House renovations, valentines and an appointment for my spine (again)

We are 5 days into the almost full repaint of the rooms in the house. It's a bit chaotic, preparing the rooms for painting -- clearing out everything and relocating stuff temporarily. Today's post comes from my temporary office at the far end of the kitchen while my office (the extension) gets it's facelift. 2 bedrooms are transformed, as is the landing and stairs, we've even changed all the fixings for curtains and stuff so they're looking amazing.

After today, the painter is out until next Thursday so Gareth and I will be completely renovating all the cabinetry in the kitchen, repainting everything to brilliant white to brighten it all up for when the walls are done next Thursday because it's the next room on the list.

I've got a floor specialist coming tomorrow evening to quote for refinishing the wooden floors downstairs, I'm going to ask since he's here could he do the wooden kitchen counters too - what's the worst he could say - no - nothing ventured nothing gained 😃

It will be really lovely to have the house beautiful and bright and to have 'our' stamp on it.

I've got a phone appointment on the 25th that the Spine and Pain team have set up for me with the same guy I saw privately - I'm going to ask about my right hip too because that's not in a good place.

Week 1 back on Cambridge has gone tremendously well. 8lbs off (3.6kg if you're that way inclined) a very good start. I had the evening off on Valentines Day but I didn't go wild and straight back on plan again yesterday with only 48 hours out of ketosis so I'm feeling fabulous agin today. Next planned night off is March 3rd for my 50th which I'm very much hoping Gareth has a nice treat planned for 😎. It's going to be a long journey but I'm hopeful that I'll be hitting target some time around our wedding anniversary at the end of July.

The diet of course is going to be really important if I need to have something major done for my hip - can't be lugging all the extra weight around with that.

It's been really quiet and uneventful here, everything's opened up they're starting to treat covid like seasonal flu now. I'm still terrified of catching it, I have no idea how much long a mask will be part of my life for outside the home but thats okay.

By the time I'm comfortable with having a houseful of people all having a great time they're not going to recognise the place :)

Take care, stay well

Much love 

xx

T-Cell Trial Test done, Getting stronger and an appointment about my back

 So the back appointment first, the nice IPASS (integrated pain and spinal services) team have set me up with a spinal specialist on the NHS - hilariously it's the same chap I saw privately through BUPA - he's going to ask for the Facet Joint Injections to be done on the NHS for me. I will be happy if that can be arranged and it can help with my back problem. He's an orthopaedic flavoured doctor so I'm going to ask him to take a look at my right hip for me too because that seems to be part of the problem - or maybe another problem entirely - getting old is painful.

My T-Cell trial pack arrived over the weekend so yesterday morning I was lancing my fingers and bleeding into a tube again so that it could go straight back to them in the post without 'going off' in transit. I have no idea how long it will take to hear something back from them, but it would be nice after 4 vaccines to hear that those T-Cells have learnt something about how to fight Covid.

I had 3 sessions with my PT last week to help make up the missed ones over Christmas while he and his family had the plague. I'm getting stronger, I can lift my legs a little more now and whilst getting dressed is still a little more complicated than world peace and certainly not graceful - it's getting a little less hard.

Life here has as always been terribly dull, haven't been anywhere, haven't done anything except work from home and all the usual daily stuff. I did manage to book a table for us at The Hand & Flowers (Tom Kerridge's restaurant) for our wedding anniversary (July 30th) without having to go through the usual calling up and begging to be added to a waiting list.

I'm actually going into work tomorrow for the day, some of my team are heading in so I'm going to join them and just have a day out - how bizarre is that - going to work is a day out 😆 Robobob is charged and ready to go. It will be nice to just talk to other humans who don't live in my house.

Valentines Day is coming up, I've booked a 'finish at home' Valentines feast from Wellington Farm Shop - a Beef Wellington, starters, desserts and sides. Just need to sort out a card and gift and I'll look frighteningly organised (especially with our anniversary booking) 

Oh Oh Oh and exciting news - after the near 3 years to get the bathroom done fiasco - The house is being re-painted inside - ceilings, walls, doors / door frames and skirting boards ..... THIS MONTH 😎

Saturday/Sunday 12^th and 13^th February bedroom 1 and en suite.

Monday and Tuesday 14^th 15^th February guest bedroom plus landing and stairs.

Wednesday 16^th February kitchen.

Thursday 24^th February Summer room

Friday/Saturday 25^th 26^th utility and hall.

Sunday 27^th lounge with feature wall to be wallpapered on Monday 28^th.

Okay now you think I've been replaced by a robot don't you ...... who is this organised person posting on my blog ???

It's me - honestly

I'm sure I'll be back to my ditzy last minute dot com self any day soon

Take care and stay well, much love xx