What's Up in September 2016?

[Athena]

Sorry, I missed the replies on here. I would like to get back to work but...at the moment its not great. I felt ok enough to get out of the house on Saturday and drive myself to the book farm I visit occasionally and had lunch there. But I felt myself getting worse and should have come straight home while there, and didn't. So the last 3 days have been very tired and foggy. I need to listen more closely and not push things, clearly. The normal "push yourself to get fit and you will" thing doesn't apply at all with CF...

 

Currently work are very supportive but ultimately I need to be able to commute regularly by train to London again. That seems some way off at the moment but I am staying hopeful. I've read some saddening case studies of people far younger than me with this. Terrible really. The consultant I saw will be writing to my GP with details of a specialist centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital - I'm hoping to get referred to there for whatever they can offer. I suspect its CBT and Graded Exercise Therapy, the 2 current treatments.

 

1 thing I will say about having this - its made me far more patient and accepting of things. Being able to do so little at the moment, patience is definitely something required!

For my boyfriend, the "push yourself and you'll get better" doesn't work. It's definitely not a solution to stay in bed all day or something, but he can easily go over his limits and make things worse. The trick is to find a balance between what's too much and what's doable (and compared with most people, a lot of things are easily too tiring for my boyfriend). It can be hard, because sometimes in the moment my boyfriend feels good, to then feel totally exhausted after he's finished with some physical work. It's like he doesn't feel the extreme tiredness until the day after. Then he has to spend a few weeks recovering. I think in one month he maybe has a few good days, the rest are bleh to really bad. I hope for the best for you and that those therapies help you . It's true, patience is definitely a good thing to have.

 

Lovely trip out yesterday to meet up with Janet and Kay (and Alan ) and we had a fantastic chat, setting the world to rights about all sorts including books (obviously!) and the time just whizzed by.

 

On Monday night, my knee started aching a bit, and when I got up on Tuesday morning, I was hobbling about all over the place.  Fortunately it seems to be a bit better today, so not sure what I did to it, but I think it's healing itself.

 

My OH upgraded my laptop yesterday while I was out, and it's so much faster now, I might be able to use it a bit more and hopefully will be around here a bit more often too, as things are starting to calm down a bit around home now.  I've loads of reviews to catch up on, so I might try and get stuck into those this weekend.

I'm glad you had a fun time with your friends . I hope your knee feels better soon. Good luck with the reviews! It's nice your laptop is faster.

 

My dad's been having a cold, and since yesterday it looks like I have it too. I'm running a temperature, my throat hurts, my nose is drippy and a bit blocked up and I feel light-headed, slow and much more tired than I normally do.

[chesilbeach]

Thanks Athena, my knee feels much better today and I've got a much less pronounced hobble. . Hope your cold doesn't last too long.

 

Spending the morning out and about today, then hopefully OH will be out this afternoon so I can get to my sewing machine - it's a nightmare with a room out of action as we're having to share space and we don't work well in the same room together!

[Madeleine]

Hope your cold is better soon Athena, they're horrible aren't they?

 

Nearly fell over the dog this morning, and trod on the poor thing's paw, but she was comforted by some treats...

[Flip Martian]

For my boyfriend, the "push yourself and you'll get better" doesn't work. It's definitely not a solution to stay in bed all day or something, but he can easily go over his limits and make things worse. The trick is to find a balance between what's too much and what's doable (and compared with most people, a lot of things are easily too tiring for my boyfriend). It can be hard, because sometimes in the moment my boyfriend feels good, to then feel totally exhausted after he's finished with some physical work. It's like he doesn't feel the extreme tiredness until the day after. Then he has to spend a few weeks recovering. I think in one month he maybe has a few good days, the rest are bleh to really bad. I hope for the best for you and that those therapies help you . It's true, patience is definitely a good thing to have.

 

Exactly - this is quite common. And annoying sometimes. Very difficult to find that balance so you don't make things worse. But I will. Doing nothing for the rest of my life is NOT an option!

[Flip Martian]

Just got back from a lovely week in Eastbourne, well I don't know what weather we were expecting but it wasent the heatwave that we had.  Not complaining about it, got lots of walking done, went for a trek over beachy head again, even with lots of people out walking I find it so peaceful.

 

Was so nice to sit out in an evening and listening to the waves crashing on the beach and people watching of course.

That sounds wonderful. We love being near the coast. How I ended up living in the middle of England I have no idea! But I guess it makes it more special to get away. I could sit and watch the sea for hours, its so relaxing. Maybe I should move...

[Madeleine]

Same here Flip Martian, I love being near the sea - although a lake or river will do, even the local duck pond looks good in the sunshine!  They say there's something in sea air which is meant to make you feel better so maybe that has something to do with it?

[Peacefield]

It sounds like everyone is busy and living life ATM.  One day at a time, right?

 

Thankfully mosquitoes only live for 2 days.  Everyone jokes that they are our state bird (instead of the Loon, which it really is), because we get them so much in the summer.  We've had a pretty balmy September so they are still hanging on.  This is why window screens were invented!

 

I'm continuing to job search every day, and at the same time pack to move.  The rent is just way too expensive where I live and if I find a job I'm hoping to buy a home in the country.  In the interim, I'll be moving up to our lake home on 1st Nov.  It's a 3 hour drive so I'll have to work remotely the last 10 days of my current job (my end date isn't until the 11th).  I'm worried and nervous, but trying to stay positive and know that things are under control.  

 

Meanwhile, work has been busy.  It turns out transitioning the majority of your work to a cheaper, overseas company is not as easy as some might think! 

[Virginia]

Hope you feel better Athena!

 

 

It sounds like everyone is busy and living life ATM.  One day at a time, right?

 

Thankfully mosquitoes only live for 2 days.  Everyone jokes that they are our state bird (instead of the Loon, which it really is), because we get them so much in the summer.  We've had a pretty balmy September so they are still hanging on.  This is why window screens were invented!

 

I'm continuing to job search every day, and at the same time pack to move.  The rent is just way too expensive where I live and if I find a job I'm hoping to buy a home in the country.  In the interim, I'll be moving up to our lake home on 1st Nov.  It's a 3 hour drive so I'll have to work remotely the last 10 days of my current job (my end date isn't until the 11th).  I'm worried and nervous, but trying to stay positive and know that things are under control.  

 

Meanwhile, work has been busy.  It turns out transitioning the majority of your work to a cheaper, overseas company is not as easy as some might think! 

 I know it seems scary but it will work out. On the bright side, you get to hang out in your lovely lake home! Those cheaper overseas companies ... can't say enough nasty things about it.

 

Well, my night was really frightening. Our 3 year old grand daughter found an exposed wire. The landlord was supposed to take care of this when they moved in. GD (who is extremely quick and curious) decided to locate it and got zapped. Thank GOD she is okay. She's got 2nd degree burns on her thumb and forefinger that will always be there. The  most concerning thing was what the electrical shock did to her heart. She now has a murmur. Hopefully she will outgrow of it. The landlord has a lot to answer for. He purchased the house and immediately rented it out without having it inspected, just so he could quickly collect his investment. His greed has placed my daughter, son in law and grandchildren in danger. The house is a lovely house but its only lovely superficially. Everything within the walls of that house is corroded. They've only been in the house for about 5 months but he's tried to place blame on them for the ancient AC unit not working (the wires outside the house had been previously duct taped). Termites and ant infestations (don't happen overnight, they noticed it within two weeks). Plumbing issues (their front yard is a construction zone because after raising hell the landlord finally sent someone to find out why everything was backing up into the sinks, tubs, overflowing) he tried to say the kids had put stuff down the toilet. Found out that roots had broken through the pipes. 

 

So yeah, it is now time for them to move.

 

My head is fuzzy and I may need another cup of tea before I feel like all is right with the world again.

[Flip Martian]

Same here Flip Martian, I love being near the sea - although a lake or river will do, even the local duck pond looks good in the sunshine!  They say there's something in sea air which is meant to make you feel better so maybe that has something to do with it?

 

Could well be. Not sure that accounts for duck ponds though! Agreed though, just lead me to  water, I'll be quite happy.

[Athena]

It sounds like everyone is busy and living life ATM.  One day at a time, right?

 

Thankfully mosquitoes only live for 2 days.  Everyone jokes that they are our state bird (instead of the Loon, which it really is), because we get them so much in the summer.  We've had a pretty balmy September so they are still hanging on.  This is why window screens were invented!

 

I'm continuing to job search every day, and at the same time pack to move.  The rent is just way too expensive where I live and if I find a job I'm hoping to buy a home in the country.  In the interim, I'll be moving up to our lake home on 1st Nov.  It's a 3 hour drive so I'll have to work remotely the last 10 days of my current job (my end date isn't until the 11th).  I'm worried and nervous, but trying to stay positive and know that things are under control.  

 

Meanwhile, work has been busy.  It turns out transitioning the majority of your work to a cheaper, overseas company is not as easy as some might think! 

Do they only live 2 days? That sounds good. We kill like ten of them each day and yet there's always more, so far. Hopefully once the temperature goes down outside, they will slowly go away.

 

Good luck with finishing off your job and your adventures after it . I hope things will go well. Living in the country sounds nice. I hope you can find a nice new job. Do you know what kind of thing you want to do?

 

Hope you feel better Athena!

 

 

 I know it seems scary but it will work out. On the bright side, you get to hang out in your lovely lake home! Those cheaper overseas companies ... can't say enough nasty things about it.

 

Well, my night was really frightening. Our 3 year old grand daughter found an exposed wire. The landlord was supposed to take care of this when they moved in. GD (who is extremely quick and curious) decided to locate it and got zapped. Thank GOD she is okay. She's got 2nd degree burns on her thumb and forefinger that will always be there. The  most concerning thing was what the electrical shock did to her heart. She now has a murmur. Hopefully she will outgrow of it. The landlord has a lot to answer for. He purchased the house and immediately rented it out without having it inspected, just so he could quickly collect his investment. His greed has placed my daughter, son in law and grandchildren in danger. The house is a lovely house but its only lovely superficially. Everything within the walls of that house is corroded. They've only been in the house for about 5 months but he's tried to place blame on them for the ancient AC unit not working (the wires outside the house had been previously duct taped). Termites and ant infestations (don't happen overnight, they noticed it within two weeks). Plumbing issues (their front yard is a construction zone because after raising hell the landlord finally sent someone to find out why everything was backing up into the sinks, tubs, overflowing) he tried to say the kids had put stuff down the toilet. Found out that roots had broken through the pipes. 

 

So yeah, it is now time for them to move.

 

My head is fuzzy and I may need another cup of tea before I feel like all is right with the world again.

Thanks Virginia .

 

Wow, I'm so glad to hear your granddaughter is okay! That sounds so dangerous . I'm sorry to hear it . Her poor hands. Good luck to your family with moving, it does sound like another house would be safer for them.

 

I'm not feeling that great yet, in fact I feel worse than yesterday. Not much to do but rest though.

[chesilbeach]

Hope you feel better soon, Athena.

 

Went out for coffee this morning and thought I'd try a "Mac Minty" which is a mint and white chocolate flavoured hot chocolate and for every one bought, they donate some of the cost to Macmillan Cancer Support charity. Man, was it sweet! Too much for me and I have a really sweet tooth!

[Talisman]

I do hope you feel better soon Athena. I feel a lot better than I did - no doubt my hormones are surging again !

 

It was back to work this week, and what a week it has been. As soon as I got to work on Monday I asked for a meeting with HR and my Department Head, which was interesting to say the least. I explained to them why I had been off sick and what had led to the situation, explaining all the problems and issues with my Manager, but without actually telling them about his ADHD (that is for him to do). The fact that he wasn't in on Monday due to a family wedding helped. He was back on Tuesday and I took the bull by the horns and had a much more difficult conversation with him where I encouraged him once again to disclose his condition.

 

I had an email from HR also on Tuesday confirming our conversation and asking if there was anything else to add. I told them about him ringing me that first day off to check if I had filled up the washing up liquid, which they agreed was definitely a concern. On Wednesday from what I understand the Department Head, my Managers own boss went round all the different departments that he is responsible for cleaning and spoke to the staff. From what I understand he was shocked at some of what he found. Then on Thursday the three of them, my Manager, HR and the Department Head had their own meeting, as part of his three month review. This is normally when they decide whether you make you permanent staff or not. He is still here, so I am guessing that that period has been extended. Of course they are not going to tell me that though. Neither is he likely to tell me whether or not he told them the truth. The truth always does come out though in the end, so it's all good. I expect they will be an email from them on Monday perhaps letting me know the outcome of the concerns that I raised.  

 

I had my blood tests on Thursday morning as well. They had to try 3 times before they found a vein, so it was not the best. Two of the results came back yesterday as borderline, but I have to wait until Monday for the rest of them, at which point I will no doubt need to make another appointment to discuss them.  

[Nollaig]

Hope your cold is better soon Athena, they're horrible aren't they?

 

Nearly fell over the dog this morning, and trod on the poor thing's paw, but she was comforted by some treats...

 

Oh dear! Once when our (sadly departed) Holly was a teeny tiny pup, we gave her this ratty old pink jumper which she would completely wrap herself up in (it was three times the size of her). One evening I was going into the kitchen and the jumper was spread in a pile across  the threshold - I stepped on it on my way past and suddenly there was this almighty ROO ROO ROO ROO ROO ROO from the jumper. Puppy of course wrapped up inside it and I hadn't seen her. She was alright, I didn't do any damage, just hurt her a bit/gave her a fright. I'll never forget it though. Still remember mum thundering out of the living room going WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THE DOG?!

 

Went out for coffee this morning and thought I'd try a "Mac Minty" which is a mint and white chocolate flavoured hot chocolate and for every one bought, they donate some of the cost to Macmillan Cancer Support charity. Man, was it sweet! Too much for me and I have a really sweet tooth!

 

That sounds delicious! Om nom!

 

I took a day off work yesterday (using time up before I start the internship contract Monday week). Spent a good portion of the day cleaning the house and preparing for a job application (yes, I'm applying for another job before the internship even starts - it's the job I've been waiting over a year for, full time, indefinite/long-term contract). I feel a little bad, but it's not my fault they finally advertised this job right after I got an internship. 

 

This morning my landlord messaged at 8am (on a Saturday! She knows I work Mon-Fri!) asking if it'd be okay for her to come over around 10/11 to pick up some stuff from 'her' room. 'Her' room used to be my housemate's room, but I'm guessing now that she actually means the little spare room which is packed with a bunch of the landlord's stuff, including books and files from her work as a speech therapist. Now, in the almost year she's been gone, I've stuffed some junk in that room too, and my housemate actually took the bookcase full of books and files for her own room, leaving said stuff on a large unit from her bedroom which she put in the spare room instead. The room is entirely inacessible without pulling out that unit. That housemate is also away this weekend. I've taken all my stuff out of the room, so at least hopefully i won't get in trouble for filling it with my stuff, but I have no idea how the landlord will react to her stuff being moved and the giant unit being in there!

[Athena]

Hope you feel better soon, Athena.

 

Went out for coffee this morning and thought I'd try a "Mac Minty" which is a mint and white chocolate flavoured hot chocolate and for every one bought, they donate some of the cost to Macmillan Cancer Support charity. Man, was it sweet! Too much for me and I have a really sweet tooth!

Thanks Chesil . The hot chocolate must have been very sweet! It's nice they donate to charity though. 

 

I do hope you feel better soon Athena. I feel a lot better than I did - no doubt my hormones are surging again !

 

It was back to work this week, and what a week it has been. As soon as I got to work on Monday I asked for a meeting with HR and my Department Head, which was interesting to say the least. I explained to them why I had been off sick and what had led to the situation, explaining all the problems and issues with my Manager, but without actually telling them about his ADHD (that is for him to do). The fact that he wasn't in on Monday due to a family wedding helped. He was back on Tuesday and I took the bull by the horns and had a much more difficult conversation with him where I encouraged him once again to disclose his condition.

 

I had an email from HR also on Tuesday confirming our conversation and asking if there was anything else to add. I told them about him ringing me that first day off to check if I had filled up the washing up liquid, which they agreed was definitely a concern. On Wednesday from what I understand the Department Head, my Managers own boss went round all the different departments that he is responsible for cleaning and spoke to the staff. From what I understand he was shocked at some of what he found. Then on Thursday the three of them, my Manager, HR and the Department Head had their own meeting, as part of his three month review. This is normally when they decide whether you make you permanent staff or not. He is still here, so I am guessing that that period has been extended. Of course they are not going to tell me that though. Neither is he likely to tell me whether or not he told them the truth. The truth always does come out though in the end, so it's all good. I expect they will be an email from them on Monday perhaps letting me know the outcome of the concerns that I raised.  

 

I had my blood tests on Thursday morning as well. They had to try 3 times before they found a vein, so it was not the best. Two of the results came back yesterday as borderline, but I have to wait until Monday for the rest of them, at which point I will no doubt need to make another appointment to discuss them.

Thanks Talisman . I'm glad you feel a lot better. I'm glad you had a nice talk with your manager and hope everything works out. The bloodtest sounds painful, I hope the rest of your results will be good and if not, then I hope the doctors can help you. 

 

Oh dear! Once when our (sadly departed) Holly was a teeny tiny pup, we gave her this ratty old pink jumper which she would completely wrap herself up in (it was three times the size of her). One evening I was going into the kitchen and the jumper was spread in a pile across  the threshold - I stepped on it on my way past and suddenly there was this almighty ROO ROO ROO ROO ROO ROO from the jumper. Puppy of course wrapped up inside it and I hadn't seen her. She was alright, I didn't do any damage, just hurt her a bit/gave her a fright. I'll never forget it though. Still remember mum thundering out of the living room going WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THE DOG?!

Haha, awww the poor dog.

 

I took a day off work yesterday (using time up before I start the internship contract Monday week). Spent a good portion of the day cleaning the house and preparing for a job application (yes, I'm applying for another job before the internship even starts - it's the job I've been waiting over a year for, full time, indefinite/long-term contract). I feel a little bad, but it's not my fault they finally advertised this job right after I got an internship. 

 

This morning my landlord messaged at 8am (on a Saturday! She knows I work Mon-Fri!) asking if it'd be okay for her to come over around 10/11 to pick up some stuff from 'her' room. 'Her' room used to be my housemate's room, but I'm guessing now that she actually means the little spare room which is packed with a bunch of the landlord's stuff, including books and files from her work as a speech therapist. Now, in the almost year she's been gone, I've stuffed some junk in that room too, and my housemate actually took the bookcase full of books and files for her own room, leaving said stuff on a large unit from her bedroom which she put in the spare room instead. The room is entirely inacessible without pulling out that unit. That housemate is also away this weekend. I've taken all my stuff out of the room, so at least hopefully i won't get in trouble for filling it with my stuff, but I have no idea how the landlord will react to her stuff being moved and the giant unit being in there!

Good luck with the job application . I hope your landlord won't be mad at you.

 

This weekend I'm doing lots of chores and I also plan to rest.

 

I hope everyone has a great weekend !

[Lau_Lou]

As I was driving to the train station on Friday for work, this pheasant stepped out in front of my car so I had no option but to hit it. The road is a 60 MPH and I must have been doing 50. It absolutely broke my heart but I don't think there is anything I could have done because it was right there. I just wish the poor thing hadn't stepped out. After that I thought the weekend must get better from such a low. It was so awful I cried.

On a happier note bought some shoes for my dress for my sister's wedding which is now less than a week away!

[Athena]

Awww that is sad . It must have been awful .

 

I hope your sister will have a great wedding !

 

I've not been feeling so great so I spent part of yesterday in bed. I hope though that in a few days my cold / illness will be over.

[Madeleine]

That's horrible about the pheasant but it sounds like you couldn't do anything.

 

I hope your cold gets better soon Athena.

[Flip Martian]

Happens a lot with pheasants, they're the most stupid of birds I think! Still horrible to hit one though - I've only had a couple of near misses so far since moving to a more rural area 10 years ago, thankfully. Nothing you could have done though, so don't blame yourself.

[Athena]

I hope your cold gets better soon Athena.

Thanks Madeleine . I'm not recovered yet but I feel like I'm slowly improving. I'm ready to be done with this cold. It'll probably take a few more days though.

[chesilbeach]

As I was driving to the train station on Friday for work, this pheasant stepped out in front of my car so I had no option but to hit it. The road is a 60 MPH and I must have been doing 50. It absolutely broke my heart but I don't think there is anything I could have done because it was right there. I just wish the poor thing hadn't stepped out. After that I thought the weekend must get better from such a low. It was so awful I cried.

Many years back, I hit a rabbit on the way home from visiting my parents, and I was devastated too. I managed to drive the rest of the way home ok, but when I got in the door and told my OH what had happened, I bawled my eyes out.    

 

Had a good weekend, but I've woken up with a bit of a cold myself this morning.  Just the sniffles and a sore throat, but I'm hoping it won't develop any further.  It's pouring with rain here, so I'm just going to curl up with a cuppa and a book, I think.  

[Madeleine]

We were on holiday somewhere in the UK a few years ago and driving along I could see the cars up ahead swerving to avoid something, I assumed it would be a cyclist but when I got nearer I could see it was a pheasant!  Dim thing was wandering around in the road completely oblivious of all the cars avoiding it.

 

Hitting the rabbit must have been awful, I hit a sparrow once which flew down and I couldn't swerve round it so hoped the car would clear it, sadly it didn't, I felt terrible.

[Flip Martian]

Must be the time for colds - I've been getting a scratchy throat for the last 3 days - usually the first sign of me getting a cold. I usually use First Defence at the first sign of colds and that helps a lot in keeping them at bay. Fingers crossed it works again, got enough on my plate at the moment!

[Nollaig]

Why Monday?

[MrCat]

Must be the time for colds - I've been getting a scratchy throat for the last 3 days - usually the first sign of me getting a cold. I usually use First Defence at the first sign of colds and that helps a lot in keeping them at bay. Fingers crossed it works again, got enough on my plate at the moment!

 

I think it is. I've been sneezing like crazy these past days and my general condition is still crappy but I am slowly recovering. I went out yesterday for some coffee and most people in the coffee shop were sneezing and coughing. Vitamin C and tea suddenly became my new best friends, 

[Virginia]

I'm finishing up my last 2 classes at university. Unfortunately I am surrounded by sneezing teens. Every time they start sneezing and coughing, its all I can do to not pull out the Lysol and start spraying myself. I hate to get sick now that my little germ catchers are 3,000 miles away.

 

Looks like rain and I'm sitting in my favorite newly renovated library. Well, its ALMOST done being renovated. They are on the last level. As libraries go, this is pretty noisy. I'd go home but I hate to burn gasoline only to have to come back in about 4 hours. I've already completed my Monday morning lab so I'll just chill out and do some more prep for my Philosophy midterm which is Thursday. 

 

My little granddaughter seems to have recovered from her brush with immortality. She's as busy as ever. I'm so grateful that she's still here and causing havoc and chaos.