General Chat

Hello girls,

Lets hope that the weather be good over the next for Mo and Roly,and that they will have a good time.


Jean, I'm sure that you will enjoy your meal out with all the family next Saturday, to celebrate such a special birthday.


Not sure about Alun being a new man lol!!, but I shall feel a lot happier when he has had the operation, Jean.



Sylvia, it's surprising how many people suffer from white coat syndrome, the Therapist
that I see at the moment, also suffers from it, in fact he hates anything to do with doctors and hospitals etc,,,,

It's nice to know that we are not the only ones that suffer from it.lol!!


Ann, hope that you and T are both okay.



Huia and Marie, hello to you both and hope that you are both OK.


Take care everyone.




Love, Sallie, xxx

Morning all, I know what you mean Sylvia, lovely to see the littlies , but peaceful when they go, Their energy astounds me... but its lovely when they come , we all seem a lot younger joining in the fun and games....our ggrandson is two and never stops talking , he has a wicked sense of humour and has us in stitches, we are all going out for my birthday meal next Saturday, last time it was Jeffs birthday and he didnt really understand it , but this year will be a lot different.... especially as its the big 80 this time, goodness knows what my lot has planned ..... I am not a party person these days , years ago I loved parties now I am quite happy staying put and have a hot chocolate :-D :-D :-D.....

I hope the weather behaves for Mo and Roly, it poured down most of the day yesterday but the evenings are lovely still quite cool though...

Sallie you will have a new man in your life when Alun has his op, its good that Jennie will be with you , when Jeff was so ill 4 years ago ( can you believe it how time flies) it was lonely during the day and hectic at night with the visiting..
we will continue in our love and prayers for him and all your family too...

I have had trouble with cramps, nightime isnt too bad now but its started during the day always does it when i walk more, then gradually calms down... very painful at the time. :-| :-|

Love to Marie Huia and anyone else who looks in... take care ...

Love Jean xxx <3 <3

Hi Mo, and everyone

we are slowly recovering form the visit of our daughter and grandson! He's a real live wire, who needs lots of attention!!


Mo ......... the other thing to watch for when taking bp that I forgot to mention is to make sure that you don't need to pee :-D


Sallie ....... glad to hear that Alun has had his meeting with the Specialist, and that you now know what is wrong. I do hope he does not have to wait too long for the angiogram and then the operation


Ann ........ you've been busy :-)


I also suffer from white coat syndrome ........... that's one reason why I take my bp at home. The doctors now take my home bp results over those that show in the office!

I'm supposed to take my bp 2 or 3 times a week ...... sometimes 2 months go by :-( I'm trying to do it every other day at the moment as I have dr's appointment on June 8th, the first one since early December. It will also be my 6 monthly post-mastectomy check up.

Hello girls,

Mo and Ann, Alun went to see the Specialist this morning, he told him that the leak in the mitral valve is quite severe and that it will either need repairing or a replacement valve. He will need to go for an angiogram soon to find out if there are any blockages, if so when they do the valve they wil also do a by-pass. Specialist did say that it would take a few weeks to sort out, but did say although it seems quick, Alun is not to worry as it isn't life threatening at the moment.

Mo hope that you and Roly are able to go away tomorrow and that you will both have a lovely time.


Yes Mo, my cousin who is a nurse first told me about white coat syndrome and then the doctor also mentioned it to me.



Ann, sorry I keep forgetting to tell you how lovely all your photos are of your garden etc Thanks for sharing them with us all.

I'm sure that you and T go away soon, but can't remember when you go.


Jean, where are you? Hope that you and the family are all okay.


Sylvia, Huia and Marie also hope you and your families are okay too.


Take care everyone.



Love, Sallie. xxx

Hi, had not realised that I have not posted for a while. Thought I had but must have been on another thread. We seem to have been busy bees this week.

23 May It was the start of the three day tall ships Festival in Gloucester Docks. Saturday was forecast to be the best weather of the three days so we chose to go then. As we walked through the town it was obvious from the number of people that something was on. To tie in with the festival the town centre had a sea shanty weekend and the four cross streets were decked out with the Union Jack. Arriving at the docks all we could see were people, hundreds of them. Although there were only four tall ships in this year there was also a large food and craft fair on, plus a fun fair and various musical and other acts. We walked right round the docks taking photos. We were very fortunate as there was a clear blue sky, the sun shone and it was warm. It was lovely to see everyone so happy and smiling.

We had lunch in Zizzi, they were crowded as well and we had to wait a while for our main course, having started our meal with a bread basket and oil and Balsamic vinegar dip. Tony had a skinny pizza and I had mushroom risotto, both very nice. After our meal we went into the Quays shopping centre and bought a couple of things in M&S Outlet shop.

We finally made our way back to the town centre people watching as we wandered through the unaccustomed crowds. We stopped to look at the stage set up in Kings Square but the act on there were only just warming up their guitars etc so we didn’t stop. It was a good day out and great to see so many people enjoying the sunshine and the spectacle.

25 May we drove to Malvern where there was a huge Flea Fair, too many stalls to see all of them but we spent two and a half hours wandering around looking. Didn’t actually buy much except for some plants and a chicken and ham pie. We had taken lunch so we ate that in the car before driving home. The car was actually absolutely covered in dust when we got back to it. Black is so not a good colour car to have.

26 May we drove to Homebase in Cheltenham, had coffee in Dunelm first though. We decided to buy a lighter weight lawn mower than the one we already have, keeping the heavier one for the first cuts of the season when the grass is tougher.. We bought a fairly cheap qualcast one that I can actually lift. I can’t lift the bigger one out of the shed. When we got home we both worked on the garden for an hour or so and started to clear out and tidy the shed. took a load to the dump.

27 May we attacked the shed with a vengeance. Really got rid of a lot of stuff and took another load to the dump. We can actually get inside the shed now.

Today was grocery shopping day and now I see that T has the water feature in pieces doing something to it. Always something to do in the garden isn't there.

Jean, keep on with the walking, even little bits help.

Sallie, hope all goes well for Alun on Saturday.

Sylvia, some good tips there, not that I take my BP at home Just have it done annually.

Mo, hope you have a lovely relaxing week and that the sea air and change of scenery does Rolly the world of good. :-) :-) :-) <3 <3 <3 <3

Hello my darlinks,
Thank you for the advice Sylvia, when we saw the doctor last time, she told us most of your reccommendations.
I am pleased to say, that for the last couple of days, the B.P has been pretty constant, making us believe the problems were caused by Roly taking a sleeping tablet, for two nights on the trot.
Bless him, he can't win, it's either take the tablet and sleep all night, or wake up several times a night looking out of the bedroom window, or running to the loo.

Sallie, when I worked in the Pharmacy, and was trained to take B.P, we were told of people who suffered white coat syndrome, ie, fear of doctors or nurses who have to take patients B.P. It sounds like you could be a sufferer sweetheart.
It surprising when we go to our doctor for ours to be checked, there are stairs we have to climb, or we could be lazy and take the lift, and nine out of ten readings are really good even after the climb upstairs.
Roly's seems to climb when we are at home.....but then that could be my moaning that causes that LOL
I do hope things go well for Alun on Saturday, I shall be thinking of you both love.

It's good to hear from you our Jean, we have missed your lovely smiling face.
Well done on your having daily walks, not only will it be goood excercise, but the fresh air will work wonders in lightening your mood my darlink.

It looks like we are to have rain tomorrow for our journey, yuk, not nice for driving long distances, especially with all the lorries on the road kicking up spray.
If I have forgotten anything, well it's tough, we will have to go and buy it.
So my friends, I shall speak to you all again, on our return.
Please take care of yourselves whilst I am away. Love to you all, Mo xxx

Hi everyone

Mo .... sorry to hear that Roly's bp is bouncing around!!

Did they give you any instructions for taking his bp at home??

I've had to take my own bp for the last 12 years, and have been given the following instructions. Unfortunately, I wasn't given them all at the same time ......... ones have been added as the years have passed, and drs have wondered why there are differences!

1. Take the bp at about the same time every day, unless the doctor has told you otherwise.

2. Sit comfortably with your arm supported ...... being able to lay your hand and lower arm on a table or arm of a chair is ideal

3. Sit with the feet planted firmly on the floor. Do NOT cross your legs or ankles.

4. Be sure you have applied the bp band correctly

5. Take 2 or 3 readings at 5 minute intervals

6. Do not drink coffee or other stimulating drink within 1 hour before taking the bp

7. Do not take the bp immediately after eating.

8. Do no talk while the readings are being taken


Hope this helps

Mo, I hope that Roly will be okay so that you can can both go away on Friday, the holiday will do you both, the world of good. Let's hope that Roly's blood pressure.behaves' iiself from now on..

I only have to see a bp monitor and my bp goes sky high. lol! Alun has had to check his blood pressure over the last five weeks.so that the Specialist can check that it is staple, but it is up and down, so don't know what he'll make of it. Alun's appointment is on Saturday morning at half past ten



Jean, well done on doing some walking and going a bit further each day each day.

Trouble is Jean, you have always kept yourself busy making cards, so you are bound to feel a bit bored, going from making lots of cards to doing none at all.


Huia, well done to you too, it;s great that you are able to jog on the spot


Goodnight girls, sleep well.


Will chat soon.




Love, Sallie. xxx

Hi,Mo and ladies, still in the land of the living, :-D :-D I have been very tired lately and a bit bored , with no cards to make, hope to take a boxful into a charity shop soon,
D took some into work this morning , but still have two lots in boxes. maybe its time to have a look at the christmas box and see how many I have from last year ;-) ;-) ;-)

I have been doing a walk each day, going a bit farther each time, so hard for me to do...also trying to off load some weight, thats so difficult to do too. :-| :-|

I hope Roly can manage to regulate his b/p my friend has parkinsons and diabetic , she is really struggling as her blood count was down to 2 she does do her own injections but its quite worrying....

Hope everyone else is coping with any problems they may have....

lifes a B***h at times

take care , one and all....love Jeanxx <3 <3 <3

Hello Sallie, Roly's blood pressure is going in the opposite direction now, he was down to 117 over something this morning.
I think he needs a medication review, but he took a sleeping tablet last night, and I am wondering if that has something to do with the low B.P reading.
It does worry me, but as our doctor has said, he is not suffering any other side effects, ie dizziness, giddiness, or light headedness, so she is not to worried about it.
Honestly you can't win, it's either sky high, or lower than it should be.
We are supposed to be going away Friday, so I just hope it sorts itself out before then.
The dog is behaving himself, at the moment anyway. He still wont eat out of his bowl, and we have to stay in the kitchen whilst he eats from the kitchen floor.
Our grandaughter contacts me every night to make sure he is o.k.

When is Aluns appointment at the hospital ? It has completely slipped my mind the actual date of it.

No news from our Jean, I do hope she is o.k.

Sending best wishes to Sylvia, Marie, Ann, and Huia, and hoping they are all well.

Take care everyone, hugs Mo xxx

Hello girls,

Yes Mo it was sad reading the news about Dizzi,, I still,can't quite believe it. She was always so cheerful, despite her health problems. She was a lovely lady so caring and thinking of others and will br very much missed on GR.

Mo, how are things with Roly? I hope that he is a lot better now. Hope that your dog sitting is going along okay......it is a good job that he only has dried food so that it is easier to clean up.

I love dogs, we still have Jay here and of course Jennie and Michael are living here too, now.

Both my brother and niece have a pug each, they are lovely little dogs and can be quite comical When my brother's dog needs a wee, he actually has a wee down the sink nearest to the back door.lol!! I have never seen a dog wee in the sink before and he hasn't even been trained to.


Jean,Ann, Sylvia, Huia, hope that you all had a lovely weekend.


Must go and get ready for bed now, so will chat soon.


Take care everyone.



Love, Sallie.xxx <3 <3 <3

Hello girls,
Sorry not to have posted recently, time seems to fly by.
I was so saddened to read about Dizzi,she will be missed, and to say I was shocked is an understatement.
I know she had had various problems, but she was always so cheerful through it all.

We are looking after our grandaughters Pug, whilst they are on holiday. Oh lordy, he has me in stitches.
He has a lovely bowl for his food, but refuses to eat out of it, so I have to put his food on the kitchen floor, so that he will eat, fortunately, he is on dried food, so it's not quite so messy.
If I want to go to the loo, I have to take him with me, otherwise he howls at the living room door till I come down.
The only problem with him, is that he has not been doctored, and he keeps trying to mount my legs.
Poor dog, what he needs is a nice girlfriend, not an old biddy like me.
Our grandaughter keeps messaging me, to ask how he is, bless her she misses him, more so than her boyfriend I think.

We go away next friday girls, but I am not looking forward to the journey.
I must try and get back to you before we go, but with this dog sitting, trying to pack, and keeping the house cleaned of dog hair can be a nightmare.

Take care my friends, hugs to you all, Mo xxx

Jean, thanks for reminding me, I had forgotten that Mo and Roly were going away some time in May. Let's hope that they are in Margate and are having a nice holiday there.

Just looked at the pics of your cards, they are really lovely, so bright and cheerful.

We went to Derby this morning as usual, trouble is, I started with a migraine since we arrived home, although it isn't as bad as it was earlier on, thank goodness.

Take care.


Love, Sallie. xxx

Sallie I know Mo and Roly are off to Yarmouth sometime in May so maybe thats were they are....just read about Dizzi such a shock.. R.I.P.

I had forgot its bank holiday and was going to take a box of cards to the hospice shop, so will wait now.

take care everyone love Jean xx <3 <3

Just popping in to say hello to you all and hope that you will have a lovely weekend.

Oh dear, I hope things are okay with Mo and family, just noticed that she hasn't posted since 12 th May.

Take care everyone, will chat soon.

Love, Sallie.xxx <3

Yes Ann I have a three wheel walker , but just wanted to have a go with my cane...
a few years ago we bought D a scooter and they talked me into having one but I thought if I just used it I would stop walking altogether ,so I got rid of it... didnt really like it...

Just knocked up a few more cards that someone has ordered, ... vert simple ones decoupage so easy :-D :-D :-D :-D very dull here today and cool too , tomorrow promises to be nicer so I will take some pics of the cards... <3 <3

Have you got a walker Jean, even walking with a walker would be exercise. With the vivofit2 that I wear, when I have been sitting too long I get a red line so I then get up and walk around the house, lounge dining room, kitchen up the stairs sometimes. I countes and 200 steps gets rid of the line. steps soon mount up.

Huia, I would be on the floor, I have just walked with my cane to the bottom of the yard unaided, usually J has to hold on to me even when I have my cane tomorrow I aim to walk to the end of the parking end, then I will try and go round to the front of the house, :-D :-D :-D two dodgy knees and sore hip doesnt help either, plus being a fat old bird ;-) ;-) ;-) well done you <3 <3

I have taken to jogging on the spot, much easier than going for a walk on our rough hilly road, particularly as my medic alarm wouldn't work if I went far. I do the jogging several times each day, unless I have gone to town to work in the shop or do my shopping. I also watch what I eat. I have had to give up cheese which I love to nibble on in the evening, as that seems to put the weight on. I am slowly losing it if I am careful, and slow is better than fast. I certainly feel a bit fitter for the exercise.

I find if I just watch what I eat, less red meat, eat only chicken and vegetables, fewer potatoes, and also walk further than usual (i.e. exercise) I can lose weight, but if I just do the healthy eating and no exrecise I don't lose weight.