Chicken Pox

Evie is getting over an exceptionally nasty case of chicken pox. Ellie had it first, and of course, it was unpleasant, but ran its usual course without any major problems. We thought Evie had escaped or perhaps had an extra inoculation for it with her having immunity problems - but no such luck. Two weeks to the day that Ellie developed it,Evie started feeling a bit unwell after coming back from her weekly swimming lesson so I put her to bed with some calpol.

The next day, the spots began to develop - still not too bad. But the day after - the spots began to blister and turn into horrible open sores, which were very painful and started to quickly look infected. As it was a bank holiday the next day we couldn't see our local GP but we opted instead for the walk-in centre, which I must say was excellent. We saw a nurse and a doctor promptly, and the doctor gave us antibiotics, dressings, piriton for the itching, antibiotic cream (fucidin) and paracetamol. The doctor and nurses said it was the worst case of chicken pox they had ever seen.
That`s the trouble with Di George Syndrome, the immune system can be affected, and has been in Evie`s case, and ordinary illnesses can be much more severe. She has also had meningitis, pneumonia and every other illness under the sun.

Gradually the sores are starting to dry up - but Evie is still sore and a 
little disgruntled (understandably). At least I`m glad she`s got chicken pox over and done with. Thank God!

Steady progress at the slimming club

Yey! I lost 4 lbs this week. That brings the total up to 8 lbs altogether. I`ve still got loads to go, but am getting there slowly.
I went to Aqua-aerobics tonight for the first time, but it proved a bit of a disaster.
We paid, got changed and got in the pool along with about 50 other women - and guess what? The instructor never turned up!! We all bobbed around in the pool in a confused fashion for about 15 minutes, until a Lifestyle Employee bravely came over to inform us that the Instructor hadn't arrived and no-one knew where she was.
Oh well, they said we could have a free swim and a voucher for next weeks lesson, so there you go! A quick shower and hair wash and then home in time for the Big Brother Debut show. And it turned out to be all women. What a turn up for the books.

Goji Berries

So what do you know about Goji berries? I know that they`re supposed to be the new super food of the moment, packed with anti-oxidants and what have you.

I`ve decided to have a go at growing some of them, cos apparently they are very easy to grow and don't need a lot of special care. I`ve ordered some seeds on Ebay tonight and am going to give it a bash.

We`ve got an allotment!

Not been feeling too well this week. Coughing and aching arms and legs etc.
Felt better today and while flicking through a magazine, I chanced upon an article about allotments. I `ve been pondering about getting an allotment for ages now, so I had a quick look on the net about allotments in Liverpool. With the feature about allotments there was a phone number, so I gave them a quick call expecting them to say I could go on the waiting list for a plot. But when I spoke to the guy in charge of the allotments, he told me there were some available plots and would I like to go and see one. Taking the bull by the horns, I went right out to meet him - and I picked a plot there and then. its a bit rough, but in a nice position.
I cant wait to get going on it now and start growing some nice fruit and veggies.

Slimming World

Called in at the docs to see if my blood test result was ready yet. Yes! My ESR is back to normal. Good news.
Joined Slimming World yesterday. Been meaning to do it for ages and I really thing losing some weight will make me feel a bit better. Anyway, I`ve been busy working out the slimming world system and I think it`ll be ok. I did it ages ago and managed to stay slim for years - but my metabolism has kind of slowed down since then.
If I can lose weight it`ll be great to wear nicer clothes again.

The Grand National

A bit late with this entry, but we had a brilliant day going to the Grand National last Saturday. The girls went up to Skipton to stay with K and C for a few days (we took them there last night). So, T, Teenage son and I went along to make the most of the day. We only went in then paddock - but it was such a beautiful, hot sunny day. You really wouldn`t believe it was spring - everyone was in a good mood enjoying the sun and the fantastic National Day Atmosphere.

We had a few drinks and a bet on every race, but most of my races the horses ran the other way. LOL! One even got withdrawn with heat exhaustion. T and Sonny didnt do too bad and I got 4th or 5th in the National with Philson Run.  At 100 - 1 odds, I got about £26 pound back on my £1 each way bet - not too bad!
The final races were a bit of a disappointment cos they were very delayed and the final one got cancelled due to the horses getting to hot.
Lots of laughing though, as some of the racegoers took to the course after the National and had races of their own. A chubby girl and a thin girl took their high heels off and raced between two of the jumps while the crowd went mad cheering things like - "Go on the Biggie!" The biggie didnt win, by the way.

Evie`s hospital appointments

That`s all it seems to have been lately. Various appointments for Dolly. We`ve had ENT, Speech therapy, two different dental appointments - next week - plastic surgeon etc. Poor Dolly. We have the re-sceduled statementing meeting on the 2nd May and I`m dreading it. I`ve got a feeling we`re going to get fobbed off.

We need a new tenent for my house that I rent off in two weeks. The estate agent who is supposed too be promoting it seems to be doing bugger all. He promised all kinds - but has done zilch - apart from putting it on Fish 4 Homes. Not too happy with this. Think I`ll have to get a new agent if he doesnt pull his finger out.

The kids are back at school now. The house seems pretty quiet without the squabbling and mound of toys everywhere. Time for me to get on with stuff I think.
Theres lots of sorting out to be done and I definitely need to start getting rid of a lot of stuff. Best get Ebaying I think.

What`s he done to Salad Fingers

JK films himself everyday for 8 years - even better than Noah!

Life on Mars

Life on Mars - the series

Have you been watching? Its the last one tonight, and supposedly we`ll find out all the answers - or perhaps some of them. Will Sam Tyler turn out to be in a coma, or will he be a time traveller - dead - or mad? Cant wait to find out. I love the sound track to this series - well I suppose its from my era, and I did llluuurrrrvvvve David Bowie. What a great song Life On Mars is.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifeonmars/






We went to speech therapy today as usual for a Tuesday. It went quite well apart from Dolly having a big strop cos Molly won the game Helen (the speech therapist) set up to help Dolly to learn. Called briefly to see Mum`s friend R on the way home.
A mass trip to the dentist was planned for the afternoon - me, Sonny, Molly and Dolly. We all seem to be ok, although Molly had a quick filling and I had something sprayed on my teeth to help with sensitivity.
Mum is in terrible pain lately with sciatica so I dug the TENS machine out and set it up tonight to try to combat the pain. Hope it does the trick!

Last day of term

It was the last day of term for the girls at yesterday. I had to send the girls easter bonnets into school again - but our hats looked a bit sparse compared with some of the fabulous concoctions bobbing around on sweet, 6 year old heads. Anyway, I missed the parade that was held in the school yard at 11.00 am - I didnt even realise that parents were invited - so that was a bit sad. But, I picked them up at 1.oopm, along with their little friend S, whose mum had to work. After a quick play back in our house, we ran them along too the Salvation Army to watch a film- The chronicles of Narnia. It was a family day, but I left them to it and went and did some shopping. 


Bought some nice tops in Asda as extra presents for son`s birthday on Saturday.
Picked the girls up about 4.15 and felt a bit bad cos Dolly was a bit frightened of the Lion in Narnia even though she`s seen it before. She sat on my my clinging to my neck in such a sweet way. Poor Dolly. Molly and S sat watching seeming so grown up.
Today, the girls have gone to town with K and C to pick some shoes for their wedding next month. Dolly and Molly are going to be bridesmaids.

Family gathering

Its been a busy day. We`ve had about 10 family member for lunch this afternoon.
Auntys, Uncles and cousins - so I did a nice buffet lunch. Lots a little snacky things.
People brought easter eggs for the girls and cards for Phil`s 16th birthday on Saturday. I`ve got most of Phil`s pressies sorted now. He`s got mostly clothes this year, and stuff for his X-Box. I`ll get a few little extras tomorrow - a couple more nice tops or cds maybe.
Tomorrow the twins break up for easter. Theres going to be another easter bonnet parade and then they finish at one. I`m going to pick them and a friend up and take them to the Salvation Army to watch The Chronicles of Narnia, while I pop to the shops. Roll on easter. i`m looking forward to the break.

Easter Bonnets

Today, I`ve got to decorate two easter bonnets for the girls. I`ve been out this morning and bought bunnies and chicks and flowers to plonk on the hats.
I`ll have to get them ready by this evening cos they`ve got an easter bonnet parade in the Rainbows tonight, at the Salvation Army. Then they`ve got another parade in school on Wednesday. Better get cracking cos I`m going to my creative writing group this afternoon and wont have much time.

Photoshop course finished

I finally finished my level three photoshop course yesterday. It was a bit of a rush getting all my pieces of work finished - but I just about managed. I suddenly realised that I`d missed one piece of work - a piece of text made to look like marble why hadnt I done it?) so I had to knock it up in a hurry.
So the files are going in to the moderator now - so hopefully, I`ll pass my level three and get and chance to do level four in September.

Dirty Old Town.

Down by the canal today near Bootle Strand, I glanced down into the murky water after posting a letter outside the post office. It was a horrible sight. The surface of the water was practically covered in debris - in fact the ducks were walking across the water as they were unable to swim in all the muck.

Some people really are pigs. What a state!

Open University

I`m feeling a little better about things this week. I still feel a bit stressed and this is making my neck so stiff. Last night I had terrible pains in my head and neck, but things are a bit better after a good night sleep.

Yesterday, I decided I`d better get on and do something. I`ve been busy with my competitions and the kids and the house and so forth, but I need to do something a bit more. My photoshop classes finish in two weeks and I`ll be lost without these cos I love them so much. And theres no guarantee of a level 4 place next year which is disappointing. Still - fingers crossed.
So, I decided to crack on with my open university plan. I want to carry on with the English Language and Literature degree I made a tiny inroad into last year. I aleady have a dgree in Health but have always wanted to become a competant writer and I would love to do a creative writing degree really, but this degree has some writing componants which I like. I`ve already done a Writing Fiction module. The next one I have enrolled for is Writing Poetry.
Maybe I`ll make a writer yet.

Raised ESR

Went to the doctors for the result of a blood test I had done a few weeks ago. Initially, I went because of pain in my groin and hips which went on for several weeks. Most of my blood test came back fine - including my cholestral levels which had never been checked (Very pleased about this) but the ESR rate was considerably raised. Not too worried, I`ve had it checked again and its come back again still high. I don`t know whats causing it, but I do feel a bit achy and tired.
I`m going to have it checked again in two weeks. If it remains high after a few more checks, the Dr. is going to refer me to a rheumatologist. Fingers crossed it comes down. Apparently, the ESR is an inflamation marker and can be a sign of arthritis or some other inflamatory disease. However, it can be just one of those things and some people just have a raised ESR with no real problems associated with it.

Full of cold

Feel dreadful today. I`ve suddenly developed a horrible cold - complete with piggy eyes and big red nose. I know - I`ve got them anyway! Just sipping mournfully on a Lemsip with feet up on the sofa and a pained expression on my face.
Going to do a couple of competitons before I go to bed. Won a pot of face cream worth ten pounds today. Hurray!
Only three weeks to go on my level three photoshop course left to go. I have to finish all the work for my folder by then. Then hopefully, Level 4 next year.
Going to watch Benidorm and Skins on the TV afterwards. Its all go isnt it?

Liverpool FC

Well done Liverpool FC V Barcellona

Benitez so proud of his Euro stars

Mar 7 2007

by Nick Peet, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ paid tribute to his players and the Anfield fans for the team performance which put Liverpool into the Champions League quarter-finals. On a night of wild celebrations in front of the club’s new owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, Liverpool produced a display of defiance that saw them reach the last eight on away goals at the expense of reigning champions Barcelona. Barca dominated long periods of possession, but could not recover from a 2-1 first leg defeat, despite winning the return 1-0 thanks to an Eidur Gudjohnsen second-half strike. “I am really proud of my players, they produced almost a perfect performance, but the fans too played their part,” said Benitez.

The closing of Lewis`s

I cant believe that Lewis`s is going to close. After all these years of being in Liverpool, the staff were told yesterday to stay behind to put Closing Down notices on all the windows. Its a real shame as Lewis`s is a real pleasure too amble around on a Saturday afternoon. And some of the staff have been there for years - it`ll be a wrench for them to leave after all this time.


Lewis’s doomed

Mar 7 2007

by Neil Hodgson, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL’S famous Lewis’s shop appeared doomed today as store closing signs went up. Every window in the 151-year-old store was covered in closing down posters – less than a week after administrators pleaded with shoppers “use us or lose us”. Yet today administrator Kroll insisted it was still trying to sell the business as a going concern. Staff were ordered to stay late last night to put up the huge posters.