General Chat

That's good you have an appointment Mel as it sounds like you need some help with your breathing now. It's good of Em to take you as she won't want to get it either. Yes ribena might help and the vitamin c in it helps fight infections as will AnnG's suggestions.

Poor Jake being without the insulin through the hospital cancelling his appointments Mandy and now still being without till the pharmacy receives it. The hospital sounds like OH's saga with his eyedrops. Worrying for him and for the rest of you too. Fancy them both still being at the hospital at 1.00am.

Yes we popped to the garden centre a few miles away after the blood test which the nurse said was just a bit high for one thing but not a worry. At least it wasn't busy and plenty of parking. I wanted a small bag of alpine compost from the garden centre but forgot all about it! We had a breakfast bap in the cafe then looked in The Works. Some of he 500 piece jigsaws had been reduced to £3.50, so I bought two and OH found two books he liked that had the reduced price halved so he got those.

My boots came this afternoon but will be going back as the calves are too tight despite being described as widefit. It's a shame as the foot fitted really well. but being biker boots I expect they are designed to fit lower on the leg of taller people than me and not higher up where the calf is wider. Full length boots are too long on me and dig in the back of my knees. Oh to be of average height instead of short!

It was good you got the lap tray you wanted AnnG and had nice views of the mountains travelling there. Your mention of breastfeeding the little one reminded me of something I read the other day where a bride about to get married stumbled across her MIL to be breast feeding her groom to be!! What a shock that would be.

Better get these boots wrapped to return now.

Em's coming for me at 4pm so I may have a hot ribena first.

Afternoon all. It was 2 degrees this morning some su but mostly cloudy. However still dry.we drove to Cockermouth and the views to the distant mountains were lovely. We had coffee in Lakes a department store and zi bought a new lap tray that I wanted. I waited to get it there as I have one from there already. I find them very useful for doing all sorts of things. Writing some parts of crafting cards and I wrapped the Christmas presents on the one I have. After Lakes we went to Sainsbury’s. For more food and milk. Littler is still partly breast fed but also gets through a lot of milk.

Mel if you are drinking milky cough while good to give you something instead of food it won’t break the plegm. Hot blackcurrant or orange will though. Hope you can get an appointment.

Afternoon all,

Dull here again but at least it's dry ,I got all the lights off the outside tree and the lights I put across the rose bushes ,I thought I'd get them all in while it was dry as later in the week snow was mentioned on the weather forecast.

Last night son had to ring 111 as Jake's sugar levels had been high all day, they had to go to the hospital ,they waited ages for blood results and to see a doctor, the outcome was they would electronically send through to the doctors the prescription for a second lot of insulin he should have had from the hospital five weeks ago .
The hospital kept cancelling the appointment for Jake to get the insulin.
Son went to the doctors this morning for the insulin script and they had had nothing through from the hospital ,they told him to go back on Wednesday so he's still without what he needs .

Mel I hope you can get to see the doctor so he can give you something to ease your breathing and make you feel better.

Ann hope you manged to get to the garden centre and it wasn't to busy ,we went into Aldi and it was quite quiet but was getting busy when we left , I wanted cream for new years day when the family come but the dates were for the 30th so I just bought some long life cream which I can whip .

Having a nice rest today as I didn't sleep very well thinking of Jake ,I was still awake at one o'clock as they were still at the hospital then and I was messaging son .

They are trying to fit me in with Nathan at the surgery and Em will take me.

Morning all,

Still feel dreadful and can hardly breath. Need to cough up flem but it won't shift. Going to ring the docs in a mo after having a coffee.

Morning All,

It's 5 degrees here and dry and we were going to a garden centre early, but OH got a call from the surgery first thing to have a repeat of the blood test he had on Chrstmas Eve so that's where we are off to first. Not sure what we will fancy doing after as everywhere will be busy with people by then, so we may just go to the shop and come back.

I hope Mel had a good night and feels a bit better today. BBL

Evening All,

We decided this morning that we would wait till tomorrow to go out as well as we were tired. OH did the short walk across the field and I put the tablecloth through a wash. I want to get it back on the table and some thick clear plastic over it before OH puts his laptop and 'office' back on there and it's the only one that fits the table opened up. Bits from his papers and newspapers and crumbs and other mess he makes despite using a tray will be easier to sweep off plastic than the cloth.

I sorted the cooled Turkey from the bones and it froze it and it should do us two meals with additions and pasta or rice, so quick, cheap and easy! We'd both had enough of it and had fish in crumb with mixed veg, mashed potato and Hollandaise sauce for lunch.

AnnG I think you do have a lot of energy compared with me and are lucky to have so much. Is there anywhere near where they live that would be nice for a stroll and to explore for you?

I have ordered me some of the calf height, black, biker boots online which I hope will fit round my calves. Next I could do with a padded waterproof jacket of some sort. The non waterproof fleecy coat I'm wearing at the moment I had a few years before the pandemic so it's old and needs to be relegated to garden jobs!

Our doctors won't let you go in their waiting rooms if they think you may have covid or flu now and meet you to take you to another room. OH said masks were being worn when he went for his recent blood test. Hopefully you might feel a bit better by tomorrow Mel. A warming Oxo drink is nice with bad throats.

Now people have mentioned those spare envelopes I must admit I have them too!

Vera it was handy you have those things in the freezer you can have now and it sounds as if you had an enjoyable time at your daughters and the little dogs seem to have settled well and were good too. It's great your daughter has given them a good home.

I can't tell what day it is this last week, but will be off to bed now and see whether I can get up soon enough to beat any sales crowds, although there shouldn't be many at the garden centre first thing. Sleep tight everyone! :-)

Evening all,

It's been quite a dull day here with no sun ,I was hoping for a quietier day but I've done three loads of washing ,stripped the bed and hoovered through downstairs and got the meals , we've still got lots of turkey left and dil took a big chunk home there's also gammon and sausage rolls too.

Oh Ann thats the sort of thing I would do with the cards ,but really who looks to see if there's the year mentioned on the card ,bet you will now though .

Vera I have envelopes and no cards so I must make a mistake when writing them and end up with the envelopes.

Mel I hope your feeling a little better but it's a good idea to try the doctors tomorrow you might need some antibiotics which they might prescribe over the phone as they gave me some over the phone just before last Christmas when I had my chest infection .

We're off to sons tomorrow for coffee we were going today but both of us were tired after two busy days so I messaged to say we'd go tomorrow, I also need to get a new 2026 calendar ,I've been writing things on the back of this years and I usually buy Christmas wrapping paper in the sales too.

Good afternoon

I'm sorry you still feel so bad Mel but it's good that you were able to sleep. Rest is a great healer. It might be worth ringing your doctor tomorrow. All the symptoms you have mentioned are also symptoms of Covid. Take care and get well soon.

I laughed at your rediscovered cards from last year Annx. It's just the sort of thing I do. I had a few cards left from last year that were fine to send this year except they were oddments from different packs so all different sizes and none of them had envelopes. How do you think I managed to use all these different envelopes without cards? Perhaps I addressed envelopes and posted them without writing the cards and putting them in. So if last year you received an envelope with no card in it, it would have been from me.

As I made sure there were a few Christmas things in the freezer in case we didn't get to daughter's we are now going to have to eat them up so today's meal will be roast gammon followed by apple and mincemeat tart. Daughter did cook a ham on Christmas Eve but it wasn't used as we were all so full up with other food so a bit of ham today will make a nice change. Having said that I'd better go downstairs and see how it's cooking and whether I need to get veg on yet.

Young ones have gone to visit friends now so all is calm and peaceful. We are just reading. It is a lovely sunny bright, cold day a walk by the sea would be nice but daughter and SiL are very good at sitting in and reading, doing nothing. I think I and my friends have more energy than them??

Mel it does sound as if you need to be checked by the doctor but if you go to the surgery you probably need to wear a mask to prevent it spreading. Maybe they can prescribe something without a visit. Did you have both flu and Covid boosters?

Morning Anng and all,

Feel awful this morning but I slept better if that makes sense. Still got laboured breathing. Up once in thenight for the loo and slept till 1040am.

May have to ring the docs tomorrow.

Hope you all slept well amd are enjoying the holidays whatever you are doing.

Good morning all in my room at the moment as chaos in the kitchen the you g people are not good at tidying after themselves. Bbl

Gawd flipping fireworks being let off again!

Afternoon All,

It seems a bit warmer today, but we both had a restless night last night so weren't up as early as we hoped.

Good to see you pop in Will and I'm so sorry to hear Carmel has been in and out of hospital recently, but hopefully with you and Sidney helping she will be downstairs today. Stay cosy and warm and I'm sending you both my best wishes. <3

Well we did laugh last night when I told OH I had found the Christmas cards I'd bought when we went to the garden centre in Rutland. He said to show them to him as he couldn't remember what they were like. I said I would be able to use them next year, but when we looked at them we burst out laughing as I can't use them next year or any year as they also have 'Best Wishes for 2026' on them'. What a silly idea as the shop couldn't sell them in the sales now or save them for next year either! What a twerp I am to mislay that particular pack of cards, but I don't think I've seen any showing the year before. So......if you get a card from me next year with 6 changed to a 7!!! :-D

AnnG's right you need to drink enough Mel. Even standing within 6 feet of someone talking means you can catch these things from droplets they breathe out. It drives me mad how people standing in queues breathe down my neck. They seem to have forgotten about social distancing from covid. It's probably unlikely it was BIL's kiss as he probably wasn't infectious anymore, unless he's caught something else as he was getting better. How long it lasts depends on whether it's flu, covid or RSV but your flu and covid jabs should help you recover quicker. Hopefully you will soon start to feel better. I hope your new neighbours haven't caught it.

Afternoon all

I'm glad you all seemed to have a good Christmas. We did as well. We had a lovely meal out with daughter and granddaughter on Christmas Eve. OH offered to pay and then managed to leave his credit card behind so I ended up paying. Not that I minded as it was a contribution towards Christmas and a joy to spend time with family. Over the time we were at daughter's we were thoroughly spoilt with good food, thoughtful presents and good company and the two little dogs were as good as gold.

It's a bit late to wish you Happy Christmas William but I can wish you health and happiness in 2026. I hope Carmel is improving and wish her well.

I'm sorry to hear you have a horrid cold or maybe a virus you've picked up Mel. Olbas Oil or Vick are both good ideas to ease your breathing a bit. The best things to help you recover are plenty of rest and drinking plenty, particularly water but any liquid will help. Stay off the ciggies as long as you can but I do understand how hard that can be. That's enough of my preaching. All we want is for you to get better.

Right, I am off now to get on with a couple of things on my to-do list. Have a good evening and sleep well tonight folks.

Afternoon all,

Very cloudy and cold here today we've had two lovely days with the family and we're both tired out as is Max .
We had some lovely presents too and there's plenty of food left to eat up the next few days .

Mel I hope you soon feel better do you think its flu you might have as your muscles ache so ,I use the Olbas oil too in a tissue it does help .

Nice to see you popping in William and I hope Carmel continues to improve.

Ann ,that was quick with the jigsaw you soon finished that one ,will you do another ,ours was rolled up before Christmas as we needed the table so it will come out again after the new year .

Going to make a cuppa now to try and warm up ,it's one of those days we're I can't seem to get warm and we have a lovely fire too .

As long as you are determined Mel I expect. Count the pennies you have saved, buy cakes when you feel like eating again.

I may have got it from BIL as he had a cold for three weeks and SIL got it too. The last time he came he gave me a kiss goodbuy or it could have come from going to Morrison and Lidl. Still not smoking I wonder how long it will last?

Belated Christmas wishes to one and all and especially to Mel. It's been an up and down time for us. My wife Carmel has been in and out of hospital since early October and having had two fairly good and mobile days Christmas Eve and Christmas morn, she then seemed to have relapsed and yesterday morning I was all set to ring 11 when she seemed to buck up somewhat. She did stay in bed all day but she plans on getting down stairs today with my help and Sidney Stairlift.' Sorrow you are not feeling so good Mel, there are lot of bugs about it seems. I have been using Zoflora since Carmel came home and it is good for a lot of things.