Gran Chat!

[Daisy]

Oma, it never rains .... comes to mind. How sad that both your deceased cousin's brother and sister have had strokes. Hopefully, the lady got medical help very quickly, which is a big factor in how well she recovers. I'm sure she's also under pressure as carer for her husband, and having just got the all clear from her cancer she was probably hoping for life to be a bit easier.

Thank you for the photos. It's a major upheaval having the kitchen out of action, and spread round the house. Everywhere feels upside down, doesn't it. I hope the cakes helped. Thank goodness you can at least make a cuppa!

Nanto, I didn't realise that the chances of having a stroke were so much higher following a bereavement. When you think about it, it makes sense - stress, raised BP etc, and I think we are only just realising how important "good" sleep is to our well-being.

It's stayed misty, damp and dismal all day today. OH couldn't do what he planned, so he started to take his trailer apart. Some of the wood is rotting and he's ordered new wood to replace it. It would have been easier to buy a new trailer, but he likes a challenge, and he's very fond of his trailer! The problem now will be if it's nice tomorrow does he finish the summerhouse or carry on with the trailer.

I got some washing done, even though I had to dry it indoors, and did a few essential cleaning jobs. I took Eva out for a walk/swim this afternoon. With the rain over the week-end the river was deeper and came right up to her tummy. She was quite tired afterwards and I was glad I'd taken her in the car to the nearest car park. She's slept all evening.

[Gemini]

Oh so much sadness Oma

Busy time for your family Plant. I hope all went smoothly with your injection.

Little E was with his auntie DD1 and his cousin bigger E today. He had a lovely day 😊

[Nanto2girls]

Good morning. Looking a bit brighter this morning.

Going into town later. Hubby meeting his pal.

Someone coming to look at the bathroom when he has finished work today.
He lives opposite DS1, and he did sons bathroom when he bought the house.
So, we know what his work is like.

[Gemini]

Good morning ladies.

Nan2, good to get someone whose work you know for the bathroom.

Will you go out today to escape the chaos Oma?!

Daisy, it sounds as though Eva is a real water baby with all her swimming

Library this morning, golf for OH. It's a fine day, I think we are due a lot of rain after today so we need to make the most of it!

[Oma]

Morning Nanto, ladies.

Nanto
You will be having all the upheaval soon but as you say worth it when it's done,
Good to have someone you trust as well doing the job.
My SIL is very good he won't let us lift anything , him and the young man who works for him do all that ,
It's putting everything back in order isn't it after it's all done.

B's cousins all in their 70s are a very tight knit family who see each other almost daily so it is understandable as you say the stress levels are high .

Daisy
The water resistance will do Eva's legs good, but I can imagine she is tired ,
I bet she appreciated the car ride home😁

J will have to decide what job gets prioritised today won't he , I have a feeling it will be his trailer 😁

Gem
Any plans for today?
Little E will have loved all the attention from his Aunt and big cousin I bet.

Plant
How did your bloods and injection go ,
Hope it didn't take too long, did you go alone or did DD come with you?

[Gemini]

Oma, our posts crossed!
Library morning for me. It;s nice day but OH will be golfing most of the day so we cant go anywhere . Not sure what I will do this afternoon.

Yes, little E would have loved it. DD1 is the Earth Mother of my 3 DDs, she should have had a large family (and would have had she married someone different!) she is brilliant with little ones.

[Daisy]

Good Tuesday morning, everyone.

Nanto, are you thinking about having a new bathroom suite? It's a big job, but lovely when it's finished. I hope it stayed nice for your trip into town.

Gem, I'm sure your OH is really happy to finally have a dry day for golf. Did you have a busy morning at the Library? Little E must love having time with his Auntie and one of his big cousins. Life is strange, isn't it. I'm sure there are times when you think "if only .." so DD1 could have had the large family she would have loved. But her Earth Mother skills are coming into their own. Not in a way any of you would have wanted, but I'm sure it's a great comfort to DD3.

Oma, your cousins must have been hit very hard by losing their brother. Have you heard how their sister is? Your SIL is very considerate, and it must make a big difference when you're having a job like that done. Are you eating out today, or getting a takeaway?

Plant, it's amazing how quickly you can get some blood test results. I hope the injection went as planned yesterday. Has the recent sun/rain brought on any more flowers in your garden?

It's quite a nice day here - although it's now clouded over after a very sunny start. OH has done the next stage of repairing the summerhouse doors. He has to wait for the stuff to harden now so he can sand it, but I've got washing out on the line and I'd like that to dry before he starts sanding. He's enjoying working on the trailer now. I'm just pleased that he's feeling well enough to do these jobs after being poorly for such a long time. He still gets tired more quickly, but at 80 he does a lot more than many men 10 years younger than him.

I really struggled yesterday, feeling tired, disorganised and just muddling along. Thank goodness I'm ok today. These days crop up randomly, which makes planning anything difficult. It's not lack of sleep, so I suppose it's related to the various drugs, but it's a bit disconcerting when you can't make simple decisions. Yesterday OH looked at the pile of muddy dog towels and offered to put them in to wash. I said no, leave them, and should have explained that I wanted to wash bedding this morning and after washing dog bedding/towels I run the drum clean programme, let it dry and hoover out any dog hairs in there. OH said why not, and all I could come up with was "no, just no". Fortunately, he's very patient.

[Gemini]

Daisy, whilst it breaks her heart to think it, at the same time it gives DD3 great comfort to know her sisters will be auntie/mummies to little E in time to come.

Daisy, it must be frustrating, but as you know you just have to go with it when the tiredness hits xx

[Nanto2girls]

Daisy,we are replacing like for like,except for the bath.
We are going to replace it with a walk in shower.
Glad you are feeling better today.

[Oma]

Would you believe ,
Storms other knee has gone it's done the same thing.
DD had him to the vet this morning, he said it sometimes happens in big dogs as he has been putting all his weight on his good leg,

He has to have x-rays done on the 27th to make sure everything is healed then he will operate straight away ,
So no walks at all again , he won't be happy.

We are going to pay for his other operation as the insurance won't cover another leg .

DD was in tears ,
She said he couldn't just strain it could he he has to snap the ligament all together like the first one.
The fur has just started to grow on his bad knee and not look like a turkey leg and his other one has to. Be shaved now.

[Gemini]

A busy morning at the library with plenty to do.
The sunny morning turned very cloudy as the day went on, but no rain as yet. OH will have finished on the course now so escaped any rain!

I have brought the washing in as it looks like rain to me.
After lunch I went to Sainsburys for a few things, including a Battenburg cake as I really fancied a slice!

[Oma]

Funny I was in Sainsbury's last night and B said he fancied Battenburg, I don't like marzipan so we bought a pack of the individual ones 😁

[Lizzie48]

Oma, poor Storm and DD!

Nanto, I hope that you soon manage to get your bathroom done.

As for your floor being done Oma, we are all dreading all the mess we get if (when) the renovation starts, there is talk of putting us up in hotels, other talk about 3 weeks in another home, we won't know until it is all settled, I am going to a high tea from the housing cooperation on Friday, I may hear something, then again, maybe not. It is "NLdoes" on Friday, a lot done to help others, me being one of them!!!

I have been to do coffee for the people getting their tax forms filled in, the same last night, I wasn't home until almost 10pm then back again this morning at 8-30am. It is a busy few weeks, especially for the people filling the forms in etc, they have 4 locations a week, me just the one!!

It is dull and damp at the moment, I was going to try and walk to the village but will leave it until tomorrow, my knee is so much better, we shall see how long it stays like this.

Gem, E will be loving all the attention he is getting from the family.

Daisy, I do hope that you are feeling better today.

[Daisy]

Gem, it's the same here. It turned cloudy and like rain so I fetched the washing in. It's gone quite chilly as well. At least OH managed her game of golf in the dry. I love Battenberg cake but OH doesn't like marzipan. I tried making it once! Never again. I know you just have to go with the tiredness, but I always have a battle with myself first.

Oma, poor Storm, no wonder your DD was in tears. The only small consolation is that the two recoveries will overlap. Our neighbour's dog had to have a second operation about a year after the first. It's kind of you to pay for Storm's second operation. Insurance companies seem very quick to opt out of cover. A lot of the physio exercises the vet has given us for Eva concentrate on putting some pressure on the bad leg to build up the muscles but I suppose that also protects the good leg as well. How has work gone on the floor today?

Lizzie, what a busy time for the people doing tax forms. It's the same here, though. All personal tax returns have to be in by 31 January which must create a log jam of work at the tax office. Perhaps walking in damp weather isn't the best for your knee, but I'm so glad it's better than it was. Yes, thank you, I'm feeling ok today. It sounds as though it would be impractical to be living in your building while it's being renovated. There would be all sorts of health and safety issues, and noise, dust, etc. How long will the work take? Would the three weeks be everything finished?

OH is working hard on his trailer. He's just be down to our local hardware store (a proper old-fashioned ironmongers) for bolts. Got them home and found they were the wrong length, so had to go back and change them. I think he's quite enjoying getting on with it.

I'm just off to take Eva for a walk before it rains.

[Lizzie48]

Daisy, as far as I know they do one "string" at a time, from the first to the fifth floor in one go, that will be 5 apartments, they say a fortnight in each apartment, we have no idea yet if we are getting the same as we would have had 2 years ago, the price of everything has risen since then, as well know!

They are doing apartments in Delft they are 14 high I think, the people have to move out for 3 weeks, I expect that works out the same really, our 5 compared to their 14!!

My DS2 has a trailer, a 4 wheel base, in fact I think he and a neighbour share, not so sure about it, I do know he replaced the bottom a while ago, in fact a neighbour from the second floor did the same to his trailer a while back. I can understand your DH enjoying it, I like to see things improve!! I was at M next door this afternoon, she told me her Jack Murphy coat, she lives in it for walking the dog, anyway the lining was torn near the zip, she was going to take it to a new tailor here in the village, I brought it home with me and got it repaired !! I came home with a new jar of tallow face cream!!!