There has also been another development which is adding substantially
to the activity levels. After a longer than expected wait I have received a
date for my pre-surgery assessment, which will be on June 19th.
Since we must be in France in early August for a family visit (arranged
before the cataract saga even began) we have agreed with my helpful consultant
that I can postpone the actual surgery until after our return from France.
Suddenly the way is open before us for not only a couple of
months in France (cherry time is approaching) after the assessment, but also a quick visit to Scotland to say hello to everyone and put the furniture back in
place after last winter’s redecoration. So instead of simply taking the boys
home next Friday and coming home, we will continue north in the very small
campervan for a couple of weeks. If you don’t see me around much for a week or
two, you’ll know the reason why. I’ll just be busy, busy, busy.
Now all we have to do is hope that the weather for next week
is rather better than the Met Office is currently forecasting. The eternal
optimist – that’s me!
It would be a boon to have some settled fine weather to enjoy when GS1 and GS2 are with you. And also on your trip to Scotland.
ReplyDeleteBut, as I have remarked elswhere, and as our sainted mother used to like to say, we "will get what we are given", as is always the case in most things outside human control.
Especially in the UK, where we have weather to make up for not having a climate, or so I read once.
I reckon most of Europe would agree with your first sentence. With torrential rain along the Med, heavy snow in the Alps, Pyrenees and Dolomites and the worst spring for 25 years in France, I think we're getting off lightly at the moment!
DeleteIf I remember rightly "we will get what we are given" was applied more widely than just to the weather. :-) So characteristic.....
But we DO have a climate - it's maritime, which means changeable weather. :-)
Have a lovely time with your grandchildren and also when you go on your holiday to France and Scotland. So much better to have your cataract op when you return - the consultants are pretty good as a rule. Hope the weather is good for us all too.
ReplyDeleteWe always have a great time with the grandsons, thanks, and as you know, we love our time in Scotland and France, despite what the weather sometimes throws at us. Hopefully I will return fortified by some sunshine and raring to go for the op. :-)
DeleteFingers crossed for some weather improvements - it makes everything work so much better especially when you have the grandsons staying.
ReplyDeleteWe shall be taking the high road too when you are - surely the sun must warm up and shine by June!!! One bright spot on the horizon is how wonderful all the plants and flowers are this year.
I so agree, as I think with sympathy of the nation's parents with their children on half-term. At least the forecast for this weekend is good.
DeleteYou're so right about the flowers this year. Our back garden still has masses of primroses in bloom and they are spreading beautifully without any help from us. Enjoy your trip to Scotland - which bit are you heading for?
We are making some interesting trips using a different mode of transport (for us), but will be based in the Cairngorms.
DeleteGorgeous scenery there and I know you'll have a wonderful time. We'll wave as we pass by both ways. :-)
DeleteEnjoy it all Perpetua, and if you can't, at least survive it.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds my idea of H... but each to his/her own.
Your energy is astonishing.
Blessings.
That made me laugh, Ray. Yes, we're all very different, which is what makes people so infinitely interesting. I've been missing our usual variety this spring and falling into a bit of a lethargy, so when we learnt when the pre-op was and that we could actually make some plans, I felt immediately galvanised. :-) I expect we'll slow down and stay put some day - just not yet.....
DeleteHave a wonderful time with your grandsons and have a great vacation in France. I hope your weather soon settles. It sounds like ours. Heavy rains coming our way tonight and tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bonnie, I'm sure we will. I find it amazing that your weather has mirrored ours so closely this spring (or vice versa) despite having the whole of the North Atlantic between us. Here's hoping for a proper summer for us both.
DeleteThanks Perpetua....God bless.
DeleteIt sounds as if everything is falling into place...albeit somewhat hectically ( I have no idea how to spell that ! )I hope you have a wonderful time with your grandsons and that the trip to Scotland goes smoothly. Hopefully there will be some decent weather for you before you head off to France. I'm sure it is a sensible decision to put off the eye surgery until after France. Enjoy it all Perpetua. Jx
ReplyDelete10/10 for spelling, Janice. :-) Yes, we couldn't believe how easily everything came together when we finally got the go-ahead to make some plans. Both trips will be quite a lot shorter than usual, but I'm so looking forward to them and will be ready for anything when we get back. As for the grandsons, we're girding up our loins as I type. :-)
DeleteLets hope you get "some enchanting evenings"): !
ReplyDeleteand the weather is kind to you driving up the high road, to Bonny Scotland.
Enjoy your time with your grandsons.. they are teenagers and will find lots to do. My eldest grandson is 14 today.
Wishing you a great holiday in France..
see you when you get back.
have a wonderful wonderful Perpetua.
val xx
Thanks, Val. Enchanting evenings would be wonderful for all of us. :-) A marvellous thing about Scotland is that the scenery is magnificent in almost all weathers. I'm looking forward to the very long, light evenings you get so far north.
DeleteHappy birthday to your grandson. Ours are very good at keeping themselves occupied and we also have a lot of fun playing all sorts of games with them.
There won't be a complete blogging silence while we're away as my trusty laptop comes with me and when I have time I enjoy writing about the different places we visit.
Whatever the weather - I hope you have safe travelling, create more happy memories and enjoy it all.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy, I'm sure I will. After a very long quiet period at home since Christmas everything is happening at once and I'm feeling almost breathless. :-)
DeleteEnjoy your time with the grandsons and safe peregrinations.
ReplyDeleteAs for the weather -- it can't get much worse can it!? [touch wood]
Thanks, Antoinette. I don't think it can get much worse in France, at least according to what the Connexion newsletter reported today. :-( Surely it must change for you very soon, says she with everything crossed....
DeleteBuy in Nutella!
ReplyDeleteI hope you all have a super time together.
Thanks, Sarah. Nutella - what a good idea! Not my thing, but Grandson#2 is a chocolate fiend. :-)
DeleteWith all the lovely people and events -- the grandchildren, the cherries, Scotland, France -- life sounds great whatever the weather!
ReplyDeleteI feel like I've just woken up from hibernation and it's all happening. :-) We do have fun with the grandsons and it will be lovely to see our very different favourite place again.
DeleteHave a lovely time with your grandchildren and enjoy the trip up to Scotland. Very nice of your consultant to postpone surgery until you get back from France. The weather there should be an improvement hopefully xx
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we will and the journey to Scotland is always wonderful. The consultant was very happy to fit in with our plans once he's done the pre-op assessment and the surgery is arranged. As for the weather in France, I'm afraid it's been the worst spring there for 25 years and shows no sign of improving at the moment. The dratted jet stream is out of place again and most of Europe is suffering!
DeleteSo glad that you have a firmer idea about your eye surgery and you can get to France in early August. Meanwhile, enjoy your time with the grandchildren and your trip to Scotland. We're looking forward to a grandson arriving for the half term holiday next week, too!
ReplyDeleteThere have been staffing problems, hence the longer than expected wait and the clash with our summer commitment. The new arrangement suits both sides very well. :-) Our visitors arrive this afternoon and at the moment the sun is shining! Long may it last, for us and for you with your grandson staying.
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDelete...LLLOOOOVVE south Pacific. Now then, had noted at an earlier date something about eyes, but menopolyxi-chicky-babe here was a bit clueless and took that to mean surgery had already taken place. (For a bright woman I can be incredibly dense at times...) Everyone I know who has the cataract op is delighted with the results, though it can take patience for things to settle. I think you made a great plan of action for the summer, getting in all the travel to such gorgeous places first!!!
May it start with this weekend and you having tremendous fun with your family. Hugs, YAM xx
So do I and it's DH's favourite musical by a long way. :-) No reason why you should have remembered, but my earlier post was about going on the waiting-list which has proved to be rather slower-moving than anticipated because of staffing problems. This way we can all enjoy the summer, knowing that surgery will soon follow our return.
DeleteAs for this weekend, the house is ready and the sun is shining and I just have a bit of baking to do.....
Enjoy all the vacation, and rest assured that the cataract surgery will be very easy and well worth it.
ReplyDeleteSo I've been told, but it will be good to have enjoyed the summer first.
DeleteSo pleased to hear things are falling into place - the uncertainty of waiting is always the hard part. Have wonderful vacations in both Scotland and France. I look forward to hearing about them on your return.
ReplyDeleteYou've hit the nail of the head there - I don't do uncertainty very well. As soon as I know something definite and can make plans, I'm fine. That was even true when I had breast cancer.
DeleteYou'll be hearing about them while we're there, as we'll be in France for much longer than a normal holiday and my laptop will go with me. :-)
I seem to remember that when the question of the ops came up you were feeling that you might be missing your regular trips...but nothing beats Perpetua!
ReplyDeleteHave a super time with your grandchildren and enjoy yourselves moving furniture in Scotland and employing your waterwings in France.
Surely the rain must stop soon...
You remember correctly, Helen, and if the waiting time hadn't stretched out rather longer than expected I might have had the first op by now and just fitted in a quick dash to France after the post-op period. This way is MUCH better. :-)
DeleteThe grandsons are always great company and at least the furniture in Scotland will be moved back into properly decorated rooms. As for France, this weather can't continue for much longer, can it....?
After your long winter and faltering spring, this must all seem so wonderful, Perpetua. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
ReplyDeleteIt does indeed, Penny. Once we could put some dates on the calendar and book the ferry I was a new woman. :-) Enjoyment is definitely on the cards....
DeleteIt's lovely that things are falling into place for your summer. It is shaping up to be a lovely one.
ReplyDeleteIt felt as though a kaleidoscope had stopped and all the jumbled pieces had fallen into a pattern at last. We love our little corners of Scotland and France very much and are now keenly anticipating seeing them again.
DeleteI'm feeling tired just reading about all your plans. You're a real pair of road-runners :-) Have fun with your "grandsprigs" (as my mum calls hers) and try to find a couple of minutes every so often to keep us up to date on your progress through your agenda!
ReplyDeleteThat coming from a working mother of three children, MM....! I lead the laziest of lives most of the time and our trips are usually very well spaced out. This year, because of the waiting-list delay, they've all got squashed together, which gives a very false impression. :-)
DeleteWho am I trying to kid? I just like travelling. :-)) Progress reports are guaranteed.
Sounds like it's all working out rather well, all things considered, Perpetua. All you need now is some weather of the pleasant sort! I have no doubt you'll have a great time with your grandsons - do tell me what you feed them as I'm getting a bit desperate some days for good ideas for teenagers! (Fajitas go down very well in our house...)
ReplyDeleteHave a safe journey up to Scotland - it will so good to back on the road, I should imagine!
Axxx
Well, I'm pleased to be able to tell you that the weather today has been gloriously sunny and we've just come in from a good walk in the forest and along the river. :-) As for food, supper this evening will be bangers and mash, which always goes down well and tomorrow it will be spag bol. Lots of good carbohydrate for energetic boys. :-)
DeleteWe're looking forward to taking the high road again, especially with the long, light evenings so far north.
Hello Perpetua - sorry for not visiting for some days but very glad to read that you're now able to make travel plans. Meanwhile, have a great time with the grandsons this coming week.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the weather - although we have had a few warm days, the cold & wet have returned here as well. Sybille had a winter jumper on this afternoon & evening & I was wearing my fleece. Apparently, there has been snow again on some of the mountains adjacent to the Polish & German borders. And we're nearly at the end of May!!!!
No problem, Ricky. You have a busy job to do after all. It's great to be making plans again and the boys are certainly keeping us occupied - hence the delay in responding to your comment.
DeleteI do sympathise about the return to winter weather and its accompanying clothing. DH and I had been swathed in multiple layers until yesterday when the sun finally came out. Today has been lovely, but sadly it's not going to last and tomorrow will be wet. So it will be out with the board games and a lot of fun will be had by all.
Hope you're having a wonderful week and that the sun shines on your travels :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes, thanks - sunshine and forest walk yesterday, pouring rain and board games today. :-)
DeleteI hope you enjoy your travels.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I will, thanks, though it's hard even to think about them with the grandsons keeping me so busy this week. :-)
DeleteBefore you head North, try to find time to send your hare video - or some stills - to the Springwatch website, as I'm sure they's be really pleased with them! They were asking for contributions last evening.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well and that you're having a great time with the boys - even though today has been dire (we went to IKEA Birmingham - actually Wednesfield - and the drive back was AWFUL!!)
Have a lovely time in Tongue -we'll be thinking of you.
Love from us both.
I'll talk to DH about Springwatch, but given our broadband speed at the moment, I doubt he'll want to try sending anything other than stills. To be honest, the boys are keeping us so busy that everything else is falling by the wayside.
DeleteThankfully this afternoon we had an invitation to visit my sister where the boys had great fun with her husband's 3D computer games, so the bad weather passed us by unnoticed. :-) Not a day for motorway driving, though, and I'm hoping for better weather when we take them home on Friday.