Hi Dita and all

[dita]

Hi Penny and all, hardly light yet can see full clouds up there waiting to open up and give us a soaking. What a great surprise having your D-I-L turning up to join you for lunch with that lovely invitation for Xmas, must have given you such a lift, it did me yesterday when Tony just turned up out of the blue. I've seen those meals in Sainsbury's and have often wondered what they are like, must get one. Will be watching a bit of tennis this weekend it is the Davis Cup, playing now is a lad from Hull Kyle Edmunds and he's just won the first set. Keep your chin up Penny like me, and take care all. xx

[Andere Richtingen]

Hi, everyone and I hope the hatches are all battened down for the rain and winds we've been promised? It's been raining here because LK came running in and SHOUTING at us that she wanted to be dried, NOW, please! Naturally, I obliged.
I went into town for some oddments of shopping this morning, having forgotten it's Black Friday. M&S was full of loonies, shouting and getting agitated about cheap Xmas crackers and chocolates. Needless to say, there were no reductions on anything I actually wanted and it was the same everywhere else. In fact, I came home home without most of the stuff I'd gone out for and was just hot, bothered and fed up! I met a friend for a reviving hot chocolate and, just before we ordered, she got a phone call and had to rush home because the maintenance man was coming to fix her rotting windowsills. Not my day!

Oh, Viv - that Ocado man is probably related to my OH who is notorious for putting vehicles where nobody thinks they'll go. He always succeeds, too. I think some people just have a better spatial awareness than others ... or maybe more chutzpah! Glad the walls were unscathed, anyway. All the supermarket delivery people around here here use sack barrows for their big plastic boxes because it's all Edwardian terraces and they sometimes have to park a distance away.

Not much else to report - meatballs and spaghetti for supper because I can't be bothered to think of anything more inspired. No plans for the weekend except OH's cousin's birthday lunch on Sunday. 80, would you believe? It's a bit scary how we're all getting old so quickly! Hugs and love to all ....

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all, what a miserable morning. Nothing much planned, watching motor racing practice, collecting grandson from school this p.m. and that is about it. Hope everyone is o.k. Did anyone join the the Black Friday thing? Take care all and have a good day. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hi Penny and all, miserable day here too and now the wind is getting up so we may all be in for a rough night. Advice needed Penny and anyone else who has any knowledge of helping regarding my very tense muscles which give me also pain in my head, have been looking at neck massages of which there are many and varied in price too from £20's to £100, want nothing too elaborate just something I can slip on at any convenient time and with or without heat. I know you have a neck problem Penny and me personally are blaming the fact I spend too much time on computer and it gives me stiff neck.

I bought a Dyson AM05 Hot +Cool Fan Heater at a reduced price from Curry's, have been keeping my eye on them for some time but didn't buy because they were too expensive . Me watching tennis, keep smiling Penny and take care all.

[Penny]

Hi Dita, so sorry about your neck ache really dreadful for women as we need to keep going. Mine happened years and years ago, I wear a neck band bought from the chemist, and also spares from the clinic. I use a heat lamp every now and then. When I get the pain from strain ( which is what yu are gettng) I do about six exercises given to do and i always relieves thhe pain. Sit in an upright position, Eyes closed take a deep slow breath and count as you intake. If you manage counting to six, then hold your breath for six then slowly let out counting six. takes some practice to relax doing this but it works a treat for most. You will need to do this about six or eight times, depending how relaxed you can get. My butcher and hairdresser suffer migraines and started this method, now delighted that they can cope. Sitting at the computer screen you may find your shoulders are all up tight, if so this is the exercise for you. Do hope it works as I know how down this problem can make you feel. fingers crossed. cheers Penny

[vannin]

I feel for you both with neck pain. Mine is from cervical spondylosis but eased off a lot in the last few years. Do you use neck pillows? When I feel it creeping back on the left side, I do a lot of exercising the physio gave me years ago. I went to a chiropractor for years, before and after retiring, spent a total of about 2K but it was only a while after retirement I felt real improvement and stopped throwing money away. The timing of that was probably because work caused me RSI and it was mixed up with the general shoulder, arm and elbow pain emanating from the neck.

Viv

[dita]

Thanks Penny, when I did Tai Chi for many years the deep breathing was one of the most important asset within the art, unfortunately the class closed yonks' ago. I will however 'thanks to you' practise the deep breathing exercises you have told me about, you're right about my shoulders feeling tight and think the nail has been hit on mi head Hugs Penny xx

Hi Vannin, thanks for your comments on the subject, yes! it is ruddy painful but guess your spondylosis more painful because I know someone who suffered with it. The pain from my neck creeps into my head and maybe a neck pillow would help so may look into that. Hope you are well and giving that lady of your lots of fuss

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all. Hope everyone is staying cheerful in spite of this dreadful weather. Do hope Andy manages to clinch the winning post today. I like his brother. Looks a nice character. mmmmmmmm might think of a visit. haha. Just cooking roast pork for lunch. OH watching the final of the Motor racing for this year. hugs and kisses for little ones. Still having vist from one puss round about 10.30 pm. Take care. Remember to sit upright when watching the screen Dita. cheers Penny Hooray, Andy won.

[dita]

Hi Penny and all, had a problem online today but sorted now. I am trying to sit upright Penny but must admit it is because you just reminded me, so thanks. I like Jamie too he looks a placid guy with a lot of kindness within, I watched the very tense match today and was brought to tears. We won the Davis Cup Not looking forward to Tues, I feel down about it all. Going to make a cuppa now, Keep your chin up and I will Penny and take care all xx

[Andere Richtingen]

Hi, everybody. What a foul wet and windy afternoon it turned into but weirdly warm ... ugh.Just got back from that birthday lunch, absolutely stuffed with good food and hoarse from talking to all the cousins we don't see very often. I'm probably a bit odd in that I like most of my OH's rellies, but he has never bothered about keeping in touch so we tend to meet at big birthdays, anniversaries and funerals.

I read a news report this morning that Asda had reduced their petrol price to 99.7/litre for this weekend only so, as the tank was half empty, we diverted all the way down to Dagenham to fill up on the way home. They'd sold out!! There isn't another Asda petrol station for miles so we abandoned that idea. So much for Black Friday weekend bargains.

Thanks for that breathing exercise, Penny ; I shall try it when I'm stressed and my shoulders get tight. Hope Dita's aches have subsided a bit now? Keep warm, all and don't get blown away .

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all. hope everyone is OK. hugs and kisses all round for little ones. Take care all and try to stay relaxed, It does help. Cheers Penny

[dita]

Hi Penny and all, I was coming online earlier but visitors came round to say hello because they are going away for Xmas, lucky them. Hope all well with you Penny, I am practising the breathing and also using the light box so should be a new woman very shortly, you will have to watch your young man when we have our spring get together Will hopefully get on here tomorrow but if not keep smiling Penny and take care all. xx

[Andere Richtingen]

Hi, everyone - can't wait to see the new Dita emerging from her winter seclusion like Venus from the waves and socking 'em dead!! Hugs to you in advance of tomorrow anyway.
Another damp, grey and windy day; decided to stay in and do some housework - always a mistake! Took down a picture from the bedroom wall to dust and dropped it so the glass shattered; then spent heaven-knows-how-long searching for every last piece of glass so we don't tread on it with bare feet, or Lucy with her delicate pads ... Sigh ... and now I need a new frame. I've always thought cleaning is probably bad for you and try to do as little as possible.

[Penny]

Hi all. Pleased everything is fine. Not done much today except laundry etc. Can,t wait to see the new Dita. Have already told young chappie what a fun year the next one should be. Got tree man coming in the morning to put the big birch in order for winter. Wasn't that a super win for Andy. So pleased I watched it. Take care all and roll on Wednesday. cheers Penny

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all. Just to say weather not at all nice. Dark and cold. People just arrived to sort out big trees for winter. Staring with coffee and biscuits of course. Take care all and hugs and kisses for little ones. cheers Penny