Today I shall be Mainly...

[Wendyf]

I'm not going to the library this morning, Col left early in the 4wd to get to the first day of Jury Service..... on his birthday. I'm not sure the Skoda would make it up the track.
The ponies are out and Bruce and Billybob the cat walked around the field.

20190130_083636.jpg

Not sure why that's upside down, it's ok for me when I click on it!

[Marilyn]

Oh wow! Yes, it's ok when I click on it. Strange to have such an adventurous cat. Maybe Billybob is channeling Bertie...

[Cathy]

I've saved your pic on my phone and rotated it. It looks great. Loving seeing your cat in the snow.

[Wendyf]

Oh wow! Yes, it's ok when I click on it. Strange to have such an adventurous cat. Maybe Billybob is channeling Bertie...

That's a scary thought! He really enjoys his morning walks, then he sleeps all day. He still visits another house after his tea, (which is well over a mile away) and has an evening snack before returning to us for breakfast.
He is a stout lad now.

[Stanley]

That is a wonderful pic Wendy, made my day and I'm sending it to the kids in Oz, it may cool them down a bit!
Today I am having an early birthday party, Margaret and Susan take me to Ilkley where I shall buy a new pair of brown brogues then we will have lunch at the Cow and Calf with the added benefit of being joined by an old lady friend of mine, Chris whose birthday is almost the same as mine. I want to buy the girls new shoes as well and will make sure they are good ones! My treat, no pockets in a shroud and when will I have the chance again?

[Stanley]

We had a successful day out and today I am getting used to my new shoes...... (They are fine, feel like an old pair of slippers already)
The usual shopping and sitting quietly reading as I need to get over yesterday's excitement and missing my afternoon sleep!
Later at 07:30. I decided to wash my duvet covers. I got the clean ones on the bed, my least favourite job! Then I got the old ones out of the washer and my cream Christie covers are now a fetching shade of duck egg blue! There was a pair of blue socks in there that I assumed were colour-fast..... I have a pair of powder blue underpants as well..... Ah well.

[Sue]

Next time you wash them Stanley put some VANISH in the wash, it may take a couple of washes but slowly the blue will go.

My jacket is ready for the next sewing session with Maxine on Wednesday, which is really just a fitting session and a chat on the final construction method.ignore the white collar its simply a mock up for fitting purposes. Today is craft and lunch out

63E7397D-C9A9-497A-AA2A-1B864E29C085.jpeg

63E7397D-C9A9-497A-AA2A-1B864E29C085.jpeg

I don’t know why these are on the side,or why I have two of the first picture

[Marilyn]

Looks very smart, Sue. Do you wear that with skirt or pants?
( gosh you get my juices going...I would love to be able to do some sewing. I don't dare. Every time I do more than the minimum shuffle, it pays me back. I have a brand new bike sat in the garage that I would love to ride too, but can't. Hubby did a little circuit of the road in front of the house for me, but it's not the same. I am dying to ride it. I stepped through it so he could set the seat at the right height and had to hobble all afternoon for that small sin.)

[Sue]

Hopefully with skirt trousers or dress as a casual jacket rather than a cardigan, an everyday jacket. I do hope your back rights itself soon. As I have said before, mine didn’t and after some 8 months I gave in to an operation a d never looked bsck. Yet last night I did not do one exercise in yoga as it scared me, i was scared of doing something to my vack. The pain is very scary isn’t it

[Marilyn]

I only have slight lower back pain that doesn't bother me much. But because the S1 nerve is compressed in my spinal cord, the resulting Sciatica is absolute agony. It involves the whole right buttock and leg, with extensive numb areas all the way up. The pain ranges from burning to stabbing to cramping to icy cold shards and the feeling of constriction in bands around the leg as if someone has applied a tourniquet and walked off and left it. The other night I could barely put my foot to the floor as it felt like I was walking on boiling lava. When I have the cramping pains, I think they are the worst. Then when I have the stabbing dagger pains, I'm convinced they are the worst As the S1 nerve controls bowel and bladder function, that is affected too. I've also developed foot drop on the affected side, which affects my gait ( so I walk like an old drunk at present!)
I hate taking pills, but at the moment I simply can't cope without them.
I' think the operation is the only way forward for me, but they make you wait 6 weeks after the spinal cortisone before they will consider it ( unless the cauda equina becomes absolute and I lose all bladder and bowel function. Then it becomes an emergency op.)

The upside is that I have lost 3kilos in under 4 weeks

[Stanley]

Thanks Sue, I'll bear the Vanish in mind.....
I am watching and hoping for improvement Maz.
Still thinking about Moh.....

[Sue]

I hate taking pills, but at the moment I simply can't cope without them.
I' think the operation is the only way forward for me, but they make you wait 6 weeks after the spinal cortisone before they will consider it ( unless the cauda equina becomes absolute and I lose all bladder and bowel function. Then it becomes an emergency op.)



I remember that scenario and the symptoms you describe which is why I was advised not to have the injection as it would delay the operation should I consider it. I persevered with physio went once a week for months plus home exercises. Luckily I never had the bladder problem but it was the same disc and nerve that was affected. The GP sent me for an MRI scan in the very early days probably because on one of my visits To him I had a spasm and got stuck in the surgery door way, I didn’t dare move in deed couldn’t move and had to be manually moved by the GP and hubby with much yelling from me. The scan showed a major prolapsed disc plus a few minor ones that I still have and i was put on the waiting list for the operation straight away with firstcancellation as a top priority and told not to have a cortisone injection in case one came up. In the end it was 9 months in total January to September although the crisis stage was shorter. I did a lot of knitting and reading in those days especially sat in the garden in France.

[Marilyn]

Possibly I shouldn't have had the injection. But I was absolutely desperate, and it was the first thing offered. I was told that 50% of people respond to the injection and up to 80% of folk have had symptoms subside at the 6 week post injection timeline. That seemed pretty good odds at the time. Now of course, I can't fathom why they would leave anyone in this degree of pain for so long. (cruel)
I find sitting is the worst thing for me. But one can only shuffle about for so many hours a day. There is a point when I must sit or go to bed. ( I would love to sit and knit!)
I do enjoy my bath every morning. Sometimes I go into spasm trying to get in it....I have to sit there at quite a funny angle! But finally the hot water makes me a bit more pliable.

[Sue]

I used to lie on the floor for 15 minutes every couple of hours, it was agony getting diwn and ip but eased when lying on the floor. I do hope you get some respite very soon

[Stanley]

My back is still out in sympathy!
Keeping warm and doing as little as possible. I'll admit to tiring easily, that and the back could be connected to the BCG.....

[Sue]

I am plodding on with a double sided jigsaw of smarties. I have tbe technique and am making progress. Yesterday was a fun day doing the jigsaw but also had a first attempt at making sausages with my new Food mixer. Its a French version of the KITCHENAID? With all the attachments and only cost 145euro in a refurbishment sale. In the evening we went out for a meal. It was a surprise70th birthday celebration for Bob. He knew we were going out but did not expect all his family and grandchildren. Next saturday will bethe same but with friends. Claire had made a superb cake, she certainly did not get her baking skills from me, I don’t make cakes being a more savourysort of person

F5E5FE7B-CB3B-4D16-AA3E-633CD021FD16.jpeg

BD49A336-E6C9-41DA-9BC3-80075BBCC1DA.jpeg

0EB485D9-6EA3-40A9-828B-C1B3A1369169.jpeg

4041E0CF-F173-4044-824A-3FF636C04089.jpeg

72E8C48E-4DA5-4CB0-A7F5-2C13EA2F663A.jpeg

[Sue]

2D51E399-0D47-4696-9545-7F86412C43EC.jpeg

[Wendyf]

Happy Birthday Bob!

[PanBiker]

Pass on my regards to Bob as well Sue, Happy Birthday.

[Marilyn]

Cake looks amazing.
Jigsaw looks hard. ( I love hard jigsaws...)
Happy Birthday Bob!

[Sue]

Cake looks amazing.
Jigsaw looks hard. ( I love hard jigsaws...)
Happy Birthday Bob!

The cake is amazing, just muching a piece as i have a break from the really really hard jigsaw. I have a method, it took 3 weeks to work it out

Thanks all, I have passed on your best wishes

[Stanley]

Tell him I say he's still a sprog! It's the steam cylinder oil that preserves him and gives him such wonderful skin tone..... Looks like a good do. I love major birthday treats!
I shall be continuing the policy of looking after myself!

[Marilyn]

Forgot to say the sausages look good too. I believe Liz makes her own sausages...

[Sue]

Maz, they were good, a basic recipe this time, i will be more adventurous next time . I got a recipe book for my birthday. Iwonder what recip Liz uses

[Stanley]

Taking it easy while protecting my back and going to Airedale for my third BCG irrigation this afternoon.
Sending evidence to Penguin of the defective binding of Thomas Cromwell to get a good copy in return.