Evenin all, I get one step forward, then get two steps back.
The other day there was a letter from dvla,I opened it expecting to see my licence…….. no, just ANOTHER letter asking for my dr and name of the name of consultant, both of who were named when I applied for a licence.
So that’s gonna take longer again, then I got an appointment for the eye department at the main hospital in Newcastle.
Expecting to be with the cornea team, well yes but not to be seen until well into August, the wife has read in internet there can be a waiting list until I get a part transplant in the cornea, just to receive cells to help my eye see a lot more once it’s surgery attached to me.
I was hoping to start work in June, but it doesn’t look like I will.
It’s just one step forward and two taken backwards with the result I’ve been given.

Good morning Richard,

Thank you for the update.

Basically the DVLA have their procedures and they want you to be safe, it means you will have to follow what they are asking about, so it’s more reports and more anxiety for you whilst you wait, how frustrating.

Everyone here is rooting for you.

Cornea:

Earlier on this week I was chatting to a retinal eye specialist about a friend who is needing a corneal transplant. He said corneal transplants are fairly limited in Kenya because of poor availability, but in India they are available 24/7 and that’s because when someone dies they have to donate their eyes. The procedure would have to be paid for privately. I don’t know what the availability for Corneas is like in the UK.

Morning all, It's a bootiful sunny morning here & forecast to hit 21C here. :eek:


That's a bummer about further delay in your case Rich. I hope some good news comes your way sooner rather than later.

I have a 30 gallon plastic barrel with a screw on lid what I keep the comfrey tea in for liquid fertiliser. I got some out last week to feed the tomato plants & forgot to screw the lid back on, so it was open overnight.


This afternoon I unscrewed the lid to get some out to feed the tomatoes again & was met by a wave of mozzies coming out of it :eek:


Bleddy things had got in when I left the lid off overnight :mad: There were hundreds of mozzie larvae still in there so I've just spent an hour filtering them out with a micro-mesh sieve & burning them with the weed burner. :devil:


I need a swilly as I've swallowed I don't know how many mozzies this afternoon :eek::D

You might have acquired some kind of superpower . . . . Lancashire Mossieman :bowdown:

Evening all,

It's a lovely calm and tranquil end to the day down on the boat :}

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d1f80810_h.jpgMe by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...654eefed_h.jpgLady Emma by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...077a1e83_h.jpgSunset at Titchmarsh Marina by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

Good morning all

Good morning Jeff,

Your selfie has got to be one of your best yet, lots of self love, honesty and people friendly, your followers and admirer's will be happy :)

A great shot of Lady Emma and lastly a peaceful and relaxing sunset, all very pleasing to the eye. Thank you for sharing.

Torrential rains all last night, but this morning it’s the opposite - sunny and hot!

What is everyone up to?

Morning all, Sunshine & blue skies & looks set to be a sizzler today with 22C forecast. :eek: Oily mackerel on toast for brekkie.

Top pics of you & the marina Jeff :cool:



Morning Phil, I shall be cutting out the sealant around the bath AGAIN :devil: as the last tube of "flexible" sealant I got was anything but flexible & cracked. I shall re-sealing it today with some decent stuff, 12 quid a tube.:eek:






LOLOL


https://external-content.duckduckgo....ddd&ipo=images

Morning Phil and all,

We are having a lazy day onboard Lady Emma.
I shall be watching the Grand Prix whilst Ros plays with the sewing machine and more stitching of the canopy.
We shall be heading home after the Grand Prix (cats need feeding) and I'll be watching the last day of the season football action.
Back to work tomorrow :}

I bet the garden looks even lusher what with the rain followed by sunshine :}

Good morning Jeff and Ros, thank you

You are fortunate Ros is a dab hand with the sewing machine. I bet those canopy’s are super expensive, you are a great team each possessing special skills :)

It won’t do you any harm to have a restful day in entertaining yourself with boat and cat life and of course the footie. The locals here support Man United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea, so there is always something for them to chat about.

The heavy rains and heat has made the forest and meadows extra green, the grass is very high and will need cutting soon. When it’s really high or the forest is teaming with dense vegetation we can’t always see the wildlife underfoot, we are careful walking and never walk barefoot :)

Have fun :)

Bad luck Ian with the mosies and the sealant being expensive. Not a very nice job for you to have to do. I hope you won’t get sick from swallowing the flies.

We get a lot of flies and mosquitoes because we are surrounded by trees and near water with the duck ponds and streams, as well as the cattle pooping in and around the garden, I do sometimes have a laugh about it.

We do have to keep the windows closed or we have to spray. For the pool, we have a simple suction device which sucks in the flies and dust from the surface of the water.

Good morning Steve, given your history, you were brave to climb the ladder.

Several years ago, Jessica’s mother cut her leg on a Rose bush thorn and this went onto develop into a full blown septicaemia.

So I hope you survived without serious injury. Did you remember to wear hard hat and steel capped boots?

Been up the ladder several times trying to adjust this new light, it comes in in daylight despite adjusting the settings :shrug: Sensitivity turned right down, daylight sensor turned right down, still coming on . . . . gave up before I started throwing stones at it!

I was OK with the ladder but lost the fight with a barbecue! Ging has a visitor (veggie) and wants to barbecue fish, got the drill with the rotary wire brush to clean the grill, brush caught and took off running up my arm from the back of my hand to midway up my forearm, scrapes and small punctures, blood running down my arm due to the blood thinners I'm on :rant: I want danger money for household tasks.

Sounds bad enough! Thank goodness you didn’t have to go up a ladder with a chain saw. Hopefully you got the job done, despite losing blood. I have been on blood thinners since 2011 and like yourself I must be careful not to cut myself.

By the way, I bought 3 first aid tourniquets, one for the bathroom cabinet and one for the car, another goes into my hand luggage when travelling.

Take care

Phew! What a sizzler today, I even caught the sun again :duh: I got the sealant job done & that new sealant went on way better than the other stuff. :bowdown:I had to put up the shade netting in one of the greenhouse's as it was over 30C in there :eek:


https://i.imgur.com/tjGGX1Rl.jpg




https://i.imgur.com/XoOKHUDl.jpg




I did some Salad for an early
tea tonight. :drool4:


https://i.imgur.com/33as282l.jpg




This is the best shot of that eagle? the other day, That's 12 times zoom & still very small.



https://i.imgur.com/4cF3LLOl.jpg

Thanks Phil, you replied about the cornea goes the quick way as you say about India, I certainly hope it doesn't take a long time in England. I want to get back to work but the family want to go abroad in August.
I'd hate to start to work then have to stop work to get the cornea done. I know I couldn't relax going away , I'd just keep thinking of missing getting the cornea operation.

Good morning Richard,

Thank you for your message, I am at the hospital this afternoon having an appointment and not available for a phone call, my apologies.

I can be contacted on the same number on Tuesday or Wednesday or Friday or at the weekend. If you do ring, can you please ring on WhatsApp otherwise the call will be very expensive to ring my mobile.

If you went to India for a new cornea, you would have to pay for the flight and stay in a hotel before and after the operation. You would have to pay for the operation as a private patient. I have heard it’s several weeks post op before you could fly back to the UK. I wonder if you know anyone in India who could put you up. Someone would have to go with you and support you through all of it, the flights and being with you.

I have been out to India 3 times over the years through work trips and could not get on with the food as it was too spicy, the food or something else gave me the runs for 2 out of 3 trips. I found the people very helpful and friendly.

If you wanted the operation in India, you would have to ask your doctor to write an open referral letter / email “Dear Doctor……..” to the transplant unit / hospital in India.

https://derbyeyes.co.uk/corneal-transplant-surgery-3/ Another option but it’s private health in the UK.

The other thing is getting your driving license is another priority. In the scheme of things, health comes first. You said the family want a holiday in August. I am not sure what to comment about that, as it’s a really personal thing, other than to say that holidays can be taken anytime after your health has been sorted.

Lots for you think about :)

The Chill Out Zone
 

Good morning Ian, it’s great news that summer has arrived and the plants are coming on in the greenhouse.

Birds in flight are difficult to photograph and are often far away.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3107cf8ff3.jpg

A Sacred Ibis lifting off from Lake Nakuru recently.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bd92a245ec.jpg

A Great Pelican flies over many Flamingoes at Lake Nakuru. Both shots taken using a long lens.

How is your week looking?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Morning all, Overcast this morning but brightening up this afternoon. The moggies have been fed so I think a couple of toasted crumpets for brekkie :drool4:


Morning Phil, Great pics of those beautiful birds, :cool: I've only ever seen exotic birds like those in visits to zoos, It must be spectacular to see them in the wild like that.


I don't think I've got any appointments with family this week :bowdown: so it'll be pottering around in the garden & mowing duties, I need to get some more compost to plant up the dwarf sunflowers as they're ready to repot into large containers.

Good morning Jeff

Looking ahead for us to visit Ros yourself and Lady Emma, if are free between Friday 19 to Saturday/Sunday 20/21 July, please pencil us in. We hope we will have a car and we are planning to stay with friends in London on 18 July :)

Morning. Been up since five, Ging is dayshift. Cool and grey here.

Off to the hospital this afternoon, another ultrasound on the liver . . . . been scanned more often than the Starship Enterprise!

Here's the result of being attacked by the wire brush in the drill yesterday! Wounds actually start on my first finger, up the back of my hand then up my forearm.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fc287fc0_z.jpg

That looks quite sore, thank goodness it didn’t need sutures.

All the best with the scan. A recent Abdominal Ultrasound scan revealed non alcoholic mild fatty liver caused by statins. We know statins prevent stroke or heart attacks but there are side effects, some unbearable. Which is the worse, the side effects or a stroke/heart attack?

A long day for you Steve,

Good luck!

Its not too bad Phil as long as you avoid touching it.

I had a hell of a job finding a statin with side effects I could live with, tried four (I think), most gave me intolerable muscle and joint pain. The one I settled on I still feel stiff and sore when I get up in the morning, eases after about an hour or two.

They first suspected I had a non alcoholic mild fatty liver a long time ago but the tests they did kept contradicting themselves, one showed signs, one didn't. They ended up sticking me with a knitting needle for a biopsy. By the time they finally decided I had it it was too advanced, just got to live with it.

Home again after me scan. Arrived early and, amazingly, got taken early, came out 15 mins before my appointment time. Radiographer or whatever his title is didn't exactly have the gentle touch, especially when he was up in my rib area, I think he was trying to shove the ribs out of the way, made me wince several times, still tender.

Came across a daft situation by the way. I arrived early, parked myself in the waiting room expecting to wait 25 minutes if not more. Within minutes a nurse came out "Steven" . . . . "Steven?" there were several guys in the waiting room but nobody moved so I said "Steven Surname?", "Yes" . . . . weird! Walking to the examination room she explained people had complained about the nurses calling out their surname in the waiting room . . . . what, were they working undercover :shrug:

Shopping done & got some more compost while I was out. When I was in the greenhouse this morning a young bloke in the service road shouted have you seen a black & white dog, I said no & half an hour later I see him again looking for it. Ten minutes later a black & white collie turns up at the gates so I grabbed a piece of rope out of the garage as a lead. Playful boisterous dog but no sign of that bloke.



I asked the missus to put it on the resident's page on facebook saying anyone lost a dog ring this number.
No joy after two hours so I took it for a walk as it was getting impatient & by the time I got back he was waiting at the gate, :bowdown: My right knee is screaming with walking & playing with it. :o


Ouch! that looks painful Steve & lucky it wasn't any worse.


Just made some pan fried salmon fillets with new potatoes carrots & broccoli for tea tonight. :drool4:


https://i.imgur.com/oEIZHVrl.jpg

Earlier this evening.

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A day late on my reply...Doh!!
I will pop those dates in my diary. It will be great to see you both then.
Hopefully the Harbour Lights restaurant will be open as well and we can have a cruise followed by a nice meal :}

Love;y end to the day Steve:}

Looks lovely.....and healthy too:drool4:

Good morning Jeff

An early start for you and a long day.

Thank you for getting back and I do like your itinerary, we are looking forward to seeing Ros yourself and having a great time with Lady Emma :)

A cracking photo Steve, you live in a beautiful location, thank you for sharing.

Morning all, Bright sunny start to the day here.

Oh Heck! I think somebody needs to go back to boat school or specsavers. :D:p::D

Still, not as big a mess to sort as the shonky ship in Baltimore left - which, incidentally, they managed to move to the berth it left from yesterday morning. :getmecoat:

Bootiful sunny day here now, The Roses, Clematis
around the front door & Flag Iris are in bloom & look :luvya:


https://i.imgur.com/dDt7F3hl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/h1kMckRl.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/moedEQVl.jpg

I managed to get most of the laundry done today as the weather is taking a turn for the worse from midnight tonight, weather warnings out for heavy rain throughout the night & the entire day tomorrow :eek: At least it'll save me watering the garden.



I put the Zimmer frame in the cat basket while I hoovered & forgot all about it, Simon managed to squeeze in for a catnap though :D


BBQ ribs & roast spuds for tea tonight. :drool4:


https://i.imgur.com/94m35FHl.jpg

That's right in front of the cottages Phil, straight across the Forth Estuary to Fife. When my parents passed away it wasn't a difficult decision to move here.

Warning here as well but doesn't kick in til mid morning, presume its heading north from you!

When Milka, our elderly Poodle, was on the go we drove up to the Isle Of Lewis for a few days in a B&B. We arrived, opened the suitcase on the floor and began unpacking, Milka climbed into the case, lay down on top of the clothes and crashed out :D

Quick good morning before heading back to bed for a while, Ging is dayshift. Wet here, more, possibly a lot more, to come according to the forecast.

Nearly cockedup, I have an appointment at the big medical centre in Musselburgh, thought it was today but its tomorrow. I like to be early for appointments but not 24 hours early!

Morning all, It's grey & chucking it down here, It's set in for the entire day looking at the forecast, at least the gardens are getting a good watering.

Good morning Ian, a great start to the day seeing your garden flowers looking colourful and perfect, worth reposting.

I looked at your video link of those filling up at the petrol pump and wonder if they were mindless. We sometimes see motorists on their mobiles at the pump and it’s the same kind of thing. I have not seen anyone smoking at the pumps, talk about dying for a fag.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...fb917834ee.jpg


The grass is ready to be cut

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4af1e24e7b.jpg

The Guava tree is not quite ripe

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...9555a6aa38.jpg

The Avocados are not ready, the monkeys will know when they are ripe.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Morning Phil, Thank you :} I do like my flowers. I sowed a lot of varieties from seed this year as plug/bedding plants have become expensive. I just have to wait longer to see them in bloom that's all. Your pool always looks inviting & I can imagine it to be lovely sat by there on a nice warm sunny day. I had to look up Guava fruit, It has a lot going for it reading about it.:drool4:

Still raining steadily & the gardens are looking really green with it, It's also brought the slugs & snails out in force :mad:, I've been out twice this morning to collect them on the shovel to throw in the back field.

Steady if light rain here for a couple of hours, certainly doesn't justify a yellow warning unless its going to ramp up considerably. It just has, lashing down!

Get slugs here but its mainly big green bugrs which don't eat live plants. Get a few bigger snails, especially on the hostas despite pellets, they usually get a flying lesson immediately followed by a crash landing at the front of the cottages.

Having a coffee then going into puto production again, Ging is mainlining them just now, only made a batch on Sunday but she gave some to a friend who popped along.

Still coming down here & lots of standing water around :mad:

I made some fish chips & peas for teat tonight.:drool4:


https://i.imgur.com/gtuZ1Sxl.jpg

Morning all, It's still blooming raining here & set in for the full day again with yellow weather warnings out.
I'm frightened to go into the garage with the amount of rain we've had.:mad:

Yesterday it was hoping it down with rain, today it had stop when I got up, now it’s blinking hoy it down again. The dvla STILL haven’t sent my driving licence so I’ll just starve today then go to the local hopeless Sainsburys for food, it’s probably pointless giving me food.
I have no taste other than savoury or sweet, can’t taste wether anything has any flavor other than a spicy meal.

Whether you can taste it or not you still need something Rich, if you can only taste spicy stuff then eat spicy stuff. I have basically no appetite, some days I'll have toast in the morning and nothing else all day. No interest in substantial food.

Just had a wasted morning. I had a diabetic review a few weeks ago, nurse called the doc in as I've got a couple of thick, foosty pterodactyl nails, he said he'd refer me to podiatry. Appointment was this morning, I was expecting some kind of treatment for the thick nails, nope, did the same tests the diabetic nurse did, cut and filed the nails and that was it, don't even get repeat appointments unless you request one for a specific reason.

Walked alongside the River Esk from the medical centre to the main street, there's a LOT of water coming down the Esk, right at the top of the bank if not slightly over. Our huge water barrel (220 litre?) next to the shed was low, mainly due to the leaky tap, with all the rain water was pouring out of the overflow pipe yesterday evening.

It's turned into drizzle & fine mist here now, The sort that soaks you through without even knowing, I've just been around the garden to shake water off the tall plants that were bent over due to the weight of water on them. I'm soaked. :eek: I expected the garage floor to be awash & would need the wet vac, but it's not that bad, just damp. :bowdown:

Just stumbled across an ancient Top Gear on "Dave", series one episode 2 with a very youthful Clarkson, Hammond and Jason Dawe. They were saying you should get down to your Rover dealer as you'll get a bargain on a 2litre 75 as they're introducing the 1.8 turbo!

I watched one of 'Project Nigel' YT vids last week ( it's a channel about Rovers over in Milnrow) & Steve Berry of Top Gear fame was driving his Rover 25.

Its still wishing down here. Thankfully it was fairly dry when I was at my (pointless) appointment at the medical centre otherwise I wouldn't have walked back down to the main street. It was raining before I went out then kicked off again not long after I got home.

Got a wee bird tapping on the window, the feeders are empty. Sorry but I'm not filling them in the peeing rain!

Had a visitor earlier, a Coal T1t in the kitchen, no idea how it got in, yes the door was open but only a couple of inches, some precision flying to get through that.

Wasn't this bad earlier, now a flood warning issued.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...11d54c9b_z.jpg

Just persistent drizzle here now. Blimey! It's full to overflowing Steve, There must be lots of flood warnings out as the rain warnings cover a large part of north-west England, Wales & Scotland.

Edinburgh city bypass closed both directions due to flooding.

Morning all, It's still bloomin' raining here, albeit lightly. :mad:

Morning, dry at the moment, dry as in not raining but everything is soaked. Dunno what its like now but they put flood barriers and sandbags out in Musselburgh last night.

Ging is watching a live streamed enquiry into corruption in a small town in the Philippines. Place is same size as a small town in the UK, mayor has a helicopter, McLaren and a big Ford 4wd pickup :shrug: To say the mayor looks uncomfortable is an understatement!

Morning Peeps…

The chair of the enquiry just went through a list of all the vehicles, sounded like the inventory at a large upmarket dealers!

Titchmarsh Marina . . . . where's Alan :shrug:

It's just stopped raining here, :bowdown: had to get the wet vac out in the garage this morning, but not as bad as I thought it would be.


I nipped out to Aldi & B&M to get cat food & bird seed & stock up for the weekend, I've been soaking haricot beans overnight to make a mixed bean Tex-Mex type recipe with kidney beans & cheese to put into some tortilla wraps. :drool4:

Ah, Ging has just enlightened me. A huge multiple building illegal gambling hub had been built on the outskirts of the town, that's obviously where the mayors money came from. Gambling hub was shut down and 160+ illegal Chinese immigrants working there deported.

Not easy to understand what's going on, they're talking Filipino, obviously. Ging only ever taught me Filipino words that I couldn't use in polite conversation!

New doorbell fitted, :bowdown: The old one only worked sporadically & my hearing is pants these days & I couldn't hear people knocking at the front door if I'm in the conservatory at the back. Bird feeders & suet ball feeder filled.

Photoshoot for Lotus this afternoon.

Lotus Eletre :drool4:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4475d9d2_h.jpgLotus Eletre by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

Ding Dong......Avon calling :D

We had rain over the last two days, Wednesday was thrashing down, yesterday was it raining a bit then stopped, then raining again and same all day.
Today we had bright sunshine all day, but my son text me to say in Newcastle it had starting rain, but stopped by the time bus came there, then by the time I came home, the next village towards Newcastle had been raining.

Morning all, a nice sunny start to the day here, spotted these yesterday on Exmoor on my way home from work.

Lots of little ones running around.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...04b95c096a.jpg

Sent from my SM-G780G using Tapatalk

Morning all, A bright sunny morning here for a change :bowdown:. I'll get all the garage doors open to dry the floor.



Top pic Andy. :cool:

Lovely to see :}

LOL you have to laugh at these devil may care cyclist getting their comeuppance though. :D
They've just brought out new laws to prosecute dangerous cyclists, Not sure how it's going to be policed though.:bowdown:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/n...erous-cyclists

Cubby has been enjoying some late afternoon sun in there catio :}

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1b77d4d9_h.jpgCubby by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

It’s my pet hate tomorrow, Edinburgh marathon, road will be closed at 5am until 6:30pm. Can’t go anywhere. It’s the Edinburgh marathon, keep it in Edinburgh instead of inconveniencing people in East Lothian.

If you can't beat them......Join them :D

Morning all,

We have had rain all night and most f the morning. It has stopped now and is meant to be brightening up. A good job as I'm on a photoshoot for an RNLI fund raiser this afternoon.


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c0183b62_b.jpgUntitled by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr


Will need to avoid hearing the results of the Monaco Grand Prix as I'll watch it when I get home!

Morning all, It's wet wet wet out there & the forecast is for light rain for the whole day, Good job I got the lawns mowed & gardening jobs done yesterday.


There's a pile of pigeon feathers in the garden when I opened the door this morning, Some neighbourhood cat got his breakfast early :D

Cubby is looking relaxed & regal. :cool: Oooo! Curry & a bar :drool4: Nuff said :D

I know...
I'm there to photograph it......Not sample it though :D:D:D

I'd be finished first, probably attended to by a medical team just beyond the start line.

All I'll say is I bet nobody dropped out with heat exhaustion, trench foot maybe! Wettest marathon I remember, been chucking it down all day. Still a few stragglers drifting past the cottages.

It's been one heavy shower after another here, Haven't done a tap all day. Just knocking up Cumberland sausage, mash & baked beans for tea.:drool4:

Morning all, it's dark, dank & raining here :mad: Time for a bacon & egg on toast brekkie :drool4:


https://i.imgur.com/9podkEOl.jpg

Morning. Was sunny but its getting hazy/dull. Rain is forecast, heavy rain within an hour. Arrived about ten minutes later.

I was going out for some odds and ends, rain had stopped but its just come on again big style, heaving it down. Least I managed to get the garden bin out. Dunno how but Ging managed to get heavy stuff at the top, very wary of that after it happened before and it pulled me over going down the steps at the garage a while ago, ended up with concussion! OK this time but took it VERY carefully.

It's gone from baking hot for five minutes followed by showers all afternoon. I got some shopping with free delivery & a few plants re-potted & that's all I've done all day.

Morning all, Grey & raining here. Toasted crumpets for brekkie me thinks.

Crumpet any time of the day works for me Ian:D

That bloomin' doctor's practice of mine, :eek: I have an appointment on the 6th June with the nurse for my three monthly hormone injection, The reception rang last Friday to say I need to make another appointment date.
So I ring today after the bank holiday & I go through what I've been told & gave them my details & a Pakistani chap says OK we've moved it to 6th of June for you thank you & put the phone down :shrug::mad:
I've got the injection here, I'll do it myself. I STILL haven't got the result from the PSA blood test I had at the beginning of February, They cant find that either, the same happened last year & it was 7 months after the blood test when I got that result. :devil:



Just making a carrot & lentil soup as we've got lots of carrots & I got a black olive Ciabatta baguette from Aldi this morning for dippages :drool4::D

Every time I get up to do some cooking or whatever, the seats are taken in the conservatory. :eek::D


https://i.imgur.com/fBkOEFml.jpg




https://i.imgur.com/0KVq6QRl.jpg

Cats are highly intelligent and strategic, they don’t miss a trick 😀

That is the pits about your PSA as it’s vital to monitoring your progress Ian, how disappointing for you.

Whilst I am away, I keep my UK mobile number active. This afternoon it rang and it was the rectal and stomach department ringing from the hospital in Bristol. On 19 December, when I was an inpatient in hospital in Bristol, I had rectal bleeding. They said I would be followed up as an outpatient for an urgent colonoscopy. Today I was phoned, first point of contact and they asked when was I coming in for the colonoscopy.

Fortunately the rectal bleeding stopped a few days after my discharge and my last colonoscopy was 2 years ago, so I said to the lady who rang to take me off the list and to give my appointment to someone else.

Evening Phil, Yes the post care has been a bit pants to be honest, I ring up Bloods in Bolton only to be told your doctor will have a copy, I've had the odd letter from them for my records but it's rare.
I ring my docs reception (three times now) to see if they have it but for some reason they cant see it on the system nor have they got it in letter form:shrug: Trying to get the last three PSA test results have been the same, I ended up ringing Christies again as I didn't know who to ask as all depts said see your doctor :devil:
Christies at Bolton managed to get it for me, but I had to wait until she could look into it for me, I had an appointment with their oncologist a month or so after ringing them & they told me then.



That took the biscuit this afternoon when they said I had to ring about making another appointment, I had the whiteboard in front of me with upcoming appointments for my missus, Mam, & my sister so as not to clash dates. It doesn't matter now, as I've given myself the injection. I've only got one more injection to do in late August & that's my two years worth done. :}

Good morning Ian

Access to health care depends on a number of factors such as where you live and how many people need help. Last year it was very difficult for me to get a PSA done in Bristol and I had to make a special case. Here in Kenya there is no NHS so everything has to be paid for by the patient. A PSA blood test costs £80 and the results are available the same day, it’s one of the most expensive blood tests going and I suspect cost is another factor for who gets it and how often.

This morning I am seeing the cardiologist for a check up and ECG etc, The doctors appointment is £25 and the ECG £20. It all adds up.

Good on you Ian for managing and giving yourself those injections once every 3 months. It’s prudent of you to plan the appointments.

Take care :)

They're keeping them warm for you :}

Morning all, What a grey day & cooler too. We're nearly in June & the temps are 14C today. :eek:






LOL You're right, they're like hot water bottles. :D

Morning. Considering watering the garden, hasn't rained for oh, maybe 4 or 5 hours!I always said I couldn't stick a needle in myself, that very rapidly changed when the put me on insulin after detecting diabetes :eek:

Greggs eat yer heart out :D Sausage, baked bean & cheese slices fresh out the oven. :drool4:


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Pricking your finger to draw blood was more painful than an injection. This hormone injection syringe system is weird, It has two compartments with a powder & a liquid, You have to push the syringe down so it pushes the powder into the liquid stuff & wait until it mixes & foams then inject yourself. I watched the nurse how it was done the last time I had it.

Are you sure your not injecting isopon P38!!!

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LOLOL, I'll rub it down wi some sandpaper when the lump appears. :D:p:

If something goes hard I ain't going near it with sandpaper :eek:

Had a yellow warning for thunderstorms . . . . what we actually have is several hours of torrential rain! I watched it coming south over the Forth, sky getting darker and darker, wind getting up, time to get the washing in, five minutes later the heavens opened.

Proper good stuff Ian :drool4:

Good morning everyone from damp sometimes sunny but mainly wet Cornwall.
Had a master craftsman carpenter in to make me a new garage access door and frame. Absolutely amazing to watch him work. Served his apprenticeship and then decided to start up on his own 3 years ago. The bonus is he only lives 500yds from me. He also built me a box to slot around my new boiler.

Morning all, It's a grey wet day out there & more rain to come looking at the weather forecast.

Good morning Bob

Thank you for the update. Does that mean you will be able to park one of your cars inside the garage?

What was the outcome of your 3 in 1 internal camera test? Were you given the all clear?

Good morning all,

Yesterday’s visit to the cardiologist and ECG went off okay. No pacemaker or heart medication needed.

We have received a weather warning to expect flash storms and sudden downpours with high temperatures up to 40C until 3 June.

It’s my birthday on 3 June and was looking at having a little break visiting a national park and a Geothermal spa which has 3 open air pools for the public to use. The smallest pool is 50C, the next is cooler and the largest pool is 30C-33C. Entrance is £2.30 for up to 3 hours per person. Apparently there is a sulphur smell in the air.

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What is everyone up to?


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Afternoon Phil, Good news on the ECG tests, Blimey! Those pools must be like a hot bath with those temps :eek:


I've mowed the back lawns in-between the showers & de-slugged my Bollotti beans :devil:I'm


now trying something new in the kitchen, Spring rolls. I got some rice wrappers off the ebay a while ago so I'll be trying them out this afternoon, I think I'll need some rolling tips off Steve.


Minced chicken with an assortment of finely chopped veggies.


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Not sure I fancy the 50C pool, get your eggs cooked :eek:Making puto . . . . again! Think Ging needs counselling for an addiction :D

Dry for a change, cloudy though.

Place the wrapper like a diamond, with a corner towards you. Put the filling about 1/4 way up the wrapper, fold the corner in over the filling then pull towards you making sure the filling "pocket" is tight. Roll the wrapper about halfway, wet the wrapper with a brush, fold the sides into the middle and roll up the remainder.

Best wrappers are Spring Home TYJ Spring Roll Pastry, available in Chinese shops, some supermarkets. There are large and small, I prefer the large! Enough oil in the pan to at least halfway cover the rolls (or deep fry), fry til golden brown, turning if necessary.

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Cheers Steve, I'll look out for those. You're so right, I tried to roll one straight before I read this & no good at all, Tried em from the corner & it's much easier although my technique is rough around the edges. :D
It's a balance of soaking these stiff sheets just long enough to get them pliable. I got some tortilla wraps too to make some for tea.:drool4:


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The Spring Home wrappers are frozen, defrost them, the whole pack, don't try just splitting off what you think you need, they'll crack and break rendering them useless. Let them defrost at room temp and they'll start out damp and pliable, what you don't use goes back in the freezer. I usually make enough filling to use the whole pack, cook them all and put the surplus in the freezer, ten minutes in the oven at 180 to reheat them. NEVER REHEAT THEM IN A MICROWAVE, they don't come out nice, soggy.

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I'm about halfway through puto production, fourth batch just in the steamer, usually enough mix for six batches, 30 in all.

I can't believe what I've just watched. US court video on the BBC News website. Guy in the States was up for a hearing with a judge for driving with a suspended license, he joined the hearing by video . . . . while driving his car :duh: The judge was stunned by what he was seeing, threw the book at him. His bail was revoked and he had to report to the local jail by 6pm that evening or a warrant for his arrest would be issued. The idiot looked genuinely shocked when the judge said it. What did he think would happen :shrug:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c133x22kzrpo

Hi Phil,

Great news on the ticker :bowdown:

Those are massive hot tubs:eek::eek::eek:

Enjoy :}

Morning all,

Drizzle and wind here this morning........Outside that is:D

Zed the Ted arrived yesterday from Bob's.

Looks like he brought the weather with him:eek:

I feel a cake baking day is on the cards:drool4:

Good morning Jeff, Ian and Steve

Thank you for your good wishes.

Unfortunately I have had to cancel our trip to the spa pools. Instead we are planning a day out at Nairobi National Park.

I have one more specialist to see and that is the urologist for the enlarged prostate, a flow test and bladder ultrasound scan - routine. I think that should be the last check up before we fly to the UK.

We will be doing some touring in the UK, house hunting and seeing friends and family.

Jeff, an early start for you …..

I know your a dab hand in the kitchen and didn’t know you eat cake. You will have fun, so do tantalise our taste buds with the photos.

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Nairobi National Park


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Morning all, Bootiful sunny morning with blue skies here.








LOL I saw that yesterday on another site titled How stupid can you get. :D

Morning Phil,

We are always up early. Not always on here though :D

Cake.....Oh yes, especially my wholemeal, low fat, no added sugar ones :drool4:

Hope the day safari goes well:}

Zed The Ted is glad to catch up with his fluff ball friends again.

He is enjoying the company of Miss Molly this morning:}

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...08f7fe0e_h.jpgMiss Molly and Zed The Ted by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

Good to see he has settled in already.

Good morning everyone.

Cloudy start but the sun is trying it’s best to appear.

Off to Bodmin with my neighbour Marian, we are going DIY shopping.

Zed The Ted is helping with the baking this morning:}

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e7dc371f_h.jpgZed The Ted baking day by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...11c6f5d8_h.jpgZed The Ted baking day by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr


Chocolate loaf cake all done..


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d2bee833_h.jpgZed The Ted baking day by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr


Rock cakes next ;)

Morning all a nice trip to work this morning...

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It's cloudy here but by 'eck it's gone warm, I wasn't going to do anything today as that hormone injection has kicked in & I feel lousy, It always does this for the first week or two. I've had to go out to get cat food as I forgot on the last shop :duh:



I've been out to B&M to get some Mr Muscle stuff & I'm also on feeding all the plants with comfrey tea, Sink unblocking duty as the sink is taking ages to drain, Nowt in the grid outlet. :shrug: 'ackin & slashing duty too wi Marchetti :eek:, I shouldn't really as I've had a bottle of ice cold apple juice :D


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Yum!! Chocolate cake, Nice one Jeff. :bowdown: Looks bootiful there Andy. :cool:

A no sugar, wholemeal chocolate cake at that....You can have your cake and eat it :drool4:

Ploughman's was for dinner today :drool4:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...cf659cc1_h.jpgPloughman's by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

Morning all,

No rain here but it's not exactly Flaming June either:eek:

Ros and I are off to see our friend in the Nursing home in Suffolk this afternoon.
Might bake another cake this morning ;)

Morning all, It's a cloudy day here but no rain forecast. Time for brekkie & the weekend fry up. :drool4:
Morning Jeff, That ploughmans lunch looks Moorish. :drool4:



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Morning all, overcast here but the sun is trying to break through, hopefully it'll e a nice day, sat having coffee in the garage while the 1.8 is having new tyres fitted.

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Just got back from Corfu. Lovely holiday, great weather lovely people. Unfortunately, the money that pours into Corfu is being taken out of the Corfiotes pockets by the big businesses that operate there.


The small tavernas and localy owned apartments and hotels seem to be failing, financially and look very run down or have already closed ( no doubt due to "all inclusive" hotels). The youngsters who live there, mostly want to move away and the jobs are now being done by eastern european and african immigrants! The roads and infrastructure are dilapidated and falling apart (broken mains services, leaks and spilt rubbish!).


Our hotel was kept immaculate but the local village is looking very run down, with several other hotels there, closed or almost empty. So sad to see.


We have really felt our age on this trip, struggling with the steep hills, steps and trip hazards (that are everywhere!). Sadly, I think that we will not go back. :(


It's still a beautiful island but older folks need to be aware of the dangers!

Your breakfast don't look too shabby either Ian :drool4:

Morning Andy,

Summer tyres or all rounders ?

That is sad to read.
Sounds a lot like home and probably just about everywhere with the global economy such as it is !

Hope your holiday was in the most part positive and you have some good memories if it is to be your last trip there.

Two cakes made this morning with Zed's assistance.

We have a no sugar lemon drizzle cake. A no sugar wholemeal cherry and almond loaf cake which is still baking as I type:}

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...581a1bb7_h.jpgCake baking with Zed The Ted by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...70192285_h.jpgCake baking with Zed The Ted by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e51726da_h.jpgCake baking with Zed The Ted by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr


Once the second cake is done we are off to Suffolk and I shall be letting the second cake rest .

It's still cloudy here, but it's really warm & muggy, Had to take my t-shirt off working in the garden, I'm still at it trimming the trees as they're getting out of hand & I need to make use of the dry weather.

I had a helper though :D:p: Time for a cold one me thinks.



Cakes are looking good Jeff, You're a dab hand in the kitchen Sir. :bowdown:
I got some of those Wagyu beef burgers from Aldi for tea tonight with some salad & a few chips, Never tried that Wagyu beef before.


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Pud Tat has done a good job there :D

Enjoy the burgers.

Ros and I are at the nursing home now. We are sitting with Michael in a lovely bay window watching the birds :}

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1ae35dd7_h.jpgIMG_7857 by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

Welcome to the day Mike and thank you for the holiday report and the warning for older people about the dangers in Corfu, how disappointing for you that things have changed for the worse. I am sorry to hear about your challenges in coping with the effects of getting older such as climbing steps, walking up steep hills and places where you can easily trip over. Thank goodness your okay and no broken bones.

Have you thought about other types of holidays you can explore. What about a a cruise or an escorted coach holiday?

Good morning Jeff, my apologies for editing out your interesting photos in my reply. A nice shot of Ros chatting to Michael in his room overlooking the trees, what a lovely care setting.

Torrential rain again here last night, its already hot, humid and not a breeze, higher temperatures are expected. I dont know what is happening to the weather as June and July is usually cold and wintery, although we never get any frosts and the temperature rarely falls below 17C during the day.

We are at high altitude at 6,000 feet above sea level and high altitude living presents different living challenges. When we are driving up north, one of the roads takes us to 9,000 feet to a high road and the car engine pulls a bit more. We don't mind as it adds to the adventure of life :}

What are your plans for the day?

Morning all, Sunshine & blue skies here, Good news on the health front Bob.

We were fine, walking along the valley but as soon as we reached the (very steep) hills, the creaks were evident! :D As we now live in Norfolk, (very flat) I suppose that we need to find a flat resort in the sunshine. We have been very lucky to have survived thus far and had the enjoyment of the beautiful island and its lovely people. :bowdown:


Being "locked up" on a coach or cruise ship, fills us with dread! We have always enjoyed the freedom of being a couple, going anywhere we like and doing our own thing.


One day on a "guided tour" around the north of Corfu had us both with a severe headache apiece. There was no way that I would have hired a car there as the roads and driving standards were "scary" and I am not easily scared! Having driven and ridden everything from a 50cc moped to a 40 tonne articulated truck, I knew that the drivers were skilful but reckless at the same time! One of our drivers was phoning, texting and drinking his coffee, with a busload of passengers on board!
Anyone who has done the North Corfu tour will appreciate the hazards!


:eek:


We went to Majorca a couple of years ago and the infrastructure was better but we were constantly pestered by eastern european opportunists asking for change for the phone etc., as distractions whilst the "partner" or family members, knicked your wallet, phone, purse, bags etc! Luckily, we were well briefed by our hotel rep, who had been robbed herself, so just walked on and ignored them! I managed to save one lady who was being approached, when her husband was in the loo!:shrug:


Back to my search for a flat, sunny, safe resort that I can fly to from Norwich!!! The "hell that is Stansted" nearly brought us to a nervous breakdown in May! :D


:getmecoat:

I'm much of the same opinion, I have never fancied a cruise, I not comfortable with deep/open water and my aunt/uncle had an experience on a cruise years ago when a couple "latched" onto them and wouldn't give them peace, trying to organise things for them. Despite being told to leave them alone they persisted, my uncle more or less ended up hiding reading a book. Coach trip . . . . always brings back memories of that film about a whistle stop coach tour around Europe, "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium".

I'm knackered! Suddenly relining the wooden trough/planter I emptied had become number one priority yesterday, trouble was I needed staples for the new lining. I was up early to go to B&Q, Screwfix or where ever, trouble is I didn't sleep, worst night I've had for a long time. Got up early but took my time having breakfast etc before heading out, planter done now. Keeping myself going on caffeine.

Don't talk about family but . . . . several years ago Ging lost a brother and sister in law in a RTA then not long after her other brother in another RTA. We've been supporting their kids, our nieces and nephews, they're now teenagers/late teens. We've been (and are) financing them through higher levels of education, college etc, to give them a better chance in life, there's no government support in the Philippines. Over there you've either got it or you haven't and if you haven't got it you're in bother!

Our eldest niece has just graduated from nursing college with flying colours. We are very proud of her and the effort she has put in.

Miss Molly has had an enjoyable lazy Sunday:}

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...32e0edf5_h.jpgMolly by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

Hi Phil,

Sorry for the late reply.

Today Ros, Zed The Ted and I went over to the marina to remove stuff from onboard ready for Friday when she comes out of the water.
Mainly clearing stuff from the engine room to allow full access when the engineer comes to fit the new shaft seals etc.

Zed the Ted hasn't been onboard since our epic trip from the Norfolk Broads to Walton On The Naze so he wanted to make sure all was Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion :D

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ecc4ac64_h.jpgZed The Ted on board Lady Emma by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

The Harbour Lights restaurant is nearing completion and the Signs have now been installed.
Hopefully we will get to enjoy it with Jessica and yourself next month:drool4:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ecb5505c_h.jpgHarbour Lights by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bd1802e7_h.jpgHarbour Lights by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a2bee04d_h.jpgHarbour Lights at Titchmarsh Marina by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

There is always https://www.butlins.com/about-us/redcoats

Good Morning Jeff and thank you for the photos of the marina and restaurant, your posts are always interesting, upbeat and courteous, thank you for that, I try and remain polite even when others are not :)

Don’t ever worry about replying late :) Have you heard from Steve W? I haven’t seen him post up for quite a while.

We have turned our visit to you next month into a mini-break stopping off in London for a few days to see friends and then another hotel stopover the night we call in to see you and Ros at Walton-On-The-Naze, it’s all setup.

During the recent floods in Kenya, my 4x4 got terribly wet inside, so on Wednesday its all seats and carpets out - they need shampooing and then checking the seals in the floor to see if any need replacing, you are doing similar, but on a larger scale with Lady Emma.

Have a great day

Good morning Steve, thank you for that.

Clearly a cruise or a coach holiday is not for everyone.

https://www.butlins.com/about-us/redcoats I can imagine you at Butlins! :)

Steve, that’s great news about your eldest niece graduating from nursing college, will she come and work for the NHS? or go into private nursing/healthcare. It’s kind of you and Ging to provide financial / educational support for your family in the Philippines.

It’s similar here in Kenya, education for children has to be paid for through private fees and it’s expensive. The same with healthcare. Recently our cleaner asked if we could contribute to the cost of her daughter having a cancer operation: £10,000 to treat Cervical Cancer. On the 17th of May her local church were holding a jamboree day to raise funds to pay for the chemotherapy and surgery, we contributed, but one can only do so much.

Morning Phil & Jessica,

Last time I heard from Steve it was on Facebook, that was at least a few months back though.
Hope he is okay but he has had breaks away from social media before.

He's probably enjoying his caravan and getting in plenty of fishing.

Your drenching of the 4x4 sounds a bit like our accidental jet washing of the bedroom on Lady Emma .
Luckily you are blessed with warmer weather so hopefully your seats and carpets will dry out pretty quickly :}

Whist we are on the subject of fellow chillouters, have you spoken to Rod lately?

Sounds like you have a well booked itinerary in place for July, please be sure to bring some of that glorious weather with you on your travels :}

Morning all, What a grey day. I'm off to pick up our daughter from the garage shortly, Her truck is in for service & tyres.

Morning Ian,

Sun is out down this part of the world ;)

Is it a Mac or is it a cat?

https://youtube.com/shorts/nkGaPx9d-...dDPSD7hAuAyb7o

Leo is happy to find out that I'll be lighting the Ninja Woodfire Grill up this afternoon :D

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...33bfd958_h.jpgLeo by Jeff Cranwell, on Flickr

LOL Molly is such a sweetie & Leo looks so laid back. :cool:


Burger! Disaster here!!! The electric kettle has gone belly up :eek: Just been out to B&M to get one & finally got a haircut at the same time :bowdown: All those Polish girls at the ASDA hairdressers have gone (probably due to Brexit conditions or the like) & there's only one hairdresser in there at the moment & the wait times are too long, so I stopped at the first barbers I came to in town, An Afghan barbers which I have to say did a great haircut for 12 Quid. :bowdown:

I never knew they did haircuts at B&M :D