Happiness is.........the weekend

Good afternoon

Phew what a scorcher!! I am just loving this weather - makes everything so much better. I am still on a happy high from last weekends trip away. Yes there have been a few tricky bits this week but they are being far outnumbered by good things and happy times - long may this sunshine continue.

Here's my weekend in recycled Instagram pictures - just seems so easy to take them that way!!

The weekend started with tea and biscuits in the garden with a good friend - I decided that mugs just weren't right so I hunted down a pair of gorgeous vintage cups and saucers instead;

Friday evening saw the end of a busy week for the boys and I thought we deserved a treat - the shopping got delivered with a little extra in there for us all;

 Saturday morning was spent on domestic stuff - little son got the hoovering to do and big son the grass cutting - both things that I find hurt my ribs and scars at the moment. I got the tasks to tidying up - oh job - perhaps when we've a smaller house we will be tidier????

We decided a bbq tea was in order - luckily the Doctor had agreed on Friday that light cycling was ok for me to do so once jobs were done I popped into town for supplies. As an extra treat I bought marshmallows for toasting over the coals once the other cooking was done;

Honestly they were happy - the photo doesn't suggest this though does it!!

This morning I went to the boot sale with a sister - a punnet of strawberries, a bunch of sweet williams and 2 vintage Enid Blyton books were my haul - just £4 spent.

This afternoon this has been my view;

Just following medical advice and taking it easy!!! 

Lounging around with a book and my ipad - what a tough afternoon!!

Oh and I couldn't resist a selfie!!

Back indoors now as there are jobs to do - need to everything sorted so I can enjoy the White Queen later - am really loving this series.

Hope you've all had a good weekend and have had a chance to get outside in the sunshine. Really hoping this good weather continues as I'm off somewhere exciting next Sunday with Dawn - we've booked day tickets for Latitude Festival and I think Friday night we were both more excited than a class of 5 year olds on Christmas Eve!! Goodness what we will be like by next weekend!!!

On the health side, I am doing really well. Allowed to cycle and dance but only gently. I have lots of hospital appointments over the summer to check that there are no lasting problems - the general opinion is there aren't but they are being very thorough.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Busy doing nothing

Good morning

On doctors orders I have been taking it easy this week - yeah right!! I have been trying to take it easy but as a single Mum who has two teenagers, a house which can't clean itself and no means of transport I've tried hard to go at a slower pace - not easy especially if you factor in the need for 3 doctors appointments the other side of town and the mountain of tasks to do with my impending house move too!

This has been the view at times though;

I repainted the picnic bench a few weeks ago and then added the vinyl flowers to 'Vicki' it up! Add in a new parasol from an outlet shop and its gone from unloved to much used :)

The inside of the house has been pretty at times thanks to lovely friends and lots of flowers - including some homegrown sweet peas from my mate, Dawn.

As I thought more photos from my fab Morris weekend have appeared - this time including ones of me - whilst its fine if I don't know the pic is being taken, if I see the camera I still end up pulling a silly face as these next two show - oh well I was having fun!!

 You can just glimpse a cheeky pic of my fab new bloomers here - perfect on the beach when it was windy!!

This week for the boys has been a not normal school week. Big Son has been volunteering at school decorating classrooms - he seems to be enjoying this and some paint has made it onto the walls - however he comes home with white freckles most days too!

Little Son has been doing work experience at a local primary school. He has wanted to be a primary teacher since the age of 6 when he had the most wonderful male teacher. He's been having a great time and loving his week. Today he made an extra effort and as you can see he is really looking rather grown up these days!

Lastly for the past 18 hours I have been wired up to a mobile ECG monitor - roll on this afternoon when it comes off - the wires and sticky pads are annoying and I hate missing my bedtime bath and morning shower!! It is just a precaution after my little blip - would be interesting to see what happens to my ticker when I am hounding teenagers out of bed in the morning!!

Right time to hang washing out and get on with another day of pottering/resting and hopefully some crochet in the sunshine later too! (Sunshine is currently hiding!!)

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Going Potty In Sheringham

Good evening

Thank you for all the comments on my last post :)

Well I said I was going away this weekend and I managed it. I was very wary of heading off camping for the weekend but decided it was something that I wanted to do and I very badly needed some relaxing time and some serious fun.

I didn't pack my dancing boots instead I packed extra camera batteries and suncream!

The Morris side headed up the coast over the border and into Norfolk. The Potty Festival in Sheringham was our destination along with about another 30 Morris sides.

 We drove up on Friday night and arrived on the campsite about 7pm. I was so looked after - not allowed to carry anything heavier than a pillow! Two dancer put my little tent up for me whilst the others helped me get sorted. Once we'd all arrived and camp set up then it was time to open bottles and cans. I was very good - just one cider but a very welcome one.

We were up early on Saturday morning - bacon butties were eaten and then costumes put on. Whilst I hadn't packed my whole outfit I had added my twirly skirt and some fab new bloomers which you will get to see another time I am sure! We caught the shuttle bus into town and the side formed up for the parade - as this involves dancing a long route - I was walking with some of the children along side them and stopping when they did to take photos.

Once we'd got into the town we headed to our first dance spot - the sky was blue and it was getting hot.

 First dance over it was time to crack open the drinks!! Of course it would have been rude to turn down a can of Adnams!!

As you can see even my handbag matched!!

Everywhere you looked there were Morris dancers;

The pubs and food places were very busy! We of course stopped for ice-creams and chips - was a bit wary at first of having these but it soon became apparent that my tummy approved! Well worth having that op the other week!!

At lunchtime we took our chips down to the beach - sitting as a side on the rocks and then heading down to the sea for a paddle;

The beach at Sheringham is lovely and sandy - the tide was out and the decision was taken to dance on the beach. I was a bit sad not to be able to do this but I was happily snapping away and another dancer has videoed it all and its on Youtube (Pretty Grim at Sheringham).

At the end of the day we all eventually made it back to the campsite - the shuttle bus service didn't happen and I thought I'd have to walk back up the hill in the heat. However my parents had chosen the same weekend to be on their hols in Sheringham and they wandered passed me queueing. Dad went and got his car and took me and some of the others (and the bbq food) back to the campsite!!

This morning I was first awake in our camp - probably something to do with having far less booze than everyone else!! It was warm in the tent so I sat in the porch crocheting and watching the world wake up;

I started this in hospital and it is growing slowly - when it is done it will be a Granny Chic string bag!!

Here's my little home for the weekend;

Today it was decided not to dance - we opted for a beach trip as a group - buckets and spades were found/bought and we wandered down to the beach. Another perfect day - blue skies, a gentle breeze on the beach and maybe another ice cream and chips were had!!

Happy feet on the beach - yes I know those legs are a bit pink - I forgot about them when I was putting suncream on this morning!!

We got home late afternoon - just in time for me to watch closing sets of the Men's Singles Finals with the boys - just great to finally see a British winner - there was much cheering from our sofa!!!

Right time to email some photos to friends, have a long soak in the bath and then settle down to watch The White Queen.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Heart Stopping

Good morning

One week ago, I was walking down to the operating theatre to have a routine operation to finally remove my pesky gall-bladder. I'd arrived at the hospital in plenty of time and had been checked in and confirmed to be in good health and ready for my op. Even my blood pressure was perfectly normal - no 'white-coat' panic this time. I hopped up onto the bed and was happily chatting to the medical staff whilst wires and needles were attached to me. I started to count to 20 and then I must have dozed off.

I was woken a few hours later in recovery - surrounded by rather alot of wires and machines - all which seemed perfectly normal to me. I had been assigned a lovely young nurse who was chatting to me and making sure I was comfortable - again it all seemed perfectly normal.

Then the bed got surround by a few others - they asked if I was feeling ok - I said yes and then they told me. During the first part of the operation they needed to inflate my abdomen with gas so they could get to my gall-bladder. During this part my heart stopped - nothing - no output!! They said they'd given me drugs and CPR to get it going - and obviously it had worked!! They had decided to carry on with the op and I was no longer in possession of a gall-bladder nor a little triple family of stones.

To be honest it didn't really sink in then. I then happily lay there texting my family (well the best I could considering I was still high as a kite and unable to wear my specs as I'd an oxygen mask on!!) to tell them the op was over and what had been said. Only when my Dad text back with a hint of panic in the text it started to dawn on me what had happened and what it could have meant!!

Instead of going home the same day, I was being admitted to hospital - some talk of sending me to ITU but that was deemed not necessary. Instead I spent a very long time in recovery with my own nurse at my beck and call. Eventually a space in a lovely ward was found - I needed to be by myself and very close to the nurses station so they could keep a careful watch over me. I was not allowed out of bed unless someone was with me - oh yes 43 years old and not allowed to the loo without a grown up! I was monitored very closely as my blood pressure was pretty pathetic.

Anyhow staying one night lead into another then another - in total 5 nights were spent in hospital. Thank goodness for family and friends - who visited, phoned and text me. Now I am not a big TV watcher but having access to my own tv over the weekend meant I had some entertainment. I love Glastonbury festival and watch every year (one year I will get there for real). I knew the line up was good and watched many hours of it over the weekend. One of my highlights was Sunday afternoon - lying in bed, watching Kenny Rogers and singing along to my hearts content - I loved his set and yes I managed to sing out loud much to the amusement of the cleaner who came into my room!!

I was eventually allowed home on Tuesday afternoon. I got home before the boys got in from school and there were plenty of hugs when they got in. Its the longest I've ever spent apart from them and I really missed them so much. Whilst they visited its not the same. It was lovely Tuesday evening to sit down together to have dinner and a good chat.

I have got to go back to hospital for various follow up appointments to check that there is no lasting problems. The surgeon is confident it was just an extremely rare reaction and I should be 100% very soon. At the moment I am a bit battered - lots of bruising from the op and one cracked rib from the CPR process!

However they have given me permission to go camping with my Morris friends this weekend providing I don't dance and don't drink too much cider! I can agree to this - after all who'd turn down the chance of camping with friends at the seaside and getting to eat ice-cream too!

If you've got this far then thank you for reading. I needed to write this all down as after all this blog is mostly used as my online diary and this is a big event in my already eventful life this year!!

I shall leave you with a happy picture - these gorgeous yellow roses - a get well pressie;

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Happiness is......

Good morning

I've not taken many proper pictures recently - the habit of taking my camera with me everywhere has lapsed. However I have captured happy moments on my ipad and these get shared by Instagram - its instant blogging I guess. However I do want to keep this blog running as its a more permanent record of my life - its ups, its downs and of course my family.

Here's just a few pics from the past week - all filtered via IG first;

 Those blooming named coke bottles - once Big Son found his name, we had to find one for the rest of us - even though I really don't like the stuff! I found mine on the way home from my cancelled Op appointment - hence full fat coke was ok - after 9 hours of nil by mouth, I felt I'd earned the calories!!

 Gardening time - pretty frock of course and wellies 2 sizes to big - despite everything I still can't get my ankle into my wellies - I've just adopted an old pair of little sons instead!!

Big Son taking on the task of grass cutting - he did a fab job - completing the task despite a wheel coming off the lawnmower with just a small area left to cut! A new lawnmower is on the shopping list now - had hoped to wait till we move but heyho!

 A peony rescued from the garden - just so gorgeous.

 Dinner for one on a night when the boys were with their Dad. The perfect excuse to indulge in all things local - asparagus.

Followed by strawberries - all served on vintage china - why not ;)

Last but not least - someone who makes us all very happy. My little nephew - just so cute. The boys visited earlier in the week and took lots of photos - I just love this one of him with Big Son;

Right I'd best go and get sorted - work later and then S&B group tonight.

See you soon 

xxx Vicki xxx

Oh well - so it's changed again!!

Good morning

This wasn't what I'd hoped my next post would be about. I'd wanted to tell you I'd had my op and I was home getting better. Instead I am at home but no Op has taken place!!

I got to the hospital yesterday at midday as planned - I was admitted to the ward at 2pm and then I waited and waited. My BP started to rocket due to the stress. I called P who works in town and he came over and sat with me to take my mind off stuff. At 4.30pm a nurse appeared in my room with a sheepish look on her face. I knew what she was going to say before she spoke. Due to over-running previous ops mine had been bumped off the list :( So after almost 5 hours at the hospital and 10 hours without food or drink I was on my way home still with my dicky gallbladder inside me :(

Cross is an understatement - so much planning had taken place to ensure I had got people to look after me whilst I recover. Friends/family had taken time off work to help out and having my Op yesterday meant I wouldn't miss much other stuff in my life that I want to do - sadly this now means I will miss things I was looking forward too.

I've spoken to the hospital this morning - a new date has been arranged and this time I am first on the list - however its 3 weeks away and it clashes rather with things I had wanted to do and also getting sorted for my move. Luckily P and I are getting on well so we are going to work together to make sure things happen as smoothly as possible. 

I might have kicked several cushions today and ripped up the odd newspaper!!!

And now for something lovely - my garden always looks at its best in June - so whilst trying to calm down after this mornings call, I wandered around with my Ipad and took some photos which have of course already appeared on Instagram (I do love that place rather a lot these days);

Oh btw I've added a new widget to my sidebar - I wanted to see where my blog visitors were visiting from - its not entirely accurate but it is interesting - lots of UK (seems there are plenty of readers in Suffolk) and US visitors. Does seem that Sid the grass snake is still bringing in people - ever hopeful he will appear again soon - just need some long hot sunny days!!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Be Back Soon

Evening

Thanks to those who've wondered where I am disappeared to :)

Just a bloggy break as life has taken over recently - so much stuff to sort, rehome etc. One move has taken place and the boys & I should (keeping it all crossed) be having ours early August.

Another big event in my life takes place next week - my pesky and sometimes very painful gall-bladder is being removed. It has caused no end of problems recently - another trip to A & E and some days I rattle with all the painkillers I take. The upside of it all - since this first started to play up in the Autumn, I've lost 3 stone and dropped 2 dress sizes! I was wearing an old pair of jeans today to paint some garden furniture and its just crazy to think that they fitted in the autumn - they are so huge now. I fully intend to never fit those jeans again!

The Morris dancing continues - I am so grateful to my friend for dragging me there in early Feb - I never realised how much fun it could be. The butterflies no longer plague me - instead a wonderful calm happens for several days after a day out. Off out again in a little while - this will be my last one for a couple of weeks. I have no idea how longer it will take for me to feel ok to dance - the hospital say a couple of weeks and others who have had the same op vary from about 10 days to the more pessimistic 6 weeks! I am aiming for the shorter recovery - life is to short to slob around in baggy joggers!!

Right - just checking my list - twizzly skirt, big stick, boots, mask and tailcoat - oh and beer money!!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx