Never again

 Husband announced he'd like to come with me to Bridgwater 😒 so I said if that was the case, it would be better if we went by car rather than on the shoppers bus - there isn't much room on it (it's an older style coach) and we're very squashed together for a start.  More importantly though, the whole journey there and back and including the time at the shops takes almost 5 hours.  That's ok if it's just one of us and the other stays home with Betty, but I don't like leaving her home alone for longer than 4 hours really, especially now she's getting older.  The car journey there and back yesterday meant we were only out for just over 3 hours.  I wasn't too keen on the idea of having husband trailing around with me, but as he likes different shops to me, I suggested he go his way and I go mine, and we'd meet up in a cafe when done.  However, on the way husband suddenly said he'd left his wallet at home, even though I'd specifically asked him if he'd got his wallet and phone just before we left (he didn't have his phone either, he'd forgotten to pick them both up).  I suppose I could have got some cash out of the machine for him, but as it happened he decided to wait in the car for some of the time, as he didn't want to go in the shops I was going to and it transpired he didn't really want or need to buy anything anyway, so I was able to do a bit of browsing and shopping without him.  I did get everything I wanted - however, it was sooooo busy in every shop, which I hate.  Even worse, loads of people seemed to be just dithering about, wandering aimlessly and getting in my way.  When I go shopping I nearly always know exactly what I want and like to just get in, get it and get out asap, especially if the place is crowded.  I'm never going shopping in December again!  😂😂

My shoulder seems to be less painful, it's been getting a little bit better every day for the past few days (*whispers in case I jinx it* 😁).  I suspect because I've given in and been taking the cocodamol 3x daily.  Long may it continue.... although I don't want to be taking the cocodamol indefinitely.

Nice sunny and mild weather forecast for a couple of days, so we ought to get outside and make the most of it.

Plodding on and getting small jobs done

 Morning everyone, much better weather today, the first load of washing is almost done and ready to be hung on the line outside.  Husband is off to the gym shortly, and then to the supermarket to pick up a couple of things I'd forgotten to add to the list, so that gives me around 1.5 hours to get things done here.  I'm making the sausage rolls and little cheesy turnovers to freeze, and chopping veg for dinner later.

I finished writing the Christmas cards yesterday, we'll deliver them over the next few days.  No clues yet as to who the anonymous card giver is - well, they're not anonymous, I just can't read their signature!  It's very loopy and kind of decorative writing, so I'm assuming it's a woman, and probably a youngish one.  I had to laugh at Rambler's suggestion that their dog is probably not a Rotty or Alsation, e.g., with a name like Peach!  I'm sure you're right, it's most likely some little fluffy thing.

We collected the CD player/radio I'd ordered, I'm really pleased with it.  It's quite a cheap one, but all the reviews mentioned how good the sound quality is - and it really is, much better than my last one which sounded quite tinny and the radio on that one always crackled too, this one sounds crisp.  It's a Bush and cost £29.99 from Argos, if anyone's interested.

I'd just like to clear up something with regard to niece's Motability car, one of my readers made a comment about it....incidentally, I've noticed before that they seem to like pulling me up on things that I've mentioned.  The Motability rules are that the vehicle must be used primarily for the benefit of the disabled person, even if they're not in the vehicle.  My niece doesn't drive, her husband does.  He mostly works from home but has to go to the office once or twice a week....he combines these trips with getting their shopping, or collecting his wife's prescriptions or anything else she might need.  So he's not using the car solely for his benefit.  I hope that answers your concerns.

I'm thinking I might go on the shopper's bus to Bridgwater tomorrow, I've not been for a while and I'd like to browse round the shops there that we don't have here.  The weather looks ok for tomorrow too, much like today, sunny mild and dry.

The Grinch, and a lucky escape

 Strong winds are lashing heavy rain against the windows, certainly not a day to be going out.  I've got an order to collect from Argos, but it can wait until the weather gets better.  It's a CD player for my bedroom, husband was objecting to me playing my Christmas CDs on his player in the lounge 😒 (Grinch!).

I went on our family WhatsApp yesterday to ask if everyone was ok, as I hadn't heard from any of them for the past few days.....turns out I'd somehow inadvertently muted them all!  Ironically, some of them had been asking if anyone had heard from me as I'd been silent for days 😂  You have to laugh!

Niece lives in a terraced house, she and her neighbours share a communal parking area, bordered by an old stone wall.  The wall collapsed a few days ago, burying 6 cars, including niece's, under the rubble - fortunately, nobody was in their cars at the time so no-one injured.  Niece and husband's car is a brand new Motability one (niece is disabled), they've only had it a few weeks.  They've been given a temporary courtesy car which isn't ideal, as niece's wheelchair doesn't fit in it, but at least her husband can get to work and they'll soon be getting another Motability car in replacement.  They just count themselves lucky they weren't in the car at the time, doesn't bear thinking about.

It's going to be sunny all day tomorrow, apparently, so I've got 2 lots of washing to get out on the line - nothing beats the lovely fresh smell of washing dried on the line does it?

I'm going to make and freeze some sausage rolls and some brie, cranberry and stuffing little turnovers for us to have as snacks, or lunches with some salad, over the Christmas period.  That's it as far as Christmas baking is concerned, I stopped making Christmas cakes and mince pies years ago, we do prefer savoury things.  Having said that, I do have 2 boxes of bought mince pies in the larder box under my bed, along with some peanuts and crisps....if I left them in the kitchen, 'someone' (naming no names) would eat them well before Christmas.

The cards that needed posting are all done and sent off yesterday, just the hand delivered ones to do now, I'll get those written today.  Betty had a hand delivered card yesterday, addressed to Betty and her Mum and Dad....we didn't see who delivered it, nor do we know who it is - unfortunately, the signature isn't readable, it says 'love from ----- and Peach - we're assuming Peach is a dog but neither of us know who Peach is or where they live!  Obviously nearby though.  Hopefully, we'll find out soon.  How funny!

We've booked to go to our favourite tearoom for lunch this coming Sunday, they're doing Christmas dinner in a Yorkshire Pudding wrap.  There's a choice of meats etc, you can choose whatever you want in your wrap, I shall have some turkey, veggie sausage, stuffing and cranberry sauce.  The wrap comes with roast potatoes and an individual pot of gravy for dipping on the side....sounds scrummy.

Thank you for all the lovely comments, once again.

It'll soon be the winter solstice!

 ...And then the days will gradually start getting longer, thank goodness.

Thank you for the comments again.  Re drying washing indoors.....HH, my next door neighbour says she puts a small electric oil-filled radiator underneath her washing airer, she says it just fits, and dries the washing quite well.  I have one of those radiators which we used to use in the caravan, so I'm going to do the same, there'll be next to no chance of putting the washing out on the line this week.  Gill, it's good you managed to get your jab - I'm assuming it was the covid one? - even though hubby had to pay for it.  As I said, our local covid jab clinics have apparently been turning away people who want to pay for the jab privately, if they're not eligible for it under the new rules.  Seems daft to me, but there you go.  Jackie, you mentioned Harvey decorating his man cave himself - my hubby refuses to help, he's so Bah Humbug with anything Christmassy.  Although to be honest, I don't think I'd want him 'helping' anyway!  June, I agree, we're so lucky to have the NHS here, despite the problems.  You've clearly had some wonderful care from them.

Having said yesterday that my shoulder pain was much reduced, today it's back to being extremely painful - probably due to putting up the tree and decorating it yesterday, lots of stretching and reaching behind movements.  Ah well, at least the tree looks nice and I'm happy with it.

This year I've gone for mostly silver and blue baubles, with a few red things for accent.  Betty has shown her usual initial bit of interest in the tree, nudging the lower baubles, but then leaves it alone.  I've had to move her toy box though, it was underneath the tree table and she was in danger of rocking the table and possibly knocking the tree down when trying to get things out of her box.

Husband's just chopped up all the veg to go in the slow cooker, as my shoulder is so painful again, which is a big help - we're having chicken casserole today, I may or may not make dumplings to go in it later, I'll see how we feel!

I've decided to make a Black Forest trifle for Christmas, I really like cherries and chocolate.  Husband will no doubt turn his nose up as he claims not to like them, but I bet he still eats it!  For years I've cooked and served mainly things that he likes, but have recently started doing things I like to eat.  I've told him he can't always have things his own way, I'm entitled to have likes and dislikes too.

I'm going to write out the Christmas cards today, didn't get round to it yesterday, dressing the tree took longer than I anticipated.  Must remind husband to ring his daughter today too, he's getting more and more forgetful and doesn't get round to doing things like that unless I prod him.

Christmas starting, and an improvement (yay!)

 Husband's had his covid jab this morning, we were the 2nd ones there so were in and out within 5 minutes.  Due to rule changes this year and despite having had all the jabs before, I'm no longer eligible for one.  Lots of people on our local FB page have been saying they've also been to get their jabs but have been turned away, due to the new rules - even those who have offered to pay.  The clinic staff are saying they've been told to enforce the rules rigidly.  Cost cutting I guess.

This weekend I'm getting Christmas stuff done - just got the tree box out of the cupboard ready to put up and dress, and I'll be writing all the cards and posting those that need posting.  I've already gone through and edited the Christmas shopping delivery list online.

I don't go overboard on the Christmas decorations (unlike Cherie of North Yorkshire Crafting Guru blog, whose house and garden are like a Winter Wonderland!  Your decs always make me smile, Cherie).  We don't have anything on the walls or hanging off the ceiling - other than the tree, I just have a few Christmas ornaments and a glass bowl full of sparkling lights on the sideboard.  I've just looked at the sideboard....I'll have to clear it off first of all husband's junk.  He's obviously run out of space on his desk (he's very untidy) so has dumped a load of stuff on the sideboard - 2 pairs of sunglasses (erm, it's winter now!), a rechargeable battery off one of his tools (why is it even in the lounge?), a pencil stub, some screwed up tissues (yuck!), a couple of (unused!) dog poo bags, some random coins, a few old shop receipts....he obviously emptied his jacket pockets 😒

I've had notification that 2 of my library books are due back on Monday 😲 - I'm only halfway through one and not even started the other so I'll have to renew them.  Obviously not done much reading lately!

There's a definite improvement - well, drop - in my shoulder pain this morning....taking 3 or 4 regular doses of the co-codamol for the past few days is obviously working.  I'm also having one sachet of the orange-flavoured laxative drink each day, which is also working, thank goodness.  

Getting washing dry over the next few days is going to be a bit of a challenge, showers or heavier rain forecast every day, we've already had a couple of heavy showers this morning, with brief glimpses of sun in between.

Bit of a boring, nothingy post today, sorry about that!

A few hours by myself

 Husband is going on the free shoppers bus to Bridgwater today, giving me around 5 hours to myself.  He did ask if I wanted to go with him, but I politely declined....I've not had much, if any, opportunity for alone time recently, so this 5 hours will be very welcome.  I've got things to do anyway, which will be much easier without all the noise when he's around.  I need to edit my online food shop, which is arriving 18th December, there are a couple of additions and subtractions to make.  I also need to do some financial stuff, which I do need peace and quiet for, it disrupts my attention when husband is constantly chatting to me.  I also want to go through all the Christmas tree decs, I might even get the tree out and put it up.

My ceanothus shrubs arrived yesterday, 3 of them (2 blue and 1 white) well packed and in great condition, we've planted them already.  The blue ones are between 5 and 6 feet tall, the white one currently about 3ft, they'll all do a great job of giving some privacy next year when they've got a bit taller and thickened up.  I'm very pleased with them.  I'm still waiting to see what this proposed fence the neighbour is planning to erect looks like before I decide on trellising.

Rambler, you mentioned Voltarol cream and tablets - unfortunately, I cannot take anti-inflammatories as I have an adverse reaction to them.  For the past few days I've been taking 3 doses of the stronger co-codamol prescribed by the GP - I'm allowed to take 1 or 2 capsules, up to 4x daily, but have been resisting that as I really don't want to become reliant on them, codeine being addictive.  However, taking just 1 capsule 3x daily does seem to be keeping the shoulder pain to a more manageable level, so I'll carry on with that dosage for a short while.

Husband is chattering away to himself sat in front of his computer watching something or other, I don't know what.  I've just had to remind him to turn the computer off and get himself ready to go and catch the bus - he's got no sense of time or urgency, the bus is due at 10.20.

I need to do a freezer inventory before I edit the online food shop, as well as checking the contents of the larder box under my bed.

Christmas prep to keep me occupied so I don't focus on pain

 What a horrible weather day, heavy rain forecast all day and strong gusty winds, certainly won't be putting washing out today.  At least it's not that cold - not that we'll be going out anywhere.  I see Blogger is still playing silly buggers, some of the new posts from bloggers in my blog roll still aren't appearing until several hours later, whilst others appear as normal.  Makes no sense.  

My shoulder is absolutely killing me today, the pain and limited movement seems to be getting worse rather than better.  I've temporarily stopped doing the exercises the musculoskeletal specialist gave me, she did say to try and do them regularly or else my muscles will get even weaker than they currently are, but if they cause even more pain, give it a rest for a couple of days.  The stronger painkillers don't seem to be doing much, I've tried pain relief gel, Deep Heat cream, freeze spray, heat pad and cold pad, some of which offer only very limited relief, others no use at all.  At this rate, I won't be waiting the 6-8 weeks the specialist advised before going back to her, at which time she said she'll organise an x-ray and a steroid injection.  She said the x-ray will be to determine whether I have a frozen shoulder, which she thinks is possible.....whereas it would seem more logical to me to do the x-ray now?

Hayley the lovely cleaner comes this morning, so nice fresh beds, a lovely clean bathroom and all rooms thoroughly vacuumed.  She's worth every penny, and is such a nice lady as well.  Whilst she's working I'll be making some cheese scones to go with a cuppa soup for lunch.  Yesterday I made beef stew and dumplings for husband, I had a veggie stew.....he's having more of the stew for dinner today, the rest will be frozen.  I fancy a grated carrot and Cheddar stuffed omelette for my dinner, with some air fried mushrooms on the side, I do love mushrooms.  I got husband to grate the carrots, too painful for me.

I'll be getting the tree out this week and decorating it, and will start writing the Christmas cards - bought ones this year, I've not made any myself.  Husband wants to go to The Range in Taunton, they have a nice big garden centre, he wants to look for large pots and potato bags for next year's veg.  The Range also have a really lovely Christmas display which I love looking around.  I'm not actually looking for any specific decorations, but if something catches my eye I might get it.