So-so

 We're home.  The 8 nights away wasn't an unqualified success, not least because of the weather.  I think we had 3 days of really good weather, the other 5 days were dull, cloudy, rainy and with a freezing cold wind, meaning we couldn't spend time outside.  As I mentioned previously, I have plenty to keep me occupied at the caravan, husband has nothing.  I've tried several times to get him interested in hobbies, suggesting things for him and even buying him tools and kits, to no avail, he's just not interested - or tries something for 10 minutes and almost immediately gives up when he can't do it or it doesn't work out straight away - he's got no patience and the attention span of a goldfish.  So, as I said, the blasted telly was on all day long, which drives me crackers, especially when he's flicking through the channels constantly, is totally indiscriminate about what he watches (he doesn't care what rubbish it is) and invariably falls asleep within minutes of putting the tv on, clutching the remote in his hand usually pressed against his chest, so it's not even as if I can turn it off.  And when I nudge him or say "wake up!!", he always denies being asleep and says he was watching/listening!

It's easy for me to get away from the TV at home - in the kitchen with my radio on, or upstairs in my bedroom or craft room.  Not so in a small caravan - even if I go in my bedroom, as it's next door to the lounge and the walls are effectively made of very thin cardboard (well, they might as well be), I can clearly hear the TV.  He comments/commentates on everything on TV, even when I remind him that they have paid journalists/sports commentators who do a very good job of that!

He knows he's not supposed to come into the van wearing his outdoor shoes/boots - yet he persistently did, walking mud and grass in all the time.  I'm not obsessive about housework at all, believe me, but I don't like mud trodden in everywhere, especially on carpet.  Nor do I like untidiness - but of course he's very good at that!  I know it's largely to do with his dyslexia and general disorganisation (he puts things down all the time and can never remember where) and I do try not to get annoyed about it.  It's not so bad at home, but in the very small space in the caravan, I do like it to be kept tidy and uncluttered, or it quickly becomes a total mess and I can't live with that.  He rarely puts anything away, but sometimes moves things and puts them in a different place/cupboard and then I have to search around to find them - the kitchen scissors e.g., he'd used them for some job outside and put them (still dirty) in a drawer in the van kitchen, instead of in the utensil pot where he'd taken them from.  He also had a quite disgusting habit in the van (no I'm not saying what!!) which irritated the hell out of me and I had to put a stop to it before I exploded.

I did manage to do quite a lot of crocheted squares for the blanket, and plenty of reading.  We had lots of chats with our lovely neighbours, and had brief visits from our friends (who turned up out of the blue, as they were passing) and my eldest brother and SiL and their lovely little terrier - a planned visit, albeit a short one as they were en route home to Cornwall.  A nice catch up, all the same.  It's just that the week wasn't as relaxing as I'd hoped, as I felt quite irritated with high anxiety levels a lot of the time.

I've got a busy week with several things I need to do, which is good as it will help me feel like I'm regaining control, which in turn will help my anxiety to calm down.

Going home

 When we first planned on coming here a couple of weeks ago, we were intending to stay for a fortnight or so, as the weather looked pretty good.  Well now it's not, it's raining and cold and the forecast for the next week isn't good.  I have plenty to keep me occupied here in the van - several books to read, loads of yarn for crocheting, a drawing pad and pencils, and of course the small amount of cleaning and tidying up to do.  Husband has nothing to do if it's raining, he literally has no inside hobbies or anything, his entire existence here is geared to outside, pottering around doing odd DIY jobs or strimming the grass or just chatting to fellow owners.  None of which he can do if it's raining and everyone is inside.  So all that's open to him is watching (or dozing) in front of the TV - literally all day.  As you're all aware by now, I'm not a fan of having the TV on for hours and hours, especially for rubbish daytime programmes.

So I think we may well go home on Sunday and come back in a couple of weeks when hopefully the weather will be better.  Several of our van neighbours have had the same idea, a couple have already gone home.  Bad weather does put a dampener on things.

Huh

 To cut a long story short, I didn't have my physio exercise class yesterday - after sitting there waiting for 20 mins I enquired if they were running late.  Turns out they'd changed the time of the class from 2.15 pm, bringing it forward to 1.00 pm.  Only they omitted to tell me 😡.  So wasted time and journey.  They apologised profusely and thanked me for taking the news so calmly - well what else could I do, stamping my feet wouldn't change anything.  However, this is the 4th time I've had a physio appointment cancelled, rearranged or buggered up, they seem to be totally disorganised there.  

Oh well, I'm on holiday so shall just relax, no more appointments until husband's head scan in just over 2 weeks.  Oh, Betty has a grooming appointment a week on Friday so we'll have to go back for that.

I was absolutely shattered yesterday evening, it was an early start and a very busy day.  I crocheted a couple of squares, then went to bed early to read...well, I managed a few pages before the book fell off the bed and woke me and Betty up.

Physio and head scan

 We've come home for the day so I can go to my physio exercise class, collect the post and do a few jobs here.  So far I've put on a wash load, made 3 cakes (all the same, I'm not mad enough to do 3 different ones!) to take back with us, dealt with the post, marked a couple of appointments on the calendar, made an important phone call, and sorted out some more clothes, food and meds to take.  I'm knackered already.  

We've received husband's head scan appointment letter, luckily, considering the problems with the post here - it's on Friday 5 May, just before the King's Coronation.  Let's hope it doesn't get cancelled or rearranged due to any more strikes, the waiting around for tests and results is doing my head in.

Being at the caravan is certainly relaxing physically - I don't have even half as many jobs to do there as I do here at home.  Mentally, though, it's not particularly relaxing, especially at the moment - as I'm not so busy and often sit just crocheting (which I enjoy and do find relaxing), my mind is free to worry!  But there it is, I can't help it, I'm a worrier by nature.

My physio class is at 2.15, husband will go to the vets to collect Betty's monthly flea tablets (we get 6 months supply at a time, ringing the vet was another job I had to do this morning) and then we'll be on our way back to the caravan.  Husband suggested picking up KFC on the way back - we pass one on the way - so it's KFC and salad for dinner tonight so at least I don't have to cook or even prepare anything.

The small air fryer I bought for the caravan works brilliantly, in fact I would say it even cooks better than my big dual drawer Lakeland home one.  I'm so glad I got it.  The Lakeland one is alright, I'm not complaining, it's just that I've found the smaller drawer doesn't cook quite as efficiently as the bigger drawer and so I have to add on an extra few minutes when I'm using the smaller drawer.  No problem really, just something I have to be aware of if I'm using both drawers.  On the whole, I'm really pleased with both AFs, and the home one has certainly reduced our electricity bill as I now hardly ever use my big oven.

Another pair of our lovely van neighbours arrived yesterday, their first time back, put their water on and discovered a burst pipe which flooded part of their van.....we all pitched in to help out.  We consider ourselves so fortunate to have had next to no problems with our van.  We've got a small fan heater we're taking back with us today, to help dry their van out - they need a dehumidifier really, but it'll be a small help until they get it sorted.  They can't get a plumber to come out until next week!

It's not such nice weather today, it's a bit cloudy and there's still a cold wind blowing. although the sun is forecast to be out by the time we get back to the van later.  Should be a nice day tomorrow though.  

My hayfever (triggered by tree pollen) is in full swing, so I'm having to take antihistamines every day - the park is surrounded by trees which doesn't help!  But I'd rather the trees were there, they look nice and provide shelter.

Hope everyone's ok, I am reading blogs when I've got signal.

The gang's all here

 More of our upper level neighbours have arrived now, the better weather forecast has brought them, so lots of catching up done which is really nice.  Most of us are outside in the afternoons doing some gardening, us included, with laughter and chatting going on, it's brilliant.

Oh I forgot to mention.... our lovely van neighbour Charlie made me a lovely wooden trug, how nice of him.  He's a very talented carpenter, that was his job for many years and he still loves doing little wooden projects, despite being 87!!  I'm going to put a wood stain on it (he left it natural so I could make up my own mind how I wanted it) and put a couple of nice plants in it (in pots).  I'll take a photo.  

The pile of granny squares has grown, I think I've done about 20 now.

Quick post (if it works!)

 A quick post - having a really nice time.  The weather yesterday was pretty much perfect, warm and sunny enough to sit outside.  We talked and talked with our lovely van neighbours C & J, it's been nearly 6 months since we saw them last.  It's lovely and quiet here, only half a dozen or so other owners and no children.  Spent time today crocheting a pile of granny squares for the new Joy-inspired blanket, whilst husband went to bed for a doze. 

We'll be doing some gardening over the next couple of days, along with the neighbours.  A nice surprise - my brother and SiL will be popping in to see us on Saturday, on their way home from a visit up country, it'll be their first visit here to the park.

All ready, and blimmin technology

 Everything's packed, done and ready to go off to the caravan - well, other than the food to be packed in the coolbox, which obviously I'll do just before we leave.

I won't be taking my laptop - for some unknown reason I cannot get it to connect to the blimmin MiFi router thing I bought ages ago to use at the caravan.  Initially, I couldn't remember my password (of course!!) seeing as it's months since I last used the router, back when we were at the caravan last season.  The link to reset the password....sends a text to the MiFi router....which I can't of course read until I connect the router!!  Which I can't do without the password!  I gave up for a while and went and did another job, then came back to it....and this time my laptop wouldn't even recognise the router.  So I gave up.  I bloody hate technology, it's far too sophisticated for me.

I have my phone, of course, on which I can access the internet, although the signal at the park is a bit hit and miss.  I can read blogs but writing a post is a bit of a longwinded thing, especially if the signal isn't playing ball.  So I won't be posting anything until Wednesday, when we come home to collect some more clothes and food and I go to my physio exercise class.  I'll try and do a post before we go back to the caravan.

I've sorted out yarn to take with me for the start of the granny squares blanket, I have several single balls and half balls in various shades of pinks, purples and blues, along with a few complete balls of cream which I'll use for the final round of each square and the edging of the finished blanket.  I'm looking forward to it, it'll be a blanket for my bed here at home.

KirstenM, a new reader?  Welcome, and thanks for commenting.

Husband helped out yesterday, he did everything I asked him to do, although he did get a couple of things wrong, doing the total opposite of what I'd asked (but at least he tried).  Patience is a virtue!

The sky is blue and the sun's up, it's going to be a nice day.  Take care everyone and I'll be back posting next Wednesday - I will be reading your blogs whilst away.