Grandma P's Ramblings Through Life

Today has mostly been a good day - though the morning's weather did nothing to make anybody feel good.

Well, that's it then - a decision to limit my diet even more.

After several days of gut pain, bloating and wind I have had enough. The wind is embarrasing enough of course but the pain is not tolerable and leaves me doubled up and with back ache.

So, I guess I must return to a mainly gluten free diet.

During the first days on the low potassium diet I decided that with so many limitations (I was already dairy free of course) I would include bread and other wheat products.

At first I didn't notice much of a problem, but it has got worse and worse. It is possible that a small amount very occasionally will do me little harm.

And as I had some good quality sausages out of the freezer for tonight's meal I included one with my rice.

Yes - it looks like rice will be my daily staple food - just as in Thailand. It is a bit dull on its own - and finding allowable, tasty accompaniments can be quite difficult. I have to admit that the supermarkets sell packets of rice with interesting flavours and additions.
Tonight I had a special egg fried rice, carefully picking out the peas and sweetcorn.

I just have to be sensible. I don't like illness and I don't like pain - and I can see ways of avoiding these two and I am determined to make it work.


There will have to be a trip to the supermarket, maybe tomorrow. Tescos have quite a good range of gluten free items - pasta, breads, biscuits and a super sticky ginger cake.


There has been time spent out today. I posted parcels to eBay customers - including the one to our good friend Peter Masters, who confirmed that the book he bid for was really wanted. He will pay me some time - but only for the postage and the original cost of the book. I really cannot make profits out of family and friends - I am just not that sort of dealer.


In fact it feels more important to sell things in the shop for very little profit right now, rather than hang on to them. I sold a doll today which I had paid £40 for because I loved it so much. Jo rang me to say that the customer offered £50, and I accepted. I had hoped for more of course - but decided to let it go.

















This afternoon Bill and I sat alongside each other and had needles inserted into our arms.
They needed more of my blood than Bill's, but the expert "vampire" was able to find it successfully.
So, at least I had a little walk - from where we parked the car in Ifield Road and into the hospital. The skies were blue - but the wind was chilly.

I do hope I feel better soon - no gut pain please. It has been hard to find much oomph. Bill actually feels like that too - his blood pressure is still too high. It is normally about 155 over 95. I suspect that the next time he sees the doctor he will be put on a higher dose medication.
My blood pressure remains low - normally about 95 over 65.

I need an early night - we both do. Last night was unfortunately disturbed by a sodden bed. Mustn't grumble - it was the first bag problem for just over 3 weeks.

So, goodnight to my dear readers - no I am not turning into Jane Austen!
By the way - nice to be able to add friend Mo to the collection of Blogs that I keep up with.

Well, Grandma P has very little to offer you today.

I spent some time this afternoon sorting out some EBay sales - 6 books out of 6 have sold and some for very good prices.
Mind you it is possible that one just might have been bought in error. I bought a book about Victorian Bangor last September and thought it might be interesting for Ashley - and then realised it was about Bangor in Northern Ireland.
As the successful bidder hales from quite close to Bangor in Wales, a mistake may have been made. I would not be so forgiving for most bidders - but this one is an old friend ( an old fool perhaps!). Sorry Pete!

Grandpa has also been busy selling in the shop. he covered almost a complete page of the sales sheet. Only one item was mine - but the profit covers almost the week's rent. It was a wooden Pelham puppet - the witch.

There have been vistors today. Jo came round for an hour or so. And this evening we were happily surprised by a very quick visit from Andrew (of Dee and Andrew who live in France) He has been here to visit his father and called in before getting to Gatwick to catch a plane back to Toulouse. It is a long time since we have spent any time with him at all.

I feel OK, I guess. But this evening I feel very gutty again. It makes my head ache.
Never mind - tomorrow is another day.

Monday has been a quiet day.
I have needed rest.
I spent time sitting down and finishing of the sections in the stock file.

I haven't felt really very good - I have gut problems, which I have not been bothered with for some time. Perhaps the build of wheat products is beginning to get to me.

We were warned that the layout of the Boggle web site would change - and today it did just that.
Whoops! Where is everything?
Neverthless the lunch time battle went ahead as usual and I am sure we will all soon work out the way we want the page set up. Certainly I spotted a lot of the old familiar rivals from the previous format there - including a certain Nibbin who hales from Wiltshire.

Bill spent a little more time in the garden before taking the garden rubbish to the dump. With such a small garden we don't have room for a spreading compost heap and so the local council benefits from our waste. And to be fair they make very good use of it, for the parks and gardens in the town are splendid.

The weather has been mostly gloomy. It was really cold at times. The day began with fog and frost and later it was just very grey.
But in between there was a short spell of brilliant sunshine which made water droplets glimmer and glisten on the twigs and branches.

Bill captured the images below of the blossom on Solly's tree. Enlarge them and you will really enjoy the sparkling jewels of water on the petals.

I am catching up with days - and so there are 2 blogs today.

The beautiful red skies of yesterday evening (see the blog entry below) did indeed foretell delight - if not for shepherds, but for us.
We were out of the house by half past seven - before sun up.
We took the familiar road out through Charlwood, Leigh and on to Dorking. There have been changes made in Charlwood - gone are the ridiculous cobbles that were laid along the main street. They looked very attractive and may have slowed the traffic just a little, but they wore out very quickly and the constant rumble of traffic going over them must have been a nightmare for residents.

I found being at the car boot sale hard work - physically and mentally. The size of the Dorking sale is quite small, but it did involve walking about, up and down the aisles of stalls. And books are often in boxes on the ground and sellers tend not to bother to have them spine up so that you can see them easily - there has to be much rummaging.
But it was not just that, for I didn't know what to buy. I am so out of practice. And I must bear in mind that in 4 months time I will not have the shop as a place to display and sell things - I should buy only what will sell on EBay (hopefully).

I bought a few books - a couple on the history of Malmesbury in Wiltshire. I paid quite a lot for a Noddy clock - but it does work and is keeping good time.
My best buy of the day was a milk bottle. It was the size that school milk used to come in - a third of a pint. This bottle was supplied by a named farm in Wisborough Green, a Sussex village. It also has a cartoon picture of Mickey Mouse on it with a rhyme about being "bright and gay by drinking milk with Mickey each day". I assume there might be interest from 3 groups of collectors for this bottle. It cost me just a pound. It is on a shelf for now and I will enjoy it for a short while before offering it for sale.

When we got home I chatted a while with Jamie - who had news that my little baby grandson has gone; no longer a baby - he has been changed into a boy!


















John doesn't seem very sure that the transformation is a good idea.

















But once it was all done he seemed proud to show off his new image.
















Jessica most certainly did not have her hair cut. But she was treated to some special pampering - washing the hair and conditioning etc. I think she really approves of the beauty salon way of doing things!

This afternoon Ashley and I talked for a while. He has arranged tickets to come down and stay with us at Easter time. He has such skills at manipulating train fares. The cheapest return fare he could get was £70 - and this is way under the standard charge. But he found that by buying single tickets for each leg of the journey he could save even more. Each ticket cost £17.50 - so half of what the cheapest return fare would have been.

Right the day is creeping to an end - well the sun has set.
There will be a simple meal (with rice for me!) and some TV watching - the ice skating competition and then Larkrise to Candleford. The Antiques Roadshow will be recorded and I can watch that during the week as I complete the lists in my stock file.

I hope all who read this have enjoyed their weekends and I look forward to hearing all the news. I am gradually catching up with personal EMail replies - I can assure you that if you write to me then a reply will arrive in your Inbox at some point.

Yesterday (Saturday) was mostly a rest day for me - the activities of Friday left me feeling tired.

Bill took advantage of the much better weather to get out into the garden - and again today.
Normally we would have sorted a lot out last autumn - putting the garden to bed, as Dee always called the autumn gardening.
But our lives were absorbed in my health matters.
And anyway in these days of presumed global warming, how are we to tell that autumn is passing into winter? Autumn flowers bloom until Christmas and even into the New Year.
It was a couple of years ago that I was entranced by a front garden at the top end of Wakehurst Drive, for there was Christmas wreath on the front door with a few roses blooming close by and the first early daffodils just showing their yellow bonnets.

But at least our small front and back gardens now look much neater and awaiting the next season's colours to return as old friends.














There is just a little blossom on what we have named Solly's tree beind the bird table. We bought that tree on the day that we knew that the much loved cat, Solly had lost his life. I wanted some new life to remember him with.


















Later in the day Bill scurried to get his camera to capture the vivid sun set sky.
It is such a wondrous colour that I felt I had to check and see if Bill had not enhanced it on the computer - but no, the pinks and reds you see below are just as the camera recorded them.

As I have lots of pictures and words about our stroll in a leafy Surrey village I will say little about the interesting little cafe we had breakfast in after the visit to the hospital.
I have another appointment in just over a week and I am sure we might go back again.

Later we took a little walk in Outwood, home of the oldest working mill in the country.
It is a post mill, built by Thomas Budgen of Nutfield in 1665.
It is possible to visit the mill in the summer months - even to buy flour milled there.
I once took a school party to the mill. Later we used the flour to make some bread. We even used jars with lids to make a little of our butter and grew some cress in advance to eat with the bread.

http://www.outwoodwindmill.co.uk/windmill.htm































Here is the mill with the village sign in the foreground. Grandpa B took this picture and very cleverly turned the sign around because it was facing the wrong way for the shot that he wanted.











Nearby, down a little lane were some pleasing cottages.

This has been a very busy day and some of it must wait to be described to you tomorrow.

We were up early - my appointment at The East Surrey Hospital was at quarter past nine. Hell! Where does all that traffic come from at that time of the morning?

I was seen by Dr Hillman, Dr Foster's registrar. He really is such a nice man.
He brought up pages of figures on his screen showing just where the chemical imbalances lie at the moment.
Firstly - potassium levels are well within normal. Hooray!
But there are some problems with other chemicals and hormones. And - neither Grandpa or I can remember which ones. I do know that liver function is not as good as it should be.
So, there are problems; and yet I felt almost surprised at how seriously my condition is being regarded - and grateful too.

I will have another blood test next week and this will include having a phial taken to test aldosterone. This one was suggested to me by Paul (son of Pete and Jean, who is a clinical pathology consultant). I didn't push too hard for this - although I would have done if the potassium levels were creeping up. But Dr Hillman was very happy to go ahead with the test.
I am not sure when the results of that will come in because the blood has to be sent to a laboratory in London.

All the other results will be in when I see Mr Swinn on 5th February.

I have an appointment to see the edocrinology specialists again at the beginning of April, just a little more than 2 months.
There must be a couple more blood tests before then.

Conversation led us to tell Dr Hillman that we had invested in a home blood pressure kit - thinking he might sort of laugh at us. On the contrary, for he thought it was a very good idea. He said people don't know when they had high blood pressure - sometimes only their relatives might have an inkling after they have died. he was very pleased that Bill's problem had been discovered.
So a very satisfactory time, yet again, with the doctors of ESH.

We spent much of the rest of the morning out - and I will tell you about that tomorrow (when I have promised myself a quiet day at home).
It did involve a visit to a cafe and a look at features in a village. Quite like old times!

This afternoon the first 2 EBay parcels were posted - after a gap of over 3 months.

And then we went to Asda. We really must stop going on Fridays - it is so crowded. I am sure we have enough food to keep us going for 10 days or so and so might go on a Wednesday instead.

As before I opted for the electric buggy - and this time we had the camera with us.














This was at the start of the trip - though I had spent a while choosing some cheap hair bands (Alice bands in my day) to keep my long unruly hair better in place.
I can assure you I bought none of the tomato products to my left.














The basket is now much fuller - lots of treats for ourselves that we feel will be comparatively harmless.
I am finding that wheat is not really that harmful to me and therefore plainish biscuits are fine. The ones are I chose are called puff pastry fingers - they are shiny with sugar on the top. I haven't tried them yet.

Later I made fish pies. I had mashed potato left over from yesterday and some vegetables too; I took haddock fillets from the freezer and layered things up with a leek and onion sauce (yes - tut tut! the sauce mix was in a packet).
I made one for our meal and another to put in the freezer for another week. But it was very hard to stop Grandpa B from tucking into the second one this evening, and I had to agree it had turned out rather well.

So look out for a windmill and a pub tomorrow and maybe some trees and houses. Some people might be able to guess where we went from those words.

Today has been an EBay day for me. The first items to sell since the middle of October finished and I was dealing with them this afternoon.
By chance today was also a half price listing day and so I got busy adding a lot more items to the list for sale.
And then I browsed.

I found a postcard that interested me and reminded me that the Christmas just gone was, in fact, the third time I had been in a hospital on Christmas Day.
I was only there for a few hours in Buckland Ward last Christmas.
But in 1992 I was in The Royal Marsden after over 3 months of hospital stay.
In 1948 I was in a hospital for only a short time.
It was The Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells - and Dad was the patient, having his appendix removed.












Here is the postcard of the men's surgical ward. I am sure Dad was on the right hand side as you look down the ward.
What a contrast is this austere environment with uncomfortable looking beds to the bright yet cosy atmosphere to be found nowadays. There were just 6 of us in our bay in Buckland Ward and the beds, with electrical devices to raise and lower the head of the bed, were really lovely.













And here is Dad being visited by the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells.
Well, it was Christmas!
And I guess that because it was Christmas Day a very special favour was granted to allow the children of patients to visit.

Tomorrow I am off to the hospital once again to see Dr Foster - not for very long I assume.
I guess he will just advise to keep up the good work with the diet and maybe to have blood tests every month.

The appointment is early and we shall have to leave home before half past eight.
I have suggested that we have a cup of tea and a biscuit and then go to Morrison's in Reigate for a small cooked breakfast after the appointment. We might as well make a treat out of it!

Today turned out to be very pleasant indeed. There was bright sunshine for a while this afternoon.
But this morning, when we might have had a little time to go out for a while it was dull and drizzly.
I stayed home and sorted out 3 more sections of stock listings.

I think the satellite dish installers enjoyed the sunshine as they fixed the dish on the front of the house. The free-sat dishes are not nearly as obtrusive as some dishes.
So, I won't be minding too much about it, especially as the improvement in reception is a real bonus. Now we need some time to sort out where all the channels are - the ones we know we will watch, the ones we might watch and then there are the ones that I am sure we will never see.

This morning was quite bright - but gradually the drizzle and grey skies affected my mood.

The shelves in our rooms at home seem to be crammed full with memories.

Last Autumn sometime I had put all the comemorative china on the shelves above the TV, facing the sofa.

I think it is time I provided some sort of update on our health issues.

Me - Grandma P is doing pretty well. Despite the low potassium restrictive diet I have put a little weight back on during the last 2 weeks. Well, those that know me well will realise that I am a dab hand at finding ways and means to nibble!

I can remember so well my Grandad Frost commenting with half a smile when I was a child - "Are you putting something into your mouth again?"

That would have been at Christmas time when goodies were more freely available.


















Ah! So many memories! This was in 1954 when I was 10 years old. I was very proud of the silver dancing shoes that were bought for me when I joined Mrs Hobden's Old Time Dancing class.

Then there are the shelf units on the wall - carefully constructed by my Dad to carry the huge old radio and the aquarium. The chairs and table were basic and had repairs and modifications by Dad.

Dad even created a mad hairbrained scheme for taking a photo which included him - there was no gadget as we have nowadays. He tied the shutter with a long piece of cotton and then set fire to the loose end of it and we would watch it burn up towards the camera on the tripod until it burnt through the knot holding the shutter lever.

We played card games a lot. I wonder when that picture card on the floor by Granny's foot was actually missed! I am sure she hadn't deposited it away for use when faced with losing.


Good gracious - I didn't realise my ramblings would take me back to a childhood Christmas when I started out.


But I do recall the urge to put things in my mouth. I have such a craving for some tasty crisps tonight (potato chips for those that prefer that term). They are off limits and I am getting bored with my snacks.


Bill has declined crisps too tonight - for he should keep clear of fat in foods. Some weight must certainly be lost.

But there has been a change for Bill - the medication was designed to give him a quick fix and they have already helped. His blood pressure has dropped down to much more like that which it should be.


Our medical tests are in place. The district nurse came this morning to take blood from me - enough to fill 3 phials. I guess I will be expected to go to the local hospital for blood tests in future and they may be needed only monthly. Hopefully we could get mine and Bill's done on the same day in future. Bill must wait until a week on Thursday for his ECG test.


The day has generally been like most others. I tend to be a bit too idle sometimes. I listed 7 more items on EBay - I would like to see more bidders now. I have worked hard on lists in my stock file - though I didn't get as much done as I had planned because our neighbour Rose came round. She is quite elderly, but such a contrast to Frieda. Rose is confident and busy and we often find that we can take advice from her about things.


I really must start going out - the weather seems to be enough to put me off. But I fear that the habit of not bothering to go anywhere has taken hold and it will take mental effort to overcome it.


I have been reading our nephew Stephen's blog. He has been a very over worked young man working for a pharmaceutical company in Switzerland. He at one time hoped maybe he could make the big time in the world of cycling and he trained really hard. He is still a very fit young 35 year old - well, he was. He had a heart attack just after Christmas. He has been in intensive care and in a rehab centre for some time.
http://angloswisselms.blogspot.com/
I put the address here for those who know Stephen but may not know of the blog.

This will be just a short piece tonight.
It has been like old times as we sat and began to doze after dinner, whilst watching The Antiques Roadshow.
I have been at home all day - I made a large curry this morning from beef and lots of vegetables (all pre boiled of course).
Again it is a reminder of the good old days when a meal made one day will provide for the next day as well.
I have continued with my listings in the stock file - gradually working through all my subject headings for books at the moment.
Bill has been at the shop where he and Jo were busy.
Right, I want to go and watch the second part of Larkrise to Candleford - wonder how long I will stay awake!
I'll get back to some comment about our health situation tomorrow maybe. But generally all is reasonably well.
Goodnight.

Today I am writing about Frieda, our next door neighbour.

The first picture was taken on her 80th birthday. She always said that she liked greenery, especially variegated plants and we bought the planter and filled it with plants she might like. I think it has all grown rather out of control now because Frieda would claim to know nothing about gardening and therefore won't attempt anything.

Believe me I feel great affection for our Frieda and would never wish to mock her. But really! She is sadly very unaware of not just the ways of the world, but her own ways seem to be beyond her.

This has ben a funny sort of day.
Grandpa was up early. He had been advised that the best way to avoid queues for a blood test was to arrive before the lab opened. Even so he was 10th in the line, but that is a lot better than later in the morning and he was able to talk with an old friend for a while who was 12th in the queue.
Grandpa was out just after half past 7, leaving Grandma in bed for a while, enjoying some sleep. I had been awake for a couple of hours in the night and came down for a cup of tea a long time before dawn.
The morning passed idly - I think. I hardly remember what we were doing.
This afternoon we went to Asda and I enjoyed shopping from the electric wheel chair again. I had thought of Grandpa taking a camera - but we forgot. So I'll use the chair again next week for sure.
The surgery rang this morning to say that Grandpa's ECG test would have to be postponed because the maching was not working. They will phone again on Monday.
We are both feeling a bit run down. This morning I felt quite nauseous - that was worrying. Bill may be suffering from some side affects of the new heart drug, which can be troublesome at first.
It has been another grey day.
Do have a look at the jjjj blog - lots of lovely pictures of the family in Phuket.
Goodnight.

Today it became Grandpa B's turn to become the patient.
This afternoon he had an appointment with Dr. Armstrong.
And yes, we have been quite right to be concerned about Grandpa's high blood pressure.
The doctor obviously feels that he should be treated quite rapidly and medication has been prescribed - Ramipril is the drug he is on; the dose is quite low at the moment.
But for sure the drugs will act more quickly than a diet and exercise prgramme.
In fact diet and exercise hardly got a mention - except to watch salt consumption.
Tomorrow he will have a cholesterol blood test in the morning and ECG in the afternoon.
He will see the doctor again in about 3 weeks.
I am so glad that he is now being properly monitored.

I was expecting a blood test today - but nobody arrived. I don't think it matters too much this week. But it must be done in the middle of next week for Dr Foster who I see at the hospital next Friday. If the district nurse can't visit, then I shall have to go to the hospital.

This morning TV aerial people came to look at our TV reception which is very poor. Their best advice is to receive programmes into a satellite dish. We certainly won't be paying for all the pay to view channels - but the dish, like a freeview box, adds choices to our viewing. Not that we view a great variety of programmes anyway - though I will be in front of the screen for MasterChef shortly. Next Thursday we get the dish.

And this morning we also enjoyed a visit from Joy and Peter and their 18 month old grandaughter. Arwen is a lovely little thing, enjoying her books and singing beautifully.

I have worked more on pages from my stock file again today - all the china items are now neatly sorted. Well - sorted on paper, but not out in the garage. I can't say how the shop looks because I haven't been for so long.

After my boasting of yesterday about successful boggling, I was beaten a few times today by Roger. My! One time he did very well indeed! Congratulations brother!

There has been yet more rain today - it has looked very dark and gloomy at times.

Right - lets go and see the cooking programme and dream of forbidden treats!

Concentration - sadly lacking from Grandma P's life for a good long while now.

It has been a fairly sociable day for Grandma; whilst Grandpa B has had a fairly lonely day at the shop.
One look at the weather this morning would have been enough to keep people at home rather than go browsing in an antiques shop. Grandpa saw nobody at all for some hours, so spent the time re-arranging his stall.
The final sales total for the day was just £17.
I have had 2 visitors today - Jo and later Frieda. It was good to see them and I was pleased to be able to give some food away.
I have managed a few chores again.
It is hard to believe that today Grandma did some washing up for the first time since October.

But back to that weather.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7190092.stm

This web site tells the story of the day in our part of the world. I am sure there are many similar tales from other parts - and probably other regions have been hit harder.
There has been torrential rain for almost all the day with very strong winds and we are promised much more for the rest of the week.
Bill found a lot of very deep puddles - small areas of flooding -on the country roads. The causway across Ardingly reservoir was covered with about 6 inches of water. It was not from an overflowing reservoir - just standing water that hasd leached down from the surrounding hills.
He came home by a less rural route and hit more water in the dark. He had to stop as soon as he hit some light in Crawley to check a noise. He feels that water swooshed up so violently that it knocked a mudflap and fixture out of place and it was knocking on the wheel arch liner.

So, that was today.
I hope those in Southern England are safe and warm tonight.

This evening we had chicken, rice and vegetables. I cooked just the right amount of rice, so no left overs for this time.
So why do I tell you this?
Well, I had an Email from friend, Maggie, full of concern that I was eating left over rice. Did I not know that there is potential danger?
I have to ask if any of my other family or friends knew this - I certainly did not.
It seems that, by good fortune, I have always stored cooked rice in the proper fashion and never kept it for very long.
It should be quickly transferred to a fridge and stored at less then 5 degrees C. Or it can be kept hot at over 65 degrees.
I have been investigating on web sites about the toxins that quickly develop if the rice is not stored well.
We learn something new everyday!

This morning I went through all the details of the sales in Rocking Horse since the very end of October. They are all crossed off in my stock file now.
I need to re-do the pages in the stock file some time. Water has been spilled on the pages and it looks a mess and anyway there are now very many items that have been crossed off. January seems to be a good time to start again, but I think it will take me well into February.

At lunch time I joined the daily Boggle battle and was pleased to manage some victories over my brother - though there is still room for improvement.

Grandpa has been out an about. The cordless phone he bought last November has not been working too well so he asked for a refund and then went and bought another in Tescos.
He also took a couple of bags of the rejected old and unsuitable foodstuffs to the rubbish tip.

This afternoon Bill decided to list some books he had described and ready onto EBay. There were some problems and so I tried just one of mine - and together we solved the problems. It looks like I shall have to alter all the listings I have ready before listing over the next few weeks.

I also spent some chatting with Jamie and Mam again. They, of course, are preparing for bed at that time; whilst I want to do as many things as I can.

So, it has been quite an active day - hard to believe that last Monday I was in hospital. The diet is helping me so much. Now we have to sort out Grandpa B's diet.

I feel very tired again. I will go and watch Masterchef - people cooking delicious food that I am not permitted to eat!
Then I will have an early night.

It was happy birthday to our Grandson, John yesterday. He is now 3 years old.

It would be lovely to believe that today has been the start of the Grandma P comeback.
I'll let you know tomorrow if there have been ill effects.
Actually I started the day with a bit of a funny turn - nausea, feeling faint etc. I had done very little and continued to rest all morning really.
We started the day with the "obs" - Bill's blood pressure was higher than when we took it yesterday - 175 over 93. Perhaps it is always higher in the morning - even mine had crept up a couple of points. But no - we were wrong - it would get higher still.
Bill went to collect my prescription items during the morning and then to have a cup of tea with sister Julie. He had thought of walking, but the rain was torrential and so he drove.
Whilst close to the doctor's he called in to make an appointment. He could have seen a doctor we don't know on Wednesday or wait one more day to see somebody we know well. It will seem like a long week.
When he got back, together we made a very simple lunch - basically left over rice and sauteed left over boiled potatoes and an egg on top. But I was involved for the first time in weeks.
After that we did the blood pressures - oh dear Grandpa's reading was 181 over 101. That's really bad.
Our plan was to go to the supermarket together later - I was ready to go (coat on) when Bill began to look through cuboards. There were perishable goods, well out of date and items that I will no longer be eating. A black plastic dustbin liner has been filled. It was my job to reject or keep things. This was just the start, there is still more to do. Anything worth eating that I have rejected has been put to one side to offer to others.
And then we set off to Asda. Wow! I drove an electric wheel chair round the store. It felt like fun! We planned to buy meals for just a few days but we have enough for over a week. Oh dear we spent very little time in the greengrocery department this time. I am sure that this time next week Bill will have been told to stuff himself on the very fruits and veg that I cannot have and I am sure that carrots, cauliflower and cabbage will start to get boring for him.
I am not completely sure about Bill's BP readings at 6.30 - he did both arms at a good time interval apart. The left was a scary 185 over 91 and later the right was 176 over 78. Maybe whilst he was waiting to do it a second time he had rested.
This evening we have snacked on things that I once thought I shouldn't have - we each had a couple of toasted crumpets.
I am not sure how I will spend the rest of the evening. I feel very tired - but then I slept quite badly again last night. I don't think I shall watch more of Echo Beach; the main story lines seem very shallow (as if I was a deep intellectual!) and Gwynneth appeared very little in the first part. I think though she was the most competent for her character looked and sounded genuine and surprisingly for a small Cornish seaside village she seemed to be the only person with a Cornish accent.
Maybe I will try a game of Boggle. I do have a go sometimes, but I can't manage to concentrate for too long and have not yet managed to do more than a very few games in a session. Where is the "just one more game" urge?
If today is a comeback then it is, in part, motivated by the feelings I have to try and lessen the load for Grandpa.
I really think that the £20 spent on the blood pressure monitor could turn out to be money exceedingly well spent.
Goodnight.

Medical matters..........
Well, you didn't think medical matters would ever be too far away from the thoughts of Grandma P and dear Grandpa B.
This morning I was surprised by a visit from the district nurse. It seems that the G.P. has now caught up with my situation as it was when I was discharged from hospital on Christmas Day. The instructions to the district nurse were that I should have weekly blood tests.
Of course the local doctor has not yet had the news that I have been back in hospital since then.
Anyway the good news is that the nurse was able to get blood from my arm with no bother - first attempt.
Before that Grandpa had taken a bus trip into town. He had a medical item on his shopping list.
I hadn't realised that he also was looking at clothes - Primark style clothes. He came home with a pair of trousers, 2 T shirts and a fleecy body warmer for the princely sum of £13. Of course we do feel a bit uneasy that these clothes can be sold to us so cheaply, for we know that third world folk are paid a pittance to make them.
The medical item seemed to be for me - but I think it might be of even more benefit to Grandpa. I wanted a blood pressure monitoring kit just to reassure myself that all is OK, even though my blood pressure is quite low. And I will feel somewhat happier to know just what it drops to, when it does.
One might have some doubts about a home monitoring kit but I was sure when we did mine that it was accurate - a reading over 102 over 79 would have been about normal most times in hospital.
Then of course we measured Bill's blood pressure. Immediately I was concerned, for it was high - much too high. His score was 166 over 98. I want him to see the GP as soon as possible, though it might be wise to arm himself with a pattern of readings for a few days before he is seen. Of course Bill has been under a lot of stress and is very tired, but there is no denying that he is carrying too much excess weight now. I can see both of us on special diets before long.
Tonight, after far too many days of a hacking cough, I have agreed with Bill that some cough medicine might help. It won't cure it but I badly need some relief. I have been coughing since I came out of hospital on Christmas Day. When I went back in I was taken in my bed for a chest X Ray on the first night just to be on the safe side. It can't be a serious infection for there was no talk of an antibiotic.
I started the day with a shower and hair wash even before the early morning cup of tea in bed. I felt that it is all too easy to leave things undone if they are not done at the earliest opportunity. Just now I am so tired all day - especially after some bad nights.
I am pleased to say that I actually filled in the account book of all income and outgoings since the end of October. Tomorrow I shall start crossing off things sold in my stock file.
This afternoon we watched another thriller (British) set in the 1950's.
I shall be in bed by 9 o'clock and will try to stay awake to watch the new drama Echo Beach. It is not often I can claim to know an actress on TV. Gwynneth dabbles a bit in interesting antiques and for a while she was in Rocking Horse. I never knew her well, but Jo and she grew rather close by working together. For those that remember things like that you might recall Gwynneth as Mrs McCluskey, the head mistress, in Grange Hill.
We had nasty rain this afternoon - but nothing like Ashley has had. There has been flooding in North Wales.
OK time to find the cough medicine and the spoon and think about snuggling down for the night.

I think I should rename the blog! Grandma P is hardly rambling through life, rather she is merely surviving time. At least that's how it feels today.
I didn't sleep well last night. I was frustrated with the radio on offer too. Radio 5 was in New Hampshire and The World Service seemed to have schools programmes - a Music, Movement and Mime just as I remember from childhood. I expect you can recall curling in a ball on the school hall floor to be a little seed and then letting one arm poke up to be the first shoot until you had grown into a beautiful flower or tree.
Anyway I didn't want any of it - though I was interested in the New Hampshire results. I am not sure why I was pleased that Hillary Clinton had won the democrat vote. Maybe I just don't think it should be a foregone conclusion just yet and I do have some regard for her tucked away within me.
When morning came I surfaced slowly. I decided to have breakfast before my ablutions. Then I fell asleep almost immediately. Oh well, I thought - I will wash my hair later. But it didn't happen.
After lunch I spent more than an hour at the computer. I joined in chat with Jamie and Mam for the first time in weeks. John will be 3 years old on Friday and there will be a party on Saturday.
I never did sort out my queries about the potassium content of my strawberry flavoured soya milk - after all soya is made from beans and they are off limits.
And as many of you know I sent a general EMail.
I was exhausted after that and spent the next hours lying down. I saw the end of The Blue Lamp - the first film that Dirk Bogarde starred in.
This evening we dined on salmon, boiled potatoes and cauliflower. It was lovely - but obviously will have to be a weekly occurrence because it is easy. Poor Grandpa B!
Being home reminds me just how much of a strain Grandpa B is under. I can see it much more clearly than when I am in hospital. I offered some help this afternoon - peel potatoes perhaps, but was shooed away. Some time - maybe not this week, Grandpa will have to learn to let go of the tight control he has of the monkland ship.
Well, time for an early bedtime very soon.
Goodnight.

Well then! - Grandma P here.
I can almost hear the groans from those of you who will miss Grandpa B's inimitable style.
Today leaves me feeling tired - but not unwell. Hooray!
Because Grandpa had to be in the shop today I worked hard to be washed and dressed in time to have breakfast with him at half past eight. That alone was an achievement. And today there have been no ill effects - yesterday, in hospital, I had one of my turns, leading to a morning on the bed, frequent monitoring of blood pressure and another ECG. My blood pressure is low (never more than hovering at about 100 over about 60, for those that understand these things) and it has a tendency to drop and leave me feeling dizzy and weak.
I have to admit for most of today I have been sitting - combining talking, watching TV and dozing. Grandma P is far from ready to deal with housework.
This morning I had 3 phone calls in quick succession and then Dee came round. What a treat to spend a couple of hours with such a special friend who I see far too infrequently - she lives in a renovated old school in the middle of nowhere in the South of France. Some time this year we will be there I hope.
I watched Doctor at Large on TV after my lunch. Its years since I saw any of that series of amusing films.
Some time soon we will scan a page of one of my diet sheets to explain to those interested what will be involved. Dr Foster seemed to suggest that this diet must be viewed as a long term measure, with maybe some relaxation later on.
I keep thinking of problems and yet more things that must be avoided. For example I love houmous spread on my rice cakes (with mango chutney). Houmous is made from chick peas; pulses, beans and legumes are restricted - oh, and mangoes are out too!
The only medication I am on is sodium bicarbonate (600gr 3 times a day) which controls the build up of potassium. In hospital I was given all sorts to bring the level down. Calcium whatever it is and hydrocortisol amongst others.
There is some debate about the causes of everything. Normally it would reflect poor kidney function, but the urologists are sure that my kidneys are fine. Dr Foster tried to explain that it could be connected with the fact that what was a part of my small intestine has changed its role so that it is now carrying urine from the kidneys and that, unusually, my body has not coped well with it.
The causes are their problem - my job is to learn to live with the consequences.
The dietician phoned me this afternoon to see how I was feeling about things.
I don't feel too negative really. When I am stronger I shall have to clear cupboards of all things that are out for me.
Basically this diet is one where I should forget much that I thought I knew about healthy fruits and veg - broccoli is off limits now and much more in the fruit and veg line. And permitted veg must be boiled to within an inch of its life! No more stir fries!
If it leads to some degree of normality for both of us I shall be satisfied.
This is disjointed and bitty - but then I am tired and emotional. Good grief! I even found myself shedding a few tears over something just now on TV only to find it was an advert!
I really do hope that gradually I shall find myself giving time to Emails, EBay and visiting the countryside again.
But I have a fear, of course, that this is a temporary lull before yet another flare up.
Night all!

Grandma P is back home and is now tucked up in bed for the night. She had a blood test today and her Potassium levels were normal. Dr Foster saw her this afternoon while Grandpa was visiting and said she could come home, so we packed up her belongings, collected her medications, said our thank yous and goodbyes to the nursing staff and made our way to the car. Then it took a long time to get out of the hospital car park because of road works near the entrance, but once on the road we made good time. Grandpa made some sandwiches for himself and Grandma and we settled to watch Emmerdale on the box, after which Grandma fell asleep so she decided that the best place was bed. Grandpa won't be long in going there himself (whoops spoke to soon, Grandma has just said that the bag was leaking so it is off to fit a new one). OK all done and so am I. Grandpa is in the shop tomorrow, it could be quite busy as it is the Ardingly Antique Fair at the showground just up the road. At least I won't have to go travelling to the hospital in the evening which is a good thing. I will have time to prepare a meal when I get back from the shop. I am sure that Grandma will attempt to Blog tomorrow so she can tell her news in person. Thanks for all your messages of support received by Grandma today. So it's Goodnight from a tired old Grandpa who needs a nightcap. GRANDPA B

First task today for Grandpa was to take down and put away the small amount of decorations he put up for Christmas 2007. Not a lot this year but a token amount. Next year we will perhaps go a little mad with them.

Grandma P seems to be on the road to recovery (fingers crossed) and could be home late tomorrow if tests and Doctor visits go well. Today she had visits from Jenny and from our friend Dee who is over from France for a few days, thank you both. Grandpa went to see her this evening after an afternoon in the shop which today has been fairly busy. He was working with friend Jo who has been mentioned in previous Blogs.

Looks like a short Blog today, will mention that Jamie is pretty well over his Man Cold and back working hard at the Dive Centre, and the rest of the family is in good health. Ashley and family are also in good health and so is the boiler after the plumber came to fix it. Have a nice day back at school tomrrow Ekatarina. Hope the first day back well for you as well Roger and Sue.

I seem to have two cats sitting staring at me thinking when is he going to give us our evening treats, so I suppose that I had better finish this and attend to said Moggies.

So bye for now , who knows Grandma may even write the next one. GRANDPA B