Saturday 17 August 2013

OUCH!!! ..... And then Whoopee!!

 
 
Not the most comfortable of injections I have ever had!!
but the results are amazing! 
I can walk about normally, no pain and no limping - wonderful. 
 I had to rest after getting home last night at about 6.00 pm
and also rest today and then 'mobilise slowly' -
so I won't be going for a 5 mile walk or a run just yet!!  
~
OH says I look 20 years younger - which is great. 
I suppose all the pain etc, did take its toll on me a bit. 
At least I don't have to use the walking stick at the moment. 
Will see how I get on when I go back to driving, shopping etc.
~
As I have to mobilise slowly
I will now go gently to the kitchen
and make us some scrambled eggs on toast for lunch.
~
Don't know how long the effects will last,
but so far just the last 24 hours have been amazing!
I have heard reports of lasting 3 weeks to 9 months,
so anything in between is fine by me.
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Thanks for your good wishes Kath
~
Ann x

Friday 16 August 2013

Going for the Injection ...

 
No, its not very nice
It's a caudal epidural injection into the base of my spine!
To help with my spinal canal stenosis
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Orders to be at the Day Surgical Unit at 12.00 hours!
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At least I can eat and drink as normal before going in
not that I feel like eating much
~
No nightclothes required,- but 'please bring slippers and dressing gown
as you will be recovering on a mixed ward'!!!!
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Had a shower - no talcum powder used!
~
Removed all my nail varnish
Pity, my toes were their usual pretty summer blue!
~
Not taking any large sums of money, jewellery or valuables,
just some easy reading - Being Elizabeth by Barbara Taylor Bradford
~
I'm hoping this injection will allow me to re-join our walking group
At present I can only manage about a mile, and that with a lot of pain,
but if I can get up to 4 or 5 miles that would be great.
Fingers crossed.
~
Ann x

Tuesday 13 August 2013

Baking today ...


'Froogs' Gingery Biscuits - find her recipe HERE 
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I thought I would give them a try as I have my reading group here
tomorrow and they like to try out my baking.
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Its strange, they don't look anything like Frugal Queen's biscuits
but I don't think they will last very long.
~
Will let you know if my visitors like them.
~
Ann x
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(p.s. I have been so good and not even tasted one yet!)
(p.p.s. The group loved them and kept coming back for more.
One member has asked me to send her the recipe!)


Sunday 11 August 2013

Our Pembrokeshire garden is struggling ...


... To come to terms with all the different weather we have been having lately!
Scorching temperatures of up to 30! 3inches of rain in two days!
Sudden low temperatures of 9 and much shorter days now!
~

Flower pot corner is suddenly bursting at the seams and everything is overgrowing.
This wonderful purple clematis is flourishing like there is no tomorrow
The bees are finally finding food and are absolutely everywhere!
The echinops have never been so prolific and they are full of bees to.
Of course they all flew away as soon as they saw the camera!
Very pleased with my crop of garlic.  It should last us quite a long time.
Our last year's crop lasted well into April this year.
~
Quite a lot of apples, but they are small still.
I should have picked a lot of the tiny ones off as soon as they showed,
but didn't do it this year, hence the smaller fruit.
 
The same with our other tree, but they are looking good too, if small also.
~
Tomatoes are a distaster!!  I think I will give up and not try to grow any more.
Last year's were a  wash-out because of all the rain and most of them went black and
this year's just don't seem to be growing at all.  They really are as small as they look!
(The less said about my potato crop the better!)
~
Herbs are very abundant though, especially our rosemary. The plant is huge and OH
has already taken some cuttings to start off more plants.  We also have good crops of
golden oregano, mint, fennel, lavender and thyme.
~
 
Our lovely hydrangea is beautiful though and the pinks all merge into
each other and fade into purple, making up for all the failures.
~
Hope your gardens are all doing well.
~
Ann x

Tuesday 6 August 2013

I'm still here! Prizes at Ludchurch Show

Gosh, I've never entered a Show before, so in order to support a nearby local
Show in Llanteg, several of us from my quilting group decided to enter
some of the various classes.
~
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I entered 6 Fruit Scones and won Third Prize.
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I entered a Jar of Mixed Herbs (at least 3 varieties)
and won Third Prize
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I entered 3 Beetroots and won Third Prize
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Chuffed to bits!!!
~
I also entered a 'Photograph of a Building' and one of my quilts which didn't win any prizes but helped to add to all the entries in the various classes, which included, jams, flower arranging, knitting, tapestry, children's classes, vegetables, painting, etc, etc.  It was great fun and one of our quilting members won the cup for the person with most points in the Craft Section, so it was a good day for everyone and we helped to keep the show going as it was thinking it might have to stop for lack of entries in previous years.
~
This all took place in the hall where we usually play our short mat bowls, so we give up our evening there each year for the hall to be prepared for the show.  Well worth it!
~
Will come back later to catch up on things and see what everyone has been doing.
Hope you are all having a great summer and enjoying the sun, which we very much needed - although we have paid for it over the last few days and nights with at least 3 inches of rain!!
~
Ann x