| And the song title says it all... |
[22 May 2012|07:07pm] |
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music |
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Absolutely Fabulous - Pet Shop Boys |
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What a glorious day it's been today! 25-degree heat (just inside my window of tolerance) and wonderful clear blue skies. I actually went outside to eat my lunch and then just sat there for another quarter of an hour, soaking it up. Not that I mind cool grey skies from time to time, but it's just been too much for too long. After weeks of miserable weather, I am now seriously suspecting that my most of my low mood recently has been caused by SAD, and bloody dreadful it's been too (which has been hitherto unheard of in May, normally my favourite month of the year), but today is the first day I've really felt the light at the end of the tunnel - even better than that first shot of sun yesterday. Thank goodness. I even took an exercise mat outside after my work was done and did my physio exercises in the garden for the first time ever. Fantastic.
In other news, I have now read nine Rizzoli & Isles books. Very gobblesome; rather depressing at times, but quite fitting for my state of mind, I suppose, and I got a reasonable amount of closure from each story, so good. Also, Treacle's leg bandage finally came off today. She did have a go at her leg, damn her, but it's looking way better - just a small strip of bare flesh now; the fur has grown back on all the rest. After a couple of abortive attempts, I got a bandage on tightly enough to have stayed put for the last few hours, so fingers crossed it'll stay that way long enough for the rest to get better.
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| Falling To Your Knees |
[19 May 2012|06:34pm] |
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Kiss It Goodbye - Nickelback |
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I'm just exhausted.
Managed to walk to my local post office and Waitrose today; that's the furthest I've ever walked since the op, which is not saying an awful lot, but I'm pleased. But I've been absolutely wiped for the rest of the day. H and I have had brekky, well, brunch, at 11am, watched some Tee Vee, flopped back in bed circa 1pm, got up circa 3pm, watched some more Tee Vee, had an early supper and some Wine and now I want to go back to bed. At sodding 6.30pm, for goodness' sake!
If I'm like this in May, my zingiest month of the year, how am I going to be for the rest of it? Oy.
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| Running Slow |
[17 May 2012|07:11pm] |
We found out today why we've had the internet connection of a slug ever since the party (1666Kbps) - the filter we were using has decided it's crap (not that our connection is ever brilliant, being at the arse-end of our local loop, but this was just taking the mick). We changed it over and it is now doing a vastly more respectable 1952Kbps. Better.
SM has made party tickets available to CMK attendees not staying at the Double Tree Hotel. Certain guests (including Michael Dorn and Lance Henriksen!) have confirmed they are attending, so I figured I'd mosey on over and see what I can see, even if I don't stay all that long, as I have photoshoots on the Sunday. But with annual leave beforehand and a double Bank Holiday afterwards, I should be well-rested.
So tired. Managed to last a whole day in the office, but felt crappy and my knee was stinging after a lousy five minutes on Wii Fit yesterday. Obviously not ready for that kind of exercise yet. Going to bed to read now (later than yesterday - I was in bed by 6.30pm!). I have started reading the Rizzoli & Isles books by Tess Gerritsen, thanks to Helen lending me the first one at the weekend, and have devoured three already. Should gobble down a fourth tonight...
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| Soaring Ever Higher (WD Sandhurst '12 Entry) |
[14 May 2012|06:58pm] |
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Carry On Wayward Son - Kansas |
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Had a most frabjous weekend.
( Read more... )
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| From Day To Day |
[10 May 2012|08:43pm] |
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music |
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Spirits In The Material World - The Police |
] |
Still at it. :P
( Read more... )
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| Don't Have What It Takes |
[09 May 2012|09:19pm] |
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music |
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Pig - Seether |
] |
Oh, it's been a long day.
( Read more... )
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| Creeping Up Again |
[08 May 2012|08:18pm] |
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music |
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Until the End - Breaking Benjamin |
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I've been checking the progress of my garden and spring really feels like it's been delayed this year. It's definitely colder, for a start. Normally I've locked the heating at 16-17 degrees by now and not needed it, but I'm still wearing jumpers when I'm not active, and the garden's not so developed as it was around the same time last year. We had no daffs this time, which was a pity, and only some of the tulips came out. (Probably due to the wettest April in 100 years. Hosepipe ban? WHAT hosepipe ban?) During WD Sandhurst '11, which fell on13-14 May, my hosta's leaves were fully developed and the delphiniums were in flower; there's no picture of the weigela, but I'm willing to bet it was in bloom as well.
I have a nice display of forget-me-nots in the border by the gate right now, but I'm willing to bet that they'll be on the way out by the weekend. But we have some campanulas and aquilegias holding the fort in the front border, so there's a nice view out the living-room window, and everything's been taking advantage of the last couple of days' sun, so there are new fresh leaves coming out all the time. H has mown the lawn, so that's made things look a bit neater; it was growing like mad after the rain.
We got the fence painted this year, of course, which is a major bit of progress, so I'm not too unhappy about the garden on the whole. Some of it is a mess, but with luck the knee will be better-behaved next year and enable me to tidy things up a bit.
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| Sense The Hours Slipping By |
[07 May 2012|06:40pm] |
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music |
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Flies On The Windscreen - Depeche Mode |
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Well... just a few days to WD Sandhurst '12.
( Read more... )
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| Someone Cares |
[06 May 2012|09:19pm] |
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music |
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Gotta Be Somebody - Nickelback |
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After yesterday's productivity, it was inevitable that I'd end up doing very little cleaning-wise today. *sigh* However, we have finally watched Captain America: The First Avenger, so are now fully primed for next week's Geeke Trippage.
Treacle's still licking her leg raw, so I bandaged her up again. On the positive side, the raw patch is a bit smaller; the previous bandaging seems to have given part of her leg time to heal. We shall Persevere.
(H is in charge of administering antibiotics, as he seems to have it down pat. I'm useless at giving Treacle pills.)
Went to Marmpar's today to give them some stuff and pick up some chairs and bedding for next weekend. When I got back, H and I emptied Hightower of the last of the stuff we brought back from Whitstable in March (yes, I know, but we just haven't had a chance to look at it). His sisters went to Whitstable yesterday to visit their parents' grave (H didn't go as he had other commitments and it was pretty short notice) and had invited H to dinner at LDH's house tonight so while he's been there, I've done the latest accounts and then went through a large chunk of my MiL's charity paperwork. The important stuff is already on the computer, so this was a case of either recycling, shredding or chucking whatever was left. Two boxes' worth while watching an ep of Supernatural. So a small achievement after all.
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| Bless You With More |
[05 May 2012|08:54pm] |
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music |
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Peace - Sabrina Johnston |
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Treacle went to the vet on Friday. H normally takes her there and back, but I took her in; she yowled pitifully all the way in the car, but once she got in there, she was as silent as a mouse. (Heh, mouse. See what it's like on the other side of things, you rodent-hunting mog!) I have NEVER seen/heard her so quiet. Anyway, she had her teeth done under general anaesthetic and the vet gave us some antibiotics for the leg. The bandage was off when she came back. She's licked it raw again (AIIIGHHHH), but it seems drier today so we're giving her the benefit of the doubt tonight (if she's licked it again the bandage is going back on).
Did spring-cleaning today for five hours straight and was utterly knackered afterwards (so sore and stiff!), but funnily enough, it made me really feel like I could get this house into reasonable shape for WD Sandhurst '12. Not brilliant, but reasonable. That'll do. I'm also hearing nothing but good stuff about The Avengers, so I feel we've got some class Geeke Trippage lined up this year. Really looking forward to seeing you guys too. So much!
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| Hurt You Or Heal You |
[02 May 2012|08:26pm] |
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I Bruise Easily - Natasha Bedingfield |
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The microwave is playing up again; it flatly refuses to cook anything, regardless of setting. This time it appears to be a faulty circuit of some kind. The timing rather sucks. I guess we'll have to buy a cheapy one for the party and worry about the mod cons later. Another task for the pile!
Had a doc's appointment today (with my usual GP) and this time we were able to go over the orthopaedic specialist's letter, a copy of which she gave me afterwards. Looks like he removed both the medial fat pad AND my suprapatellar plica. (The medial plica was presumably innocent the whole time, but was no doubt diagnosed as the culprit because it's the most common cause of plica syndrome.) The specialist only mentioned the fat pad when he spoke to me after the op, and I was still too discombobulated from the anaesthetic to ask about the plica, so this is the first time I'm getting this amount of detail.
This goes some way towards explaining why it is taking so long for things to heal. My doc also reassured me regarding the comparatively quick and painless healing process experienced by my mum and workmate who'd had cartilage removal, as that's a relatively minor thing compared to what I had done, the latter of which involved nerve endings, blood vessels and so on. Makes me feel a lot better about my apparently slow recovery rate.
Still very tired. But only two days to the weekend!
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| Keep It Going |
[01 May 2012|08:11pm] |
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music |
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Gotta Get Me Some - Nickelback |
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Treacle has managed to lick a spot at the base of her tail raw now, even with the collar cone on (she literally managed this in the five-odd minutes it takes me to hobble round the block for my lunchtime walk). We've booked her into the vet's for Friday morning as our DIY methods are just not working. Maybe there's an underlying cause as she's never done this before; it's most odd that she's suddenly decided to do it twice in a row. I'm so tired of trying to get her to leave the area alone. We're not taking the collar off just yet, as it does appear to be keeping her from gnawing at the leg bandage in the meantime.
Managed to get some more spring-cleaning done this evening, so that's something achieved today, at least. Oh, we had pay reviews this month and I got a pay-rise! Yet more evidence that I have the best boss ever. I wish I'd been able to go into the office today as he was down from Gloucester. I am hoping to go in on Thursday, though.
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| Find A Way |
[29 Apr 2012|08:05pm] |
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S.O.S. - Edgewater |
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Ohh, I so didn't want to do anything today. And very nearly didn't. This near-constant rain is making me want to flop full-time on the sofa. But I managed to force a break in between the Tee Vee and tackle four months' worth of filing in the study. Better.
In other news, came down this morning to discover that Treacle has finally deigned to use the litter-box! Which is a big relief. (Probably was for her too...)
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| So Close |
[28 Apr 2012|05:17pm] |
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music |
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Nothing Else Matters - Metallica |
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Managed to achieve two milestones today.
( Read more... )
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| Who Says A City Can't Change Its Borders |
[27 Apr 2012|06:38pm] |
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music |
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Broken Toy - Keane |
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Ahhhh, yes, I am a bit Pished, but it feels good.
Two weeks to go to WD Sandhurst. Gleep! So much to do. I had this afternoon off (time in lieu gained in overtime during the crazy busy months at the start of the year) and managed to achieve both goals set, which were to clean out the downstairs bog cupboard and the cupboard under the sink. I took everything out, gave the insides a good scrubbing and then put everything back, cleaning any dusty items as I did so. Took ages and my knee was so sore afterwards I could barely bend it, but I did some physio exercises and it felt a little better.
Lance Henriksen is coming to CMK. Yaaay! He's such a nice guy. I didn't get a photoshoot when I met him at GMEX, but I will this time.
(Incidentally, if I have three regrets in life, they are: not getting a photoshoot with Ron Perlman at LFCC, although I did at least get a photo at the desk; not meeting or getting a photoshoot with Adam Baldwin at LFCC; not meeting or getting a photoshoot with James Marsters when he had peroxide blond hair at GMEX. Oh, well! Maybe some day.)
H has bought an espuma machine. Foamy!
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| Won't Give Up The Fight |
[26 Apr 2012|07:59pm] |
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music |
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No Limit - 2 Unlimited |
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[We do what we want, and we do it with pride...]
I know, it's a dreadfully naff song. But it's got a great beat/synth combo. It used to be a big get-up-and-go song for me when it first came out, and still is sometimes. (It took the younger me a while to realize that it had nothing to do with techno at all, though.)
Today has not been a good day, pain-wise. Most days I just grit my teeth and focus on the future, but it just felt so hard today. Very miserable. The rain didn't help, although it cleared up just in time for my lunch break, so I made myself go round the block, and the sun and spring greenery did make me feel better for a little while.
[Ow ow ow ow-ow ow ow ow-ow ow ow techno techno techno techno]
Treacle's war wounds continue to heal nicely, although I have had to wash her horrible muddy feet three or four times today. Groan. Oh, and when I got back from my mini-walk, I gave Percy's shell a scrub with an soft, old scouring pad dipped in water, as it was still very dirty from all the times he's buried himself before and after his hibernation. Looks much better now.
Too tired to do any cleaning tonight. But I have a half day tomorrow, so will redouble my efforts then. And then reward myself with some Wine, yes, yes.
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| Till The Morning |
[25 Apr 2012|08:14pm] |
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Running With The Night - Lionel Richie |
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Well, Treacle managed to get outside via the catflap during the night, cone collar and all. Unfortunately, she was unable to reverse the process to get back in, for some reason. H stuck his head outside in the morning, called to her and in she came, rather wet due to the heavy rainfall during the night. Took ages to towel her dry and clean her muddy feet.
Took her leg dressing off during the morning and bugger me if she didn't try to lick it within about an hour of me removing it. She managed to reach it too. Argh! Set up various barriers to ensure she could only move around the living-room and kitchen so I could keep an eye on her while I worked, and I'm happy to say that the area is drying out nicely. I've put a light, dry bandage on tonight, given that she could just reach the wound site and might try again while we're asleep, although I doubt she'll be able to get close enough to worry the bandage off. We'll see in the morning, I suppose. She was very good for the rest of the day, so I made a big fuss of her.
More cleaning done today, although of course it took twice as long as usual with the knee slowing me down. I'm knackered. On the happy side, we're over the hump and have just two days to the weekend...
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| Need Somewhere To Begin |
[24 Apr 2012|08:41pm] |
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music |
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Somewhere Only We Know - Keane |
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We have a rather miserable cat today.
( Read more... )
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| Save Me From The Nothing I've Become |
[21 Apr 2012|09:26pm] |
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music |
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Bring Me To Life - Evanescence |
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Feeling rather depressed at the moment. I suspect part of this is due to the extended cold temperatures; the daylight is helping me immensely, but the cold is making me want to crawl into bed and not get out. Also feeling the weight of expectation. I did manage my test drive today, but part of me is thinking that I SHOULD have managed that about two weeks ago. Very annoyed at my failure to reach this milestone sooner.
Every time I talk about trying to go to the office instead of working from home, H says, "No way!" He doesn't think I'm ready yet. But it makes me feel like a fraud again. Why is it taking so long to get back up? Again, every part of my legs is strong bar the Stupid Knee. Auugghhh, it's so frustrating.
On the happier side, I did make that pizza. OK, I really can't handle dough (so sticky and messy!), but the final version did actually bring back reminiscent thoughts of eating my pizza chez Marmpar. It was good.
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| Take A Chance |
[20 Apr 2012|08:39pm] |
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music |
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Girlfriend - Daniel Bedingfield |
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Managed to walk up and down the stairs properly today! OK, slowly and gripping the handrail for dear life, but it's a milestone, sure enough.
The more I hear from other people who've had similar procedures, the more I suspect my op did not quite go as planned. Losing my flexibility and having this swelling for so long just doesn't sound right. But I've made a lot of progress and must not forget that. Which is a small comfort when I'm trying to bend my knee as far as I can bear and gritting my teeth because it hurts so bloody much, but I WILL GET THERE.
I've quit the Co-Dydramol as I have no desire to get hooked on codeine and am just on ibuprofen now, so that may be one reason why the pain level has gone up a bit. It'll get better, I'm sure.
I'm booked in for a doc's appt on Tuesday for an unrelated matter (although I will ask about the knee) so will be trying to drive there. Test drive required this weekend, methinks! One way or another, I just haven't got around to it, but I think I'm ready now.
Have a lovely weekend, my sweeties.
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