Monday

Morning, everyone.  Brrr, it was cold yesterday and it's cold now too, so cold that the heating has clicked on.  I have on my warm towelling dressing gown and slippers and I can still feel it.  It's also windy and rainy and, in fact, absolutely disgusting for the last day in April.  It has to warm up properly soon, right?

Firstly, for Sue:  here's the jam recipe you mentioned.  I hope you like it.
http://fooddiaryofteacher.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/recipe-strawberry-rhubarb-and-cranberry.html

As predicted, yesterday was a lazy day, a gentle day, a get-on-with-your-cross stitch day.  It was also a day when the aches came back somewhat so I was glad to take things easy and go with the flow.  There's always one day, isn't there?  A reminder, if one were needed, that I am listening to.  I'm fine now, don't worry, but maybe I needed another poke apart from the ones some of you are giving me!

I had a little mooch around the Approved Foods site.  I don't use the place much as most of the 'bargains' are unhealthy, fatty, sugary, processed stuff which doesn't appeal at all but today I got lucky and they had bags of Hovis granary flour.  I love that flour and use it half and half to make a delicious loaf but it's virtually disappeared from the shops now, for some reason, and I had used my last bagful.  I ordered loads of bags and will keep them in the freezer which works well.  I also got a few more bits and pieces, like chicken stock powder which I use quite a lot, but the flour was the main part of the order.

I'm on the beetroot juice now.  I'm not sure whether I like it or not and certainly I don't look forward to it with unmitigated pleasure, but I will plug away at it and we shall see.  It can't hurt anyway.  Also I'm going to get down to the gym today to join.  I NEED to get that done and then started as soon as I am able. 
So - exercise, low sodium, healthy diet, losing more weight, lots of veg, beetroot juice and meds from the GP.  Can't do more!  Unless you know better, of course.  :-)

I've decided, after yesterday, that I'll leave tuition another week before restarting.  You never know and it's less than a week so that seems the right thing to do. 

So - today I will pop to the gym, I have some washing to do and I ought to change my sheets as well, I want to Google for some more nice, low fat and healthy recipes.  I have to sort out that bedding I mentioned before and it's a nice, gentle task so it's on the list.  For the rest of the time I will continue to indulge myself by sitting and resting and making lists - at the moment it is 'what to take to Center Parcs!).
Sounds a nice day, doesn't it?

Sunday

Good morning.  Another dull, damp morning and the forecast for next week isn't any better.  It'd better brighten up before June, that's all I can say!

Yesterday was good.  I spent some time in the kitchen making some fruit cordial and sort of candying the citrus peel afterwards so as not to waste it.  I also made some lovely tomato and lentil soup using some tomatoes frozen last summer (must do that again - I peeled them and froze them whole and they've been very handy).  I also contacted my friend who is going to get me some more bread flour from our local mill (she gets it at cost price).

Then I ploughed on with the cross stitch while watching back to back River Cottage episodes.  I've nearly finished the most boring bit, the bowl, and have started the leaves and flowers.  No major errors requiring massive unpicking - yet (fingers crossed).  It's when I do that, that the project tends to be shelved!

Oh - and I ordered another of those swimming costumes from Cotton Traders.

Today looks like being more of the same except that Beth is coming over for lunch which will be lovely.  And I must contact my 'exam' families to organise tuition for after the bank holiday.  I've decided I will take two more weeks off and then resume, mainly because I feel very tired still and it seems the most sensible thing to do.  However, a few have exams coming up and I have made them a priority.

Given that I'm feeling OK and have no pain (I'm off the tablets too), I shall probably drive to Morrisons and do a bit of a shop, particularly for fresh veg as I'm getting through them a lot faster now!  It's nice not to have to weigh out the carrots any longer.  In the evening, I have ironing and at some point I want to sort out my bedding shelf as there's some old stuff I don't use any more and it could or should be handed on/recycled.

So a nice, quiet, restful day really.  I hope yours is good too.

Saturday

Morning, everyone.  Dull and dismal, raining, blah, blah.  I always feel so sorry for kids (and their parents) when the weekends are wet.  It's not warm either and yesterday I turned the heating on for a while.  I want my spring back again!!  Don't we all?

Never mind, I made use of the time inside to sleep (several times, lazy me), watch daytime telly, bake crumpets, make some orange and lemon cordial and get on with my cross stitch.

I've finished the house one and here's a scan of it.  It needs pinning out and pressing properly first and I still haven't decided how to mount it (or even IF to mount it).  I enjoyed doing it and am pleased with the results.

I've started another one, chosen from my box of kits.  Here's a scan of the picture that came with it.  It's more challenging than the house, especially at first, but it's going OK.

(apologies for the colour - it's brighter than that really)

I'm continuing to feel extremely well.  So well that next week I am going to pop down to the gym and take out a membership.   I think I've already mentioned this (more than once!!!) but I am taking out a year's membership, about half of which will be while I finish losing this weight and then. after that, toning up.  After a year I will think again.  It'll be mostly swimming and they have a lovely pool there.
I'll see if I can pay for the whole year at once, the reasoning being if I've paid, I will go and also I have saved the money so I may as well.

With that in mind, last week I ordered a new cossie which arrived yesterday.  I already have several but I wouldn't dare wear them - they keep falling off!  This one is a reinforced, armour plated one a size smaller and - it fits!  It actually fits.  Snugly, admittedly - but then that's what swimming costumes do, don't they?  It gives me a proper shape and I'm really pleased with it so I think I'll get another one the same.

I'm still feeling quite tired at times so I'm going to have another easy day - an easy weekend, in fact - and just do friendly, familiar, homey things as and when I feel like it.  To celebrate the end of the veggie restriction, I am going to make a tomato and lentil soup - it goes with the weather, after all!

Have a good weekend and stay warm and dry!

Friday

Good morning, everyone.
Although I think it is fairly dry right now, there's rain forecast all day and tomorrow and Sunday are supposed to be shockingly awful which is a shame as it will stop an allotment trip (me watching Beth put the potatoes in).  There's even a weather warning out for those two days so I guess it means staying in and chilling.

It feels extremely odd to have to keep reminding myself to chill, stay sitting down, rest.  It just doesn't feel right but it's very nice, all the same.  I've nearly finished my 'house' cross stitch and have dug out another nice one, a bowl of flowers.  I'll try and remember to scan the picture so you can see it. 

Yesterday (and this morning), I was and am feeling amazingly fit and well.  Most of the aches have disappeared and yesterday pm I walked along to school (with a friend/ex-colleague, not by myself) to attend a safeguarding update that I have to do soon, giving everyone a surprise at the same time.  It's not far and I wasn't alone and, oh, it was lovely to be out in the sunshine and fresh breeze for a while.  When I got back, after dashing out to get the washing in and out of the rain, I rested and felt splendid.  It must have been a very good anaesthetic because I'm having none of the dizziness, etc, that I had last time.
I shall be careful though, I promise, and listen to my body.  If I need to rest, I can and will rest.

I stepped up to the plate - or, rather, the glass - and started the beetroot juice.  It's a fairly individual flavour, isn't it, and I'm not sure whether I liked it or not.  I bet a shot of something would improve it - no, not vodka (shame), but maybe tomato juice and a shot of Lea and Perrins or similar.  I must try some mixes and see.

In the afternoon my bp monitor thingy arrived so I checked it out.  Dead easy to use and while maybe it is not totally accurate to compare results from different machines, it looks as if things have settled a bit now.  Still too high but nothing like earlier in the week or last week.  Reassuring, if nothing else.

No weighing myself this week.  I'm leaving it for a few weeks to let everything get back to normal again.  I still feel like a little tublet, still bloated from the 'inflation' and things are - er - releasing themselves only slowly.  Very little discomfort yet though  maybe I have that to come.  :-)

This morning someone is coming round about some repairs and then the cleaners come and work their weekly magic which takes off any pressure to go any housework over the weekend, apart from washing/ironing.  Goodness, how spoilt I am!!!  I still haven't got those seeds planted so that's fairly high on the informal agenda or harvests will be late this year.

I'm going to take the regular tablets for just one more day and then tomorrow see how it all goes without them.  I don't think they're needed today really but I'm being sensible and doing what I am told for once!

Thursday

Good morning, everyone.  It was a bit of a mixed up day yesterday, weather-wise.  Lovely sunshine in the morning but by the afternoon clouds had rolled over and we got several short and sharp showers breaking the sunshine.  True April showers, I guess.

Two friends came round.  Each time I was asleep!  Oh, dear.  One of them came back in the afternoon and we had a nice chat.  She bought a little bag of fruit with her for a laugh and I will certainly enjoy eating the contents.  What a lovely idea.

Two lots of flowers also arrived so the house is looking bright and lovely at the moment.  I've been spoilt, I really have.

Everything is quite manageable with basic tablets taken regularly.  I'll carry on with them today and then, tomorrow, I will see how long I can go between doses.  I went all night without any which I was pleased about.  The main 'problem' is the shoulder pain which is referred pain from my liver (they tell me).  The rest is just windy aches now and again!

The skirt arrived and it's lovely although, as I suspected, a maxi on short me, not a midi.  It is far too nice to turn up though and has that hippy-ish air I like so much.  It'll look nice with either a white or navy T shirt.  Very pleased.

Inevitably, the weight is yo-yoing at the moment.  I suppose I shouldn't weigh right now and I'm certainly not recording the results as I know it will all settle again.  It is lovely no to have to worry about no protein at breakfast or no carbs at lunch at lunch !  I am stewing some of last year's rhubarb for breakfast as a celebration!
(it should also help the old bowels to get started again)

So all's well really.  And the sun is shining.  Lovely!

Wednesday

Good morning, everyone.  Wasn't it a dull day yesterday - dull and damp by the end of the day.  Good for the allotment, mind you.  Today is supposed to be similar, dull and breezy with light rain showers.  Just as well I'm not planning to go anywhere!

Well, I didn't need to have worried.  Yes, the BP was raised, even more than last week because - you know - hospital and all that.  But it didn't matter.

I arrived at 7:15 (thank you, Beth, for dropping me off) and was quickly taken to my room, a neat double room with an ensuite and a wall mounted telly, not that I took advantage of the latter.  By 10:45 I had been 'processed' , met surgeon and anaesthetist, signed forms and was taken down to the anaesthetic room (sign on the door saying 'Welcome to our operating theatre' - cute) and was feeling woozy from the first bit of anaesthetic.  A bit like alcohol but without the hangover!
No idea how long it took as I was very sleepy but by 4:00 I was awake, had enjoyed some hot toast and black coffee, been to the loo and was getting dressed.  Very slick without the least sense of rush.  Everyone was lovely, friendly and reassuring.

It had to happen.  As I was coming to in the recovery room, the nurse caring for me looked at my notes and said 'You're Mrs Clark from N... S... school, aren't you?'. 
'Ye-e-es,' said I, slightly warily.
'You taught him in Y1,' came the reply.  'Z O [child's name].'  Fortunately, I remembered him and, after a little chat, she said, almost as an after thought, 'You were his absolutely favourite teacher there.'
Wasn't that nice.
(Last time I was in hospital, I met another mum working on the ward I was on too.)

Mr Charalampopolous (I can say it at last) came to see me afterwards and said it had been 'very, very inflamed' so I guess I have got off lightly with pain over the last months, thanks to sticking fairly religiously to the given diet.
By six I was home and feel no more than uncomfortable.  The sense of relief is huge.

So now I more on again.  I get used to wearing some oh, so stylish compression socks (I think that's what they are called, anyway) for six days - nice! I work out a less rigid food regime, I put blood pressure lowering strategies in place and I move on!  It' so lovely to look ahead again!


I just want to say many grateful thinks to everyone who has been so understanding of my ups and downs over the last week.  I worried more than I ought to have done which is something I need to work on.
You have been wonderful.

Tuesday

Well, reading the 'what to do when you come in' instructions, I realise that they will check blood pressure, of course they will, pre operation and high BP is one of the things that might cancel the operation so now I am full expecting to be writing an update to say I'm home again.
I rejoiced too soon. 

What a pessimist I am turning out to be over all this!  I'm surprising myself!