General Chat 2009

[jill]

Hi there, just popped in to see how everyone is doing, hope Claire and Rebecca are on the mend. It won't be too long before the tradesmen move out, bit of electrical and joinery work then it will be over to us. Had last week off and it was rather hectic, not how I imagined it when I first booked it, had a good time though didn't realise that sorting door knobs and hinges would be so time consuming.

I did a bit of gardening last night, the skip has finally gone and all of the wood pile has gone off the lawn so it is starting to look less of a builders yard!

When we first packed everything away I kept my cross-stitch out - I think i've only had it out twice! Been a great experience, all down to the excellent builder we chose.

[Copper]

I have been wondering how things were going. It sounds like your life has been hectic for the last few months.

I am glad that I managed to get a lot of gardening done as we have had lots of rain in the last couple of days, just what the garden needed.

I am trying to be creative and I have made some birthday cards. I am ordering in some goodies to make the Xmas cards.

In my spare time I am transcribing some parish records for an online project. I am still trying to get my family history research organised properly complete with sources.

[rebecca c]

I am glad you chose the right builder and hope it will all be finished soon Jill.

I would like to spend a little bit of time card making, could of done tonight but watched Emma instead which is quite good - feels like pure indulgence.

Things are going well for me, slight asthma flare up after a busy week last week but I started the steroids straight away and feel sure they will work quickly.

It is definitely going to be a full on year with not much respite so fingers crossed I will make it through. Definitely coming from a strong starting point.

[jill]

Good to hear you are feeling strong Rebecca, nothing wrong with a bit of indulgence. People keep saying to me that I won't know what to do with myself when the house is done - i've got plenty of hobbies to get back into that is for sure. The house in itself is a big hobby though. Some people would see it as a chore but not me, long term dream.

Transcribing parish records sounds an interesting thing to be doing Copper, I bet some of the writing causes you to think abit.

Bit of sad news, the chicken died at the weekend. Just over 2 years it was free range in the neighbourhood, wandling up and down the street and into peoples houses. It had a very good life, compared to many others. It was only a chicken but it was a character and liked to be in on what was going on. Gardening without something pecking at my feet will not be the same.

[Copper]

It is great to hear that you are feeling strong Rebecca. It sounds like you are enjoying the challenge.

Jill, I was thinking of the chicken the other day. Oh well at least it had a great life. I am sure that your house will be lovely when it is finished.

Transcribing parish records can be frustrating at times. Some of the vicars and curates had very bad handwriting. I enjoy it though as I am giving something back to the family historians of the world.

I am currently washing my carpets and yesterday the 5 year old cleaner refused to work properly. It has a number of faults so we decided to get a new one. I tried the new one out today and it is very good. I have to wash the lounge carpet tomorrow and then I have done that chore.

I Have decided to give tea bag folding a go. You can make lovely cards with folded tea bags. They are not tea bags but squares of coloured patterned paper. People are really into this and have generated lots of tea bag tiles (squares) which are free on the interwebby thing :lol2: I just need to find some time to sit and fold the squares.

[rebecca c]

Oh no poor chicken:( that makes me sad

Still having terrible trouble with the disabled allowance application - definitely more trouble than it is worth.

Got a bit of a cold - working so hard - but getting good feedback. sorting and keeping on top of childcare is job in itself but system is holding up. husband seems to be working longer and longer hours and having to pull out of stuff he has said he can do too which all adds to the logistics.

I do enjoy it I just wish I didnt have so little respite.

teabagging sounds fun. I might dedicate some time to just doing one calligraphy card this weekend for some light relief from my first lesson plans.

good report on my nose at my post op check up yesterday - strong advert for not using any of the recommended sprays and potions.

[Copper]

Do you get half term off or will that be another problem to solve?

Juggling work and children is quite stressful. I admire your stamina and enthusiasm.

I have to cover some of my plants in the garden as they will not cope with the cold weather they are predicting. I need to move some plants in the border too. Next door are having their fence replaced which is a noisy job. Will I be able to cope with the noise if I do my gardening?

[rebecca c]

I get half term off and but I will have to work form home and look after boys so they wont get much attention - will go to my mum and dads for some of it, I have to do some tests so will do that while they look after boys. I have to work through the next two half terms which will be exhausting mum and dad will help with childcare.

I ordered my bulbs last weekend so that will be one bit of time off studying in half term.

[Copper]

I have been brave tonight and had an Iceland lamb shank for dinner. The box has an allergy advice section which says it contains dairy. I have read the ingredients list (very long) three times and can't see any dairy.

So far I am ok. An update will follow tomorrow as the lactose intolerance always kicks in just as I am falling asleep :mad:

[Copper]

Well I am fine :) There appears to be no dairy in the lamb shank.

I never rely on the allergy warning boxes and always check the ingredients list at least twice. I am sure that I saw something else recently which contained dairy but the nearest I could get to that was cocoa butter :D Maybe they use an automated system and it flagged up the word butter.

[Copper]

I have just had a beautiful male sparrowhawk standing on top of my bird feeder. All of the small birds had vanished before he landed :)

There are some advantages to working in the kitchen. I have spent a lot of time trying to get a couple of squirrels to go leave my garden grrr

[jill]

I am going to clean my bird feeders out tomorrrow and top them up again, afraid with all the work that has been going on that we stopped feeding them, but i'm sure they have had plenty to feed off in the area during the summer months. We used to have a couple of squirrels visit the garden last winter but they haven't been seen for along time.

The house opposite got new owners in recently and they put chimney balloons on top to stop the jackdaws going down to nest. It was rather sad as the jackdaws have been using the same chimneys for years. Don't expect it sounded good though for the people living below.

[rebecca c]

Jackdaws are real characters. When I was a girl one use to fly down and sit on my mums shoulder and peck her ear, we thought he was cute but mum is bird phobic.

I am working beyond hard. I put in 12 hours hard slog yesterday and have done a full day today minus the time it took to take dog to vet for kennel cough vaccine and myself for flu jab and look after boys. just have to pray it doesnt make me ill as I dont have a minute to spare.

Still having trouble with my DSA application and they are sending my another form to fill in. Rang to complain and customer complaints didnt seem clear on what their job is so had to explain how complaints should be dealt with and what the job of someone who impliments government policy is vis a vis the democratic process and adaptation of policy implimentation following feedback. As apparantly there was nothing she could do about the fact they lost my review application or that the instructions are not possible for a NHS consultant to understand! The form I have to fill sounds like what they already asked my GP to tell them.:mad:

Oh well boys are being good and all is going well, rave reviews for the first 2 lessons I taught last week and for the first impressions i have made on people. Just got to keep it up now.

Off to cook tea now.

[Copper]

I hope that you don't have to work that hard all week Rebecca. I hope the boys manage to amuse themselves without too much trouble so that you can get your work done.

We all should be working for the DSA complaints section as it sounds like an easy job. Even I can say I will send you another form. Idiots.

I had some family history planned for yesterday afternoon then my emails went mad. A second cousin sent me 47 emails with attachments. I had lots of printing to do and now a huge pile of family history papers to file. Still it kept me out of mischief. :lol2:

[Copper]

My nephew has been ill for a while but the medics in Oz can't find anything wrong with him. Yesterday He informed his mother that he usually feels ill after eating. I suspect a lactose or wheat/gluten intolerance. Will it never end!!!!

His cousin (my eldest daughter) recognised his description of feeling ill after eating noodles for lunch. We don't know what else he had at lunchtime.

He is going to keep a food diary and see if a pattern emerges. I think we should be able to track it down as he is getting worse just like my eldest daughter a few years ago. At that stage it was pretty obvious what her problem food was although like me she has many intolerances.

At least we can help even if it is only via email.

[cnc]

Happy November all:)

My year is continuing to verge on farcical which is why I've not been around much-, I was taken into hospital, to query a pulmonary embolism.... thankfully it was just as was originally suggested pleurisy, chest infection, fluid on the lung and a partially collapsed lung from the fluid, unfortunately the infection despite only being small is very persistent and I'm now on my third week of antibiotics, and starting a second week of steroids for the asthma side of things that it has triggered.

This has coincided with the unexpected death of a very dear friend of mine, who was like a sister to me. I was only with her 10 days before she died, although she was unwell, she was stable at the time, so it came completely out of the blue. She was only 15, but I'm trying to take comfort in the fact that she's no longer suffering or in pain, and that's what we always wanted for her. It's hard that it means she can no longer be physically in my life, but if that's the price we have to pay for her to no longer suffer then so be it. Her funeral is on Thursday and we're going to decorate the church to make sure it's as reflective of her as possible, and it's going to be a celebration of her wonderful life not a funeral. The request is purple/pink clothing, or anything that's bright. So I'm also decorating the wheelchair and a friend is decorating her crutches, as we know she'll appreciate it, as well as all the rubber ducks that will be involved. It's going to be a funeral with a difference:)

Oh and to add insult to injury I went to see my surgeon, but he'd had to go into emergency surgery, so the registrar walked in, said to me, I hear you're a complex case, looked at the notes, and went looked slightly scared, and said I'm really sorry to have to waste your time but there's nothing I'm happy doing for you without your surgeon being here, so can you please come back another day!!

Thankfully though university are being really good about it all, and giving me all the extensions I need, and just letting me try to get myself a bit more sorted. My GP is also being really supportive, and making sure that he's considering everything that's going on with my chronic situation when trying to work out the best way to deal with me in an acute setting.

I'm still smiling though and focussing on the good things in my life.

I hope that you're all doing okay, and that things are settling down for you all. I'm starting to look at Christmas although I seem to have done most of my Christmas shopping already which is rather handy. Just need to wrap it all now!!

[rebecca c]

Claire - what can I say that would do justice to what you are going through. I really hope you kick that infection into touch soon, I hope you get to see your consultant soon too.

It sounds like the plans for your friends funeral are really special and will help everyone through the event in the way she would of wanted.

I am working hard and should be working now, this is procrastination really. Last week I passed all my tests first time (first person on my course to get them out the way) so I was pleased with myself. No time to rest on my laurels though as had 5 lessons to teach this week, one planned at quite short notice and all very different with different teachers to work with. Also presentation to do tomorrow and big assignment to hand in next week. Now have to go to a needs assessment for my DSA, as it wasnt a form to fill in at all but a 2 hour appointment I had to book!

I am loving it and the boys are coping quite well with all the changes although the youngest finds it tough

[Copper]

Oh Claire what can I say. This will have to do :hug:

I guess you can write this year off and look forward to a much better 2010.

It is good to hear that you have a really good GP. Pity the surgeon was ill when you were due to see him. I hope he is back at work soon so you can have your appointment booked.

I hope the funeral is not too stressful. Celebrating her life is a good idea. Leaving this world so young is tragic and not the right order. It must be very hard for her parents.


Well done Rebecca. At least you are not falling into the trap of leaving things to the last minute like most students these days :D

A 2 hour appointment! I hope it doesn't turn out to be a waste of your time.

[cnc]

Thank you:) The funeral was unique, just like her.
How did the DSA assessment go Rebecca? I've found that they've generally been rather helpful and so I hope you've had the same experience. Congratulations on passing all your tests first time. I hope you're managing to cope okay.

[jill]

Hi, just popped in to get the list of milk derivatives for a colleague who seems to be having problems and make sure she has the correct web address if she wants to join us.

Oh dear Claire, I hope you are feeling better now. It seems to be one thing after another for you. Big Hug from me aswell:hug:.

Things are nearly finished on the house front, well as far as trades people go. Just a couple of small finishing off jobs then it is over to us.

Discovered a Pure Soft Cheese spread in Tesco the other day, don't know what it is like as I am going to save it for Christmas, I don't intend on venturing near Tescos again - manic.

[rebecca c]

Ah DSA person was helpful is recommending few things including laptop (it may be rental but he says I can top up the amount to buy one) and so that was good although again I got a little distressed and did not enjoy the experience of asking for help at all.

Just finished work so as you can see working b.. I mean incredibly hard. Had my first bad lessons this week. But finished the week on a very big high with some very good lessons today and an unprompted round of applause from a new class on a little amnesty (candles lit!) section I delivered to them. They were amazing and responsive so I am really looking forward to teaching them!

So as you can see hard hard work but worth every minute. Using my pred just for a few days as asthma started to slip. tummy not great but not dreadful either but I am managing health wise. Also now over 2 and a half monthe in to this 9 month course!

[Copper]

Good to hear from you and great to hear that you are still coping.

Xmas break on the horizon so a few days rest will help charge the batteries.

[rebecca c]

tough lesson on Monday - absolutely great one yesterday so got better again. My boiler broke down but my very lovely boiler man fixed it as quick as he possibly could. Off to bed early now and looking forward to a lovely hot shower (and house) in the morning. Dont know what you've got til its gone!!!

[cnc]

Glad you're coping okay Rebecca, just keep going, I have a fair idea how difficult it can be when you're fighting so many things. Good news about having the shower fixed now though:)

My early birthday presents include a severe case of laryngitis, (over a week now), a small but rather sore chest infection, oh and the news today that I may well have gallstones so have to be tested for them now. On the plus side I've got a pain consultant who is great and really helpful and actually wants to help control my pain and in really wonderful news, I took my first steps at home with my walking frame a week or so a go, so there is some good going on, I'm just a bit snowed under with a bit of other stuff!! Have just about got all my care stuff sorted though and have a couple of wonderful new carers who are going to help me sort my house out and things, which is amazing and will make life much easier. Christmas presents are all ready and just need wrapping, oh and cards to be written. Tomorrow's gifts include 9.30am physio (thankfully at home) and a blood test though, I get all the best gifts, hope you're not too jealous ;)

I shouldn't grumble really, I'm sitting in a house that has already got a pile of presents in it, and a set of Blue lotus cupcakes ready for tomorrow. What more could I want?!

Hope you're all doing okay, sorry I'm not around so much these days, as you can see there's a lot going on, and that's just a brief snippet, so apologies for my lack of activity. Take care all and speak again soon.

[Copper]

I am so pleased it is not all bad news Claire. I am so happy for you - walking with a frame. At least some things are moving in the right direction.

I am currently a slave to a cat with just diagnosed arthritic elbows. He has just discovered that after a pain killing injection yesterday and a tablet today, he can walk. Hopefully every day he will get a bit better. We go back to see the vet next week to talk about the long term treatment ££££. Some injections into the badly affected left joint will probably be the way to go. I want to keep him as pain free as possible.

[Copper]

I was not well yesterday morning and it was the classic intolerance feeling. I have eaten two unusual things this week so that narrows it down.

The moist ginger cake from Tesco is one of the new things and the ingredients are all ok for me.

The other item is a pie from Iceland. I have eaten a couple in the last few weeks. Close inspection of the ingredients yet again reveals soya flavouring. I thought that would be a small amount but it is clearly too much for me, sigh.

My cat is improving slowly but still feels sorry for himself. He is not eating much and that is not normal for him as he loves his food.

[rebecca c]

Claire I hope your chest and throat are better soon. It is good that you are getting some more positive support well done. As for the walking frame brilliant news for christmas.

I havent any where near finished my xmas shopping so dont want to hear your successes but have decided I deserve a whole day off work and it is better for me if I take a day out so will go shopping tomorrow.

Copper so sorry to hear you reacted to such a tiny amount of soya. My tummy is funny this week, I have lost a bit of weight and am hungry a lot (which is very unusual for me) tummy pain tonight and think I will have a bad night of it which hasnt happened for a while. It is to be expected but I think I could manage things a bit better including trying to give myself a bit of a break from time to time. And relaxing a bit more now I realise I am doing fine.

The things I have had to learn to manage this week ie behaviour stuff are the tough ones so hopefully that will improve.

Had a class of angels this morning, they all seemed to be waiting to see what exciting thing I would do next...such lovely young people!

[Copper]

I have finally managed to clear most of the leaves from the garden. I can ignore the garden for a while now.

Iffy stomach again this morning and what did I eat I hear you cry :D A whole mint crisp sweet which contains soya lecithin. I want to scream. Surely I can't be that intolerant! Time will tell.

The cat is walking a bit better now thank goodness. He will not be happy when I take him to the vets again on Thursday :) We have bought a new carrier so that will confuse him. He will remember the carrier after that though.

[Copper]

I went to the Bear Cross Hotel (Bournemouth) for dinner last night. It was an amazing experience. They coped very well with a friend who is coeliac. Then there was me.

I chose a small appetite main course which had to be adapted, which was easy as they substited new potatoes for the mashed potatoes. The waiter then brought us a dish of vegetables covered in melted butter, which I thought was amusing. He was very apologetic and brought some butter free ones.

Then we came to the dessert. I never have dessert as there is never a dairy free option. I was offered crumble and dairy free custard or meringues. I then had to admit that I had an egg intolerance :( I passed on the custard and said I was happy with just the crumble. They came back from the kitchen and asked if I would like some lemon sorbet with my crumble to which I asked if it contained egg and the answer was no as they had already checked!

The whole meal was wonderful. The service was really brilliant. We will certainly go there again.

[Copper]

I must stop talking to myself :lol2:

I dawdled up the seasonal aisle in Tesco on Wednesday and read the ingredients for several of Tesco own sweeties. I came to the conclusion that they are stupid. Their £1 boxes of their version of After 8 mints, orange version and Turkish Delight version were all labelled as containing milk in the allergy box. In the ingredients lists the closest I could get to any dairy was cocoa butter, with the word butter on a new line. Sigh.

I decided to buy some mints which I have not tried yet.

I have been busy baking. I now have 2 dozen free from everything mince pies in the freezer.

Seasons Greetings to one and all.

[jill]

Sorry you have been talking to yourself for such along time Copper - I haven't been on here for a while. We are finally getting the house back to some kind of normality - well until after Christmas anyway. Then decorating will start - whole house to do, just to decide where to start.

It is not just you who has been bad with their belly. I was ill on Monday night, I had chicken and chips and was sat on the loo within half an hour. Next time I go to Morrisons I will have to ask if they have started butter basting the Extra tasty chickens. Never been ill with it before. It left me washed out for a day.

It is snowing rather heavy here at the moment. Just hope it gets it all done with tonight and clears up tomorrow. Don't really like travelling in this but when you live in a village and have to travel to work (only 8 miles) you don't have much choice.

Happy Christmas everyone:xmas::eat::wine::cheers::dance::drunk:

[Steve]

Happy christmas all.

It's not snowing here so it may not be classed as a white christmas but it's the closest to it we've had in a while.

[rebecca c]

I will have to say Happy New Year.All the best for 2010

Sorry you have been talking to yourself too Copper, I was logged out for a while and didnt have time to look up my password but am back now. Had a lovely christmas and I hope you all did too.

[Yorkshire Lass]

I have just bought some lastase tablets that dissolve on the tonge, apparently they help digest the lactose we are all intollerent to!
They to be used only when unsure about what has been eaten, for example if you are going out for a meal in a restaurant or at friends and don't want to seem too picky but not ment to be taken on a regular basis so here goes..... will update with a post in a month or so with the verdict. Has anybody else tried these with success?

[Copper]

I have used lactase capsules which have to be swallowed with water just before you eat anything which contains dairy.

I have only used them when eating out if I did not trust the restaurant. I also used them when I stupidly used the wrong margarine on a roll at lunch time. I was not ill so I guess they worked. I would not use them and then binge on dairy.

It will be interesting to hear how you get on with them.

[Yorkshire Lass]

Hi Copper, the ones I have bought from the health stores are wafers as I hate taking tablets. Took my grandson out today and ended up having half a 'chicken meal' 1st one for
about 10 years I might add and only because we had been out for too long not by choice. When I got home I immediately took one and all symptoms dispersed. I will only use them in an emergency but for me it was a lesson learnt! I will take a prepared sandwich with me next time..

Was also not aware the caseine in Coke is also an irritant.

[cnc]

Happy Belated Christmas and New Year to you all :)

Sorry I've not been in touch, I've not been too well I had breathing problems one Friday, and then eventually starting having massive spasm episodes the Monday before Christmas so spent a few days in hospital and am on pretty strong medication to try and control them, but seem to have lost a lot of strength.

I've also been diagnosed as having Pernicious Anaemia, and now we're trying to see how much of the damage is actually from that as opposed to anything else, but if it is that then most of it is irreversible as it will have damaged my spinal cord, but I've made progress before so I can do it again, at least if it is the PA causing the problems I should theoretically stop going downhill and at least stabilise if nothing else:D:D

I had a nice Christmas, although the side effects from the medication aren't so much fun, but it was lovely to be with my family again and just have a nice break away. I finally finished opening Christmas presents today as I left all of mine at home, so I didn't have to travel with them, although I have been told there are a few more on the way, but most of them have been done now at least!!

I hope Santa was good to you all, and this year brings you good times. xx

[Copper]

Happy New Year to one and all.

Oh Claire why are you still getting all of these problems! Life seems so unfair. Have a :hug: from me. I hope that the PA has not done too much damage.

[rebecca c]

I really hope everyone is well. Claire I hope you are feeling better. The PA sounds nasty - I didnt know it could do irreversible damage- I had anaemia in the past (not the same I know)and when pregnant but hasnt been a problem since I started eating meat again. wish I had done more about it when pregnant but of course the iron tablets made me ill. It would be good if you can stop any more damage, I know the nerve damage will be permanant but the body has an incredible capacity to heal and rebuild.

My chest is bad but it is hardly suprising and I know the steroids will make it better. My tummy had been bad but lots of care over eating and buying a freezer so I can batch cook soup for work is starting to help - I just hope steroids dont set me back as some of the problems are embarassing at work. (sorry probably too much info) but doctors dont consider these things when they give you medication with lactose in - they dont care about side effects, they dont have to try and work with them.

anyway we are more or less snowed in my school is closed or just open to upper school and my kids school is closed and will be closed on Monday too. Using time to sort out my CV and write assignments and lesson plans clean house walk dog and go shopping so keeping busy! Still got load to do and need to do some course work reading too.

Our heating is on and working hard there is a blizzard outside but who cares we are snug and warm. roasty chicken for tea.

Jill it must be awful where you are I hope you are OK.

Keep warm and well everyone.

[Copper]

Well we had a little snow on Wednesday. It was enough for the kids round here to have fun and for schools to close. We usual shop on Wednesdays but we heard that snow was predicted so we went on Tuesday. I also made sure that my mother had plenty of food in the cupboard.

The snow is still on the ground but the road has cleared a lot today. More snow is predicted but only light. I am not looking forward to the biting cold wind they have promised us. A blizzard sounds a bit grim.

Jill and Claire must he housebound by now! I hope that they are both ok.

We have been leaving our heating on overnight as it is so cold. We don't open all of the curtains either so we are like moles LOL

I wonder how many plants I will find dead in the garden in the spring. Some of the plants in tubs don't look very healthy.

[rebecca c]

Yes it will be interesting to see which plants survive mine have a good foot of snow on them. the only ones I have cleared are my agaves which are my pride and joy and worth quite a bit of money but even so I have not been able to stay on top of keeping the snow off of them so I expect they will rot away.

It is still snowing but is much warmer out and the forecast (for what its worth looks promising) it is alpine out there with huge icicles hanging from peoples gutters.

Quite something. I would like to go for a really long walk and I am hopeful the steroids are working and the wind has dropped - may be the ideal day for it, shopping first though.

I dont like the uncertainty of not knowing what tomorrow holds or having to make decisions about driving to work as I am not a confident driver.

[Copper]

I am glad that I don't have to drive anywhere. I worry about ice and the idiots that I might meet out there.

I appear to have less birds feeding in the garden since the snow which does not make sense to me. I put plenty of food out there and the blackbirds like the sultanas.

[jill]

Happy belated New Year everyone - i thought somebody would have started a new General Chat 2010 by now. I went to stay with my parents for a couple of nights last week so I didn't have to travel as far to work in the snow. Nice to have my tea cooked for a couple of nights. I'm not keen on driving in it so may get up early in the morning to go to work for 6 with Paul - (we both work at the same place). It is raining here at the moment but as we still have a lot of snow on the roads where I live it may not be too good for a while yet. The worst bit is getting up the hills where I live. I'm not quite house bound but am making the most of it by being indoors varnishing my beams and a rocking chair.

I put a mixture out for the birds this morning that consisted of stale biscuits, sugar puffs, corned beef, bits of cheese, ham fat all mixed together with some hot water, then I threw in some sunflower seeds. It smelt quite good as the chocolate on the biscuits melted - don't know what the birds thought. Expect it will still be on the ground.

Big hugs to Claire (as usual) you have to put up with so much. Hope 2010 is better for you.

Hope everyone is coping ok with this weather - sure it will have reached Rebecca and Copper by now. Our new central heating system is working a treat in this.