Going back in time

Not last Monday but the Monday before, Harriet went in for her operation.  She actually went into theatre after lunch and phoned me at tea time when she was out of recovery and back on the ward.  She sounded a little groggy but not too out of it; Billy picked her up and she was home by half eight.  Harriet didn’t see the doctor after her op but she did talk to the registrar who said everything went fine.  Fingers crossed!

I went for a mammogram a few weeks back and had the letter to say that all is fine in that department.  I wasn’t really worried but the letter saying all was okay came as a relief.   Unfortunately, things aren’t going so great for my sister Louise who now enters her fifth week off work.   Louise has had all the tests under the sun but a firm diagnosis is yet to be made.  She thinks, and it is looking quite likely, that she has rheumatoid arthritis.  I hadn’t realised that she is so bad that she has to wear a neck brace, as well as wrist supports.  She is having pain relief but I hope that the doctor finds a drug soon that will help her symptoms.

I hate it when I leave it so long between blogs because I struggle to remember what I’ve been up too.  Two Wednesdays ago, I went to have tea with the old gals at Permayne, the sheltered housing block when my mum lived.  I think I did confess to promising to throw Pat a party for her 87^th birthday after a Sunday lunch where wine was involved.   Well anyway, she is keeping me to my promise and I went to party plan over tea with Pat, Janice and Ann.  

Unfortunately Pat was unwell but we put her on speaker phone and she had pretty much organised everything.  She has ordered the food from M&S, booked a mobile disco and asked her grandson to help her with the invitations.  I was impressed because it took the pressure of me (and Sue because I’d roped her in).  I’ve ordered a cake from Costco, wine glasses from Waitrose and got party banners and poppers from Asda so it’s all in hand.

The day after party planning, Sue and I went over to Overstone to clean and sort out the caravans.  I had a load of stuff to take over and so did Sue.  Phil and I had already commissioned Dennis next door to get the caravans up and running so when we got there the water and gas were already on.  Both the caravans fared well over the winter and it didn’t take too long to get them up to scratch.  Definitely, a productive afternoon and one in which, I felt I actually achieved something.

On the Friday I left the flat early and went down to see Phil’s mum in Melton.  I had the power of attorney forms all ready for her to sign and a doctor’s appointment to take her too.  I typed up a list with all of mum’s ailments for the doctor, he read through it when we arrived and said straight away that he wouldn’t be able to deal with all of the problems in a ten minute appointment.  Such negativity and a shame really because I feel that mum’s problems are all related.   The visit to the docs turned out to be a bit of a waste of time; basically, mum’s arthritis is degenerative, old age wear and tear and there is nothing that can be done, bar more pain killers.  We came away with a prescription of yet more pills that we know make mum sick if she takes too many.  Getting old is no fun and I really hope I don't make old bones.

I got a Groupon voucher for a meal at the Blue Orchid in Woburn Sands and we went there on the Saturday night to celebrate Sue’s birthday which wasn’t actually until the following week.  We started with a bottle of proseco at Sue’s house and then I drove us over to Woburn and left my car.  The restaurant was packed out but we got a nice table for four and had a fabulous evening.  The food is always good here and the Merlot went down like a dream.

The following day we went over to the caravan.  We picked up a tumble dryer from Sue’s garage that Sue had brought on eBay and loaded this into Phil’s car.  Sue and Ian followed in their car.  It was a bit drizzly but then the forecast wasn’t great; we each did a few jobs in both vans and then went to the club house for lunch.  

It was buzzing which surprised me for the start of the season because we were quite early but then again I suppose the bingo was on. Ian had sausage and mash but the rest of us opted for the roast.  It was all nice bar the roast potatoes which I didn’t like.   The boys had a dessert and afterwards we sat outside by the lake because the sun had come out.  We never intended to stay at the caravan but more wine and beer and sausage baps for supper in Sue’s caravan and we decided to stay the night.  It was all good until the next morning with a severe frost and a temperature of minus 4 degrees; I don’t think I have ever been so cold!

Phil went back into work last Tuesday but at the end of the day they told him to have the Wednesday and Thursday off as they had the big bosses in.  I am not sure what’s going in, Phil says the company is not what it used to be and I just hope they keep him on.  It’s handy and local and 3 days a week is just enough for Phil.

Last Wednesday I went over to the caravan to move beds around.  I moved the 2 single bed bases into Sue’s caravan.  Thankfully Dennis was around and helped me with the second bed base. I also moved our bed base into our spare bedroom which leaves our bedroom bare.  That’s okay we have a spare bed in the shed which Phil and I will take over at the weekend.  It makes sense to use what you’ve got rather than just go out and buy new.  

In the evening I went to Sue’s for supper, she did yummy lamb chops and mash, it wasn’t a late night and I was home by half nine.  Phil had some great news on Thursday morning; he had a call from the FCA whom he had sent a 15 page letter documenting the ins and outs of the Aunt Daphne case and the lady that phoned on Thursday, said that not only were they taking on the case, but they were assigning a whole team to deal with the FA and his company. 

FINALLY, someone in authority is taking this fraud seriously.  I do admire Phil for his perseverance, this fraud has affected me and my life for the last 2 years and at times I have begged Phil to give it all up, but if the FCA get Ray Boon banned and his company shut down then his efforts will not be in vain.  Of course if Phil gets his share of his aunt’s estate then that will be a bonus, but that aint going to happen unless we take it to court.

On Friday, Phil picked up Georgina from the train station in CMK and then went to Melton to see mum/grandma.  It was the first time this year that G has been back from uni.  I had got 2 puzzles, a mothers day card and a nice bunch of flowers for mum for mothers day which I had left ready on the kitchen table so I wasn’t too happy when I got back from the gym to find that Phil had forgotten to take them. Georgina sent me a text to say could I post the mothers day card and they would get more flowers which I did, but sometimes I wonder why I bother.  Phil got his come uppence though, he broke down just off junction 15 on the way home, and he had to call out recovery and didn’t get home until 7pm.  The Peugeot went into Days garage on Blakelands, a new exhaust was needed and Phil got it back the following day.

The weather has been glorious this weekend and I am ashamed to say that I have wasted it sitting on my fat arse watching television, such as waste of a life and I wished I had gone to the caravan.  On Saturday morning we went to view a house that Harriet and Billy have offered on in Newport Pagnell.  It was bit weird because Harriet’s dad and his partner were there and we also met Billy’s mum Cindy for the first time.  The house was sweet, small inside but it did have a nice feel to it.  Naturally both Billy and HH were excited but I worry about them having such a big mortgage, subject to the survey being okay and the sale going through that is. 

I went to the gym yesterday morning and after watching the Malaysian Grand Prix, Phil cooked macaroni cheese, such as glorious day which we missed because we sat in watching telly.  Harriet came round late afternoon with a Mother Day card for me and a very nice Moulton Brown beauty set.  My daughter has very expensive tastes; umm I wonder where she gets it from?

Ian took Sue to Dublin for her birthday and they flew out early yesterday.  It’s her birthday today so HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSIE SUE, hope you both have a great time!