Medical check up time

Posted on October 13, 2011 by freda

It’s the time of year for medical mot’s and ‘flu jabs. We are so lucky in Dalamory with our health care that it is a pleasure to review everything. Patients are wholly involved in their ongoing care and there is always time to be listened to, to be reassured and to be challenged should the need arise. One such challenge for me at the moment is to get to grips with my fitness. I manage a walk with the dog 3/4 times a week – she goes with HBTW the other days – and we enjoy Ballroom Dancing on a Friday. (Me and the Other Half, not me and the dog.) In between I creak and groan and bemoan the fact that I am fighting a losing battle with my weight.

The doctor has issued a challenge for me to do some weight-bearing exercise with baked beans. In the tins, of course, you’ve got to keep up. Fine for a start, but where did I put those lovely pink weights I was given 15 years or so? Perhaps I need to build a schedule and fill in fitness opportunities.

We dragged the Wii out for the first time this winter and had a go at the Body Fitness Tests. Oh the ignominy……the ignominy……… someone’s got it in for me. (As Frankie Howerd nearly said.)  HBTW is reckoned to be a happy 28 years younger than his actual age, whilst I am 5 years over my actual age. Granted, I didn’t understand one of the balance tests and to be honest my lack of spatial reasoning made it all rather difficult. Oh, I know, I know, too many excuses. Encouragement of some kind please………

 

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We’re back

Posted on October 12, 2011 by freda

Yes – we’re back. Misty looks as if she is saying Oh no please don’t take me home. She loves her trips in the motorhome. This Autumn we spent some time in the north of Scotland and managed to escape to some days with sunshine in the east. The only trouble with touring in far-flung places is that wi-fi and internet access is very patchy, so it got to difficult to live my online life.

Our trip was notable for a puncture. Fortunately it happened on a site and we were able to get our breakdown recovery people out to change the tyre.  HBTW was not up to becoming Him-in-charge-of -the-puncture, it really is too heavy.

The mail is sprawled across my desk, phone calls are piling up, the garden is very sad and everything needing done feels a bit like work.  To be fair, almost every retired person I met used to tell me they didn’t know how they ever had time to work. Now I know what they meant.

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Blogging Break

Posted on October 5, 2011 by freda

Out of internet touch for a few days….
Will catch up soon

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Animal Blessing Service

Posted on October 4, 2011 by freda

Misty and I were sorry we were unable to be there, but listening to this and watching the blessing of the animals helped us to feel part of it. We humans owe so much to our companion animals.

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A lifelong reader

Posted on October 3, 2011 by freda

Of course a “reader” in the context of a blog is entirely different to a reader of books. I am both a blog reader and an avid lover of books and all things bookish. Now I don’t want you to think of me as someone with a large head and small body, dark-framed glasses and a pile of manuscripts all around……… though come to think of it, that is not so far off the mark.

In actual fact, from as long as I can remember I devoured books. They formed the background to my life; I was the typical child in bed at night with book and torch under the covers half-listening for the footsteps and the opening of the bedroom door. Oh it was so worth the inevitable scolding.

Nowadays I tend to fall asleep – whilst the book drops heavily onto my knee. Sometimes if the dog is in the way there is a muffled grrrrr. Many a time I lose the plot and have to revert to an earlier page. Now, to what shall I attribute this unfortunate tendency? I suspect that multiple medications don’t help, and there is not much I can do about that. If I pick up a so called “trashy” novel, (Jeffrey Archer or Katie Fjord for instance) I can whiz through the story in no time; however something more taxing causes me problems.

Whilst lightly musing upon the problem I looked around at the many bookcases with books literally spilling out of the shelves. Then I realised a potential solution, I could re-read all my well-loved collection; that way surely even if I dozed off I could semi-remember the plot. It is a possibility.

If you are a lifelong reader, how do you manage?

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Happiness

Posted on October 1, 2011 by freda

Last night I had a very real dream, almost a nightmare in fact. I was working in a church where there was a very busy congregation, each person wanted or needed me urgently. Different factions tried to wield influence and it felt as if I was being pulled apart.

When I awoke it was to a vague half- life where I didn’t know where I was. Gradually reality returned. With it came an overwhelming gratitude for my life. Almost worth the sweaty disorientation of coming round.

So, on that happy note, hope you are having a good weekend.

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Boundaries

Posted on September 26, 2011 by freda

You know how sometimes you have “those” moments when somehow things go wrong, and instead of cursing gently, you stop, think and reconsider. Well that has happened to me this afternoon. I found the appropriate photograph, tweaked the exposure and told a family story, which was quite sweet, but maybe not suitable for sharing online. That reminder about boundaries came along and scuppered the editing.

I’ve read too many blog posts from bloggers who are in the middle of a full-scale row over inappropriate posting or sharing, and don’t want to go there. Being careful is needed by all bloggers, journalists and writers.  Of course all I am doing is to stir up people’s curiosity, and that is self-defeating. Sufficient to say that for today I am content to post a picture from 47 years ago and to say thank you for today being the 47th Anniversary of becoming engaged.

 Didn’t we look young?

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Add a touch of sparkle

Posted on September 21, 2011 by freda

 Don’t have a heart attack wondering if I am suddenly going out of character and running off to sea. This particular vessel is part of a cruising line – Regent Seven Seas Navigator. I’ve just had a very interesting ship to shore radio telephone link-up from the bridge. This is one of the perks of the passage for our cruising friends. I had to quickly learn to allow for the time delay and remember to say over at the end of a snippet of conversation. It was also important not to cut in too quickly. Apart from that it was amazingly clear, clearer even than most of our ordinary telephone calls, and the ship is currently off Puerto Rico. From there, they go through the Panama Canal and up to Vancouver (I think.)  All a wonderful experience and a very special holiday.

Dennis and Pam are regular cruisers and apart from India, they have covered most of the globe.  We share in the trips vicariously, and have fun hearing about the people aboard and the places they visit.  The last time they were here we took them out for an afternoon picnic at Loch Tulla, near Glencoe.  Rather different from where they are now. (See photo below.) The whole idea of speaking on the phone over such vast distances whilst the ship is still at sea, befuddles the brain. All of a sudden, you turn into a blithering idiot and don’t know what to say. However, I got the gist of it quite quickly; the important thing is that they are having a happy time and have made friends with other travellers. This seems to be a feature on cruises. The ship has 490 passengers and 345 crew, so the service must be very good. HBTW is looking out for it via a tracking programme, then we will be able to see exactly where they are. Modern technology – cool.

Happy Holiday Dennis and Pam

 

 

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All are welcome

Posted on September 18, 2011 by freda

This is what I needed today…. thank you for passing it on Mrs Gerbil

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Shopping

Posted on September 17, 2011 by freda

Today’s expedition was a drive over the hill to the little metropolis of Inveraray. Shopping consisted of a new full-length Jack Murphy raincoat. This is the most important article of clothing for an Argyllshire winter. My old coat is looking a bit dejected and I have to confess it is a little too snug for comfort with a thick sweater. I popped into the village fisherman’s shop, tried on the item and was out in at the most 3 minutes. I knew exactly what I wanted and where to go for it .

When I came home I sat down to browse the Jack Murphy website – like you do – and found a treasure trove – though some of it a bit expensive for me. One of my favourite pastimes is shopping, but I prefer it to be online. I’m fed up with over-heated shopping centres and busy town centres. I usually stand dithering and then buy the wrong thing.

The whole pattern of shopping is changing in many households. Of course, you have to be at home for deliveries, so buying things that need to be delivered isn’t suitable for everyone. I’ve built up a list of favourite sites and gradually over time one gets a feel for their sizing system. Are their sizes generous or otherwise, for instance? It’s more difficult to buy shoes, unless you are very familiar with the brand. However, that’s not going to stop me from looking for a pair of dancing shoes. Cuban heels, silver tops – just in case you are interested. I guess ebay might be the first stop for those. It’s amazing what can be found and bought quickly and safely through Paypal.

Here are my favourite shopping sites – in no particular order. They will give you a fair idea of what I’m like; and while we’re thinking about it – what about yours?

  • Cotton Traders
  • ebay
  • Amazon (of course)
  • John Lewis
  • M & S
  • Cartridge Co
  • Viking Direct (Office Supplies)
  • FA Dumont – church supplies including Fontanini figures
  • Edinburgh Woollen Mill
  • RSPB
  • Christmas Cards online
  • Lakeland


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