First February folio

daffs on my windowsill

Well February is here, can't say I am sorry that January has gone We have only really seen the sun once this week, most days it is grey and /or windy / drizzly. If I sit opposite the window in the mornings I can vaguely make out a bright shape desperately trying to peer through scudding clouds. Needless to say my lightbox has been much in use, and I am feeling better for it.
On Monday I decided to attack the pile of filing again. I filed, shredded, recycled and when I had finished I had filled the shredder twice,but there still seems to be a whole heap of paper to sort. I still come across the odd bank statement belonging to our offspring, but fortunately UCCF now seem to have realised that son is no longer a student as we haven't received post for him from them for a few months.The afternoon was spent ironing, and I did a huge pile, but soon added to it again as I did more washing.
Tuesday must have been quite unremarkable as I cannot remember what I did. Actually, I remember now having a bit of an upset tummy, reminder to self, don't eat prawns that have been opened for more than a day. Housework and washing probably took up the rest of the time.
I come from rather a complicated family, both parents having been widowed and remarried to each other, so I have a varying selection of half and step relatives as Dad married a widow with 5 children the first time too. He was about 22 years older than Mum  (Come on. Keep up!)  Most of the generation that were the same age as us I have lost touch with and their parents are mostly dead. I do have two half sisters still alive as well as the real sister in North Wales. One is 8 years older than me, the other many years older. We always send cards at Christmas and for the last few years haven't heard from E. The last time I phoned her quite a few years ago she didn't seem too sure who I was, so I have been reluctant to phone. Anyway this week Sister and I both received letters from E's Son. Apparently her husband , also E, died in June 2008,  and she has become a bit of a recluse. She fell in November, and broke a bone in the same place as husband's aunt did almost 2 years ago. She is at present in a respite home, so her Son had opened her post at Christmas, realised we didn't know about his Dad, so sent us a catch up letter.What did amuse us was that his Mum is not socialising very well, she says she 'can't be doing with these oldies'.
Wednesday was spent at Sainsbury's, parent and toddler's, then Daughter's. She hadn't brought Baby as she had been staying in with him hoping to get his cold and cough better so he could have his jabs which had been delayed because of said cold. She was glad I went as she was beginning to get a touch of cabin fever.
On Thursday I made it to ladies' meeting and then gave a lift home to our German lady. Once again she talked non-stop. I think she is very lonely, her son lives at home, but he hardly talks to her and never remembers her Birthday, she gets nothing from him for Christmas either, She asked me in to see her new fridge freezer, and her 'new' 3 piece suite. I have to help her down the steps anyway as she had a mild stroke last year and needs a bit of help. I must have said or done something right as I got a kiss on the cheek.
I did a lot of walking on  Friday, out to Sainsbury's first then into town for my scan. I'd had a bacon and egg sarnie, healthily cooked, for breakfast, as I wasn't allowed to eat for 6 hours. I arrived early, but there is no receptionist on a Friday afternoon. There seemed to be staff there, but by the conversation they were using the internet to look up house prices.
The sonographers soon came out for me and I wasn't required to undress. One was a trainee, so it was a bit slow, but the other did all the difficult bits. They scanned stomach, spleen, kidneys, pancreas, gall bladder and liver, and presumably any bits in between. There is just a slight problem with the liver, but nothing to worry about and probably caused by medication. Soon I was gel free, and setting off to walk to the bus stop at the end of town. I broke my fast with a flapjack from H&B, but regretted it as it was too big.
Not long after husband arrived home we set off  for our Daughter's home and spent some time playing with Baby. His Dad came home and put him to bed and then we had a lovely meal, then spent the evening chatting. all very relaxing. Saturday was a slow start and we took the car to town as I was fed up with being buffeted by the wind. Today has been a fairly normal quiet Sunday, but the state of the roast when we got back from church has convinced me that I really do need to start looking for a new cooker. Cremated pork anyone? It was on a very low setting too. Actually it wasn't too bad inside but the outer bits looked grim.
My shoulder has been pretty bad this week, I carried my card making box downstairs on Monday evening and it is quite heavy. I've been using frozen peas on it and cooling pads, and it didn't hep that I  had to raise my arms above my head for the scan. Even getting dressed is painful, as is tying on an apron. Must pray for wisdom about what to do, resting it seems impossible. Will see how this week goes.