16/06/2010 by Aileen.

Well, yesterday I wasn’t too bad, but today I jumped out of bed to get ready for Birding, and it all came back with a vengeance. Norma was going to pick me up as I can’t drive, but I had to cancel her, and it’s just as well, as I’ve been feeling dizzy most of the day. It’s a shame, as we were going to a new place, and afterwards Norma and I were going to visit a former birder who is really ill and is having respite care at the moment. He and his wife are so brave. We’ve watched Steve get weaker over the year (some wasting  muscular disease I think)

Anyway, yesterday I was well enough to go for a walk, and spent a lovely couple of hours in the morning up at the Newport Nature Trail, yards from our house. Saw bullfinches, whitethroats, avocets, song thrushes and the usual suspects. Here are some photos from there and from our garden.

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14/06/2010 by Aileen.

Working backwards… I got really dizzy yesterday. I was fine at Mass, went to the dump afterwards, attended (for a few minutes) the Newport Nature Trail opening. Michael Flowers was there in an official capacity to point out the nature, and I said he could pop in for a cuppa afterwards. The event was rained off early, so Michael called and we had a cuppa, then I started tidying a high-up cupboard. I was up and down like a yoyo, and got really dizzy afterwards. I don’t know how I finished cooking the roast. Anyway, I was fine if I sat still, but felt sick, and staggered a bit if I moved.

This morning (yes, I am working backwards in a minute)  I was still dizzy. I staggered on putting out the wheely bin, and thought if anyone say me they’d think I was drunk. Anyway, I got an appt at the doctors (John drove me) and the doctor thinks it’s benign poitional vertigo. I could have treatment there, which would probably make me sick (making me move around in various positions to relocate some ’stones’ in the ear canal) or have tablets and see if they worked. I was very brave and asked the doc what she recommended. Luckily she said the tablets. Anyway, I’m much better this evening, but I can’t drink or drive for 3 weeks while I’m on the tabs. This takes in the holiday, which is a bit of a bummer.

Working backwards… oh I can’t go through everything in detail.

Friday. Good creative writing session.

Thursday. Sheffield with John to sort out new wheelchair. Then lunch in Meadowhall. It’s the most enormous shopping precinct I’ve ever been in.

Wednesday. Birding. Lovely fresh morning, although not really summery.

Tuesday. Think I did housework.

Monday working backwards to Friday evening. Trudie and Al here for the weekend. Weather was really good and we had a barbecue, played Scrabble, caught up on the news from OLI (Our Lady Immaculate, Tolworth) It’s amazing how many people we know there are aging and unwell. Alright, John and I are no  spring chickens, and I’ve got this balance problem at the moment, but on the whole we are so healthy.

Balance problem!  That reminds me. My tablets are for ear infections, but also for anxiety, and mental problems. Oh well. I should be well and truly sorted after three weeks.

It’s Ali’s 40th birthday today. I feel bad that we haven’t sent  her a pressie. (Sent two cards) We just don’t know what to buy her. We haven’t bought Martin’s pressie either (he was 42 a fortnight ago, the day before Alexander’s christening) It’s so difficult in this affluent age and country. And yes, I know there’s a recession, but in this family we are fortunate enough to be to buy something if we need it (or as Ali corrected us, if we want it)

Oh dear, Catholic guilt is setting in. Maybe I ought to double up my tablets.(or give a donation to a worthy cause)

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22/05/2010 by Aileen.

I should be going for a long walk up in the Wolds with my OU friends, but a boil in a rather embarrassing place means I can’t walk, stand, sit or lie down. In the end I had to go the doctor and he put me on antibiotics.

I like to think how healthy I am. I haven’t had a cold since we moved to Yorkshire over 6 years ago, and I don’t get headaches or anything. Just suspicious lumps that turn out to be innocuous.

Oh, and I don’t really have bunions. I just thought it sounded a good heading. My feet are in really good shape and I put that down to wearing Dr Scholl clogs for most of my teens, twenties and probably thirties. Even now I wont wear heels if I can get away with it.

It’s the Christening next week, so I suppose I’ll have to dress up.

In the meantime, Chris and Nigel (friends from the 60s) are coming for a couple of days on Monday. It’s their first time here, and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m going to cook and freeze a nice meal, so I can chat to them. We may have a barbecue, and we may go out for the day on Tuesday and have a meal out. Sorted. (Apart from my messy house. Chris is so organised and neat.)

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14/04/2010 by Aileen.

I’ve got a clean bill of health. Went for my check up today, a bit worried as I had developed a lump in the last three weeks, and saw the top man. He was really nice. Said, ‘Ooh, you’ve got a bean’, and said it was a cyst. I was dressing, when he suddenly said, he’d deal with it straight away, and I had to undress again. Then I saw the needle! I said oh, not an injection, and he said it was the opposite! It’s an aspiration I think. Anyway, he drew off what he called ‘oily gloopy stuff’ and said he would send it away, and I would get a letter in 3 or 4 weeks, saying everything was ok. He implied I should never have had the original lump on the other side removed ten (or so) years ago. I have LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ) and he said lots of people are walking round with that and don’t even know. (So how does he know eh?) But - as I already knew - it shouldn’t be called cancer as it just scares people.

Anyway, he has put the bleeding and lump down to last year’s car accident, and ‘written me off’ (in the nicest possible way of course) He just suggested I take advantage of the 3 year screening programme all women of my age have.

So. I decided to have a lazy day. I’ve got interested in web designing again. My skills reached a certain level and stopped, but I want to take it further. I’m starting a new Open Uni Web Design course in a few weeks, so maybe I;m just getting in to practise for that.

Sent off my TMA for Creative Writing, but am not holding out much hope for a good mark. Only got 68% for my poetry. John said that’s good, but I’m not getting very enthusiastic comments either. I’ve lost enthusiam myself for the course, and lost confidence in my ability, and just like a kid I don’t feel like putting much effort in to the final ECA. (Extended Course Assessment) I know (!) I’ll pass, but there’s no way I’ll get a distinction  so why should I work hard?

On the Swan front, they are definitely nesting next door. I have a few photos of the nest as it progresses, but the photos are a bit boring. I’ll waith until there are eggs before I post any.

I was mowing the front lawn moss yesterday, and discovered a duck sitting on a nest, so couldn’t do all the lawn in case I disturbed her.

Went to WI last night and had an inspiring illustrated talk by someone from the Associated Country Women of the World

http://www.acww.org.uk/

It was so inspiring, and made me think, what have I done with my life? Oh well. It’s a bit late for me to start saving the world now.

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27/03/2010 by Aileen.

I planned a really productive Saturday, as you can see from the screen shot of my desktop….

However, the post has just been, and my new OU material has arrived. It’s ‘Design and the Web’ and promises to be a really enjoyable non-technical course. I just HAVE to look at the DVD now although the course doesn’t start until May.

Other news…

Dentist last Tuesday. Teeth were fine beforehand, but I’ve had a mild on and off toothache ever since. I went back to the dentist on Thursday, as I don’t want it flaring up over Easter, but the dentist couldn’t find anything wrong. Oh well. It does seem to be settling down.

Other health news. I discovered a lump! Me and my poor boobs. I went to the doctor, and she said it’s only small, and doesn’t seem anything serious, and as I have a checkup in Castle Hill in April I can leave it til then. If she makes a new appointment it might muddle up who sees me etc.

Good meal on Friday to ‘celebrate’ the end of term for Creative Writing. Nice to see old friends who have left the course owing to ill health.lots of travelling, and/or increased costs.

Looking forward to next week when all the family will be here, please God. First time we will number NINE, but I won’t have to cater forAlexander the Great.

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25/01/2010 by Aileen.

Is it really so long since I posted?

Wednesday  13th - had my followup to mammogram. Scan this time. Everything looks fine but I need another followup in three months.

Friday 15th - I rang Stella the previous night to say I might not be there. I was still coughing and hadn’t got into the swing of going out since the snow. However, I woke full of the joys of spring, and had a great time with the others. Such talent. Such a laugh.

16th/17th - Kev and Mag came to stay, as they were dropping Andy off at Uni. We had a good time. On the Saturday afternoon I had a tutorial at Sheffield. Useful, and I put faces to two more names. Sheffield is sooooo hilly!

17th - 22nd - John and I had a Course at St Beuno’s (former Jesuit seminary which puts on courses and retreats) on Myers-Briggs Personality Types, Prayer and Shadow. Sr Ann Morris was excellent.

It’s funny, I explained to people over and over again that I was the one originally interested in MBTI and other psychology stuff, but John got interested and followed it further, so he is now a counsellor. So we went for John’s professional development, but by no means was I a hanger-on. I’ve actually studied MBTI much more than he had. In the end, he got a lot out of it spiritually, which was an unexpected and blessed outcome. I also got loads out of it.

Saturday 23rd. Just remembered the previous night that I was going for a walk with my OU friends. We met at Pocklington, drove to Millington, and walked about 5 miles, ending back in The Gait Inn at Millington for a pub lunch. Scampi and chips. Nom, nom, nom. The uphill bits made so breathless I couldn’t talk, but I recovered quickly on the flat and downhill bits. Two of my companions are struggling with their MAs (for different reasons) and one is not enjoying her literature course.

Sunday 24th Church. Such a friendly bunch of people. Prepared two kids for their First Holy Communion. It’s so lovely teaching them as they’re lively and inquisitive and fun.

Today - back to my usual Monday optimism. Great plans for the week. I have a TMA due in on Friday. Also, Parish Dinner on Friday night. On Wednesday we’re going birding to Potteric Carr - always a special place. I haven’t seen the birding crowd since before Christmas, so it will be nice to get back.

I’ve been on the Wii-Fit for the last three days, and am taking exercise seriously. It’s such fun. (Is that a paradox or a groan comment?)

Last but not least - Fiona is still doing well. Not long now until little Angus is born. (No, he’s not going to be called Angus. That’s what John keeps calling him, and now Ali seems to be saying it. I remember John’s mother kept calling Ali ‘Mary’ for ages. I used to seethe. Luckily Fiona and John have a much better relationship than Betty and I did. The difference  is - Betty thought she would get her own way eventually. Also, I didn’t speak up, whereas Fiona is assertive enough to say if she wasn’t happy with the teasing.

Oh well. I decided at St Beuno’s that I’m spending too long on the Net, so I am cutting this time down drastically. I’ll post photos of the Welsh countryside and others later. Maybe tomorrow as I have Viewfinders tonight. We’re photographing ‘liquid.’

Bye all. Have a good week.

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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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08/10/2009 by Aileen.

Thought I’d post a photo of my eyes. (Sorry if it offends anyone) This happened spontaneously on the way home from the hospital yesterday. Is God trying to keep me on my toes?

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08/10/2009 by Aileen.

All went well at the Breast Clinic yesterday. So glad I didn’t ask to go to Royal Marsden, Carshalton, where I was operated on before. The Castle Hill section is friendly and efficient, and SOOOOO much nearer. Anyway, nothing suspicious, the bleeding is probably due to the car accident. I’m gonig back in three months as a precaution.

I wasn’t going to put in a claim after the accident, as I’m glad to be alive, and don’t believe in the litigation culture we live in. However, I was stiff and in pain for three weeks after the accident, and I had that funny turn a week later when the doctor gave me an ECG, and I’ve been worried about my breast for nearly a fortnight now.

The shortness of breath that is being investigated is not to do with the accident. I’ve noticed it for months.

Anyway, slight setback with the decorating. Emil was so apologetic, but he’s had to go to Bulgaria on business, and will be away for a few days. He said he wouldn’t have started the room if he had known. We have another living room, but the TV point is in the out-of-action room. We don’t really miss TV, but John watched a video on his Mac last night. I’m working hard on the websites I maintain. There’s a lot of history and pictures to put on to the church one.

I seem to have a lot of fiddly things to do at the moment, mostly on the computer.

Finish two Look assignments for Redemptorist publications

Produce an application form for First Communion parents in the parish

Polish up my Friday creative writing assignment

Produce a bit of work for the Day School on Saturday (tutor wants it tomorrow)

Prepare Children’s Liturgy for Sunday

I also want to produce a sort of job description for the children’s liturgy as we are getting two new helpers, and as one of the Safeguarding Officers I think we need this. Must check with Barbara.

And I have to go to Argos in Goole for lights. We (John) looked everywhere on the internet, and we’ve (both) looked round shops, but Argos has our favourites. Cheap too!

But I really must Carpe the Diem. I often miss photo opportunity because of my favourite word (banana manana). Yesterday it was a beautiful sunny afternoon, and decided to wait until the evening, and go up on the Wolds for some sunset pictures. What happens? It clouds over.

I AM NOT GOING TO MISS AUTUMN TREE PICTURES THIS YEAR!

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25/09/2009 by Aileen.

Right! I’ve been to the dump, charity shop, T****co’s, and had my ultrasound (Nothing wrong with my heart as far as radiographer can see), and we’re just waiting for the family to arrive. It’s so peaceful!

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