Saturday, February 28, 2004

For Clare

as requested- for my fellow Victoria Wood fan - follow the link to my photo's etc and you'll find some pontin's piccies! Look down the sidebar and there should be little pic of me in my Blues - ah the memories :)

Patrick Stewart can sing!

Finished watching the extra's on ST:TNG 5 yesterday evening. There a section which is a tribute to Gene Roddenberry - he's the guy who created the whole Star Trek idea and the ideals. He died during the filming of Series 5 and was obviously a much loved, admired and repected guy. He must have been something special to be able to see society turning out the way he did from what we are now. His wife Majel Barrett (Lxwanna Troi - Counsellor Troi's mother) speaks on it too (these bits were recorded in 2002) and comes across as an amazing lady. Have to say that I actually shed a few quiet tears while watching it.

At the end there is about 1 min with the screen saying "Gene Roddenberry" and the dates he lived. If you wait 'til they disappear you get a completey random and yet great moment where Patrick Stewart in full Captain Picard uniform sings "Walking through the alphabet with you" to Gene - complete with straw boater and cane doing a small dance routine round the bridge of the Enterprise! It ws actually pretty good - although you half expect the rest of the crew to come dancing in behind him. (and you can almost imagine the giggles of the studio crew in the background!)

I've added some photo's of various paintings I've done to my msn community, here's a preview of my final A-Level piece. I actually got an A for it - I was so chuffed!
Where I Live


My toes are really quite achey today 'cos of the cold - yey snow! But it also meant that I was terrified to go down the drive on my crutches in case I slipped!


Thursday, February 26, 2004

Chief of Radishes!

Yey, peeps have left comments! Will no longer be using phone as modem - nearly had small coronary when I received phone bill yesterday. Now have AOL anytime so will be content with that.

Guess what....got some very surprising, neigh startling, news from the Theatre Belgrade yesterday. They might actually be able to pay me sick pay. The ongoing saga of me trying to get the benefit sorted meant I had to ring them for a form saying they couldn't give me money - and then they discovered they might actually have to - there you go, can't be that bad eh? Lovley ladies in finance department - they gave me nice cookies when I went past their office for the matinee's of panto!

ST:TNG 5 and LOTR arrived. Have watched all of ST (v.cool) and will strat reading LOTR when finished with Ramses. Some brilliant ST episodes in 5. Including one with Picard and 3 kids stuck in alift, Troi in charge of the bridge, Worf being a midwife, Riker having to remove Data's head, and Geordie and Crusher stuck in a cargo bay with a random fire - all good fun!

Sunday, February 22, 2004

Joan Simms voice: "I seem to be a little plastered!"

Ah, what a fab film 'Carry on up the Khyber is'. I think it's definitely one of the strongest films - especially cast wise. And the scene where they're enjoying dinner and ignoring the fact that the mansion is being bombed to pieces around them is priceless if a little bittersweet. Also I think Joan Simms sister/ some relation plays the Khazi's No. 1. She looks a bit like her, speaks like her and the name 'Liz Simms' appears in the credits - anybody know?

Yeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyey, *ta da da da*. I get to go back to camp - wahoo! Ah, it's such a relief; been having really bizarre dreams 'cos I didn't know the answer to whether I was going, but Chris emailed me last night to tell me so I slept good :) Now have to sort all the paper work out etc, yey! :))))))))))

Should be getting ST:TNG 5 tommorrow or Tuesday as well as LOTR (book) as amazon have finally sent it! Edd wanted to borrow Series 4 but as he's not going to be back for a while I said he could have it at Easter (after all, I've only watched it 2 and 1/2 times !?! :s). So basically will have new things to keep me entertained and help me out of the boredom - which is well and truly settling in!

Saturday, February 21, 2004

here comes a carry on!

Very tired today. Nothing to do really.

Had a great night last night. Jo G came round, we had chinese and watched "for Richer or Poorer". It's a great film, apparently only released in the US as I couldn't find it over here. I saw it when I went to visit Shel in Ohio. Comedy, stars Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley, rich couple who decide to divorce, whose accountant gets them into trouble with the IRS. They run and end up in an Amish community. Lots of cheese but a great film!

Toes hurting quite a lot today. Think where the stitches were is healing; it itches and I can't scratch it - ahhhhh! Carry on up the Khyber is on soon though - one of my favourites!

Thursday, February 19, 2004

momentary excitement

Yey I sold 2 things on eBay, a book and the charger for my old phone. Made a grand Total of about £2.50!

For exercise I walked to the end of the road and back. Today have also watched far too much TV and ran down the battery of my laptop playing Sims. Enthralling!

Still dunno about NY. Rang Chris (programme Director) and he's waiting to hear back from 2 other's to make a decision. Apparently I was too assertive with one of the Director's. Never been called that before, I know I talk too much but I've really worked on that and hopefully will get the chance to prove it. I had a great time with the kids and was cheif Bug Catcher of Main 2, I think I did OK. Also I had a pretty tricky ASM last session - so I can't have been that bad as they thought I could deal with him - maybe it was a punishment! At least I know where I stand now.

Jaw has stopped aching, toes more sensitive but am managing to potter about in my room and upstairs without the bootees on for a little while. And also managed to kneel on my knee tonight for the first time since I injured it without it being really uncomfortable. And Jo G comes tommorrow with chocolate wohoooo!

Oh, Screw down my diodes and call me Frank!

Went to get the details for Incapacity Benefit today. Came out with about a forest's worth of paperwork and ended up ticking the "No" box for most of the questions and skipping some bits completely - there has to be a better way of sorting it out! I had to fill the IB one in and one for Income Support incase I don't get IB. In the process of getting the info to fill it in it gave my mum an opportunity to guilt trip me about how much it costs to have me at home. I do contribute (she's worked out a scale system - depending on what I earn, the amount I give her differs ranging from -> £50 (£15) and £250+(£50)) but it depends how much work I get each week. That's why I'm desperate to move out. I may have no money but at least I'm not gonna get guilt tripped, I'm sick of it.

Me, Son and her little boy Toby went round to see Clare + Abi today. It went well I think. I played with Toby while they chatted, he's soooo cute!

My feet/toes are really swollen now, pretty uncomfotable inside these casts! Also my jaw still aches after yesterday, and Jo G. didn't make it this evening so I'm feeling rather bleugh. Had a good chat to my mate Liz (Key - same surname, no relation!) from Uni (She was one of my flatmates in 2nd year). That helped, and it was good to catch up on what's going on up there. She doing a PGDip in Concert singing (her 5th year) and is waiting to hear if she'd got into the Opera school. She should - she'd got an amazing voice!

Watched all of RD IV, with and without commentary and all the bonus features. Reorganised and tidied my room, got through some more of my puzzle books. If anyone has any suggestions how I could fill my day I'd be very grateful. Try and keep them 'nice' - and remember - I have both feet in plaster!;)

Tuesday, February 17, 2004

::blehhhhh::

3 GOOD things that happened today :

* I actually saw what was underneath my plaster and for some reason it has helped me feel a whole lot better.
New Plasters:


*Red Dwarf Series IV and "The SIms : Livin' It Up" arrived

*I managed to arrange to get 2 of my good friends (and 1st time mothers) together with me for coffee and biscuits. Something I've been trying to do for about 1 year now!

3 BAD things that happened today:

*When the lovely lady Tammy was taking my stitches out they were really tight and one hurt so much (we're talking shockwaves of very SHARP pain along sensitive Big Toe and Foot) I yelled and burst into tears.

*The Dentisit had to pull out one of my top wisdom teeth out because it was causing all the pain on the lower gum - If you follow this link you can see the offending article. The roots were curled for some reason so it nearly broke coming out and was pretty tricky to pull :(

*Now don't know if I'm going back to NY this summer and the wait to find out is hard.

The lovely ladies who did my new plasters were called Tammy and Susan and were very patient with me as I think I was being a bit difficult, mainly 'cos I didn't really know what was going on. Mr Pereira (my consultant/surgeon) actually explained to me what was inside my toe - just one screw holding it together, made me feel better - then I had to try and curl my big toes - which was hard so I must practice if poss.

I'm very tired 'cos the post-y arrived at 7am this morning and I was so excited that I stayed up and watched RD and loaded The Sims instead of going back to sleep. Also that pulling tooth thing has really taken it out of me!

Monday, February 16, 2004

Pattern Buffers....mumble

I think the confinement is getting to me.

In 2 days (48 hours anyway!) I have managed to watch the entire Season 4 of of Star Trek:The Next Generation, completed 1/4 of a puzzle book (a v. thick puzzle book) catalogued half of my Cd's and sorted my Calender out for this week on my laptop - including what I'm going to watch AND Tape on TV....

I think I may possibly win the prize for the most BORED person I know right now.

Plus I'm actually EXCITED at the prospect of going to the hospital (check up I think - might be having my stitches out though) and the DENTIST - yes that's right folks - the DENTIST. (they think I have a wisdom tooth infectiony type thing - it's been hurting for like 2 weeks, so you know, I thought I ought to get it checked out!)
And the reason.......because it will be the first time I've been beyond my block (except for church) for 1 + 1/2 weeks !!!!! *gnash* gnash*

I realise for some people this may seem like a relief or they are not able to get out and about usually and think I'm over reacting. But I'm finding it hard that I can actually walk about (if a bit aided by crutches and not for too long) but I can't go anywhere! And my brain still feels as if it should be at work so I feel as if there's something scurrying about inside that can't make it's mind up what to do - making it very difficult to actually focus on anything!....OK....back to a vague normality now......

What else: Don't lean over to look in a pond whilst wearing these funny bootee things and noone else in vicinity. Tragedy nearly ensued this afternoon as I found myself in that predicament. One wet crutch and probably terrified fish later I had averted disaster.

I wish I had more Get Well Cards. How bad is that......I know it's ded whiney but I only have 2 and the way that I feel today and probably for most of this week (P.M.T not exactly helping at the mo) it's really quite, well, depressing. Although one of the 2 I've got does have Coupon's inside that I get to use for different things, like watching an entire morning of daytime TV! And the other Vix drew for me so that has definite cute factor! I feel a very hard going week coming on...... :s

Although, last night I spoke to my great friends in the States (I think of them like my American family :)) and they've had a truly awful month, lots of illness and things, so it helped me put my blue-ness into perspective really. Any spare prayer or mojo it would be great if you coiuld send it in the Michigan direction to the VanKampens (there's lots of them probably, but the thoughts will know where to go!) as they mean alot to me :)

Anyhoo, this is increeedibly long so I must stop it and, well, go and watch some more Star Trek and play Sims I guess, what is a girl to do........?

Sunday, February 15, 2004

Zen and the art of retreiving pictures

Wahoo, I got the piccies of my feet (see 2 posts below) to work. I'd put one letter in the wrong place for the HTML. Man, it's picky!

RANDOM THOUGHT: How cool are microwaves? (as in the ovens!)

Thursday, February 12, 2004

ooooohhhhh..Technology..

hmmm, well still trying to solve the problem of the missing photo's.

Still, I am at this moment typing sat on my bed in the bedroom..."and the point is" I hear you say? Well it means that I have finally got my mobile to work as my modem - yey! Which means I can pretty much get on line anywhere (although it is rather slow!)
And look at the NEW exiting thing below the pics. Its called a Blogroll and is a nice easy way to add links to your site. I went to the site and the first roll I got was just text, so I decided to investigate a more graphic one. I picked one and then stretched my very limited HTML and CSS knowledge (using this great site and this one (useful chart for colours too!)) and through trial and error (about 1n1/2 hours of it!) managed to create the thing you can see below. I was very proud of myself and have started to learn some more HTML stuff.

BLOGGER-not only does it let you blog, but also expand your skills base!

I've been thinking that I'm not really sure how much pain I should be in (with my toes) and how much I should be able to do. I know that sounds wierd but everyone I've spoken to just goes on about how painful it is, and to be honest, although there is consant ache and it is painful when I do anything other than have my feet up, I can cope with it, and don't feel as if I'm doing too much. Maybe I just have a high pain threshold, I don't know.
But it is beginning to worry me, that I might be doing damage even though it isn't incredibly painful. So I have decided to be more restful and allow people to do things for me as I really don't want to screw this up.

It would have been really helpful if the hospital could have given me some indication of acceptable levels of exercise but they didn't really say much. So have been looking on the web. Found some sites that explain the operation etc but not anything with pics or helpful advice about after surgery. I feel it would really help me right now if I knew what was under the plaster round most of my foot. Maybe I get to find out when they take the stitches out!

Anyhoo, enough eugh, must do something patient like....read my next book (finished the ST one Edd bought me for Christmas, part of a series - gotta get the rest now!)..or maybe play a little Sims....hmm...

Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Yey! I would jump and down but.....

...my feet are ensconced in plaster and are aching quite prolifically right now! But look...........no, not here......down there......on the left....that's right......PICTURES!!!!! Finally, worked out the HTML, bought extra storage at MSN and away I went - although apparently I've reached the limit for those now!
Also if you have a wee look in the top left corner I have inherited a Mood display from imood.com. Free site where you can acquire yourself a little mood monitor to change when you like. V. spiffy.
Now lets see about a picture here.......

Feet before (hopefully!)

Feet right now/ish.

Enough of gruesome feet. Actually made it half way around the block today to visit Clare, met Chris Froggatt (I went to primary school with Lee, her eldest son) on the way round and had a chat. It was great. I hadn't spoken to her since I was about 10-years-old and it was really cool seeing her and speaking to her in a totally different way - especially as she didn't find it strange at all! (well if she did she hid it well!)

Well, I'm so excited about all the HTML code I've just learned I feel I should hobble off upstairs and treat myself to creating a new family on "The Sims" - wow, what an amazing life I've got.....hehe.

Sunday, February 08, 2004

Come fly with me....

That's what I feel like on the painkillers I've been given. Don't really kill much pain but do make me nicely high!

Hospital was OK. Shared the ward with 5 ladies "of a certain age" who were all lovely and had had a couple of chats with them. They were all in before me (3 with knee Op's, one with bunions and 1 with hand Op) and I left before them! Above my bed There was a Pull don/across TV which was also a Telephone and internet (when enabled) so it was all pretty cushty really.

I was really nervous on Thursday night and didn't sleep very well. But I felt much better about it by Friday morning. I was supposed to go down at 10:30am but someone got stuck in traffic so I didn't go anywhere until midday, but people were praying for me and sending me mojo I guess because I was still pretty calm when I went down. The anashetic was like a warm buzzing for about 5 secs then *phut* asleep. Next thing I know I'm lying on my side in the post-Op room with guy chatting to me.

Was suddenly acutely aware of 4 things.
*My throat was so painful (tube with gas goes down it - not surprising)
* I have a really bad headache (due to not drinking anything since the night before - it now being 3:15pm! and the anasthetic) Apparently that's what a hangover feels like - Oh please don't let me break the habit of a lifetime and have one EVER!
*I feel sick
*My right toe hurts. - This shouldn't happen so I'm quickly given 2 painkillers (the 1st one doesn't work) then neither does the 2nd one so I get paracetamol to swallow - kind of hard when you're still somewhere in dream land! Apparently the consultant did my left toe blocker (the anesthetic they put directly in the toe and ankle) and the student did the right one. Hope they get it right next time!

Feet didn't hurt for the rest of Friday just a nice buzzy feeling. Mum was there when I came out and Dad, Jo (S.Mum) and Vicky came to see me in the evening - Vicky bought me a colouring book, en-genius!

Saturday morning, wake up feeling very strange, bit nauseous and toes aching/hurting in turn. Nausea comes to fruition so Russell (my named nurse) gives me an anti-sickness jab - it doesn't work, feel really rough so go to sleep. Wake up about an hour later feeling much better. Eat shredded wheat and await the physio's. Physio's come, standing up is a riot - kind of hard to do that on your heels with these funny boottee things on that have a wedge so your toes are like a mile of the floor! Still I manage to walk with them for a bit. So they get me elbow crutches and my balance etc is a lot easier. Try the stairs - doddle - why is that easier than walking - very odd! So they say I can go home - yey! Mum come at 2:30pm and head off out of the hospital. Have to go back in 2 weeks too have my plaster off and stitches out and new plaster on.

So am home, toes ache continually but am getting used to it. Worst pain is standing up, can feel everything pulling. Balance is getting better on the crutches. I went to church this morning and so saw Abi being christened - even managed to go to the buffet after - although my pain killers did wear off 1/2 was through :(

Everytime I lie down now I feel like I've got shoes on, last night I kept waking up and wanting to take them off! I've never Broken a bone/been on crutches before so this whole plaster cast thing is new to me! Tomorrow begins the time of fending off boredom - polish language tape here we come!

Thursday, February 05, 2004

Here goes nothing....

Well chaps, hopefully by this afternoon I shall be safely ensconsed in hospital bed awaiting the day of surgery that is tommorow.

Have to admit to feeling pretty apprehensive about the whole thing, although there are 2 main points that are really worrying me.
*Sleeping overnight at the hospital (never done it before - plus I'm having trouble getting to sleep at the mo and usually watch videos etc 'til I fall asleep)

*The anashtetic. Now, I know it's not like a MAJOR operation (well, I think straightening both big toes is - but it doesn't involve any major organs so....)but still the idea of being made to be asleep on purpose has never seemed that great to me and I haven't had one since I was 5 years old and it wasn't a great experience then!

So if you could give a prayer/thought/some mojo out to me tommorow I'd be really grateful.

Had a great time in London yesterday, Saw Chris A and Barb (and Katie and Danny) from Stagedoor. It was soooo good to see them, bit surreal but good!

Well must be off to check I've got everything......5 books, check, PJ's, check, skirt (!), check, grapes........

Sunday, February 01, 2004

And so it goes...

Well today I have discovered that...

*Part of the head gasket on my car has blown (hence my top speed being 40mph!) so that means going by train etc for the next few days.

*I didn't get a part in the Wythall Theatre Company play. And the reason.......the age I look *sigh*. I knew the reality of this anyway but it's still disappointing. Pete was lovely though and said that he wouldn't ask me to Stage Manage because he thought I should do something different from my job, and if I fancied doing anything else then I could. So I've agreed to be prompt. It'll be nice and easy when I'm on my crutches anyway. He said that maybe next time they'd pick a play so I could be in it. Problem is I probably won't be doing anymore as I really should get on with my career. Might be persuaded though if the part was alright ! ;)

*Can't go to Val's funeral because it's on Thursday afternoon and I go into hospital then.

However I had fun at the get out last night - keeping in touch with Leigh the Sound Guy - I owe him a box of chocolates! *grin*

Alex (Griselda in the panto) did the get out too, and very kindly agreed to give me lift home. Which was great as I got to sleep in my own bed!

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