Knees are looking good!

As I'm sitting looking down for most of the day, I've seen a good deal of my knees over the last few days.
The alternative is using the head rest on the table, which gives your neck a rest, or bed, lying on your stomach.
My eye seems to be doing well and I have a little, very blurry vision in it.
This has the effect of upsetting the good eye, which has been coping well on it's own until today.
I can see my I pad anyway.

Yesterday I had three brilliant visitors -Wil, from church in the morning - I'd just finished the chocs (shared), when Jan came, with flowers, then B, for a natter, after work.
Aj fed and watered me, supplied drops at the right times and stopped me doing anything!
I fear that I may become entirely idle and dependent after two weeks of cossetting.

Tulips from.......Ringsted!

Day two of sitting still, head bowed as if ashamed?

P visited last night, which was a highlight, with some lovely lilies, which smell wonderful.

I did sleep reasonably well last night - mainly on my side, eye patch stuck firmly in place, and was rewarded with two cups of tea brought by AJ sometime after 8.00am, after the first eye drops session.

These sessions happen every two hours, between 8.00am and 10.00pm.

I am now getting better and have quite a high "hit rate"

I had a couple of phone calls from friends and then the most enormous bouquet of tulips frm W, MK, J and DK.

AJ put them into an enormous green glass vase that came in one of the auction lots from Hansons, last week.

I never thought that I would see it full!

JT came for coffee and a chat before lunch and viewed my Hansons buys - I posted two items today, taking the photos with this wonderful devise during my ten minutes of movement.

One had to be corrected as it wasn't posted -some minor error.

Have alook - Kirtsy Allsopp storage jar, not the best photos!

Another early night, I guess.

B and T have just face timed me.

Wow!!

Roy Orbison days.."....

Home again, on the better side of eye surgery - yesterday was "pirate day", today " Roy Orbison" day.

I am now minus eye patch and shades, sitting with my face in a support with viewing hole, to keep it inclined and still for 50 minutes per hour to ensure that the retina will reattach.

B did all the ferrying yesterday, took me home with him last night and took me for the check up back at Walsgrave, early this morning.

I was certain that God would waft me through the whole procedure with nothing to worrying about, I wasn't sure how.

As it was, I went into the department shortly after noon yesterday, filled in the forms and then had anaesthetic and dilating drops in my eye.

These sent me to sleep for the next three and a half hours, waking only when called to see a nurse, have more drops......

I was woken me to go to the theatre, had some warm blankets over me, as I'm always cold, then had my lens replaced, then the hole in the retina mended -all very high tech and amazing, explained by the surgeon, in a lovely gentle Maltese accent.

(T and KP - operated on by a Malteser!)

An hour and a half later I was wheeled out, eye patch in place, for a very welcome cup of tea with B, who had arrived after work to take me home for tea and an early night.

I did manage to sleep on my front until 2.18am, but can sleep on my side, so opted for a change until getting up time.

Eye patch off, drops in, shades on and back to Walshgrave for a check up - all excellent.

The consultant was pleased and explained the op and my habit of watching all of the tools instead of keeping my eyes still to B.

Home and dry and now feeling a bit peckish so I will use my ten minutes of activity to make some lunch. 

Aj arriving soon

An accolade for the NHS - this problem was picked up two weeks ago today.

I could not have better, more professional and friendly treatment, and all done within two weeks, prescriptions explained and desktop portal, enabling me to do this in comfort, on loan.

By the way - Mr Hero, my consultant, and. Walter, his Italian (Italian, with a lovely left ear) informed me that glasses were invented in Italy in the thirteenth century.
Not Chinese then!

The last lap, for a while!

I had an energetic splurge this morning, changed the beds, did two loads of washing and cleaned all through the downstairs before sallying forth to meet Jan for coffee in Pret in Solihull, then on to collect J and Th from school.

Pret a Manger was brilliant as ever - lovely coffee and food served with a smile, Jan great company, therapy with a giggle!

J and Th were on good form despite the bitterly cold wind and rain as we walked home (I did beat Th, 5-4 at football, for a change)

Walsgrave hospital phoned during coffee to ask me to go in at noon tomorrow for the repair to my macular hole and lens replacement, so all systems go.

B has offered to fetch and carry me, am coming down to keep me company whilst confined to the house.

I filled the car with diesel on the way home and did a little shopping at M&S, home by 8.30pm

What do you do when you know that you won't be driving again for a couple of months?

A full tank of fuel and bread in the freezer seemed like a good start.

Home to do all that ironing and remake the beds before dinner, so a late night.

I can't remember what the instruction sheet says for admission to Walsgrave, apart from "have a shower or bath and wear loose fitting clothing"

I must read it in the morning, after the bath and before making a large batch of oat cookies, to use up the Carnation milk in the fridge.

I've spoken to M, who had two new lenses fitted last year - a mine of calming info and wisdom.

Amazing that a little hole in the back of your eye can be mended and a perfect lens put in place of a dodgy one to preserve your sight.

Blogging with mono vision and an eye patch tomorrow, me hearties!

Lazy Sunday.

Enforced.
Church at 9.30am, since when it has rained all day - "despicable weather" as T describes it.
I had planned a good walk, but settled for a day with my beloved new I pad, researching the Hansons buys and .......putting some on e bay (thanks to some expert help)
If they sell, I shall be off on my new career.
Presently, I'm sitting by the fire whilst a chicken roasts, watching "homes under the Hammer", dreaming of making a fortune in the property market.
I don't think that will get off the drawing board!

Friends for dinner last night - salad, coq au vin,(James Martin) followed by banana, pecan and caramel screamed pudding (Gordon), cheese.
I visited M&S and bought some good wine - buy six save 25% - drank two bottles, so can recommend it!


Awaiting a call from Walsgrave this week, then two weeks enforced sitting still for 50 minutes per hour.
The sermon made  sense of it -Lent, should be taking time out to consider life, the Universe and everything.
Done deal!

A good day out at Hansons.

Day two of the sale at Hansons - China, glass and boxes of things.
An early start to allow an hour to view beforehand was rewarded with six lots of China and glass bought, including a Whitefriars water jug, two Orrefors raspberry bowls - large and medium, two Fostoria bowls -large and enormous Tom and Jerry punch bowl.
Lots more beside, all for sale.
Great fun.

I spent Wed. and Thurs in Bicester with J and Th, celebrating KP's birthday.
We tested the wonderful games that B had made, all Roald Dahl themed, and visited the local Hedgehog Sanctuary.
They also have badgers, foxes, rabbits and ducks.
The rain poured down and all incumbents were either nocturnal or hibernating, apart from one fox.
The girl tried to wake up a hedgehog for her talk but however much she tossed it around, it slept on.

On Wed afternoon I had to drive to the Walsgrave for my pre op, so missed the cinema outing, but am ready to be called in for my macular hole to be sealed and lens replaced - lens ok but done to save any surgery later.

Winter Quarters are great - warm, bright and cosy.

I'm writing this on my new I pad.
I love it - thanks to B for setting it up.

Fighting fit.

I'm taking advantage of my wonderful new winter quarters by coming to bed before 9.00pm with my laptop and Miller's Antiques guides, to do a little research before going to Hanson's auction on Friday.
Not before falling asleep in the lounge, I admit.

Hectic weekend - Coffee and Cakes morning on Friday with a dozen friends here then taking cake to deserving friends afternoon.
Saturday was warm and sunny and spent in the garden - the first effort this year and the rockery now looking good with lots of bulbs and celandines showing that spring is on the way.
Jan, Chris and K came to dinner - salad, steak with peppercorn sauce and dauphinoise potatoes, which should have been followed by puff pastry hearts with cream and orange curd (can't spell the French for that, either!), but lost the cream somewhere, so settled for cheese and delivered the desert on Sunday tea time.
We toasted St Valentine with a bottle of bubbly!

Church at OW on Sunday - D still off and the visiting priest said he'd take the one service, which was very good, with a worthy congregation.
Walsgrave Hospital in the afternoon to see the consultant about my eye - lots of drops so pleased that K had offered to chauffeur.
It will be done within the next 4 weeks - hole mended and a new lens as cataracts are likely to follow, so this saves further surgery. I have to go back tomorrow for the pre-op, whatever that entails.
This is a little inconvenient as J and Th are coming for a couple of days, we're going to Bicester in the morning for KP's birthday and having a sleepover.
I shall have to miss "Shaun the Sheep" and drive back to Coventry instead, but it will work out well as no drops tomorrow, so I can drive myself.

Today I made the ultimate Malteser cake for KP and Malteser cookies to follow, made pancakes for breakfast, went for a nice walk and cleaned the house, again - fear of being whisked away, I think.
I have to spend  a week on my stomach after the eye op - fear of looking at a dirty floor!! 

Henry V111

I'm about to catch up my viewing of "Wolf Hall" - a brilliant series using new cameras so that the lighting is realistic for the 16th century - candlelight.
After a great start there has been criticism about the lighting and confusion of the number of characters......
I have the advantage of having read the book a couple of years ago, an Xmas gift from W and MK and one of the best books I have ever read - it did take some determination to become familiar with all of the characters, helped by the family tree supplied.
I'm well on with the sequel "Bring up the bodies", but having a rest as not really holiday reading  and busy since then.

A day of baking  - 2 Victoria sponges, 2 chocolate cakes and a carrot cake, all NT recipes, but sponge cakes recipes are just that.
The carrot cake is really good - oil and lots of carrots with butter, cream cheese and icing sugar combined as a topping.
One of each for tomorrow's coffee and cake morning, a Vic sponge for Maurice's b'day cake - 82 today, and a choc cake for a friend,

The day started with a visit to JA for eggs and a chat, not too early as I slept until 9.00am after failing to get to sleep until about 2.30am - a chance to catch up on reading the paper anyway.
House polished and vacuumed so perhaps I'll sleep with a clear conscience tonight - I think that I was stressing about having agreed to take the service on Ash Wednesday (D off sick still), not knowing when I will be available until after the hospital visit on Sunday and aware that reading small print is challenging on a dark evening in shustoke church at the best of times.
After some discussion, we're cancelling the service - I don't actually like it much, if I'm honest, anyway.

Recording refusing to play - freeview box fighting back this week.
Perhaps BT will send a new one.
Bed instead, with DT and crossword.

Right again!

W, not me.
Having been proved right about the evils of carbs some time ago, today's report has agreed with W that saturated fat is not bad after all.
He tells me that cholesterol (as in eggs) will get the all clear next week.
I would happily follow his advice and have a "paleo" diet, but lack the self control at the moment.
Perhaps I'll start next week!

An excellent day - to Little Polycotton in Oxon, or some such name, to look at vintage farm machinery then on to Chipping Norton for lunch in The Old Mill - very good - then Shipston on Stour for tea.
We visited a few antique and charity shops and came home with some old books with wonderful photos.
I've watched Wolf Hall - brill again.
My eye seems a bit duff today so I will be pleased to see the surgeon on Sunday.

To my nice warm new bed with the Telegraph crossword.

Warm

I have moved into my "winter quarters".
I've forgotten whose idea it was to convert the study back into a bedroom, thinking that it would be warmer than my large bedroom, during the winter, with a lower ceiling and backing onto the warm bathroom.
The move is triumphant!
A great new Seally bed, new down pillows and electric mattress cover and so warm - I'm delighted.

A busy weekend - Warwick Arts Centre to see "Testament to Youth" on Friday evening, after a meal at The Bull's head" in Meriden.
Friends for dinner on Saturday evening, after collecting a van load of goods for sale for the church from friends in the village, who are having a massive clearout - many now in the hands of a friend who runs a stall, the rest in the factory for bric a brac stalls later in the year.
Two church services on Sunday then out to friends for a lunch party and on to other friends, a little late, for supper.
I may have drunk rather too much!

Yesterday I had the annual blood tests done at the surgery, then on to Solihull to collect J and Th from school, tea, etc - home about 8.00pm as I stop to shop at M&S en route home, for food.
Today I've been to Shrewsbury with a friend, in a van to deliver the aforementioned goods, a visit to the local auction house, then into the town for a few hours of pottering.

Oxford tomorrow.

I have to visit Walsgrave hospital on Sunday afternoon to see the surgeon about my eye, so life is on hold until I get a date as I expect to be out of action for a couple of weeks.
Coffee and Cake morning planned for this Friday - 13 Feb!!
An excuse to bake - National trust favourites - carrot, coffee, chocolate and lemon cakes.
Everyone welcome! 

Fighting fit.

Where did the last week go to?
Sat was spent mainly on church duties - writing a sermon then finishing off the spring clean of the vestry, warming up again, eating and bed.
Sunday was church x 2 then out to lunch at the Golf Club on the way to Balsall Common - 8/10.
Monday was coffee with Jan then Solihull to collect J and Th from school, tea etc and a quiz at The Griffin - came fifth, little thanks to me - all these rounds on topics I know nothing about.
It just highlights your ignorance, but the special beer, good company and free hot dogs helped  us all to enjoy the evening.
On Tuesday K and I walked Olwen's dog and collected litter - about a bin full, without venturing into Castle lane.
On Wed I went to Bicester for a sleepover - great to see the family - T even cooked and served the tea, so I was almost redundant.
Today I drove home, via Dorridge, where I had a facial and shopped in JS, and Knowle, where I pottered around a couple of charity shops and bought a large fossil bowl full of ammonites.
Fascinating.
I came home for an hour then went to the doctors' for tests - an ECG and blood pressure, both perfect.
I can have my blood tests done there next week rather than have to drive to The George Eliot, because I am officially elderly!
The receptionist initially told me that I couldn't, which was good.

I am spending my first night in "The Winter Palace" - what was my bedroom as a teenager, latterly he study, and now with a new bed, electric blanket and pillows, is wonderfully warm and cosy, having a low ceiling and backing onto the bathroom wall which has a large , ever-hot radiator.
Bliss.
I shall sleep well tonight and enjoy the view across the field, in the morning.