Early Risers.

[jamie92208]

Evening all from down here.   Despite being in lovely country we have had no hordes coming out to clog up the roads.   There are however problems down here with Parisiennes in particular who have come down to their holiday homes when none of the infrastructure that supports the summer residents is in place.  It's causing a few problems and a lot of resentment.   

 

We've had a quiet day, the market was eerily quiet with only food stalls but people were keeping their distances.  the roads are very quiet.   We have however had a new cold caller.  Normally we are plagued with people trying to sell us insulation or health insurance.  Now it's the JW's who obviously are having withdrawal symptoms from door knocking.   After initial enquiries about how we are they launch into their spiel and won't listen.   Call is then ended.

 

Time has been spent in the shed this afternoon.  Shutter work was attended to.  Only 6 more holes to square up then I actually did some muddling.  

Here's the plum blossom.

And here are out three veg beds neat and tidy from Beth's efforts.

They are still being watered from the pool cover supply. Red onions and chalottes nearest the camera, then strawberry's and finally courgettes.

 

Regards to all and keep safe out there.

 

Jamie

[Ozexpatriate]

2 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

Now it's the JW's who obviously are having withdrawal symptoms from door knocking.   After initial enquiries about how we are they launch into their spiel and won't listen.

I wonder if the spiel has been altered to emphasize plague-like, end-time references?

[The Stationmaster]

10 minutes ago, pH said:

 

Mike, I won't take your answer as a formal medical diagnosis, but what could the 'other problems' be?

 

I used to get night cramps, but it's been quite some time time since I've had one. They've been replaced by an increase in 'restless leg syndrome' episodes. The last night cramps I can remember were after playing two one-hour soccer games in a day in temperatures of 85F - I think those were understandable. However, playing soccer in cold and wet conditions, I can get cramps in my feet - the toes actually separate into a version of the Vulcan "Live long and prosper" sign! 

The cramp resulting from 'working' the muscles can apparently be an indicator of circulation problems.  The cramps are a consequence if insufficient oxygen reaching the muscles potentially indicating a problem with the movement of oxygenated blood.  Hence my chiropractor is very wary of touching muscles which are regular sites of cramps and always asks if I've discussed the problem with the GP.

 

The cramps in your feet sound more like arthritis to me - I  have a big toe which often develops a mind of its own and tries to stick up like a flagpole.  And I get it in my ankles leaving my feet at all sorts of peculiar angles in relation to my leg - it isn't easy walking on a foot which has twisted itself through 90 degrees and won't go back until you've got some movement into it and weight on it.

[Chris116]

8 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

We have however had a new cold caller.  Normally we are plagued with people trying to sell us insulation or health insurance.  Now it's the JW's who obviously are having withdrawal symptoms from door knocking.   After initial enquiries about how we are they launch into their spiel and won't listen.   Call is then ended.

 

I had a pair of JW's arrive on my doorstep about 12 years ago. They launched into their spiel and I told them that I went to the local CoE church and was a server. This had no effect so I started to close the door and one of them made the bad mistake of putting their foot in the way. I opened the door, nicely asked them to move their foot otherwise I would slam the door. They just carried on with the spiel so the door was slammed and I think he got a badly bruised foot or worse but they got the message and have never called again!

[Barry O]

my major cramps arrived with my use of Ramopril.  Only used to get it when I played Rugby (two matches a day made your muscles ache).

 

I see that the Yorkies have visited various locations en mass today... lockdown needs to happen now.. asking  some Brits to follow suggestion doesn't work.

 

Baz

[Barry O]

cheer up needed. Singapore has an Orchid Garden...

 

 

Baz

[81C]

13 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I wonder if the spiel has been altered to emphasize plague-like, end-time references?

#uck off is universal language, every one in the world knows what it means . 

[Joseph_Pestell]

8 minutes ago, Barry O said:

my major cramps arrived with my use of Ramopril.  Only used to get it when I played Rugby (two matches a day made your muscles ache).

 

I see that the Yorkies have visited various locations en mass today... lockdown needs to happen now.. asking  some Brits to follow suggestion doesn't work.

 

Baz

 

I am very interested in this. I was very reluctant to go onto Ramipril anyway. But I did not know about it causing cramp. Since being on it, I have had agonising cramp in places that I had never had it before, feet particularly. Like Barry, I had had the occasional cramp during a rugby match but nothing like the ones I have had in recent post-Ramipril years.

[PhilJ W]

10 minutes ago, Barry O said:

my major cramps arrived with my use of Ramopril.  Only used to get it when I played Rugby (two matches a day made your muscles ache).

 

I see that the Yorkies have visited various locations en mass today... lockdown needs to happen now.. asking  some Brits to follow suggestion doesn't work.

 

Baz

 

 

13 minutes ago, Joseph_Pestell said:

 

I am very interested in this. I was very reluctant to go onto Ramipril anyway. But I did not know about it causing cramp. Since being on it, I have had agonising cramp in places that I had never had it before, feet particularly. Like Barry, I had had the occasional cramp during a rugby match but nothing like the ones I have had in recent post-Ramipril years.

Many of my brothers health problems come from taking Ramopril. The kidney stone that started it all was probably caused by taking Ramopril, now he has renal failure resulting in sepsis that led to heart damage. I was on Ramopril  but I decided to cease taking it due to the other side effects, as well as the cramps I had other side effects connected with poor circulation such as eczema, fungal infection on my toenails and it made my arthritis worse.

[jamie92208]

52 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

I wonder if the spiel has been altered to emphasize plague-like, end-time references?

I didn't stay on the phone long enough to find out. As soon as they stopped listening the call was ended.

 

Jamie

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 22, 2020 by jamie92208

[Simon G]

Like others, I have found that tonic water does help with cramps.  It is the tiny amount of quinine in the tonic water that makes it effective on cramp.

 

Another beautiful day here, but I have not left the premises at all today.  Much gardening was done, and potatoes planted, some in the new bed I have cleared of nettles and brambles, some directly into a compost heap.  The latter is a very good way to grow them, due to the high nutrients available.

 

As many others have been doing, we had a game of Trivial Pursuits with no 2 son and his girlfriend today via FaceTime.  It was quite effective and we will definitely try it again.  In fact, we have to as they beat us today!  We had the chance to win if we had known the actual Christian name of Indiana Jones.  I correctly thought it began with H, but incorrectly guessed at Howard.

 

I am now waiting to see if I am on the list of the 1.5 million elderly/at risk people who are being told this week to stay at home for the next 12 weeks.  Apparently the list includes those with some blood cancers, which includes me.  The thought of not even be able to go out for a walk for that length of time is not something I will enjoy.

[AndyB]

Evening all.

Weekend spent setting up the garage as my new office. A bulldozer and a skip would have been handy.

Technically swmbo took charge and it was all done by Saturday lunchtime. That left yesterday afternoon free to take an angle grinder to the kids broken trampoline which was damaged when a gale lifted it halfway down the garden.  And today for me to put the newly cleared garage space to good use. There's now a 7' x 18" baseboard ready for a single length of parallel metal stuff. 

Mike it may be some time before you can pop round and see progress in person as we discussed in Feb.

The chest freezer - which was due to be replaced to make way for a s.tat.ion baseboard has understandably been refilled for now. 

 

[Happy Hippo]

6 minutes ago, AndyB said:

 

The chest freezer - which was due to be replaced to make way for a s.tat.ion baseboard has understandably been refilled for now. 

 

It's easy enough to make a drop over baseboard for the freezer lid.

 

Just remember to have no stock on it when it is lifted up.

[Happy Hippo]

1 hour ago, Barry O said:

cheer up needed. Singapore has an Orchid Garden...

 

 

Baz

Yet dendroaspis is the genus that includes the Black Mamba.

 

Perhaps the two are not too far apart!

[ScottW]

1 hour ago, The Stationmaster said:

I  have a big toe which often develops a mind of its own and tries to stick up like a flagpole. 

 

It's been a while since I have had anything stick up like a flagpole. 

[New Haven Neil]

Evening - still here.

 

G this morning, scarified the front lawn then went to find the tip shut.  No word saying in all the public notices!

 

Three more cases here today, one for the first time human to human here (not a returning traveller) so lockdown on FR has happened, much to match the UK really.  Not sure where the business will go now, one staff member has isolated himself due to grandchild care issues, we're looking at a sort of shift system to reduce contact between us all.  Still mad busy though, but who knows for how long - it may just collapse.  Its a scary time to be running a small business for sure.  

 

I have recently had issues with cramps in my calves, after starting Rohypnol   Bisoprolol due to the withdrawal of my previous hypertension med.  It has happened at the most inopportune moments.....#ahem#.  I take a very low salt diet (for BP management) and that also can cause cramp issues, so have started using a little salt as my BP has been really good since staring Bisoprolol, seems to be working so far. 

 

I have also hit my target weight this weekend, and thus need to eat a little more!  I don't want to underrun. 

[jamie92208]

3 minutes ago, Happy Hippo said:

It's easy enough to make a drop over baseboard for the freezer lid.

 

Just remember to have no stock on it when it is lifted up.

How often does Andy need to get to the freezer, does he have several wives...

 

Jamie

[Kingzance]

14 minutes ago, jamie92208 said:

How often does Andy need to get to the freezer, does he have several wives...

 

Jamie

One current one and a few in cold storage for when he wears out that one I guess!

[AndyB]

Neil, I think perhaps as it becomes more 'difficult' to get into one's local shops, online shops such as yours will become ever more important. Wishing you and your colleagues all the best. 

 

Richard, I'll let definitely look into that method.  Carpe diem has never seemed more appropriate. 

 

Jamie, at the last count just the one swmbo. But access to the freezer can be unscheduled! 

[roundhouse]

I have been on Ramopril for a few years. When I was prescribed it at first I asked the doctor if I was Ok to drink alcohol and they said yes but you might get a dizzy spell so went down the pub that first night and yes I did get dizzy but after that I was fine. Blood tests every so often to make sure the tablets arent doing any damage and so far so good.

 

Today has been spent uploading photos ot the FB virtual model railway show for a few layouts and looking at others posting on there. Then learning how to turn scanned drawings into SIlhouette cut styrene and tonight I have now assembled the water tank. Its now been left drying overnight then the pipework will be added hopefully tomorrow.

[Erichill16]

Managed to mow the lawn today and do a bit of tidying up in the garden but came in at about 4:30. Was hoping to get a bit of modelling done but after listening to Boris’s day brief and having tea I lost all enthusiasm. Went to bed to read  revised SOPs for work and other news regarding work and fell asleep! Just woke up and decided to have a read on  rmweb. Early night. Good night,

Robert

[AndyB]

4 minutes ago, Kingzance said:

One current one and a few in cold storage for when he wears out that one I guess!

Or vice versa. 

 

[Tony_S]

Evening all.

No cramp issues here, taking Ramipril and bisoprolol. The Ramipril cough isn’t too bad now, either a sip of water or a Fisherman’s Friend lozenge deals with it. The change to a bigger “better” statin hasn’t caused problems either. I am not sure what is going to happen with my clinic appointments that start in April to increase the dose of my heart pills. 
Aditi's sister rang this morning to get us to discuss critical care options so that we all know each other’s wishes in the event of being very ill with Coronavirus. So we did. Discussed our clinical frailty scores! Lots of doctors in the family so these things are part of normal conversation. 
Tony

Edited March 22, 2020 by Tony_S

[Coombe Barton]

Bit of an Ely Fest

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2020/03/22/wedding-anniversary/

 

[Gwiwer]

Evening all,

 

It is almost time to hit the hay in anticipation of a Moan-day at the House of Fun - it may or may not happen but as of Friday sign-off I was instructed to come in unless otherwise advised.  

 

There has been an exodus of student neighbours today as the university has closed for the remainder of the semester.  Some of our neighbours were about to sit finals.  They don't know yet what is happening about those.  But there is nothing for them to do here now (except each other - which they seem quite adept at ) and most have departed.  One kind soul has dumped their double bed outside our flat which fact was immediately reported to the landlord.  And despite this being a Sunday and with all the other things going on I had a reply within minutes.  The responsible person will be contacted and instructed to remove it forthwith.  

 

SWMBO is suffering post-event vacuum syndrome after her thesis and is hanging her worry on any piece of negative news which she sees.  The latest is the forthcoming letters to "very high risk" persons which she interpreted as "I'm now waiting to be told they expect me to kick the bucket."  Not the case.  She is self-isolating but not for a serious underlying condition.  And her workplace is now fully locked down anyway - she was alerted to the fact that as of today all staff passes have been de-activated and will not allow access.  The only way in is by telephoning the Director (who resides within the Gardens) who will, if he deems it essential, open a designated gate.  

 

Such is life.  Hey ho.  They tell me worse things happen at sea.  And we have folk among us who might be able to verify that.  I'm off. G'night all.  Sleep well.