AK-47

Wednesday didn't turn out exactly as I'd planned.

Went to class for 9 and had a talk about the role of stress in terms of healthy eating, then the usual exercise session. My friend attended the Wed class for the first time in a while so we partnered up which was great as some nattering and laughing helps the circuits go fast. Nothing new or unusual that Rosie had us do, but we were doing goblet squats when she came up to us and said if we wanted to go spicy go from a goblet squat, to an overhead one-armed press with the weight, then swap hands in a clean dip movement, so I tried it and man, my coordination got up and walked out of the hall *g*

From there we were supposed to go home and get changed before going to an appointment in Sunderland, except it turns out the appointment was actually a telephone one, so no need to go into town that early. Got that done and would have been able to chill out except Kayleigh had asked if we could pick Megan up at the vets at 4:30 as she'd been in and sedated for a skin scrape and biopsy.

Now, that would be cutting things tight as we had a table booked at a restaurant next to the theatre for 5:30, but agreed thinking it shouldn't take that long to get her and take her back to Kayleigh's. And it didn't, except when I was opening the door, juggling the cat carrier, meds, and discharge instructions one of Kayleigh's other cats got out, and I spent time chasing him to get him back inside. Thankfully, Lucy and Bodhi had come home by that point so they took over the chase, and in the end we were only five minutes late, after amazingly getting a great, and very close to the theatre, parking spot.

Poor Megan though, she's got a skin condition that is focussed on her face and she's had to have steroid and antibiotic injections for years now to keep it under control. Which obviously, isn't ideal, and then to top it all, recently, those started not to work either leading her to look like this. I'm only linking and not putting the vid in my post as her face looks so bloody and sore. The vet wanted the biopsy etc to ensure a new treatment they're thinking of will help, but until then Meg has to be weaned off the steroids before starting this new treatment in three weeks. It'll be off brand, and something designed for dogs, but the vet does think it'll help. I hope so anyway as she's been through so much, she was a rescue when mam got her, then had to move to Kayleigh's when mam died, and she just deserves a chill and itch free life.

So, left there, and spent time worrying that Daniel was back inside -- they did get him back in btw, and got to the restaurant just a little late. Like the last few times we've eaten there, we were seated on the window tables which are on a high ledge with the chairs being the actual window ledge and the tables tall barrels. But, they were comfortable enough, and as always, the food was delicious, the service great -- though they did charge for a salt and pepper pizza and not salt and pepper fries meaning the bill was much higher than expected, but that was soon sorted, and the atmosphere buzzing. Mainly because, with being literally next door to the theatre, it was full of theatre goers all looking forward to the show, and what a show The Choir of Man was!

This is getting long, so cut for ( details )

Yesterday I had an appointment booked with a tech who was coming to check our TV monitor. I'm a member of a service that sees what you watch, and then you get paid for that info. It tends to pay for Christmas which is great, but the monitor hasn't been picking up for a while so he was coming to change it for a new version.

I was up and about early to make sure he could access behind the TV easily, only to get a phone call 15 minutes before he was due to say he'd called in sick. Which couldn't be helped I know, but was frustrating. Then Pauline phoned asking if we wanted to go out for tea, her treat, and I wasn't about to say no.

So that's what we did, and the food and company was good, even though we were the only people in the restaurant the whole time we were there, which felt a little strange.

Now James has just messaged saying he's had a fall at work and is having to sit with an ice pack on his knee. No sign of them sending him home yet. He says he's fine, but we'll see I guess. I wouldn't care but literally this morning we were talking about how it's been months since he's needed time off sick. Talk about jinxing the situation.

intoabar is open for sign ups again. I failed my assignment last year, but usually have a lot of fun with the challenge, so am thinking of joining again. Maybe anyway. I have about a week to decide.

We went to see The Sheep Detectives on Saturday, and man, it hit me right in the feels ( cut for spoilers )

Sadly, what doesn't have a feel good ending is the results of the local elections where Reform has done really well, including taking all posts available in my local area. I knew it would happen, and it really was a case of voting for the best of a bad lot. But Reform, and seeing that slime ball Farage gloating about taking Sunderland made me sick.

People on the local FB groups have been constantly complaining about how bad a job Labour has been doing, now lets see Reform do better. Somehow, I suspect they won't.

My nurse appointment went well last week, ( cut for medical talk, maybe verging on tmi )

Class went well on Wednesday, we were talking about the benefits of sleep, another topic I've gone through about three times now. Why it sticks in my mind though is we were talking about using devices like Fitbits to track sleep and everyone who had one checked their app to see their sleep hours the night before. Mine was 9 1/2 hours, and yeah, sleeping is one thing I'm usually okayat. But, even that was long for me.

Saturday we went to see Michael at the Odeon and I enjoyed it a lot, especially the music parts. I also liked that a few people had dressed up to watch, with some excellent sparkly outfits around. What I did find unsettling was how Janet was totally erased from the film, and checking afterwards she didn't want to be involved, saying it was exploiting Michael's memory. Which, good for her, but does show how easily facts can be changed in these kinds of films.

As we'd gone to an early showing we went out to eat for dinner, and got to talking to a server who was admiring James' 'cat dad' t-shirt. She also said she had 12 rescue cats of her own and one had just had a litter of kittens which were ready to be rehomed. Which, yeah, no. I'm not going for a pizza and coming home with a kitten as an extra, no matter the gentle hints.

As it was forecast to rain all day on Sunday, we made plans to go to the big gym in Sunderland, and tbh, probably wouldn't go on a weekend again. While it was busy, you could still easily get on a machine, even if it meant waiting sometimes. It was just, the people there were mostly the hard core type, with so much grunting going on while lifting very heavy. They were still perfectly nice, and one lovely guy helped take off a 25k weight plate of the sled when I couldn't move it, it's just, I prefer the more relaxed atmosphere of during the week.

But, we got our hydro massage which is always a plus, even if we did have to wait a bit for the beds to come free.

From there we did a bit of grocery shopping, going to Company first, then onto Aldi, where we found out close to closing they take all the reduced items to an area near the tills and sell everything for 10p. So, that meant we got more bread, veggies, and fruit than planned. But, at that price I couldn't turn it down and everything will be and is getting used.

Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny bank holiday. James was off so we went to go buy our tomato plants. The guy we usually get them from was back selling this year after a year off, and I was adamant I wouldn't get more than six. So of course, ten came home with us. Then I got some bedding plants and a geranium from Lidl on the way home, planting those out in the afternoon. While the tomatoes are settled nicely in the greenhouse.

Today I was superposed to be dropped off at Kayleigh and Lucy's at seven, wait there until eight and then walk Bodhi to school as Lucy was going out on an early shift while Kayleigh was finishing a sleep in shift. But Bodhi wasn't well during the night so what happened was I looked after her until Kayleigh finished at 10. Not that much looking after happened as she didn't wake until after nine.

Now I'm home, have tidied up and have a while before I need to set off for a nurse appointment for a routine screening. Can't say I'm looking forward to it, but I'll be a grown up and go.