Things

It’s been a while since I last reported on what’s happened with me. So long in fact I never even mentioned my sister being here back in May and the two of us going to Cologne for a few days. 

As always hampered by a headache attack and a knee playing up, we still managed to have a good time. We visited the cathedral, did a bus tour and on our last day we went to the zoo. Plus we did some shopping. 

The rest of the week saw us visit the Sand sculpture park with our parents (plenty of photos, only accessible via computer) and some more shopping. But we kept it fairly easy and laid-back. 

I have been doing some work in the garden. Clearing weeds, cutting back trees, planting berry bushes, finding berry bushes. I have had a few guests: a small toad, a blackbird, kitties, a small white dog. 

As for work, a few days after my sister left, I got my license and was allowed back behind the steering wheel again. It was tiring at first, but it’s been over a month now and I am happy to say all is well. The hands are doing fine and not giving me too much bother. 

So, that’s me in a nut shell. 

Oh goody

Me and my mum getting silly

Last week I had written a whole post about what I had been up to during the last few weeks of 2021. I couldn't put any photos in however and there was something else impossible, so I decided to publish and go back to it. All that remained was the title! Nothing else. As it had hurt badly already, I gave it up as a bad job and haven't looked at my computer until now.

Space saving for all my films

As you may recall my sister arrived finally (it was the sixth attempt) and she stayed with me almost the entire time. Plenty of plans were made: hairdresser, family visits, theater, going places. We managed to get to the hairdresser just in time as only a few days later the country went in lockdown again. *sigh*

'Sjoelen' on New Year's Eve. I lost.

For Christmas we did go see my brother and his family and New Year's Eve was spent at my parents, together with some friends. Other than that no family (apart from our parents) or friends, no shopping trip, no going places. The latter might still have been an option, but the gammy knee was not cooperating. 

Decorating cookies

Instead we watched Christmas films, read, watched some more television, baked, cooked and watched a bit more television. She spent three weeks here, before returning home again last week. Hopefully she will be able to come over again in May. I am counting down the days.

Since the start of 2022, I visited several health thingies. The first one was to get my booster jab. This one didn't hurt at all (unlike my second vaccination, where some numpty just aimed and thrust), but that was short lived. Later in the evening, the area did start to get very sore and by the next day I was feeling a bit worse for wear: a bit nauseous, a bit queasy, a bit shivery. Nothing really bad, but noticeable nonetheless.

'Gourmet' dinner'

Then two days later I made my way to the plastic surgeon again. Despite the wound healing a treat, it is still a bit red and swollen. It was not that however that saw me see the surgeon instead of them tackling my left hand (which had been the original plan). I had had severe pain in my thumb/wrist prior to the operation and it returned the minute the anastacia (you know my problem) wore off. Had the operation gone wrong?

Stout jelly, trifle, chocolate mousse and key lime cheesecake

In short? No. I got treated for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and that was successful. The trouble with the thumb is related, even similar, but different. It is the De Quervain Syndrome and it's painful. Especially as you use your thumb for just about everything! It can be caused by so many things, including manual work like housework, knitting and a host of other things. The main trigger was most likely the recent move.

There are (like with CTS) three main ways to combat it: rest, corticosteroid injection or surgery. The first would mean not being able to use the hand at all and hopefully it will get better over time: many many months. The second would involve a nasty injection right into the most painful area and let that do its work together with hand therapy and a custom made splint. The third option is when nothing else helps, but contrary to the CTS operation, it is a bit more dangerous due to the location.

There was a ban on fireworks. Hahahaha!

Rest was not really an option as it would take too long. The third was not really given as an option, so the second it was. And I can tell you it was a very nasty injection. I even kicked the doctor, for which I never even apologised. It took a while for the pain of the injection had gone (several hours) and then I was pain free. Not for that long though, the pain did come back, although I think it's not as bad. At the end of this week I will see a hand therapist and get a splint, until then I try and wear my old wrist splint to keep movement to a minimum. 

So, that has happened recently. I will try to get back to my computer a bit more regular now, but as the hand is still not quite cooperating, it is not the easiest. 

50 years

Well, the first day of my holiday has started. Which happens to be on my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. A party had been planned for tomorrow, but this Corona mess you know...

So, my holiday didn't start out the way I wanted to. Instead I have had a lie-in until 6.30 am when my alarm went off. Decorating time! Just because Corona is messing up everybody's life, doesn't mean I can't decorate. There were balloons to blow up (the pump took ages), there was a flag to be flown, there were things to be taped to the windows and door frames. 

Filled to overflowing with food and drink

During that time my parents were not allowed out of their room. They had to stay up there, until I called them. Which I could only do after breakfast arrived (courtesy of my brother and his family). I say breakfast: it was a champagne breakfast! 

Yep, my mum and dad on their wedding day

I then called my parents down and they were able to tuck in. By then they had received several telephone calls from people they knew. Although the question was how those people knew about their anniversary. Simple: they read the newspaper and we children had put a notice in. 

The haul so far

Flowers started arriving, as did cards. And unfortunately the rain as well, but we weren't going anywhere anyway... There was cake, phone calls, e-mails, more flowers. My parents sure know a lot of people. 

Flowers from my sister

Fifty years together. It's a shame we can't celebrate like the plan was, but at least they are not forgotten. Everybody made sure of that!

A long-haired roaring Jet?

For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you may have seen a photo of my mother recently. The same one that is at the top of this post in fact and the reactions were both warming and funny. So, here's the story of my mother's visit to the hospital...

Quite a while ago now, my mother noticed a small fluid filled lump on her finger. At first it wasn't that bothersome, but as time went on, the lump became bigger and would hinder her in her hobby: making lace. Thin threads and lumps don't go together you see. Off she went to the doctor. It was a ganglion*, which needed to be surgically removed.

A few weeks ago I took my mother to see the surgeon, or so we thought anyway. Turned out it was somebody who confirmed the gp's diagnosis: ganglion that needed to be surgically removed. *Sigh*

And then last week, the time had finally come that my mother would have her ganglion removed. Nervous (as if!) she and my dad were off to hospital, where the offending lump would get the chop. A bit of narcotic and off they went. Ouch! More narcotic and off they went again. Ouch! More and this time it went fine until Ouch! Finally after the fourth dose it seemed to do the trick and they were able to remove the lump.

She came home with her finger packed up like that. The next day the bandage came off though and now it is only wrapped in a small bandage and a small plastic splint. Which she has to wear for two weeks. Which in turn means: no washing up, and little dinner making...

I knew there was a catch somewhere!

*A ganglion cyst is a small sac of fluid that forms over a joint or tendon (tissue that connects muscle to bone). Inside the cyst is a thick, sticky, clear, colourless, jellylike material. It occurs mainly on the wrist, but can be found on other parts of the hand, although the top of the finger as in my mother's case is quite uncommon. Just popping the sac to remove the fluid is of no use, once the sac is closed again, it will fill up immediately.

Where am I from again?

Over the past few years I have done some research into my family tree. Finding out about anything from royalty and murder (Mum's side) and religious persecution and Japanese internment camps (Dad's side). 

At one point my Dad asked me whether I knew for certain that some person was our ancestor. Well, no! Then again, how do I know my father is my father? His word does not really prove that much! So, we decided to get a DNA test done through Ancestry. 

While my parents were here, we all spat in a tube and sent it off to Ireland to get it analyzed. And on Sunday the first results came in: my mother's!

The thing we 'knew' from my research (based on other people's research mostly) was that her ancestors came from a wide area in Europe. Starting with Charlemagne and then trickling down, slowly converging on the Netherlands. Would the DNA substantiate that research?

Well, it does! As you can see from the image above. There were two surprises: the first was about the England, Wales & Northwestern Europe bit. On closer inspection it showed that the main focus in that area is England! Where did that come from? I would have thought Northern France would be more likely. The second and biggest surprise for me however was the Scandinavian percentage though: 20% of my mother's DNA is from Norway and Sweden! Vikings!! 

I can't wait for my father's results now and then of course my own! Will my own correlate with my parents' or did the milkman or postman have anything to do with my conception and do I need a completely new research?

They're gone

Well, they left last Thursday already, but since then I have been working non-stop. Apart from today when I had a course. 

So, what happened during their stay? Well, basically not that much. On Sunday we went to a local(ish) car boot sale, although it also sold a lot of cheap new stuff. If I am in the market for a carpet: definitely the place to get them. As for the car boot part: mostly tat, but good fun on occasion.

On Monday I had to go to Coleraine to get the digital tachograph card renewed. Mine was Norwegian and fast running out. Then the lady told me I should have had it done in Norway and they couldn't help me. But after a few more questions, a nice gentleman arrived, took all my paperwork and official papers (licence, passport) off me and returned a couple of minutes later saying all was okay, if I filled out yet another form, paid and he would then process everything that afternoon. It usually takes between two and three weeks to get your new card. Mine arrived within three days. Happy.

During the afternoon we visited Castle Dunluce, a ruin really, but very majestically and imposingly situated on the edge of a cliff. The weather wasn't the best: chilly and windy, but the rain stayed away mostly. Not too bad a day. In the evening we went out to dinner to celebrate my sister's birthday which was the next day.

National school

On Tuesday (ie my sister's birthday) we went to the open air folk museum near Belfast. You may have seen some photos already, as Brom had a not so nice experience there (read more here). But again, the weather was glorious and because it is term time, hardly anybody was there, giving us enough time to watch, chat and take photos. All indoor photos were taken without flash, so they might not always be the best, but that was the only way to take them. 

Rag rug. It was so dark in there, it was only the photo that showed us all the colours in the rug!

Wednesday was spent doing even less. The weather had turned and storm Ali was hitting Northern Ireland with a vengeance: branches and sometimes whole trees blocking the roads. As we hadn't yet been to my sister's place, this was the day to do it. We spent a couple of hours there, went to a lovely shop and in the evening had a farewell dinner at a local Indian restaurant. Nice! 

Inside of the Catholic church

On Thursday my parents were due to leave, but not until well into the afternoon. The day was spent (on my part) doing laundry and before my parents had even left, the guest bed was ready for the next visitor(s)! I took them to the airport in late afternoon, after which I hit the supermarket, stocking up on things that had been used during their stay. 

It was lovely having my parents over. They know now that I am doing fine. Not great yet, but fine, the great will take a while longer. My next visitor is going to be a Dutch friend of mine. However, she had this urge of jumping about on a trampoline for some reason and now has a severe back problem. Her visit might have to be postponed. Physical exercise is so overrated!! 

Dinner at the Indian restaurant

Other things coming up: Cirque du Soleil (my sister won tickets and asked if I wanted to come: duh!) and a visit to a massive craft fair in Dublin. We will probably make a weekend of it as well, staying over in a hotel and enjoying ourselves. 

All photos (apart from the last one) were taken at the Ulster Folk Park near Belfast. 

Today!

I should not be writing this blogpost. Nor should I be reading others' blogposts. I should be vacuuming and cleaning windows. I should finally sort the last mess that still is in the living room. I have about 4 hours left to do all I need (at least) before I have to head back to work. 

And then, after work... I go pick up my sister!! We will drive home so I can get changed into people clothes and my sister can drop off her luggage and then we will head out again. To see my parents who will be arriving together with friends this afternoon. They have rented a holiday home for their stay. The only other possibility was kicking my landlord out of his own home and even though he is a very nice and kind landlord, I think that might be pushing it a bit...

Anyhoo, first laundry of the day is in, hoover is standing at attention, Christmas music is playing and my four hours start... NOW!

Sometimes a girl just needs her daddy!

Yep, that's me and my daddy playing on the beach

Especially if her daddy can empathise a bit better than her mummy. Not that my mother cannot, but in character my Dad and I are really alike, so it's easier to talk to him. 

This time however it was something else that was bothering me. The book, or better yet, one chapter. About military service and one of the people I am highlighting was bothering me. Not himself of course, he is long gone (more's the pity), but his army career. 

My Dad

I could have forked out big money for a professional opinion on the matter. Or I could ring my Dad. Who knows a thing or two about army things. Seeing as he was regular army at some point. 

At first it was still a mystery, but after a minute (or five most likely), I finally started to grasp what he was saying. And realised that what I had written down wasn't wrong, it just was right twice. In other words, I used different wording to say the same thing twice. I changed it and now the story makes a lot more sense. I hope. And if the people who read it don't understand: they can talk to my Dad...

Brom says goodbye

Coocoo

Today was a bit of a sad day, because Gera was going home. I really liked having her here. We did a lot of nothing and a bit of cooking, baking and sight-seeing. The perfect holiday! The next time I will see her is in two months, so not too far away. 

I don't know either...

Mara says it is quite nice to have the house to herself again. And Gera said it would be nice to sleep in her own bed again as well. But they had a great time together. 

As of tomorrow I am on leave from blogging, until our next holiday when Mara and I will be driving to the Netherlands. I am looking forward to that very much. 

But, here are a few photos of the two of them/three of us during this past holiday... 

Brom plays Florence Nightingale

Coocoo!

Well, Mara's headache yesterday morning was a lot better, but during the day it got worse again. She felt sick again as well, but managed to keep everything down. And then she got a phone call from Gera: the plane was late. Which was good, because by the time Mara picked Gera up, the headache had gone and she was hungry again. Yippee! A proper holiday!!

Today Mara felt great and hungry, but they decided not to do too much today yet. Apart from grocery shopping, because there was hardly anything to eat in the house. Not even enough to make a yummy carrot cake! So, off they went, leaving me to look after the place. They came back with four big bags full of food! 

Mara cooked a really nice dinner that both of them enjoyed a great deal. A sort of oven dish with lots of vegetables and sausages and such. And for afters: rhubarb crumble! I would have liked a taste of that I can tell you. 

After dinner, Gera started to feel a bit poorly. A few trips to the little girls' room and then she complained of a headache. Then she asked for the bucket and the next thing we knew, she was really sick! Anyway, Mara made the bed for Gera and I think I will have to keep her company tonight, just to make sure she is alright. 

She did say she was feeling better now though, so hopefully she will be okay tomorrow, when we will be visiting the Vikings. That's the plan anyway... Providing nobody has the dreaded H, the dreaded PV or anything else that makes you feel bad. 

Brom gets a visitor

Coocoo

Remember me? The little orange teddy? Well, I am here to tell you that we are having a visitor. Not yet though, but soon. Mara has written about it a few times now so you will all know that it is her little sister Gera who's coming.

Now, Mara only had a few things to do this week: work for three days and during those last two days (both with a split shift), she would make the place ready for Gera. It didn't quite work out that way. 

During last year's road trip
Taken in one of Prague's underground stations

Because yesterday morning, she woke up very early with the beginning of a bad headache. She thought it would be okay to do the first part of her shift (from 5.45am to 8.50am), but she just knew already that the afternoon part of her shift would not be possible. Oh boy, was she right. 

She got home and she immediately started clearing the sofa-bed. Then she got the vacuum out to get rid of all of the cat hairs on it. And then she found a pillow and a blanket and went to sleep! I felt so sorry for her. She slept on and off for about 5 hours I think, but at the end her headache was still there, and worse than before. 

Oh and then... she had to run to the toilet and throw up! The rest of the day she spent on the couch watching a bit of television and sleeping/dozing in between. She tried to drink a little, but one wrong move and it all came out again (I had suggested a bucket and she had listened fortunately). Mara thought then that it might be wise to call Gera to tell her that it might be possible that she wouldn't be there to pick her up. She might be weak and sick and such. 

Well, if she hadn't phoned, Gera would have had to take a taxi anyway, since Mara thought she was arriving at 11 at night, when in fact it is 8.30 at night! 

After a good, albeit short, night's sleep, Mara said she woke up and it took her a few minutes to figure out that her head was much better. Not clear, but a lot better. Not only that, she was hungry! And even little orange teddies that don't eat a lot, know that Maras need food and she had hardly had anything yesterday! So, she is on the mend and can most likely pick Gera up.

Which is good because it's much better being on holiday when you're feeling good. Especially if Gera is coming!

Brace yourselves!

Well, not really. But to start with the first thing, I found out my finishing time from yesterday's 5k run. It was 52 minutes and 54 seconds. Nearly nine and a half minutes faster than last year. There was another run I did last year, which had an even better time (51.50), but that is on different terrain. Ie flat. According to Norwegians. But it is a lot flatter and easier than last night's run, so no real comparison.

Today I also got some knee supports. I had been using a sleeve (thank you Yamini), but it was too small, despite being the largest they had. I just have extraordinarily large knees for some reason. Nothing (well, something, but only a small part) to do with my weight, because they were nearly this large when I was underweight! The knee support I got now is basically a bandage that I can wrap around as loose or as tight as I want and need. Fingers crossed.

While I was running (ahem) last night, my parents phoned. I didn't know until I got back home and immediately called back. It was my Mum. With fantastic news. The bits they took out of her had been sent to the laboratory and they all came back negative, ie: clean edges, which means NO CANCER! Yippee! Now it will just be recovery recovery recovery without this scare hanging over her. She was very appreciative of all your (virtual) hugs and well wishes and thanks you all. 

And that's basically it for today. Tomorrow I will be off to Kiev (Ukraine) for the third time this week. Eurovision time you know!!!

Coming home

I arrived at my parents' place just after noon on Friday, finding them both there, albeit they had only gotten home from the hospital about a quarter of an hour earlier. In other words, my Mum was home. As I said the operation had gone a lot better than expected, although it had been a bigger operation. There are still some issues that need to resolve themselves naturally, but she was home and that was the biggest thing. Much better to recuperate at home in your own environment than on a ward with men and women and beeps and bleeps and alarms at all hours of the day and night. 

On Saturday my sister (who had arrived late Friday) and I did some errands for my Mum before heading to a friend of ours who took us to see an uncle of hers who had recently lost his wife. A nice man, although religion was a subject better avoided he said. I suggested politics and was met with a fairly stony glare. We settled on dogs (he used to show border collies with his wife and there were still four running about the place) and his old job. Lovely afternoon. 

On Sunday we took it easy, a bit of late grocery shopping for me, a bit of reading, a bit of television and a bit more reading. My Mum took regular bed breaks, because even though the operation went fine, she still tires very easily. Even when my sister and I were NOT there!

This morning I was dropped by my Dad at the train station, before heading back home to Norway. Train, plane and plane. Some grocery shopping and back to Miss Oswin. Who was so glad to see me, she was out the door before I had the chance to say hello! Ah well, the weather is good, so it's fine. 

Tomorrow it's back to work again. The next time I will see my parents will be when I drive (yes, with my little car) home in August for a week's holiday. 

B^%#@%r

Or words to that effect. Basically. 

My Mum had the results back this week and unfortunately they were not as good as we had hoped. The surgeon had tried to remove all of the diseased tissue, but apparently it went deeper than expected. Which means that in about 8-10 weeks, when she is completely healed from the last surgery, she will have to go under the knife again to get the remainder removed. 

However, one light in the darkness is the fact that my Mum did not talk about it having spread anywhere else. Which is a big phew. But other than that: B^%#@%r!