lizblog

My Christmas

Highlights:
The intensified feeling of living in a community:
Phone calls, texts and presents.
Jason bring candles round when the power went off.
Invitations to small soirees.
Louise driving up to spend Christmas with us.
A free range, organic turkey which flew in, unexpectedly.

Thoughtful, lovely gifts from lots of people. Thank you.
The excitement of others as they opened their presents.
Lots of nice food.
Finally putting up decorations.
Receiving cards and news from friends.

Lowlights:

I feel we've been rather insular. I intended to go to the Boxing Day dip, but didn't make the effort to find out the time of it for example. I will make the effort to be more exular in future.
No dishwasher .... well, I do have a dishwasher, but it's in the shed.
A bit too much nice food.
Very little Christmas singing, I really must join a choir this year.

Thursday's thumb

Well, I went back to A&E this morning and was seen very quickly by the doctor who just reiterated what had been said on Tuesday. I'd done no permanent damage and it was just the arthritis in the bottom joint. Take Ibuprofen and care seems to be the message.

I asked about the long term prognosis and they just said that if it got so it was very painful all the time, they could fuse the bones together. This would limit movement but stop the pain.

It's better than it was, though still very tender. I'm just being careful and noting what things to really not do.

Thank you for all your concern and good wishes.

Now, a little Christmas cheer:

Thumbs up for Wansbeck A&E

You wouldn't imagine that turning a pair of wet jeans right side out could be dangerous, would you. Me neither, but tonight I had cause to reassess that opinion.

I was just sorting the washing out and had my hand down the leg of the jeans ... my own I hasten to add ... when I felt an excruciating pain in my thumb. I said a naughty word quite a few times, but very quietly, as Andy was on the phone to a client and I didn't want him to think we were madder than he already did.

When the pain died down a little, I experimented with moving it, but gave that up very quickly and waited for the pain to die down again.

When Andy had finished on the phone, he very kindly drove me to Wansbeck A&E. We had quite a long wait, in total we were there about 2 and a half hours-ish, but the staff were friendly and once I got to see the doctor, they were very efficient. I thought I had dislocated my thumb, as did the doctor, but the x-ray showed that I had very bad arthritis in the joint and I've done something to make it hurt.

So a nice nurse strapped it up for me and I have to go back on Thursday for them to check other things once the pain has subsided.

It isn't exactly how I would have chosen to spend my Tuesday evening, but we watched a funny programme on TV, The Worst Christmas of My Life, which made us laugh a lot and then Andy got to see one about the history of television while I was with the nice doctor. He also gave me some of his nice painkillers.

Wait for the next exciting installment on Thursday.

Success.

Today I went for interview at the above school. It was the second interview I had had with the Head there, she'd already interviewed me for another different sort of job last week, which I didn't get.
She must have liked me because she gave me this one. :-)
I start in January teaching a Year 2 class for 2 terms.
I t feels very, very good to have a job.

Thanks, Mr and Mrs Ted.

On Belle-Isle, island off south Brittany's coast.
This shot was taken from a helicopter on the 24th November 1996.
The wind was blowing up to 72 knots (130 km/h speed).
A magnificent shot full of life and strength...

I know many people who have visited the house have asked about this magnificent picture we have. Well, thanks to Ted and Ann, we can now let you know. The photograph was taken by Philip Plisson. It's just amazing and very beautiful.

The picture has special meaning for Andy and me as it was our first purchase as a couple. We saw the photograph in a shop in Whitby. We had walked past the shop and both stopped to return to look again. We went in and bought a print straight away. After a great deal of deliberation and good advice from Karen, we had it framed at the Pine Tree Gallery.

Advent

As Advent progresses, try this Interactive Advent Calendar.
It doesn't give you chocolates, but interesting, child-friendly activities.
Awwwwww ......