As far as I can tell from local over-the-fence type talk, I am the only one who uses all of the settings on the washing machine. Okay, perhaps not every single one every single day. I have only used the setting for silk once or twice (hand crocheted blankets) and I very rarely use 'mini wash' as I tend to either get a decent wash together or I want the small amount of washing to have a good swish.
It may not seem it, after the disasters I have recounted on here, but I like to take a pride in my washing. I carefully consider the balance of washing programme and temperature together with washing powder, stain remover and white vinegar, to try and get the best out of my bottom of the range Hotpoint. I have actually had surprisingly few disasters considering I actively go looking for washing and even if something has only been worn briefly it still tends to go into the wash. And I very rarely (honest, despite what I have written in the past) have a problem with grey whites, stains or marks. I suspect it is because I use a relatively expensive powder (on offer) but also I tend to go for longer washes at lower temperatures and avoid tumble drying. I have been told, and believe, that the greatest energy cost with a washing machine is heating the water. That is why the dial is usually firmly set at 30 degrees unless it is for a particular purpose, like towels or sheets - or if I put on a 'boil' wash at top temperature with an empty drum to 'flush out' the washing machine. I did this last weekend.
The few washes I have done since have been low temperature ones anyway - the trusty 40 degrees synthetic wash that covers a lot of ground. However today I put in a load of white shirts for little bear and OH and put it on a '1' wash which is cotton 90 degrees, extrawash wash. I usually do this at 30 degrees with an extra shot of stain remover, just to tackle the odd bit of staining. Today I forgot to check the temperature dial.
I have checked one of OH's shirts on him, and it hasn't shrunk, so that is okay. And all of little bear's shirts have plenty of 'growing' in them so as long as they haven't shrunk much then they should be okay. I also suspect that the heating element on the washer is a bit suspect. The 'ready to wear' setting which is supposed to wash and dry within an hour (and even tumble dries if you have the drier function set to zero so if I want a really quick wash I have to use Quick Wash at 50 degrees, which is a bit longer and not quite as thorough) doesn't tumble dry any more. However I have yet to try ironing them. I really don't want to try that. It could all have gone horribly, expensively wrong if they are now permacreased to be as crumpled as cornflakes.
When I get my courage up to iron them, I will update.
Thursday, 4 October 2012
Miracle Recovery
Little bear is still a bit under the weather. It is at a level of 'mum worries' and not 'doctor notices' but he is still that bit tired, that bit run down. Last night I dragged him to piano lessons (not going well, this will not hurt him), then we did the supermarket shop which was trying as little bear was away with the fairies and needed steering all the time, and then home. Then bless him he bounced and jumped and kicked and punched (as in, practicing martial arts, he was as loving as usual to us) and fell over shot all the way through the bed time routine. He was asleep in record time.
Until 11pm. I heard a bit of a cry over the intercom as I was getting ready for bed and went upstairs to check. Little bear was just surfacing but in five minutes he was sobbing in pain. Poor little mite, he was clutching at his ankle and crying out, it hurt so much. I dosed him with calpol, gave him massive cuddles, checked his ankle as best as I could and went and got OH as little bear was now crying for his daddy.
We cuddled and fussed and checked the ankle. There was no swelling or redness and it seemed to be moving fine, as much as little bear could bear us to touch and move it. He was absolutely beside himself, telling us he had twisted his ankle in morning playtime. He was suffering so much he could barely sit still. In the end OH carried him downstairs so he could sleep on the sofa, near me. Once there I cuddled and fussed and joked and gently calmed him down. He cuddled down to sleep again around midnight.
About half an hour later he bounced in, happy to wake me up to tell me that his ankle was fine. This morning he was fine going to school. Not a problem, the ankle was doing great. So now I know I need to watch out for cramp in the ankle.
As a over fussing mum, he is still quite run down and I will be encouraging him to take it really easy tomorrow as he is off on a training day. Not too easy - he will be helping darling father in the garden, and there should be at least one little walk. But he is still clingy, for him, and wanting lots of cuddles. I can manage that.
Until 11pm. I heard a bit of a cry over the intercom as I was getting ready for bed and went upstairs to check. Little bear was just surfacing but in five minutes he was sobbing in pain. Poor little mite, he was clutching at his ankle and crying out, it hurt so much. I dosed him with calpol, gave him massive cuddles, checked his ankle as best as I could and went and got OH as little bear was now crying for his daddy.
We cuddled and fussed and checked the ankle. There was no swelling or redness and it seemed to be moving fine, as much as little bear could bear us to touch and move it. He was absolutely beside himself, telling us he had twisted his ankle in morning playtime. He was suffering so much he could barely sit still. In the end OH carried him downstairs so he could sleep on the sofa, near me. Once there I cuddled and fussed and joked and gently calmed him down. He cuddled down to sleep again around midnight.
About half an hour later he bounced in, happy to wake me up to tell me that his ankle was fine. This morning he was fine going to school. Not a problem, the ankle was doing great. So now I know I need to watch out for cramp in the ankle.
As a over fussing mum, he is still quite run down and I will be encouraging him to take it really easy tomorrow as he is off on a training day. Not too easy - he will be helping darling father in the garden, and there should be at least one little walk. But he is still clingy, for him, and wanting lots of cuddles. I can manage that.
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Do not Diagnose
My darling uncle is lovely, really lovely. He is a man with a heart the size of Wales and out for all he can give. I love him to bits, I really do.
Unfortunately I came very close to snapping at him today. I have intermittent heart failure. It has been diagnosed by blood tests, it makes a lot of sense of previous symptoms and the current big symptom of massively swollen hands and feet due to water retention (though fortunately no pain). I see the consultant in November. I had to go back to my GP and I am on water tablets to try and clear fluid from my lungs and they have allowed me to breathe a little better. So, definite test results, symptoms consistent with test results, referral consistent with test results. And I had had a nightmare last night about all the problems that were stacking up.
Darling uncle was explaining to me that actually it probably wasn't heart failure, it was gout. I changed the subject.
But gout??!
I could take to drink, I really could. Mind you, then I probably would get gout.
Unfortunately I came very close to snapping at him today. I have intermittent heart failure. It has been diagnosed by blood tests, it makes a lot of sense of previous symptoms and the current big symptom of massively swollen hands and feet due to water retention (though fortunately no pain). I see the consultant in November. I had to go back to my GP and I am on water tablets to try and clear fluid from my lungs and they have allowed me to breathe a little better. So, definite test results, symptoms consistent with test results, referral consistent with test results. And I had had a nightmare last night about all the problems that were stacking up.
Darling uncle was explaining to me that actually it probably wasn't heart failure, it was gout. I changed the subject.
But gout??!
I could take to drink, I really could. Mind you, then I probably would get gout.
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Woof!
Nice Next Door/Next Door But One (it's complicated, the son of Nice Mr Next Door has moved out of next door and into next door but one and they are all brilliant neighbours) has a dog. She is just coming out of puppy hood with all ears and paws and bounce. She is pure bred working sheep dog, so not a pure border collie (I think) but a large amount of border collie and I suspect some lurcher, together with a set of springs as the dog is taller than the average border collie, and seems to be permanently mid bounce.
Little bear is very nervous around her. She bounces and barks and runs up and down behind the garden wall when little bear was near and once pushed him quite hard when he had his back to a gap in her fence. When she rears up she is taller than him, with rough hard claws and did I mention the bounce? She makes Tigger look like he had just taken sleeping pills. And I think by the end of the week the 'nervous' is going to be up to 'terrified'.
There isn't a bad bone in the dog's body. She is a lovely, giddy, bouncy, jumping, mouthing, barking, cuddle stealing puppy. And while she has been able to jump out of the garden for a bit, she hasn't realised it. Until today, when I went to collect little bear from school and she was outside our gate. Fortunately she is good tempered and I just cuddled her into her garden and called her owners, before dashing off for little bear. That is a dog that will do almost anything for a cuddle. Unfortunately that 'almost' doesn't include 'stay still and don't bounce'. I have no chance of getting little bear to stroke her as she will certainly bounce, bark, jump up and generally terrify little bear. I find her rough and uncomfortable, and she isn't bigger than me. Little bear is also now a bit too timid to offer her treats, and besides, being offered treats means that she bounces, barks, jumps up, etc, etc, etc...
So not only do we now have to keep an eye out for the ginger gentleman when we let out evil cat, but also Bouncing Dog, who does see cats (except her own cats which are obviously part of the pack) as legitimate targets. I can see Bouncing Dog bouncing at the postman (and our postie is lovely) and random passers by and cars and the ginger gentleman's days of sauntering along our street to beat up the resident tom on the way to the next bit of food are definitely numbered. Bouncing Dog will definitely bounce at little bear as she has chased up and down after him as he ran past her one side of the wall as she was in her garden.
I believe the fence is going to get bigger. I just hope it will be big enough.
Little bear is very nervous around her. She bounces and barks and runs up and down behind the garden wall when little bear was near and once pushed him quite hard when he had his back to a gap in her fence. When she rears up she is taller than him, with rough hard claws and did I mention the bounce? She makes Tigger look like he had just taken sleeping pills. And I think by the end of the week the 'nervous' is going to be up to 'terrified'.
There isn't a bad bone in the dog's body. She is a lovely, giddy, bouncy, jumping, mouthing, barking, cuddle stealing puppy. And while she has been able to jump out of the garden for a bit, she hasn't realised it. Until today, when I went to collect little bear from school and she was outside our gate. Fortunately she is good tempered and I just cuddled her into her garden and called her owners, before dashing off for little bear. That is a dog that will do almost anything for a cuddle. Unfortunately that 'almost' doesn't include 'stay still and don't bounce'. I have no chance of getting little bear to stroke her as she will certainly bounce, bark, jump up and generally terrify little bear. I find her rough and uncomfortable, and she isn't bigger than me. Little bear is also now a bit too timid to offer her treats, and besides, being offered treats means that she bounces, barks, jumps up, etc, etc, etc...
So not only do we now have to keep an eye out for the ginger gentleman when we let out evil cat, but also Bouncing Dog, who does see cats (except her own cats which are obviously part of the pack) as legitimate targets. I can see Bouncing Dog bouncing at the postman (and our postie is lovely) and random passers by and cars and the ginger gentleman's days of sauntering along our street to beat up the resident tom on the way to the next bit of food are definitely numbered. Bouncing Dog will definitely bounce at little bear as she has chased up and down after him as he ran past her one side of the wall as she was in her garden.
I believe the fence is going to get bigger. I just hope it will be big enough.
Shopping fail
My feet are too swollen for socks. There are not many types of shoes that I can wear. I sent off for some from my friend ebay, and when they came the photo had been misleading. They didn't even have proper laces, nor a tongue, you just slipped your foot in. Which is fine, if you don't have swollen feet.
I could cry. I didn't even feel well enough to get them out of the box last week, I finally feel well enough and there they are - of no use at all to me. And it is too late to send them back.
I just feel so fed up. I have been trying to watch my spending, I have been postponing or not doing - but here I am, wasting £15. In the grand scheme of things £15 is not too bad, but it is a day's groceries. It is a piano lesson for little bear, it is a bundle of books for Christmas, it is a nice joint of beef.
Off to try and work out what to do about the trainers. I think I know someone who may be able to use them, so they won't be wasted. At least that is something.
I could cry. I didn't even feel well enough to get them out of the box last week, I finally feel well enough and there they are - of no use at all to me. And it is too late to send them back.
I just feel so fed up. I have been trying to watch my spending, I have been postponing or not doing - but here I am, wasting £15. In the grand scheme of things £15 is not too bad, but it is a day's groceries. It is a piano lesson for little bear, it is a bundle of books for Christmas, it is a nice joint of beef.
Off to try and work out what to do about the trainers. I think I know someone who may be able to use them, so they won't be wasted. At least that is something.
Autumn Cleaning?
For some reason I always feel like having a really good clean in autumn. I have no idea why, it just is when it seems to work for me. So I need to update the side bar - Operation Clutterbust is on the go!
Yesterday I happened in the kitchen. Today I hope to happen a little in the study.
I have felt a little down at times, with a 'where do I start!' feeling, but I have learned by long experience that just starting somewhere, even in the middle, is better than not starting at all.
I also have to do some in the study as darling father is about to paint the windows.
So, over two days I have cleared out eight binsacks above and beyond the normal rubbish, so that is something. I have just about scratched the surface, so I had better get a move on!
Yesterday I happened in the kitchen. Today I hope to happen a little in the study.
I have felt a little down at times, with a 'where do I start!' feeling, but I have learned by long experience that just starting somewhere, even in the middle, is better than not starting at all.
I also have to do some in the study as darling father is about to paint the windows.
So, over two days I have cleared out eight binsacks above and beyond the normal rubbish, so that is something. I have just about scratched the surface, so I had better get a move on!
Monday, 1 October 2012
Take the opportunity
I am taking a rare moment on the computer today. Little bear is still off poorly. This means that he is currently hogging the computer watching you tube tutorials for minecraft.
I am forcing him to take regular breaks and he will probably be fine tomorrow, but it is actually giving me an unexpected opportunity. It is an opportunity to catch up. I have finished sewing the second cushion for the living room (to match the waste paper bin) and I have plans to finish off a knitting project if possible. And I am also taking the opportunity to get a few bits sorted.
For example, I have cleared out a cupboard and had almost finished a part of the worktop that had been mounded up with stuff. I am throwing a lot of stuff out. For example, I have got rid of a Christmas cake that darling father brought in this time last year. I don't particularly care for it, neither does OH, nor darling father, nor little bear. That Christmas cake has squatted on my worktop and stared at me for a year. It is now gone. I've rearranged a few bits, sorted a few bobs, and I am well into my second bin sack.
On one level the amount of stuff going out that was once edible is biting at me. It is an awful waste. On the other hand there is less than there has been, and also I am saying, 'I have made a mistake, it is okay, pick up the pieces and keep going, just like in everything else'.
Actually admitting I have made a mistake and that I won't be superwoman and use up all the stuff is so liberating, I feel quite giddy! Now for the hardest trick - learning from my mistake. That means being careful what I order from Approved Food, being careful what I order from the supermarket, and being meticulous in getting items used up. And forgiving myself mistakes!
I am forcing him to take regular breaks and he will probably be fine tomorrow, but it is actually giving me an unexpected opportunity. It is an opportunity to catch up. I have finished sewing the second cushion for the living room (to match the waste paper bin) and I have plans to finish off a knitting project if possible. And I am also taking the opportunity to get a few bits sorted.
For example, I have cleared out a cupboard and had almost finished a part of the worktop that had been mounded up with stuff. I am throwing a lot of stuff out. For example, I have got rid of a Christmas cake that darling father brought in this time last year. I don't particularly care for it, neither does OH, nor darling father, nor little bear. That Christmas cake has squatted on my worktop and stared at me for a year. It is now gone. I've rearranged a few bits, sorted a few bobs, and I am well into my second bin sack.
On one level the amount of stuff going out that was once edible is biting at me. It is an awful waste. On the other hand there is less than there has been, and also I am saying, 'I have made a mistake, it is okay, pick up the pieces and keep going, just like in everything else'.
Actually admitting I have made a mistake and that I won't be superwoman and use up all the stuff is so liberating, I feel quite giddy! Now for the hardest trick - learning from my mistake. That means being careful what I order from Approved Food, being careful what I order from the supermarket, and being meticulous in getting items used up. And forgiving myself mistakes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)