Happy Christmas

Hope you're having a nice Christmas. P developed a cold Christmas Eve but still cooked some wonderful food assisted by J. Had Mavis for the day -  seemed to enjoy it. I sat on the sofa watched the Queen and fell asleep. Went to 'old church' in the morning with J, nice to catch up with people. Been nice relaxing time really.

Shopping and banana sorbet

Seriously shopped out! The problem with Christmas shopping on a scooter is that they cram as much stuff into the shops as possible so you can scoot down an aisle and find you can't turn the corner because of a pile of bargan books or an inflatable santa. You then have to reverse all the way back and turn into a crowd who aren't necessarily feeling very patient and may even make remarks about women drivers. It's all done now anyway, unlike the cards - haven't even started.

Wednesday was Coffee Morning Christmas lunch. Very nice except the banana (well I think it was banana) sorbet which was a bit, well, horrid. Had to eat my chocolate santa to take the taste away.

Last night was our housegroup social. Had a good time, conversation got a bit heavy - for some reason we started debating the death penalty but then someone suggested charades which was a lot of fun.

Also had second-from-last-ever parents evening yesterday. Person who says I mustn't mention him is doing fine. 

Yay!

Last Thursday night was GCSE presentation evening at which they got presented with their certificates. Bit of a struggle to get J to get his hair cut but in the end there he was all 6 foot 3 inches of him - neat hair, trimmed nails, polished shoes, smart trousers, shirt and tie. Thought it might be a bit of a boring evening but it was actually very enjoyable - they showed a video at the start showing them at various stages from Year 7 to 11. Then when they awarded the subject prizes they played an 'appropriate' tune for each subject eg 'Chain Reaction' for Chemistry and the '2468 song' for Maths. And talking of Maths - J won the prize! He got presented with a great big shield to keep for a year and a glass trophy to keep for ever. Well done J - so proud of you!

Don't eat the churros

Some time ago we won a prize in a Premier Radio competition which was a voucher for a Mexican restaurant. We went the other week - the three of us and a friend of J's and the food was quite nice, well the starters and mains were very nice ( I had chicken burrito) but the desserts weren't so good. In fact we passed the churros around so we could all taste how horrible they were - too much cinnamon. A nice evening out though, thank you Premier.

P keeping busy

P meanwhile is being kept busy because he's now Chairman of Governors at J's junior school. He says he was forced into it and it's only temporary. Hmm we'll see. It means lots of meetings. Actually it's quite nice to get some time to myself.

He's also busy writing a report on the history of the Bible. One of our pastors asked him to do it, not quite sure what he's going to do with it.

He's also still busy working outside although the rain has been a problem of late.

He's also busy ferrying J around. J is doing an Alpha course now together with his friend Tim. J still goes to 'old church' where they have a Sunday youth meeting and a monthly youth club. (His friend Adam is working, having got an apprenticeship at the firm where he did his work experience).

P's also busy cooking and hanging up the washing and cleaning (now and then) ...

And me - well I sort the washing, tell P what setting to put it on, sort out our endless stream of paperwork, spend some time reading the Bible and praying, some time online and otherwise largely resting except when we go out shopping. I don't like it when people ask what I've been doing because it's usually not very much. Actually yesterday we went to a charity lunch - it was baked potatoes and they gave me three different toppings - the wheelchair works wonders. There were people from both old and new churches there. The minister at old church has resigned having found working and being a minister too much really. The associate minister has increased his hours but sees his role as a pastoral worker and not so much as a preacher although a couple of the others will do some preaching. They're going to work out the way forward anyway.

How to choose a university

I don't know if I've said this before but how I ended up at my uni was:

I was sitting in the 6th form study room filling in my application form and had put down four choices and needed a fifth. Someone had left a prospectus on the desk for King's College London, I glanced through it and thought 'that'll do, I won't be going there anyway'. On the way to an interview at Sussex uni the coach drove past King's and the moment I saw it I just knew that that's where I would go. And it was.

Important decisions

Well here we are well into November. Sixth form is still going well and J has looked round 3 unis -Warwick, UCL and an Oxford college. We all went to Warwick Open Day and all really liked it, in fact we couldn't think of anything that was wrong with it. They had a very impressive brand, spanking new Physics dept with an amazing electron microscope - we actually saw atoms! They make offers purely based on academic ability.

P and J were up in London the other week and thought they'd just do a 'self-guided tour' of UCL. They found therre was actuually a pre-booked guided tour going on which they were allowed to join. J liked it but not quite as much as Warwick. 

He really liked Oxford - as you would - and they had a very nice lunch - turkey wrapped in bacon.

Still some more open days to go to in the spring and summer.

What he needs to decide is exactly which course he wants to do - Maths, Physics or Maths with Physics.

Brief update

Had some wet and windy weather here.

Eye a lot better.

Had an appointment for prayer ministry yesterday - God dealt with so much stuff it was amazing.

J about to come home for half term break - might get a bit difficult for me to access computer.

Gruesome eye

Have a had a really bloodshot eye for the last few days and last night it was quite painful. Was lying awake until about 3.30 trying really hard to trust God and not worry. Managed to see doctor this morning - it's just a haemorrhage under the conjuctiva which has caused it to lift off a bit. Pain is due to the blood pressing on the eye. Should clear up in a few days. Looks horrible though.

Free greenhouse

P got the greenhouse when he responded to a freecycle offer of some gardening equipment - turned out to be a lot of gardening stuff as it was someone clearing out his mum's house and he offered him the greenhouse as well. It is, like I said, a bit on the big side so we've had a bit of debate as to where to put it but decided in the end it will go on the same spot as the one that got blown down. P wanted it just outside the house but I persuaded him that looking out of the window at a view of greenhouse wasn't ideal.

A new watch and raw mozzarella

J started school late this morning (due to open evening last night) and was finishing at lunch time as they are allowed to go home to 'study' after their last lesson of the day. P and I decided to wander round local town for a few hours. P is picking J up from school most of the time now as his bus fares have shot up now he's 16.

For my 18th birthday, a long time ago, my parents gave me a gold watch. This stopped working many years ago and the bracelet was also broken. A few weeks ago I thought about getting it repaired and took it to a jeweller's who quoted £135! That really was a bit too much and today P bought me another watch which was a lot cheaper but very nice I think. Have just got to wait while they take some of the links out of the bracelet as it was a bit loose.

We also got one of those toilet-roll holders that stands on the floor as we've realised that there's nowhere on the bathroom wall to fix one unless you want to dislocate your shoulder each time you use it. Bet you really wanted to know that.

P also got the latest Bernard Cornwell book - he's a big fan.

Then we had lunch in Sainsbury's cafe. As we went in one of the staff was saying 'We've got Spiced Orange Mocha now specially for the Christmas season'. Sounds very nice but it's not Christmas it's the middle of October. Anyway I had a nice 'Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagne' and P had a mozzarella and tomato salad. I never fancy raw mozzarella really but he likes it. 

Back home and P and J have been assembling base of greenhouse whcih is actually a bit huge.

Wet Wednesday

A damp drizzly sort of day today. P was on a health and safety course as part of his role as a school governor. Becky picked Mavis and me up to take us to the coffee morning and then was going to take M and Blackie to the vets which was very kind of her really. Hope her nice new car avoided contamination with any feline bodily fluids. Apparently they were going so they could show M how to put medicine in B's ears, wouldn't have thought it's that hard but then I've never tried putting medicine in a cat's ears.

Was at a funeral yesterday for someone from the Catholic church who used to  involved in an incredible number of many things in the village and was a really nice person. They had to have the funeral service relayed to a marquee because there were so many people. It was all incredibly well organised and his wife gave a little talk and did so well. She'd made a little leaflet with photos and stories about his life for us to take home as well. Hard to believe we won't see his smiling face around any more.

Haven't really been feeling all that well this week so going to try and rest now.

Chocolate puds

Inspired by 'Bake Off' P made some of those chocolate puddings that are all gooey in the centre today. Seriously yum.

Wet Wednesday

It's very, very wet here. Drive turning into a river. was surprised by how many people turned up at coffee morning despite rain.

Mavis has increasingly been having problems with mobility. After watching her wobble down her drive with her walking stick then collapse in a heap we managed to find her a walking frame on freecycle which has transformed her life. Anyway last Friday her carer took her and Blackie to the vets. Blackie was sick in his cat carrier and the carer said she couldn't carry him into the vets as the smell was making her feel sick. So Mavis decided she could manage with her stick in one hand and Blackie in his carrier in the other. She and Blackie crashed to the ground. This caused a great deal of concern at the vets. Blackie was ok but understandably a bit shaken and had er added to the biological fluids in his carrier. I manged to get Mavis an urgent appointment at the doctors, urgent appointments being like gold dust, ('Should I ask my about flu jab while I'm in there she asked', 'No,'I said)  and they said she was just badly bruised.

Please Mavis don't do that again.

J has started going to an Alpha course at his church. Enjoyed it he said.

In fact last night while he was there and P was at a governor's meeting I was at home alone which is very unusual these days. felt like I should get up to some sort of mischief but couldn't think of anything apart from eating a flapjack (I managed to make some yesterday!)

Bit of an update

Just played Monopoly City with J again. Just lost again.

We have had really lovely weather for the last few weeks but today it's poured with rain.

A couple of weeks ago we went to see my dad (his wife was away). Went out for a nice meal with him at local carvery. On the way we stopped off at a second hand bookshop where J bought the entire works of HG Wells.
We then went to see my niece who's just started at uni - seems to be having a great time. 

P and J have been repairing the barn roof which has been leaking badly, just as well as the weather seems to have turned.

Church going very well. Had a Benjamin cuddle on Sunday. He's doing so well and really doesn't look like a prem baby any more. I think he's the smiliest baby I've ever seen, even more so than J & he was very smiley (as long as he wasn't bored).

Full house

On Saturday we had 19 people in our house, this being the 'family house-group'. This meant we spent the whole previous week cleaning and tidying until I was at the point of exhaustion. It also meant that P did a major sort-out of the study so it actually looks like a study and we had a bulging paper recycling sack. I managed to make some chocolate brownies with P's help and he made  load of other desserts and salad and the others brought savoury dishes. It all went really well and it was lovely to have so many people laughing and enjoying themselves in our home.

This week I have been recovering so have done not very much except P and I went out for lunch today - duck spring rolls and fish pie - yum. 

Sunny day

Sun is shining. Sixth form is going well. In fact J seems really happy at school. Had quite a restful day today apart from taking a bunch of flowers round to Becky for her birthday.

Watched the Bethel Holy Ghost film today - amazing.

Sixth Form

J went off to Sixth Form today all dressed up in his smart shirt and tie. Ahhh...

Went to a wedding

This afternoon we went to a wedding - a girl in our housegroup. Really, really nice service. She's marrying a newly ordained Baptist minister. Was sitting next to baby Benjamin who is growing nice and big and cute and was sooo well behaved. Was just slightly concerned as he is a prone to projectile vomiting and while I don't mind babies being sick on me all that much I was wearing my best dress. His mum had a strategically placed muslin cloth though so all was well. 

Very nice time.

Update

The other things we did over the last month or so were:

go to Faith Camp - awesome
have a few days back home during which some friends came to dinner - good time
went to Wales
went to Ireland - had great time with family and my brother came over as well for a few days
went back to Wales - nice to be with brother and family again
came home

Teeny bit of a problem when got home - at some point power had tripped (? due to thunder storm) so fridges and freezer had been off for over a week, awful to have to throw out all that food. P had to photograph and list it all for insurance company who have paid out ok and J heroically cleaned out the fridge-freezer. While we were away P's camera had fallen off the wheelchair so that's another insurance claim.

 

Results Day

Well quite a lot has happened since I last posted. The thing that has been uppermost in our minds over the last few days has been the small matter of J's GCSE results. After arriving home from holiday the night before we had to be at school at 8am (yawn). I was feeling quite anxious a) because exam results can sometimes turn out how you don't expect and b) sometimes they can turn out how you do expect so I was thinking along the lines of 'What if he's failed English? What if he's only got a B in Art? How disappointed will he be?'

He disappeared into school and for what seemed like a very long time I watched the others coming out, observing that if a girl is crying it's impossible to tell whether she's done well or badly and it was amazing quite how much effort some had put into their appearance just to go and collect their results. Boys however, on the whole, came out with either a slightly satisfied swagger or a curl of the lip which said 'Ok I've done badly, ok I never did any work - do you think I'm bothered?'

P meanwhile calmly read a magazine.

Finally J made his appearance and slid into the car. As predicted he had A* in Maths and the 3 sciences. As predicted he had A in German, B in Graphics and RE (only 2 marks short of an A).  Then came the 2 shocks: in Art he got a D - D for major and unexpected disappointment. On reflection he thought that perhaps, in the last minute rush to get coursework completed (made worse by all his illness) he had omitted some vital pieces of work. In fact he had noticed that the othes were handing in folders somewhat thocker than his. I pointed out that he'd enjoyed the course and it won't affect his future at all and he seemed consoled by that.

Then the great big mega-shock:

HE GOT AN A IN ENGLISH!!!

Both papers - Language and Literature - he got an A. In fact in his actual Language exam he got an A* (his coursework brought overall mark down to an A).

After all those years of suffering with English it's so amazing and definitely partly due to his wonderful tutor as well as his own hard work. A real answer to prayer! Thank you Lord!

He got A* in the subjects he wants to study at A-level so has got straight into Sixth Form.

Yay!!!

Sun!

Hot, hot, hot.

Despite all the sunshine I've been diagnosed as having Vitamin D deficiency. All these years I thought slathering sunblock all over my body was good for me. So now I'm taking tablets and sitting in the sunshine for half an hour a day.

Talking of which I'd better go and do just that.

Curry night

Just should mention that last week I went out for a church 'ladies curry night'. Going out without P is a really big deal nowadays and Becky wasn't able to come. I thought at least with curry I wouldn't have to ask anyone to cut up my food for me. P dropped me off and was going to pick me up again but new friend from church, Melanie, said she'd drive me home. I said she should fold down wheelchair handles before putting it in car but couldn't remember how to do it so she shoved it in anyway and door wouldn't close with handles unfolded and bit of a job trying to get it out again but then I remembered how to unfold them so all right in the end.

Food was very nice - I had chick pea, sweet potato and spinach curry. There was also naan bread, 2 poppadums, rice and mango chutney. Yum.

MRI ok

Should just mention that J's MRI result was fine.Still getting headaches so not just due to 'exam stress'  as people kept saying (I think if anyone was stressed by his exams it was me). Has another appointment in September.

Waste of money

Trying to get my head round fact that my son actually is clearing out his room. He sorted his large bookcase yesterday which involved taking a screwdriver to it and taking out a shelf. He presented me with a pile of books for the charity shop most of which I'd bought him with a view to improving his mind and most of which he'd never read. Sigh.

Bit of an update

Wow Wimbledon was good this year especially the men's final. I couldn't decide who I wanted to win - I like both of them.

Sixth Form Taster Day went well - he looked so smart and grown up. I ordered some trousers from Gap which arrived just in time.

Have had a couple of days out - one at the sea-side and one in London where we spent a lot of time looking for an ASK restaurant as P had vouchers but after a long walk including sheltering from the rain we discovered a new shopping centre was being built on top of where it had been so we ended up in another Italian which was nice but a bit pricey. We had intended to go up the tower in Westminster Cathedral as it's advertised as having a lift. When we got there the man said to me 'If the lift breaks down, which it does sometimes, can you walk down 370 steps?' Er no, so we decided P and J would go up and I'd stay in the cafe. 'Sorry the cafes up a spiral staircase.' What? So we went to the National Portrait Gallery istead which was quite interesting.

Baby Benjamin was dedicated today - he is lovely and smiley now.

End of senior school

Last exam today - Physics -said it was 'easy'. Last time ever to wear school uniform - why does that make me feel a bit emotional?

A bit of a long summer ahead, tried to arrange work experience for him but didn't work out. What he'd probably like to do is spend it all playing computer games but no chance. I think it's time to tackle his room - clear it out and decorate it.

It's sort of srange J finishing senior school especially as he'll actually be going back for Sixth Form in September but I feel a sense of achievement as well - in spite of everything we've made it this far.

My brother, whose daughter has just finished her A levels, said he was suddenly struck by the realisation that he'll never again have to tell her to hurry up and get out of bed in time for school.

Next week J has his 'Sixth Form taster day'. Hope he likes it. My problem right now is how to find some smart trousers for him to wear in his size - 32" waist and 36" leg. It's really not easy.

Exams and stuff

This week has been hot which has been nice. J has had a lot of exams which has been a bit stressful but he feels they went ok. P has been busy invigilating as well. P has also been busy marking out the maze. So what have I been doing? Er watching lots of tennis and a bit of football, as well as a bit of tidying up. I've also spent quite a lot of time 'testing' J to help him revise. I was doing Biology with him this afternoon (trying to get my head round stem cells and nanotechnology) and it'll be the last time ever - after tomorrow no more Biology. No more Biology, no more Graphics, German, Art, RE and best of all no more English.

The only way

Yesterday P strained a muscle (not all that badly) while working on the roof. This meant he couldn't sleep in normal position. This meant he snored. This meant I got to sleep about 3.30. Not much fun as had to be welcomer at church this morning and smile and greet people. There's a really nice woman at church called Mary who came and sat in the porch with me for which I was grateful. 

Really powerful time of worship followed by very good talk by visiting speaker about 'The Father's Love and the Orphan Spirit' about whether we really relate to God as our Father - so often our view of Him is coloured by experiences of our earthly parenting. The key to breakthrough is forgiveness - not at all easy but the only way.

Tennis

Friday was J's 3 exam day. Day got off to a difficult start due to traffic jams, delayed buses etc but he got there on time. He had to be supervised durng his breaks as he was taking one exam before everyone else. I really expected that between them both he and the supervisor would have managed to organise some food for him. His lunch was in P's car, J had a set of car keys. He went all day without eating. Sigh.

Yesterday there was a thunder storm. Ater that P and I went to the Old Peope's Home Annual Bazaar. Taled to several people including one couple who used to be on the Unity Committee when I was secretary and had moved down south 8 years ago.

Got some yummy cheese bread and we also bought 10 tombola tickets and won 8 prizes. Wow! Prizes included a large tryptic picture of poppies against a blue sky. Big debate going on as to where to put it. I also bought what I think is a nice handbag for £1!

They also had a performance by local theatrre school which was so good. Woman next to me asked if I'd come to watch my grandchildren perform. Sigh. The reality is though that I am old enough to be a grandmother just somehow I've managed to be the mum of a 16 year old - who should be revising Maths and Chemistry right now.

Have also been watching a lot of tennis, too much really, but has been so good. have watched so much tennis that  have hardly been out in sunshine at all.

MRI and exams

 J had his MRI on Sunday which was ok he said, just a bit hard to stay still and he says it's better not to lie on your arm because it just has to stay squashed for the duration. Won't get result for a few weeks. Today he's working quite hard as has 3 exams tomorrow:  Maths A level module, Additional Maths and Biology (what are the DNA base pairs J?) and doesn't really look all that well and is coughing a bit. Just hope he's ok.

Me to J: 'This Biology module is a bit like falling off a log isn't it?'
J: 'You mean extremely painful?'

English!

For some time a dark cloud has been heading, steadily and inevitably, towards us. Finally on Tuesday it was upon us - in the form of J's English Language exam. Cue lots of prayers for him and others taking it, including our friends' son who is retaking and can't go to college unless he passes. J did try and pull a sickie but he had to admit he was unlikely to get a certificate from the doctor as he wasn't really all that ill. He didn't feel too bad about it afterwards - Question 6 good, Question 5 bad, others ok-ish. We went out for a nice lunch at cafe in farm shop. This was my celebration of what I hope is the end of English forever - yay. Veg soup and cheese scone for me - yum.

As we went round Waitrose J's English tutor texted me to ask how he felt he'd done. I told her and she replied 'The trouble with this exam is they don't really know how they've done until they get the result' which sort of deflated me a bit. The harsh reality is that very strange things can happen with exam marking these days. Anyway it's all in God's hands now and I'm not going to worry.

What's that hissing noise?

This week has been half term. Definitely not our best. J been ill nearly all week, I hurt my back on Weds and had quite a horrible time (but not as bad as last time) at the dentist yesterday and it has rained a lot.

Yesterday J felt well enough to go to the cinema after my dentist experience. We saw 'Edge of tomorrow' which was good. I just thought the aliens were a bit too nasty looking, sort of almost demonic.

Anyway when we got home and parked the car J said: 

'What's that noise?'
'Birds singing? Squirrels chattering? Neighbours talking?'
'No that hissing noise.'
Eeeek - hissing noise was air rushing out of tyre which had a jagged bit of metal stuck in it. 

So £300 to get tooth fixed and another £100 for new tyre. At least we managed to get home.

In a couple of days J has an MRI to check inside of his head is totally ok. I'm staying calm and just not thinking about any of the more serious possibilities.

Surprise result

Ok the same party that always gets in didn't get in. UKIP got in. Big surprise.

Time to vote

The other thing we did today was voted in the European Election. I always vote because I think of what some women went through just so I could vote. The only time I didn't was the day I was in labour although I was sorely tempted - giving birth in a polling station though...

Anyway I voted Christian People's Alliance. Not that it will probably make any difference because the same party always gets in here, but I feel I've made my point.

Head aches at the hospital

Talking of doctors J had an out-patient appointment yesterday re his headaches. Doctor wants him to have MRI just to make sure everything ok inside his head. She suggested his headaches might be a type of migraine as it runs in the family - as in me (very occasionally) and both my parents. She said she'd give him 42 Migraleve tablets to try so we handed in her prescription which clearly had '42' on it and waited an hour in pharmacy. I might be missing something but when we opened the bag at home I thought it was quite reasonable to expect there to be 42 tablets in it. Nope. 12 tablets. 2 tablets at start of headache = only 6 headaches worth. Phoned pharmacy 'It's our policy to only give out 12 because if you need more than that you need to see your doctor.' What? This isn't us buying some over the counter at Boots they were prescribed by a paediatrician and she said to have 42. I politely suggested it might have been nice to have actually mentioned it to us while we were there. 'Mmm, I see your point.'

Ok need to be thankful for doctors and medicines, I really do. Anyway he took 2 tablets yesterday and said it helped a bit so that's good.

Long time at the doctors

Today I was tired, it rained, P invigilated, J did Eng Lit 2 which went well. Poem they studued in revision session after school yesterday came up in exam. was I right to make him go or was I right?

We also took Mavis to the doctor. She had a pre op cataract assessment yesterday and they said her blood pressure was so low she was barely alive. Doctor took it again in both arms and it was a lot higher so it's a mystery. The problem with Mavis is when she gets to the doctors she tells them all her problems, even when the doctor was on the phone sorting out one problem she started telling her the next. Anyway she asked Mavis if they did blood tests at the hospital and she said 'Yes' so she said we could just sit outside while she phoned for the results. We sat outside next to the girl waiting to go in after us who was all smiley and friendly. After 5 minutes doctor came out and said 'They haven't got any results did they actually take blood out of your arm?' 'No, they tested my blood pressure like I said'. So back in, doctor wrote out form for blood tests, discussed Mavis going to 'Falls Clinic' - tried before didn't help, discussed how much tummy medicine she should take, doctor spent ages tracking down Mavis's records at orthotics clinic cos she thought she'd been there 2 years ago but it was actually 6, said she'd arrange another appointment there, did a repeat prescription for some other drugs, then she practically shooed us out. Girl sitting outside no longer smiley and friendly, almost glaring in fact.

J takes last minute revision to a whole new level

Me to J: 'Don't you think it's time you did some revision for your exam?'

J: 'Mum it's six hours until the exam, I don't need to start revising yet.'

What's the point of English?

Have had some seriously sunny weather lately. Sunday was really hot. Our church was meeting in a different room due to Art exams being held in our usual place. I nobly volunteered to sit outside to show people the way.

P's invigilating job still going well.

J's exams going well, he says. Even Eng Lit yesterday was ok. Second Eng Lit tomorrow. He actually went to after school revision session today (one of five in his class to turn up) and said he found it useful. After half term he'll have his biggie English Language exam then (hopefully) it's the end of English lessons for ever! More importantly for me it's the end of listening to moaning about English lessons. Bring it on. I mean, it's been nine years, nine whole years, of J hating English lessons. Nine years of 'I'm not going to school today cos I've got English'. Nine years of 'English is a boring stupid waste of time'. Nine years of 'what's the point of English?' (Always wonder if his Year 2 teacher had handled things a bit better perhaps...)

And what was my favourite and best subject at school? You've guessed it.

Just please pass these English exams J. Not sure any of us could cope with you taking them again.

Spring

Just love this time of year.

Chemistry and cookware

Spent the last couple of days testing J on Chemistry. He said the exam went ok this morning but some of the stuff they hadn't been taught and it wasn't in the revision book. How strange.

Last night I went to a cookware party round Becky's. Only us, her daughter in law and 2 others there. The demonstrator made oven-baked risotto and chocolate-orange pudding. Yummy.

Always get a bit carried away at these things and think my life won't be fulfilled unless I have that spatula when in reality I know that's not true and it'll only clutter up our kitchen drawer and I can hardly do any cooking anyway, although did manage to microwave some baked beans today in my nice light microwave saucepan, bought at a previous cookware party. See I knew it would come in useful.

Becky's daughter in law also has ME, not as bad as me but she has a 3 year old and a 5 year old which isn't easy.

This morning felt tired. While P and J both at school (P invigilating) I lay on sofa trying to pray but mostly sleeping. P has been put in charge of two girls while they're doing exams - one on crutches and the other subject to panic attacks, thinks it's because he has first aid training. At least the Chemistry wasn't bad enough to cause a panic attack.

Scooter crash

Just to mention, before I forget, the rather dramatic scooter incident at church on Sunday.

Someone had brought in home-made brownies. Whatever diet I may be following I have the rule that home-made brownies are allowed. I thought I'd only have half a one and share it with P. Trouble was the dividing process made a few crumbs. I bent down to pick them up and the next thing I knew my scooter and I were hurtling across the room, our progress being stopped only by crashing into the drinks machine. Thankfully no harm was done. 

What had happened? As I bent down the elastic loop on my hoodie had hooked round the 'forward' lever that's what.

Exams

The GCSEs are well under way now. Art is done and dusted. First parts of RE yesterday and Biology today went ok apparently. First part of Chemistry on Thursday.

P has done several invigilation sessions and enjoying it. A few interesting diversions like a Year 8 boy in a mock exam putting up his hand and saying 'Have I done this sum right Sir?' and a Maths question having been printed incorrectly.

For the last 2 weeks I have been frantically hunting for J's Physics and Chemistry revision books which had disappeared.  (Person to whom these books belonged not showing any particular enthusiasm for hunting). Last night I was sitting in the living room conscious that Chemistry was just 3 days away and not able to think of anywhere else to look and wondering why God wasn't answering my prayers and should I spend £12 on getting some new ones. Suddenly something caught my eye - the laptop case lying on the floor a few feet away. I crawled over and opened the side pocket - inside were the revision books. Thanks Lord. I'd asked P if he'd looked in there and he said he'd asked J to look...

Awesome

Had a busy week-end as went to a ladies' get-together at church on Saturday morning, organised by Melanie. I took Becky (well actually she gave me a  lift and pushed me around but I bought her ticket). We ate sandwiches and cakes then there was a very thought-provoking talk relating to some fair-trade issues as a result of which we're not buying Tetley tea any more. Apparently some of their workers are so poorly paid that when someone comes along and offers to give them a week's wages to take their daughter off to 'get a good job in the city' they feel they have to accept.

In the evening we went bowling with Family Housegroup (well I sat and watched being incapapable of any of the actions required to take part). I was totally unaware that J was good at bowling but he came joint top in his lane and P won in his. Wow.

Sunday morning was church and a man and his wife with quite a well known healing ministry came to speak. She had this 'word of knowledge' about someone and as she was speaking I just thought 'that's me' and she said all this moving stuff about how Jesus is saying that He came and died to heal people like me and I might be thinking it can't happen but it can and  I started crying. There's a wonderfully 'huggy' woman called Mary at our church and she came and hugged me and prayed with me and one of our pastors did too. There was all this pain just coming out. God is awesome, he really is.

Italian meal

 On Sunday evening we went out for a meal with J and Tim. Adam didn't come because he was too busy revising for the same exam J had the next morning (!). Picture above is what J had and below is what I had - seafood ravioli which tasted a lot nicer than it looked. Yummy in fact.

We had a nice time - apart from the noise level being so bad I couldn't hear what anyone was saying. I'm sensitive to noise but I've also noticed noisiness in restaurants seems to be a trend these days - too many hard surfaces reflecting the sound. Boys enjoyed it which was main thing.

New bath

My new bath is in place and working. Wonderful.

How can you forget when your first GCSE exam is?

Many years ago when I did my O-levels (equivalent of GCSEs in those days) the date of the first exam was seared into my mind for weeks if not months beforehand, ever moving closer with a terrible stomach-churning inevitability.

Fast forward to my son starting his GCSE exams: 

Phone call to Mum on his way home from school 'Can you email my German teacher cos I've just found out my Art exams aren't next week they start tomorrow and clash with my German assessment?'

His first proper GCSE exam and he forgot when it was ???!!!!!

The Art exams, which last 3 days,  weren't on the timetable emailed to us by the school, the teacher told them when they were and they wrote it down.

It's been sorted with German teacher - assessment is today after  Art.

I just feel a bit sort of traumatised by this. 

Crocus

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

Hope you've had a good day.

We spent a week with my brother in Wales where the weather was wonderful in contrast to last Easter's Arctic weather. Had such a good time. My younger niece's boyfriend (both have Down's sydrome) developed double pneumonia and was very ill for a while which was a concern but he is now on the mend, thankfully. Coudn't stay for Easter Sunday as J is back at school Tuesday so would have had to drive home on Bank Holiday Monday - no thanks. Actually we had quite a bad journey home on Wednesday - lots of delays.

On Good Friday our church was handing out chocolate eggs and stickers in the High Street, hoping this would lead to conversations about Jesus. We very nobly volunteered to go in the coffee shop where the management were happy for us to go ahead (we gave them some eggs). Felt we ought to buy some drinks so basically I sat drinking decaff flat whites and praying while P went round with the eggs. He had some good conversations and several parents were willing for him to explain about Easter to their children. Three families whom he told about the 'Churches Together Service' a bit later actually turned up at the church.

The service was packed, short, simple and very moving. The traditional Easter hymns just make me cry. Each year it just  gets a bit harder to even begin to think of what Jesus went through for me. 

For some reason I had a tummy ache last night and hardly slept so didn't feel too good at church this morning especially as I had to be a 'welcomer'. Made a huge effort to smile and look cheerful. Good meeting anyway. Afterwards we picked up Mavis and had her here for the day. She is quite undemanding and happy to sit and knit/watch TV and didn't mind me having an afternoon nap.

P cooked a lovely roast chicken dinner, followed by some plum pudding (I only had a tiny piece) and some Easter egg. Yum.

Triple yay

School concert last night - J on steel pans. One of drummers was missing cos she's on holiday. Ahem. What's all this about attendance and about how lack of it affects academic results and sending stiff letters to parents who are already stressed about their sick child.? She's taking time off school to go on holiday? Just before her GCSEs?

Anyway now that's off my chest it was a very good concert. A brilliant  Year 13 flautist. reckon we'll see her on TV before long.

P is putting in my bath tap. Yay!

Lovely sunny weather. Yay!

Went on really good healing course on Sat. Even more Yay!

Pheasant

Took these pictures of a pheasant through our bathroom window - a bit gormless looking but beautiful.

Hail and revision

J managed to stay at school all day Tues and then had a day off yesterday due to teachers being on strike. Had what could be last German tutor session yesterday. His overall mark for his speaking assessments was A* - so pleased for him. His tutor has obviously helped him a lot.

Got an email to say they've got to go in for compulsory English revision sessions when thery're on study leave - how do I break it to him?

Had massive hail storm yesterday. J looked out of window and said 'Hope this turns into snow so school's shut.' 

Lounging around in bed cos I'm tired. P busy sorting out loft in order to turn it into workshop.

Sea-lion liver

Sometimes at night I don't sleep well. I read this article about how foods containing tryptophan help you sleep. Ok. I googled 'foods containing tryptophan'. Top of the list was .... sea-lion liver. Not being sure they'd have it in Waitrose I went for another option - almonds - recommended dose 23 nuts before bedtime. Only problem is 23 almonds before bedtime causes indigestion, so bad it kept me awake nearly all nigt and went on for days until I had to take tablets.

Should have gone for the sea-lion liver.

My mega bath

J seemed a lot brighter this morning and stayed at school all day. When we picked him up he said he had a headache but looked a lot better than he has done of late. Good! Then we went to Costa for a mocha for P, chocolate cooler for J and a decaf flat white for me then on to the optician where both J and I escaped without needing new glasses.

The other thing we did today was look for a bath tap. I've had a problem with our bath for the last 6 years. The thing is that a hot bath is really the only thing that helps my aches and pains (helps them to go away I mean). The other thing is that the bath we hurriedly installed back in 2008 was just too small - too short for my 5ft 7 in height, too narrow and too shallow. It was a bit of an ongoing niggle - would it be extravagant to take it out and get another? Then a few weeks ago P said we could take it out and put it in his dad's old house which we're planning to do up (better get tenants who are small in stature). So we found a bigger one and actually P suggested getting an 'air bath' as well which will help my aching muscles even more - I love you P. Ok so we have this lovely queen size bath in the space where our little bath was and P had idea of cutting a notch in the wooden panel at the end to push the front of the bath in so there'd be a bit more space at the back. This then necessitated getting a tap to go on the wall at the side. We discovered though that apparently wall taps are out of fashion so are a bit tricky to find plus we need ones my arthritic fingers can manage but we have found two possibilities. Won't arrive until sometime next week so just looking longingly at my bath at the moment and having showers instead - which is ok and infinitely better than the caravan.

Yesterday

One of our new friends at church I'll call Melanie. She started bringing her neigbour's au pair to church. She is a really lovely girl from Brazil. She has been part of our church and housegroup for about 6 months but is going back to Brazil on Friday which is so sad. We all went to lunch yesterday to say goodbye although we're taking her to the station on Friday so it wasn't our final farewell.

Another woman at church asked me to pray with her because she's got anxiety issues and other stuff going on. She said she'd used a friend's blood pressure monitor and it said hers was high. I asked if she'd seen her doctor and she said no she wasn't seeing her doctor at this stage as she just needs to change her attitudes and God will heal her. I totally believe in the power of God to heal but sometimes He uses medical means to make us better and if there's something really wrong with us we might need to take drugs for a time. High blood pressure can be really serious, hope I can persuade her to go to the doctor. 

I'm getting this real sense of frustration at the moment because I feel don't know how to pray effectively for people. There are so many people with really complex problems and I don'tknow how to help them.

Humph

J was off sick on Friday but went back in today even though he said he felt awful. Got a call from the school nurse just before lunch saying he wasn't well and looked pale but the year administrator didn't want him to go home as his attendance figures are so poor. I pointed out that all he was missing was PE and we went and got him. Trying to stay calm and keep trusting God. Really want him to get better.

What annoys me is that this is all about attendance figures. Can't it be primarily about his welfare?

When got home there was an email to say school will be closed on Wednesday due to teachers' strike. 

Last few days

Was exhausted after conference but so was everyone else. Was a 'welcomer' again at church, quite enjoying it. Baby Benjamin was there, doing so well but only his parents are allowed to touch him until he gets a bit bigger. For the second part of the meeting (after nappy change) he wore the little yellow and white suit we bought him. I just love babies in yellow, don't know why.

Sunday was a really sunny day, just like summer. Has been a bit cooler since. Fell asleep while watching grand prix with P. J made a pizza for tea as in actually made base from scratch. Very nice. 

J went back to school on Monday although still not all that well. I then started feeling ill as well and spent a lot of Tuesday lounging around. Managed to go to coffee morning on Weds then went to local farm shop cafe for lunch - butterut squash soup and cheese scone - yum.

Today was J's hospital appointment. Spent lot of time in waiting room with babies and toddlers. Doctor was nice and tall and thin like J so he understood some of the issues with rapid growth. He said all J's neurological test ok so headaches not due to brain problems (yay), his tummy was tender so they decided to do blood tests. Had trouble finding a vein and after all the needle-waggling J went white and almost passed out. Otherwise went ok and doctor didn't say any of the 'must have psychological problems cos your mum's in a wheelchair' sort of stuff. When got home there was a letter from school saying attendance dropped to 79% and this could affect his academic performance. Last time I replied to one of these pointing out that the previous week they'd written to congratulate him on his good report the head of year said the computer just automatically generates theses letters. Hmm.

Wow!

Ok this is what happened at the women's conference: at coffee time in the morning they had people available to pray with us and I thought 'Why not?' This woman came over and I told her about all the illness stuff that's been going on with J and she prayed about it. Then she said 'I'm just thinking that Elizabeth is the Queen's name, a royal name and I feel God is saying that you're His daughter, the daughter of the King and you have the authority of Jesus'. Anyway after lunch we divided into groups according to our 'sphere of influence' ie family, business, education etc. While I was sitting there in the 'family' group another woman came and offered to pray for me and she started saying: 'I'm just thinking that Elizabeth is the Queen's name, a royal name and I feel God is saying that you're His daughter, the daughter of the King and you have the authority of Jesus'. Really she did, she said the same words as the other one and I'm sure she couldn't have known. Wow!

Amazing

Went to church women's conference today, very good. Sitting next to J's German tutor. An amazing thing happened but fingers achey so will blog about it tomorrow or Monday.

Still ill

J been off school all week got hospital appointment next week. Really hope will be back on Monday.

Sickness, Spring and a busy weekend

We've had sunshine for four days in a row! Daffodils, crocuses, plum blossom, birds singing and building their nests - could it be the start of Spring?

Bad news is that J has been off school yesterday and today - ill again. The doctor has referred him to hospital for tests to see if there's any reason he keeps getting infections. This isn't making me feel very good but trusting God with my boy. Meanwhile making sure my boy takes his vitamins, eats his fruit and veg, cuts down on sugar and goes for a walk outside every day if he's well enough. Think he'll be back to school tomorrow.

I also am not feeling very good but I had a busy weekend. Saturday night was fish and chips at family house group. Sunday morning was our church meeting at the school. Had to be there 8.30 - 2 whole hours before start. Despite this there were still some teething problems with audio so P says we have to get there at 8.30 again next week. Baby Benjamin's parents were there looking remarkably relaxed and he's doing well, might be home in a couple of weeks. She's asked for her money back for the NCT classes they didn't manage to attend.  It was luxurious being in the school - underfloor heating, comfortable seats, indoor loos -  but also felt a bit strange: looking at everyone in their rows we suddenly looked like a conventional church not a group of people meeting in a hut. I'm now part of the 'welcome team' which means I sit on my scooter grinning manically at everyone as they come in.

In the afternoon we had a dinner with a charity we support.

Good weekend but a bit tiring.

Pancake supper

Went to pancake supper on Tuesday. Becky had asked us to do the quiz as in I wrote most of questions and P stood up and asked them. It was a 'true or false' quiz and anyone getting it wrong was eliminated. I thought the first question was easy in that the answer seemed so obvious that it was obvious that it couldn't be that obvious. It had to be 'just a practice question' as nearly everyone got it wrong.  It went fairly well after that but not sure the man who won really did win, I think he just thought he had cos he didn't really understand what was going on but we were on his table and he shared his chocolates with us. Hope someone else does quiz next year. Good evening though.

And another couple of things

Should mention that yesterday I had my hair cut - drastically. Really short now but with my physical problems I've been finding it hard to wash and dry my hair and hopefully this will be easier.

Oh and can you believe it - J has been unwell again but heroically kept going to school.

Brief update

Had neck x-rayed Monday, still very painful. Had blood test yesterday - for cholesterol. J had second lesson with new piano teacher - went well. I stayed at home having a rest in bed.

Surprise

Last June a couple at our church got married and we went to the wedding (wore bright red jacket!). A really nice couple, in their thirties when they got married and a couple of weeks after returning from honeymoon she kept rushing out of the church service and returning looking a bit green so we all knew and baby was due April 15th. P helped them move into their new house a couple of weeks ago and they'd started decorating the nursery. I was chatting to her on Sunday and she was in a lot of discomfort as the baby was lying sideways and squashing her stomach and lungs. Because of this she'd given up work early and had left on Friday. So, we were all praying that the baby would move into better position. Imagine my surprise when I opened our regular 'church update' email on Monday morning and there was a photo of their baby - little Benjamin - born prematurely at 34 weeks just a couple of hours earlier. He is doing well, out of the high dependency unit now and into a cot in the nursery but will be there another 2 or 3 weeks. A nice thing about facebook is that we can see a photo of him every day. Aaaah.

Treasures of Darkness

Oh and another thing: Saturday was the twentieth anniversary of the day I first started getting really ill with the viral infecton that would lead to me being diagnosed with ME/CFS/fibromyalgia or whatever you like to call it (I think 'ME' stands for 'Messed-up Existence'). I remember the date cos it was Mum's birthday (well sort of birthday - she was born on Feb 29th but it wasn't a leap year in 1994). Actually it would turn out to be her last (unless they have birthdays in heaven).

So 20 years of illness, 20 years of almost constant pain, 20 years of not doing all sorts of things with my life that I'd like tohave been doing and actually on Saturday I did sit down and have a cry. But it's been also a time of adventure - in seeking God for healing I have been on such an amazing journey. I've come to know God as my Father who loves me to bits & won't ever let me down, Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, my Redeemer, my King, my Friend and perhaps most of all my Shepherd who leads me along the path to where He wants me to go and when it all gets too much wraps me in His shepherd cloak and holds me close to His heart.

'And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.' Is 45:3 (KJV)

Update

A brief update of what has been happening apart from rain: P has got a part time job invigilating exams at J's school. J coming to terms with it. J continuing to get a succession of illnesses, had to have German oral exam re-scheduled last week as had tummy bug. Church going very well, making some more friends there, had three of them round to lunch last week and ... wonderfully, we are moving from the function room of a pub which while it's served us very well, is basically a hut, and in winter a cold hut, to a school. This is the direction we feel God is leading us as a church but it will have some side benefits eg lots more space, central heating, indoor loo, a separate room for children's work, some audio and kitchen equipment provided... Bliss.

As for me: tooth has stopped hurting after two lots of horrendous dental treatment in which all the nerves were removed. Have to go back in a couple of months to have it crowned (think we're talking money here). Meanwhile I mustn't crunch on that side. Neck and shoulders have been bad. Three trips to doctor, tried 4 types of drug, x-ray tomorrow. Sigh. One of drugs was diazepam aka valium which can act as a muscle relaxant and helped a bit but turned me into a bad tempered monster and P says if I take it again he moves out. Sigh.

Also had a prayer ministry appointment at Pierrepont, stayed overnight and went on a healing course next day. God is at work in my life. Still praising and trusting Him.

Can't stay on computer too long, it hurts.

Wet!

Ok so that was an incredibly long time uploading a quite boring video. It really has been wet, but while we've had some flooding it's been nowhere near as bad as some parts of the country. Pictures of some of our wet scenes:

The top one is part of our garden aka 'the swamp'.

Rain!

This is what it's done a lot of recently.

The next step

We have now applied for a place for J in the sixth form at his current school. Wants to do Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Glad he's chosen nice easy subjects.

Struggling today

J was off school Monday went back yesterday but while P was getting our coffee in Costa at the end of a shopping trip the school nurse phoned. He's been off again today but hopefully will go back tomorrow. Meanwhile his Graphics teacher is panicking about his coursework so he's had to do some even though he's been feeling rough. 

Today I've just felt awful, not in any way I can explain, just awful. Didn't sleep well last night. Tomorrow I've got dental and hospital appointments.

Yesterday and the day before I was praising God nearly non-stop but today I'm so tired and it's all just been a bit too much. 

I'm still trusting Him though, just in an exhausted way. I know He loves us and things will work out for us somehow.

I'm glad I've got friends who are praying for us.

Well done J!

Well done J - very good mock results: A* in Maths, Physics and Chem, A in German and Graphics, B in Biology, Art, RE, English Language and Literature. Yes! He got a B in English!!! 
 
Doctor says he has got sinusitis. Antibiotics seem to be helping and this afternoon felt well enough to go and see Gravity.

Why is J ill so often?

J has had a headache for the last few days, I suspect it may be sinusitis following his cold so it's off to the doctor after school.

I was looking back through my January blog entries and in 2011 I was asking 'Why does J get so many illnesses?' I'm still asking. We make him eat vegetables and take vitamins. He's getting really fed up with it himself now and it's not good when he's trying to keep up with GCSE work. His attendance figures are the worst they've ever been.

He saw a paediatrician about it once who said it was because he was an only child with a disabled mother. Thanks. That really helped.

Hope he's done ok

What I'm thinking is that I wish I had come to some arrangement with J whereby he would text me his exam results so I wouldn't have to wait until we pick him up. 

Not that I'm that bothered or anything.

J if you read this (which you probably won't cos it's boring) even if you've got all Us I still love you to bits.

Results

Tomorrow J gets his mock GCSE results. I feel ridiculously nervous.

Sorry about my boring life

J says my blog is boring and he's right. Perhaps I should sign up for some bungee-jumping or parachuting and make it a bit more exciting.

So back to my mundane every-day existence. This morning was one of those mornings I wasn't sure I could actually face the day but P gave me a hug and I knew we had to go and get Mavis and take her to the coffee morning so I forced myself to get a grip. We picked up Mavis, she got in the car and promptly fell out again! She wasn't injured but her glasses were broken. As she said, she has a lot of padding.

So that's it, this morning I managed to get out of my door, Mavis fell out of our car, I drank some fruit tea and tried to persuade Mavis that the health insurance she's got isn't worth it (apart from anything else she doesn't know how to make a claim, she has a host of pre-existing conditions and there's a £500 excess, she's paying £91 a month for this). I came home had sardines on toast and tried to encourage a friend on facebook who's probably depressed. I've also been praying about the Syrian peace talks and for J who's at school but still not well (why does he get so much illness?) and I've tried to tidy up a bit.

Ok end of boring morning.

Sunday & Monday

Good time at church yesterday. Visiting speaker has husband in a wheelchair who sat next to me, nice to talk to another disabled Christian. He injured his back at work 35 years ago. Such a positive person, he and his wife go on missions abroad despite his disability. Had a really powerful time of worship, we seem to just slip into the presence of God so easily at our church. Talk was quite challenging for me - about expecting miracles but coping with the disappointment when they don't happen or not as quickly as we hoped and not letting the disappointment send us into disbelief.

Afterwards we went out for lunch with three of the others. I had 'seafood in thermidor sauce' which was very nice but filling, couldn't finish it. In the evening we went to a unity service.

Poor J has yet another cold but went to school today, dosed up with paracetamol.

Today I went for a 'walk' on 'monster mean machine' my big scooter but couldn't get very far cos mud so bad.

Got to school early to pick up J. He was 'playing football' which in his case seemed to involve standing on the sidelines talking, occasionally moving to get out of the way if the ball came too close. A chip off the old block.

Title to this post typed by J who keeps coughing on me.

Update

So what's been happening recently:

We had some men come and work on our drains, this involved me answering the door quite dopily at 8 am to be greeted by a lorry driver saying 'Where do you want this 20 tonnes of ballast?' I anxiously watched him reverse down our drive and get stuck by my scooter shed. To my relief P got back from school at that moment.

I fell in the bath and have a painful back and neck.

J was ill, got better and now has another cold.

Have had a lot of rain. Roads were flooded on way to school this morning causing J to be late. 'Garden' is a quagmire.

I have had a toothache on and off for some time, last couple of weeks has been a lot worse. Gave in and went to dentist today. Pretty horrendous time. My mouth is very small, I have some issues with opening my jaw, tooth was very complicated - apparently canals had 'sunk into the pulp'. Yikes. Apparently problem is that upper tooth has a sticking out bit which has been damaging lower tooth when I bite, cracking it and forcing it further down into my jaw. He took out 3 nerves today and patched it up but I have to go back again for more treatment.

Good thing that happened: went out for nice meal at Pizza Express on Weds and they've started doing risotto - yum.

Hospital appointment

Today I had a hospital appointment about the osteoporosis. (It spelt osteoporosis just like that!) I was really not looking forward to it because in the summer I had an appointment which turned out to be dire. This was in a different hospital and it happened to be on the day that a) they were starting a new computer system and b) the new junior doctors starting.

I have severe osteoporosis and had recently had a bone scan that showed that my spine had deteriorated further. Obviously it was appropriate that I should see a junior doctor whose knowledge about osteoporosis seemed to have been gathered from Google just before I came into the room. He started entering my data into a calculation designed to assess my risk of further fractures. For some reason he kept arguing with me, refusing to believe that I had broken my ribs because 'you can't break ribs that easily', somehow missing the point that with osteoporosis yes you can break them that easily. He also refused to accept that the fact my dad has  severe osteoporosis is of any significance. When converting my height of 5 foot seven to metric he googled 'what is 57 inches in centimetres?' P and I were actually so astonished that we didn't say anything. anyway at the end of it all you said you have got any risk of fracture at all I don't know why you're here spent several minutes telling me I should be there all. He then said he would get his consultants to just check his calculations. His consultant spent several minutes telling me that I shouldn't be there at all and there was nothing wrong with me and rib fractures don't count (they do if they're your ribs). He then very quickly checked the figures and said 'Oh you've entered a plus four instead of a minus four'. Instantly I went from being no risk to be very high risk. The consultant that gave me a prescription for a drug called strontium  saying 'that will be fine as long as you haven't any mobility problems, in which case it could cause blood clots'. 'You are standing next to her wheelchair' said P. 'Oh well as long as you're not bed-bound it'll be fine.'

Well would you be happy with that? 

'I never want to go to that hospital again,' I said to my GP.
So today I went to a different hospital. It was light years apart from my experience previously. The doctor seemed to know what she was talking about and has put me on another drug which is an injection every six months which she did there and then in my back (which is a strange place to have an injection).

So that was good anyway.

Voice recognition and Windows 8 trials

Hello.

I am having a lot of trouble trying to use this voice recognition system. The only way it will get any better is to keep using it  so it gets used my voice. When I was using it on the laptop I kept getting error messages which seems to be an incompatibility between the system,  Windows 8, and Adobe Flash player. This was no surprise to J who blames most of the problems in the world on Windows 8. He would probably even say that the floods and storms are somehow due to Windows 8. Anyway he did a complicated correction and yesterday it worked okay but today it isn't. Therefore I am using the desktop is very very slow at loading.

I am determined to keep going and will write another post.

Voice recognition

 Hello. of lobsters had fun lakes were even new W event of lobsters had fun lakes were even new and then it is a W event of lobsters had fun lakes and even you and then it is a W I am trying to use my voice article  voice recognitionsystem here in.

Perhaps there is a bit of a way to go stop. But I don't think I can type any more unless I use it stop.

My sore throat is getting better stop. It hasn't been much of a fun New Year really but it must have been much worse for all those people whose homes have been flooded. Yesterday I saw one of my favourite places, the prom at Aberystwyth, being battered to bits by the waves.I phoned my brother and apparently where they live it hardly affected them at all and it was quite a nice sunny day.

I hope you have a very happy new year anyway.