Scotland/Derdyshire/Wilts holiday 2022, Day 4

 Tuesday 26/04/2022

A day in except going out to Wetherspoons for lunch which turned out to be steak day, yummy.

A quiet evening playing Mah-Jong which Stella hammered us all 6-G2-S0-S0. Fun evening....

Scotland/Derdyshire/Wilts holiday 2022, Day 3

Monday 25/04/2022.

Slept not too badly last night but up by 0530 about an hour after Sue though. Stella and Stacey were both up by 0600 but they only have themselves to blame for that as they permit their dog into the bedroom and it wakes them up,it seems for no particular reason except it is bored?

It seems Stella, Stacey & Lainie plan to go to Moffat today and then go on to the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall which is some miles north east of Moffat.

Sue and Sue decided we were going to go to Lanark as we do not believe we had been there before, but due to coffee or the need for it we ended up at The Rumblin' Tum in Moffat for just that! Oh and not to mention the oh too big tea cake that filled us up so much we had a job to finish it!

From there it is a very short stroll to the Moffat toffee shop which is always a must due to the very existence of Moffat toffee, this misnomer though is not so much a toffee as a square sherbet infused caramel crunch which is both unique and delicious!

We then progressed to Moffat Mill as Sue finds it irresistible and I find it a tat filled tourist trap designed to fleece as many of as much money as possible. I do not remember the last time I purchased anything there but alas Sue never comes away empty handed, this time it was a sherpa blanket which I will admit is warm but was it worth the £30 paid is another matter?

As usual we never got to Lanark, nothing new there then as we had set out to go to Ayr at least 3 times before we actually got to see the town?

Returned to Dumfries for lunch at KFC for me and McD for Sue + the gravy from KFC!

Then shopping at Dunelm and Tes o before retuning back to Martha's Shore Cottage to find the Mah-jong set Stella ordered waiting on the doorstep.

Taught Stacey to play after tea and she took to it like a duck to water. 

Scotland/Derdyshire/Wilts holiday 2022, Day 2

Sunday 24/04/2022.

Apart from going into Dumfries for shopping at Tesco and kicking our heels about here it was a quiet relaxing day.

There was one particular thing to note, I refuelled with petrol in a local Shell garage at £1.56.9p a litre and drove straight up to the pump and when we got to Tesco Extra the price was £1.64.9p a litre, that is an amazing 8 pence more per litre!!! But the amazing thing about it people were queueing at the pumps! Just goes to show that folk do not compare fuel prices even when they are this expensive!

Scotland/Derdyshire/Wilts holiday 2022, Day 1

Saturday 23/04/22, The Trip Up.

Left home at 0655 and headed for Collumpton services to meat up with the girls, Stella, Stacey and Lainie by name for breakfast at Mc D's.

Then Stella took over the driving for the onward journey to Frankley services. Well that was the plan but Stella's bladder knew different! Michael Wood it is then for relief of the strain and a sigh of relief was forthcomming.

At francley we had a snack and bladder emptying for us all before the onward journey with me driving, and this time Stella lasted the 2 hours to Charnock Richard services where we had lunch consisting of KFC for myself,Sue and Lainie and Subway for Stella & Stacey. We had a good 45 minute break there then I continued driving as it was expected to be a busy trip around Preston? It turned out to be remarkably quiet so 
 carried on to Tebay services, the last stop where by this time Stella was getting desperate for peeing again! 

So then onto the last leg with Stella back to driving for this leg.

We arrived at Martha's Shore Cottage at 1701, unpacked the cars and off to do the shopping for Stella, Stacey & Lainie while Sue and me sat waiting as there was not any milk in the fridge. I am so sure that in the past visits a pint was left to start us off?

By the time the girls had got the supermarket shop it was gone 7 before we got tea and I was going into a hypo so had to break open a can of 7up to tide me over!

Well eventually tea washad and the unpacking done and off to bed about the usual time of 2200. Day one was over and knackered I was! 

On that night I will wish you Good night.

Catching up and lockdown, the history?

 I have to almost relearn how to use this ruddy blog as they seem to have altered it so much in the 9 months since I last posted!

My was it as long ago as last July since I last posted on here with my whinging old fart ways! 

Well we have done very little since then except sit in doors and put on weight, as I have been shielding from the coronavirus. No matter how many times I write or say that word it is still pop to me? Anybody that was alive in the 60's will know exactly what I mean by that!

One thing that has moved on in leaps and bounds is my knowledge of Zoom and it's workings.I seem to spend a lot of my time on it what with the family groups, church groups and choir meetings etc. and that is not even mentioning personal one to one meetings with friends, the few that I still have.

Mind you were it not for the pandemic and I do not think I would have ever owned a Nintendo Switch gaming machine or learned how to play Mahjong with the tiles, it looks such a complicated game but turns out to be as complicated as you make it, it can be as simple or as complicated as you make it.

We have both had both of our vaccines, the Astra Zennica Oxford, the first on 13th Feb and the second on 1st of May 2021. It went extraordinarily well with not the slightest illness or side effects apart from a little tiredness for 24 hours.

I have become a house group leader, more through necessity than desire on my part. I was sharing the leadership with Janey Fisher, with Janey doing the teaching and me doing the pastoral and social stuff. Janey who is an author and writes under the name Jane Anstey was and still is a very good leader but alas decided for personal reasons that it was time to move on to pastures new. So off to the Welsh borders she went and someone had to take over. I now have started sharing it with Janet Slater (when she is here) who has her family in Holland and obviously spends time there when there is no pandemic to deal with.

This coming Sunday 16th May 2021 I am going to be attending a service at Bridge Church for the first time since 12th January 2020 as no sooner had I recovered from my heart bypass operation and considering attending again and it was closed due to covid restrictions. I am required to wear a mask and am not permitted to sing. 

That was yesterday and though a little nervous for some reason it was absolutely groundless as all was well organised and safe. I was lovely seeing old friends and well we were not allowed to sing but who can see what goes on behind the mask?

I really do seem to have been a boring old fart as usual over the past few months but things are opening up again as long as folk are sensible and we are off to the garden centre for coffee and then to the farm shop for decent bread, oh the joys of freedom! 😏

The Aches and Pains of this Boring Old Fart!

Will the aches and pains of old age ever go away? 

This is a question I have been constantly asking myself of late.
Over the past year I have had skin cancer (Bowen's disease) return and hopefully dealt with once again? I have had the angina dealt with by way of a bypass operation but it is the smaller niggles that are the troubling ones.
Over a year ago now it must be since I first noticed that my right shoulder was starting to give me jipp when I tried to scratch my back and it has not got better.
It seemed to get a lot worse very quickly when I had my stay in Derriford, whether it was due to rough handling during the op or just because I was rested up for a long time, who knows?
Anyway to cut a long story short for the past 3 months or so it has got so bad that it has been waking me up at night if I roll over onto that side. Well with the pandemic and how busy they have been I was hoping that it would just go away, WRONG! When it seemed to start causing problems in the region of my neck, possibly pinching a nerve or muscle I thought that it was perhaps time to act?
I finally got around to filling in the laborious form online and got a ring back from Marcus who is a nurse practitioner, whatever that is? I presume a nurse with further training anyhow he told me he to take more pain killers for a week to see if it would improve and he would ring me again then. What that was going to do if it has been bad for a year is anyone's guess?
In the meantime I had a call from the Dr's as they wanted to catch up with blood tests that should have been done over the past 3 month and had been missed. I duly went for those yesterday and was intercepted by a man called Peter, another nurse practitioner (they seem to be coming out of the woodwork) who was supposed to ring me yesterday morning but saw I was coming in for bloods and thought he could perhaps examine my shoulder while I was there!
He thinks that there is a protrusion that has developed over time and wants me to ring today and arrange an x-ray so that they can see what is going on and take it from there!

Janet is Home!

As a post script to The story of Janet in Lockdown Janet arrived home about 2230, tired, safe and well Praise God and a real answer to all our prayers over the past weeks/months!

Janet's plane approaching Bristol seemingly on time.

We went in Thursday morning to give the bungalow a final spit and polish. We being myself, Rosemarie Lane, Rosemary Hodgson and Jane Gunner (who cooked meals to leave).  There were also contributions of flowers, fruit, milk, bread, bacon, chocolate cake among other things including some cards from those above. Janey Fisher popped in to leave some flap jack.

I texted Janet this morning welcoming her back and got this lovely reply and I quote (copy and paste)

You must be psychic (only joking!!)  I've just had a delicious breakfast and picked up the phone to text you 🤣   THANK  YOU  is so inadequate but it's all I've got - I am feeling surrounded by love and friendship and I can't thank everyone enough for everything you've all done for me. Praise God for you all and I am so grateful that He led me to you all at the Bridge.  I'm actually feeling OK at the moment; my sister is coming over this morning and then Jon is bringing my car back. I'll possibly then try and sort out my three and a half months worth of post 😱. Please feel free to come over for a ☕🍰 if you'd feel like it.  I will be out walking at least once a day so maybe call first.  Thank you all again, God bless you ❤️🤗xx

Sue and I are planning to pop over to see her sometime tomorrow (Saturday) and it will be lovely to see her I am sure? Also hoping of course that Janet still has some of the chocolate cake left?

A Swarm of Bees arrive at Dowr Close!

About 1630 I looked out of the flat window to see bees swarming in the garden! Sue guessed Andy upstairs would be having his nap so she rang to get him to close his window.
We continued to watch them and they seemed to settle in the Acer tree on the centre plot.
I contacted Roger and Rosemarie Lane to give them a heads up in case our neighbour Denis was unavailable but also knowing they did not really need them.
After they settled I got Richard to contact Denis next door to come and deal with them and went out to take some pictures. (Click to enlarge).

Swarm in Acer.

Denis waiting.

Denis still waiting.

The receptacle the bees were loaded into.

It was quite amusing to watch and a good reminder of how it was done.
I had not seen this done since I lived in Trowbridge when the children were small and the process does not seem to have changed one iota.
Thank you Denis who is still sprightly at 90 years young and by 1830 he was all packed up with the bees on the back seat of his car and gone!

Another view.

The Story of Janet in Lockdown.

I have a dear friend at church who is also in my housegroup by the name of Janet.
Janet lost her husband Owen earlier in the year to cancer and decided to go and stay with one of her daughters for a couple of weeks in Holland.
Janet has two daughter who live in Holland, Renee and Tamsyn who stayed there when Janet moved back to the UK several years ago.
Well that was in March! Then lockdown happened and two weeks turned into 3 or 4 months and here we are at the end of June and it looks like Janet will be returning on the 2nd of July.
You can imagine the state of the garden? A neighbour has kindly been keeping the front garden, which is mostly lawn, mowed but the rear garden has not been touched in all that time as you will see.
However the housegroup felt it would be good to give it a general tidy up before Janet got back which happened yesterday. It was forecast to be the last dry day until Thursday when we plan to do indoors?
We met at Janet's house at 1000, we being Roger and Rosemarie Lane, Malcolm Jones and myself and got stuck in by about half past.
A few pictures to tell the tale (Click to enlarge).

These three are the before.

Malcolm Jones hard at it.

As is Rosemarie Lane.

The final four are finished

 Taken by Rosemarie Lane.

 I left at around 1145 as my shoulder was being a pain so Rosemarie Lane took some pictures when they finished at about 1245. So these last 4 are by her. Thank you Rosemarie.
(again click to enlarge).

 Well I hope that Janet is surprised because we have tried to keep it from he about the garden but she does know that we are planning to go in on Thursday morning and give the house a spring clean ready for her return!
We also plan to leave her a welcome box as she is not due home until 2230 in the evening!

Welcome Home Janet!

Interview by Jude Jones for church.

I was interviewed last Tuesday via Zoom as part of testimonies given by church members by a lovely lady, Jude Jones.
It went out on the church website as a part of the Sunday service on 21/06/2020.
I do not need to say any more as I think the YouTube clip says it all.
Just click on the picture to play.

It seems I have something called Bowen's disease on my back in 3 places. It is apparently a blemish that if not treated may turn into cancerous tissue.

The NHS definition of it.

Bowen's disease

Bowen's disease is a very early form of skin cancer that's easily treatable. The main sign is a red, scaly patch on the skin.

It affects the squamous cells, which are in the outermost layer of skin, and is sometimes referred to as squamous cell carcinoma in situ.

The patch is usually very slow growing, but there's a small chance it could turn into a more serious type of skin cancer if left untreated.

The most effective method of reducing your risk of Bowen's disease, as well as other more serious types of skin cancer, is to limit your exposure to the sun.

Sue's 70th Birthday.

We were up as normal by 0600 and Sue was opening what few cards came through the post (2 from a total of 5 that were here) and my presents after tea was made, of course! I am sure she will be getting more cards as the day and time goes on?
A surprise present from Lindy arrived on Saturday evening being 2 boxes of lovely flowers which Sue Loved.

The totally unexpected flowers from Lindy and family.

We were expecting Stella and Lainie about 0930 but Stella slept in and arrived at around 1145.
Stella presented Sue with a 7 ring and being 7 different metal necklace which was vice the present that the children were going to present her with being a Thames river trip and ride on the London Eye. Cancelled due to this bleeding virus! Lainie gave her a butterfly and Wii game.

Well these 2 reprobates arrive with gifts through the window.

As you can see the sun has now come out so we decided that we would retire to the garden with coffee and tea for a natter. Glyn came in for lunch about 1315 and Lainie and Stella stayed until about 1330 and went back home.

Yes it is an OWL made by
 Stella and Lainie.

Susan and balloon.

We had lunch and watched Songs of Praise and then it was pretty much time for us all to get together via Zoom, that was all 4 of mine, 2 of Sue's being Lindy and Stella. Lisa and some of the grand children, Joe, Emily, Lainie, Karis, Joshua, Natalie plus Michael popped in and Dea just missed us.. 

The gathering of the clan lasted for nearly 2 hours and then it was time for dinner.
Chinese take away it is and watch number VII of Star Wars.
We need to remind ourselves of the previous two as Andy has bought Sue number IX.
Nina from number 6 arrived on the doorstep with a card and plant which was really lovely of her and Alistair!

Skinflint turns the heating off!

Well today I finally turned the heating off and before the end of May as well!
I have also not had a vest on hardly at all this winter, 1) because of hardly going out due to the pandemic and 2) having spent time in hospital having the bypass op so"Nere cast a clout 'till May be out" did not apply to 2020.

TLR Kickstart at Leicester in 2015 and the 5 years since!

It is now over 5 years since this event and I am only adding it now because it has had such a profound effect on my life in Christ that I feel it needs recording.

In April 2015 I went on a weekend kickstart that was run by The Last Reformation and hosted at Holy Trinity Church Leicester.
This was a weekend that was to radically change my mind and my thinking so much that it occasioned me to leave the church (Launceston Community Church) that I belonged to and until then was quite happy in. I wandered aimlessly without a church for three and a half years just meeting with like minded folk and going to the occasional 2-4-5 meeting at Central Methodist Church in town.
At this point I will add a video of the weekend which may go some way to explain the just how it changed my thinking. Please watch it all the way through before judging it!

Healing was what took me there in the miraculous healing that I was granted by God of the cancer in my throat!
This led me on a search that led me to Torben Sondergaard, a minister from Denmark and also he teaches many things but his teaching on healing was the thing that attracted me to TLR which he founded.
I will let you make up your own mind about Torben and his teachings but at the end of the day Jesus and God are essentially at the centre of them all!

What caused me to split with Launceston Community Church.

Let me first start by saying that I was so deeply hurt and shocked by the following that it is only now over 5 years later that I feel able to write a balanced account of what happened on my return to my home church!

On my return from Leicester I was so fired up and wanted to get out into the community and tell people about Jesus. Healing them and telling them how he healed and saved me and my life in Him over the many years.
Well it was like I hit a brick wall when I went to the leadership (such as it is) to ask for support. In fact it was quite the opposite, I met with hostility and discouragement! Every way I went I was told such things as "Only the leaders of the church are equipped to heal" quoting James 5v14 at me telling me I was not equipped! I was very hurt by this and then to be told that if I did do such silly things as go out onto the streets of this town evangelising and healing I was not to tell people that I went to Launceston Community Church as they wanted nothing to do with it. I remember asking was it not commanded of us in the Bible to go forth and do this I was then told it was not relevant for today's church!!!
I remember also that a man named Robin Talbot gave a prophecy back in 2010 just after the church moved from Egloskerry to St. Josephs in town which said..... and I quote.

"Prophecy given to Launceston Community Church in July 2010 by Robin Talbot.

God is giving you a spirit of creativity and expectancy.

Don’t wait for a sovereign move of God to come upon you. For the Lord is waiting for you to step out in faith.

The Lord tells us to live by faith, to walk by faith, to perform acts of faith by the Holy Spirit.

Do not hold back in order to be in step with others for I am calling you to be the pioneer – the advance party, the ones to open up the way for others to follow.

Be prepared to pay the price of being radical.  I’ve not called you to be acceptable, I’ve called you to be amazing.

Your increase depends upon your hunger for My Presence and My Glory.

There are people here who know what it is to move in faith. Release them, respect them - provide them security to move in faith.

Steady the boat to let them step out on water but do not steady the Ark of God’s Presence when His Spirit moves."

I felt very much that this was a prophecy that included what I was proposing especially the highlighted which was, I believe instructions for the church to support these things.
Well I was in no uncertain terms told that "THIS CHURCH DOES NOT BELIEVE IN PROPHECY" To this I was gobsmacked to say the least. A considerable percentage of the Bible, being the word of God consists of prophecy!
At this I felt very hurt but also very shocked at what I was being told and after some considerable thought and prayer felt I had option but to distance myself from this unbelief!
It only goes to show what level of control a church leadership can have over just what the members of their church believe? It is therefore easy to understand how cults and sects become established because sheep really do tend to believe what shepherds tell them, no matter how erroneous or misguide it is! The things that I can see I was being fed by the leadership of LCC only go to prove this to me!

I am now settled in what I consider to be the only God centered church in Launceston, Bridge Church which worships in a warehouse on Pennygillam industrial estate and holds assets with very loose fingers.
It is strange times at the moment with the pandemic and everything but it is very much, I believe in God's control and as I am sure will become apparent will turn out for the best. 
After all Romans 8:28 says, And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. (BSV)

After 7 Weeks of Lockdown our Visit to Crackington Haven.

Well after 7 weeks of being stuck indoors, for Sue especially it was a really pleasant change to be able to get out into the fresh air and take a trip to the seaside.
Just after lunch we set out about 1320 and with a little bit of apprehension off we set!
The hesitation I think on my part was because I was not sure whether we would get stopped by the police en route as we were going so far in the car? We need not have worried, we saw not a trace of the law and on arrival at Crackington Haven we parked up and went to the beach for in excess of an hour and it was wonderful just to be out in the fresh air and smelling the sea!
The trip home was quite uneventful coming back around the lanes via Canworthy Water, Splatt and Egloskerry and with so little traffic I think even Stella would have enjoyed it!

A selfie with Sue in the background.

Such a beautifully warm day.

Coronavirus! Ah Now, what have we been up to trying to preserve our sanity whilst in isolation?

Now there is a question?

5D Diamond Painting.

To be honest it has been quite difficult at times especially since the weather has got so nice over the past 3 weeks or so!
The mornings are easy as it is the same as we have always done being in separate rooms doing a bit of games on facebook and surfing the net as it was always called. Then whereas if the weather was nice we would go out to NT properties or do other things we no longer have those options?

A 1,000 that took Sue yonks

So we have found other things, we read, well Sue does mainly while I listen to books on Audible or listen to plenty of music.
Sue additionally has been doing colouring in her books and also this lovely Diamond cut picture to be framed and pit on the wall.
I have been doing plenty of bible study
Additionally we have been watching oodles of DVD's, Netflix and Amazon Prime thereby keeping us out of mischief.

Of course that is not to mention the wonderful contact with family and friends from church and choir via telephone and other ways that are open to us all today, such as skype, zoom, messenger and whatsapp! All of them where you can see as well as speak.

This one is a 1,000 and 2 x 500's done between us.

Then of course there are the inevitable jigsaw puzzles, just 500's for me and 1,000's for suicidal Sue. I am going to put pictures of some of them on here just to remind us in years to come.

Two cars in the village.
1 of a set of 4 called out and about.

A new car in the village.
Number 2 of the same set.

Day out.
Number 3 of 4 was finished on 22nd April.

A Stop to Look Back.
The last one of the 4 finished 27th April.

28th January to 17th April 2020. The Strangest of Times!

The first 5 weeks home I could do very little due to weakness, weather and lack of driving licence.
I just got my licence back and started to get out and about taking Sue shopping and collecting our Friday fish and chips which I always thoroughly enjoy.
I went to a house group that Dave Lewis collected me for at Vera's and then the poop hit the fan so to speak as the coronavirus pandemic struck the UK.
We have hardly been out for the last 4 or 5 weeks except for walks around the block as we are in isolation with Stella and neighbours doing the shopping and other things that are needed.
Yes that is no church, no choir, no shopping, no fish and chips just these four walls and the garden. Thankfully in that respect the weather has got warm and sunny, until today that is!
There has been a clapping and things have been going on Thursday evenings at 2000 so last night Chris Pitt who lives at number 6 decided he would brighten things up and do some singing in the car park making sure that we kept social distancing rules. I will put a couple of short clips here.

 Today it is back to rain so normality is back! Lol.
Well that has just about been the highlights of our past 3 months here at Dowr Close.

My slow but sure return to health.

So far it has been a slow process, mainly due I feel to age and inability to get out and exercise. The first is due process and the second it was constantly pissing down for the first 2 months that I was out of hospital.
Kim, who was visiting me from cardiac care seems pleased enough anyway apart from the slight hiccup that occurred on Monday the 10th February which reporting here is likely to get me deep in the poop as I have not told anyone else except Kim. I am putting it here as there is little likelihood of it being seen!
I was sat at my PC when I came over all queer, I do not know what happened, all I do know is that I lost the use of everything and appeared to black out. I came to at 0832 slumped in my chair and feeling somewhat nervous and very shaky.
I spoke to Kim about it when she visited and she said that all she could think is that a very small blood clot possibly passed through my brain and had since broken up (dispersed) as it had not reoccurred. This is where I get into trouble as she asked me what Sue thought about it. I told her I had not told Sue as she would probably have immediately called 999 and I would have been carted off to hospital again.
I was told to pass the info on to Sue in case it happened again which she thought was highly unlikely now as it had been so long since the event. Of course I did not tell Sue but as all seems to be good I am noting it here so there is a record!
I am so thankful to Sue for all she has done nursing me back to health especially when her own is not so good.
Stella, Stacey and Andy also need a mention for all the help with transport and the odd bit of shopping. That is also so current now with the Covid 19 pandemic as it is.
I was due for my last check up with Derriford on 19th March which was cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.
Kim rang me during the following week to check how I was and sign me off.
So hopefully it will all be plain sailing from here on.

5 day stay turns into 8!

It was planned that as everything went well with the operation that I should return home on Friday, day 5 but alas due to a collapsed lung during the night of Weds/Thurs I was to remain a further 3 days.
Apparently what caused it is a bit of a mystery but eventually it was put down to being a smoker for some 52 years leaving my lungs with an inherent weakness especially of the left lung causing it to leak. It eventually sealed itself on the Sunday morning, so was decided as long as it stayed sealed for 24 hours I could return home on the Monday.
After some delays and a wait of some 5 hours while getting medication and x-rays were taken we eventually set out for home at around 1830 arriving home about 1915.
Thank you to Andy Fortmuller for getting Sue there to pick me up. Stella was due to do it but unfortunately she had college at Truro on that day which we all thought was given due priority.
It was lovely being home if somewhat uncomfortable due to not having the aids such as specialist bed that you have in hospital! That was far outweighed though by the love of a wonderful nurse and wife and by far superior food.

Operation Day!

Up bright and early, being nil-by-mouth, so showered and changed ready to go to theater at 0715.
Had premeds then off down we went and the nerves are now getting to me so deep in prayer and in the knowledge that many others are praying for me also.
Got there and met by the anesthetist that had spoken to me last evening and to be truthful I do not remember much more about the day except coming around and opening my eyes to see Stella, Sue and Lainie speaking to me. Stella seemed to be a little upset but the other two were fine and I even remember Lainie telling me that she loved me. Now that was a moment to remember!
I can honestly remember nothing else of this day.
As a footnote there was no need to renew any valves so it was just a double by-pass.

Admission to Derriford again.

Had a quiet day arriving at the hospital early, as usual getting to Clearbrook ward about 1600, thank you again Stella.
Well the first thing that I learned was that I was second on the list again so may be going back home again tomorrow.
We met with Mr Asopa's assistant and told him of the problems that we have had since my last admission.
Lo and behold the next thing is Mr Asopa arrives and we have been promoted from second to first for "medical reasons"! Not going to argue with that one!
Shortly after Sue and Stella went home leaving me to have tea and then it was getting settled into an adjoining ward ready to go down at 0715 tomorrow for the operation (fingers crossed) provided no emergencies come in in the meantime.
I did feel a little sorry for David who they jumped me in front of and went from first to second!

Well here we are 2020 already!

We have much to look forward to this year, but to start with we have to get my operation sorted.
We have the new date of 19th January as admission day for the op on the 20th. Lets just pray that it goes ahead on this date?

What a Surprise!

What a wonderful surprise I had yesterday afternoon when I answered the door about 1530. There stood Richard, Ashleigh, James, George and Kira-Joy!

Richard, I did try to catch him whilst not talking, failed!

Totally unexpected, I would have half expected to see them if I had had the operation and was still in hospital but I thought all chance of seeing anyone before Christmas unless I went to them was gone?

Not only that but they came bearing gifts in the form of a cake made by Sharon, and oh so lush it was too!

George, James, Kira-Joy and Ashleigh.

Well then it was off to The Callywith in Bodmin for dinner which I was not allowed to even contribute towards, So thank you again Son!

Time alas went oh too quickly and they were heading back to their hotel in Plymouth as Kira-Joy was knackered but it was wonderful spending time with you, short though it was.
I love you all dearly and it is always a joy spending time with my family!
As a post script it came as a bit of a shock to Ashleigh to hear while we were waiting for her food that her ex boyfriend  had died in a crash and that understandably left her thinking about him and his family. Sorry Ash. xx

What a fiasco! Admission to hospital. 03/12/2019

Due to be booked into hospital (Fal Ward) at 1615 - 1630, duly arrived on time thanks to Stella for the lift.
Got booked into Clearbrook ward and we were met by the surgeon Mr S Asopa who informed us that they are looking at the possibility of having to do a valve as well as it looks like one of them is getting quite badly furred up. Wow a double bypass and a valve! Beat that one Phil.....
I then had tea (mushroom soup, ham sandwich, jelly and ice cream) and to find a bed.
Got to bed D3 at about 1930 to settle in for the night and slept fitfully.
Saw someone come just after midnight and remove my water jug as I was nil-by-mouth from then.
They came to do obs at 0600 and to wake us but I went back to sleep for a short time stirring again at 0730 when my bladder decided I should rise.
They came to make my bed at 0900 and asked me to shower and put on a gown ready to go down for the op. They also made my bed with strict instructions that I should not "mess it up by getting on it" as it was ready to go with me to the operating theatre.
Spent the morning with occasional visits from the nursing staff but most of the time I spent praying and reading my bible.
At around 1130 the anaesthetist came to talk and we were looking at about 1300-1330 going ahead which meant about 1230ish departure from the ward so I was given latex protection for my elbow and bum to protect it from body fluids etc that they would be in prolonged contact with.
Time marched on and I was beginning to get anxious by 1330 especially as at 1245 the staff nurse had rang and they said a few minutes.
Well to cut a long story short at 1410 a man in green came and told me that due to problems with the previous patient it was now too late to start mine and offered me another date, the 19th of December which I duly declined as it meant I would be in hospital over Christmas which is not fair on relatives and friends that are committed to getting Sue back and forth from the hospital for visits.

This was my nosh after 14 hours of nil-by-mouth.

As a reward they gave me 2 mugs of stewed tea, a chicken sandwich, fruit and yoghurt, cheese and crackers as I had been nil-by-mouth for so long and "must be hungry"! No I was ruddy ravenous....

They did offer to get me home but could not say how long it would be, the average wait was about 4 hours so Sue got neighbour Andy to bring her as Stella was at Truro college not expecting anything to happen today.

It looks like now we are looking at a date in January. hopefully early? I will post on here when I know........

I now have a new date being 19th January 2020..

Pre-admission Appointment. 07/11/19 at Derriford.

Left home before 1100 as have to get lunch before the appointment at 1310 on Erme Ward and any excuse for a KFC!

Follow up to this.

Got there in plenty of time as we found a parking space straight away so arrived on the ward at 1245.

The appointment consisted of firstly having weight, hight, blood pressure and ECG. 

Then two blood tests. I am still mystified as they actually took them separately, one from each arm! Why? The first one finished taking hers and then said go and sit in the green chair and she will take more blood? Mystifying or what?

Then back to the waiting area to see the nurse, Esther by name, a lovely friendly girl who certainly knew her stuff and explained to Sue and myself the ins and outs of what was to happen both on admission and during the operation. 

I think it was at this point that Sue began to realise just what a major procedure the operation is? When Esther said it was expected to take at least 4 hours and that the the tubes they use are taken from my leg and they usually cut from ankle to above the knee to get the length they need, the look on Susan's face was a picture to behold! We were then told that I needed a chest x-ray as I had not had one for some considerable time and certainly not since we had moved south.

Esther then took us with my notes up to the 6the floor for my 1500 appointment to see the surgeon a Mr Sanjay Asopa who turned out to be a very nice man. There we were further given instruction about medication and when to stop those that need stopping. I also signed the consent for for the op at this point. 

Then Ester took me to a side room for a check on my vital's as she called them. 

Esther then released us and it was off to get a chest x-ray which I expected to take some time but was pleasantly surprised to be done almost immediately.

By this time it was about 1530 so back to the car and home.

Airs, Graces & One-upmanship!

I had a visit from my daughter Elizabeth and I am left feeling angry, frustrated and annoyed!
From the moment that she walked in the door it started by more or less saying she was not going to take her shoes off. Although she could see with the light carpets it was obvious that that was what everyone else does!
I told her how I liked her shoes only to be told "well they are doc martens" and she never wears anything but! I neglected to mention that I have them but not exclusively as I felt I would be looked down on even more!
Who the bloody hell does she think she is, coming in here and treating the place as her "domain" while stressing that Brendan is sat in the car! I suppose he considers us too below him to grace us with his presence!!!
What did my dear old mum call those with airs and grace and thought themselves too far above their station and I quote, "Lord & Lady Muck of the shithouse". 
Well at least she had lowered herself to come here for the first time ever! I think that is only because after the fiasco of her 50th when my family (who I think she has forgotten she is part of) were pointedly treated as the lowest of the low and totally different to "their friends and Brendans family" I point blank refuse to wait on their whims any longer and go there. Oh and the small thing that I am going into hospital for a bypass op?
Not that that made any difference really as she never stopped talking about her illness and how bad she is all the time she was here, oh and that after she said about her daughter Alice being selfish as she had not visited her in hospital. Take the log out of your own eye first is all I have to say!!!!

OK RANT OVER!

addendum 30/12/2019

Some thoughts on the above visit.

I have had plenty of time to dwell and think of the comments that I made above and I think with things that have happened since it only goes to confirm what I said!

On reflection also we (Sue and I) have talked about it and come to the conclusion that not only was this place treated like she owned it but both Sue and I were talked to & treated just like we were her servants.

This has been growing worse over the past 10 to 15 years and it has now got to the point where I get a knot in my stomach every time the phone rings and I see that it is Liz and I am ashamed to say it has also got to the point where I do not know her as remotely resembling the child that I brought up?

Well Susan is her father's daughter after all?

Sue needed to go to Stella's flat to feed her 2 hamsters this morning as she is on holiday in Scotland.

Having got up and had breakfast, showered and dressed I was ready to go. 

Sue also needed to go to the bank to change the machines we use for logging into online banking so I dropped her in the square and came back home.

At about 1210 I get a phone call to say could I pick her up?

So off I trots and when we get home it transpires that Sue was unable to find her keys'. So then it was a case of "hunt the keys" which reminded me so much of the late Ronald Dowdle, Sue's father. He always had a problem with losing his keys'. He would have been a hundred years old this year, bless him.

Anyway to continue the saga she went through all her drawers, everywhere she could think of as they had not been seen, it appears since before we went on holiday to Scotland, blimey that was mid September and Sue had put them in a "safe place" while we went away as she would not need them and this on top of mislaying the spare car keys before we went away?

In the end it occurred to me that I had not seen her look in the light handbag that I remember her using before we went away, you know the one that you left at Danny's! Lol.

Well needless to say that was where they were when we cleared all the DVDs out from in front of the old wardrobe there it was.

It is still a total mystery to me as to why Sue did not check she had the keys before she left here? 

So another trip out tomorrow it seems to feed the hamsters? Better luck this time hopefully?

Thoughts and fears about the impending operation?

Whilst we were on holiday I missed an appointment for an echocardiogram. That has been rearranged for the 28th of October and was I think perhaps arranged to see if any damage was done during the episode or event before we went away when I ended up in A&E.
I think what has brought it home more and brought forth these apprehensions and fears also arriving while we were away was a Cardiac Pre-admission Appointment for the 7th November. That usually means that the operation is planned within 2 or 3 weeks from then?
In answer to the above it seems I am to be admitted on 3rd December and the operation is planned for the 4th? This is as long as no emergencies come up in the meantime that will delay it.
Strange as it seems I am not particularly worried about the operation, I think that is because I have complete trust in God and the path He has chosen for me! Yes there will always be little niggles but I put that down to Satan trying to put fears and unfounded concerns into my mind.
Funny thing is I know nothing as yet as to whether it is just a bypass, double triple or more and to be honest it is totally in God's hands and I am sure it will be revealed to me in good time?

New corner suite

Well today it arrived. After much procrastination.
It is quite comfy but I am sure it will get more so over time and use.

Why we could not stay at Rose Cottage!

Why it was no longer possible for us to stay at Rose Cottage!
There were a great many issues within the property that Sue in particular did not feel comfortable or safe with and they were:-

The en-suite, step and basin.

Shower over bath, no handrails.

1a) Both showers were very difficult for us to access, the en-suite was difficult to use due to 2 steep steps and also had a loose basin you could not hold onto, 1b)the one over the bath was impossible due to lack of aids (grab handles/handrails)

Step from lounge to kitchen.

2) The step down from the lounge to the kitchen was onto a polished tile floor that was slippery and quite steep.
3) Accessing the garden was nigh on impossible because of the gravel and uneven surfaces which became slippery when wet.
4) The off road parking was a joke as it took so long to manoeuvre the car to a position where it was possible to access the doors, so it was only really convenient to park on the road at the front. Also see 3.

Sofa with packing.

5) The sofa in the lounge had collapsed springs and it was almost impossible to rise easily from without packing it with cushions to raise you up.
6) The spare room was hazardous to get into the bed one side due to a mantle that blocked one side of the bed. (We did not use this room so was not an issue for us) but felt it needed noting.
7) There were notes here there and everywhere with house rules on them which were mainly common sense but made it feel like you were children not to be trusted!
So that is 9 reasons in all and here are a few photos to back them up.

S.R.T. Day 23. Thurs 10/10. The Trip Back Home to Cornwall.

Ah it seems the Satnav surprises us again!

What a pleasant surprise it was as well. I had in my head that I was in for a boring ole trip home via the A1, A1M, M18, M1, A42, M42, M5 & A30, how wrong could I be? The Satnav being programmed for the fastest route had other ideas!

We set off from Rose Cottage at 0640 toward Berwick-upon-Tweed along the B6470 for about 1 and a half  miles and it turned us down a lane for about a mile or so and right onto the A698.
We followed this (A698) via Kelso and by now it was starting to get light and we could see a lovely sunrise behind us. This road carried us on via Selkirk where we picked up the A7 going via Hawick (Hoik), Langholm and Longtown following the Scottish Borders Route to Carlisle, finally picking up the M6 at jcn44.
This was a beautiful road that we had followed in parts before whilst staying and touring about from Jan Murray's at Glencaple.
By now it was time for breakfast so we stopped for a bacon roll before the long drag down the M6 and M5 as far as Michael Wood services for a lunchtime KFC, stopping only the once in between to do my blood sugar and urinate.
Then it was a non-stop run on home via the M5 & A30 arriving at around 1620.
480 miles in 9 hours 40 minutes with stops! Not bad for an old 'un? Lol.

Scottish Road Trip. Day 22. Weds 09/10. Prep day.

Well today is the penultimate day of our time away on holiday!
Sue is getting the cases packed and I am getting the car fuelled up and oil & water checked then to try to put it into what is described as "large parking area" in the rear of the cottage which I more describe as a postage stamp sized, seeing as the car has to be put in at an angle even to get the doors open and the gates closed!
I will then get it mostly packed for the trip back tomorrow.

Liz is in the BRI.

Had a call from Liz on Saturday to say that she has a DVT. I am sure that I am the only person who does not know what the hell she was talking about? Anyway to cut a long story short I had a message today to say that she had a trip in an ambulance at 0500 this morning to the BRI as it has moved and is causing her pain.

S.R.T. Day 21. Tues 08/10. Lindisfarne & Bamburgh Castle.

We were up by 7am and had a shower nearly falling yet again so had a discussion about it over breakfast and we finally decided that enough is enough and with all the issues concerning the property in which we are staying (link to rose cottage). We have had enough of living with the possibility of falling from the shower and from the step down from the lounge to the kitchen. We have decided that we are going to return home on Thursday, Sue was ready and quite willing to go on Monday but I have persuaded her to stay until Thursday! I will go more into this when we are home and in another post?

Well we were out by 1000 and heading for Holy Island aka Lindisfarne and going over the causeway noticed how near the water was to covering it and reaching the other side decided we possibly did not want to be stuck there for 5 to 6 hours so returned to go down the coast to Bamburgh and following that to Alnwick to visit the castle there.

Bamburgh Castle from the town.

Needless to say this as it normally does changed by the minute and seeing such a beautiful castle at Bamburgh decided we would have a look not realising that it was not English Heritage. £11.25 each later and the cheeky sods even charge £3.00 on top of that for parking!

Saddleback pig and British Shorthorn Bull.

I will admit though that it was worth every penny that Sue spent. I bought lunch there and Sue got some lovely bone china tea mugs with animals on for my silver wedding anniversary present.
Three and a half hours later and very tired we limped back to the car and had to admit that it was worth every penny.

Sue's mug from Bamburgh.

We are going to have to return to the area to revisit Holy Island when perhaps I have had my operation and am more able to tackle the hill up to the monastery.
Photos to follow when home.
Returned to Rose Cottage for tea and nap!

S.R.T. Day 20. Monday 07/10. Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Rain forecast for the day so planned a ride out stopping at a wayside pub for lunch.
The precipitation failed to materialise so went for a short ride and ended up in Berwick-upon-Tweed about 1200 and decided lunch here would be nice then a wander after. Found a very helpful fellow who recommended a pub called The Brewers Arms saying it was reasonably priced and the food was good, he even told us where to park near it.
Had lunch, gammon and pineapple for me and the same but with egg for Sue! Turned out he was right and we are going to trip advisor it when I get home it was so good and unfortunately they do not have a web site.
Back to the cottage for tea and a nap!
Goodnight all.

S.R.T. Day 19. Sunday 06/10. Yet Another Recovery Day.

I tend to call them lazy days but I have come to realise especially after long drives that I do definitely need recovery time. I am so pleased that we took 4 days doing 3 stages to get up to Thurso for the start of our holiday.
I must admit that the closer we get to the final day travelling the 479 miles to get from here to Cornwall, the more I look at it with trepidation and wonder how long it is going to take me to recover from this one?

S.R.T. Day 18. Sat 05/10 Banff to Norham (Berwick-upon-Tweed).

Up and car packed before breakfast which we had at Ocean View as there were no suitable paces we knew of on the way!
Away at 0930 ish deciding to call at a viewpoint overlooking the three bridges over the Forth so put that postcode in the sat-nav expecting it to take us via Aberdeen?
Obviously and I am so pleased to say that there being a major hold up in the Aberdeen area the sat-nav had other plans for us!
Firstly I was mystified as to why it turned us onto the A97 Huntley road so we had a conflab and decided there must be a reason for this so followed instructions and went via Huntley and Lumsden (sorry Timothy for those old enough) Then it turned us onto the A944 via Bellabeg and into the Grampian Mountains, from here on the scenery just got better and better!
We followed the A944 until we were turned onto the very lovely B976 which is a single track road with passing places.
Imagine our surprise and delight on coming to the end of this road at seeing a RED SQUIRREL cross the road in front of us and paused for us to get a good look before vanishing up a tree.
We then turned onto the A93 following this all the way to Perth via Braemar, Spittal of Glenshee which is big skiing country seeing another Red Squirrel crossing the road on the way to which I remarked to Sue, "If that had been a grey I would have put my foot down to hit it" and I meant it!

Shortly after this we stopped for a cuppa and cake lunch at Cray pottery tea rooms called "Wee House of Glenshee" where they had the strangest sign in the toilet and I quote, "Please do not flush anything except toilet paper down the toilet. Please use the bin provided. Thank you"!! Of course with my literal mind I imagined the bin to become pretty full very quickly as it was very small! Ha Ha Ha!

Following continually on the A93 until we reached Perth, skirting the outside to get onto the M90 and her it gets boring as it then started to rain quite heavily.

Just about all we got to see of the Forth Rail Bridge!

Alas this meant we would not be stopping for photos so on we went around Dunfermline and over the Queensferry Bridge for the first time as I had been over the Forth Road Bridge when up here in 2004 and picking up the A720 Edinburgh ring road, crawling, until we came off on the A68 at Oxton then the A697/B6456 to Duns/B6460 zigzagging on different roads until we reached our home for the next week in West St. Norham.
Unpacked and off to Tesco for supplies.
Sue came out with a face like thunder as they did not have a cooked chicken that she had planned for meals for the next couple of days. In fact she was so cross that several other things we required were forgotten!LOL.
Back for curry and rice for tea and a quiet evening watching strictly.