Shopping, storage & surgery

It’s not been too bad a week. I am feeling very pleased with myself because I have managed to get to the gym for 4 workouts.  They have not been very strenuous but it has made me realise how much I have missed it.  I went shopping as planned on Monday but it wasn't an entirely successful trip.  First up Sue didn't come along as she wasn't feeling too well.  She was really suffering with her cold and was feeling the after affects from a long day scrubbing in Mat’s old house.  I still went to the centre though as I needed a few bits for holiday and I also needed to pick up some passport renewal forms from the post office.  The centre wasn't too busy and my first stop was Superdrug for some eyebrow threading.  I had my reservations when I got to the beauty counter as it wasn't my usual girl.  These reservations proved to be right because the new girl was really kack handed and really hurt me.  I won’t be going to her again.  With a red raw stinging face I walked the loop from John Lewis to M&S and even did the new bit.  I didn’t buy much, a leopard print dress from H&M, some Sisley foundation from House of Fraser and some toiletries. 

Whilst I was taking it easy doing my shopping, Phil picked up Steve and they went over to Overstone.  The plan was to take down the gazebo which park rules state have to come down by the end of September.  Unfortunately it was too wet so we shall have to wait for some dry weather.  Phil wanted to bring the big 50 inch plasma from the caravan and swap it with the telly in the flat so Steve helped with this.  Phil said it was really heavy so I am glad I managed to get out of this job.  I bet it wasn't easy either getting it up the dodgy steps.  Phil got a few other bits and pieces from the caravan and after setting up the plasma, he and Steve went to the Nags Head for a spot of lunch. And that, more of less, was our Monday.

The mission on Tuesday was to empty the storage unit. This was quite a high priority job because we have given notice.  We went after I got back from the gym and when we unlocked our unit I discovered we had more stuff in there then I’d remembered which meant 2 trips.  Once again Sue very kindly is letting us use her garage for our stuff so we dumped the saw bench plus a few other boxes at her house.  This is only a temporary solution, at some point we are going to have consolidate our lives and our stuff which is scattered here, there and everywhere.  Phil did the second trip to the storage unit by himself and managed to clear it all out and close it down.   

After lunch, Phil tried to set up the BT Vision box but it wouldn't work.  No surprises there and once again I had to get on the phone to BT.  Apparently we can’t have BT Vision because we don’t have enough broadband speed.  Why on earth they didn't tell me this when I placed my order god only knows.  Anyway we can have BT Vision if we upgrade to BT Infinity so this is what I did.  But it’s not up and running yet.  Oh no that would be too easy.  First we have to have another engineer out to put in another socket but this can’t be done until we get back from holiday.

I have been badgering Phil for ages about getting a tumble dryer.  Currently I am abusing Sue’s machine but this is not ideal.  After much measuring and Internet surfing it’s doubtful that we can get even a mini sized dryer in the airing cupboard.  We went to Curry’s and got a mini machine which we think is going to have to go on top of the fridge freezer.  I really wanted a condenser but we couldn’t find one so I have had no choice but to go for a vented machine which I suppose will have to do.  Of course the machine that I choose wasn't in stock and so delivery is taking place the day after we get back from holiday.

Wednesday morning was an early one; by 7am I had been to Tesco in Kingston, purchased electric credit at the mini supermarket on Fishermead, collected the post and put credit on the meter at the OB flat, brought fence paint from Wickes for Sue and narrowly avoided a fall out over parking with Pam, a neighbour.  I am not sure if I have talked about the neighbours very much on the blog.  Well we have got Maurice downstairs who is lovely.  We don’t see a lot of him though because he works all hours.  Sandra who is on the first floor lives alone after her husband died of a heart attack 2 years ago.  She is retired and doesn’t seem to leave the house much.  Sandra is a bit of a clean freak and I see her hovering her front porch every morning.  I have had a few chats with Bob opposite and find him a little strange.  Strange in a way I can’t describe but I think he’s harmless.  Pam is the neighbour with the blue car that parks outside our hedge making it difficult for Phil to get out in his landrover.  She is allowed to park here because it is a public space but she has an estate car and parks so far forward that she doesn’t really leave us enough space to turn. 

Parking is a problem in this cul-de-sac because everyone has 2 cars (Pam has 3) and I will admit that I have taken over the public space on the corner.  Yesterday I put some solar lights on the edge of the shingle and Pam cornered me when I got back on Wednesday morning to ask me if I had put the solar lights there to stop people parking.  I explained that I had put them there to stop people parking on my shingle because after having spent a shed load of money for the membrane I didn’t particularly want it broken by other people’s cars.  She said that there have been several arguments between neighbours about parking in the past.  To pacify Pam, I said that we would be going away for 2 weeks and would make sure that we parked off road so as to free up the space on the corner for her.  Sometime I wish I wasn’t such a nice person because Pam is the person that parked her car on the corner for 3 whole weeks when she went away on holiday.  I could do the same of course but that would just be petty.  I have got far bigger and more important axes to grind and petty parking is not of them.

After some breakfast and some Internet, I picked up Sue after the rush hour had died down and we went over to do some painting at Monkston.  Sue glossed and I got did the fence panels in the back garden.  Matt’s old house has a long slim garden and there are a lot of fence panels.  I was fine once I got started and it was quite pleasant because the sun came out.  Sue came out to help on the other side of the garden and but it wasn't so nice in the afternoon because the sky clouded over and it started to spit with rain.  We finished all of the fencing bar one panel because we ran out of paint which was most frustrating.  Never mind, it was a productive day and I reckon, give it another afternoon and Sue should be ready to go to market.

I decided to indulge in a soak in the bath when I got back but this proved to be a bad idea because it made me feel even more tired that I felt before.  It could easily have been a pyjama evening but this wasn’t possible because I’d arranged to pick up Sue and go to Robinson’s wine bar for the pie and mash night.  Both of us were feeling weary from the days exertion, but once we were out, we were fine.  Actually it was a pleasant evening.  We hadn’t been to the wine bar in a while and the pie special night is very good value for money; you get soup of the day and pie, mash and veg for £4.50 which I think is excellent. 

Ampthill Glass came yesterday to fix the broken hinges on the windows on the lounge.  Our tenant had also snapped off the lock in the front door so the fitter changed the barrel for us.  We do need to change the lock because the ex tenant has a key and so do several of the tradesman that we have used.  The new hinges are much better because not only does it stop the draft but it also makes it easier to clean the windows on the outside.  I am not so sure about the front door though because now it locks every time you shut it which means that we need keys every time we go out.  I wonder how long it will be before I forget my set and lock myself out.  I went to the gym yesterday for a quickie and then just had time for a quick cuppa at the GP flat before going to the surgery in Newport for some blood tests.  I wasn't looking forward to it, not because I am a wimp because I’m not, but I don’t have very good veins.  It wasn't too bad yesterday; they found a vein straight away and got the samples they wanted.

After the surgery I picked up Sue and we drove to Oxford for her appointment with the Professor Grossman.  We had a good run in and arrived at the Churchill in just over the hour.   We were too early so killed some time in the café over a pannini and a cup of tea.  Thankfully all went well with the Prof, all test results have come back normal and he doesn't want to see Sue for another 6 months.  Sue still has more tests at MK to go through, but overall, yesterday’s news couldn't have been more positive.  It puts all my worries and minor niggles into perspective really.

Unfortunately the drive back from Oxford wasn't a good one; there was an accident even before we got on the ring road and it was nearly half past six by the time we got back to Newport.  It could have been worse I suppose, I was just relieved to get back before dark.  Whilst I was in Oxford Phil had spent the day working going through Daphne’s estate paperwork, getting stuff ready for his appointment with the solicitor next Tuesday.  I think the whole process upset him and by the time I got back last night he wasn't in a good place.  I am hoping 2 weeks in the sunshine, with plenty of R&R and just getting away from it all will do us both the world of good.  They do say a change is as good as a rest and in this case I certainly hope so.