28/12/2009 by Aileen.

Wed 23rd

Snow everywhere. Bought a chicken at the butcher’s in case we couldn’t get away. Fiona had checkup at hospital. The OU had theirsecond pantomime on Second Life, and it was really good. I was supposed to be in it, but there was a mix-up and didn’t have a part.

Thurs 24th

Fiona didn’t hear from the hospital, so all is well. We decided to drive to Scotland. No holdups, and worst bit was on Pennines towards Manchester. (Decided to go the long way and stick to motorways) Hotel wasn’t expecting us, but there was room anyway (unlike Mary and Joseph) Had a great time at Ali’s all evening. Lorraine and Claire came, and we had a wonderful selection of homemade food.I had terrrible acid all night with my throat burning me. Had to sleep sitting up. Took an extra tablet.

Fri25th

Woke at 9.20 after hardly sleeping a wink, so rang Ali and said I couldn’t go to Mass - which started at 9.30. She said it was 10 so I rushed, but when we got to the church there was no one in sight (carpark is round the back, but there was no visible activity, so she drove to St Mirin’s Cathedral and we got there as the first hymn started. We also left as the last hymn started! Ali was annoyed as it was meant to be a children’s mass and they sang Adeste Fideles (yes, the Latin version) I think she was wrong about it’s being a children’s mass. It wasn’t a Sunday, and they probably had different arrangments for Christmas, probably with a children’s Vigil Mass.

Anyway, back to the house where we opened the pressies,  ate, drank and were merry. Eric did the cooking and it was super.White Christmas! Good job John brought his cycle attachment, as the roads were icy. We left the car at the hotel each day, and just pushed over the road and round the corner to and from Ali’s.

Sat 26th

Got up late, pushed round to Ali’s, had fun again. After lunch Ali’s phone rang and I answered. It was Martin, ringing to say he was in Edinburgh and was on his way, but keep it a surprise. (He and Fiona had spent Christmas Day with her parents)

Poor Martin arrived much later. Plane was lating taking off from Heathrow, and missed it’s slot. Then it couldn’t land at Glasgow as bad weather had shut it, and was diverted to Edinbough, then Glasgow was reopened, so he eventually arrived. He said it would have been quicker to drive. Anyway, everyone was so pleased and surprised. We chatted, watched telly and played games.

Sunday 27th

John and I set off for home at 11am. Not as icy as before, and we were home in about 6 hours. (Stopped for Burger) So lovely to be home.

Monday 28th.

Here I am, back to my familiar routine. Only house doesn’t need cleaning as I did it before we left. I was a disgusting 11st 4 this morning, so I’m going to start exercising in earnest. For starters I’m going to walk to the doctors for my tablets today. It’s about 2 miles away. I don’t intend dieting - just going to eat less fattening things. Partly, it’s cos I want to cook more. Ali just throws things together and makes wonderful concoctions (doesn’t get it from me!) but I’ve decided I would like to have more varied food, so will make an effort. So. It’s exercise, exercise, exercise.

John and I got a Wii between us for Christmas, so this will be a start. Only nuisance is - John got it, and it’s Wii Sports, and I think it should have been Wii Fit. He says we can add Wii Fit to the basic kit. In the meantime - it’s walking and arerobic DVDs.

Anyway, have a good week, everyone. Here are a few photos from Christmas Day.

Ali through the hatch

Liam

Kieran

Brothers

Ali’s homemade cup!

Aftermath!

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04/12/2009 by Aileen.

Everyone who knows me is tittering now. But I have had a good night’s sleep, off to Creative Writing now, library and food shop on the way home, off to Hull at 4pm for his Counselling Christmas bash, then home. And I feel alive and good. All’s well with the world.

Well, let’s not go down that route. Lots of people suffering. Today there will probably be the verdict on the young Leeds students who have been accused of murdering their friend. I just hope justice is done.

Oh, now I’m depressing myself. Bye. See y’all later.

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30/11/2009 by Aileen.

I had to force myself to go to Viewfinders tonight, as we were going to Cottingham to snap the Christmas Lights, and it was cold and dark. Anyway, I was glad I went. My photos weren’t brilliant, as I was using Manual and had forgotten how to change the aperture to a smaller one. (Been using the Nikon for a while, and just gone back to the Canon) Anyway, here’s one of the photos.

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15/08/2009 by Aileen.

There is some (fantastic) thing that I can’t tell you!… And a really wonderful thing that I will tell you next week.

In the meantime. Oh dear. I was driving home from Hull yesterday, and I felt a bad pain in my chest. It went up to my throat and teeth even, and I decided to stop at the next layby. When there, I felt really faint, so opened the door and put my feet outside. I thought, if anything happens inside the car no one would know for ages. Anyway, I had two really bad dizzy spells, where I thought I was going to black out. After a few minutes I felt better and drove home. I told John and he said to phone the doctors, so I did. They said come down straight away. I had an ECG and my heart was normal, thank God. But what caused it? Nerves after the accident? It was a similar pain to what I used to get before Barrets Oesophagus was diagnosed, and the dishy doctor  said it could be oesophagal pain. If anything like that happens again and lasts 10 or 15 minutes I am to phone the amulance straight away. My ‘attack’ lasted about 5 minutes, and I did actually have my mobile out, ready to ring for an ambulance, but then I started to feel better.

The other thing that has gone kaput is my laptop. It was ok on Thursday. Paul from church came round, as I’m  taking over the church website from him. He recommmended COMODO as a good antivirus application, so I downloaded it. Trouble is, it blocked Firefox - my favourite browser. Also, Flock and Opera if I remember rightly. Anyway, Internet Explorer was alright, so I Googled and discovered this can be a problem with Comodo. Unfortunately, my whole laptop is dead now. I only get a blank screen with a little cursor in the corner. I’m on John’s laptop now, as I’m suffering from such extreme withdrawal symptoms, and I keep trying to restart my own lovely little laptop.

Other news - John is getting a new motability car, as the red Focus is a write-off. We went to order it today. We knew exactly what we wanted, but in all England there is only one automatic estate Focus Titanium. And it’s Tango Red, same as the last one. Oh well. we should have it in about a fortnight. John had said I could choose the colour, and I chose Sea Grey (or something) but we would rather have any colour than live with the courtesy car for any longer. The hand controls are so different from what John is used to, and I can’t drive the car. John actually drove it for three hours, going down to Stoke Mandeville, but he wasn’t happy with it. So roll on the new car.

Talking of cars, Martin has just bought a red Porsche. He said it has been his ambition to have one since he was twelve. He is probably getting it out of his system before…………… oh no - I’m not going to tell you the news until next week!

If my computer is kaput I have lost a lot of photos, but I do have the Porsche in my camera still, so will try to download it and upload it now.

Cheers.

P.S. I don’t know if I told you all about Stoke Mandeville. (Yes, I could look back, but I’m on a roll with typing now) We travelled down on the Sunday, and had a sort of barbecue (leftovers) with M and F. At the hospital John didn’t actually see his surgeon, but was really happy with the man he did see. He has to have an MRI in a couple of weeks, to see if there is another abscess forming, and he is seeing the ‘top man’ in three months. He doesn’t have to have any bedrest, and no anti-biotics, so hopefully he can get back to normal now. He has seven clients at the moment, so it is good that he can be up and about all the time.

I need to nag him about exercise now!

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09/01/2009 by Aileen.

I’ve done it again. I’ve put away the Christmas decorations and left ONE out. And I checked so carefully.

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29/12/2008 by Aileen.

Well, M and F, Kev and Mag left yesterday. We had a great time. Giggles all round. Kev brought along his cinething with bits of various reunions on. Trouble is - I had decided that if I didn’t wear a skirt at least for Christmas I would have to get rid of them all, and put one on. And there it was in the film. Plus the same ear rings, which I hadn’t worn for a long time. Also, a ‘hoodie’ which I must admit I DO wear all the time.

ALi et al are arriving today (Eric couldn’t get off over Christmas) so I’ve just had a mad dash changing bed clothes. Washing machine’s on, and I need to buy milk and bread, but I’m having a much needed caffeine injection for the moment.

John has a client.

If M and F can come back towards the end of the week (Fiona has a party and a funeral to go to in the meantime) Ali and co will stay until Saturday. Fun and Games!!!

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25/12/2008 by Aileen.

‘Midnight’ Mass at 8.30pm last night. Slept in the morning. Just had cottage pie and are watching Harry Potter. (Tomorrow is our Christmas when M and F come over.)

Warning - there follow my theological thoughts on Christmas.

I think the incarnation means that through Jesus, God became linked with creation in a way that ‘he’ couldn’t otherwise. Every little molecule and atom and quark (I’m not a scientist!) has a divine element. That means the world is GOOD.  People are good. I see people Christmas shopping and they look harrassed. No joy. But they are shopping for others. Maybe there’s an element of keeping up with the Jones’s, of having no option, other non-altruistic motives, but they are giving. The divine element is there. The self-giving. Just as God gave ‘himself’ at Christmas.

Happy Christmas one and all!

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22/12/2008 by Aileen.

Well, what a lovely day I have had. I don’t think I had any sleep last night. I know I was still awake at 2.20, and went to sleep on the floor in the sitting room. (This helps my back and feels cooler than bedroom, although the heating isn’t on) I still couldn’t sleep. Kept thinking of the story I’m doing for Creative Writing TMA and different possible endings.

I had to get up early as I had a hair appointment  in Hull at 10. Took a chance and used Park and Ride, which proved most successful. Will do in future. Had hair done, did ALL Christmas pressie shopping, and stopped at Sainsbury’s for non-perishable stuff. Then delivered calendar and christmas card to Fr Michael, who showed me some of his lovely bird photos. I am SO tempted to get a digiscope. Especially as I have just read an article about digiscoping.

Pleasant evening. We began watching Once Upon a Time in America (from www.lovefilm.com) but weren’t enjoying it so turned it off. It was SOOO violent. I’ve been getting on with The Lighthouse (P D James). Tomorrow I will go to the Dump and maybe wrap presents. I also need to cook a casserole for one of the days that M and F, Kev and Mag, are with us.

Can’t believe I’m not exhausted after a bad night’s sleep and a (half) day in Hull. I think comfortable shoes is the answer.

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22/12/2008 by Aileen.

No, I have nothing to say. But there again I never say much on here. So here goes with the record of my daily life. Up. On Computer. Had to rush for church. I had made some cards for people yesterday, and put them, plus two books Fr Neville asked me to order, by the front door. And forgot to bring them with me.

Tuna mayo sarnie for lunch. Roast pork this evening.

Against my principles (keeping Sunday special)  I did the ironing during the day. I have spent the rest of the time reading The Lighthouse, by P.D. James. Once before I tried her, and couldn’t get on with her, but this time I find it’s a pleasure to read her elegant style. Good intriguing story too. I keep seeing her tricks of trade, and thinking I must learn from her for my TMA.

Oh yes, I worked on this a bit today too.

John orderd several pressies online today, so although I’m going in to Hull tomorrow to get my hair done I only have to buy four.

As we’re not celebrating  Christmas until Boxing Day I made a cottage pie for Christmas for just to two of us! Now all I have to do is open the freezer. (And rush around wrapping pressies and putting sheets on beds etc no doubt.)

So there we are. No comment.

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19/12/2008 by Aileen.

It’s all coming together. M and F coming Boxing day, Kev and Mag overlapping by a day or two, then Ali and family coming on the 29th and will be here for Hogmanay. Pity they can’t all be here together. As well as the ensuite guestroom we have a second living room with two three seater sofa beds. Plenty of room for 6 guests.

Our house is so perfect for our needs. The previous occupants had a disabled son, and they added an extension for him. Originally it was an emormous bed/sitting room with an adjoining bathroom, but we turned the bathroom round so we had an ensuite. We call the big room ‘The Swinton’ which is where our kids sent us as a 40th Wedding Anniversary treat.

What’s so good about the house is that there is a second entrance leading through the utility room down a hall to the sunlounge. The sunlounge is a very long room, so we’ve divided it in two visually by using a lowlevel bookcase. The far end is my ’study’ while the near end is John’s counselling room. It means that clients can come in via the second door and go down to the counselling room without disrupting the rest of the house. There is a loo off the utility room too, so that is really convenient (intended pun) for the clients.

John’s Counselling Area. With a glimpse of my study in the background. (We’ve changed the twee lights since I took the photo)

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