Flying solo

Brightspark87

Robin! you poor thing what a frustration. I hate to think of you pacing around worrying.

First things first, there is nothing you can do and worrying will only stress you out more. You haven't be 100% in your health recently and stress can play a huge factor in this.

As annoying and expensive as it might be it is out of your control and you must try to think of positives ( not a blown tyre and accident) rather than negatives (you know these already!!).

You sound like an amazing mum and all the boys are very lucky to have you and I am sure they know that x

Knit_Witch

Oh heck! I hope they saw sense and took it to the garage!

*Robin*

Dear Diary and Friends-in-the-Box, :hello:

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Oh no, I really hope the van is fixed soon, you need your transport. Perhaps Granny is right, say no a little more xx

Sorry DFw, didn't intend to ignore you yesterday; just goes to show how slowly Muggins types because we cross-posted..
Anyway, have been practising the n word - see below.

Brightspark87 wrote:

worrying will only stress you out more. You haven't be 100% in your health recently and stress can play a huge factor in this.

Sparky, you're absolutely right about this, alas.

Brightspark87 wrote:

As annoying and expensive as it might be it is out of your control

..But not about that - again, see below.

Brightspark87 wrote:

You sound like an amazing mum and all the boys are very lucky to have you and I am sure they know that

Am pretty certain Divo Three would not agree atm.**
Maybe Robin presents better in print than reality? :rotfl:

Knit_Witch wrote:

Oh heck! I hope they saw sense and took it to the garage!

Knit Witch - they did not. :mad:
Apparently it was much more important to spend a day at the beach with some mates, "chilling".
..Despite maternal protestations.

So. Reluctantly decided to leave CD at the Nest, because wasn't sure how convoluted the afternoon would become and didn't want to risk her collapsing with exhaustion / heart failure (especially when we didn't have immediate transport to DV's clinic available!). It's been a long time since CD has walked all the way down the mountain - usually she gets to decide when to return to the Nest during our sunset perambulations.
There was also a distinct possibility that m' day might end with a far more arduous steep trek, back up the dark road by torch-light.

Took a short-cut which can only be described as precipitous in places, but it cut distance to less than two miles; mostly - Thanks Be to All Powers Above! - downhill.
In the village, asked everyone who was wandering about whether they owned a battery-powered tyre-pump, please? No luck with m' first half dozen encounters, but then one of DS3's friends took pity on me and 'phoned another mate who is a mechanic.
Two grinning, charming young men arrived within ten minutes; they made short work of changing the wheel. Spare contained more air than the casualty, although not a lot. It pumped up, but is so old it can't be a safe long term solution (after languishing beneath van's rear axle for at least a decade).

More important; spare tyre is a different make and pattern to the other three - which is an offence here, incurring a hefty on-the-spot fine should any Traffic Policeperson notice.**

Given that nailed tyre was in the back of the van and both mechanics would have confirmed the situation if required, it seemed best to go straight into town and source a replacement.
Reckon I'd have a good chance of talking m' way out of trouble because the local Police do know self and van; am on their 'law-abiding residents' list: As a result of too-frequent avocado and mango thefts, they often set up roadblocks where all unknown cargo vehicles are searched.

Three tyre shops later.. Hard times indeed; plenty of Chinese or weird Slovak brands in stock but each place would have to order Dunlops to match van's other wheels. :cool:
"Come back on Monday" (with any luck, this translates to 'some time next week').

Picked up more gloop for CD on the way out of town, and another batch of her meds from the pharmacy (haven't yet run out of either, but may do before new tyres have been delivered).

Spends: Garage Boss told the two young mechanics to charge "a beer" for their assistance - because I am their mate's Mum. (It was the only contribution DS3 made to the cause! :rotfl:) - £4
Gloop - £27.
CD's meds - £30.

** Divo Three was on the blower as soon as he spotted van's lights stop outside the Nest. He simply cannot understand why Muggins wasn't prepared to wait - stranded without transport - until he was good n' ready to sort out the problem[s**] he'd caused.

He was told the solution is in hand but van isn't currently legal - therefore off-the-road bar an emergency; an excellent reason for saying no to further borrowing (he wanted it again today :cool:).

** The night before, when DS had 'phoned to say the damaged tyre was almost deflated, I'd asked him to use the jack to stop it getting crushed by the rim (in hope it could be salvaged). He placed the jack beneath van's front door sill, which has distorted to the point that the door now cannot be closed without slamming it hard (also failed to prevent squished tyre). :mad:

"Why didn't you put the jack under the jacking-point on the frame?"
..Was a question Divo Three couldn't answer; such arcane mechanical knowledge being utterly beyond him - you see why it would have been unwise to entrust him with DIY repairs?

Today Robin isn't worth much, as expected. Feeling 148 years old is a price worth paying to have the reassurance of van parked at the Nest (although won't use it before new tires arrive, unless a life-or-death situation occurs).
Just feel happier, more relaxed for it being there - on four wheels, lol.
DS3 still doesn't understand. <sigh>

Knit_Witch

oh blimey Robin, gentle huggles coming your way and skritches for CD (along with tail wags and nose licks from the Furry Members of the Witch household!)

Sun_Addict

Oh Robin what a palaver with the van. Hope you get those new tyres soon although as you say you have a good excuse not to lend it out for now. Sorry to hear about your health issues. I know someone who had very high chloresterol despite a healthy diet. She had to exercise as well as watch what she ate but it worked without having to resort to statins.

Glad to hear you're on the police's law abiding residents list

Hugs and ear scratches to you and CD from SA and the SA fur babies. By the way we had glorious weather in Lanzarote all week, in fact it was hot enough for me to sit outside at night in a sleeveless dress (which is a very rare occasion for me, I wore a jacket at night in Ibiza in July), we even had the air con on!

Bubblesmum

Sending restful vibes..... And understand the relief of having your wheels back

Sun Addict glad to hear you had a fab hols x

Ear Rubs to CD

patanne

Just to mention again your thyroid - do you know that an underactive thyroid can lead to raised cholesterol. Please make sure that your doctor did do a thyroid function test.

Sorry to be "pushy" here but your health is so important and your other health issues could be masking symptoms. Tiredness is a big one plus weight problems. I've changed my mind I am not sorry to be pushy!! Just google it & check out the symptoms.

missrlr

Oh my goodness Robin, you certainly have had a rare old time of it haven't you?

DS3 needs Sitting on the naughty step in solitary to consider his actions for leaving you high and dry! I know he is perhaps a little old for this but wow. I'd hope a little more consideration for you and CD needs (predictable and non predictable)

Sorry the van has suffered enough and more trauma than necessary can it be fixed?

Hope you Have a restful weekend xx

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Virtual Visitors, :hello:

Many thanks to everyone for posting; CD also sends her thanks, wags and happy licks to Knit Witch, Sun.A and Bubbles - she really enjoyed all the extra ear-tickles and cuddles she got from you this morning, while Robin has been thinking about all your comments (and subsequent reading)..

Sun_Addict wrote: »

I know someone who had very high chloresterol despite a healthy diet. She had to exercise as well as watch what she ate but it worked without having to resort to statins.

patanne wrote:

Just to mention again your thyroid - do you know that an underactive thyroid can lead to raised cholesterol. Please make sure that your doctor did do a thyroid function test.

Sorry to be "pushy" here but your health is so important and your other health issues could be masking symptoms. Tiredness is a big one plus weight problems. I've changed my mind I am not sorry to be pushy!!

Push away, Patanne! Am eager to hear of anything which might usefully direct my research; hopefully leading to an improvement in everyday life. So anecdotal experiences are also handy pointers - thanks Sun.A. :T

Have learned that the thyroid tests are misnamed; they actually show what the pituitary gland is producing - and in a significant number of patients, these investigations fail to detect hypothyroidism for years after onset of symptoms (and in some cases, never).

T4 and TSH were tested, but not T3. Interestingly, there is a wide variation on what is considered 'normal range' depending where in the World one resides. In Europe, my results are low but unremarkable - whereas in Canada red flags would be waving.

Looking at the symptoms of under-active thyroid, which can include:
extreme tiredness huge tick
weight gain, but with a poor appetite huge tick
feeling the cold easily huge tick
dry and/or pale skin tick
coarse, thinning hair and brittle nails tick
weak and sore muscles huge tick
a hoarse, croaky or deeper voice
puffy eyes
memory loss and poor concentration huge tick
constipation sometimes tick
heavy, irregular or prolonged menstrual periods, if you’re a woman n/a - past that
tingling in your hands and arms very tick
depression Umm ? suppose so, sometimes
poor sex drive n/a - can't say I miss it!
slow heart rate sometimes tick
enlarged thyroid gland (goitre), which causes a lump to develop in your throat don't think so, but hard to tell without a comparison?

..Very interesting. Quite a few of those would also feature on a list of ME / CFS / Fibro symptoms (with others).

Can't say that the standard solution appeals, even if the donors have been sacrificed for the human food chain anyway.
An alternative? Still reading, but diet may be worth looking at - although could Muggins survive without British tea or potatoes for dinner? ..Not a happy prospect.

Exercise exercise is all through the annals I've looked at so far. What a joke; you should see me hobbling around today after what most people would consider a pleasant stroll down the mountain (when? Day before yesterday?).

The swimming tank is becoming a more appealing prospect - can't think of anything else I could manage regularly enough to make a difference - unless the massed minds of MSE can come up with something more immediate (and most important - cheaper!)?

missrlr wrote:

DS3 needs Sitting on the naughty step in solitary to consider his actions for leaving you high and dry! I know he is perhaps a little old for this but wow. I'd hope a little more consideration for you and CD needs (predictable and non predictable)

Naughty step? The very thought, Missrlr! :rotfl:
Divo Three hasn't been in touch since being told van is not available for his jaunts. Am hoping DS sorts out the job that he promised he and SK would do at the Nest, before asking for it again.
We'll see.

Sun_Addict wrote: »

Glad to hear you're on the police's law abiding residents list

:rotfl: ..Anything to keep life simple.

missrlr

Hate to say it but water based exercises is the best solution .... Walking in water to support joints (must be at least lower arm pit level so 75% of body weight is supported) Heel to toe walking , very effective for core and balance both forwards and in reverse. Takes some doing but effective!

IS there a salt water pool you can use? Perhaps pay (in kind) a neighbour? Most pools I use are salt water ..... Much nicer IMO

Glad you giggled at the naughty step but honestly, helping out family you say? Perhaps a reminder about this? Am quite cross on your behalf.

Do get the T3 test (ask El Medico please?) and I know medication is not ideal but ........

I am so pleased you are back and please don't get disheartened!