Osteo and the Christmas fair

 My osteo session yesterday was great, it amazes me that her gentle movements of her fingers can have such a positive effect - I can feel my muscles relaxing as she's doing it.  And when she finishes and I stand up, my whole body feels so much looser, as if all the tenseness has gone.  I slept really well last night, woke up about 05.30 (my usual time), but instead of getting up straight away I thought oh I'll get up in a minute.....the next thing I knew it was 06.36.  Again, I feel sore this morning, I have soreness and aches in places where I don't normally - like my upper back - but it's not unbearable, and there's no pain, just the soreness/achiness.  My back and hips aren't so stiff either, which is fantastic.  

I've got an exercise bike, which I stopped using ages ago as it hurt my back too much.  Felicity suggested trying it again, putting a folded towel or small cushion on the saddle, adjusting the handlebars a bit so I don't lean forward so much (I don't know if the handlebars do adjust actually, will have to have a look) and using it initially for just 5 mins at a time.  She also suggested that I keep to the time length of my walks (15 mins), but to try walking a bit faster.  She said it might be a good idea to get a pair of those walking poles, they'd help to steady me and having one in each hand will be better than just using one stick.  I'll have a look and see if I can get some second hand.

Last time, the stiffness returned with a vengeance after just a few days, I wonder if it will this time.  If it does, I'll have a chat with Felicity next time (going again in a fortnight) and see what she suggests.

Husband didn't have time to go to the supermarket whilst I was at the osteo yesterday, he went to a country store to get some dog food first and was in there longer than he anticipated.  So we had to go to the supermarket when he picked me up, luckily it wasn't crowded and we didn't need a lot so it was more or less in and out in 20 minutes.  And then after lunch, we went to the Christmas fair at Hestercombe.  It was lovely, lots of artisan craft stalls selling beautiful handmade things - a lot of Christmas tree decorations, cards and jewellery, I'd have preferred to see more general crafts, but it was a Christmas fair after all.  I bought some tree decorations and a couple of gifts for friends.  It was well organised, ticketed timed arrivals so not too crowded, a one way system in operation, masks recommended (although not everyone was wearing one - we were, of course).  However, by the time we left, my legs and back had had enough walking and I was feeling wobbly again.

Husband always exclaims at the cost of everything, but I said to him if he'd spent time making something with love and skill, he wouldn't want to sell it for peanuts would he?  Yes, handmade crafts do cost a lot of money, but why not when they're beautifully made and not mass-produced and they take a lot of time to do?

I shan't be sitting down all day doing nothing today, but will take it a bit easy.  I'll have a go on the bike and see how it feels.  I might do a bit of baking......there's a pack of puff pastry in the fridge that needs using within the next day or two, so will do something with that.  We're having roast duck tomorrow, so there's a duck-sized space in the freezer where any baking can go.

Christmas

 Throughout our entire married life (38 years), Christmas has always been a bit of a non-event in our house, for a few reasons.  For a start, husband is Mr Grinch when it comes to Christmas, he hates everything about it, when we were first together he told me he didn't want Christmas presents from me as he thought it was a waste of money.  He's not changed at all since - he doesn't want me to buy him a present, nor does he get one for me.  Over the years, I've insisted on buying something for the house, for both of us - a microwave one year, new set of good quality saucepans, his choice of a new TV.  This year there's not really anything we want or need.  About the only thing husband does like about Christmas is a big roast dinner - he's not fussed about which meat to have - followed by cold cuts and a sort of Ploughmans with the leftovers the following few days.  He also likes to have a few food treats, things we wouldn't normally have on a regular basis throughout the year - snacky things like crisps, nuts, mince pies.  Oh, and he likes to have a bottle of whisky - neither of us is a big drinker, in fact I almost never drink alcohol anymore.  I've found as I've got older, I just don't really like the taste of alcohol anymore, and it only takes a couple of drinks to make me feel tiddly now.  Since I'm diabetic and alcohol contains a lot of calories and I have a mild liver disease, I'm not really supposed to drink anyway.  Can't say as I miss it.

My Nanna, who I was really attached to, died on Boxing Day a long time ago - I'm the eldest grandchild and Nanna and I had a very special relationship, she used to cuddle me and whisper in my ear that I was her favourite.....although she might well have said the same thing to my siblings and cousins!  And then my lovely Mum died on Christmas Eve the year before last, so it's a sad time for me.

Growing up at home, we didn't do anything for Christmas - my Mum was a devout Jehovah's Witness (our father left us when I was a child).  Before anybody says anything.....there are several religions and many people who don't celebrate Christmas for whatever reason, we had a good childhood and Mum looked after us very well indeed on an extremely limited income, so we never felt deprived.  I'm not and never have been a follower of Mum's (or any) religion, but have never attached any importance to Christmas as a festive season.

The things I like about Christmas are Christmas lights and decorations, I love to see them on the front of houses and in gardens.  I adore Christmas carols and all the old Christmas pop songs, I play my CDs of them throughout December.  And there's always plenty of good things to watch on TV - new special episodes, good films, old classic films and repeats of comedy classic sitcoms.  I do like to watch Love Actually, it's my absolute favourite Christmas film.  And I always like to watch the Queen's Speech.  I like the happy atmosphere at Christmas, we've often been away on holiday and gone for a walk on the beach on Christmas day if the weather's good - there have usually been plenty of people doing the same thing and they're all happy and smiling (probably full of sherry!) and everyone wishes each other a Happy Christmas.  We've often been invited to my best friend's house for Christmas day, it's lovely to be included in their family celebrations.  We were due to go the year before last - understandably, as Mum had just died I didn't really feel like going.....my friend persuaded us to though and promised to look after us.  They did, I felt wrapped up in a warm embrace.

It's only over the last 3 or 4 years that I've started to put up a few (very few!) decorations, much to husband's disgust, but he tolerates it.  I've never had a tree before though, this year I just felt like I really wanted one.  It's only a small one, 4ft - it's on a small side table in the lounge, had to be up off the floor or Betty would take far too much interest in it, and I don't want her knocking it over.  With hindsight, I reckon a 5ft one would be better, I'll get that next year.  The new tree is up in place (it's an artificial one obviously, I mentioned it a few blogs back) but I've resisted the urge to decorate it so far!  I'll start on the 1 December.  I really like traditional, tasteful, old fashioned tree decorations, wooden or tin plate metal ones, and have bought quite a few (probably too many for such a small tree!).....I'm hoping to find a few more at the big Christmas craft fair this afternoon.

Off to my osteopathy in a few minutes, it's a lovely sunny day again.

The haggis cottage pie verdict

 The haggis cottage pie was nice, the carrots, leeks & lentils I added to the haggis mix toned down the strong taste.  Having read the list of ingredients on the pack, which I hadn't done the last time we had it, I almost wished I hadn't - it certainly doesn't sound very appetising at all (does anyone fancy minced sheep's lung?!).  We were given the haggis by lovely neighbours, so I wasn't going to be churlish and refuse it, or waste it, but it's not really something I would be choosing to buy myself and we probably won't have it again - well, after we've eaten the one I froze!  We are never going to be vegetarian, but we do eat a lot less meat now and are much more choosy about the type of meat we buy.

Today it's a veggie day, so for lunch we're having grated cheese & carrot in mayo - husband will have a sandwich, I'm having it on crispbreads (for anyone who likes crispbreads and may not have tried them....the Ryvita black pepper rye ones are scrumptious).  For dinner I'm making a veggie lasagne - I've just roasted a chopped up acorn squash, sprinkled with olive oil and smoked paprika.  I'll mix it with tinned chopped tomatoes, sliced mushrooms and crumbled feta, then layer it up with the lasagne sheets and top with cheese sauce.  We'll have it with a green veg on the side.

Tomorrow, we might get something to eat at the Christmas fair, depending on what (if any) food stalls they've got there.  If not, we'll most likely get a takeaway on the way home....it's fish day so fish or scampi and chips I expect.

So far (touch wood) I haven't had any pain today, just the usual stiffness and wobbly legs.  I've been busy though, only just sat down, so not really had time to notice any pain.  Dried the first load of washing in the tumbler (it was spitting with rain earlier), folded and put that away and then got the next lot out on the line, since the rain has stopped and the sun has come out.  Grated the carrots and cheese for lunch, prepped the lasagne for dinner.  Had a quick glance in the freezers and cupboards, wrote a menu plan for next week and am now about to write a short shopping list for husband tomorrow.  Whilst I'm having my osteo in the morning, he can go do the shopping.

Got a birthday card, and the few remaining Christmas cards (the special ones for friends and family) to do this afternoon.

Beach, haggis and caravan plans

 Sorry for the absence, not had anything I wanted to write about.

Life goes on much as usual.  I'm not in quite so much pain - well, not continual anyway.  I'm still incredibly stiff though, and very wobbly on my feet, I have to use my stick when going out, if only to give me a bit of confidence that it'll stop me from falling over.  I've not regained any further feeling in my big toe, it's still semi-numb.  Got my 2nd osteo session Friday morning, I'm hoping for a bit more improvement.  The amitriptyline aren't making me sleep so well anymore, I'm waking up with pain through the night again.  The GP put me on the lowest dose to start with so I guess they need increasing....he did say they probably would.

We're going to a big Christmas craft fair at Hestercombe House (it's a big stately home near Taunton) on Friday afternoon.  I had to book tickets in advance, it's a ticket only event to control the numbers attending, and you can't buy tickets on the door.  Our timed admission is 3pm, so I hope I can still walk having had osteo in the morning!

Went to Dunster beach this morning with Betty, she enjoyed herself hugely as usual.  I remembered to take my stick and managed to not fall over - I did the last time we went there, although as I fell on sand it was at least a soft landing.  A few people around, and quite a few dogs - it was sunny, albeit with a very cold brisk breeze.

I've just made dinner for this evening - haggis cottage pie.  We were given a haggis by neighbours who'd just come back from a Scottish holiday and I was wondering what to do with it - we have had haggis before, in the traditional way, like spicy mince with mash and veg.  From what I remember, it was ok, if a bit strong tasting.  I reckoned it would make a nice cottage pie, with a few additions.  I chopped a couple of carrots and a leek fairly small in my mini processor, then cooked them with a handful of red lentils in a pan of beef stock, until all the liquid had been absorbed.  I chopped up the haggis and microwaved it until soft and crumbly, then mixed it with the carrot/lentil mix, topping it with buttery mashed potato.  It's made one large (4 portion) and one small (2 portion) dishfuls, so we'll have the small one tonight with a green veg and the bigger one will be frozen.

I've been thinking about a few changes for the caravan for next year......having stayed in it quite a lot this year, we now know what works well and what could do with improvement or adjusting.  I'll write about it more in due course, when we've decided for definite.

A morning to soothe my soul

 We took Betty to the vet yesterday - not only to check that her anal glands had been emptied completely (they had, just a pity it was mostly on my bed, albeit on a thick blanket), but also to get her checked out, as she had been off her food and a bit off colour for a day or 2.  We also needed a new supply of her flea & tick meds.  The vet said she did have a bit of inflammation around her glands, so he gave her an antibiotic injection.  She slept most of the day and night and seems much happier and back to her usual self today.  She's also got her appetite back.

I haven't been in a good place recently and knew I needed to get out for some fresh air today, near the sea.  So we went to Watchet first, walked up onto the harbour wall and stood looking out to sea, it's one of my favourite places, there are good views on a clear day across the Bristol channel to South Wales.  Unfortunately, I didn't think to take any photos there, but did a bit later.  After a stroll around the small town and a look in some shop windows, we then got back in the car and drove to Doniford Farm Park, a farm and animal visitor centre on the way home.  It's a nice place, more geared towards tourists now than farming, they have lots of friendly animals - donkeys, goats, alpacas, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs.  Also a play barn (no we didn't go in there!  Lots of children in there having great fun, judging by the shrieks and giggles), some collectibles and gift shops, and a large visitor centre shop with a restaurant and lots of outside tables.  It's free entry, which is unusual for a tourist attraction, although they do have donation boxes around.  Some animal photos:-

Free ranging chickens in the car park

Cute scruffy guinea pigs and bunnies

Donkeys, ponies and alpacas in the distance

Another free ranging chicken (called Monty, so the waitress said), who was hoping to share our cake and coffee

And the views from the seating area at the bottom end of the park, beyond the animal fields.  We stayed here for ages, just watching the sea, as you can see it's been a gorgeous bright sunny morning, with just a slightly chilly breeze.  The absolute best thing for soothing my soul is watching the sea, I just love watching and listening to the waves rolling in gently or crashing onto the rocks.  

We are so lucky to live here in this beautiful county, and such a short distance from the coastline.  Ok, it's not Devon or Cornwall, we don't have the huge golden sands that they do, and the sea generally looks muddy (because it is!) rather than the clear blue of Cornish coastlines, but it's still beautiful.

Not a good start

 This morning Betty decided to empty her anal glands.....firstly on my bed 😱 - thankfully, I have a thick blanket on the bed for her to sleep on, so it was contained on there, but it still made the whole room stink.  Then, wherever she sat in the lounge - on the floor, or on the sofas (we also have blankets on the sofas - Betty's very good, she knows the blankets on the sofas and bed are for her), she left a horrible stink.  So I have a mound of washing to do this morning, my bed linen is being washed as well as the blankets, the first lot is already in the machine.

For those without a dog.....some dogs empty their glands naturally (hopefully outside!), others need them emptied 'manually' - by the vet or the owner, if you're brave enough and have a strong stomach!!  And it stinks to high heaven, it's much, much worse than poo.  At 8 o'clock we shall be ringing the vets and hopefully taking Betty there pretty much straight away, to make sure she's emptied out, they're very good there and usually try to get us in.  

Also, husband helpfully 😒 decided to make my Earl Grey this morning - I'd told him yesterday I would do it myself every day.  It's supposed to be left to brew for a few minutes, then stirred gently before removing the teabag, without squeezing.  Well, husband likes strong tea, he doesn't leave it alone to brew but stirs it vigorously, mashing and squeezing the bag, until the liquid is dark brown.  He did the same to my Earl Grey, which tasted revolting as a consequence.  So, as I was a bit frazzled anyway because of the smelly Betty situation, I poured it down the sink and had my normal frothy coffee.

Good start to the day.....not! 😒

Changing my diet

 I woke up in the early hours with my back really killing me again.  Since I couldn't get into a comfortable position lying any which way, I got up and sat in my recliner chair....it's firm and supportive, not a squishy one.  We've got into the habit of eating too many carbs lately (bread, potatoes, rice and pasta, mainly) and I know carbs don't do me any good, I'm sure they make my joints ache more - they certainly make me feel sluggish.  So I googled anti-inflammatory foods (may as well make use of my sleeplessness!) - basically, the Mediterranean diet....more veg, some fruits (berries mainly), pulses, wholegrain foods, nuts & seeds, oily fish, chicken and olive oil.  So for a couple of weeks at least (as long as I can maintain it, basically), I'm going to give it a try.  No bread at all, wholegrain pasta or brown basmati rice perhaps once a week, no potatoes, no breakfast cereals....not that I'm much of a breakfast eater, but I do occasionally have cereal.  I've also got into the habit of drinking more coffee - I have those sachets of frothy coffee, decaff unsweetened Nescafe Gold cappuccino being my favourite.  I used to have 1 or 2 a day, now it's more likely to be 3 or 4.  Whilst they're supposedly unsweetened, they do contain glucose, milk and carbs, so aren't particularly low in calories, carbs or fat.

So now I'm going to change things.  On the occasions when I feel like breakfast, I'll have overnight oats with soya milk, nuts and seeds and some berries....obviously that means I have to prepare it the night before - if I don't actually feel like eating it the next morning, then it'll keep in the fridge till the next day.  If I don't want breakfast, then I'll have a glass of soya milk or half-and-half apple juice and water.  Oh, and instead of my early morning first cup of cappuccino, I'm going to have a cup of Earl Grey with clementines (thanks Joy, I got some yesterday and had it this morning, lovely).  I shall also try only having 1 cappuccino per day, drinking the Earl Grey or water instead - I do drink lots of water anyway.

Lunches will be eggs or fish, either fresh smoked mackerel, or tinned mackerel, tuna or sardines, with salad dressed with olive oil and lemon juice.  Or homemade soup - lentil, split pea or vegetable.

For dinners we'll stick to our usual regime - 3 days meat, 2 days fish, 2 days vegetarian.....but with no potatoes, plenty of green veg and only wholegrain pasta or rice once a week.

Hopefully, this will help me lose a bit of weight, along with reducing the inflammation in my joints.  I'll try and keep up the short gentle walks daily, or if it's raining will try using my exercise bike again - I'd stopped because it was hurting my back.

Husband is happy to go along with my preferred meals, although he'll get his own breakfasts - toast or cereal, most likely.  He'll probably also have bread or wraps with his lunch.  Although he could do with losing weight (he often complains about his weight, but does nothing about it, he's got a big appetite), he doesn't suffer with inflamed joints like I do.