Cherry takes the reins

CRANKY40

Google pom pom maker on the big river site. You can make the things in a fraction if the time - they're really easy to use. My friend who used to put pom poms on hats that he made was so happy when I bought him some. He reckons they saved him hours of work. 

Sun_Addict

Re the cauliflower mash I just either boil or steam it until it’s soft and mash it with some herbs. If I’m using it to top a pie I sprinkle some on grated cheese before cooking. 

Cherryfudge

CRANKY40 said:

Google pom pom maker on the big river site. You can make the things in a fraction if the time - they're really easy to use. My friend who used to put pom poms on hats that he made was so happy when I bought him some. He reckons they saved him hours of work. 

Thank you! I've had a look at the ones for sale and a demo on Youtube and it looks like fun, as well as quicker than the cardboard circles. I nearly jumped in and ordered some, but so many of the reviews (at least among the cheaper ones) say they are flimsy. I'm debating whether I'd get enough use to justify more expensive ones...  I can see a 'good brand' one elsewhere cheaper but not deliverable this side of Christmas.

Sun_Addict said:

Re the cauliflower mash I just either boil or steam it until it’s soft and mash it with some herbs. If I’m using it to top a pie I sprinkle some on grated cheese before cooking. 

That sounds easy! I've just been watching Jamie's one pot meals where he mixes mashed potato with tartare sauce for a fish pie, which has set me wondering and I think that might work with cauliflower, too. Cheese has to be the best, though!

This afternoon was spent Christmas shopping - a few more presents mopped up, and the turkey bought. Lots of money flew away, though I did resist a few things in Primarni. The queue was too long so I left the shop with nothing, but apart from that I gave into temptation and treated myself to a book for £10 and some biscuit cutters for £6 - totally unnecessary but it's that pre-Christmas madness where I buy things I wouldn't normally give in to. I'm used to that happening with presents for others, when the nice things I've bought in advance are suddenly glitterless and dull when compared with all the razzle-dazzle that suddenly appears in the shops this time of year. It's worrying that I'm buying these things for myself, especially considering DH is now wrapping the little things I've given in to during the year and handed to him with a thank you for getting me such and such for Christmas!

Poor DH is still not well, but keeps going. It's fruitless trying to stop him.

Spending:
Housekeeping: £33.78
Hobbies: £6
Book £10
Household (Christmas placemats) £8
Clothing (Christmas scrunchie) £1
Gifts: £80.18

Now for some wrapping.

badmemory

I use cauli in all sorts including curry type things.  When I buy one I cut it into large florets immediately.  Then cook them in the microwave & add to whatever just long enough to get flavoured.  Sometimes I wonder if my DS has any idea what he is eating.  He was warned about his cholesterol not long ago, which must be to do with his meds, as I'm ok & we (well I) have cut down our meat use over the last few years to well under 40% of what it was.  I used to worry that I was making HIM cut down when he didn't need to but after his blood test well I dread to think what it would have been if I hadn't.

Honeysucklelou2

Catching up on your diary Cherryfudge. Had to smile at the wash and go treatment for the Christmas tree - what a good idea!

I had  no idea about the half hour wait for levothyroxine. I take that too, but just have it first thing then have breakfast. May have to amend the morning routine.

Good news about your DS2’s flat. Hope the paperwork goes through smoothly.

badmemory

I was just told to take it first thing & wait half an hour before eating.  But then I don't take anything else.  Well other than pain killers recently, but early morning I normally stick to rubbing on gel rather than tablets, except on really bad days.  But then I had been taking it for almost 30 years before anyone told me how/when I should be taking it & it never seemed to make any difference.  That was the pharmacy that told me in a meds review which I had never had before.  Those regular blood tests to check your levels are important as the menopause can effect them as can being over around 70.  My father was overactive (& they say it isn't hereditary - right) & he had the radioactive iodine, as he got to 70 his thyroid went from being normal to being underactive.  An over 70s case of underactive thyroid used to be diagnosed as dementia.

Cherryfudge

From memory, the instruction to wait half to one hour after taking levothyroxine used just to be on the higher dose tablets. I saw it on a client's medication and started to take notice but now it's on my dose as well. @badmemory, it may be that you didn't seem to be affected because your dose was calculated to take into account your normal food habits. It seems it interacts with caffeine and with milk and if you have either or both of these while your body is still absorbing the levothyroxine, you won't absorb as much of the hormone, meaning your blood tests will indicate you need more thyroxine - so the doctor will increase your dose to make it 'right', but it's possible you could have a lower dose if you change what you eat/drink in the four/six hours after taking it.

I would struggle to give up coffee, but I have cut back!

I'm not medically qualified so the best person to check with is probably your pharmacist, they are very good with things like this. I wait to take vitamins and calcium tablets till mid afternoon as that's what my pharmacist advised.

Interesting that it's not supposed to be hereditary: my sister has it and is on the same dose as I am, and when we cleared my parent' house, I found my Dad's prescription for exactly the same thing.

How tragic that underactive thyroid in older people used to be diagnosed as dementia. I suppose the slowing down, depression, brain fog etc that can go with decreased thyroxine could resemble loss of mental powers, but so unnecessary!

Cherryfudge

DH and I were supposed to be doing the church cleaning this morning but he needs to rest. It seems to be working, as he's brighter this evening. I went down anyway and our colleague was having a grand sort out of the cleaning cupboard. My plans to hoover were interrupted as we'd not realised the main hall was in use, so I did some kitchen cleaning first. The end result took ages but is satisfying! I used my non-sore arm as much as possible (unexpected benefit of an injury over twenty years ago - I can manage most things with one hand!) but the dodgy one is achy now.

Some shopping was done afterwards, but nothing heavy. Apart from some small gifts and food items, I saw a cushion in a charity shop that matches our sofa. The one I bought a few weeks ago didn't go as well as I'd hoped, so it's waiting to go to H and A when their extension is built.

I was surprised to see a few of the charity shops are already reducing Christmas cards: I bought some lovely ones marked down yesterday, but I think those were last year's from a big retailer.

I picked up a takeaway cup of tea for DH to encourage him to hydrate and relax! Then I was having difficulty balancing shopping and tea, so texted him to meet me near home. We met up and walked together and were nearly home when we heard someone crying loudly. Took me a few minutes to get the picture and I wasn't able to help but it appears someone had moved into a house down the street earlier in the day. They were trying to open the garage door, not realising it was bolted, and shaking it dislodged a piece of concrete which hit them on the head. A neighbour was already organising to drive them to A&E, which is fortunately only minutes away. I don't know what the damage is. Scary at any time but doubly so when there's the ambulance strike.

I have so many questions. How come the survey didn't identify a crack in the concrete? It was very obvious by the time I saw it, but was that all caused by the way the door was shaken? Was the house somehow not surveyed? How many 'freak' accidents happen on a daily basis? An article on the radio just now was saying that people are avoiding calling ambulances for today but they are expecting more than usual tomorrow as a result - obviously lots of this will be sick people who think they won't be able to get an ambulance (though I heard people are coming off the picket lines to cover genuine emergencies). But how many ambulance calls are due to behaviour that could be avoided? Anyway I really hope the injured person in this case is okay. If it's a head injury, I also hope they get kept in overnight.

badmemory

Thanks for the additional info re levothyroxine.  I do find it interesting that the thyroxine I was on way back had no side effects other than those caused by not taking enough or taking too much whereas the levothyroxine sodium they are prescribing now does have side effects.  Incidentally it was the almost starvation diet I went on to lose the 4 stone I put on in 3 months when my thyroid packed in (after giving up smoking) that caused my stomach to rebel.  Interestingly my fathers thyroid went overactive after he too gave up smoking.  I will avoid conspiracy theories but I do have a few of my own!

Cherryfudge

I've heard of stress affecting the thyroid - a medical friend attributed her hyperthyroidism to pushing herself too much.