Why is it when you have all the time in the world to do something, you put off till the last minute?
Every year I have been organising and hosting a "Family Challenge". The last 2 years, I've been working full time and have managed to carry off a massive event starting with a treasure hunt and ending with a pub quiz. This year, I hadn't even planned the treasure hunt until Thursday and the Challenge was planned for Friday!!! I have had all the time in the world to come up with the quiz questions and again I left it till the last minute...
Regardless, it was still a good event even though the treasure hunt involved walking and my family got soaked to the skin! However the rest of the day went well...the Hague Hippos took an early lead but the Xtra Factors were only ever a few points away...they were catching up and it was neck and neck for a while until the quick fire rounds kicked in. The first was a "Who's line is it anyway" round and involved me and J reciting a famous line from a film and the first team to guess the film and actor got 2 points. Even though the films ranged from 1960's to cartoons to recent films the Xtra Factors didn't stand a chance against my brother who always claimed he was Barry Norman/Jonathon Ross/Claudia Winkleman depending of which era you watched the "Film Programme". Even when my brother retired to bed with "food and drink issues" the Hague Hippos won and took the trophy back to Holland with them.
Hogmanay was a quiet evening. I had drinks with my good friend Debbie and had a wonderful girlie chat, along with a few vodkas and home at a sensible time so as to do my first footing without a hangover. Does all that make me sound old? Well, it is the big year after all...40th birthday planning starts here and now....
Monday, 2 January 2012
Week 25 - w/e Christmas Day!
I've been so busy recently that I haven't posted for about 3 weeks so I'm trying to catch up now...
The week running up to Christmas was magical. Partly the anticipation of my family arriving from Holland and just the general excitement of this time of year!
It's was a busy week but I managed to escape the madness of the shops - my Sainsbury's food order was delivered on Tuesday and all my Christmas presents were ordered online too. I did venture into the city on Wednesday for a lunch date with an old work colleague and was surprised that it wasn't mobbed - has everyone done their shopping online?
On mad Friday I met up with some of my work colleagues for a few drinks - it was great to catch up with them. But I ducked out early mainly because I didn't want a hangover on Christmas eve and also to get home for Skyebird.
On Christmas Eve my family arrived from Holland. I had to put a poster up in my sun porch to make sure Santa knew that J was staying at my house. I think J was impressed.
The energy levels intensified with a 7 year old in the house and I can say it truly made my Christmas complete. We told J that he could not get up on Christmas morning before 7.30am (in an attempt to give the adults a chance to get a good sleep) but at 7.29am all 3 bedroom doors opened and all adults said to J "We've been up for ages waiting on you" - I think we were just as excited as him. First thing - check that the beer, banana cake and carrot had been eaten then we tiptoed into the living room and lo-and-behold a massive sack of presents were waiting for J.
So many gifts!
The meal had been meticulously planned over the whole day with lots of gaps between courses so we didn't end up feeling stuffed. Each person had a chance to cook or present something they baked earlier so it was a combined effort and I think it went really well. My brother cooked the main course and during the course, we were joined by some friends:
The week running up to Christmas was magical. Partly the anticipation of my family arriving from Holland and just the general excitement of this time of year!
It's was a busy week but I managed to escape the madness of the shops - my Sainsbury's food order was delivered on Tuesday and all my Christmas presents were ordered online too. I did venture into the city on Wednesday for a lunch date with an old work colleague and was surprised that it wasn't mobbed - has everyone done their shopping online?
On mad Friday I met up with some of my work colleagues for a few drinks - it was great to catch up with them. But I ducked out early mainly because I didn't want a hangover on Christmas eve and also to get home for Skyebird.
On Christmas Eve my family arrived from Holland. I had to put a poster up in my sun porch to make sure Santa knew that J was staying at my house. I think J was impressed.
The energy levels intensified with a 7 year old in the house and I can say it truly made my Christmas complete. We told J that he could not get up on Christmas morning before 7.30am (in an attempt to give the adults a chance to get a good sleep) but at 7.29am all 3 bedroom doors opened and all adults said to J "We've been up for ages waiting on you" - I think we were just as excited as him. First thing - check that the beer, banana cake and carrot had been eaten then we tiptoed into the living room and lo-and-behold a massive sack of presents were waiting for J.
So many gifts!
The meal had been meticulously planned over the whole day with lots of gaps between courses so we didn't end up feeling stuffed. Each person had a chance to cook or present something they baked earlier so it was a combined effort and I think it went really well. My brother cooked the main course and during the course, we were joined by some friends:
Who can beat a line up like that at Christmas time?
Week 24 - w/e 18th Dec
Well, I think I've cracked Skye's toilet issues. On a desperate day when she hadn't done anything at all (and I'd been out with her 5 or 6 times waiting patiently for her) I took drastic steps and let her off the lead and miraculously she circled there and then and did it. What a result. I swear she looked at me as if to say "what took you so long to get it?". Since then we have a little routine which involves surveillance of the area prior to letting Skye off lead so she can do what she has to then straight back to the house. It seems to work though she's still puzzled at the new routine.
She's been getting lots of reiki from me and we also had a visit from my animal healer, Bob, who has helped Skye enormously over the last few years. He was able to tell me which areas to concentrate on.
The week ended with a night out with the lovely yoga girls on Friday and a meal with friends on Saturday (I think I posted about the aromas in my kitchen when I was cooking on Saturday). It's been a week of indulgent food and I think it's going to continue through the rest of December...
The rest of the week has been Christmas planning. I am hosting Christmas this year and feel remarkably organised - presents wrapped and massive food order placed.
She's been getting lots of reiki from me and we also had a visit from my animal healer, Bob, who has helped Skye enormously over the last few years. He was able to tell me which areas to concentrate on.
The week ended with a night out with the lovely yoga girls on Friday and a meal with friends on Saturday (I think I posted about the aromas in my kitchen when I was cooking on Saturday). It's been a week of indulgent food and I think it's going to continue through the rest of December...
The rest of the week has been Christmas planning. I am hosting Christmas this year and feel remarkably organised - presents wrapped and massive food order placed.
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Aromas in my kitchen
Who's idea was it to ban consumption of alcohol in my house in December?
In a moment of madness I decided I wouldn't drink alcohol in the house on my own for one month. It was an attempt to save calories for the big day but it is torture when I actually have to open a bottle of wine to put into a casserole. I have just made the most delicious stew for friends coming over tonight - it's a Catalan beef stew with a twist - the twist being that it has chocolate, cinnamon and orange in it - how very festive. Well, I can say that my kitchen smells mouth-wateringly good and the other half of the bottle of red is teasing me...roll on 8pm when my friends arrive.
In a moment of madness I decided I wouldn't drink alcohol in the house on my own for one month. It was an attempt to save calories for the big day but it is torture when I actually have to open a bottle of wine to put into a casserole. I have just made the most delicious stew for friends coming over tonight - it's a Catalan beef stew with a twist - the twist being that it has chocolate, cinnamon and orange in it - how very festive. Well, I can say that my kitchen smells mouth-wateringly good and the other half of the bottle of red is teasing me...roll on 8pm when my friends arrive.
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Week 23
Oops...with all the excitement of getting Skye home, I totally forgot to do my weekly update.
The major news, of course, was Skye's operation. Now that she's home it's actually been quite tough to adapt. Skye has a new lease of life and is desperate to get outside and run and jump but she is restricted to the house for a month and, even in the house, she is not allowed upstairs, on the sofa or on her look-out post in my sun porch. And on top of that, her food has been reduced by a third. The quizzing looks she's giving me are unreal. She's allowed out to do her business but she's quite fussy about where she goes and it's a battle of wills to get her to go. I try to stay calm. I've tried the encouragement route and the silent route and nothing works. If I persevere, I WILL manage to break her OCD over her toilet movements.
I had my mum up for dinner on Saturday night and I made quite a feast: a roast chicken and trimmings followed by Jamie Oliver's Apple Pepper Pot Cake which was truly delicious. You can probably tell that I am a huge Jamie fan and most of my favourite meals come from his recipes but I just love his enthusiasm for food.
The week has also been about Christmas planning. I put my tree up - and I'm so chuffed with it. I have a purple tree - I don't think my photos will do it justice but I promise you it looks great.
So the party season is upon us and I have my first Christmas party next week followed by a dinner party at my house with some friends. More cooking which I'm loving...
The major news, of course, was Skye's operation. Now that she's home it's actually been quite tough to adapt. Skye has a new lease of life and is desperate to get outside and run and jump but she is restricted to the house for a month and, even in the house, she is not allowed upstairs, on the sofa or on her look-out post in my sun porch. And on top of that, her food has been reduced by a third. The quizzing looks she's giving me are unreal. She's allowed out to do her business but she's quite fussy about where she goes and it's a battle of wills to get her to go. I try to stay calm. I've tried the encouragement route and the silent route and nothing works. If I persevere, I WILL manage to break her OCD over her toilet movements.
I had my mum up for dinner on Saturday night and I made quite a feast: a roast chicken and trimmings followed by Jamie Oliver's Apple Pepper Pot Cake which was truly delicious. You can probably tell that I am a huge Jamie fan and most of my favourite meals come from his recipes but I just love his enthusiasm for food.
The week has also been about Christmas planning. I put my tree up - and I'm so chuffed with it. I have a purple tree - I don't think my photos will do it justice but I promise you it looks great.
So the party season is upon us and I have my first Christmas party next week followed by a dinner party at my house with some friends. More cooking which I'm loving...
Friday, 9 December 2011
Skye's Home!
I am happy to report that Skye got home today. Her operation was on Wednesday and she seems to be recovering very well.
The orthopaedic vet at East Neuk Veterinary Clinic did a grand job - he removed 3 chips of bone from Skye's left leg and discovered a crack in her right elbow so he removed the damaged bone there too. His instincts were right about her right leg and I am happy that he persuaded me to have a look at both elbows at the same time because we've saved Skye a second operation. I guess that's why he's got such a credible reputation.
I'm over the moon that she's ok and very grateful that she was well looked after.
Now that she's home, it's a bit confusing for her. All doors are closed and rugs have been put down to save her sliding on my floor. She's not allowed upstairs and there are obstacles guarding the sofas - making sure she doesn't jump up onto her favourite sleeping area. Her walk now consists of a 2 minute stop on my front lawn to give her a chance to do her business and then it's back into the house. She must be so confused. Reiki healing starts today.
Here's Skye looking rather sorry for herself with her shaved legs and bandages (though I'm relieved that she doesn't have to wear a lampshade collar):
The orthopaedic vet at East Neuk Veterinary Clinic did a grand job - he removed 3 chips of bone from Skye's left leg and discovered a crack in her right elbow so he removed the damaged bone there too. His instincts were right about her right leg and I am happy that he persuaded me to have a look at both elbows at the same time because we've saved Skye a second operation. I guess that's why he's got such a credible reputation.
I'm over the moon that she's ok and very grateful that she was well looked after.
Now that she's home, it's a bit confusing for her. All doors are closed and rugs have been put down to save her sliding on my floor. She's not allowed upstairs and there are obstacles guarding the sofas - making sure she doesn't jump up onto her favourite sleeping area. Her walk now consists of a 2 minute stop on my front lawn to give her a chance to do her business and then it's back into the house. She must be so confused. Reiki healing starts today.
Here's Skye looking rather sorry for herself with her shaved legs and bandages (though I'm relieved that she doesn't have to wear a lampshade collar):
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Week 22
The tension mounts. A new month brings new events. Skye had an appointment at the orthopaedic vet in Fife on 1st December and the outcome is that she will be getting an operation on her elbows on Wednesday - OMG - the worry....
I may have mentioned earlier that Skye has been limping on and off for a couple of years now. Since our road trip and the cold weather setting in, Skye has been getting slower and slower. It's painful to watch a healthy 8 year old dog walking like a teenage dog. My mind was made up in the summer that now is a good time to operate. The only problem was that the vet and I could not agree which leg Skye was limping on. I am adamant that she has problems on her left leg and we have the results of a CT scan (from 2 years ago) that show she has a fissure in her left leg. However the vet is certain that Skye is limping on her right leg. And you don't want to argue with a vet - they know what they're talking about.
So a compromise was reached: they will operate on Wednesday and remove the fissure in her left leg and ALSO use a scope to investigate the right leg. If something shows up, operate accordingly. So both legs will have keyhole surgery and Skye will likely be kept in till Friday. Thereafter she will be house-bound for the rest of December and then on restricted exercise for another month after that. Poor Skye. She will get lots of reiki to help her body heal quickly and I've arranged for my mum to come up at the weekend to give her TLC too.
The rest of the week was pretty busy...a night out with the girls on Friday to celebrate Debbie's birthday - Happy Birthday Debs! Then, following my work at the Guide Dogs on Sunday, I went to my dad's house for tea. Amazingly, for the first time EVER, my dad cooked for us - a succulent fillet steak cooked perfectly for me...thanks Dad (I had to mention this because my dad only ever reads my blog when he gets a mention).
Oh well, I'm a bit distracted just now so I'll leave it there for now...I just hope everything goes well tomorrow for my beautiful Skyebird.
I may have mentioned earlier that Skye has been limping on and off for a couple of years now. Since our road trip and the cold weather setting in, Skye has been getting slower and slower. It's painful to watch a healthy 8 year old dog walking like a teenage dog. My mind was made up in the summer that now is a good time to operate. The only problem was that the vet and I could not agree which leg Skye was limping on. I am adamant that she has problems on her left leg and we have the results of a CT scan (from 2 years ago) that show she has a fissure in her left leg. However the vet is certain that Skye is limping on her right leg. And you don't want to argue with a vet - they know what they're talking about.
So a compromise was reached: they will operate on Wednesday and remove the fissure in her left leg and ALSO use a scope to investigate the right leg. If something shows up, operate accordingly. So both legs will have keyhole surgery and Skye will likely be kept in till Friday. Thereafter she will be house-bound for the rest of December and then on restricted exercise for another month after that. Poor Skye. She will get lots of reiki to help her body heal quickly and I've arranged for my mum to come up at the weekend to give her TLC too.
The rest of the week was pretty busy...a night out with the girls on Friday to celebrate Debbie's birthday - Happy Birthday Debs! Then, following my work at the Guide Dogs on Sunday, I went to my dad's house for tea. Amazingly, for the first time EVER, my dad cooked for us - a succulent fillet steak cooked perfectly for me...thanks Dad (I had to mention this because my dad only ever reads my blog when he gets a mention).
Oh well, I'm a bit distracted just now so I'll leave it there for now...I just hope everything goes well tomorrow for my beautiful Skyebird.
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