Friday 30th October 2009

[jane jackson]

Thick fog here in PZ this morning but still warm with 14c overnight. Bryan is in the Coastwatch Tower but can't even see the sea and he's quite close to it! I can't see the vineyard Kath so it's quite thick. Rain threatened later so not a particularly lovely day. Hope you're all faring better.:cray:

[adesmith]

Its a bit misty here but that might be just because we are by the river (although I cant see the mountains either which usually means its a bit more wide spread). Just off out to mow the lawn because like you Jane we have rain forecast for later. Rachel is at work today so I am looking after Rupert, he went to his grandparents yesterday so that I could do a bit of work. After the lawn we are going to the Garden Centre and then the shops. We are going to make some Halloween lanterns tomorrow, do some baking and carve some pumpkins.

Hope that you have a good day. Where is the Coastwatch tower? We have visited the ones at Cape Cornwall and St Ives.

[Kath Mulligan]

I'd just had a quick look at the Theatre webcam and seen that it was quite misty. Coastwatch duty will be a bit frustrating for Bryan if he can't even see the sea!

Dry, overcast but clear up here so far. I'm off out to the Garden Centre too Adrian, and to the library, so must get going before it decides to rain. Enjoy your Halloween and pumpkin activities - that takes me back! I used to do that with the girls.

Kath

[Liz]

Is that the coast watch tower along the cliffs towards Lands End from Porthgwarra Jane? If its the one I'm thinking of we passed it on our walk from Minack Theatre to Nanjizal Bay - what a wonderful place to spend some time, Bryan must love it. We especially liked watching the seals on the rocks below as they vied with each other over the best place to sun bathe, there were so many of them all intent on acquiring one particular section of rock!

[jane jackson]

Bryan is Station Manager of the Penzance Coastwatch Tower ~ he doesn't drive, never has, so he wanted to be in walking distance from home. This is why we don't have a sea view from home......moan, moan:frusty::rant:
The PZ Tower is on the eastern side of the town up a small roughish lane close to the large white flat roofed block of flats "Royale Court". Kath knows ~ she's been up the ladder!

[Kath Mulligan]

Bryan is Station Manager of the Penzance Coastwatch Tower ~ he doesn't drive, never has, so he wanted to be in walking distance from home. This is why we don't have a sea view from home......moan, moan:frusty::rant:
The PZ Tower is on the eastern side of the town up a small roughish lane close to the large white flat roofed block of flats "Royale Court". Kath knows ~ she's been up the ladder!

And lived to tell the tale!! It's quite near to the station, isn't it? And I know you haven't got a seaview Jane, but where you live is lovely - out of the centre of town but handy for getting in there easily.

I've just come in from a trip to Wyevale and Tesco. Bought some lovely deep apricot, golden yellow and purple polyanthus for my window box at the front of the house, and couldn't resist the offer of 3 for 2 on outdoor cyclamen, so have got six of those as well in varying shades of pink, white, deep red and purple. Haven't quite decided where they are going yet!

Should have been back ages ago but I cut across to the A6 from Wyevale to go to Tesco - big mistake! I forgot about the roadworks and it took me 40 minutes to travel a distance that usually takes about 5 - 7 minutes max. It reminded me so much of the evening rush hour crawl that I used to do up that same stretch five days a week - so glad I don't have that to face nowadays.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

I've just posted a 'you're not going to have good weather Jane' on another subject link, actually the one about your trip to St.MM. And lo and behold you are saying just that!!
Sorry it's not so good, we are hoping ( dare I say?) that we will be down on Sunday for a week....but you know how my plans often work out, so don't expect too much of the weather while/if we're there.

I have a pumpkin to carve (must be a second childhood about to overtake me) and I have a feeling it will be harder than I think. Have a fun time at the garden centre and making Spooky Halloween thingys. Wish you lived nearer Rupert could trick or treat us and have some nice sweeties. It's a big thing with our son in America now, this year they are going back to Monroe to their old house, which they still own, to go trick or treating with Wendy's grandsons. The whole house will be decorated, gardens as well all around the neighbourhood and Paul has a rather unpleasant looking Wolf costume he dons ..... why children should enjoy being frightened like this I have no idea. I would have been a real baby about it all - as a child I was a real wimp!!

[adesmith]

We will post a picture of the pumpkin tomorrow. It is quite tricky if you want to use the flesh (we always make soup) because you have to scrape it out without damaging it. Rachel couldnt find any big ones so we have got two! Hope that you enjoy it Gloria. We had friends that lived in America and they said about how big it was there. I always get Rachel to buy a big bowl of trick or treat chocolates and then I sit there hoping that no one calls!

Well I bought some Polyanthus as well Kath. Red ones though for the trough that we have in the back garden. I also used a voucher left over from my birthday to buy a Boston Ivy. It has beautiful red leaves although they are dropping off. I am going to put it in a big pot by the front door and fit a trellis to the wall.

I will look out for the Penzance Coastwatch Station next time we are there. I expect that it is a busy one isnt it? Probably more so than Cape Cornwall and even St Ives.

Better go down and tidy the debris up downstairs whilst Rupert is napping. He is like a whirlwind and there is a terrible mess. Good job Rachel isnt back for a couple of hours yet!

[gloria townsin]

Hope all was tidy before Rachel got home. What a good Daddy you are, Eddie wasn't good at entertaining the boys at all. Hence I was the one on the side lines at the football matches, and I don't think there's anyone in the world who dislikes football as much as me. Then me, the non swimmer of the two of us, managed to be the one to take ours and other Pony Club children for swimming training, I hast'n to add that they did have a proper swimming coach in the water with them. Not to mention my time as a shooting coach........Still Eddie would say he was working up his business and keeping the herd of ponies I was collecting....never do anything by halves it seems.
Look forward to the pictures and don't enjoy too many trick or treat sweeties Adrian.

[Brenda]

We had friends that lived in America and they said about how big it was there. I always get Rachel to buy a big bowl of trick or treat chocolates and then I sit there hoping that no one calls!

While some people in the cities are preparing to hand out candy to a couple hundred kids, I get to play That Really Cool Lady Next Door and give our neighbour's two children extra goodies, as they're the only trick-or-treaters we get at the door. One of the many benefits of living on a dead-end country road.
:spider:
I haven't ever been a big fan of Hallowe'en. When my children were young enough to trick-or-treat, we always carved a jack o'lantern, but I could never get terribly enthused about getting a costume for them or decorating the house as some people do. It's always seemed like just a big candy grab to me. Grumble, grumble, grumble. :mmph:

Still, when my son shows me the video he has shot of my grandson 'learning' how to go trick-or-treating in his T Rex costume, I know I'll get all mushy about it. :nod:

Brenda

[jane jackson]

As you come down here Gloria, I'm going up there! I go to Berkhamsted on 5th November until 10th to stay with a friend and visit lots of others ~ a good girlie catch up. We're going to Windsor on the saturday to the Theatre for an Agatha Christie followed by a meal. Sunday we go to Hatfield House Craft Fair.

I'm also going to Taunton for the day on tuesday. A friend's husband has died and the funeral was to have been on tuesday so I booked the train tickets to meet another friend, Rosemary, who would meet me at the station and we'd go together. Unfortunately there was a problem and the funeral isn't until thursday by which time I'll be in Herts. Of course you can't get a refund on the advance cheap train tickets so I'm going anyway and meeting Rosemary for lunch, shopping and chat. Then it's back up the line by train again on the 5th! At least I'll have plenty of time for reading.

[adesmith]

I managed to clear up and we did get a couple of hours gardening before Rachel came home.

Well the pumpkins are carved, we have made some lanterns and some chocolate cornflake cakes. I tried to add some photos to an album on here but not sure if I was successful. They are posted on Facebook however and if you would like to have a look you can. We have also made some pumkin soup (a favourite Delia recipe) that you serve with crispy coutons and melting cheese. Following that we have some spicy goulash and then some profiteroles (which I have to confess are shop bought). I will have to get back to careful eating and the exercise bike after half term!

I really enjoy looking after Rupert and like to plan activies, trips and things to make etc. Not sure how I would manage if he suddenly turned out to be a footballer, not sure I would be so good at that!

[gloria townsin]

Our Jack O' Lantern is a cheerful chap and has sat on the doorstep all evening with two little buckets of treats which have been dipped into by our local children. Bit of a meany of me but I just didn't want to be opening the door during Strictly.....but heard some cheery shouts of 'Thank You' as I'd put a message by them saying 'please take some treats but no tricks.'
You obviously were very busy making lots of nice things to eat Adrian. I made some artichoke soup yesterday with some of the Jerusalem Artichokes we've grown on the allotment. I've never grown them before but apparently once you plant them you never get rid of them. They grow enormously tall. Anyway the soup was very good - but I have masses of artichokes left in the fridge not to mention those still in the ground. Think I'll have to donate some to other allotmenteers.

[jane jackson]

Sounds as though you're both enjoying Halloween with your carved pumpkins and treats. We haven't had any callers, not sure there are any young children in our road now. Glad nobody interrupted Stricktly! Wasn't that awful with the dance off? I'm not sure what the answer is but it doesn't seem right that 2 good dancers end up in the dance off when there are not so good ones left in because they're popular with the viewers.

I do love the wonderfull dresses. Doc Martin tomorrow and then Island Parish on Monday ~ hooray.:dance3::dance3::dance3:

[Barbara]

Adrian, you sound as if you have been very creative. Rupert must have enjoyed doing all those things with you.
There doesn't seem to be much Halloween activity in these parts. I've only ever had children come to the door once. Its advertised in the shops, etc and there are probably some neighbourhoods that really get involved. Lachlan wanted to do something so we went to the shops and bought a banner and special plates and a spooky container for the sweets. My mum came over for lunch and was treated to a spooky act with Lachlan covered by a sheet.
I forgot to get a pumpkin and was slightly miffed because a few months ago I had pumpkins coming out of my ears with the abundance from the vegie garden...oh well, I'll try and be a little more prepared next year.
:bounce:

[gloria townsin]

I have to say this is the first year I have made anything out of Halloween. Always been against it and have no idea why this year I've joined in with it, Eddie is mystified. But I did have fun with the pumpkin and Nina and Jeff thought it fun, so I guess where's the harm.

Strictly.........arrggghhhh.......I am so annoyed. Ridiculous I know and it is about who the public want but I'm sorry, it should be about the dancing and much as I love Flavia, Craig will go out next week or the week after, if this is all about him going to Blackpool then how short sighted is that. I'm hoping that they will reverse the decision, but I doubt it. I noticed Ali was dancing in ballet shoes in the dance off, tell the truth I thought they might go which would have been awful......Len said there were 5 worse couples than them. Must watch Claudia on Monday - bet James is pretty fed up. The dresses are wonderful. Loved Jade's this week. Not so impressed with Erin's, she still makes me think of Jeannie. Hope we're all settled by the time Doc Martin comes on.
Hope you enjoy sunny Berko while I enjoy not so sunny Mullion Jane. Have fun in your old stamping ground.

[Barbara]

I know what you mean, Gloria. I've always considered Halloween an American thing (even though I think its origins go back to England), so I've never really been into it.
Of course, Lachlan sees it on T.V. and just assumes it is celebrated everywhere. Anyway, he had a bit of fun with the little bit we did, which is good.
:)

[Brenda]

Our Hallowe'en turned out to be extremely quiet. Not only did the kids from next door not come, as their parents decided on a spur-of-the-moment trip to southern Ontario, but we also had two power failures during the day, one of them lasting four hours in the early evening. Thank goodness for the woodstove, which kept us warm and enabled us to heat up some canned beans to go with my husband's turkey sandwich and my Special K. Mmmm....beans and Special K...now there's a treat! The trick part was the abrupt shutdown of the video we were watching on my laptop when the battery got too low.

We rented a chipper earlier in the week to take care of those huge piles of branches (some of them trees themselves) from the big trees we had taken down. A full day's work, that, and a crippled back and bad knees to prove it. But, lucky me: I bounced back very quickly and was able to 'resume my duties' the very next day. Yesterday we moved quite a few loads of the chips to the path leading into the woods. There's still a huge pile left, and today is supposed to be sunny and mild, so I guess I know what I'll be doing. We put our clocks back just last night (because our prime minister saw fit to fall in line with George Dubbyuh a couple of years ago, grrr), so [oh, goodie] we have that extra hour to work today. :sleep:

Brenda

[Kath Mulligan]

A very quiet Halloween up here with no trick or treaters for the second year running - not that I would have answered the door during Strictly anyway! I was spitting nails last night over that travesty of a result - who the heck is voting for Craig, that's what I'd like to know. I know Blackpool is his hometown and I know it was his birthday yesterday - how could anyone possibly NOT know, since he has been bleating on about it constantly on ITT all week - but for goodness sake, the man can't dance and never will be able to!! It is rapidly developing into another John Sargeant situation and I really hope he goes out next week, otherwise not sure I can be bothered watching any more. Sorry, rant over! On a much nicer SCD note, how about that amazing dance that Matthew and Aliona performed? I have always been a huge Matthew fan but last night - oh my word - I needed a cold shower after watching that! ;):D

Hope you have a safe journey to Mullion, Gloria. It was very wild and wet here this morning - still very windy but it has brightened up a bit now. Just been trying to sweep up another mountain of leaves from the front doorstep but have given it up as a bad job for the moment. As fast as I try to scoop them up into the wheelie bin, the wind blows them all off the shovel. :frusty:

Kath

[jane jackson]

I think if you're in a "soap" on TV then you get a following of fans voting for you regardless of talent, especially if it's a youngish man as probably girls vote more than boys. I didn't even like Craig as his character in "Corrie" but then again I'm not a young girl!!!!!!!!!! It must be soul destroying when you've achieved a good score from the judges and you still end up in the dance off.

[jane jackson]

Don't work too hard Brenda! Tinned beans and Special K ~ not sure I fancy that but then again needs must with no electricity. It's so frustrating when there is a power failure, luckily it doesn't happen here very often. When we were on Exmoor however with overhead lines it was always happening but at least the Rayburn was oilfired so that kept going. We made a mistake when having our wood burner installed in that we had radiators coming from it which worked with an electric pump. So when we had a power cut and the water couldn't be pumped around we had to put the wood burner out or it would blow. Don't remember the exact technical reason except lack of forethought in the way it was set up. Latterly things did improve re the failures, I think they replaced a lot of the old transformers on the poles.

[Janet Swan]

Yes, can't help feeling sorry for Zoe, but the same thing happened last year with Gabby Logan and James, didn't it? Maybe James is less popular with the voters than other professionals? Zoe seemed a very private person (no shots of ?husband and/or baby?) and maybe if the voters had known more about her they would have warmed more towards her? Who knows! But, hey, it's just a TV programme! Must admit I really do love Ricky Whittle :girl_wink: now - another Tom Chambers, me thinks - and I'd never heard of him until SCD began.

Janet

[Kath Mulligan]

I don't have too much of a problem with Ricky Whittle but for some reason I cannot take to his pro partner, Natalie. Don't really know why, there just seems something rather calculating and a bit too ambitious about her that puts me off. Having said that, their quickstep last night was brilliant. I am finding this whole series a bit lacklustre. Usually by now, I have decided which of the celebs I support most and am really rooting for them. This year, to be honest, I am distinctly unenthusiastic about all of them, in fact, I think I enjoyed Jo Wood the most!! I certainly don't feel inclined to pick up the phone and vote.

Kath

[jane jackson]

I agree there Kath, having never heard of Jo Wood before I really liked her and wish she'd been able to stay in longer. She even seemed to bring out the best in Brendon. He's doing a touring show in which she's doing one dance. It's coming to Truro but Bryan doesn't fancy it and I'm not really sure that I'm that keen to have to drive back in the dark in February.

[gloria townsin]

I so agree Kath re Ricky Whittle's partner - I can't take to her either. But they did a superb quick step.
Am I alone in thinking Craig (poor guy) has a 'Stan Laurel' expression when he dances? He kind of looks as though he hasn't a scooby of an idea what he's doing or where he's going, just completely lost. It's true it is just a TV programme but it kind of loses it's edge if you end up with more poor dancers than good, there's no progression to it. When the series starts you have those who look as though they might make dancers and those who look as though they don't know how to put dance shoes on, but when they start to make improvement you kind of think Wow....that's exciting, got that wrong!! But when week after week they turn out a dire stumble round the floor and to make it worse good dancers go out........oh dear...starts to eat away my interest.
Thought you might enjoy Matthew's dance Kath....:fans:
When I Googled him it says his professional partner is Nicole Cutler, who did the first two series I seem to remember, but is she his wife, sister, relative? She obviously didn't either get offered the following series or she didn't want it.

As you will see from my e-mail Kath didn't get away today....tomorrow though 'is another day'....now where have I heard that before :redface:

[Kath Mulligan]

I so agree Kath re Ricky Whittle's partner - I can't take to her either. But they did a superb quick step.
Am I alone in thinking Craig (poor guy) has a 'Stan Laurel' expression when he dances? He kind of looks as though he hasn't a scooby of an idea what he's doing or where he's going, just completely lost. It's true it is just a TV programme but it kind of loses it's edge if you end up with more poor dancers than good, there's no progression to it. When the series starts you have those who look as though they might make dancers and those who look as though they don't know how to put dance shoes on, but when they start to make improvement you kind of think Wow....that's exciting, got that wrong!! But when week after week they turn out a dire stumble round the floor and to make it worse good dancers go out........oh dear...starts to eat away my interest.
Thought you might enjoy Matthew's dance Kath....:fans:
When I Googled him it says his professional partner is Nicole Cutler, who did the first two series I seem to remember, but is she his wife, sister, relative? She obviously didn't either get offered the following series or she didn't want it.

As you will see from my e-mail Kath didn't get away today....tomorrow though 'is another day'....now where have I heard that before :redface:

Nicole Cutler is Matthew's ex-wife. She apparently made some adverse comments about the show in a Sunday paper after her second series and consequently wasn't invited back - a big mistake in my opinion as she is a superb dancer, and until his pairing with Aliona in this series, Matthew has never looked as good in his pro dances as he did with Nicole. They still dance together professionally outside of SCD and have just opened a dance school in London (I spend far too much time on the SCD threads on Digital Spy, that's where most of this info comes from!!). As for enjoying Matt and Aliona's dance last night - I have already watched it another three times on BBC Iplayer and am wowed by it every time.

Sorry to hear that you didn't make it down to Bryher today, Gloria. Hopefully you will feel better by tomorrow and I think the forecast is for a small window in the foul weather then too, so it may be better for travelling.

Kath

[Barbara]

We recently had quite a large conifer tree removed from the front of our house..although it was probably tiny compared with your giant, Brenda. We only chipped the stump that was left protruding, but I had enough chips to cover my garden beds and most of the pile is still left..so I can appreciate how much work you have in front of you...just as well you've got Special K and beans to keep you going.:girl_wacko:
Daylight saving is an interesting phenomenon isn't it? Most of the states in eastern Australia have it, but Western Australia usually votes against it in referendums. However, we recently had to endure three years "trial run" because our tricky state government found a clause and thought if we all got used to it we'd vote it in. It was not voted in and now we are back to normal...I presume that governments keep trying to introduce it for the same reason as your Prime Minister - because its makes doing business easier. We don't need it in Western Australia as our daylight hours are perfect just the way they are in summer.
http://www.friendsofminack.org.uk/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif

[jane jackson]

Hope you were feeling well enough to travel to Bryher Gloria, not that the weather is particulary enticing at the moment with lots of heavy showers over this way and chillier than lately. I'm trying to pack for going to Herts but with the weather so changeable my case is getting a bit full!

[Brenda]

Daylight saving is an interesting phenomenon isn't it? Most of the states in eastern Australia have it, but Western Australia usually votes against it in referendums. However, we recently had to endure three years "trial run" because our tricky state government found a clause and thought if we all got used to it we'd vote it in. It was not voted in and now we are back to normal...I presume that governments keep trying to introduce it for the same reason as your Prime Minister - because its makes doing business easier. We don't need it in Western Australia as our daylight hours are perfect just the way they are in summer.http://www.friendsofminack.org.uk/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif

Of all the provinces and territories in this vast country, Saskatchewan alone rejects the time changes twice a year, and they seem to get on with their lives very well indeed.

Cold and grey here today with some possibility of snow flurries. I'm thinking sofa, book, lap quilt and cat this afternoon...

Brenda

[Kath Mulligan]

Cold and grey here today with some possibility of snow flurries. I'm thinking sofa, book, lap quilt and cat this afternoon...

Brenda

Sounded like a good plan to me, Brenda! Quieter day here today after yesterday's gales and torrential rain, but I haven't ventured out since I have had a raging toothache for most of the day. Not impressed! I went to the dentist last week for my check up and scale and polish with no problems to report, came out with a sore mouth around a tooth that has already been crowned and had a root canal filling done but thought, oh well it will settle down soon - but no such luck, so tomorrow shall be calling in to make an appointment to see what trouble they have stirred up! Got my annual asthma review tomorrow morning too - so a slightly medical day in prospect! Apparently we have more heavy rain due tomorrow too - oh joy!!

Kath

[jane jackson]

Sorry about the toothache Kath, that's one of the worst pains I think. Hope the Dentist sorts it out for you soon ~ not my favourite place to visit.

One of my friends I'm hoping to see on my Herts visit is having 2 teeth implanted this week which sounds horrible. Her Dentist has told her not to ride for 10 days after they're done as they have to have absolutely no chance of moving position.

Out of interest are you having the swine flu jab? We declined when the form was sent as we've both had the pneumonia one and the normal flu but with all the media talk again we're not too sure.

[Kath Mulligan]

Not been invited for the swine flu one yet, Jane, but if it is mentioned when I am at the surgery this morning, I shall refuse it. Would rather take my chances with the virus itself than an untested vaccine. Toothache simmered down a bit this morning but shall still be calling at dentist later.

Have a lovely time in Herts catching up with all your old friends.

Kath

[Brenda]

Canada seems to have gone berserk over the swine flu (here referred to as the H1N1 virus after hog producers said that the terminology was ruining their business; we're so obliging in this country, well, except for the media, of course). Until about two weeks ago, there was healthy scepticism across the country about a vaccine that had been rushed on to the market and was relatively untested. Then there was a little illness and a couple of deaths and, all of a sudden, across the country people are standing in line for up to eight hours to get the shot. I grant that the incidence of illness has been on the rise, perhaps surpassing what we'd expect to see in a normal flu season, but it's still without the pandemic-type result that has been predicted and isn't making most people terribly ill. We choose not to have the shot, ourselves, but we also have the luxury of being able to stay away from workplaces and crowded shopping areas, have no children going to and from school, no elderly parents to take care of, etc. I keep my gloves on as much as possible when I'm out in the shops, and wash my hands well with soap and water. If we had underlying medical conditions, I suppose we'd think differently. Between the guilt and fear that the health organizations have been promoting and the panic the media have been fostering, things have got right out of proportion in Canada, I'm afraid. I'm incredibly grateful these days to be the 'former communications coordinator' for the local health unit!

Brenda

[Barbara]

Its pretty much the same here in Australia except we are moving out of the "flu"season. We've had a vaccine available for a month or so...a lot of doctors queried it because of the rushed testing...so I'm not rushing to have a shot either. They're taking a bit longer with the children's vaccine, but I think in that case they began testing later.
Lachlan is home educated which has made a lot of difference as far as catching things in winter. Most of the other Mums that I talk to relate stories of almost continuous sickness during the winter months for their children.
I've just been taking the precaution of washing hands a lot, especially after visiting shops,etc.
Brenda, I think you're right about the "pandemic". I'd like to know the correct figures comparing ordinary flu to H1N1...I think in the U.K. they actually stopped testing to see which flu it was (or even if it was flu) - the reason given was that they already knew it was a pandemic so why test...strange, but true.
http://www.friendsofminack.org.uk/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Kath Mulligan]

Most of the furore in Britain seems to have been stirred up by Government panic and media hype. When you can actually find any true figures for swine flu the incidence seems to be much less, and the deaths considerably less, than occur during a normal flu season. We seem to get this over-the-top reaction to everything nowadays - suppose they are frightened of being sued if they don't give us enough information. Not so long ago we were all going to be struck down with avian flu, the whole population was at risk from Aids/HIV etc etc blah blah! Miraculously most of us seem to have survived unscathed!

When I told Louise, the asthma nurse, this morning that I did not want to have the swine flu jab, her response was "don't blame you, I'm not having it either"!! Says it all really, doesn't it?

Kath

[Janet Swan]

Oh heck, re. swine flu jab. I'd almost decided that I would have it, when invited, because I have asthma, now I'm back sitting on the fence - not very comfortable :fie:. I think the last I heard about it was that because the process of making it is similar to the process of making the ordinary flu jab, that the risks were considered minimal, and that a fair amount of testing has been done. But what do you believe? It only takes one scarey headline to cancel out all the positive benefits, doesn't it?

Janet :confused:

P.S. So sorry to hear about your tooth, Kath. Do hope it has now been sorted OK - and that you've not been charged as the problem was caused by the scale and polish surely?

[adesmith]

Thats really strange Kath, I had exactly the same problem about two weeks ago. Went to the dentist for a check up and all was fine but he gave me a polish. I have two capped teeth at the front of my mouth (the result of an accident involving my sister, a slide and a big marble!) and when I got home they were bleeding and really painful. It went on for a couple of days and I started to worry that it might spoil my trip to Cornwall. After that though it just calmed down and has gone now. Hope that you feel much better soon. As Jane said toothache is the worst type of pain.

We dont seem to have Swine Flu too badly in Wales and the excitement and fuss seems to have died down. I wont be offered a jab because I am not in a risk group but I am really am not sure that I would have it. I dont want to catch Swine Flu but I think it is probably inevitable with me being a teacher. There is so much going around and all of the children are coughing and spluttering. I am not sure what I can do to avoid it. I thought it was funny what Brenda said about not calling it Swine Flu because it would affect the pork industry - I hadnt thought of that!

[Kath Mulligan]

Hopefully got toothache well on way to being sorted out now, thank you. Lynne, the hygienist nicked my gum with one of her instruments last week and it has set up a slight infection in the gum itself, so I have been given a special mouthwash to use for a few days and hopefully that should settle it. Have to go back on Friday if it doesn't improve. It's a relief to know that I am not facing another root canal treatment, which is what I was quietly dreading!

Lots of horrible flu-type bugs doing the rounds up here too at present. I feel I am really tempting fate saying this, but so far I have managed to avoid them all - long may it continue. Suppose that's an advantage of not being at work any longer, I'm not in contact with quite so many people, although I was surrounded in the surgery waiting room today by lots of sniffling and coughing folk!

Janet, sorry if I have unsettled you again re the flu jab, but to me it spoke volumes if one of the practice nurses was refusing to have it.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Good to hear you're not on the way to route canal treatment Kath.....reckon we've done that between us!! Hope the tooth has settled and all will be well from now on.
For what it's worth my vet's nurse told me last week that older people aren't getting (Swine - sorry!) flu or not as much.......obviously if you are a special case then you have to decide yourself whether to have the jab or not, so far it's not an option for Eddie and I.

[Kath Mulligan]

Think I was only being offered the jab because of my asthma, but since that is usually not much of a problem anyway, I just don't think it is worth risking the vaccine.

The gum is starting to settle down now, thank you, nowhere near as painful today.

Kath