stop feeling guilty, small rant (BENCHLAND)

[katytc]

Fabulous news JCJ, hurrah it's all over and done with👍 quick results indeed. Understand scary opening of 2nd letter...

My goodness another favourite, coffee cake, yum yum and have also eaten everything in the shed, thank you.

Am on the CBA bench a lot just now keep wakening at 6 am what??? It's getting on my nerves doesn't matter if I stay up late or go to bed early I still am ping wide awake at 6. Arrrgh.

That sounds like hard work, glad you both managed to fix rail, woo hoo xx

[JCJ]

Hope your lido is doing its thing this time, Katy. You and your paint! 😁 We fixed a 2nd handrail up the stairs recently - (acquired it months ago as NDN had it removed when her stair lift was installed). I wanted to get a professional in to do it but we managed it, eventually, together. The top fixing came loose so OH bodged it involving chipped paint, bigger screws and rather a lot of glue 😬. I thought about getting the paint out to try to cover up the mess but then realised that we had professionals decorate the hall, stairs and landing so we don't have any of the paint. Perhaps just as well?!

Had a fright this morning: at my smear test, just 9 days ago, the nurse told me that the results would be 2 to 3 weeks, so when TWO letters arrived today, I was rather alarmed!! 1st one was from surgery: negative for virus. 2nd one was from the cervical screening service.... so I wondered "is there some other problem?" 😕 but it was just telling me I won't need to have any more smear tests. Ever. Because I'm old. Yey!! 😁 Took me a while to calm down and be pleased, though. 

I can hear the frogs in our pond croaking (though it's actually more of a deep, rattly, purring sound). They've been at it all day and the pond is almost completely covered in slimy frogspawn!! Spring is coming... at last.... if it ever stops raining.  Clocks on next weekend. Yay. I love the lighter evenings.

Parmigiana and coffee cake in the shed. (2 separate dishes; not a weird combo cake!🤢) There'll be a roast lamb dinner and apple crumble and ice cream in there tomorrow. 

[katytc]

Am at YD's dreaming about that cake, oh my gosh sounds sóooo very good haha.

Train journey was fine left sunshine and came to pouring rain at least it wasn't cold. 

Had a disaster again last week had paint in cupboard and did a little bit here and there next day it was a complete streaky mess so ended up having to paint the whole hallway...you think I would learn!

Old paint thrown out, will never do that again. On the plus side hallway looks really fresh. Good job I had just had my lido.

Did lunch on Mon had fish and chips nowhere as good as norcambe haha 😂

Next week no lunches out and reasonably quiet so far, let's hope it stays that way.

We have been looking at holidays but super expensive at the moment. YD would like a 4-5 star hotel this time, think it maybe my last foreign holiday so why not?? Xx

[katytc]

I don't have that photo JCJ but have a pic of my dress...

Both will be on the wall xx

[JCJ]

I've found a picture of you for your wall, Katy. Taken after a stroll along Norecambe prom?! 😂

Chocolate salted caramel cake was fabulous... even if I do say so myself.. It was an experiment I shall definitely be repeating, although I might put the salted caramel sauce in the middle AFTER the sponge is cooked next time as it sort of disappeared... but the cake was gorgeously soft and gooey. 😍 and very tasty with extra SC sauce on top

Egg, oven chips and frozen mixed veg tonight. Yummy and allows me to stay here on the CBA Bench. 😊

 

[katytc]

Crooky, an awful lot all going on in a short space of time, no wonder your head is all over the place, please don't feel guilty and enjoy the happiness you have now found.

Oh my golly gosh salted caramel chocolate cake???? Wowee am so excited hahaha.

Jane hope you have managed to get away safely, have a wonderful time.

No snow here but it is very, very cold, glad you managed to walk and get it done JCJ.

Was out for an unexpected coffee today, GD came with me and behaved very well indeed.

Managed to put up photos of Mum & Dad, just have to find a reasonable one of me and wall will be complete.

Went out for lunch on Mon and laughed so much tears were pouring down my face haven't laughed so much in ages, certainly does you good....

Lido yesterday all good, kept nodding off all the way though it and when I arrived home sooooooooooo was unable to sleep nearly all night arrrgh, super tired now xx

[JCJ]

Hope the snow hasn't disrupted your travel plans, Jane. How ironic would that be considering where you're going?!

We've had 2 inches overnight and OH decided he didn't want to risk going out in the snow and abandoned his library trip.  I hate driving in it so I walked up to the surgery for my smear appointment. Going there was fine and I was glad I hadn't taken the car because the steep hill was slushy and quite slippery, with some drivers not allowing for the conditions....or the parked cars!! 😱 The path had enough crunchy snow to be OK, although I took it VERY carefully coming back down the hill!!

Called in the shop for a treat to reward myself and I'm now back on the CBA bench, in the warm, with a carafe of coffee and a pain au raisin. Might go out and clear the snow off the drive later. Or I might not... as it doesn't seem to be able to make up its mind whether to sleet, rain or snow!

Stay safe everyone. xx

[CanonJane]

That's lot to have happened in a short space of time. If you DIDN'T have cancer, you would be exhausted! Be gentle with yourself,  and please feed the alligators.    

Just done Pilates,  so budge up you two.....

[JCJ]

Crooky, chuck that guilt. All of it. And keep chucking it. You are definitely NOT cheating on your husband: you'd be with him if you could and I'm sure he'd want you to be happy.

Your step mum is grieving and that manifests itself in different ways in people so try not to take it personally if she's angry with/around you. (Easy for me to say: if only I could follow my own advice!!😄)

Budge up on the CBA bench: I'm coming to join you. I've got a carafe of coffee (or any beverage of choice), salted caramel chocolate cake and a duvet to snuggle under. The gym... and my swimming.... can wait until later. xx

[Crooky]

I’m still feeling knackered but I’m keeping going.  I did 3 classes at the gym last week and am booked in again this week but I’m definitely on the CBA bench so it’s really hard to motivate myself.  I’m struggling with all sorts of stuff which isn’t helping.  My husband died 15 months before my diagnosis so I had to go through it on my own.  Somehow after 3 years I’ve met someone else and he’s lovely and accepting of my scars both mental and physical but I feel guilty because it feels like I’m cheating on my husband.  Plus my Dad died suddenly at the end of July and my step mum is full of anger which seems to be directed at me most of the time. So maybe all of this is contributing to my feeling of fatigue 😢😢

[JCJ]

Wow! That was a long one.... sorry! 🤭

[JCJ]

Hope eczema clears up, Katy, and that your lido (no, autocorrect, not "ludo"!) does its thing this time.

Stay away from people until Thursday, Jane! Definitely want that negative covid test... even I am excited for your holiday! 😄 Hopefully, the northern lights will show up and haven't worn themselves out showing off all over the place last week: visible from Stonehenge, apparently, one night!!

OH seems to have survived 2 1/2 days on his own - thanks to my habit of stowing extra portions of meals in the freezer! - and was in a good mood when I got back.... better than he would have been if he'd come with me! That bodes well for future excursions for me 🤞🏼😁

I was on the FF bench last night after a spectacular kitchen disaster. Cooking dinner. Pizza (supermarket finest) in oven. Coleslaw made. Pasta cooking for a quick tomato and basil salad. I decide to clear the draining board while I'm waiting. Went to put a mug away and, as I opened the cupboard, all hell broke loose! OH had left a jar of marmalade balanced on the edge of the shelf so that, as I opened the door, it fell out, landing on the glass chopping board/worktop protector 3ft below, which shattered. I was surrounded by shards of green glass which were continuing to crack and pop and bounce like over-excited pop corn. At least the jar didn't break - goodness knows how - so there wasn't sticky marmalade everywhere too. It took me aaages to clear up the mess.... and I'm sure I shall be finding bits of glass for years.... because it went EVERYWHERE: under the microwave, all over the worktop and the floor, under all the appliances, in my slippers. I didn't know if any went in the pasta cooking on the adjacent hob (some of the pieces of glass were no more than powder) so I had to chuck it and start again. Meanwhile, although I had turned the oven out, the pizza got cooked to a crisp. 🙄

The glass board was my Dad's. 😢 We inherited it over 20 years ago - and he had had it for years - so it has done well and at least I wasn't hurt. OH was contrite and apologetic (it must have been him as I don't eat marmalade!) and has offered to buy a new one so I have ordered a shiny new black one using his bank account. 

My trigger thumb seems to have fixed itself - or the injection worked? - but now I've got a problem with the fingers on that hand. I think it's carpal tunnel syndrome, as I've had that in my other hand, and a splint stops me waking up, in the night with pins and needles. However, my fingers are swollen and stiff (had to take my rings off - with considerable difficulty, and they're usually quite loose - and put them on my other hand. Except for my wedding ring which won't come off) so it could be Arthur. Ironically, it got much worse after 3 days without doing any knitting, as I didn't take any to Norwich. I've ordered another splint, for daytime use and, if that doesn't work, I'll have to battle to get a Dr's appointment.

I'm up at the surgery on Thursday, anyway, because I've finally booked a smear test. 😕 (Want to swap places, Jane? 😛) I hate them! I had a letter months ago - and 2 reminder letters! 🤭 - but I've been putting off trying to ring for an appointment. When I had to go, in person, the other week, to sort OH's prescription, I realised I no longer had an excuse and I couldn't be such a hypocrite as to nag everyone to have their mammograms and not get this test. Ah well, soon be done and this should be my last one. At least, now, it's long enough since my last BC checkup that I won't accidentally strip the wrong half!! 😂

Outdoor reared pork chops and all the usual roast dinner accompaniments in the shed along with chocolate salted caramel sponge and chocolate sauce. Enjoy. 

[CanonJane]

I wrote a long reply last night,  then it disappeared! The alligators must still be hungry, so any recurring guilt,  feed them!

Crooky, welcome! You will fine there is always calorie free food in the shed. There were loads of different Benches, but nowadays we seem to gather round the CBA bench a lot of the time. Feel free to create benches for your mood/need, we'll wander over....

I have finally woken up to the fact that if I want the best chance of providing a neg covid test before sailing, I ought to cancel social things next week! 

Clothes out on spare bed....getting excited,  now that the steroids are helping 

Be good while I'm away.....(go Thursday)

[katytc]

Hello Crooky, JCJ has said it all, throw guilt into the lake, the alligators will eat it.........no one should feel guilty regarding a C diagnosis.

How did things go JCJ? Hope you also threw your guilt into lake too, alligators will be well fed.

Aaaah Jane, glad Standly is helpful, had an issue with balance and found that arm crutch was so much better than a stick, ask daughter if she thinks it's a good idea for you.

GS's rash was an allergy that has now turned into eczema arrgh so more cream and soap stuff, still has meds to take. 

Been pretty busy this week, lido is next week been a long 7 weeks, hopefully things will calm down this time.

Managed to have hair chopped today, hurrah, each morning have wakened to hair standing on end and a middle parting, WHAT?? Such a mess, haha.

Also had photos printed, new frames bought and will be up on wall tomorrow, well pleased.

After a few weeks of not feeling that hungry, have now been eating non stop, off to the FB bench near the CBA bench for me, hahaha xx

[JCJ]

Hi Crooky. Welcome to Benchland. Chuck that guilt. You may have been luckiER than many but having a cancer diagnosis could never be considered "lucky" so moan all you need to on here. It's a great place to vent those worries and frustrations without upsetting/boring loved ones. We understand. xx

[Crooky]

Well said.  I feel guilty because I only had a therapeutic mammoplasty and radiotherapy along with 5 years Tamoxifen. There are so many women who have gone through chemotherapy as well and I just don’t feel like I should be moaning about how I’m feeling because I’ve been lucky.

[JCJ]

Hope little man's rash is much improved, Katy.

Glad you're feeling a bit better, Jane. Standly sounds like an excellent idea (and a brilliant name 😝). 2 weeks to the cruise. 🤞🤞🤞it's amazing and the Northern lights show up for you. Apparently, they were visible from parts of Scotland, N. Ireland and N. England last night!! I'd LOVE to see them.

I'm on Nana duty while YD & DIL are enjoying a delicious Italian meal in the city. GD has been a super star and I'm sad that I won't see her before I go home tomorrow....or until who knows when..😥 

We have had a lovely day at the seaside today (only 40 mins drive - I'm sooo jealous!) including coffee and, later, a delicious sandwich lunch in a pub, a playground and a walk on the blustery, cold beach collecting stones and burying them in the sand! 😁 The sun was shining over the sea but the beach was in shade. Brrrr!

Tried to send OH a text tonight but O2 (other.....) doesn't want to play. 🙄

[CanonJane]

Chuck that guilt away!  And again!  And again!  you are not responsible for his choices....

pleased you got a seat.... enjoy the break...  you need it...

My (physio) daughter has been mentioning a walking stick from time to time over recent months (my balance isn't great).  I told my GP this week, and he smiled and said in his opinion I should get into and out of chairs VERY carefully and not be too far from a wall at any time.  she visited this weekend, and when I told her that, she disappeared and came back with a foldable stick!!!!  I have to say I am safer with him (Standly the stick, apparently!)

Lovely GP has also increased steroids to help me feel better for the forthcoming cruise, and I am finally beginning to feel better again.  Been a hard few months...

I'm busy ordering merino wool socks etc for the cold of Norway..... less than two weeks.

[katytc]

Aaaah JCJ, so difficult but OH could not face the journey so try not to feel guilty, he chose not to go. He was included therefore keep that in mind, big hugs xx

Hope you are having fun with the girls does you good to get away, for your head too. So all guilt thrown to the alligators asap.

My journey was fab going a little hectic coming home but all went well. Had a small diversion to chippie, thank goodness because there would be no yum yums in the shed, haha.

All good at YD's although GS came out in a rash before I arrived, they went to chemist and chemist thought it was an allergy so was given medicine and cream.

On Sunday blotches were awful, all over his face and body, this morning it's a lot calmer, thank goodness. Hoping meds have kicked in and he's over the worst, arrgh.

Have to go out later but am staying firmly on the CBA bench at the moment, it's freezing outside brrrr xx

[JCJ]

On train to Norwich. On my own. OH didn't get up this morning. 🙄 Here we go again. Took him a mugatea and he said he can't face the trip. Grrr. He told me to come by myself, so I have.....what I wanted anyway....but can't enjoy the freedom because he was upset when I left. I'm lobbing guilt into the lake as I type.

Wish I hadn't booked all those holidays. I can see history repeating itself. 😥

On the plus side: traffic was horrendous so, although I left an hour for a 30 minute drive, I only just got to the train. We would have missed it if he had been with me. 

Train crowded but I have a seat and it's a sunny day. 😁

[katytc]

Sorry have no idea Delly, I never have any notifications haha 😂 despite ticking box.

Aaah all different textiles?? Liked the random knitting must have meant something.

YDs new bed arrived this morning, lovely, no work to do cause men did it all and old bed was removed too, fabulous. 

It's an ottoman bed and we would still be trying to build it.....

Sunny here but chilly, brrr. Xx

[delly]

Please forgive me, ladies. No offence or disrespect meant whatsoever, but I recently popped on with a quick cheeky comment recently, and can't find how to turn "further notifications" off again, without posting and UNticking the email reply box. My apologies Wishing you ALL well.  X❤️X

[JCJ]

The castle has recently had an archaeological dig and unearthed an old mill site (It's on the confluence of 2 rivers). At one point it was a cotton mill so they wanted a textile "artwork" to promote it.

We've had some yarn bombing locally, where random knitted things pop up - including a lovely Christmas scene on top of a post box! - but this "installation" involved lots of different textiles, not just knitting. In amongst, there were some beautiful embroidered pieces, which must have taken aaaages: a bit soul destroying for whoever painstakingly stitched them?!

Sunny here today but the wind is cold. I had a quick sandwich on a bench by the river near the castle earlier and I'm currently sitting, with a mugatea, in our sunlounge: one of my favourite places - the first time this year it's been warm enough. 🌞😁

[katytc]

mmmmm unusual...............

like the scarf though!! xx

[katytc]

Sounds different haha, what is it for again?? There were knitted things all over the place here really random around two years ago, was/is it same thing??

Very chilly here today brrrr. Sunshine yesterday and for a time it was actually warm.

GD is here just now and has made me play lots of games, my brain is exhausted.........

Just said Nannie needs some quiet time, she says ok and keeps talking and wanting me do things hahaha.

At the moment have lots of plasters all over me, help xx

[JCJ]

 

The purple, pink & blue stripey zig zagged one in the middle is one of mine. 

[JCJ]

Hurrah for lovely surprise gift clocks!

No, not on TV, Katy. Just been to look at the "installation". Glad I wasn't there when/if the media attended because, as I feared, it does look a bit naff. Sent YD a photo and she says it looks "building site chic". She's not wrong!! 😂

I found my 3 strips. It took a while because they've knotted them to the railings so most of the strip is taken up in the knots!! 🙄 Glad I didn't put too much effort into it.

Arrrgh! Talking of effort: tried,  at least 5 times, to put a picture in for you but it's just not playing ball! 😡

Will try on my tablet. 

[katytc]

Ooooh how lovely JCJ, a surprise indeed, that's your man😂

Been so busy, 3 GC's birthdays so lots of cake in the shed, woo hoo!

Lunches and coffees out and about, not had time to think haha.

At YD's this weekend am allowed to go through, hee hee have missed monkey, then more lunches, my feet are still ouchy but have grinned and beared through it..........

Had a surprise my Auntie gave me a gift, a clock that my Dad gave her when she was 18, so now has pride of place, I love it. She will be 90 this year. Also looked through lots of old photos because my GS looks a lot like my Dad photos have confirmed, GS has blonde hair and blue eyes Dad was very dark but facial features are very similar. Have a great picture of my Mum too, will have to think how I can display as it's a shame to be in a box.

Are you or were you on TV JCJ???

Does display look wonderful?? xx

[JCJ]

Hi Delly. As always, dinner is in the shed in Benchland. Just help yourself. There's usually something delicious there! Probably some glitterberry juice to wash it down with too. 😁

[delly]

Hey @JCJ  - Your tomorrows dinner sounds absolutely fandabidozee. How do I get an invite??  DoolallyDelly X❤️X !!

[JCJ]

Currently chucking armfuls of guilt into the lake. I've spent the last few days wishing I was somewhere else - or OH was!! As always, when I decide I need a few hours to myself, in the house, instead of going swimming, while he is at the library on Thursday, it didn't happen. He decided he didn't feel well enough to go. 😕 So, not only did I not get that time, he hasn't had anyone else to talk to so he's boring me half to death. Grrrr. Today, I was wishing he'd stop talking at me and b***er off somewhere when a HUGE bouquet of flowers was delivered from the shop in the village. OH had ordered them for me "For Valentines day" and to thank me for everything I do for him, especially putting up with him. Oh my goodness! Now I feel bad! Mind out, alligators: guilt bomb incoming!!

DIL is off to Lisbon, tomorrow, for 5 days so YD has GD by herself. GD will be at nursery for 3 of the days though, which will ease the strain. 😛

Yesterday, we handed in our knitted "scarves" for the art installation outside the castle. They will be installed on Tuesday but we've all decided not to take part - because it may well look awful - but take a peak later in the week. We're wondering what will happen when it rains: lots of soggy, saggy stretched knitting?! Someone said, if it gets cold, we'll probably see people walking around the park wearing the scarves having nicked them off the railings! 😂

I'll let you know how it goes as, although the media have been invited, I don't expect it will make the national news!! 😁

Delicious mushroom pie, mash and veg in the shed tonight. Roast free range chicken dinner tomorrow. Haven't decided what dessert will be yet....possibly chocolate pear pudding and chocolate sauce. 

[katytc]

woo hoo for 5 perhaps 6 holidays?? hurrah. Just lovely to get away and enjoy somewhere completely different!

Good you are on the picking up bench Jane, it's a lot.

Am sure you would be a winner but will give it a bash hahaha, touche, touche.

Been busy, unexpected coffee on Fri, children on Sat, ED and all on Sun, lunch today woo hoo.

Huge tidy up we made cookies that were awful really, kids sat at the cooker until baking time was up, have been chuckling about it since.

Not as cold today here, thank goodness.

That would be a total last resort JCJ, will see how things are today have 3 weeks until next lido. Remember consultant saying sometimes it just doesn't work perhaps this is one of those times arrgh xx

[CanonJane]

5 holidays! Sounds like a plan!  Go you!

I'll need a lot of glitterberry juice to get fencing again! 

Hope you're all OK.  We have 3 different friends in New Zealand,  and that sounds grim. However, one of our sons friends is an A&E consultant and she's just gone to Turkey/Syria border as part of a mobile Hospital as their 1000 bed Hospital was destroyed.  We are so lucky.... 

Be good.....

[JCJ]

Wow. U20 County champion....and you forgot!! My time to settle onto the audience bench to watch the great Benchland Fencing Tournament between CanonJane and KatyTC. Épées at the ready, girls!!

Not displeased about Yorkshire; Love it there: we went there several years in a row when the kids were young as we found an idyllic, basic, cheap campsite between Filey and Scarborough. I'm annoyed about his insistence on going in August. I was looking forward to enjoying summer holidays in term time, having never been able to before: fewer people and cars in the pretty spots.

I've booked us a chalet, for 2 weeks, in what looks like a small, quiet park (although it is adjacent to a much bigger one! 😏) right by a huge sandy beach, just South of Bridlington. It's an area we've not explored - having done most of the coast North of there repeatedly- and plenty of opportunity for long walks/paddles on the beach, for me, at least. OH probably won't stray far from the chalet park.

DIL has finally booked herself a few days off parenting duties; going to Lisbon with a friend, at the end of the month, so YD and I are planning our annual camping escape, probably at the end of June. 🤞

That's 5 holidays booked and/or pencilled in. Just a potential couple of days away at the seaside with a friend to arrange. 😁 Shame it's still February! 😝 Ah well, first holiday is 2 nights in Norwich in about 2 weeks time.

[CanonJane]

I forgot the fencing! U20 County champ at one point!  The knees couldn't take the hammering though. I have borrowed chariots and had great fun! I liked being in control of where I wanted to be/go.

Chemo and bone infusion  a couple of days ago. Last night I had cellulitis and was shivering big time and then hot. Took "just in case antibiotics" but nurse friend was recommending A&E... took pain killers for the very tender shoulder and am better today.  In pj's still, and off my food "whaaaat?" but improving.  No gymnastics tonight girls...

Yorkshire....you don't sound pleased ....?

[JCJ]

PS forgot to say what I was intending to write when I clicked "reply": perhaps you need to invest in a motorised chariot, Katy? Imagine the fun we could have with that!! 😛 No, seriously, would that help you be able to get out and about. Yes, I know you hate wheelchairs but you'd be in control. xx

[JCJ]

Have wonderful visions of you Scottish Country dancing around a golf course, dressed in fencing protective garb elocuting precisely before retiring to the club house to join Jane and I in a piano recital - that's when she's returned from bell ringing, on horseback, wearing a tutu and wielding a tennis racquet! 😂 How amazing we all are!

Sick of being attacked by wires, I have attempted to find that rare beast: a non-wired, large-size, padded (to hide the lopsidedness) bra. Found a possible candidate online (famous underwear department store) and ordered just one to try it. Received an email informing me that my order "may be dispatched from many locations and might arrive in more than one parcel". Excuse me? It's not THAT big!! 😳🤭

OH has declared, at last, that he would like to go to Yorkshire for our summer holiday. In August (grrr 🙄). Somewhere coastal. So I'm off to research cottages, caravans etc in the Bridlington/Filey area. 

[katytc]

Have been so overwhelmed with the posts JCJ, it's taken a while for me to compose myself to respond...........

Such a beautiful performance and simply cannot believe you are only 3??? Bravo, bravo!!!

Did Scottish Country dancing, speech and drama, piano, fencing and golf, none of which were kept up hahaha.

Been keeping myself quiet, finding walking a little difficult, mmmmmmmmm, so annoying.

My goodness it's so very cold here, brrrrr.

Hot scones and muggateas in the shed xx

[CanonJane]

How could we forget? It was hilarious,  I mean, you were superb!

I too gave up ballet, piano, riding, Bell ringing ( went up and down with the rope!)..... and a few other things,  like tennis, and....

Carried on singing though.... tra laa

[JCJ]

And for the second half of your stunning entertainment:

https://youtu.be/WPA1Es1RuL4

Hilarious. Although I can't possibly even pretend to be any one of these phenomenally skilled, agile dancers!! 

[JCJ]

Are you sitting comfortably? Tiaras donned? Glitterberry juice at the ready? Here is your long awaited ballet recital. Enjoy! 🤣

https://youtu.be/T1I19HSqCaA

(With thanks to the actual dancers!) 

[katytc]

oh Jane bench is wonderful, so very comfortable.

The star of the show is nowhere in sight??

Must be practising, down by the lake, perhaps?? Xx

[JCJ]

Don't you remember my a.maz.ing balletic prowess when performing our Nativity Panto (Pantivity?) on ice? I seem to recall I was in the starring role of the donkey.  🤣

Below is photographic proof that I was once an angelic ballet dancer. 4th from left- or just look for the chunkiest one! (Even then, I needed a 4-4 not a tutu! 😝)

 I think this might have been just before I left and took up piano lessons instead. And, no, I wasn't any good at that either! 😀

[CanonJane]

Ballet bench is very plush (for viewing,  not dancing you understand). Sitting very comfortably waiting for the star of the show....

[katytc]

Ooooh JCJ, you have kept that secret for over 10 years hahaha. Soooooooooooooo we are now expecting ballet recital tout suite. It will be a solo, very excited xx

[JCJ]

We weren't talking about you Jane! 😆 Although I was hoping you were OK. Sorry you've been feeling ****. Ouchy nails 😒 hope the treatments help. I have corralled some sleep fairies and will send them your way.

I'm on the FF bench. It's Thursday so I was expecting to take OH to library and have my precious 3 hours to myself; the only dilemma being whether to go for a swim or enjoy the rarity of an empty house to myself. But instead I have had to drive an hour and a half to S-O-T because he announced he wanted to visit MB who didn't want to speak to him 9n the phone last night (or, probably, in person today!) 🙄😡

I've explored my old town a bit more: found my old ballet school (yes. Don't mock. I did ballet from age 3 until I came to my senses!) which is STILL THERE, and the building where I went to Guides.

Carefully stearing clear of C*** N***, where BIL goes, I am now in C***a with a sandwich, some Pombears (❤) and what's left of a large coffee. I say "what's left", because, as I sat down, the table rocked and splattered coffee everywhere....including all over my phone 😱....but the hasty deployment of tissues (my own) and the plastic phone case seem to have saved the day. 🤞

Hope this sends.....

[CanonJane]

You've been having chats without me!  No notifications!

Mushroom carbonara was yummy thanks. My tiara is available for any loo sitting.. MMU1 does seem like forever ago...10 years?

been rubbish since before Christmas really, a drug my body doesn't like. Stopped it completely this week. Aside effect was to help me sleep, but I was a zombie dur5the day. Off it, I'm not sleeping well, but feel more 'normal'.

Scan stable....yippee......  woke up last week with a pussy,  red big toe....and have fungal nail infection under most finger nails 🥵  soaking them in white vinegar and the foot in purple potassium manganese....

We have just treated ourselves to a new carpet cleaner (wet sort)  that seems to involve installing a new plug socket and a massive clear out 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hope all the showers are hot now!

[JCJ]

16??! Good grief! Yes, she was 7 at MMU1. Unbelievable. Practically a grown up. Mind you, my - and your youngest - GC - are nearly 4!

Can't believe I left school 2 1/2 years ago either. I've been in this afternoon and there are a couple of really challenging children there who have kept the HT very busy (she needs a medal for her calm patience!) and have made me very grateful that I retired when I did. I think I've done my share of supporting/trying to teach classes which include such disturbed souls!! I'm glad I don't have to any longer.

New neighbours seem fine. We've said "hello" in passing, a few times, but not really said much. No complaints so far. I am having to train myself not to want to check NDN is OK every time I hear their door open/close - which it frequently does - especially after dark. I hadn't realised just how much I was looking out for her!! Also have to stop looking up to their bedroom window when I'm in the garden: NDN and I used to wave to each other if she was in there. New NDNs are going to think I'm such a nosy cow! 🤭

Hope your boiler gets replaced without too much hassle. 🤞🏼

A bit milder and sunny here the last couple of days and we have crocuses open in the garden. Spring is not too far away. 😁

[katytc]

Now you can sit on the smug bench JCJ hahaha.

My goodness, how fabulous fixed the same day, that's service indeed. Does make you feel good about bathroom, woo hoo.

Have hot water but heating is now tepid hahaha. New boiler next week.

Mmmm, thought it was going to be a forever thing, def wouldn't be in papers or tv for that hahaha.

Oops nearly forgot thank you for shed yum yums.

How are your new neighbours?

Have 3 birthdays next month, eldest GD will be 16, can you believe it???

Think she was around 7 when we visited Norcambe, that seems like yesterday.

Just having a quiet day today, thank goodness, CBA bench is calling xx

[JCJ]

I was all set to perch on the smug bench, Katy, because we have an electric shower so always have hot water whatever the boiler is.... or isn't...... doing! Then, yesterday morning, when I went to turn it on: nothing. Zilch. Nada. Oh noooooo! We weren't intending to replace the shower with the new bathroom! Fine. We'll just ask them to put one in and pay the extra. However, we can't be without a shower for 4 months! 😱

I rang the bathroom company, this morning, to ask their advice and by 2:30pm this afternoon an electrician had been and fitted a new shower! The same model as before. I rang the showroom to pay by card. Very impressed with that customer service! Bodes well for the full installation in May. 😁 Thinking about it, we were fortunate the shower gave up now: it would have been soooo annoying to have to replace it after the shiny new bathroom was finished and risk messing anything up. 

Neighbours have been moving in all day today. I had a brief chat as I handed over the key that we kept for previous NDN. It looks like a mother and teenage son (unless he's a toy boy 🤭). I knew the new occupants were "downsizing" so I immediately assumed it was the older couple who were moving in. Wrong. They were just assisting the younger woman (daughter?) who looked to me to be in her 30s but she said she last moved 20 years ago so perhaps not. Me showing my age?! 😛