01/08/2011 by Aileen.

Every Monday is like a new beginning, and not only is it a new week, but a new month. Yay. Two years ago yesterday we had our near head-on car crash coming home from a quiz night. (White van men on the wrong side of the road) We’re still here to tell the tale, and both so thankful to be alive. Three years ago John’s system was actually closing down - in hospital the top half of his body was all white, and you could see the red of his blood on the lower half of his body. (Internal abcesses so we didn’t know what was wrong with him or how seriously ill he was until I drove him down to Stoke Mandeville for a routine checkup. If he hadn’t struggled to keep that appointment he could be dead. The local doctor - not the normal one - had said he had a urine infection, and all his symptoms were ‘normal’ for that.) So yes, I’m still here writing, and John’s stillin bed snoring.

I should write more about Olivia, but don’t know what to say really. I will try to take a picture from Skype. Fiona says she is doing everything well, e.g. feeding, burping, etc. But she’s NOCTURNAL. Well, I suppose they all are to start with. And she has a great pair of lungs apparently. When we saw her in hospital she was really sleepy and placid. When Alexander was born he had a bruised face, as he was a forceps delivery, and he cried quite a bit when he was moved. Olivia is so different. But at the same time she is the image of Aleander. Alexander is delighted with his little sister apparenntly, and knew the words ’sister’ and ‘Olivia’ more or less straight away. He keeps kissing her on the forehead, and saying aaah.

I must also put up some of Rachel’s wedding photos. They’re only just off my camera, and still in Raw format, so I need to convert them to jpgs. And delete a lot! I took so many.

Well, new month’s resolutions. They’re not new, I’m afraid, they’re the same old ones I always make. Pray more, better housewifery, eat less, exercise more. I am actually a bit more specific than this, and have started a (another!) blog recording how I am doing. Don’t think I’ll give details here. Last week I decided to drink 6 glasses of water a day, and get my feet up to scratch. I can only manage two glasses of water so far. I use a crystal glass and pop in a slice of lemon, but I still forget to drink it. I’m using up old foot products (should I say old products for feet) to get my heels smooth, and once the three tubes are used up I’ll buy one new one.

Oh and I went through my clothes last week. Just the tops and trousers, but not only those in the bedroom, but also those I store in the guest room. I’ve put the too tight ones and the winter ones away in the guestroom, and discovered clothes I forgot I had. So I’ve decided to take a bit more care of my appearance and wear different clothes, instead of bumming around in jeans and the same few tops.

Well, I’d better go. Monday is housework day, and I hope to sweep the garden paths this afternoon if I have any energy left. And this sounds contradictory, but I’ve decided to wear shorts around the house, as I would like my legs to be more tanned. But when I go out -Victoria Beckham. look out.

Bye all.

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28/06/2011 by Aileen.

Well, the First Communions were beautiful on Sunday, and I needn’t have worried about the little boy as he was fine. He looked really worried, but that’s him anyway.

But yesterday - by golly. (Heard that expression on the radio the other day!) John had a 2 hour dentist appointment in Hull for preparing his mouth for three tooth implants. It started ok, except that I got up too late for a second cuppa and felt really parched, so first stop after dropping John off was a pot of tea in Debenhams. That was good, and I was pleased with the top I bought. I was also pleased that when I popped in to Boots on the offchance, my two new spectacles were ready.

BUT….. (I need to back track here) …..  John had said not to bother picking up his glasses if they were ready. Well, I thought he said that. Thought he wanted them fitted. I was just waiting for my fitting when he rang to say that he had finished at the dentist. I put the phone down, then decided to ask him was he sure he didn’t want his glasses picked up, but when I rang he had turned off his mobile. HE IS ALWAYS DOING THIS AND I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY. I was really annoyed, and went storming back to the dentists without his spectacles. By the time I got there I decided it wasn’t the time to be annoyed as he had had major tooth stuff done (dentist gowned up and everything) so I ‘made myself’ calm down. And poor old John was quite upset. The dentist had been able to prepare one ‘gap’ but the bone was too soft for the other gap and now he has to have a bone (articifial bone) transplant and can’t have his implants for another nine months.

In the car we had words about the mobile off thing, and John said that he had said to pick up his glasses, he wouldn’t bother having them fitted. We are both getting so deaf. That’s not what I heard him say!

Then, on the way home a stone from a lorry hit the windscreen and we got the usual crack. But before long it developed in to a long crack from top to bottom of the screen.

John had been given a prescription for two antibiotics, so we drove past Newport to next village where there is a Boots. They didn’t have the second prescription, and it wouldn’t be in until Tuesday. The pharmacist rang the next two nearest Boots, but they didn’t have it either. So we drove in to Goole, and tried two chemists there. No joy. There were another two chemists in Goole apparently, but we gave up, and decided to order from the original chemist. So back to Giberdyke and home.

We were both knackered, and John’s mouth was beginning to hurt. We actually went to bed and slept for a while. Partly it was the clammy weather, and suddenly the heavens opened. And I still haven’t cut the bloody grass.

I should have gone to Filey (coast) for Viewfinders, but the window screen was damaged, the light was crap, and I had no energy, so stayed at home.

Today, I’m picking up John’s remaining prescription once I’m dressed, and doing the housework, which I normally do on Mondays. Hope today’s better than yesterday. Poor old John has a swollen mouth, and says it feels bruised. When he’s feeling better I’ll try to get him to explain, once and for all, why he keeps turning his mobile off unless he wants to do the communicating. (or maybe I’ll wait until he’s really feeling better

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26/06/2011 by Aileen.

Martin rang me on Thursday morning and asked what I was doing for the next few days. I said only Creative Writing on Friday morning, thinking they were invitining us down to them, or they wanted to come up to us. But no, Fiona wasn’t well. She hadn’t felt the baby move all Wednesday morning, had developed a stitch in her side, and couldn’t lift Alexander. They went to the hospital, and the baby’s heart rate was strong, so they sent her home, but Martin needed to get to work and she still couldn’t lift Alexander. She’s still getting sick too. So off I toddled, and spent Thursday to Saturday there having a great time bonding with Alexander. He can point to various animals and objects in books and is toddling around really well now. I brought all my camera gear, and can’t believe I didn’t take any photos.

John coped fine when I was away. Luckily the fridge and freezer were full. On Thursday night he reheated some leftover chicken curry and dipped bread in it. Then he made himself muesli, strawberries and icecream. On Friday he cooked sausages and chips. For lunch each day he had cheese and ryvita. He said he was a bit tired of cheese when I came home, but he could have had tinned salmon, crab or tuna. If he’d remembered the crab he would have had that.

I came home and developed a really bad mood in the evening. John wanted a take-away but I had been stuffing myself at M and F’s and wanted an omelette. We had a pizza from the freezer in the end. Then, owing to a misunderstanding, John finished all the muesli which left me none for breakfast this morning. I went to bed in a right mood.

This morning, it’s the First Communions. One of the reasons I’m out of sorts is that one family have not shown much commitment at all., and the boy is not well prepared. I saw him after school last week, and did two catchup sessions very rapidly. He was supposed to come on the Sunday, but the father rang to say ‘they had changed their plans’ (FOOTBALL I GUESS) so he has missed that last session. The father was supposed to ring to arrange a catchup session during the week, but didn’t ring, of course. (John would have picked up the message)So this morning the poor kid is going to receive Hoy Communion this morning having never tasted the host or practised holding the chalice. He will probably have a quick practice before Mass this morning, but sheesh (as they say)

After Mass I need to pop into the Coop for some meat for today and a topup of salad stuff, then I’m FREE. I need to cut the grass as sod’s law - I texted the gardeners to do it on Friday but their lawn mower was broken. Anyway, they did lots. Trimmed hedges and weeded, so now I can see the lavatera that Sandy and Joy gave us when they stayed last year. I had forgotten it was there, and it has really grown, albeit a bit long and lanky as it was struggling for daylight.

Anyway, bye diary, I need to have a shower and get ready for the day ahead.

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20/06/2011 by Aileen.

Mmm. I’v been getting a bit dizzy on and off for a while now. I think the first time might have been the boat ride a couple of weeks ago. That was sea-sickness. Yes, I’m a wimp, we were just off the coast around Flamborough Head, and the weather was good. Anyway, I reported that I was nauseous after the trip to Martin and Fiona’s. Actually I had another symptom there. John drove for two hours and I drove for the final hour, but all three hours I was wearing cheap Tesco sunglasses, and my eyes were really bloodshot that afternoon and evening. They didn’t look ‘blood’ shot, just pink all over. Anyway, we both had eye tests last week, and the optician said he was ‘very happy’ with my eyes. They have hardly changed over four years. He has just changed the focusing prescription, and made a point of saying my eyes haven’t deteriorated. I’ve ordered some clear and some tinted glasses. John’s eyes were good too, and he just ordered some reading glasses, and is keeping the old long distance ones.

Anyway, back to the dizziness. I got some travel sickness pills from the pharmacist on Saturday, and I’ve been alright since Sunday (yesterday) afternoon, so hopefully that will settle down the dizziness. I think I just got my balance disturbed. It happened last summer or the summer before, and I couldn’t drive for three weeks. I remember it was annoying in some ways, but also quite restful not going anywhere far.

Today, housework. I have just read one of the posts on the Flylady site and can’t get over how sexist it is. This woman is advocating one of the Flylady products (it’s a very thinly disguised advertisement) and saying how she lives in a three storey house and has to keep carrying her husband’s and children’s stuff from floor to floor as they keep leaving things in the wrong place. WHAT!!!! Stooopid doormat.

Just finished a really good autobiography. Will write about it tomorrow as now I have to start putting John’s things away. Not.

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16/04/2011 by Aileen.

And I just don’t get headaches. Never. ‘Wot, never? No, never.’ Well hardly ever. But it’s been a beautiful day and I’ve been stuck in studying. Up at 5.58 this morning, as I had been awake since before 5.30. John was awake too, so we had breakfast very early. Then I began studying. At about 9am I went down to the shops for the paper, milk, and meat for the weekend. Oh this is so boring. Think I’ll give up this blog. Do I really want to remember what I did today in twenty years’ time when I’m 86? Anyway, I have been getting to grips with a 2,000 word essay on whether children’s books should reflect the society of today. We need to refer to three books. I’ve chosen Junk (Melvyn Burgess) The Other Side of Truth (Beverley Naidoo) and Mortal Engines (Philip Reeve) It’s ages since I read Mortal Engines, so I am re-reading it when I’m tired of writing. Really miss the fresh air, but I finish studying in May, and then I’ll have a BA (Hons) Lit. I will continue to study with the OU, but just do short 10 pointer courses for interest.

John has just signed up for an OU course - Exploring Fear and Sadness. It starts in May, so I’ll try to learn alongside him, and choose a course for myself next October.

He’s talking about going to New York for a week this year. Not sure if I want to make the effort.  No place like home. Except I wish I had got out today. Not New York. More North Cave Wetlands.

M and F skyped us today. Alexander is growing so big. We’re meeting up at Ali’s next week for Easter. Can’t wait.

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05/02/2011 by Aileen.

Down to Oxford today for Alexander’s first birthdy party. It’s going to be a big celebration with both sides of the family and some friends. We were going to go yesterday, staight after my Creative Writing and John’s midday client - stay in a Premier Inn for a night as Martin was in Cardiff for the rugby and Fiona and I wouldn’t be able to get John up the slope into the house. (Steps out of the question, and grass too steep in the dark) Anyway, John was feeling really sick on Wednesday, and on Thursday evening he noticed his lower leg was red and swollen. He self-diagnosed cellulitis. He had it before at the time he did his parachute jump. ANyway, first thing on Friday we rang the (stand-in) doctor, who asked if John shouldn’t be in hospital. He assured her no, and she prescribed anit-biotics over the phone. However, John has to keep his leg up, so we didn’t go to Oxford. I’m going today, and will just stay overnight. It’s 7.30 now. I just need to do some local shopping, then pack a few things, mainly laptop, two cameras with about 5 lenses between them, my Kindle with all its books, and maybe a change of underwear Oh, and Alexander’s pressies.

Better go now. Conscious that I haven’t written for a while again. I think it’s cos I have some photos, and I need to get them on to the laptop. Mostly fungus and snowdrops. Birds not much in evidence with the cold and wind lately. I thought I might make an effort and enter Am Photographer’s Photographer of the Year this year. The first theme is ‘Shooting Trees’ so I’ve been brainstorming the idea. Just things like shape, colour, texture, momement, sillhouettes, zooming in, bark, fallen trees etc. at the moment. I need to think of an original idea. And then of course take a fantabulous photo. The secret of a good photo is the light. Light’s been rubbish lately. That’s my excuse anyway.

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16/11/2010 by Aileen.

Well, best bit was I walked briskly for an hour yesterday. Beautiful sunny day. And although breathless I didn’t feel I was going to black out at the end of it. As I did an hour in one go I didn’t ‘have to’ do any exercise in the evening. I intended to do a bit of yoga while watching the telly, but I didn’t! See why later.

Meditation - well, Sugar came to sit on my lap. I let her, as from past experience she settles down and purrs in rhythm to my breathing, but this time, after lots of pats to remind me she was there, she began coughing/choking a bit. Although I couldn’t really do anything for her I was stroking her, and lost my concentration. Then, the time seemed to be going on for ever, and when I sneaked a peak at it I found the alarm hadn’t gone off.

For my evening meditation Sugar jumped up again, and this time settled down quickly. But then Ellie noticed, and being jealous she jumped up too. Good job my lap is big enough. We all settled down, but once again the alarm didn’t sound at the end, so I did more than intended.

This morning I discovered that I had it set to put the iPhone to sleep after twenty minutes instead of ringing. Got it right this morning.

My essay! I can’t believe how well it went. Ideas just seemed to flow, and all in a coherent order. Probably rubbish, but at least I have  lots to work with. Much better than an empty page.

Viewfinders. Really interesting talk bu Peter. He showed us these ancient glass slides recording the social history of a Hull village. The vicar took most of them in the mid-19th Century.

Then I got swamped. ‘Everybody’ had brought along their usb sticks with photos on, to put onto my laptop so I could put them on to the website. It took forever.

And in the evening. Shock horror. I don’t know where they went to on my conmputer. I thought Lightroom would leave them in the order they were imported, but it didn’t. Now I have - maybe a hundred - photos all over the place. I don’t know who took them. I’ve tried searching by metadata, but it’s going to take me forever. Can’t find them on my hard drive, but I know they are there. Help.

Anyway, this moring. Slept in until gone 9am, checked website, and it’s back to normal. (Forgot to say that it was playing up something chronic, and nothing was being uploaded). Now all I have to do is locate those pesky photos, and work out who they belong to.

Happy days. (Yes, I’m loving it.)

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04/10/2010 by Aileen.

And I mean that with a vengeance. I had a great day yesterday, fine-tuning the church website. You wouldn’t notice much difference, but I was experimenting with margins and padding, and getting to grips with what ‘collapses.’
Anyway, far too much sitting around, and when I weighed myself this morning I was 11st 9oz. I think that’s the heaviest I’ve ever been. I don’t particularly want to diet, but I intend to up the exercise. (and cut down a little on food) After all, weight depends on calories in and calories out. It’s as simple as that. (Simple to understand, not to put into practice)
Anyway, quick dance round the house for the housework this morning. Then, I know I’m soft, but John wants me to accompany him to the dentist in Hull for 11.30 (he’s having extensive treatment at the moment getting implants rather than a plate) So I shall probably hang out in the library for the hour and a half. Dare I treat myself to a latte? Maybe too fattening.
In the afternoon if we don’t go for a cycle I’ll go for a brisk walk of at least half an hour. I reckon half an hour’s exercise a day should lose me at least a pound a week. Not bothered about losing weight any quicker. I’d rather change my lifestyle.
This evening it’s Viewfinders, and it’s a practical session, photographing glass. I’l have to run around the house looking for objects to photo. A few more calories off by doing that.
Think I’ll post my weight up here each day to shame myself into losing it.

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20/09/2010 by Aileen.

Eating my muesli this morning, I thought there was a really tough bit of nut in my mouth. It turned out to be an enormous filling. My teeth have been fine for ages. I’m sure it was cos I was at the dentist on Friday, and he dislodged it with his probing. Oh well. Dentist again this week, I suppose.

Saturday was great. I met my OU friends and we went on a 4 and a half mile walk which ended as a six mile walk as we took a couple of wrong turnings. We started in the carpark at Huggate, and did a ‘circular’ walk up in the Wolds. After one wrong turning we slid down the hillside on our bottoms rather than retrace our steps too far. Good fun. Felt like a kid.

Well, I didn’t really feel like a kid. My breathlessness is always worse on hills, and my heart was pounding loudly. I can’t talk when I’m walking fast. Then, on the last bit, my knee startede playing up. Alex had phoned the pub to order lunch, as we were later than we expected to be, and in the end, Alex and Jane went on ahead, to secure our food. Pat was already in the pub as she couldn’t do the walk this month, having overdone the walking in the last few days. Alex returned with her car to give me a lift for the last half a mile, and I really appreciated it. I was knackered.

Sunday, I spent recovering. I overslept for Mass, and was going to go to another church for10.30, but it was later than I thought and was too late for that. I decided to go in the evening at Hessle, but was watching TV and again missed the time.

Still stiff today. About to have a shower, (should have a soak I suppose) and tackle the housework.

Oh, and make that dental appointment.

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25/06/2010 by Aileen.

It’s just too hot to do anything. No Creative Writing as it’s finitoed for the summer. Did some really leisurely housework (why does it always need doing!) and tried to read/study/surf the net, but just could not settle.

Sorted out shoes and undies.

In the afternoon I went up the Wolds in search of poppies. Ali wants me to give her two of my ‘nature’ photos with a reddish theme. Well, I have bluebells, daffodils, and multicoloured plants and butterflies, not to mention birds, but red??? I did find some poppies, and some autumnal leaves, but decided to go find some 2010 poppies. (I can drive now)

There was nothing up past Market Weighton, and I drove along lanes until I got past Londesborough, when lo and behold, a poppy field. With easy access too. I have worked on four of the photos, and will try to upload them here, but I might have to save them for web if this doesn’t happen automatically.

Tonight, Fr Neville has an ‘emergency’ meeting as the two nuns have retired from the parish and he needs to know who is doing what. (I think he wants rotas) I don’t want to go - I hate committee sort meetings, but he asked if I would.

Yesterdat John had the dentist in Hull so we had lunch in a coffee bar there and did some shopping. I’m really excited about our holiday next week. More so than Florida or any other recent holiday.

For the record, I missed Birding on Wed as I couldn’t drive. Norma rang yesterday offering to take me shopping, which was so kind of her, but day was already planned with John. Oh, and I have my embarrassing boil back. Is this what getting old is all about?

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