SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Joe and I went out to lunch again. Yep, that's two weeks running. Our Saturday treats have now resumed. Now that he is so much better there is no stopping him. Actually, being so pleased with his current state of health, he pointed to a sign in the road and made the comment that he once felt like that. Isn't that good news? 

Whilst on the subject of road signs, here's one that is a real mystery... at least it is to me. It means what it says 'No entry except for Cycles' yet we still see cars and vans turning in there. Is there a sudden movement to disobey signs or is it that drivers can't read? Or maybe the rules don't apply to everyone. If that's so I think we should be told ... but you can bet you're bottom dollar if I turned into that road I would be hauled before the courts.

Two pictures to lead onto the next subject.

We get so many people pushing rubbish and stuff through our doors that the paper recycling people must be in their element. Not so the householder! In desperation we seize on notices that might put leaflet deliverers off. Hence the above. The police are clamping down on door traders so we don't get so many of those but you hear such awful things about bogus traders that many people are now displaying one of these. Note the different wording on the two sides. The first is what the 'visitor' reads and the second what the householder reads on his/her side of the door. Heehee, I wouldn't like to read the first one!

I know the next isn't a sign yet in a way it could be seen as a sign of the times. whereby anything and everything is shoved through letterboxes whether we want it or not. Most people in the road are elderly so I'm wondering what they thought of this one. I saw the young woman who posted it through my door, she was definitely fit and healthy. I could tell that because she was able to bend down to read my notices ... yet she still pushed it through the letterbox.

Last Saturday we went to one of our favourite haunts for lunch: Moor Hall which is surrounded by grounds and golfers, with a lovely lane leading up to the hall. We were on the way out when a lady stepped into the road in front of and signalled me to a halt. No, there wasn't a 'don't enter' sign but there was something coming down the lane that she wanted to warn me about. She was waving a camera and as she took aim I saw what was coming towards me. A horse-drawn bridal carriage. It turned right in front of me so quick as a flash I produced the iPhone. However, the angle of the carriage and my car wasn't good for picture taking. Oh well, I tried, but apart from getting out of the car and upsetting all those behind me there wasn't much chance of a better shot. Pity because the horse drawn carriage was a lovely sight. 

I didn't see the bride but I did see the bridesmaids from distance. 

How unusual that they all wore black.

Wishing you all a happy weekend

ISN'T SHE LOVELY?

Joe and I have just finished watching stepdaughter’s wedding video. We thought it was never coming but finally, after four months waiting, it arrived from Australia. The video was professionally done, even the cover and disc featured Rosanne and Frank as stars of the film which, of course, they were.

After lunch on the day we received the disc, Joe and I sat down to view the events of that day in November. It was wonderful and so was Rosanne. Joe kept saying how beautiful she looked and I agreed, even though there was a slight dampness around my eyes that blurred the vision at times.

We heard people read the speeches we’d sent and again that mysterious eye problem attacked. I didn’t dare look at Joe! My problem was that since I don’t speak Australian I couldn’t always grasp the accent or keep up with the speed reading. They all speak so fast ... I hadn’t realised that before. Never mind, I should be okay after several more viewings.

Yes, it was well worth waiting for. Excuse me while I go take another look.

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Animated-gifs.org

Another book sold... and other matters.

I’ve sold another book. Yeah! At this rate I might have to get more printed! Okay, it was only Feline Capers, the smallest of the lot, but it’s still a sale. The TG Chairman had been told that I’d written something about cats and was eager to make a purchase for a relative’s birthday. The relative is apparently mad keen on cats. Actually I thought it was daring to buy something she hadn’t seen but who am I to quibble?

It’s not long to stepdaughter’s wedding  ... 3^rd November ... in Australia. It’s very sad that illness prevents her father going to the wedding. Thankfully one of her English friends will be there and we will, of course, be there in spirit. I’m thankful that the whole affair is to be video’d so we can at least see the whole affair. We have sent our respective speeches and Rosanne has promised not to open them until the day. Hopefully someone will read them for us. It’s not usual custom for a stepmother to prepare a speech but there was so much I wanted to say to her on her big day. Nice stuff, mushy in parts, but generally letting her know how much I care and how proud I am to be her stepmom.

Joe went for an MRI scan and dozed off in the tube! He was told that under no circumstances was he to move so I guess nodding off was the best idea. He’s very brave. And now it’s gone quiet. One minute life is like a helter-skelter with unexpected and unplanned twists and turns, and then we hit a lull while we wait for a letter or phone call to tell us what the next step is. We’re getting through it okay, although Joe is beginning to feel housebound. Maybe I should hire a troupe of dancing girls to cheer him up. 

I’ve only had to miss a few engagements (willingly) so it’s not the end of the world. Since I couldn’t attend the WI Federation’s Annual Council Meeting I was reimbursed for the lunch I didn’t have, but there was no need to reimburse me for anything at the local WI’s AGM. I’m only a dual member there so it wasn’t important. I must try to attend the AGM at my own WI since that one has priority; however it’s not until the second week in November so there’s time yet to think about it. However, I did make the lunch with some TG members ... a casual affair at the local pub.

Prince George was christened on 23 October and on that day we attended the funeral of a neighbour. We’ll always be reminded of both occasions simply because of the date. Our neighbour, Mary, had a fall and was admitted to hospital with a broken femur. She was doing well and due to come home when she suddenly went into relapse and died. She was 93 years of age and leaves Bill, her husband aged 97. They have a good family who visit daily and we keep an eye on things from our house. Of all the neighbours in the road they made the most contact with us ... two of the most cheerful pensioners I know.

Ending this with a few animal gifs. Hope you all have a good week and don’t overdo the Halloween celebrations. 

LATEST NEWS

My lovely stepdaughter is getting married in November, in Australia, and it’s really sad that her father is unable to attend because of ill health. So what we've done is to give Rosanne a wedding present that we can all enjoy. A video, professionally done, of the whole occasion, the wedding and the reception. I just know we'll be choked up when we see it.

Without going into too much detail, I’ll just touch on the various appointments with doctors and hospitals. After one of the yearly ‘well man’ blood checks our local doctor was worried about Joe’s kidneys, and that led to numerous hospital appointments and the discovery of a cancerous tumour on the bladder. A failed attempt was made to fit a stent to move it away from the kidney and another one was planned.

In the meantime an emergency visit was made to our surgery where we were seen by a new-to-us doctor, Dr Begum, believed to be a locum. Dr Begum, a lady of Asian [presumed] descent, was apparently a former surgeon. Since then she has telephoned twice to see how Joe is and to offer assistance in the form of explanation about what goes on inside the body and what the operation attempts to achieve. Bearing in mind she is not the doctor we are registered with, I think it was very kind of her to take time out of a busy schedule to check on Joe’s welfare.

So the BIG C hits home. Not something you plan for under normal circumstances, is it? However, whilst Joe is not overjoyed at the news he is being level headed about it and I know that as reality sinks in he will face it and the future optimistically. There are two choices on which medical route to take, surgery or chemo plus radiotherapy. Both were fully explained so make a decision easier. At the moment we’re thinking about surgery, since there is a chance the cancer will grow again after radiotherapy. However, the final choice may well be influenced by the outcome of the next scan (known as nuclear medicine). It’s definitely a wait-and-see game. 

Right now Joe is back in hospital having had an operation to fit a new stent. Please God this works.

View from the ward window

View from Joe's bed

Needless to say my blogging time is limited. However, Joe and I are indulging in the good wishes of friends. My heart overflows with all the kindness, concern and encouraging words.

PRINTED BOOKS

To give me something to do while spending so much time at home I’ve been sorting out all my writing and getting it printed. Yes, I’m having everything turned into books by a great printing firm I found on-line. Not overly expensive, either. It was something I had wanted to do for years to pass on to the family.

 I’m half way through the operation and enjoying it immensely. Several copies of each book have been ordered and I’m donating one of each to the WI to raise funds. We have an auction coming up soon so it will be interesting to see if there are any bids! I’m actually enjoying this more than when I put stuff on Kindle, and the print is more accurate than Kindle manages to achieve. I get the layout I want, and spaces and indentations where I want them, instead of submitting it correctly and having Kindle change it to their way of doing things.

I get rather frustrated when I read downloaded books and find so many large gaps between paragraphs and layouts that I’m pretty sure are not the fault of the author. Gone are the days when publishers edited our work before printing but since we can’t get them interested in the first place I guess we have to put up with second best. It’s a tough world!

Will visit you all as soon as I can.... you can bet on that. Hugs to you all.

The Rolling Pin Has It's Uses

picture courtesy of needleandpinza.com

Years ago, it was standard practice to present a bride with a rolling pin on her wedding day, a wooden one, decorated with ribbon and flowers. There was no hiding the fact that they were hints that she should either start baking the minute the honeymoon was over or keep it as a weapon in case her man needed a reprimand. I never took the hint. I didn’t bake and I didn’t fight! My rolling pin was kept in the drawer and used for  ... do you know, I can’t remember what it was used for, if anything. I shall struggle now trying to recall just one instance when that pin was used. Anyway I had it for years; I suppose it was more like a souvenir than a kitchen implement. It wasn’t until I married a second time that I found a use for it. Now, now, don’t get any funny ideas.

Of course, I was older when I remarried, old enough for my memory to act a bit wonky. To overcome the problem I wrote lots of reminder notes, leaving them in strategic places; except there seemed to be a plethora of strategic places and the place was beginning to look like a litter bin.  One day I decided that since the surfeit of notes made the place look untidy I had to find a solution. This you can see in the picture ... a rolling pin bestrewn with colourful ribbons and matching paper clips which can be hung as shown or inserted in a jar. Personally I like it hanging so I can twirl the notes round. Little things, you know, please little minds. I still use my gadget; the only trouble I have is remembering where it is...lol.

oOo

·         Just remembered, I believe I used the rolling pin to prod the washing in the old copper wash-boiler. Crikey, now I AM going back too far...lol.