The Last Two Months...

I keep putting off writing a blog post...which means I'm not getting anything written!  Procrastination can become prolonged.  Basically I haven't written a proper blog post since the end of August!  That is two months, time sure gets away on you.  I can't say it is because I have been overly productive either.  Coming off the steroids has put paid to a lot of my activity as my pain levels have increased again, and as a result I have less energy and enthusiasm for doing things.  This has also been combined with trips back up to the mainland for a dentist appointment to fix my broken tooth in the middle of September, which because of the new restrictions put in place meant I could only have a temporary repair 'which should last quite a long time'. Of course it hasn't and has worn away a lot and I have 'sharp' edges again.  Sigh.   It doesn't make sense as it now means my risk of 'exposure' will be doubled as I will have to go back again at some stage.    I also had some special nerve conduction tests, not an especially fun experience.  They were definitely more intensive than any I had had previously.  I also had a CT Scan, and a whole load of blood tests.  Back and forth to have these done twice over the last two months.  Yet have I made any headway?  I thought we were on to something, but it all seems to have gone into a black hole.  I may have a gene mutation which causes problems with my Vitamin B6 levels, which of course can leave to neuropathic pain in the areas I suffer it from AND cause permanent damage if not addressed...yet I can't get any answers or even replies after I was told to 'stop taking the Vitamin B6' when I wrote to say I am NOT nor have I ever taken Vitamin B6 supplements, and none of the food I eat is fortified with it.  I checked!  This is extremely frustrating.  I was also sent away to get some tests done for Addisons after seeing the Endocrinologist, but they haven't proved easy to get either as the two local NHS hospitals my GP could refer me to to have these blood tests done can't do them!  Fortunately I have been able to ask my Gastroenterologist if he can order them for me, and he can, so am due to have them done second week in November.  I feel at least someone cares!  Of course now with the news we might be going into another national lockdown, I don't know where that will leave me!  Anyway needless to say with the pain levels, trips back and forth, I haven't much felt like doing a lot, plus the weather has been pretty miserable to boot.

With all the research that has been done and the positive results coming out of this research, why oh why aren't they encouraging people to take Vitamin D which has been proven to have a very successful rate in helping people who have contracted Covid and also helps prevention?!  One has to wonder if they don't actually want people to get/stay well?  Yes controversial I know, but before anyone decides to comment on this, please go away and do the research first, (there is a lot of information out there if you look for it) and not just believe what the mainstream media tells you - or doesn't tell you! 

A good illustration of whether they really want people to get well or not is what has happened to my uncle in hospital when he was admitted after a fall .... he received virtually 'no treatment', was sent home without his dentures, medication and even missing some of his clothing! Apparently they lost it!  He certainly didn't lose it as he was immobile while in hospital. His wife wasn't allowed to visit him 'because of covid'. He went in without pneumonia and was sent home WITH pneumonia... when questioned about the heart medication (which they lost) that he has been on for a number of years, his wife was subsequently told 'he no longer needs it'.  (He was prescribed it by a heart specialist!)   He deteriorated at home, not a surprise, his GP refused to come out and see him.  He ended up having to go back into hospital as his breathing got worse, and has now been sent home AGAIN with them telling his wife she will need to find a home for him.  I'm sorry but this is absolutely bloody disgusting treatment, and they ought to be ashamed of themselves!  It sounds like there is no accountability anymore.

This isn't a one off case, I have heard from other people who have had similar experiences.  Elderly people are getting ill and spending their last days ALONE without family because of such terrible new 'rules and regulations'.  It is not acceptable.  People are not getting treatment for other serious diseases.  It is NOT acceptable.  

Rant over...

I have been getting raspberries every few days from my raspberry canes all through October which has been wonderful.

These may be the last lot that I get which I picked this afternoon.

There has been the odd sunny day.

Last week I looked out the patio window and there were loads of Gold Finches on the front lawn.  I didn't manage to get many pictures of them as they took to their wings when they saw a movement.

It was a pretty amazing sight!  I hope this means I might see more, as there has definitely been a dearth of birds compared to what I used to see in the garden in Hertfordshire.

My Fuchsias are still looking quite good.

Some colour in the garden taken the last couple of weeks.

Taken this afternoon after a very grey and wet morning.

We have had a base put down for our new shed which will be assembled later in November and we are getting some concreting done to widen the top of our driveway a bit.  It is currently shingle which is a real nuisance and causes slipping and skidding due to the slope, so it will be much more usable once concreted.

I got a new (to me) car in September.  I have had my car almost twenty years, and we are not sure if it will get through its MOT this year and my husband didn't want me to ended up stranded down here with no transportation if it didn't.  Feels a bit strange to have a new car, but it is nice to drive and the clutch is less heavy being petrol as opposed to diesel so is easier on my leg!

A friend moved to the island, and I have enjoyed visiting her on several occasions.

It has been really lovely having the dogs back living with me.  They keep me going as I have to take them out for walks, and although Percy doesn't have a lot of stamina, so I am gradually trying to help him build up his muscle tone and stamina, at the moment, since coming off the steroids neither have I, and probably wouldn't walk at all due to the pain if it wasn't for them.

We moved my dresser into the kitchen from the lounge as a friend offered me a lovely china display cabinet, so that went into the space that the dresser was in.  I much prefer the dresser in the kitchen and have done a little Autumnal display on it.

I picked up this sweet set for £4 and a shop with an honesty box the other day.  First time I had ventured out to such places for a very long time!

I've made some Lemonade Scones.  Really like this simple recipe, the scones are nice and light.  I pop them in the freezer and just take one or two out as required.

I regularly see the helicopters doing their training just opposite the house.  Always interesting even if a little noisy!

I probably did take photos in September, but just can't be bothered going through them at the moment so thought I would just use the October photos.

Just realised another reason I have been procrastinating about doing a blog post, is this new look blogger seems to have made things even more complicated.  Instead of two actions to enlarge a photo it is now three.  It also used to be very simple to upload photos in one go, and then just add the photos into the post as you want to.  Now you have to add all the photos into the post at once, or it  loses all the photos you have chosen and you have to start again.  Progress?!  I don't think so. Very much like everything nowadays, what they say are improvements seem to be more steps backwards.  Clearly those that do these 'improvements' aren't actually using the format/platform/item etc themselves.

So a few moans and little rants today - I will 'try to do better' next month!