Lazy cake posting!

To save time as time has passed... and I hope the organiser does not object - easy to delete if so - I report her report on the CCC that I managed to get to in April when I had missed February and November.  All the cakes contained alcohol but it was difficult to detect!   Various portions of cakes came home for the freezer and are almost gone!  They were delicious. Yum Yum but not good for my tum. Increasingly, I am avoiding wheat and some grains that make diverticulosis unhappy!  One colonoscopy experience is more than enough.  After 40 + years, when I have on about six occasions found myself in hospital, unable to function, I am increasingly aware of my food intake!

It never ceases to amaze me about not only the quality OF the taste of the cake but moreover the shape, design, flavourings, ingredients, decoration and more.   EVEN more fun is the STORY that comes with the cake from its baker.  I really would have liked our club to have collated recipes for the cakes. I think it would have made a very good publishable book...

NOT TOO LATE Jean!

Cakes and ill health but now I am betterererer

The recent E-coli UT infection, which I believe I have had for six months, trying to cure naturally, prevented me from going to the CCC.  Damn it!

My first cake baked in my newly second hand oven was not the "Love is in the air" themed planned recipe. HOWEVER I will make it for the next guest!  That'll be a laugh!!!!!!!! (in-joke!)

My first cake baked in my splendid gifted but paid for oven was a Lemon Drizzle cake without icing to share with my friend who likes low sugar products and hardly eats cakes.  I wanted and needed to bake once that course of antibiotics had given me more energy by hopefully wiping out the infection. I am being monitored!

So... cake it was ... butter, sugar, 4 eggs, ground almonds and hazelnuts, maize flour, (the recipe said cornmeal and I got that wrong thankfully!!!) drenched in lemon zest and juice.. nice with  freshly sliced pear...improving with age whilst kept wrapped in the refrigerator!   I AM VERY HAPPY WITH MY OVEN!!!!!

Since then I have baked a baby chicken, roasted stuffed red peppers with fennel, roasted veg including a new one for me roasted broccoli and made jacket potatoes...I need English potatoes please!!!

When nightingales sing pleasure

'La grippe'... as a posting title has been altered because at 15h32 on 5 march 2015 there had been 445 views on that day alone....statistics tell me a large audience in France...
Well.. it certainly took a grip! It is said that the flu vaccine would not have fought against this current virus,  so I am glad I did not have it, even though the French medical system offered it to me for the first time this year.  Such is my age! It is also said that having the 'flu' is the best vaccine against contracting any future influenza virus in the next few years. For that, I hope to be blessed.  It is not an illness to be taken lightly and anyone who says they have it when they have only a serious cold is not to be pitied.  Yesterday morning I made a few steps to the postbox but returned to the warmth of my room coughing, fit only for lying dormant again. The cough linctus didn't take long to swig but methinks it only pacifies rather than cures.
In the evening, the air  was warm so before the sparkling sun set to bed I walked in the opposite direction to town, to descend to the village with sun in my eyes.   Quite an exhausted me returned home!  It is fascinating how the body and mind insists one closes down all faculties in order to heal.  I have slept such a lot and could still sleep more.  Now two weeks and three days since this started, it is a wonder how the body and the mind begin to wish to circulate, walk, breathe fresh air, so that gradually, 'pas a pas', one returns to normal life, whatever that is!  Fortunately, as the second week progressed I was able to do cerebral activities, to keep some semblance of self-respect about my person and domesticity. To stave off the humdrum of confinement I found several YT videos of Jane Austen novels and it has been good to return to the history and culture of England.  Emma. Persuasion.  Northanger Abbey. Mansfield Park. (can't find Sense & Sensibility for free).  Pride & Prejudice 1995 BBCTV series was an epic watch in small doses. If only there were more Colin Firth / Mr Darcy characters available!  Far from being Restless I have been fairly calm, getting on with neglected tasks, lazy, yet looking AT unending chores in house and garden, knowing that in a few weeks time, cuckoos and nightingales sing pleasure and distraction for woodland walks! 

Feeling less tired and shouldering self responsibiltiy

Possibly it was the after effects of the anaesthesia, morphine and other drugs pumped into the body in early October. Medical invasion for an operation IS a physical assault on the body.  Maybe it was a case of 'too much, too soon' after the operation,  shock to the body and the mind, having to 'get up and do' for the roofers, and that TRAMADOL!!!! The nurse and my son advised me not to take it but strong paracetamol did not cut through the pain AND I needed to sleep, which at first Tramadol helped me to do, then vice versa.  I didn't notice any side effects on the mind whilst taking it, but then I wouldn't, would I, if you were to hear how my dearest son and his wedding guests described / describe me? After a week, once the course of tablets had finished, I recognised  that THAT was when I began to go physically further downhill.
When I went to the GP he must have become alarmed when I described the breathing difficulties and physical symptoms I was experiencing.  My pet elephant was too heavy! (See earlier posting before you consider I have totally lost the plot!)  Before I went to England there was a major (to me) health scare. The blood test indicated a possible pulmonary embolism!  It was a Saturday and the nurse couldn't get in touch with the GP who had said that if it was positive I would NOT be going to England!  After consulting the laboratory, plus the hospital, I was rushed at 4pm to les Urgences (A&E), in an ambulance that the English and French speaking nurse, who I have come to like, ordered.  I know she was following advice from three medical authorities higher than her but I did think it was a tad OTT... plus the scare given to my adult children was unnecessary.  I thought someone ought to know, in case of potential exit from this soil!
The blood test had indicated 550 for something and was over the allowed 500 but in hospital the same test showed 250 or 350 ... I can't remember exactly!
Whilst on the trolley bed I decided to rest and sleep because it would be the best medication I could give to myself.  It was no use worrying!  Que sera sera!  I was calm and prayed. 
At 11pm, I was extremely grateful to be alive and allowed to go home without any signs of a pulmonary embolism.
What made me confused and in a vulnerable position was that the nurse had befriended me and said she would collect me once the diagnosis and treatment had been made but then her phones were disconnected.  Unavailable. There I was, an hour's drive from home, almost midnight, with fortunately my coat, scarf and hat, no money or means of payment for anything, no valuables, no food and water, but with address book and uk mobile. No one that I knew within an hour's driving distance was in a position to collect me (they'd been drinking or children were in bed or didn't have a vehicle or were old and infirm) and therefore there was a 100 euro taxi fare to face. Small price for a 'getmehomequick' ticket!!
Did I need this drama? What does it tell me? What can I learn?
Answer 1: being in France far from family and friends is not the place to be as one gets older and needs support. Fine if one can face it all without a soul present, which presumably is what many a person does as we age. Friends and family die before us or we live far far away.  This scenario happens in England too. Ageing!
Answer 2: never, if one can, go anywhere without adequate "buymeout" funds.

I am learning to grin and bear life so to speak!  
Put on a brave face and laugh at the absurdity of life! 

Just the shoulder now ....
I know that this problem started in June with the wrist needing support and then the upper arm (biceps) started to hurt. I certainly remember in July on a very memorable occasion thinking "o-oh -  be  careful with that!"

• I think it comes from pulling the starter motor cord on the lawnmower.
• I think it comes from years of playing the accordion. That particular shoulder pushes up against the body of the large instrument as I play and whilst the other drops slightly as I stand in almost correct Alexander position - shoulders back!  Its why I love to wear stilettos when I play!
• I think it comes from years of carrying a satchel, hand-bag, computer bag, shopping bags and educational career work bags.
• I think it comes from being weighed down with LIFE, with what has happened here in France and perhaps before that when a good friend would say to me "you're slouching, pull your shoulders back!"
• I think it comes from years of not having mirrors to look into and smile at oneself and say "Hey, stand up straight, be proud of your achievements. Don't beat oneself up!"
• I think it comes from using the Gallic shrug... evidently when I am emotionally affected in a 'couldn't care less' attitude that particular shoulder twitches forwards in a defiant manner! Sometimes people have thought it a funny mannerism! HEY HO!
• Fibromyalgia  (Myalgic Encephamolitis)

I have been BIG this year on Metaphors for the body and lifestyle:
So with this last one:
* Shoulder on.... soldier on.
* I have had an armful...
* Stop carrying the weight of unnecessary baggage...be it, all that stuff in the attic needing to be sorted, all that writing and photos to be produced into a book or books,  all that responsibility for others that now I can let go, all this house and what needs for me to be finished and and and......
* Stop being 'armful to myself and others indirectly.
* Carry that weight with dignity and not sorrow.
* Evidently, repressed anger is stored within shoulder ones and muscles. (I go with that!)
* My arm is stopping me from embracing and accepting what is the truth.... ( I go with that although In Reality in France and Restless in France  have in the last year been facing Truth and accepting it little by little.  THIS IS THIS. THIS IS HOW IT IS.

I need to accept it but I can choose to change the future and how I react to negative people who sometimes affect me badly and deeply... keep away from negative people... and I feel I am one myself and I don't like that... I really want to change the story.
I can choose my own boundaries.
I can choose to reach out my arm using my shoulder blade to a new horizon where positive people, places and events cause me to be content and comfortable. 
I can use my arm to hug myself, be kind to myself as well as to hug others and be kind to them.. if they want!!

Where am I? Part One

Exploring a different kind of rest and restoration.
I'm feeling stress free at last!!! Most probably there will be a run of new posts soon.
My computer has been repaired. It was a Multiple Volumes issue therefore not needing a new internal hard drive. PHEW!!!  The lovely Apple Store were excellent service and after many many hours corrected the iPhoto libraries issues so now all my photos (60,000 +) are in one place, ready for the mammoth cull and reorganisation.....because and I don't know how it has happened but there are often several copies of one photo!!! Now I can find photos going back to 2008 and before!
As if I haven't enough to do!!!! Serves me right for being so clicky happy!!!
I will return to posting soon.
PS. Now that I have started using the laptop again as opposed to the mini ipad the machine seems very slow and that rainbow wheel keeps spinning.
Must delete delete but when!!!???

Hauling an elephant

Yesterday, and for several days, it has felt as if I am hauling an elephant around my house and garden.
I like elephants. A ride in Sri Lanka about 14 or 15 years ago was amazing with the elephant's matou leading the way.  Shall I call my be chum "trum" ?
I need to get fit ... not that I was ever, ever fit, but stamina is now at zilch. Today, we, that is, me, me and me, wrapped the incoming water pipes positioned in the attic with even more insulation material at huge expense to alleviate anxiety of  potential burst pipes. Most probably unnecessary but I am listening to intuition.  I think there was just one tiny leak last winter but it's better not to take risks. Winters in France have been sub zero and yes, I do need my winter fuel payment.
I made myself tackle the courtyard plant troughs because they are not frost proof and have to be taken indoors. A nuisance. I replanted the zonal geraniums altogether to move them into an attic to see if they will survive. I was without success last year when I put them into the exterior building which must have been too dark and cold. The village gardeners keep geraniums in a room indoors throughout the winter so I am spurred to try again.
The troughs of heavy water saturated soil were lifted carefully using my weak arm and wobbly foot whilst the elephantine feeling began to disappear. I managed  to do what should have taken half of the time.  Some plants like my camellias in pots will be wrapped in bubble wrap.  I pruned the rose rambler, moved things to the back garden, swept the paving slabs and split a few logs with the indispensable electric log spitter.  With a brief blue sky above, I admired the view as I sat with a cup of tea and a slice of Liz's banana and pecan nut cake which was nicely squidgy and JUST delicious!

Now where is that elephant hiding?

Roof pre replacement and a healing foot

I can't access older photos until I get my laptop repaired but if you click on the link below you will access a photo near the start of  this blog.

My house roof before replacement. Terracotta flat tiles and plastic guttering.

Now my roof has ardoise because the pitch was incorrect to meet modern regulations for flat tiles. However, artisans had to raise the pitch anyway because they had to instal a panne faitiere so maybe I could have had flat tiles. hmmm......ANYWAY, I am very pleased with the result. Let's forget about an empty pocket!  I would suggest that money disappears at the speed of light to the comment from Doris Lessing that life disappears faster than water down a plug hole, Nevertheless, I have peace of mind that timbers are not going to collapse in my lifetime in this house and who knows how long that will be? ! I saw and felt how soft and broken the rafters and beams were when on the ground. Another metaphor!  I've been soft and broken when on the ground. I started to write ...haha.. here, but it was no joke.
END of story. I am trying to change the story.

A SHORTER STORY:
Yesterday, I drove to Poitiers ... a long drive there and back; my foot was just a little sore.
The surgeon almost danced with pleasure when he saw my foot...I'm not sure if it was an act or not. He said it had healed remarkably quickly;  he was impressed with my concoction even writing that in his report.   He is extrmely efficient. He dictates the report to his secretary after the consultation whilst one is there and then she collects payment afterwards.  When I said I was so very tired he said that it was not surprising as I'd had no physical or emotional  support needing to be mobile for the builders. He demonstrated how most patients at this stage after an op are still hobbling because they are French and from the SOUTH  and gave me facial grimaces which portrayed their attitude to recovery... and yet he hadn't seen me walk. I told him I need my foot to be mobile because it is liberté referring to the French trilogy..... Freedom is my achievement! Such a kindly man and how refreshing to have a fun, full of life surgeon... of course that is his job to replenish lives... to make lives easier for the human condition, to help people move and  allow Cinderella to go to the ball ... I am of course still waiting for those silver slippers!  My treat will be when I can wear my heeled boots and summer shoes to be mor feminine. Footloose and fancy free is what I wish to be.

We bless this house - une belle toiture

Time to celebrate,  so please raise a toast to my new roof.

The three artisans raised a glass of Cremant de Loire at lunchtime to the little bird installed on high whilst the rain and hailstones blessed the roof.  Before the light faded from the day they had cleaned up and ended the project which started on 17 October.  It looks so pretty and time will tell how it functions.   I wish to live within the attic but it is not yet habitable and on my income is unlikely to ever be so.  The lucarne window is being made to measure and will be fitted in January.
 I am knackered especially cos I looked after the twins this morning.  They are so delightful . They each talk demandingly at the same time so it is very hard to listen to each one and give full attention without ignoring the other... they are only aged two.  I lifted sods of grass beneath the rose arch and we  planted tulip bulbs, putting them in their beds to sleep for the winter, then we made marks on paper with coloured pencils and pens whilst I showed educational posters of "The Owl and the Pussycat" and I sang the poem and other rhymes. They had drinks and biscuits whilst I made the men coffee. They wanted the Easter bunny to make chocolates in the garden. What good memories they have!!! Instead, we made little pancakes which they had for pre-lunch before mummy took them home.

I am also wondering if there is something else wrong as I am so tired and have no physical energy.  The upper arm pain of almost three months is limiting.

Anyway, the good news is that my house looks so different and I feel proud for it. Yes indeed, for it.  Worth every centime but where is my sports car, kitchen and grand piano and my round the world travel ticket?  I jest in part.... I am lucky.

FOR blessings we do appreciate order rather than chaos in life...my heart cries for those who have no roof above their heads for reasons adverse and intemperate...hopefully whatever small amount we can offer will be used to provide food, water, shelter, medical care and will be distributed ASAP to save more lives and give dignity to humanity.   Blessings are needed.

Double troubles

I think I have tried to post photos in too large a format not having learned how to edit to smaller size using iPad. I may have to investigate a friend's method for publishing photos but everything takes so long.  Evidently there is more than one method.  This is an aide-memoir of what I did.

1. go to photos on iPad which have been downloaded from camera. 

2. select with a tick then click square in bottom left which opens new window and click copy.

3. go to new post and press screen and click paste...

4. then I clicked publish so as not to lose effort.

5. then edit title and text as I am doing here.

6. click DONE and

7. click SAVE...... this last is very important or one loses a post like I did a few days ago..
8. click publish ... this is also very important or else no photo!!!
9... but  since writing this I click on the camera icon on edit post, select a photo from my iPad, copy it, position cursor where photo is to be positioned, and paste. 

ROOF and FOOT update:

My foot is still tender and being unable to wear a normal shoe I have not yet driven,  except I am being driven round the bend with roofers and home confinement. Fortunately, no one else is here to suffer my lapses!!!! 

The last tiles were laid on Friday and the hole by the chimney was left uncovered so the lovely rain that afternoon trickled down the chimney wall in the grenier and I did not know. At mid afternoon on Saturday I thought I had better check in the attic; plastic sheets and buckets came to the rescue...as did the patron of the business whom I telephoned. On Tuesday morning I heard my teacher's voice emerge to the normally very good workers to explain that it was irresponsible and lacking in thought to leave no flashing around the chimney, aka a hole!   I think they were so tired on Friday afternoon and looking forward to the long weekend when they told me all was safe as the roof was covered! It can't be an easy job. I wouldn't  like to have to work in the rain or heat of the sun. They were contrite.

The site is being cleared and cleaned. Guttering is being installed. The dormer window will have to wait

as it has to be made to measure. 

I am hoping that we can celebrate their hard work and congratulate their endurance and tolerance of the English Lady who asks a lot of questions and expects high standards. 

But I have provided coffee three times a day and they have used my kitchen every day to eat their meal. I am very impressed that they eat healthily and with variety.  If only they realised me how dangerous smoking is! 

Update

Foot : all healed on the outside, so waiting for swelling to be normal before driving + did two very short walks along the lane. healing is due to my magic concoction of oils!
Roof : wall plate is almost built along the length of the cottage + 2 concrete steps lead through doorway between greniers but more to do in that area.... + the Genoese construction of the flat tiles for the brisis has started . Work will continue for another two weeks!
Weather : rain affects roofwork and keeps the lawn wet and growing. But no further storms since last week.
looking on the bright side of life from time to time .... But no energy or much inclination to explore how to do the myriad of things on the list I started today. Maybe making a list ir Twitter us the first stage of change afoot.... Maybe acceptance of how it is in any current moment is the key as is responsibility to do something about it.
I have too much time to ponder and think and not  enough ACTION.
Need to make some deadlines once the roof and foot look beautiful and motivate creativity once more. 
Hey ho....

Challenges!

The hard drive on my applemacbook has crashed. Tests suggest hard drive cannot be repaired...   Ooh lah lah ...  Thank goodness I have an iPad because I can't reach an Apple Genius bar until I go to Uk.
This will be an exercise in blogs and posts from the mini screen. I recently learned to transfer photos from camera onto iPad with a small device...so photos may be possible.
Thank goodness I have the iPod as the old CD player I was gifted, really to use as an amplifier for louder music from laptop, skips sections of cd tracks ... My radio, CD player, DVD player, all on the laptop was my source of media stimulus. I was just enjoying watching videos!
AND ALSO the internet phone does not always ring. Unless people use the landline I do not know if they have called.   Maybe, it's not much different from being in a nunnery. I could start playing hymns for I still have a hymn book (would prefer catholic hymns for Nostalgic reasons) ...  and burning frankincense but I have none left.
My techno world and life support system is not being helpful to the isolation I have been experiencing.

However.  Today.   A friend took me to a restaurant for lunch (le Grillon) and she brought yellow flowers and roses, DIY shopping and oatcakes from UK.  I feel normal again, human. I was really losing the plot at the weekend and had become severely depressed! I refuse to take any tablets. I slept and slept and didn't even notice the fall back of Time. The stresses of the last  4 weeks, medication and loss of regular sleep patterns as a result of all of that plus roof or no roof, wind and rain ingress has been very worrying!

The foot has made brilliant progress and the wound has closed, so I am waiting for the swelling to subside further before I can abandon the adapted walking sandal and wear a PAIR of flat shoes.. And drive my car. It will sure be a celebration day when I can wear walking boots. Oh and what joy to feel a madam and wear heels!

The foot of the patient, the hat of the house and electrical matters

Post in the making.......

Photos will arrive but iphoto is a problem making the rainbow wheel spin constantly and boot up takes ages. Evidently the computer has one hard drive but it thinks it has others, so takes ages booting up.  I have to discover how to solve the problem. Why don't computers have brains? So many promises were made to us humans over 30 years ago about technology which would give us more leisure time? Has it heck! All our time is occupied solving technological mysteries and in this instance, where there are several self-generating photo libraries, I can't find photos that I took and uploaded/downloaded yesterday! I used to enjoy learning technology but now it is tedious.  I have other things to do!  All I wish, which isn't actually completely true, is sometimes to be without the machine. Not possible,  as it is my lifeline and limb to the real world beyond my roof, beyond my gates that my two feet would like to travel!

Three days of workmen on site has created dust and havoc. I wasn't really prepared for falling masonry or what is involved with roof tiles being removed.  Yes I had prepared for dust etc. It's not the same as Lego. I wasn't happy that tiles were being thrown into the lorry with some falling onto the road.  I suggested that they bring the lorry nearer, They didn't, yet on the 3rd day they did!   I also think that sweeping skills need further training.  On 3rd day, I suggested they swept the road just as they were about to drive off.  No comment but they did. It took two men. One watched as the client swept the courtyard detritus towards number 2's shovel.  I didn't wish to trip on broken tiles with my hobbly foot.

Two weeks have passed and although it is still painful for Mrs Hobble, days are getting better.  The foot is sufficiently healed so as to climb ladders to take photos and then to cause me pain afterwards. I suppose I shouldn't climb the ladder but needs must!  On Sunday, I had permission from the boss to climb the scaffolding which is sturdy and safe taking the weight of 4 men. I wanted to inspect the grenier after the thunderstorm of Saturday night. 30mm of wet stuff called RAIN.  My brain has been as dead as a dodo since the op but there is nothing like drama to wake it up!!!!!
Water appeared where it shouldn't be; between shutters and doors of two rooms and on the kitchen floor.  Quel horreur at 10 am Sunday morning. (My sleep patterns are completely awry.)

Basically the flat part of the wall high up where once there were tiles was not covered with tarpaulins, called baches in France. Water ran down the textile of the bris and flowed either side of the flat surface down either side of the stone wall.  Guttering is of no consequence at the moment.  A real no-no is to get stone walls wet. There had better be no water marks appearing LATER in my decorated rooms!!! On  Friday, I had not noticed the situation on my roof, being "not alert".  On Saturday I emailed the boss and asked if it was covered sufficiently as I could see that it wasn't. Yes, he says,  it will be ok!!!  On Sunday: Nature makes thunderstorms which roofers cannot predict!  H'm... Me and my intuition!!!!!  I have commented to him that it's vital to listen to a woman and more important to listen to the client!

ALSO they replaced one panne sabliere which does look like pine with treated pine but the other seems to look like oak.  On Friday it hadn't been removed. I was in a quandary.  I was tempted to be demanding and ask for oak even if it raised the devis, but was that being silly and unnecessary?  I am a house caretaker.  I want my roof to be beautiful as well as practical.  Yes, I shall have a ten year guarantee but a roof should last 50 years or more. Can I be queen of my domain and get what I want? In the end I had to accept treated pine! The queen submitted to their knowledge!

I've taken photos of the renovation project and think that photos go a long way as a selling feature if I ever have to sell, though as yet I don't want to give in and return to UK!!!!!! Mind you if you heard me a few days ago this would not be true. I have been very low in morale but perking up as days go by!!!

I told the 3 artisans that I don't wish to see screws in the oak finition on the roadside edge. They should fix with proper plugs. I don't know what they are called... but you get a hexagonal wedge of acacia and thwack it into the joint to hold both pieces of wood together.  It's traditional. Screws are useless. I intend to speak to the boss again about this.  He is still looking contrite, even though I've warned him months ago that I have high standards.

Monday: they covered half of the Mansard roof that looks towards the sky, with tarpaulin at the end of the day. Tiles are removed and evidently battens and rafters are in a worse state than anticipated!!!!! I knew it was bad. Then I was told that there isn't a wall plate and so one has to be  built. I need to research what that is! I think it holds the upper layer of slate tiles.

Monday: I find their electrical lead using my kettle socket. Investigation tells me I have no ceiling lights in the Oval room and kitchen, nor exterior light and one socket in the kitchen isn't working. That's why my bread didn't toast. I accepted cold bread because I wanted to leave the men to themselves for lunchtime!  I let them use my kitchen as a dining room. I have no problem with that.   They couldn't just tell me there was a problem, I had to ask why. Well it appears it is because they are now operating the hydraulic ladder to bring down tiles and that needs strong electrical power. We learned that there was only 10 ampere in that particular plug.  So they used the one with 16. Fortunately I had some fuses and each of the fuse switches is different! Only in France!

I'll have to learn about amperes and get the electrician to return because despite consulting him three times the board labels are not correct.. why are there different amperes? .... why are prises and lampes mixed ... why do different rooms go onto one fuse and then other parts of the same room are on another fuse?   I know.  It's France!!!!!!!

To return to the roof. I am less anxious ... but will need to keep an eye on replacement of wood.  It's pretty dangerous in that grenier and really I need to replace the floor structure... but ouch!   I can't afford it as yet!

To return to the foot. It walked me up the lane about 100 yards and the muscles in the calves are not so anguished whilst compensating for walking on a heel. It was lovely to have a view of houses, plants, cars, a cat and know that it is much better to get out of the house!
Postscript Tuesday: the foot did not wish to go far in my house!

I've started a jigsaw and it reminds me of Harriet Edith Turner, my maternal grandmother, whose birthday would have been yesterday. We always did jigsaws, played cards or Monopoly and she showed me how to crochet and knit, to cook simple basic meals like bread and butter pudding, bread pudding, apples wrapped in her own pastry, slow roasts and casseroles. She was a very good bridge player, a gentle soul, always calm, worldly and lovely.

Mrs Hobble

... appeared 5 years ago, disappeared and re-surfaces, not completely welcome but once her feet have healed she will not have to reappear. There were two bunions on two feet. One was in a sad state of distress because the big toe joint pierced the skin for several winters.  It was a great relief after the op to wear Mary-Jane winter shoes again though wellies were truly out unless fleecy lined!  (Mrs Hobble dislikes wellies though they appear to look so beautiful on others feet!)
The second took 5 years for the offending joint to be ill-fitting and uncomfortable in Cinderella ballerina shoes, rolling inwards instead of performing a heel to toe dance. In winter shoes, nerves felt cut by knife like slicing along the outer joints of both feet.  An osteopath in UK and a kinaestherapiste in France treated the pain very well.  Mrs Hobble dreads containing her feet in winter shoes! BUT ... Now it is done and almost over.  Life can soon take another step forwards.
Everything boded well. The surgeon was smiley and kind. Then she was pushed through the bowels of the hospital to a standstill in the operating theatre. Nurses were washing and robing up, chatting and laughing with colleagues, in good but serious camaraderie. The anaesthetist sang "Bonnie and Clyde" and answered Mrs Hobble's questions about the machines which were to monitor her.  She allayed her fears about being sent to Dream Land. 
On Friday night Nurse BossyBoots (one of many!) woke her up to insist she took 4 painkillers in three hours time!!!!  "Why can't I take them now? I shall be asleep!" Another said OK take them in an hour. "Why can't I take them now? I shall be asleep!" They departed and she fell asleep. The next morning at 6am, apart from an embarrassing moment when a signal did not meet her brain cells early enough, Nurse Bossy Boots chastised Mrs Hobble for not taking the tablets and removed them into her pocket! Other nurses were disinterested in providing painkillers that were desperately asked for as by now the foot was hot and hurt!  Nor did they wish to change the 'pansement' but Mrs Hobble insisted they did.
The poor patient sharing her room started to vomit several times and still the nurses took ages to come, appearing to be disinterested in her condition. Dinner trays arrived. Certainly not what patient two wished to see!  Soggy brussel sprouts with a slab of reconstituted turkey mash in pretend breadcrumbs!  Taking the banana and packet of soft cheese Mrs Hobble was eager to escape potential infection once the ambulance/ taxi driver arrived with the wheelchair.  Saturday! Saturday! OUT into fresh air and freedom! The sun was shining!
FOR THE BRAVE: photos taken 6 days after the op! Poor old feet for a poor old lady!
I am surprised the foot is not more swolllen.

UPDATE: 10 October:  I understand it's normal but I'm feeling very emotional from time to time ... must be the concoctions of anasthesia, painkillers and daily injections to counteract Deep Vein Thrombosis! Perhaps as a result of the latter, the nurse had trouble finding a vein in my inner elbow a few days ago, and today she gave up,  said she would try tomorrow!
Would love a glass of wine!  
Wish the brain cells would clear enough so that I could get a grip on the mounting admin!
Wish the heavy legs feeling would disappear so that I could cook a decent meal even though I am eating healthily.
Wish I could be out and about in the Autumnal air, cycling, walking to see Autumn Crocus and cyclamen carpets.
Meanwhile must try Yoga when not wrapped up in my comforting crocheted granny blankets, with Hot Water Bottle, Reading books and thoughts!
IN THE PAST: Updated 11 October
Comaparing the left with the right foot and looking back at history it seems I have to wait about 3 to 4 weeks post op for it look better .....
http://villagedevaux.blogspot.fr/2009/04/history-of-bunion-in-photos.html

March madness

The VMC developed "a sound" in January and since I was going away,  I informed the electrician that he could repair it on my return. It had been installed in the attic with a hanging loop of tube which collected condensed water.  In January it was disconnected, the water removed,  but we considered there might be another loop. It's difficult to describe but the fitter had taken the tube the longest route forming a huge C shape!
The company boss, not the man who installed it, arrived and admonished me for not running it 24 hours each day.  Fair enough, I can understand his logic. When I protested that it would withdraw the heat from the room, he explained that thermic shock is created in the winter when turning off the electrical supply. The tube is exposed to cold air in the attic and steam that is travelling upwards which has not yet evacuated into the environmental air, gets condensed. In the summer, he says it is OK to turn it off after 3 to 5 hours following someone having a shower or bath.  He thought that as it only costs 30e per year to run 24 hours x 365, it should not be a problem!  Although I spoke about saving the planet and my purse, he shrugged his shoulders in the Gallic manner, and said that until recently there wasn't another option in France!!!!!! Hmph!!!! He argued the advantage that new air was being drawn into the room as it has no opening window.  Point taken I suppose! I cannot dispute with such a charming man!
He re-connected the tube to the extractor machine. Thank goodness I took him into the bathroom and switched it on because the sound was even louder.  He commented that there was another loop filled with water!  Into the attic the fragile wood flooring was removed AGAIN, new holes cut into it and into the wood flooring that was below that floor level, yet above the ceiling of the bathroom.  My friend helped by sawing various access holes, being careful not to cut any floor supporting timber, nor any beams. Then the electrician carefully smashed a hole through the terracotta brick suspended ceiling that we'd left in situ when we lowered the ceiling of the bathroom.  Now the flexible pipe could be withdrawn from its former position, taken vertically upwards with no twists, turns or hanging loops of pipe, thereby shortening the tube and distance that the steam has to travel.  He also adjusted the VMC vanes so that less warm air is extracted.  His employee had not set it with that option!  It is now working silently.

Meanwhile the chaos upstairs has been left until Monday when we can reposition the flooring whilst removing stones, bricks, pieces of fibreglass, nibbled walnuts and animal nesting material! ..... I hate to know that there is a mess hidden unseen behind walls or floors of buildings!!!!!   There is about a metre of space between the ceiling of the bathroom and the attic floor.
In addition, the leak below the bath doesn't seem to have an explanation and does not always pour forth water onto the tiles floor when the bath water is emptied ... so the bath panel is off!  Plus, I'm still trying to decide where to buy the bath screen!!!!! England it will be, as I want it higher than the normal dimension.
The bedroom was about to get the final coat of paint now that the F&B paint has successfully covered the cheap and nasty Wickes paint. However, this morning, my friend commented on the concave dips between the sheets of 'plasterboard on polystyrene' panels that were installed in about 1985.  Those three vertical hollows have been filled, require sanding when dry, then re-filling, sanding again, before paint can be added to that last and largest wall of that particular room.  Patience is required before I can return to sleep there.
The large Salon continues to have 'le rideau bleu' across it, haha, to keep the wood dust that side of the room and the woodburner dust this side!!!!!!  I am continually sweeping and vacuuming both sides!!!!! I decided to sort out HIS tools, screws and nails. It is worse than a ravelled ball of knitting!!!! However, we discovered screws etc that he didn't think he had and so a saving has been made on going to Brico shops.
Preparation is being made to start to replace the glazing of 4 exterior French doors.
The warmer weather is arriving.... OR IS IT??????  Forecast suggests lower temperatures!  Easter is coming and 'hey ho' the weeks and months pass by as I dream of another life not renovating. I am unskilled and to some extent I love updating a house.... if only I'd been younger!
The garden beckons after the grand clear up ... but I might just avoid it tomorrow and go to my pottery class.
I am in relatively good health. However, I am in shock this evening to hear how a very good friend of my son has serious spinal problems, her husband also has bone and joint problems, coupled with work difficulties or unemployment PLUS looking after a 3 year old.  Life is not fair.