Still here...

Gah, this is just silly. Things were supposed to get more relaxed in the new year, instead it's just more manic. I'm almost dreading what it's going to be like when the growing season starts (end next month!)

In brief (before the Sains delivery arrives)... Kai back to uni as of yesterday, and feeling fairly optimistic (so far). His timetable is pretty horrible, so he's going to work on pacing himself, as the post-transplant fatigue is still a thing (and may be for the rest of his life). The uni posts all the notes and info from each lecture online, so he can at least keep up by working from home, although he does miss the personal interactions that way. Still, he's started arranging to meet up with friends at weekends now, so there are big improvements in his independence and social life. Fingers crossed it continues!

Ken had his final final blood test, which was all clear, so we can now say the hep C has gone for good. All fantastic news.

Mine isn't so good. All the joints are beginning to be painful now (especially lower back and hands), and I'm not sure what can be done about it. Planning to get a drs appt as soon as I can, and see what can be done, but I suspect it will mean another round of MRIs and physio and generally long-winded attempts to alleviate it all. In the meantime, I should buy shares in parrot and 'prufen stocks...

However, the bedroom door curtain is now done and in place, and it looks and feels great! And is a lot quieter than the old door, which is now out to be scrapped. When the hall light is on there's now a soft diffuse glow through the fabric instead of the horrible harsh glare through the gaps around the door which used to wake me up. (And I'm thinking I'll put a dimmer bulb in the hall light too.)

Much nicer. Matches the window curtains now too.

Aiming to make a start on one of the outstanding projects later, if I can stay awake. Woke at 5.30 and couldn't get back to sleep (too many ideas jostling for attention) and now I'm already tired. May take a nap later...

Labels: busyness, decorating, medical matters

Kai and I bussed out to Westbury-on-Trym this afternoon, to scour the charity shops. Always fun!

And fairly successful: I found a moai-effect carved wooden nose in Oxfam to put my glasses on when not being used (now maybe I'll stop knocking them off the desk or losing them!)

Not the prettiest of objets but I rather like it! Fair trade handmade too, rather nice.

And I was kidnapped (owlnapped?) by another wol, a necklace this time...

I wore it right away and it felt as though I'd always had it - my way of telling that a piece of jewellery is right for me.

I suppose I should be on the lookout for a wol hat and gloves now.

Found One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (saw this at the uni film club - I joined almost as soon as I got there - when it first came out, and had only mentioned to Ken the other day that it's a classic and we should have it...), THX 1138 (another classic I saw at the film club), and as a complete contrast, Kong: Skull Island. Lutra enjoyed this one, and it stars Tom Hiddleston, so it'll be pretty to look at at least! All from St Pete's Hospice charity shop at the top of Whiteladies Rd. Kong tomorrow!

After dinner we caught the first ep of Hard Sun... Well. Incredibly violent, but most intriguing. Pretty good acting, and a very interesting premise. Looking forward to the next ep with considerable anticipation.

Tired now and thinking of trying for an early night...

Labels: days out, films, shopping, wols

It's been a nice, if sporadically busy, start to 2018. Buck's Fizz and the televised London Fireworks to see the year in: on New Year's Day K&K went for a walk down to Nightingale Valley as the weather was good. We've taken down the tree and some of the lights, I've caught up on some sleep, and taken a look at the vampire fridge poetry Sue gave me for xmas...

To my surprise and bemusement, the two words I wanted - silent and alone - aren't included! But Kai likes it anyway. Wondering if I can make haikus...

There's a lot of words. I took a few mins to organise them alphabetically (roughly!) onto the side of the fridge.

Makes everything easier!

Wed this week Kai had his latest BMT clinic at the BHOC. Since I don't go in with him anymore I did a little shopping in town, and discovered the new (to me, it's probably been there months!) the Grape Tree shop in The Galleries. Popped in to see if they had any kefir drinks (they didn't, no fridge) and found wasabi coated peanuts! On BOGOF!!

I love these things. Haven't had any for years, so bought two packs right away. Also picked up milled linseed...

Found that the beta blockers I was taking last year really upset my digestive system, and it's still not back to normal, so I did a little research and found that chia seeds and crushed flax seeds are very good for digestion, so I bought some from Tesco to sprinkle on my fruit and yoghurt breakfasts. Only problem is their flax seeds are whole, and, as I found when trying, I don't have the strength to grind them in the mortar and pestle. So I asked while I was at the shop, and the extremely knowledgable assistant explained that flax seed and linseed are actually the same (well, with tiny differences that don't actually make any difference when you're eating them.) And the shop's milled linseed was the same price as Tesco for three times as much, so I know where I'll be buying mine in future...

The only thing I forgot was to check for dried goji berries. I am very fond of these - they're crunchy and have a really nice taste (there's a suggestion that they may be good for easing arthritis too, but I don't think that's been medically proven) but they're expensive from Tesco. Going back next week to see if they have them: there's a Weds farmer's market on at St Nick's with a stand from a local organic farm which I want to check out.

Kai's clinic was fine - bloods are as normal as they're going to get, and his kidney function test came back OK too (aciclovir can cause major kidney problems) so that's all good.

We've watched some more Eureka (it's awfully good!), and I've got the family organiser started. This afternoon I plan to start making our bedroom door curtain.

Later!

Labels: busyness, domesticity, Happy New Year, healthyons!, shopping