Hellooooo! Can you believe it's the end of another month? Where did that go then? In fact I can't believe how fast these summer holidays have whooshed by. The kids go back to school this week! I have thoroughly enjoyed these holidays: the lack of routine, the company of the big smalls, and the freedom to 'be' in our home, as well as sharing nice times with friends and family.
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What's been happening this month in the Wrinkly household then? Well, this was the month I was diagnosed as having asthma. I have been prone to chest infections for some years now (I've had pleurisy more times than I care to remember) and when I was still struggling with my breathing at the end of the last one, the doctor prescribed an inhaler to see it if helped. It did.
During last month, the doctor asked me to do a month's peak flow readings in the mornings and evenings, and take the results (plotted on a graph which came with the meter) back to her. She took one look at it and pronounced it as a 'classic' pattern for asthma. So ... I now have two inhalers, have had a pneumonia vaccination (ok at the time, but boy did my arm ache for a few days afterwards!) and have to go and see an asthma nurse for a total overhaul next month. The doctor thinks it likely that I've had untreated asthma for some time. Hopefully now that it's 'managed' I will be less prone to problems.
If anyone reading is an asthmatic, I'd be happy to hear any tips or advice you might have for me.
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I'd like to be able to say I've done oodles of 'making' this month. But I can't. Because I haven't. I've done no more knitting for the blanket, but I have done a little bit of sewing. Nothing for me, but I've helped No.1 with her holiday homework. Yes it's her homework, but she needed a hand with it. It's not quite finished yet, but I will take pictures and post them here at a later date.
I also made this bag:-
July was my second blogaversary, so I decided to make something and have a retrospective giveaway. The kids were away with their dad, so I put the names of all those who commented on my July round up in a bowl, and picked out a winner myself:-
If you'd like the bag, it's yours Michaela. Can you email me an address, and I'll get it sent off to you sometime in the next few days weeks. Thank you to all those who have commented during my sabbatical - I really appreciate it - x.
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I am continuing to work on the garden, and have planted my first rose. It is a variety named 'Tickled Pink' - I like its name as much as its flower. Here is a photo of one of the blooms:-
Yes, I'm still taking lots of pictures. I've been to the local Camera Club some more times, and also attended their separate Digital Group, where I started to learn some very handy stuff about Photoshop. I really really need to get to grips with that program - will blog about that soon too.
One of the meetings I attended was a 'Battle'. I had no idea what this meant and had visions of flash bulbs at 10 paces. But no - two clubs submit a set number of photos and a visiting Judge (in this case a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society) comes in and talks about what he does and doesn't like in each photo, and advises how they could be improved. For a complete beginner like me, it was extremely informative.
Everyone I've met through the Camera Club so far has been nothing other than friendly, helpful and welcoming; which is nice, because I was sooo nervous about being a 'new girl'. I'll still be the new girl for a while yet of course, but at least those first few visits are done.
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I have before sung the praises of Dell on this blog, and want to do so again. I have for some time now been wanting to upgrade the RAM on the kids' desktop, and on my laptop too. The prices for 'memory modules' have come down so much that it began to appear like I might be able to afford to do the upgrade this summer. Not being terribly 'savvy' when it comes to computers, I did the easy thing - I went on to the Dell site and clicked on the 'Hardware Chat' option. I spoke to a very polite chap called Sourav who explained that the lappy (an Inspiron 1521) would need matching pairs of modules to be inserted, whilst the desktop (an Inspiron 530) could just be 'topped up'. After giving Sourav the service tags of my machines, he ordered the necessary bits for me, and what's more he sent me an email which told me how to install the new memory - it even had pictures, so I wouldn't be too confused.
The new modules arrived and I fitted them both myself; yes that's right - fitted them myself! Whilst fiddly, (had to take off the lid hinge and keyboard) the laptop one was easy peasy lemon squeezy - half an hour from beginning to end. The desktop one was trickier, mainly because I first took off the wrong side of the tower *blush* and then because I couldn't push the thingies down hard enough - I was scared of damaging them. Eventually I managed it, and we are enjoying our whizzy pootas.
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We've done lots of nice things this month, but the best was a day trip to the seaside. For various reasons, I hadn't seen the sea for 4 years, and was absolutely desperate to visit it. We went for a good old family day out down to Bournemouth with my mum and brother, and had a fantabulous time.
The weather was kind, the sea was calm, we had a lovely packed lunch on the beach, and after an extensive paddle, I took eleventy billion photographs. Just to practice with the new camera, you understand. Actually, I've got some really fabulous photos of the kids, as well as some of the beach and surroundings.
On the seafront there was a Formula 1 'ride' which my brother and No.2 eyed keenly. Thus, on the way back to the car, they were to be found paying their money and getting on board. They went inside a sort of 'capsule' in which they watched a screen of an F1 'drive'. The capsule rocked and leaned, etc. to give them a feel for what it would be like to be in a car going round a track. They both emerged with huge smiles on their faces, so I guess they enjoyed it. Us girls just sat in the sun and people-watched, seagull-watched, and boat-watched.
No.1, who must be due a growth spurt, such is her appetite at present, then said she was starving so we had a Harry Ramsden's takeaway before heading home. Never had one before, and must say it was jolly delicious. Hopefully it won't be another 4 years before we get back to the seaside.
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The monthly round ups lately haven't been complete without mentioning the death of a famous person (or two) who somehow had an impact on my life. August 2009 is no exception as 13th August saw the passing of Les Paul. He was instrumental (pun very much intended) in developing the electric guitar, and as some of you know, I am a huge fan of the 'guitaring' of many modern day rockers.
Apparently Eric Clapton played a Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar on the album 'Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton - John Mayall' (Also known as 'The Beano Album). If Eric Clapton played it, it was good. I'm sure Mr Paul will be remembered by many millions of people across the globe - I'm one of them.
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I'm going to edge back towards blogging more regularly from here on. It won't be as regularly as I used to blog, nor will I put myself under pressure to visit AND comment on all my favourite blogs. I will be reading, but not commenting anywhere near as much as I used to. I hope that's ok. I need to make sure I don't get submerged by blogging again - or more accurately, submerged by the (silly, self-imposed) obligation I felt to visit and comment on a zillion blogs a day.
I'll leave you with one of my favourite photos I took this month - a hover fly feasting on a rose:-
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