Milann’s mutterings through retirement

milann

As I said yesterday…..not sure where time is going. 

It’s been a bit of an expensive time here with lots of birthdays one after another. But now I budget for them it’s much better than it was many years ago when I was robbing Peter to pay Paul….when I think back to those days it scares me silly. 

We had a few days at dds which was lovely. I took the gks birthday presents with me to save posting them - they both have birthdays before Christmas, which will be the next time we see them. We had some lovely walks by the sea and spent time together playing games. 

It was Dh birthday at weekend, we celebrated by heading into the big city where the Christmas markets had opened. We had a bit of a mooch around….it was very early so they weren’t too busy. I live the atmosphere. We didn’t visit all the sites s they’re spread around the city but will before they close. From there we jumped on the tram and went for a drink by the big canal out of town. Then jumped back on the tram to go for a lovely Chinese meal. The tram ride was more for a rest as Dh is definitely struggling walking with the knee that he claims is ‘fine’. Ds was with us and it was a lovely day. We made good use of our bus and tram passes that day, as we did the following day when we virtually retraced our steps to purchase more birthday presents that we didn’t want to carry to the restaurant on Sunday. 

We’ve been around to see my SIL and taken her out a few times…..she loves looking at Christmas decorations in garden centres so we’ve already visited a couple with her…..she can spend a long time studying one ornament then forget she’s already looked at it and go and do it again. At least she is happy when she is doing this…..if we stay in the house with her she is constantly asking where relatives who are long deceased are. We usually end up in her favourite place to eat. I do have to chuckle as she insists she has no appetite then demolishes a full meal and pudding 🤭 I think it’s getting very close to her needing some sort of care going in but she is absolutely against it in any shape or form. 

I’ve decided I’m not going to make any Christmas cakes this year. We had a sample of a Dundee style cake last time we went to c@stc@ and it was lovely. A big fruit cake with nuts  and cherries on top and i’m sure it was only about £12 but can’t remember how much. When I think if the time standing and how it messes my arm, the fuel used cooking it plus the price of ingredients and all the sugar in the marzipan and icing which I vow only to have a small piece every year and end up eating loads. Time for a change 👍 I’ve made Christmas cakes every year barring 1 when I’d just come out of hospital since I was 12…..so it’s been a big decision 😂
I need to pay my cc in full later as tomorrow I need to pay for the new false tooth 😯 It’ll be ready mid December…..I’m sure it didn’t take so long last time I had one but there’s been 2 weeks between each appointment. I feel a real mess with a big gappy smile 😬 Hopefully it’ll be £327 well spent 🤞

Sun_Addict

Good idea to buy a cake this year especially as you've found a tasty alternative. I've heard good reports about Costco's food, not that I've ever set foot in one, I couldn't even tell you where the nearest one is. 

I'm glad you gave your SIL a nice day out at the garden centre. 

milann

Think we crossed posts SA - I’ve just been catching up on your diary 👍😁

amber03

I used to make my Xmas cake, but a couple of years ago decided to stop. My friend makes me one, so decided two xmas cakes was abit excessive. Her’s are much nicer than mine. Also Im the only one in the household that eaten it.

cant go wrong with any Costc@ cakes. Love their chocolate fudge one. 

milann

Amber I’m sure your cake was lovely too 👍
Talking about cake…..we passed a factory shop at weekend that I’ve wanted to visit for years. I don’t often head that way and it has very obscure opening hours. But we passed, it was open and in I went….BIG mistake. I got some great bargains. They make cakes for M&S and other places. I spent £8 and came out with big bags of flapjack off cuts, rocky road, chocolate mini rolls minus the creamy filling, custard tarts and a chocolate and hazelnut pudding to die for. I did share the haul with ds and am rationing myself. 😂😂I’ll never loose weight….WHEN will I learn .
i should have gone to aqua today but cancelled as I’d had a call from a good friend saying she needed a brew. I suspected something was amiss and I was right.  She goes in for a mastectomy next week. Just shows how we need to keep up with mammograms. There was no outward signs but it showed itself on the gram. We’ve been friends for 50+ years and we’ve pulled each other through all sorts. So I’ve been around there best part of the day and we’ve had some laughs (we both have a black sense of humour in the face of adversity 😂) 
I’m going for a steroid injection tomorrow……I’m pleased it’s just as the cold weather is beginning. I’ve also had a phone call for an appointment with the same consultant re my other hip. I’d asked for a referral as my good hip is some times worse than the bad one. I’d specifically asked to see the same doc….but the appointment came through for a different one. I’ve been back and forth for a few weeks trying to get it changed. I was going to mention it tomorrow but thankfully I’ve got an appointment in a few weeks. Seems a bit ridiculous seeing 2 different docs for 2 different hips 😂😂
On a more cheerful note I went to see Choral at the cinema last week. I loved it, especially as we’d visited the place where it was filmed. I’ve decided I’m going to get a monthly cinema pass. It cost £9.90 to see 1 film and a couple of friends have passes. £16 a month and you can take a friend on Tuesdays for £5. So I’ll be going to see some films with friends….Im sure I’ll use it twice a month 😁

beanielou

Cake 🍰 
Pass sounds good. 

milann

Wow where has time gone. 

I seem to have had a plethora of appointments…..mainly routine but they’ve all been together…..opticians, doctors, hospital, GP and dentist. The upshot is it’s cost me £500 in dental and optical fees. I can claim about £150 back from Simply Health. I have picked my new specs up this morning and am not overly impressed with them….all slightly blurry. I’m hoping it’s just a matter of adjusting to them but I’m back at the hearing department on Friday and if they haven’t settled I will certainly mention it.
Not sure why but feeling a bit bah-humbug atm. No idea why as I’ve been out lots and am at a show in big city later. I’ll give myself a good talking to and shake out of it. I should be going to a friends before we go to the show but I’m going to meet her at the theatre and take myself into town early…..I might even treat myself to a late lunch early tea and mooch around to try and perk myself up 😂 and get some ideas what I’ll buy for Christmas presents. 
Ive been on a pre Christmas cleaning purge the last couple of weeks. I’ve virtually finished downstairs - every cupboard, window and light shade is sparkling 😀👏 and I  have just emptied the contents of my wardrobe onto my bed…..I will sort it or I’ll be sleeping in the chair tonight 😂😂 I think the clutter is getting to me. Every nook seems to have something in it. 

I knew we had a bit of damp in the corner of the living room but I think it shocked me as to how bad it was when I pulled a cupboard out to clean behind…..I really need to get somebody in to it. Im sure Dh hadn’t believed me when I kept telling him. I’m not looking forward to having it done nor the price it might be. 🫣😯🥴😯 I did put the job on one of the trade sites over the summer, but didn't have any replies. It definitely needs actioning. Mmmmmm……think I’ve just realised why I’m bah humbug 👍
On that note I’m off to start sorting my wardrobe and I’m being ruthless 👍 

 

milann

I had a lovely couple of hours in The Big City yesterday…..just what the doctor ordered 😀
I bought 1 Christmas present which is a start 👍 I’ve got a few ideas for gks. It’s getting so much harder as they grow up. I’m happy to give cash for birthdays but do like to give something to open at Christmas. I just meandered around then went in M&S for my tea which I really enjoyed. I had a mooch around part of The Christmas market. The prices were high so I just soaked up the free atmosphere 👍 I met my friends then we headed to the show. 

There was a lot of empty seats so we were upgrade from the gods to the centre of the 2nd row The Circle. And we had empty seats in front of us 👍😀 It was a real feel good show and I’m glad I went even though I hadn’t been in the mood.
I've had a GP phone appointment this morning and am pleased he’s agreed to continue the treatment I’d tried and to up the dose to see if that’s better. 

I’m at the dentist at 2pm…..I’ll be glad when I get my false tooth renewed. I feel very scruffy without it…..2 weeks today. Talk about all I want for Christmas is me 2 front teeth. I’ve never known so many fittings for a tooth 🥴
The 2nd part of my wardrobe is now sprawled across my bed. I’m having a big dilemma with myself. I don’t wear most of it. A lot of it is unworn…..some of it it too small. I laughingly have my cruise dresses…..the cruise never happened and I’m not sure it ever will. Half of me is saying just get rid……half of me is holding onto the dream. I really cba listing things on a pre loved website. I’d rather give it as my donation to a charity shop. 

Just finished my porridge, walnuts and blueberries so I suppose it’s time to put my backside into gear and decide what’s happening with my wardrobe…..

milann

The contents of my wardrobe are still not sorted or returned. They’re sitting on the side of my room now.
I picked my new specs up on Weds…I was really quite pleased with them as I was ready for a change of frame. I’ve had verifocal for years and never had any problems. The vision from these new specs is awful….just not clear and giving a sickly headache. I stuck with them thinking I was just getting used to them. Anyway I had a hearing appointment today in the same place, so mentioned the glasses. They were very thorough and checked them out…upshot is another eye test on Tuesday…..and no charge should I need new lenses - I should think not 🤬🤬I really could do without the hassle of doing it all again 🤬🤬 I’ll ask for a refund if necessary…but will give them chance to sort them. 

Sun_Addict

I despair about getting Christmas presents. Everyone is so hard to buy for and like you I’d rather buy something to open rather than the easy option of money.   

How frustrating about the new specs I hope you get them sorted.