Back 'On the ball'....

These last three weeks have not been the best time I've ever had. It was delightful to have Sergio and his partner here for an, all-be-it, very short stay. One (actually two) bright stars in my firmament. We enjoyed catching up with the news and gossip - even thought Skype is a great way of shrinking distances between friends and loved ones at little or no cost. Thank goodness that phones aren't like this anymore! But calls can never replace sitting across a table and chatting about this, that and the price of fish can it?

Of course there were birthday presents to give - Serge for his BIG 40 and Lynsey for the belated gift for her $%&(£"% th birthday (she said she would shoot me if I revealed her age...hahaha). I gave them both a gold chain and let them choose between two gold charms... one was of a new moon and the other of a sun similar to this one here






...Lyns suggested that as Serge is a night owl with his work, he should have the moon. Seemed like a good idea.

While they were here I got my birthday and this years (all in one) Christmas present too. They bought me - wait for it...it IS exciting; an external hard disc for my computer. It was something I had wanted (not to say needed) as my PC only had 18gig (?) of which 15.5 was used. It was so slow it almost got a parking ticket every time I switched it on (talk about 'snail mail'
- well that was my PC!). But this new gadget/widget/thingamajig has no fewer that 268gig - so that will probably last longer that I will!

But back to the last three weeks - well I had a cold when they arrived and I almost needed a dog licence for the 'bark' I had.... a really hacking cough. Then that turned to catarrh and breathing when one's 'dose is all bugged up' and your coughing - just ain't a whole load of fun.

Climbing the stairs became a real chore when allied to the increasing arthritis too. So all in all I felt pretty sorry for myself.... I wasn't a 'happy bunny' - no way no how!!! Going out was literally limited to a quick dash for a bit of shopping then back in the warm. Couldn't even get my 'flu jab until I was a bit better either.

Things have slowly improved and despite a whole week when heavy rain has just NOT stopped for a minute - where's the nut who said "Well we do need it"? (GRRR), I managed to get to Milan for my annual check-up. That all went reasonably well and I'm 'free' again for another 12 months (phew)! But now I'm so behind with my own schedule that I've really got to get my finger out and re-organise all the jobs I've not been able to do and had to put on hold... As the Italians say "Beh - la vita e cosi!" ("Yeah - life is like that!"!). But all I really feel like is finding one of these

and rocking away 'til the cows come home...


During this forced 'rest time' though I have profited by having Skype and managed to at least have a bit of company each day - very important if you can't get out. Last week I suggested that friend Heather and her OH, John should come to me for Christmas - the reply was "Well maybe next year"... Better than nowt, and something to look forward to I guess. Then two days later they called back and asked if they could come over from 20th December 'til 3rd January'" - can they come over? I ask you... Of course they can. I can't wait. It will be lovely to have people here for both holidays.

So now it's really a case of 'nose to the grind stone' and waiting for the joys of Christmas with some very, very dear friends....

posted by Carole B @ 3:19 PM