We decided at very short notice to go somewhere for a little break.
'Where shall we go?' said P.
'York,' I said because although P and I went there back in 1985 we've been saying we should take J.
P found a last minute deal in a bed and breakfast and off we went, having resigned ourselves to the fact that it would probably be pouring with rain the whole time but at least there were plenty of museums etc.
We had a good journey. The guest house was really nice and the owners friendly. There was just one thing: as soon as I got to our room I started feeling slightly as if I was sea-sick and I thought 'Oh no, I'm going down with something.' Next morning as we had (a delicious) breakfast the woman serving it said 'Have you noticed our sloping ceiling?' Then I realised: the floor of our room sloped. That's why I was feeling funny. How strange.
More about York later, it's dinner time.
Tuesday 24 July 2012
No phone or internet for 11 days
11 days ago I was quite happily sending some emails when the internet stopped working. P checked the router and there was no signal at all and also our phone wasn't working. He also discovered that most of our neighbours had the same problem. After phoning BT on his mobile he eventually got through to an Indian call centre and was told that it was due to the wet weather we've been having in England and there were a lot of people in the same boat (pardon the pun) so it would take about 5 days to repair and please stop complaining. In our view this was a load of rubbish as although we've had rain we haven't had floods and presumably internet and phone cables are waterproof.
On Wednesday, the last day of term, we picked J up from school (where there were some very happy looking teachers) and went off for a short break in York. Internet still not back.
Had a great time in York, more about that later. Also had several text conversations with our neighbour about the fact that BT didn't seem to be doing anything. Both she and P made lots of fuss and asked for it to be 'escalated'. Obviously escalation does the trick as returning home today after having been out we were told by our other neighbour that 'there had been a man from BT around saying something about mending a telegraph pole.' It turned out that the problem had been caused by a lorry hitting a pole and the repair man was astonished that we'd all been without phone orr internet for so long.
I think perhaps a bit of money off our bill would be in order here.
On Wednesday, the last day of term, we picked J up from school (where there were some very happy looking teachers) and went off for a short break in York. Internet still not back.
Had a great time in York, more about that later. Also had several text conversations with our neighbour about the fact that BT didn't seem to be doing anything. Both she and P made lots of fuss and asked for it to be 'escalated'. Obviously escalation does the trick as returning home today after having been out we were told by our other neighbour that 'there had been a man from BT around saying something about mending a telegraph pole.' It turned out that the problem had been caused by a lorry hitting a pole and the repair man was astonished that we'd all been without phone orr internet for so long.
I think perhaps a bit of money off our bill would be in order here.
Thursday 12 July 2012
A sunny day
Today the sun has shone, well most of the time which is really unusual because for the last few days like most of the rest of the country we've had torrential rain. Really, really torrential rain.
And they say it's going to last until September. The rain that is.
Went to watch P working on his maze today. If the summer's really as wet as they say he's not going to make much money out of it.
Feel really tired today, like all I want to do is sleep.
And they say it's going to last until September. The rain that is.
Went to watch P working on his maze today. If the summer's really as wet as they say he's not going to make much money out of it.
Feel really tired today, like all I want to do is sleep.
Sport for all?
Today J's school had a big sports day at a large stadium and he had to go and watch. For some reason he also had to wear PE kit even though he wasn't taking part. He says he has had an utterly miserable day.
If pupils are not good at Maths and they hate it they're not forced to watch people do sums all day are they?
(This is written by someone who loathed sport at school).
If pupils are not good at Maths and they hate it they're not forced to watch people do sums all day are they?
(This is written by someone who loathed sport at school).
Saturday 7 July 2012
Sleepovers should be banned
On Wednesday J went on a school trip to Thorpe Park where he had a good time but refused to go on the rides where you get wet.
P and I meanwhile went into town so he could sign on but they said that though his pension is small it means he can't get Jobseekers Allowance. He went into an Employment Agency who were very helpful in advising him how to word his CV.
He's had one request for some work so that's hopeful.
On Thursday we picked up our 'new' car which is an interim car but is ok. A Peugeot 407 Estate in quite good condition. The only thing is it's got this rattle. There seems to be something metal trapped under the dashboard somewhere and every time we go round a bend it rolls from one side to the other. Can we cope with this?
I must say it rolls around a lot more when P drives, my driving being of a more gentle nature.
Last night J was on a sleepover with the scouts. Sadly during the night someone must have kidnapped him and replaced him with a sore-headed bear.
He has been so grumpy and says he only got two hours sleep and didn't enjoy any of it at all.
I think I'm going to start a 'Parents against Sleepovers' group.
Or else next time I'll just say 'You're not going'.
P and I meanwhile went into town so he could sign on but they said that though his pension is small it means he can't get Jobseekers Allowance. He went into an Employment Agency who were very helpful in advising him how to word his CV.
He's had one request for some work so that's hopeful.
On Thursday we picked up our 'new' car which is an interim car but is ok. A Peugeot 407 Estate in quite good condition. The only thing is it's got this rattle. There seems to be something metal trapped under the dashboard somewhere and every time we go round a bend it rolls from one side to the other. Can we cope with this?
I must say it rolls around a lot more when P drives, my driving being of a more gentle nature.
Last night J was on a sleepover with the scouts. Sadly during the night someone must have kidnapped him and replaced him with a sore-headed bear.
He has been so grumpy and says he only got two hours sleep and didn't enjoy any of it at all.
I think I'm going to start a 'Parents against Sleepovers' group.
Or else next time I'll just say 'You're not going'.
Really sad news
The woman I mentioned on Tuesday with the brain tumour died unexpectedly that afternoon. Really sad.
Tuesday 3 July 2012
Heard some sad news
This morning at our housegroup I heard about a woman in our village whom I know slightly (she used to be at the mums and toddler group). She's got two boys aged 12 and 16 and she's been diagnosed with an aggressive malignant inoperable brain tumour.
How do you cope with something like that?
How do you cope with something like that?
Adjusting to our different circumstances
People are asking me how I'm coping with having P under my feet all day but it's not like that really. I'm happy to have him here. It is though a big adjustment for both of us. I'm having to get used to not having much time to myself any more when I'm used to having a lot of it, too much really.
P is missing his colleagues and the camaraderie of work. I've got used to not having many people to chat to but for him it's a sudden loss.
He's got to write his cv and try and plan exactly what sort of work he wants to do and all that.
It's stupid really but P's doing the school run now and I was thinking last night that I might never do it again although I almost certainly will. I was just thinking that actually the school run is the main thing I do with my life and now I don't do it any more and started crying which is silly cos it's great not having to get up so early in the morning. Really I've done well managing to do it all these years in spite of so often feeling so ill.
It's just all sort of happened so quickly. P had been thinking about early retirement and then suddenly he was made redundant and it was taken out of his hands.
And there is the slight issue that there was a communication breakdown at P's work so his lump sum which we need to get the car has been held up. Meanwhile our current car is literally falling apart.
I'm just going to trust in God to work it all out and find P some suitable part time work and me something to do with my life that's stimulating and for our money to come through quickly.
After all He got my keys out of the shed.
P is missing his colleagues and the camaraderie of work. I've got used to not having many people to chat to but for him it's a sudden loss.
He's got to write his cv and try and plan exactly what sort of work he wants to do and all that.
It's stupid really but P's doing the school run now and I was thinking last night that I might never do it again although I almost certainly will. I was just thinking that actually the school run is the main thing I do with my life and now I don't do it any more and started crying which is silly cos it's great not having to get up so early in the morning. Really I've done well managing to do it all these years in spite of so often feeling so ill.
It's just all sort of happened so quickly. P had been thinking about early retirement and then suddenly he was made redundant and it was taken out of his hands.
And there is the slight issue that there was a communication breakdown at P's work so his lump sum which we need to get the car has been held up. Meanwhile our current car is literally falling apart.
I'm just going to trust in God to work it all out and find P some suitable part time work and me something to do with my life that's stimulating and for our money to come through quickly.
After all He got my keys out of the shed.
Church picnic
On Sunday was the Church Picnic. A chance to relax in a beautiful garden with a private swimming pool and enjoy some nice food and pleasant conversation with your friends.
I've been dreading it.
This is because it somehow tends to happen that Mavis and I get left sitting on our own. When you can't walk around and talk to people and you rely on them to come and talk to you and they don't it's well, just a bit difficult to handle.
P had said from the start he didn't want to go but J really really wanted to go as he loves the pool and Tim was going. Anyway in the end P did come and the boys had a great time. And while P was roaming round with the camera doing a David Bailey act Mavis and I sat on our own. And while P pushed me around a bit so I could see J having fun in the pool and so I could chat to a few people Mavis sat on her own.
I think people just don't realise what it's like.
Anyway, also at the picnic was our possible new assistant minister.
And he came over and sat with Mavis and me and talked to us. And Mavis who can do quite a good job of looking miserable actually cheered up and chatted to him.
Wow.
He's nice.
I've been dreading it.
This is because it somehow tends to happen that Mavis and I get left sitting on our own. When you can't walk around and talk to people and you rely on them to come and talk to you and they don't it's well, just a bit difficult to handle.
P had said from the start he didn't want to go but J really really wanted to go as he loves the pool and Tim was going. Anyway in the end P did come and the boys had a great time. And while P was roaming round with the camera doing a David Bailey act Mavis and I sat on our own. And while P pushed me around a bit so I could see J having fun in the pool and so I could chat to a few people Mavis sat on her own.
I think people just don't realise what it's like.
Anyway, also at the picnic was our possible new assistant minister.
And he came over and sat with Mavis and me and talked to us. And Mavis who can do quite a good job of looking miserable actually cheered up and chatted to him.
Wow.
He's nice.
Thetford
On Saturday we went to Thetford as J had a Science workshop there. Thetford was really nice, we had some walks/wheels by the river, it was a sunny day, the people were really friendly and helpful with the wheelchair and J had a good day as well.
Who's reading this?
I've only just written the post before last and two people have read it. Who are you, I wonder.
Concert on a summer evening
After all the excitement of the retirement do there was an episode in which we were late picking up J, he'd forgotten his phone so didn't get my message, we waited for him at bus-stop not realising bus for some reason hadn't turned up at school, he contacted Louise and asked her to phone me but my phones' got such lousy reception she couldn't get through... Eventually we picked up J from school and his friend from the bus stop outside school, dropped friend off, got home, ate some leftovers, worried about where my brother was who was due to visit, he turned up just in time, stuffed some lefotvovers in his mouth, had a quick shower and we were off to school again. J was playing steel pans in the summer show and they did very well considering several of the others hadn't turned up.
Nice to see my brother again. He'd taken my niece to the airport as she's going to visit her aunt in America.
Nice to see my brother again. He'd taken my niece to the airport as she's going to visit her aunt in America.
A nearly wrecked retirement do.
Ok this is what happened on Thursday. It was the day of P's retirement do at work. In our car were all the drinks for the reception, apart from some that were cooling in our fridge. We'd arranged that I would take them in about 11.30. Ok fine.
I decided it would be a good idea to clear some space in the fridge as we'd probably have some leftovers. At the bottom of the fridge there was some rhubarb that had definitely seen better days so I decided to take it over to the compost heap. So I went outside, locking the door behind me, got my scooter from its shed, scooted over to the compost heap, had a quick scoot round the garden, put my scooter back in the shed, padlocked the shed, went to open the back door...
No keys.
Keys still in scooter. Scooter key, shed key, house keys all on same key ring on my scooter. In the shed. In the locked shed.
So this was the situation: in two and a half hours there would be P's retirement reception at which people were expecting to have drinks as well as food. These drinks were currently either locked in our car or locked in our house and I couldn't get into either. I hadn't got my phone with me. I couldn't walk far enough to get help.
The horrible reality that I was about to wreck P's carefully planned reception was hitting me rather forcefully. I was imagining him just waiting for me and I didn't arrive and everyone else was arriving and there were no drinks.
As well as this I faced the possibility of spending the whole day sitting in our drive.
There were only two things I could do:
1) Pray
2) Shout
So I did both. I prayed, rather fervently. And I shouted as loud as I could in the direction of our neighbours.
Nothing happened. There was no sign of anyone. I kept praying and kept shouting.
Nothing.
Time was going past. An hour. An hour and a half. Me sitting in our drive praying and shouting.
Finally I said to God 'I'm asking you to get me out of this and get someone to help me and I believe you will because you've got me out of so many messes before so I'm going to trust you and praise you.'
So I sat there alternately praising and thanking Him and shouting as loud as I could 'Help!!!'
Then... I saw a woman coming towards the fence. 'I thought it was a cat making that noise,' she said.
10 minutes or so later our neighbour was round with some bolt-cutters. The padlock was wrecked but I had the keys!
Thank you!!!!
A quick shower and I got to P's work just as the caterers arrived.
I must admit I was a bit stressed and my job as the drinks pourer was a bit hampered by the fact I couldn't get the tops off so had to keep asking people to do it for me but the reception went very well.
Lots of people came. The food was really good. P's boss who's really nice had literally come straight from the birth of his second grandson and made a really nice speech. P did a good speech as well. They presented him with a brass sundial. There were a lot of quite emotional goodbyes.
Then that was it.
He's left work.
And I've put my scooter key on a separate keyring.
I decided it would be a good idea to clear some space in the fridge as we'd probably have some leftovers. At the bottom of the fridge there was some rhubarb that had definitely seen better days so I decided to take it over to the compost heap. So I went outside, locking the door behind me, got my scooter from its shed, scooted over to the compost heap, had a quick scoot round the garden, put my scooter back in the shed, padlocked the shed, went to open the back door...
No keys.
Keys still in scooter. Scooter key, shed key, house keys all on same key ring on my scooter. In the shed. In the locked shed.
So this was the situation: in two and a half hours there would be P's retirement reception at which people were expecting to have drinks as well as food. These drinks were currently either locked in our car or locked in our house and I couldn't get into either. I hadn't got my phone with me. I couldn't walk far enough to get help.
The horrible reality that I was about to wreck P's carefully planned reception was hitting me rather forcefully. I was imagining him just waiting for me and I didn't arrive and everyone else was arriving and there were no drinks.
As well as this I faced the possibility of spending the whole day sitting in our drive.
There were only two things I could do:
1) Pray
2) Shout
So I did both. I prayed, rather fervently. And I shouted as loud as I could in the direction of our neighbours.
Nothing happened. There was no sign of anyone. I kept praying and kept shouting.
Nothing.
Time was going past. An hour. An hour and a half. Me sitting in our drive praying and shouting.
Finally I said to God 'I'm asking you to get me out of this and get someone to help me and I believe you will because you've got me out of so many messes before so I'm going to trust you and praise you.'
So I sat there alternately praising and thanking Him and shouting as loud as I could 'Help!!!'
Then... I saw a woman coming towards the fence. 'I thought it was a cat making that noise,' she said.
10 minutes or so later our neighbour was round with some bolt-cutters. The padlock was wrecked but I had the keys!
Thank you!!!!
A quick shower and I got to P's work just as the caterers arrived.
I must admit I was a bit stressed and my job as the drinks pourer was a bit hampered by the fact I couldn't get the tops off so had to keep asking people to do it for me but the reception went very well.
Lots of people came. The food was really good. P's boss who's really nice had literally come straight from the birth of his second grandson and made a really nice speech. P did a good speech as well. They presented him with a brass sundial. There were a lot of quite emotional goodbyes.
Then that was it.
He's left work.
And I've put my scooter key on a separate keyring.
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