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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.
Hopefully most people here in the UK are waking up to this today...
ReplyDeleteI do hope so Gary. Certainly much calmer here today, not sunny but very mild and no rain which is a great improvement.
ReplyDeleteDear friends, thank you for your concerns about the the flooding.
ReplyDeleteWe are safe and the cats are totally oblivious except when they have to go out, which they do only when it’s essential.
We have a garage with two freezers and lots of veg and wine. lots of booze for ๐น cocktails. So we won’t be facing starvation Or deprivation.
As MrsP commented, the Environment Agency has spent £10 million on defences and over the last two years the main road to the bridge was raised causing a great deal of disruption and now it has flooded. No way in and other available routes out are also flooded. Tewksbury is in the same position and the route into Glos is also inaccessible.
This place calls itself a town but is in fact a large village sitting on the Severn. In the 19th century it was a port for boats/ barges carrying goods and was more populated than today. It is a pretty place in the summer and has lots of festivals, but dead in the winter.
Ejits have been arriving as flood tourists and as Miriam pointed out, putting their children at risk to a very fast flowing river.
last night the town was evacuated as the river continues to rise and put lives in danger. So here we stay until the flood recedes. I shall try not to bore you all with my rantings and ravings.
Bore away Stasia.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in what is happening .
I have just had an email from a friend in Sydney asking about Denis .
What a pity we can’t have shipped some of the rain to them.
I believe that things should be better after lunch today.
I hope so.
Absolutely Stasia, chunter away to your hearts content! And maybe come up with a commemorative cocktail...?
DeleteI've had help this morning with getting my car back on the road, then doing a fifteen mile round trip to boost the flat battery.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately it was all in the pouring rain, and the dog had to be walked as well.
So now home and getting warm and dry, both of us, and the sun is out and the sky clear.
But I'm sure there will be more to come.
Pleased to hear your not so bad news Stasia, and hope your enforced stay at home is not too long.
I once got caught up in a flood disaster in France, electricity wires arcing in the roads, vinyards swept away. landslides, petrol leaking from damaged pumps, local people trudging away with carrier bags of possesions, cars swept into a river and piled up in the pillars of a bridge... I have never been so frightened in my life.
ReplyDeleteGood luck to all those affected here, especially Stasia.
My bedroom ceiling has sprung a leak right over where my bed was, and very nasty water stains have appeared around the chimney breast. The insurance surveyor is so busy that he can't assess it until next week, the woman on the phone said they were inundated, and there is another storm coming, Ellen, I think she said. Flippin' 'eck.
That sounds horrific Mistral. Especially with the electricity wires arcing - I hate everything to do with electrics!
DeleteI hope your woman on the phone is wrong about yet another storm, I want to go cycling....
Archerphile what news of your daughter and her family๐ค
ReplyDeleteYes, thank you Lady R. They spent yesterday in Bristol, mainly visiting Brunel’s SSGreat Britain and grandson Griff dressed up in Brunel’s stovepipe hat to have his photo taken in a reproduction of that famous photo - amazing likeness!. Then over bridge to S. Wales - relatives live at top of a hill, so that was OK. Today they had to take a very deviated route to North Wales using the M5, rather than going as the crow flies through Hereford, Ludlow and Shrewsbury and have arrived safely.
DeleteFortunately, our relatives there also live at the top of a hill, so are not flooded!
Thank you AP so glad to hear all is going well for your family. How fortunate relatives all live at the top of hills ๐ค (except for when it’s snow and ice to contend with ๐ฑ )
DeleteFeel for you Stasia. ๐ค๐ค
ReplyDeleteLet's hope things don't get worse for you.
Do keep us posted, as I, for one, would like to know what is happening in your area.
It's an awful situation.
Mistral.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds an horrendous situation to be in.
Do try + keep positive, IF you can.
This is an awful predicament, to be in.
My thoughts are with you, and all others, who are suffering the effects from 2 storms.
I believe a 3rd, might be on its way. Let's hope that this is "fake" news.
I had a "rant" yesterday, with family with children, going to see floods.
ReplyDeleteI vented my anger here, as I knew that I could do so.
So thanks for letting me do this.
I daren't talk to "family", but it appears that others have!!
Thank you all for your supportive comments. Spent the day doing an assortment of activities. Reading, jigsaw and planning a Holiday for September. It is now very windy and tipping down in bucket loads.
ReplyDeleteMistral you have my sympathy water getting in is always worrying. ๐ฆ๐ฅบ
Holiday - what are your ideas?
DeleteDo tell.
We have decided to go to the old East ๐ฉ๐ช Germany via France and Holland.
DeleteWe tend to go to places of historical interest.
The year before last we went to the same area as carolyn thought not at the same time.
That sounds so very interesting.
DeleteI still am not sure, what to to do re holidays. I go as an independant traveller. There are many group active + interesting holidays (to suit) around.
It comes down to the accomadation, and having to pay the single supplement, for an inferior room. Also so many fly from Gatwick, which I hate.
Very few, fly from Manchester or Liverpool.
Gary you are in for a treat from next January .
ReplyDeleteMy son travelled up to Inverness yesterday from London to start his 3day trip (£17 each day ) round Scotland.
He has texted to say he decided to go to Dundee via Perth one way and back via Aberdeen so in fact a circular tour for £17 ..
To say I am envious is an understatement.
It is on my bucket list.
Aberdeen. I lived for 4 years there, but I doubt that I would recognise it now
DeleteArcherphile.
ReplyDeleteThank you for mentioning the programme 24, Venture Street.
I have downloaded both the omnibus editions.
I look forward to listening to this.
Thanks, for mentioning it, which I missed.
Tomorrow is rhe major bedroom deep clean.
DeleteChange the bedding, toss the matress over, hoover behind the bed + side units, plus clean the inside of the windows. Well, that's the plan.
I will listen to these downloads, whilst doing so.
Kildare Street Miriam? I came upon it a week or so ago and throughly enjoyed it.
DeleteHappy cleaning ๐ฑ ๐คฃ
Gary - Are you ready for your trip 'down south?'
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry and very disappointed that I can't get to Reading. I postponed getting a ticket because didn't know what state I'd be in but I don't think I'll be up to it. ๐ช๐ช
Hopefully there will be a third 'Meet Up' later on the the year and equally hopefully I'll be more mobile by then! ๐ค
Is it soon? I have no idea.
DeleteAt least many of you will have another chance for a meet-up.
Miriam 5:31 pm .
ReplyDeleteMy son was at Aberdeen University for four years too.
He is a real Caledonophile .
On a different topic.
ReplyDeleteI was fascinated watching a blackbird in my front garden today. It was a female collecting nest material. After about 15mins, and with a massive beakfull, she flew down the side of the house.
I think it will be the same nesting site, as last year. This is in my beech hedge, to the side of my property and close to the house.
I am not going to look, as I don't want to disturb them.
If it is the same site, I know exactly where it is.
Miriam
ReplyDeleteI was meaning the Archers Academicals Conference at Reading 29th February.
When Gary said his 'paper' had been accepted by the organisers (last November or so) I said I would probably drive up. Some said that they may be able/ or hoped to attend, to hear Gary present his 'paper.'
No mention has been made since then though so I thought I would just apologise to Gary for going back on my word!
Spices, thanks for reminding me about the conference. I’d not booked, but intend to go. Too late for the dinner but I can drive up on the Saturday morning and stay till Sunday, I’ve got a friend who lives nearby, so I might beg shelter there or just find myself a hotel. Anyone else from here going?
ReplyDeleteI had planned on going to Reading when Gary first mentioned it but I won’t be able to get there now. I can’t drive far with the one eye. Only doing 3 miles in between our village and the main shopping town.
DeleteI remember that you both had indicated you intended to go and was looking forward to meeting you both. I hope the conference will be filmed, as the past two years have been, and are on You Tube. Last time I looked there were still tickets available.
DeletePtbY I sympathise with the driving. One of the side effects I have at the moment (they take it in turns!) is slightly blurred vision which is like when you have a cold and the eyes water and blur. Can't read print very well through my relatively NEW glasses but can see distance enough to drive.
Enjoy the weekend KPNuts!
Unfortunately, I won't be able to go either, so, KPnuts, you'll have to make a total exhibition of yourself, to make up for all the no-shows & give Gary the support & applause he so richly deserves !
DeleteDid anyone see Loose Women with Janet Street-Porter singing the praises of TA and specially the Helen/Rob S/L? I agree with her that that S/L was so well done and led to a lot of people seeking help.
ReplyDeleteI had also hoped to attend the conference but I’m afraid other things have got in the way that weekend, plus the cost of new varifocals and a car exhaust etc etc. I am really sorry not to be there to support you Gary.
ReplyDeleteI see you have an early Sunday morning slot instead of Saturday afternoon as you first thought. I looked to see if I could obtain a ticket just for that but they don’t offer them. It would probably be a push to get there on the Sunday morning anyway, sadly. I hope there’s a live or recorded link as Spicy says. All the very best with it and enjoy the weekend.
Thank you Seasider & everyone else for your support! My poster is all done & at the printers, just got to polish my little speech and then I'm all set. Should be fun - I'm looking forward to it immensely.
DeleteI'll be thinking of you all when I'm there - I wouldn't be in the wonderfully surreal position of speaking at an academic conference if it wasn't for this blog!
Hopefully see you there KP...
I see from their fab page that the conference is to be live streamed. I’m out on Saturday but I’ll be glued to it on Sunday morning so with you Gary virtually as well as in spirit ๐ค
Deletefor fab read Facebook. I am not on Facebook but I recently discovered that some pages are accessible anyway.
DeleteThanks for that info', Seasider, I'll be tuning in. Gary, hope you sense the positive vibes on Sunday, March 1st. !
DeleteInvisible physically we will be, but a powerful force travelling the ether from various parts of the country...
I wanted to go to the conference but only to listen to your presentation. When I totted up the cost of two nights minimum plus tickets, meals and drinks decided it wasn’t worth spending all that money. I shall wait for YouTube instead.
DeleteI would have gone for the Sunday only but that isn’t an option. As far as I can see from the agenda.
You're correct stasia, the day tickets were only available for the Saturday.
DeleteVery sadly Gary, I won’t be mobile enough to get to Reading on your day- I knew it was going to be unlikely. I still cannot stand for long periods and get quite uncomfortable on certain types of chair, so will relax at home, on the sofa, leg up and enjoy your performance in comfort! The very best of luck.
DeleteSadly I am another unable to attend, but didn't think it likely anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe dog and costs would be the reasons for me, though I do have a friend near enough to Reading to make a day visit possible, however if a day ticket for Sunday is not available then it looks as though KP is likely to be your only support from the blog Gary.
Nevertheless I'm sure you will be wonderful but more importantly I'm sure you will enjoy the experience enormously.
Thanks for info Seasider. I shall look into the live streaming and watch Gary.
ReplyDeleteWhat time you due on Gary.
I am on at the ungodly time of 09.25! I did tell them that mornings are none of my business....
DeleteSupport from afar, GG - "merde" as they say ici ๐
DeleteGary. Even if I wanted to meet up, 9.25 am is bad timing on a weekend.
DeleteCould somebody please give me exact instructions how to watch Gary with this live streaming?
ReplyDeleteI’ve never done this before and have never used utube, so will need some help!
Sorry Archerphile, I do know that you will have to down load the YouTube app. Haven’t a clue otherwise.
DeleteI have just hear that Kate (she of the Manky yurts) is presenting a paper at the AA conference as an optional extra.
ReplyDeleteShe will deliver her oration during a mini break called ‘The Archers Assembly’, otherwise known as mingling with others to interact with an Ambridge Buddy.
The title will be,
The Spiritual World as a Repository of Communal Wisdom between the natural world and the tradition of Ambridge social culture.
She will cover aspects of harmony blah, blah, blah. Connectedness through one’s inner peace yady, yady ya. Holistic therapies and throwing the runes blah........
Life experience, tree hugging and circle dancing yady.........
Can’t say anymore as I fell asleep when she was doing a dummy run.
When ,after hearing what you have to say ,they realise that you would be the ideal scriptwriter for the programme please will you take some of our ideas onboard Gary?
ReplyDelete(See the other blog )
It is raining again!
ReplyDeleteMy lawn treatment firm arrived this morning, but it was not done. The grass is too long + the ground was too wet.
Out of 5 visits, he only managed to do 1, due to water logged lawns. I know this person well, so had a nice chat instead.
My family, who were in Somerset, for a few days, have already left their rental property (a day early), due to the increasing water levels. At last, they have seen sense!!
They were going to Windsor, as my 8yr old grand niece, wanted to see the Castle, where The Queen, sometimes lives.
They are going to family in Essex (2 days early) to meet the newest family member, another grand niece, who is now nearly 6 weeks old.
You are quite right on two counts ,Miriam.
ReplyDeleteFirstly , to respond to your 5:31 pm post last night ,I am reliably informed that Aberdeen has changed a great deal and so indeed you are not likely to recognise the city you once lived in and secondly you were obviously correct in changing the subject at 8:06pm because I doubt many bloggers are interested in Aberdeen anyway.
I once went to Aberdeen. It appeared to be closed....
DeleteI went up there in October and was convinced that it would be cold so I decided to buy a couple of thermal vests (I had read somewhere that Princess Diana wore them so I knew it would be OK)
DeleteIt was so hot that not only didn’t I need the vests,I didn’t need a coat either!
LanJan, if you google Archers Academics it should take you to their website. That’s how I found them. You can do it at the time Gary is speaking, to listen “live”, or later if you prefer.
ReplyDeleteTo be precise they are called Academic Archers. There are links on their website to the previous conferences (links to iTunes) so you can still watch these presentations, or practise accessing them to be prepared and ready for Gary.
DeleteGrrr, utube, not iTunes.
DeleteThank you Seasider.
DeleteWill do.
To those who are wonderful dog owners...
ReplyDeleteMy question is:-
Is it acceptable to feed crisps to a dog, and could this affect Ruby?
I am a cat person, so I just don't know what dogs can or cannot eat.
My mother used to feed her dogs pretty much anything & everything. It was actually quite shocking! And every Sunday they got the same 3 course lunch that she did no matter what it was. No amount of telling off from anyone would filter through to her on the matter....
ReplyDeleteMy grandparents had two chiuhahas. They were put onto the dining table, after a meal, to eat any left-overs, and to lick the plates until clean.
DeleteThey both died at about 6/7yrs old.
Delete9.00pm ITV tonight.
ReplyDeleteCilla - The Lost Tapes.
I am recording it, to watch at my leisure.
We take our dogs to the pub on their birthday for a packet of crisps and a lick of beer.
ReplyDeleteOh that's acceptable!
Delete....but is one lick enough, PtbY ?
DeleteOk you got me. 2 or 3 licks.
DeleteGood Luck at the conference Gary !
ReplyDeleteTa!
DeleteLady gets the odd crisp if I'm eating some. But I don't allow myself crisps very often, probably about four or five times a year.
ReplyDeleteI google anything new, lots of information on line, and her latest delicacy is pears, she loves them but won't eat apples or carrot when offered.
She gets grated carrot and finely cut broccoli in her meal most evenings.
Most dogs will eat anything. Lady's favourite is live shrew.
Many people allow their dogs to lick plates, just as many consider it to be utterly unhygienic and undesirable.
Seasider, thank you for explaining how to watch the AA live.
We certainly allow the cats to lick plates ( er, when we've had our fill, of course...)
DeleteBuddy loves crisps but isn’t allowed too many. The odd titbit does no harm but things like chocolate, raisins and onions are most undesirable and even poisonous! We don’t allow the dogs to lick our plates unless they are disposed of afterwards as in bought puds in glass or plastic containers. I suppose it is OK if you put them in the dishwasher which sterilises them but dogs do carry a lot of germs in their mouth so have never fancied the idea myself!
ReplyDeleteYears ago we gave cats milk or even cream .
ReplyDeleteThey didn’t seem to come to any harm.
Now they are only to drink water.
Both our cats prefer rain water from the many puddles lying around
Was saddened to hear about the death of astronomer & broadcaster Heather Couper today. Her "Cosmic Quest" series on Radio 4 was one of the most informative programmes I have ever heard in my life. I listened to all 30 episodes twice! (Going to check if it's still on BBC Sounds)
ReplyDeleteIt is - I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who has even a passing interest in the history of our understanding of the skys. ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ญ
DeleteI have just joined the Academic Archers Facebook page as a member, so I can get all the info about the conference and find out how to watch live.
ReplyDeleteIt’s an interesting FB site as there is discussion about current storylines, much as we have, as well as Conference info.
Hoping to see acclaim for your contribution, Gary, after your 9.25 slot. I shall certainly leave a comment - so you’d better be good! ๐ ๐คฉ
No pressure there then Archerphile!!!!!
DeleteMy dog has pancreatitis and has unwillingly given up all tit-bits, which is quite inconvenient - what to do with that bit of cheese rind now?
DeleteShe has lost a ton of weight, Jakob would be pleased, but has taken to chewing her own leg. She loves raw carrot, tomatoes, potato, will try her with pears Mrs. P.
I know her preferences because she hounds (!!) me when I am cooking, I often trip over her as she waits for me to drop things. She patrols the kitchen area under the worktops every evening.
I never gave her crisps though.
No plate-licking here, but she does sleep with me. like a hot=water with claws.
Another damp and dreary day.
ReplyDeleteAll booked for the conference.
Snowing here KP....
DeleteLooking forward to meeting up next weekend!
Lanjan 9.56. Our cats are the same they love muddy puddles - maybe minerals in it perhaps, and no water treatment chemicals. I think cats, like people, vary in their tolerance of milk. I discovered early on that if given milk Tiger Lily promptly gets the runs even though she likes it, but Bella is fine with it. It is a bit difficult giving one milk and not the other, so Bella just has it occasionally as a treat when Tiger isn't around. They also love a little bit of cheese but again Tiger can only have a tiny bit.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter in law mainly avoided having milk , except for the odd treat like custard on the Christmas trifle, but apparently in the far east it is quite common to have a milk intolerance.
DeleteWe lived in Hong Kong for two years. Chinese people don’t consume milk and think we westerners smell of it! I don’t know what they feed babies on. We had powdered milk bought from European supermarket but it was surprisingly good. You never saw cartons of milk. Guess it is the same with your dil, Janice.
ReplyDeleteGypsy also gets the runs with cheese etc so can only have very tiny amounts. She also gets itchiness if she has wheat based products so is gluten free and dairy intolerant! She has had a lot of skin problems in the past which we think is down to diet and it was treated with lots of steroids which could be instrumental in her blindness and the Cushing disease she has recently been diagnosed with. Too late now but all we can do is keep her comfortable for as long as possible.
Has any-one had to re-tune TV devices today?
ReplyDeleteMy main TV was fine, as was my HDD recorder, but the other "TV internet box" was blank, until retuned.
All is fine again, and most important, I haven't lost any recorded and not watched, programmes.
After so more torrential rain today, I am now, having a lovely sunny evening.
ReplyDeleteIt has gone very cold now.
I hope that all who are in areas of Floods, be it warnings or worse, will survive OK.
Take Care All. ๐ค๐ค
Just a quick extra.
ReplyDeleteThis is a follow up, from a post I made, a week or so ago, about Tv/radio guides.
I have found another, which suits me, and is far cheaper, than the RT.
On comparing the two, the main difference, is that there are no cast lists...either tv or radio.
But then, do I actually need these? Any info.required, can be found on-line, quite easily.
I am thinking about doing a years subscription for £67.80, which equates to about £1.35 weekly. This seems good value.
PS The Archers daily info. is exactly the same as in the RT. There is also a weekly Archers Diary...
I have not quite decided yet, but I am thinking hard.
I have been following this blog, but not 'Life in Ambridge' for the past 3 weeks! For various reasons I have stopped listening each evening, and also failed to keep up with the omnibus! From various snippets I have seen, a lot has been happening in Ambridge. I hope to catch up soon.
ReplyDeleteGary - best of luck with your presentation. I look forward to seeing you on YouTube
To all with health concerns, and those affected by the atrocious weather, I wish you all the best.
Hello Zoetrope lovely to see your post ๐ค and returning good wishes to you!
ReplyDeleteHello Zoetrope thanks for your concerns.
DeleteYou have reminded me of the time when I first started listening in the early nineties. I would drop into the Archers occasionally and weeks later easily pick up where I left off. Now to catch up I would need to read a summary and then pop back in, simples.
Gary. Have a good time and safe ๐งณ travel.
ReplyDeleteLaugh of the day for me.๐.
ReplyDeleteHow is your maths.?
We are expecting a delivery of mainly wild bird food. £5 delivery charge)
I am able to track the delivery.
Great idea.
Unfortunately the driver is running late.
He only started out at 11.06 am this morning and we are number 113 on his list.
I have tracked his progress and in just over 3hours he was up to delivery number 18!
So about 6 houses per hour which means by my reckoning we should expect him to arrive here in about 16 hours time!
(My maths might be rusty though )
This tracking is amazing!
We have been given an idea of what time he will actually turn up !
(He will have to get his skates on though.)
I am now informed that he should arrive between 11pm and 1 am tomorrow morning.
I hope the driver is getting overtime
Words have failed me!
(There is no flooding in this area but if there were I would expect the delivery to be cancelled or at least postponed obviously .).
I am making this comment here, but it relates to comnents on "The Life in.." page, but it is not directly TA related.
ReplyDeleteWhen my father passed away, on sorting out his bungalow, one of the things I asked for, was a lovely cribbage board.
It is wonderful, made of two or three, differing woods and is of great sentimental value. It was the one we used, when I played crib with him, when he was not so mobile, and needed company.
It is still well used.
My father also loved playing cards and it was almost obligitary to do so. To this day, many family members of differing generations, still do, when there is a family gathering.
Sadly, this will probably not be passed on, as the kids prefer computer games, TV etc.
In thier words "boring"!!
My 8yr neice, loves playing chess (which I can't). So there is some hope.
DeletePerhaps either her Grandma or self, will teach her cribbage ๐
DeleteA plea to the gardeners.
ReplyDeleteHow do I get rid of + destroy - Vinca Major?
I have tried digging it up, using weedkiller, but it is still thriving, and now has purple flowers.
Help, any-one?
It is strangling a shrub + taking over a flower bed.
Any suggestions will be gratefully received.
Archerphile how did your physio go this week and equally important your post op appointment with Mr Stranks๐ค
ReplyDeleteMiriam I’m sure someone will be able to help you with your gardening query ๐ค)
Physio was probably the last session I shall need and I was given even more exercises to do, involving wide elastic bands around chair legs which I have to stretch forwards and backwards (!) and going up and downstairs on my operated leg - very painful!
DeleteMr Stranks was v. pleased with my progress & showed me Xrays of my new knee - masses of ironwork in there now! He said it was one of the worst knees he’d seen in a long time so I’m very lucky he is such a brilliant orthopaedic surgeon. Next appt not for three months.
Celebrated by going to get my hair cut for first time in months while Mr A waited outside in car. Lovely to be pampered for a short while and get out of the house for half an hour!
More progress made Archerphile ๐ so pleased. Glad you managed a treat for yourself after all you have been through these last few weeks๐ฆต
DeleteMore (painful) work to do yet I know but each day takes you nearer the new you soon to be seen be ๐♀️ everywhere ๐ what with your new knee and hip.
Oh dear an extra “be” crept in ( may B from Ambridge ๐คฃ)
DeleteMiriam - there is only one way to get rid of periwinkle - keep dousing it in Glyphosate, if you can still get it!
ReplyDeleteWe have masses in our garden, but I love the blue flowers so tend to leave it to spread where it wants. Digging is not very successful unless you can get every little shred out, rather like Oxalis. Even a small bit of root will soon regenerate.
Be careful to protect the shrub you want to keep when spraying with glyphosate, or use the gel which you can paint onto the periwinkle.
Best to wait until it is actively growing and not if it is going to rain within a few hours!
Good luck! ๐ฟ
Miriam, may I add to what Archerphile has said, periwinkle like ivy has difficulty absorbing weedkiller, if you crush the stems first it will absorb it better.or apply to the roots.
ReplyDeleteI try to garden organically so I won’t use weed killer because of all its health concerns to humans and other garden creatures, including neighbours and future owners of my garden, but it does mean some plants/weeds take advantage of this. Mum gave me some periwinkle years ago, with a warning, but it is still really patchy, whereas anchusa or alkanet has established itself from where I know not, and the tap roots are dreadful to remove. I try to manage them down rather than eliminate, taking out any small new plants when I catch them and digging out as much of the larger plants as possible from time to time. However I don’t try to achieve a manicured garden, rather relaxed and a little bit rambling ๐.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your progress, Archerphile, persisting with the exercises against the pain. I know some have an easier time of it, because far less damage &
ReplyDeleteinternal metalwork !
Whoppee, the ear drilling went ahead yesterday, as planned ! ๐ Challenging day, very early start, long, long wait( but worse for some), & then the, er, interesting procedure under a local anaesthetic. The prep. before takes almost as long as the actual surgery. Really nice nurses, very confident surgeon & the drilling itself, though quite disturbing, all that vibration in the head, sounded to me like some modern, experimental music.
Left with an enormous tight bandage all round the head ( NOT a good look....), which I removed gingerly today & am now experimenting with head scarf. Do not want the 50s housewife style.
Was advised to take painkillers, when & if necessary, after the numbing faded, but found a vodka & tonic did the trick...
Get checked in about 10 days, after which, will be able to wash hair with actual water...The external hearing aid will be attached in a few months when the wound is healed, all being well.
Carolyn, I didnt know you were going to have this horrid sounding treatment! You seem to have been very stoical about it. Did it have to be under a local or could you have opted for a full anaesthetic? Have you been having a particular problem with your ear?
DeleteForgive me for asking, but I have never heard of this procedure, which sounds quite drastic to me!
Anyway, as I am constantly being told, don’t skimp on the painkillers, better to be comfortable than a martyr! And I wish you a quick and completely successful recovery.
My goodness, so many health problems amongst us recently. Let’s hope the Spring, when it comes, Will bring relief to us all!
I'm no martyr, AP ! If I need paracetamol, I'd take it !
DeleteThe objective is to improve hearing which is very poor in the left ear, where I haven't been able to use the normal type of aid for a couple of years because of a perforated eardrum, brought on by frequent infections in that ear, exacerbated in turn by the normal aid.
This is a cunning device, involving an implant attached to the 'hearing' bone in the inner ear one end & an external amplifier externally behind the ear. That's roughly how it goes !
Oh, you can have a local or general anaesthetic. I opted for the former
DeleteAll the best Carolyn for a quick and relative painfree recovery. I have a cub scout who has hearing aids attached to his skull. He is quite blase about taking time out to detach and replace batteries but I'm not sure if your procedure is the same. I have noticed when I have one or both aids in, my skull acts as a sort of sounding board so perhaps that's what happening to you?
DeleteI remember you saying some while back that is what you were going to have to get done. Well good on you. Get well soon. ๐๐๐
Goodness Carolyn, I knew about your hearing problems but didn't understand you were due for this ( what sounds ) drastic treatment.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful help is available now, and well done for going for it.
Do so hope it is successful for you.
Goodness, Carolyn, I am not sure I could be so brave. Love the humour about the experimental music and the scarf - I suppose like others on the blog that’s how you get through these treatments and illnesses. Really hope you feel the benefit very soon.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness Carolyn. I didn't even know they could do such things. Hope you will soon be hearing well.
ReplyDeleteYou are a real stoic, Carolyn.
ReplyDeleteYears ago you would have looked very fashionable wearing a nice triangle shaped scarf made from Laura Ashley material.
It would have been tied behind your head not under your chin.
Very Brigitte Bardot.
Now I think you should revive that look.
I have met you and know you will be the ideal model .
You could set a trend ..
Women will go into shops asking for “Carolyn squares.”
(The squares will be folded along a diagonal so will be double )
Next time Archersfans have a meet up I expect to see you wearing one.
What do you reckon?
Thank you all for boosting my morale ! Much appreciated, & very kind.
ReplyDeleteI might have felt a tiny bit pleased with myself, but it wasn't really brave.. Local or general anaesthetic is a matter of personal preference, when one does have a choice, & 1) I prefer to be awake & kind of aware 2) curiosity ! What goes on....To be honest, I was more intimidated by the heart & blood pressure monitoring throughout than by the actual drilling !
Am experimenting, Lanjan. At the moment, a sort of bandeau round the head with a scarf bought in Turkey years ago. I think a Muslim lady there showed me how to do it her way, but can't remember. Googling away....well, it keeps me out of trouble.
Good for you Carolyn. And I still think you are very brave. I was offered a lumber injection for both my replacement ops. I wasn’t afraid of feeling any pain, I just didn’t want to hear what was going on (too much Black and Decker equipment involved) or the conversations between the surgeon and his team. So I greatly admire you, and of course you recover much more quickly with no sore throat and woozyness for days afterwards.
DeleteYes, it really IS personal preference, isn't it, AP ? I don't exactly like the noise but it makes me feel.more involved in the process !
Deletecarolyn. My goodness you kept that a secret, I am sending you lots of gentle get well ๐ค hugs.
DeleteRecovery had better come soon as Lanjan has already ear marked you for scarf design in the fashion industry.
No doubt she will want her 25%.
Keep ๐ช strong.
Only 25% ,Stasia?
DeleteI am the designer and Carolyn is but the model .........
However do not let it be said that I am not generous to a fault.
25% it is.
Just a few replies.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn. Gosh what an ordeal, but I like you, would have gone down the LA route. I suppose it is perhaps a trying to feel involved, somehow.
Archerphile. So glad your surgeon is so pleased with your wonderful progress. It is a joint effort - you with excercising + doing as told, and him for performing a magnificent op.
Thanks, for the comments about my vinca major problem.
I still have some glycophosphate based weedkiller, and will follow the advice given, about breaking the stems, to allow absorption. I hate using chemicals, but sometimes, it's needs must.
I don't mind if the shrub dies, it can be dug up + replaced, with something I will like better.
Sorry. The words "joint effort" was just a figure of speech, and was not an intended pun.
DeleteThis is too important for Archerphile..to be so frivolous.
๐๐๐๐๐๐
DeleteCarolyn ๐impressed!
ReplyDeleteAllez les bleus !! ๐ฒ๐ซ
ReplyDeleteBring on England v Ireland tomorrow.
DeleteCocorico ! ๐ 2nd French try
DeleteI have a new recipe to add to my meals. I went for coffee + lunch today, with niece + partner + kids to meet up with them all.
ReplyDeleteI was expecting a normal snack lunch - bread, tuna/meats + salad, or soup + bread.
Instead I was treated to a Spanish Mountain Stew.
It was delicious - the basis being pork (of two types), bacon, chorizo, mixed beans, tomatoes, bay leaves, chilli, stock, and paprika, which was served with garlic bread.
It was spicy + so tasty.
I will make my own version.
Sounds lovely Miriam. I wonder if any smoked paprika was used? I find a teaspoon (or less) of that adds a really Spanish taste to casserole or stew type dishes.
DeleteDelish Miriam
DeleteVive la ๐ซ๐ท and Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช next week. Don’t why I’m saying that, I don’t even watch rugby. Too violent for me.
ReplyDeleteSterling French defence up to the break, what a match in prospect demain ! ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ๐ฎ๐ช
DeleteStasia - England v Ireland ia tomorrow afternoon, and I can't wait.
DeleteI love rugby, as much as golf + cricket, but football๐ฃ๐ฃ
๐๐๐
DeleteWow Carolyn, that sounded like an awful experience (pun not intended, but I'll keep it in anyway).
ReplyDeleteI do understand the interest in what is going on, but I'm not sure I could have something like that done under a local.
I have my ears vacuumed once or twice a year and that's bad enough.
It really wasn't awful, Zoetrope, strange, yes, but it's not in the ear like vacuuming, more in the head.
DeleteLanjan, don't relegate me to the role of model ๐ ! Can't we share the presentation & get some girl like Cara Delavingue ( spelling ?) to do the posing ( & on no account to open her mouth about scarf culture or anything else)
Sorry Carolyn you will have to model but you can present if you wish.
DeleteI don’t want some young woman stealing your thunder
There will be no paid model.
I will just do the designing and stay quietly in the background.
I remember my mum tying up a scarf like a turban. You made it into a triangle then tied two opposite corners on top of your head then rolled the remaining corner over the tie. I think Pearl in Last of the Summer Wine had this arrangement not to mention Hilda Ogden! How times have changed! When I was expecting Katy my mum said “Well, you’ll have to have a corset afterwards!” No way!! I was a child of the sixties!!
ReplyDeleteComment from another child of the sixties and doyenne of the Kings Road in her Mary Quant then later in Laura Ashley long skirts and hair tied as LJ described so well.
ReplyDeleteAnd never a corset for me either Ev.
But I also tied my scarves in a turban from time to time.
Isn't it lovely to share our memories of how we were !
“The Way we Were”! When I was a young WRNS Officer living in London about 10 of us went to see the film and we were all in a row sobbing at the end as Streisand and Redford met up by chance long after their divorce. Still a strong attraction but they just couldn’t live together! Those were the days!
ReplyDelete