I Know When I'm Beaten......

Phoo (says I, blowing out my cheeks) it has been so long since I last posted that I have forgotten what I was talking about and lost the thread completely.  Since we last 'spoke' so much has happened.  We have had a horrendous couple of months.  A time so stressful that I thought we were going mad at times.  Regular readers will know that the park on which we live closes down for the whole of February making us all move out to pastures new until 1st March.  In the past, anyone ill and having hospital treatment, chemo or serious mobility problems has been allowed to stay upon production of a note from the GP.  Not so this year; the very year that G needed to be at home to continue his treatment. We paid £15 for a note from the GP (it was insufficient), we requested a note from the Consultant (who said that a GP's note should suffice) and we had to supply copies of the clinical notes in the end (what about the implications of a breach of the Data Protection Act?)  Slightly threatening letters were pushed through the door on several occasions along with a demand for a payment of £170 for the privilege of being ill at home.  We spent the first week of Feb in a hotel then came home because G had about 6 different appointments and telephone consultations during the final 3 weeks of the month, most of which we had to pay for privately.  The culmination of these was that he had 5 Botox and anaesthetic injections in his neck at the very end of the month. The consultant was lovely and assured us that G can remain on the NHS waiting list for an appointment at some stage in the future, although heaven knows how long the wait will be.  The Botox has helped with the pain enormously although the head tremor remains.  I think G is learning coping strategies.  At least he is getting some sleep now so is better able to cope, at least until the effects of the Botox wears off.
Me?....Since we came home I am sleeping like a baby most nights although occasionally worry gets to me and keeps me awake until the wee small hours.

We have decided that we can't risk another worrying February next year, as G's neck problem isn't going to go away, so have decided the time has come to move home.  We would love a new build, detached bungalow in a quiet area but that simply ain't gonna happen, so we are searching with an open mind to see what we can afford.  We have sold the beloved caravan (as G can't tow it any longer) and I'm eBaying like a mad woman to raise as much money as we can for all the fees involved in a house move (Stamp duty, solicitors, removal company etc) as well as to pay the hospital charges for G's treatment.

We are now ON A MISSION!

The allotment will be our recreation for this year.  It is now officially Spring!  Do stay tuned for allotment news in the next post :)

Stay safe everyone, wherever you happen to be in the world.  Thanks so much for popping in after all this time x

An Expensive Time of Year

This is an expensive time of year. At the very end of December we have to pay site fees as well as  rates, water & sewerage charges to the park owner. These alone add up to £2,500.  In addition, the home insurance is due next week.  The renewal premium has gone up by 10% this time so I tried to find a cheaper policy elsewhere to no avail, so I rang the company and politely asked if there could be any movement on price.  Straight away they offered me a £10 loyalty discount which I accepted.  We always pay in full to avoid interest charges so that's it... sorted for another 12 months. The moral of the tale is just ask!  The TV license was due at the end of December too and, although it had increased to £150.50 I think it's a reasonable price for a year's viewing (assuming we can find something interesting to watch that is )

The 2018 account book has now been written up and the figures tallied. There is a small surplus which will be carried over and if we are careful this year I don't think we need to increase the weekly/monthly sum we put away.  The budget for 2019 has been set at the same amount which is a bit of a blessing at the moment what with buying the new bed and paying for G's osteopathy massages.

He had to visit the Osteopath on Thursday to try to relieve pain in his shoulder this time.  She pointed out that he has lost a lot of muscle tone on the left side; in his shoulder, upper arm, and it even shows in his face.  The left side is much thinner in the cheeks than the right. Last night poor G was awake again by 4am.  He's gone to work but is really tired. I really don't know what's to be done.

With G at work I had a leisurely morning. A bit of housework was done, then I spent a heavenly couple of hours crafting toppers to sell. It's now 3pm and the light is failing fast so I'll pack up and do a bit of shopping.  I only need bread and something tempting for G when he comes home at 6.30pm.  There's £5 left in the food budget and the family are not visiting today so perhaps omelettes or fish . There might be some YS available....who knows...

Anyway, stay safe everyone and have a super weekend.  Thanks so much for popping in x

Slumber Deep & The Birthday Boy

Thank you to everyone who wished me a good night's sleep on the new bed. Last night was the best night I have had for weeks, nay...months.  I slept solidly from 10.30pm to just before 6am, then snoozed until 7.20am when I heard G knocking about in the kitchen and I got up to wish him a happy birthday.  He is 69 today.  I had filched all his cards from the post in the last few days and stored them up in a secret place, then I left them out on the breakfast bar last night before I went to bed.  I treated him to lunch out today as we no longer buy each other birthday gifts. DD bought him a lovely warm hoody, a good friend gave him an M & S gift voucher and he had several scratch cards in his birthday cards (no winners but it was exciting trying).  He is dreading next birthday when he will be 70 but I will get there first on November 1st THIS YEAR. 

I simply refuse to dread it.  This year could be a much better one than the last two ( I hope!!)  Can you hear me Ernie?  My premium bonds are due a win and we could do with a nice warm bungalow with 2 decent sized bedrooms! ;)

Stay safe everyone wherever you are x

My New Bed is Here!

Firstly, thanks to all who posted comments on my last post.  I appreciate every single one.  Thanks for taking the time to commiserate, sympathise and offer generally cheering words.

 

This morning has been cold but quite bright and sunny, which makes a lovely change.  Today is also THE DAY!  My new bed arrived at 8.20am this morning and I have gone from this.....

 

 

to this....Yay!.....

The spare room is really tiny and there is very little room at the foot of the bed so opening the wardrobe will be a bit tricky.  I will need to push the bed away from the wall in order to do so but the bed is light and easy to slide about.

The reversible bedlinen is pale grey with a white ditsy print which cost just £9 (reduced from £18) from Sainsbury's, the bottom sheet just £3.  I used £10 worth of Nectar points so only had to spend £2 in cash.  I decided to use a double duvet to give me plenty of overhang and consequently plenty to cocoon myself in tonight :)  No hands and knees required tomorrow!!

On Sunday I had a good sort out in order to make some room so I'm happy to report:

1) a pile of flattened cardboard boxes which I found between the wardrobes (obviously kept because they could prove useful...hmm....not so) were recycled

2) 3 pretty items taken to the charity shop today

3) a bin bag full of non-recyclable 'stuff'' put into the skip

In addition the room was thoroughly vacuumed and dusted (including the walls) One room down, several to go :) All in all, a good start to my de-clutter month.

Stay safe everyone and thanks so much for popping in x

Welcome to 2019

Welcome to 2019 everyone!  Christmas was so busy in so many ways.  We spent Christmas Day with DD and her family, then they all came to us on Boxing Day and G treated us all to a hot lunch at the village pub. This meant that I could just do a teatime buffet with cheeses, salad, pickles hot nibbles and crusty bread.  None of us ate too much and we played games and generally had fun.

On the 27th Dec I had to take G to hospital for some injections in his neck to try to help with the pain.  We thought it would be Botox injections but the Consultant gave him 5 injections of anaesthetic; 2 on one side and 3 on the other.  The next day he could barely lift his right arm (the good side!) but that gradually eased off and the pain in general has lessened considerably.  Unfortunately, the injections haven't made one iota of difference to the pulling of his head to one side.  It's driving him crazy and he can only cope by constantly working; either around the garden or shed and going for walks several times a day.  To be honest it's putting me on edge too.  We can't sit and read or watch TV because he has to constantly fidget trying to stop his head moving of it's own accord which then makes his neck ache.  It's a constant struggle for him.  We are forced to go out somewhere every day when all I would like to do is to sit and read or do a bit of crafting to relax.  I feel mean even thinking the thought but I don't know how much longer I can remain calm and supportive when I want to scream :/

Next month G is booked in for a telephone consultation to see how things are, but we are looking at another 5 weeks of waiting yet.  I hope desperately that the hospital doesn't write him off without having another go at treating him.

We are still sleeping apart with me on the floor in the spare room but at least we can toss and turn without waking each other up and we are both getting a few hours sleep each night now.  G wakes really early and has to get up but he can cook a bacon buttie without waking me up every time now :)
We have taken the plunge and ordered a new single bed for the spare room so it will be easier for me to get out of it too rather than get onto my hands and knees every morning.  The bonus is that I can de-clutter the spare room without him objecting in order to make room! 

Speaking of de-cluttering....I seriously need to get to grips with it throughout the bungalow.  'Stuff' has been rammed into cupboards over the Christmas period and I need to sort it out.  I am still turning my stash into cash too.  I might need to make my new year challenge a de-cluttering one....
Anyone else de-cluttering?

Stay safe everyone and thanks for popping in x

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone, wherever in the world you happen to be.  May 2019 be a happy, healthy and productive time.  Stay safe.

See you in the new year.

God Bless x

News and a Merry Christmas Wish

 

I'll start this post with the mundane news just in order to clear my head.  Most of  the gifts have been given out with just the family's ones left to take tomorrow, the food has been purchased apart from a few bits left to buy this morning, and we are booked into the village pub for lunch on Boxing day...Yay!

 



On 27th Dec G has a hospital appointment for a test injection as a day case (long story), I'm still sleeping on the floor, and, Oh yes, we had a car accident last Tuesday.  The driver of a transit van overtook us and then drove into the front of G's car causing over £2,230 worth of damage.  Luckily no-one was hurt and a pedestrian saw everything and has provided a witness statement to say that G was in no way to blame.

 

Yesterday afternoon our next door neighbour died suddenly at home leaving a husband to grieve over Christmas. The poor man, the poor family....

 

I feel drained and totally in need of some good news so I'm signing off until the new year when I might set myself a challenge.  I need to think....

 

 

Wishing you all a very happy, peaceful and totally wonderful Christmas.  May 2019 bring you health and happiness in spades.

Stay safe wherever you are in the world. Lots of love x