Oh my - I have spent a whole day in the garden, hedge trimming, digging weeding planting & tidying.  I ache everywhere.  The garden is looking better, there is still a long way to go but it is definitely better.  We normally tackle most of the heavy work during the Easter break but the weather just wasn't playing ball at Easter.  Why is it whenever I cut back the bushes with the hedge trimmer my arms give up the will to live?  At lunchtime, after the morning gardening session, I couldn't even lift up my drink because my arms were so weak.  At last I have got some summer bulbs in, albeit a bit late, my peas are in and I have at least got some tomatoes in, more to come though. 
In the middle of this, DD dropped some of her revision files on her finger and shattered a nail, the whole neighbourhood heard the screaming.   As she is going out this evening I had to find the time to repair her nail.  Actually it was a bit of a relief as it gave me a chance to sit down for a while.  Only son was very selective about the type of help he was willing to give; for which read "not a lot" although he did eventually decide to mow the lawns.
Our garden is very small but we do manage to pack a lot into it.  Flower beds, pond, seating area, patio, large strawberry patch (because they took over) and various veggie areas.  Usually in our small garden we grow, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, salad onions, potatoes, french beans, peas, dessert apples, cooking apples, herbs and whatever else takes our fancy.

These photos are from a couple of years ago but they give a pretty fair representation of what our little patch of green looks in summer.

God's plan for me

I just read a post on a blog by someone who seems to be fairly young but with a wonderful blog title (http://theplanshehasforme.blogspot.com/2010/04/for-season.html) and a lot of sense.  Kassi I just loved your comments on relationships and the fact that some people come into our lives just for a season and although sometimes we hang on by our fingernails, when their purpose in our lives is done God moves them on.  I would just add that their purpose in our lives can sometimes be that we have a purpose in their lives.  It is God, our heavenly father who plans and completes the purposes of our lives.

If not for God's perfect plan for my life, I could well be still trying to avoid a man who I found so irritating at times that I tried very hard not to be near on the few occasions when our paths crossed.  That would be such a pity as we have been happily married for the last 23 years.  God arranged for our paths to cross literally and for a very long way - 20 miles in fact.   He joined our young people's bible study group on Saturday evenings and when we arranged a long walk he came along.  A group of around 20 - 30 people walking can split into much smaller groups over a distance  as people walk at different speeds.  Our group was no exception and we split into several groups, each of which splintered into smaller groups.  We were with a group of about 8 people but the two of us were deep in conversation and when we turned around after another couple of miles they were nowhere in sight.  On that 20 mile walk I learned that his awkwardness was due to deep seated shyness and that once his reserve was broken through he was a lovely man.  When we reached our destination we discovered the reason that we had walked so many miles alone; the rest of the group we were walking with had found a bus stop in a village we passed through, and on discovering from the timetable posted there that there was a bus due, had opted to take a ride for the rest of the way.  As for me - I knew that my journey with this man was not going to end in Whitby.

PROM DAY

Today is the big day - 6th Form College Prom.   She has already done this before.  There was High School Prom and then last year was 6th Form College Prom but because she decided to stay on for an extra year she gets to go again!  We have paid for everything twice - the hair, the nails, the cars and everything else so this time I did her hair and nails, it was great fun, we spent good time together and enjoyed ourselves and the outcome is as you see here.  I am pretty pleased with this - especially the hair as I am no hairdresser but with an idea and a little research on the internet enabled me to do this.  It feels so good to be able to do something like this for my daughter.

 

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The venue is the Royal Armouries in Leeds which has to be an awesome place to hold an event.  http://www.rai-events.co.uk/  They
 all met up at college to board the black double decker bus which has delivered many of them to college on a daily basis, for the trip to Leeds.  There is no accounting for taste, I would be happy if I never set foot on a bus again, but they seem to have some sort of emotional attachment to this one.

Just for love

My daughter has her prom on Friday.  I have repaired her broken and chipped toe nails with acrylic, despite being horribly allergic to it.  I am eating anti-histamines and still scratching my hands but at least her toes look better.  They are decorated with black gloss and silver glitter which will go perfectly with her beautiful black gown with silver and gemstone straps. It would have been so much easier to use Gel though.
 This afternoon was waxing her legs and eyebrows.  A very girly time - lots of fun and giggles. 

I even let her have a go at waxing my eyebrows

- am I mad?

- I should have made her try out somewhere which doesn't show although I can't think where. 

Anyway - she did fine

Tomorrow she wants me to put gel nails on her and add artwork but she thinks I can do it between 3pm and 5.30pm and prepare and cook our evening meal before I leave for a meeting at 5.30  - oh yes I have to eat something in that time too as I will be so late back.  I also have to try to do her hair in a pin up style before Friday. No pressure there then!

Roll on Saturday

Weekending

After a weekend of energy sapping, headache and nausea inducing heat (43.7 deg C on Saturday) the weather is much fresher today.  Still hot but nothing like as hot (or humid) as the past two days.  The night time temperature in our bedroom with windows open and ceiling fan running was 32 deg. C.  Our garden is south facing which means it gets full sun all day with no shade at all.  I found an off-set parasol in a local shop for a really good price but we did our usual thing of "thinking about it" rather than buying immediately and when we went to buy it we found a staff member dismantling the display model for a couple who were waiting to buy it - sadly the last one.  So we still have no shade in our garden.

Emotional Literacy

I run groups in High School looking at Emotional Literacy, endeavouring to help students understand their feelings - particularly feelings of anger and frustration which cause them to lose control of themselves which is an Emotional Hijack.   The idea is to look at the different stages of anger and the physical reactions within our bodies when we start to get angry, and encourage them to understand how adrenaline can drown their ability to think clearly.  I could go into more detail but I don't want to put you to sleep. 
This morning was rather trying - the pupils were so obviously not interested - they just did not want to be there and were trying to see if they could make me throw them out of the classroom - but it didn't work!!  Which just goes to show that at least one of us is learning something about controlling our anger.  

Some more nail art

A few more examples of nail art done over the past few days.

Wheat Free Saturday

I have been baking wheat free cakes for my son who is wheat intolerant but loves cake. As wheat free cakes can be a bit dry I used fruit to moisten them. The first one was a straight forward fruit cake, although because I didn't have any dried fruit in the house I used dates - not as good as using raisins.  The recipe is here http://www.wheat-free.org/fruit-cake.html. 
 The second is a banana loaf, moist and luscious and found here: http://www.wheat-free.org/banana-bread.html

My only son

My teenaged son has been complaining of back pain on and off for a couple of months but nothing stuck, it came and went so there didn't seem to be any point seeing a doctor after all he is a healthy, active boy, keen on sport etc.  This week however, after a fall in PE he is in considerable pain and struggles with almost every movement, so I took him to the surgery.  The doctor we saw was a locum whom we had never met before.  He started off by prodding the vertabrae so C showed him exactly where the pain is, after which the Dr never touched him again, didn't ask any further questions but made assumptions such as 'since you haven't mentioned any tingling in your feet there isn't any nerve involvement'.  He didn't ASK about pins and needles or any other sensations or deficits and certainly didn't examine him at all.  He then pronounced his diagnosis, prescribed Ibuprofen and Ibuleve, suggested that C should look up Pilates on the web, and said that he should be "a new man" in 24 hours!  You can imagine how much this impressed me!   
We returned today as he is still in so much pain, we saw another doctor and things couldn't have been more different.   I had no expectations that the diagnosis would be any different but felt that he deserved better treatment than he had received especially as he is in so much pain.   He was thoroughly examined and closely questioned, blood tests and x-ray have been ordered and a physiotherapy referral made.  As the medication prescribed earlier had not been very effective the doctor prescribed something stronger because, as he said, the body needs to keep moving, or the pain will get worse but the pain needs to be under control to allow that movement.   Thank goodness some doctors are on the ball.

Nail Art

I haven't done much nail art for a while but I did have a little play yesterday although these are not from that time, I would have to photograph my toes to show that - maybe later?

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Family Values

I watched the press conference from the garden of 10 Downing Street this afternoon.  It was very interesting watching the two party leaders, now Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.  They had plenty to say, answered lots of questions and it all went very well despite the best intentions of the assembled journalists but there was something else going on in that garden which, for me at least, eclipsed Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg.  Behind the two men was the garden wall, attached to which was a nesting box which caught my eye at once.  Initially there was little activity around it but then the blue-tit parents appeared one at a time, seemingly oblivious of the crowd of journalists, politicians and staff, intent only on feeding their chicks.  Well after all, the Conservatives did promise to promote families didn't they but I don't suppose this was quite what they had in mind.

My son had to come home from school this afternoon as he was experiencing such severe pain in his back after a clash with a classmate during a PE lesson.  He was in so much pain he could neither stand nor sit and even laying down was uncomfortable.  Fortunately the doctor's surgery had had a cancellation so I was able to get him in during the afternoon.  The doctor we saw wasn't a regular, we hadn't seen him before and hopefully he is only temporary.  He hardly examined C at all, made assumptions about the lack of other symptoms without asking any questions and then diagnosed a muscle spasm!  Clever doctor.  I do hope that this is a muscle spasm and the anti-inflammatory medication and gel not only provide relief, but allow the spasm to relax.  If so, I think it will be in spite of the doctor and not because of him.

Darling daughter just gave me a half pedicure - she shaped and filed my toe nails and did the cuticle work.  Now I just have to grow my arms long enough to paint the toenails to ensure a set of pretty, summer tootsies.

Government

So we now have a new government - I do hope that they haven't rushed into this partnership, after all it is only SIX days since the election.  Not like we have been waiting for the result or anything.

To be serious though I do hope that this coalition works, and more to the point I hope that they keep the country (and us) working. 

Missing parcel.

I am waiting for a parcel, I have been waiting for my parcel all day.  Where are you Citylink?  I have places to go but I have to stay in for you, have you lost my parcel on your van?  It isn't very big but I need it.  Why make me wait until the end of the day? 

Tall Stories

My daughter has matched me in height, brushing 6 feet,  for over a year now and her brother is desperate to be taller than she is.  He has virtually achieved his dream, it certainly looks pretty close when they stand back to back - we will need to measure them soon to be sure.  She was thinking she had until the autumn, if not Christmas before he caught her up but I think she is going to have to concede defeat now.

Believe me buying trousers for a fashion conscious girl of 6 feet tall and size 8 (UK size 8 = size 6 USA) is a nightmare, it seems designers can't believe that anyone of that height can be so skinny.   That all pales into insignificance at the side of trying to buy trousers for a young man a whisper under 6 feet tall with a 20 inch waist.  Thank goodness for Asda's school trousers with adjustable waists but casual trousers either have to be joggers or have eight inches of fabric bunched up in a belt or two large darts in the back of them, and  still he wears them drooping around the midline of his backside  yuk, yuk, yuk.   I hate that look!!!!  It always appears as though they have done something they should have grown out of in their pants.

Books

There may prove to be quite a lot about books on this blog as I am a voracious reader when I get the opportunity.

I have heard a lot about Catcher in the Rye over the years but it was one of those books which I had never got around to reading, however, as it had been brought to my attention again this week I determined that I really should.  I ordered it from Amazon and it arrived very promptly courtesy of Amazon Prime, but I was very disciplined about it and left it to one side until I had finished the book I was already reading.  I cannot claim that I am always so disciplined when it comes to books, sometimes I have 2 or 3 on the go at once.  As it seems to be so popular and a long term success I could be very posey and claim that Catcher in the Rye is the best book I have ever written but that would not be true.  I admit I am only part way through the book but so far it has been tedious in the extreme and I am not eagerly taking every opportunity to pick the book up.   I am willing to be wrong if it does take wings and fly in the coming chapters, indeed I am willing it to do so.

I won't be holding my breath though.

Coming of Age

Yesterday demonstrated the fact that our daughter is now grown up as I took her with me to the polling station, not just for companionship but so that she could vote for the first time! 

She has taken much more interest in the election this time which I was glad to see and really thought hard about how she was going to vote.  Since the polls closed she not only stayed up very late to see the results come in overnight - the slowness was a bit of a disappointment - but has just rung me from college to see how things are going.

It's a shame that her interest has not been rewarded by any clear, decisive outcome but that is the nature of democracy.

Boots

We bought our daughter a pair of boots for Christmas.  She suffers from Raynaud's syndrome so when we spotted these we thought they would be good for keeping her feet warm in the winter months, and also help her to stay upright on her feet when there is snow and ice on the ground.  She certainly got a good opportunity to try them out this winter.

She wore them on Christmas day which was very icy underfoot and landed on her behind within minutes - but then what do you expect when you try to run on sheet ice?  They have served her well as she has walked to and from college over the winter months. 

There is however one big drawback to these boots - take a look at the soles - which are specially designed to grip in snow and ice.

They also seem to be designed to grip every ounce of mud which is walked through and apparently even where there is none, because she swears she doesn't walk through mud.  They are also designed to release that mud the moment their soles land on a carpet!  As we don't have a porch or boot room there is no option but to enter the house and then take them off and surprisingly the tiny clods of mud scatter throughout the hall and kitchen.  Of course they don't release all their mud in one go - they save some for when they are put back on and then scatter it again - just to ensure that I have to vacuum it up again.

It was ever thus.