Wednesday! Day One! lol

It's Wednesday, it's day one again. Day one of what you may say! My quit smoking day. That's wot.

I really hope to do it this time. I mean, I have been trying since the 21st October. I have decided to say, "I don't smoke." May have more luck than I did with saying, "I am trying to give up," or "I have stopped smoking."

Last I heard, son was doing very well. Daughter- in- law may join him. It's a big step to take really.
I know that we will all feel better when we have really, really, cracked it.

I am working tomorrow, 1 pm until 9 pm. It will be nice and warm on the ward.

Bought some Christmas stuff today. Does Mrs Peak still make Christmas puds? Anyone know? Just can't find any.

Sunny Sunday! Nearly Christmas!

It looked lovely out there today. Sun but bet it was a bit chilly! Should have gone for a nice walk.
Work tomorrow. Well, it's my own fault, I said yes! lol

I keep thinking of our holiday in San Francisco. Believe it or not, I would love to go once more. It is a wonderful place.

It's a worry, my computer is running well. I do like it. Would be lost without it.
Today, himdownstairs has been watching footie. I could have watched the TV in the kitchen but I bet there wouldn't be much on. I suppose I could have watched one of my old video tapes. But no, I sat here and answered e-mails.
It's the 26th of November, this time next month it will be cold turkey and too much chocolate! Time goes very quick as I get older. Doesn't seem that long since it was last Christmas. When I was little, it took ages for Christmas to arrive again.

Done it! Nursing!

Well, I have done it, posted the form to re register so I can nurse another year! £43 cheque enclosed. lol

Am on day one of the no smoking thing. I am even boring myself with all this.
I should have been on day three but last night, after work and just before bed, I smoked two! I wished now I hadn't but it's too late. I tell myself that it's better than the 20+ I used to smoke a few years ago and better than the 12+ I was smoking before I started stopping.

The shops are getting busier, the Christmas lights are up in the Arcade. It will be the end of November next week. A month today, it will be Christmas.

Wet, cold and fed up! Stop Nursing?

Well, I am not wet as I am inside, it's wet out there though.
I am cold. I am fed up too. Maybe because I haven't been to work for what seems, ages.
I whinge if they ask me to go in but get a bit bored if they don't.

Maybe it's the lack of cigs, I just don't know.

Still haven't filled in my renewal form so I can carry on nursing. £43 they want off us for a year. I don't mind that, but do I want to really continue nursing? I have a few days to make my mind up. Just don't know what to do really. I will be 63 in March. I feel, at the moment, I can manage another year.
I suppose I might as well fill it in and send it off. I can always say, "No thanks," if I don't feel up to it. I don't do more than 2 shifts a week so I should be ok. I miss the lasses and patients.

Monday. Old audio tapes.

I want a reel to reel tape recorder. One of those really old ones that were about in the 60's.
For a new one? Well, just cannot afford it!
Today while washing the pots, played a tape that I must have recorded from an old LP we have. But played it on the radio cassette thingy.
Took me back a good few years, more than 41 or 42. Scary.

Back to day one with the ciggie thing. Son is trying today too. Wonder how he got on?

No call from work, the nurses must be healthy up to now. Quite pleased really as I have felt a bit "off" these last few days. Dizzy, painful throat, feel achy too. Not as bad today.
I did miss a party on Saturday though. Cusses. Just felt unwell.

Saturday. 18th Nov.

I am depressed. Ok, maybe not depressed but very, very fed up. It's cold and windy, it's November. Christmas is coming.............
I am not struck on Christmas now.

I do like it really, but the run up to it is not good for me. Although it is a religious festival, I think it is too commercialised now.
Different too when the kids were younger. Still stressful for me but more fun.

So, Humbug, from Mrs Scrooge. (Not that I am as miserly as him, please don't get me wrong.)

Thanks for "lending" me this pic. Pinched off the internet, and, I like it!

Worth another mention.

www.Good health sites.

Just a few Websites to try now and then. NOT INSTEAD of your GP of course!

www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

www.besttreatments.org Common health probs.

www.netdoctor.co.uk General Health.

www.food.gov.uk Food.

www.cancerhelp.org.uk

www.quackwatch.org Worth a peek.

www.mht.org.uk Mental Health.

www.bhf.org.uk Heart Issues.

www.strokeassociation.org.uk CVA, Stroke.

Wednesday.

From my window, it looks dull. I bet you it will rain before long.

I showed some pics of autumn trees earlier on. Since then, I have seen pics from the USA. Some places, the trees are really beautiful at this time of year.
Suppose in the Lake District, the trees will be lovely.

Just shopping today, nothing much else planned. Once again, no call to work. Oh, I could get used to this.

The Clock!

Call it a senior moment, call it what you like as it is a lot longer than a moment.

The clock, not this one but the one on top of the blog, it is telling me the wrong time. Why? I never put it back an hour. It means doing another and removing the old one. There maybe another way to do it but I am not that clever.

So, please be warned, that clock IS NOT now set at the right time and won't be until the clocks go forward in Spring!

Good news!

If anyone ever reads this, they could be happy to know that I have started another Blog and it's all to do with my struggle with giving up the weed. That means, hopefully, that I won't be boring you on here, well not as much anyway!

But, if you want to follow my struggle, please try......
http://giveitupnow.blogspot.com

Just sneak this in though, it's 16:10 and I am on day two, yet again.

Yet again, Mrs Boring is here!
Well, it's 21:28 and not one cig has been smoked in our house.
Now, I have to keep this up tomorrow too, and the day after and the days after that.
Wish me luck lasses and lads. I really, really, need it. A good bit of willpower will help too.

Comments.

I notice that I have had two comments. May I just say, they are NOTHING at all to do with me. Please ignore them. There maybe a way to get rid of them, just haven't sussed it out yet.
If I get proper comments, I will answer them if possible.
Thank you.
I suppose you could call this, a disclaimer???

Once more! Day one.

It's the 12th of November, it's about 13:18 and today, I am stopping smoking yet again.
I did nearly a week then had two on the Saturday, then stopped and had two the Saturday after. Thought I was doing quite well. But no, I started on 2 or 3 a day, then one day, 4. Yesterday I decided to finish the open packet off and smoked five. I told myself, there was method in my madness, none open now.
I have spoken to people who found it really easy to stop.
One lady found it really hard, but has been smoke free for 6 years now.
I know I am boring the pants off anyone who reads this blog.
But if it helps just one person to know how hard I am finding it and maybe they won't start or will sympathise with me if they are in the same boat, whether it is the habit of smoking, drinking or anything else that takes willpower, I will be happy!
Good luck out there. We will beat it. We will you know!

Wonderful USA.

http://oldbluewebdesigns.com/mybeautifulamerica.htm

This was sent by my friend. I am British but this is lovely. Hope you enjoy it.

Remembrance Day.

We remember all the people who gave their life to give us freedom. We remember all those that fought, survived were injured, we will remember them.

At 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month.
Thank you.

Wet and cold.

It's a cold and wet November night. My cigarettes = 2 up to now. Maybe another before bed. I know I shouldn't though.
I have decided, that after I finish this packet, that will be it! I must be firm. It is a little after 10 30 pm.
In a way, I have done well. But in another way, I have done badly. I want to do well, I really do. Not only am I letting myself down, but others too. Maybe, really, not all of them care. maybe they do.
I admire those that have given up completely. I really do.
Oh well, tomorrow is another day! Fingers crossed and willpower to the fore!
Might make my Christmas cake tomorrow after shopping.

November in Lancaster, England.

Pretty trees and leaves!!! Our autumn!

Hiya!

Well, I have slipped in more ways than one. Monday, not one cigarette.

Tuesday started well, then I slipped, not really slipped but fell over in the road. I don't know why. Down I went! Grazed my hand and jolted my arm a bit. It's still a bit sore. Then I smoked 4 cigs. Not all at once though. I blamed shock, but I suppose it was just an excuse. Things could have been worse, I could have broken something, I could have been run over by a car!

It's Wednesday now, not had one today. I MUST keep it up. Adding it up, since 21st Oct, had 12 cigs. That doesn't sound bad, but it's 12 more than I wanted. Must try harder. Anyone else out there trying too? Hope you are doing better than me.

Strange.

Today I went for my six monthly asthma check up. I blow through things, have my sats done, blood pressure and I am weighed.
Well, after not smoking that much in the last couple of weeks, my sats were down to 95%. I honestly thought they would be higher than that. Huh.
Sats are the amount of oxygen in the blood.
Of course, (she said lying through her teeth,) it could have been due to the 'flu jab I had just had!
Nah, don't think so. Funny how the sats were higher when I smoked like a chimney.

Oximetry is one way to measure oxygen saturation in your blood. A small clip is placed on the hand, toe, earlobe or an infant's foot. This is a simple, convenient, painless way to determine your need for oxygen. This test may be done at rest, during sleep and while you are walking for a thorough evaluation. (Commonly known as SATS)

Cigs and slipping!

Had two cigs yesterday, just had another today. Help! I am slipping.
No will power. Am really annoyed with myself. It's my own fault. Will start again!

Saturday, Owls and Pumpkins and Cigarettes..

No work today. We went out shopping, seems we always are going shopping. But really, we don't go more than 3 times a week! Just two usually. I am sure that is more info than you really needed. lol

Had a ciggie today, maybe about dinner time. Last week, I had two on the Saturday. But the one I had earlier, I didn't enjoy it one bit. It hasn't put me off cigs for life, please don't get me wrong. In a way, I wish it had. I still want one, I know that sounds silly, but I know what I mean. lol

In the shopping centre, the gent was there with his owls. I have taken a photo or two. The big one, it sits so still, you don't think it is real at first. Then he/she moves.

My friend grew some pumpkins, I know Halloween has gone for another year but they look good. Sewn from seed. Well done L and kids!

Worked today!

I went to work today. It was rather hard work. I am going tomorrow too.
When I got home I could have killed for a cig, but I have managed without one.

I lost my nicotine patch, stuck it back on but I am sure it has moved up and down my arm! I didn't know I had lost it!

I just looked down and there it was, on the floor. Luckily, it was the right way up, no footmarks on it so I stuck it back on. Very hygienic for a nurse.

Wonder when the "I would like a cig" feeling goes?

Blackpool.

We went to Blackpool yesterday and saw the illuminations. Treating you to a pic of Blackpool Tower. It was taken from the car so not a very good photo. Soz about that. T'was dark too. Hee, hee. Well, can hardly see the Tower. Just peer carefully, it is there. Honest.

No witches spotted!
My broomstick in garage for a twig change so had to go by car.

Am struggling today, day 12 or 4 depending on which way I look at it. No cigs since Saturday and only the two then. Started the stop smoking thing on the 21 st October. So now, not had a smoke all month!!

Shingles.

When I had shingles, I thought I had pulled a muscle, then decided, as the pain got worse, I had broken a rib, then in the end, I decided I had cancer. Luckily, that is when I noticed the rash!
I decided I had shingles and went to the docs to have it confirmed. It was really painful.

I have read it is a step up from cold sores. The virus is related to the shingle virus.

Symptoms.

A tingling itchy feeling, (I never got that.) This is before the rash appears.
Only found one one side of the body. (Follows a nerve path.) So usually follows a line of skin.
Can develop over a few hours or days into painful blisters.
Can cause a 'flu like feeling. That may last until the rash goes.
Can be on chest wall, face, upper legs, I have seen it down arms.

It is rare to have shingles if you haven't had chickenpox. It's the same virus. People prone maybe "rundown."
Need to see your GP. Can be small patches or quite extensive.