Thursday 28 June 2012

Dan, fully clothed at last - well sort of.

OK, I promise, no more references to my nakedness.

As my long awaited week off draws to a close, I feel very grateful for everything I have. It has been heavenly here, even with the crappy weather, the endless battle with slugs (sorry, salting them now, there are just too many) and rescuing snapping lupins. I have loved every minute of it.

Tomorrow I drive the long drive to Devon for 3 nights and then drive back again on Sunday night (probably get home about 3 in the morning, but I still opted for that) when I am home for 2 days only. I go to Devon with some trepidation, because last year when I was in this particular location I was bitten by a tick and found myself with the huge bulls-eye rash that is Lymse disease. Apparently it is on the increase, so I will be very aware of it in the future and I urge all you out-door types to always look out for the tell tale rash. At least I know what to look for this time around. I remember being in the hospital having my blood taken for testing at this time and a very uncouth young phlebotomist shouting over a full waiting room, as I sat blissfully in the chair, sleeve rolled up, 'which phial is it for Lymes disease?' I could almost feel the waiting room shift their chairs slightly away in horror, not quite knowing what this was. She then whispered to me in a loud stage whisper, 'I had impetigo at my sisters wedding!' I smiled at her as I wondered the relevance of all of this! That was Croydon Mayday Hospital for you. At the same hospital, a young Indian doctor was checking out the rash and went onto the internet to look at photos of lymes diseases rashes with me, one of which was a poor unfortunate woman, totally naked with a huge rash on her arse. The doctor said faintly, 'Yours doesn't look quite like that'. Couldn't help but reply, 'what? my arse?'

I have been blissfully lazy this week, in fact yesterday I fell asleep mid afternoon for 2 hours. I have never quite got over the guilt of lazing around when others are going to work (I don't let it stop me, obviously) and I always think I should be doing something.  Today has been slightly different as I got on with some paperwork that needed doing, upped my internet usage requirements (BBC I player takes a lot!) and generally prepared myself for another fortnight of travelling.

Reading all of my favourite blogs has been one of the best bits. I love catching up with your stories, seeing what you are doing in the garden and checking out new recipes.

So, bye for now, will touch base again on Monday, unless I find the miracle of a good free internet connection while I am away.

18 comments:

  1. What is it with you and this NAKEDNESS thing ....By Golly! ...you make me smile:) x

    Glad you enjoyed your week off ... get out there and earn a few pennies now ...I sound like your Mum .... I have four boys like you ..well they are men nowadays..but for always my little boys.

    Vicky x

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    1. Yep, I'm off to earn pennies now, thank goodness!

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  2. Hope your time in Devon goes better this time. I laughed out loud at this blog, in particular, the conversation between you and the doctor!. Apparently the new 'in thing' for slugs is coffee grounds. If you get them from a coffee shop (they like to give them away) and sprinkle them around plants in a thick layer, the slugs don't like it. Don't know if they have to be dry before you do this (the coffee - not the slugs or plants):)

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    1. Right coffee grounds it is, I will give anything a go to get rid of those slimy things.

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  3. Bon voyage, 'me aaansome'...not sure if that's Cornwall or Devon.
    Jane x

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  4. Nice to hear from you in such a happy mood. How did the golden pork roll turn out, by the way?
    Did you like it? Was it eadable? What did you think of it?

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    1. Golden pork roll was fantastic, I loved it, definitely one to add to my food repertoire. So tasty and had a good wholesomeness to it. Very economical too!

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  5. Fingers crossed for no more tick bites! I giggled at the "my arse?" comment....brilliant!

    What a long old drive down to Devon, I don't envy you that. With that in mind, you should make the most of every minute of time off! Don't feel guilty at all.

    Take care.

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    1. No I don't really envy me at all and I will probably feel rancid by about 10 o'clock on Sunday night when I am just setting off back again. It's a long way!

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  6. Eek! Never had Lyme disease but I did find TWO ticks on myself after a Duke of Edinburgh trip to Wales a few years ago. I found them in the shower and was so grossed out I just pulled them straight off - the perfect way to get Lyme disease if you're unlucky!! Just let them drop off in their own time. Gross I know!!

    Jane - Calling people "my handsome" is most definitely a Cornish thing!

    Datacreata - the coffee doesn't have to be dry. Slugs are repelled both by its grittiness and the fact that caffiene is poisonous to them.

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    1. I am liking this coffee idea. Will definitely do it.

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  7. Safe journey.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  8. i always feel guilty if i do nothing too, im trying to work on that tho...

    are you going to barnstaple in north devon on your travels? i used to live there and some of my family still does, nice town for a visit but i hated living there...

    ps your rash story made me laugh :)

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    1. I can't say that I really know? I am going near somewhere called Dulverton, wherever that is. Only just over the border in Devon I think.

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  9. Chortle Snort @ the Lymes disease story - the funny bits of course not the actually misfortune of getting Lymes Disease!

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    1. Well I feel like I should be keeping my trousers tucked into my socks this time around!

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  10. I had a tick on my back a few weeks ago and went to the doctors. They took it off. It has to be removed in a particular way, with a tick twister, so that you don't traumatise it or it will regurgitate what it has in it's mouth and spit it back into you. I didn't get a rash but the site was very itchy so I went back and they gave me a course of anti biotics. Lymes disease is very serious, the symptoms may not show for a long time. If and when it does appear it can be very debilitating, all kinds of things go wrong with your body.

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