We have had the most wonderful day out.  Chel had her first drive on the M1 taking us up to Chesterfield, around that area to Chatsworth, Bakewell, Matlock etc then back home.  It was a fabulous sunny day to add to the pleaseure.  I, of course, sat in the back with my Coffee Cooler and mp3 player. Chel's car is very comfortable and I love going out in it.
Andy gave her free tuition on motorway driving - Chel did say she'd have paid her driving instructor for a first drive on the motorway if she didn't have her dad to help her.  She didn't really need help or guidance, it was a confidence thing and also the benefits of his long experience.  He said he couldn't find fault with her at all, and we were all relaxed and laughing.

When we stopped at the services I realised that I was walking with NO PAIN at all.  That was super.  Then later I realised that I wasn't just contented, I was really happy.  I don't know how to describe how good that felt and how wonderfully amazing it was to realise how happy I really am.  Another bonus was that I put my sunglasses on before we left the house and wore them most of the time until we went inside.  So no headaches for me.....

I knew it had been a while since I've been on here but not this long.  I really don't know where the time has gone. 

To wind back to Stevie's grooming session....well I never would have guessed the difference it could make to a little body.  They got all his undercoat out which has made a HUGE difference to the amount of dog hair on the carpets.  He seemed happy enough when he came out and his behaviour is no different to normal.  All the things they did for him that I'd never have thought about like trimming the fur on his feet.  Who knew about doing that for a mutt?  I mean a poodle or a show dog, but a bitsa?  It's not that he didn't (doesn't) deserve it but that I never knew how good it would be for the dog.  I could start beating myself up about our other dogs never being done but hey...as Maya Angelou said: "When you know better you do better."  I think Oprah attributed that to Ms Angelou.  Apologies if I'm mistaken. 

Chel passed her driving test and that has improved my life immensley. She's taken me out several times and it's great.  On Sunday Andy was able to stay home while the two of us did a 'big shop'.  He was sure not going to be upset at missing that, was he?!?

While we were in the last store I got an asthma attack that really rocked me.  I had to go sit down while she paid and packed everything herself.  I have been unwell since.  Today is the first day I've felt even halfway well but I'm getting there.  I did manage to read three books though.  And did a tiny bit of stitching. I'm back to working on the Beach Unicorn but only a few stitches.  I'm in one of those areas where you are lucky to get to do two stitches in the same colour.  Three or four is a bounus.  However it makes it a long job to keep changing colours and keeping your place.  I would dearly love to finish it.   I got tired of the blended colours on the purple angel.  I was doing the small flowers around the edge and was just not 'feeling it' so thought I should put it away before I really messed it up and had unpick a bunch.

I finished the website I was making and have updated it as needed for now.  It gives me a good feeling to look at it and know I did it.  And I'm still moderating the Freecycle group.  I share that task with a nice guy and we work well together on it.   I've joined various groups to do with Freecycle and find that it can keep me as busy as I let it.  To be honest, when I don't feel well enough to do much else I'm glad I have that to occupy me.

I wish Agi well on her house move to another country and admire her courage

On Saturday Chel took me to Hitchin to help a friend set up her new DVD recorder, then we took her to Letchworth for a coffee.  It was great.  Now that Chel has passed her driving test I love going out with her in her car. And it will make Andy's life easier by far.

The past few days have been quiet other than that.  I'm trying to play catch up around the house today.  I am finding that I like Andy working days instead of nights. I can potter around the house doing bits without worrying about distubing anyone.   Sunday can be left as a relaxing day for everyone since I don't try to get housework done then.  It allows the others to relax more than if I'm bustling about. 

I'm so happy for Agi who is about to emark on a new life in a new country.  I hope it goes smoothly for her, but as her new job involves her favourite hobbies it will probably not feel so much like work.

Off now to keep a date with the iron/ironing board and small pile of ironing. (see the smiley face on me!)

Stevie was a good boy for the groomer but he didn't enjoy the bath he tolerated it.  He enjoyed everything else though.  And he looks super; they got out all his undercoat which means he's shedding less and I need to vacuum less.  He's a happy boy as well because he's more comfortable.

I've had a lot of fun the last few days. I've been having a ball using my laptop, it's a joke around here that I seem to be on it all the time! 

Stevie goes to the groomer for his first bath tomorrow.  This pooch hates getting wet. Doesn't want to go out in the rain, even if his bladder is busting.   But the other day he was watching me clean the bathroom so I ran some warm water on a micorfibre cloth and went to wash his face and head.  HE LET ME do it.  So I rinsed the cloth and rubbed it over his back.  He has never let me get near him with water before.  While I was doing this he wagged his tail.  I've been giving him a bit of a wipe every day.  Yesterday he kept pestering me but he'd just been out, his water bowl had been freshly filled and it wasn't feeding time.  He just would not leave me alone so I went to the kitchen and picked up a cloth.  Believe it or not, he started wagging his tail as I leaned over to touch him with it.

His nails were very overgrown and he wouldn't let Chel and I trim them when we worked together at it.  One evening  when it was just him and me here, I got the clipper things and cuddled close.  I took one paw and started trying to do one toe.  He pulled a bit but let me do it.  Then he cooperated while I did my best with all of them. The groomer is supposed to do them tomorrow and I'll ask her how short they should be and how often I should do them.  We are taking him because we hope that if he has a proper bath once, maybe he will let us wash him properly here.  And I really think the wipe over I gave him felt good, his fur is so soft now.   Can you tell that I love that little guy?  He adds so much to my life in company as well as laughter.  Thank you, Stevie.

I did finally finish the ironing but of course there is now more to do.  Somehow, and I have no clue how, but the laundry basket seems to attract dirty clothes daily and once they are washed some of them need to be ironed.  How does that work, I ask myself.  :)

I've done a bit of stitching the past few days, not really much to see but I will try to add photos soon.  My camera memory card doesn't fit this pc but I can work around that - it just takes more effort. [ Poor me, gets a wonderful new pc and finds fault with it.  Well, that isn't the case.  There are so many bells and whistles about that I wouldn't expect my pc to have all of them. It does have a fair few - more than I expected to have.]

Guess I'll get off now and go to

but I'm pretty tired.  I had to get up quite early but there you go. And I didn't sleep very well last night either.  Ah well, tomorrow is another day. Today has been pleasant, out with Andy and friend had a coffee when we did the dreaded grocery shopping.  That was really relaxed and nice. 

I got a new laptop today and am so delighted with it.  It does all the things I need it to do and the keyboard fits me very well.  I am so very grateful for this new toy.   Thank you, Chel.  Of course, I can spend lots of time over the next few days installing stuff on it so I guess I should get up and hit the ironing hard and early tomorrow so I can have lots of lovely free time.

Stevie has been my shadow today - poor little guy came close to getting stepped on several times when he was so close behind me.....he does make me feel good as well as giving me logs of laughter.

Off to beddy byes now.  Goodnight.  (I won't take the computer to bed, I promise.)

It's 2.15am and I'm tired but feel awful because I haven't written anything for a while and I've learned so much lately.  Well, I wrote that several days ago now and got busy and had to leave it until now.  I love being busy.  Busy,,,,,,that is an interesting word.  It can mean so many things.  To me it means being awake and occupied with whatever I happen to be doing; housework, walking the dog, chatting to the family, stitching, playing James Pond on the DS, using the pc or even watching telly. 

Of such deep importance is my life.  Okay, I do actually do a bit....moderating a couple of groups,  sometimes going out and about or socialising.  Mainly I stay around the house and do things that make me happy.  Note:  If the house is not clean enough and tidy enough then I get stressed and unhappy.  I like everything to be orderly.  But I am far better at letting it go a bit and finding the happy medium. It doesn't have to be a showhome anymore, just comfy.  I won't mention that stack of ironing in front of me, will I?  I did a few pieces today and think I will finally start doing it more often but less at each time.  I have always done a basket all at once and find that I can no longer do that. 
But hey, we always have whatever we need to wear before we need it...we do really have too many clothes.

Stevie has been letting me use a vivid green microfibre cloth to sponge him all over.  Last week he let me clip his nails, and found it didn't hurt him.  He's never wanted to be wet - even to go outside when it's raining - but on Monday he let me wash his head and back.  Yesterday he let me do that again and a bit more.  Today he saw the cloth, wagged his tail and let me do all of him, including feet, and licked me all the while I was doing it.  How amazing.  Andy was really surprised when he came out of the room and saw what was happening.  I feel really good about it.

I spent the afternoon in town and am off to bed now feeling very very tired.