Broken Monday

A bit like my spade that broke in half today when I was digging, I feel broken.   This was the final straw for me today and after a few choice words that can't possibly be repeated, I collapsed on the ground and had a cry.  Perhaps a bit of an over-reaction, but just another side effect from steroid withdrawal.  I've since done some research and it looks like that is definitely what is going on, I can pretty much tick all the boxes, pain all over body/joints, aching, stiffness, lethargy, fogginess, depression of sorts, increased headaches.  Still undecided whether to see if I can ride it out a bit longer, or see if I can go back on them and withdraw even slower...  Needless to say I didn't go on my walk today.

Badgers had dug up some of my potatoes, and more of the lawn.

I still haven't seen them!

Prior to my minor breakdown, I had decided to cut out bread from my diet again to see if that will help (although I am doubting it now after reading up about steroid withdrawal).  It might a bit...

Normally some of what is on my plate would have gone in a home made bread sandwich.  

I did produce two more bears.

I've decided if I am going to end up not being so active physically then I will make a few of these to eventually go in my Etsy shop.  Just trying to think of a good name for them "......................  bears"

In the evening when I cooked dinner I decided to make some blueberry muffins as I had the AGA on I wanted to put it to good use!  It feels a bit crazy having to put this huge oven on for just the little amount I cook myself each dinner time.

Sorry for the whinge!  Hopefully normally positive service will resume soon.

Saturday 12th October

Not exactly an exciting name for a title of my post today, but that is the day and date and the best I could come up with!

I did go on the group walk this morning.  I donned my waterproof leggings, coat and of course trusty walking boots and set off.  I think there were only about ten of us hardy souls today, but it was so worth going as we went somewhere I had been meaning to go to for a long time, but never had.  Lovely fields and woods, so close!  Hubby of course cried off...no surprises there again.  He claimed he didn't have any wet weather gear, until I pointed out that we bought the same set at the same time only last year!    We walked just over 10 km today, so that was good.  Unfortunately my abdomen decided to play up part way round the walk and every few minutes I started getting waves of pretty bad pain which did spoil the walk somewhat, but I tried to focus on the lovely scenery.  I have to say I was pleased to get home!  

I have no idea if this is part of the SM or something else, but I have been a bit gippy the last couple of days.  I have had cauliflower this week, which I have always loved, but hadn't had a while. This is pretty much the only thing different I have had, so I am going to stop having it for a couple of weeks, see if the upset guts goes away, if it does, I will then reintroduce it to see what happens.  I also had to reduce my steroid dose today to 20mg, so not sure if that had anything to do with it or not.  I wouldn't have thought I would have a reaction quite that quick.  It will all go in my food/health diary anyway.  

I didn't take my camera today as it was too wet, so no photos of the lovely countryside we walked through, but I hope to go back so will make sure I get photos then.

A quiet afternoon on the settee, with heat packs and Percy on my lap doing a spot of knitting.

Dinner tonight will be some veg and chicken.  I picked the last three Dalmation beans for dinner.  There are actually more flowers on the plant, but I doubt they will set and grow into beans.  

The Long Tailed Tits visited the bird feeder again this afternoon, which was a delight to see, but again I didn't manage to get any photos of them either.

I was remembering back to this time last year.  I stayed at my son's house last year in October while he was away and enjoyed walking most days along the canal and around the fields near his place, (although then was having lots of pain problems with my feet and legs, thankfully that seems to be over) and the sky was blue, and it was quite warm.  Not like the last few weeks where it has been just grey, overcast and very damp!  Seems winter is already here!

Christmas!

I thought I'd try and get a few posts in before the New Year ... first up is a post with various Christmas photos - decorations, the day etc...

I really didn't feel like 'doing' Christmas in the lead up to it...in fact I was very 'Bah Humbug' but by Christmas Eve, I got into the spirit and actually had a wonderful Christmas Day.  It was busy as I did all the preparation, cooking etc, but worth it.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable day with family.  As usual my Mother in Law and her Partner came round for the main meal, along with our Daughter in Law (Son is away) and our younger son.  In the late afternoon my Aunt and Uncle come round for a buffet type supper.  We had a lot of fun exchanging presents and some good ones were given and received this year.  I will show them in another post.

First up is my lovely Advent Calendar.

The 'new' Christmas float.  It looked fabulous.  This came round early December.

A few decorations started to get put out each day.

A couple of 'new' vintage decorations I found.

Lights in the front garden. 

(My husband also put out a load in the back garden - must take a photo of those!)

Christmas Snowmen

Our little lighted villages.  Sadly this one decided to stop working a couple of days before Christmas.  Guessing the bulbs must have gone.

Some little kitsch deer...I have been collecting these over the last few years.

This plastic one was the latest addition, found in a CS for 10p on Christmas Eve.

I went overboard with the Christmas Trees this year, putting both up (one year we could only put a small one up so ended up with two trees) and also got out all the Christmas teddies and dolls!

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Christmas Day soon dawned...

The Christmas table

The first two are seated - it is a bit of a tight squeeze!

Now there are three...

Sadly our eldest son couldn't be with us this Christmas as he is working on his ship in the South Pacific and was between Australia and New Zealand on Christmas Day.  Last year his wife to be didn't arrive in England on time for Christmas, this year he wasn't here!  Perhaps next year they will get to spend Christmas Day together.

I made my 'traditional' desserts...  Pavlova 

and a fresh fruit salad.

Plus of course Christmas pudding.

In the evening my Aunt and Uncle join us for a light buffet type suffer.

I never eat the evening meal, as always still too full after the main Christmas dinner, which was probably just as well, as by the time everyone else had finished, there was nothing left!  

Hubby took DIL home Boxing Day morning as she had to work in the afternoon, so we have had a quiet time since.  

New Year's Eve

A few photos to round off the year...

I forgot to show the Santa 'Russian' dolls...so here they are.

A few days before Christmas (on 21st December) my husband and I celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary.  I say 'celebrated' a bit tongue in cheek as unfortunately I had to go to the funeral of one of our friends, who was actually at our wedding 20 years ago.  Not only that the power went off at 10.30 am and didn't get fixed until almost midnight!

My husband bought me 12 yellow roses as he knows how much I adore yellow roses, and I think he buys these for me most years.

As I had to return the orchids I had been looking after for the last six months to my son who has returned home from sea for a while and is now living in his own house, I asked if I could have some orchids for our anniversary.  So my husband bought me three!

This more unusual one.

Plus a lovely pink/purple orchid

and a beautiful white orchid.

I hope these do as well as the Sailor's did in this spot.

Today I just caught up on a few jobs around the house.  

Fresh clean bedding

New duvet covers that were bought during the Black Friday Sales. 

A quiet evening in with a roast for dinner - I ate too much!  

Wishing everyone a safe New Year's Eve, however you choose to celebrate it and all the best for a Happy and Healthy New Year.