Memorandum Monday

And I'm back! Thank you for all your good wishes here and on Facebook. So a lot has happened in 2 weeks! The flight to Berlin.

The quirky hotel we stayed in just 5 minutes walk from the hospital. 

The operation at the clinic. I was not at all nervous on the day. I had so much confidence in my consultant and this was not misplaced.

The flight back to the UK and the excellent service from the ground crew when I needed assistance to get to the car park.

Beautiful flowers from my family in Cornwall.

And Penny and Hugh looking after me (and Ben phoning me every other day to see how I was). 

I am still on sick leave and will be seeing the GP tomorrow to see if I am fit to return to work. I have done a little bit of scrapbooking whilst I have been off but not too much as I have had trouble focusing with the swollen eyelids. 

So, what have I done for the first time? Well, I think migraine surgery can count!

And what have I learned? Well, that people can be so kind when you are not expecting it (Gatwick) and that 2 weeks can make a huge difference in your looks!

Just after the operation, 3 days after the op, today.

Joining in with Sian who had the idea for this great meme.

Memorandum Monday

Good morning! Well what a beautiful weekend of weather we have had in Essex. I got my washing dried on the line for the FIRST time this year, so that's a first!

And Penny and I went for a training walk in the local park and found that they have created a new path which we went around for the FIRST time!

It was lovely to see the park so busy and everyone enjoying themselves in the sunshine. 

And last night I tried a new recipe for the FIRST time - lamb passanda from an old Slimming World magazine and it was lovely! Hugh and I are still going to SW every week and are maintaining our weight loss well. In fact I have now maintained for 6 months which is the longest I have ever had a stable and healthy weight!

Anyway, I hope that you have had a relaxing weekend and thanks to Sian who started this meme.

Memorandum Monday

Hugh, Penny and I visited a medieval Manor House over the weekend and as we toured it we had a very interesting and informative audio guide to listen to. 

Hugh and I learned (although Penny already knew it from the Horrible Histories books) that the word garderobe (medieval toilet) comes from the French word 'garder' meaning to keep and robe ( as in clothes). The garderobe was originally used to store clothes as the pungent smells deterred moths!

And here is Hugh sitting in a garderobe!

Many thanks to Sian for this Monday meme where we share something we have learned or done for the first time. Do hop on over to her blog to see what she has done and find the links to other people's blogs who are joining in. 

Memorandum Monday

A first this weekend.

Well, a first this year.

The weather was beautiful so the grass got cut for the first time in 2016. 

Joining in with Sian's meme to share a first or something we have learned over the weekend. 

Memorandum Monday

A brief post to join in with Sian today.

This weekend there was something new for me...

I went swimming just with my son's girlfriend (Amy) for the first time and it was my first time going to the gym which they both go to.

I had a lovely time with her - she is a wonderful girl and I am very fond of her.

Whilst we were swimming Ben was doing something new ...

Laying laminate flooring in his study under the guidance of his Dad.

They had fun and the flooring looked superb when they had finished.

Thanks Sian for this great meme.

Memorandum Monday

Hmm, things didn't go as planned this weekend! I was hoping to tell you that I had gone to a Mexican restaurant for the first time, however my good friend and her husband were both too poorly and so we had to postpone. So I learned that plans change and if they do good things can come from it! Hugh and I still went out for a meal, but to the Beefeater instead as we had some money off coupons!

We also managed to get to IKEA to buy the rest of the furniture we needed for the study - using our money off voucher for there which we got because of the poor service we had when we had Penny's furniture delivered! So although our original plans were changed we still had a good weekend!

My Mum is doing well - thank you for all your best wishes. She eventually came out of hospital yesterday and is now recuperating at home. I hope to go and see her again next Saturday and see how she is progressing.

Linking up with Sian for Memorandum Monday - relating something we have done for the first time or learned over the weekend.

Monday Memorandum

We visited my Mum and Dad on Saturday. They took us out to lunch.

The food was delicious. On reading the dessert menu I was amazed to learn ....

Puddings contain calories?! Who would have known that! It really made me laugh to read that on the menu. And my pudding definitely contained calories.

Please hold my Mum in your thoughts and prayers this Wednesday. She is going into hospital to have a total hip replacement. She has been waiting a long while and then was suddenly told on Friday that it will be on Wednesday. I will let you know how things go. 

Joining in with Sian for Memorandum Monday - making a quick note of something we have learned this weekend or something we have done for the first time. 

Monday Memorandum

So this weekend I travelled up to Harley Street with Hugh to learn if a procedure I had read about online might be suitable for my migraines.

I had done a 'migraine compass', completed a very thorough questionnaire and then had a half hour consultation with the most charming and confidence inspiring doctor I think I have ever met. 

It appears that I may be suitable for an operation to remove a small section of the corrugator muscle which brings relief to the trigeminal nerve. In order to test the theory (and save myself from having unnecessary surgery) I was today injected with Botox into the corrugator muscle. I've now got to wait for a month to see if I have 75% or more improvement in my symptoms. If I do then I then have to make the decision if I want to go ahead with the surgery. If it works I think I will as it will improve my life considerably. 

Slight bruising above the right eyebrow where the injection went in

So please keep your fingers crossed for me!

And did you know that Botox doesn't actually start to work for 5 days once it has been injected? I learned a whole load of interesting information this weekend!

Oh yes, and after the consultation Hugh and I had a lovely Italian meal.

I am joining in with Sian and her Memorandum Monday - do hop on over to her blog to see what she has learned this weekend and also find the links to others.

Memorandum Monday

Joining in with Sian today with a quick note of something new or something I have learned this weekend.

Well, I have learned that if you buy a new sharp knife you need to be careful when using it! I cut myself 3 times - the worst one on my thumb.

But on the plus side I cooked a new recipe on Saturday - Louisiana red rice and prawns from the Slimmimg World magazine and it was lovely!

Do hop on over to Sian's blog to see what she has learned this weekend and see who else is joining in this week.

Memorandum Monday

Sian at 'From High in the Sky' has suggested that this year, on a Monday, we make a note of something we have learned over the weekend or something that we have done that is new and share it on our blogs. This can be a story or just a line or two. Whatever we fancy. What a great idea! I will try to join in whenever I can and I have just the story for today.

Yesterday I went to the ballet for the first time ever and saw the Nutcracker performed by the English National Ballet at the London Collesium. So there is my something new! In addition I also learned that I love ballet! 

Thanks for the great idea Sian!