Eternal Refuge

I had a really lovely weekend ... very busy on Saturday as I did some housework, then Toni came for some treatment as she has hurt her back again.  I actually first met her almost 30 years ago as a patient, and we rapidly became good friends.  Her treatment continued over the years, and she taught me to ride ... we used to laugh that if she had a bad treatment, she would give me a tough lesson (and vice versa!!)

Then Saturday afternoon I worked, and spent the evening chatting to a friend.

Sunday was Church, then a nice lazy day.

Yesterday ... umm, well the morning must have happened but I can't for the life of me remember anything special!  In the afternoon I worked.

This morning I have done some shopping, and just posted this weeks challenge in photo_scavenger already.  Now here, and working later.

So, before I get some icons made ....





7. When was the last time you thoroughly dusted and polished your furniture?
I do a thorough clean at least twice a year - everything out of cabinets, etc. But I do the surfaces of all the cabinets (and I have a lot) every week.

8. Have you ever been fishing?
No

9. Is there something that someone close to you does which really irritates you, but you’ve never said anything to them about it?
Lots!
Having been bullied for years you learn to not push yourself into a possible problem.

10. Have you ever made mayonnaise from scratch?
No - hee, I have better things to do with my time!



Right, I will try and catch up with you all tomorrow x

As I spent a lot of time on-line over Thursday & Friday, here, making icons and trying to sort something out for a friend, my old eye injury was not happy with me, so in the end I decided to take Saturday off from computers.

Then Sunday was, ae ever, a non-computer day.

yesterday I had Toni come round for some help & advice about a back injury.  Although I gave up my profession 14 years ago now, much of it is still there after 32 years of practice/training.  She was a very regular patient (in fact that's how we met).  So in some ways it was a bit scary to find the osteopathic brain cells again ... but in other ways it was nice to know how much was remembered, how automatic those cells in my brain started again.

Then in the afternoon I had arranged to meet a friend from the Church I used to go to.  She & I had been trying to organise this for ages, so despite the bad weather she ended up picking me up and we went to a garden centre instead of our original plans.  It was a lovely afternoon - in fact it was a good day, overall.

And today I had to be back to tell you what today's "celebration day" is.  Well, if you are going to celebrate something then lets go with one of todays ... International LEGO Day ... so worth me making sure I got back on-line today!  I visited Legoland Windsor in 2018, and will visit again at some point.

When I was 10 I took part in a local LEGO competition, and actually came in first. I got a large box of it, and this shield -



As I wasn't on-line yesterday I missed the A to Z challenge ... Week 5 – Jan 26 E is for EAST

That took some thinking but then I took the photograph of one of the plates, that had belonged to Mum & Dad (although I don't know where they got it), and there is the reverse ... japan is part of the Orient & the "East"




So, now I think we are all up to date ... so ...






25. Are you making a conscious effort to keep fit this year? What activities are you doing?
Yes & no!
I am trying to get back into walking ... and doing a few stretching exercises first thing in the morning.  Nothing serious and that way I hope I will stick to the plan.

26. Where is your favourite place in your home?
I like my study, where I am now.  But also like my comfy  seat in my lounge.
I think it mostly depends on my plan for the day - the time of year ... etc

27. Have you ever been boating?
No

28. Most countries have at least one example of a long-running soap on TV. Do you watch soaps (have you in the past)?
I used to watch Eastenders when it started ... and tended to watch Neighbours, as well, when I was with Mum & Dad, as they had their after-dinner cup of tea while watching it.





Right - I need to get on.

I have icons to post etc , so will also spend some time checking up on you at some point today x

Well I have voted, made some biscuits ... and now here before heading off to work again.

My leg is sore, but healing.  I somehow managed to do a partial tear of a muscle overnight, which is where I was hopping so badly yesterday ... it must have been a good(/bad) dream, or something!  My osteopath just laughed as he said he remembered me last year that I have managed to injure myself in odd ways in the past!

So I must get some lunch organised ... sorry that I am really going to be MIA over all, as I am working full time tomorrow, and then on Coronation Day I have more baking to do before getting to T&C's early, so that will be a long day as well.  Hopefully I will have 5 mins to say Hi, before the day takes over ... but if not, I will see you Monday.

As I am hoping to pop in Saturday I shall just do the 2 days ...


4 – Petite and Proud Day: Petite is used to describe a person about or under 162 cm / 5'4". Are you petite? Do you think petite women maybe have an easier time of it than short men? Would you (or have you) dated someone shorter than you?
I am "average" at 5'6"(ish) ... although compared with Harry Dresden I am short!

5 – Space Day: Ever wondered what lies beyond our skies? Do you think we'll ever have permanent human settlements on the moon, or on Mars?
I love sci fi ... but I think in reality it probably won't happen.



Right, let's get on x

As many of you know I used to be an osteopath, and gave up my profession 13 years ago ... wow, hadn't realised it was that long ago until I worked it out to type this!  Anyway, I got back from clinic this morning to find a text from Tim asking if I could give him some treatment if he walked home via my place as he is doing a load of DIY and has hurt his back.  So much for an afternoon making icons which had been the plan ... I will make a few, but I have got to clean my lounge.  I had been planning to do that this coming weekend, but then with Tim coming over, I need to get ahead of my plans.  They have a very minimalistic place, so little to dust etc ... I am the opposite! 

Still clinic was good - all 6 turned up, and although 2 of them were real add-balls it went smoothly.  I suppose it helped because we were the only clinic running in the urology team.

The other annoying thing about my brother is that I had a sports massage yesterday, so wanted the lazy afternoon to give the shoulders a real chance to settle.  I didn't get too much work done on the leg, but new exercises were given.  So positives all round.

Right, cleaning calls ... but before I head downstairs again -




6 – Chopsticks Day: Can you eat with chopsticks? If yes, how often do you use them?
Yes - in fact I was taught by someone who is Chinese. In fact, even if I get a take-away I still use chopsticks to eat a Chinese meal.



Right, I will try and catch up later, but possibly will end up having a lazy evening.

Hope all is well with you all x

It is hammering down with rain.

Add to that my ankle is killing me, as my osteopath worked on one of my torn muscles yesterday (I still think he is getting his own back on behalf of my patients).  However I suppose he can be tough on me as he knows that I know the treatment needed, and I will accept it rather than a normal patient.  (So the ice pack is handy today .... especially after the busy clinic this morning)

Oh well, no worries.

I still haven't sorted all the photos out yet, but I do want to get some icons done as somein30 closes soon, but before I go -


27. Do you prefer earphones or over the ear headphones?
Ovr the head

28. Do you remember when you first went on the internet?
Haven't a clue ... tooooooooooo long ago!

As I said 10 days ago. I was going on holiday for a week.  Yes, I arrived home on Sunday, later than expected as my fligh was delayed.

Yesterday I did work, but then in the afternoon I went to see an osteopath, as the last day of my holiday I re-injured my left calf/ankle.  OUCH!!  I did smile though as it was some time since I last had treatment so it was a case of a different osteopath ... his first question was in wondering how much I knew about the type of treamtent on offer ... so I smiled I admitted that 4 years training and 2 years in practice meant I possibly knew something!!  He was actually excited to meet someone who admitted to having spent my first year in the original college set up in 1917 (we moved buildings in 1980) ... since then the college has moved again and in the year before he qualified it changed name.  So I have my leg strapped ... and feeling sore.  Ironically I actually had no work today, so it will do me good to not have to be on my feet all morning.

So I am here to catch up .... edit some photos (yes, I took "a few"), and then post them ... so watch out, you are about to be spammed.

I shall reply to comments later, and catch up with some of you, although if I have missed something exciting, please let me know.

But, as ever, before I go -


13. Have you ever been to a drive-in theater?
No

14. Have you ever been on vacation with someone other than your family?
A school field trip when I was 17


See you later x

15 Are you right- or left-handed? How competent are you with your non-dominant hand?

Actually I am pretty ambi-dextrous.

Until I was 12 if you had asked be I would have said I was right-handed. However I changed judo instructors then, and the new teacher got annoyed with the previous one over me! He wanted to know why, it had never been questioned as to why I was not being taught right-handed techniques, as most fight right-handed. I argued that I was right, and he asked me to demonstrate a couple of break-falls, and a couple of hold-downns and, yes, I did them left handed!!

About 20 years ago I took up fencing, and learnt right handed, as most of the kit was right, and most people fight right-handed. However I injured my right shoulder about 5 years down the sign and my teacher suggested I tried left handed ... and I was able to swap automatically (in fact a couple of people commented that my posture was better)

So, yes, I write right-handed ... and I suppose I use scissors and knives in my right, but for most things I can use either. Although having severly injured my left hand 13 years ago, I suppose I am now more right-hand dominant, again.

When I was working as an osteopath I worked left-handed.

Nothing much happening here - although I am meant to be cleaning the house, as I have all the family coming for Saturday lunch. But, as ever, procrastination is ruling!

I have decided to cross-post my writing scribbles to AO3. Mostly it is to hope that in re-visiting the work I will get inspired to start scribbling again. Mind you, I have mostly written Spuffy, and although I still love those I have been reading quite a few Stargate fics (I ship Jack/Sam). So really need to re-watch BtVS again.



Well onwards I must head ... so will do my February meme ...

February 6 - Do doctors make you nervous?

They had better not!! I worked as an osteopath for 28 years, running my own business; and now work as a nurse in a large hospital. I suppose most worry about the diagnosis. But I am a great believer in the faster you get an answer, the faster you can get results ... and hopefully the better the outcome.

We do get people who are scared - more than I realised.



Anyway as a final thought I snagged this from enigmaticblues:

The problem with LJ/DW: we all think we are so close, but really, we know nothing about each other. So I want you to ask me something you think you should know about me. Something that should be obvious, but you have no idea about. Ask away. Then post this in your journal and find out what people don't know about you.

When we were kids we had a record player with a few 78's .... a few hymns, a version of Black Sambo, Peter & the Wolf .... and this amazing song. It became a true family favourite.



A couple of times they played it to people who were superior about their taste in music.

Tim has just sent me the link, so had to listen ... and had to share.

So you can listen while you ignore my ramble!

First let me apologise for my lack of LJ, lack of birthday wishes, lack of keeping up.  I started back at work this week, and although I only work 3 1/2 days a week I was absolutely shattered by the time I got home.  So my evenings were spent snoozing in front of thf the TV, and going to bed early.

6 years ago I was still an osteopath, and riding regularily.  Since then the chronic fatigue hit, and I spent time caring for Mum & Dad.  Everyone has been telling me that I need to find myself.  I haven't really had any "me" time ... ever.  Mum was very clingy, and it got worse over the years.  Yes, I knew she was like that and accepted it, but now it's hard to think that I only have myself (and Jiffy) to answer to.  Anyway, one thing I have decided to do is to join a gym ... gulp!  I never thought I would do such a thing.  The one I have joined has a pool, jacuzzi and sauna as well aas regular revues for the gym, and loads of classes.  So I have had the basic gym induction over the last couple of weeks ... and this morning I actually did my first session today.  I am aimimg to help my posture, build up my stamina and strengthen my core.  So, watch this space!!

I saw my osteopath again today, and he was pleased with how well by body has coped with the latest changes.

Poor Jiffy has to have surgery .... The infection in his anal gland is getting slowly worse, and the benign wart on his face is now being scrathed, so I presume it feels sore.  He is booked in for early October, so a nervous time for me, as he is over 10 now.

However to take my mind off things I took him to a nearby town for a lovely walk this afternoon ... in fact I even treated myself to an ice-cream.  However, as I was texting a very special friend, I still feel guilty, as there is housework that needs doing.  It feels wrong to fritter my time away, although I have to admit I feel pretty relaxed as I type this.

Well still haven't got round to reply to comments, but I really hope that now I am getting back into a routine I will have more focus and get caught up,   Also will be able to catch up with you all ... if I have missed anything, let me know.

Strictly Come Dancing has started, so must focus on that ... the countdown towards Christmas!!!!