Liebster Award

I've been  nominated, by Pam from A New Life In Wales, for the Liebster Award. She has asked 10 questions and then I'm supposed to nominate other blogs and ask 10 different questions.

1) Most hated domestic task

Ironing - When I hang washing out on the line I will hang t-shirts and shirts on coat hangers and peg them onto the line so they don't blow off. Sometimes they still need ironing.

2) Knitting or Crochet

I enjoy both for different reasons. I'm a neater knitter for garments and I like to do sleeves (and fronts) at the same time so that they match. Crochet grows faster and I like the action of crochet.

3) Favourite film genre

t the moment it's comedy. Life is to serious so it's good to laugh a lot also it's a stress reliever. (GCSEs for Laura at the moment)

4) Best place that you have been

Up to date it has to be when we went to Jamaica for my younger brother's wedding a couple of years ago. Very exotic for us.

5) Jewellery wearer or not

I like to wear jewellery but as a work in a kitchen and it's not allowed I just wear it when I go out.

6) Book or E-reader

Book. I like the feel of a book, turning the pages and using my book worm book mark

7) Adventurous cook or plain and simple

I used to be quite adventurous when I had the time but I'm turning to plain and simple now

8) Walking or gym

Walking - lovely fresh air and country views, can't beat it

9) Pets or not

We have recently started to foster homeless dogs who are waiting to be adopted. At the moment we have a female Staffi cross who has a wonderful calm nature and is so loveable. We also have 2 birds - a red rump cockatiel and a budgie.

10) Fresh oysters or no way Jose

No way. Never tried then and don't want to.

I'm not going to nominate anyone because most of the people who read this blog have already had this but, if anyone wants to join in here are my 10 questions (please tell me if you are going to do them so I can visit)

1) Are you a summer or winter person?

2) Do you like to take holidays and if so here or abroad?

3) Was you ever a girl guide or boy scout?

4) have you kept in touch with any of your school friends?

5) If no-one was looking, and you was in your wellies, would you jump in puddles?

6) Ever met a famous person and who was it?

7) Favourite musical film, series or show?

8) The challenging thing you have made and most proud of

9) What do you think of dogs wearing clothes? (other than a coat in winter)

10) From Laura - Spotty or stripy socks?

Carolx



From Curvy To Straight

Last Friday we were up at the Manchester's Children's Hospital for Laura's 4 month post op check up. All went well and she's recovering well although she feels it's too slow as she wants to get back to normal. But like any other major surgery it takes time to heal and build your strength back up and she realises she has to take things slowly and her body lets her know when she's done too much.

On the left is Laura's spine before her operation. Very curvy. There wasn't much to see on the out side except for her right shoulder blade area was larger than the left but her clothes and long hair hid it very well. On the right is the x-ray the hospital took a couple of days after her operation. It's amazing how straight the surgeons got Laura's spine. We were told that the spine would only go as straight as the spinal cord will allow it. It's almost straight. An x-ray was done on Friday and her spine looked a bit straighter but that's not possible as the rods just don't bend. Laura had a lot of muscle pain as they were stretch back into shape. They still bother her now and again and if she's done too much study her neck aches so has to pace herself with her revision for her GCSE's which started today.

I still can't help looking at the after shot and thinking what an amazing job the surgeons have done. The spinal nurse says she can start and do some power walking now and then after the next appointment she could start to do a little swimming and then in October she could go back to her dancing but taking it easy.

The weather is suppose to be good again this week so hope you all have a good one


Carolx

The Good, Bad, and.....

.......Yummy.

On Sunday afternoon Martin went to Archery. Laura misses going as she's not allowed to yet after her spinal surgery so we did some baking.

Laura made two lots of scones - Chocolate chip and chocolate. They were good. My favourite is the chocolate chip. Laura enjoys baking but nothing else. Food hold no interest for her. It's just a means to an end.

I made some fate fee and sugar free oaty biscuits. They were bad, really bad. I forgot to add the mashed banana. I tried dusting them with icing sugar but it just didn't work so some went out for the birds. They don't appear too impress either.

There's a park at the back of our house (waste ground now the council took away the play equipment) and if I chuck them over the hedge the seagulls will eat them. They eat anything. 

We also made strawberries dipped in chocolate, now they were very yummy. So very nice that we made some more on Monday. We used milk chocolate although, for me, I feel dark chocolate would have been better and a little less sickly.

Sometimes after Christmas or Easter and we have lots of chocolate left over we make a large fruit platter of whatever fruit is in the fridge and melt the chocolate to make a dip. Laura then eats a variety of fruit including the ones she doesn't normally like. The strawberries were fun but I think we'll stick to the mixed fruit and dips in the future less indulgent too.

Carolx

 

 

Easter Break

The Easter break has come to an end for us and Laura has gone back to school for a few weeks then the GCSE's begin. Laura's first exam is on the 3rd May and she's getting worked up and stressed about them already. Over the holidays she did  a lot of revision preparation but r we made her take some breaks to have some family fun.

Some of the things we did was walking on the beach collecting sea glass and eating ice-creams. We had a picnic at Lytham by the windmill and hot chocolate in Ashton Gardens in St Anne's. Snuggled up on the settee in front of a nice warm fire watching films and eating pop corn, baking chocolate chip scones and marshmallow and chocolate cake with sprinkles. They were good.

Whilst Laura was doing her revision I was job hunting and applying for jobs because things have changed at School I'm not needed in the kitchen until September although I'm free to do the exams. I need a proper job now that Laura is slowly getting fitter and I need to think about my future now. I've had an interview with the Civil Service again. It went much better than the last one I had. Fingers crossed this time.


We've been attending some gala "At Home" parties which have been fun for the children and it was nice to meet up with all the parents again. in a couple of weeks it will be our "At Home" with all the queens and their retinues that we've been a guest at.


Time for a rest I think


Carolx

How Things Change

I've been having a bit of a play around and decided to have a bit of a change of background.


Things have changed over the past couple of weeks. I've been doing some invigilating, for year 11 GCSE mock exam, at the school where I work in the kitchen. It's only a few weeks before they sit the real ones.


Laura has been back at school for a week and a bit but only part time. Her muscles are aching  with the extra walking, moving up and down stairs and writing.  It will eventually settle down and then her hours will increase. Whilst Laura was at home recovering the school provided lots of work to keep her busy and she managed to do some of it but she was able to take lots of rest breaks as and when she needed to but not now. After finishing school at 11am she has a good rest before doing her homework.


Martin also went back to work, part time, last week and is doing ok. He is still waiting for hi 8 week check up that should have been at the beginning of February. Poor Martin is still getting pain in his back and pins and needles in his leg and foot. Thing are obviously not right and I hope this long delay has not caused any lasting damage.


That's all my news for now.
Carolx

Crafty Bits?????

Hello friends

I've been given a bag full of craft bits and pieces to pass on which some have. However there are some I can't. I don't know what they are and what they can be used for. There are no holes in them for threading. Made of hard plastic.

I'm hoping that some of my crafty readers may be able to help.

Some look like they should be in a peg board but there are too many. The colours are so pretty it would be shame not to use them in some way. I thought of tying some fishing wire around the stems and making something that hangs but they'll just fall through as there is nothing to hold on to. 

There is quite a lot here and many more.

Any information or ideas would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Carolx

National Libraries Day

Hello everyone.


A quick update on the invalids. M appears to be at a stalemate where his back is not getting any better but neither is it any worse. This coming week he should have a check up at the hospital but no date has arrived as yet and when he phoned last week the neuro secretary was very vague and unhelpful.
L had a check up at the hospital on Friday and she is recovering well. We got all the answers to our questions and advised to change our routine with L's pain relief to get more benefit from it. We do have some photos of L's spine on M's phone and waiting for him to email them to me and will do a post on them soon.


Ok back to the heading. Yesterday was National Libraries Day and I was asked by our local library if I was available to do a table with the Twiddle Muffs. Of course, I said yes. It also gave me a chance to escape for a couple of hours. Our library is quite small but there were 18 tables promoting different things mostly what goes on in the library at various times.

Here's my table next to Helen's. Helen runs the Home Library service, for Lancashire County Council, and over the last few years has become more  involved with dementia. She has some amazing picture books from different decades and each page is dedicated to one subject. Also on her table she has a box of men's collars, a wooden box with a brush attachment for sweeping crumbs off a posh table, smelly soaps like Coal Tar and Camay.  She also makes up memory boxes and hires them out (like books)

I gave a few of my twiddle muffs away and what I had left I gave to Helen to pass on.

These couple of ladies are local authors and were doing book signings. The lady in the black and white top is Hannah Emery (her MIL comes to our craft club). Hannah's first book is called Secrets In The Shadows and is set in 1920's Blackpool. I got one and so looking forward to reading it. She also has a second book coming out, in the spring, called The Secrets Of Castle Du Reve which also sounds good. Hannah is on twitter @hannahcemery.

The other author is Katherine Ann Angel and she has three books which sound interesting. her books are aimed at 13 - 93 years. She has a website www.katherineannangel.com. Katherine will post out her signed books, gift wrapped and postage free.

Some other tables at the event was a lady doing flower arrangement's where you could have a go and then keep what you made. She comes to, the library, do demonstrations about four times a year.

 Jewellery making from a couple of ladies from craft club (meet each week at the library)

 

There was a scrabble game going on where anyone could join in. On Saturdays there's a group which play board games, aimed mostly for the children to encourage them away from their electronics. It also encourages real communication.

The Windmill Payers were there promoting their latest production but doing little sketches. As I was taking this picture a gentleman had got up and bellowed very loudly, and making everyone jump, that he was the owner of the local windmill (Situated a few yard from the library built in the 1700's). The Windmill Players was established 75 years ago and put on about 2-3 big productions a year and a few little ones around different locations. They also do Murder Mysteries at the library which are fun. 

Every Saturday a group gets together to play War Hammer. It looks very complicated but the boys were well into it. If you click onto the picture it should go bigger and you will be able to see the set up. Under the tables there were more figures and trees, buildings and things. The guy who runs it was at the side painting some other figures.

Other things going on was a lady promoting energy efficiency and how to keep warm during the winter, A lady doing French braiding, kids crafts (they meet in the library once a month) an IT man who was there to help with any IT problems/solutions either in the library or at home. The local sports centre had a table too, promoting healthy lifestyles.

The morning was a great success with lots of visitors however the library needs all these people to come back and borrow lot's of books to keep it open as it's in danger of being closed.

Carolx