BARLA Lions

We went to watch Debbie's Nephew last night playing Rugby League. He's made it to the BARLA Lions team and he looks the business in the British red, white and blue!

Last night they were playing a senior Police team, we didn't have to know anything about rugby to realiase that our young British team were running rings round Police Squad.

We're both really proud of him, he's worked so hard to get where he is now. Who knows, in a couple of years, we might even understand the rules!

Paul.

Walking In The Winter Sunshine

It's been another busy weekend, I don't think we sat down at all until late on Sunday. We had a nightmare visit to Jessops at Meadowhell on Saturday, all we wanted was a camera and a lens, after 3 hours we were sorted, why is it always us!

On Sunday morning I managed to do my first length at the swimming baths and then did another and 3 before I felt like I was going pass out (hangover and swimming don't mix). Debbie's could already swim when we started and she's getting better and better each time we go, usually doing way over 30 lengths.

A tidying up session ensued when we got back and then in the afternoon we went for a stroll round the woods. While I tried in vain to capture a long tailed tit on camera about 50 metres away, Debbie merrily snapped away with her new Canon :-)

Paul.

Feeling Rough

We managed our Wednesday swim last night but Debbie kicked her toe as some numpty got in her way and I was suffering from man flu so we didn't get any further with the Christmas decorations.

Instead we watched on as Lucy tried in vain to get closer to a Plec in the fish tank which was strange as she's never bothered with the fish before. It was hilarious watching her bounce from once side of the sofa arm to the other, transfixed by the big brown fish scurrying about.

In other news, I actually managed to find a way of posting pictures from the mobile (see last post), using Shozu to get them to Flickr and then using their button to post to the blog. I just need to get the layout right so that the picture is above the text rather than floating on the right.

Paul.

Busy Times

No posts for a while, we've been busy over the last couple of weeks, new stairs, new mobiles, first snow of the season, new members at the local swimming pool and man-flu . . . again!

Just about got to grips with the new phone so there's no excuse for not posting a little bit more often, if only I could find a way posting pictures from my phone. Millions of kids upload mobile pictures every day, maybe I'm getting too old for this lark.

Paul.

A Bit Of A Scare

Dad's been for more tests following the double vision episode the other week. It turns out that he's suffered a mini stroke, not good news at all and really not what we were expecting.

He's got more tests over the next few weeks including a brain scan. He really does need to slow down a bit, he's on the go more now he's retired than he was when he was working!

The pressure of all that rushing about, Grandma passing away, clearing and selling her house has obviously taken it's toll.

Time for more days by the riverbank me thinks.

Paul

Uncle Paul & Auntie Debbie

It's been a mad week! On Sunday we took Dad out for a birthday dinner at a local pub and when we got back to his house he had a message to say that my brother and his expecting wife had gone to hospital for a check up.

The heavens opened in the early hours of Monday morning, giving us 10mm of rain by 6am. We set off to work and the rain just kept coming and coming. Debbie was sent home early with the situation getting quite serious all around us. Given the horrendous traffic, Debbie just came straight to me rather struggle home and back again. When we did eventually get home, the rain gauge now read 80mm! We watched the news in amazement at the extent of the flooding in Sheffield just down the road.

On Tuesday morning at 6:30am the text message came through that we were waiting for, our neice had arrived, born at 4.05am weighing in at 7lb 12oz!

Dad managed to get to the hospital to see his Granddaughter and filled us in when he got home that evening. We were hoping to visit the hospital ourselves on Wednesday but the traffic around here was bonkers with all the main routes into Sheffield still closed through fear of a dam bursting.

As it happens, Mother and Daughter were allowed home on Wednesday night and after a day of adjusting to their new world on Thursday, we went to visit last night.

She's absolutely gorgeous, she slept the whole time we were there, just stirring now an again waving her tiny arms about.

Can't wait to see her again!

Paul

Achey Breaky Tooth

Debbie's been having a rough time with toothache recently which has been getting worse over the last few weeks. It started out as nothing more than a sensitive tooth, so we booked ourselves into the dentist for a checkup. The required treatment wasn't to be until July as our new dentist was off on holiday for a month.

Last week the sensitive tooth turned into excruciatingly painful tooth and I tried to get Debbie into the dentist earlier. They still couldn't offer us anything earlier than 3 weeks and by Friday Debbie could take no more so we rang NHS Direct. They promised an appointment somewhere that day and would call Debbie on her mobile to let her know.

Thing is, Debbie's phone has been playing up a bit and when they rang it didn't and went straight to answerphone. They didn't leave a number and Debbie hadn't got the NHS Direct number with her so called me.

I called our dentist to get the NHS Direct number but after explaining why I wanted it, Debbie had an appoint that afternoon!

I got a phone call late on Friday from a very tearful Debbie who just wanted to go home. It turned out that the offending tooth was cracked inside, this is what was causing all the pain. There wasn't any option but to have the tooth extracted, so out it came, but not without an almighty struggle.

After the anesthetic wore off the pain started to return but we hoped that would subside by morning.

Morning came but the pain was still there, pain killers seemed to do the trick so we set off to the coast as planned. Poor Debbie struggled through the day, popping pills and putting on a brave face as we explored Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes.

The pain was worse than ever on Sunday morning so we called NHS Direct again and after going through everything were instructed to go immediately to Accident & Emergency.

The hole where the tooth used to be was now sporting an abscess, Debbie had two options, go to see a specialist for more drilling or take antibiotics and a new cocktail of pain killers. Debbie opted for option 2, we left with 2 kinds of pain killers, antibiotics and a mouth wash.

The new drugs seemed to do the trick and the swelling and pain has been subsiding over the last couple of days. The course of antibiotics lasts until Friday by which time the hole formerly known as tooth will hopefully have healed completely.

Paul

Back To Work

We've been back at work for 4 whole days and it already feels like we've never been away, roll on next holiday!

We did have a great time last week though, Debbie took over 300 pictures while we were at Flamingo Land, we'll have to find some time to post a few of them.

It wasn't until later in the week that we discovered that Debbie's new camera was rather good at doing movies too or we could have got some great action shots of those mental rides.

We we're lucky with the weather while we were off, our garden became the favourite hang out for the local Starling population, tucking into free snap and cooling down in the new bird bath.

The weather seems to be picking up again, it's been freezing this week but I think the shorts will be coming out again tomorrow. We can't complain though, it's done wonders for the garden, there is green everywhere now with the odd hint of the colours that are just around the corner.

Paul

Grandma

Fascinated that you were a welder during World War II, making aeroplane wings for Spitfires, treasuring the memories of those week long summer stay overs when I was growing up and having a chuckle thinking back to how animated you got during grappling time on Saturday afternoons.

Grandma, we'll miss you...

It's Been Four Years

Four years today we decided to set up something called a blog, not something we knew much about but seeing as everyone else was doing the same, we thought we should have one too.

We started out on Xanga where we stayed for a few months before getting a new computer with XP and discovering that Xanga wasn't compatible with the new operating system at the time. That's how we ended up here with Blogger and we haven't looked back since.

Along the way we've made loads of blogging friends and on this special day we would like to thank you all for dropping by and saying hello.

You can see our very first ever post here, made just after Lucy came to stay with us.

So on our four year anniversary, it seems quite fitting that we simply share with you our love and joy once again, Lucy!

Paul

Exiting News!

Nope, we've not found any curtains, it's more exiting than that... Debbie started her new job on Monday!

Not looking for a job at the time, Debbie was given an opportunity she just couldn't turn down, working fewer hours with the chance to study for her AAT's if she wishes.

After a nervous first day, wondering if she'd done the right thing in leaving her former job, Debbie is settling in really well and it seems her new boss is turning out to be a dream to work for.

Her other new work colleagues seem like proper characters and even though it's only been 3 days, spirits are on the up and the happy bubbly Debbie is on her way back!


Paul

Back On The Road Again

Apologies for the lack of posting lately, it's been a busy time for us since Christmas but hopefully some kind of normality is just around the corner.

I spent last week in Newcastle again on yet another course, I don't think my head can soak up any more information, it's ready for bursting now and I can feel those 3 brain cells marching about waving "I'm On Strike" placards. Hopefully that's it for a while, the Alan Partridge lifestyle is certainly not for me, I have absolutely no interest in a Corby Trouser Press.

It's not been the easiest of week's for Debbie either, suffering from a bad cold and having to make an important and difficult decision rather unexpectedly.

It's still all systems go, we had the double glazing fitted on Tuesday, it looks fantastic, it's not what we thought we ordered but I think what we've got, plain windows as opposed to Georgian fret, actually looks better. The big single window in the kitchen offers a great view of the garden and all the other windows seem to be letting in more light.

The best thing though is the new door, we can see who's lurking outside through the peep hole and if we want to open the door, we just turn the handle and it opens! What bliss! We don't have to risk pulling arms out of sockets trying to open it.

With the new windows opening inwards, there's no excuse for not cleaning them..... sheesh, there's always a downside!

Paul.

Still Shrinking!

We went out for a belated Birthday meal on the Saturday before I went away. The local Chinese restaurant was the venue and only being on the small side, it looked like we'd booked the whole place with 14 guests!

Debbie had a very healthy Singapore Rice Vermicelli while I opted for the chefs special, spicy pork. Both were very tasty and I'm sure we'll be back for more of the same.

Everyone had a great night, Dad came back with us for a tot or two of whisky but his taxi, booked for 11.30pm, didn't turn up until almost 3am, about half a bottle later!

For a pair of snap happy people like us, we didn't take that many pictures but I did manage to whip out the mobile just before the food arrived...

Monday was weigh day as usual and I'm very pleased to report that Debbie has lost another 3 pounds this week, that's a total of 80 pounds now or just short of 6 stone since June last year!

I think she's doing amazingly well and keeps on proving those doubting Thomasa's wrong who keep saying it's going to slow down. There's still 4 of the 12 months left to go on the current plan, although, when the 12 months have passed, we won't be changing anything, it's a change for life, a healthier life!

Paul

Away Man In Washington

I was away on course all last week, at Washington, not quite in the USA, more like Tyne & Wear!

I've been learning Visual Basic.NET and had to tootle up the A1 for a weeks instruction on how to do Windows type things and be taught the ways of object orientated programing. I'm not ashamed to say, with only 2 days prior knowledge of VB, it was more like disorientated programing! By the end of the week I was up to speed on objects, classes, methods and million other new English type terms I'm not used to using.

While it's great to be learning new things, the big down side to last week was leaving Debbie behind on Sunday knowing we wouldn't see each other again until the end of the week. Thankfully the days and nights seemed to pass quickly, before long Crunchie day came and I headed back down the A1 clutching my certificate signed by Bill.

Here's a few shots of the sunrise from the most exotic place I visited in Washington, Adsa bridge in the Galleries car park...

Paul

Birthday 'Old' Boy

37 Today!

Yes folks, it's that time yet again, only 3 more years until I'm issued with the obligatory pipe and slippers.

The card and present opening is scheduled for tonight, along with a Chinese take away and a few beers with Dad, little Bro and not forgetting my lovely wifey, Debbie, who is taking much pleasure in the fact that she's two years younger than me!

Paul

Back To The Opticians

We've been back to Specsavers again today, it's quite involved this contact lens lark. It's not like glasses where you have an eye test, pick your new frames and collect your new glasses in an hour.

Debbie had her check up after wearing her contacts for week, just during the day until Thursday and left them in full time. It seems she's also got an astigmatism and they've ordered some new toric lenses like the ones I've got so we'll be back again to pick those up.

I've picked up an alternative toric lens for my right eye as the first one wouldn't sit right. It seems to be much better so far, I can actually see what I'm typing now lol. I'll need another check up to make sure these ones are working, so that means we've got at least another 3 visits before we're done.

I wouldn't mind but I keep trying to nudge my glasses that I'm not wearing anymore!

Paul

Double Glazing

We've taken the plunge, we're having double glazing fitted! Here are a couple of reasons why:

Too many times we have had to use a battering ram to close the back door cos it's sticking.

We actualy got locked out once when the Yale style lock turned into a Knackered style lock while we were out and we had to break in.

If you try dropping a feather down past a winodw like in the Everest advert, you never see the bloody thing again.

The rain is actually starting to come inside now.

You actualy have to get on ladders the clean the outside of the window, well if I did clean them I would.

Lucy can hear the mouse at the top of our garden whispering to the hedgehog and goes bananas.

So, at the end of next month we'll be rain proof, wind proof, sound proof and Lucy going daft proof!

Paul

Contact Lenses

We were back at the opticians yesterday to collect out new contact lenses. Debbie has never had them before and had to be taught how to put them in and take them out again. When I first got mine a few years ago, it took me hours to get the hang of it but Debbie had them in and out the required 3 times in less than 20 minutes!

I got my new toric lenses to combat the astigmatism in my right eye, I can see miles better in these new ones but my right eye is still quite blurred so they're going to get me another pair to try next week.

Debbie has got hers in today but will taking them out later, building up slowly before keeping them in all the time. I've left mine in since yesterday and will try and keep them in all week until the new ones arrive.

And So Back To Work

All the decorations came down yesterday, the living room looks so bare and now we've moved the computer into the dining room and pushed the sofa back, the room looks twice the size as well.

With all the clutter out of the way, the gaps in the wallpaper where the old stairs used to be are clearly visible, looks like another job that one. Debbie's also pulled a piece of wallpaper off on the fireplace, it's a kind of subtle hint!

We've been back at work today, it's always mad the first day back after the yuletide break and today was no exception, it's been good to get home and rejoice in the fact that we don't need to do the shuffle dance from the sofa round the coffee table to get to the stairs any more.

Even better, we won't be seeing Lucy launching herself off the back of the sofa to cut out half the stairs altogether, tonight she's settled on her favourite sport, trying to bury half a biscuit in her bed, the fact that it's impossible never seems to get in the way lol.


Paul

Another Milestone!

Today is weigh day and I'm pleased to report that Debbie has now lost an amazing 4 stone and 1 pound, or if you like, 57 pounds since June!

Top Banana!

Paul.