Hi Dita and all

[Andere Richtingen]

Greetings, everyone - it's hot and sultry here. Some sunshine but very airless and oppressive. There's thunderstorms not far away in Kent but they haven't made it to this side of the Thames and I wish they would to wash away this dreadful humidity. OH and I are both completely exhausted because it's just too airless to sleep at the moment. OH went to see his doc this morning and she said he should have another blood test in a couple of weeks because his white cell count was slightly low - probably because his immune system's been fighting an infection - although he wasn't aware of having one! Nothing earth shatteringly urgent, anyway.

Yesterday was a lovely day - bright and sunny and breezy so I got loads of laundry done and dried outside, including Lucy K's bedding. Now she won't go near it because it smells too clean!! OH spent the day working at the vintage TV museum in Dulwich, got stuck in traffic on the way home and didn't get back until nearly 9:15pm by which time I was starving He gulped his dinner, announced he was going to the pub and disappeared until after midnight. Well! Thanks, Beloved. Yes, I've had a really good day and thanks for asking !!! When I told him this morning I was going out, he immediately wanted to know where, what for and what time I'd be back. Well, coffee with a girlfriend, actually but I felt like saying 'to see a divorce lawyer'. He said when I got back that he wasn't being an old-fashioned bossy husband but just taking an interest in my life and activities. Ri-i-i-i-ight ....

Hope the rain eases enough for dog walks at some point - I just glanced at Rain Today and it looks like it's still siling down on Dita and Dolly. Lucy K sends smug purrs from the depths of my bed. I trust the improvement's being maintained, Dita and all is well with Penny and Viv? Take care everyone.

[Penny]

Hi Andere, laughed at your descriptions of OH, Seems like we all have the same model. Been very sunny here all day, very hot and close. I did think we were forecast rain but seems it is going to miss us again. Did say, the next thing, we will be getting a water shortage warning. Do take care and get plenty of rest your =self, never mind what OH says. Mine moaned about my piling his lunch plate to much today so I said, eat what you can, and don't moan or you can cook it yourself. Very brave of me today. Do hope all are well, take care. cheers Penny

Just realised you posted on a previous page Dita, funny about the weather. We have had to have fans on all day, too hot. Do hope I can send good weather for you tomorrow. Hope we get good news from vannin. Take care and get plenty of rest. cheers Penny

[Penny]

Morning Dita and asll, Hugs and kisses sent early, not sure what your weather will be. Lovey and sunny here again with a slight breeze, very warm. Do hope you are still on the mend Dita,take care and get plenty of rest. Hope Andere and vannin are O.K. wonder if vannin got her results yet. Off to Cosco today, run out of bird seed again. Hope to catch you later, take care. cheers Penny.

[dita]

Hi Penny and all, weather much nicer for doggies walk today, quite breezy so hugs helped us on the way. Sure we spied L Katt she was hiding a beautiful duvet behind a gorse bush ??? wonder if Andere will notice! Make sure you buy plenty of seed today Penny, we cannot have you running out and starving your poor family. Have just collected more rhubarb, a crumble today and one for the freezer it has been a good year for it, can see plenty of vic plums on the way too. Keep your chin up Penny and take care Andere, Vannin and all.

[Andere Richtingen]

Oh, yum!! I love rhubarb so any you can't handle, Dita, just send it my way . It's been warm and sunny all day here, too and not quite as muggy as yesterday. Let's hope it lasts because we're off to Bewdley in Worcs in the morning just until Friday. It's a lovely place when the sun's shining but a bit depressing when it rains. We'll be spending Thursday on the Severn Valley Raillway, chuffin' along behind a steam loco. I'm just off to pack.
OH has been behaving himself today; he's cut the hedge, sorted out some financial stuff and has just gone out to buy milk because we've run out. I'm allowing him to go for a beer while he's out (mostly because it gets him out from under my feet).

Sure we spied L Katt she was hiding a beautiful duvet behind a gorse bush ???

D'you know, I was wondering where that had got to. She's off to the 5-star jail in the morning so she'll be fine. Currently, she's dead to the world on the front windowsill.

Keep well everybody and enjoy the sunshine while we have it (except for Trixie who should probably stay indoors to avoid the dreaded harvest mites). Back at the weekend, I expect.

[Penny]

Lucky you Andere, as you say lovely place. I spent many a Sunday there with my dad fishing. Have a super time and take care. cheers Penny

[vannin]

Oh no! Surely the dreaded harvest mite can't start as early as June? I thought it was awful last year when Trixie had trouble from July till nearly November I feel dread for her sake from early each year!

The doctor phoned me to say the there was just a small variation on the ECG. Then he asked me to book a non-fasting blood test for the electrolytes, the appointment to be this Friday morning. There might be an imbalance which can be related to my taking Thyroxine, or maybe to the enzyme imbalance, or any of dozens of reasons like medication incompatible. I usually think of 'electrolytes' as the minerals .........calcium, magnesium, potassium etc.

There was more than breathlessness which started last year. I also started waking on most mornings with tingling or numbness in my hands/fingers, and that is another sign of electrolyte imbalance!! But I avoided looking up symptoms online right up till this week.

Viv

[Andere Richtingen]

Oh no! Surely the dreaded harvest mite can't start as early as June? I thought it was awful last year when Trixie had trouble from July till nearly November I feel dread for her sake from early each year!
Viv

To be honest, Viv, I think the mites are out and about in grass and thick foliage anytime in hot, dry weather. In the same way that so-called hay-fever doesn't necessarily have any connection to hay - I get mine worst in February and March when the first of the blossom trees start flowering - harvest mites only have that name because the main harvests take place in hot, dry weather. Have you tried keeping her indoors during the day and only letting her out at daybreak before it gets hot, and after dark? OK, she's a cat and will probably just refuse to come in when you call but it might be worth a try if she'll co-operate.

Glad your ECG didn't show up anything too dreadful; i didn't know about waking up with numb hands or hand and fingers being a sign of electrolytic imbalance. I often wake up like that and thought it was just because I'd been sleeping in a funny position with my hand underneath me. I had a blood test quite recently and that was OK so I'll try not to let hypochondria get to me. These things are all very delicately poised and it doesn't take much to throw them out of whack and it's scary if you start to think about how much damage can be done by a medicine which is supposed to be improving some other function of your bod.

I'm off to bed now. I'll pass on Penny's regards to Bewdley (although I won't be doing any fishing!).

[dita]

Hi Penny, Andere, Vannin and all. Nice day up to now hope the thunder storms keep away today while we have had doggie walks at the very least because few black clouds are popping up on the horizon now and again. Pleased your results ok Vannin considering all. Hope Andere enjoys her break and L Katt of course. Hope all ok Penny, I beat you today which is a change, keep that pecker up anyway. Will pop back later take care all.

[Penny]

Hi Dita and all, sorry to be late but hugs and kisses were off at the crack of dawn. Have been so busy sorting out the van stuff, OH just gone down to the Tip and have several bags of stuff or the charity shop. Such a shame, all the lovely stuff I have duplicated at home so no point in keeping them and son already has the same problem. When I think, 50 plus years of collections. Daughter came and has taken what she wants but like us, already has a houseful. I said If I ever did it again, I would empty the van every time I came back rather than fill it full of necessary stuff. Going on aren't I. Worn out. Pleased all are all and vannin's results seem better than expected. Have a good day all, Off to finish lunch,. No peace for the wicked today. ha ha. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hi Penny pleased to see all ok despite the fact you sound tired out after sorting all those years of memory's etc. Think you should now relax and have a sit down with nice strong cup of something or other and let the world go by for a while, listen who's talking should practise what I preach Meant to say, Vannin poor little Trixie you must dread the mite season. Penny keep out the kitchen for a while

[vannin]

Hi Andere, mostly Trixie keeps herself indoors during the day and is out at night. Cats are so intelligent, I think she realised last year that the mite infestations were related to her daytime forays outside. The exception is this sunny month, the blissful breakfast-time when I first appear downstairs, am warmly welcomed and as soon as I open the kitchen window, she is off to the flowerbed for that luxurious roll-around. Over and over, cat heaven. That interlude is one I can't deny her because it is followed by her short absence, toilet time I guess. Then she comes to eat, then sleep.

Any time I have put a litter tray down, perhaps during thick snow or cloudbursts, she is mortally insulted and won't look at it. So I have yet to solve the breakfast-time flowerbed roll preceding her call of nature, when the sun is certainly up. Less concern if it was raining, not that I am wishing away this good weather.

Anyway she is not showing the signs YET!

Viv

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all, hope kisses and hugs arrived to give a little shade today. So hot, unbelievable here. Hope everyone is on the up and feeling fine. As I was so busy yesterday, did BBQ pork ribs. Just in case, from Farm Foods. Not to be recommended. Oven cook only. Very tough indeed. If you like this sort of thing, I recommend the one from Lidl also the Peri Peri chicken, Excellent. Cooked quickly in Micro so ideal for anyone in a hurry. Off for weekly shop and hopefully meet son for lunch. Have a good day all and take care. Hope results continue to be good vannin, and hope you are still on the up Dita. cheers Penny cheers Penny

[dita]

Hi Penny and all, beautiful doggie walk this morning, few clouds forming this afternoon ?? Hope you're having good bargain shop today and enjoying lunch and chat with your son Penny, long time since I did any shopping at Farm Foods, prefer Aldi. Made a Lemon Drizzle cake this morning from an Aunt Bessie's cake Mix, they were selling them off at Asda a couple of weeks ago for £1 each so I bought some, they are quite tasty and quick to make. May watch a bit of tennis in a while, still resting as much as I can at the moment so eager to watch Andy sweat Keep smiling Penny and all. xx

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all, hugs and kisses late today. This wretched machine has just come on. OH in a dark room with a flannel over his face, hay fever been very bad these last couple of days. Must say, my eyes have been stinging. Just preparing lunch, have been doing house work this a.m. as I have the children overnight on Sat. and like to get everything ready. Son taking wife away for an anniversary weekend. Will try to pop in later, hope you are still on the up dita and vannin. Take care all. Wonder what happened to Mo. cheers Penny