Its too hot!

I’ve not been very good at updating the blog lately and this is for a variety of reasons.  Number One is that my laptop is on the cusp of dying.   It’s so slow that it literally takes minutes to open up an application.  I should really do a de frag and a backup before it really does die on me.  Number Two reason is that my drives are bust and I can no longer insert my memory stick and down load my photographs.  Number 3 is really an extension of number two in that life is not very exciting and I don’t have anything to photograph.  Number 4 is down to the weather, it’s been so gloriously hot and sunny that the last thing I have felt like doing is sitting indoors in front of my laptop.  And lastly but not least, reason Number 5.   Television viewing this week has been great; football, tennis and the Valencia Grand Prix yesterday.  

It really is a struggle to get something posted but I shall soldier on.  The bottom end of last week I was tied up with Christine and her little house in Downs Barn. Christine is down sizing and moving into her buy to rent house on Wednesday.  Phil came with me to do fill in some holes in the lounge wall and I got some paint from B&Q and painted the wall once the filler had dried.   The wall looked so much better that I ended up painting the whole lounge.  I popped back home for lunch and then went back in the afterwards to start on the bathroom.   Christine came after work and we sat in her little garden with a glass of wine.   After my hard graft, it was lovely to sit and relax in the sun.   I got home just before 5 and Phil was grumbling because I said I’d get home around 3 and we’d go to the health club for a swim.   I was back so late that this didn’t go as planned so instead we both jumped in the shower and put on her pyjamas.  

Sometime after half past six there was a knock on the door and it was my friend Jane.  She’d been shopping in the centre and dropped by for a glass of wine and a catch up.   It was nice to see her but I was a little embarrassed because I was wearing my pjy’s and I hadn’t even blow dried my hair.    I don’t think Jane was bothered, she stayed for a couple of hours and chatted. Phil stayed up to watch Big Brother but I went to bed because I was knackered.

On Saturday I went back to Christine’s house and painted the landing and her bedroom doors.  It’s amazing how a little lick of paint can make such a big difference.  I went home for lunch and a shower.  Harriet came round to pick up a letter that I’d typed up for her.   She didn’t stay long as we were in the middle of lunch and she wanted to get her letter in the post before midday.

Sunday (yesterday) was a day of leisure.  I rose early and went to do some more painting at the DB house and then went to the gym for a run.   It was a glorious day so I got the Sunday papers and took myself off to the garden to sunbathe and read.  Phil settled himself in front of the telly to watch the Grand Prix, I dipped in and out but mostly I sat in the garden trying to get a tan. After the race Phil came out and cooked beef burgers and hotdogs on the barbeque.   I was turning red so I came in to watch the first half of the England versus Germany.  It was a very tense match but I got a bit disheartened when the referee didn’t allow England’s second goal and in the second half when the score was 4-1 to Germany I gave up and went back to the garden and the papers.

This morning when I woke up I was sore from the sun.   Obviously I’d over done it yesterday.   I meant to post this blog first thing this morning but as it seemed we were in for another glorious day, Phil grabbed his tool box and we back round to Christine’s house.   I painted one of the bedrooms and Phil did lots of little fixing jobs.   It’s all taking shape now and everything thing be done by the time she moves.  Phil has just gone out to Pick up G and give her some driving practice and I was going to go to the job.  But it’s way too hot for working out.  I think instead, I shall get showered and changed and pure myself a glass of gin and tonic with lots of ice.  Cheers!

Fancy a Beer?

Do you ever start something and then halfway through, wished you’d never started in the first place??   Well this is exactly what I thought on Monday afternoon when I got out my painting tray and roller.  I’d been wanting to touch up my red wall by my cooker to get rid of the unsightly oil splashes for ages but what started off as a half an hour job, turned out to be 2 whole days.   Somehow, my touching up, ended up with me painting virtually the whole kitchen.   This wasn’t so bad but then I got started in the downstairs loo and somehow ended up taking the white tray and roller through to the hallway.   

Eventually I ended up in the lounge.  The idea was to just paint the one wall with the mirrors where Phil had filled in the cracks.  Phil decided to stay out of the way and took his book out to the garden.   Alan from Cosgrove Park gave me a copy of a book that he’d written. It's called Colossus and  I was very excited about reading it but somehow Phil nabbed it before I could start it.  It must be good because Phil read for hours, which is unusual for Phil because he hardly ever reads fiction.

On Tuesday morning I got up at 7am and after painting a second coat on the mirror wall, I decided that I would get rid of all the magnolia in the lounge and repaint it all white.  Phil wasn’t amused when he came down the stairs because everywhere was in a complete mess.   I got stuck in and come lunchtime, I’d got two coats on all walls and all the furniture, blinds, mirrors, sofas and rugs were back in position.    I was pleased with the results and even Phil, who had moaned and groaned all morning, agreed that the lounge much better.  

After the painting, followed by lunch, we just had enough to jump in the shower and got to the medical centre for our 2pm appointment with Louise the Diabetes Nurse.   Louise was very helpful; she explained a bit about diabetes 2 and the importance of diet and exercise.  Phil listened attentively and we came away from the surgery with a load of leaflets and a prescription for Metformin tablets.   I read all the leaflets when we got back home they listed pretty much all the sort of foods that I always buy and eat.  Naturally because we live in the same house, Phil eats these too but he also buys and eats the bad stuff.  From now on all that’s got to change and if he wants to keep his sugar levels down then he has to be sensible, everything in moderation.

This week so far in, has been fairly productive.  I got the garage sorted yesterday and Phil got our IKEA bamboo table and chairs set up in the garden in readiness for some hot weather.   All we need to do now is sort out the bathroom and the front garden and then we are more or less ready to put the house on the market.  I am not sure how buoyant the house market is at the moment, and I don’t relish the thought of moving again, I like living here but it makes sense to get an agent in and see what response we get.

Phil was up early this morning and went to Tesco’s to stock up on ‘diabetes’ food.  He was very keen and was out of the door without having any breakfast, not even a cup of tea.   I stayed home and waited for him to come back so I could help him unpack, which was just as well because he’d forgotten his front door key.   Shopping on an empty stomach is never a good idea and Phil came back with loads of shopping.  There was some of the usual food stuffs plus a few new items like nuts and wholemeal pasta and fish but I have to say I was slightly surprised at the three boxes of beer.   Now I do know that Tesco’s have a 3 for 2 offer on beer at the moment, but nonetheless, beer is very calorific and not the best alcohol choice if you a diabetic.  I didn’t comment, perhaps the cans are for one last blast watching the football later today and the Grand Prix at the weekend?   Life, as they say, is for living.  What time does the England match start???

Bikes, Beer & BBQ's

Last week went in a blur.  Thursday was a glorious day which was just as well because we had agreed to meet John & Marie halfway between here and Cosgrove somewhere along the canal.   It was a case of “where the twain shall meet” and as it panned out, this was just by the new residential development by Wolverton Works.   Phil & I had planned to go and see these new fancy apartments but had never quite got round to it, so it was interesting to seem them from a canal view.   They are quite impressive and it appears that the builders have made a good job.  There were a few workers in yellow hats so I don’t think the site is quite finished.   Marie had brought a flask of coffee and a bag of chocolate chip cookies so we downed our bikes and sat on a bench in the sunshine.  

Before we left home, Phil had a call from an agent that had put him forward for a contract in Abingdon and the client wanted to interview Phil by telephone that same day.  As we were going out on the bikes, it didn’t give Phil much time to prepare, all he had time to do was print off some info off from the net ready for the interview and take the sheets with him on his bike.    As we were sat sipping our coffee, Phil’s mobile went and it was the agent saying telling him, his interview was at 4pm.   Phil had no sooner got off the phone, when another call came through.  It was the doctor’s surgery to say that his latest blood tests had come back and all his results were sky high, even higher than the previous tests.   So bottom line is, that he officially has diabetes type 2 and has an appointment tomorrow with the diabetes nurse.   She wants me to go along too, so that should be interesting.

We back tracked on the bikes and made our way to The Galleon in Wolverton for some lunch.  Phil & I hadn’t been to this pub for years and years; it’s had a total renovation but the food really wasn’t up to much.  Nonetheless, the sun was so hot we were able to sit outside and it was pleasant to sit by the canal and watch the barges go by.   We said goodbye to J&M just after 3pm and biked back home so Phil got prepare for his interview.   The client phoned up promptly at 4pm and afterwards Phil said he thought it had gone well.  

Friday was a busy day; we had invited step dad and girlfriend and their friends Sue & Allan round in the evening for a barbeque and afterwards to watch the football match.    So Friday was a frenzy of housework, gardening and shopping and generally preparing for the evening.   Unfortunately the skies darkened and it was raining quite hard when our guests turned up just after 5pm.  Bloody typical, our very first barbeque of the year and it decides to rain.  Hey ho, Phil put up the umbrella and wheeled the BBQ underneath and cooked all the meat.  We ate and drank for what seemed for hours and then the boys settled themselves in front of the plasma to watch England.  I didn’t see much of the match but I gather it was a wash out.  Somehow I think that come Wednesday, it will all be over for England and they will be sent home.

Total over indulgence the night before and we awoke with heavy heads on Saturday morning.   The house was a complete tip when I got downstairs;   I had forgotten to put on the dishwasher and a whole carton of single cream and toppled over in the top of the fridge and the contents had dribbled all the way to down to the bottom.  It was right old mess and I had to take everything out of the fridge and wash all the shelves and the compartments.  Complete nightmare!  Phil was able to take it easy but I had to go over to Cranfield to see a friend of mad Betty’s who wanted to talk to me about renting our flat.   He was meant to meet me at 1pm but come twenty past and he still hadn’t arrived. I got Bet to phone him and he was somewhere in Bletchley.  I told her to tell him that I couldn’t wait for him and made my way home.  This was a complete waste of my time and I wasn’t best pleased.

Yesterday Phil took my car, picked up G and they drove to Melton to see his mum and dad.   Phil changed seats and G took over the driving once they turned off the motorway.  I did a few jobs and then went to meet John & Marie & Sue & Alan at the Toby pub in Shenley Church End.  It was Fathers Day and the pub was packed but luckily they’d got there early and managed to get a table straight away.   We dawdled getting the drinks so we ended up queuing for the carvery but this wasn’t too much of a big deal and it was well worth the wait.   Marie, Alan & Sue had a sweet and in all in all, it was a pleasant lunch.   Afterwards we went back to Cosgrove Park and sat outside Sue & Alan’s caravan for coffee and chocolates.  

And that, just about sums up our weekend.   Unfortunately, when Phil got back from Melton last night he realised he’d left his mobile at his mum’s so this morning he has hijacked my car and has driven back to Melton to retrieve his phone.   He was really grumpy before he left so I hope his mood brightens up by the time he returns home.    The agent didn’t call back on Friday so we assume that he didn’t get the contract.   Never mind, perhaps it wasn’t meant to be and hopefully there will be other another. 

 

Happy Campers

Last week, I completely forgot to mention Phil’s health tests.  Following his blood sugar and blood pressure results at Superdrug, he finally agreed to go to go and see the doctor.   Well actually, not the doctor himself but he went and saw the nurse to have some blood tests.  His blood pressure was sky high; she took it 4 times as all the readings were high.  Those blood tests were last week and he had to phone the following day to get his results.  The nurse told him that he had a really high glucose reading and also high cholesterol.   Apparently blood tests are the only way to get accurate results so he went back again on Monday for more blood tests.  Once again, his BP was high and we have yet to hear his latest results.  I think Phil really wants to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes; he says once you are diagnosed you get free prescriptions.  Whilst I agree, that this is indeed a bonus, if it were me, I’d rather get in the gym, loose the weight and not be diagnosed in the first place.  I don’t know, he seems to think that they will give him some free pills and all his problems will disappear.   If only it were that simple.

This week, so far, has been dominated by the arrival of my step dad and his girlfriend who arrived in Milton Keynes late Monday morning.  They, and their campervan, have booked in the touring site on Cosgrove Park where they are staying until next Monday.   They met another couple in Spain who have a permanent pitch on Cosgrove Park so they thought it would be good to catch up with them and us at the same time.   We gave them some time to sort out their pitch then went over after lunch to see them.   It’s been years since Phil or I had been to Cosgrove so we struggled to locate the site and then it took us ages to find their pitch.  When we eventually located them, we were invited into their friend’s tent for a glass of wine.   I am not into camping, but the wine was chilled and their friends, Alan & Sue, were charming.   We got away just after half 5 but I gather the party went on late into the night.  

I wanted to go to the gym on Tuesday morning but there was no time, we woke up late and then had to prepare lunch for step dad & girlfriend.  Guests meant also having to clean the house, a task which I have neglected of late.  Phil actually cooked the lasagne and I drove to Cosgrove to pick up our guests. Lunch was tasty and whilst I cleared away, step-dad and Phil got stuck into weeding the beds, sorting out the herb pots and generally having a good clear up.  I didn’t mind a bit, I hate gardening and Phil is rather new to it.  He’s good once he gets going but it helped after a little big of expert advice.   Marie wanted to get her cut so I took over to a salon in Newport for a cut and blow dry.   I waited while she was being done and she seemed pleased with the results.   We went back home for coffee and cream cakes and then I took them back at teatime to their pitch.

I hadn’t made any plans to meet up with step-dad yesterday because I had stuff to do, a visit to the gym, a trip to Tesco’s and a trip to the flat in Cranfield, which of course, meant another encounter with mad Betty.  She’s is driving me nuts, leaving crazy voice messages and sending even crazier texts.   It feels like having a stalker; I’m almost tempted to change my mobile number but then she knows Phil’s mobile number and if I don’t respond to her, she will only start on him.  Phil is less tolerant than me, so for now, I suppose it’s better for her to torment me.  The reason she is texting me is that she wants to know what’s happening to our sale and also, she has an acquaintance that is interested in letting our flat.   I should have followed up on this and phoned the guy back but I’ve been holding out, waiting for Phil to phone the agent to see what the situation with the housing market.  My gut feeling is to drop the price and get rid of the flat once and for all but understandably, Phil is reluctant.   

Emma & Jason got back from their holiday in Ireland on Tuesday afternoon and it sounds like they had a nice time.   I went round to check everything was okay with the house and we caught up with some cul-de-sac gossip.   Jason did offer me a cup of tea, but I’d just got back from a good session in the gym so was feeling very hot.   Phil decided to have another day on the sofa so when I got back he was watching TV but he did have the forethought to put the lasagne in the oven.  Lunch was leftovers from the day before so nice and easy.  

Last night Phil went out with the boys as he usually does on a Wednesday and I went over to Christine’s for a couple of hours.   Jan was there also and we chatted over wine and nibbles.  The diet has gone out of the window again this week, and it will be another start all over on Monday next week.  I am desperate to start on the painting but I don’t think I will have the opportunity to get going on this until next week, Monday at the earliest.  Today we’re meeting step-dad and Marie on our bikes on a pub somewhere along the canal.   The meeting point has yet to be decided.  I just hope the sun comes out and the rain stays away.

 nb: photo's to follow later 

SEX and the City 2

I pen this blog with the mother f***ker of all hangovers, but I won’t go in to that right now, more about that later.  First up, I most apologise for being so absent from this blog all of last week.   I have no excuse, other than last week I was suffering from one big dose of hormones and I mean really bad hormones, as Phil, no doubt, will testify.  Also the weather was crap which made me in a really bad mood.   It was all bad last week, Phil met up with Steve B for lunch on Wednesday and they had a nice time.   Steve B, like Phil, is also looking for a new contract and I think it does them good to ‘shoot the shit’ so to speak and do some male bonding.  I met Christine at the cinema and we went to watch ‘Sex in the City 2’.   Okay the film had crap reviews but the film, was, what it was, light hearted escapism with some mature ladies that I think looked great given their age.   Fabulous clothes, okay, a weak story line but I couldn’t believe that it was nearly 10pm when I got home.  It’s amazing how chocolate and a girlie film can lift the soul!

Phil’s mum phoned just before I went out to the movie to say that Phil’s dad had his heart scan and they mentioned blocked tubes and he has to go back to see the consultant ASAP.   Unfortunately the consultant was on holiday last week so we are hoping that he can get in this week to see, if, and how, they can treat him.  Naturally Phil’s mum is worried (as are we) because surgery for a senior man who has not been well recently is not ideal.   However, George is made of steel, sure he’s had a hard life but he doesn’t drink or smoke and I am sure he can make a full recovery. Let’s hope so.

We still do not have jobs but it’s not for the lack of trying.   Poor Phil is getting so disheartened, the agents are contacting him but once they’ve submitted his CV, he’s not getting any further.  The same goes for me; I’m not getting anywhere; not even an interview, just pure rejection.   On Friday we walked to the pub, The Giffard for a ‘think tank’ meeting.  You may think this was frivolous, lunch out and all that, but me and Phil find that we can talk and chew over things much better when we’re away from home.   Anyway, I digress, at the pub Phil told me that our cash situation is very low and that means desperate measures.   Bottom line is, that he wants to sell the house.  I don’t want to loose our home, but I’ll do what I have to do, and, we can soon make another one.  It’s no big deal, as long as we are together and can keep our heads above water, that’s all that matters.

I was in the downstairs loo reading a magazine when I glanced up to the ceiling and saw water marks.   A sense of dread filled my stomach and I immediately called Phil off the sofa to investigate.  It was obvious that the ‘tardis bath-cum-shower’ was leaking again and when we prised the panel off upstairs, our worst fears were confirmed.  Our posh plumber (you know who I mean) has fucked up so considerably, I feel like going round and bashing his door down.  Of course I won’t, we will try and repair the leak ourselves, patch up the tardis and try and sell this house, without making too much of a loss.  I will be sad to leave but I am ready for another project. When we got back from Oz we discovered a huge crack in our living room just by the door that our first house swap guest did when she broke the door handle.  Now this wasn’t there when we first left the house, so my guess is she broke the door handle by a huge door slam.  Anyway, Phil filled in the crack and all it needs now is me to repaint.  I intend to do this and also repaint the downstairs bog ceiling and patch up anything else that needs attention.  It’s time to move on.

On Saturday evening we went to Steve & Jan B’s for a BBQ.  Jan very kindly came round to pick us up so we could drink and get a taxi home, and drink is just what we did.  We’ve been in a stuck in a rut, depressed (me hormonal) state, wasting on the sofa so actually, so it was very nice to be invited out and mix with friends that we are very comfortable with.   I said it was a BBQ but Steve is a very accomplished cook, even more so than Phil, so of course it was ordinary BBQ; No indeed, Pimms to start off with, then a  tomato and mozzarella salad to start with a lime green table setting followed by chicken, salad and spuds and a jelly dessert which I’m sure tasted nice but I can’t remember, I was wasted by then!

I’m not sure Jan realised that England were playing when she invited us but Steve B, bless ‘im, recorded the footie and even let Phil watch the Grand Prix Canadian qualifying.  What brilliant hosts!  Unfortunately I woke up with the biggest hangover that I can ever remember!   So today has been a duvet day without the duvet and no shower!  Disgusting, I hear you mutter, and you are quite right.  Harriet phoned up earlier and she was also hung over because she had been out with her friend Jade.  Okay, like mother like daughter, you are thinking, but you are quite wrong; HH is far more sensible then her mum, her Saturday night over indulgence was a ‘one off’, that I can assure you.   She was phoning to say could she come round and would I cook her dinner.  I said “sorry HH there is no way”, the mere thought of food made me feel ill.  Another time I told her.   

Today has been what I call, a lost in space day.  Not just for me, but for Phil also.  I feel ashamed, the sun has been shining but we’ve been hiding in our nightclothes, with the blinds half shut watching TV.  I am not proud.  Anyway, I’ve got a plan;   I am thinking that if we can’t secure ‘proper jobs’ then we should start a company up doing kitchen design, tiling and decorating for other people.   We are quite good and we’ve had lots of practise; okay we maybe not be professionals but we are honest, sincere, hardworking and wouldn’t charge the earth.  The more I think about it, the more I think it’s the way forward.   I think it’s a great idea.  I vaguely remember talking to Jan about it last night but I don’t think I think I’ve voiced my idea to Phil yet.  I’m not greedy, all we need is enough money to pay the bills and what better, than a husband and wife team, who will do honest, and provide hard graft at an affordable price?  Unfortunately Phil is, right now, as I type, watching the live Grand Prix, so maybe best, if I put this business enterprise to him tomorrow. 

Sun, Stars & Study

Good news; Phil’s dad was discharged from hospital on Friday.   Phil and his mum went to visit and the doctor told them that George could go home.  Unfortunately they had to wait 2 hours for the doctor to do the paperwork which meant that it was teatime before Phil got to Melton.   The traffic was heavy which wasn’t altogether surprising given that it was Friday and half term as well.  Phil stayed for a cup of tea with his mum & dad to give the traffic a chance to ease off before he got in the car and made his way back to MK.  It was gone half seven by the time he walked through the door and he was completely shattered.  All in all, a long worrying week and a lot of miles driving.

Given the trauma, our weekend was a slow and gentle one.  I had planned to spend sometime in the garden but although it was warm and humid, it wasn’t really sunbathing weather, least it wasn’t when I when out in the back garden to check.   I wasn’t too bothered, after my mole check, I feel a little weird about spending time in the sun.

On Saturday morning, Phil got stuck into his studying.   He is very behind with his course and has an assignment to get in very soon.  Unfortunately, the soaring temperatures in the conservatory meant that he had to give up at midday.  For lunch we had chicken cooked on the barbeque with salad and new potatoes.   I tried to resist the new potatoes but failed miserably, as is my downfall. In the afternoon, Phil caught up with his TV recordings and I went to the gym.  I spent hours and hours in the gym last week but haven’t lost a pound.   Take Friday, I spent 2 hours in the gym, half an hour with weights at home and I also took an early evening walk around the canal.   And no pounds lost.   I feel like I am fighting a loosing battle.

Harriet came round at tea time on Saturday; I think she was at a loss for something to do.   We watched the last episode of ‘Come Dine With Me’ and then Phil cooked him & HH pancakes while I walked to the shops for milk.   I didn’t partake in the pancakes, I do like them but I find them very easy to resist.  Once fed, Harriet said her goodbyes and went home to watch the final of Britain’s Got Talent which we watched as well.   My sister sent me an email on Friday to say that BGT was the highlight of her Saturday evening.   We are all very sad in our family!

Sunday was also a laid back day.  It was a clear, warm day but again the sun wasn’t out.  We woke up just before eight thirty to some strange sounds coming from the garden.   Phil got up and opened the blinds only to find Neil our next door neighbour lying on a mattress in his back garden in his pyjamas smoking a roll up, whilst reading the News of the World and sipping from a can of beer.  Most bizarre, even more so because it was so early in the morning and the sun wasn’t even out.  There’s none so weird as folk, especially in this cul-de-sac!

I had meant to go to the gym on Sunday but I was so disillusioned after jumping on the scales, that I thought, sod it, I may as well jump off the bandwagon for one last day and start again on Monday.  Phil was in the mood for a duvet day and this is just what we did, although he did manage a few hours of study before reverting back to the reclining sofa and the TV in the lounge.   He did cook us steak and baked potatoes for lunch and we nibbled throughout the day and into the evening.  Very naughty.

And so, here we are, another Monday and another jobless start to the week.  Phil didn’t get the contract in Tring that he was hopeful about, they gave it someone that had more recent experience, which is fair enough.  I had a rejection letter in the post and there was only one job in the paper this week for me to apply for.  We shall just have to keep trying, there has to be someone out there who is willing to employ us, surely? I am forever the optimist, especially after reading my horoscope in the Mail’s You Magazine yesterday. For Cancer it read:

“With Jupiter, a planet of success, forming a rare conjunction with Uranus, planet of sudden change, something unexpected will happen  over the next few days that will give you new hope regarding your work or career.  Maybe things are not as bad as you thought.  Maybe it was only your negative attitude that made them seem bad”.

So let’s hope this is the week that it all happens. If my horoscope is right, seems all I have to do is change my attitude.

      

A worrying week............

I was woken by the sound of the telephone at 6am on Tuesday morning.  As I jumped down the stairs, pulling on my dressing gown at the same time, I had a feeling of foreboding.  Early morning calls do not usually mean good news.  And I was right to be worried; it was Phil’s mum on the other end to say that Phil’s dad had been taken into hospital late the night before.  Poor George developed a fever throughout the course of the day and then come bed time; he couldn’t get out of his chair.  Phil’s mum dialled 999 and the paramedics came out and decided that poor George needed to go to hospital.  They advised Bet to stay at home and phone the hospital a few hours later to get a diagnosis.  Poor love, she phoned at 2am but George still hadn’t been seen by a doctor.  She tried again at 6am but couldn’t get any answer and this is when she phoned us.

Now as it happens, Phil had already planned to pick up G in Northampton and go and see his mum and dad for lunch but it made sense to cancel G and go alone.  I did ponder whether to go with him for moral support but I already had a couple of appointments plus I’m still fighting off the remainder of my cold and my face is still full of bumps and lumps. Phil quickly got in the shower and was on the road without even having any breakfast.

I decided to stay in the house and wait for him to call me.   Phil managed to get through to the hospital and was told that George had been put in a bed on a ward.    The hospital in Leicester has strict visiting hours so that they had to wait until after lunch before they could get to see the patient.   George was very sleepy but a little better than the day before.  Phil and his mum waited around to see the doctor who told them that George had a severe kidney infection.   They put him on a drip throughout the night because he was very dehydrated.  The doctor thought his infection was viral so he couldn’t prescribe antibiotics but they don’t know yet, without further tests, what damage the infection has done.   It was nearly 6 o’clock before they got back to Melton and Phil decided to stay and keep his mum company so she wasn’t alone.  They went back again on Wednesday to visit but George was very sleepy, he didn’t talk much and wasn’t even interested in reading the newspaper.  Phil drove his mum back to Melton and then drove back to MK; he was knackered when he got back.  Still, it didn’t stop him going out for a few pints with the Jim, George & Alfy.

Christine picked me up on Tuesday night and we to check out her little buy to let flat on DB.  We took some measurements, read the meters then got the dogs out of the back of the car and went for a walk.  It wasn’t raining but very damp underfoot and my black Ugg shoes got very dirty.  Afterwards we went back to Christine’s for a light supper and some wine.   Phil woke me up with a text at 6am on Wednesday morning, I sent him a text back and then he gave me a call.  I wasn’t quite ready to get up so I turned over and went straight back to sleep and didn’t wake up until quarter past ten!  I don’t do that very often, and well, 12 hours in the sack I must have needed it.

The pest control team came out yesterday morning with the intention of destroying our wasps nest.  However on closer inspection from our bedroom window, they said we didn’t have a wasp’s nest but a bee’s best.   Because bees are protected they are not allowed to spray.  The man told me that the bees would swarm for 2 weeks and then fly away.   I’m not very happy, I don’t like anything that buzzes but I guess there is not much I can do, just keep my windows closed tight and wait for the bees to buzz off.   Nightmare!

We had hoped that George would be released from hospital yesterday so with this in mind we jumped in my car and drove to Melton.   The Land Rover overheated on the motorway when Phil was on his way home so we decided to not to take any chances and take my car.  Phil struggles to fit the KA so driving it is not very comfortable.   Still, he didn’t complain too much and we got to Phil’s mums house before midday.  I took down a lasagne and salad with some garlic bread that I’d cooked at home to save Phil’s mum the trouble of cooking and after a quick lunch we got back in the car and went to Leicester General.  George had moved wards but luckily he was in a private room.   We found him quite easily and he was sitting with his feet up on the bed.  Thankfully he was much better, having got a good night’s sleep the night before.   I grabbed the ward sister for an update because George, bless ‘im didn’t really have a clue what was going on.   Unfortunately they still need to do a few more tests so he wasn’t allowed out yesterday.

Hopefully he’ll be allowed home today.   Phil has driven back down to Melton this morning.   He will take his mum back to hospital and hopefully they’ll be able to bring George home.  Fingers crossed; if not, Phil will bring his mum back to ours tonight and we’ll go from there.  Obviously can’t make any plans for the weekend until we know what’s happening with George.  However the weather forecast for the weekend is hot, hot, hot, so hopefully I can get my shorts on and get this old white body out in the sun.

Happy Families

 When I reread my last posting, I felt I’d been a bit a harsh on Phil.  He has obviously taken my words to heart and has been far more organised with his paperwork and the piles on the dining room table are tidy.   On Friday he even got round to emailing the agents on his database with his CV.  His database is a little dated so not surprisingly he had a high number of bounce back emails.  I’m not sure if it was a result of his mailing but an agent called on Friday afternoon and has put him forward for a contract in Tring which sounds quite promising.  Fingers crossed.

My sister Julia and nephew Jack drove from Suffolk and arrived at our house just before 7pm on Friday evening.   The drive took her just over 3 hours which I don’t suppose was too bad for a Friday evening and a bank holiday weekend at that.   I’d made up a saucepan of hot chilli bolognaise sauce all ready to go on the hob even though Julia was insistent they wouldn’t want supper.  As it happened they stopped off at McDonalds’s en route so they weren’t hungry.  We spent the evening catching up over wine and nibbles.   The purpose of Julia’s visit was to take me along to her beauty clinic in Fenny Stratford.  Julia has been going to this clinic for treatment for the removal of thread veins on her face, a non surgical procedure that helps her Lupus.   Last time Julia was down she said that my veins needed doing and booked us both appointments for 9am on Saturday morning.  

After wine and a late night I thought this early appointment was quite ambitious but Julia set her alarm and we were all in the wide awake club by ten to seven.   Phil had a study day in Reading so after making everyone sausage sandwiches he was the first to leave.   We left soon after and Julia, me and Jack were at the clinic for 9 o’clock on the dot.  I hadn’t thought too much about my thread vein removal but when we got to the clinic Julia did say that there was some pain involved.  She was having a micro-dermabrasion, so after I had gel applied to my veins to anaesthetise my face, she was first in for her treatment.

I was anxious while I waited and Jack was laughing at me and picking the paint off the door in between texting his girlfriend.   Finally a red faced Julia was finished and it was my turn.  It’s a funny world, turns out that I knew Julie, the owner of the clinic, from David Lloyd.  I remember her giving out leaflets in the ladies changing room years ago but for some reason I lost my leaflet and forget all about Julie and her new clinic.  I suppose 7 years ago, I wasn’t too concerned with lines, wrinkles & broken veins.   How quickly things change.  Anyway, Julie remembered me and we chatted while she dug needles into my veins.   I didn’t see the needles as I kept my eyes shut tight.  It wasn’t too painful (waxing is worse) but one or two pricks made my eyes water.  I guess I was in there for about half an hour for which she charged me £40.00.   If anyone is interested, the clinic is called Face2Face http://www.face2facemk.co.uk/ and I will certainly think about going back for other treatments, once I get a job.

We left the clinic and Julia dropped me and Jack off at the city centre and then drove over to Stony Stratford to spend the day with our mother.   Jack had money to spend and wanted to find some summer shorts.   He was a careful shopper and we did two full circuits of the centre (both the old and the new parts) before he finally made a purchase.  It’s been a long time since I’ve spent time with a 15yrd old and I had a few smiles to myself.   We spent around 4 hours browsing the shops and during this time, Jack was constantly sending texts to texts to his girlfriend and had at least 3 telephone conversations.  I can barely send a single line text so texting whilst walking and as well as holding a conversation was impressive.  Jack is not bad looking, he is growing his hair and uses hair straightners to get rid of his curls and then sweeps his locks across his face, a style that I’ve seen on loads of youngsters.  His clothes style is preppy, smart casual with a hint of hip, skinny jeans, canvas shoes and a Fred Perry polo.   I told him that Fred Perry was all the rage when I was 15 but I’m not sure he believed me! 

When we got to the John Lewis end of the centre, I took Jack and showed him the SnoZone and the Sky Fix which he was impressed with although he was worried about getting his hair wet in the rain!  I did try and talk him to going up the escalator to the cinema to watch ‘Sex in the City 2’ but he refused.  Lunch was Burger King and then finally, money all spent, it was time to go home.  The original plan was to walk back to our house along the canal, but with the inclement weather and no coats this wasn’t an option so I called Harriet for a lift.   Harriet was up but was still in her pyjamas’; I told her not to worry but she insisted and picked us up still in her jim jams, with a hoodie thrown over and Ugg boots to complete the look.   This amused Jack and me but we didn’t comment because we were grateful that we didn’t have to walk back in the rain. 

Julia turned up just after 5 and was shortly followed by Phil.   He was glad he gone to the study day but said that the tutor was nice but crap.  Also there wasn’t any coffee or tea and he’d only had a sandwich for lunch which he’d grabbed at a garage.   So it was just as well that I’d booked a table at the Red Hot Buffet in the theatre district.   We tried this restaurant a couple of years ago and weren’t terribly impressed with either the service or the food.  The restaurant was already buzzing when we arrived just before 7pm.   Lots of hen and stag parties all dressed up in some bizarre outfits.   All four of us sampled the different dishes and had no complaint.   Julia & Phil went for the duck and pancakes and I had Thai food followed by a plate of Indian food.  Both dishes were spiced nicely.  When you book a table you get to keep it for an hour an hour a half but we had finished our meal and were back home before the end of our time slot.  The rest of Saturday evening was spent watching Britain’s Got Talent, the Eurovision Song Contest, a bit of the Grand Prix qualifying and the new Millionaire Drop show with Davina McCall. 

It was a slow start to Sunday morning.   I think Phil had kept Julia and Jack awake with his snoring and both commented on it when I came down to the kitchen.  I guess I’m used to it, but some nights are worse than others.   When Phil came down he cooked a full English and we waved goodbye to Julia & Jack around half ten.   I am ashamed to say that after they went, we just slobbed out in front of the TV with the Sunday papers.  I had all good intentions for Monday but when I woke up and saw my face in the mirror there was no way I knew there was no way I could go out of the house.  Where Julie had pricked my veins with a needle, tiny blood scabs had formed as well as a few other angry lumps and my face looked 10 times worse than it did before.   I had been warned about this but didn’t expect it to look so bad.  I’ve lathered my face with cream to sooth it; I even tried picking off the congealed blood but if anything, it’s made it look worse.  Let’s hope the scabs fall off soon, 2 days of being housebound is 2 days too many.