that just ended.  To start with I spent more time up in my littlle room with the tv and laptop. The novelty hasn't worn off yet. 

I went shopping in Coventy and found a sweetshop that sells imported sweets from the US.  Chel said I was really like a kid in a candy store, oohing and aahing over everything.  That was a fast £10 spent.  But I didn't eat it all, I still have a chocolate mint bar in the fridge.  Go Me.

Then on Thursday it was off to London by train.  We stayed in a hotel in Central London that we've used before.  My walker made the two days so brilliant.  I was able to go everywhere, and as long as I took my pain meds I was pretty pain free.  By Friday night my legs wanted to give up and I got slower and slower on the way to the train home, but hey, we had plenty of time to make it so it was good.  To say I was tired would be a lie.  There has to be a better term than beyond tired.  But I was also happy and relaxed.  

We saw so much, and took lots of buses instead of the underground.  I'm glad we did; you see so much more from a bus.  And of course you don't have to go up and down any steps on a bus.  The M&M World shop was fantastic.  I didn't know it existed until Chel spotted it.  The stock is spread out so you can see it and the displays are something else.  Finding that as we were making our way to the station was a bonus.

We had a nice meal with an old friend.  He is such good fun, and takes good care of us.  Boy was that steak good.  Perfectly cooked and great service.  It was the pre theatre menu at Sophies which is in/near Covent Garden.  fI've got to give them a shout and recommendation.  And on the way back to the hotel I saw the Seven Dials.  I didn't know it was a  real thing and place!!!  Just goes to show you're never too old to learn.

I wasn't too impressed with the Tate Modern, but that could be due to my mood.  I just didn't feel like wandering around a museum.  But the Globe Theatre is so much smaller than I expected.  I don't remember ever going to that part of London before.  We got an excellent view of the Tower of London as we circled it heading to the pier for our boat ride on the Thames.  We went from the Tower to Grenwich, back, and then down to Westminster.  I saw/learned so much during that trip.  I now have places that I'd like to visit...... and who knows what the future holds for me. I'm not ruling anything out.

So since I've been home it's been a case of taking it gently while I've been awake.  Yes, I guess I was pretty tired judging by the amount of sleep I've had.

And now to see what the coming week brings forth.......




 

and it will be a great one.  Dear daughter has the week off so we will be going out and about here and there a lot.  Goody.  We have fun together, I'm so lucky.

I've been given a new indoor aerial for the tv in my little room.  Now I can get lots of stations while I'm doing whatever up here.  I'm so pleased and grateful for it. I've missed spending time in here where my makeup and stuff is.  This is also where I plan to do my studying.  I feel optimistic about it. 

In some ways this evening has been stressful, but I got off my butt and did something about the situation - after I vented to two friends who are good listeners.  And it appears that the situation that has been progressively building up may be about to be sorted.  I can't know for sure, of course, because it relies on other people who I don't know yet.  But hey, I didn't eat my frustration, didn't cry, and didn't even open a bottle of wine. And I did write to both friends and thank them for bein I'm going to bed feeling pretty good. 

I have the telly on while I'm writing this and it feels like old times.  I will even treat myself to some pampering as part of getting ready for bed.   Bonus.  Added to the new hair colour I did this morning and wow.....  this colour isn't what I expected but it is fine.  The grey is hidden for another few weeks and it looks fine. 

So endeth another day in my world.  

I'm still tired but I've been up a couple of hours.  I just don't *want* to go back to bed.  It's beautifully sunny outside, and I have tons to do.  I would like to do some of the following:  colour my hair, paint the cloakroom, do the ironing, start studying the material that arrived last night, go out somewhere - anywhere, and walk the dogs somewhere nice. I've already tidied up my little room a bit.  I needed to make a space to study easier, and have not figured out a good way to work it out.  I guess I'll just have to take it one step at a time and day by day.  When I need to do something I'll find a way.  Generally when I can't see a way forward I just wait and bingo! an excellent way to achieve my goal appears when I don't expect it. I think it's a case of the subconscious working away when I'm busy with other things.  And hey, I might even decide the kitchen would be a better place to use.  Who knows?  And even more likely, me being me, I will change it from time to  time as the course goes along.

That is one big thing I've finally learned....things change from time to time so there is no point making a big stressy deal of arranging things.  I guess from this comment that you can see how I have done things in the past...(imagine a big cheesy grin here 'cause I'm wearing one!).  I'm actually giggling at myself.  So I'm either happy and contented or completely nuts.  And I don't honestly care which one is the right answer!  It just feels good so I'll stick with it and enjoy it while it lasts.

I've taken a break to put some lotion on my arms.  Yeah, that worked.  The thing is that most of my lotions were gifts a few years ago, at least 2/3 years.  On the bottles it says good for 12 months.  Yep, the first one had gone off - didn't smell nice at all.  Nor the next one.  Or the third.  After the fourth I went to wash it all off, I'd covered both arms and legs!  Yes, I did  still have more to try - unopened ones this time.  One of my favourites that was open is still good. And one of the unopened ones is fine.  I'm not opening the last one, if it is still good then it will stay good if I don't open it (I hope).  So add to the 'to do' list to go in the bedroom and see what old stuff is in my drawer in there.  I keep a bit of lotion stuff by the bed to use at night when I'm too tired to come in here and get some.  Well, to be honest I should say when I am watching something in tv and don't want to miss any by leaving the room to get anything.  Since I have plenty it's no problem to keep it handy all over the house.  Now I might not have enough to keep everywhere.  That isn't a problem and I'm not about to go out and buy more.  I think if I look I have some in another location that I got in the after Christmas sales.  As I write this I'm thinking that maybe I need to have a really good general  sort out......

I did my walking yesterday and as usual enjoyed it fully.  I went through a local area where I haven't walked for ages.  I can't wait to go again and explore all my old walks.  I have come to realise how much I've been missing out on.  In a way it's sad to think about it but in reality I couldn't have done things differently.  That saying of Maya Angelou comes into play here; When you know how to do better you do better.  That has always been a comforting thought. 

The  lotion I put on my arms has soaked in and boy do they feel good.  I have never made a habit of using lotion.  I *might* make it a new habit but won't stress about it. If it feels good enough I will want to repeat it over and over.  We'll see. 

Now I'm off to make another coffee and restart my day.

to have so many great people and so much good stuff in my life.  Friends and family who are so fun to be around, who understand and accept me as I am.  Dogs to cuddle when I need a cuddle.  A comfortable home that is generlly well enough organized that I don't have to spend all my time cleaning it.  Medications that keep my pain in check most of the time.  A garden to enjoy when the weather is nice, or just to look at when it's rainy and grey outside. 

Today I went to the library for the first time in ages and checked out some books, big ones at that.  I could carry them on my walker.  Boy that makes such as change to my life.  On Saturday I was able to walk for probably one and a half miles and fully enjoy it.  That gave me such a feeling of freedom that I don't want to lose it ever again.  More and more I realise how  small my world has become.  Enough is enough, I want to make more effort to do  some of the  things I used to enjoy so much outside the house.  Go Me.

I've gained about ten pounds and I feel every one of them.  I'm not thrilled about it, but not beating myself up either.  It is what it is.  I've had breathing problems the past couple of weeks due to circumstances that will pass.  That limits my activity and then I want to eat - I've just  this moment realised that I want to eat because I feel miserable and food makes me feel better.  Well, no, it really doesn't although  I enjoy it while I'm eating it. Someitmes.  And that is okay.  But what about the times when I don't even enjoy it while I'm eating it????  And I still keep stuffing my face. No, it isn't hunger at all.  Nor thirst, I don't think.  I think it is likely to be boredom, pure and simple.  Even if I'm doing something like playing games on the pc I can be bored.  It's part of the old feeling of 'should be doing something' or maybe just the need to be physically active instead of just sitting in my chair.  I  hope that I can become aware of this when it's happening and find another way to cope.  I am still trying to drink enough.  That is easier said than done, but I feel better when I do drink more.  And when I eat more often/make better choices.

I am happy to have online friends to chat with to.  They make lfe more interesting.  I love all the different points of view.