up and down

That’s how I am at the moment. My biggest fear of having treatment on my back was that it wouldn’t help or “cure” me. I am trying to take it as a day at a time, but every 24 hours is different.

If you saw me out and about or popped around you would wonder what I go on about. Just like my GP did last year. If I stand or walk around the symptoms are kept to a minimum. BUT when I wake in the morning or sit down/drive, back come those sneaky pains. Yesterday morning, was particularly bad and we had to cancel our plans to go out for the day. I didn’t mind so much it was a dreary day, anyway.

I keep myself busy always. I can clean my house, cook/bake, use my laptop- all standing. No problem.

Today, I woke feeling pretty good, so I attempted a slightly longer drive than I have done lately. I have wanted to go to the Chinese wholesaler just up the motorway from me. But I started grimacing on the way. Those twinges were back. But it was thanks to one of Megan's amazing Tiger Balm patches, that kept my brain centered on the heat it was giving out.

They have been amazing, I have used one everyday. On my hot flush days I used the “cool” ones and today, now the flushes have thankfully disappeared, I tried the “warm” ones. What I particularly like is they are all natural ingredients.In fact I waft around like I have applied Vicks vapour rub liberally. The smell so reminds me of my Thai massages I used to have on holiday.

So I have been craving some Thai food to go with my wafting smell.

I always buy pretty much the same things. But I added some Thai aubergines to my basket this time. I must say it’s very confusing there. The majority of the ingredients I have no idea what they are or how you use them.

But these I know well.

Do you recognise them from “I’m a Celebrity, get me out of here”.

I asked if they sell many and she said with Chinese New Year coming up they are very popular.

Erghhhhh…I’ll pass thank you……

I am still managing to keep on track with my Project Life.

Here are last weeks pages and this weeks so far.

As you can see have added some small images to the centre slots and I used an enlarged image of my MRI scan and added some scrap paper you get with the kit and some journaling on the back.In the slot is my hospital bracelet as well.

 

and this weeks so far…

3 down, 49 to go !!!!!!!!

friends and family

have been on the cards for the last two days.

I think I must be hitting the menopause, I’ve been having hot sweats since coming out of hospital. Or it could be to do with the epidural or steroid injection I had. But boy have I been rosy cheeked. Its fooled people into thinking I am fully recovered. But I have been fighting a fair few twinges the last few days. I did sleep with just one sleeping tablet(instead of 3 ) last night. But I had to get up in the night for painkillers and a heat bag. Hubby was hoping his sleepless nights were coming to an end. I thought it was because he hated seeing me in so much pain, but apparently it was because he was fretting about the electric I was using every night with my heat pad!!!

Phew, here comes another personal summer.!!!!

I had some lovely friends pop in with gifts for me yesterday. Some beautiful tulips from Trish, whose mother was one of the ladies I used to care for many years ago.

and Linda arrived with a belated Christmas treat. A beautifully wrapped cupcake book from Love bakery.

I read it cover to cover this morning whilst waiting for the drugs to kick in. I can’t wait to use some new recipes.

Because I was expecting my lovely visitors, I made some Ferrero Rocher flavoured inspired cupcakes. The Hummingbird Bakery chocolate and hazelnut cupcakes. I thought the cake mix was a bit dry, so I will alter that next time. But the icing was gorgeous.

For the icing
250g icing sugar
80g butter, at room temp
25 ml milk
80g nutella

Mix all the above ingredients together until incorporated and continue mixing for about 5 minutes. The more mixing, the fluffier the icing!

Unfortunately it was the back of the car for me again today to pop to my sisters. I had lots of bits and pieces that had come from Tasmins flat that we didn’t need. Andrea was rather excited when she saw what I had. We set to work on Taya’s bed, with some of the cushions I had made for Tasmin.

Look what Jade, my sisters oldest bought to show me.

Its my old Sweet April doll. She’s about 40 years old.

I know its mine because it doesn’t have some punk haircut that my sister was famous for giving her dolls.

Shame, I broke her rocking horse she could have had fun in that.

We have lots of toys saved by our parents and all four of our children have enjoyed playing with them.

Hopefully, our grandchildren will one day as well.

Here are some snapshots from Andreas house today.

Jades room and ensuite bathroom

Andreas has even made a decision and bought a rug for the family room !!!!!!!

 

Her poor ensuite is still being a nightmare. They have had leaks, tiles removed, taps scratched, wrong cupboards arrived and no granite.

but hopefully my star of a hubby has come up with an easy solution for their plumber. He’s worked out how the leak can be fixed without lifting all the floor/taking down the kitchen ceiling.The plumber just wanted to mastic the leaky pipe!!!!

Now, my sister isn’t naturally tidy. She had a rose tinted idea, that when she moved into this house, she would morph into the perfect housewife.Yeh right !!!

She had been trying to make a decision (again) of whether to do away with her proposed dressing room. YES is the answer. If it was mine then NO. It would be all co-ordinated, carefully designed and in perfect order AT ALL TIMES.

This is what Andreas looks like at the moment. I couldn’t even open the door, they was so much in there.

 

So hopefully this will become a family bathroom ( for Taya )

Please GOD.

A leopard never changes its spots.

Hello,blogger friends

I am back from hospital after a long day.

First of all I would like to say a MASSIVE thank you to Megan Lim in Singapore who sent me this amazing parcel of Asian products that she hopes will help my back. How kind is that.

People who don’t read blogs just don’t get it. I bet the majority feel like you really know the people you read about. I mean I would recognise bloggers children/hubbys if I saw them out. I would even know what they got for Christmas, where they proposed to their wife,what ailments they have, etc.

You really get to KNOW people. I mean I drop blogs that are too wordy and I need an English degree just to decipher what they are on about. I like blogs that REAL people write.  That write about their lives.

So I would like to say a BIG thank you to Megan, that was very kind, and to everyone who has left a comment over the last few months about my pain.

Today, was the day I went into hospital for an epidural/spine block and a nerve root injection. I got up super early to have some breakfast before I had to fast. I was very nervous, as I didn’t fancy a needle being put in my painful back, plus I wasn’t sure if I would be able to bend forward enough without the pain being to unbearable.

I was admitted in and shown to my own private room.

They kindly made alterations to my lunch menu , for later, as there was nothing I could eat. I sat and waited. The anaesthetist explained what was going to happen and I mentioned about my bending forwards. Little did I know I needn't have worried.

Down I went at 1pm. I was chatting to the anaesthetist who said this is going to be a very nasty sting. I said thanks you could have just said a slight sting.

I then thought I’ll open my eyes now and I was looking at a different ceiling??? I said to the nurse next to me, how comes I’m in here she said its all finished your in recovery?????

I checked whether I could feel my legs or the pain. I had pins and needles in my feet and yes, I still had pain in my hip.But the top half of my legs was numb.

I went up onto the ward and the nurse half, sat me up for my lunch. I had not sat in that position for months. I asked her if I should try walking and maybe going to the toilet. So she helped me up and my bad leg was a bit weak, so  she helped me to walk . I suddenly felt a sensation around my ankles . Yep I was pissing myself !!! Lucky I used to be a carer for the elderly, so I had no worries and knew the nurse would take it in her stride, just as I used to. In fact, I said to her, this is why I'm in this mess from lifting all those old ladies, mid piss to their commodes!

I rang Hubby to come and sit with me. He was a bit concerned about his seats in his much prized Mercedes, so I had to ask the nurse for a mat.Well,  she returned with one of those pads that only hospitals seem to have anymore. You know the ones that make you walk like John Wayne. I think they are from pre 1950’s. It didn’t even have a sticky side and promptly fell down the toilet when I got home.

Hubby was shocked when he saw where the plasters are from the injections. But not as shocked as me as when I saw the images and realised my arse must have been up in the air spread eagled. No wonder they put me right out. I cannot imagine an epidural going in the coccyx area. I have only ever seen them going in higher up the spine ?

I was going to ask the consultant to take a picture of the epidural in. I took two cameras just in case. But no metals were allowed in the theatre. I bet your glad now aren’t you? You might have been able to see what I’d had for breakfast.

My nether regions are still numb and the top of my bad leg. I am aware of some pain in the leg but nothing like before. I’m just hoping the sensation to go to the toilet comes back??? Could be fun. They gave me toast with “normal “bread and after I pissed myself, I was worried with my IBS it might shoot straight through me. That would have been really fun.

I asked Hubby to bring me something to eat guess what???

Yep, a Mc Flurry.

At least, I have lots to write about for my Project Life.

first cream tea of the year.

I have had a bad few days/nights pain wise. Nothing is easing it.

I have grabbed some much needed sleep each afternoon and woken all disorientated.

 

Poor hubby hasn’t had much of a weekend off.Yesterday he went to Sheffield to clear out our daughters university flat/prison cell. I think she is glad to see the back of it. Even though we have to pay for it for the rest of the year!

 

Chris was glad to see Sheffield for the last time. I can't say we took to the City. And why anyone would like to live in a prison cell for years I have no idea.

We now have to find a home for everything!!!!……

I asked Hubby if we could go out for a few hours today to give me a chance to have a walkabout. This sometimes easies my pain.

 

 

So I laid in the back of the car and we popped to Cambridge for a couple of hours of browsing around a few shops, but mainly to get me out of the house and get a bit of fresh air.

 

 

 

 

I can’t go to Cambridge without popping to Grantchester. Hubby was trying to tell me we had driven past, but even laid in the back of the car I could tell where we were by the buildings.

 

 

It was very busy seeing how cold it was.

But it was a beautiful  winters day and we’re British, so sitting in an orchard was a pleasure.

 

 

Sadly the trip out didn’t work and I’m still in pain. But at least I got a picture for my Project Life.

And I thought it was only me….

I have had a lovely bed fellow the last week. In fact I shall miss her now that I have finished with her.

Dawn Frenchs new book. “Dear fatty” is a fantastic read. It made me laugh out loud in the middle of the night and cry at the sad bits. Lots of it, was as if , it was me retelling a tale. It inspired me for lots of blog posts and I wrote little prompts in my bedside notebook.

This excerpt from the book could have been written by me. Except of course she is a better writer!

I hate flying. Flying,for me, is utterly exhausting, for the simple reason that it is my duty (on behalf of all passengers,I hasten to add) to keep the plane in the air by sheer force of my mind….if i lose concentration for even a minute ,the massive metal crate will surely plummet earthwards and hundreds of tragic deaths would be on my conscience………………I’m not sure how all the the many planes I’m not on stay up.There must be some cosmic system whereby a mind/plane controller like me is placed on each and every flight.

 

My thoughts exactly. I am one of those controllers. No need to thank me ,I do it for my own safety.

I hate flying. Luckily I love packing so I throw myself into the task, in a big way. It’s only when I actually get to the airport and give up my beautifully, packed bag that I remember that I have to get on a plane.

I HAVE to have a window seat, to help me with my concentration. I hate flying at night, as it makes the concentration a lot trickier,as I can’t see the ground. I’m sure the pilot has something to do with the moment we take off, but without me holding my cross and chanting in my head, I am sure we would surely crash.

When I spoke to my sister last night about it. It turns out she is a mind/plane controller as well!!!

She has to do a word search for the entire flight….. and she HATES word searches.

She buys one especially for the flight. It might explain why our apartment in Spain has a cupboard full of unfinished word searches. If her children dare to talk to her and ruin her concentration, they have to be reprimanded. She MUST concentrate on that word…..

It so exhausting trying to keep an entire plane and its passengers in the air I can tell you. I look at Hubby,headphones on snoring and think how does he do it.

Are you a mind controller as well?

Their adventure

Tasmin and her boyfriend wanted to make a memory album just like the one they saw in the Disney film UP. Now I hadn’t seen the film, so I did a bit of searching on the web and found this.

They turned down my spare scrapbook album. They wanted an old style cardboard album just like the films.They found just what they wanted in Paperchase. They were going to Hobby Craft to look for some bits to make it their own.Why I said when I have boxes full of stash. So they spent an afternoon going through everything and I mean everything.

They now have a basket full of stash they’d like to use on the project.

This is what they came up with for the front of their album.

Its funny that Tasmin when filling in application forms for some jobs recently put scrapbooking as her hobby.

I was quite chuffed.

My Project Life is coming along nicely. For todays photo of the day. I knew I would be awake during the night because of the pain. So along with my three different types of heat for my leg. I grabbed my camera and put it by the bedside.

And yes, I was right, this was my shot from the night. I captured the time I needed to get up and get something to eat for the next lot of painkillers.

One of the things we are trying to do this year, is having a night a couple of times a month as a “date night”. Its a regular occurrence on blogs that I read from the States and it crops up on the TV programmes I love to watch. It seems to have come originally from Mormon families. And as a LOT of scrapbookers are Mormons based around Utah, it was something that kept cropping up last year on their blogs.

Yesterday, it turned out both of my children were out for the evening. So I sent my husband a text  “ do you fancy a date tonight?”. It was great to get out for just a little while. My husband travels a lot and is always staying at hotels and eating at beautiful restaurants. I think sometimes he forgets that I am stuck at home 24/7.

I printed off a voucher for Pizza Express and we had a lovely meal for just £14!!!!

He wasn’t to pleased when he heard I had my camera with me.

In fact that was all I had in my handbag. I even made sure we took the table in the best light!

I’m hoping that Project Life will encourage us to do more with our life, as after all I have to have things to document.

Goodbye Christmas 2010

Teddy sat and watched as we took all the decorations down and neatly boxed them away for the loft.

 

Ho Ho Ho

and a Merry Christmas

I have only just got around to sorting my Christmas Day pictures out for printing.

I must have been a very good girl all year around, as Santa bought me lots of goodies.

A packet of cashews and shortbread!! He obviously knows my vices and the way straight to my heart and hips.

Hubby took me to Brent Cross, laid out in the back of the car, for a spot of retail therapy over Christmas.

He knows I can’t resist this years“IT ” bag.

I have the Celine “boogie” bag. Chloe’s “Paddington” impossibly, heavy bag and numerous Louis Vuitton “IT” bags.

 

 

So as soon as I saw they had the IT bag of the moment on sale at Brent Cross.

Hubby offered to join the impossibly long line of people queuing,

Of course I went off for a bit of retail therapy. Bless him he bought one for Tasmin as well. But as she's her mothers daughter, she had already spotted them and had queued and got her own.

So it was with delight when he handed over my new “IT” bag……….

 

Mmmmm cinnamon pretzel my favourite.

Now really, I must have been a good girl as I got lots of goodies.

We had tried to buy the Tiffany “I love you “ bangle in Florida but they didn’t have my size. Hubby is very happy to have found something that he can buy me for my birthday and 25th Wedding Anniversary.There are 3 in total.

Poor Hubby wasn’t as lucky as me. His presents were a bit more practical. Check out the wrapping and comments from Ryan.

And the children's presents were greeted with surprise.

Tasmins best surprise was when her boyfriend turned up whilst we were opening our presents. I don’t think she was too pleased with his little tree present.

 

We bought the same underwear for my sisters husband, but she seems to have mislaid them now??

Well, here goes

All those months of anticipation.and the day is finally here when I have decided to start my Project Life.

I ordered my copy of Project Life about last September. Becky Higgins had her old kits on special offer for only about £25, with free delivery. The problem is she doesn’t ship to the UK. So, I had it sent to a friends in Chicago, for my husband to pick on an upcoming business trip. Sadly, his trip got cancelled at the last minute and so I waited, and waited.

 

Finally he was able to pick it up in November and I got my hands on it in Miami.It filled an entire case in its original packaging.

But luckily Becky has all the individual components boxed up beautifully, so we spread it around  our luggage.

 

This is Becky talking about this years copy of her kit.

Some people are going to take a photograph a day for the next year, but I am going to be more free and open. There is no right or wrong way to put your album together. I know I would fail before I even got started if I just took a photo a day and used it. A lot of the time I never leave our house, sometimes for days on end. So the photos could get a bit boring.

But I always take more than 7 photos a week. So I am going to interpret the photo a day as the photo I choose to use for that day. I have also got to remember to take them in a horizontal position for the binder.

I loved this ladies interpretation of The Project Life and I have bought extra varied sized page protectors to add as I go along.

Here’s the start of my album.

The opening page

as you can see, I didn’t get a group photo. So I just did what I am going to do all the way through, adapt.

My first two entries, using photos I took last week, but are relevant to my life at this moment in time.

As you can see I am going to add relevant paperwork as I go along. Behind my boots picture, is the receipt for them.

Today I took a picture that covers my New Years resolution. As a Beauty Therapist and ex-Dior consultant you may be surprised to hear I don’t really cleanse my face. For over 20 years I have just used rose water once a day on a damp cotton pad. Only If I was wearing full make up ( rare ) would I use a product to remove it. I’m  very lazy and (tight) when it comes to lavishing time on myself in the bathroom. But this is the year I am going to use my cleanser and toner at least once a day. I shall apply my night serum, at night. Not in the morning when I can be bothered.

Plus I shall endeavour to brush my teeth twice a day !!! See, I said I’m lazy.

Now shall I let you into another secret.

See that pot of face cream on the left. I finished it months ago, its filled with my favourite face cream. Read about it here

I think forking out extortionate amounts for beauty products is a big con. Believe me I know I had to sit through hours of brainwashing training it’s all gobbledygook. I use products that I like the smell of or continually win best products awards. I have used face creams that cost over £200, and my skin was no different. In fact it got worse.

Dermatologists and Plastic surgeons will all tell you, protection from the suns rays is the most important thing to do to stop ageing.

My mum used to coat me in factor 0 tanning oil from a very young age. So that I could cook nicely in the Spanish sun. So the damage is already done to my skin. I have all the skin pigmentation to prove it.

Those girls on the beauty counters look so good because of the layers of make up they wear. It protects them from the sun. Just look at Joan Collins. She’s about 104 and her make up is piled on and she never put her face in the sun.