Mrs V

One of those days

2009-04-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

It started when I woke up around 3.30 in the morning. I had been woken up by Mr V's snorting, sorry snoring. I realised I had 12 people for dinner that evening and I had forgotten to make the soup, I was due to make the night before. How can I forget to make the soup! I was watching Corrie, Eastends and who knows what and I forgot to make the soup. So I got up and made the soup, tidied up and tried to go back to sleep. Then the alarm woke me for work!

When I arrived home from work, I thought I would relax before my guests came, by taking the dog for a walk. Got the lead, got my phone, shut the door. Ooooops. Forgot the door key. I can just about see the back garden patio doors from my letter box, and they certainly looked locked to me. What to do. A couple of options came to mind, phone Mr V and ask him to come back but he was on the other side of London or phone my daughter and get a cab to her. Looking around I saw my kitchen window was open - which was really unusual but open it was. I knocked next door to my neighbour and asked if I could borrow a ladder. So he and his wife and my dog watched me climb head first through my kitchen window which was 12 inches wide. Thank goodness I had trousers on. I landed in the sink but that was okay as thank goodness there was no water in it. As I walked round to collect the dog, the patio doors were unlocked, it was just the latch was down but that can be opened both sides! I am sure my neighbours rue the day we moved in. Often knocking on their door for something, the alarm has gone off and I can shut it down, the electricity has gone out, where has the water gone!!!!!

I also once reversed into his car and didn't even know it. I was driving a huge 4 x 4 (well it was huge to me) and I reversed into the neighbours car. I was so embarrased when he knocked on the door to tell me. He realised it as I had white paint on my car and he had green paint on his. Even I could do the maths.

Oh hum, just another day

Am I the only one

2009-03-12T03:02:00.000-07:00

I wonder if I am the only one. Here I am a responsible grandma and doing weird things. I do keep asking myself who is on the throne, who is the Prime Minister and what the day is - just in case I have a problem.

Ever felt ou were very hot and wondered why (no not hot flushes). Yesterday I was getting hotter and hotter and felt my clothes were really uncomfortable. When I tried to sort me out - I realised I had put on two tee shirts! I remember looking for a tee shirt and then getting one from the airing cupboard - I still wonder how I did that.

I was taking my grandson to nursery this morning - he is 3 and his brother who doesn't go to nursery yet as he is too young at 16 months. I wondered why Charlie (the younger one) was walking funny - I had put his shoes on the wrong feet.

Still at least I can laugh - don't lose your sense of humour even if you can't find it sometimes!

Ooops there I go again

2009-03-10T00:03:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness - ever had one of those days - I know what they write in "The Secret" that if you wake up and think you will have a bad day -you will have a bad day so you need to think positively.

Well I didn't wake up thinking I was going to have a bad day, I had a restless night so I was tired but thought I had to get on with it.

Out of bed into the shower, wash my hair - I couldn't see which was the shampoo and which was the conditioner as I don't actually wear my glasses in the shower. Usually I remember to look first and put the conditioner on the top shelf. When the conditioner didn't come out of the tube, I knew I had the right one (as it is thicker) so I squeezed and squeezed and the top came off - fell down. Why I went to pick it up I don't know, I should have waited until after my shower - I bent down to pick it up and pushed the door open - water everywhere.

Never mind, things happen. Out of the shower putting on the creams and lotions to make me feel and supposedly look younger and put the face cream on whilst I was wearing my glasses. Cream all over the glasses.

What could I do but laugh!

Had to pick my parents up and take them out and bring them back. I left our destination to come back early as they live a way from me and I didn't want to come back too late. After I dropped them off - I dropped my car keys - in the car of course. When I found them and started the car - it didn't. Dead as a dodo. Oh but I am clever, when the keys dropped, the top opened up I had closed it but the computer thinggie had fallen out. I found all the bits when into my parents and dropped a bit. Could we find it of course no. My parents only have a small hall but there they were tramping around looking for a tiny silver thing, me saying stop stop you will trample it into the carpet and them not listening.

Eventually I phoned the AA - and the very nice man put the key back together and I didn't need the silver bit only if I wanted to use the central locking, which I didn't at that time - just wanted to get home. Thank goodness we have a spare key. Got home at 11pm (3 hours later than I wanted).

Whilst driving home the hands free kit that my husband had very kindly set up for me on the sun viser - fell onto my head.

Hey c'est la vie - tomorrow is another POSITIVE ATTITUDE day.

London Underground and Me

2009-03-01T04:52:00.000-08:00

I know I never did like Ken Livingstone and I know that he hadn't always been "in power" since I have had problems travelling on London Underground but why does London Underground not work for me!

I don't often have to travel on the underground but when I do there have been problems. There was the time I was taking my granddaughte to see Swan Lake Ballet. They train stopped at Leytonstone "everyone off" shouted the guard. I was very blank - I had no idea where to go or what to do. By the time I had decided to become adult about it and make a decision, all the mini cabs had gone. Stuck in Leytonstone with my daughter, I didn't know whether to turn left or right!. So of course I phoned my husband and asked him whether I should turn left or right. He gave me a number for a London Taxi. We got to the ballet and they wouldn't let us in until the interval. Eventually, we sat down and thoroughly enjoyed the second half. Although my granddaughter did say that "it didn't last too long did it".

Another time I was going to meet my daughter at Harley Street. Chugging along and once again the train stopped and we were all told to get off. This time I was at Holborn. This time I still didn't know whether to go left or right and even how far I was from Harley Street. You may have gathered by now that I have now sense of direction!. I didn't need to phone anyone this time, I just got into a cab by myself.

The very next time I had to go to Barts Hospital and the Central Line decided to shut. I was told how to get to the Hospital, had to get an overground and then a bus and then something else - I decided to go home.

We're on our way to Emirates!

2009-02-06T03:22:00.000-08:00

There am I, off of work for a week as I am poorly - what excitement can I expect as a relaxing candle bath doesn't work for me?

My daughter is in another country and I receive her mail - I am supposed to look at it to check everything is okay and there it was: "I am pleased to tell you that Danny's name has been drawn at random from our computer to be ARSENAL'S mascot for our home game against Danny on Sunday24th May 2009" (not the mistake - not mine homest) It actually doesn't mean to much to me as I am actually a Spurs fan and really not a great football fan anyway - but I knew what it meant to them. So I phoned them and the excitement - well I wished I had Skyped them and video'd it.

I had to phone Arsenal to accept it - they are really nice (for the other side of course) and she said she had sent lots of those letters out and was getting excited families ringing all the time. I mentioned about us being Tottenham Supporters and she said don't worry, they will be relegated then. Do I know what she means - I don't think it was very nice about Tottenham though.

I phoned my parents (dad is 94) and my mum answered - who hates football. I said you won't understand but.....................Mum shrieked of course I understand and promptly turned round to tell my dad who has been an Arsenal support for quite a time. He once took his dad to a match and got there when they were all coming out! He had got the timing wrong.

So we are all going to the Emirates in May (I shall be wearing by blue and white shell suit 0f course).

My grandson will proudly lead his team out - how wonderful for him (and yes for us and his family). A few tears to be shed.

A little bit of what you fancy does you good - or does it?

2009-02-03T02:52:00.000-08:00

There I was - feeling very very poorly. I went to the doctor and was so pleased when he said I had a temperature and wasn't well. I wonder why that is? Not that I wasn't well but I was pleased about it - I think I must like being labelled! Everyone said relax and then I remembered all my christmas gifts, a relaxing thai bath salts, etc etc etc. I got out the candles ran my bath and relaxed. How can you find what tub is what when you haven't got your glasses on and the light is dim? I put on my glasses which promptly steamed up and thought just relax, do a bit of meditation but how do you breath in through your nose and out through your mouth when you have a cough. Doesn't work. I kept trying. Then I though I would use the massage scrub. Again, couldn't find the right tub. Eventually I did, rubbed in the body scrub - actually not to be course - you do need someone to help you. The scrub had to be left on - well after you do 3 extremeties - how do you do the fourth without slipping further into the bath. I put the scrub down, which promptly fell on the floor. So I had body scrub all over the bathroom. I decided I had enough but got out the bath, still being relaxed and blew the candles out. Did I do this gently. Of course not - with all my lack of breath I blew and had candle wax everywhere. I promptly had to clean that up. Perhaps all this relaxing business is not for me. Went down and watch the bloody Whitechapel series with Mr V. So much for relaxing and having a good night

I AM AN EMPTY NESTER

2009-01-12T11:54:00.001-08:00

There I have said it. I am an empty nester.

What does that mean? It means my children have flown the coupe. One daughter has gone with her boyfriend to New Zealand.

Another daughter emigrated to Israel with her husband and my grandchildren.

So how do you feel:

You feel like it says on the tin - empty. So what do you do? There isn't a lot to do. Get on with your life. I know it sounds easy to say. When you are feeling the emotion it feels like you will never get over it. You do. You brought them up to be independant - admire their freedom and their choices. You look forward to visits, photographs and e-mails. Especially in today's climate where there is facebook, Skype, e-mails, texts and there is still snail mail - post.

Now it is time for you to live - so they can admire you. Do away with the stresses and worries (you never stop worrying about your children I know). Look forward and not back. It is time for you.

I still have one daughter in the UK with her grandsons - does this make it any better - not sure really.

I would love to hear your stories on how you dealt with an empty nest. How did you feel when it happened? How did you manage?

Please contact me on denise@denisevogel-lifecoach.co.uk I look forward to hearing from you.

2008-12-10T02:30:00.000-08:00

Then there was the time that we went to Camber Sands for a holiday. There were two couples and 3 children. My goodness if there was ever a holiday that shouldn't have been - this was the one. How we all came back talking we will never know.

We took 2 cars. On the way down my 3 year old daughter was sick so we had to stop the car to clean that up. We thought we would also stop for something to eat and the only place was a lorry cafe (only it was an up market one so we weren't aware how absolutely dire it would be - this was also before 'elft and safety). My husband, ordered a fried egg sandwich and the most horrific sandwich came up, with all the egg yolk dripping down.

Back in the cars, driving along someone hit the side of the car. Our friends in front tried to get the number plate but by the time a pen was frantically found, the number was forgotten!

We drew up at the holiday camp - which didn't look too bad. Had things for the children - not too far from the beach except the beach was so long and a mist would come down so you couldn't see the sea! Or the children if they went anywhere near it/

My younger daughter took poorly and I had to take her to the doctor who promptly said "this child is sick" - hmmmm - why did he think I took her?

One day we decided to get a take away from the camp restaurant. My husband got two meals and decided to perch them on his knee to drive back (he didn't want to walk as it was raining, in fact it rained most of the week). As he got out the car, he dropped one and guess what it was mine - but what was the difference - none - they were both fish and chips but he had dropped mine!! He went back to the restaurant but it was shut, so we had to share this meal which was obviously freezing cold by now.

Another day, we thought we would eat out. A good idea one would say. Not us - we ordered chicken wings and chips - I cannot begin to explain how small the chicken wing was and yes it was a deliberate use of the singular. A chicken wing. We did complain nicely but wasn't nicely asked to leave.

Happy days

What's this about pensioners' food

2008-12-10T01:36:00.000-08:00

Well, well, well - I took my dad to a Carvery for the very first time. This was a day out in London for his birthday and one of the first Carveries in the Tower Hotel - not sure it is even still there. My dad is not fat but does like his food. I think it is to do with his pre war days upbringing where you never wasted food. So if food was on the table, he would eat it. When he got to the Cavery he thought he had died and gone to heaven! (thank goodness he hadn't - he is now 93 and still with us). He saw all this food, we queued up and filled his plate. It was delicious. He went up for seconds! Then thirds - we told him you didn't have to eat it all and he couldn't understand why not - it was there and not to waste it! Please dad, we said, there is a sweet afterwards - save yourself. He looked very perplexed but decided not to go up for a fourth time (even though the portions were getting significantly smaller).

Eventually, we waddled out of the carvery and my dad was very very satisfied, but wasn't sure he wanted to go again because they served much to much on the plate!