leukaemia-limbo-dance

Having determined to go out today, I can tell you that we actually made it!!! Whoo-hoo!

We decided to go to the British Motor Museum at Gaydon. There, not only would we enjoy looking at the cars, but we knew that there’d be plenty of seats to sit on and a lovely café in which we could take some refreshments.

We set off about 11.15 and arrived half an hour later. The guys on reception were really helpful and explained where to go and what to see. We thoroughly enjoyed the first exhibition we went round, exclaiming at this car or that, reminding ourselves that we had owned such or such an one, or our parents had, or our friends had. Great fun.

I particularly liked the very old cars that still looked like the carriages they had been dreamt up out of, with lots of wood and leather upholstery. We had especial fun clambering all over one of the ‘charabangs’ and imagining we were among a party of people whooping it up, travelling in the countryside.

The ‘Judge Dredd’ vehicle thrilled us as we rounded a corner and I immediately sent a photo of it across for the grandsons to have a look at. I am sure they’d love to see it in the ‘flesh’!

After a spot of lunch in the café, we toddled over to the Jaguar exhibition. I left John to look round that while I went upstairs to see if there was a Triumph Toledo on display (don’t ask!) but no such thing. The volunteer on duty suggested I might find one at the Coventry Transport Museum, so we might go there next….. who knows? Now that we’ve found our way to the front door, we might find our way out of it again one day.

Take care everyone. God bless.

A lovely sunny day and not bitterly cold. Nevertheless, we all stayed in bed until late morning and then thought we’d nip up to Oakes’ for breakfast. Regrettably, we’d just missed it by a few minutes, so we had lunch instead!

We had a lovely time, and it was nice to spend an hour or two together with Andrew before he set off back to Cambridge.

John spent some time sorting out access to Twickenham on his phone and the computer, and Andrew assisted. Thank goodness. I’m not as hot as I used to be on the ol’ computer, so it was good have a young man’s head working it out.

Paul has secured tickets for the England vs Italy match in the Six Nations on Sunday, so between them they are planning how to get there. Exciting, isn’t it? Fingers crossed health permits…..

After Andrew left, I spent the rest of the afternoon rummaging in the old ‘utility’ room, which is actually a store now. The aim was to try and clear it a bit so that we don’t have to fight our way in. It’s not finished of course, because I did a bit, stopped a bit, then did a bit more. I have found one or two things for the charity shop though, so that’s helpful.

After tea, I gave Gloria a ring to see how she was doing. Naturally, dreadfully upset, but doing OK so far. Bless her, she was still recovering from a virus she’d caught that had given her a terrible cough, so that doesn’t help, does it? However, Christiana was there with her new addition to the family, young Nicholas, so that’s taking Gloria’s mind off dwelling on everything.

This evening we searched through all the various channels we now have access to again, since the scaffolding came down on Friday afternoon, to find something we fancied watching. In the end, we watched an old film called St. Vincent in which Bill Murray starred. Not very PC since the producers were the Weinstein brothers……. ah well, we enjoyed it anyway. It was a bit of a ‘feelgood’ movie which suited our mood.

Tomorrow, there’s more utility room to sort out, but we’re thinking we might go out for the day. There’s no Quiz Night this week, so we’re free to take our time. Not sure where we might go. Suggestions?

Take care everyone. God bless.

Andrew said he’d come home yesterday, so I went out and killed the fatted calf as usual. He suggested the family come over for a roast dinner. ‘That’ll be nice,’ I thought, anticipating that someone else would do the prep and the cooking.

Disappointingly, the Kenilworth Originals couldn’t come – Freddie has chicken pox and was still infectious. He was at the sore throat stage and not feeling his normal cheery self, snuggling up on the sofa, wrapped up in a blanket, waiting to feel better.

I wondered if there was anything we could send over to cheer him up. Lucozade? A comic perhaps? Yes, Harriet thought that would be nice, so I popped over at lunchtime, bearing gifts. Bless him, he was thrilled with the comics and a book of maze puzzles, plus his Lucozade.

The Kenilworth Newbies were available to come for a roast however, so plans were afoot to get things ready for about five o’clock. I didn’t rush away from Paul and Harriet’s though, staying for a cuppa and chatting to Paul for about an hour, which was lovely. I looked at the time. It was 2.20 – probably time to go to help Andrew with the cooking I thought, so I said my goodbyes and set off home.

I hadn’t been driving long when the phone went. It was Andrew. “I can’t talk now,” I said, “I’m driving!” “No worries,” he replied, “I’ll call you back, but just to let you know that I can’t find my car keys so I might not come home.” Whaaaaat? Still in Cambridge? And what about the fatted calf?

Two minutes later, a text came in. ‘I’ve found them!’ Well, that was good news. But, of course, I’d been hoping that Andrew would cook the roast….. it didn’t look like he’d be back in time to cook, but just arrive in time to sit down for the meal.

Fortunately, Michael came to the rescue. No sooner did he hear that Andrew was delayed than he set to and started prepping the veg. I put the joint in the oven, made the Yorkshire Puddings and an apple crumble, and then beat a hasty retreat to have a rest in the lounge.

John, meanwhile, had been entertaining the children and had switched from the Six Nations rugby match to Cbeebies. I swapped with him and entertained the children instead.

Andrew arrived home about 4.15 and conferred with Michael about the ‘cuisson’ of the joint. They agreed it needed a bit longer, so a bottle of wine was opened while they waited.

In the end, we sat down to eat about 5.30 (not too bad…) and enjoyed a delicious Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding dinner. We vowed to cook the same meal again when the Kenilworth Sleaths could join us, too. We do love our family time.

Today was a different day altogether. I was up early to answer the door to the roofer who was tidying up the last few tiles, and then I walked down to surgery for a blood test. John got himself up mid-morning and got ready to go to his follow-on exercise class at Tudor Grange Sports Centre in Solihull. Andrew slept on until mid-afternoon. So far, so good.

Our day was rocked, however, at lunchtime, when we received a message from Christiana telling us that her stepfather, Terry, had been rushed to hospital and it wasn’t looking good. We then received another message a couple of hours later to tell us that he had passed away. Oh my life! What a shock. Although Terry had been unwell for several years with one thing and another, this came out of the blue. Naturally, our thoughts are with Gloria, Christiana and Terry’s family, praying that they find the strength to deal with whatever comes at them now.

Yes, family time – even more acutely aware of how important it is today.

Take care everyone. God bless.

It’s the rugby season and the start of the Six Nations, kicking off with the contest for the Calcutta Cup between England and Scotland. We had high hopes as we sat down to watch, but were as disappointed as last year when we lost. It was an excellent game though and very keenly fought, so we enjoyed it nonetehless.

Between matches, we took ourselves out into the garden for a bit of fresh air. John filled up one of the green bins with more hedge clippings and I emptied all of the growbags that are now surplus to requirements, tipping the compost under the hedge at the bottom of the garden.

I also inspected the bird feeder that I had so carefully hung up down there. I had watched a squirrel for a good twenty minutes this morning, hanging upside-down, stuffing its face and emptying the blooming thing! True enough, the bird-feeder was half empty……. can you spot the squirrel, hanging on by its tail?

We both felt pleased with what we had done in the garden, but were positive that we’d done enough and, if any more gardening were required, we’d be doing it tomorrow.

I had lazed in bed all morning, feeling as if I had overdone it a little yesterday. I mean, I only sorted out papers, so it shouldn’t really have been arduous, but I did spend a while doing the job (all afternoon) so perhaps it was the time taken rather than the activity itself that told on me.

Anyway, once I was up and abluted, I nipped up to Oakes’ to buy a bit of meat and veg. I was in the mood to buy something exciting, but didn’t see anything particular that took my fancy so I came home with just meat and veg. Ah, well.

Nothing more to report – at least, if there is, I don’t seem to remember it!! After all, one can only write so much about eating meals, drinking tea, bed-making and watching TV, can’t one?

Take care everyone. God bless.

Oh, for the day when I can say we are on top form!! We are better but not best and it’s more than frustrating now.

We lazed in bed this morning. John thought he’d try out the heavy-weighted blanket that I had been gifted for my birthday and he thoroughly enjoyed it. I finally got out of bed at mid-day just as Danielle texted to wonder if we were up for a visit from her, ‘Tom and Ollie’. Yes, of course, we thought we could manage that!

It was lovely to see her and the children – but we did use Paw Patrol as a bit of a baby-sitter in the absence of our energy to play. I quickly grabbed a photo of them all just as they were getting ready to go home and were putting their shoes and socks on……Thomas really hadn’t been sitting that close to the screen all afternoon, I promise!!

After the family left, we sat for a while and rested a bit before we went outside to clear some of the hedge clippings into the green bin. The binmen cometh tomorrow. We puffed and panted a bit, but we got up some of the leaves from the path as well and filled two bins. We were rather pleased with ourselves. We had actually done something useful today! John puffed and panted a bit more as he gathered some wood and coal for the open fire in readiness for the cold snap they are promising us next week.

After tea, we simply watched TV, and I cleared three folders of papers from the Job Squad days. We had kept the documents for the required five years and it’s now time to get rid. That’s a little bit more clutter out of the way. Still a bit more to go, but we’re on it.

And that’s about it. Every task is like walking through treacle but we are at last doing a few bits and pieces. Maybe we’ll feel properly better next week? Fingers crossed.

Take care everyone. God bless.

We have had a day of ‘not a lot’ and we have mostly felt tired today. One step forward, two back?

We were up early and trotted off to Heartlands so that John would have his immunoglobulin infusion this morning. I dropped him off and got back home, just as the Heart Foundation arrived to collect our old dining chairs. That’s one bit of clutter out of the way anyway.

I made a cuppa and thought I’d quickly phone the hospital appointments line to see what was happening about my eye referral. ‘You are in a queue. You are Number 28.‘ Ha! So much for a quick phone call. The upshot was that they can see the referral on the system and it turns out it’s a ‘regular’ one rather than ‘urgent’ which I had originally understood it to be. “There is a waiting list,” said the appointments co-ordinator. “What timescale am I looking at then? Six months? Twelve months?” Apparently it’s 18 months.

I went into ‘I’ll sue’ mode if the cysts in my eye turn out to be cancerous….. and naturally, I was then on the phone to the optician to see if there’s anything they can do speed the appointment up. I am awaiting a reply.

I collected John from the hospital and we came home for a bite to eat. John popped the telly on and sat and watched ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ while I promptly fell asleep, only waking up two and half hours later ready to cook some tea.

John spent some time on the computer, trying to establish a connection with a company from whom he’d bought some toys for the children, via Wowcher, and not yet received. Apparently, there’s a bit of a wait before he can speak to anyone about it….

We did Quiz Night this evening which was great fun. Lovely to see everyone and share stories as well as our knowledge.

And that was us today, folks! Tired again now, and off to bed.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Good. Better. Best. Never let it rest, Till your Good is Better, And your Better is Best.

We learnt this new saying today when Dawn quoted it while she and Peter were round for coffee. We hadn’t heard it before and we thought it was rather good and something to follow, being as we’re currently in the doldrums! Apparently it’s St Jerome – the chap who translated the Bible into Latin in the Middle Ages.

I had hoped to get to yoga class this morning but couldn’t quite manage all the things you have to do before you get out of the door by nine o’clock, so missed it once again. So I’m not even ‘good’ yet! Hoping to do ‘better’ and get there next week – fingers crossed, anyway.

We had a lovely chat, of course, and thoroughly enjoyed Pete and Dawn’s company this morning. Fortunately, they don’t ask much of us, so there’s no rushing around trying to impress. Although I did apologise for the state of the porch which was still bearing witness to the muddy flood we had before Christmas. “I hope that the next time you come, I might have mopped the floor!” I said, laughing, as they went out of the front door. And do you know what? A miracle happened this afternoon and someone had been and mopped the floor……. there are angels after all! Thank you, Peter!!

John shot off to Tudor Grange Sports Centre at lunchtime after we’d said our goodbyes to Pete and Dawn. He’d been referred to another exercise class to help with his breathing. He had a consultation with them and they agreed to take him on for a six-week course. After that, it’ll be access to the gym under his own steam. That’ll be interesting.

Once John was back, I grabbed the car keys and popped over to Linda and Brendan’s to drop the laptop back to them that they’d lent us months ago, when John was in hospital. I enjoyed a cup of tea and half an hour of their company before I went on to the hairdressers in Kenilworth for a haircut.

Home again, and we watched a programme that John had put on, about the American financial fraudster, Madoff – but we both fell asleep watching it as it ploughed on with its documentary.

We are both amused and bemused at our constant fallings-asleep-on-the-sofa-in-the-afternoons, but we are hopeful that our new regime of walking most days will strengthen us up and it’ll be a thing of the past as Spring emerges in a few weeks time.

And, because I didn’t post any photos at Christmas, I thought I’d post one now. We’re keen to start feeling as happy as we were then……. such a good time we had!

Take care everyone. God bless.

I was up with the lark this morning because the roofer arrived not long after 8 o’clock. He was simply tidying up the last few bits and clearing away the debris. There are, however, some roof tiles to replace that were damaged as the work was done, so he’s promised to come back and do that sometime. Now, what do we think folks? Will he be back? What odds are you offering? My money is on him returning – but don’t know when.

John was also up relatively early, too, so that was good. He did a bit of fiddling about with his tax return while I nipped up to the pharmacy to get my prescription. And then, we said, “Shall we go to another park for a walk?” So we did.

I grabbed the picture frame we’d bought yesterday so that we could exchange it for a larger one, and I also picked up the trousers that I’d bought for Andrew at Christmas to exchange them, too. Off into Coventry we went. Did the exchanges and drove to the Memorial Park.

It’s such a long time since we’ve been there. We had no idea what to expect. Fortunately, it was flat and John was able to walk without too much difficulty and we didn’t bless too many benches with our bottoms today. We walked as far as the Aviary and had a little look at the birds before sitting in a sunny corner for a rest.

We then moved on to the coffee shop in the Formal Garden and bought ourselves a cuppa and a piece of cake there. The sun was shining beautifully and it was warm. As I looked over John’s shoulder, I thought it looked lush, almost as if we were in the Mediterranean, with a bright blue sky, sunshine, palm trees and ‘Le Bistro’. What do you think?

We had promised ourselves a McDonalds on the way home, so fought our way through various roadworks cluttering up the byways of Coventry and settled in for a ‘meal in’. At the time you have a Maccy-D’s you always think it’ll be great, but the by the time you’ve eaten it, you always feel like you shouldn’t have. John was excited because they had a strawberry milkshake on the menu – something they haven’t had for ages. Thoroughly enjoyed it at the time and then found it had offered him a little bit of indigestion, if he’d like?

Home again, and John cosied himself on the sofa for a sleep while I popped the TV on for a bit of a rest. Oh! Alright then. Sleep. We were both a-snoozing away for a while.

I had plans for the evening – colour my hair, compile a photobook, change the bedsheets….. but I was jiggered and all I got done was the bed. Yawn….. must be bedtime now.

Take care everyone. God bless.

We actually got ourselves out of the house today. We had a long lie-in of course, despite my best intentions, and then faffed about until lunchtime. We had thought we might try walks in a variety of different parks to give us a change of scenery and a little bit of exercise over the coming days and weeks, so John suggested St Nicholas’ Park in Warwick today, so off we set.

On the way, I said, “Did you pick up a stick, John?” He was dismissive, “Nah, don’t need it,” he said. And he managed very well without it, as we went along arm in arm.

The weather was balmy, the sun was shining and the coffee shop was open. Had a lovely little walk and then called into the café where we ordered hot chocolate and a toasted teacake for John. and a chamomile tea and coffee cake for me. It was lovely.

We took ourselves for another little walk stopping by the riverside, before we set off home, to watch the fishermen as they dipped their rods, catching the occasional fish. We enjoyed ourselves and were pleased we’d made the effort.

On the way home, taking the scenic road along the ‘Leisure Route’, we called in at Hobbycraft in Coventry to buy a frame for the jigsaw I’d done of the family. “Oh, bother! I didn’t take the measurements!” I exclaimed as we drove there. No worries, John thought we’d be able to tell the size. And we were able to tell, exactly what we needed. Except we forgot to take into account the bit of border you need to make it pretty. It’ll be another trip into town tomorrow then!

Once we were home, John watched TV and I toddled into the garden with my RSPB checklist to see if I could spot any birds. I had planned to get up early to do this little bit of bird-watching, but I was too lazy. I thoroughly enjoyed looking out for the birds but by mid-afternoon I think they were having their afternoon siesta so didn’t see that many.

And there we are. An evening meal, a spot of evening TV and the day is done. Weary, because we seemed to pack a lot in. We chuckled to ourselves that we’d had ‘a busy day’. I really can’t wait to be back on top form – all this post-Covid lark is irritating me now!!!

Take care everyone. God bless.

Blogging is a bit hit and miss just now. Wiped out by Covid for most of January, I thought I was on the mend and had three days in a row this week where I thought we were on the up. Ha! So much for that hopeful thought!

I had a horrible headache and wobbly vision on Thursday; felt washed out on Friday; and not a great deal better today. Although, I have to say, that Michael bringing the children for a short visit to our house this morning cheered us both up.

John is feeling a lot better Covid-wise and has tested negative for the dreaded lurgy, but he’s not feeling wonderful. It’s often the way at this time of the year. And, of course, he is totally fed up of being an invalid. We can’t decide if the lethargy comes from not doing anything very much, or from feeling under weather and not wanting to do anything.

For example, Centre Stage have been putting on their panto. I was disappointed not to have gone to see it last weekend, but promised myself that we’d make it this weekend once we were feeling better. But when it came to it, we had no energy to get ourselves out of the door this evening. Arrgghhh!!!

Ah well, we keep plodding on and are sure things will look up soon. The nights are drawing out and the weather is just a bit warmer so we’ll welcome that and trust that we settle on an even keel as the Spring arrives.

John had a hospital visit yesterday and took himself there, leaving me in bed to snooze on. Mid-morning, however, I was delighted to hear the door go, footsteps come up the stairs and see Paul pop his head round the bedroom door. He had come to keep me company for a hour or so until John got back. How thoughtful of him. Very much appreciated.

The trip to the hospital wasn’t a great success though and John came home disappointed. He had been hoping to get shot of his plumbing works and undergo a trial yesterday, but they hummed and hawed and finally sent him away telling him they’d need to discuss his case further with the consultant. So hard to deal with and live with.

In the meantime, the roofers have been clattering about above us, knocking old mortar from the ridge tiles and re-setting them anew. They have more or less finished, and will come back on Monday to tidy up the last bits and pieces. We’re not sure when the scaffolding will come down though and we’ll have the satellite dish working again. Watch this space.

Flowers from Graham and Gail to cheer us up this week though…..

Take care everyone. God bless.