Result

Further to my last blog, I have happy news to report, my mum has made the decision regarding her TV,Telephone and Broadband supplier. After so much more than I blogged about, I had to sit her down and discuss it all, which was a good job as I discovered that she had many confusing ideas. Still sorted, and she has this morning (yes that how long it has been going on for) phoned Virgin and they have agreed changes to her package and the adjusted cost, and will all be supplied and set up next month.

I am relieved as I shall  probably be able to help her out if she confused with anything as I have Virgin. She is getting a new Tivo box, so I hope it is like my Virgin+ box.

Yesterday I was laid low with major head/eye/neck/shoulder issues, and really unable to cope with much, certainly not a stressful discussion with anyone, so I was able to not have to get too involved.

I have 2 of my Twitter/FB friends visiting for coffee tomorrow morning, I must do my roots this afternoon, but as I am still feeling a little vulnerable being aware that the head ache from yesterday is hovering in the back ground, so I wont attempt to catch up on the outstanding chores. Maybe tonight when OH goes off to work I will get up and run round with hoover and duster and floor mop etc etc, but hey ho, both ladies know my health status, and coming to meet up for the first time (Susan and I have met many times and she has been to my home, but Colette has not met either of us nor been to my home).

I see my eye has a rather large almost bruised look, so will need time to camouflage this and generally make myself presentable, so flat will just have to wait its turn.

Right off to tackle those mousy roots!

Another one of those days

Hello all it’s been another of those days, and I am writing this in an effort to calm down.

It started with me not sleeping well, and being awake from the back of 3 or so, and reading, still awake when OH came in at 6. Had another coffee, cuddled the cat and read some more, then woke up, had been having a lovely dream too….. settled down to read some more and drifted off…till the phone rang. It was mum, and irate, bad tempered mum. She was having problems with her Virgin TV line, and I had to listen to every single little detail of the phones calls made, time spent hanging one, who she spoke to what they said etc etc. Then she had looked out the window and saw a car parked halfway over her driveway, so she phoned the police and was disgusted by their attitude – she knows what they will say, they say the same thing every time, but I had to listen to it all. Then asked if I was OK, in that way which is more of an accusation than a question, I imagine because I was quite quiet. I said I was just a bit sleepy as I had just woken up, so she decided she had better go then so I could get back to sleep….. yes right!

And that was the pattern for the rest of the day, she phoned Skye, got some info then phoned me to tell me about it, as I asked questions, she got all huffy as she hadn’t asked them, also floored me by announcing she is going to get a laptop. OMG my worst nightmare has come true! My mum used a computer many years ago in a job, but it was a company programme, but she tells me over and over about what happened when you pressed such and such a key…..Will we still be speaking when she gets a laptop??

Then she calls to tell me the name of the man from Skye and he is phoning me in an hour to discuss her needs…. Then a while later she phoned to say she had phoned BT and their man was phoning me too to discuss later. So I rushed off to see what was what on line so I had some back ground knowledge of their offers, though trying to make sense of it all was not easy. Well I was at the stage of looking for something I could just throw very hard and smash, head pounding, back aching from being bent over the laptop all day.

Both men called me back and I got what I considered to be relevant information, and called her back to tell her, I forgot briefly who I was speaking to as I told her I said to the BT man that I had not smoked for a few years but could really do with one, now and he said he understood what I meant, luckily she laughed!!

So at last I can relax, no more book got read, no TV watched, no recorded programmes watched, nothing actually done, just sat over the laptop all day. I love my mum dearly, but it is such hard work trying to explain anything to her, she makes up her mind and that’s that. As an example she talked about buying a new TV for the lounge, I said why, and she slowly reminded me she was going to get rid of Virgin, so she would have to change the TV, I in turn, explained to her, that she had an aerial as well as cable, and if she tried using the TV handset she would see it worked. But she says I want my freeview stations, I explained the TV its self has that (we have the same TV). She was still not believing me, and I explained she could chuck her Virgin box away and she would still have the same , maybe a few less stations but she only uses the basic ones. I think she must have gone and tried it as she never mentioned it again, but just an example of the difficulty. I am having a large glass of pear cider at the moment, and for the 1^st time in a long time, could really enjoy a ciggie, but I know I won’t.

It might be an early night, with more pear cider and my book, as I am absolutely knackered.

Oh well, hope there are no nightmares tonight!!! 

Frustration

It is a subject we have discussed often on the AS sites on FB, friends and family and their understanding of AS (Ankylosing Spondylitis), but one that just goes on and on.

I have mentioned in FB and Twitter that I have been having a difficult week, healthwise, difficulty in walking due to pain and stiffness in hips in particular, and I have mentioned this to mum, downplayed quite a lot, and of course OH sees it. 

This morning mum asks how my aches and pains are, I say much the same, she then says even though she has a heavy cold and currently bedridden, we could maybe manage out tomorrow!!! I try to explain that I am having difficulty walking round the flat, and while walking more might well be good for me, I am not happy with the thought of going out and feeling like this outside. Oh she says, what have you been up to be this sore?????

My mother has never ever been able to understand that AS strikes when it strikes, I don’t so anything to cause it to, it isn’t ‘my fault’ it isn’t reacting to anything I have any control over. I can be sore through doing too much, in the same way as we all can, but AS pain is different. It is so difficult trying to explain this yet again without sounding irritated, because then she will be offended. Just like she will tell me to go to my bed and rest and then give me a row when I am up and about, and I have to remind her that too much time in bed is not good as I will stiffen up. Then the next time I haven’t slept well and am tired, she will tell me to get up in case I stiffen up…………

Then, yesterday, OH watching me shuffling around holding onto the wall, does little to help, except carry the cup of coffee, and pop though every half hour to see if I wanted a cuppa. Asks ‘when are you back to the doctor?’ in and exasperated tone. I feel it offends him in some way to see me like that and again feel why do you not understand, you have known me for long enough (20+years). I ask him what he thinks the doc is going to do? He has no idea but thinks I should see him. Again I have to explain, I know what is wrong, I have the painkillers as I have arranged with rheumatologist to get the stronger painkillers to take along with usual ones on occasions like this!

I know I should have more patience, especially as I am aware that so many others have exactly the same issues, but it is so frustrating that no matter what happens with my AS it is initially assumed, a) I have done too much, so my own fault, or b) I am somehow negligent by not rushing off to the doc.

So I shall say, yet again, my favourite word of the moment – BUGGER!!!!!

Liebster Blog Award

Liebster Blog Award

I am amazed and delighted to have been awarded the  Liebster  Blog  Award  by Rosalie at http://tearosesmusings.blogspot.com  Rosalie you have made my day, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this award xxx I hope everyone who reads this will have a read at Tilting at Windmills, the blog. Rosalie can also be found entertaining us  on Twitter as @tearose68.
                                                                           

The purpose of the Liebster Blog Award is to spread the love from one small blog ( those with under 200 followers ) to other small blogs . This helps to spread awareness and readership.

Liebster ,in German, means  'dearest' and so, in keeping with the Liebster Award  tradition I am going to pass on this award to 5 blogs that I enjoy. Blogs that have inspired me and made me think about the lives of others. Blogs that have entertained me and, I feel, will be of interest to all of you.

To accept the award you must,

1) Link back to the person who gave it and thank them for thinking of you.

2) Post the award to your blog.

3) Give the award to 5 bloggers  ( with less than 200 followers ) that you appreciate and value.

4) Leave a comment on the blogs of the five people you have chosen, to let them know.

And here are the five blogs that I have chosen for the award . It was very difficult as there are so many wonderful blogs and I am sorry that I couldn't give you all an award , but each of these is fabulous for many different reasons.

Tabitca on craft and stuff ( and @Tabitca on Twitter ) Tabitca stuggles with health issues, but entertains with the tales of her 2 lovely cats. She is a fabulous lady who when her life changed so much that she is virtually house bound now, took up crafts, her cards are a work of art, and writing a mystery and suspense series of 3 books. The first 2 have been published on Kindle, the first has been taken on by a publishing house and will be out in paper form soon, the third is in the process of being written. She is an inspiration and shows what you can achieve if you try, despite overwhelming odds.

Meloni on Ankylosing Spondylitis Mom struggles with the same health condition I have, however she is also the mom to 2 girls. She writes her blog in order to share her experiences with others with AS, and to educate those who don’t have it. Well worth a read as it does exactly what she intended it do, as well as being very entertaining.

Penny at Penny’s Points is a lovely lady who has health issues, a cat, a new puppy, strong views on many subjects (@pennyessex on Twitter ). Always interesting, never dull, Penny shares with us her experiences as well as her views on whatever she cares enough about to share.

SamT on Ramblings from the Northern Territories 2 and also exists on Twitter as @SamDescartes. I meet up on a regular basis with Susan (Sam) since we chatted on Twitter, and I have always read her blogs. There can about whatever is current with her, from families, to her wee doggie and various cats, to the trials of working as a teacher, to the trials of being the carer of her mother. Always interesting.

Cynthia on I Am Not Random, But I Do Have Random Thoughts is another lady with health issues, but her blog is just what it says on the packet. You never know what she might be chatting about, or the form it will take.


So, there are, my Top Five Bloggers, the ones I read on a regular basis. It was difficult to choose only 5. I hope some new readers might give them a go and enjoy them as I do.

Rambling

I have not had much to say on my blog for a wee while, so as a start to the New Year, I feel I should make more of an effort.

It can be difficult sometimes to write a blog when all your thoughts are of a negative variety, or you have just really been up to nothing much. However, I would like to take the opportunity to describe one day this week when I was feeling particularly gloomy. I woke that morning, and I just couldn’t be bothered about anything. I felt down, depressed, I was a bit sore, was trying to deal with a new pain and I was worrying about 2 of my close friends on FB who were having a tough time and waiting for news. I didn’t want to just disappear, so simply said I wouldn’t be around much that day, I did describe myself at one point as a torn faced whatever, and this really captures it all.

However, I did not bank on  my FB friends, I received so many lovely messages, offers to sort out the person who might have upset me, people I don’t normally converse with, we are just members of same groups, felt compelled to contact me. It was quiet overwhelming and did reduce me to tears once or twice, that people would take the time to actually cheer me up.

I read an article yesterday by a doctor who was commenting on the fact that despite the bad press given to the likes of FB, until he became ill and housebound, he did not realise how much belonging to FB would change his life. He found lots of people to chat to with common interests as well as support groups for others with his condition. He described how he felt much more fulfilled and as a member of the medical profession, what a wealth of experience, information and knowledge was available to him on FB. He found he learned so much more about his illness and also about the patient / doctor relationship. Yes, you have to try to remember that not everyone will be genuine, real or very nice, but then that is the same in ‘real’ life too.

I used to spend much more time on Twitter, but I have found that on FB I have longer conversations and therefore gotten to know people better, and have formed such wonderful friendships. I still pop back and forth to Twitter all the time as there are people there that I would not want to lose contact with, and want to know what is happening in their lives.

I think this time of year is such a dull dreary time, if you have had a fabulous Christmas/New Year, then you are feeling flat as it is now just back to normal, and of course January is such a long month between salaries, and the debts are becoming real. If, on the other hand, you haven’t had a great time over the holidays, it is just more dark and cold days to survive till Spring arrives, an endless feeling time. Many people like me don’t get out much with the weather, whether it is the cold or bad conditions under foot making walking even more off putting. I have to travel by bus or taxi, so of course buses are daunting as I have to have a min of 3 changes of buses in each direction to get to the shopping centre I prefer to go to, which in cold windy bus stops ……. But if I get a taxi, it costs a fortune, so needs to be considered carefully.

It does feel like hibernation as I appear to be getting out 1 day a week these days, still at least the shops are getting quieter as Christmas and the first flush is off the sales, plus almost everyone is back working now, hear the ‘Grumpy Old Woman sneaking in there??

I cheered myself up in the usual way yesterday by buying (or at least mum buying for me as she saw the ‘look’) as well as some purple undies, obviously not liked by others as they were so reduced in price, and purple….. but also a pink bag. I know, a pink bag you say, but I have several pairs of pink shoes. I like surprising things like pink shoes, again bought for ridiculous prices in sales as not a popular colour.

I don’t really care of it is winter, I will carry my own little bit of fun and lightness with me. I tend to wear a lot of black, purple and grey so pink is perfect, and clashes beautifully with my red hair!!

Well I have rambled on rather a lot, but I would also like to add a list of my current reasons to be grateful, as suggested by one of my Twitter friends:

My online family for caring enough to make contact when I needed it

My pink cashmere hoodie bought for less than half price (will match the bag and shoes!) and is so soft and cosy.

The fact that I can see the changes and additions to my home helping to change it into the home I want, which is nice as I spend so much of my time here!

The days may be dreicht, but there is something very enjoyable and guilt free about curling up with a good book, or DVD when it is dark and nasty outside.

Happy New Year to you all xxx

Job Well Done

Heading for the New Year does bring out that ‘clear out the old year ready for the new one’ feeling, whether I like it or not!.

I have found myself going through various cupboards and drawers this week and clearing/tidying, but this afternoon was the hard one. The one I have been building up to, going through the accumulated drawers of makeup.

They are forever reminding us on TV programmes to check the shelf life of makeup, and I must say I was a bit worried when I threw out several eye shadows which had a suggested shelf life of 6 months, and I can count back 8 years or so to buying the!. So I took a deep breath and started, eye shadows, tossed out, blushers – out, bronzers – out, lipsticks – out, foundations – out. Then I started on the creams and potions, and any of them opened that I hadn’t used in some time - out!!

At the end I had a large carrier bag full, less clutter on my dressing table, and a feeling of having accomplished something. I must get OH to take the rubbish out soon, though in case I have a wee look - just to check…

Then, of course, I realised, I will need to replace some of it, not too much, of course. I mean I don’t need 4 purple eye shadows, or 4 mascaras on the go. How many blushers do you need??? Only a couple especially as we now can see how long they are to last, before going in the bin.

So job well done - now I just need to wash all my brushes to complete the task. Unfortunately the last time I coloured my hair I put something down on the dressing table and quite badly marked with red blobs, but I found an interesting looking dark lace runner, like spiders web patterns. So I have ordered that which will hide the marks and add some interest too I hope.

I had also ordered for mum, a necklace display thingy. All the ones we have seen are either too wobbly when laden with necklaces, or not tall enough for the long necklaces and pendants. I found this one in eBay, and after asking questions of the firm, ordered one. It came today so I have hung my stuff on it to see how it fares. So far so good. It looks lovely and takes up far less space than my old one, and it feels secure. All being well, mum will take this one home with her on Sunday and I will order another one for me, maybe 2 as I think it would look balanced on my unit with 2 of them and hold necklace’s better.

Large bottle of pear cider now, I think for job well done.

Just one of those days

You know those kind of days when you knew you should never have gotten out of bed? Today was one of those.

I woke up feeling pretty yucky, tired, upset tum, sore eye etc etc, however had to stay awake, although OH was going out for shopping and some for mum, I have to prepare the list – he can buy but never notices anything so cannot be trusted to get what is needed – so list made, but despite being desperate for a cuppa, as he was sleeping, decided to wait till he was awake. He had after all come in from work at 6, and was getting up again at 8.30.

So got OH all organised, cat came for cuddle, I dozed, all pretty nice I wanted to have a shower and wash my hair, so I thought I will change the bed, so I can get into a clean nightie and later a clean me into clean bed. The duvet cover was brought out, and was very cold, in fact I wasn’t sure it wasn’t still damp. I went looking for another, and found an old cover that I love, but it’s very hard to wash and iron as it is heavily embroidered denim. Never mind, I thought, it will be nice to use it. I forgot what a sod it is to get on as it buttons, but the buttons are half way down the front of the cover, so all usual rules for stuffing a duvet into a cover are no use. Still I struggled on, and eventually, with the air a little blue, it was done, and all looking rather nice.

So my lazy day now had me putting a wash on, and then had to start on the dishes left for me. In due course managed bath and hair wash, got organised and into fresh nightie. Ok not too bad, tum still not right, head banging away and eye throbbing, but cuppa and pain pills and I’ll be OK I thought. OH got home, and went on and on about something on the list, and when I eventually asked why there was such a bloody problem with an everyday thng like that, it appeared he had decided it was something else…..showed him the list, he stomped off.

Washing done, so all bedding into dryer, and towels etc made up another load. Had a wee cup of soup to keep me going, read a few papers and then decided to have my meal early. When sorting it out, put soup that I made yesterday, on to heat through and added the lentils, left it simmering when I took my meal through. Then a smelt the burning, the soup was burnt, pan ruined, place stinking. All my own fault, couldn’t blame anyone else. Disposed of soup, left the pan to soak in case it was salvageable, and opened the window a little. A wee while later went through and window wide open, despite trying everything I could, it was impossible for me to close, it so I had to go off to get dressed to go out, but in the meantime OH woke up to go to the loo, so he managed to close it for me.

Tired, sore, fed up, everything that could go wrong today has, so I should have stayed in my bed, I really should have.

Never mind, tomorrow can only be better ……….