his money has been returned and mum's pension was in ready for the last blast of Christmas food shopping. The computer said no on both accounts. Not only has Hubby's fraud money gone awol, now we don't have the foggiest when mum's pay is going in.
It took two conversations in the bank to get anywhere regarding Hubby's money. It turns out a company he makes normal monthly payments, thought they would be clever and take it twice in 3 days using different names. After the bank pointed out to us that what they have done has broken ever rule in the financial code of conduct and many other rules, they told us unless the company would react to a call from hubby, and returned the money that way, then they would have to take the matter through the legal channels and that would take till the middle of January. Hubby did what he was told and phoned the company, the first time they hung up on him. So he tried again, with me growling in the back ground. After being put on hold 3 times and 30 minutes on a premium rate number they admitted they had acted fraudulently and the money would be returned However apparently this can take up to 4 working days. That means the day after Boxing day then, which equates to the car insurance bouncing and no Christmas presents for me. Fortunately the car insurance company has a bit more common sense than most and agreed to take payment next Friday with out penalty.
Mum's money however. well a crystal ball would give us the best answer. You see it's a council workers pension and the pay system is this. They pay normal workers the last working day of the month, and the pensioners anything from 2 to 5 days before that, except at Christmas, because they don't like doing a payment run between Christmas and New year. For the last few years this has entailed the pay coming in a week before Christmas. As Christmas is a Tuesday this year, the logical day would have been today for the pensioners and Friday for the workers at the latest. But with this years luck anything goes.
All I know is unless either of these missing monies appear between now and Friday, there will be no Christmas in this house, as there is no way anyone can get the food shopping in on Christmas Eve. I am long past waiting for Santa Claus, but I can still pray for Christmas magic , because that is what will get us out of this mess. If not then we will be skipping it this year.
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Physio Hell
Last medical post before Christmas break I promise, and wish it could have been cheerful. But it isn't and to be honest I can't see this path being either a happy or successful one.
Like I said before there is little trust between me and my new physiotherapist and to put it bluntly we are going to clash. He has this mental attitude that CRPS doesn't exist and any pain can be over come by working through it. Now I have had a physio treat me all my adult life and pre CRPS, that lecture may have held some truth. However life with CRPS has no such clear cut lines. A movement that is possible now may cause immense pain 5 minutes later.
It is like trying to operate a laptop after a mug of tea has gone over it. Somethings may work, then they don't. Worse still nothing is ever the same day to day except the constant pain we live with. For some one to write off CRPS as in your mind and not a real illness to experience the reality of our lives. I am lucky I only have stage 1, thanks to people recognising the symptoms and my then physio also being well read on it. But it isn't in our heads. The pain we feel is certainly real, like for me on Sunday, just sitting on a chair reduced me to tears for no reason, other than my pain sensors have gone nuts.
So now I am faced with dealing with a man, who thinks it is in my head, and he is going to push me dragging and screaming through the pain and be "normal" again. He won't listen when I say something hurts in a sharp nasty way, rather than a achey not used to way. At one point there was a really nasty pain going down my spine. His answer "I he to trust him". Well I am sorry I am not going to trust some one just because they tell me to, and certainly not if he doesn't believe that one of my conditions exists.
Any way nothing more will be done till the new year, and I have a chance to speak to my GP again, so I am not letting some one who is ignorant in his own profession get under my skin. Although he may find I take him some light reading next time.
Like I said before there is little trust between me and my new physiotherapist and to put it bluntly we are going to clash. He has this mental attitude that CRPS doesn't exist and any pain can be over come by working through it. Now I have had a physio treat me all my adult life and pre CRPS, that lecture may have held some truth. However life with CRPS has no such clear cut lines. A movement that is possible now may cause immense pain 5 minutes later.
It is like trying to operate a laptop after a mug of tea has gone over it. Somethings may work, then they don't. Worse still nothing is ever the same day to day except the constant pain we live with. For some one to write off CRPS as in your mind and not a real illness to experience the reality of our lives. I am lucky I only have stage 1, thanks to people recognising the symptoms and my then physio also being well read on it. But it isn't in our heads. The pain we feel is certainly real, like for me on Sunday, just sitting on a chair reduced me to tears for no reason, other than my pain sensors have gone nuts.
So now I am faced with dealing with a man, who thinks it is in my head, and he is going to push me dragging and screaming through the pain and be "normal" again. He won't listen when I say something hurts in a sharp nasty way, rather than a achey not used to way. At one point there was a really nasty pain going down my spine. His answer "I he to trust him". Well I am sorry I am not going to trust some one just because they tell me to, and certainly not if he doesn't believe that one of my conditions exists.
Any way nothing more will be done till the new year, and I have a chance to speak to my GP again, so I am not letting some one who is ignorant in his own profession get under my skin. Although he may find I take him some light reading next time.
December Jolie box
I got a shock today as my Jolie Box arrived a little early. not that I am complaining. Pity Yodel did a number on the external packaging, but the contents was unaffected. This months box was a lovely design of gold and white, as was the little bag inside contained the goodies.
Inside there was the label party and the contents reflected this. There is a full size pot of Belladpierre shimmer powder in discotheque. which is a golden colour. Think along the line a Barry M's sparkle dust and you know what its like. Then there is a small tester vial of a Spanish perfume by Alvarez Gomez. A nail polish by color club followed in my case I got a colour called put a pin in it. Which is a metallic pink. As I have never tried that make before I am looking forward to trying that. I also got a full size bottle of Yon Ka Pamplemousse moisturiser, small bottle of Olay regenerist and two more sachets of Dr Duve, this time for hands and decollete cream. Then there was a lip gloss by I love cosmetics and 2 lindt chocolate bars.
As a new subscriber to Jolie, I am still very impressed with the variety of products, and the mixture of samples and sizes. I can test all the products to my hearts content, and be able to give you all a fair review. I also want to tell you all how much I am impressed with the company. As the beauty box folded they gave us subscribers a gift code to use if we wanted to move over to Jolie. However I was informed as I had started a Jolie subscription the month before, they may not honour it, but they did suggest I contact Jolie box. So I phoned Jolie up and they were more than happy to oblige in sending the gift especially as I had only ordered one box prior and was in the process of choosing between them. The person on the phone was so polite, calm and nothing was to much bother, it was refreshing.
So that's the quick review and a more detailed one will follow on my favourite products probably during the Christmas lull.
Inside there was the label party and the contents reflected this. There is a full size pot of Belladpierre shimmer powder in discotheque. which is a golden colour. Think along the line a Barry M's sparkle dust and you know what its like. Then there is a small tester vial of a Spanish perfume by Alvarez Gomez. A nail polish by color club followed in my case I got a colour called put a pin in it. Which is a metallic pink. As I have never tried that make before I am looking forward to trying that. I also got a full size bottle of Yon Ka Pamplemousse moisturiser, small bottle of Olay regenerist and two more sachets of Dr Duve, this time for hands and decollete cream. Then there was a lip gloss by I love cosmetics and 2 lindt chocolate bars.
As a new subscriber to Jolie, I am still very impressed with the variety of products, and the mixture of samples and sizes. I can test all the products to my hearts content, and be able to give you all a fair review. I also want to tell you all how much I am impressed with the company. As the beauty box folded they gave us subscribers a gift code to use if we wanted to move over to Jolie. However I was informed as I had started a Jolie subscription the month before, they may not honour it, but they did suggest I contact Jolie box. So I phoned Jolie up and they were more than happy to oblige in sending the gift especially as I had only ordered one box prior and was in the process of choosing between them. The person on the phone was so polite, calm and nothing was to much bother, it was refreshing.
So that's the quick review and a more detailed one will follow on my favourite products probably during the Christmas lull.
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Bah Humbug
This is flipping typical. I have 5 days clear to tidy back room and get tree and decorate it, so what happens? The worse cold ever that's what, if it hadn't been for the fact I have had the flu jab, I would really think I had that.
List of symptoms include sore throat, painfully sinus, chesty cough so bad it is making me throw up, limbs too heavy and painful to move, and a headache that is so bad I want complete silence. It hit hard as Friday I was OK sans a little headache. Yesterday morning I was able to get to the church coffee morning and supermarket, but by yesterday afternoon I was in pure physical pain.
Today was the church Christmas lunch, so hubby kindly drove me round as the thought of walking made my legs turn to jelly. I was OK and even stopped coughing for the first hour or so, although my appetite was appallingly low, a mouse could have eaten more. For starters there were two soups on offer tomato or broccoli and Stilton, normally I would jump at the later, but instead I declined both and nibbled at my roll with my apple juice. Then came the full roast with all the trimmings and a few extras. There was turkey and pigs in blankets for the meat eaters or home made Christmas quiche with cheese cranberry and pickled walnuts for us vegetarians. This was accompanied with peas, carrots, green beans, sprouts, corn, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, stuffing balls and cauliflower cheese. As I can hop and carry mum brought me a small plate of food, of which I managed a roast potato, a small slice of quiche, half a spoon of peas and 3 sprouts. Needless to say my reduced appetite has raised some eyebrows.
But the worst was still to come. Whilst people had seconds and then the crackers were pulled, I became very aware of the increasing pain in my limbs. By the time plates were being cleared touching my legs and feet on the ground invoked tears. Calmly and quietly hubby helped me outside for some air hoping a painkiller and cooling down would help. It didn't I couldn't stop the tears and the pain was so bad I wanted to scream so loudly the new double glazing in the hall would have been sorely tested. Mum came out and called time on my outing helping me put my coat on and get to hubby's car, I never saw dessert or coffee. So now I have spent the rest of the day in bed.
The problem is whatever this virus is , it has sent my CRPS scatty and means the I have lost control of the pain in my back and legs. So on top of not feeling hungry, I can't get any relief from this pain. All I know is that if it doesn't calm down in a hurry i.e. by Wednesday I am heading back to pain clinic because no one in the family wants me to spend this Christmas season in this kind of pain. Every time I cough my spine feels like it wants to snap, and when I sneeze the pain is beyond words.
A cold I could live with, but what it has triggered is beyond human reason. So for the next few days please excuse me if I am far from festive. I love Christmas and desperately want to have some sort of celebration this year. But at the moment I can't even get out of bed to do the tree, or get my hands to be stable enough to wrap a present to any respectable level. So for now I am saying BAH HUMBUG, and hope by Friday I feel normal or we won't be getting to the market for the Christmas dinner fruit and vegetables.
List of symptoms include sore throat, painfully sinus, chesty cough so bad it is making me throw up, limbs too heavy and painful to move, and a headache that is so bad I want complete silence. It hit hard as Friday I was OK sans a little headache. Yesterday morning I was able to get to the church coffee morning and supermarket, but by yesterday afternoon I was in pure physical pain.
Today was the church Christmas lunch, so hubby kindly drove me round as the thought of walking made my legs turn to jelly. I was OK and even stopped coughing for the first hour or so, although my appetite was appallingly low, a mouse could have eaten more. For starters there were two soups on offer tomato or broccoli and Stilton, normally I would jump at the later, but instead I declined both and nibbled at my roll with my apple juice. Then came the full roast with all the trimmings and a few extras. There was turkey and pigs in blankets for the meat eaters or home made Christmas quiche with cheese cranberry and pickled walnuts for us vegetarians. This was accompanied with peas, carrots, green beans, sprouts, corn, roast potatoes, roast parsnips, stuffing balls and cauliflower cheese. As I can hop and carry mum brought me a small plate of food, of which I managed a roast potato, a small slice of quiche, half a spoon of peas and 3 sprouts. Needless to say my reduced appetite has raised some eyebrows.
But the worst was still to come. Whilst people had seconds and then the crackers were pulled, I became very aware of the increasing pain in my limbs. By the time plates were being cleared touching my legs and feet on the ground invoked tears. Calmly and quietly hubby helped me outside for some air hoping a painkiller and cooling down would help. It didn't I couldn't stop the tears and the pain was so bad I wanted to scream so loudly the new double glazing in the hall would have been sorely tested. Mum came out and called time on my outing helping me put my coat on and get to hubby's car, I never saw dessert or coffee. So now I have spent the rest of the day in bed.
The problem is whatever this virus is , it has sent my CRPS scatty and means the I have lost control of the pain in my back and legs. So on top of not feeling hungry, I can't get any relief from this pain. All I know is that if it doesn't calm down in a hurry i.e. by Wednesday I am heading back to pain clinic because no one in the family wants me to spend this Christmas season in this kind of pain. Every time I cough my spine feels like it wants to snap, and when I sneeze the pain is beyond words.
A cold I could live with, but what it has triggered is beyond human reason. So for the next few days please excuse me if I am far from festive. I love Christmas and desperately want to have some sort of celebration this year. But at the moment I can't even get out of bed to do the tree, or get my hands to be stable enough to wrap a present to any respectable level. So for now I am saying BAH HUMBUG, and hope by Friday I feel normal or we won't be getting to the market for the Christmas dinner fruit and vegetables.
Friday, 14 December 2012
Time to say a prayer
I don't know all the facts nor will I pretend to, but I am sure like 1000s of others watching the news tonight there is a sadness in your heart. The days shooting in an elementary school is heartbreaking.
All I know at present is that at least 12 people including children have lost their lives, and hundreds will be scarred by the memory. I can not imagine what those poor families are feeling at the moment, or how they will manage to get through the forthcoming festive season with their loss or injured family members.Having lost family members expected and not expected over this season myself I have experienced the affect of sheer hollowness left behind
This on the morning after the fun raising concert for the families who suffered from the Hurricane not 2 months ago. I can see that Christmas on the East coast of America being a more subdued affair.
Like many others there is little I can do at the moment but watch the news unfold. I can't take the pain away or give any logical explanation to these events. What I do know is recently I was given a candle of faith from a different church than my own. This was to light and celebrate the life of Christ, however tonight I will be lighting it in memory of all those innocents lives lost, denomination or faith not restricting. Especially as I have just heard the numbers have doubled from the start of this post.
All I know at present is that at least 12 people including children have lost their lives, and hundreds will be scarred by the memory. I can not imagine what those poor families are feeling at the moment, or how they will manage to get through the forthcoming festive season with their loss or injured family members.Having lost family members expected and not expected over this season myself I have experienced the affect of sheer hollowness left behind
This on the morning after the fun raising concert for the families who suffered from the Hurricane not 2 months ago. I can see that Christmas on the East coast of America being a more subdued affair.
Like many others there is little I can do at the moment but watch the news unfold. I can't take the pain away or give any logical explanation to these events. What I do know is recently I was given a candle of faith from a different church than my own. This was to light and celebrate the life of Christ, however tonight I will be lighting it in memory of all those innocents lives lost, denomination or faith not restricting. Especially as I have just heard the numbers have doubled from the start of this post.
ooops I nearly forgot
I knew it was all going to well. Christmas shopping that is., got both mum and hubby their main present on order. Sorted all the god children their presents. Even sorted my best friends present.
So that's it all done right? Wrong, somewhere along the line I forgot we were doing stockings, I have picked up a few bits for hubby, but have completely forgotten mums. I mean totally forgot part from chocolate coins her stocking is completely empty. So instead of being at the stage iof wrapping all the presents up like I thought I was at, I'mnow at the stage of mass panic and faceing at least one days panic shopping.
So this afternoon will be spent on the internet and next wednesday I am hopping round the shops at speed hoping that I can find anything. The lesson I can hope I pass on to everyone is, nows the time to double check have you really got everyones presents!
So that's it all done right? Wrong, somewhere along the line I forgot we were doing stockings, I have picked up a few bits for hubby, but have completely forgotten mums. I mean totally forgot part from chocolate coins her stocking is completely empty. So instead of being at the stage iof wrapping all the presents up like I thought I was at, I'mnow at the stage of mass panic and faceing at least one days panic shopping.
So this afternoon will be spent on the internet and next wednesday I am hopping round the shops at speed hoping that I can find anything. The lesson I can hope I pass on to everyone is, nows the time to double check have you really got everyones presents!
4 Pawed faith
As most of you know I am a devote animal lover and my own little pack of critters are my babies, for all their faults and failings. The one thing that constantly surprises me with animals in general though is the way we underestimate their intelligence. It was an article in the news that made mum highlight a little point about our lovable rogue Oreo, the corgi cross.
Now little Oreo has always been a one person dog, mine, we have always known that. But what I never knew about was his behaviour whilst I was out. Over the last few weeks I have had to go out to various functions and appointments, and whilst I am out. I have now found out the Oreo knows not only the direction I leave towards, but say I do a round trip, he will know if I come home from a different direction and sit pointing that way until such time as I arrive in the road. Then no matter by what means I enter the road he starts running up and down the stairs so some one comes to open the door for me. He is so clever apparently, that when I came home from London the other night he even knew it was the cab I was in that entered the road.
He is also displaying understanding about different outings. Shopping trips are allowed because they may me dog food or treat. My monthly outings are begrudgingly allowed as long as I leave mum in charge. But medical trips like today he will do everything in his capability to stop me going to from stealing my clothes, trying to pack himself in my bad to curling up on my lap and going to sleep. How he knows the difference I don't really know as they all involve work for me to go out, like pack medicines etc. But he does, like he seems to know I am writing about him at this moment. Normally when I type my blog he tries to interfere, now he is the picture of innocence, laying across my feet.
I know they are teaching dogs to drive now in New Zealand, and if they can roll that out internationally that could be a major break through. Image what freedom it could offer the blind, a guide dog that can drive? But I would never trust Oreo or Rosie behind the wheel any more than I would trust Garfield with the Christmas turkey. That said I don't doubt I have been as guilty as the next person in underestimating the IQ and practical intelligence of my pets. Foolish I know as one of my past cats has saved the house from burning down, and Garfield has seen off an attempted robber, But from now on I am looking at a way of extending Oreo's training so we can get him to excel to the best of his abilities, so he can be happily amused and may be I have got an assist dog.
That said who wants to lay bets on whether I can train any of them to fetch my cup of tea?
Now little Oreo has always been a one person dog, mine, we have always known that. But what I never knew about was his behaviour whilst I was out. Over the last few weeks I have had to go out to various functions and appointments, and whilst I am out. I have now found out the Oreo knows not only the direction I leave towards, but say I do a round trip, he will know if I come home from a different direction and sit pointing that way until such time as I arrive in the road. Then no matter by what means I enter the road he starts running up and down the stairs so some one comes to open the door for me. He is so clever apparently, that when I came home from London the other night he even knew it was the cab I was in that entered the road.
He is also displaying understanding about different outings. Shopping trips are allowed because they may me dog food or treat. My monthly outings are begrudgingly allowed as long as I leave mum in charge. But medical trips like today he will do everything in his capability to stop me going to from stealing my clothes, trying to pack himself in my bad to curling up on my lap and going to sleep. How he knows the difference I don't really know as they all involve work for me to go out, like pack medicines etc. But he does, like he seems to know I am writing about him at this moment. Normally when I type my blog he tries to interfere, now he is the picture of innocence, laying across my feet.
I know they are teaching dogs to drive now in New Zealand, and if they can roll that out internationally that could be a major break through. Image what freedom it could offer the blind, a guide dog that can drive? But I would never trust Oreo or Rosie behind the wheel any more than I would trust Garfield with the Christmas turkey. That said I don't doubt I have been as guilty as the next person in underestimating the IQ and practical intelligence of my pets. Foolish I know as one of my past cats has saved the house from burning down, and Garfield has seen off an attempted robber, But from now on I am looking at a way of extending Oreo's training so we can get him to excel to the best of his abilities, so he can be happily amused and may be I have got an assist dog.
That said who wants to lay bets on whether I can train any of them to fetch my cup of tea?
Thursday, 13 December 2012
The day I have been dreading
It finally came, the day of the medical the DHSS has demanded. To be honest no matter what distractions I used to stop myself panicking over this failed. As I got into the car to be driven there I burst into tears of fear. This was only stopped by the panic of being late I felt when we got stuck in a jam.
On arrival I was a shaking wreck, and this showed in the form I had to fill in my hand was literally so wobbly it looked like a spider had walked over the page. I dare not sit in the chairs in the waiting room for fear of spasming my back out. Fortunately I didn't have to wait too long, before I was called in escorted by mum and the doctor.
Granted the whole process wasn't as devious as I had been led to believe, it was still frightening and the mention of a physical exam sent me into a near panic attack. Call me weird but I am terrified by strangers touching me, a phobia I have had all my life. She asked endless questions, some very hard to answer as there isn't a typical day for me it all focuses round whether I have a medical appointment that day and how much pain I am in. She went through every medicine and whether I have a side affect from any of them.
Once she had done this for about 3/4 hour she did some physical tests. A peak flow breathing, eye test and some mobility tests. I couldn't complete half the mobility ones as I couldn't get onto the bench with out causing myself agony. Finally it was all over, only then did I realise I had been continually shaking throughout the medical and had been continually moving to get comfortable.
Once I filled in the necessary forms mum lead me out. We really thought we may have to call hubby to come and get me. We slowly hopped to the nearest cafe and along with the necessary medication, we enjoyed the best teacakes ever along with a mug of tea, till I stopped shaking.May I take a ment to recommend Rosie Lee Cafe in the lower end of Wimbledon, where the prices do not reflect the quality in a good way, two hot drinks and teacakes buttered and jammed, £4.70. The buns were nicely spiced and lightly toasted, heaven. Anyway I managed to pull myself together and managed the bus network home. Having to evict people out of the disabled seats.
The day could have been a lot worse, but it the wait for the outcome that is now in the back of my mind stressing me out as it could take till the end of January to get that. In the meantime I have qualified for two years of DLA and a blue badge, yet the DHSS still doubted I am ill and in the middle of treatment.
On arrival I was a shaking wreck, and this showed in the form I had to fill in my hand was literally so wobbly it looked like a spider had walked over the page. I dare not sit in the chairs in the waiting room for fear of spasming my back out. Fortunately I didn't have to wait too long, before I was called in escorted by mum and the doctor.
Granted the whole process wasn't as devious as I had been led to believe, it was still frightening and the mention of a physical exam sent me into a near panic attack. Call me weird but I am terrified by strangers touching me, a phobia I have had all my life. She asked endless questions, some very hard to answer as there isn't a typical day for me it all focuses round whether I have a medical appointment that day and how much pain I am in. She went through every medicine and whether I have a side affect from any of them.
Once she had done this for about 3/4 hour she did some physical tests. A peak flow breathing, eye test and some mobility tests. I couldn't complete half the mobility ones as I couldn't get onto the bench with out causing myself agony. Finally it was all over, only then did I realise I had been continually shaking throughout the medical and had been continually moving to get comfortable.
Once I filled in the necessary forms mum lead me out. We really thought we may have to call hubby to come and get me. We slowly hopped to the nearest cafe and along with the necessary medication, we enjoyed the best teacakes ever along with a mug of tea, till I stopped shaking.May I take a ment to recommend Rosie Lee Cafe in the lower end of Wimbledon, where the prices do not reflect the quality in a good way, two hot drinks and teacakes buttered and jammed, £4.70. The buns were nicely spiced and lightly toasted, heaven. Anyway I managed to pull myself together and managed the bus network home. Having to evict people out of the disabled seats.
The day could have been a lot worse, but it the wait for the outcome that is now in the back of my mind stressing me out as it could take till the end of January to get that. In the meantime I have qualified for two years of DLA and a blue badge, yet the DHSS still doubted I am ill and in the middle of treatment.
My first and unfortunately last She Said Beauty Box
Like I said I was going to try out a couple of the beauty boxes on the market and yesterday my first one from She Said Beauty arrived. So after all my adventures I came face to face with a barbie pink box.
When I opened it up there was a turquoise box inside, again no waste packaging on the outside, once opened up there is a smart tissue wrapped contents tied with a ribbon. I was meet with a menu card explaining the contents, but unlike the Jolie box no magazine as well. That said this menu card explained the cost of the products and any discounts.
There was a travel size 8ml atopalm hard skin cream, a full size miners trio eyeshadow in safari, a full size technic nal polish in in tawny port, one set of Jamela 24k gold under eye masks, doctor Duve samples of face and eye creams, amioe clay mask and a bag of Jing earl grey tea.
It is a lovely selection, only let down by the straw packing, which I felt unnecessary. I was going to say I am so torn between this and the Jolie box that I was going to maintain both. However an email today has informed me they are no longer going to continue doing this box and have recommended their customers to sign up to the Jolie box.
I am more than disappointed by this move, partly because I was intrigued in their variety and would love to see how they continued over a 3 month time span. But mainly because if there is competition companies try to give their customers the best so they don't move to their competitors, and now there is only one other company I know of that does this service and that is Glossy box. Now I have wanted to try Glossy box as well to get a balance view on the market but unfortunately their payment site and my browser don't agree so I can't subscribe.
Sso over all I am very impressed with this box but deeper upset my 1st will be my last.
When I opened it up there was a turquoise box inside, again no waste packaging on the outside, once opened up there is a smart tissue wrapped contents tied with a ribbon. I was meet with a menu card explaining the contents, but unlike the Jolie box no magazine as well. That said this menu card explained the cost of the products and any discounts.
There was a travel size 8ml atopalm hard skin cream, a full size miners trio eyeshadow in safari, a full size technic nal polish in in tawny port, one set of Jamela 24k gold under eye masks, doctor Duve samples of face and eye creams, amioe clay mask and a bag of Jing earl grey tea.
It is a lovely selection, only let down by the straw packing, which I felt unnecessary. I was going to say I am so torn between this and the Jolie box that I was going to maintain both. However an email today has informed me they are no longer going to continue doing this box and have recommended their customers to sign up to the Jolie box.
I am more than disappointed by this move, partly because I was intrigued in their variety and would love to see how they continued over a 3 month time span. But mainly because if there is competition companies try to give their customers the best so they don't move to their competitors, and now there is only one other company I know of that does this service and that is Glossy box. Now I have wanted to try Glossy box as well to get a balance view on the market but unfortunately their payment site and my browser don't agree so I can't subscribe.
Sso over all I am very impressed with this box but deeper upset my 1st will be my last.
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
Program filming and the A40
I set myself a challenge the other week, to go and see the recording of the new Richard Hammond show at BBC centre. As luck would have it we not only got tickets but guaranteed admission ones. Thanks to the fast reaction of a dear friend. After much planning and steely determination I decided to catch the bus all on my own to an agreed meeting point and my friend would drive us straight in. Even with TFL's aversion to following their own time table and my smart thinking of leaving early we made it to Westfields Shopping Centre on time. From there it would be but a short hop.
So after a coffee stop and gritted teeth I got to the outside of BBC centre and joined the queue and not long after we were herded into the holding pen. Here we had the time to buy lousy coffee and BBC related products. Someone did buy the token cardboard darlek, well there is always one. Finally caffeinated to the tilt, those of us less mobile and our parties were lead the long hop to the studio where we were made to wait another good 10 minutes before the studio was ready. Not that my legs didn't need the rest I must have hopped for at least a mile since we let the car. Then we were escorted to our seats and we got middle of the front row, perfect!
If you have ever been to a television show being filmed, you will know how you end up with a man preaching health and safety and another warming up the audience with jokes that should never see light of day. Then finally you get the show, in this case we saw the 1st episode of new Saturday night program hosted by Richard Hammond. Without giving too much away there are few images that will stay with me for a life time, and having seen a lot of Top Gear and the related presenters programs recorded that is saying something.
Fortunately my legs and back didn't give out till the finally few minutes of recording making the afternoon enjoyable. By 4.00 we were being ushered to the point of cattle herded out of the building, and after saying goodbye to a few friends ,made our way, painfully in my case to the shopping centre an a coffee stop. Then things went turtle in a legendary fashion.
We had allowed for the fact we were heading home in rush hour traffic. However neither of us had checked the travel news before we left the car park, because had we, we would have headed straight back to the shopping centre and stayed put for a couple hours. The moment we hit the main road the A40 we were introduced to a traffic jam. Not one of those little ones that is a 10 minute inconvenience, but one that had between an hour to two hours delays. That was bad enough but the driving of others in the jam was pure spite. It was so bad that I now have serious concerns to the level of most drivers and the thought of 10 year licence renewal is now a good idea in my mind. The reason we didn't come home via a tow truck and ambulance was purely down to my friends driving skill more than anything. That said I think the freezing fog was turned a vivid shade of blue by her language, I never knew a person could create 5 mins worth of sentences without the use of anything but 4 letter words and no air. After of an hour of travelling nor more than 1/2 mile we turned off and headed into the unknown, only to find so had many others.
By 7 pm we had lost our patience and needed coffee and calm, so we got to Acton high street and found Mc Donalds.. A meal and hot drink later, and in my case two cigarette's and we felt a lot more human. Whilst we were eating we looked up where we were and made a plan. For a good 10 minutes all was going well and then we met the M4 and there was yet another jam, fortunately the A4 wasn't that bad. So we made progress replacing traffic jams for freezing fog and traffic lights. By now I had already decided there was no way I was going to subject my friend to the M25 and told her to let me get the same bus home I met her from. So she left me at the bus stop as we just watched my bus depart. It couldn't have been helped as I can't run and certainly not on pavements white with frost. I waved her good bye and only had a 20 minute wait and then I was back on the road for the hour + journey. Due to work reasons husband couldn't meet me from the bus so I got off a stop earlier and caught a cab the last mile and a bit and finally collapsed on my futon at 9.30 tea in hand. 5 and half hours later from when we left the studio.
Do I regret my brave adventure, heck no, but I do wish that people would show some manners on the road and that includes the bus that nearly went into our side rather than wait in his filter lane.
So after a coffee stop and gritted teeth I got to the outside of BBC centre and joined the queue and not long after we were herded into the holding pen. Here we had the time to buy lousy coffee and BBC related products. Someone did buy the token cardboard darlek, well there is always one. Finally caffeinated to the tilt, those of us less mobile and our parties were lead the long hop to the studio where we were made to wait another good 10 minutes before the studio was ready. Not that my legs didn't need the rest I must have hopped for at least a mile since we let the car. Then we were escorted to our seats and we got middle of the front row, perfect!
If you have ever been to a television show being filmed, you will know how you end up with a man preaching health and safety and another warming up the audience with jokes that should never see light of day. Then finally you get the show, in this case we saw the 1st episode of new Saturday night program hosted by Richard Hammond. Without giving too much away there are few images that will stay with me for a life time, and having seen a lot of Top Gear and the related presenters programs recorded that is saying something.
Fortunately my legs and back didn't give out till the finally few minutes of recording making the afternoon enjoyable. By 4.00 we were being ushered to the point of cattle herded out of the building, and after saying goodbye to a few friends ,made our way, painfully in my case to the shopping centre an a coffee stop. Then things went turtle in a legendary fashion.
We had allowed for the fact we were heading home in rush hour traffic. However neither of us had checked the travel news before we left the car park, because had we, we would have headed straight back to the shopping centre and stayed put for a couple hours. The moment we hit the main road the A40 we were introduced to a traffic jam. Not one of those little ones that is a 10 minute inconvenience, but one that had between an hour to two hours delays. That was bad enough but the driving of others in the jam was pure spite. It was so bad that I now have serious concerns to the level of most drivers and the thought of 10 year licence renewal is now a good idea in my mind. The reason we didn't come home via a tow truck and ambulance was purely down to my friends driving skill more than anything. That said I think the freezing fog was turned a vivid shade of blue by her language, I never knew a person could create 5 mins worth of sentences without the use of anything but 4 letter words and no air. After of an hour of travelling nor more than 1/2 mile we turned off and headed into the unknown, only to find so had many others.
By 7 pm we had lost our patience and needed coffee and calm, so we got to Acton high street and found Mc Donalds.. A meal and hot drink later, and in my case two cigarette's and we felt a lot more human. Whilst we were eating we looked up where we were and made a plan. For a good 10 minutes all was going well and then we met the M4 and there was yet another jam, fortunately the A4 wasn't that bad. So we made progress replacing traffic jams for freezing fog and traffic lights. By now I had already decided there was no way I was going to subject my friend to the M25 and told her to let me get the same bus home I met her from. So she left me at the bus stop as we just watched my bus depart. It couldn't have been helped as I can't run and certainly not on pavements white with frost. I waved her good bye and only had a 20 minute wait and then I was back on the road for the hour + journey. Due to work reasons husband couldn't meet me from the bus so I got off a stop earlier and caught a cab the last mile and a bit and finally collapsed on my futon at 9.30 tea in hand. 5 and half hours later from when we left the studio.
Do I regret my brave adventure, heck no, but I do wish that people would show some manners on the road and that includes the bus that nearly went into our side rather than wait in his filter lane.
Friday, 7 December 2012
Read the notes
So today was my big physiotherapy appointment and to be honest I am furious. I was expecting to discuss and be assessed and guided forward with a plan of action. Instead I have basically been subjected to psych 101.
Lets start from the top, I arrived on time and was presented with more forms than you need for an operation. Having filled them all out I was introduced to my newly assigned physiotherapist and walked through with mum to the consulting room. At no point during the near hour appointment did my physiotherapist request to see me move. Instead he went on to explain how most of the pain is in my head and that I am responsible for making my body move. He had no actually pictures of my scan, nor did he have a full write up. In fact he had the same letter I have to take to my ESA medical which says very little and makes no reference to CRPS or the curvature in my spine. He did however criticise the amount of medicine I am on and said I should be knocked unconscious on it. Not helpful, nor was his comment of taking little steps, but he expects me off my crutches in two weeks.
This is all that is wrong with swapping between different medical specialists, and to be honest I have left with my blood boiling. How dare any one tell me the pain is in my head and only I can over come it. I pointed out time and time again there are two established injuries and he crossed talked over answers. Then he tried to tell me my allergies need to be overcome by de sensitisation, yeah right try telling the doctors that when my throat has swollen from mushrooms in my dinner, or I am having to have roast beef pumped from my stomach.
Put it this way, there is no way on this green earth he had read any of my case history, but instead was set on telling me how to get my life back via jargon and diagrams of emotions. I am meant to be going back the week before Christmas without needing my crutches, in the meantime I am off to my GP and trying to get my treatment referred back to the physio I know and trust. The same physio who has treated me for the last 20 years and knows when I am in agony and when I can push myself further. All this would have been avoided if someone had bothered to contact my GP and get the full medical history.
Lets start from the top, I arrived on time and was presented with more forms than you need for an operation. Having filled them all out I was introduced to my newly assigned physiotherapist and walked through with mum to the consulting room. At no point during the near hour appointment did my physiotherapist request to see me move. Instead he went on to explain how most of the pain is in my head and that I am responsible for making my body move. He had no actually pictures of my scan, nor did he have a full write up. In fact he had the same letter I have to take to my ESA medical which says very little and makes no reference to CRPS or the curvature in my spine. He did however criticise the amount of medicine I am on and said I should be knocked unconscious on it. Not helpful, nor was his comment of taking little steps, but he expects me off my crutches in two weeks.
This is all that is wrong with swapping between different medical specialists, and to be honest I have left with my blood boiling. How dare any one tell me the pain is in my head and only I can over come it. I pointed out time and time again there are two established injuries and he crossed talked over answers. Then he tried to tell me my allergies need to be overcome by de sensitisation, yeah right try telling the doctors that when my throat has swollen from mushrooms in my dinner, or I am having to have roast beef pumped from my stomach.
Put it this way, there is no way on this green earth he had read any of my case history, but instead was set on telling me how to get my life back via jargon and diagrams of emotions. I am meant to be going back the week before Christmas without needing my crutches, in the meantime I am off to my GP and trying to get my treatment referred back to the physio I know and trust. The same physio who has treated me for the last 20 years and knows when I am in agony and when I can push myself further. All this would have been avoided if someone had bothered to contact my GP and get the full medical history.
Sugar Free Kandee
As I type Kandee are releasing their next range. Just in time for emergency Christmas purchases. Personally I think the turn around from the last range is very quick, it is a good move if you want to be ready for next season. It also means we girls have something to spend any Christmas money on.
That said I hope Santa is generous with the money as there is 26 promised new shoes. From the peanut crunchy design which is already almost sold out to the mad bad lemon design, shown above. There is certainly plenty of choice. I am still browsing the whole collection for my favourite, especially as I have already covered the likes of cinder in one of my previous blogs.
At present I have to admit I am still in love with the cinder over all, although I have to say I am very tempted by the Galaxy pump as well. But what ever your taste of style or colour this range certainly seems to have every box ticked.
I don't know which way the fashion world is planning to see the new year in with, but I am certain there will be some neon in there and if you are fearful of repeating the 80's this range has the answers. But there is also a version of the black boot and shoe for those a little less adventurous.
Kandee certainly have brought 2012 to end on a high and kicked the door open for 2013.
That said I hope Santa is generous with the money as there is 26 promised new shoes. From the peanut crunchy design which is already almost sold out to the mad bad lemon design, shown above. There is certainly plenty of choice. I am still browsing the whole collection for my favourite, especially as I have already covered the likes of cinder in one of my previous blogs.At present I have to admit I am still in love with the cinder over all, although I have to say I am very tempted by the Galaxy pump as well. But what ever your taste of style or colour this range certainly seems to have every box ticked.
I don't know which way the fashion world is planning to see the new year in with, but I am certain there will be some neon in there and if you are fearful of repeating the 80's this range has the answers. But there is also a version of the black boot and shoe for those a little less adventurous.
Thursday, 6 December 2012
Ok who ordered snow?
Hands up who was it? Seriously though, it wouldn't be a British winter without every element of weather being thrust upon us. Yes, snow does make a more magical run up to Christmas if you are under 10, but for the rest of us. Well it depends doesn't it.
Over the last few years I have just handled it in my normal way, and got on with life. Even marching by foot to the local high street for the family and others to get milk. This year however that just isn't possibly. Being on crutches there is no chance of that. Yesterdays little down pour just proved it, I was stuck in the house till it melted.
Granted that is not a big deal we had everything we needed and I could do other stuff. But as from tomorrow my life is jammed up with various medical appointments that are none optional to miss, and if like yesterday the transport system fails me, and the car is dangerous to move I am stuck. Snow isn't this great unknown, we get it most years to various degrees. So why is it particularly in the south, there is a mass panic when the white stuff starts falling.
The last two years my local borough has given out free grit to every house hold so you can clear your own paths, and the gritters are out on the main roads at the first sign of ice. But the train system seems to be allergic to anything other than calm spring weather, leaves, snow and ice seem to confuse it. Not that I can use the train network anymore as my two local train stains are non disabled friendly, and then if I have to change at Clapham I have to either jump or climb on and off the platform. So now I have free transport I have to work out my route base on viability and whether it will be working due to the winter weather.
Anyway back to the snow, now fortunately melted where I am. It is bound to return and probably deeper and longer. So all I ask is could it start on Christmas eve and clear by January the 2nd please.
Over the last few years I have just handled it in my normal way, and got on with life. Even marching by foot to the local high street for the family and others to get milk. This year however that just isn't possibly. Being on crutches there is no chance of that. Yesterdays little down pour just proved it, I was stuck in the house till it melted.
Granted that is not a big deal we had everything we needed and I could do other stuff. But as from tomorrow my life is jammed up with various medical appointments that are none optional to miss, and if like yesterday the transport system fails me, and the car is dangerous to move I am stuck. Snow isn't this great unknown, we get it most years to various degrees. So why is it particularly in the south, there is a mass panic when the white stuff starts falling.
The last two years my local borough has given out free grit to every house hold so you can clear your own paths, and the gritters are out on the main roads at the first sign of ice. But the train system seems to be allergic to anything other than calm spring weather, leaves, snow and ice seem to confuse it. Not that I can use the train network anymore as my two local train stains are non disabled friendly, and then if I have to change at Clapham I have to either jump or climb on and off the platform. So now I have free transport I have to work out my route base on viability and whether it will be working due to the winter weather.
Anyway back to the snow, now fortunately melted where I am. It is bound to return and probably deeper and longer. So all I ask is could it start on Christmas eve and clear by January the 2nd please.
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
2 stroke and petrol fumes
The outing was always going to be epic, as I have already got FMX bug through out the year, so going to Motor Cycle Live was going to be the annual pilgrimage to bikes. So after a very early start (even the birds weren't awake at 5am), and a two coffee stop car journey, we arrived at the NEC for the day.
Fortunately the NEC does use its' common sense regarding parking for the less able and I only had a short hop to the main building, and then to the wonderfully organised mobility stand. Once armed with my scooter for the day we were off, straight round to the classics. Now there was an element of common sense on our side as we went mid week so I could get round with the need for a battering ram on my scooter, unlike TGL where I needed a tank to get from A to B.
We were then given the great delight of the live show. Words can't describe the way they make bikes fly through the air. Needless to say they leave the audience with an adrenaline rush of nerves with every leap. After the show the audience have a chance to meet the riders, get autographs on the promo posters and even have photos. Although the area was none disabled friendly all the drivers came out to me and obliged with photos and signings.
The rest of the day was spent in awe of the many bikes from dirt, to super to historic. So something for every ones taste. For those brave enough there were trials of your first bike lesson and dirt biking, even a rink for the little ones to try. I also noticed an extreme amount of protective bike wear and a police safety lecture. Both refreshing to see, considering the danger bikers face on the road.
After the second show, which we saw the real dangers the bikers face when one had a minor fall, I was shattered and to be honest the day was nearly done. So we braved the motorway home. Happy and tired, but most of all in awe of the stunt work we had seen.
Fortunately the NEC does use its' common sense regarding parking for the less able and I only had a short hop to the main building, and then to the wonderfully organised mobility stand. Once armed with my scooter for the day we were off, straight round to the classics. Now there was an element of common sense on our side as we went mid week so I could get round with the need for a battering ram on my scooter, unlike TGL where I needed a tank to get from A to B.
We were then given the great delight of the live show. Words can't describe the way they make bikes fly through the air. Needless to say they leave the audience with an adrenaline rush of nerves with every leap. After the show the audience have a chance to meet the riders, get autographs on the promo posters and even have photos. Although the area was none disabled friendly all the drivers came out to me and obliged with photos and signings.
The rest of the day was spent in awe of the many bikes from dirt, to super to historic. So something for every ones taste. For those brave enough there were trials of your first bike lesson and dirt biking, even a rink for the little ones to try. I also noticed an extreme amount of protective bike wear and a police safety lecture. Both refreshing to see, considering the danger bikers face on the road.
After the second show, which we saw the real dangers the bikers face when one had a minor fall, I was shattered and to be honest the day was nearly done. So we braved the motorway home. Happy and tired, but most of all in awe of the stunt work we had seen.
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Vav Manucure Absolue
This little sachet arrived in my Jolie Box and to be honest I was suspicious about it. For one I doubted I could try such a product with such a small sample.
Well I soon found out why the sample was so small. It costs £30.90 a bottle which to me is the biggest reason to write a bad review. That said I can't. In all fairness it was one of the best hand and nail creams I have used. I dont' mean instead of my favourite L'occitane one, but as well. This cream is ideal for that hand cream you need after you have had a bath, removed all your nail polish and so on. When you need a light cream for your hands and nails. Then this cream is wonderful for leaving hands soft and nails healthy looking.
I had to do a bit of reading to locate the scent, but it came from the pomegranate extract in the cream, and it certainly drowned out the scent of the sesame seed oil that is also in the cream. It is lighter than shea butter, but the softness achieved was just as good.
Its not a heavy cream that will relieve winter dryness, but as part of a hand care routine, I am really tempted. Like I said the cost is a little off putting, but Jolie Box members can use there points to by it or if you purchase from web site you can get 10% off. May just have to treat myself.
Well I soon found out why the sample was so small. It costs £30.90 a bottle which to me is the biggest reason to write a bad review. That said I can't. In all fairness it was one of the best hand and nail creams I have used. I dont' mean instead of my favourite L'occitane one, but as well. This cream is ideal for that hand cream you need after you have had a bath, removed all your nail polish and so on. When you need a light cream for your hands and nails. Then this cream is wonderful for leaving hands soft and nails healthy looking.
I had to do a bit of reading to locate the scent, but it came from the pomegranate extract in the cream, and it certainly drowned out the scent of the sesame seed oil that is also in the cream. It is lighter than shea butter, but the softness achieved was just as good.
Its not a heavy cream that will relieve winter dryness, but as part of a hand care routine, I am really tempted. Like I said the cost is a little off putting, but Jolie Box members can use there points to by it or if you purchase from web site you can get 10% off. May just have to treat myself.
Sunday, 2 December 2012
Frost Fair delight
I have been very busy in the last two days, too busy for my healths likening, but never mind. My home town or village as it prefers to be know, has decided to build on it's own olympic legancy and reclaim it's village atmosphere.
During the torch relay the whole area gathered together and there was this most terrific village feel. We normally have a carnival, enviromental fair and fireworks, even a token charter fair, which this year was a bigger success due to the Olympics. So this year we had a frost fair on the first weekend of December. Now let me put this into context, we are a small village jammed between bigger towns. There is no Starbucks, or Mcdonalds, but local coffee shops, and bakers. If you want the main stream brands apart from a Sainsburys local or token Co -Op then you go the 2 miles either way to the other towns, they don't exist here.
Nor does late night shopping, except for the Friday just past. Then we had our own Christmas lights turned on by Santa, all the shops stayed open, there was music, free mulled wine and just a really nice village feel,.I spent an hour or so, with mum outside our local Italian family run coffee bar watching it all happen and just able to hop round the odd shop picking up gifts and then heading home thoroughly chilled out.
Then on the Saturday there was the first frost fair in living memory. Well the weather although cold enough for the name, at least stayed clear and dry.So we headed with the car to the near by car park and hopped the rest of the way to the fair, expecting a handful of stalls and pleasant amount of people, similar to the charter fair earlier in the year. Oh boy were we shocked there were definitely more than a few stalls jammed along a local ponds, there were a good 50+ of them, and as for people there were hundreds. Then there were carol singers, brass bands and so on. If anything it was too much of a success, to the point it was almost impossible for me to get round, due to baby buggies, toddlers, dogs and so on. Instead of giving up we struggled through to the local museum and grabbed the last table outside and ordered some tea, watching the world go mad. Once the carol singing had ceased we attempted it again. This time more successfully and found what can only be described as the best goats cheese in years, and fudge to die for. Unfortunately the fudge was so popular the stall was all but sold out in the first two hours, as was the cupcake stall. On the plus side we have found out they are at the next towns Farmer's market next Saturday so there is another early start.
All in all it was such an overwhelming success there is talk of a bigger version next year and I hope there is, as Carshalton is such a mixed demographic, these village events are the best way to bring all together. I have a great time at both event although I do wish people would watch what they or their wards are doing, as I am nursing a very sore back due to having my sticks continually kicked out from under me. That's said it hasn't put me off the next one.
During the torch relay the whole area gathered together and there was this most terrific village feel. We normally have a carnival, enviromental fair and fireworks, even a token charter fair, which this year was a bigger success due to the Olympics. So this year we had a frost fair on the first weekend of December. Now let me put this into context, we are a small village jammed between bigger towns. There is no Starbucks, or Mcdonalds, but local coffee shops, and bakers. If you want the main stream brands apart from a Sainsburys local or token Co -Op then you go the 2 miles either way to the other towns, they don't exist here.
Nor does late night shopping, except for the Friday just past. Then we had our own Christmas lights turned on by Santa, all the shops stayed open, there was music, free mulled wine and just a really nice village feel,.I spent an hour or so, with mum outside our local Italian family run coffee bar watching it all happen and just able to hop round the odd shop picking up gifts and then heading home thoroughly chilled out.
Then on the Saturday there was the first frost fair in living memory. Well the weather although cold enough for the name, at least stayed clear and dry.So we headed with the car to the near by car park and hopped the rest of the way to the fair, expecting a handful of stalls and pleasant amount of people, similar to the charter fair earlier in the year. Oh boy were we shocked there were definitely more than a few stalls jammed along a local ponds, there were a good 50+ of them, and as for people there were hundreds. Then there were carol singers, brass bands and so on. If anything it was too much of a success, to the point it was almost impossible for me to get round, due to baby buggies, toddlers, dogs and so on. Instead of giving up we struggled through to the local museum and grabbed the last table outside and ordered some tea, watching the world go mad. Once the carol singing had ceased we attempted it again. This time more successfully and found what can only be described as the best goats cheese in years, and fudge to die for. Unfortunately the fudge was so popular the stall was all but sold out in the first two hours, as was the cupcake stall. On the plus side we have found out they are at the next towns Farmer's market next Saturday so there is another early start.
All in all it was such an overwhelming success there is talk of a bigger version next year and I hope there is, as Carshalton is such a mixed demographic, these village events are the best way to bring all together. I have a great time at both event although I do wish people would watch what they or their wards are doing, as I am nursing a very sore back due to having my sticks continually kicked out from under me. That's said it hasn't put me off the next one.
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