SLOW MOTION

[Cheshy72]

Hi everyone,

I read your posts and think I am not to bad really but it is still a nightmare. Just had a shower. By the time I put my underwear on I was exhausted and am now laying on the bed in my dressing gown trying to summon the energy to put my clothes on.. I usually feel a bit more energetic in the afternoon and that’s when I garden. A friend comes around and helps me about 3 times a week. Good moral support as well. The garden is very overgrown. Roses are ordered so that spurs me on.

My husband and I threw a 70th birthday party for our friend as a thank you. I made Beef in Red Wine for 30 people. It was a great success. The birthday cake was a 4 tier Mary Berry Victoria Sponge. That was about a month ago. I honestly don’t know how I did it. Feel tired thinking about it.

Well better make an effort and get dressed. It’s going to be 16 today, not bad for winter. I know a lot of you are having a heat wave. Hope you are coping okay in your heat wave. Bye for now.

[Angiejnz]

Oh so familiar. I even resorted to bed bath type washes and only did half of me at a time 😂

[Cheshy72 in reply to Angiejnz]

Yes I resort to washes as well. Still not dressed. Having coffee instead. X

[SheffieldJane]

Your cake is a masterpiece! Amazing to be able to entertain. I am already worrying about Christmas.

[Cheshy72 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Xmas will be quiet as half the family will be away. What I am worried about is our holiday through Singapore Thailand and Malaysia on the 17th November for 3 weeks with my daughter and her family. Looking forward to it but a bit worried.oh well we can always meet up at night.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Cheshy72]

Fabulous cake.

As for holiday....just plan all you can up front. Make sure you request Special Assistance at airports. Organise your tablets re time changes in your mind, and make sure you take extra just in case, and in hand luggage with copy of prescription.

Explain to family you will do what you can, but as and when you need to rest you will....... doesn’t mean they can’t do more!

Singapore is fabulous pre Christmas - just enjoy.

[Cheshy72 in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi DorsetLady.

Thanks for your advice. I will definitely put in place your suggestions. My family will be fine and know that I am much slower than them.

I hope your knee is improving every day. I had mine done about 2yrs ago and my experience was very different to you. In hospital for 4 days then transferred to a Rehab hospital for 2 weeks. Brand new, beautiful heated pool, wonderful food. Still wanted to be home though.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Cheshy72]

Think today I might swap with you...not a good night’s sleep so a bit crotchety today!

Mind you, mine was free unde the NHS, so can’t have it all ways.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What dose of pred are you on?

[Cheshy72 in reply to PMRpro]

Hello PMRPro, on the 8th June I was on 8mgs went to 7 1/2 on 15th for about 1 week. Pains in thighs made me go back to 8 msg. Now on 7mgs for last week and feeling like death warmed up. I may have these times are bit mixed up as I didn’t suddenly go to 7 mg.

I was able to give the party, clean the house etc. Did have lots of help from David and several ladies. But it has dawned on me that the party all happened on 8 mgs. I think I need to go back to 8. Thanks so much for your reply.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Cheshy72]

I think so too - there is no virtue in being on too low a dose. It doesn't mean you won't get lower - try again in a few months and maybe it will work fine.

[Sandy1947]

Your cake looks amazing! Just do the best you can day by day with a positive attitude. The trip sounds wonderful! Just don’t overdo!

[Cheshy72 in reply to Sandy1947]

Thanks Sandy,

I was able to make the cake by freezing the layers about a week before the party and assembling on the day otherwise it wouldn’t have happened,

[Telian in reply to Cheshy72]

Good idea!

[Sandy1947]

Your organization is key! Good job! Best to do things in increments.

[Grants148]

Lovely cake Cheshy,it is surprising how we can gain some energy when we need to ,l am sure your friend really enjoyed her birthday. Thank you for the info about the cake,a good idea ,l shall try that myself.lt is unbearably hot today,l shall be pleased when the air cools down,there are jobs to do in the garden and l can only be out there early morning or late evening.lf summers are going to be so hot in future l am thinking l will have to make some changes to the garden,less flower beds and more pots!

[Cheshy72]

We are in the middle of revamping our back yard. All lawn is going and will be replaced with gravel and the garden beds will be roses and lavender. The town we have moved to which is 2 1/2 hrs out of Melbourne has permanent water restrictions. Summers here are very hot and dry. I will be putting a lot of Herbs and salad greens in pots to soften the look of a sea of gravel.

My husband and I watch Escape to th Country and it always looks so green and lush in your countryside .

Hard to believe you are suffering so much in the heat.

It is the middle of winter here and it’s going to be 18

today. Amazing temp for winter.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Cheshy72]

You may be able to view this not sure as it’s from bbbc.cc.ok - shows how dry things are -

bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_au...

[Cheshy72 in reply to DorsetLady]

I wasn't able to look up the link. Im fiddling with my phone whilst watching Notting Hill. Can try on my Computer tomorrow.

Hope your knee is not causing you too much grief. I'm just hoping I never need the second one done.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Cheshy72]

No you may not be able to. I think I tried to view something on bbc (our national tv & radio stations) when I was in NZ with my daughter earlier in the year, and it wouldn’t let me...something to do with licensing laws!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

As I said on the other thread - the Beeb lets us see the news website. Just not a lot of live TV (although there are ways round that) or catch-up and things...

[Cheshy72 in reply to PMRpro]

It’s 10.40 pm here just about to go to bed and had a last look at the daily mail. Extensive coverage of your heat wave and a lot of photos of dead and brown grass, also grass fires. One Fire was in Dorset. So if you aren’t used to heat it would be hard to take. I think in Australia we are used to it and even though I have air conditioning it was rarely used and I made do with fans. We have overhead fans in the bedrooms which are great.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Cheshy72]

I live in northern Italy, at altitude. But the UK weather at present is normal for us!

[Hidden]

We are having a wonderful summer here in most of UK, it's like being on a permanent holiday, living near the sea it's lovely seeing everyone sitting outside cafes and pubs enjoying themselves. It's the press that make us seem like whingers they can find a negative angle in everything.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

We’ve been living in Telford since the beginning of June & it’s like being on permanent holiday!.....

[Cheshy72 in reply to Hidden]

Yes Ive been reading all the doom and gloom about your hot weather. Of course lovely sunny days give a boost to our happiness.

[Telian]

Lovely cake and well done all round I think, a party for 30 people is no mean feat and so well organised! You are lower down than my son on the Sunshine Coast, they currently reaching 25 during the day.

[Cheshy72 in reply to Telian]

My son and his wife live there at Trewantin he rang the other day,they are feeling the cold nights and mornings then 25 dg during the day. It's all relative isnt it. We are having several warmish winter days at the moment.

The party food was the easiest I have ever done. Four slow cookers set up on a table on back deck for beef in red wine. The butcher diced the meat for me and I through all ingredients in and they cooked for about 6 hrs. The guests were all people from sheep and cattle properties, mainly retired so didnt have to worry about vegetarians. The cake was the pudding.

I had to go to bed thr next day and my feet were killing me.

[Telian in reply to Cheshy72]

Just spoken no 2 son and he says it's been 27 today and was 12 in the night so temps. are rising where he is.

Good idea the slow cookers, they do take the sting out of preparation for a gathering. My DIL uses them for curries at a bash. no 3 son is a butcher so they're a perfect team as she trained as a commis chef when she was young, she can whip up a buffet for a crowd like magic and out of nothing! No buying ready food all freshly cooked. We're going to them week after next for my 70th, and last night she was asking me to think what food I want. We have a birthday cake but usually make other desserts as well. I need to be more strict. Sounds like it all went well for you, you must have been pleased - apart from the feet! they don't like too much standing do they?

I am a cook/foodie but like you I now have to pace myself, as I said before the only thing I haven't done is freeze the layers of cake, will try that. I do go overboard with quantities though but I always tell my guests what you don't eat you take with you, I make sure I've got foil takeaway food dishes with lids and brown paper lunch bags for them to carry home. It's so funny they look as it they've got packed lunch for school! All part of the fun.

[Cheshy72 in reply to Telian]

You're very kind sending the guests home with food. I selfishly stashed my leftovers in the freezer.

My son would have been delighted with 27 today. Thats the reason they left Melbourne. .

[Telian in reply to Cheshy72]

My freezers always full to the hilt! I need to stop shopping and use what I've got I know!

They do adjust don't they to the heat, we might get better at it if it was consistent - but on second thoughts.... it's the humidity we can't tolerate, don't think anyone can really.

[Cheshy72 in reply to Telian]

We went to visit in Jan and never again. The humidity was unbearable.

[Telian in reply to Cheshy72]

We've been a few times at Christmas because of the Grandchildren and we have tolerated it but they come to see us now!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Telian]

That's much the same temps as we have had recently - and for living purposes it is being a perfect summer! Almost chilly overnight so you can sleep well but the temps shoots up to 17C or so by 9am - and in the sun it is already a bit warm. Upper 20s by lunchtime. For us the joys of living fairly high - but apparently the local higher villages with unheated open air swimming pools aren't happy...

[Telian in reply to PMRpro]

I like the sound of those temps.....

[bunnymom in reply to Cheshy72]

Sounds lovely and your cake is so pretty.

[Hidden]

WOW! Amazing cake!!!!! I'll bet it tasted as good as it looked! YUM!

Hope the new day brings you energy and stamina!

[Cheshy72 in reply to Hidden]

Hi it was rather nice. I shocked myself.

I have gone up to 8 mg today. Feel okay so will stay on that for awhile. I have been under the delusion I should get to 5mg by the time I go away Nov 17th.

Not going to happen.

I realise you are on much higher dose so I should be happy with my lot. I managed to do 2 hrs in the garden

So I just have to accept taking hours to do things. Hope you are feeling better.

[Hidden in reply to Cheshy72]

Yes, we always expect way more from ourselves than we have to give, don't we!

I'd kill to be on 8mg... but than again I read that there are many issues being on the single digit doses as well. It's a freakin minefield. Two hours in a garden!!!! WOW! Good for YOU! That's great, how do you feel?

I am feeling better, thank you. Actually being on 40 mg is okay... it was the thought of having to increase my Pred that had me all down and discouraged. I am feeling much better though... thanks!

Feel better!!!

[Cheshy72 in reply to Hidden]

After digging in the garden nearly everyday for 1 to 2 hrs that’s it for the rest of the day. My friend arrives about 1 o’clock and works for a good 2hrs. I do about the same but much slower. We are clearing very large bed of overgrown and tangled plants and horrible weeds which have to be dug up by the roots. That’s why we gave her a party for her 70th. Without her I would be totally demoralised. I do hobble around for the rest of the afternoon but think I’m getting used to it. Also I turn 73 next week so it’s hard to know what is PMR or just getting older.

[AndrewT]

Just give yourself 'Time', I do. Maybe an Hour to shave, clean my teeth, shower (and wipe it all down) then get Dressed- if it 'ends up' as TWO hours, just Go with it.

[Cheshy72 in reply to AndrewT]

Thanks for the reply Andrew. Just have at go with the flow and accept it. We will all be over this eventually.

[yogabonnie]

So sorry you are feeling so exhausted. I hope this passes quickly. It sounds to me like you are still doing a GREAT deal!!! and what can I say... OH MY GOD a Mary Berry Victorian Sponge cake!!!! Bravo! and How does everyone feel about the new cast_ without Mary Berry and the res? (not feeling so good about it here.)

[Cheshy72 in reply to yogabonnie]

Thanks for your kind thoughts. I haven't actually watched the show she is on very much. I looked online for a cake and Mary Berry's recipe came up. It was very easy, all in the same bowl.

[Hidden in reply to Cheshy72]

Every time l scroll past the photo of the cake, it looks sooooo delicious!.....