A first Birthday

So far behind with this blog. The week after we came back I had lots of washing and stuff to do, I had an appointment at the asthma clinic on the Monday morning, so walked down there . My peak flow wasn't too bad, almost hit the preferred figure. We visited the local garden centre, I needed to redo my pots for the winter, so lots of winter flowering pansies, some cyclamen, a few bulbs, and husband bought some stuff too.  I made use of the garden club vouchers I had received. It's strange really, when I was much younger I never saw myself as a gardener, but I do love flowers, and like the garden to look pretty.  I made it to WW, had stayed the same, which is great considering what I had eaten whilst away.
I had a trip to Argos to buy a Birthday present for a special little lady. We visited the grandchildren, lovely to see them after a week away. When we got home on the Saturday, I opened the letter from the GP which requested that I made a routine appointment to discuss my blood test results, When I rang there were no routine appointments, so I had to ring early in the morning for a same day appointment. What it boils down to is that my white cell count is up again, not too high, not sinister, but the Doctor wants to keep an eye on it. It could have been from the cold I'd had, but  have to repeat the test mid November. The thyroid bit was ok, so I'll have to find something else to blame for my current inability to loose weight, and my constantly breaking nails.
By the Saturday, I was feeling a bit unwell, thinking it down to Nathaniel coughing over me. We drove up to see them, and gave Lydia her presents, and gave Nat some fire trucks so he didn't feel left out. Daughter had been busy and made a lovely peter Rabbit cake. Despite taking her first steps at 10 and a half months, Lydia had shown little interest in walking, but that week she had really taken off.
We had bought her a Fisher Price buggy and doll to help her walking confidence, but she was walking well without them.  A whole year since Lydia was born, now where did that go?
We left to do our shopping. As it was a wet day, Daughter and husband took the children to a garden centre which has a cafe, they had a nice lunch, then the children played in the soft play area.
We went back to their home at about 5.30 for a lovely Birthday tea. Daughter had over catered, but it was all delicious, and so was the cake. It was the same recipe as her husband had used to make hers.

Opening the present

Peter rabbit cake

Buggy from Nanna and Grandad

teatime with daddy

Chocolate cake

chocolate face

What's next?

We didn't stay too late, as I was feeling increasingly rough, was coughing, and showing symptoms of sinusitis. I began to wonder if the Vick's first Defence had in fact driven the cold into my sinuses.  I coughed and coughed during the night, didn't get to sleep till after 3 am.

Not very wet or windy in Wales

On the Sunday of our week away, we drove over to Chester in the morning to go to the church where I was converted, although it moved several years ago to a different location. After the service we caught up with old friends, and then drove back to the bungalow where we had steak, and then a doze. We went over to my sister's later, and took our tea. My niece was there and her son, and we spent time chatting, eating and later watched Downton Abbey live. There was a particularly upsetting scene, which made me wonder, do I really want to go on watching this?
On the Monday we walked into Rhyl, I had to slow down at one point, as walking briskly does upset my disc. I wandered around the shops, husband got his hair cut, we went to our old favourite for lunch, then not long afterwards I decided I'd had enough, my back was complaining and my hip. I would have liked to have walked along the promenade for a while, but decided to get the bus back, husband wanted more time to look around and said he would walk back.

Controversial new cycle/pedestrian bridge over harbour

the leaning tower of Rhyl, Town Hall is built on sand, but it's been shored up

Tuesday, we went over to Llandudno, ate at the Cottage Loaf and browsed the shops, I didn't buy any shoes, in fact all I bought was some stuff for card making. It was a dry day, not at all cold or unpleasant. I bought 2 individual quiches for our evening meal.
We have a friend, who when he retired, became a tour guide in Chester. Husband had found out that he was on duty on a Wednesday, so we decided to go to Chester that day. I bought a sandwich from Marks, husband had a pasty. It had rained, and all the benches were wet, so we went up onto Bridge Street Row, and perched on a platform there to eat. A group of school children were there doing the same thing, but obviously in the middle of a historic tour. We didn't meet our friend, but I did watch the Chester Town Crier, with some crowd participation, which ended with an Australian lady sitting in the stocks and being told she had to stay there till after the shops had closed; all good fun.

miniature ponies being used for charity collection

Town  crier

I made my way back to M&S, and bought a few things in there including a new winter jacket. My old one had been annoying me, as the pockets are not deep, and it is so easy for my house keys to slip out. I try to keep my house keys in my pocket, as if my bag is lost or stolen, the at least I can get in the house.
Many of the winter jackets are in drab colours, but I managed to find one in deep turquoise with deep pockets and a fastener on the pocket, the  only drawback is that there is no cord to adjust the hood, and the hood is too big. Not every woman has 'big hair'! Husband and I met up again for a drink, a cafe over a bakery on Northgate Row. We were tempted by cakes, I had a vanilla slice and husband coffee cake. Afterwards we browsed the market,  only bought one piece of cheese, and then headed back to the park and ride, then to the bungalow, where we had a ready meal I had bought.
Thursday was windy, we set off for Conwy, and arrived at lunchtime. I was looking for a cafe we sometimes go to, and ended up climbing one of the towers to the town walls, and walking along a stretch of the wall. As I climbed inside the tower, I thought, why on earth am I doing this? However, at the next tower, where I was able to descend, I spotted the Press Room, so was able to ring husband and direct him there.
After lunch we wandered down to the harbour, It was very windy. husband decided to go back into the town centre as he was cold, but I walked on, through the gap in the wall, then up through the park and round Bodlondeb woods. I used a path which skirted the edge of the woods, as I was a bit nervous that branches might come down in the wind. The trees were not very spectacular, not changed much yet, and there wasn't a squirrel in sight. I hurried back along the river side, then up the hill to a different wall gate. Husband was just down the road. We browsed the shops together, I found a small melamine colander, not as big as the one I got in Whitby, which cracked when it hit the floor, but the lady gave me the name of the company, it is Zeal, if anyone is interested in a brightly coloured colander. Since we have been home I have been online and had one delivered.

you've got to build your castle on a rock

view from walkway

walkway

Edward II who built the castle

tree in Bodlondeb

Thursday night I hardly slept, not sure why. We were having visitors on the Friday, so maybe my mind was running ahead. I was up early, out early, buying flowers and food, and off to the cemetery, where I placed the flowers on Mum and Dad's grave. Back at the bungalow, I was contemplating a tidy up, when the back door opened and in walked our Son. They had come over for a visit. Dogs are not allowed in the bungalow, so I directed Son to the beach, where he let Tom have a good run. Tom then stayed in the car whilst we ate a Lasagne I had bought, and a trifle. It was lovely to see the baby again, and have cuddles. Then we drove round to my sister's home, where a very nervous Penny, (Jack Russell) allowed Tom, a big Border Collie, into her territory, We managed to keep them apart, Tom is just soppy and curious, but Penny only snapped once, and my sister sat wielding a cane, just in case. We stayed for about two and half hours, then back to the bungalow for ham rolls and cookies. Poor Tom was relegated to the boot of their estate again.

Daughter in law and baby

They left around 5.30, we thought they mightn't do well in the rush hour, that can be a nightmare journey on a Friday evening. We promised that if we had time we would call in the next day to collect some stuff. That evening, I cleaned the kitchen and mopped the floor, then packed my case.  I always feel I am playing beat the clock when we stay in rented property, but we managed to get the pace cleaned, everything in the car, the  key deposited,and were driving off a good 10 minutes before the 10.00am deadline.
We arrived at P&E's at around 11.30, they had had a trip to Costco on the way home and were a bit disorganised, as they'd had a disturbed night, However we had a coffee and a chat and a cuddle from Baby, then left with our stuff. We stopped at Norton canes for lunch as we decided to use the M6 Toll road. We were home before 4 pm,unloaded the car, then I had to got out to stock up a bit for the weekend. we put the heating on for an hour as the house seemed cold, but haven't used it since. There was a pile of post, including the letter I had been told about during the week, when I had phoned the Doctor, saying I needed to make an appointment to discuss the results of my blood test. It was good to be back in our own bed that night

Taking a short break from visiting

The week before last was fairly mundane. I had my usual walks almost every day, when I was at the Doctor's she had to fill in a questionnaire, and I came out as 'active'.

Old man's beard bush seen on one of my walks

One of the streams that gives the area its name

The trees aren't turning, but the leaves are falling

 

On the Wednesday I was particularly busy,  actually made it to Weight watchers, half a pound on I think, but with all the to-ing and fro-ing, that's not surprising. Then I did the Sainsbury's run, came home for a bowl of soup and some fruit, then off to parent and toddler's, taking with me the stuff for our harvest service which was to be the following Sunday.
I decided to go for my blood tests that afternoon too. I would have gone on the Tuesday, but l couldn't find the form. I searched high and low for it, then suddenly noticed a piece of folded paper sticking up in my card making box, yes, it was the form for my blood tests.
I hate going to the hospital these days, it is so depressing seeing most of the buildings which were built n the last 30 years boarded up. I walked up the hill, walked in to the building, up in the lift, and into an empty pathology dept. It was soon over, and I had instructions to ring my G P in a few days. It's obvious that going in the afternoon the department is far less busy, but this isn't practical for fasting blood tests.
I was hoping to get to Women's hour, but got a phone call asking me to babysit, our Daughter had to go into her place of work for a meeting about a reshuffle due to take place in a few months time, and though she is not due back till next month, had to be there. She came back a bit despondent, as everything seems so uncertain in the reshuffle.
On the Friday, the plan was to get our packing done for our 6 monthly visit to North Wales, but other things got in the way. Husband has been cutting down the blackcurrant bushes, as they have been in for years and have spread so much they overhang the path. What with that and the rhubarb on the other side,  coming up the path in summer feels akin to Prince Charming hacking his way through the undergrowth to get to Sleeping Beauty.
By the time we got to bed however, most of our stuff was in the cases.  We still seemed to take forever getting the house spick and span before leaving, we seem to take so much with us in addition to the luggage, laptops,cameras, supplies of tea and coffee, coolbag with milk cheese, bacon and whatever veg are left in the fridge, my knitting, my bag of odds and ends which  I need which always goes away with us, that has spare meds, herbal sleeping tablets, spare inhalers, perfume in case we go anywhere special, phone chargers, spare pen, pencil, crossword dictionary, moisturisers, spare hairbrush, kitchen sink, bible, bible notes, all the stuff I can't possibly do without.
We left at lunchtime, stopped at Watford Gap, had a reasonable lunch, I had a chilli jacket potato, can't remember what husband had. We didn't use the toll road, traffic wasn't too bad,  stopped at Sainsbo's Chester for food for the weekend, and arrived at around 6.30 pm. After unloading the car and having my first cuppa, I scoffed the wrap I'd bought, and left husband to sort his ready meal, whilst I went over to see my sister, Husband needs time to unwind from the journey.
I slept quite well the first night there, which is always good for me; will report on the rest of the week later.

Another seaside visit

On Monday of the week before last we went off to visit Mum in law. We try to go every couple of months, but were later this time, as we'd been North to see the new arrival. I asked husband to check the weather forecast, and he said it wasn't good. So I didn't pack a skirt, just trousers and long sleeved Ts. However as I rushed around doing stuff I got hotter and hotter. I swapped my long sleeved t shirt  was wearing for a short sleeved one, and just in case packed some short sleeved. It was overcast here. We left at around 11, and stopped for lunch at Pease Pottage.
We arrived at around 2.30 pm to brilliant sunshine! So much for weather forecasts. Later we had our usual wander around the village to get some exercise and blow away the cobwebs. Mum in law came with us as she needed to buy something. I had brought a casserole with me, and her favourite chicken dish. I had frozen both as the casserole travels better frozen.
Unfortunately the casserole took longer to defrost than I'd hoped, and Mum In law is a slow eater, so she had to push her plate to one side to make room for my laptop as we had booked a skype call to our son. However the call took place so she has now seen her great grandson, 'live' although not yet in the flesh.
Afterwards husband washed up and we settled down to watch Doc Martin, which we sometimes see on itv player. I don't know how he keeps a straight face. Mum in law hadn't realised it was on, and she quite enjoys it, so she said she would watch it the next week.  I read the Telegraph, and went to bed but didn't sleep too well, one of those nights when the bed seems harder than ever and the pillows like rocks.
Next morning we had a slow start and didn't leave for Eastbourne till late morning. We decided to call at the garden centre, as I wanted some more slug bells, and husband got some things for his Mum too, then we drove into the centre of Eastbourne to park. She had complained when we walked her from the station car park, on street parking isn't easy on week days.
We went to C&H as usual for lunch, but this time Mum in law insisted in paying. I bought some new slippers there, and went upstairs to get some more card toppers. I looked at the material, and the wool, but decided I have enough to keep me going. She needed some stuff from Boots, and  I needed to get some pictures printed of the baby and the other children to give to her. We also went in Marks as Mum in law had heard of some ready meals which she thought she might buy. An assistant directed us to where they were, and she decided to buy some. I was wandering around with a T shirt on and no cardigan,  it  was so warm.
We didn't go in many more shops, I find it quite tiring walking very slowly,so I rang husband and he came back to the car park. Later that evening we had the chicken breasts I had brought, and they went down quite well. Mum in Law didn't mind us using our laptops, and decided she would go to bed early as she doesn't always sleep well. As we were about to go to bed husband complained he couldn't find his new smart phone so he was up again searching for it. He ended up ringing the company to block the phone.
Next morning I wandered outside and looked as he had been in the shed for something. No joy. He has an app on his computer that could trace the whereabouts. He suddenly said 'it must be around here somewhere'. He began looking again, meanwhile I slid open the dining room door and went in there, there was the phone, where he had been sitting the evening before at dinner. I had asked him the previous evening if he had taken it to the table, but he said he hadn't heard me. It had been on silent, so that's why we hadn't heard it ring. Oh well, thank God, no visit to the shops in Eastbourne looking for it. He quickly phoned the provider, and got the phone unblocked.
Later we took Mum in Law to the dump, that is to say, we took some of her unwanted stuff to the dump, including the garden chairs, one of which tipped me over backwards last September. There were also odd bits of wood, and a broken kettle. I'd like to have taken more, but she needs to do a bit of sorting first. Really she had to come with us  as we are not residents. I can remember when we cleared my Mum's flat having to take I D to prove she had lived in the county. We also needed her to  direct us, but someone told her that the dump had moved, so we were almost in Hastings before I suggested that we turned back and checked the place it used to be. It was still there, but maybe the other side of the lane. She hadn't been there for at least 4 years, as she has no transport.
Then we took her into Bexhill as she needed a new battery for the speaking watch which we bought her a couple of Christmases ago. First we called in at Sainsbury's to get some lunch, and the soya ice cream which Mum in Law likes, then along the promenade, where we parked and ate the sandwiches, it was still very warm, but the seafront was shrouded in mist.

beach huts in the mist

boats in the mist

large cat in the De la Warr pavilion

Onion dome

Front of De la Warr pavilion

Art Deco Shelter

Then we went back to the town centre, only a few minutes spent browsing the shops, then back to the car and back to the bungalow. We packed, but didn't leave too early as husband wanted to avoid the rush hour on the M25.
As we were travelling along the road up from Brighton, there was a burned out bus in the Southbound carriageway. The traffic was backed up to the Pease Pottage services, we were so glad we weren't going that way. We stopped for a cuppa, and picked up a meal from the M&S there. We didn't have a bad journey and were home at around 7.30 pm.
On the Thursday I could feel a cold coming, so I got out the Vick's First defence, and by Sunday the sneezing and other symptoms had gone, just a dry cough remained and a bit of Sinus pain.
Friday I was at the doctor's as a 6 month review of my meds had been advised, possibly because my blood tests were slightly suspect. The Doctor decided she would repeat certain tests. On the Saturday we had a late start. but went to Berkhamsted where there is a large craft shop. I have now stocked up on card toppers. We had a late lunch in Waitrose, and did the weekends shopping. I love Waitrose, but if I shopped there regularly would have to leave husband at home, he sneaks things into the trolley.

A week of bits and bobs

Actually, the Saturday when we came back from Cheshire, the house seemed cold, so we put the heating on for the evening. The weather has been so changeable lately. The next week wasn't over exciting, I went out one day leaving a line full of washing, I went into town to buy wool, I had bought some in the wrong ply. Fortunately I hadn't needed it, the shop were happy to exchange it for me, so  have kept up the knitting I have to be careful though as I've overdone it in the past and ended up with RSI, and had to wear a splint. Of course because I had left  a line full of washing it poured down and husband hadn't noticed.
We spent more time cutting back fruit bushes, I managed to get the wall painting finished in the bathroom, although the bit I did has shown up some of the rest as perhaps needing a new coat. I managed to fit the shelving support together, and drill holes in the bathroom wall, and put the shelves up.
The garden is still looking good at the front, and at the back I seem to be winning the war against the slugs and all my salvias have recovered, enough for a second flowering.

Winston Churchill fuchsia kept from last year

Fuchsia in hanging basket

Close up of Winston Churchill

More tomatoes than we can eat

A salvia

Our 'star' fuchsia, originally grown from a cutting that came from next door

Another fuchsia

Begonias

On the Saturday of that week we went over to Berkhamsted,  as I wanted to look in the craft shop for some more card toppers. We browsed quite a few shops, including the High street garden centre, I still can't find an orchid to replace the dead one, I'll have to go back to the place I bought it I think.
We saw the grandchildren  a couple of times that week, and I also took a huge pile of ironing to be done. I still can't manage too much, although my shoulder doesn't give me too much trouble. I missed Weightwatchers again as I overslept,and couldn't get ready in time.
I also managed to miss Women's hour, my mobile had all but died, so we went into town to replace it, I don't know if the chap was new, but we were in the shop for three quarters of an hour. He told me that he couldn't download messages etc from my old phone, I know that the girl did it last time I had to have a new phone, so I've also lost my ringtones, and my Aragorn wall paper, Husband has managed to restore that, but not so far the ringtones. I could have got them online but they would have been almost £5. When we came out of the shop we decide it was lunchtime, a bus wasn't due, so we went into the new pasty shop for lunch. I had a  baguette, and husband of course a pasty. However, after we had eaten the bus was late, and when we got back home I was too late to get there in time.
Hmm, this post is a bit higgledy piggledy, and in the wrong order, but It was over a week ago and the memories came back in dribs and drabs.

The new boy, and the new born

I treated myself to some cream roses

So, behind again with blogging. The heatwave didn't last, I get annoyed every year when the media talk about Indian summers in September, when in fact the expression refers to hot weather in November, however as usual I digress. The weather has changed, cold and wet; the rain rarely came exactly when forecast, we took the cotton sheets off the bed and replaced them with sheet and duvet, to be kicked off when overheating.
I may have forgotten to mention the incident when daughter caught Nat sucking away at an orchid drip feeder, and the subsequent panic, and calls to NHS direct, and the nighttime tummy ache which necessitated a trip to A&E, 10 miles away in the middle of the night, an ECG, and blood tests. He was pronounced fit to go home, and comments from my family included, 'Was he trying to make himself grow?' and 'He's fine, he has a lovely bloom'.

Looking smart in his uniform

Nathaniel started at Nursery, with just an hour the first day. If we ask him what he did, he always says he played with Annie and Clarabelle, as Thomas afficianados will know are the carriages. Who can forget Ringo Starr proclaiming 'We feel so full, we feel so full' on the Christmas special tape? It was an oft repeated phrase chez nous after eating too much! Nat does seem to be settling well, and has also been enrolled in a gym club to hopefully work off some spare energy. What a pity we can't bottle it! Our week didn't start off too well, I had a bad night on the Sunday, it rained and rained on the Monday, we both felt tired and unmotivated. Our Son in Law was unwell, so we stayed away, not wishing to catch anything. It was also discovered that a child who attended the same Birthday party as our two, came out in Chickenpox spots, so more watching and waiting for the parents.
 I was up late on the Tuesday, having had a better night. I went into town and bought a small gift for the new baby. Actually, I've just remembered, after Nat's first full day, that day, he was asked if he had had fun, and replied, 'No I was too busy'.
For a few years we have had some metal shelving in the bathroom, but no matter what we did it kept going rusty, I had tried kurust, and spraying it with silver paint, but to no avail, and I'd got silver paint on the painted pine clad wall, so recently we had bought glass shelves to replace the metal ones, and hope that the metals supports won't rust.
I had bought the wrong brand of satinwood which was too shiny, so had a trip to B&Q to find the Crown, low odour one I had previously used. It needed two or 3 coats to cover the silver. I also made it to Weightwatchers I had stayed the same. I am pleased to report that my back is a lot better, and that I can walk ever so slightly faster.
On Thursday, we drove up to meet our new Grandson. The other Grandparents had visited, so to make sure that they were not overwhelmed with washing and changing bed linen, we had booked into a hotel a few miles away. Our poor son had caught a cold, not from work,as he was on paternity leave, but they were both so tired their resistance must have been low. The baby had started with the cold the previous day, so was snuffly, unable to feed properly, and giving them bad nights. We missed meeting the other Grandparents as they had gone off early to visit other family members.
The baby is lovely, very fair, more like the in laws than our family. We went off to book into the hotel, and found that we were booked into an old converted stable block.

baby Ethan

The receptionist was not very forthcoming, and told us very little about the hotel. There was only one hand towel, so I had to go and ask for a second, I also managed to find out where breakfast would be served. The en suite had a bit of a musty damp smell to it, the heating was on, but this made the room over hot.
We went back to Son's home, and he made us dinner, they also went out to buy some saline nasal spray to try and clear baby's nose. We didn't stay too late hoping that they might get a better night. Tom, the dog, doesn't seem too fazed by the appearance of a baby in the house, in fact when they had skyped us he was determined to get in the picture!
Back at the hotel, the heating had gone off, I had borrowed indigestion tablets from daughter in law, but the bed was too hard, and despite herbal tablets sleep did not come till 4 am. The next day we were late getting up, but breakfast was good. We set off for Son's home, had more cuddle time with Ethan. We were going to walk into town, and they said they would come with us as they had an appointment to register the birth. However, by the time they were ready baby needed feeding again, (I remember those days quite well) So we set off without them, saying they could meet us for lunch somewhere. We had a pleasant walk in, browsed a few shops and were in the antiques emporium when they phoned, I think. The place we wanted to go for lunch had trouble accommodating the buggy, so it was back to our standby Costa. The young people just about had time to finish lunch before it was time for their appointment. We went back to the antiques place, but upstairs was so dusty I had to come out and take my inhaler. I browsed the deli, and bought a couple of items, then told husband I'd had enough. My back is so much better, but I didn't want to risk overdoing it.
We waited for a bus, but our Son kindly came back into town to collect us, it had just started to rain. We stayed with them till almost 7 pm, then went back to the hotel, where they were meeting us for dinner. They were both so tired we didn't want them to have to cook for us. The meal was in the bar as the restaurant was being laid out for a wedding the next day. We had said we were bringing a small baby, but the waitress had put out a high chair; she was somewhat startled to see one so small, but in no time was cooing over him. The food was good and plenty of it. Son and his wife left fairly quickly, both in need of some sleep. I slept better the second night, but it was husband who woke me at around 4 am, padding around looking for indigestion tablets.
Saturday, we were up earlier, enjoyed a good breakfast, and went for more cuddles with Ethan. They had had a bad night. We left at around lunchtime, shopped in the local Waitrose, had a reasonable journey back, stopping at Watford gap, where, still too full of breakfast, we had crisps and a coffee.
Then after unpacking the car, had a fish pie from Waitrose. It was good to be back in our own bed that night.

A Birthday, a back problem and a baby.

I'm really quite cross with blogger, the other day I typed a lot on here, but blogger would not save it, giving me a daft message every time. In the end I lost all that I had written.
On Monday 19th August Daughter and I went over to Watford, as I couldn't find a nice Birthday card for Nat. Unfortunately, I had my legs twisted to one side a the nappy bag was in the footwell. I was a bit stiff on arrival in Watford, and was disappointed to find only one card shop in the shopping centre. There was a beautiful card which opened into a 3D pirate ship, but it was £5. There is also lack of big cards since the  postal rates were altered, as they cost more to post. I soon realised I was having difficulty walking, the disc problem had worsened, and I now seemed to have a pain in the right hip too. I tried pushing the buggy for support, but it was too heavy for me.
Daughter wanted to look in shoe shops, but I thought I had better keep moving. The reason for the lack of card shops seems to be that so many went down in the recession, so I set off in the direction of Smith's. On the way I took 2 paracetamol, as I had some in my bag, I found a reasonable card in Smith's with a digger and 3 on the front, and decided to add the word Grandson from my stock of letters in my card making stuff.
I decided to go into Boots to buy some heat pads, these are placed over the painful area, and bring comfort, except that in hot weather they can make one perspire rather, and they have a tendency to drop out. This happened to me once on Scarborough sea front, much to the bemusement of several people sitting nearby. Goodness what they thought, as I struggled to maintain my dignity, bent to pick it up and as nonchalantly as possible tossed it in the nearest bin.
So far so good, but I couldn't just hoick up my skirt or go down the elasticated waistband in the middle of the Harlequin centre, I might have been arrested, so I struggled up the escalator in J L to the ladies' room, where I managed to instal a heat pad over the r4/5 vertebral joint, and gained alittle comfort from the heat. I then nipped (well hobbled) into the mini Waitrose on the top floor to buy some potatoes,and ice cream. Then daughter, whom I had promised to meet me at Boots rang, I had to tell her that I'd had a slight change of plan. She said she would be waiting by the stop for the little land train, on which she had promised Nat a ride. However when she saw me hobbling over the little bridge, full of fear that my right leg would give way completely, she had to tell poor Nat that his train ride would have to happen another day.
This time, as we left, the nappy bag was stowed in the boot, and I managed to struggle into the passenger seat which is quite low, biting my lip all the way back, I couldn't help with the children much, and I don't know how I managed to drive down the hill home. I left my car out.
The difficulty with prolapsed discs is getting the balance right between rest and exercise, so the next day husband accompanied me on my trip to the local paper shop. I had my adjustable walking stick for reassurance. The trouble is husband cannot walk slowly, oh well at least he didn't tell me I sounded like Long John Silver this time.
The next day I made it to WW, where I had gained half a pound, but folk were sympathetic, then I managed to go round Sainsbury's, the trolley helped enormously, and husband helped unload the car and put stuff away. Late I went to Homebase for some plants to fill in the gaps in my pots where I had removed a few dying stragglers. I called in to see daughter who confessed she was right behind with Nathaniel's cake, hadn't even got the eggs, so I looked after the pair of them whilst she went off to buy eggs and a few other things.

They both climbed on the garden table, Lydia from my lap

there was a good moon that week too

I think she was glad of the break from them,and brought home 2 bags full of shopping. We had a further short visit to one of the local garden centres that week too,but didn't buy a lot. The Saturday of Nat's birthday dawned very wet, but they had made contingency plans. We called in with his card and gift, and didn't stay too long. Daddy took him to see a Thomas film, then they had lunch, and then on to a soft play area. We went up at about 5 pm for a Birthday tea, Nat had worn himself out again and was having a nap. The Thomas cake looked pretty good, I can't find the picture of the one I made for our son, but I think that the blue colourant I used may have been far more intense.

Nathaniel and his playdough set

Fun with balloons

Lydia  likes them too

The cake

Blowing the candle out

mmm, cake

Ooh, cake

The cake tasted pretty good too. It's nice to know that my Daughter has inherited some of my skills.
Last week was pretty routine, some good days some bad. I went to repot one of my orchids only to find that the roots had rotted, so we decided to go to a garden centre, further away. We had a good look around, had a cuppa in their cafe, then an ice cream. Their orchid choice wasn't huge, so I didn't buy. They have an EMW outlet there. Their check shirts were on offer, so husband bought 2. We also bought a hanging basket for the shepherd's crook hanger.
On the Thursday of that week one of our ladies invited some of us round, so I collected our German friend, and we had a very pleasant afternoon chatting, drinking tea, and eating cake. I only had a very small square of lemon cake, but the German lady had a large slice of Victoria sponge, lemon cake, flapjack, and shortbread. As I took her home, she asked if I could take her to the local shops. I did so, and as she came back to the car,she said 'Ooh, smell those fish and chips, I'm really hungry, aren't you?' I managed to splutter, 'No', and she insisted on me asking the price, when she found out the price she decided to have something at home, and mentioned salad and chops. I really think she must have something wrong with her appetite controller, unless she comfort eats.
I finished the baby second baby jacket, and decided to do a hat to match. I had contacted Daughter in Law on Friday, but she said that nothing was happening, but then she wasn't due till Sunday.
Sunday evening I was talking to Son by text, and I did have this feeling that there was something he wasn't telling me.
The next day we walked into town, as I had bought a dress online from M&S, but it wasn't really me. Well I say we walked into town, what actually happened was that I walked into town with a small shopping list, then realised I had forgotten the dress, so had to ring husband. I went into Dyas for something to clean out my iron,and something to make the sink empty quicker, then I called husband who had walked down with the dress.
I'd only had fruit and yoghurt for breakfast, the pasty shop which has reopened under new management wafted out smells, so did the M&S cafe, I went into the food department, and the bakery wafted out smells. I began to get a sick feeling in my stomach, which indicates that my blood sugar has dropped, and I need to do something about it. I phoned husband and he agreed to met me at the M&S cafe. As I waited for him, my phone got a message. It read 'Ethan Gabriel, born 12.26 pm', from our son. Praise the Lord, I have another grandchild. I couldn't wait to tell husband and decided to have an iced bun after my snack meal to celebrate.
Then it was off to the card shop, and when I got home, wrapped the baby clothes, and off to the post office to send them.
Mum and baby seem to be doing well apart from lack of sleep, neither Mum nor Dad got any Sunday night. Son eventually posted a picture on Facebook, and we have seen the baby on skype. He was 7lb 8oz. I have been to Daughter's, she is still struggling a bit, but the nursery teacher came round to meet Nathaniel one day, he starts next week. He spent most of her visit hiding in the hall! She did however coax him into having a picture taken. I recognised her as being in the same year as my son at the same school where she now teaches. I first knew her when she was 3, so it's amazing to see how she had grown into a confident young woman. Lydia also took her first steps this week, only 2, but we all have to start somewhere, and at ten and a half months it's not bad going. I feel truly blessed. Husband came with me one day, and gave Nat some 'one to one', from which he reallyseemed to benefit.

We have had a mini heatwave this week, thankfully we still haven't got round to putting the duvet back on. Today, as I walked to post my Cousin's birthday card there was definite Autumn feel, and just for good measure, it rained before lunch. Oh well mustn't grumble, we've had a lovely summer for a change.

Lydia raids the toy box, standing alone