Sorry.........

I haven't been around for a while.  Been busy and have been sick.  There is a nasty viral infection going around and I caught it.  Couldn't breathe and had no energy.  Spent a delightful 8 hours in the emergency department 😠for them to tell me I had a viral infection and it had to run it's course.  Got a puffer with a steroid in it and its opened up my airways.  Today is my last day of using it.

As hubby said, "I'm back to the Gill he knows," and after a bit of prompting, "and loves!"  After I had told him off for something he had done!!

I have to thank Pat  for this post as she messaged me to see if I was okay, which was super sweet of her.

Gardening season is in full swing and with all the rain we have had everything looks lush and green and as I said to Pat very UK like, as we are both from the UK.  I am behind in my gardening this year, due to being sick.  Will post some photos when it stops raining.

I will finish off this post with a funny story.  If you're from the UK you will find it probably funnier than others.

So while I was sick I was talking to my mother.

She said, "You need a tonic as you are run down (I was)."

Me: "Mother no one will know what a tonic is over here."

After going back and forth with her, I said fine I would look for one.

The nurse practitioner called me from the doctors office to see how I was doing.  So I told her about my mother saying I need a tonic.  As predicted she hadn't heard of such a thing.  So I was trying to explain what it was for.  She said she was googling it and said, "and you spell ATONIC?"  So I said no again explaining it was two words.  Of course me and my mother found this whole conversation funny and we refer to it as you need ATONIC now.

I did find a TONIC in Walmart after asking an older pharmacy assistant.  I got this one:

Is it doing me any good?  Who knows.........LOL  But it's keeping my mother happy!!

Brahms Lullaby

When I was at the hospital the other day, over the speaker we heard this:



Every time a lady gives birth they play this tune.  Sweet or what!

It's been a couple of months........

August and September were hot weather wise and I didn't feel the best, what with the heat and allergies, it wore me down.  

On September 29th in the afternoon I felt even worse and had trouble breathing, but just thought it was one of those things.  Next morning (30th) got up had a shower couldn't breath, changed the bed and had to lie down afterward as I was exhausted.  So called dh and he took me to the hospital.

To cut a long story short they diagnosed excessive blood clots on my lungs, or pulmonary embolism  The good news is I didn't have a heart attack or a stroke, for that I feel blessed.  I spent 48 hours in hospital and frightened the living daylights out of everyone, including myself.  Never in a month of Sundays was anyone, including me expecting this.

So here we are nearly three weeks later and it's been a journey where I am taking baby steps in getting better.  There are many stories to be told in this journey both funny and sad.  I am managing to walk a bit further everyday and try and remain as positive as possible, but I am tired.

I will be on Xeralto for the next six months at least.  One thing that is different, is that my legs are clear of blood clots.  No one knows why this happened, which is puzzling.  I have to see a cardiologist and go to a thrombosis clinic, but I wouldn't think I will be seeing anyone until the new year, unless something else happens.  Meanwhile I just go to my family doctor.

I cannot get insurance, so dh and I cannot go to our son's wedding in the Bahamas in January, which is upsetting for all.  

At the end of the day, I am grateful to be alive, as the doctors said I could easily of died if I hadn't received medical attention.  I will share more of my story over the next few days.

End of August already?

Where on earth did the month go to?  Have to admit I am not a fan of  July and August as I am drained with the heat and humidity. 

Mind you August was a great month for us personally as we paid off our mortgage.  We'll start to see the benefits of that in a month or so time, when things settle down.

Meanwhile I am so looking forward to the cooler Fall weather.  I am REALLY looking forward to the first frost; in the hopes I can stop taking bloody allergy pills!!!  Never had a summer like this one before for bad allergies.
I had an appointment for another lot of nerve testing on my hands and the conclusion is I need to see a specialist who deals with arthritis.  As we all know there is very little you can do with arthritis but live with it and keep moving the affected part (s) of you body to stop them seizing up.

September is going to be a good and busy month.  We have our vacation, the baby shower, sorting and tidying ready for the winter and of course we hope cooler temperatures.  It's also the start of Fall Fair season:

Do you look forward to September?

Another visit with our little Princess....

We went to see our little Princess on Sunday as they were kept in hospital an extra day; something to do with bacteria (?) but nothing serious. 

Couldn't get her to open her eyes for the camera, but they are dark.  She has the laid back temperament of her dad and is going to be tall like her mothers side.

She's feeding well and sleeping well, so that is also good.

I don't know where the last few days have gone too, as I knew on Tuesday that "R" was going in to have the baby on Thursday; then she got pushed back to Friday as the hospital was so busy; so the last few days have revolved around waiting to meet our little Princess.

The hospital was that busy on Friday night that they had to make six women go to other hospitals to have their babies.  Things have changed a lot since we had our children.  We had to sign in and out of the ward.  Also they don't call it a Maternity Ward, they call it Post-Partum.  I had to ask someone as we couldn't find the Maternity Ward on the listing. 

When I had our kids we kept them on a strict four hour feeding, that doesn't seem to be the case nowadays.  Also they kick you out of hospital after 24 hours unless there is a problem.  I was in hospital for seven days with our son, granted he had jaundice but if I remember rightly five days was the norm for your first baby.  Even when I had dd I was in 48 hours and that was a straight forward delivery.

One thing that I did think was neat in the room "R" is in there was a sofa that turned into a bed, so that "M" has been sleeping there are well.  I thought that it was lovely that both mum and dad get to bond with baby all at the same time.  There wasn't that option when our kids were born.

Do you think things have changed a lot since you have had children?

I must be getting old............

I had to go to the hospital on Saturday morning to have a bone scan on my hand, as when I had the nerve testing done on Thursday of last week, they didn't find any trapped nerves, which is good.  So Dr. T. suggested I get a bone scan.  I made the appointment and arrived at the hospital bright and early on the Saturday morning.

I checked in with the receptionist and she looks at the form and sees that Dr. T. gave me the referral.  She says, isn't he gorgeous, and some other gushing things about him.  I reply, yes he's very nice, but can't say much because my husband is sitting there.  She nods at that and we finish the registration.

I am then called through to start the test and the nurse looks at my paperwork and sees that Dr. T. is my doctor and again starts gushing about him.  I reply, yes he's a sweetheart.  Now here's the getting old thing.  I haven't a clue what the doctor looked like, seriously.  I was more concerned about what was wrong with my hands than what he looked like!!!!!  While I was having my first test done I was wracking my brain trying to remember the bloody doctor!!!!  Oh well must be very happy with the husband I have!!!

Anyhow, due to it being  quiet on Saturday, I not only got my hands scanned, I had a full body scan, my hips rescanned and my feet rescanned.  I go to see the hand surgeon on January 3rd to talk to her about what the test results show.  

My prescription changed on my glasses, I have gone from a 1.5 to a 1.75.  Got my new lenses and can't see a bloody thing!!!!  I guess I'll just have to suffer it until my eyes get used to the new lenses, so please forgive any typos, everything is blurred...........or am I just getting old?????

If anyone needs a stuffing or bread sauce recipe here is a link to the one I posted: http://thatbritishwoman.blogspot.ca/2008/12/bread-sauce-and-old-fashioned-stuffing.html

Today a traditional Christmas song:

Wow things have changed a lot.

On Tuesday I went with "R" to the hospital for her ultrasound appointment.  Her dh couldn't make it, so I offered to go with her.  The things those machine's can show you is marvelous.  When I had my kids the husbands weren't  even allowed in for the ultrasound.  They couldn't show as much as they do now.  I had to say I was very fascinated with it all.

"R's" baby is now 3lb 3oz and is in the breach position.  She is 31 weeks, so she is on schedule weight wise for the little one and there is plenty of time for the baby to turn.  Other than that both are as healthy as horses!!  I will say I couldn't make head nor tail of what the technician was looking at, but the baby was all curled up in the fetal position and could see the baby when she pointed it out to me.  I was going to stay behind so I could find out what sex the baby is, but "R" wouldn't let me as she doesn't want to know what sex the baby is!!!  Must say I am really looking forward to seeing the little one in January.

On a sadder note though, I would love to ask for your prayers regarding another family.  A friend of dd has just had triplets that weren't due until the end of February next year.  There are two girls and a boy.  Unfortunately one of the girls died right away.  The other girl and boy, are only around 1lb and 1lb 8oz in weight.  They will be in hospital until next February at least.  The parents as well as the babies will need all the the prayers that we can give them.

Surgeon's, Optometrist's and Doctor's........

Been a busy week health wise for dh and I.  On Wednesday we had to be at the Toronto Western Hospital for 8:30 am, as he had an appointment with the Eye Surgeon at either 9 am or 9:30 am, no one could make up their mind which one it was?  Didn't matter as no one got in on time.  Dh had to have a Laser Iridotomy.

Laser iridotomy is a surgical procedure that is performed on the eye to treat angle closure glaucoma, a condition of increased pressure in the front chamber (anterior chamber) that is caused by sudden (acute) or slowly progressive (chronic) blockage of the normal circulation of fluid within the eye. The block occurs at the angle of the anterior chamber that is formed by the junction of the cornea with the iris. All one needs to do to see this angle is to look at a person's eye from the side. Angle closure of the eye occurs when the trabecular meshwork, the drainage site for ocular fluid, is blocked by the iris. Laser iridotomy was first used to treat angle closures in 1956. During this procedure, a hole is made in the iris of the eye, changing its configuration. When this occurs, the iris moves away from the trabecular meshwork, and proper drainage of the intraocular fluid is enabled.

Read more: http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/La-Pa/Laser-Iridotomy.html#ixzz2CETKCuxu

In layman's terms, there are channels around your eye ball's, that slowly close up.  If allowed to close up you can go blind.  So they make a hole in your iris and this allows the liquid to wander around the eye and releases the pressure.

It was very successful and he goes back in two weeks for a follow up appointment.  I couldn't even sit through the consultation and testing as it totally grossed me out.  We all should pray and hope that I NEVER EVER need anything done with my eyes as I am a total baby when it comes to eyes.  It was $28 to park for over two hours at the hospital, luckily I found a parking spot across the road for $10.  It took us two sodding hours to get to the hospital from our house.  How people commute to down town Toronto is beyond me!!!

On Tuesday morning I went to the Optometrist's to have an eye exam.  I would rather go to the dentist and have my teeth pulled than have my eye's tested.  I DO NOT DO DROPS what so ever, so he made me do a slew of tests on my eyes and charged me $60 for those and $90 for the actual eye test.  My prescription has gone up to 1.75 from 1.50, so I need to get new lenses for my eye glasses for reading and close up work.  Otherwise my eyes are fine, and I left the office telling him I was NEVER EVER having those tests done again!!!

I then went to the doctor's about my rotten hand.  I have arthritis in my thumb joint that is why it is so sore.  Anyone with arthritis in their hands what do you do/use to get some relief.  I am being sent for another nerve test in my hand to see if the nerves are pinched AGAIN.  I also need x-rays on my hand to see what else is going on.

I wish I had never let her touch my right hand.  I can only type for a certain length of time now.  Driving kills me, hoovering is not much better.  I have very limited strength now in the right hand.  Once I have had the nerve test done I can then book an appointment to see the hand surgeon again.  There is no point doing it now until I get all the test results back.  My mam has arthritis in both of her hands, so it is maybe a hereditary thing?

If anyone has first hand info on arthritis I would love to hear your story.

So there you are.  I am hoping that's it for doctors for the next week or two!!

It's all in the details,

as dd says.  So guess what I was doing Sunday afternoon?  Ripping off the labels on water bottles to add our own customized labels for the baby shower.  Even dh raised his eyebrows; but as I said it's all in the details!!

One of my goals for 2013 is to learn to crochet, as I love grannie squares.  So on Sunday night I thought I would go on You Tube and see what I could learn.  Well after about 20 minutes I had mastered the slip knot thingy that starts you off.  Then I got totally lost and confused when we had to start doing a chain?  So I can see this is going to take a bit more work than I thought.  Although I think some smoother wool/yarn would help as I am using Martha Stewart Alpaca Blend which is a #5 bulky (?) whatever that means?  I was using a 6.5 mm or K hook with it.

Dh had an appointment at the hospital on Monday to see the surgeon who did the scope on his right knee.  Was told his knee is as good as it's going to be and to use his left knee to kneel on!  Anyhow the MRI on his left knee shows the same problem, torn meniscus and arthritis.  He can have it operated on whenever he wants, but after what has happened with his right knee, he told the surgeon he'll wait until he can't stand the pain no more and then he'll have it operated on.

Anyhow why I am even mentioning this is I wanted to share something we found out today.  Whenever we have an appointment at the fracture clinic we they are always running a couple of hours behind schedule which is bloody annoying.  Found out why the surgeon we saw on Monday had 70 patients booked in between the hours of 8am until 12 noon.  Yes you read right 70.  One that's just bloody ridiculous and bloody greedy, as no doubt he gets paid for every patient he sees.

Odds and ends.....

Today would have been my Nana's 99th birthday if she was still alive......... I wrote about my Nana and Pop here  If you have a minute read that post I think it's worth while.

Dh is back at the hospital today to see the surgeon and to get his TWO stitches removed,  You would think he was getting TWO HUNDRED stitches removed the way he was going on the other night!!!  As I pointed out, he was being a drama queen.  He said I had no sympathy........well duh.....he's only getting two flipping stitches removed.  I had ten stitches in the one hand and six in the other and did I get any sympathy from him......heck no!!!!

So please think of me around 10:30 a.m.............actually it will probably be around 12 noon before we get to see the surgeon.  I am going along as I want him to make arrangements for a MRI on his other knee, as we want to know ahead of the game and try and prevent this happening to his "good"' knee.  If you hear of a British born woman murdering her dh because he wouldn't stop whining.........there's a good chance you'll know who that woman is!!!!

It's been too stinking hot and humid around here for me these past few days. Anyhow on Sunday I decided to cut the field as it was getting long again.  I have to say it's been a good summer as far as grass cutting goes.  I missed a month of grass cutting due to it being so flipping hot and the grass not growing.

Bathed Molly on Sunday morning; gave me the evil eye for the rest of the day!!!  I don't understand why she just doesn't accept the situation.  She has to have a bath, I am bigger than her, so I win not her?  Her skin feels nice and soft now.  Jane and Chris rescued this dog (Duncan) last week.  We were going to go and see him, but I don't really want a dog that is only a year old.

Cindy gave me some beets and a cucumber the other day.  So for lunch on Sunday we had cheese and cucumber sandwiches.  I love cheese sandwiches; though I think it's a toss up between cheese and red onion or cheese and tomatoes fresh from the garden sandwiches.

My dad used to take cheese and jam sandwiches in his bait/lunch and my mam said the other day she was having cheese and chutney sandwiches for her lunch.  I dislike both those types.  Do you like cheese sandwiches and do you add something to them or just eat them plain?

A day at the hospital.............

Spent the morning at the hospital with dh.  He had key hole surgery on his knee, to wash it out and tidy up the torn cartilage in his knee. 

His surgeon missed going to school for bed side etiquette {SIGH} otherwise everything went as well as could be expected.  Dh has arthritis in his knees as well, so the goal is to put it off as long as possible getting new knees put in.  However if I have to deal with this guy for the next ten plus years, he had better improve his bed side manners, otherwise me and him are going to have words!!!!

It was a big day also for dh, as he lost his "hospital virginity," as this was the first time in his life he has ever had an operation.

Also one of the nurses taught our kids to swim, way back in the day, so it was nice to catch up with her.  All the nursing staff were super nice and couldn't fault the way they treated dh.

He had an uncomfortable night last night, but as long as he takes things easy he should recover nicely.  Because of dh's job, he should be off work at least for a week; although the surgeon suggested a full two weeks, but then told dh to use his discretion.  He hates taking it easy and is always on the go, so this should be torture for both of us trying to keep him still!!!

As per the rest of the family, I shouldn't give up my day job to be a nurse.  However so far so good, although I did make major threats to dh last night to sit quiet when I went to cut some grass!!!  He was in bed when I got back in as he was pooped from the day and the medication he had taken, Tylenol 3's.

It should be a fun few days until he gets back to normal!!

Sunday, a day of high's and low's.......

First of all this weekend has been to flipping busy for me.  We never stopped all weekend, and by the time we got home on Sunday night, it was a case of doing what had to be done, sit down for an hour then off to bed.  I don't like weekends where you don't have five minutes to yourself.


Anyhow the "high" of Sunday was visiting dd and son-in-law at their new house.  They have been busy doing all sorts and I have to say they looked pretty tired, as they have worked their tails off; but they are so enthusiastic and excited about their first house, that you can't help being excited with them. 


The "low" and it was/is a low was when we went to visit dh's very good friend in hospital.  He's dying of cancer.  I hadn't seen him since April and the change in him was very apparent.  Last November he was one of the "three amigo's" who propped up the bar all night with dh and another guy, as they were worried it was going to fall down at dd wedding!!!!!  The doctor's have given him around six months; it's pancreatic cancer.


You feel so helpless not being able to take the pain away from him, or help him.  I guess just have him knowing we are there for him and his wife is all we can do?


Gave dh an extra hug after visiting his friend, and told him we are very lucky and hope we never have to go through what they are going through. Make sure you give your special someone a big hug and tell them you love them, as you never know what is around the corner.............

Cast off and ready to go.......with a few restrictions of course....

After spending a couple of delightful hours sitting in the the fracture clinic my cast was taken off.  Being able to take a shower without a plastic bag on my hand will be a delight.  I have not to lift anything over 10 lbs for the next month, but I am chomping at the bit to get out in the garden especially as I have seen my first bulbs flower:

There is nothing spectacular with the next two photos, just enjoyed a bit of colour in the sky:

I was looking North with both the sky shots and both were taken around 7:15pm on Thursday night:

I also wanted to thank you for the birthday wishes, it was my birthday yesterday.  Honestly though I was more excited about getting my cast off than my birthday.  As we have a couple of things planned for the weekend, I am having a "long" birthday over the next few days which is nice.  However so far I got some clothes, a new pair of wellies/rain boots, a $20 gift card for Chapters and a $100 gift card for the garden centre and some scratch and in my case NOT WIN cards, all from dh, I have been spoiled.  I will be celebrating with the kids on Sunday.

I have a busy ahead of me today as I can drive again.  My first priority though is to go and renew my drivers licence, as it has run out, so fingers crossed I don't get stopped by the police on the way to the licencing office!!!!  Wouldn't that suck...LOL

My appointment was for 1:45pm.........

I finally got to see the doctor at 4:15pm.......  I had to go to the hospital for a check up on my hand and my appointment was for 1:45pm.  I have been at work this week, so left work at 12:45pm so I wouldn't be late.  She was running way behind and when I did finally see her I was in and out in less than five flipping minutes.  It then cost me $15 for the sodding parking.  I even managed to read half a book while there.  Don't doctors realize that our time is as important as theirs?

Is actually rather nice, here is the link to it. Although it isn't my style of interior decorating and way too modern I think you could get away with putting older pieces of furniture in it?  I love the expanse of glass in the house letting all the light in and letting the neighbours have a good look at the same time!!!!  The bathrooms and kitchen are nice, but does anyone actually live there, as everything looks so perfect and clean???


The condo of the week is well, very overpriced if you ask me.  I like the exposed brick work, but am not keen on the kitchen.  It looks like it's a show room condo, not one that people actually live in, and if it wasn't for the bunk beds, I wouldn't have guessed there were children living there either.  I wonder if the ping pong dining table is a joke or the best thing they had on hand to "show" where the dining area is supposed to be?

Boxing Day Sales = Thumbs Down......

well at least for us.  I guess part of the problem is I won't line up in huge line's.  The line up outside of the Coach outlet store was just plain crazy and a lot of the other stores were just as bad.  I did pick up a couple of Christmas decorations at half price, but otherwise nothing else.  We are lucky I guess in Canada as we have good sales all the time.

My mam sent me another ornament for Christmas, another Waterford one.  It is gorgeous:

I have also been busy running back and forward to the local hospital as one of our dear friends has had a bad stroke.  Although no relation we are pretty close and he keeps asking for me.  So please say a prayer for him as he has a long road ahead of him.  He is paralysed down the left hand side and his speech is slurred, although I have no problem understanding him.

The week from hell...........

After the high from the wedding things went down hill very fast.......

My step-father started having chest pains on Saturday morning, and never said anything as he didn't want to spoil the wedding.  He didn't tell us until Sunday morning at breakfast, and when we suggested going to the hospital he wouldn't go.  Fast forward to Monday afternoon and we did an emergency dash to our local hospital.  Where after a CAT Scan, many blood tests, and various other things they admitted him, as they had ruled out a heart attack, blood clots and pneumonia.  They decided he needed an angiogram, which they couldn't do at Alliston hospital, but would have to do at South Lake hospital in Newmarket.

They didn't take him on Tuesday but finally got him an appointment on Wednesday afternoon.  They did an angiogram and found one of the smaller veins was blocked 80%.  He also has an irregular heart beat and a heart murmur.  None of this he knew prior to coming to Canada.  They have given him the all clear to fly thank goodness.

Now if this wasn't bad enough, trying to sort out the insurance what an utter and complete nightmare.  They are insured but trying to get all the paperwork to them in England and sorting everything out has been terrible.  When we went to Newmarket hospital they wouldn't do the angiogram without payment up front by credit card, that was $1,450.  The doctors fee had to be paid in either cash or cheque.  That was another $700 in cash.  The medications came to another $100.

They charged $1,700 a night at Alliston hospital.  He was admitted Monday night by Tuesday morning his bill was $5,100.  We were lucky as I found a super woman in Alliston that helped us out with everything and had dealt with foreign insurances before hand.  We also found another lady in Newmarket hospital to help us get paperwork to London, England.

We had gone to Staples and they were going to charge us $5.99 to fax the first sheet and $3.99 for everything after that.  There were 19 pages to fax.  So we got it scanned onto a memory stick and we sent them from our computer, but for some reason they didn't get it.  So thanks to talking to the lady in Newmarket she found someone to do it in the hospital.  All the hospitals in Ontario are not allowed to fax anything outside of Canada or the States, due to cut backs.

I will say everyone we have dealt with have been really nice and very understanding and helpful.

Then we discovered dh's best friend was having a scope for a mass beside his colon, and it's not looking too good.  Ds got hit in the mouth with a hockey puck the Tuesday before the wedding and had to have his main front tooth extracted and another one put in, which he did today and the final bill for that will be $5,300.  Got an estimate for Molly's surgery and that will be around $1,050.

Oh and then I got sick............what a hell of a week!!!  Things can only get better.  We are all going out tonight for dd's birthday which is today.

Onwards and upwards as they say..........more wedding photos soon.

Isn't she a little beauty..........

DRAT, DRAT AND DOUBLE DRAT.  THIS POST WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PUBLISHED ON THURSDAY, BUT I PRESSED ENTER TOO FAST!!

After working my tail off for the past couple of days, I decided to run errands on Wednesday.  Both my hands were killing me, so a slower day was in order.  I started off the day by going to the hospital to get some x-rays taken of my wrists.  I have an appointment to see the surgeon on December 28th, and needed up to date x-rays for some reason.  If anyone is a nurse, could you tell me why I need x-rays for carpal tunnel?  I have had the neurology (I think that is the correct word) testing done, so I figured that would be it?

You would be ever so proud of me, I parted with a pile of magazines and dropped them off at a friends house.  I still have all my Prima magazines, but the pile has been reduced considerably.  I know its only a baby step, but at least it is a step in the right direction.

In the afternoon I decided to go to Cookstown to the Antique Market where I spotted this little beauty:

I am going to use her as a bedside cabinet in the spare bedroom.  I got 20% off as they were having a sale and she cost $108 plus taxes.

On Tuesday night I knocked over the lamp on the desk and did this too it:

Please ignore the coaster, I made that before I knew the correct way to quilt.  While at the Antique Market I found it's twin:

I ended up paying just over $30 for it at the same place.  My base is nicer, so I will get dh to switch it over when he gets a few moments.  I must say I was shocked at how much desk lamps are, or at least the nicer ones.  So I thought my $30 was a good price.

I saw a gorgeous chair, with terrible fabric on it, but good bones.  Don't think I will be able to persuade dh to go and take a looksie though....but you never know (wink, wink!!)

All in all a positive day and got some good jobs jobbed as I say.

Visit to the hospital........

I went to the hospital yesterday to get my arms and hands tested to see why I am experiencing numbness in the fingers.  I had the carpal tunnel operated on my right hand back in 2002, and have been having the same symptoms recently which are only getting worse.

Anyhow, the outcome of it, is that I have to wear tensor splints on a night on both hands for the next eight weeks to see if that helps calm them down, as again it is the carpal tunnel in both hands again.  However this time it's my left hand that is worse.  I am not at a point where I need them operated on, thank goodness, but I am catching it early enough that hopefully I can nip it in the bud.  I need to find one of those small stress balls that fit into the palm of your hand as that is also a good exercise for my hands.

This was the first time I had been to the new hospital in Brampton for any treatment and I must admit I was really pleased with it all.  Can't say I was thrilled with how much it cost to park........$12, but I guess that's typical of large inner city hospitals.

Today I am heading to the dental surgeon to have my tooth out.  Can't say I am looking forward to it, but at least I won't have toothache either when it's done.

Still stinking hot, I know I shouldn't complain, but there has to be a happy medium with this weather???

Will write about Appleby Horse Fair tomorrow, didn't have time today.

Two trips to the hospital in one day.......I don't know!!

The first visit to the hospital was a scheduled appointment for dh, as he had to have a CAT scan as he has a persistant cough and chest problems.  The only reason I went was that dh's truck was in the garage for a service, so I was recruited to be his driver for the afternoon.  So lets pray and hope it's nothing too to serious for dh.

The second visit was NOT scheduled, read on to find out why!!

As you all know I went and hurt my arm with the brush cutter over two weeks ago, read here  Things have been up and down with my arm ever since.  I went to the doctors a week ago and he said it was mending nicely and not to worry about the lump it would go.

A couple of you have been asking how my arm is, so last night I was looking at it, and it was still lumpy.  On further investigation; me squeezing it, I discovered it was full of pus and liquid.  On even more further investigation; me poking it even further, I discover a black object in it.  So after poking about in it for a while with a pin and tweezers I was finally able to get hold of the black object, but couldn't pull it out.

So I got dh to try and he decided to go and get his tool for pulling nails out of wood to grip this black thing.  I know you're all yelling.....NO!!!!!  He did wipe the end on his pants just to make sure he got some of the dirt off!!   Anyhow, he could get hold of this black object but it didn't want to come out of my arm.  Plus by this point I had figured out it was a piece of metal.  Both me and dh decided this was a hospital job, as we figured the skin had grown around the piece of metal and someone was going to have to cut my arm open to get it out.

So just after 8pm of we trot to the hospital again.  At 11:15pm we saw the doctor in emergency and he cut open my arm; after freezing it I am pleased to say, and cut out a piece of metal that was sort of shaped like a "U"  He said it was like a fish hook, as the more we were pulling on the one end, the other end was digging into the flesh of my arm, so I would never have got it out without ripping open the arm, which would have been painful.

Of course I had to have a tetanus shot as goodness knows when I last had one of those; and off I went at 11:35pm.  We were all tucked up in bed by midnight, shattered.  Poor dh had to be up his usual time of 4:20am, and Molly had me up her usual time of 6am.  So I can see and early night in store for us.

Oh and a bit of good luck with all of this.  Remember how the dentist put me on an antibiotic for my tooth, see here  Well we figure that is what has helped keep the infection in my arm down during this past week.  I got another prescription for some more antibiotics last night, but will only fill it if my arm starts to flare up again.

So the moral of this story, one trip to the hospital can lead to two.  That British Woman should never be allowed to use the brush cutter with the metal blade on it.  If you have a lump in your arm and it looks lumpy, investigate earlier on in the day, so you can get to bed at your normal time, otherwise the next day you will be bone weary, which is not helpful when you have a busy day ahead of you!

Well I had better get on, as I still have my Orangeville Banner column to write for this week!

It's my own fault, I kissed him!

So now I am sick........Dh is sick and has been all week.  I had a rough night on Wednesday night and woke up on Thursday feeling icky.  So somewhere along the way I must have given dh a hug and a kiss, as he's the only one who I know that is sick?

I had a mammogram on Thursday morning.  It was in a smaller hospital closer to where we live and what a difference.  My appointment was 9:15am, and I was out of the hospital by 9:05am!!!!  The appointment before me was late, and so as I was there, they let me in first.  It was only a regular checkup nothing exciting, infact it actually didn't hurt as much as it normally does.  Mind you as I have a sore right shoulder, that side hurt more than the other side did.  Still it's over with for another couple of years.

For those of you who have never been for a mammogram here are a few tips:
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Many women are afraid of their first mammogram, but there ïs no need to worry. By taking a few minutes each day for a week preceding the exam, and doing the following practice exercises, you will be totally prepared. And you can do this right in your own home!
Exercise 1
Open your refrigerator door and insert one breast between the door and the main box. Have one of your strongest friends slam the door shut and lean on the door for good measure. Hold that position for five seconds (while you hold your breath). Repeat again, in case the first time wasn't effective enough.


Exercise 2
Visit your garage at 3 am when the temperature of the cement floor is just perfect. Take off your clothes and lie comfortably on the floor with one breast wedged under the rear tire of the car. Ask a friend to slowly back the car up until your breast is sufficiently flattened and chilled. Turn over and repeat for the other breast.


Exercise 3


Freeze two metal bookends overnight. Strip to the waist. Invite a stranger into the room. Press the bookends against one of your breasts. Smash the bookends together as hard as you can. Set an appointment with the stranger to meet next week and do it again!!


CONGRATULATIONS! Now you have nothing at all to worry about when you go for your mammogram!

Did you remember to put your money in your Daily Savings Pot today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:

Drive your car longer. The buy new versus used debate often overlooks the most important factor–how long you own your car. Drive it as long as you safely can for substantial savings.

I have just posted another column on the Orangeville Banner, called "LEAD FEET" hope you have time to take a peek.