Twice, yesterday, I wrote up the blog - only to lose either the internet link or simply the blog itself. This morning I've set myself up on the dining room table ... instead of sitting up in bed on a pillow. Now of course, I can't remember what I've said publicly or what's simply gone into the ether.
It's been a week of sorting things out. I hear other friends telling how they arrived in London, turned on their computers and away they went. I've never yet experienced that - even though my super duper new netbook/laptop is wireless with all the bells and whistles this time. Admittedly Steph and Ray don't have wireless network themselves - indeed I don't think many of "my lot" over here DO have it - so I've had to re-instate the dongle and remind myself how it works. 30 pounds a month for broadband connection of 2 whatever they are (gigs?). So far in 10 days I've used 0.4 and most of that has clocked up when I add photos to the blog.
At least the mobile phone number that I've had over here for the past few years, still works - despite the fact that the card hadn't been used for 2 years. And that's working just fine.
However the Lloyds Bank card password/number has changed ... there's a possibility it happened when I paid for the first 30 pounds on the dongle - Ray tells me that the banks often stop cards if they haven't been used for a while and then suddenly get used for a mobile phone (equivalent). So that's probably been the problem - but meanwhile I had to argue with the bank to send me the new details in UK. It's not like our system at all. I can't chose what I want to use. They do it and post it out separately. It's now been 4 working days and I still haven't received it ... so it's probably gone home! VERY helpful.
And I won't bore you with the details of the car insurance - but suffice to say it is costing more than the car itself even WITH proof of an NZ no claims bonus, giving me a slight discount over here.
I continue to try to watch what I'm eating and the stairs must most surely assist the taut derrière? I'm not tempted to go walking in very wet rain (there IS a difference) and we haven't had the Wii out since the first two days. I THINK perhaps my clothes fit slightly better and perhaps not!
Chai went back to the vet on Thursday - the results of all the tests show that he has had muscular cellulitis. No wonder the poor wee man has been poorly. It got into his lymph nodes and that's why he had such a huge lump and overheating. I remember my mum had it twice, and Daniel (Topp) had it at least once. Both were hospitalised - mum was in a coma each time I recall and Daniel wasn't too bright with it either. It's a pretty serious thing only treated by intravenous antibiotics in humans. So Chai has done well to have fought it off.
We went to the Roger Daltry Show (I now know he was a member of The Who - not Dr). He was showing signs of age I thought and his voice indicated years of rock and roll (dare I say) screaming. But his back up band was incredible - evidently just made up out of people from around the world (I say "just") who clearly held the performance together. We went with raincoats and umbrellas because we had rain all day - and indeed there was a 5 minute damp patch - but the sun came out and it was quite a pleasant evening. They're allowed alcohol at those events, so some of the crowd were quite an interesting spectacle. As most will know, I don't really attend events at Hagley or similar, because I'm not keen on the crowds; but Steph and Ray said that there was only about a third of the expected numbers there, so it was quite a pleasant experience.
It's raining again today and Ray's chest has put him in bed for the day. I think the weather doesn't help - pretty dull, wet and overcast - but he MUST be poorly, because the last day of the Golf is on today and he's not down to watch it. If there's an earthquake overnight, it MAY be because Steph and I have got out the Wii again if he's not using the TV, and we've tipped the balance.
Sorry this was rather a long note. I'll try to be more regular - but it hardly seems fair just writing up about ordinary days. I wouldn't bore you with them at home - so I'll try not to on here.
Keep safe you NZers - see you soon, those in UK. x
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