Birthday presents

One of the various books the girls and their grandmother gave me for my birthday was Dear Friend and Gardener a series of letters between well known gardeners Beth Chatto and Christopher Lloyd. Written over a two year period some 12 plus years ago it's a lovely read and I find myself sitting up until all hours, visions of the varieties and the settings they each describe whizzing through my brain. Odd snippets of everyday life sneak in too, recipes, people met and meals shared along with a very few mentions of current affairs (the death of Princess Diana being a notable inclusion) which help to place it in context and time. I am amazed I had never read this before, it was on my 'list' but not a high priority. With about 60 pages left to go I will miss it when it ends.

My main present was a breadmaker and having now used it twice I am full of plans for future uses. When married in my twenties I used to make all our own bread and did so for about 10 years until newly single again I had no need of so much, nor the time to do it. I've never really taken it up again since mainly because of WH's love of white sliced! With a breadmaker I can indulge myself in a less time consuming way and make the beloved white as well. In fact I tried that first and it came out beautifully, so much so I was reduced to eating the crust myself along with homemade plum jam. This morning I had my first taste of a home-baked seeded loaf which was good but not as dense as I would like. Recently in Denmark I was eating good rye bread with wholegrains and it finally crystallised in my brain that this is the bread I really enjoy, so I can see I will be experimenting more and more until I perfect my own staple bread. Meanwhile, WH is more than happy with a white loaf from a Hovis ready mix.

Staying in

This last fortnight has been one long round of hospital appointments, plasters being removed and replaced, physiotherapy and an operation last Tuesday. WH is still in quite a bad way. The break to the wrist was a 'nasty' one and has had to eb wired into place. The foot is now plaster-less but hurts like hell, we're awaiting the 'Ortho Reg' to call with a new game plan. Plaster, CT scan or strapping. The head injury appeared to have subsided but the anaesthetic on Tuesday had some strange effects and even now he is suffering from vertigo or it's close cousin. The bruised cheekbone is still black. We even had the doctor out to the house on Thursday after a particularly spectacular session. I am learning to be nursemaid and normally have endless patience, having been fairly immobile at times in my past, but even I was weary last night and was thinking it would be lovely to have a cup of tea I had not made myself. Cooking which to me is a welcome distraction has gone out of the window as the patient just isn't eating.

Visitors have been fairly few, although the phone almost answers itself now and I don't mean the answerphone either. Sometimes I wish for more knocks on the door as it would no doubt cheer the patient up no end, we are in grave danger of a deep depression setting in.

One constant has been the presence of two grey fluffy nurses who are attentive at most times although they do have a habit of falling asleep on the job. Misty as Night Nurse snuggles in and stays put for 6 hours plus although if WH gets up to change position or for a shuffle about he's a bit reluctant to move at all. Nelson keeps watch from the back of the sofa, his tail curling down over WH's head. Unusually he has been home a lot, the retired major up the road has lost his furry doormat for the season.

As usual these things always come at the wrong time, not that there is a right time for an accident. I have finally sold the other house, after a 3 month spell of being messed about by the potential purchaser we exchange contracts next week and complete the following one. Hope I have not hexed this by finally putting it in print here. It's not a moment too soon. However and there is always an however in my experience, we had left the removal of some pretty hefty tool shelving in the garage until the last. Now of course it has to be removed and in a hurry. WH was due to do this the day after his accident. Today I hope that Brother in Law and his Best Mate will be coming to dismantle it all and to hopefully remove it to our business lock up for use up there. The grill, bacon and fresh bread are waiting, small price to pay if a few butties help get the job done.

As for the rest of my day it will be very quiet, a planned supper with a few friends cancelled in the light of WH still at risk of throwing up any second. Strange way for me to spend a birthday but hey, there's a first time for everything.

Happy Birthday to me ?

yes, it's that day again when I turn another year older. I haven't had quite the day I expected but the second half has been pretty good, culminating in a tea party more reminiscent of a five year old's not a fifty something's. The only thing missing was the jelly.

I think from henceforth however, I'm going to ban all family celebrations, as for the last several WH has been ill each time. Today is no exception, he along with oldest step daughter appears to contracting a particularly nasty virus. With his shoulder surgery scheduled in less than a week, it looks like we may be in for a postponement. Sod's law again conspires against us. Maybe not such a good birthday after all.

Oh No it's the big O

WH has a birthday with a zero on Friday, we are celebrating on Saturday and a HUGE surprise will be revealed for the Birthday Boy. Can't say any more yet but it will be great. I'm so excited.

In other directions, I am so busy I don't know where to turn, trying to sell this house, tidy up, do the garden, sort the new house out, sort the business out and organise a monster party and THE surprise.

I saw my Lovely Lyme Doc last week and he is amazed with my progress, I am definitely 50% back to normal, maybe more on a good day. 3 more months of treatment and then I can stop for a while to see if the symptoms return or not. Met with a friend yesterday whom I had not seen for 6 months and she was stunned. This keeps happening a lot now, it's really odd, it takes a while for me to get used to the new improved version, let alone anyone else.

To celebrate both events we are off to the British Press Launch of the new Hayseed Dixie album in London next Monday. If you get chance have a listen, it's brilliant and just like the title, No Covers, there is not a 'cover' in sight. Time to take these guys seriously, especially the writing talent of John Wheeler. It's a new direction for them and we'll be celebrating a new direction for us too.

Six things I have done in the last few days

Just to prove I am actually doing something........

1. Made a jar of preserved lemons

2. Seen Hayseed Dixie in Bristol. Wow, best gig ever.

3. Turned another year older.

4. Driven for hours collecting building materials.

5. Received the biggest display of flowers I have ever seen. They are still filling the living room and scenting the whole house.

6. Started on the demon steroids yet again, only this time I am losing weight, not gaining it.

Back soon with more stunning highlights!!