Time Flies...

           I can hardly believe it, but we are at the end of  November already. And what a cold dreary day it is to wave goodbye to the month. I have been sitting here trawling through old photographs, more or less by accident, and I have to say that the combination of cold foggy weather outside and reflections on family past inside has not been terribly cheerful. I must get out more - but I'm not sure that's going to be allowed any time soon either. 

            As I am elderly (81) and have allergic asthma, I am pretty sure I'm not going to be allowed out at all. Thankfully Daughter and family are my "bubble"  and so I do have one escape route available. And I have Big Grandson staying with me very occasionally - we are all in the same bubble, so I hope and pray that I'm not breaking the law.  Don't mention Christmas though, I was hoping to flit off to Spain and stay a couple of months, but that is looking extremely doubtful - and even if I could muster up the courage to fly to Barcelona I could not be sure what might happen there: let's face it, being locked down in Sitges would be better  than here, certainly weather-wise and of course there would be Son and family  to socialize with, and as I haven't seen them since last Christmas it would be so lovely. I do miss them terribly.

 Oh I just don't know what's best to do. And when I checked on the Gov. website it advised only essential travel, and you have to have a private COVID test, with paperwork, 72 hours before travelling. Oh and that costs anything from £100 - £150 (apparently the free NHS test is not acceptable - why?). The whole business  makes me feel sick, even though I'm perfectly fit!  I can see why a lot of people are deciding to give it all a miss this year, and don't get me wrong,  I love Christmas and everything that goes with it:  Christmas trees, tinsel, sparkly lights, Christmas carols, presents, stockings, beloved family all together and all the lovely food, but this year just won't be the same for so many people. 

Ah well, let's all look forward to next year and hope that 2021 is better in every respect. I'm not wishing my life away, let's face it I'm too old to be tempting providence right now. 

This Nana is probably going to opt for the safest Christmas so that we can all enjoy the New Year. It doesn't have quite the same ring to it, but needs must!!

Help!

      It's Sunday and storm Dennis (the Menace) is doing his worst to upset the whole country, though in all honesty, it's not as bad here as last weekend's storm Ciara. However,I am housebound with big Grandson because it's the start of his Half Term and he doesn't want to do anything except "chill"

which means staring at his phone and playing on his X Box..How he does these both at the same time, I'm not entirely sure, but it does get a bit  boring after a while (for me anyway). It is cold, rainy and miserable outside, so it could be worse; I'm taking him home soon.

      My eye injections have been my most pressing concern for the last three months. I think I  mentioned them before:  I have been to the Brighton Eye Hospital for a course of three injections which will hopefully stop the Age-Related Macular Degeneration getting any worse. (And I must say that anything that is called "Age Related" pisses me off). I will find out in a month, when I go back to the clinic for a re-assessment, whether I need any more treatment. It's not much fun having injections into your eye, but the doctors and nurses at the Eye Hospital are wonderful and very efficient.
      Well I have brought you up to date with that, and since then I have managed to lose one of my shiny new hearing aids. I had a hearing check last week at which I was complaining about the right ear aid which was uncomfortable and had a habit of whistling at me. I didn't get much sympathy from the lady doing the check - her advice was to stick with it. Anyway, the same day I was sitting in |MnS with a cup of tea when it started whistling and itching.. so I pulled it out and shoved it into my coat pocket! And that was the last I saw of it.  I went to Daughter's house later on, threw down my coat on the sofa and completely forgot about it. I feel a bit if a fool, but will probably tell the lady that the dog ate my hearing aid! Daughter's dog that is - she eats absolutely anything - and it seems the most plausible explanation for the disappearance. I looked everywhere, even went back to MnS and checked my pockets over and over.
      I took Grandson back to his house - just for an outing really - and drove straight back. The weather wasn't nearly as frightening here as it was last week, though  I know it  has been dreadful for many people. We have no floods, though there are plenty of big puddles on the roads.
      Looking on my Instagram, I saw that Son and family in Sitges were having a wonderful weekend enjoying a local market which sells lots of vintage stuff and also has live music and yummy food: altogether a lovely thing to do on a sunny day in Spain. Oh how I wish I was there too!
      If wishes were horses etc.... it's no good just wishing, it's action that's needed.
         

    

      

Nearly all over...

      Well, my absence this time was not really my fault. I have tried several times to start a new post and the blooming computer wouldn't let me! I have no idea why, but I was barred from my own Blog and as I'm not the sharpest on tech stuff, I just didn't know what to do. Anyway, I'm back now and just hope it will be ok.
      I have had a pretty horrible time, healthwise, to be honest, with an abcess or two (one on my chest and one on a tooth) a chest infection and a continuing snuffly cold, so it's no wonder I'm a bit fed up with it. I have also decided to deal with my dodgy ears, eyes and teeth before I disappear off to Spain, and while I'm at it, I'm going to ask for an MOT at my GP so that I can feel better about everything. It all sounds a bit depressing, all part of growing older I know, but a good plan to deal with it I think.
      On a more cheerful note, things are going pretty well in Barcelona, as they have finally found an apartment in Sitges, which looks really lovely: it's in a modern development, with amazing views to the sea, three bedrooms, and a communal pool. It's also very near the school for Jasper. Let's hope it works out for them - and they have invited me over for Christmas, what larks!
      I don't think I told you about my visit to Sitges in October: it was lovely weather and I stayed the first 6 days in a hotel on the seafront, the Platjador. I had an ensuite room on the third floor, with a balcony overlooking the pool at the back. I can't praise the hotel enough; I had the biggest bed I have ever seen, very comfortable, a super shower room and it was immaculate. The staff were lovely too, and couldn't have been more helpful. A fabulous breakfast was included in the price, as was tea with pastries, served at 5 o'clock in the roof terrace bar. Altogether it was perfect and I also looked at four rental flats while I was there. I met some lovely people too; the owner of one of the flats, and her Mother, and a really nice young woman Estate Agent (I know that's normally a contradiction in terms, but she was extremely nice). Anyway, it was altogether a really good experience and a chance to see what might be available in Sitges for a long-term rental.
      The family turned up to collect me in Sitges on Saturday, and combined this with looking at flats that might suit them. We had delayed this for a day as the Catalan demonstrations were in full swing in Barcelona that week - In fact I had been very lucky not to be affected by them. I had watched the news avidly in my room as it had been full on all week - though not in Sitges! I must say that it did help my understanding of Spanish, though not my ability to speak it. And I can sympathize with the Catalan cause, though not the violence involved - I hated seeing cars on fire in the streets.
      Amazingly there was no sign of protesters,  marches or demonstrations when we drove back to Barcelona.They had all melted away and Barcelona was back to its elegant self. Rather strange.
Anyway, I then had five days with my lovely Son and his family before coming back, and though they hadn't then found an apartment, I'm happy to say that they have now, so it's all change again.
      More updates to follow - it really feels much colder now, so I guess it's "Winter drawers on"!!
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