Stop feeling guilty, small rant (BENCHLAND) (Part 1)

Life after a breast cancer diagnosis Living with breast cancer
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Ouchy times for everyone! Hope your feet feel better soon, Katy, and your bruises mend quickly, FF.

 

I was going to amuse you yesterday, with my preserve-making kitchen injuries, but the news about Supertrouper rather subdued me. Spent a long time on the quietly contemplating bench. :cry:

 

So, to cheer you up, Katy: swallow that mouthful of tea, put down that mug. I was turning the windfall Bramley apples into chutney yesterday. Part of the process involves sterilising a load of jars on a tray in the oven. As I took said tray out - a precarious job that I have achieved successfully hundreds of times over the years - one of the hot jars started to topple. This set up a domino effect, wobbling the other jars and I jumped backwards, to avoid hot jars landing on my bare feet and legs, (shorts on - not cooking naturistically!) whilst simultaneously landing the tray on the worktop. Hot jars rolling everywhere but, fortunately, none broken. However, couldn’t say the same for the skin on my leg! I’d jumped back onto the hot, sharp edge of the oven door (it opens downwards). OW, ow, ow, ow OW and Several expletives later…I am going to have to charge extra for these jams and chutneys: danger money!! Leg ok today. Only a small wound. 

 

Been for a picnic and a walk at a local RSPB reserve today. Sunshine and showers. Then we went to a pub for dinner. I got my ham egg and chips! :slight_smile:

 

Can’t believe there’s only 3 more holiday days left. How can it already be a week since MMU5???  So not ready to go back to work! :frowning:

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Supertrouper?  I’ve not heard but I assume the worst from your post. Oh no.

 

Seems we’re both accident prone this week JCJ.  Both of us Ow ow ow… I think perhaps we ought to go back to work for our own safety! 

 

Oddly enough I had ham, egg and chips tonight but cooked by my own fair hands (and an oven and frying pan).

 

I have a new neighbour, the couple next door became parents to little boy on Monday.  I met them today in the car park area, congratulated them and he’s like all newborn babies…just awwwww sweeeet!

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Have sent you a PM, FF! x

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I am so sorry for the loss of your friend, sivam.  I first met her here on this forum and corresponded and then was privileged to meet her in person at the first MMU.  So so sorry!  

 

Thought I was a ok to go to my friends and to have coffee and not do her cleaning.  Found it was a big mistake, the enforced idleness because of arm and hip has caused havoc with my back.  Took longer to not do her cleaning but since coming home and resting all three painful areas are getting better. Arm can now go overhead, hip ok and back as usual.  

 

School tomorrow as I wasn’t able to go in this week, just to make sure that everything is as I left it, i.e. clean, tidy and ready for the new year (probably won’t be as someone is sure to have come in and left a mess).

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So sorry to hear about Supertrouper, very sad news.

ST was instrumental in opening a door between Benchland & The Woods, she created the pathway.

 

Geez what are you two up to???

Injuries galore?

Hope you are both better soon:smileyhappy:

Why were you hoovering FF?

Went out yesterday, all ok, whew!

Spoke to others whilst there and they said the same, it affects different parts each time you have an infusion, weird or what? One day it may “do it all”:smileyhappy:

Helping YD later with packing, an endurance test believe me so resting quietly until then haha xx

 

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I was actually hoovering the stairs at the time of the incident, sometimes I do do housework but if it’s going to prove so dangerous I may give it up :smileytongue:

Glad you are feeling better, I am too but back is still bothersome.

 

School - finished off the jobs I wanted to do. Teachers have been in so another hoover of the carpets is required but I’ve left that until Monday, as they’ll probably, no definitly, make more mess then :smileysad:

 

Family over tomorrow?  It’s Sunday so it’s possible?  Son and Daughter have a habit of arranging to meet at mine…but they don’t always tell me!  

 

 

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Housework and cooking. Both too dangerous. :stuck_out_tongue:

 

My leg is fine - just a small hole. Not painful any more. Hope your injuries continue to improve, FF, and your feet aren’t too ouchy, KTC.

 

Been out to a large town park today. Packed with people and it made me realise that I’ve managed 6 weeks, up until today, encountering very few children!! Wish they came with volume controls (or even silencers?) We had a sandwich lunch from a kiosk and then a nice walk in the parkland and woods, with several sit downs on handy benches, followed by tea (we brought a flask and teabags!) and homemade apple cake by the car. OH wanted to stay out and get dinner in a pub, or get pizza, but I was in a strange mood and just wanted to come home. The last time I was in that park was when I parked there to get the train to Hereford the last time I saw my sister. A lot of memories came flooding back, unexpectedly, as I drove into the park. :'( 

 

Just microwaved some jacket potatoes and shoved homemade chilli (from freezer) and cheese on top. Quick and delicious with a generous side salad. Glad we came home - better than a mediocre pizza or a crap*y carvery?! And NO PEOPLE!! :slight_smile: I think I’m turning into a hermit.

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Better to give up FF, hope things are calming down.

A hole, geez JCJ???

 

Bought a new duvet set from “subsequent”, it arrived on Fri and I just opened package there, it is a different colour than anticipated, more green than yellow, I like it so all ok haha.

YD has landed safely but is feeling a little sick, not the flight but the taxi ride to hotel, she’s always been carsick, poor thing.

Am enjoying new book, not sure what’s what so far?? Like when story is not obvious and has you guessing.

Out for muggachoc tomorrow, then quick dash into town, then quicker dash back home, hee hee xx

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Subsequent?  Ok, that took me a minute but I’ve got it!  Glad you like it.  What is the book?  Hope YD soon recovers and enjoys her holiday.

 

I’m ok, arm recovered, hip recovered but back still a problem - ok whilst at home but will need painkillers for school tomorrow. Would like to give up housework…but it’s not possible.  Will take more care though.

 

Family hadn’t arranged a meet up, which was good as I would have been out.:smileyvery-happy:  Daughter did however drop in this afternoon as she had had enough of her children and said to SIL “they’re all yours” and walked out for a break.  She brought me up to date with family life.  Eldest GD has a new job, just working out her notice now.  

 

Rang Son tonight as I haven’t heard from him this week, most unusual, told me he’s passed the English and Maths exams he was studying for…YAY :smileyhappy:  A proud Mummy needs a bigger hat!

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“Subsequent” had me pondering for a while too! :slight_smile: Got it now.

 

I looked at the website for the shop you recommended, KTC - can’t think of a cryptic clue at the moment. Oh, anagram of “od Ben”. I’m afraid my reaction was “HOW MUCH?? S** THAT!!” £70 for a nothing-special blouse??? No, no, no, no, no: I could get at least 5 tops for that much! (Cheapskate? Moi? :p)

 

Alarm set. Clothes ready. Will attempt to go to bed at a sensible time for 7am get up, but I’ve not managed to get to sleep before at least 2am any night for the last week or more. Tomorrow is going to be tough! I hate getting back into routine in September! :frowning:

 

Gerald the Giraffe finished just as the holiday ends. Here he is posing by my new curtains (which are much greener in ‘the flesh’ than the photo shows. They are Teal.)

20170903_220121.jpg

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PS Congrats to proud mummy and clever son! Also hope daughter enjoys her holiday, KTC.

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School today, back to going in late afternoon instead of mornings.  Teachers didn’t make much mess (for once). Did one of my last summer jobs, haven’t hoovered, I’ll do that after they make more mess tomorrow and the school will be ready, clean and sorted for the start of term on Weds…

 

Still watching the blue tennis. As so many of the top names are not there, it’s different and other players are making their mark.  A  peek into the future?  Some really good youngsters!

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Love giraffe so cute and a new baby, lovely:smileyhappy:!

Is your back better today FF?

Congrats to your son, woo hoo, and GD’s new job!

Hope you managed to sleep well, get up ok JCJ and your day has been fine.

Yep it is expensive but their sales are usually reasonable and clothes last forever.

Phoned YD this morning and she was “all vague” when I asked her how she was feeling, what a twit, haha, once she had been sick she was fine.

ED now has her timetable, all fine until Oct then will be a busy Nannie placement time.

Duvet set now looks yellowy so have no idea what colour it is???

Book is “my husband’s wife”.

Had my muggachoc, battled through torrential rain to get there, then into town where rain stayed off, bought more healthy things today, have been spoiling myself for aaaaaaaaages, so have managed 5 a day today, well one was strawberries with a little dash of cream, NOT, a bucket more like xx

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Back is now in it’s usual state of neither good nor bad. Just the usual niggly. Normal service resumed, no more painkillers. School fine tonight but the children are back tomorrow and the new KS2 teacher has pots of glitter paint on her desk…I’m fearful… 

 

Been to Library today, more books to read, more tennis to watch, what more could I want?

 

 

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Monday: training day. Same old. Same old.

 

Yesterday - kids in. Day not as hideous as expected: everyone on their best “new start” behaviour - let’s hope it lasts more than just the first day!! My teaching commitment is massively reduced, as promised: just one afternoon, with a nice class. Half the afternoon they’ll have PE with a visiting coach,  a so I only have them for an hour on my own, and I’ve been promised they’ll “pay the difference” for that hour!! We’ll see. Still not been told what my new contact is, despite asking for a meeting, but I’ve been assured we’ll meet “before the end of the week!”

 

Did NOT want to get up this morning. Stood in the shower for aaaages. Couldn’t get out! So tired. Already! :frowning:

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Glad you had an ok day JCJ, only one hour a week that will certainly reduce stress levels dramatically, fingers crossed.

FF, hope back calms down asap, enjoy your books!!

Have GC the next couple of days, other Grandparents are sharing so one night here, one night there, ED and OH are off for two days, birthday treat:smileyhappy:!

We booked next year’s holiday, woo hoo, always do it online but had to phone them this time, was on phone for nearly 2 hours, WHAT?? Systems crashing etc etc but all done:smileyhappy:

Yucky day here, rain, rain and more rain…xx

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Glad your teaching has been reduced, I was a bit worried they wouldn’t keep their promise to you.  A nice class? Good. One hour? Good. Has the horrible class left? Were they year six?  Anyway good for you, will your time be spent on the website and the library now?  So many questions, sorry! :smileyembarrassed:  I hope you start to look forward to going in now.

 

My school, still nice and clean from the hols, so not too much hard work yet.  One of the children pointed out a cobweb that I had missed.  A 6 yr old looking for cobwebs?  I needed a ladder and a brush with an extendable handle for that one.  At least the staff hadn’t noticed :smileywink:

 

I’ve got the sound back on my laptop, I tried your suggestions girls, but no.  So I finally phoned my go to guy and he came round tonight.  His usual easy fixes didn’t work so he tried other things and got it working. Then said he didn’t know how he’d done it!  Cost me £10.  He apologised for keeping me waiting for a day, I said another day was not a problem as it had been off for nine months!!  Maybe I’ll get the oven fixed next as that went wrong three months ago and all it needs is a new element…or maybe that’ll take another month or two but I am now missing my pizzas!  (Note to self…phone oven guy!)

 

Been a lovely day here just a little bit of drizzle now and again…but the forecast for tomorrow and Saturday is horrendous.  Rain, rain, wind, more rain, weather coming down from your neck of the woods Katy?

 

Next years holiday is where?

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DO YOU KNOW WHERE (oops! Don’t need to shout, FF’s sound is fixed! :p) you’re going on holiday this time, Katy? Hehehe

 

Had a meeting with the boss today. I was VERY surprised to discover that I’m keeping all of my 31.5 hours a week, so my pay cut won’t be as drastic as I feared. Each of those hours will be paid less, obviously, but I was expecting to lose at least 4 hours a week as all the other “full time” TAs only get paid for 27 or 28 hpw. Most of the time, I’ll be supporting in the Y6 class - (last year’s Y6 were awful and this is the other particularly “difficult” class.). I’m keeping the responsibility for the library, which will be better used, and as I won’t have marking on a regular basis, I should have more - paid - time to maintain it! They also want me to continue to run a homework club after school, and possibly one at lunchtime for the ‘bus children’. I shall be expected to do before school booster sessions for the Y6 when it gets closer to SATs too (I did those voluntarily after the head went off sick last year, so being paid for it is a bonus!) I don’t think I’ll get to do the website any more - new head seems to want to do that herself. Hey ho. But at least I can’t be blamed for what is/isn’t on it?! :slight_smile:

 

Had the 4/5 class today. The dance people came into teach them for half the afternoon. I joined in! You’d have been impressed. Then I taught French for the second half. Oui. Moi. Teaching Francais!! Who’d have thought? Just 1 or 2 silly boys, so much less stressful than last year.

 

Soooo tired. The first week back is always a killer. Then, at 2pm, the (new) office manager came grovelling to me begging for me to cover the after school club because the usual lady had been sent home ill. Brain said NOOOOO! but mouth said “OK” but I managed to inject enough reluctance into it to illicit many grateful thanks and apologies. 12 noisy children looked after for 2 1/2 hours and fed toast and squash. 2 hours overtime can be claimed so that’ll help to bring the paypacket back up nearer previous level! May have to cover tomorrow too.

 

Dragged myself off to swimming, I was determined to go. Not been since early July! Only managed 60 lengths, but at least I managed not to drown. Very glad I made the enormous effort to go, because there was no music, and I was the only one in the pool for the last 10 minutes, so it was lovely. :slight_smile:

 

I *accidentally* bought some chocolate covered raisins on my way in to the pool. In aid of Air Ambulance. Almost compulsory? Chocolate (from cocoa BEANS) and raisins constitute 2 of my 5 a day? Just had half (ok, most) of the packet with some muesli. Yum! :smiley:

 

I discovered recently that a nearby water ski centre we sometimes visit, because it has nice walks around the lakes, does actual open water swimming sessions. On a Thursday! I quite fancy the idea, but maybe not now. Too cold. Would definitely need a wetsuit, preferably fur lined, and that would NOT be a pretty sight?!? I bet it’s full of all over zealous, competitive, sporty types too?? :expressionless:

 

Time to get my hair dry and fall into bed. Kn*****ed! Friday tomorrow!!! :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

 

 

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 I’m busy building another bench for Benchland, it’s the Responsible Pet Owner bench. A long story but children have been on at me to get a pet to keep me company for ages.  And I’ve wondered about getting a cat but put the thoughts aside.  Daughter came to mine the other day saying she had sorted my belated birthday present.  It was a kitten!  She didn’t just land me with it, she showed me pics on the internet. He was very cute but his parents were a breed that I don’t like (they have strange big ears!).  So he was not for me. But her thought made me really think again so…Daughter is buying me a kitten for my birthday.

 

I’M GETTING A KITTEN!!  I’ll have to wait until a suitable one comes up  After all the years of saying no, I’m saying yes.  I’m excited now, will be buying cat things tomorrow. Need to get ready!  Watch this space…

 

 

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NHS letter!! Oh no! Nothing expected. Breathe.

 

It was an invitation to THE VAN for mammo. :frowning: Too soon! Ah. Wait! It IS too soon. Last annual follow up was only in March " within 6 months" (just) so I can ring them up and postpone it. :slight_smile:

 

It’s funny because I was worried 3_yearly wouldn’t give me enough reassurance, but I’m absolutely sure I’m not ready for another one quite yet!!

 

A kitten! How lovely. Must see photos whilst it’s still cute. Responsible pet owner??? I’ve seen what Hump & Dink get up to whilst in your care. (Though they’ll probably take offence to being called “pets”?! :p)