No - it was the winter solstice yesterday. Summer starts to draw near - if you can call it that up here....
Tragic news from Glasgow this afternoon. I am sure that those who just witnessed what happened will have trouble getting it out of their minds over Christmas. This afternoon I was in Chateauroux where for some strange reason the car radio picks up 5Live. The news that came over the airwaves was extremely sad.
Sæll öll. Piparkökur is on the bar, if I have time later we have hamborgarhryggur. Thes are ginger biscuits and salt pork ribs. Frothy cappuccinos for al, HH, and W_Y Coffee and caramel frapachino for IB Coffees for COYH, Frenchie, Kev rob theo and vic-rijrode Strong coffee for Sandy Milky coffee for Yorkie Espresso for SuffolkHorn Irish coffee with special “Irish” Cragganmore for aberdeenhornet and kiwiqpr Strong black coffees for Bragi Norway and zen Black coffee half hot half cold and no sugar for Charlie Peppermint latte for DanH Tea for Andytoprankin BHD Cornish Mark jsybarry Lloydinio and BCFCRed Tea with skimmed milk and no sugar for GG and Leon Hot chocolate with marshmallows for BBW Caramel latte for Hornette Scullion Canary Dave Fossefilberto and Maestro Una paloma for Mexican Hornet Why do islamic people think killing others is glory for their religion? This is a mystery to me. And why do the Scottish always have bad news at Christmas, this year flooding in Kilmarnock and death in Glasgow.
Ginger biscuits and tea? Now you're talking. As for Muslims, I think it could equally be argued that Christians have killed others for the glory of their religion. (Edit: the is not aimed at you, AK, of course, it is aimed at the 'religious' who think the sixth commandment is aimed at everyone except them. "My killing is virtuous, they are the baddies." - ALL religions are guilty of this.) And yes, they had that helicopter crash in Glasgow at the end of last year, too. Terrible.
Many thanks for the frothy AK, much appreciated. Morning all from a drab and dull West West London...seems to be a very quiet day in corporate madness with most emails I am sending getting a response that the recipient that they are now OOO until 5th Jan - I think I will find a quiet meeting room and have a quick snooze!
Morning all, a cold and very frosty start to the day, but the sun is up and there is now a mist hanging across the fields creating a splendid wintry picture. The latest case of three took place yesterday in Nantes where a van was driven into a Christmas market injuring ten people, with the driver then stabbing himself. Was this another Islamist attack as the two before were, or was it a deranged individual with mental problems? The government is choosing the later option and telling people to stay calm. Like ak I fail to understand what is in these people's minds, but France has the largest Muslim population in Western Europe and areas on the outskirts of large cities where they are gathered are not receiving much help to improve the living conditions. Still not much reason to try and kill or injure others. Yesterday the Christmas shoppers were out in force, yet the chocolate mountain seems as large as ever. After the 1st January I can see dramatic reductions in the price of the remaining stock.
Christmas here is threatening to be wrecked. About a week ago I woke up with a severe pain in my lower back (well buttocks really) that went all the way down my leg. Paracetemol and ibuprofen did not shift it so a visit to the quacks who said it was a slipped disc and sciatica - just take stronger painkillers. Gave me strong cocodamol. By Saturday the pain was even more intense and only easing for a short period in the middle of the 4 hour cycle of painkillers. Called out a doctor who gave me Tramadol and stronger ibuprofen. I might as well have eaten a jam sandwich for all the good it did. So another visit to the quack booked for later today. Have no idea what he can do - at best they only talk of pain relief - not helping solve the actual problem which apparently can wear off in anything between weeks and a year!! It is putting a burden on Mrs L which makes me feel terrible and she does not want me todrive to the kids on Christmas day -partly as the medication makes me very drowsy but also she thinks I will just sit and suffer. I want to go for her and the kids but am hoping the quack can help make it possible. Have been trying exercises shown on the NHS website for sciatica but they are not helping. Don't suppose any of you have had something like this and found a solution?
Hi Lenny Only thing I could suggest is to stop frequently on the drive and get out and do stretching and do some light exercises - might just make the journey bearable. Of course followed by a few stiff brandies when you arrive - I now it's not the done thing on pain-killers, but sinec when have we done the done thing!
Morning all Sunny periods here as we await arrival of grandchildren plus parents. Mrs H has filled two freezers with various meals and snacks to be enjoyed in the next ten days or so. Sister and partner, niece and other son and other daughter will arrive at different times in the next week so the wine supplies may take a beating!
I'm off to pick up the wine for my lot this afternoon. Thinking I'll go with a nice Sancerre for Christmas day and a nice Alsace white for the evening.
I've had bad sciatica before which stopped me walking. Yours sounds very bad, worse than mine. Actually I think wear_yellow's advice is sound, although he seems to pooh-pooh it. My advice is to keep moving, gently, don't lie up (ie try and rest it away), avoid being in a L shape (ie don't stretch legs out whilst in bath, sitting - keep the knees bent when sitting). As for alcohol, this is IMHO advice from w_y I would agree with. I had anti-inflammatory pills (little pink triangular ones - although this was 14 years ago, so quite possibly different now) and ibuprofen (also anti-inflam. Then I had Valium too, as a muscle relaxant, because according to doc the sciatic nerves were being pressed on by muscles. I'm not being flippant, honestly, but the best thing I took was a continuous but gentle amount of Guinness. I wasn't getting trollied, I just maintained 'happy'. I was generally feeling like I was about three pints in. I didn't drink beyond this as I was scared of tripping under the influence and hurting myself further. It worked for me after a couple of months to a manageable level of pain that took a couple of years to disappear completely. My worst mistake was to 'rest up' at the start. Big error! I hope you and Mrs Leo have a lovely Christmas wherever you are.
Oh dear, sorry for your plight Leo. Never had the same combination of complaints, but did have back problems when I spent too many hours leaning over a desk or drawing board. It might sound a bit drastic but I did get some relief when I laid face down on the floor, actually that was the only comfortable position for me, and persuaded Mme to put all her weight on my lower back for a few minutes. It did help, but failing that I have some ultra strong painkillers that the hospital gave me that are narcotic and I didn't wish to take. They suggested that I should only take them if absolutely necessary as they can be very addictive. Hope that the doctor can find some way to allow you to have a Christmas.
My dad did exactly the same quite a few years ago - I seem to recall that us kids took it in turns to stand on him! It did do the trick in the end though. Hope it gets better for you in the coming days so you can have a decent Christmas Leo
Sorry........................ You may consider a good osteopath..... Backs have been a big issue in my family I was off for 6 months when doing my teacher training with acute neck and arm pain after a fall which slipped a disc..... and the meds were as bad as the pain. Tramadol is particularly trippy... can cause hallucinations and disorientation... and depression. If it is "simple" sciatica... it will and should sort itself in some time..... Exercise will help To begin with hot and cold on the area of inflammation is really helpful.... pack of frozen peas etc I suggest a consultation with an osteopath who will diagnose and advise re exercises and pain relief.... I myself have now chronic neck problems and my neck movement is very limited and painful
A visitor to our hamlet tried to convince me some years ago that the world would end if the price of diesel went above a euro a litre. Well it did go way above that level of course, €1.40 I remember, and we are still all here. This afternoon in town it has gone down to €0.99, i.e. below £0.80p. Maybe we are enjoying it, but I doubt that the government is too happy about the decreasing tax take.
