RE: Dancing to a different drummer (Full Version)

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agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (2/16/2008 1:34:47 PM)

Well, the prospectus arrived from the OU. I havne't read it yet as I've been busy, but I shall look at in the next few days (hopefully[&:]).

My father and stepmother came down today for the day. We went out for a meal then to a nearby village for a wander. I felt so different to how I felt last year and it was really good (to feel so much better). I bought myself some 'hand warmers' that I microwave and some 'hot sox', which can also be microwaved. Both are filled with lavender. I have the sox on now, and they seem to be doing the job[:D]. Kinda odd to walk in, but they'll be great when I'm washing dishes in my cold kitchen with a stone floor[:D]! The hand ones will be great when I go out (at least for a while).

I saw my nurse yesterday and had a very productive time, discussing my future opportunities. Feel very pleased about it as I had been wondering about whether it was proving beneficial to me.

My aunt's funeral is on Monday. I won't be going due to the problems getting to the city it's being held in. My mother is fine about this. She will be travelling with my sister and her daughters (my sister's daughters).

I'm seeing my psychologist on Monday. Am looking forward to the appointment. I've kept pretty stable mood-wise since I last saw her. The past week, my mood has dropped a little, and my sleep has been disturbed, but I'm putting that down to my aunt's death as opposed to anything else and I consider that a natural thing which will improve shortly.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (2/21/2008 6:16:11 AM)

Well, I looked through the prospectus of courses and saw several that I'd like to do. Most of them have just begun, and the next start date is May. However, I called them yesterday and for the science courses, I can apply up to 2 weeks after the start date[:D] so I've been busy planning what courses I want to do. I've decided to apply for 2 courses now, and a further 2 in May (which I can put off, depending on how I do with the first 2).

Course 1 is called 'Understanding human nutrition' and course 2 is 'Studying mammals'. The courses that I'm applying to do in May are 'Start listening to music' and 'Digital photography: creating and sharing better images'. I'll send the forms and necessary documentation off today, so hopefully it shouldn't be too long before I get it.

Naturally, I'm already impatient for them to get here[:D]. The courses are structured and provide most of what is needed (except computer, calculator and cd/dvd player) and offer online contact with students and tutors and telephone contact with tutors as well. Neither of these courses have an exam at the end, but they do both require some coursework.

I've also contacted the university that I went to years back. I started the first year of a degree (and completed it) but didn't finish. The credits that I received from that year could count towards a degree with the OU, if I chose to go that far. My old university is going to look into seeing whether they can provide me with proof of what I did and they will get back to me. I think I had a certificate at one point, but I haven't a clue where it is now[&:]. It would be good to have a copy.

My mother said that my aunt's funeral was well attended and even some of the other patients from when she was in hospital attended because they got to know her and like her.

The appointment with my psychologist went well. I have 2 more appointments left with her. One will be at the beginning of April and she suggested that what she's done with other patients is leave the other as an 'open' appointment for 6 months or so (a flexible date) to see how things are going etc. I think the sessions have been incredibly beneficial to me and I'm glad that I did them, though they were very difficult at times. I shall miss her though. I'm really glad that I've had such a gradual ending and not a sudden one. It's been reassuring to see that I've been able to make changes in my life but still have her to offer me some support. I'm sure it will make the final ending (which I'm really seeing as happening in April) much easier.

I have to get library books back, get documents photocopied and post a couple of letters ~ including my OU one[:D]



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (2/25/2008 9:46:47 AM)

Well, my application has gone off for the OU, so I'm just waiting for the material to turn up now[:D].

I received a whole load of seeds today for part of an experment that I applied for and whill need to start some of them off soon. Tomato seeds, lettuce seeds and winter salad seeds. The tomato and lettuce seeds are for a comparison ~ I have 2 varieties of each, 1 old and 1 new. The winter salad are (I think) more to see how they grow, the conditions, the taste etc. It includes pak choi, rainbow chard, purslane, leaf beet and endive so it's a good mix.

I've been doing some cooking over the w/end and really enjoyed it. Some of the recipes are a little quirky though (celeriac in the pastry for an apple and raisin pie) but they taste good! I also want to go into the next town and see if they have any blackberry and blueberry plants left ~ but that's going to have to wait until tomorrow or later in the week.

I've ordered my grow bags for my potatoes (and some for my tomatoes too! Hopefully they will deliver to my back door and not the front! If they haven't unloaded, I can ask them to take it to the back, but I feel guilty if they've got them out of the lorry.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (2/27/2008 7:00:11 PM)

Well, I guess you heard about the earthquake huh? I didn't feel a thing, didn't feel anything last year either. This is probably just as well because way back when I did experience one (the epicentre was about 3 miles from my house) it woke me up (it was about 3am) and I thought I'd put a can of food in the oven, turned it on and gone to bed and it had blown up. I can recall thinking about getting up to see if that is what I had done, but reasoned that the roof was still on the house, so it could wait until morning[:D] I went back to sleep!

I heard from the university I studied with before and they've found my records. I have to pay to get a new certificate, but that's fine. I shall do it in the next week or two.

I also spoke with the OU. I was able to access one of the courses I applied to do online, but there was no record of the other one (although the two I've registered for starting later in the year are there (though I can't access them yet). Anyhow, I looked through the prospectus and noted down a couple of courses that I'd like to do instead, then called. The original course I wanted to do is full up, and this is the last time they're running it[:(]. I spoke with the lady (who did experience the earthquake!) and gave her the other codes. There is space on both of them so I have to fax the registration form to her tomorrow. The course I'm going to do (along with 'Understanding human nutrition') is 'Human genetics and health issues'.

This afternoon, the other course information arrived so I've been excitedly looking through it all. I do have some catching up to do according to the timetable, but there is a free week so I'm not too stressed about it ~ and there is the option to take it over a longer period of time too.

There are a lot of courses that I'd like to do, but I'm conscious of wanting one that goes somewhere (where I'm not sure) instead of just doing courses here and there (she says with 2 totally unrelated courses later in the year!).

Not sure if I'll be on for a few days, as I'd like to get stuck into this course and catch up before the next one turns up (next week sometime).



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (2/28/2008 6:41:17 PM)

I went to the stationers this morning and sent the fax, and then phoned to find out if it had got there. The first lady I spoke to wasn't terribly helpful so I phoned back a bit later and spoke to someone else who was brilliant. She checked to see if anything was on the system (it wasn't) and then put me through to the lady I spoke to yesterday. She had a hunt round and couldn't find the fax, so had her manager authorise it over the phone (given the cut off date is tomorrow) which he did ~ so I'm all sorted and should get the course next week.

I said a couple of posts back that my aunt had died. She was an interesting lady who managed to bring her children (she had 3 boys, 1 of whom died after being hit by a lorry) up on her own after her husband left, and bought her own house. One of her surviving children married and had 3 children (he's now divorced from their mother) and the other one pretty much lived with his mother for most of his life.

After my aunt died, she left her home to the 2 boys and her 3 grandchildren. At the funeral, both boys said that they didn't want to sell the house (it was their childhood home). Alan is able to get a mortgage if the others wanted to sell or offered to pay a reasonable rent if they didn't. The others (and Jimmy's ex-wife has joined the fray) don't want to sell ~ but they also want him out of the house so that one of the grandchildren can move in.

Jimmy shut a door on Alan, trapping some of his fingers in the process, and refusing to open the door immediately. Alan has spoken to a solicitor who's advised him to report this as an assault. Alan doesn't want to do this, given Jimmy is his brother and the only family he has left. The solicitor pointed out that he'd seen many cases like this and Alan would need to get tough because it would be an ugly fight.

Alan really feels as though everyone has turned against him. My mother has tried to reassure him that she hasn't, but it's been very hard for him. My aunt and uncle (mother's brother) live near him and I have suggested to my mother that she talk to them and (hopefully) reassure him that they aren't against him.

My aunt has a dog (Ben) who's very old now. He can't get around much, and can't be left alone all day. Alan is off work at the moment but is dealing with the prospect of having to have Ben put down before he returns. Ben really misses my aunt too. Jimmy wants Ben put down now.

(As a sde issue, my mother is having a tough time about Ben because when my gran died she went to the funeral and came home to find her dog had had a stroke and had to be put down.)

Jimmy has threatened Alan that they will have him out of the house and if he doesn't leave, they will tell everyone he takes drugs. He does take drugs, and I'm not condoning it, but he also holds down a responsible job and helped support his mother.

Alan has always had his salary paid into his mother's bank account. Why, I don't know, he just has. Jimmy has had a card to that account (again, not sure why) and knows the number. Before their mother's death, there was around £2,000 ($4,000 US) in it and Jimmy withdrew it all ~ he said that his mother wanted the children (his children) to have £200 each. Alan was paid today and Jimmy withdrew his salary.

The solicitor said that the £2,000 shouldn't have been withdrawn as the estate hasn't gone through probate, so the salary shouldn't have been withdrawn either (and Jimmy knew this on both accounts). My mother has said she's going to send Alan some money.

There are legal steps that Alan can take to stay in the house, and to get the money back, but it's very hard on him, given that he's fighting his brother.

I'm not really close to my cousins, but this has and is affecting me greatly. Not just because I know that my aunt would have hated it, but I know my mother is affected by it, and I believe that it may come close to what will happen (between my sister and I) when my mother dies. Not that I want it to.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (3/7/2008 9:01:27 PM)

I feel as though I've been very busy doing very little this week. Not quite sure what I've achieved really[&:].

My second course arrived and I happily got stuck into that ~ it's pretty much all stuff I've done before so is much easier for me than the human nutrition course. I'm trying to catch up with both still. The OU has a forums site for students, but it's not nearly as much fun as here[;)]

I was invited round to some friends for a meal on Tuesday and had a wonderful time (as always). I left having actually won a game (can't remember what it's called) which was a first! They gave me a beautiful ceramic (frost-resistant) planter and a strawberry plant[:D]

Today I went into the next town and bought some plug plants basil, sage, oregano, strawberries and then some more strawberry plants (though not plug plants) and 2 fruit bushes (a tayberry and a blueberry, I bought a blackcurrant bush yesterday) that were half price. I also picked up a large rosemary plant that was reduced.

I repotted most of them when I came home. The sage had looked very sorry for itself, but seems to have cheered up (I suspect something to do with the fact it needed some water!). I have put some tomatoes and lobelia in compost to grow, together with a 'mixed' collection that climbs ~ this year I shall use it on the arch I have (if they grow of course!).

It's going to be stormy in the next week, so I've heard, so I don't think I'll put anything outside just yet. We had high winds last w/end and I found the lid to my compost bin in my neighbour's garden[&:]

My gardening stuff arrived, in 2 different deliveries. He came to the front door with the first one and told me the next would probably arrive in a day or so. I asked if he'd deliver to the back door, and he said he would (if he remembered!). He remembered[:)]



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (3/13/2008 1:17:19 PM)

I had a blood test last week. Most of the results are fine, but my thyroid meds need adjusting some[&:]. I need to be retested in 3 months, which is fine because it will fit in with regular blood tests[:)]. Because of the dose of thyroixine I'm on at the moment my doctor wants to increase the amount gradually so it could take some time to sort out, hopefully it won't though. Since getting my results I seem to have been extra-tired though, instead of just the slightly tired I was before they came through! I've been trying to be nice to myself and sleeping extra, but it's not always been easy.

I phoned the store where I bought my plants from because some of the strawberry plants (which looked unhappy when I bought them) seem to have died. The store said to take them back and they would refund my money ~ fortunately I still have my receipt! I shall be doing that tomorrow.

I bought some unhulled sunflower seeds and pea seeds to grow 'greens' from ~ they're meant to be very good for you that way, though I've not tried them yet. They can be grown inside in trays so can be grown all year round. It will be a week or so before I can try them probably.

I can't wait until the weather starts cheering up so I can do some stuff in the garden. I need to move my veronica (and divide it) so that I can put my raised bed down and sow some seeds.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (4/5/2008 12:12:39 PM)

I bought this yesterday for my garden. I'm going to put cherry tomatoes in 2 of the baskets and strawberries in the other 2! I also bought a tv cabinet from the same store ~ a friend picked it up from the store and delivered them to me on the way home from work! I put the cabinet together yesterday evening ~ I took my time and read the instructions properly as I'm generally very impatient and do something wrong. It took little over an hour to do and I made no mistakes! There were a couple of times it said it needed 2 people to do something (because the cabinet is heavy) but I chose to ignore them (given I'd carried the box it was in on my own![;)]

I've also ordered a freezer for myself. It's arriving on Wednesday. It's an upright to replace the chest freezer that I've been using. My kitchen is very tiny and I use the top of the freezer as work surface ~ and it's very frustrating to have to keep clearing things off it to put in or take something out!

The table that my tv had been sitting on has been moved upstairs and is now under a storage unit that matches it and I have a couple of storage boxes underneath it.

My seedlings are coming on really well. I'm going to repot some of them this w/end or early next week I think. My mother thinks I'm very strange for having them in my bedroom, but that's the best place for them. The tomato and cucumber seedlings certainly seem far happier there than they did in my lounge downstairs last year. I think I overwatered my cucumber last year, so I'm giving them a lot less water this year.

Monday is the last appointment I will have with my psychologist. It seems strange that I won't be seeing her again, but at the same time, good. I feel as though she's been very beneficial in my life.

Munchie is sitting at my feet and expecting me to pay her attention. She seems to have taken another step in being friendly towards me and that's rewarding. She's due to have her yearly check up in the next month ~ something that won't go down too well with her[;)] She has a habit of looking at my seedlings ~ I suspect she's a bit miffed that I've taken most of 'her' window! Now that I have the table under the storage unit I think it will be more acceptable as they're nearly the same height as the window.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (4/15/2008 6:38:50 AM)

I saw my psychologist for the kind-of last time last week. I have one more session with her in regard to the number of sessions she offered me although there is no appointment booked. That session will be a sort of review to see how things are and to see if there is any other work that she can help me with, or if further work needs to be done ~ it is good to have a break so that I can reflect in this way. I am free to contact her whenever I need to make the appointment and if she doesn't hear from me, she will contact me!

I've been busy planting up strawberries and tomatoes (though the tomatoes are still indoors at the moment). I gave some tomato plants to a friend at the w/end and have a bunch more to get rid of. I'm growing basil from seed and they've just begun to emerge ~ though the pot slipped in my hand this morning and shook some of the compost loose[&:], the seeds seem ok. I dug up a veronica plant yesterday and divided it (hacked it more like!) and gave half to my neighbour. The books make it seem so easy to do ~ much harder in reality though!

I babysat for a friend at the w/end. While I've babysat for them before, I've never been responsible for getting them all to bed. It was highly entertaining. Their oldest boy is always pretty good for me and can sort out his own bedtime routine (he just needs to be told when!). The younger 2 were ready for bed (except for teeth) and I took the youngest (a little girl) to bed while I told her brother (middle child) to find a book to have a story. Had a discussion with the little girl about what toothpaste she used (she wanted to phone mummy to ask, but I asked one of her brothers and she was happy with that) and she seemed to settle pretty quickly.

I went downstairs to find the front door open and the middle child gone! He was next door, playing football! He came in as soon as I asked and while I read him a story, asked for a biscuit (he didn't get one). Took him up, he cleaned his teeth and went to bed, announcing that I wasn't to worry but he'd been feeling sick that day so he might get up to be sick! (Feeling sick, but well enough to play footie and ask for biscuits!) They both decided that they wanted to have some water, so I got some and put an audio tape on for both of them and left them. They came down once but went back to bed pretty quickly again. It was good to be able to look after them so my friends could go out and I'm hoping they'll trust me to look after them more in the future ~ though I may be inclined to lock the front door in future to keep a certain footie-mad boy in!

The oldest boy played a game on the computer and I watched and we discussed how to do parts of the game which was rather fun. He'd been digging a hole in the garden earlier and I told him that if he found a big wooden box filled with money, it was mine and I'd dropped it out of my bedroom window when I'd lived there (he didn't believe me!).



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (4/17/2008 12:42:28 PM)

My new course materials have arrived. I haven't yet finished the first 2 courses, but am not far off and I decided to go for the second assessment date so not to pressure myself ~ I have until the end of July now.

I have 3 music cd's and listened to parts of some of them. They are an incredible mix of styles (on each cd) which makes it somewhat startling at first! I'm sure all will become clear as the course (it's called 'Start listening to music') starts.

The other new course is about digital photography. They give me abode photoshop software. The cd arrived yesterday and I called the support desk to find out how to get the serial number (it wasn't where they told me it should be!) ~ I suspect I wasn't the only person who they spoke to, because they posted the number today (after telling me it would be available next week!)[:D] ~ that's all installed now though so I shall play with it later.

I spoke with my psychiatrist this morning. I'd written to a company who makes a medication I take (or was taking at the time) to inform them of the problems of measuring it properly (it was a liquid). The company wrote to me and said that if I had a problem with taking the meds, I should speak with my doctor (I had) but they also wrote to him because I'd mentioned some of the side effects I'd experienced. So my psychiatrist called me and asked what problems I'd experienced ~ he vaguely recalled some but wanted reminding (and because they weren't medical, he hadn't made full notes). We discussed the alternatives and he's going to write to them and tell them that there are better methods than the one they offer[:D]! It would be really great if they change their system though ~ as I said to my doctor, I'm sure I'm not the only person who has experienced difficulty measuring accurately and the only reason that I'd written was because I was doing so much bettter! He agreed.

While I had him on the phone, I asked about whether (at some point in the future) he'd be happy to see me to discuss reducing some of my medication to see how I am without it. As I suspected, he's happy, but cautious ~ as I am too. I pointed out to him the changes that had happened in my life this year and told him that I wasn't ready to rock the boat just yet by messing with meds too so we've agreed that I can contact him when I'm ready.

I've also written to my MP and the Health Minister about another issue that has been annoying me. My MP is going to write me (I've heard from his office) but I've not heard from the Health Minister yet. They're in different political parties (not sure if that is good or bad). I am looking forward to their responses though ~ hopefully it won't be too long before I hear from them[;)] I shall post more when I hear from them ~ if it's worth posting that is ~ you know what politicians can be like[:D]



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (4/27/2008 8:12:07 PM)

I saw my doctor last week. We had a fairly long talk on what is a difficult subject for me but agreed on a course of action to take so it was good. Despite the subject, it was good to talk about it.

I haven't heard back from my MP. I did hear from someone in the Health Minister's office who told me he was far too busy to respond to every letter so this person was responding.

I weeded one of my raised beds the other day and added some fertiliser. I shall do the other in a few days and get some beans in (under some cloches for now). I put the tomatoes in larger pots and gave some to 3 friends. I will give the remaining 'excess' to another friend for her and her grandmother when I see my friend in the week.

I trimmed back my fuchsia, though am not sure how well I've done it and it looks much better now. I also took some michaelmas daises out of the container shared with the fuchsia as they seemed to overtake it some. I divided them and gave 2 plants to neighbours straight away and repotted my two elsewhere (though I think I may have killed one off[&:]) until I decide what to do with it. I have potato plants just beginning to emerge and I finally planted the other potato bag up.

I went through all my kitchen cupboards and have long lists of what food is in each one. The cupboards are in no way organised, but at least I know what I have! I need to work on reducing the contents now ~ which is going to take some time.

The new courses start in the next week. I have a lot of reservations about the photography one. There are some very advanced people on it and I feel intimidated. I shall see how it goes though.

I've been listening to the music cd's and am looking forward to that more. I have a printout of the music on each cd ~ most of them are clips as opposed to full tracks, and there is a wide range of genres. It's a bit disconcerting to have 'The Burning Bush' (Yiddish music, which is wonderful) along with 'Somewhere over the Rainbow', 'The Four Seasons', 'We will Rock You' and jazz clips though!



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (5/1/2008 7:45:38 PM)

This week has seemed busy for me. I have had various appointments and caught up with a friend I hadn't seen in a while today. While I was there, another friend I hadn't seen in ages turned up so it was good to chat. I gave one friend a bunch of tomato plants (some for her grandmother).

I've also been doing some work in the garden, between the showers of rain and appointments. I will be doing some more gardening in the next few days. I still need to get the basket stand together. I am going to try planting some beans under cloches (now that I've put some nemaslugs down[;)]). Hopefully I'll have more than I did last year[:D]. I bought another strawberry plant to replace one that had died and planted it today. I found out that I hadn't pruned my fuchsia enough so cut them back some more[&:] The things you learn!

I went into the next town yesterday for an appointment. Afterwards I looked around the town a little and ended up in the supermarket. It was kind of weird because that store has just been taken over by another chain and they are closing for a refit in the next week (though they didn't seem terribly sure when exactly). As a result, much of their stock was greatly reduced, so I managed to buy a few bargins[:D]. I've mentioned it to a couple of people, warning them it's probably not good if they're looking to do a weekly shop, but if they happen to be passing, it may be worth them looking in! None of the staff are being made redundant, which is good. My local store has possibly been sold too, no one seems very sure about it! Rumour has it, that it's been sold to a different company though ~ and a far better company than the one that is there are the moment!



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (5/3/2008 3:09:00 PM)

I went into Bath yesterday, specifically to go into one store (was all I really had time for) and buy something. I went upstairs first (which is where the item I wanted was, if they had it ~ it was in their bargin dept) and saw part of a different item that I'd been thinking of getting for some years. I debated whether to buy it or not (and buy the product itself next month) and left it where it was while I wandered round the store (upstairs and down). When I'd picked up what I wanted to buy, I went back to the bargin dept and found, not only the part of the product, but the complete item ~ both were reduced (box was damaged) considerably so I grabbed both before anyone else could!

This is what I've bought. I haven't used it yet as I've had no need to cook (I had some foods in the fridge that simply needed reheating) today, but shall look forward to it soon. I spoke with my mother yesterday evening ~ she had the little one and raved about it (I have the biggest) and said that she'd give me hers if I liked it (which will be useful) and is going to send me the cook book down (hmmm, I've heard that before, about something else!).

I asked her about my cousins (Alan and Jimmy, who I mentioned in an earlier post) and she didn't really know much about what was going on there still. Alan has changed the locks and taken the dog to the vet (the dog is doing pretty well according to the vet, but on meds) and Jimmy is spreading rumours about Alan, sigh...

I phoned my father yesterday too. I'd tried earlier in the week but he didn't answer. He spends a lot of time with his neighbour so I presumed he was there. Last night, my step-mother answered. My father is in Belfast ~ his sister, who's had cancer has gone downhill very quickly and his brother told him so he flew over on Tuesday. He's going to stay for another week or so and see how things are. His sister is in a coma (and has been for several days) but didn't really know anyone (family) for a little bit before that. She's in a really nice hospice and has one2one care from a nurse. When she was conscious, she said how comfortable she was there.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (5/10/2008 1:50:14 PM)

Just a short post...

My father came back from Belfast on Wednesday as there was no change in my aunt. His brother phoned him early this afternoon (Sat) to say that she had died peacefully today.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (5/17/2008 6:41:53 PM)

I spoke with my father today. He said that he's recovering from all the travel that he's been doing recently to see his sister, and then for the funeral, but that's all over now, so hopefully he can catch up on some rest.

I put down the raised bed that I bought last year and put stuff that is meant to keep slugs and snails away (copper tape). I haven't seen any yet, but I think the squirrels have been across it, so I put pepper down to keep them away! I have beans coming through in one of my other raised beds and I've put copper rings around where I planted the beans. I've seen snails on the bed, but only one inside a copper ring ~ that was last night and it was salted[;)]. I realised this morning that I'd created a bridge for it, so it could avoid touching the copper[&:]. I removed the 'bridge'[:)]. My potatoes seem to be growing rapidly. I want to dig them up and look and see if I have anything, but I realise this isn't a very good idea!

I still have my cucumber seedling alive from when I planted it a while back. It's growing so slowly though ~ not sure if it's meant to or not. My tomato plants are doing ok ~ or at least those I didn't kill by scorching them. I've started to bring them in at nights because the temperature has dropped some. I started some basil seeds off a while back and they're coming along well. I picked one seedling today and it tastes of basil, despite being so tiny! One of my neighbours gave me some parsley seeds, and I need to sow those.

I''ve used the Remoska oven that I bought recently and really like it. I put some chicken joints in it last night and cooked them, adding some carrot and onions, and then some rice and stock. Then I left it for 30 minutes and the rice was cooked perfectly[:)]. I threw a tin of aduki beans in at the very end of cooking. I didn't put any garlic or herbs in though, which I will do next time I make it.

I've been feeling very tired and quite emotional recently. When I saw my doctor last month, I told her that I didn't think the change in my thyroid med had any effect on me. I've got a blood test in 3 weeks and the results come through pretty quickly. I think though that there have been a few things that have effected me emotionally too ~ everything seems to rather have happened at once, so my thyroid could be fine and it could just be 'things'! I have been trying to be nice to myself though and do things that I enjoy ~ and resting when I need to.

I saw the asthma nurse at the surgery I go to. She suggested that I start using another inhaler as I'm using it more than I have. I think that both (hot) weather and stress affect me and she said they could be triggers. She told me to go back and see her in a month if I'm still using my inhaler as regularly as I have been.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (6/7/2008 7:31:38 PM)

Oh my! I didn't realise how long it had been since I last posted. Not sure that I can remember everything that has gone on[&:]

I saw my father and step-mother yesterday. My father gave me a jewellery box that had been my aunts, which was really good of him. I didn't expect anything so it was touching. We went to the American Museum in Bath. It was pretty good, although tiring. There was an exhibition of the Titanic on which was really interesting. The house, although interesting, was somewhat claustrophobic. I think I upset the guide though by leaving instead of finishing going round the house, but I needed to get out.

I saw my psychologist last week. I am aware that I said that I'd seen her for the last time in April, this appointment was a review to see how things were and whether at some point it would be helpful for me to have more therapy. I wasn't planning on making the appointment so soon (was thinking maybe July/August). but my doctor suggested it and when I spoke with my therapist, she felt that it was about the right time.

We did identify something that would be useful to do some work on. It's not going ot be for a while yet though. My therapist is leaving. We did discuss that during the session and she admitted that she was pretty amazed at how quickly things had changed for her. While she loves her current job, her new one is going to offer her big challenges in the area that she specialises in. I'm really pleased for her. I told her that while I'd really benefited from the work we had done together and would have liked to have continued with her for the rest of the work, it didn't seem essential that it had to be with her as we'd come to an end for what we had done. Not sure I've explained that very well, but it made sense to her and me[:D]

I will miss her though. She has had a big impact on my life. A year ago, I suspect that I wouldn't have dealt very well with someone that meant something to me telling me that they were leaving and then spend the next day with family enjoying myself.

I am not sure when I will be starting to see someone again. It will be some months though and I'm glad about it, because I don't feel ready yet.

I'm not seeing my nurse any more. This I decided last week. He was a nice guy and very helpful but there were differences and I felt that it was too difficult to work through them. I have written to his line manager (not a complaint) to tell her. I'm not sure what will happen next. It would be good to have support from another nurse, but I'm not expecting it. We shall see.

My garden seems to be going crazy! I have lost some plants to slugs and snails, but some are doing really well. I've had to put canes down the side of my potato bags because they were falling over they were growing so big! I've just noticed flower buds on my first potatoes[:)]. I have 3 strawberries ripening on one plant and lots of flower buds on at least 2 other plants.

I put my garden arch (bought it last year) up last w/end and today bought a climbing fuchsia for it. I am going to need to take cuttings to have one for the other side! It will look really pretty I think when it's grown.I divided a veronica plant earlier this year and it's still looking really happy in it's pot. I thought that I might have killed it when I hacked it[&:]

Runner beans, broad beans, climbing beans are all doing well, as are my tomatoes. I've been given some pea plants too and have to get those planted tomorrow, along with my tomato and cucumber plants and goodness knows what else!

I bought some tomberries last week and was planning on keeping some of the seeds to try growing next year. I decided that I'd see what happened this year though and so sowed them. They've just germinated but are really tiny shoots. Not sure what is going to happen with them.

I'm sure there's more, but I can't think of anything right now.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (6/12/2008 1:19:12 PM)

I had a letter from my nurse's (former nurse) line manager today. She's going to arrange for me to have another nurse within the next couple of weeks. I wasn't really expecting to be offered another one due to the shortage of nurse so that's pretty good. I still have mixed feelings about the last one, but I do feel I made the right decision. Just the wait for the new psychologist now[;)]

Edited to add this paragraph. I've been thinking about having a different nurse since I posted this. Earlier in the year, I spoke with my psychiatrist about the possibility of reducing my medication if my mental health remained fairly stable. He was open to the idea and told me to get in touch with him when I felt ready to do that. I'm not sure how happy either of us would be about my doing that without a nurse keeping an eye on things.

A doctor called me yesterday evening. She wasn't my usual doctor (who's on leave) but had seen my blood test results. My lithium levels were fine, my thyroid was still out. We decided to increase my meds and retest in a few months (she said 6-8 weeks, I said 3 months to tie in with my lithium levels!). I'm not sure if some of the food I'm eating (what many regard as healthy foods, not talking junk here!) is affecting my thyroid function or not and it's something I'm going to speak with my regular doctor about. Hopefully this increase will bring my levels into the normal range.

I spent all Sunday in the garden potting plants up into containers. I used nearly 150L of compost[&:]. I have another bale now and will probably use it (or some of it) in the next few weeks). One of my local shops have a planter for sale and I'd seen similar some time back but the combination of price and shipping put me off. I'm very tempted to buy it for my herbs.

I'm wanting very much for my plants to grow and start giving me food. I keep thinking that summer is nearly over, when in reality we are still in spring! I still have some space to plant some more veggies here and there.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (6/26/2008 5:08:54 PM)

I stood in my garden last Saturday and ate a strawberry[:D]. It was sooo good. Ate another one today. I have one more that will be edible within a few days and then a bunch more in a couple of weeks ~ can't wait. I've got flowers on my broad and runner beans and tomatoes. I have pea pods on my peas and my French beans are growing like crazy. I also have fennel, carrots, onions and beetroot doing well! I bought some (cheap) cauliflower and cabbage seeds today ~ the packets said they could be sown until the end of July so I've started them off in a seed tray today, so that I can translplant them when I get another raised bed (how's that for incentive to get another raised bed?!). I also bought some turnip seeds and another variety of beetroot, both of which I've sown. My cucumber and aubergine are growing really well, but I'm not really sure how to deal with them. I caught a bit of a gardening programme the other night and the woman was dealing with aubergine ~ but when it came to showing something one of her hands was infront of the plant so you couldn't see what she was doing[&:].

My neighbour looks after a little boy sometimes and his mum came to pick him up today. The little boy insisted on introducing his mum to my neighbour (yes, the lady who looks after him!) and then me (which he did yesterday). He was so sweet and polite about it. I palmed some tomberry plants and a cucumber plant off on his mum, with the warning I wasn't sure if either would survive. Their cucumber plant died and they have a space for the tomberries as they've just dug up their broccoli plants now they've finished.

I bought something from a shop last week and it wasn't suitable so returned it today. I'd lost the receipt though so she offered me an exchange (which I was fine with as there were some things I wanted to buy!). Bought some new hanging baskets for next year (not sure if I'll put strawberries or tumbling tomatoes in them yet) and some liners for them, together with a few other bits and pieces.

I spoke with my former nurse's manager today as I hadn't heard from her. She was pretty nice and I did explain why I was seemingly hounding her so soon after the 2 week time period she set was up. She said she didn't mind my phoning and would check on progress and said to contact her if I hadn't heard within the next week. I was fine with that.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (7/5/2008 7:47:53 PM)

Saw one of my landlords when I was in my garden this week. He expressed his feelings about the 'complaint' that I'd written to them regarding the issue of my nurse parking in the grounds. I apologised and explained why I had written the email and that it was on rare occassions and his whole attitude changed and he said that he didn't have a problem[&:]. I added my feelings about one of the other landlords and he told me that he'd known the man for a long time and was actually really nice.

Saw him again a few days later and apologised for the 'misunderstand' in the way my email had been interpreted and he said not to worry and he would speak to the other landlords about it. I also said that I'd thought about what he had said about the other landlord and would be contacting him in a few weeks to see if we could arrange to meet and iron out a few issues. He was delighted at that.

His ancestor is actually the lady who paid to have the house I live in built way back in 1668. He has been here this week to sort out a problem with the museum floor. I told him that Lady Margaret (his ancestor) would be turning in her grave to know that one of her descendants has been reduced to that of 'floor cleaner'. I related this to another neighbour and her comment was 'How the mighty have fallen!' I laughed because it had been what I was thinking.

He saw my climbing fuchsia and was delighted to see a large one as his brother had just given him a little one. Wasn't sure if he'd say anything about the arch and my raised beds, but he seemed to think they were all great. I offered him some of my tomberry seedlings as I've got so many and again he was delighted. They have a greenhouse so may do better than me at getting some fruit.

I ordered a large and small raised bed and they arrived on Thursday. I put one up yesterday and one today ~ which was somewhat difficult as I was competing with high winds and heavy showers of rain! But they are done now and I have my Brussels sprouts in one and a cucumber in the other. I'll be putting some fennel and some cauliflower and cabbage in the rest of the space I think.

The rest of my garden is coming along. My veronica has started to flower, as has my climbing fuchsia and lobelia. Other flowers aren't far behind ~ lots of buds. My veggies are coming along too. I have a courgette growing (very rapidly) and my runner bean flowers are opening. I'm delighted about my courgette as last time I tried to grow them, my plants didn't produce anything. I think one of my Black Russian tomatoes is about to flower too. I have 30 or so strawberries ripening on my plants. I decided to cut the runners off most of the plants this year. Several of them didn't produce any fruit so I'm not sure whether to keep them and try again next year or start over. Of course I may kill them over winter which will take the decision out of my hands[;)]

One of my neighbours saw me in my garden today and came down to say hello. She's a lovely lady (despite being a Buddist!) does anything for anyone. She asked about the copper rings and I pointed out that they were supposed to deter slugs and snails. Her response was 'Oh so you don't have to kill them. That's good.' I opted not to mention that I go out most nights to search for the wee beasties with a pot of salt!

I spoke with the nurse manager earlier in the week. During our first conversation, she said she had asked my previous nurse whether he thought I would like to see a man or a woman nurse this time and she asked my opinion. During the initial conversation I said that I wasn't too worried. She also told me that my previous nurse would contact me telling me who my new nurse would be and asked if that was ok. I hadn't expected that and ok'd it. After thinking about it though I felt that if possible I'd like to see a female nurse and that I'd rather my previous nurse contact me so called her back. Don't think she was too pleased about it but she accepted it and said she would speak with my previous nurse when he got into the office. Shortly after though, he called me. I told him that I'd spoken with his manager and he needed to talk with her, then thanked him and hung up before he could say much. Haven't heard from her yet, but I will contact her early next week if I haven't heard anything.

I received a very considerate letter from my psychologist a little while ago. She briefly reviewed things that we had spoken about during the sessions and stated that she'd put me on the waiting list again. I'm enjoying the break that I'm having from therapy right now and think that I'd have requested it even if she had been staying. I hadn't really been expecting her to write directly to me and it was kind of her to do it. I'm trying to get a brief thank you letter off to her before she leaves (end of this month).



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (7/8/2008 7:09:53 PM)

I've decided it's about time to post some more pics.

These are of my garden.

[image]http://usera.imagecave.com/almshousekitty/Home/potatoes.jpg[/image]
My potatoes in their bags. In the background is my arch and climbing fuchsia. Underneath the bags is all my lovely ground elder[:'(].

[image]http://usera.imagecave.com/almshousekitty/Home/hanger2.jpg[/image]
Probably one of the most chaotic gardens ever! The white looking dome in the bottom right is a cloche with a cucumber plant underneath. To the right is a fuchsia and lobelia hanging basket. The greyish octagonal planter in the centre is fuchsia that survived the winter, though they aren't very big. To the right of that are more lobelia and fuchsia that were new plants this year and are so larger. Behind the greyish planter is a hanging basket stand. Two baskets have strawberries in and the others have tomatoes. There's a square raised bed behind that that's got carrot and onions growing in it. In the far corner there's a blue tub (also a black one) with peas in it (growing up one side of my arch). On the other side of the low wall you can see a roof. The structure used to be the old toilets! Fortunately we have indoor plumbing now[:D]

I did have three pea pods on my pea plants but the little boy my neighbour looks after and I picked them and then the three of us ate them ~ I think we had 4 peas each.

[image]http://usera.imagecave.com/almshousekitty/Home/sprouts2.jpg[/image]The copper rings around the plants are supposed to help protect the plants from slugs and snails.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (7/16/2008 11:15:21 AM)

It seems all sorts of things have happened since I last posted!

Last year, I registered with Friends Reunited and sent a message to someone I'd been at school with. I received a reply at the w/end. We've sent each other a few emails and it was really interesting and fun to catch up with her.

On Monday, the day was busy with workmen doing different things around the property. It felt like Piccadilly Circus[:D]. In the midst of this, my greenhouse arrived. I put it up yesterday. My garden is even more chaotic now, but it's fun! I'm waiting on things to grow and produce but it seems to be taking forever! I did pull a couple of carrots up the other day though and they were small but proper carrots and I also cut my first courgette![:D]

Today, I discovered that the workmen had turned the thermostat down (but hadn't said anything) on my hot water so it wasn't particularly hot. I had wondered about it yesterday but today knew something was not right. I happened to go into my garden and saw one of the trustees speaking with the lady next door. I mentioned it to him and she had the same problem! He came and put it back up for me. Now I have hot water again.

I received a phone message on Friday from a social worker who had been asked to see me. She phoned me again on Monday and came out to see me today. She seemed really helpful and suggested many things that I'd been thinking of too. It's really good to know that we seem to be on the same wavelength. Talked a fair amount about my psychologist and where I had been (mentally) and was now. She told me that my psychologist is actually leaving at the end of this week. I'll be seeing the social worker in a fortnight. We agreed it would be good to meet a little more regularly initially to get to know each other.

Hmmm... sure I've left something I should be telling you out here[;)][:D]



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (7/27/2008 6:56:23 PM)

Well, the good news is that it's been much better weather here this year, compared with last year and everything in my garden is growing like crazy! I finally couldn't resist emptying one of the bags that my potatoes are growing in. I found a bunch of potatoes, many were tiny, but there were some regular sized ones too. Now I know that I've got something, I'll be happy to leave the other bag for longer!

I cut all the runners off my strawberry plants because I was going to get rid of them for next year, but it seemed as soon as I'd done that, the ones that hadn't flowered were suddenly growing buds and flowering! I'm going to keep them and see if they survive the winter now.

My aubergine has a flower bud on it (finally) and I think one of my cucumber plants is growing cucumbers, I haven't worked it out yet, and they're still tiny. Getting lots of courgettes though. My climbing beans are also flowering, something they didn't do until much later last year and my black Russian tomato plants are also flowering.

Only problem now is watering everything! It seems to take ages and uses so much water!

I heard from someone else I was at school with last week. She lives maybe 20 miles away and exchanges Christmas cards with someone else who lives about 8 miles away! It's really strange knowing how close some of them are.

I see my social worker again this week. I need to speak with my psychiatrist as well about some blood tests. I normally speak to my doctor but she's had a death in the family so isn't at work right now and it's something my psych can sort out too, and he won't mind.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (8/7/2008 6:27:50 PM)

My usual doctor is off at the moment. She had a bereavement a few weeks ago, so was off and is now on leave for a couple of weeks. Every so often I feel as though I've pulled a muscle in my calf and this happened again at the end of last week and became more painful so I decided to see a doctor about it. She thinks that it's my sciatic nerve that's the problem and prescribed meds. I had a mild reaction to those so spoke with her today and she prescribed a different sort. Hopefully they will help. She seemed very straightforward and helpful though and cleared the blood test that I've got booked for next week.

My garden has been coming on wonderfully. I've been able to go out and cut some courgettes or pull up some carrots then go in and cook them within minutes! All my tomato plants have tomatoes on them now and my cucumber plants have tiny cucumber on them too. I have lots of flower buds on my aubergine, but no flowers yet, which is a bit disappointing. I'm going to try growing them again next year though.

It's been raining a lot, which has been great for growing things, but has brought slugs and snails out in force! I can't begin to think about how many I've dealt with over the past few days ~ and I thought a week or so ago that I wouldn't have much of a problem now we were into summer!

One of my neighbours wants some raised beds and we've come to an agreement that she's going to buy a couple but towards the end of the year have 2 that have have, that are a slightly different design and I will have the 2 she is buying. We're both happy with that, although I'd like to be able to give her the beds now, however I have beans growing in them!

I saw my social worker the other week. She didn't stop long as it wasn't a particularly good day for me. She's due again next week and hopefully it will be better then.

Haven't heard from anyone else that I was at school with (though haven't really checked!) but I'm getting used to being in touch with the 2 girls I have heard from so I don't mind. One is very eager to meet up, but I'm not sure how easy that will be to arrange right now.



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (8/13/2008 5:43:37 PM)

I had a blood test yesterday. While I was there, I asked if she knew how my usual doctor was doing. She said that she would be back at work next week. I had suspected that she (my doctor) had lost her father, but she'd actually lost both her parents within a week of each other.

The doctor that I saw last week phoned me today. The results of my blood test were back and my thyroid is still wrong so she's bumped my meds up again and told me to get retested in 6-8 weeks.

I saw my social worker today. Last time I saw her, I'd mentioned the fact I'd been referred for more therapy and she didn't think I had. Today, she apologised and said she'd looked at the final letter from my therapist which stated I was being referred. One of the current therapists is increasing her hours from next month and it's possible another therapist will be starting (part-time) in the near future. My social worker is going to try and and get me in to see the current therapist though.

It's been really wild weather here. Not particularly cold, but wet and windy. I was laying on my bed yesterday, reading a magazine and we had a really loud thunderclap which set off just about every car alarm in the area! It seemed to affect Munchie too because she suddenly appeared at my shoulder and settled right next to me!



agapetos -> RE: Dancing to a different drummer (8/28/2008 7:26:07 PM)

Well, I protected the garden much better this year from the slugs and snails. Unfortuantely, cabbage white catipillars have had a field day on my brussels sprouts plants and my turnips. I didn't have the heart to deal with despatch them as I find butterflies so pretty! I can't believe the vast number that I have though!

I'm still getting courgettes and other veggies and my tomatoes are growing rapidly ~ some are even close to being ready to pick (next day or so) so I'm happy. I've probably got half a dozen cucumber on one plant. They're still small, but like the tomatoes, seem to grow daily. My aubergine finally flowered (2 flowers within a couple of days of each other). Not sure if I'll get any fruit though. While the weather hasn't been really hot, it hasn't been too cold either.

I saw my social worker today and we took a ride out to where the psychologists will be seeing patients in the near future. It's not in as good a location as it has been, but they were limited in their options. I'm going to call one of the psychologists next week to find out exactly what's going on with the waiting lists and such.

I also spoke with my psychiatrist today. We spoke earlier in the year about reducing my meds when I felt happy and so discussed that. He gave me a plan to come off one of them and said he was happy for me to start when I wanted. He's also told me what to do if I feel I need to go back on them! Once I've been off the first meds, he said to give it some time and then speak with him again about the other meds. Sounds like a plan to me![:D] He will be retiring next year and will be missed by many, though I'm not sure how many he'll miss![;)]



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