A Relaxed Evening

A quite relaxed evening; listened to some online jazz whilst Helen attended communion, and then we watched and listened to some of the Strauss concert (BBC4), before opening a bottle of Colombella Pinot Grigio 2004, Terre di Chieti IGT. The Pinot served as adequate accompaniment to the Poirot episode (ITV1), the title of which I've already forgotten, even though both my beloved and myself enjoyed watching it despite memories of a previous viewing. The wine proved quite acceptable but, I fail to understand the popularity of this grape variety!

From Blogger for Word to thoughts on The Word

I seem to have resolved some of the problems, with regard to the PC and Helen's laptop's connection to the internet ... or, at least I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Blogger For Word is a different matter; the add-on works fine from my laptop but it still obstinately refuses to function on the PC.

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After lunch, we went out for a little walk but, I soon began to recognize my limitations and so, curtailed the proposed route.

Just watching 'Songs Of Praise' at the moment and, for some reason they're showing a few excerpts from school nativity plays but no, I've not got it wrong ... I just looked out of the window and it's still Summer! To be honest I've never really seen why the nativity should only be celebrated in December; a specific geographic location is necessary, if we are to take incarnation seriously but, there's no scriptural reference to the birth taking place in December.

The X-Factor

Tonight the X-Factor returned to our screens (ITV1) and we managed to catch the last twenty minutes of it. The audition process, as expected, proved highly entertaining and, one can only wonder what inspires the majority of applicants to put themselves through this (usually quite justified) humiliation!

Switched over to ITV2 then, for X-Factor Extra which provided much more hilarity. All in all it’s been a quite TV oriented evening, the remote zapped us over to watch an episode of CSI, rather a contrast to X-Factor. What a cloistered little life I lead!

I did manage a brief, moderately brisk, walk this afternoon but then found exhaustion took over as I started my preparations for tomorrows dinner. I struggled a bit to finish the task I’d set myself but, after that I only had energy sufficient to watch the goggle-box.

[Addendum: (11.50pm)This posting was performed using Blogger For Word from my laptop; the same add-on still doesn't work on my main PC. Ever since the new router was installed, I've experienced problems with finding the server on both the main PC (ethernet connected) and Helen's wirelessly connected laptop. The new laptop (used wirelessly and further away from the router)does not experience these problems! This has become one of life's great mysteries!]

Blogger for Word

I just thought I should try out the delights of Blogger for Word. For some reason it wasn’t working from my PC so, thought I’d try installing it on my laptop first, before going back to troubleshooting.

If this blog appears then, it would seem that this install is successful!

The Trinity Finalized

This morning the third, and final, plumber/estimator called and, just when you think that you've got it all sussed, there's even more questions as to requirements. At least when we receive the estimates we'll know what extras need to be included/added!

Had a morning 'phone call from Pamela, The Oxcliffe Fox's better half. It was good to catch up on things of which the blog has not informed us and, Helen always enoys a natter! I think P was rather surprised that I'd already surfaced from the duvet-realm; had it not been for the plumber's impending visit, I maybe wouldn't have done so. It seems like our bathroom re-vamp coincides, more-or-less, with the Fox's electrical re-wiring.

It seems like these little tribulations are sent to ensure that we don't get too bogged down in familiar routines!

A Rule of Thumb

This morning, in my Heterocon guise, I was rejoicing at the return of wrinkles and creases to my beleaguered thumb but, perhaps the optimism was misplaced. As I attempted to use the offending digit, during the preparation of tonights Savoury Salmon, Peppers and Mushroom Rice dish, things got rather awkward. Last night I had managed to use the kitchen knives without exerting undue thumb pressure, tonight the effort proved far too painful.

Perhaps the fact that late afternoon saw the return of my 'pale' swimmy fatigued state, played a minor role in the increased pain (or possibly, a decreased pain threshold)! In spite of that, with some assistance from my commis chef Helen, the meal proved succesful as always. Why did God make me so gifted in the culinary arts, which I only turned to in my later fifties; it makes it far more difficult to appreciate lesser cuisines? Still, at least it keeps me on my toes, such high standards to maintain.

Helen is glad to do anything to help but, I do have something of a stubborn streak that makes me labour on when perhaps I should rest!

The Estimator Cometh

This afternoon, the second of the estimators (for our bathroom re-vamp) called around and this time, following the common-sense advice of Tuesday's plumber, Helen was able to tell him the basics of what we wanted. Well, it's no good having competitive(?) estimates for totally dissimilar commodities!

Tomorrow, another plumber will be calling in the morning; after that it's a case of awaiting, and sifting through, their respective quotations. Consideration will also be given as to whom we think will perform the task in the minimum of time with the minimum disruption!

Those who know me well will appreciate just how much I enjoy disruptions to my mundane routines!

An Evening of Lows and Highs

Shortly after my previous entry, decided I should make the effort to go and see The Nightjars but, it was doomed to failure. We eventually found a parking space within a few minutes walk of the pub. On arrival there, we saw Lisa (from the group) and, Beth and Mahmood. The venue was pretty crowded but, Lisa told us that they'd be on in fifteen minutes. Took a drink to a table outside but then, wham everything started swimming and that intense 'pale' feeling overwhelmed me; it was hard to keep any focus and I seemed to fluctuate between feeling hot and cold. So, that was the end of the effort, I had become noticeably pale and shaky ; Helen brought the car around and we headed back home. Was it simply that I can't cope with crowds at the moment; whatever is the case, it definitely had a marked physiological response.

Once we got home and, I got settled down again, we decided to watch 'Donnie Darko' which I thought we had on video and, I had noticed on Pewari’s Prattle for 10 August ‘05 that it was the kind of movie we would enjoy!

Picked up the E180 VHS video, clearly marked Donnie Darko, only to find I'd only recorded the first twenty minutes at the end of the tape! My concentration seems to be be completely shot. However, on running the tape back, I rediscovered 'Hiroshima Mon Amour' which I'd recorded a couple of weeks back and then lost before we got around to viewing it! Last week I'd searched high and low to find this movie; that quest proved totally unsuccesful. Lack of concentration is becoming a major problem when it comes to, rewinding, indexing and labelling of videos; I'd already realized that I'm unable to concentrate sufficiently to read a book, hence my intense random browsing habit.

I look forward now, to viewing HMA in the near future and, I'll treasure the experience far more realizing how close I'd come to taping over it.

The evening was redeemed for us by watching a DVD of 'Monkey Business', classic screwball comedy which kept us highly amused!

lamenting missed opportunities

Tonight The Nightjars are making one of their rare 'public' (as opposed to 'private function') appearances at a pub in town but, unfortunately, I don't really feel sufficiently energised to be able to cope with the anticipated crowd.

I do miss out on so many social occasions for health reasons. I live in the hope that, one day, I may recover the (physical and emotional) stamina that could re-activate my former gregarious nature!

I'm already lamenting this missed opportunity.

[For those who don't know me; The Nightjars provided the entertainment at phase II of our wedding reception, where I boogied away for most of the evening].

Pit Stop

Up bright and early this morning, well, 9.30AM is just that by my current standards. Already set off for the hospital by 10.00AM, accompanied by Helen, my beloved chauffeuse; it's certainly too far to walk in my current state of being.

First port of call was the X-Ray department; sat opposite us was a handcuffed young man with two burly prison officers. "I think he's perhaps a prisoner", Helen whispered sweetly. "More like a fetishist!", was my response. Anyway, it reminded me that it was about time we wrote to our friend Brian who's currently in the care of HMP Hull.

The first posture I had to adopt for my thumb X-Ray was straightforward enough, simply resting the offending digit on it's left hand side. Next came the jujitsu move; bend forward in the chair, twist arm backwards and to the side ... palm facing upwards. So much exercise and, it's not yet noon. Thank goodness I didn't have a frozen shoulder at the same time my thumb needed x-raying!

On from Radiology to the blood-letters, where by now I'm a familiar face (perhaps that should read "familiar arm"). Today's tests are Random Plasma Glucose, Full Blood Count, Plasma Vicosity and CRP, next month is the turn of Liver function etc., the following month Thyroid function etc. and, anything that may occur meantime.