Apple muncher's number crunching

apple_muncher

The eye appointment was today's highlight. It took nearly 4 hours including the travelling. I have a cystoid macular oedema! Basically it's a lot of inflammation. I have 2 sets of drops to use, one is 3 times a day for 6 weeks and the other starts at 6 times a day for 2 weeks then dropping to 4 and down to 1 over the following 4 weeks. I should be seen again after 6 weeks and might be given more drops if needed. Ooph, I'm all worn out.

I'm very grateful that there's a bus that's practically door to door and that I got a seat both ways.

Tomorrow we are all going for A Big Adventure, for an archive tour of the National Theatre. I'll be the one snoring in the corner 🤣

beanielou

Really hope the eye drops help a lot really soon. 🤗

apple_muncher

Thank you beanie. Nearly a week on, and the drops are doing their job.😁

We've had an early Christmas present - Pip has been awarded PIP 🎉🎉🎉. We didn't expect to hear before the end of January. It has really given him a boost.

The decs are all up, or at least all the ones that are going up this year. And the present pile is a-growing.

Today I had a 9 am blood test, met a friend for coffee, ventured to liddle to buy things to make a hamper for my neighbour and took Pip to his friend's house. Dh is on picking up duty so I'm now snuggled on the sofa with a 'vintage' Bergerac.

beanielou

Fantastic news on Pip’s PIP. 

Watty1

That’s good news for PIP

apple_muncher

It has been a lovely day. Only woke up at 9 which was a good start.

Plenty of lovely presents, most of which I bought myself and gave to dh to wrap 😎. He and Pip also bought me a set of 6 beautifully decorated small bowls. And I have a mountain of chocolate 🤣

Pip had his lunch upstairs as he suddenly got overwhelmed, but is now back down with us as we watch the telly and chill on our devices.

Lunch was absolutely lush. Wagyu steak every time from now on! Possibly cheese and crackers later on.

apple_muncher

I bumped into various  neighbours at the garages today. I hardly recognised one, as he was in a beanie, hoodie and jeans. I only ever seen him all smart and going to work! It was lovely to chat with him. And I saw the others as I was scraping the frost off the windscreen, so we had a good few minutes to catch up. I do love where I live ❤️.

I had a mega gym session this morning - a normal kettle bell workout followed by playing with pushing and then pulling a loaded sled up and down a 10 metre stretch of astro. I did it 4 times with 80 kg and then challenged myself and did it 2 more times with 100kg. We'll see if I can move tomorrow 🤣.

Pip surprised us all by having an afternoon nap! This is such a rare occurrence and usually only when he is very poorly. He's definitely not ill. So just exhaustion, then!

Now that Pip will get PIP, I think I can apply for carer's allowance. My sister mentioned something about there being a limit on how much you can earn (indeed there is - £196 per week) and penalties if you earn over that (yep, very true). My work is seasonal, so when I'm invigilating (paid the month end after the timesheet is submitted) and exam board marking (paid in a lump once I reach 80 or 90% of my quota, and weekly thereafter) I'll deffo go over the limit. If they look at my annual earnings, they'll see that no way do I earn £196 x 52 = £10,192. Hmmm. Will need to have a conversation with someone about that. A job for 2026.

Watty talks about her vision board for 2025, and I'm going to have a go at creating one myself for '26. Nowt fancy, but possibly slightly up from scribbles on the back of an envelope... Possibly 🤣. 

On the cards for tomorrow:

 Make curried parsnip soup

 Put my Christmas presents away

 Clear some table space

 Hoover

Watty1

Vision boards are great!  I'm going to keep mine for 2026 with a few amendments as I'm still working on most of it. I made mine with a few pictures torn from magazines.  

apple_muncher

Ooh, I did all 4 items on my list! And that was really thanks to paracetamol, after being up from 2-4.30 with Pip. Were you aware that there are birds singing at 3.30am???

f0xh0les

It'll probably be a robin. Shouty little warbler. No sense of timing or decorum. As I stood on the railway platform, before 6am, under the harsh strip lights,  from somewhere in the darkness,  all I could here was the smug git shouting his face off.  I do love them though.  💕  If it happens again, download the free Merlin bird app, record the song and it tells you which birds are shouting at you, and if it is a normal TWEET or if it is a HELP!!! Its going to eat me!!!! Tweet.  Jolly good free fun when up at ridiculous o'clock,  or if you are in a tent somewhere.