A week in which we finally get connected

MONDAY

I did indeed have to go to MK on Monday morning because Phil wanted me to collect his prescription.  In fact, I've been back to MK every single day this week thus far, so much for making a pact to explore Northamptonshire.  Still never mind, its early days so I am not going to beat myself up, even though it’s costing me a bomb in petrol.  I was able to get off at the services so I popped in to see Sue at no 2 for a quick chat and a cup of tea.   Then it was off to the surgery to pick up Phil's repeat prescription which took ages, every bloody man and his dog was in Boots waiting for their pills.   From Newport, I then went over to Caldecotte to use Sue's broadband to answer emails and the post the blog and then it was back to Overstone for lunch.

I got back just in the nick of time as Phil was serving up our lunch.  He'd brought Barnsley lamb chops from the butchers at Billing Garden Village and boy, were they delicious.  Phil served chops with mash, cauliflower cheese and cabbage, not bad for our first proper meal in the caravan.   After lunch was cleared away, we typed in the postcode for the DW fitness club in Northampton in Phil's iPhone and set off.  As we drove through the town, the route took us right through the busy one way system in the centre of town and the club itself is situated on a retail park which seemed a bit weird to me.  We got in with our cards no problem and took a look round.  The club is a few years older than DW MK but the gym is much bigger and so is the pool.  I will give it a go but the traffic was busy and it wasn't even rush hour.  We didn't have a workout because Phil didn't fancy it and besides, my back was killing me.   I was really careful with my back during the move and thought I'd got away with it but then I strained myself putting up the net curtain and set the old pain off again.  Stupid really, I knew at the time that I should have asked Phil to help me.  It was a little better on Sunday morning but then I stood on a chair and unscrewed the vent in the kitchen because it was filthy with grease and this made my back pain even worse.   I was in agony on Monday evening.  I rubbed in some Nurofen gel, put my pajama bottoms on, swallowed some nurofen and Phil made me a hot water bottle.   The red wine I think helped the pain more than anything!

TUESDAY

Tuesday, we were both up early and it was back to MK in separate cars.  Phil left first at half seven because he had an appointment at the doctors for his annual diabetes check-up.  This involved a wee sample and blood tests.  He asked to get his PSA level tested so we look forward to getting these results back as it will give us an indication as to whether the radiotherapy has worked.   I am not sure which diabetes nurse Phil saw, because Louise, his usual nurse has left the practice, but the nurse he saw, told him his blood pressure was way too high and pulled him up about his weight.  It's such a shame; I worked so hard with the prostrate diet and all the recipes and the cooking and Phil did worked hard also to lose 2 stone, but now, he's put all of it back on again.  He has to go back again in 2 weeks and if his blood pressure is still too high, then they will up his tablets.

The traffic was really bad on Tuesday morning.  I left the park around quarter to eight and the A45 eastbound was totally blocked due to an accident, I was glad I was going in the opposite direction.  The M1 was busy but moving, but not long after I got off at junction 14 I heard on the news, that there had been an accident and the M1 was closed.  My first stop in MK was Harriet's flat to collect post and then Sue's flat to check emails and order a couple of things online.  Afterwards, I popped into Asda then did 20 minutes on the cross trainer.  I didn't want to overdue things but I think it's important to keep moving and I really must get back into my gym routine.  I had a few places to go in MK and whilst I was shopping and hunting and gathering Phil was looking at houses for sale.  Unfortunately, none of the ones that he had circled in the paper were free to view so he ended up viewing totally unsuitable houses that we'd never buy in a million years.  I couldn't believe he could be persuaded look at houses that he hadn't selected and go with the sales talk; I certainly never would, but Phil is much more polite than me and never likes to miss out.  Needless to say, nice or not, his whole day of viewings was a complete waste of time.

After DW I went to Body Limits in Newport to book an appointment with the osteopath and afterwards I went to Rachel's house to get my roots done.  I haven't had them done in god knows how long.  Rachel always makes a good job and I felt much lighter and brighter when she was done with me.  Before leaving MK, I made a call to a plumber that I had arranged to meet up with and pay for a gas safety check on one of the flats but it went straight to answerphone, so I waited a while and then headed home.

Phil had been in MK viewing houses with various houses and arrived back not long after me.  He hadn't had a very successful day and was keen to share his dramas.  Neither of us had eaten lunch and although there was some nice calves liver in the fridge to be cooked, we decided to see if we could get something to eat at The Griffin.  I had a suspicion that they stopped serving food at half 2 and sure enough, this was confirmed when we got there.  But it wasn't a wasted trip as Phil wanted to book a table for the Wednesday night boys.  We grabbed a bite to eat at Overstone Manor.  I had a rather strange version of Thai chicken curry and Phil had burger and chips; it was okay, the usual pub grub but we must really start cooking more, you can't beat wholesome cooked food at home.

WEDNESDAY

It was really cold in the van on Wednesday morning and I woke up with goose bumps in the morning despite my long sleeves pajama top; so did Phil.  We were up and about very early on (4am) and I do wonder whether our neighbours can hear us.  Maybe I should ask them because I was out putting the washing machine on in the shed at 6am and Phil was out in the car fetching bread from the shop at half past.  It was a big day in our house van, because it was the day that BT was coming out to sort the land line out.  I had a feeling that this wouldn't be straight forward and it wasn't.  Our engineer was due to come out anytime between 8am and 1pm and he didn't come until lunch time.  Unfortunately I had to be in MK for appointments so I had to leave my boy to sort it all out.  Apparently the wires were all cut and the engineer had to crawl underneath the van to rewire, the earth and then he disappeared to the exchange on several occasions.  We were missing one piece of equipment and good job Phil was around because he stuck a screw driver in a hole, and hey ho, we were connected. It’s not the fastest connection in the world but at least now I have a link to the outside world.

Whilst Phil was working on his book and waiting for the BT engineer, once again on Wednesday, I headed back to MK.  First I went to DW at the Dons Stadium and did a 20 minute run, my first in ages and yes, it was painful.  No, not painful but hard work and I had to force myself to go on. Showered and dressed, I left DW and went to Sue's to abuse her broadband connection.  I didn't think Sue would be at the flat but she'd had a good journey back from Norfolk and arrived home at middsay so we had half an hour together; just time for a cup of tea and a catch-up.  Time flies when Sue & I get together and I just left in time to make it to my dentist appointment in Two Mile Ash at 1pm.  I was only seeing the hygienist Tina and was a few seconds late.  Tina was ready and waiting and slightly agitated because it was her lunch hour.  She is a good hygienist but brutal and she scares me half to death.  I almost have a panic attack because she lies me so far back in the chair that I struggle to swallow.  On Wednesday however, she was nowhere nearly as brutal or as nasty as she usually is, because I suspect, her tummy was rumbling and she needed her lunch.  I survived and 45 quid later, I left, not nearly half as traumatized as I normally am.

Pain wasn't over though, after the dentist, I went to see Anna the osteopath at Body Limits.  Anna was a tall young girl but she knew her stuff.  I did ask if my back pain was down to sheer old age but she said actually, that I was really quite fit and my pain was due to the fact that all my muscles were really stiff.  In fact, part of my spine wasn't moving at all and Anna said that any strain, however slight, made it worse.  Anna manipulated me and it was pain free.  I liked her, she was good and I felt looser when I came away.

I had a quiet, relatively traffic free drive back to Overstone, just in time for a tidy up and a glass of wine before the Wednesday night boys arrived to check out the caravan and pick up Phil and go to be pub for dinner.  It was Jim's idea to come over on a Wednesday night to Northampton and very kindly he agreed to pick up boys and drive here and back.  They went to The Griffin for dinner and Phil said that they all enjoyed the food but there was a jazz singer playing and the pub was packed and very noisy.  Phil said the service wasn't as good as usual but that was probably because they were busy, normally it is spot on.

THURSDAY

Phil was late to bed but had no trouble waking up on Thursday at 6am which was a good job really because he had to be up early to drive down to his mum and dads.  His mum is really panicking about their forthcoming move so Phil volunteered to go down and do some jobs.  This left me home alone and free to do as I wanted.  I decided to attack the paperwork and sort out the office.   This took me nearly 3 hours and realising the time, I had a quick shower and change and drove to MK.  I did a circuit round the city centre for odds and sods and then went to the OU to pick up Harriet for lunch.  We went to the Ship Ashore for a lite bite and a catch-up and then I dropped her back at work.  Harriet was fine, she's hoping to get her broadband connect in the next week.  She did say that she might come over to the caravan on Sunday but I think she is a little worried about the drive.

The M1 was busy on the way home and the skies were grey by the time I got to the park.  Phil arrived back at half three which was about an early earlier than I expected him.  He got all the jobs done at mum and dads and thankfully his dad is feeling a little better which I was relieved to hear.   We'd brought his mum and dad a anew 22 inch plasma television  for their kitchen as a joint Christmas present.  Both their birthdays are in December and we always struggle to find something to buy them.  Phil's mum told him off for being so extravagant but I think secretly she was pleased because she likes to put on the news in the morning whilst she's making the porridge.  At least that's one present sorted.  God if anyone else mentions the C word I think I shall scream.  I've  made no secret that I am a bar humbug and don't give a stuff about Christmas so why do people keep inviting me to spend the day with them?   If it weren't for mum and dad moving, me and Phil would be on a plane heading for the sunshine. 

But it’s not going to happen this year especially as last night Phil's mum called to say that their buyers came round for a second look they said they hoped to move before Christmas.   I think this is doubtful, but then again nothing is impossible, so maybe if they do move we may be able to book a lastminute.com in the sun.  I am leaving nothing to chance though; my free holiday voucher for 7 days in Tenerife is waiting patiently in my Filofax and stares me in the face every time I open it up to check my 'to do' lists.   I think the plan for this morning is publish the blog and then get on skyscanner.com to find me a flight.  We need to get the skirting on the caravan sorted and a new sink fitted and Phil is at the doctors on the 15th for his results so we can fly away anytime after then.    I think after all the trauma of the move; a week in the sun is just what the girl needs.