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Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments" - Episode 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
Above is where we went swimming today. I can think of worse places...
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful GG. Sounds like you're having a wonderful break.
ReplyDeleteThanks Zoetrope, back home now!
DeleteBut FAR more importantly - at some point in the last 24 hours our little blog has reached a milestone. We have now had over 500,000 views since it's inception!!! Cheers Ruthy, and congratulations....🎆🎆🎆
ReplyDeleteOh my! That photo is gorgeous. Glad you’ve had a lovely break away. What a milestone .....many thanks to Ruthy, and now you Gary of course.
ReplyDeleteMiriam I am keeping my fingers crossed for your cat. The worry you must be feeling!
What a lovely place to swim. Congrats Ruthy and Gary on the blog!!
ReplyDeleteWow that’s a great news GG, we’ve been so lucky Ruthy launching her “lifeboat” and now your good self helping her to keep us afloat. So very grateful to you both 👏🏻
ReplyDeleteSuper pic - can hardly believe your break has been and now gone 😳 already!
Congratulations Suz on your happy adoption. I love happy stories and hope you have a lovely life together. Welcome Pumpkin.
ReplyDeleteI found tonight's Natasha/Eddie conversation amusing. She was 'outwitted' I think.
Thank you both,Ruthy and Gary for our” RAGA “ blog .
ReplyDelete500,000 views -amazing.
Ruthy and Gary thanks for keeping us going. 😘
ReplyDeleteMiriam, I am sending you lots of positive thoughts. You are realistic and courageous about her future, but it is still worrying nonetheless.
Miriam, I too feel for you. It's never "easy" in that situation. Sending nice thoughts to you both...
DeleteOn a different subject entirely - has anyone on here ever done jury duty? I have been summoned to the High Court in Glasgow. I am to call this evening after 5pm to find out if I am to attend tomorrow. I must admit it's making me a little nervous - on the one hand I understand and applaud the very fact that we are lucky enough to live in a country that has had a proper judicial system for hundreds of years and everyone has a part to play in that, but worried that I may have to sit through months of unimaginable horror. As it's the High Court I assume it's a very serious crime that is being alleged and trials can go on for months.
ReplyDeleteOn a purely selfish note, the thought of being "trapped" with strangers (fellow jurors) every day and possibly having to deal with idiots is already making me angry!!! Will spend the day in the garden to take my mind off it...
I too have done Jury Service and I loved it! Mind you I was an 'at home' Mum then before I started teaching so it was an exciting change from the school run, cooking and shopping.
DeleteI was lucky that I was called for service on my first day. My name appeared to be the first out of the hat! We heard a case of driving without due care, insurance tax etc but it went on over three days. Two afternoons we were sent home because discussions were going to be had 'in the absence of the jury.' I went for lunch with a group of the jurors at a pub and had quite a jolly time.
I cannot say whether the guy was found guilty or not because my husband (now ex) had a 'turn' and disappeared for twenty four hours so after being up all night ringing hospitals and the police I had to call in saying I probably wouldn't be able to stay awake during the day. The judge was very kind and understanding and excused me. He said the trial would continue with eleven jurors. I never forgave my ex after that but that's a whole different story.
Like Lanjan says if the trial is going to be complicated and or long the rules are different nowadays and only people who are willing and able to give up careers etc for two or three months are selected.
Go for it. It is fascinating whilst sitting in the jury box but boring waiting around for proceedings so as Lanjan says take a good book!
I have done Jury Service Gary and found it a most interesting experience.
ReplyDeleteIf it is a really serious crime which can go on for months you would be able to opt out of that particular trial.
I always think in that case one would not have a properly representative Jury though.
In England one is called initially for two weeks and could of course go for all that time and not be called.
Take a good book in case that happens to you.
You may be sent home in the afternoon if that happens
We were given expenses and a lunch time meal allowance.
Good Luck.
I bet you will be glad you were called.
What a wonderful place to go wild swimming!
ReplyDeleteMe too Gary.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting and illuminating about my fellow citizens.
I did my two weeks at The Borough which is the central London main court below the High Court.
I remember covering two trials both not too serious, but it was the experience of being part of a group of strangers, very mixed in age and social differences, most of whom were intent on doing their civic duty.
I was impressed.
I have very strong views about civic duty and feel very angry when I encounter people who opt out of jury service.
This includes a woman that I worked for who constantly complained about minor criminal misdeeds, yet when called to jury service immediately engaged her lawyer to 'get her out of doing it'.
Yes if it's a very serious case it can go on for months.
Many years ago a friend was the chairman of the jury that tried the first very big fraud case at the High Court which did continue for months I believe.
Best to view it as an opportunity to extend your interest and understanding of the human condition, as well as the privilege of playing your part as a citizen in the oldest and fairest system devised by man, thus far.
And certainly take a good book, possibly a favourite to re read as you may have many interruptions.
Good luck tomorrow Gary.
Very envious of your wild swimming venue.
ReplyDeleteI hope I shall find some places in Cornwall as I now have a date to visit.
Next week.
Nothing better than a good old wild swim is there? Mind you, I remember the days when we just used to call it "swimming"....!!!
DeleteJuries need intelligent thinking people on them so go Gary. I had to opt out when called for jury service in Cornwall when working in Wales, but I did sometimes attend court as part of my work, usually for lesser crimes e.g. the after Christmas court appearances for parents on low incomes shoplifting for presents for their children. I have fond memories of a dear old homeless bundle of rags who broke a shop window deliberately to be in the warm with cooked food and washed clothes for a month or so over Christmas. Judges and Magistrates can vary in their understanding and humanity. I accompanied a mother in debt to a Court where all the debtors were called en bloc so it was humiliatingly public and with the press there, and I was infuriated by the Magistrate who obviously came from the very well off echelons of society and had no grasp of what real poverty is like and he told each one off as if they were children. So yes you may find things to make you angry but do your best to remain calm and objective, and like Lanjan I think you will be glad you went.
ReplyDeleteYou won't be able to tell us anything while the trial is on but maybe afterwards you could let us know your thoughts on it.
So far Gary, four different expressions of experiences of doing Jury Service.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you are called and like us four find it a rewarding experience.
500,000 views to coincide with the Ambridge Conservation Trust to be open to all residents of Ambridge, we must qualify as virtual inhabitants, shall we put in a bid?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to the CEO and her Chief of Staff and all the contributors.
I would be honoured and feel privileged to do jury service, but as yet, I have never been asked. There is still time though.
ReplyDeletePS Puss-cat appeared much brighter as soon as I woke up today. She is eating better (but not as much), not been sick, and is certainly more her usual self. I am still monitoring her closely and unlike yesterday, I have no major cause for concern, at this moment in time.
😺😺
DeleteGood news, Miriam. Sometimes, like all of us, cats have off days, but get over it naturally.
DeletePleased to hear the news Miriam .
DeleteMiriam SO pleased 🤗 to read better news of puss, I have just quickly passed over all comments from the newest to find the latest news from you.
DeleteI will now happily catch up in proper order.
Gary. I have never done jury service but have been to court on many occasions, in a professional capacity of course. I learnt a few tricks to avoid being confronted by barristers who can be obnoxious. It is interesting to observe the delineation of the various professional, social and class constructs in society.
ReplyDeleteFascinating process and hasn’t changed for a long time.
One thing I remembered about my Jury Service Experience was that a young man who was in Court I think for theft was obviously unable to read and was therefore guessing at the words which were put in front of him.
ReplyDeleteWe had found him guilty (minor theft) but the Judge said he was not going to be punished but he was going to make sure he had lessons so that he could learn to read and write.
I was impressed and pleased about that.
In another case we jurors actually tried to act out (privately) what the Accused said happened to see if it was likely!
It was great fun.
Love your picture GG - thanks. I also did my 2 wks jury service, back in a previous life v. 35 yrs ago. Certainly a lot of hanging around! Had 3 cases, very different, the last was quite hard, domestic child abuse. The accused was quite plausible, evidence slimmish, after much animated discussion the jury reached the correct decision. The details that emerged after conviction were distressing, however I'm very pleased to have been able to do my bit.
ReplyDeleteMyriam - 🐱 fingers crossed she's on the mend..
I might not have been called for jury duty, but I have had a court experience. This was giving evidence in a Coronors Court, at an inquest. My next door but one neighbour vanished. Her body was found a week later, washed up in the Mersey estuary. I was the last person (found) who saw her alive, and I could describe her clothing, (which she was wearing when found), her movements on that morning, which were strange.It was an open verdict and very upsetting for her parents + family, as there was no closure.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there was a late Saturday night major incident in a nearby rental property, and I could provide vital info. I made an official police statement and was due to go to court to give evidence. Luckily, the trial was cancelled 24hours before-hand, as pleas were changed to guilty.
I was relieved, and as I had to book a day off work as holiday, I had extra free day.
I was on a jury at Plymouth Crown Court. The case was sexual assault of a 13 year old girl by boyfriend of her mother. On the first day was convinced he was guilty and then after hearing evidence from mother and daughter totally without emotion from either of them and unconvincing I was not the only member of the jury that felt they were framing him. On the third day he suddenly produced a knife and threatened to kill himself in front of the whole courtroom. We were released from the room and he was disarmed but the judge said there would have to be a retrial as after that we could not be expected to reach a verdict. I never knew what happened in the retrial but the irony was that we would probably have found him not guilty. We then had another case which the judge dismissed as he did not feel there was enough accurate evidence as a woman had identified the man although she hadn’t seen him in years and had seen him just by the light of a street lamp! So we never did get to reaching a verdict! Now that the age for jury service has been raised to 75 I wouldn’t mind being called again as in spite of the traumas it is very interesting. Go for it, Gary! Oh, forgot to say the girl in the first case was the same age as my daughter at the time so it was a bit delicate for me! However it did transpire that this lass was as hard as nails!
ReplyDeleteEv What an interesting post.
DeleteMy Big Sis + Hubbie, are planning a hol. in the IOW in October. Where are good places to stay, as are walkers + bird enthusiates, so want to combine both these activities? Any ideas would be useful, which I pass on.
Will check with my daughter tomorrow, Miriam. Out of the top of my head would have said the south of the island. Will get back to you!
DeleteHave had a thought. Was recently told about Newtown nature reserve which is off the Newport to Yarmouth road and run by the National Trust. There are good walks and have just googled and there are bird hides. It’s on the way to the Needles, Tennyson Down and a lovely part of the island to the south. There are lots of places to stay in the vicinity and suggest they google it.
DeleteMy daughter took me over to Newtown and the nature reserve a couple of years back.
DeleteVery different to the rest of the island.
Incredibly quiet and peaceful even for the island.
Miriam, many walkers stay at the hostel at Freshwater.
A couple known to me who live in Austria regularly holiday there and walk the island.
There is also of course the IOW Walking Festival, very popular now. I would think it worth looking at the festival web site.
Miriam
DeleteIt's HF Holidays
Freshwater Bay House
If your relatives are experienced walkers they probably know of this holiday provider.
I've known various people throughout my life who have had holidays with this company.
I've just googled and remembered why we went to Newtown.
DeleteTwo reasons.
I had read a small piece, I think in The Lady magazine, about the Old Town Hall, a medieval building, and wanted to see it.
And nearby in the woods is a Grand Designs House, that I also wanted to see.
And did !
Off to court I go, now strangely looking forward to it. Still have no idea whether we in Scotland are "on call" for two weeks as it is in England - the website could be clearer! But one major difference is that we are the only country in the world to have the option of delivering a third verdict - that of "not proven"!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you are more positive GG , keep us posted, but not of course about the case.
DeleteThinking of you now Gary at nearly 11.30.
DeleteI do hope that you are ensconced in the jury box listening intently to proceedings rather than sitting with your book, waiting to be called.
Thanks all for the info. about the IOW, which I will pass on. They are good walkers + "twitchers" - but Hubbie has to be a bit more careful - the one who is awaiting a heart procedure. He has an appoint at Broadgreen, Liverpool in Sept. to discuss this and sort dates. They feel that this will not happen very quickly, His meds are working fine + he is back working, playing golf etc. but gets very tired. They have had to cancel a dream "bird watching, in holiday to The Sechelle Islands, to celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary where they spent their honeymoon. They haven't lost their deposit, just transferred it to the same holiday, 12months later, as bookings already being taken for Oct.2020.
ReplyDeleteJust back from the RHS Tatton Flower Show. There are fewer show gardens each year apparently due to the difficulty in finding sponsors but we still had a lovely day. The Young Designer of the Year gardens were excellent, much better than last year I thought. The school gardens were of a very high standard and I enjoyed listening to the children telling us about their gardens, particularly one little boy who was determined to tell us all about the project while trying to eat his ice cream before it melted!
ReplyDeleteHi. I have spent many a wonderful day there. I sadly haven't been for quite a few years now, as I found it so crowded so I was not able to see as much as I wanted to. Also the traffic on leaving - 2 hours to leave Tatton + Knutsford - which is so close to me, in spite of knowing some shortcuts!
DeleteDid you see the garden dedicated Dianne Oxburry, the NW TV presenter, who died earlier this year??
I saw this on the local news this morning, and it looked lovely, with the sunflowers grown by local schoolchildren. I have watched these plants grow in the schools, on my local news.
We did see the Dianne Oxburry garden, it was a lovely tribute to her.
DeleteOn the subject of gardens, I am enjoying the Ch.5 series (Tues). The Great Gardening Challenge.
ReplyDeleteI think though, that a lot goes on with help etc. "Off Camera" to fit the programme and the final outcome with the gardens - in other words, a lot of "jiggery-pokery" - if that's the right phrase.
I enjoy it, none the less.
I worked hard in my garden today, lawns mowed, edges cut, shrubs and other plants hacked back, a "tree" pruned.. and so on. One job led to another, but as it is now pouring with rain, I am so glad I did. My "green bin" is now overflowing, but it will be emptied on Friday.
DeleteTA, meal, and a long soak in my jet bath, is my evening tonight. I will also finish reading my book - The Seagull by Anna Cleeves (a "Vera" story) which I still haven't worked out! 📖🔎
I forgot to mention that seeing and hearing Adam Frost in the flesh at Tatton was an added bonus.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky 😀😆😆
DeleteMy best was Monty Don...as said many years ago!
Ooh. Cheshire, I’m very jealous. I think he’s fab. 😍
ReplyDeletemignon ! 😍
DeleteI WAS selected to be on the jury. Trial is estimated to last about a week. It's all horribly, horribly grim...
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that Gary but at least whoever is being tried has at least one sensible person to hear his or her side of whatever grim story it is.
ReplyDeleteHope it is not too harrowing.
Look on the Brightside GG it is only expected to last a week, it could have been for longer. Thoughts are with you, you shouldn't have to do it again and you can drown your sorrows when its over
ReplyDelete!!
Well done Gary.
ReplyDeleteHowever grim it may be, you are doing your civic duty along with eleven others.
I hope you are a mixed bunch, because each of us as individuals have life experiences to bring to the table, however intellectually bright or challenged we might be.
And everybody's opinion is valid, however dim we might conceive them to be.
And make sure you relax each evening. Don't allow the harrowing stuff you have to hear to infect you personally.
Can see it might be a harrowing week, Gary, but hope you find it interesting as well, in a way.
ReplyDeleteNever been called for jury service, but imagine the really difficult part, in some cases, when it comes to the crunch at the end, is to maintain a cool objectivity, assessing the given evidence. A situation where personal experience, likes & dislikes, can mislead & distort.
Reading your post Carolyn has made me remember that I really learned cool objectivity by doing Jury service.
DeleteBeing objective was not a new concept for me at the time but I think the circumstances and being with strangers in a situation where it was evident that objectivity was paramount really embedded the concept.
I've also remembered now that arguing for objectivity from others on the jury led to me being elected as the foreman on the next case.
As I was only in my early forties at the time I was flattered to be elected.
I am looking foward to seeing the RHS Tatton Show on BBC2 tonight. This will be good memories for Cheshire Cheese and I wonder if she is in the background somewhere?
ReplyDeleteOnly she will know + tell.
I was at Salford Quays after a show at The Lowry Theatre. On the way back to the car, filming was happening in the Blue Peter Garden, so we stopped + watched. I later saw this programme via i-player, and yes, I could spot myself in the background. My claim to fame to being on TV. 💻🎥🤣
Who else has been on TV - either planned or accidental?
I bet there are interesting stories to be told, and I would love to read about them.
I have been on radio though.
DeleteI used to sing and a concert I was in as participant in the chorus, was broadcast on R3.
Also on a trip to a Solheim Cup golf match, a reporter was staying in the same hotel as I was. We got on well, but I had no idea what this person did. The following day, I found out, as I did an interview whilst following a vital match. I was very surprised to later find out that it had been broadcast on R5 sports. I did later hear it, and I so wished I hadn't. I sounded like Miss Piggy! 🐷🐷
No such claims to fame Miriam and I'm hoping not to be on TV in the background, I did try and make sure I wasn't in front of the cameras at any time.
Delete.....unlike others!
DeleteMy brief TV appearance, was purely accidental. We were just watching a recording happening, which was fun to watch, esp.when things had to stop when a tram came in.
DeleteI was just curious to see that episode, having seeing it being recorded - what with the many cameras, the re-takes, the stops + starts with the trams. No way did I try to be in shot, far from it!!
PS The concert I sang in, was recorded at the Liverphool Phiharmonic Hall. I sang with their choir which was accompanied by the Liverpool Phil orchestra. The Sea Symphony by Vaughan Williams...
DeleteThis is still a memorable event and had a standing ovation, from the full house..Aah memories...
wonderful! Behold, the sea ......
DeleteI was on Time Team once. I had gone on a dig in York with Katy. I was partnered with a 17 year old lad whose mother had made him take part to keep him occupied in the summer holidays. We did find a medieval pot! I wasn’t starring in the program being a distant pink t shirted apparition!
DeleteI've been on Woman's hour two or three times years ago when they did phone ins, long before ' tweet tweet ' and I did a radio interview as a mature student too.
DeleteI was also part of the opening sequence, dancing, for one of the early ' gay' television programmes. Can't remember what the programme was called though.
We were extras on Doc Martin for a couple of series some years back. It was a lot of fun. You had to be there early in the morning, but they provided breakfast and dinner and tea from their mobile canteen, and you could be there late until they had what they called "a wrap" when they finished. You took a book as a lot of the time you were just waiting to be called, and you got paid £50 a day. Martin Clunes is a lovely, genuinely naturally funny man, and he has contributed to the local community as a way of saying thanks for the inconvenience filming can cause in tiny villages.
DeleteThe first time I went Victoria who was in charge of the extras and costumes instructed us all to come in the next day wearing old fashioned clothes, and then said to me "Jan you are okay you just come in what you are wearing!!" 🤣
Before that when the children were young we were all in a period drama for the cinema that was filmed partly in Cornwall and partly in New Zealand. The costumes were beautiful and women had to wear corsets, and I am very glad we don't have to wear them nowadays as you couldn't breathe properly.
It was very interesting and I learnt a lot about filmmaking.
P.s. one day I was called in on standby just in case an actress unused to shotguns bottled out of firing it. I didn't look like her but I think they would just have had a close up of my arms and the gun.
DeleteP.p.s. I hasten to add I don't shoot animals but my dad taught me to shoot when young.
DeleteThat's fascinating, Janice, what experiences. I take it the actor didn't bottle out, so your shooting skills were not displayed?
DeleteReading Janice's lovely tale of filming in Cornwall has brought back memories that I had temporarily forgotten.
DeleteWhen we lived in Malmesbury the ancient courtroom was used for the court scenes in the film Winstanley. Kevin Brownlow and Andrew Mollo are fastidious in their historical accuracy and the local AmDram group were contacted to become the extras all dressed in shabby period costume.
Women were allowed to be present in the courtroom but not allowed to speak,
however since the subject was about dissent, activism and rebellion I was given one line. ' let them speak ' !
My husband did some extra scenes a few weeks later, somewhere in Oxfordshire as an itinerant preacher, but I don't think his scenes ever made it out of the cutting room.
This film is regularly shown in special screenings at the NFT, rarely in any commercial cinema.
I often see my dad on television.
DeleteIn his retirement he worked with the Corps of Commissioners, always in uniform.
He regularly did Wimbledon, and one year was the security for one of the very young players who was mobbed by fans. I think it was Boris Becker (?) as he was leaving the court.
This clip is often shown during Wimbledon fortnight and I enjoy seeing my dad again, since he died in 1980.
If it wasn't BB perhaps someone can correct me.
Yes you are right Caroline, but I still got paid which was nice!
DeleteOMG It is still only July, but I have just seen a TV advert for Christmas gifts, decorations + trees.....
ReplyDeleteI can't say what I feel about this.😣
Loved your story Janice.
ReplyDeleteI have always liked Martin Clunes
He was filming near where I live not too long ago.
I watched the programme even though I didn’t really agree with it being made.!!
Yes I know that sounds odd.
It was about the Milly Dowler murder and how a detective played by MC solved it.
I just thought that it was too close to the event for it to have been screened but I still watched it.
GG , now you can relax and hopefully put the case behind you till Monday, enjoy your weekend.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of you too Gary.
DeleteDon't tell us anything you shouldn't but it would be good to know how it's going.
I have had a lot of torrential rain today. My back lawn became a "pond", all my flowers are now battered onto the ground, and the gutters could't cope, so water flowed over! I have new guttering, which go into my neighbours, where the downpipes are. These are obviously blocked, so water couldn't run freely so I have had rain water pouring over and wetting the brickwork of my home.
ReplyDeleteWhy do I maintain my house, when others don't, yet I suffer the consequences!!
Rant Over...😀
To explain. I live in a semi- where the downpipes for the joint front + back roof guttering is on my neighbours property. My house has been the one affected with rainfall, after spending a lot on maintenance and attention. I am not happy. 😥😟
DeleteGather these are the quarrelsome neighbours so probably not interested in maintenance! You can get plastic baskets to put on top of drainpipes to prevent leaves etc blocking them. Maybe buy them a present! They would take umbrage though. What a knotty problem for you.
DeleteAfter two months in the general hospital, where until as recently as two weeks ago, they were still trying to discharge Mr S into my care with no help at night, there has been a sudden outbreak of common sense and he was transferred to a nursing home this morning.
ReplyDeleteWhat a difficult time you've both endured these last months, Sarnia. Glad to hear there is a workable outcome now for Mr S.
DeleteUnfortunately, can see there might have a wait for a nursing home place, but if 24hr care is needed, how could it be imagined for moment you could cope with that on your own, without becoming ill/severely exhausted. All the best to you both.
Thinking of you and yours. Hope that the nursing home is not too far away so you can visit easily. It should be much more restful than being in hospital.
DeleteSorry to hear of all your troubles Sarnia and that you now have the desired outcome that meets Mr S and his needs. Thinking of you both.
ReplyDeleteSarnia, you and Mr S are in my thoughts. May you both remain brave and supported during this time of tumultuous change. I can only imagine the range of emotions that each of you will be feeling, now and in the future,, but you can rest assured that every single one of them is valid and necessary. I wish you both well.
DeleteSarnia, just popped in briefly to catch up with what people have been up to, and have been reading about your problems.
ReplyDeleteI feel very guilty for not keeping up and commenting before. Not because I don’t care, but because I was unaware, not being a regular reader of the non-archers blog.
I am so relieved to hear that Mr S is now going to be looked after in the nursing home and that you will get some respite from all the worries you must have been experiencing. My very good wishes to you both and I hope you manage to relax a little now that you know he is settled in safe hands.
Pleased to hear your news Sarnia.
ReplyDeleteHope everything works out well for you both and that you manage to look after yourself as well .
I am also just looking in after a gap. Sarnia, adding my thoughts and wishes to those above and I hope you are able to breathe out a little now Mr S has the support he needs. I can only imagine how difficult it has been and hope you both continue to receive support and strength.
ReplyDeleteGary, all the best with the jury service. I did it about 15 years ago and, as Mrs P says, the difficult part, as well as hearing the details of a grim situation, was trying as a group to assess what really happened and not be swayed by value judgment or how the defendants presented themselves “I think they are guilty - they are very cheeky”. In the end, although I did not chair the discussion, I found myself volunteering to deliver the verdict, which was actually that we had not reached one!
On a lighter note I have really enjoyed the film stories. Janice, Port Isaac is lovely and I enjoy watching Doc Martin - I believe another series has been filmed.
Mrs P, how lovely to see your father on TV, and your own claim to fame... and everyone else who has had a moment. I have been at Chelsea when they were filming but not on camera. Interesting to see how they do it.
Sarnia, a head and heart situation! Your head I’m sure accepts Mr S situation and the necessity for his professional care now - not least for your own health to remain stable, but emotionally a time of great adjustment and my heart goes out to you both and my thoughts very much with you as I’m sure are those of all your (virtual) friends here on our blog 🙏🏼 🌹
ReplyDeleteHe had been in and out of hospital since early March, and almost permanently in since the beginning of May. A 'fast track' placement was instigated about 2 weeks ago, but the first six nursing homes on the list turned him down as too complicated a case for their resources. Thankfully, this one is within the city boundary ( several were miles away and inaccessible by public transport), but it will still take me an hour and two buses to get there.
ReplyDeleteRuthy, I hope you are taking the necessary precautions in light of the scary heat in your part of the world. Maybe just laying in front of the air-con?
ReplyDeleteSame here Ruthy. Stay 😎 cool.
DeleteSarnia. I do appreciate how exhausting it is to battle for the one you love and care for. I am sending you my best wishes.
ReplyDeleteSarnia, my best wishes to you from afar.
ReplyDeleteRuthy - stay cool!! hot hot here again next week..
ReplyDeleteSending best wishes for the both of you Sarnia. Take care of yourself also.
ReplyDeleteHadn’t heard it was hot in Ruthys area. Hope you are chillin’ Ruthy!
I’m thinking of you being like Henry Fonda in 12 angry men, Gary!! Good luck.
Or Tony Hancock in a version of same ptby 😂😂😂
DeleteI saw the delicious Martin Shaw on stage in 12 Angry Men at Malvern Theatre when we lived in Ledbury. We had some good theatre there.
ReplyDeleteMartin Shaw - just love him.
DeleteSarnia.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are with you + Mr.S. It is so very difficult having to travel to hosps + elsewhere to see a very loved person.
All I say is - stay strong, make sure you eat properly, sleep, and have some quality R+R to yourself.
I have been in an a similar situation, but only with a parent not a partner.
This was difficult enough, so I understand.
Perhaps, a friend can take you to visit on occaisions, and an occasional taxi.
I used to visit 6 days a week. On my absent day, I arranged other visitors to visit.
Take Care 🤗😍
Hello Sarnia,
ReplyDeleteAt last you have had the time and space to contact us to let us know how things have been.
I am so pleased to hear that at last there is some space for YOU in your life.
But of course now it is a new chapter to come to terms with.
But the two bus journeys taking an hour will give you some thinking time.
I used the fifteen minutes walk to the nursing home to prepare myself for the inevitable changes each day.
It has clearly been a very trying and painful few months, and I have little doubt that your S in L has been an added burden to your personal load.
I also hope that that organ and the responsibilities that accompany it as well as the space enclosing it have given you strength to get through it all.
If on the other hand that part of your life has had to take second place, then I hope that you will be in a position to embrace it again soon.
As you can see, you have many friends here willing to support you.
Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteNever a true word - there are many friends here to talk to + help.
Thank you. The organ music in worship is the core of my being, providing an oasis of normality in an increasingly chaotic world and a source of great strength. I'm surrounded and supported by good friends who ensure that it remains possible for me to keep it up, as well as helping with the transport.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are with you + Mr S.
DeleteHow lovely you have spared your time to reply + keep your many "virtual" friends here, as to your situation.
I am sure that I am not the only one, who is thinking of you.
Best wishes, Sarnia. I know how it feels to have a husband who is in these circumstances and the strain of visiting along with keeping up with the day to day responsibilities. I’m glad you have support from friends.
ReplyDeleteEv,I have started the book you recommended about life beginning at 75 .
ReplyDeleteI will let you know how I get on with it.
Enjoying it so far.
How I enjoyed the BBC prog.about the RHS show at Tatton tonight, with the new young designer. A new "raw" talent.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky this was recorded in the sunshine, a few days ago, so the gardens were pristine.
I wonder how they look today, after last nights torrential rain. There also was a tornado in the Manchester area, which damaged cars + gardens.
My garden, about 20 miles away is so battered down, and just a soggy mess.
I wonder how it affected Cheshire Cheese, who is not too far away.
The garden survived the torrential rain quite well Miriam and my bog garden plants are very happy!
DeleteI'm so glad we went to Tatton on Wednesday, and the winning Young Designer garden was fantastic.
I and Big Sis were asked today (whilst having lunch) by my eldest niece do you remember the Moon landing + did you see it??
ReplyDeleteI didn't see it. I was in Germany, as a teenager, on a caravaning family holiday, so no TV or radio reception.
It was on that day, in the nearby town, whilst shopping, we saw a newspaper with photos so knew it had happened.
I remember looking up to the sky that night, seeing the moon, and thinking there are men there.
What are others memories? Just curious but interested.
DeleteMy memories are mostly about considering calling my daughter born just a few weeks beforehand ' Blue ' in a memorable tribute to mans achievement.
ReplyDeleteEvery body laughed at me, some saying she would forever be mocked for being Australian.
Ironic really, since her father emigrated to Australia just a few short years later.
I have found all the reruns this week pretty boring and abhor all the expense and hubris involved in the notion that the human race, having almost destroyed this planet should even think about invading another one.
How dare we !
✔✔✔
DeleteOn bin day, I seem to be the only person who puts the kitchen waste caddy out. This is all my peelings (pots, carrots, veg, plus egg shells, bones from pork or lamb chops, cat food which is not eaten, etc. I always prepare + cook 3/4 fresh veg every night. I admit, others might have a compost bin to put kitchen waste in, but I truly doubt it. It is just differing generations.
DeleteI have never bought a ready-meal, nor ordered a "take-away". I might do one day but not yet.
PS My compost bin is full and not ready to utilise just yet.Spring 2020 is when it will be.
Ooh Miriam.
ReplyDeleteIt is nothing to do with different generations .
If you have never eaten fish and chips out of a newspaper or even out of a cardboard container
you don’t know what you have missed.
I went with Mr LJ to Whitby and sat outside by the pier eating fish and chips.(from the Magpie Café)
I took a photograph of him and there was a van going past behind him with the words
“Help the aged”
Lovely.
As for ready meals ,they are great.
I can recommend “Count on us “ meals from M and S.
Get yourself a second compost bin and then you won’t need to put your vegetable peelings in your food waste bin.
We had a takeaway Chinese tonight. We have an excellent Chinese in our Main Street and having lived in Hong Kong for two years I-know what real Chinese food is like! It is nice for a treat now and then! I took advantage of the respite in cooking a meal and made a Mary Berry apple cake having read about Miriam’s apple and apricot one. It looks good even though I had to use gf flour. Will report later on the taste!
ReplyDeleteBuddy had a drastic haircut to see him through the summer and looks like a skinned rabbit! They even trimmed his tail as it is a flamboyant over the back one! You can now see how thin he is as he is a fussy eater! He does have loads of energy though! Gypsy had a haircut too but will never look thin bless her!
We had an Indian takeaway on Friday night. We rarely get one but when we do it’s such a treat.
ReplyDeleteBe daring Miriam....go get a takeaway!
I gave our Mabel a haircut for summer, a no. 6 all over but left her tail, beard and eyebrows. She’s a labradoodle. Makes her look like a young pup again, she’s 10.
Much cheaper to do it yourself with some clippers. About £40-50 to go get her clipped round here.
Miriam I am with you there, ready made meals no, full of e numbers and preservatives. Living as I do near Whitby, I very occasionally have fish and chips, but generally only when I have visitors.Whilst I cook for myself every day and make my own bread I don't go to the lengths you go to when I'm on my own.
ReplyDeleteHarping back to all this talk of being on the radio and television, reminded me my cows were on a lovely little welsh childrens programme "Y Fet a fi " the vet and me . The children followed the vet in the surgery and on field visits, they arrived to see one of my sick calves, quite unannounced, I could have refused, but I couldn't where children were involved, so I kept out of it as much as I could, but had to talk to the vet about the diagnosis, not looking my best in my working tat.
ReplyDeleteThe pub over the road does food at weekends.
ReplyDeleteThey bring in different outfits, vegan, West Indian, all sorts. Last night it was Pizzas and I splashed out for one.
It was not very good.
Won't do it again.
I have managed to cut down on my ready meals consumption in recent months and am improving at my cooking efforts.
Not enough but better than previously.
My Lady is long coated. I wash her beard with a damp flannel after food. Boiled egg for breakfast today, and I groom her every other day.
All three of the dogs I've ever had have been long/rough coated, my first being a Tibetan Apso. I did used to get her done professionally about once a year, but mostly groomed myself. It is the most effective way of bonding, and Lady is truly enjoying it.
I am off to Cornwall to see my daughters new house on Tuesday, and looking forward to getting Lady into the sea.
Exciting for you & Lady ( family, too, getting the maternal & canine take on their new home !)
DeleteHope you enjoy yourselves.
Quite excited as well, good friends just arrived, not seen for far too long, aside from their attendance at Mr C's 80th back in June. Lots of catching up to do ! Writing this whilst chicken sizzling...)
Was it you Mrs P, or possibly Lanjan who was talking about raising funds for the Broadwater Farm children?
ReplyDeleteI see in today’s Sunday Times that the appeal has raised £300,000, a magnificent sum that will enable the school to stay open throughout the summer holidays and provide lunches and play activities every day. They have raised so much money that, in addition, they are going to create a legacy fund for the future and invite deprived children from other schools to use the facilities.
Well done to everyone who contributed and to whichever of the above ladies it was who raised awareness on our blogs.
I have a tiny problem which I hope someone can help me with.
ReplyDeleteMr A and I have been invited to the Golden Wedding Anniversary Garden Party of the couple for whom Mr A was best man back in 1969.
The husband and Mr A both went to Tiffins Boys School and were friendly as teenagers, sharing an interest in aviation and plane spotting.
Since the Wedding we have only seen the couple twice, early on - they moved many miles away and apart from exchanging Christmas Cards have had no contact with each other until this invitation arrived. Hence we have no idea of their likes/dislikes, hobbies, pastimes, or anything.
I doubt whether we will even recognise them, amongst all the other guests, when we arrive!
So, do we take a gift as well as a card, and what on earth could it be?
A bottle of wine seems a bit of a cop-out
I suggested a golden rose or other shrub/ plant - Mr A says they’ll probably get dozens!
I feel disinclined to take some useless gift for a couple we barely know and who will only have invited us because of the best man connection - I expect all the 70+ yr old bridesmaids will be there too!
To be absolutely honest, I don’t really want to go, it will be a long journey there and back but Mr A RSVP’d so we cannot blackout now
Would would any of you do? Card and/or what sort of gift?
That is very difficult.
DeleteI think a card is enough as your presecence will be just as important.
Do you have any "memories" from their wedding, such as photos etc. which you could take?
In my experience, the Golden Couple do not what gifts, they just want to share this event, with those who shared it with them on that day.
I attended the 40th, 50th + 60th Anniversary events for my parents. All they wanted was to share the day with family + friends and enjoy it.
DeleteThank you Miriam. I think you may be right about them not wanting to be overloaded with gifts. When one is this age you probably have all the vases and photo frames you need! Sadly we have no mementos of the day, it was 50 years ago and my memories of the event are almost nil. It was Mr A’s friend getting married and I barely knew him - his new wife, not at all! Perhaps I’ll just design one of my special cards.
DeleteThat sounds perfect and very thoughtful.
DeleteProblem over 😀
What a wonderful place to live.
ReplyDeleteI think I need to mention why I prefer to eat the food I cook.
ReplyDeleteI was brought up, as I have said, being taught by Mum when income was limited. This is still relevant to me, but....
I suffered severe allergies, not anaphylaxis, but horrendous skin rashes + swelling of face, eyes, head, hands and shortness of breath.
As a result I went onto additive/preservative free meals, home-cooked, which I still do to this day.
Although meal productions have changed, I just prefer what I do and will continue to do so, and I enjoy my cooking.
Allergies almost stopped the problem, but not quite. I then found that I was allergic to aspirin + related drugs - difficult for a Pharmacist - but I coped.
DeleteI also can't tolerate many preservaties in eye preparations, but I know what I can use.
Tonight I am cooking a turkey steak, to be served with a hot sweet + sour vinagrette (garlic, porcini + chestnut mushrooms, smoked bacon, balsamic vinegar, with a bit of sugar) with pots, carrots, broccoli + cauli.
ReplyDeleteIt is tasty, but quick + simple to do - only 30 mins from start to finish.
What I have sometimes done Archerphile for a golden wedding gift is to put some Some golden raisins in a kilner jar or similar and topped them up with brandy and then tied a golden ribbon round. they can be eaten from the jar or made into a cake and will last for ages.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely and unique idea.
DeleteI must remember it.
C G - what a great idea.
DeleteI will hope to remember it.
As I was saying to Archerphile memories of weddings can be very touching.
ReplyDeleteMum was brought up by her grandmother in WWII as her father was a serving Naval Captain, and her stepmom just didn't want her. Mum met a good friend at her school and the two of them became lifelong friends. They were godparents to each of tbeir eldest children. I knew this lady well and the last time I saw her was at my Mums funeral (and I still have the lovely letter she wrote to my Dad afterwards). She sadly passed away 18 months ago. When her family sorted out her belongings, they found her hand-written invite(by mum), to Mum + Dads Wedding in 1951 (which is now in the family archive).
It is a simple thing, but very moving.
I have all the invites + orders of service, for all the family weddings I have been honoured to be invited to.
DeleteAm I sad???
No, just caring!
DeleteArcherphile -
ReplyDeleteRe the Golden Wedding
May I suggest the following ....
You say they were both at Tiffin.
When you design your card, can you include the Tiffin Badge, or the school tie or similar, and the Kingston Logo or Coat of Arms.
Having grown up in and around Kingston Mr.A and his Schoolfriend will both recognise and understand the significance. And if the wife came from the same district, then she too.
I embroidered a scroll for a wedding and included lots of references pertaining to the personal lives and achievements of both bride and bride.
In my possession I have what has always been known in my family as the ' Plaque '
It is Limewood carved with my parents interwoven initials. My fathers regimental badges. St Bartholomews badge and the London Boroughs of both parents. Plus dates. Interwoven and surrounded by swags of flowers and plants, all in the style of Grinling Gibbons.
My cousin says Grandad was a greater craftsman than GG as he carved his work in one piece. GG carved his pieces separately and then assembled them together.
The works that I describe and suggest for you, are deeply personal and will be appreciated.
Mrs P, that is a brilliant idea - thank you! I think I still have Mr A’s Tiffin’s blazer badge in my work box, and I could copy that
DeleteAnd the boozy raisins are another great idea CG!
I knew I could rely on my Archer friends to help out, and I was right!
Archerphile,
ReplyDeleteYes it was me who mentioned the article in the Sunday Times about Broadwater Farm.
There are so many good causes and I that one seemed an excellent one.
The one thing that annoys me is that as far as I can see if you donate money you also donate a “voluntary “10% presumably to Just Giving.
Perhaps someone knows if that is correct.
Re the Wedding Anniversary.
I think it is very good of you to go at all but then I don’t enjoy big parties where I know virtually nobody and neither does Mr LJ.
I have been invited to a 70th birthday party that only starts at 8pm and there are 150 people who have been invited and to a Retirement Party of an acquaintance who lives over 200 miles away.
I have politely declined with thanks.
Haven’t made any excuse .
Re a present
If it were me I would send a card
(Like you I make my own)
I think Mrs P’s idea is a good one .
I would not buy a present.
Archerphile,if you don’t want to go ,do you really have to?
Does Mr A really want to go?
Oh yes, he wants to go, but I think I’ll have to go along as well - can’t really think of a legitimate or convincing excuse not to! But I’ve decided on just an individually designed card incorporating the school badge ... and I’ll make some boozy raisins as CG suggested, but keep them for our own Golden Wedding next year! 😉
DeleteI would send a card and not go to the party. These get togethers always seem like a good idea till you get there and you find you know no one there or so much time has passed that you have nothing left in common.
ReplyDeleteYes PtbY - that’s what I’m afraid off, but I’m going to bite the bullet and go, and try not to stay until the bitter end!
DeleteArcherphile I would let Mr A know that you are not happy about going but will do so because he wants to but in return he must sit down with you and discus moving somewhere with more amenities before it gets too late to do so.
ReplyDeleteNow I know this is probably ,hopefully unlikely to happen but
Worst case scenario.
One of you has to go into a Home and the other isn’t able to visit because that person can’t drive any more .
He wants to go to a party-you both go.
You want to move-you both move.
Go for it.
Write down all the pros and cons making sure there are more pros than cons which there will be.
Good Luck.
Funny you should mention this today Lanjan because Mr A and I spent the whole of yesterday afternoon filling in Lasting Power of Attorney forms for financial matters and health. We wanted to get our daughter and son to sign them whilst he is over here from Dubai.
DeleteIt meant downloading and photocopying dozens of pages of forms, two sets for me and two for Mr A. It was really quite daunting, but we managed it in the end and they will be signed and witnessed today.
So Mr A is taking steps to secure our futures should either us succumb to illness, dementia or whatever and we have made our ‘attorneys’ fully aware of our wishes - particularly those relating to health. I am hoping that talking about these matters will lead to a more practical attitude to our living arrangements too! Thank you for your concern and practical advice.
Archerphile,May I offer you some advice about the P of A forms?
ReplyDeleteOn 7th March 2018 I sent of for our forms.
(Didn’t download )
Sent them off and checked up to find out all was well a few months later.
Man said yes and we would be hearing soon.
I was very cocky!
Pride goes before a fall.
We got a letter to say that because one of Mr LJs pages had got mixed up with one of mine I would have to redo the lot!
Apparently the mistake(their’s ) was only noticed after everything had been checked and stamped but the good news was I would not be charged.
Like you it is difficult because my children are not living locally.
After having a paddy I redid them all and sent them back and a similar thing happened.
You would not believe it.
The third time it was my fault.
My witness unknown to me had decided that the date didn’t look right after she had signed and changed it using tippax.
This time I was asked to pay because it was my fault but I got someone important to say that in view of the fact I would not be doing it a fourth time were it not for their mistake It would have all been done and dusted ages ago .
I had a letter of apology and did not pay and was told that she the “Important Lady” would check it personally.
So Archerphile and anyone else doing LPA forms,
this is my advice
1) If you have to send your’s and your husband’s send them separately
(I had separated them using individual envelopes inside one envelope which should have been fine but in my case it wasn’t
2) Get recorded delivery which means it has to be signed for.
For anyone who hasn’t done them yet it ,should be simple and you do not need a Solicitor to help.
One of the people at the other end of the phone (I made loads of calls and all of the people were lovely )
One told me that there are more mistakes made by Solicitors than by people doing their own.
I said I was going to set myself up as an Advisor .
PS I have to say on one particular occasion when I really lost my cool and the poor person at the other end took the brunt I phoned again to apologise for my rudeness and said I would give money to a Charity of her choice (AirAmbulance) to atone for my rudeness
It made me feel a bit better.
I hope she did as well.
Good Luck Archerphile
I didn't have as many problems as you Lanjan but did have one muddle.
DeleteI downloaded and printed the forms out and with so many bits of paper I somehow downloaded one of the finance ones twice and included an incorrect one in with the health one (it was only about 3 words different!). They were very kind and didn't charge me again, but it meant I had to email another set of forms out to my son in the Philippines to sign all the relevant pages again, and because the postal system where he is is totally hit and miss he had to go to a town, find a special courier and then pay £35 to send it back! He is a patient son fortunately.
If you haven’t done the LPA forms yet and want to do so then following on from Janice’s post ,may I suggest that you ask for them to be posted to you?
DeleteI thought I would have to pay for the postage but I didn’t
What an interesting blog this is both practical and caring. Real life and more than competing with TA 🤗
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the warnings one and all. Mr A has recently been helping a friend to do her forms as her daughters live several hundred miles away. There was a hiccup with one set of forms which had to be done again, at great inconvenience.
ReplyDeleteSo having experienced that, we hope our own forms are going to be OK. Check, check, and check again before sending off, in separate envelopes by recorded mail!
You’d think they could make the process a little simpler. We thought we could leave out several pages which didn’t apply to us and were to be left blank. We then discovered you must return every single page of the form, even if nothing is written on it!
Talk about saving forests - the amount of paper and photocopy ink we used yesterday was disgraceful!
Arherphile, if you like prunes then here are 2 useful gifts or to enjoy yourself.
ReplyDelete!lb prunes packed into preserving jars.
Make a syrup of 1pt of strained earl grey tea and 4ozs clear honey and boil gently till syrupy, pour over prunes and when cold top up with rum and seal.Leave at least a month shaking every now and then.
Or my favourite
Prunes soaked in earl grey tea, then drained, bring to boiling point with cheap port ,bottle and seal in preserving jars.
Another simple gift is to layer sugar in a jar with lavender flowers ( but do make sure you dry them thoroughly first) . makes wonderful biscuits.
I could go on but will stop there
Lovely ideas CG! We have cherries in vodka /kirsch, new batches added to the larder on a regular basis..
ReplyDeleteSounds delicious, I used to make all sorts of delicious things with fruit and spirits, sadly I can no longer tolerate acids, so make very little, though I do make sloe gin, which is delicious in fruit cake
DeleteSorry to be such a knowall but one more thing for anyone having to fill in the LPA forms.
ReplyDeleteThey can not be done retrospectively.
My sister found this out the hard way.
If a partner has already developed dementia ,it is too late to do one for that person which is why it is a good thing to do it sooner rather than later.
In my case I was advised because we are both in a second marriage we should make each other the first Power of Attorney and we have a child of each marriage acting for us both as replacement Attorneys should we both need them.
That, Lanjan, is exactly why we are doing them now, while we are still capable, and to avoid any possible future problems for our children.
DeleteWe did the signing yesterday afternoon. A bit of a nightmare actually. Our neighbours came in to be witnesses to the signatures on four sets of forms. Unfortunately Mr A got some muddled up in the middle and it took about 2 hours of sorting, re-photocopying, re-signing and resorting to achieve. All done now.......I hope!
I have recently renewed my British passport . I have dual British/Italian nationality. On the form you now have to declare if you have any other passports which I did. The added complication was that my British passport is in my married name but the Italian one is in my maiden name. I then had to send a photocopy of all 50 pages of my Italian passport.Luckily the passport office accepted my forms and I now have my new passport whitch has no mention of the European union.
ReplyDeleteYou were lucky that photocopies were allowed. My family in OZ, - to get dual nationality for the now 2 sons, they had to send all the original documents from Melbourne to London for this to happen. It cost a lot for secure postage.
DeleteI did my LPA, (only a financial one), via a solicitor. I am happy I did this, and it is in their safe, with my will. I do have copies of both in my personal files.
ReplyDeleteI found it difficult to do so, but at least I know things are put into place, just in case.
I did it this way, which was more costly. I know that all is legal without any future problems, if it is has to be actvated.
DeleteThe photo - where GG swam -
ReplyDeletereminds me so much of a miniscule Swallow Falls.
This is in Betwys-y-Coed, where Natasha's parents live.
A coincidence or clever?
Now that is interesting Miriam.
ReplyDeleteOn first seeing that photograph I thought it looked familiar, but then also thought, well many waterfalls must have some similarities.
However, like you, I know Swallow Falls.
So perhaps subconsciously i also recognised it.
I’ve been watching loads of YouTube videos, mainly about packing suitcases and organising stuff in your house !!, but I discovered a vid about how to lose weight the Japanese way with a towel. Now I don’t know about losing weight but both myself and my friend have woken up without the usual backache. In fact my friend, who can hardly move on a morning, said she was so much better she could cry.
ReplyDeleteSo if anyone is suffering a bad back, go to YouTube and search for Japanese weight loss with a towel.
Basically you roll the towel up and lay on it under your back, with your feet and hands on a certain position for 5 mins. Check it out.
Miriam......it’s just too hot for 3 or 4 veggies today. Please have a pint of lager for your tea. Got to keep fluid intake up on days like these 😉😆
ReplyDeletePlenty of squash + water being drunk. My heavy lounge curtains are closed to keep the house as cool as possible.
DeleteI will still be having my normal 3 veg tonight with a portion of home-made lasagne.
My kitchen is the coolest place!
No beer, but cider with ice.
DeleteI agree with you P tbY that it is too hot for 3veggies this evening
Well it is here-only 33degrees now but it was hotter earlier today.
However I wouldn’t drink lager or cider if there was a pint of real ale handy
Since there isn’t it will have to be water .
I find a good supportive, orthopaedic pillow helps. This keeps the head+neck in position, with the shoulders on the matress. This helps with hand, arm, leg alighnment - so the idea is very similar to the Japan towel therapy.
ReplyDeleteIt took me a while to change my sleeping position, but it really helps. I have a slight, minor, neck problem, after slipping a disc in my neck 20yrs ago now.
I agree. A change of position in lying + sleeping can make a big difference for spine, back, neck + shoulder problems. It is just finding what suits - I've found mine.
PS When I had my cataract op, I was in something like a dentist chair. I had a rolled up towel under my knees and also under my back. This was so be comfortable but also head was then in the correct position - in other words - towel therapy.
Oh dear, water pure and simple is the best. Though I have to confess to drinking mine hot even on days like today.
ReplyDelete🍻
DeleteI get bored with plain water, though it is regfreshing. I buy a sugarfree Mango+Orange squash (a supermarket own brand). A very dilute portion, is just as refreshing but not as bland.
DeleteMy favourite at the moment is a very dilute glass of Waitrose Apple and Elderflower squash (sugar-free) with ice cubes, or their sugar-free Lime squash, also very dilute.
DeleteLast post on the subject of LPAs
ReplyDeleteI originally thought they had to be done by a Solicitor .
I was pleased when I telephoned the Office of the Public Guardian to learn that that was not the case.
I thought it would be simple and cost next to nothing .
Couldn’t have been more wrong.
It cost us almost £250 for the forms plus postage etc .
Had we used a Solicitor for both of us (Two sets of forms each) we would have paid in excess of £2000 .
Also although because of the fault of the People at the Office of the Public Guardian ,I had to do the forms again and had I been using a Solicitor I would have had to pay him again.
In my case and that of Archerphile, and Janice things were more complicated because their attorneys or in my case replacement attorneys were not on the doorstep.
It is legal to do it oneself and I have the forms to say that the forms have been registered.
Does sugar free mean artificial sweeteners though Archerphile?
ReplyDeleteI prefer sugar to them.
I can’t stand diet tonic or lemonade etc and can always taste the sweetener!
Deleteagree.
DeleteLJ The one I buy does not have any artificial sweeteners, just natural fructose.
DeleteAs I have said I do not do artficial. Fructose is far better than glucose. and does not have the extra "sugar tax" - I think!
DeleteSorry my maths was wrong.
ReplyDeleteChecked again and the forms cost us £328 plus postage .
We are having to pay £82 to register each set of forms. So that is 4 x £82 = £328 + whatever postage’s turns out to be. Plus £33 for a new printer ink cartridge because we had to do so much copying and photo copying the I k ran out half way through!
DeleteRisotto + cèpes ce soir, added ham bits, end of the little jambonneau du week-end. A pre-taste of autumn.. beer descendue, w wine ! (plus plenty of water on the side)
ReplyDeleteMy type of food.
DeleteEnjoy...
We did!
Delete41 ° (in the sun) today.. min 26 overnight..
ReplyDeletehope you're bearing up, GG..
ReplyDeleteYou are far more knowledgeable about fructose than I am,Miriam.
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that it occurs naturally in some fruits and vegetables .
I thought that some fructose is manufactured and is therefore as bad as adding sugar.
I have just checked the ingredients of my Blossom Hill elderflower cordial and that contains fructose.
I bet that isn’t natural.
.....but do I care?
I am afraid not.