Mud, Mud, Glorious mud

After weeks of nothing much very visible happening on the new house, today saw the start of the groundworks. The crew were due at 9am. They arrived at 11 and had a tea break, six phone calls and a big conflab. After another few phone calls they decided they needed more equipment so off went the tractor and trailer to fetch some. Another truck appeared. Some more digger parts appeared. They had another cup of tea.

About 2pm they started and cleared the whole back-garden in about 40 minutes. I fetched 6 year-old grandson to watch after school." It's boring," he said, "they wont let me do anything, I'm going home." I watched fascinated.

All that is left is a pile of rubble to be removed in the morning, a pile of bushes to be replanted and a wide expanse of flat clear space where the lawn will be. No dead trees, no stumps, no little twee brick walls, no giant weeds.

I love it.

Just got to dig the foundations tomorrow then we will be really motoring on.

Back from the front line

I'm home. I've got stitches. I'm sore. I can walk but I can't sit.

I was allergic to the dressings. I was allergic to some of the hospital equipment (Memo to self: Does this mean I have a latex allergy?). I was only in for 8 hours after all the fuss before-hand. I was accompanied by WH the WHOLE time.

I'll be housebound for the next few days. I will be able to drive in a couple of weeks. I'll be packing for the move in a couple more.

I had a hernia, which was nothing really to a 'normal' but to a Lymie, it's a whole other country, let alone the complications that having an infection in my foot brought.

It's over. Yay!!!!!!

Cartoon courtesy of www.piperreport.com

Bye for now

At risk of yet another medical post I am going into hospital tomorrow for a small operation so will not be here for a while.

See you soon.

The NHS strikes again

More and more this blog this turning into a rant against the NHS. I do give them a chance, honestly, but the more things that happen to me the more I seem to be turning into Dr Rant or NHS Blogdoctor, minus the medical degree of course.

This latest episode with my right foot has proved once again that GP's don't spend enough time with their patients to form a proper diagnosis and more importantly if you suffer from unfashionable ilnesses or diagnoses like I do, ME, Fibromyalgia, Lyme disease and a weight gain resulting from inappropriate medications, they don't always want to listen. It's the good old heart-sink trap again. But like the famous boy who cried wolf, sometimes heart-sink patients do actually have something wrong with them apart from the never ending list on the practice computer screen.

I was lucky yesterday. I saw a locum GP who was lovely, had no preconceived ideas about me and actually examined the foot in question for the first time in 9 weeks rather than casually glancing from the side. She left the room momentarily to fetch a nurse and we heard her say "Well she definitely has something in there, it's quite obvious, it must have been there for weeks". An hour later I had had 3 pieces of wood removed from my heel.

So why did it take 4 GP visits over 9 weeks with 3 different doctors to finally extract what was painful for me and clearly very obvious to the locum. In all this time I have been told to keep up my excercise levels (How, precisely, on one foot?), take some painkillers, ignore it and walk on it properly.

The locum sent me to A&E for a soft tissue Xray and then the balloon went up. The Xray was abnormal. Surprise surprise. I explained it was calcification due to Lyme Disease so some very old plates were found and a lot of old notes and they finally agreed that that was not the cause this time. I have strong antibiotics now for a week after which I have to return the A&E to get checked over by an orthopaedic surgeon if if the heel is not completely better. At least someone has finally taken notice.

The examination I had from the locum under a strong light was very different from the perfunctory look I was given initially. It took maybe 5 minutes longer. If this had been done in the first place, 4 appointments would have been saved and the trip to A&E and the 4 hour wait.

And the NHS is trying to save money. What a joke.

Not my left foot part 2

Well for 8 weeks I have been struggling on my right foot in various degrees of pain, ranging from mild to absolute agony, where I have been unable to put any weight on it at all. The GP decided weeks ago that it was another bout of fasciitis which I had in 1995 and has been treating me with anti-inflammatories. I however have not been convinced.

Last night I was proved correct. The side of my foot literally burst open and an abcess was revealed.

I am waiting for the surgery to open now so I can get it looked at properly. Maybe it will start to heal now and I will be able to walk again.

What a waste

When I first saw you, you presented with the highest number of Lyme symptoms I have ever seen in one person. You were really very, very ill. I can not believe that your regular GP missed it. Especially as you had the EM rash and a defined onset.

No, not a dream but the words of my wonderful consultant yesterday.

I was also told that I would never have 100% cast iron test results and in any case they were not that useful per se anyway and it was probably a waste of money testing for all sorts of things when all the clinical signs were there in such a massive number. And yet every other medic I have consulted over the last miserable, bloody, frustrating 16 years had missed them, ALL. A point not lost on me, WH and the consultant.

The medics who asked if I was really that bad, the medics who thought I was hysterical, the pain specialist who said "Well of course a lot of these symptoms are not proved to exist anyway", the medics who said "You'll just have to work through it", the medics who said "Try exercise", the medics whose faces fell when I walked into their surgery, the medics who said "Get out more," the medics who told WH to let me get on with it, the medics who said "really it's not that bad" the medics who said "Here take these antidepressants, you'll feel much better," the medics who told me to get a life.

I only wish.

This revelation seems to have really affected me. I know I was told before that Lyme was 99% likely and then the treatment started working so it looked as though the diagnosis WAS right, but never before had it been said in so many words, so definitely,categorically: "This is what you have got and have always had, since 1991."

So today I am still weepy and feel like I have wasted 16 years of my life but at least the end is in real sight now, it's not just a maybe. And also the realisation that all these odd things were not just me being awkward/attentionseeking/lazy they were a REAL illness.

And how many more people are there out there like me?

ETA Whats with the colour?? Blogger misbehaving again, at least it beats my dashboard coming up in German which was last week's surprise.

Answers

Seeing as everyone has so many questions (Terri!!) here are a few answers to those you have asked and those you want to ask!!

How do you preserve lemons?

It's easy peasy, see here. Afterwards use them them in Morrocan dishes, with curries and finely shredded in a marinade for meats, olives etc

Am I in the new house yet?

Er, no. We start work on the extension this coming Tuesday. I am moving out of here the last week of November and I hope that we'll have a working kitchen-diner big enough for all the family at Christmas, we have to seat 12 comfortably so it will need to be finished.

Have I been to Greece recently?

Another resounding NO. I am having surgery in 2 weeks time so all holidays have been on hold.

Have I been to Denmark yet?

No, see answer above.

Why am I on steroids? again?

Having had the rash from Hell for the last 3 months I have tried 4 different antihistamines (well all the ones I had not tried before for any reason) and they still didn't stop the itch, not even when taken together at excessive doses. Steroids was an almost last resort. They didn't work either. The last resort were some meds you used to take for stomach ulcers, now well outdated but they *might* have some sort of synergistic effect on antihistamines. RESULT. I am on my second itch free day since May and it's marvellous.

Why do I have so much energy?

Steroid high. I'm making the most of it.

How's the Lyme disease?

Still on the treatment, getting slowly better in terms of stamina, mental capacity and energy such that other people now notice. And yes this was well before the 10 days of steroids! Actually I see the consultant tomorrow so watch this space for his take on things.

How's the RA?

And here is the rub, it's getting slowly worse, but temper this with the knowledge that I have had no treatment at all for it for 9 months and things get more into perspective. I probably need to restart the methotrexate to ensure I don't have yet another seized-up winter. Of course I have more movement in my hands than I have had for months due to the steroid treatment but as we know from previous encounters, the effect lasts 8 weeks at best and 2 weeks at worst. I need to act now to get it under control before we have some really cold weather. If I restart methotrexate I have to stop the Lyme treatment, so whats a girl to do? Dither at the moment.

What did I get for my birthday?

In no particular order:

A box of chocs

The good, good pig. A most excellent read.

A weekend washbag and lurverly smellies

A new food mixer

A notepad

A humungous bunch of flowers

Money/vouchers for cds

More books

Cds

A foodie hamper

A necklace

Pottery

And it was only an ordinary birthday. I am so lucky to have such generous family and friends.

Why am I still in England at all?

I really wonder that one myself. The temperature here last week was the same as in Athens in January. We have another 6 months to go of this winter, so this year we will have had a 12 month winter in total. The weather here really sucks. Next year it had better improve or else...

Hope this keeps you satisfied for 5 minutes. I'm away for the weekend now so I'll have more on that and the consultant later.

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!!

Spicy Sunshine Soup

This is a real warmer for those first chilly days of autumn when you have a glut of produce in the kitchen and are running out of ideas as to what to do with it all.

Serves 8 easily.

Half a butternut squash, peeled and diced
2 medium onions diced
3 yellow or red peppers, de-seed and diced
6 tomatoes halved. I used yellow ones which looked great.
1 green chili de-seeded and sliced
1 tablespoon ground coriander
half tablespoon ground paprika. On this occasion I would NOT used smoked.
2 cloves garlic chopped
5ml olive oil
1pint (20oz) vegetable stock
1 teaspoon sugar
black pepper to taste


Heat the olive oil in a pan and add the onions, fry gently until translucent; add the garlic and stir in the oil. Add the rest of the veg and the spices and sweat gently for a couple of minutes.

Pour on the vegetable stock and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for about half an hour until all the veg is well cooked. Add the teaspoon of sugar and back pepper to taste. Whizz in a blender until smooth.

I always leave the skin on peppers and tomatoes. Once it has been whizzed, the soup is quite smooth. However if you want to you can remove the skins either before you cook the soup or when it has come to the boil. You can stand over it and as the veg softens, the skins rise to the top and and are easy to remove from the pan with a slotted spoon.

Serve with crusty bread and cheese or for a special lunch, cheese muffins.

Hanging in there

I'm still here, still busy, still in the old house, but far too busy to write here.

I'll be back soon, I promise.

The disappointment continues

Well the gig of the year was a wash-out, personally speaking. First off, the motorway was closed so we had a long detour via Wales. This meant that we were an hour late for lunch with the other Outhousers. Nevertheless we had a great time and a great lunch with lovely people. So far so good.

Later we left the hotel in brilliant sunshine, got to the Gig in a bit of cloud, saw the first two groups and by then it started to rain. And rain. And rain. Halfway through Hayseed Dixie we had to leave. By then my muscles were shaking and I could barely move. Our clothes were dripping wet and we could wring out the water.

One hour later we were dried off and sitting in warm clothes in the local Tandoori! Three days later I am still suffering the effects of getting so wet and sitting in pools of water for an hour, cold water and neurological Lyme do NOT mix. We didn't even get to see Status Quo, the headline group at all.

I thought that if I got my op date on Monday that would cheer me up. Last Friday I was told I could have it as soon as possible, by Monday that date was mid October. The surgeon didn't think to tell me he was on holiday for the WHOLE of September.

So I'm still waiting.

To alleviate the boredom I've booked to see the Hayseeds again in Bristol on 23rd September, indoors. This time it had better be good!

Pear shaped

Well most of my plans for the end of summer are now on hold. I am wating for a small operation to undo the damage I did moving two paving slabs in the back garden. I saw the consultant yesterday and I should be booked in for 2 weeks time, I'll know for definite on Monday.

At least the end is now in sight; however, I had to cancel the trip to Denmark, next week's break in Cornwall and so far the holiday in Greece looks a non-starter too. We are still off tomorrow for one night only, as they say, to see the Quo and the Hayseeds and to meet up with other Outhousers. Full report to follow.

All in a Pickle

A glut of plums on WH's tree and a wonderful new source of the biggest blackberries I have ever seen, couple that with apples on the tree in our new house and my thoughts turn to preserves; not jam particularly, we don't eat much of that and in any case WH ONLY LIKES STRAWBERRY, which is a total pain, but chutney and gallons of it too.

I am just making my second batch of plum chutney this week and have also made tomato chutney, runner bean pickle, and blackberry and apple chutney. The plum however remains my favourite and I didn't even wait the obligatory week for it to mature in the jar before I began delving in. Aah, heaven in a tablespoon. It's brilliant with cold meat, jacket potaoes and cheese sandwiches not to mention what it does to a curry.

Sweet Plum Chutney
Makes about 5 pounds.

4lbs stoned plums
1lb peeled and chopped cooking apples
1lb finely diced onions
2lbs sugar
1 pint (20 fl oz) vinegar, 5% acidity
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground allspice
3 teaspoons ground mixed spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon groung nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard


Throw all the ingredients into a large preserving pan. Simmer slowly until all the fruit and veg is well cooked. Turn up heat and reduce liquid until thick and pulpy. Cooking will probably take about 2 hours in total.


Allow to cool for 10 mins then pot into suitable warmed and sterilised pickle jars.


Leave for one week to mature before opening.

I'm IN at the Outhouse

Just an update on my ongoing saga with the Hayseeed Dixie Outhouse. Well someone read my moans on here and took pity on me (thanks Kook) and now I'm a fully fledged member, posting and all.

A week on Sunday we're seeing them live with Status Quo at Dudley Castle, just hope my foot recovers in time, I feel a serious need to bop coming on.

NOT My Left Foot

After a day when I have to all intents and purposes become a builder's supply delivery driver, I finally got home at 4.45 only to have to rush out again to a doctor's appointment in order to find out what ails my right foot. My request for a nurse appointment to 'just have a quick look' was met with dogged insistence that I attend the branch surgery 8 miles away to have a doctor examine it immediately.

Turns out the nurse was right, I have an infection in my sole, most probably I stood on a splinter or something and it started that way. Not that I remember doing anything like that, but a definite possibility as the house project resembles a building site more than anything else these days. So more antibiotics and a ten minute explanation when I told him that I already take them 'off licence' for Lyme Disease. And then that light-bulb moment on the doc's face as he realised that I was 'the one' they had had to have a partner's discussion about, whether to prescribe for me or not. (Answer = NOT)

I have however been prescribed the impossible this time. I have to keep off my feet for 3-4 days. Easier said than done in my new (but temporary) career. I can drive without my left foot at a pinch (in an automatic) but not my right. Solve that one doctor.

Pasta Paella

You know when you desperately want to make a great recipe then you don't have the right ingredients or can't for some other reason, well I had that experience just last night.

I had a sudden craving for Paella, well WH can't eat rice so I thought I'd do it with pasta. Then came a phone call and the third member of the dining party announced he hates fish. I was stumped then but decided to have a go at a fish-less version anyhow. Despite virtually every ingredient being substituted for something else, the basic spicing and background flavours were all there and Oh boy it worked and worked well, giving the right amount of Spanish hit that I had been craving. I used kritharaki, a Greek rice shaped pasta which is smaller than the Italian orzo but rice would work even better. The pasta does make the dish slightly more sticky overall.

Serves 4.

150g cubed turkey steak or chicken
100g lean diced smoked bacon
150g peeled prawns
150g sliced chorizo (I actually used wild boar sausage and only discovered when it was too late!)
1 large onion diced
2 red peppers diced
150g peas
150g orzo, kritharaki or rice
2 cloves garlic sliced
500 ml chicken stock (or fish stock)
150ml home made tomato sauce or passata
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
half teaspoon saffron soaked in 50ml warm water
20ml olive oil
black pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a pan and brown the meat, add the onions and peppers and stir fry until the veg has started to cook down. Add the chorizo and bacon and cook untilt the fat starts to melt. Add the garlic and turn in the oil but do not allow to colour as it then becomes bitter. Now add the paprika, stir around then add the stock, the saffron in it's soaking liquid and the tomato sauce. Stir in the pasta or rice and allow to simmer for 15 minutes on a low heat and check frequently to ensure it does not stick to the pan. Check to see if the rice/pasta is done and cook further until it is cooked to your liking. You can add extra water at this stage if it needs it.

Stir in the peas and cook for 3 minutes then finally stir in the prawns and allow to heat through. Check the seasoning and add black pepper to taste. You shouldn't need to add any extra salt as the ingredients are salty enough.

Serve, eat and dream of sunshine.

A Misty mystery

On Sunday we put a collar and a bell on Misty to try to stop him terrorising the local bird population. To say he went berserk is an understatement, he shot up the stairs and then immmediately turned tail and shot out of the cat flap. WH reckoned he was faster than a greyhound. Anyway that was the last we saw of him for over 24 hours.

We searched, called and rattled his favourite biscuit tin, all to no avail. Eventually we went out on Monday, we had a 9th Birthday party to attend. When we got back at about 9pm there he was, large as life and angry. See that wild look in his eyes, that was nothing. His wimp of a brother wouldn't go near him because of the noisy collar so we had to remove it. The twins then raced round for an hour or so until they were exhausted. True to form Misty was starving too and has eaten non-stop ever since.

What we can't undestand was where he went. He obviously had no food or water during that time and now he's making us pay. It's the second time he's disappeared completely but surely he didn't choose to hide like that. Strange cat that it is that can be so angry he misses a whole day's food. And that disapproving scowl, that's permanent now!

The power of Schmooze

Hey, I won an award. Shout it from the rooftops. My first one. And all because the wonderfully talented Di gave it to me.

It's a Blogging Community Involvement Award and the idea is you pass it on to 5 people who in your opinion have contributed to the blogging community.

So here goes:

And the winners are:

Thursday's Child for just well, um being Thursday.

Farmgirl Fayre for brightening the days of so many with her animal tales, delicious recipes and of course her daughter Cary.

Joshilyn for being a scream and making us laugh with every word.

Liverpool Leftovers for blogging despite all her adversity and loss.

And finally:

I know Di already has this award but really I want to award it again to her as without her inspiration I would not be doing this. Reason enough I guess.

PS My HTML edit still doesn't work so appologies about the poor layout.

Playing catch up

The last week has been a whirlwind, a funeral, a flower show, a lot of hammering and banging and I seem to have been shopping almost every day, either for birthday presents (6 birthdays THIS week) or electrical stuff for the new house. Oh and I bought the living room curtains TWICE. I didn't realise I had the first pair until I put the second pair away. DUH.

Anyway life should get a little more calm now, before the storm of a trip to Denmark, Hayseed Dixie AND Status Quo on the same bill at Dudley Castle, a trip to Cornwall, a possible trip to Greece and moving house. All before the end of September. Whew.

No more time to type tonight, but I have some interesting news tomorrow, it's connected with Diane Shipley. Can you guess?

Progress of sorts

The new house project is coming on slowly. The upstairs now looks like a building site however not quite as bad as that depicted by Thursday in the House of Gloom. We now have all new windows, woodwork, new ceilings, electrics and tomorow we will have coving. On Monday the painter moves in and I get to choose the colours. So far so good.

As for the rest of the house, the planning application is now in and the garden has been cleared of 14 conifers and a number of very large shrubs. It actually looks twice the size now. The fig tree has been stripped of all it's rambling roses and clematis and the figs are actually ripening. At the top of the slope we have uncovered 3 apple trees complete with apples and 2 blackcurrant bushes which yielded 2 pounds of currants. Once the ground dries out (if it ever does) we will knock a hole in the garage wall and get a mini digger in to landscape it all.

As to when I will move in, ask me another. WH was going to be in there a month ago, now he might move in next week. It's a moveable feast, however I'd like to be in by the end of September and have a birthday party/ housewarming there, on the other hand with all this awful weather, it looks like Greece is beckoning again.