Summer Solstice Sensation

maman

:wave:

I enjoyed my trip to Paris very much!!! Did all the famous sights with the DGDs like Montmartre, Sacre Coeur, Eiffel Tower, trip down Seine, Champs Elysee, Louvre etc I thought they might get a bit bored with all the culture but they were great. I would love to go back on my own (or maybe with DH:D) and do the things I'd like to do. The trouble with taking people who've never been is I feel a bit like a tour guide! I'd really like to go back to the Louvre and spend ages on the less famous artworks and I've never been to the Musee D'Orsay either. I've really got to love galleries in recent years.

Well done on losing your 1lb Carmen:T. I must admit that's going to be the downside of my trip. I had wine very day plus meals cooked with oil etc so dreading this week's SW class. I've also got three meals out coming up this week so following the plan will be a bit sporadic.:o I really do want to lose a few more lbs before Easter. Losing some weight has made me feel soooo good but I do want to enjoy my social life too which seems to involve a lot of eating and drinking with friends and family. I spent so many years working flat out before I retired that I feel I deserve it!

Also did my first real walking in Paris since the problem with my ankle. Fortunately, no ill effects to report. I'm going to try going back to my dancing tomorrow. Hospital Appointment later this week for check up/biopsy results.

LL, I was very interested in your antiques idea. Our house is full of old stuff, almost nothing modern but white goods and some Ikea storage stuff in our 'study'. Do you ever visit the shabby chic thread? There are some lovely make-overs on there but sometimes I cringe when they paint over beautiful old wood.

Had a lovely pampering session this morning with time for lotions and potions. I've been using the Olay sun stuff for about a week now and I don't look as washed out. I am going to try the steaming as I have some blocked pores that I'd love to sort.

Hope you're all having a good day. I've just been pottering, had hoped for a walk but hailstones put me off!:rotfl:

lessonlearned

Good afternoon everyone

Horrible, wet, cold, miserable, hail-stoney day here, however, hurray some little snowdrops have battled their way through, got lots of crocus out, hyacinths, tulips well on their way. Spring is round the corner surely? Sent off for some mini-fruit trees - only got a postage stamp for a garden.:o

This morning my deal old Mum& Dad popped round and my sister, BIL and niece to celebrate OH's birthday on Wednesday and Dad's 85th on Tuesday. My niece (aged 10) had a lovely time sorting out my old jewellery bits and unravelling chains etc - so I've no excuse now but to get on with my jewellery making. I Let her pick out some necklaces for herself and my sister. Her little face was radiant - you'd think I'd given her the crown jewels - they were only bits picked up from flea markets and charity shops, bless her. Still she has a good eye and picked out pretty ones.

My chiropodist keeps nagging me to let her display some of my creations in her surgery and sell some for me so I really need to get cracking. I thought I might do some pretty summery pieces.

Talking of shabby chic - I picked up a chandelier for £2-50 (yukky pink - no crystals). Going to paint it cream and bead it up for my sister's birthday. Too big for our low ceilings here but it will be perfect for her house. I'm on the look-out for some cheap small ones for here - I adore chandeliers!!!

Yes I do look at the shabbychic thread. I agree though some things are really too good to paint. I paint up manky old orange pine but lovely wood looks wonderful left alone, a gentle clean and polish is often all that's needed. (Just my opinion of course;) If it's a nice oldish piece painting it can also destroy it's monetary value too.

I cleaned out our loft a couple of years ago and made £1200 - needless to say it's full to bursting again - and the garage, spare bedroom, plus various cupboards etc. so yes, the sooner I start trading the better:rotfl:

Your Paris trip sounds wonderful, Maman. You sound like a great guide too - just the places I would like to visit. I could lose myself in galleries for days on end. I get a lot of my "making and doing" inspirations from galleries and musuems. I love the V&A in London, just lock me in and throw away the key and I'd die happy:D

We have a nice little costume section in one of our city museums. I live in Derbyshire and we have a wealth of country houses - Chatsworth is my spiritual home:rotfl: I could browse for hours.

Glad your leg held up - city walking can take its toll. Hope your appointment goes well and the biopsy result is good. Fingers crossed. I'm sure you'll soon get back on track with your SW, you've done so well.

Good news on your weight loss too Carmen. You pair make me feel ashamed that I'm not doing better. I will get a grip I promise. Don't think I've tried endive but last year I decided I like spinach - after all these years. Dead easy to grow too. Apparently really good for you too, contains lutiens (Sp) which protects eyes against age related macular degeneration.

Anyway a nice healthy moussaka for dinner and then I've got a load of forms to fill in for SS - again:(

Hope you've all had a fab weekend - despite the weather.

lessonlearned

I'm holding my breath because I can hardly believe it. I will need to get it in proper writing rather than email before I dare trust it.

What on earth am I blathering on about?

Well - SS rang me with a revised offer - a much better care package with increased hours available. They've sent me an email with a revised support plan and budget. Just needs rubber stamping apparently. Fingers and toes are crossed.

Finally, I can get (a part) of my life back and can "buy-in" the help I need to give OH a better quality of life. Money may not buy happiness but you can't get far without it - especially when you are seriously disabled.

Fabwise - I have to confess not done any exercise today or any treatments, however, I feel that a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders and that has got to help in the future.

Maybe, finally, a new day is dawning ....

Ready to tackle that elephant with gusto tomorrow (today) - after a decent night's kip.

G'night all.

maman

:TThat's really great news, I'm so pleased for you. Off to bed now, 'talk' more tomorrow.

lessonlearned

Very tired today after a fitful night - just couldn't switch off and relax - also night sweats are still waking me up. Forgot all about taking my herbal sleep tablets:o Forget my head if it was loose.

Quiet day - most exciting bit was going to the tip!! Managed some yoga but not the bike today.

Other than that not much happening here.

Hope you are all doing well.

Carmen

*cough,splutter,sneeze* I am really feeling sorry for myself
I think I have flu, I feel as if I have been through the spin cycle, body aches, freezing cold then boiling hot! My neighbours had the flu last week and even though I kept a wide berth some of those sneaky germs found me.

What wonderful news LL, I am so pleased for you, I will also have everything crossed for you

Welcome back Maman, sounds as if you had a great time in Paris. You managed to do quite a lot considering your ankle problems. There is so much to see and do in Paris.

Medication kicking in*yawn* so need to get back to bed.

Carmen xx

maman

:wave:LL, Carmen and all!

So sorry that the lurgy seems to have got to you Carmen. Hope you have managed to get some sleep and feel a bit more perky today. You, too, LL. It sounds as if there's so much stuff going on with SS etc that you can't clear your head to rest. Hope last night was a better one for you.

I seem to have come back from Paris into a busy week. It's mostly social stuff which is a bit of lucky me (3 meals out including a day in London on Friday to see the 'flooded' version of Butterfly at the Albert Hall) and a bit of 'Oh Dear when will I be able to return to my SW eating plan properly?':o.

I also had a major rant at HMRC on Monday. You may remember my protracted completion of my tax return in January. Well, I eneded up getting conflicting advice from their helpline about whether my small honorarium for voluntary work was taxable or legitimate expenses of office so I sent the form off with a question in the 'other' box. I got back last week to a red, final demand for tax owed. I'm not surprised that it's taxable but to issue a final demand threatening debt collectors without even answering my question made me:mad:. I did feel a bit sorry for the young man I spoke to but it made me so cross that there are so many people out there avoiding and evading thousands (probably millions) of pounds in tax but they feel it's appropriate to hound me in that overbearing way for a few pounds for doing voluntary work! So much for Mr Cameron's Big Society!!! Anyway, rant over and they're going to collect it through PAYE as they've always done before. It did upset me though and I ended up with muscle spasms in my back which often happens if I get too stressed but that was Monday and I'm fine now.

On the plus side, I went back to my dancing group and my ankle coped fine. I decided that if it could handle last week's sightseeing then it could manage two hours dancing. Follow up appointment at hospital is tomorrow so I'm hoping for good news. I also had my nails painted (cheapie at £5 but it always makes me feel more groomed than doing it myself) and went out for a really lovely lunch with friends yesterday.

Sorry this has been a bit 'Me, Me, Me' today. I promise if I met you in RL I do listen as well as talk;). Sun is shining here so that's a big plus!

lessonlearned

Hi Carmen - sorry to hear that you have succumbed to the lurgy - there's a lot of it about again. Hope you are feeling a bit better today.

Don't worry about the rant, Maman, we all need to let off steam sometimes. Understand how you feel about the big time tax evaders - I get the impression sometimes that the powers that be go for what they consider to be the "soft" targets for their bully boy tactics. They know the likes of Phillip Green (Topshop boss, never pays UK taxes) have armies of expensive lawyers and are virtually untouchable.

Income Tax, SS, DLA - they all seem to be as bad as each other. As for all the red tape and petty rules and restrictions - well I could get on my soap box all night but I'll spare everyone:rotfl:

Glad to hear that you're ok for dancing. It's definitely on my to do list once the care package kicks in. Hope your appointment goes well.

A few rays of sun here at last - not much heat in them but at least it was lighter and brighter. OH's birthday so went for a mooch round some craft workshops and had afternoon tea (cream tea no less) then dinner tonight was a Chinese feast. Very naughty.

Picked up some lovely jewellery bits from a charity shop. Got out my jewellery making stuff tonight and sorted out some bits and pieces ready to start making a few items to sell. Some things I make from scratch and sometimes I adapt and remake things.

Trouble is I never want to part with them when I've made them - I want to keep them all. I've got boxes and boxes of the stuff - most of which I never wear:o

I think I've reached the age when funky costume jewellery and ethnic styles aren't really right for me any more. I've now reached the stage where I prefer to wear "good" pieces that are subtle, elegant and classic. Or ....maybe that's just a phase I'm going through.

Todays treatment - Manicure. Like you Maman I love having my nails done even though I have professional training - it's just nice to be pampered a bit now and then. Where I used to go for a facial the salon had a trainee who would paint nails - she used to do my toe nails and would stick little diamante jewels on them. So decadent, so pretty and all for £2.

As Dorcas (from Larkrise) might have said "Painted toe nails are my one weakness".:rotfl:

Goodnight all.

maman

Quick update: went for my check up today and all is well!!:j

Consultant said she could give me 99% guarantee that any cancerous cells were removed and will not recur. Given some leaflets and have to go back in 4 months for a talk on how to check my own skin for anything dodgy. Obviously I will but I think most of us would know. One plus of looking after yourself is that part of the pampering baths and slapping on the body lotion is noticing any changes/anything unusual.

Hope everyone else is OK. I'm fine:D

lessonlearned

Great news Maman about your test results:j That's a big weight off your shoulders.

You're right about looking after yourself better - it does help you focus and think about health issues too. I don't see it as hyperchondria - just common sense.

Don't forget extra sun protection for your leg. I now use a sunblock on the area where I had my carcinoma, (on my face) plus a sunhat. I still get a nice gentle tan - mainly from gardening and just walking about really. I'm just extra careful. I always head for the shade during the hottest part of the day. I used to be a real "Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun" kind of girl. Not any more.

Had a good mini-blitz of the house today. Tonight spent a happy couple of hours making new necklaces and repairing a few vintage pieces to sell. Will take them in tomorrow. Just simple beads and ethnic styles - keeping the prices low.

SS confirmed they are coming round on Monday to sort out contracts etc for Direct Payment thingy - so looks like everything is going to plan.:T With a bit of luck new regime will start the week after.

Off to bed in a minute. Gnight - hope you are all ok.

Hope you're feeling a bit better, Carmen. DS2 has the lurgy now, OH snuffling a bit too.