A happy Christmas

Yes it was a happy Christmas, quiet, peaceful and full of fun and love.  Many gorgeous presents so very spoiled though feel I failed on the present front by not getting the right things, showing not much imagination although I will say they were very well wrapped and most individually as I used my old paintings! Must do better in future.

Gorgeous Chanel perfume from Beloved Sister, smashing trainers and lots of things to keep me warm including a hooded fleecy nightgown!  Wonderful.  Of course, have written all my thank you cards on Boxing Day and subsequently lost them before actually posting them.  It takes years of training to be so special.

Beloved Sister came down from Scotland on a flying pre-Christmas visit (and nearly got washed away in the storm on her way home the next day) and made us a fabulous meal and spent a boozy giddy night with us.  We laughed so much, it was the greatest fun.

Beloved Daughter and boyfriend spent Christmas Day with us - an exhilarating walk through the woods on a crisp, sunny and sparkling day.  Hattie the Smellie loved it too and now thinks this will happen every day.  Ahem...well, no.  Good simple untraditional meal, wine, Scrabble.  All good.  Beloved Husband slept most of day but woke up sufficiently to eat and go to pub!

We saw absentee friend and other friend from reading group on Saturday which was also good fun and giddy.  Wish she could get a job back up in the north-west though as it is really hard to see her and catch up with all her news as we used to.  Good meal though in Grinch; must take Beloved Sister when she comes up in January.  Also to Jamie's for reading group.  Oooh, I can just feel the pounds barrelling on yet again - and little exercise over Christmas, too.  Note to self - must work harder.

Cats all good until Sunday when Twinkle (the kitten formerly known as Stevie) developed a nasty limp.  Thought she might have broken her leg but the vet (unable to hide a smirk at calling out her name - though he did tell us that he had a cat called Princess on his list - and he diagnosed cellulitis.  Mmmm, not cellulite or anything like it (think it means "between the tissues" but could be wrong) but a really nasty infection which could easily develop into blood poisoning so administered a heavy dose of anti-biotics via an injection to a rather dejection looking Twinkle.  He said probably a result of being bitten by one of the feral cats in the neighbourhood.  They are so uncouth....  Then tiny tiny pills twice a day.  Oh I remember how hard it was to do this when they were tiny.  Need a blowpipe and a whole salmon to dangle in front of her to distract her.  Anyway, the injection produced spectacular results after a day spent snoozing on Beloved Husband's chest.  Quite the young active fighting cat again, thank goodness.

Much like the injection I had yesterday to protect against shingles to which I am more than accustomed and would like to be without, if that state can be achieved.  We shall see.

So little exercise, not too much food but most of the food has been unhealthily full of fat, sugar and TASTE, thank God.  No dumb-bells for Christmas so shall make do with arm exercises carrying tins of beans.  If I remember.  But at least I have done some painting though nowhere near what I should have produced.  manana, manana.

Another long pause in the blog due to? well, life, I expect

What's been happening?  I lose the plot so much these days that I may repeat myself or totally forget to itemise something that  happened.  Here goes:

Beloved husband getting slightly worse.  Doc prescribed anti-depressants (who isn't on them these days?) and iron pills.  Iron pills are a pain in the ass because you can't drink milk with them which meant mucho orange squash - yuk.  BH tried anti-depressants for over three weeks during which time he slept like a hibernating bear ie about 20 hours a day, and his memory went completely off.  When told of old friend's death, he couldn't even remember old friend.  Have dispensed with these horrible things and in less than a week, he is trotting off with the smelly dog on the field (slowly, it is true, but nevertheless in the fresh air and getting some exercise) and his memory is improving.  Not wonderfully, but much better.

He decided exercise would help him in the form of a Revitive muscle thingy much advertised by the likes of Ian Botham and Judith Chalmers (was worried he would become as wrinkly as dear old Jude but that's not happened yet), and so we had a protracted set of arrangements with Boots to pay for and order the damned thing and then, instead of next day delivery, had to wait five days for same.  First results were not impressive but he did rather go at it like a bull at a gate.  Some fine tuning necessary but it's quite fascinating to see his old piggies go from grey to pink in a matter of three or four minutes.  It's also some kind of TENS machine so although £200 plus, seems worth it.  Beloved Sister may try it on her next trip as it is said to be most effective for diabetics. 

Speaking of Beloved Sister, she is set for a flying visit just before Christmas and will spend one night with us at least before returning to Scotland and Dear Bro-in-Law (for whom I must buy prezzie pretty quickly).  Another longer visit scheduled for end of January - woohoo - get the wine in and the venison...

Also on the exercise front, have been getting to grips with the next harder round of circuits for which I pay £1 per class (rest is funded by Mental Health thingy - quite apt) and it's money well spent.  Monday's class takes place in a rather gorgeous old Victorian swimming pool building with stained glass windows and interesting architecture (not like the LEGOLAND boxes so beloved by current architects and local authorities - philistines all).  Of course Manchester City Council wants to demolish it and replace it with a LEGOLAND box - wonder how many local councillors have stakes in the building firms producing these nightmarish edifices?

Anyway the class consists of people with many different complaints and they all try so hard to do the circuits, some of them have oxygen tanks in little bags on their backs - really sad but heartening that they ARE trying and getting such good benefits from it.

Thursday's exercise class takes place outdoors in a local park where the council have been persuaded to spend a  very small sum installing 6 pieces of apparatus on which our physio Ruby works us like boot camp.  A different set of patients at this class and they all seem to benefit from the fact that it is outdoors and that we are all being punished in the same way!  The great thing about this is that I can keep going as long as I like because Ruby can take as many people as can be accommodated in the park whereas the other class finishes for me at the end of January - things are done in three month tranches, but not Ruby's class.  Am certainly feeling the benefits of it and really appreciate what is being done for me.  So much so that I have requested some Barbie dumb-bells for Christmas to keep up with the arm curls, etc.

Mad Best Friend? She's off to America to spend Christmas with her eldest son, the one who does cancer research in Atlanta.  later she may get to go to Slovenia where her daughter has just had a little girl.  She seems to be doing really well though she is finding the wig very trying and itchy.

Beloved Sister and Bro-in-Law? Both appear to be well.  Sis is enjoying her new job as manager of a charity shop (dear God, what goes around comes around - my ma would be laughing her socks off - she loved a rummage sale and paddling round second hand shops).  the job at the Co-operative was much more physical in hauling trolleys of food and drink around a warehouse with a 1 in 5 gradient and the rota system was totally bonkers.  At least in the new job she has more autonomy and is having more fun, it seems to me.  Bro-in-Law says things still all ok with his job, but his Christmas leave has just been cut into as the rugby club have many functions at this time of the year.  So not all good.

Most Beloved Daughter?  All well though currently suffering chest infection, sinus trouble and general travel malaise.  Job sends her all over the place with no real regard for cost or logic.  Commonsense badly lacking in commerce these days.   She is still painting, knitting, reading etc etc and exercising so all good.  New house very nice, warm and cosy.  She just needs to get log shed built to take all these logs from our place.

Our house?  Wood stove taken out and toasty gas stove installed in its place - hurrah!!  Forgotten how cheerful and cosy the appearance of a fire is.  Feel sorry for anyone with no fire in their living room, must be quite dreary.

Also some new kitchen units installed including a new sink unit, thank God.  Also decorated.  Hallelujah!!  Bathroom sink changed and new security lights in process of installation.  Living room due to be decorated before Christmas.  Oh my Lord, I must have died and gone to Heaven.

May even get rid of fork lift truck in back garden and brick up nasty old gates.....who knows.

Cats?  Boris and Stevie are incredibly naughty and cute.  Boris fell in pond the other day but he wasn't too dismayed by the experience, his main preoccupation being in drying off his bits!  He also tunnelled under the eaves and floorboards emerging screaming and dusty after Most Beloved Daughter rescued him.  Two of his nine lives gone.  Ah, cats.

But it's a long long time from May to December...

and the days do grow short when you reach September.  When you reach November - whew!

So what has been going on since September?  Sorted out part of the Room of Doom and got rid of the two maroon leather pixie couches (Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah), the old pine coffee table etc.  Still to come, a single bed and some more extraneious boxes of vests dicers and shoes.  And two grotty wardrobes.  Also need to take saddle back to Decathlon to change for more comfortable seat on the old exercise bike.

And the biggest change since September is being co-opted into the BreathEasy Club and entering rehab for the COPD which consists of circuit training two or three times a week.  After the first couple of times, it got much easier and I found myself feeling quite fizzy with energy afterwards.  have now been promoted to next level and this apparently goes on for 12 months with 3 monthly checks by COPD physio.  It's a super super service by the MRI and I don't even have to approach my GP if I feel an infection coming on, I just ring the COPD service and they come out to me.  What a wonderful thing and I can see from some of the others who attend, some of whom are on mobility scooters etc, how valuable a service this is.

Absolutely loving my art classes at the moment, they are stretching me artistically but sadly dear Richard died, one of the class's stalwarts, a lovely funny man, a stunning artist, general to a fault about passing on his knowledge and help. I shall miss him tremendously.  Only after he died did I discover that he had been a Quaker and thus there is no service as such, he was just buried in a woodland cemetery next to his wife whom he had loved passionately.

Beloved Husband feeling slightly worse, if anything.  Constantly dizzy, he only manages to get out and about for about an hour a day, the rest of the time he is on the sofa reading or watching tv.  If he isn't flat, he is dizzy, poor darling.  A horrible way to feel.  All very well for consultant to say "well, there will be no pain".  His mind is as sharp as ever when he is flat on his back but if he sits up too quickly or stands for more than a short time, his head is whirling. It  must be unpleasant and quite frightening.  And I get ratty with him when I have to repeat the same thing several times, or have to bellow at him because he can't hear me.

But the kittens amuse him, and they have at last been neutered.  One has had a name change as well as the removal of some appendages.  Nelson has now become Boris le Blanc - he is a real sweetie - and Stevie Wonder is just as cute as ever.    Should let them out in a few days but there has been a spate of dead cats being found on nearby field and that makes me worried about letting them venture forth.  That is of course extremely stupid of me and selfish, too, because any normal animal wants to go out and investigate the world.  Thought I had found two headless cats on the field today and alerted the police, the RSPCA and the Cats Protection league.  Felt a complete idiot when the inspector came out and discovered a dead domestic rabbit whose neck had been broken and folded under it.  Honestly, there WERE two of them, neatly arranged.  Perhaps a dog has dragged one off to its lair.  Inspector very kind and said better to ring them if there have been a few animals found as it might be some psycho.

At last the wood stove is to go and a new gas one installed this coming week, with alterations to chimney and new gas liner and cowl.  Cannot wait, it has been very cold in the house and have come to the conclusion this is probably because all rooms have two outside walls.  Though it was warmer upstairs last winter than nowadays.  Perhaps need larger radiator.  Boiler serviced by nice young Polish plumber.

Tomorrow should have new sink unit installed and some other units.  Then Pete is to paint the kitchen green and white with cherry wood doors.  Stylish, moi?

Season of mists - and the rest

Yes, there is a bit of a mist and a nip in the air in the mornings now that we are in to September.  Takes me so long to get going these days with several cats to feed and clean up after upon rising (just another couple of weeks before Nelson and Stevie can go out to poo like the others, thank goodness), pills taken, dog walked and fed, breakfast made and digested by me and Beloved Husband, and very often I am horrified to find that it's about 10.30 before I get up from the table to start the day proper.  Feel I ought to be going to bed at about 9pm and getting up much much earlier.  But then it might be colder on the field when Hattie and I are doing our two laps of the field.  yes, it ought to be more but what the hell?

Anyway my assessment from the respiratory clinic has been brought forward to next Friday.  This is where they assess how unfit I am.  shall I ever get back to playing badminton, which I loved?  Who knows.The only problem with having it brought forward like this means I shall miss some of my new art classes - bum bum and double bum.

Wood stove man came this week and could tell he was not impressed with the state of ours so it's unlikely to be put in part exchange for a new gas stove.  And he was not impressed with the state of the chimney.  No prices in the catalogue he left which seems to indicate an expensive experience in the offing.
Have suggested to Beloved Husband that if it is all much too expensive, we might think of installing an ordinary gas fire in the front room if we can get rid of the maroon pixie couches, the bed, the nasty wardrobes, the exercise bike, the box of Girl Guide jumpers, the box of thermal vests, the box of food dicers, the dismantled pine kitchen table, the rotten old pine coffee table, not to mention enough wool to clothe a whole flock of sheep, and many paintings......he seemed amenable to that idea and if it comes about, I shall have retrieved the Room of Doom from its nastiness and returned it to a comfortable living area.  There is a silver lining to every cloud.

Daughter's house move now scheduled for end of September, she is fed up of living in an hotel during the week and decamping to Wales each weekend to remind her cats she still loves them.  Perhaps the best part has been when she has been able to work from home and I have been feeding her up - and I have been doing enough of their washing to start a Chinese laundry business - but at least she has been able to have some home cooked meals. 

Have discussed with her the possibility of getting Ikea to plan a new kitchen for me, even if I can only afford to do it bit by bit, at least it will look better section by section.  And the first thing has got to be a new sink unit.  I am so fed up of ending each session at the sink dripping wet down my frontage and cleavage.  The height of the sink would suit someone 6'5", but not my 4'11".  A height adjustable kitchen should be cheaper and more easily available, as should base cabinets which are not as deep.
Also I need to buy some more picture frames to stick my paintings in.  You ought to be able to buy a job lot at a reasonable price but don't think that's how Ikea operates.  Might be worth a try though.
Found an old fashioned shoe shop in Didsbury which actually stocks shoes from Germany; you might not realise that the Germans are the only ones who produce shoes which fit and which provide some much needed arch support and which look reasonably smart.  So managed, with help from the lovely guy who runs the shop, to get a pair of waterproof ankle boots for walking the dog, etc, very light and comfortable, and a pair of shoes (with heels!!) for wearing with skirts.  Am so pleased, I could throw a party. 

But also need some new trainers anyway for these sessions with the respiratory group.  Lectures and exercise..hope the lectures are not too scary.  Am very much of the head in sand school of coping.  Indeed, could not bear to look at the internal scans of my lungs which the professor and Darling Daughter seemed to find hugely entertaining...wimp that I am.

Beloved Sister's new job appears to be going well though have not had much of a chat with her.  Am in disgrace for having forgotten Bro-in-Law's birthday card(sharp intake of breath) but shall wheedle my way back into favour somehow.  More wine probably.

Mad Best Friend's birthday yesterday so Darling Daughter and I scooted up there late yesterday afternoon with cards and prezzies.  She and husband were on the verge of departing for a meal with other friends and looked very glam despite losing quite a lot of her hair.  Don't think she will actually go bald, though, as can see lots of baby hair growing close to her scalp.  She is still awaiting the call to Slovenia to help daughter with overdue baby.  Quite difficult to get to, as she explained, one either goes via Venice or Ljublianja(?) or some such name.  Not a long plane journey but two hours by car afterwards whichever route she takes so pretty tiring for someone recovering from chemo.

More anon.

Good news, good news

Good news from the respiratory clinic.  V pleased with me and they are to fix me up with some physical exercise programme in the near future.  Thank God for that, I have felt like a wobbly sack of spuds and very weak until recently.  Also I have a special number to ring if I feel a bit off-colour and someone will come out to check me over and prescribe; don't need to bother my lovely GP.  What a service, eh?

Even more good news on the art exhibition front.  The lovely volunteer lady at the exhibition centre has sold even more of our paintings - can hardly believe it.  Very flattering remarks and requests for more paintings and another exhibition.  Wow.

Met some old friends for lunch today en route to the exhibition - last day today, collection day tomorrow.  That should be fun taking everything down and packing things up for the buyers.  Old friends all good and food in local pub ok.  Pub food after all, but it was busy so that speaks for itself.

Have just realised I am out to lunch on the day they are coming to do survey on wood stove.  I am so disorganised, it's pitiful.  Will have to try and get them here earlier, if possible so that I can meet my political friends.  I do have some, strange to say.  Can just imagine that the conversation will revolve around the UK's projected intervention in Syria and the House of Commons vote against it.  Why are men so keen to bring weapons into any argument?  And the egregious Blair sticking his nose in it again.  He should have been impeached years ago for dragging us into Iraq and making such obscene amounts of money through it.  I bet he has connections with arms dealers, the bastard.  he should have all his money taken from him. And as for his vile wife - yeuk, what an opportunistic witch is she?

Oh dear, starting early on the politics today.  Rein yourself in, woman, and concentrate on making Beloved Husband something tasty to eat with laxative qualities - mmm, that should keep me occupied a while....

Popping Candy

Latest news?  pretty much more of the same, although Beloved Daughter and boyfriend suffered very stressful time being chivvied out of rented accommodation while awaiting exchange of contracts and moving into new home - some time around third week in September if all goes well.  Their belongings are scattered all over the place and their cats are boarding in Wales - they may never want to return as their current abode has a river nearby and lots of jungle greenery.

Luckily BD is able to satisfy her catness by coming here and petting all the animals.  Nelson and Stevie are now of an age to have first jabs; neutering unfortunately unable to be carried out for another 3 months.  Nelson is your typical baby tomcat, wanting to pee all over the place to let us know he's boss, and growling at anyone or anything venturing near his food.  In all other respects, he is a big Mr Softee.  Stevie is just a cuddlesome little thing, capable of bashing up Big Bro if he gets out of hand.  Ming and Flash are still distasteful of the kittens while Hattie will tolerate them as long as they don't touch her food or try to inspect her bum.  She is very unhappy if any other critter, dog or cat, tries to sniff her bum.  Must have had a bad experience at some point.

What else?  Beloved Husband spent some time in hospital with 'an intestinal blockage' which roughly translated means compacted poo.  Resulting from less exercise and food, I guess.  BD's boyfriend says he acts like anorexic teenager and tis true.  Bit of a conversion in hospital, though, and since then he has been more circumspect about taking in liquids and fruit.  Unfortunately it does mean the conversation pretty much revolves around his success, or lack of it, in the bathroom.  Mmmmm, not something one really wants to share.

The exhibition?  very successful so far with many paintings sold.  Have tentatively booked for next October for a three week run.  Looking forward to starting new independent art classes next month - just awaiting confirmation of prices, etc.

Tomorrow at Respiratory Clinic.  have felt a bit under the weather again this week and live in fear of a recurrence of the chest infections/antibiotics of earlier in the year.  Application of much alcohol may prevent.  Fingers crossed.

Long overdue update

Well, what has been happening during the long hiatus since the last posting?

The kittens are growing up, two of them have left the nest - Daphne and Captain - now renamed Winston following a gender reassignment by the vet - and have gone to a lovely home in leafy Macclesfield with Horace who, on the last report, was hiding away in his bedroom away from the rough and tumble of kittenish antics.  Sad to say, my vet decided that the locum vet's diagnosis of respiratory infection was all wrong and that they were suffering from chlamydia! Another feral infection; my God, what goes on in these feral colonies?? So the morning task now is to force small pills down unwilling feline throats in between fending off my existing two adult cats and feeding the feral Mum, Beryl, who has recovered well from her hysterectomy and ear clipping (they do that to indicate she has been neutered if anyone tries to trap her).  Poor Hattie is way down the queue for attention, poor little critter.

The lovely lady who took Daphne and Winston also bought one of my paintings at our recent exhibition and I am very very very pleased about that.  It's been a fraught few weeks leading up to the exhibition, getting the catalogue organised, distributing posters, sending out invites for the preview, catering for same, handing in the paintings, hanging the paintings.  That last the most difficult part of all because we had to use fishing line, the only thing strong enough to hold the paintings particularly in the Hall where the ceiling is very very high indeed.  Difficulties arose trying to assemble everyone to do the job at a time when the rooms weren't occupied with classes, etc.  Still have some to do but the preview was most successful, selling four paintings immediately, and lots of flattering comments in the visitors' book.  Exhibition on till end of August so lots of visits planned with and without friends.

Daughter ready to move house but those at the top of the chain poncing about 'away on holiday and uncontactable'.  Yes, that's just the sort of thing you should do when you are selling your house and people are backing up the chain.  Arrogant, selfish sods.  So belongings being deposited all over the place and her two cats go to Wales for an extended holiday until everything begins to move again.  Felt guilty but couldn't manage 7 cats and have nowhere to put them anyway at the moment.

Beloved Husband in hospital once again due to intestinal blockage.  many days of stress and pain involved.

Organising EGM for our art group and helping to organise start of new class to replace the ones abandoned by MAES.

Quite busy over past few weeks and hope to be again.  Certainly takes one's mind off one's worries.

mad Best Friend has finished her chemo which has been very trying for her but she is a brave little soldier and is still waiting for her hair to fall out - she got the free wig some weeks ago but the great balding has not yet occurred.  She has been an absolute star helping to organise exhibition.  She is waiting anxiously for her daughter in Slovenia to give birth to her first child.

Beloved Sister in good health and has just landed a new job which doesn't involve working appalling shift rotas and no heaving heavy equipment and stores about.  A regular five day week too which means that although she has to work some Saturdays, she will be able to have some time off without a major hooha.

And that's all for now, folks, except to say that have had lovely meals and meetings with my reading group gals, and with  with my mad former work colleagues.  Scrumptious, all of them.

It's too darned hot, it's too darned hot....

What's been happening chez nous - several abortive attempts to capture Beryl the feral but she is more wily and elusive than Lord Lucan.  Beloved Husband can tice her in but we cannot get her into the cat basket and get it zipped up before she escapes.  Darling Daughter Is now planning to build a bespoke cat-trap.  If successful, we may try to flog it via Dragon's Den.  Can just see Duncan Doodah's face!
Kittens thriving though still struggling with the conjunctivitis situation - some days good, some bad.  Eating like pigs. Crapping like billyoh.  Adorable though, so lovely to hold and play with.

 

Ah well, they'll soon be off.  Daphne is already spoken for and possibly Nelson or Captain.  Stevie is my favourite and would like to keep her but BH is loyal to Beryl and stern about number of cats in household.  All animals female too...
Weather has been a bit uncomfortable, hot and dusty, supplying me with hay fever on top of the COPD - nice.  But time we had some good weather, I think, although this is due to go on for a week or so according to the weather forecasters.  My poor plants are wilting.
Can't get cool in bed at night.  Fans are worse than useless, just batting warm stale air around the room.
Lovely reading group meeting early in the week. Always enjoy meeting my ladies who are full of fun, wisdom and quirkiness.  Not much reading but lots of gossip and laughter.
Also met former workmates for a great lunch.  nice to catch up with people and find out what's happening at the old workplace.  Next meeting in October as people have grandchildren with holidays and their own little pieds-a-terre in Bulgaria and Greece.  Where did I go wrong?  Although the thought of frizzling in steaming heat in some Mediterranean country is too much at the moment.  A visit to Rome or Florence or the Riviera in the spring or autumn - ah, wonderful.
Our last formal MAES classes last week - very sad.  But the two tutors we are hiring for our independent class came along to meet everyone and take our measure, as it were.  They seem fizzing with enthusiasm and ideas for new projects so I am really looking forward to seeing what they come up with.
Before that though, the exhibition which is drawing inexorably nearer with its headaches of framing pictures, sending out invites, putting up posters, organising food and drink for the preview evening and so on and so on.  Am sure it will be alright on the night.  If it's not, it's just tough.

 

Apart from cat-sitting

the week has been busy as usual.  In addition to continuing battle with MAES (where do they recruit these jobsworths?), had a wonderful class on Wednesday.  Last classes next week at which we will probably have a small party.  It will be like a wake because however hard we strive to replicate the classes independently, we will undoubtedly lose some people along the way and it will be sad and frustrating.

Also continuing with plans for the Summer Exhibition, producing posters, invitations to the preview party - oh goodness, must make a list of food and wine to buy for the preview - and exhorting everyone else to get framing and painting etc while doing sod all myself.  Note to self - must do better.

Crazy Hattie sitting beside me as I type smelling heavily doggy as she has a trick of leaping into the path of the hosepipe as I water the plants and is thus exceedingly wet, steamy and pongy.  Not quite as pongy as the kittens, but pongy all the same.  She is most curious about the kittens and thinks it is a superb opportunity to hoover up all their leavings if I don't quell her.  Perhaps she wants to take over the Nana role from Peter Pan...my own two cats are pretty disdainful of the kittens and jealous of the attention being given to them.

Weather is wonderful - hope it will be like this for preview party as we can sit out in those wonderful gardens.  Sat out in garden today with BH and DD and Beryl was weaving her way back and forth between us but extremely wary.  We must try again to catch her next week before she becomes pregnant again.  Couldn't face looking after another litter of feral kittens, cute though they are.

Mad Best Friend suffering the effects of the chemo, hair coming out and starting to feel a bit queasy.  Art tutor, though, has had wonderful news on the effects of the trial she is undergoing - the stuff has reduced her tumour by 50%!  That is so wonderful even though they don't know long term effects.  Can tell it has impacted greatly on her attitude to life and she ha started painting again.

Beloved Sister trying to get me up to Scotland to visit but cannot at the moment.  Fingers crossed can soon make a date.

Cat-poo anyone?

Phew, what a day Monday was.  Got the four feral kittens and what a state they were in, their eyes were all gunged up and they could hardly walk - not surprisingly since Beryl the feral mum-cat has kept them stashed away in a cardboard box not much bigger than a box of beer.  Despite best efforts of me, Beloved Husband and Darling Daughter, Beryl was not for being caught and imitated a tiger with toothache and bad hangover to boot, so trotted off to vet with kittens.  He advised keeping them away from Beryl, said they were in remarkably good nick all things considered but that they had bad conjunctivitis, something feral cats are prone to, starting them off on chicken food and simulated cat milk.  Thus began five days, so far, of cleaning their bums, cleaning their eyes, putting cream in their eyes, cooking special kitten food, feeding them, making them milk, and now have introduced them to drinking water.  And they have blossomed.  In five days, they have become active, attractive and pro-active - wow.  Want to keep one of them, BH says no - he is loyal to Beryl.  Despite best efforts, cannot find anyone to help us catch her.  We could bring her back to the feral life once she's neutered, if that is what she is comfortable with, but need to catch her to get her to vet.  My God, these vets must be brave to attempt to release a feral cat from its cat, sedate it, fillet it and check on it before returning to equally brave soul who brings it in.

And here they are - Captain, Daphne, Nelson and Steve having a catnap in the laundry basket which they climb up and down with the greatest ease

 

 

 

 



What's occurring?

Quite a hectic social whirl these last weeks starting with meeting of art club early June - highly satisfactory outcome, followed by visit to Art Gallery with sick art tutor.  Her treatment seems to have galvanised her although she does feel sick and ill quite often.  She is on an American trial and fingers crossed that it does some good.  She was very perky at the gallery and we spent an informative and sociable couple of hours looking at the inter-war artists - Stanley Spencer, Paul Nas, Tom Nash, John Nash, Ivan Hitchen, Vanessa Bell, Winifred Nicholson, Ben Nicholson - wonderful paintings.

Darling Daughter and I then went to Gallery of Costume for the preview of the Christian Dior exhibit - interesting and yummy prosecco and nibbles.  Glad to see the new director has installed a small tea-room near the resource room.  Will visit again soon.  Am so pleased she is digging lots of things out of archives for the art galleries instead of leaving them stuck in some Victorian brown glazed era.  Same with Art Gallery.  Can't wait to see what the Whitworth will be like when the new extension is finished.  Would like to see some of the wonderful sculptures and installations back where they belong - the Frinks, the Susie MacMurray pieces and so on.

Beloved Husband had major panic when his eyes start to go funny.  He felt as if his eyes were crossing, and there was some blurring.  Lots of panic so GP advised visit to optician where his test revealed that the sight in one eye had deteriorated so badly that the other eye was straining to compensate, so although not sure this is causing the problems, certainly not helping.  Ergo new glasses and he now has to wear distance glasses.  Hilarity ensued when he plaintively told the ophthalmic lady that he had had new eyeballs put in a few years ago.  Obviously he meant new lenses when his cataracts were removed.  Great improvement for him at the time but a bit unnerving because in some lights, the lenses glow like cats' eyes.  Still, the new glasses seem to be helping.  Fingers crossed it continues to help.

Then met old friend Kath at Croma.  Had not seen her for quite a long time so lunch consisted of lengthy catch-up and much laughter, as usual.  Was able to help her with a problem and met her and her husband again a few days later this time at the new post office café.  Nice old-fashioned place and food reasonable.

Month began with frantic headscratching and earscratching - drove me insane.  GP prescribed special shampoo which helped immediately but must be used frequently.  Instructions warned coloured hair might change colour as a result.  Oh dear, and a long overdue visit by hairstylist and colourist due mid-month.  Being the little star he is, he was able to do some inventive colouring and a test patch for future reference.  And I got shorn.  thank goodness, I was beginning to resemble some old grey sheep.

hair done just in time for dear friend's 'glad to be alive' cocktail party on his terrace.  When arranging date for party, he had envisaged being on his last legs whereas in fact he has done what he did last time he was diagnosed with cancer, and confounded the experts.  Although not a cure, the chemo has improved his health so many that his oxygen tanks have been taken away, he has visited Portugal, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Paris, and he is bouncing around like the livewire he has always been.
Quite by accident, the party date coincided with Beloved Sister's birthday so she came down for quick visit from Scotland to join the fun and she ended up having more than one birthday celebration and meeting with many old friends - great stuff.

It was a stunning party with lots of interesting people, fantastic cocktails (he had imported two south American mixologists for the evening!), and wonderful canapés.  Discovered caterer about to start up own business in Uppermill and intend to go visit with a few others next month after granding opening.  Yum-yum.

Next day was another stunning party for another friend's 60th (why do we find it so important to stress the age of the party-person?  She is just as lovely and entertaining now as she was before that vital date was reached).  Gorgeous meal at a beautiful hotel in Derbyshire, lots of entertaining people around and our table was almost filled with reading group members - hurrah!  Thankfully Darling Daughter drove us there and back and although didn't consume as much alcohol as on previous night, had just as good an evening. And again - yum-yum.

So inbetween celebrating in a lavish manner, got the shock of my life by receiving a bill for £1200 debt incurred by energy bills.  Aaargh!  Then had battle with mobile phone company about bad phone, bad reception and high bills for landline/broadband/mobile bundle - now being investigated but will have to negotiate all this again with another company so there may be problems again while being set up. 

I find it difficult to determine where these well-off pensioners constantly referred to by government live - certainly ain't up north.

Since the last government allowed the foreign owned energy companies to constantly increase prices and fail to pay taxes, and since it also constantly urged us to become 'silver surfers', one wonders whether politicians have any idea how much it really costs to heat a home and pay for broadband/phone services.  And they bleat about winter fuel payments!  It seems to me that not one politician lives in the real world as far as food prices, fuel prices and other things are concerned.  Just where are pensioners supposed to get the money to pay for all these things?  So massive tightening of the belts is indicated plus a crackdown on heating costs.  It will be hot water bottles a-go-go from now on until this massive debt is paid off.

Anyway, Beryl the feral has been hiding her kittens all over the place and we only managed to get a proper look at them yesterday.  Poor little blighters all have nashy eyes and must go to vets tomorrow with the feckless mum.  Although it's doubtful if he will fillet her when the kits are not weaned.  But have discovered that two are white with barred and black blobs here and there and two are tabby & white.  Pretty if eyes can be cleaned up ok.

As well as all this excitement, the council have been pressing ahead with their dastardly plans to rid Manchester of any arts or leisure classes in the adult sector, unless it's part of an ESOL class of which there are thousands and thousands all being paid for by the government (you and me).  Still trying to sort out independent class with no help and lots of hindrance from Adult Education Service.  let's think, should we have saved £100,000 having a useless and ignorant Police Commissioner?  Holy Moly, Batman, do we need a commissioner - and does he need his big friend to come and work as his overpaid assistant?  Gee, I don't know.  And do we need a Mayor of Manchester in addition to all the overpaid politicos we already have?  Gee, ~Batman, I don't think so - maybe we should cut the number of councillors we are paying for?  And do we really need to demolish swimming pools and libraries and other amenities which benefit Mancunians and spend a fortune on replacing them in different places, etc?  Gee, Batman, I don't think so, especially as the council claim not to know how much it will cost to demolish said buildings, nor how much it will cost to build new ones.  Maybe it will depend on which councillors/council officials have relatives or interests in the demolition and building industries???  And in the next episode, our hero will question who benefits from all the money being showered on installing tram-lines in areas well-heeled enough not to need public transport, and how much it is costing the council to uproot all the hedges and trees bordering council house gardens to replace them with wooden fences.  Cheaper to paint and maintain wooden fences against the cost of trimming the hedges?  or, better yet, getting the tenants to trim the hedges?  Food for thought. 

Summer is a-coming in tra la tra la tra la

Oh yes, it's hot and it's sunny - three days on the trot.  Woohoo.

Life up north has been fun, too.  Meeting of art club on Monday sitting outside pub in lovely sunshine, drinkipoos in hand, and many deaf people sitting around table screaming"eh, what was that last bit?".  Hilarious.  And productive, too which all goes to show that when one is no longer restricted by someone who continually carps and suffers from expansionism (why does that last bit remind me of so many cabinet ministers of the past three decades?), things are way more productive and, let's be honest, fun.
So meeting all in favour of arrangements made for our summer exhibition and the gypsy's warning has been issued to all and sundry to get cracking painting and framing as if their lives depended on it.
In between trying to sort out things for separate independent class whilst stirring things up on the policitical front - oh what joy to feel back in the saddle again!

And the feral (Beryl, not Errol any more) has produced four kittens, three black and white, one barred.  She is a feckless mother, much given to sunbathing away from the kits, and eating enough for 6 cats.  But she is little more than a kitten herself.  Shall troddle up to the vet later today to gather some anti-flea stuff for Hattie and at the same time shall book Beryl in for filleting at some time soon when the kittens shall be weaned and self-supporting, but before the randy tomcat manages to impregnate her again.  Difficult to judge dates in these climates of cat on a hot tin roof....only it isn't tin since she decided to give birth in our old dogs' kennel.  Luckily it was full of fresh clean straw because I had an inkling she might pick there.  or the greenhouse to which she is also partial and wherein I had installed a birthing couch which she has ignored but which another feral cat has taken to.  Sigh.  If only there was a free mass neutering programme for feral cats, they could be kept at an acceptable level.  As it is, if they keep producing, we cannot afford to feed them all.  Beloved husband is dishing food out to Beryl as if she was the queen bee and he the drone. 

Merkins-a-go-go

Deep discussions with Mad Best Friend on implications of chemotherapy which she is currently undergoing.  She is slightly worried that she will go bald all over her body as a fellow-chemo patient had confided to her that he was 'as smooth as a lady down below'.  Given that he was a bald heavily tattooed biker type, she didn't know whether to giggle or to feel the fear.  Researching wigs on line, she came across merkins which apparently were introduced to cover up one's lady bits and which my darling daughter told me were de rigeur for ladies of the night in earlier ages to cover up the ravages of venereal diseases.  She also informed me that it was the fashion for ladies to shave themselves in the middle ages (not the menopause, medieval times) to get rid of lice and they too had merkins.  The mind boggles at prospect of all that going on in what one assumed were tranquil times.  Not so evidently.
However it spurred MBF into googling the word and discovering that merkins are available on Amazon - strangely disconcerting but then Amazon will sell anything.  I bet they sell lion poo to gardeners.
The next step for MBF was naturally to crochet a complet set of merkins and to pass them on to me!  Go figure.  Darling daughter's best friend has now decided that she would like a bespoke merkin for party nights - I blame it all on the internet, and lax parenting.
MBF and I are also in the throes of sorting things out for our August art exhibition.  The restrictions and restraints are a bit frightening but am sure we will survive it all with a strong brandy or two.  Perhaps we could mount a small merkin exhibition; perhaps not.
Have somehow involved myself in the setting up of two independent art classes in addition to the art group which I am trying to revive.  Just cannot keep my nose out of things. But it's such fun to be getting things up and running.  As long as they do it my way, of course......
Darling daughter has made offer on nice house and survey ok so it's all systems go.  Fingers crossed owners manage to get an offer on their new house pretty quickly.
Can't wait to get my hair cut and coloured, am beginning to resemble a tacky grimy piece of candy floss and on that delightful note, will sign off for today.

At last am beginning to feel better

simply because today I have been sketching in both Victoria and Piccadilly railways stations with two rather special ladies - the other members of our group are obviously too delicate to venture out on a grey day like today.  Have come to the conclusion - quite a long time ago - that Manchester City Council are vandals and profiteers judging by the number of lovely old buildings which they have demolished and sold off to greedy property developers for more and more "apartments" - dingy little flats to you and me.  If a family of kittens could live comfortably in some of them, I'd be extremely surprised.  Nowhere is this more apparent than at the old London Road Fire Station, a fantastic building bought by the vile Britannia Hotels property group many years ago and which they have been pushing and pushing to get the Council to let them demolish it and building yet another hotel - same comment as for "apartments" applies.  This originated, I think, at the time when the wholesale removal of the BBC to Manchester was on the cards and the Britannia group, along with many other Home Counties property developers, saw a killing if they provided ratholes for the fleeting visits of BBC presenters.  As it is, same presenters seem to have either picked ratholes in Salford or are charging exorbitant travelling expenses to commute to and from London and Salford - and we, Joe Public, are footing the bill for this.  But, on the whole, I'd rather pay their expenses than to have the lovely old fire station wrecked.  As it is, Britannia have never, in the long long years they have owned this building, done any repairs, had any windows cleaned, painted any part of the building so that buddleia bushes have sprouted from the rather beautiful cupolas and bell-towers that adorn the roofline.  A curse on them all, I say.
But anyway, a delightful time sketching even though the station was, and is usually, cold.  Some lovely old features retained and melded in with more modern additions.  Sad to see the beautiful old bars and bookshops at Victoria Station in such dire need of tender loving care.  How adventurous and how inspiring those Victorian architects and builders were.  Not a roofline which doesn't have something of interest to delight the eye.
So sketched and photographed the fire station as much as I could, given the awkward angle available.
Then to Fred Aldous where I was disappointed in what was available but then discovered - or at least hope I have discovered - that they may have a room available for our putative independent art learning group.  Must email them to night, as I have done the railways property people and also the Friends' Meeting House on the corner of Mount Street.  Fingers crossed we shall succeed in getting a decent sized room for a peppercorn rent.
Then on to the Blyth Gallery, a very small and independent art shop, where I was able to buy some Brusho to experiment with and a small travelling watercolour box for sketching outside.  Something which I may do tomorrow at Dukes 92 and the Castlefield area generally, although I'd really love to do the Roman fort and the stone sheep.  I am also somewhat enamoured of sketching the Beatham Tower, a most unusual and inspiring building to draw.
Mad Best Friend has commenced her chemotherapy and is involved in some intriguing discussions with her fellow chemotherapees, if there is such a word.  She is hoping that the chemo, if it makes her hair fall out, will recompense by giving her thicker hair with curls - it is currently straight and fine.  And if it is red, even better.  her musings, as a result of her co-chemotherapees' observations, have led her to realise that hair everywhere else is likely to disappear and she is now fretting that the hair may reappear thicker and wilder than ever.  If men can buy chest-wigs, I am sure there must be wigs for other parts of the body.  Not that the prospect of wearing such a wig sounds very comfortable, but if it makes her happy....
Dear art tutor has had stuff sent across the Atlantic for her to take part in the trial and it is making her feel very sick indeed but apparently she is able to get out and about and her facebook page makes it sound as if she is becoming more active,, certainly painting again which she has not done for ages.
Spent last Thursday at the MRI A&E again with Beloved Husband - originally a suspected heart attack but later thought to be a pulled chest muscle.  Bit of a puzzle how that happened unless it was lifting the megaton moggy onto his knee?  Who knows.

Slightly better news

Well, dear art tutor has been told the cancer has not spread to her liver, thyroid etc and the news from Belgium is that she is, or has, a mutation which makes her one of only 300 people in the world and only one of one at Christies with this particular form of the disease.  Not sure that it improves her prognosis but it does mean she gets different treatment and she may be considered as part of a trial going on in America (the only place where trials are taking place apparently).  Expect this means they will send stuff over here for her.  She is still receiving some form of treatment, chemotherapy, I think.  So feel it is good news but not celebrating.

Whereas Mad Best Friend has received results of biopsy which indicate stray cells in her lymph glands, therefore aggressive chemotherapy for three months.  Beloved Sister tells me this is good news as only those considered likely for a cure are offered 'aggressive' chemo.  Rather frightening and MBF is understandably apprehensive about it all.  Treatment starts on Thursday but am hoping she will make it to our art workshop on Tuesday evening to elevate her spirits a little. 

had offered to drive her to Wythenshawe Hospital for her treatments and believe me, that was no light offer.  Had to drive Beloved Husband there last week for a meeting with consultant and possible scan.  It's an absolute hellpit to find, Manchester Council - or whoever looks after this area - not deeming it necessary to give any helpful signs indicating whereabouts the hellpit is situated, nor how to get there.  Set off about an hour early and eventually arrived via many many many mistaken routes and with many many many unintelligible directions from people who actually live near the hellpit...aaarrrghghgh!!!  Then when you arrive, there are about fifty different car parking areas, all of which are difficult, if not impossible, to park in if you have a vehicle bigger than Noddy's car, and the parking price!  It cost us £3 to park there for 30 minutes because, as it turned out, the appointment was NOT at Wythenshawe but at bloody Withington Hospital.  Aaarrghghgh again!

Off we trotted to Withington where it cost us £2 to park (graduated parking fees, you see, unlike the hellpit hospital) but thankfully the consultant was happy to see Beloved Husband even though we were over an hour late and the news was brilliant.  No cancerous lump in neck as originally suggested, but an ongoing side effect of neck surgery many years ago.  Indeed it is almost 20 years since he had the radiotherapy and surgery on his neck so he is very very lucky indeede especially as some people in the waiting area had o very obviously had bad news.

Anyway, I digress.  MadBest Friend has discovered next door but one neighbour works at the hellpit hospital and has inveigled her into taking her along at the ungodly hour of 7am and her husband will collect at teatime.  Clever girl.

since last posting, have attended a couple of classes and sketching trips and these will be the last leisure classes that the vile and greedy Manchester Council will ever hold, the bastards.  But they have been good and I hope that our plans to run an independent art class come to fruition.  The problem is when any large group of people get together to organise something, it invariably results in arguments and mayhem.  Let us pray for better things with our planned classes.

Have asked vet about filleting the little feral cat (Errol the Feral) and he is enthusiastic but have had to wait until Darling Daughter available to come here and cat it and stuff it into cat basket and take it along to vet with me.  Tomorrow was the chosen date but as I explained to vet nurse this morning, I am pretty sure that Errol is actually a female (thus Beryl the Feral) who is bulging at the sides with what I am sure are 16 kittens.  Too late for the filleting.  Looks like I shall have to help Beryl with her kitty kindergarten until kitties 4/5 weeks old and then ship her off to the vet and the kitties off to the RSPCA.  No way can I keep loads of kitties....this is what comes of feeding stray cats....

Saw my old workmates on Friday for an excellent gluten-free pizza at Croma.  Good service, good food, great company.  Had been feeling very depressed this week but meeting all the old idiots lifted my spirits immensely.  Love them to bits and can't wait for our next lunch.  Although will have to save up the pennies as am seriously overdrawn - more money going out each month than coming in.  What happened to all the governmental promises over the last 50-odd years that I was paying then what I would be reaping now - luxurious retirement.  Hahahah, yes, that happened alright.  And a wonderful company pension of £250 per year - that's right, per year.

Ah well, as my old mum used to say, there are many in the churchyard who would be glad to be me.  And on that dreary note, I shall stop posting.

Is Belgium the new centre of excellence for lung cancer?

I don't know but do know poor art tutor who has had worst news in the world from Christies - cancer has spread to liver, gall-bladder, thyroid and lymph nodes so no radiotherapy but maybe chemo will be able to help.  Christies are wondering if it might be a mutation (?) so are sending biopsies to Belgium for definitive answer; if it is, it might be possible to control it better.  So fingers crossed for Belgium.  Who'd have thought it?
Got the above news at art class where someone else was waiting to take it for our dear art tutor.  At the same time, we were trying to discuss plans to start up an independent tutor-led art class to take over from MAES when they close the doors on any leisure classes in Manchester.  MAES obviously expecting us all to fall at the first hurdle of starting our own classes, preferably in a MAES classroom.  They of course have other ideas, intending to change the pottery room (with kiln), art rooms, sewing rooms, etc into more ESOL classrooms.  Where is the money coming from for all these damned classes? Why are we paying for classes to make immigrants more attractive on the job market by giving them art/english etc ESOL classes instead of doing this for our home-grown people living on benefits?  Did I sound like the Iron Lady?  Who cares?

All the cuts that Manchester Council are making are to make people scream against the current government so that in fact they are making political statements, not looking after the ratepayers who keep the city solvent.  If they want to go head to head with the government, they should be honest about it, give up their well-paid council jobs and put themselves in the front line by standing as Labour candidates in local and general elections.  But it is so much easier for them to deviously spread their political ideas from a paid position of position.  I don't think any politicians today, of whatever party, has any honesty or integrity.  They are all like pigs at a trough and this is replicated all over the EU world.

Anyway, enough ranting.  Am hoping to see art tutor very soon, perhaps next week, and tomorrow MBF and I go to planthunters' fair at Bramall Hall.

Yesterday new fridge/freezer arrived.  Good fridge area - lots of room for fresh vegetables, etc but freezer exceedingly small with very flimsy drawers.  It's almost like a refrigeration unit of two halves.

Yesterday also, Hattie decided to eat her own poo which upset me beyond all measure.  Bad enough she licks her own bum.  Man at pet shop told me to try mixing a little pineapple in with her food which is meant to deter this kind of behaviour.  how that can work is a mystery but anything is worth a try, as the actress said to the bishop..

Mad news, glad news, sad news...

Since my last posting, had annual general meeting of art group - very tense, much suppressed anger and attempted bullying.  MBF and I and sick art tutor all sitting there coughing and breathless but determined not to be bullied.  Eventually won a reprieve for art group from being forced into either becoming a satellite of the Salford Art Club or taking over responsibility for MAES classes now that Manchester Council has decided leisure classes are simply not important and they can spend their (our) money better on ESOL classes which actually take in art and leisure time facilities but for non-English speakers....some twisted thinking here but as it's rabid Labour Manchester Council, should I be surprised?  Also discovered that one of the MAES paid tutors does lots of art classes in prison.  So prisoners can take leisure classes but not the rate and tax-payers who pay for their time in gaol and for the tutors?  More twisted thinking?  More liberal leftie loonies organising our money and pastimes.

As for art club, much pushing to raise money for permanent base so that everyone can meet on a weekly basis to chat and paint without any guidance from a tutor and with no projects..hmmm.  Again managed to get this put off until September and proposed raise in subscriptions fees deferred until September too.  Might have to take shotgun to next meeting...

Good news for me from consultant who says COPD is mild and that although I am weird, I am not too weird.  Huh?  New inhaler which delightful Dutch pharmacist at MRI demonstrated to me.  Should open up lungs and airways to allow me to get rid of this blasted infection which is still lingering on.  DD
now suffering from terrible sinus problems, nose-bleeds, etc, dizziness.  Hope she will contact GP tomorrow to make a serious attempt at discovering the cause of these problems. 

MBF and I escaped to Fryer's Roses at Mere on Friday as a treat for being ill and for having survived the foul AGM on Monday.  Sent out minutes and got usual snidey reply from Chair.  Grrrr.  Good time at the nursery, bought some plants, had a nice meal and called into The Parsonage to leave flyers for print workshop next month and managed to get home before the hailstones and rain hit us.

DD took cats to vet for annual checkup and jabs, he said they were in fine fettle for old cats (they're 10), suggested tablets to check Hattie's incontinence and agreed to fillet the little feral cat (Errol) if we can catch her during the week when they operate.

Dear art tutor has been diagnosed with lung cancer and the Macmillan nurse told her she had two years at most.  Most surprised, would have thought consultant would have seen her to discuss this.  She has a date at Christies on Wednesday to discuss radiotherapy and chemotherapy.  Cannot really take it in and I think she cannot either.

have arranged for dwarf fridge/freezer to be returned to Tesco and will try to sort something else out with a bit more room in the fridge which I use more than the freezer to house lots of fresh vegetables etc.  And chocolate.

Am desperate for a good recipe for gluten-free pastry.  Bought a proprietary brand last week and made mince pies and they were like rock.  Although since I have put half a stone back on, perhaps I shouldn't be so eager to make and eat more sinful things.  But the gluten-free pizza bases are very good...and must surely be more healthy since the ingredients I am using are all very good and healthy...?

Where to start?

In the intervening time since my last posting, my mad best friend has been diagnosed with a tumour in her lung (never or very rarely smoked) and has since has tumour and top lobe of lung removed, my art tutor has been diagnosed with some sort of lung cancer (has never smoked) or at least they may be able to tell after messing her about for weeks and two biopsies.  What is going on?  I suppose it may simply be that they are diagnosing things earlier and thus one hears more of them.  Same thing has happened with oral cancers and prostate cancers, I think.

MBF pragmatic as the consultant said he thought there would be no further problem - ah where have we heard that before?  MBF's eldest son eminent cancer research doctor  in USA from whence he has requested that the removed tumour be sent to the tumour bank (did you know they had one?  Is it better than HBOS?) so MBF feels he will be doing his own investigations and reporting back to her.  Quite comforting in a way, I suppose.

Poor art tutor frantically worried and who wouldn't be?  She had a brain bleed some years ago necessitating huge operation, has a slight heart problem and is on warfarin - none of which is calculated to make her feel anything other than nervous and worried.  Both awaiting biopsy results due in several weeks - are we short of lab technicians or is there some time period which must elapse before results apparent?  Answers on a postcard.

BH recovering slowly from lung infection but feeling more and more dizzy.  GP says no magic pill to help unfortunately.  He is due for his annual heart check-up this month.

As for me, a nightmare period of night sweats, inflamed sinuses - cue hectic sneezing fits, nose-bleeds, hoarseness.  GP says sinuses viral infection which means must just wait for it to go but lung infection (bacterial) still not wholly cleared and on yet another round of antibiotics so at the moment am experiencing a couple of good days followed by four or five bad ones.  GP suggests a move to the suburbs(!) or the seaside would do us both good as air in Manchester not good......wouldn't that be nice?  Not tenable though.

Animals - ah the disgusting Hattie has been discovered eating cat poo - don't ask.  Completely revolting.  As she eats anything she can find on the field when out walking, am considering buying light muzzle so she can't eat things that are not put on her plate.  No wonders she stinks.   Yuk.

Big cat losing her marbles, little cat losing her appetite, feral cat (Errol) eating us out of house and home.

Art club in disarray as have revolted against Chair who is a bully and an idle sod.  AGM on Monday when all comes to a head like a pulsating pimple.  Shall not be too upset if club disbands or if unseated on committee as MBF and I are quite capable of doing our own thing in regard to group outings and events without being driven mad by committees and their supposed workings.  MBF, DD and I have all rehearsed possible outcomes and speeches but in the end, it will probably turn out quite differently from what we expect.  If I do stay with club and they proceed with intention to turn it into a regular tea party with no tutor, I shall abdicate all responsibility and probably resign.  Which is a shame as we have a couple of lovely things awaiting us in the future.  Hey-ho.

So Monday also dentist day and Wednesday respiratory clinic.  How exciting life gets in one's old age.  At least have done a little painting.  Not much exercise though.

Fridge/freezer packed up - no-one to repair it or at least no-one sensible - so ordered replacement from Tesco.  Disappointment all round.  Not only did they not take away previous FF for eco-disposal but the thing is so small, it qualifies as a dwarf fridge - and no, Happy isn't living in it, nor Doc.  Also door doesn't shut properly on fridge.  Freezer compartments tiny too.  ~So think it will have to go back and this weekend must trawl around to eye up other FFs to see which brand it is I really need.  Was very tempted to get Beko until read reports of faulty wiring causing fires - don 't need that in the refrigeration department - in stove, perhaps.

Am awaiting confirmation from stove installers that they will come and do a survey on our wood stove to find out fault, measure up for replacement gas stove and eye up chimney etc and possibly decide if they wish to buy back stove to tart up and resell.  Wish they'd be quick as CH on all day and every day since beginning of Feb and when I tried to read the meters, they seem to have gone mad and on-line meter readings refused!  Calamity.  Am awaiting phone call from energy suppliers for advice.

DD and partner looking at houses to buy this weekend and she is getting traumatised by bad estate agents, etc.  More anon

More of the same

Yes, a quick whizz back to MRI in ambulance because no sleep since last posting, coughing all night long, sneezing, sweating - half dead for lack of sleep and banging headache with coughing.

Again A&E consultant very helpful.  Determind that I had irritable or excitable airways (hmm) and provided yet another inhaler with steroids (the purple whizzer in addition to the crackpipe) and another round of vicious antibiotics.  Thus another week of all of the previus symptoms but last night, I had an uninterrupted night's sleep with no irritating or excitable symptoms.  Thank God.  It's impossible to describe to how debilitating it is to have your system stripped so thoroughly of all good and bad bacteria which fill your entire gut with thrush and to have little sleep to help you combat it.  Antibiotics led to throwing up, no appetite (incredible.  Beloved Husband has always said that the only way to tell if I'm dead or asleep is if I am not eating).  Lost one stone.

But Beloved Sister hightailed down from Scotland to help Darling Daughter (who is nearly bowlegged with running around the country on work things to keep coming back and cleaning and caring for me and Beloved Husband who is also on his sixth round of antibiotics for this bloody recurring chest infection) coax me back into the land of the living, wrap me up and take me out for short trips (mainly to Sainsburys but who cares), make me laugh, make me eat, and help me to make sense of all the jabbering that has been going on with GPs, hospitals, etc.  Bless their little cotton socks - love them both so much, I can hardly speak with gratitude.

Anyway desperately missed art classes, sketching trips, spring exhibition but hey-ho.  Hope to continue on an upward trend from today.  Fingers crossed.

An even longer gap and more eventful

Well birthday celebrated most gloriously with Beloved Sister sneaking down from Scotland a day early to surprise me (and to cause huge confusion to Darling Daughter).  Darling Daughter had taken me out to Jamie's for lunch which was lovely, a great manicure and a general saunter around.  Tired though. Can't remember now what lovely meal Beloved Sister cooked when she arrived but know it was spot on.

Next day we were out at La Vina for the most yummy mezze - though the anchovies weren't as exciting as I had hoped and Sister had to eat most of them.

The following day, Sister cooked a scrumptious meal for me and Darling Daughter and on the Thurday, we met Beloved Sister's No 2 Best Friend, again in La Vina.  Followed by yet another meal at Jamie's for reading group, surrounded by loads of lovely presents and lots and lots of prosecco.  Yuuuummmmy.  But pride goes before a fall....

Can't remember now what I did on the Friday as was feeling very poorly with harsh cough and wheezing as I had all the previous week, and this continued until the early hours of Tuesday morning when Beloved Husband took me to MRI in an ambulance.  Such impressive service.  Test after test after test in a slick organised fashion, having everything explained to me by a perfectly gorgeous and and compassionate Indian lady A&E consultant.  What a star.  By tea-time, in between further x-rays and tests, was on a ward strapped to an oxygen mask nodding off because  had had little sleep for several days.  Just slid into a coma-like sleep when nurses came in, turfed me out (at 11.30pm!) into another ward where they dispensed with oxygen, gave me a nebuliser and left me to drift off.  Bliss..

What cracking staff on AM2!  professional, caring, knowledgeable, patient - I could go on but these ladies are as good as it gets.  Doctors, nurses, support staff, all really great and ready to go the extra mile.  And what about the food?

FOOD?  They serve something but it can NEVER be classed as food.  As someone with gluten intolerance, I looked in dismay at the week's menus (well, it's the same menu all bloody year long) provided by some abysmal firm down south.  Every dish is surrounded by huge lagoons of crappy sauce made with yes, you've guessed it - wheat flour and yeast - my two most favourite intolerances. Although of course there is no list of ingredients on the microwave plates served to patients....wonder how people with nut allergies go on?
 Sandwiches made days ago no GF bread, my dear.  Well, a salad then?  Salads all obviously prepared many many many days ago with shitty tasting meat (didn't check but it could have been horse; damn, it could have been Dolly the sheep for the taste of it, pure salt) tomatoes tasting of fertiliser and lettuce that should have been ploughed back into the ground.  It's like becoming Hercules Poirot to try and find any meal on this  lacklustre "menu" which is made with fresh ingredients, and which has any value on the vitamin content.  Not much chance of making a speedy recovery from the wholesome food we expect in hospitals.  Why does the government encourage Jamie Oliver (ok so I like Jamie - a lot) to try and change school meals when they allow this shit to be serv ed in hospitals?  So all the nursing staff have to stand around a HUGE microwave over heating this tripe through.  A fantastic use of trained nursing staff's time.  Not only does heat not improve these blobs of fat and flour, it makes it full of condensation and thus watery as well  - mmmm tasty.  Would have thought it cheaper to continue with in-house catering, providing small number of healthy options rather than this huge list of fatty, floury, vile-tasting "meals".

Well, food not the problem of the staff who thankfully are infinitely superior to the accountants/cheapos who make decisions on food.  If I had the power, i would make the entire board of the MRI eat these bloody "meals" for a month in front of a camera crew and show it on the wards.  If they aren't sick within a week, they're cheating.

So yes, other things more important than food but this whole flour and yeast thing impacted dreadfully on me, not only in hospital but in the ten days since I came home, thus even more medicines etc.

Anyway the other inhabitants of the side bay were pretty hilarious in their own ways and provided me with entertainment during the long night watches...another story for the future perhaps.

A looonngg interval between posts

caused mainly by chest infections (BH and me), cold weather - I think our energy bill will be through the roof this winter as BH really feeling the cold.  Bedroom is something like Hawaii without the surfers and the beach.  Four hot water bottles in bed every night since September, heating on 24 hours and the darling little wood stove doing it very best to pumps out heat on us.  Dog and cats revelling in it.  My eyes are like Sahara desert and have to keep using artifical tears to stay hydrated.

Life has been a bit dreary - hate those grey days but we have had a fair amount of freezing but sunny days which are such a joy.  And we have been so lucky in the north west not to have all the floods and snow that have been inflicted on other areas.

Thankfully had hair cut and coloured last week and feel like a newly shorn piece of old mutton.  Always good when the length of hair is shorter and new style and colour much more sympathetic to the great age which I shall achieve soon, God willing.  Appear to be going out quite a lot to dine in celebration which is always good.

Have been feeling a bit down with all the damned committee stuff thrown up by art group but have decided to go my own way - that wasn't really a decision though, was it?  I always go my own way and throw a tantrum when others don't accede to my wishes, spoilt old trout that I am!  But lots of exciting exhibitions and workshops arranged and it will be good to see it all come together.

Hattie the Smellie is being very naughty; not only does she hoover up any stray crumbs dropped from the table but she scoops up any stray cat food left lying around and scavenges the most horrible crap from the field where we take our daily walks.  So for the last couple of mornings I have been confronted by huge amounts of smelly disgusting poo - not pleasant and not fair to cats whom I was originally inclined to blame.  And the farting is appalling.  I can't resist her Dobby ears and sad eyes though.

Then big cat decided to steal a sausage from under grill where it was keeping warm and later in the day helped herself to some steak from the casserole dish!  Something she has never done before.  Is Hattie teaching her to become a cat burglar or did she always have the knowledge but not the balls, as it were? 

Beloved sister coming to stay for a few days so must clean up or will fail the inspection!

Herding cats

is easier than trying to organise committees particularly when one person tries to bulldoze everyone else into her scheme of things.  Always hard to jolly eeryone along into some semblance of agreement and harmony.  So the art group isn't running as smoothly as I would wish but mainly because of the one member so not much to grumble about.  Especially as we seem to have hit the mother lode for our exhibition later in the year - it's very exciting and I hope it all turns out to be as good as we think it may.   So committee meeting next week when it will be like herding cats to get anyone to vote properly or stick to the agenda.  But it's fun when it's over and we get down to the artistic bits and pieces.  and of course if I am truthful, I am just as one-track minded as the other party so should not complain - hahaha, that just sounded so insincere.

So what's new pussycat?  Trying to make more room in study/studio ready for visit from art tutor on Saturday.  Back to classes tomorrow and Thursday.  Mammogram Thursday too and must arrange eye test and hearing test - oh it's all go, innit?

pastels workshop on Friday which I really hope will be fun.  If it is boring, I shall be cross cross cross.  I should love to arrange a printing workshop but the tutor can only make early evening and it's hard to sort out suitable venue and drum up enthusiasm for that time of evening.

Am looking forward to being taken out for lunch on my birthday by old friend, her daughter and my daughter.  Jamie's, naturally.  Then we were to go there again on the Monday evening with a different group but that has all fallen through rather as not everyone could make the date.  Beside BS is coming down on the Monday to spend a day or two with me so it will be nice to go out with her, and perhaps one of her friends.  Also to see DD on the Wednesday.  She is batting around the country like some free range shuttlecock as she is covering two people's jobs again.  This recession is really hell for the few people who are actually working as they seem to be expected to cover every missing job without complaint and to expect no time of their own.  These MPs should be forced to actually do other people's work for an entire month with no help or extra pay and see how they like to travel a mile in someone else's shoes. 

DD says MBF and I should form a focus group for some of our concerns instead of ranting and raving about everything in sight but would it do any good?  Would anyone listen?  Who knows?  I shall go to sleep and hope that the answer is revealed to me in a dream.  If it was good enough for the prophets, it should be good enough for me.