Fears justified

Yesterday proved the basis of my insecurities. A strong wind blew hard & cold. A definite wrap-up-to-keep-warm day once more. We even had a bit of drizzle. I did not get out in the garden. However, today blue skies have returned so, who knows, I might manage to get a bit more done.

I also got another letter from the surgery. At least this time I have been given an appointment to see this person who has apparently decided I need to be put on statins for the high cholesterol in view of my family history. However, the appointment isn’t until mid-May when we should be in Croatia sitting in the warm sunshine. We’re not coming back just to see her. I’ve made another appointment for June, when we are back.

I have to confess I can’t help thinking, that in view of the size of my extended family, it would be surprising if most common serious complaints didn’t occur. My father was one of 13 children, most of whom had 3-4 children, who have married and had a couple of children themselves. That’s a lot of people.

Still whatever this Specialist Practitioner has to say it can’t be too urgent. The blood tests that set this all off were taken in February and she’s only just making an appointment to see me now for May. I suspect this is yet another precautionary medication they think I ought to take, as if I’m not rattling enough already.

I’m equally thinking that my basis for complaint still stands. This Specialist Practitioner has simply written to tell me “I have reviewed this (the Family History) along with your current cholesterol and after discussion with the Dr we feel there is indication to offer you treatment with a statin.” After offering me an appointment, she goes on to say “if you feel you do not want to take a statin please contact the surgery”.

It is presumed I know what statins are & the advantages & disadvantages. Many people wouldn’t I’m sure. There is still no explanation of why she thinks this or what it is for, though I now suspect she thinks I’m likely to have a stroke or heart attack. For many people this letter would once more reinforce the panic set up by her original letter. There has to be a better way of breaking such news, much as I appreciate this is a quick & convenient way for the surgery.

The new season on its way

We’ve had a couple of days of sunshine, even some warmth. The prom has got busy, the pubs once more have fellow drinkers & some eaters. Summer is on its way.

On Monday I ventured out for a bit to tidy the front garden after its winter. No sooner had I sat down on my stool, secateurs in hand, than one of our neighbours came over to chat. It’s catch up time. As I rarely sit in the front or walk along the streets in winter, I think the neighbours must think I’ve gone into virtual hibernation. They see the quick flit from front door to car but that’s it - no chance for a chat. This now is the time to start the new season of socialising. Needless to say, not much gardening got done.

So yesterday, after Linda, our home help had gone, I tried again. I managed another bit of a garden, even planted some parsley after our trip to the garden centre last week. But once more I ended up stopping for a chat with a different set of neighbours.

I’m beginning to wonder when I’ll get around to the thinning out of some plants and the putting of the other herbs we bought for the front garden will get done. Today it’s big food shop day so this morning I need to preserve my energy for that. The Fox has cooked a Lamb Tagine overnight in Big Ears, our slow cooker, so that will just need warming up this evening – nice and easy.

While I was just in the kitchen my eyes happened to glance out of the window to the remaining overoccupied hedge. The blue tits were clearly busy & trying to get even busier. They’ve been regularly flitting into the bird box on the nearby wall for a while. I suspect they’ve already had one brood. From their antics in the hedge they are clearly hoping for another brood before so long.

Life is burgeoning all over the place. Blossoms in trees. Green leaves once more opening out. Bare patches of earth once more covered in green as new shoots appear. The colours of the lemon balm, all green & yellow, vibrant. Vital juices are speeding through all our veins. Spring is definitely here. There’s even some summery signs at times, though I wouldn’t say winter’s entirely gone – the below zero nights remind us of that!

A busy few days

It’s been a busy few days. The home help eventually arrived on Wednesday at 2pm, effectively stopping us from doing anything in the afternoon. While she was here, Linda, our regular home help, arrived with her family in tow. We’d agreed to let her have a rosemary bush that was growing in the back garden. She’s starting up a herb garden in her garden. She was also hoping for some woodchip to layer the ground under the children’s trampoline. She duly took a few bagsful.

Thursday was my birthday, the big six oh. We decided to go down to the large garden centre at Barton Grange, near Preston, to look at some of the garden ornaments there. We came back with a box of herbs for the front garden, a large pot to put a house plant in and some ideas for our new garden.

In the evening we went out for an excellent meal at our usual Chinese restaurant, Ricky’s.

Since then most of the time has been spent recovering from all the activity and phoning friends & family to thank them for cards & good wishes. We’re off to the golf club this afternoon for a final celebration with Eric & Doreen. They’d missed us on Friday as Eric had had to go to Preston hospital & so was late back. Doreen rang in the evening & arranged a meet-up for today.

The highlight of my birthday is undoubtedly the painting the Fox bought. We noticed it in the library a while ago. Each time we’ve visited since we’ve stopped to admire the painting. Finally the Fox decided to buy it. On Saturday he got it up on our bedroom wall.

It’s a lovely picture, entitled something like “Safe Harbour”. It’s a joyous painting. It’s dominated by an arc that seems to protect the river harbour below with its sail boats & houses. Within the arch the light is luminous. It glows out all white & yellow. Outside is dark, more reddy purple. The odd gull flies overhead. It’s an amateur work done by a retired professional newspaper/magazine cartoonist we gather from the librarian. And there is something of the cartoonist’s art in the ink drawing of the ships & buildings. Clearly he is using his retirement to burst into colour and this one pleases us.