1%

So the next day, I felt positively scalped as I washed the head in the shower, of course, there is still tons of it but Louise did a great job shaping it up.

The weekend evaporated before I knew it and it was Monday... again.  My body is lagging behind the positive healthy image that I'm carrying around with me at present in my head.  I have stomach ache all the time, aches if I eat anything, aches if I don't.

I headed to the Doctor's on Monday for my blood pressure "discussion".  Conversation went something like this; "so you did the 24 hour blood pressure monitoring test, your overall average was high, so we'll sort out some meds for you today."

"Right away?"  I was stunned, I honestly thought I'd get another go, I failed my driving test first time around, and my history GCSE, well, I got a "D", how come I don't get another go this time? 

I launched into my best negotiating tactics, it was a test, I was really anxious about taking it and I like to do well at tests so I put more pressure on myself, I was really conscious of it "going off" every 30 minutes while I was in work, I felt embarrassed, I was worried about failing.  My doctor had a wry smile on her face by this point and she turned to the computer to scan my other test results.  My other results were "excellent" and at this point, if she leaves it for a few months, I only have a 1% chance of developing heart disease, and so I won a reprieve. 

I don't know if I've made this up or if I heard it somewhere, but in my head, once I'm on blood pressure meds, I'll be on them for life, which is why it's so important for me to try to get this under control naturally.  I get to take the test again in May.  If I fail in May, I'm on meds but hey, I passed my driving test second time around, and I got a "C" in my History second time around, it'll be fine.

11/11

Today is Sunday, my friend Carol texted last night to ask if I'd be at Starbucks this morning and so we arranged to meet.  Carol is a tall, pretty, whirlwind who manages to speed up time.  Any time you're with her, it just whisks by.  We chatted at breakneck speed to cram everything in, in the little time we had.  It was lovely to catch up. 

After a brief shopping expedition, (French Connection... no purchases.) I observed the two minutes silence for armistice day in my car, listening to sounds from the Cenotaph at 11am from BBC Radio2 and largely thinking of my Grandad who was severely wounded in WWI.

My Grandad was in the Home Guard in WWII, due to age and disability.  Have you ever seen "Dad's Army?"  It was a show from the 1970's, it's a classic which sadly isn't shown much any more.  The comedy is based on the Home Guard of the Second World War, one of the character's was "Jones," played by Clive Dunn. Clive Dunn played old codgers for the best part of this life, he played old even when he was far from old, but this week, at the age of 92, he passed away in Portugal.  I have very fond memories of this actor and all of the kids TV programmes he was in, I think it's quite fitting for him to leave us this week.  A former serviceman himself, he will be remembered.

In the wake of Doctor-gate and the Manuka Honey debacle, I'm wondering what else can I do to help myself, I have a week and a half before I head down to Southampton for a catch up with friends.  I'm thinking I'm going to factor in oily fish and leafy greens, as that's all that's missing from my usual, pretty healthy diet.  My doctor really can't say that I'm not trying.

Having said that, I'm considering, (and I have been for the past 24 months,) going for physio.  I've been for my "angels wings," (that's shoulder blades that stick out to you and me,) but my back and neck are no fun.  It may be the arthritis but if there is anything I can do to aid sleep and lessen pain, then I'm all for it.  I'm very close to booking an appointment.

I've totally lost the plot and so, back to Remembrance Sunday, and after my little bit of shopping, I head to darling nephew CJ's for coffee after my invite arrives via text .  All is not well, Cooke, the cat, seems to have been in a fight with something and is lethargic and craving CJ's bed, so much so that CJ, being the soft touch that he is, when Cooke was sprawled in the middle of CJ's bed last night... darling nephew slept on the sofa, some woman, somewhere, will be extremely lucky to end up with him, I mean CJ, although Cooke is also an asset. 

CJ is obviously worried about Cooke and the pair will pay a visit to the vets tomorrow and I wait with baited breath for an update.

Egg and chips for lunch/tea and then B arrives, very late afternoon as she's been dropping stuff off for the church fair next weekend... she's away all next week.

Bee brings me my annual, single persons Christmas hamper.  Normally, although it's given with love, it's usually pretty depressing, microwave turkey dinner for one etc, I'm exaggerating but everything in that basket is a reminder that I'm on my own, single portion of this and single portion of that.  But no, not this year, due to lack of time, B has several holidays booked, back to back, and the fact that B usually chooses things I would never eat and I usually end up giving them back before they reach their expiry date in January, this year's hamper is a small bottle of Baileys, haven't drunk that in years but sure I can help it down with lots of ice, a bottle of wine and £20 to go shopping with for Christmas food.  Best hamper ever and I'm sure I'll buy lots of consumables with that, so far on my list are cheese, crackers, paxo, cranberry, turkey, bread, crisps, wine.  I know... the high life huh?