My father had what the doctors think was a stroke on Friday night. He sold at a table top sale on Saturday morning, went to Church on Sunday morning and was drinking whisky and watching Liverpool win on Sunday afternoon.
His left side is very weak and he is very tired. Nothing could persuade him to go to A&E. I tried but he won't do something he doesn't want to. So this morning I went and stood in the GPs surgery and as they didn't have any appointments the GP rang him and insisted that he went to A&E. My father actually listened to him.
He is likely to be in for a few days, so I will juggle a few things to be able to visit, fuss etc. He will miss out on his holiday to Benidorm and (selfishly) we will miss out on our first weekend away without bear since he was born. To be honest, I am less upset at that than I am worried about father. However he looks like he will be fine.
Monday, 30 September 2013
Sunday, 29 September 2013
Beautiful Day
It is a beautiful day here, we went to another local farm shop which was brilliant, though not as inexpensive in general. Bear has just made (with a significant contribution from DH) the creamy sweetcorn soup which was delicious. He ate a whole bowl full as well - he will be doing more cooking in future.
Darling father is poorly. I have tried to persuade him that an out of hours doctor or A&E is the way to go. He is adamant that he will go to the GPs tomorrow. I cannot force another adult to do something they do not want to do. Father is expert at nodding, smiling and doing what he decides to do. I am really worried.
So I am trying to just enjoy the day, popping in regularly to see father and pottering around. We have expensive lamb pinwheels for dinner, from the new farm shop, and I picked up some fresh ginger to go in apple crumbles.
Off to look into the practicalities of getting a second freezer, sending a gift to a relative and things to do in Cardiff - lots of fluff to try and ignore the worry. I wish I was as expert at getting people to do what I want as I am at worrying.
Darling father is poorly. I have tried to persuade him that an out of hours doctor or A&E is the way to go. He is adamant that he will go to the GPs tomorrow. I cannot force another adult to do something they do not want to do. Father is expert at nodding, smiling and doing what he decides to do. I am really worried.
So I am trying to just enjoy the day, popping in regularly to see father and pottering around. We have expensive lamb pinwheels for dinner, from the new farm shop, and I picked up some fresh ginger to go in apple crumbles.
Off to look into the practicalities of getting a second freezer, sending a gift to a relative and things to do in Cardiff - lots of fluff to try and ignore the worry. I wish I was as expert at getting people to do what I want as I am at worrying.
Saturday, 28 September 2013
Spending Again
We had a visit to Headingley. We got rid of a lot of surplus books to a charity shop and had a nice breakfast. Bear had eggs with soldiers. It was looking promising for breakfast battles, until he decided it made his head ache. I suspect the cold has well and truly got into his ears and sinuses which is giving him headaches, so I shall hold it in reserve.
Bear did get a joke book, two Doctor Who books and a Cyberman from the charity shop. I am trying to have less in the house but bear definitely deserved a treat. Apart from being generally lovely he also had been mentioned in the Special Book in Assembly at school and actually told us about it!
We called into Makro on the way back. I could do with one of those supermarket apps on my phone. I don't intend to use my phone for shopping, but it would help if I was going around Makro if I could compare their prices with the supermarket, as well as adding the VAT on. Makro is a wholesalers, so should in theory be less expensive. However I have noticed that quite often the big supermarkets have better deals. You really do need to be so careful when shopping. Even buying in bulk isn't always cost effective!
Today I spent over £50. This is a lot of money. I made two impulse buys. I bought 36 rolls of kitchen roll at a very reasonable price, as I was running out anyway. Even allowing for smallish rolls and fragile paper it was a good deal at £4.99 + VAT. I also bought two doormats of middling quality for £1 each. I think the lady on the desk was instructed to suggest them. They are great for inside and outside the bottom door. I deliberately bought 400 bin liners. I have had them before, they are really strong and tough and work out at @ 6p each (allowing for VAT - I used a calculator). I also got my white vinegar £2.99 for 5 l which is the best price I have found at the moment. Tesco must be noticing the demand for white vinegar - they have their distilled vinegar at 49p for just over half a litre, or @ £4.80 for 5 l. I skipped the dishwasher tablets as I still had some left and I couldn't get the price I wanted, but a sonic screwdriver sort of accidentally slipped in the trolley as we went around. Add in a tub of sweets for a friend and it was a quick in and out.
This afternoon is bear time. I am looking forward to it.
Bear did get a joke book, two Doctor Who books and a Cyberman from the charity shop. I am trying to have less in the house but bear definitely deserved a treat. Apart from being generally lovely he also had been mentioned in the Special Book in Assembly at school and actually told us about it!
We called into Makro on the way back. I could do with one of those supermarket apps on my phone. I don't intend to use my phone for shopping, but it would help if I was going around Makro if I could compare their prices with the supermarket, as well as adding the VAT on. Makro is a wholesalers, so should in theory be less expensive. However I have noticed that quite often the big supermarkets have better deals. You really do need to be so careful when shopping. Even buying in bulk isn't always cost effective!
Today I spent over £50. This is a lot of money. I made two impulse buys. I bought 36 rolls of kitchen roll at a very reasonable price, as I was running out anyway. Even allowing for smallish rolls and fragile paper it was a good deal at £4.99 + VAT. I also bought two doormats of middling quality for £1 each. I think the lady on the desk was instructed to suggest them. They are great for inside and outside the bottom door. I deliberately bought 400 bin liners. I have had them before, they are really strong and tough and work out at @ 6p each (allowing for VAT - I used a calculator). I also got my white vinegar £2.99 for 5 l which is the best price I have found at the moment. Tesco must be noticing the demand for white vinegar - they have their distilled vinegar at 49p for just over half a litre, or @ £4.80 for 5 l. I skipped the dishwasher tablets as I still had some left and I couldn't get the price I wanted, but a sonic screwdriver sort of accidentally slipped in the trolley as we went around. Add in a tub of sweets for a friend and it was a quick in and out.
This afternoon is bear time. I am looking forward to it.
Friday, 27 September 2013
Bear Notices Everything
I made a steamed pudding today. The recipe is from Hamlyn All Colour Cookbook 200 More Slow Cooker Recipes. There is a lot of fine detail but the nuts and bolts are you take half a tin of cherry pie filling and put it in the base of a pudding basin. Then you add a made up packet of Madeira cake mix and steam for three and one half hours in the slow cooker. Serve with the rest of the pie filling heated and custard.
First of all I couldn't find a tin of cherry pie filling. I ended up using a cherry compote (how much!?) from Tesco. I didn't have a 1.5 l pudding basin and the 2 l basin wouldn't fit in the slow cooker so I used a 1.2 l basin. Then there was the Madeira cake mix. I normally never buy these, as I don't make many cakes, but I had seen this recipe and the mixes were on Approved Food, so I invested a very small amount of money. It is just as well. I had to add two eggs, a third of a pint of milk and three ounces of butter - I felt as if I had basically bought a very small bag of flour. Once the three mixes are used up I shall try with basic sponge mixtures.
The steaming went okay, I have invested in pudding basins with lids, as I want to try them out in the microwave as well. The mixture was really a bit too much for the basin and nearly pushed the lid off.
It was late by the time we sat down to eat. After lovely cod in milk, broccoli and home made halogen chips (veg box came today) I looked warily at bear who was still eating his cod. I texted DH, 'Steamed pudding, should we give bear any?'
Bear looked up. 'I'd like custard on mine,' he said firmly, pushing his plate away.
The steamed pudding was quite nice, actually. I'll try it next time with a little less in the basin and see how it goes. I just wonder how bear can read my texts with his back to me and DH.
First of all I couldn't find a tin of cherry pie filling. I ended up using a cherry compote (how much!?) from Tesco. I didn't have a 1.5 l pudding basin and the 2 l basin wouldn't fit in the slow cooker so I used a 1.2 l basin. Then there was the Madeira cake mix. I normally never buy these, as I don't make many cakes, but I had seen this recipe and the mixes were on Approved Food, so I invested a very small amount of money. It is just as well. I had to add two eggs, a third of a pint of milk and three ounces of butter - I felt as if I had basically bought a very small bag of flour. Once the three mixes are used up I shall try with basic sponge mixtures.
The steaming went okay, I have invested in pudding basins with lids, as I want to try them out in the microwave as well. The mixture was really a bit too much for the basin and nearly pushed the lid off.
It was late by the time we sat down to eat. After lovely cod in milk, broccoli and home made halogen chips (veg box came today) I looked warily at bear who was still eating his cod. I texted DH, 'Steamed pudding, should we give bear any?'
Bear looked up. 'I'd like custard on mine,' he said firmly, pushing his plate away.
The steamed pudding was quite nice, actually. I'll try it next time with a little less in the basin and see how it goes. I just wonder how bear can read my texts with his back to me and DH.
Recipe for Fun
Last night I made colcannon for the first time. It would have been a lot nicer if the cabbage had been a little less crunchy, but I'll know next time. Bear helped me by reading out the recipe. I have accidentally started something.
Bear looked carefully at the beginning of beginning of the book. He has a thorough, logical mind. Then he found a recipe for creamy sweetcorn soup. He thought it sounded wonderful. DH very, very kindly agreed to 'help' bear make it. So in today's delivery I shall be getting ingredients for the creamy sweetcorn soup.
There are some downsides. The soup will have to be for lunch as the dinners for the next few days is already sketched in, including stuff that is on the delivery from the Market that I can't alter. I will have to excavate the kitchen so that all is ready for bear to cook. I had today marked for other things. I will have to find the hand blender. I am also a bit nervous as I couldn't get the fresh chives that is required for the garnish, nor could I get the right sort of ham to chop for garnish. I am not sure how bear's literal view on life will cope with substitutions. I couldn't find an exact amount for the sweetcorn either.
On the bright side, bear will be learning to cook - thankfully from a less expensive cookbook. Thinking about it, I don't have many more expensive cookbooks, they all tend to be about cheap food. This one is potato recipes and has a lot of healthy food in. So far bear has read three recipes and thinks that they all sound delicious. He wants to make them all. I can't remember much of my own cookery lessons, but never brought home anything edible. I hope that bear will be learning about 'real' cookery. I can try budgeting and shopping in there as well. And it's a great incentive for me to keep the kitchen clear. That is, if this phase lasts any length of time. I hope it does, I think it will be great fun!
Bear looked carefully at the beginning of beginning of the book. He has a thorough, logical mind. Then he found a recipe for creamy sweetcorn soup. He thought it sounded wonderful. DH very, very kindly agreed to 'help' bear make it. So in today's delivery I shall be getting ingredients for the creamy sweetcorn soup.
There are some downsides. The soup will have to be for lunch as the dinners for the next few days is already sketched in, including stuff that is on the delivery from the Market that I can't alter. I will have to excavate the kitchen so that all is ready for bear to cook. I had today marked for other things. I will have to find the hand blender. I am also a bit nervous as I couldn't get the fresh chives that is required for the garnish, nor could I get the right sort of ham to chop for garnish. I am not sure how bear's literal view on life will cope with substitutions. I couldn't find an exact amount for the sweetcorn either.
On the bright side, bear will be learning to cook - thankfully from a less expensive cookbook. Thinking about it, I don't have many more expensive cookbooks, they all tend to be about cheap food. This one is potato recipes and has a lot of healthy food in. So far bear has read three recipes and thinks that they all sound delicious. He wants to make them all. I can't remember much of my own cookery lessons, but never brought home anything edible. I hope that bear will be learning about 'real' cookery. I can try budgeting and shopping in there as well. And it's a great incentive for me to keep the kitchen clear. That is, if this phase lasts any length of time. I hope it does, I think it will be great fun!
Thursday, 26 September 2013
The Pain of Christmas Cards
School have sent home a sort of leaflet thingy and bear has to draw a Christmas picture and then the firm turns it into a Christmas card and the doting parents buy the Christmas cards.
Bear doesn't want to do this. But he doesn't want to be the only child in the class not doing it. I would rather give the money directly to school. However I am about to dig out coloured paper and Christmas stickers and cobble together something that will eventually be sent off to doting relatives.
It isn't even Halloween yet.
I don't know who is more reluctant - bear or me. Still, I suppose it is a life lesson. Sometimes you just have to get on with it.
Funeral Home Coffee Morning
The Funeral Home at the end of the street had a coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer this morning. It's a day early but it had to fit in with various annual leave and commitments to the business.
It was really lovely, we had a nice chat, some gorgeous cakes and a very pleasant cup of tea. They are now firmly on my 'places to call in for a cup of gossip' list. Sadly there weren't many attending. In fact I think we were the first. It was such a shame as the cakes were amazing! I bought some raffle tickets as well.
The house is slowly getting emptier. I got rid of a couple of bin bags yesterday. I am having a bit of a pause because I want to see if DF wants the tools/wallpapering kit that I have found, but his room is stuffed with 'stuff' for the table top sale. Today I plan to attack ironing, but this evening I plan to sort through the books.
Sorting through the books is going to be interesting. I am trying to organise a 'Sunday afternoon is reading time' slot, because we have a lot of books, we really want to read them, but we never seem to get around to it. So I am trying to lever in reading time. It will be good for bear as well. Negotiations are ongoing about him reading at home. Last year his teacher let him off reading at home as he reads at bedtime. This year I think he needs to step up.
He also needs to research American Indian animals. It's the start of 'computer based homework' isn't it? I could take him into town, look at books and make some notes. However it is so much easier to look at Wikipedia.
It was really lovely, we had a nice chat, some gorgeous cakes and a very pleasant cup of tea. They are now firmly on my 'places to call in for a cup of gossip' list. Sadly there weren't many attending. In fact I think we were the first. It was such a shame as the cakes were amazing! I bought some raffle tickets as well.
The house is slowly getting emptier. I got rid of a couple of bin bags yesterday. I am having a bit of a pause because I want to see if DF wants the tools/wallpapering kit that I have found, but his room is stuffed with 'stuff' for the table top sale. Today I plan to attack ironing, but this evening I plan to sort through the books.
Sorting through the books is going to be interesting. I am trying to organise a 'Sunday afternoon is reading time' slot, because we have a lot of books, we really want to read them, but we never seem to get around to it. So I am trying to lever in reading time. It will be good for bear as well. Negotiations are ongoing about him reading at home. Last year his teacher let him off reading at home as he reads at bedtime. This year I think he needs to step up.
He also needs to research American Indian animals. It's the start of 'computer based homework' isn't it? I could take him into town, look at books and make some notes. However it is so much easier to look at Wikipedia.
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