New Glasses Finally!

[bk_forever]

Yes, you read that right - I finally have my new glasses!


As some of you will know, they've been ready and waiting for me at the optitian's for the past three months, but a series of home disasters have kept me more or less tied to the house, trying to clear rooms, pack things for storage and deal with insurance people, surveyors, workmen and a bunch of other people.

Add to that health problems, the deaths of both our guinea pigs (sadly, Gingernut didn't survive losing her sister), and my own agoraphobia... I haven't been further afield than the corner shop (a walk of less than a minute each way) in three months.

Today though, I finally managed to gather my shredded nerves, squash all incipient panic attacks into submission, and venture forth to the shops and, most importantly, the optician's. All this despite limping everywhere because of a mysterious sore toe!

I cycled, as I usually do (I find it easier than walking and I can load stuff on my bike to save carrying it), though I had to shift several bags of rubble in the drive just to get my bike out - really helpful, that. Still, what matters is that I've got my glasses, they look brilliant and I can see really well. I kept the new ones on while I did a bit of shopping, and I even found a chiropodist to check out my toe! Apparently, I've managed to knock the toenail back into the nail bed - who knew that was even possible? The nail's a bit loose, but hopefully won't fall off and it should heal by itself - eventually. Problem is, it hurts when anything presses against it - shoes, socks, slippers, all are painful but I can't leave my foot bare. My feet are always cold anyway and the weather's bitterly cold here with a possibility of snow (though hopefully not where we are). My feet are freezing even with three pairs of socks and warm slippers, if I leave my foot bare, I'm risking frostbite and then my toes will fall off! I'm actually quite fond of my toes, despite having arthritis in them. They're useful for walking and they keep the ends of my feet from fraying. I don't want them falling off, so my toe will just have to put up with being clothed!

Even the weather was relatively kind to me - sunshine, not much wind until I was on my way home, and it stayed dry. Yesterday was howling gales, drizzle and heavy cloud. Looks like I picked the right day to go out! I spent too much, I always do when I haven't been anywhere for a while, but it was mostly essentials. Still, I got a compact umbrella for 99p, small and light enough to carry in my bag when I go out and shocking pink so I won't lose it! Far better than my old one which is getting tatty and takes up too much space in my bag.

Of course now I'm tired, aching and planning on doing as little as possible tomorrow!

Comments

[thought-ribbons.livejournal.com]

yay i'm so glad that you have new glasses and you were out and about and got some stuff done. I'm sure your toe will be ok *nods*

*smishes you*

A

[bk_forever]

*hugs you tight* Yay, it's great and they look so good! It was sort of fun being out and about, except for carrying heavy shopping while limping! I bought a small second hand walking stick while I was out because limping gets so tiring. It helped keep me balanced while overloaded, and mum can always use a spare!

I'm sure my toe will be fine eventually, it's just really annoying because it makes so many things difficult. It's been hurting for a month already, so I just hope it will improve soon.

Hope life is treating you well *hugs*

[toshiani007.livejournal.com]

Congrats for the new glasses!!! Take care, my dear friend!!! Hugs and kissitos!!! A

[bk_forever]

Thankyou! *hugs tight* I really am so happy to finally have them, they're so pretty! I have two pairs - my everday pair and a pair of reading glasses. The reading glasses have purple frames and my main pair are metallic red, very bright and cheerful!

[royalladyemma.livejournal.com]

Hi, Jean!

Sounds like you had a right adventure! Congrats on the new glasses. I desperately need new reading glasses; even had an appt for 2 Jan to see my guy, but cancelled due to the weather -- that was the day it snowed -- I got 5 inches of that thick, heavy wet perfect for snoballs and snowmen snow that day. I live in Las Vegas, and whenever there's weather every bloody idiot with a license has to go out and drive around, and none of them have a clue how to deal with wet pavement.

Here in LV, because we so rarely get rain to wash the roadways clean, there's a build-up of oils, tire residue, etc, and when it does get wet, it's never a strong enough rain to wash things clean, the wet just makes everything slick as ice. And of course, those bloody idiots think it's just too much fun to try and shotgun out from a stop, and they end up spinning their wheels like crazy, or going into 360 spins in the middle of the intersections, etc.

So, I called both my doctor's answering services and cancelled my appts. Now, I really really need to remake the appts, I just haven't gotten around to it!

On days when I way overdue things, I'm pretty okay the next day, but the day after that, I am in so much pain! But, now I know when and what to expect, and plan accordingly.

Please promise me that you really will take it easy and get some rest, keep your foot elevated and warm, and stay indoors as much as possible!!!

Smoochies!!! My kitty cats send their meows!!!

[bk_forever]

There are idiot drivers everywhere! And of course, in Britain, no one is ever prepared for bad weather, even though we get it to some degree every winter!

My aches used to come out two days later, but I'm so unfit these days that it's the day after now! Still, the aches go off fairly quickly, and they're good aches in a way because I've achieved something! I love my new glasses already - the frames are a rich, metallic red on my main pair, really cheerful. My reading glasses are purple!

You really must get another appointment booked - choosing new frames is so much fun and it's great to have your sight sharpened. Everything looked new and fresh today once I put my new ones on!

I'm resting comfortably and my toe is mostly behaving except for an occasional twinge. Miracle of miracles, my feet are actually toasty warm tonight despite the cold outside. Of course, they're also throbbing from all the walking I did! Now I know what's wrong with my toe, I've stopped worrying about it. It's a nuisance, but it'll heal by itself given time. It's hardly the worst accidental injury I've managed to do to myself over the years! Can't remember if it's the same toe I lost the nail off when I was at school, could have been the other foot. The vaulting horse was dropped on my toe in gym!

I'm hopeful the snow won't reach us - it's mostly Scotland and Northern Ireland, while I'm in the Midlands, in Robin Hood country, so hopefully... I don't plan on doing anything tomorrow but reading and maybe watching a bit of TV, if there's anything worth watching.

*strokes kitty cats* Nosy says HUMMMMM. A creature of few words, is Nosy! *hugs*

[royalladyemma.livejournal.com]

Oh the joys of a quiet-spoken man!!! Hugs to Nosy!

I don't want to rain on your parade, but it was about 75 degrees here today, and it's supposed to edge into the upper 70's, maybe even to 80 the coming week. I've had the house wide open the last two days, it's so nice to get rid of the winter blah in the house, plus I slept like a log last night!

Nighttime is the only time I wish had had a two story home or that I lived on the first floor. That way, I could leave a window open at night. But, since climbing stairs is a nightmare anymore, I'm stuck on the ground floor with closed windows!

As long as you're going to take it easy tomorrow, I'll be a happy worry wart. Luv ya, Me

[bk_forever]

Oh, to dispense with stairs! I hate them, they're not kind when my arthritis is acting up!

Got my comfy chair, my computer and crufts on TV - I'm set for the day! I'm only moving to get food and later on to clean out the fire! Nice, quiet, relaxing day ahead of me!

I'm not jealous of the heat - 70 is about right for me, 80 would be too much! If I get chilly, I'll just wrap something else around me!

Stop worring and relax! *hugs* Love you too!

[royalladyemma.livejournal.com]

Morning! Glad to hear you're being a lay-about today! I'd say you earned it!

I like the colder temps too. I grew up in a 300+ yr old farmhouse; the only sources of heat were a huge kitchen woodstove and a small parlour stove in the lounge. I swear there's nothing feels better than backing up to a wood stove and letting it warm your bum after you've been outside for a long time. For some reason, no other heat source can penetrate into my bones like a wood stove.

I remember there were many times in the winter when I had to get dressed under the covers (thank God I was a thin wiry kid!

Today, all I'm going to do is some laundry, because tomorrow I'm going back to church for the first time since my sister passed away almost three yrs ago, and I really don't want to go naked!!! Other than that, there's really only a nap on my agenda!!!

I find that settling down for a nap helps my brain focus on my writing, and new ideas come forth, or I find a solution to something I'm already working on. Trouble is, sometimes I forget the brilliant idea I had!!!

Anyway, going to post something today, and give the ljcut a try worthy of Toshiko Sato herself!! keep your fingers crossed and your eyes on my journal!!!

Me

[bk_forever]

Good luck! I'll keep my eye on you =)

I'm going to switch off for a bit to clean out the fire and get coal in. It's gone all overcast outside now, but it was sunny earlier and although a bit chilly it still felt nice, so I stood outside for a bit and looked to see what's survived the winter. Some plants got killed off by sub-zero temperatues and excessive wetness, but bluebells are coming up and the wallflowers planted late last year look green and sturdy! The Daffodils have buds too, so that's better than last year =)

[royalladyemma.livejournal.com]

Oh, I just love the first flowers of spring, poking their little green heads up out of the snow. When I was a kid, the snowdrops were the first flowers, then the bluebells and lily-of-the-valley, the daffodils, and both the regular hyacinths and the little blue hyacinths. At some point up would come the trilliums and the johnny-jump-ups, and then the lady slippers. The lilacs would start to bud out, and the mock orange and the snowball bush would start to bud also. Oh my God do I miss seeing that and smelling all those wonderful flowers.

Okay, well, lj cut worked perfectly; I actually posted two stories!!! Now, questions. Should I pull "Uncut" and repost it under the lj cut? Will all it's comments find it after reposting? Tell me what you think?

Love, Me

[bk_forever]

Yay! Well done!

You shouldn't need to delete and re-post earlier entries to put them under a cut.

If you look an the entry itself, at the bottom there should be a list os things you can do: Link, Leave a Comment etc. and one should say Edit Entry. Click that and you'll do to the entry in your posting window as it was before you posted it. Then just do an LJ cut as you have for your latest entries, then click the button that says Save Entry (where the Post Entry button usually is) and you're done!

Best of luck!

[sassysailorgirl.livejournal.com]

Yay for new glasses! Being able to see well is always a good thing! And I'm proud of you for venturing out and being all productive! Hope the toe decides to be nice to you and heals up quick! Toe injuries suck!

Aww. I'm sorry about poor Gingernut. She's happy now, though, being with her sister again.

*hugs you tight* Stay warm, pet!

[bk_forever]

I'm feeling very glam in my new glasses, they're lovely! Suffering the backlash of going out now - everything aches! Still, my toe is behaving reasonably well considering. Plus I plan to be sitting down most of today =)

Losing Gingernut was very sad so soon after Crumpet, but I'm sure she's happy with her sister now. I buried them side by side, the way they should be.

I did find myself checking out the guinea pigs in the petshop, but we're not having more until the work on the house is done. It wouldn't be fair on the pigs!

[cookiegirl]

Well done for getting out and about and aquiring your glasses! :) I often spend quite a lot time without leaving the house and it's always stressful when I do go out - but yay you for overcoming! x

[bk_forever]

Thanks! It is especially tough going out when you haven't in a while. I've been battling agoraphobia for many years - for a long time I could barely leave my bedroom. Things are a lot better now, but there are still many weeks when I can't face going out. Stomach problems make things even more difficult as I'm often not well enough to go out so I can't make plans and often have to cancel appointments, but I try to go out every couple of weeks except in winter. Doesn't always work though, it's usually at least 3 weeks between trips out.

[cookiegirl]

Aww sweetie *hugs*
I sort of know the feeling - I have M.E. so am super-tired all the time, and when I first got it and was really bad I don't think I left the house for over 6 months except for a few doctor's appointments. After that it all got a bit scary to go out, though I get out a couple of times a week now as long as I have someone with me! Sounds like you've made massive improvements from where you were so - yay! - and hopefully things will carry on getting better! x

[bk_forever]

Don't really know how much better I can expect things to get, considering it's been getting on for 30 years! My entire adult life has gone without much to show for it - I can't work, the stomach problems are a constant that the doctors don't seen interested in helping me with, and it's their fault I became agoraphobic in the first place, after they got me addicted to tranquilizers. Oh well. I make the best I can of things.

So sorry to hear you have M.E. that must be horrible, being so exhausted all the time. Hopefully things will keep improving for you, but after any length of time stuck at home it gets scary venturing out. You'll probably think I'm daft, but I rely on my crystals to help me deal with the panic attacks and agoraphobia. They're the only things that really do anything, and there's no side effects. I refuse to take tranquilizers again - I've been addicted twice, both times I was told they weren't addictive and I believed the doctors. Both times they were wrong. *shrugs*

[cookiegirl]

I don't think you're daft at all! I've been trying with a crystal lately - a woman I went to for some (unsuccessful) reiki recommended one to help me sleep at night, but it doesn't appear to do anything :( If you've got any recommendations for ones that help specifically with panic attacks I'd love to hear them and give it a go! :)
And yeah, don't get me started on idiot doctors! I feel like if there's not a simple or universally recognised instant cure for something, a lot of them just aren't interested.
I get a bit depressed about not having much to show for my life either - but then I try and think that just because we don't work or do masses of activites doesn't mean we aren't totally awesome (and write fab fanfic!) xo

[bk_forever]

Heh! I don't know if you could call my fanfic fab - people get terminal fluff from it!

My books recommend Kunzite, Blue-green Smithsonite (which I have never seen, so...), Turquoise or Green Tourmaline for panic attacks, most of which aren't exactly easy to come by. Personally, I use Rose Quartz, but Amazonite is soothing for the nerves, Smoky Quartz relieves fear and brings emotional calmness, Labradorite calms an overactive mind, Green Aventurine and Amethyst are good for stress. I find crystals most calming when I hold them in my hand. Get polished tumblestones - they're nice to hold and stronger than raw pieces. They should be cleansed first (running water is fine) then it's a good idea to charge them in sun (or moonlight for anything that will fade in sun), then hold the crystal and tell it what it's doing for you - always use the present tense, otherwise you could wait forever for it to start working!

May I ask what you were given for your sleep issues? I have sleep problems myself - I get to sleep easily but keep waking up! I've tried several crystals but they don't keep me asleep. A lavender bag tucked in your pillow near your nose might help - I find it relaxing and also good for headaches!

[cookiegirl]

I think what I've got at the minute is a Flourite palm stone which is meant to be calming... I'm on my second one as I was rinsing the first one under running water about three days in and dropped it into the basin, where it splintered into bits :( But I wouldn't recommend it anyway! I might give Rose Quartz a try then if you find it useful?

I've tried lots of things for sleep, including various sleeping tablets that never did much for me and then were hard to get off, but a month or so ago I was prescribed Trazadone by my GP as an antidepressant and sleep helper, and it's made a big difference, much more with regards to the sleep than my mood, although I am a little bit more motivated too. I used to take ages to get to sleep then wake up once every couple of hours (ANGER!!) and spend ages trying to get back to sleep (MORE ANGER!!), but now I'm on Trazadone (150ml) I go to sleep pretty soon and generally get 5 or more hours before waking up. It's supposed to be completely non-addictive (according to the doctor, leaflet and every internet source I could find!) so if you did want to try another tablet, that might be a good one to go for. Good luck :) xox

[bk_forever]

Fluorite is a gorgeous stone, but really not one I'd use for sleep problems - can't imagine why you were given that to help you sleep. It's excellent for studying - helps facts stick in your head and relate to each other. My sister used a pendant I gave her while studying for her degree and said it made a huge difference. I use mine for colds. At the moment I'm using Mexican Red Howlite under my pillow, but half my problems are down to not having a proper bed to sleep in at the moment.

I love Rose Quartz. I've had the one I use now gor more than 15 years. When I was first trying to get out and about, I went to a craft fair at my old junior school. It was hellishly crowded (I'm not good in crowds as I'm claustrophobic too), and I was about to flee when I ran into a stall selling crystals. I'd always liked them so I stopped to look and picked up a Rose Quartz. Immediately, all the tension and panic melted away, so I paid for the stone and held it in my hand while I explored the rest of the fair. It's always best if you can handle the crystals before choosing, but I can't do that any more as the local crystal shops have both closed. I get mine on ebay now.

Anyway, Rose Quartz is worth a try - if nothing else, it's a beautiful stone and makes a great pendant if you have a spiral cage to put it in! I wear a lot of my crystals! Hope it works for you!

[cookiegirl]

Well, I'm not sure whether the Reiki lady much knew what she was talking about, bless her! Sounds like rose quartz would definitely be worth a try for me, I could really do with some panic melting away :) I don't have any crystal shops near me but I'll have a look on the net.
Hope you manage to get a proper bed soon! Xo

[bk_forever]

Technically, I do have a bed - it's just dismantled and stuffed in the box room with most of the rest of my bedroom's contents (including all my clothes) while my bedroom ceiling is replaced. It was deemed to be unsafe after burst pipes turned my room into a water feature back in early December. I've been sleeping on the lounge floor ever since, on a 2ft wide inflatable mattress. If I move, I slide off the edge. At least work is finally underway and I might be able to move back before much longer!

I was overjoyed when I found I could buy crystals online. Prices have turned out to be pretty reasonable. Sometimes you can get an individual crystal, the exact one in the picture, but it's also possible to buy packs of 3, 5 or 10, depending on who you buy from. You're in the UK, so you'll find some really good sellers on ebay, but watch out, some people charge exorbitant postage! Go to Collectables on ebay, subsection Rocks, Fossils and Minerals (or something like that) and there are some great sellers. I buy way too many! They're my not so secret vice! Hope you find what you're looking for - If you feel drawn to one in particular, it'll be the right one!

[zorell.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the new glasses!
Sorry the last few months haven't been great for you, but hopefully things will start looking up. You've already got out and about abit, done some bits and with the new specs there'll be no stopping you! Hope you've taken things easy today and that the toe gets better soon.

[bk_forever]

Thanks! The last few months have been a nightmare (3 months sleeping on a narrow inflatable mattress on the floor is no joke!), and it's not letting up any time soon!

Still, finally getting to wear my new glasses is great!
I was so excited when I chose my new frames 3 months ago, it's been frustrating knowing they were ready but not being able to get them!

Now I know what's wrong with my toe and that it's not going to suddenly drop off, I've stopped worrying about it. It still hurts, but after yesterday so does everything else - my muscles scream at me every time I move, so I've spent most of the day just relaxing. Can't do much else until my ceiling is plastered and painted anyway!

How's chapter 4 coming? I'm looking forward to your next update =D

[zorell.livejournal.com]

Glad you're looking forward to the next chapter,but you may have to wait abit longer than I intended as it's not going too well at the moment. I know what I want and have written quite abit, but it just doesn't seem right at the moment. I've been trying to alter it but it's not really working, so I'm debating whether to scrap all of what I've done so far for chapter 4 and start afresh, or try and save the bits I like and maybe approach it from a different angle, - decisions, decisions! I'll have another look at it tomorrow once I get back from watching my youngest play her football match. Maybe I'll have some inspiration and come to a decision by then!

[bk_forever]

It's so annoying when you can't get something the way you want it! On one of my fics, I re-wrote the same bit over and over, but couldn't get it right. In the end, I gave up, scrapped the scene and just kept writing and the scene just suddenly appeared a bit further on in the story and worked! Sometimes shuffling things around a bit works. If I were you, I'd hang on to the bits that do work and look for a different way of approaching the bit that's not cooperating.

It's been months since I last did any writing - I haven't had the time to work on anything. I know the story I was writing will need some re-working when I get back to it, there's a bit I'm not completely happy with and I need to add a few scenes set back in the Hub. I'm starting to get the itch to write again, but I'm always either too busy, or too tired to concentrate. I don't want to give my readers something substandard - I guess I'm my own worst critic!