TARRAGON & THYME

I was shattered yesterday I think predominantly down to the change in hours and went to bed earlier than I normally do.  It was a fitful night's sleep but at least I got to rest which is the main thing. Have been out for a walk again this time with a friend to put the world to rights, and to enjoy the lovely weather and nature and her company.  Just the sound of the birds singing and watching all sorts of insect life enjoying the good weather can be a balm for the soul, and in many cases is all that is needed to restore mood and hope. OH had delivered me down to where we walk, so I have not over-extended myself.  He also came to collect me, but before going home we also walked Her Highness Missy.  I am now sitting for a while, and  enjoying a cup of coffee; a speciality coffee that my step-son bought me for mother's day including an individual Cafietiere.  The coffee is from the Bob Marley Plantation and very nice it is too.  These days I cannot drink ...

Beautiful sunny day again and I ventured out with OH for a walk with Missy. First time this week.  It was lovely and everything is starting to grow and bloom.  We saw that many different coloured Bees Orangey middle Bumble Bees, and different species of butterflies it was enchanting to watch them fluttering around and enjoying the warmth of the day.  I had an ulterior motive for going out as I am eager to go for a forage and I wanted to see what is available. Some of them are not quite ready; but will be in the next few days or so.  I shall be getting some nettle tops to process and to do things with for my pantry but more on that for another day.  I will need to start stocking up on sugar again as I have plans for making some wines making use of whatever I can get hold of including nettles.  It will be lovely to get the "wines" and "beers" on the go again! On the way back we called at another local shop and I topped up on some bits I needed.  Normally...

It has been another lovely Sunny day here in Peterborough.  I ventured out today into town for the first time in over six weeks.  I am a little stiff as a result but the small walk will do me good.  OH took me and fetched me where I normally toddle in under my own steam. So gently does it. Hardly anyone was wearing face masks, but I still chose too as OH and myself are categorised high risk as a result of long-term medical conditions and I am mindful of keeping myself as fit as possible. I still think that we are not quite out of the woods yet. My step-daughter and her children have had Covid very mildly from all accounts, but as we have been nowhere near and kept ourselves to ourselves, this has not thus far impacted on us.  Also, I am trying to keep myself as healthy as possible.   I did do a little carrying of items back from town today, which I should not have done, but I had run out of certain items that I like to keep on my Pantry shelf, namely, Arrow...

 Last night, i.e. Tuesday evening, I managed to settle down enough to actually pick up one of my UFOs i.e. my socks which I have not touched for well over a month, despite the best of intentions.   Indeed I have a few items that I want to get finished all of them knitted and once they are done there is the crochet.  I had not picked up the crochet as some of the wool is not where it should be and is not easily accessible at the moment, although this is the craft of choice I would have picked up first otherwise.   However, the sock is a form of discipline for me in that I will get them finished and then hopefully some more knitted in due course once some of the other stuff is out of the way with.  However it very much is a journey of discovery.  The pattern just uses two needles and the way things are working out the whole sock appears to be knitted in one fair go, i.e. the right leg cuff, back of right leg, heel, sole/toe where you have to do some...

Am slowly getting there.  The pain killers have stopped, although whilst I have some left I am still taking them at night so I end up getting a good night's sleep. I am still having to sleep on a lot of pillows although am gradually getting more comfy and lower down the pillows.   The dressings are off and the four small scars are healing nicely apart from a little residual bruising on one of them. After a while I do not think that you will be able to see them at all.  The scars are neat and starting to itch though which is driving me slightly crackers.  A lot of the swelling has gone now it is just down to nature to heal inside a bit more and then hopefully I can start exercising a bit and try and lose a bit more weight.  Slowly, slowly catch a monkey it will happen in time.  I am still watching what I eat and in reality, I am not eating as much as I used to and I do not seem to have the appetite I did before.  I am specifically trying not to eat...

When I was a little girl, my Nan had a small Wood/Coal Rayburn Range cooker in her tiny unfitted kitchen which kept the family warm during some really frozen cold winters as well as well as giving a wonderful facility for cooking really good food, making bread, and drying and ironing the laundry.  Like its much more expensive cousin the Aga, this type of Range Cooker is more a way of life and once you become used to them you never really want to be without them.  As I have said, my Nan had one, my Aunty R  had one and also my Uncle who had a farm also had one and they were a constant feature of my younger life.  Our PJs used to be warmed on them before getting ready for bed.  As well as the Range cooker, the cottage where my grandparents' lived had an open fire in the front best room and the dining room, and the house used to be really hot and toasty during the winter months as a result.  Later on my grandparents' moved with the times and had a Log Burner f...

I did a little too much on Saturday and have ended up paying for it in respect of tiring myself out.  It was good to be out do not misunderstand meI just did not appreciate how much it would take out of me even though I did hardly anything or walked around much. So for the past couple of days I have been a good girl (not easy for me at the best of times) as I either end up in situations up to my neck, or things completely wrapped round my ankles.  I guess I am a kind of all or nothing type.  Whatever I do, I do wholeheartedly and always with the purest of intent. I have rested up, and am doing a few things extra day by day.  Things are slowly getting back to some type of normal though, but I have to remember to be kind to myself along the way and still remember that it is still early days.  I do not need the pain medication at all at the moment, which I am pleased about, but I am still very tender.  Time will heal though. When we went out on Saturday, we ca...

Yesterday saw me back in the kitchen preparing stew with mashed potatoes for dinner.  I was cream crackered by the time I had finished, but the resulting meal was very warming and tasty.  OH seemed relieved that I had done the cooking! I am intent on eating properly now this operation is out of the way.  I do not intend to over-eat for the sake of things just enjoy sensible food that is tasty, but that will work with my system rather against it.  I am drinking far more than I was before, very little carbonated drinks, more Mint tea/Ginger tea to settle my stomach but also soothe the digestive system.  I am also trying to have veggies and fruit on a daily basis and certainly more roughage.  I am when a bit more with it going to make up some breakfast cereals for myself, including Granola and also a homemade Muesli which I have been making since the children were at home.  I am aiming to mix the meals up so that I do not have cereal every day but other v...

I would just like to thank everyone for their lovely comments over the past week.  It is very much appreciated. I have to admit it I am going slightly stir crazy.  I am still recuperating and had hoped that within the take it steady period ie the first two weeks that I would be able to do some of my crafting.  In reality I have been far too zonked out to concentrate and on days where I thought would have a go I have not been able to concentrate and more often than not have ended up asleep.  It is all part of the healing process and me listening to my body for a change and is after all early days still.  It is only a week since my actual operation and thus far slowly does it I am healing well and not doing more than I need to do. I never have made a very good patient at the best of times, but I know I cannot rush this.  The residual pain has disappeared. I am sore and tender though I am not taking as much on the pain killer front as I was initially just para...

I cannot believe it is now four days post-operation and I have gradually been getting that little bit better each day with the pain dissipating.  I honestly felt as though had been kicked by a horse or what I perceive as being kicked by a horse post operation.  It hurt, I was given morphine in ICU which worked like a dream.  Post op, I had been prescribed Codeine and also Paracetamol for pain control. I am going to be as frank as I can be without being offensive and relay what I did before the operation in terms of clothing just in case it helps someone else plan their gallbladder removal.  The pain relief if used consecutively is extremely efficient and works very well.  However, just do not take the Codeine on its own if it is prescribed, as this can with over use constipate you and your bowels need to come back as naturally as possible. When getting ready for the operation last Friday, I very much took into account, comfort warmth and safety over everything e...

I am okay and a bit more compass mentis. I must say that I had the best care I could possibly have had and what is more this time round the individual professionals actually listened to me. I was up at 6:00am on the day of surgery as the instructions were that after midnight I could only have sips of water and nothing to eat and that 6:30am was the cut off point for any liquids. I was directed to take my normal prescriptions as these were required.  (In a previous surgery I had been directed to come off the Hydroxychloroquinine (which is the medication for my autoimmune issues) 12 weeks before surgery as the surgeon for that particular procedure believed that it would interfere with the healing process. I therefore attended at Peterborough City Hospital as required by 7:30am. I was supposed to take a sample with me on admittance.  I had gone to the trouble of purchasing said sample pot but when I came to decant the liquid quickly fell out of the pot so I had to ask for one whe...

Today has been a pottering kind of day as was yesterday. Nothing much achieved and of course I have not been able to escape as I have had to stay at home. I am nearly all ready for my procedure tomorrow and I have invested in a larger size jogging bottoms for comfort's sake after the op.  I am a tad nervous to say the least, but it needs doing and perhaps as a result it will make me comfier overall which I certainly have not been for quite a few months. In the circumstances, I may be missing for a few days, but will get back as soon as I can. Take care everyone. Catch you soon. Pattypan x

Today we are into another month, it is St David's Day, Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) and is the third month of the year. The months are slipping away far too quickly for my liking or perhaps  I am starting to realise that I have far too much living to do.  Covid and the War in Ukraine, as well as increases in most bills, but particularly fuel costs are also impacting on this fragile world of ours. I am hopeful that the people of Ukraine come out of this awful situation with their freedom.  Freedom that we in the West take so much for granted.  Today I feel as though my wings have been clipped. I have attended the Drive through Covid Testing Tent at Peterborough City Hospital and participated in the Covid testing.  I am now in self-isolation until Friday.  I have been told that I will only hear something from the hospital if there is a problem and it will be by telephone call. Otherwise the surgery will progress as planned on Friday. I went to the Chemist thi...