New Year

Not so new me, I am feeling a bit jaded after all the festive hoo ha.  Today we opened the blinds to snow and minus 5 degrees.  MrFF was up and out early as he had yet another doctor’s appointment where they arranged further blood tests for tomorrow. 

Last Monday before we headed out for lunch with friends he received a text from the surgery saying his recent tests showed him to be pre diabetic, an explanatory leaflet was attached.  Both abrupt and surprising, he’d been out that morning to stock up on beers that were on offer for new year, I didn’t ask if he’d kept the receipt.

Saturday we were back to York for a surprise 40th birthday party for our niece.  It was especially nice as it started at 5 pm so all the grand nieces, the youngest is 3, could attend, they were still going strong when we left around 10.  

Apart from the potential diabetic situation MrFF is back to normal.  He managed a 15 mile group walk on New Year’s Eve with no ill effects, looks better, he is eating well and mostly healthily.  We have not started the Christmas cake yet

This morning I managed to motivate myself to take down the Christmas decorations and while MrFF was returning them to the loft I got him to bring down the boxes of my old Rowan knitting magazines that I packed away years ago. I love these gorgeous magazines and bought them regularly, I have I think 32.  I actually knew someone who bought them even though she couldn’t knit and just looked at the pictures. 

I plan to sell them once I’ve checked if any are of great value, I have do this one but I am not sure I believe the price. Could it be an extra happy new year for me I wonder. 

Boxing Day

Firstly our Christmas Day was excellent, very calm and quiet, delicious food and lovely gifts from family.

The build up to the big event was going well.  I left my broken glasses at the optician on Monday, he phoned me next morning to say the frames cannot be repaired and have been discontinued. However luckily he had a display pair in the shop albeit with gold stems while mine were purple to match the front. He offered them to me half price and could have them ready by lunch time.  I considered that a result as the lenses in the broken pair were new last year. I had the replacement pair early afternoon, great service. 

Wednesday afternoon I left MrFF in the penthouse when I went out for my walk.  When I returned he was out which didn’t concern me until I looked at our emails and saw a doctor’s appointment confirmed for 2.20 that day.  I phoned him as I was not aware he was going to the doctors.  Apparently he’d had a call asking him to attend the surgery immediately as his blood test results had arrived and were irregular.  He was there within 20 minutes.  

When I spoke to him he’d had more blood taken and been given an ECG.  He had to wait to speak to the doctor on the phone so has taken himself off for a coffee nearby in case she needed to see him.  The doctor told him his tests showed a potassium deficiency, some kidney result that was not normal but not of concern and a slight murmur related to his aorta.  The doctor needed a urine sample and he was able to get back to the surgery for this before they closed until Monday.  I know happy Christmas indeed.  

Checking on potassium it’s provided by a lot of the food we regularly eat, fresh fruit especially bananas, lentils and pulses, fish, vegetables, yoghurt so a deficiency was a surprise but I’ve upped his consumption of the right stuff.  The latest tests results should be available next week, meanwhile MrFF is feeling ok, eating full sized meals but still easily tired and occasionally feeling rather faint.  We are keeping positive, he joined me this morning for a gentle 6 mile walk where we admired these rather unIlkley decorations that make me laugh. 

I could be calmer

MrFF has seen the results of his recent tests, everything was normal and he seems to be improving though hardly back to health. He will return to the doctors in January, hopefully a quiet Christmas will help him get well.  We have decided this year not to do our usual £5 Christmas stocking exchange, I don’t want the patient traipsing round shops looking for inspiration and I struggle myself since my favourite charity shop put the price of books up from 50p to at least £2.50.  That’s disappointing as I used to take a good supply of their paperbacks to Italy, read them and bring them back to resonate.

However we already have a lovely gift for each other which is our new microwave.  I discovered the old one had paint flaking off from the top inside surface with metal visible.  MrFF said he’d repaint it but I persuaded him we need a new integrated model.  It’s installed and looks so much smarter next to the steel fridge freezer,  there is a slim piece of oak trim still to fit underneath the oven just to finish it off.

I might be getting another surprise item.  Yesterday I broke my expensive Danish spectacles when they got tangled with a jumper I was taking off.  This will be the third time the frame has fractured, previous times they were within warranty and replaced free of charge.  Last year I had to buy expensive new lenses as the photochromic finish failed so I am hoping the titanium can be repaired or at least the lenses can be adapted for new not Danish not titanium frames.  I am off to see my optician later today meanwhile my glasses feel precarious.

So our Christmas prep is done, we have various meal options in the freezer and plenty of everything though a few more mince pies wouldn’t go amiss.  Today I’ve had a really good doris round the penthouse so just the husband and the glasses to fix now.  I hope your plans are going smoothly, not long to wait.

A medical update

MrFF is still not restored to full health.  After 10 days he made a second visit to our surgery to see a different doctor.  This one gave him a thorough examination, said an X-ray was unnecessary and out MrFF back on a mild dose of laxative. Now almost 3 weeks since this started he is still eating only small amounts of food but thinks his digestive system is almost back to normal.   He has lost 1.5 stone, 9.5 kilos, but oddly nothing from his abdomen.

Last weekend he reported that he was feeling well enough to attend one of his walking groups Christmas lunch but not take part in the walk beforehand.  Against by advice he went off to Leeds on the train  he gave away most of his meal.  Bck home he complained that he felt cold at the lunch which was held in a conservatory with blankets provided and that the trains were over crowded.  That was Saturday,  by Monday he had the most awful cold and was back in bed for two days.  Obviously being ill has compromised his immune system, he should have stayed at home.

Wednesday by brother and sister in law came to stay for a couple of days and MrFF rallied enough to be sociable while keeping his distance. Since we were having guests I decided to put the Christmas tree up earlier than normal and I wrapped all the presents that were cluttering the spare bedroom.  That felt like progress. 

MrFF stayed home when I took my family on my usual 6 mile walk on a beautiful sunny and almost warm day.  We saw Bertie the alpaca who came running to greet us, he is such a beautiful creature

Today MrFF has again taken the train this time to Bradford as he needs some connection for his new computer.  I did mention what happened last week, apparently the trains he is using wont be overcrowded and he won’t pick up anything because he’s already got cold.  It’s impossible to tell a Yorkshire man anything. 

I don’t usual post photos of myself but my SinL took such a nice photo of me with my brother that captures if the beauty of my walk that I’ll make an exception.

MrFF has been unwell

9 days ago MrFF became unwell, was sick for most of the night, stayed in bed the next day and ate nothing.  We both thought it was some horrible gastro virus, I fully expected to go down with it too.  By Wednesday he could tolerate the stomach cramps no longer and phoned the doctor who could only offer an appointment at the surgery that day.  So MrFF got himself up and showered, we both went off to the doctor.  He was diagnosed with a blockage in his system and given a prescription for a strong laxative, he was to take 8 doses the first day.  We expected dramatic results but really the medication didn’t make a lot of difference.  He didn’t eat for 4 days and now he’s only just got an appetite for small meals.  He gradually started getting up, mostly to lie on the settee and sleep, yesterday he took a short walk for some fresh air.  

So it’s been a quiet time for me, popping out for essentials and listening to MrFF moaning and groaning.  I don’t think he’s returned to full health yet but he’s definitely getting back to normal.  Here are two examples.  First he decided he could manage a poached egg on toast, the egg wasn’t up to standard, he didn’t enjoy the bread and I made the tea too strong.  Secondly he wrote to the newspapers and had a letter published in today’s Daily Telegraph after he tried to elicit a response from the Inland Revenue to a letter he sent in February this year.  After holding on the phone for 40 minutes he was told he could expect a reply by August next year as they have a backlog.  

I could make various tasteless comments here etc but I am better than that. 

Unsettled

We have been back in Ilkley ten days now but I cannot say I feel settled although I’ve done all the usual things and rediscover the delights of the penthouse.  Maybe it’s the weather, we’ve had quite a lot of grey wet days. My plant minder was here on Thursday and returned my various pots including the Middleton lemons that she had kindly repotted, kept healthy and encouraged to grow. I am starting to wonder what we do when they become large fruiting trees.

I had my Covid jab on Tuesday and for the first time had a reaction.  I woke next morning with a headache feeling nauseous and achy. Dr Google advised a painkiller, I rested and the symptoms gradually disappeared.  I’ve been to the dentist and now have a temporary crown for a few weeks, the whole process was quick and simple.  I’ve made my Christmas cake.

We are able to see the cats in Italy via our security camera.  Before we left MrFF got me to record on the feeder a message that plays every time food is released.  When I was feeding them I used to chatter to them whilst preparing their dishes in the kitchen then encourage them to rush out to the terrace to eat.  Twice a day there is food and twice a day we can see them speeding across the lawn to the feeder when they hear my voice.  This week the food ran out and Mario went to refill the hopper.  As soon as his car pulled up in our parking area three cats appeared, mewing loudly then followed him into the garden.

It’s reassuring to know they’ve got into the routine, so far things are working well but it’s only been a couple of week, such a long time till spring.  They had practise sessions on the terrace before we moved the feeder to a concealed and sheltered spot.  I should follow their example, establish a calm and settled routine.

I

The mostly low points of our journey

We arrived back in the penthouse early Thursday evening.  Whilst it was nice to have 2 nights in the same place twice which reduced the pressure of moving on each morning it was still a long way.  Leaving on Saturday worked well, once we’d turned round at Mario’s and gone back for the adaptor MrFF had forgotten.  I went through the list of phone passport keys iPad before he started the car, affirmative.  Then I asked if he’d got the adaptor for charging, I hope so was the reply.  I explained hope wasn’t enough, I needed to know so he checked at Mario’s then drove a bit further to turn round and go back.

After a couple of hours we stopped at the services for the toilet and I managed to lock myself in.  The lock was a little button in the middle of the round handle.  It wouldn’t turn and the bar on top of the handle did nothing.  I’d reached the stage of getting my phone out to call MrFF, who later admitted he’d left his phone in the car, when a voice asked in Italian if I wanted the door open.  Yes I said I cannot do it.  Within minutes the cleaning lady had got a key and released me.  After that I didn’t lock the toilet doors unless it was a simple bar.

Our 2 nights in Bergamo were not as relaxing as I’d hoped, the weather was good with sun but the town was very quiet. Leaving early morning to driving round Milan was as ever manic, made worse as MrFf hadn’t decided which route to take to get us beyond the Alps.  He wanted to try the Simplon train tunnel but since the service was only every 90 minutes it was time critical but unpredictable with all the traffic but it worked out well.  We drove our car onto an open platform and the train took us into a narrow and very dark tunnel.  We rattled along for 20 minutes, me wondering about what we’d do in an emergency and hoping the driver had a torch.  I was glad when that was over.

We then had to head for Bern, took a wrong road, turned round and seemed to start climbing a mountain pass, at least with a decent if steep road.  I was a bit concerned as I’d seen signs that some passes were closed so I looked on line.  It said the road we were on involved train travel but when I told MrFF he dismissed it saying we’d already done the train bit.   I explained I’d googled the route from after the train tunnel to Bern.  He insisted there was no train until the sign for Bern took us into the station, fortunately the next tunnel train was waiting as there was no more road.  So off we went again into the darkness except this tunnel had two tracks and occasionally we were buffeted about and illuminated by a high speed train wizzing past in the opposite direction.  

Our night in the Alsace was fine and next morning we drive towards Colmar stopping at a nice village on the outskirts where we joined a well attended Remembrance Day service.  There was a band, members of the forces, police and fire service plus local dignitaries who laid wreaths at the war memorial, each accompanied by two small children which I thought was very appropriate.

We spent some time in Colmar which is a beautiful town but also quiet, Armistice Day is a holiday in France and well respected.

Our last 2 nights were in the champagne region, we love the little town of Vitry le Francois, the restaurant we always use, the boulangerie and the big supermarket.  On our final day before the ferry we went again to Lac du Der where we’d walked in the summer.  En route we spotted hundreds of the migrating grey cranes that stop off at the lake on their route south.

We visited a little village museum that explained how the lake was created to ease flooding in Paris.  The local river Marne feeds into the Seine and it was decided to create a lake to store the winter flood water and release it in summer.  3 villages were destroyed but some buildings, including a church, were saved and moved to the museum which also records the agricultural activities lost. It reminded me of my childhood growing up on a farm, my brother has a similar butter churn that my grandmother and my mother both used, it’s now in the garden of his retirement bungalow. 

We spent a couple of hours walking round. It was fascinating, especially hearing recorded interviews with people who had to abandon their homes and livelihoods  but the construction solved a big problem, created a beautiful recreational attraction, fishing, boating, cycling, walking, bird watching with lots of holiday accommodation, all provide jobs.  

We’d never seen the lake after the water has been released, the marina was unusable and the boats elsewhere. I think that was the best day of our whole trip.

Next morning we were up and away just after 7 hoping to catch an earlier ferry than we’d booked.  At check in the girl said we could try for the earlier one but it would depend on border control. Maybe she knew who was operating that morning.  After we left Dover on the way out I noticed our passports had not been stamped. When I checked online it said they might not be stamped but our whereabouts could be checked by our passport details.  The man examined every page of our passports then asked us where we live.  Then he asked if we had dual nationality, at which stage I realised he was looking for the stamps and explained we didn’t get them at Dover. He got a bit shouty then, said since Brexit we had to get a stamp, it was our responsibility to get a stamp and we could be in for an expensive fine.  We showed him our outward journey booking and MrFF started to explain it wasn’t our fault till I told him to shut up and not argue.  The man wrote in our passports, I thought it was the fine, but then he stamped and handed them back saying sternly even if a French policeman says you don’t need a stamp you are to say it’s our right to have a stamp and we want one, I said we’d definitely do that.  At the border control it’s always pressure to get through without holding up others, especially for us when we rush for an earlier ferry, I should have checked at Dover but then we were rushing for an earlier ferry.  So once again we were last on board parked at the back among the the big lorries but on our way over the channel.

The drive from Dover to Ilkley wasn’t bad, we are all unpacked but still tired.  Amazingly my balcony pots are still in flower. Usually I come back in November to bare earth and brown slime.   MrFF is walking tomorrow, I am at the dentist on Monday, it’s grey and wet but it’s home albeit without any oil.