On the one hand, it really winds me up that people can be so damn lazy when it comes to returning their trolleys at the supermarket - and even if they can actually make it to the trolley park, 9 times out of 10 the trolley is just carelessly abandoned, and the park soon becomes a jungle of disorganised metal.

On the other hand, after a day like I’ve had today (it’s been our factory shutdown week, and our customers have taken very little notice of this fact, meaning that the few of us who have been in to provide general cover have been rushed off our collective little feet) - the sheer stress busting satisfaction of slamming the trolleys around whilst tidying them up is hard to beat.

Ooof. Never mind. Off tomorrow, only have about twenty things on my list of jobs to do and errands to run. Piece of doo dah…

Here’s a funny story I would have blogged last week, but it’s taken me til now to stop blushing…

In the course of work, we often have to send free bits and bobs overseas - sometimes it’s replacement components, sometimes it’s samples - but if they’re free, we have to include a nominal value for customs purposes.

So I’ve got these two widgets, which don’t have a listed price - and before I can stop myself, I’m calling across the office :

*Hey! Steven! Fiver for a knuckle joint and a quid for a screw - does that sound about right?*

Oh the shame…

BBQ on Saturday, friend’s house for a roast dinner last night, salad (ahem!) tonight - nothing like keeping the washing up at bay while Chris is down in Wales!!

Also took Mum to the Flower Festival today, her first proper outing since coming out of hospital - it was an effort for her, but she enjoyed it. I then introduced her to the lap top, and more specifically, to Friends Reunited - and, surprise surprise, we found an old schoolfriend of hers, so we sent an email. She’ll be dead chuffed if we get a reply!

Work tomorrow (bah!!), just three days though, then off on Friday. Roll on Friday!!

I think Matt was the closest - yes, I did indeed wake up early, then became aware of Bones, caterwauling like a banshee. So, I got up, released him from the sitting room, opened the cat flap, put on a washload - and went back to bed. AND managed to doze for an hour or so, before - yes - Eric - bounced on the bed.

So, points all round I guess. Well done everybody!

Blimey, what a week! I am sooooo glad to have a three day weekend to look forward to, and good weather to boot - hurrah!!

Tomorrow, I am having a lie in. C’mon then, guess away - which cat or what event is going to wreck this plan?!

News from the NHS that is. Nothing for ages, then :

1) Mum’s surgery date is confirmed! First they tried to offer us next Thursday - next Thursday!!! What part if mid September onwards did they not understand?! Thankfully they appreciated that springing such a near date on Mum would not be a good idea, and came back with 20th September. And yes Matt, you’re absolutely right about missed calls - I missed this one too, taking a much needed and long delayed trip to the facilities during a rather bonkers day - my colleague even ran into the loos with my phone, but (thankfully!!) it stopped ringing just as she thrust it under the door…I’ve said it’s OK to just answer it next time!!!

2) Then, I come home to a letter confirming that none of the important people are playing golf at 9am on Friday 5th October, so would I like to meet with them and get some answers? Hell yes!

3) And when I open my emails, there’s a letter from the advocacy service confirming they’ve now got all the info I sent them, should I wish to get in touch.

Phew!

Last Friday, I turned my phone off for one hour - one measly little hour - and missed THE phonecall I’d rather not have missed.

Not just Hospital 2 about Mum’s next lot of surgery - oh no - the consultant himself.

Friday afternoon, and a consultant who’s not on the golf course? I kid you not!!

He asked me to speak to his secretary today, which I did, but she knew diddly squat about it all, which slightly took the shine off, but I should have some more news tomorrow when she’s spoken to him.

Slowly we are getting there!

No, not alcohol induced - more an overdose of chocolate and cheese & chive dip and doritos. And a huge three course lunch today. My poor digestive system.

Pass the paracetamol and indigestion remedies please…

I am blogging on my burfday present!! Thanks Chris and Paul and Mum!

I wonder if Paul realises how many helpdesk calls he’s going to get…

We’ve had a great day, and a fab party, albeit an indoors one, courtesy of the crappiest British summer in living memory. Unfortunately, not all of us were indoors all of the time…Eric got a bit freaked by quite so many people in the house and refused to come in at dusk - this ended up with me getting soaked and covered in half the tree I had to drag him through. Still, not as messy as the chocklit fountain; I’m sure Paul will post hideously embarassing pictures in due course.

*goes to tidy kitchen*

Well, perhaps just wise enough to know when to quit.

For a fair chunk of this year, I’ve tried to be a supportive friend to someone who was going through a bit of a time of it, even when things were far from perfect in my own world.

The friendship did flounder at one point, but, as I valued it, I fought for it, and things seemed to be back on track. Certainly, as recently as yesterday when I received a Happy Birthday text, I had no reason to suspect otherwise.

So the spiteful, bitter reply that I received this afternoon to a sincere & friendly email from me came as a bit of a shock. I have always tried to be respectful of this person’s feelings; it’s a shame they couldn’t extend the same courtesy to me. Kick me back down when I’ve only just got up why don’t you.

If you recognise yourself in this, then I hope (but doubt) you are ashamed of yourself. I am sure you will not be impressed that I have blogged about it, even though your identity is protected. And if you feel that this blog burns any bridges, then you’re damn right it does.

Which half of work now think I am, since a colleague got it wrong. I shall get my revenge!

So, I may not be 40, but this is my last blog as a 37 year old.

37.

I remember when I thought that was old and really, really grown up.

Funny how wrong you can be, eh?

So, today I heard back from the PALS officer who is coordinating the hospital’s response to my complaint. Holiday silly season has indeed taken its toll, but when added to clinic committments etc etc, the earliest date they are suggesting for a meeting (and it’s still tbc) is 5/10 - so I’ve agreed to an interim reply/report into my complaint, to then be followed up by the meeting.

Blimey - Mum should have been in hospital again by then. At least if that goes tits up too I can kill two birds with one stone (it’s meant to be ironic, but I really wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being prophetic…)

Matt, I’m more surprised that you and you alone rose to the bait!!! I was expecting far worse from the previous blog. Wake up everybody!

Anyway, I went back to the gym yesterday, and am not too bad today, but as tomorrow’s Day 2, I shall reserve final judgement for a little longer.

A pretty quiet weekend to report on, much tidying and domesticity ahead of next week’s BBQ (pleaseohpleaseohplease let the weather be good..!), plus some genral boring paperwork.

Oh, and Lisa, thanks for your comment a few blogs ago; I’ve been sent some info by ICAS which outlines the complaints procdure, and it does mention the Healthcare Commission as the next stage - but at the moment, I’m still waiting for a date for the meeting I’ve been promised, to discuss my letter as part of the hospital’s own investigation. I know it’s the holiday season, but thought I would have had an answer by now - a month has passed after all.

..because today I can hardly walk. I know the second day after an overexertion is meant to be the worst, but this is ridiculous; I’ve been hobbling about like a little old lady!

Oh yeah. In one week I will BE a little old lady.

Humph.

Ow.

OwowowowowowoowOW.

I’m all achey and creaky and muscles I’d forgotten I had HURT.

I didn’t overdo it y’know - it was the same 30 minute, 10 stations, 3 mins per station programme that I’d done before, and I don’t remember feeling this bad after the first time!

I think intravenous WD40 is called for..Getting old!!

…’cos I’ve just been to the gym for the first time in 5 months.

5 MONTHS!!!!!!!

Yup, what with the holiday (remember that? - I don’t!), and the ensuing debacle with Mum, it has been exactly 5 months since I put my poor old body through the rigours of the gym. I think the wording is : I ache, therefore I am. It’ll feel worse tomorrow. Joy. But I’ve decided, August is going to be my month of Getting Back to Normal, so trying to get into the swing of going to the gym is all part and parcel of that. I’ve booked again for Saturday (if I can walk again by then).

Oh, and as a postscript to last night, she’s apologised. Problem is, as she continues to make slow but steady progress, she becomes more independant. Yes, a good thing, but she wants to take more control, and, trust me on this, I’m being kind, some of her plans? methods? ideas? - whatever, leave a lot to be desired, especially now we have outside agencies coming in to assist her with various things. It’s a fine line to walk, and last night we toppled into the grey area (woo hoo for the mixed metaphor!) - it isn’t the first time, and it certainly won’t be the last, it’s just one of those things.

So do you want to hear about my shopping spree with BFNOW (Best Friend North of Watford) Jan on Saturday?

Or how I singed the hairs off my left arm on the gas cooker tonight?

Or the latest debacle involving my Mother?

Well, to be fair, here’s the executive summary of all three :

We shopped til we dropped - well, not quite, but we did manage some serious retail therapy, without hammering our plastic too severely. Five tops in M&S for 26 squids? That’ll do nicely…

I thought I’d lit the back ring. I hadn’t. I’d lit the front one, right where my arm was - I didn’t feel anything, but noticed an odd smell, and then observed that the hairs round my left wrist were looking a tad frazzled, and were only about 1mm long…

The agency who provide her daily carer descended on Mum with no warning on Friday, with half a tonne of assessment paperwork. I felt I really should have been there, or at the very least known about it. Then when I saw what they’d returned today, I knew damn well I should have been there. How can they possibly include her bi-polar diagnosis (new posh term for manic depression, and then, in the very section entitled *Mental Health* tick the *stable* box for her mood, whilst leaving the boxes by anxiety and depression blank???????? Yet another argument to have….has common sense realy died a death, or does it just work someplace else?

Oh, and I’m bullying daughter from hell again. Not so long ago, I was a brick, who she couldn’t do without. But that’s a whole other blog.

I’ve been woodstaining our lovely new side gate (the old one went unhinged - I know how it felt!!).

The colour is Antique Pine, and let me tell you, it makes a damn good fake tan substitute. There’s a patch on my left arm which looks glowingly healthy. Wonder if it’s safe to bath in the stuff?

Yesterday that is. Day off, loads of little jobs done, check up at the doc’s (everything I’m feeling is normal, which is reassuring!), nice lunch from my favourite pannini shop - and then :

Whacked back of head on underside of kitchen worktop whilst sorting out the cat’s tray, then:

Had mild altercation with Mother following her *you never do a damn thing for me* outburst (following a request to do something so utterly pointless, which I’d tried to gently point out to her* - she apologised, but the remark just rankled, y’know?

However. We are now in a new month, which I am determined will be a damn sight more normal than recent months have been. It’s got off to a good start, a nice pub meal out with Chris. We have a plan to do this once a week, some dedicated us time.

*ducks low flying spanners hurtling towards the works*