Walking on Monday.

I enjoyed my walk out with the local walking group this morning.  We stuck to the footpaths today but went up and through the local parks which was quite nice.

The lake water looks rather green.

The weather was quite mild, with hints of blue sky.

Geese were on the water.

Love the way the trees and sky are reflected in the water.

I've taken photos of this tree stump in the past.

We finish off the walk with a cup of tea or coffee in the local pub which is quite nice.  It was warm enough to sit outside and chat, so rather pleasant.

How did it get to Saturday so quickly?

I started this post on Tuesday, and then the week disappeared!

"What a contrast it is today (Tuesday) from last week.  Absolutely tipping it down, so sadly won't be going on a walk today, at least not at the moment.  Percy has been snuffling/wheezing the last couple of days so we have booked him in to see his regular vet tomorrow along with Stanley who seems to have a bothersome ear".

Stanley had a seed head stuck down his ear so had to stay in for a few hours for them to remove it.  Fortunately he didn't need sedation, and was given an anti-inflammatory and has been fine since.  We took him for the follow up check up today and all looks pretty good.

The vet wasn't sure what is wrong with Percy and why he is snuffling so much.  She said he seemed healthy otherwise so to keep an eye on him and to bring him back if we are worried.  He is quite lively and active otherwise, so that is what we shall do.  On another slightly more worrying note though, she confirmed he definitely didn't have a heart murmur (that she could hear anyway) when she saw him last, and that it is quite easy to hear now.  She has advised that we get the neurologist to speak to the cardiologist next time he goes in to the hospital for his Chemo to discuss whether the steroids (or chemo) are indeed having an effect.  She also said it may be prudent to have the heart scan done after all depending on what the cardiologist advises.  So I will have to sell yet more things (mainly dolls!) to fund this as we won't get a lot of change out of £1000 it seems.  We have been monitoring his resting breathing rate every evening though and this remains really good so that is reassuring.

Unfortunately because of the vet visit on Wednesday I missed the walking group that day.  I have been today though (Saturday) and we did a nice long walk off road which was nice - if only there wasn't the roar of the M25 that insults the ears.  I took a few photos while out today.  It was pretty grey out, but fortunately the rain stayed away!

Yesterday I had to go into London to the National Neurology Hospital at Queens Square to have an MRI of my Thoracic Spine - finally!  I've only been asking for it to be done for over two years now.  Last year they did my cervical and lumber, but the Consultant in his um, wisdom, wouldn't do the thoracic area, even though that is where I get most of my pain.  They were running a bit late, so I was there longer than I thought I would be, but was still home before the school rush which was good. He said he took a lot of shots and 'slices' so that is good at least I know they were hopefully thorough.  Of course when I get the results is anybodies guess.  Hopefully I will get a letter, otherwise it will be next year at the next appointment!

We have been busying tidying and sorting today.  We did start doing this earlier in the year, but it came to a bit of a standstill what with one thing or another, but as our son and daughter in law will be moving in with us in a couple of months we have to somehow make some space for them.  Good to get rid of some of the rubbish that we have stored over the years!

I have had a pretty good week so far.  I have been feeling so much better.  More energy too.  If only it had been acknowledged by various medical Drs I have seen over the years that my Folate was actually very low and they had put me on Folic Acid earlier.  I am so pleased that this newest specialist is on the ball and actually treating me.  I seem to be doing pretty well on the steroids as well.  I have had very little 'inside' issues with just the occasional issue, so definitely feel a lot better there as well.  

I've been sticking strictly to my new eating and exercising regime, and it seems to be paying dividends as I have lost another two pounds this week.  I even had to go out and buy a belt!  £2 from the local charity shop.  

So onwards and upwards as they say!

Monday

I joined a walking group today.  They walk three times a week and I am hoping to meet up at least twice a week as I really enjoyed it and got to walk in an area I hadn't really realised was there until today.  After the walk they go to the local pub for a coffee/tea and chat and it was nice chatting to some new people and also catching up with some I hadn't seen for a while, one of whom was my son's first Scout master and the other a neighbour who backs on to us!  

I feel brighter again today which I'm pleased about after a bit of a rough Sunday.  Pays to rest up when not feeling the best.

We have been finding it increasingly difficult to find decent films or programmes to watch.  We don't have a TV so rely on Netflix - which in our personal opinion is getting worse and worse.  The quality of films and programmes can be pretty dire.  We also have Amazon Prime, and that isn't a lot better at times.  However, we have watched two really good films lately.  One was 'Nancy Wake' which was a two part series, and wow what a woman!  We looked her up afterwards and the series was pretty accurately portrayed.  'They don't make them like this anymore!'   

The other was 'Hope and Glory' and its synopsis is: " An affectionate reverie about war, childhood, and British stoicism, John Boorman's Hope and Glory is the veteran filmaker's recollection of the bombing of London during World War II.  Set on the British home front during the early days of the war, this episodic movie shows the blitz through the eyes of seven-year-old Billy Rohan.  Having grown up being told bedside stories by my Dad that I eventually realised were real life stories of his childhood, some of which was based during the war, this really brought memories of those real life stories back to me.  Well worth viewing.  

Both these films were very well made with none of the nonsense that a lot of films seem to 'have' to include nowadays.  They also portrayed a time when people used to work together, help each other and were proud of their country.

The other week we called into an Emmaus Charity Shop near Hertford Heath.  It is a lovely shop and they often have some quite interesting things in there including furniture.  They have expanded their clothes section and had a great selection of new clothes (as well as second hand) and I managed to pick up some new jumpers and a pair of jeans - all between £2 and £4!  I was thrilled as I was going to need some new jumpers for Autumn and Winter, and now I can go through and sort out some of my older existing ones that are looking tired and worn.  All well known usually relatively expensive makes, so very pleased.

I found these brand new socks in our local charity shop and they appealed to my immature fun side.

Turns out there was a pair that matched, one of the characters was missing, and there were two of another.  You can't help but smile when you put these on your feet!

I also picked up a basically new pair of boots which will be great when going out in winter time or the cooler weather and they look great with jeans.

Today on my way home from the walk, I managed to get a pair of Next jeans for £2.50 so again, that is me almost sorted for the coming cooler seasons.  I'm not one to get new clothes each season, and rarely buy actually 'new' anyway.  I'm not worried about current fashions or trends and seem to wear my same old favourite styles more often than not, and as a result things do get worn out, so these items were very timely.  

Hope everyone else has had a good start to the week.

Sunday Summary

Well it has been just over a week since I received my diagnosis of SM/MP and since I started taking treatment for it and the low folate levels.  I have actually had a really good week, the best in a very long time, helped in part by the good weather.  I also feel positive about something being done, treating and taking control of it.  I have started keeping a food diary so I can see if anything makes me feel worse.  Because steroids are notorious for making you put on weight I have also started a strict regime of healthy eating, no snacking, and exercising more.  To achieve this I now do two walks.  One with both Percy and Stanley, and then I bring Percy back and do an extra walk with Stanley as I can stride out with him and really get my heart rate up.  Since starting this I have actually lost 2 pounds which is pretty amazing.  Just cutting out the junk and simple exercise! 

Today however I have felt just not right.  My insides have been bothering me a bit, and I feel immensely tired, so after walking the dogs this morning I decided on a sit down and craft type of day.  The weather has changed as well.  How much this has affected the way I feel, I don't know, but I do know the weather and brightness (or lack of it!) does have an impact on me.

Just after the walk though I thought I would take some photos of the flowers in the garden as I knew the rain was coming.  The roses have had a second blooming and are looking lovely and there are quite a few new buds on some of them.

My creative efforts today.  A Tiny Rag doll made from scratch.  

Terrific Thankful Thursday

The weather is still glorious and I am lapping it up.  It really makes you feel alive.  Lovely clear blue skies, warming up nicely during the day, but not getting too hot, and cooling down at night, a bit chilly in the morning, but perfect for walking. I hope it lasts a while longer yet.  I am certainly going to make the most of it.

We took our younger son out for lunch today and then my husband and I went to visit the Celebration Garden at Ayletts Nursery in St Albans.  They have the most amazing Dahlias in these gardens.  It was created in 2015 as part of their celebrations for their 60 years as a Nursery and Garden Centre.  Its aim was to demonstrate just how versatile and valuable Dahlias can be when planted in a garden, and I certainly think they have achieved that.  We were a bit later at going this year and just missed the charming tea and cake tent which I think had its final visitors in the weekend as it has just been taken down.

I've taken loads of photos as usual as it was all just so beautiful, so I hope you enjoy looking at them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the gardens we picked up Percy from the Veterinary Hospital where he had been in for his five weekly overnight stay for Chemo.  It seems his heart murmur has progressed since his last appointment (where it was first picked up) so that is a little worrying, but we will monitor it.   His steroid dose has now been decreased to 1 mg a day, so that is good.  They are pleased with his progress.   He was pleased to be home, and promptly rushed out in the garden to have a good sniff round.