Hi Dita and all

[vannin]

About my knee. On May 7th evening, I was just walking across the kitchen and the left knee buckled and locked while bent. So it was impossible to straighten the leg without screaming. So, until I felt a click at noon on the next day when it unlocked, I was in a pickle and scared the cat. You know, up and down the stairs on my bum! To get along the floor, now my hopping days are over. I could only go backwards, towards where I wanted to be, using my right (good!) leg to shuffle the foot in imitation of mini-hops! While dragging a lightweight dining chair with me like a zimmer and leaning hard on it, I could do these tiny shuffles. Once the unlock happened it was still very painful but at least I could put foot to floor.

I stayed in for five days and the shopping was delivered - I had managed to bring the day forward. The icepacks, compression bandage and Deepfreeze gel plus use of a thing called an Intrasound for massage (and always have the footstool anyway), were followed by exercises the physio gave me two years ago when the right knee locked. If I had been able to see the GP this time, it would have been a physio referral again anyway. After the five days I increased the walking daily and sometimes wear a knee support if the walking will be a bit prolonged, I'm not very confident.

Half an hour before it gave way I had just lost a temporary crown and got an emergency appt with the dentist, which then had to be changed twice plus a couple of other minor appointments were changed.

This holiday weekend, the family went away for part of the half-term and I will visit them on Saturday. Usually they have come here but needed to get away for a break with one of his aunties.

Viv

[vannin]

About Quirke. This is how I reviewed it on TV section of a reviewing-type forum:
"Very disappointing and unconvincing. The Boston folk were like caricatures and the plot very cumbersome, one hour would have sufficed.
As a teenager I knew 50s Dublin very well - by daytime. When a bit of light appeared around Gabriel Byrne, I recognised Kildare Street.
This series, as a vehicle for Gabriel Byrne and Michael Gambon, will be letting them down unless it improves."

[Penny]

What a dreadful time for you. Must be worrying keeping your knee in order. Do hope all goes well from now, Penny

[vannin]

Thank you Penny and thank you too for all the kisses sent to Trixie! She really is wonderful company but not very happy with the rain though.

Viv

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all, Kisses and hugs needed again today, what weather, poor animals. Not very bright here and keeps raining. Hope Dita and Vannin are keeping your peckers up, do take care now. Have a good day all in spite of the weather. cheers Penny

[vannin]

Good morning all. Dita, I do hope you are getting rid of that painful cough after a rough time.

Trixie sometimes seems to adopt an accusing manner when the weather is against her. With a sort of 'Oh well, I'll go off and do something you really don't like'.

So I found a mangled bird on the step about an hour ago, poor little thing. Trixie understands when I say 'Bad cat' in a disgusted tone, and creeps away guiltily while I clear up after her.

Viv

[Penny]

Poor puss, only natural after all. Hope you are O.K. vannin with your knee, not very nice weather for aches and pains, and do hope Dita is on the mend. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hi Penny, Vannin and all, hope your knee easier today it never rains but pours does it, and broken crown too, + Trixie giving you that little present, least said the better cos as Penny said it is nature. I have now trouble with my tummy, not sure what its all about because it all seems connected and I'm not sure if the chest infection and cough is maybe influx of acid from my stomach too, had my gallbladder removed some years ago and have had little cause to worry apart from occasionally having the habit of producing too much bile now and again. Hard to explain really. If I suddenly vanish you will know why. Rain postponed doggie walk but hugs welcome Penny, keep that chin up and take care Vannin and all.

[Andere Richtingen]

Yikes, Viv; what a horrible experience. Isn't it terrifying, what can go wrong with the human bod when you're just getting on with your life and doing nothing out of the ordinary? I hope it continues to improve and won't let you down again. Hope Dita's improving, too? Oh, just read your latest post - is the digestive problem a result of taking antibiotics for the chest infection, maybe? If so, try eating 100g or so of live yogurt every day .....

Nothing but rain here since the early hours of Sunday morning. It stops for an hour or two but there's always more to follow. Lucy hates it. Mostly, she just goes to sleep somewhere inside but when she does want to go out, she sticks her nose through the cat-flap at the back, yowls in protest and pulls her face back in then demands to be let out of the front and stands looking absolutely bewildered that it should be wet there, too. Then she stands in the open door, looks at me reprovingly and tells me very firmly that I'm failing in my duties as a cat-carer if I can't even control the weather. She may then go out for the sheer pleasure of coming home wet and rubbing her sodden fur up our legs to demonstrate how utterly horrible it is out there.

I'm about to go and pack winter woollies and wellies cos we're off to Henley in the morning and the forecast is for more of the same. Why is it so wretchedly cold, I wonder? Whatever happened to global warming? I had visions of us taking a gentle stroll along the banks of the Thames or maybe a river cruise .... pah!

Hugs and purrs to everyone; hope you all keep warm.

[dita]

Hi Andere I wondered myself if that could be the problem, have sent Hubby out for some live yogurt now because it may just do the trick -with a bit of luck. Thankyou.

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all,hope everyone is bearing up in this dreadful weather. Quite cold today plus rain. Had to send extra hugs today due to cold, hope pussies and doggies are o.k. . Any better Dita and Vannin. Do hope so. Take care all. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hi Penny and all, what a horrid day no chance for doggie walkies in this cold wind and rain, those hugs are warming and welcome though. Feel a little better today, hope Vannin's knee is easier too. Have been eating live yogurt to try and replace the strength of my immune system as Andere suggested, now I am studying my diet and mean to change a few things, I am certainly not overweight eight and a half stone to be precise but I do sometimes indulge in bulky sweet stuff which I am not really supposed to eat?? because of my health. Had a great sight from my window yesterday, a beautiful Jay was sat on our gate post and it is a rare sight these days, suddenly a Kestrel came swooping down after the Jay. Thankgoodness it missed it, but why didn't have my camera handy Grr!. Keep your chin up Penny and all.

[Penny]

Pleased you are on the Med Dita, not very heavy are you. I am 11 stone. Could not believe the nurse when she told me. I am usually 9 to 9 half stone. Hope vannin and her knee are easier today. Good old crowd we are these days. Never mind,keep going. cheers Penny

[vannin]

Hello all! Knee much better thank you, but I find there is lack of confidence when I get into town and walk in the drizzle. Wet town pavements have a greasiness I don't trust, and occasionally the knee gives little blips which maybe it always did - but I am all too aware of them just now!

Trixie is sleeping peacefully with a resignedness (?) to the rain. It may not be so much MY fault now! First thing each morning when I get such beautiful furry cuddly welcomes, she seems to shrug towards the window with a 'not again!' look.

Viv

[Penny]

Pleased you are about o.k. vannin, do you take a stick with you. I bought one of those folding ones and keep meaning to take it with me but forget. Very useful tho. Do take care and extra kisses for puss. cheers Penny