Today has been a little cooler but very comfortable.  The low point was watching Federer lose at Wimbledon. I really enjoy watching him play.  I also watched part of Nadal's match.  I also like him.  For some reason BBC red button suddenly switched over from Nadal's tie break to that Murray's game.  I had a job getting out of red button to go to HD to be able to watch the rest of the match I wanted, thus missing the rest of the tiebreak.  Thanks, BBC.  Wonder if it was a technical thing or if they wanted us to watch Murray?  (I'd rather switch off personally.  No reason other than that he just doesn't have any appeal to me at all.

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The baby bird is back in the garden!!  Yesterday Andy came in looking amazed and just said "He's back" before saying that the little guy had found his way back.  So we're letting him stay where he is.  That must be home to him.  We knew dogs would try to get home, but birds????

So England lost the world cup. I'm annoyed over the whole fiasco.  First, I'm sorry for the fans who saved and spent to get there to watch them play (or not).  These guys didn't look like a happy team. At times they didn't even look like a team other than the same clothes.  I've had to sit through the commentaries over and over until I wonder why we bother at all.  With all the bad decisions is it worth anything at all even if you win?  I know squat about football and am not very interested in it anyway. The rest of the family do love it.  But these men earn so much money and some give the rest a bad name by behaving so badly.  (I know there are some 'good guys' that we don't hear about.)  So they slunk into England via the back door - surprise surprise. It appears they are quick to accept the accolades but sneak away from awkward questions.  That alone makes me again ask the question, why have an England team and why do we bother with the world cup?  Rant over.

The weather has again be so wonderfully hot.  But yesterday I sat with the door and window closed and the fan on.  Andy mowed the grass.  The pollen really hit me hard quickly and convinced me that a big part of my problem is hay fever.  Stevie was happier though, in the cool of the lounge.  He doesn't like the heat and since he is scared of water....really, he sees water and runs, sees the hose and hides...he can't get cool by getting wet.

My scale says I've gained four pounds and I am at a loss to understand why/how.  So it's back to a food diary for me.  I have got to get this under control and I honestly, hand on heart, don't think I've eaten much or the wrong food.  And I'm toying with eliminating bread to see what happens.  I've given up toast as it is!  It's all just too depressing.

I really can't believe that we are having another scorcher of a day.  I've got two lines of laundry dry ready for ironing.  I am NOT going to stand over an iron today.

The England match is on in a while and at the risk of sounding awful, I may stay in the garden instead of watching it.  I'll want to watch the tennis during the week so think I should enjoy the weather outdoors while I can.

At last my breathing is better.  I've not been taking one of my tablet through an oversight - and it's one I need to take - but I wonder if it has any effect on the problem.  But it was also prescribed to help with the problem.  Or it could have taken a couple of weeks for the latest med to take effect.  I haven't a clue, but if it gets worse now I'm taking the forgotten one, I'll certainly see the GP yet again.  I must say that it is wonderful to feel well again.

I've been busy but am not even dressed or showered yet!  The floors are mopped, bills paid and paperwork done, one load of laundry done and other bits and bobs but gues who has left herself until last - again.

Andy and Chel caught that bird again last night and took it down the path to some bushes away from houses.  Good luck to the little guy.  We all hope he makes it.  Just not back to our garden again. We are all agreed that if he does make it back here he can stay.  I will mean that it is really home to him. None of us wish it any harm.

Those tennis players still went on a fair while,didn't they?  Another 20 or so games.  I counted how many games another pair played - 25 games in the whole match.  Makes these guys all the more amazing.  I was so glad the umpire was included in the celebrations and was give gifts as well as the players. He had such a lovely smile throughout. 

THE TENNIS.  Those two men, Isner and Mahut,  are absolutely amazing.  How on earth they kept going for so long is mind blowing.  Well done to both of them and although there will have to be a loser, they are both winners in my book   And well done to the umpire up in his chair all that long - his backside must have gone numb.  Is he likely to be at risk of a DVT?  Did he have eonough voice left to order his g and  t after the match?  Also, I think I heard that there was a new commentator started yesterday.  They put him on court 18 as that should be a straightforward match that wouldn't be too long!!!!!  A first day he will never forget.  Andy watched the football and I read.  Suddenly he said "Hey, you need to watch this crazy match.  They are at 34/34."  I said he was hearing things.  Then I sat and watched until the end, and all the comments etc.  I hope I can watch the rest later but expect it to be an anticlimax now.  Good luck and best wishes to both men for health and fitness today.

I have spent the last two mornings out on the patio with the umbrella up enjoying coffee and the papers or a book.  It's been like on a foreign holiday where the weather is so very perfect.   I'm so grateful for it and that I'm able to enjoy it so fully.  I'll be out there as soon as I finish this and mop the floors.  I'm doing most of my work at night when it's cooler. 

We have some big noisy black birds in the cedar tree at the back of our garden.  One of the small ones is flapping around on the ground - it can't fly.  The vet said to let nature take it's course or we can take it to the vet.  Yeah, right.  Bird - car.  Not going to happen.  Well, first of all it was flapping up to a bush and trying to fly.  Don't know if it's wing is hurt or if it is just young.  The parents were on the neighbours roof cawing at it.  Then one was on a bush near it, encouraging it.  Next two of them were on the fence still encouraging it.  I don't like these birds at all because of their awful noise but I did feel sorry for them. The litle one calling out and trying so hard and the parents trying to help.
Andy borrowed a big fishing net to catch the bird and put it over the fence into bushes on the other side.  It would have more space there and no fences to contend with.

Guess what!  The darn thing is back in our garden this morning. I know a place nearby where Andy can take him today where he'll be safe and away from here.  I'm concerned that Stevie will get too close and the big birds will hurt him.

Sorry about any typos today.  I've been having more vision problems this last couple of days.  I'm not worried about it but it is annoying.

Two or three years ago I bought a sundress with spaghetti straps in a refreshing turquoise and white stripe.  I get a warm fuzzy feeling just looking at it and have saved it for 'special'.  Special came yesterday when I wore it in the garden to do my reading.  It fits better than when I first got it. It is great to wear.  I'm too old and fat to wear it out shopping without something over it.  But anything goes at home.  So I will enjoy it every chance I get.

The other week I pulled out the two dresses that I bought for my first trip to the Dominican Republic.  Just ordinary cotton floral dresses that button all the way down the front.  (I don't ususally do dresses - more skirts and tops)  I did a row of invisible stitches down the front to make sure the buttons didn't come undone embarrassingly.  Well, I tried them on thinking it was time to finally wear the things. They have spent enough time out of sight and since they were a bit too tight they'd be okay for around the house.  Surprise!!!  They fit better than ever and are very comfortable.  Andy says they look nice.  Now that is what I call a bonus.  Three comfortable outfits to wear everyday.  Talk about being a princess.  And you can't wear a dress if you hair isn't right, and you can't wear scruffy slippers or bare feet....right? 






















  

to send a message on Facebook to family and receive such quick and polite responses.

I've contacted two nieces in Texas who I don't normally correspond with to ask for favours.  Both ladies replies so quickly and sweetly that it made me proud that my sisters raised such nice ladies.  Well done to both sisters concerned here.

Yesterday I posted a memory under the Random Thoughts section about a beautiful evening in Paris.  That mellow mood lasted all day yesterday which was nice.

Watched Federer try hard to ruin Wimbledon for me but he changed his mind at nearly the last minute and won the match.  I'm not an avid tennis fan but do like to watch him play.  I like watching the women but turn it off when they start making all that noise.  Save that for the bedroom, Ladies, not the tennis court.

Need to go do the grocery shopping in a few minutes.  Guess we should do it before the budget makes it too expensive to eat anymore. Andy filled up with petrol and said that at 6.20 the pumps were full.  Ususally there aren't many people about then.  He usually gets his petrol on the way home from work when he gets the paper so he knows how many folk are about that early.

is the first day of the rest of my life.  I've had some family news this week that has come as a shock and left me doing a lot of thinking. 

One thing I've decided is that I like my life as it is.  I would like to make a few changes, but nothing major.  Just a few habits to change or tweak.  I am truly thankful for all that I have and all that I am.  I know how fortunate I am and how far I've come.  Now I can see my achievements and finally feel proud of myself.

This doesn't need to make sense to anyone but me.  I'm the one inside my skin looking out at the world. 

I've still had breathing problems so have been sleeping a lot more than usual.  I'm feeling slightly better today and will soon get moving and do some neglected cleaning around here.  Maybe. 

I finally finished reading "Cross Country" by James Patterson.  It was good but not really what I needed right now.  I need something more light hearted but that's what I happened to be reading.  I don't like to leave a book partially read although I often read two at the same time.  No, not one book in each hand! 

Off now to stir my stumps and put away some laundry.

What a busy couple of days that was.  First we had a tree cut down and another one trimmed. Then we had a birthday to celebrate.

To start with I haven't been feeling quite right since I started the new meds but am feeling better today.  At last.

On Tuesday we had the 45 ft hight dark green leylandii cut down.  It was next to the shed and near the house.  The men arrived two or so hours later than expected but did a good job once they started.  It was so fascinating watching them climb inside the tree and remove it branch by branch.  There is now so much space and the daylight....well, you'd have to see it to believe it.  I'm glad we had it done although the trees were one of the things that drew us to this house in the first place.   The second tree just needed a good trim.  And how.  It was amazing that they climbed this verrrryy tall ladder to do it using a hedge trimmer.   They were up there swinging this thing around like mad.  They did a great job.  There is a huge cedar tree in the grounds next door that hangs over our garden and the tree that was trimmed is below the cedar.  Now that the work is done we get to see that beautiful cedar from our lounge.  All we saw before was the big tree that is now gone.  We could see the garden of course, I meant when you looked up all you saw was the two tress of ours.

Poor Andy.  He thought the men would start at 8am and be finished by early afternoon so he stayed up.  They didn't leave until four pm and we still had to go get bits for the birthday.  That poor man had hardly any sleep before he went to work.

 Yesterday we went to lunch to celebrate a birthday and had a couple of drinks (yes, just two).  When we got home we all had a good long nap, then I went to bed early and slept like the proverbial log.  Now I can't wait to get started on some gardening.  Me.  Gardening.  I've never been interested but now I want to do some.  NOTE TO SELF:  If this wanting to work in the garden persits, see psychiatrist urgently as there must be a screw loose somewhere.

I haven't weighed myself but my clothes feel looser and I'm more aware of what I'm eating than ever.    I just weighed myself and am exactly the same as on May 17.  That pound I shed has found it's way back.  I'm not overly happy not to have lost anything yet so I will have to make more of an effort.  After I eat the cheesecake that will go off if it isn't eaten today..... 

I've had a lovely day again.  Did some cleaning before I went to bed last night and got up and did some ironing this morning about 8am after I'd read the paper.  Didn't sleep all that well last night so was finally able to nap at about 10 am till noon.

Andy and I  went shopping in Milton Keynes this afternoon and had a fab time together.  (Did I ever mention that he's still my best friend after 27 years?)  We ambled around looking at this and that, got some Dominican Republic coffee freshly ground for Chel's birthday next week but gave it to her while it was so fresh.  It seemed a shame to wait....and she agreed.  She said she'd have been a bit mifffed if I'd kept it!!  She loves that stuff.  Actually she didn't drink much coffee at all until we went there and she had that coffee.  It isn't so easy to find over here.

Then later on she interrupted my TV watching (with my eyes closed and brain switched off) [woke me???]  to ask if I fancied a curry.  She asked if I'd like a curry.  This is the person who has always hated even the smell or sight of the stuff!!!   A few weeks ago my oldest friend was taking me out for a meal and Chel wanted to come.  We told her we were going for a curry and as she didn't like curry she couldn't come.  We weren't going to go somewhere else just for her sake when we'd both been looking forward to a tasty Indian.  Long story short, the kid decided then and there that she would eat curry if it killed her.  She really wanted to go out with us.  She had a Korma and liked it well enough b 

And tonight she wanted some curry  but needed to know where I get it delivered from.  We had a delicious meal but I saved half of mine for tomorrow as I couldn't eat it. 

Earlier she brought home some Krispy Kreme glazed donughts that were being sold for Shelter.  My 100% favourites.  I had two.  No wonder I didn't want all my dinner, I guess.  And the rest are still there.  I had nothing after dinner at all.

Another thing I finally got around to doing this morning was to hydrate some of those jelly like crystals that you use in vases etc.  I'd bought some red, white and green ones to make an ornament for the cloakroom.  It turned out nicely but I made too much.  I put one vase on the lading windowsill for now, but tomorrow I'll sort them out proplerly and see what happens.  I sometimes like doing creative things but am not all the imaginative until inspiration hits.

and is still tired.  And fed up because she's tired.  But then I realised that this tiredness is just the down part of a cycle after I've had a couple busy weeks.  My body has weeks of 'shutdown' where I just need to rest and recharge before starting to participate fully again.

No, I don't need to slow down the rest of the time and no, it isn't boredom.  I have been asked if I'd like to do something really nice during these times and have to refuse. I've been sad to miss out on visits with friends, trips out, even meals out.  But I just can't push myself that far.  On those occasions when I do make the effort, I find that I enjoy myself for a short time and then just want to get back home.  The energy bank is just simply running on empty.

A few days or weeks later I'm back to full speed and enjoyment again. It's a temporary thing and maybe recognising it as such might help stave off the feeling of depression that I'm feeling.  I also hope it is linked to the medical conditions and that as these settle down it will get better.

i really, really don't want to go through another bout of depression.  I really don't.  The weather is too nice in general - though it has been cooler and rainy these past few days - and I want to be happy.  We'll see.