turps: (besties (spuzz))
turps ([personal profile] turps) wrote2025-07-02 02:06 pm

(no subject)

Pauline asked if we wanted to go out for lunch yesterday, and as it was James' day off, we both went, along with Pauline and her daughter. Pauline had a voucher for a restaurant for 40% off, so as she'd asked us, said she'd pay. Only to find out the voucher terms were a bit misleading and it was 20% off food and 20% off drinks. So, the bill was a bit more than she expected. Which I felt bad about but she refused to budge that it was her treat.

But, despite that, the food was good and the company excellent, so it was a nice time out.

Today it was the first weight management class at the new time and length. I was a bit worried about the doubling of the exercise time, but it all worked out nicely. The extra hour meant the talk part could last longer, and wander more without cutting into the physical part of the class, and while there was more exercise there was still time to finish at leisure before the next class started.

Quite a few regulars were missing, though, which was a shame. I hope it was just one off's, and they come back, and not that the time doesn't suit.

Sunshine-Revival-Carnival-1.png

I'm going to try to do this challenge, so off we go.

Challenge #1

Journaling Prompt: Light up your journal with activity this month. Talk about your goals for July or for the second half of 2025.
Creative Prompt: Shine a light on your own creativity. Create anything you want (an image, an icon, a story, a poem, or a craft) and share it with your community.. Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.


My main goal for this month is to go to the gym at least once a week, ideally twice. Then, with class on Wednesday, that should be an achievable amount of activity.

I was actually at the gym on Monday. Yes, it was another really hot day, but the gym has air con, so it was lovely and cool in there. Bonus, I learned how to actually track the machines I used via the gym app, so now have actual proof of what I did and for how long.

I also spotted they still have the leg press machine I used to enjoy, but it's now hidden away in the free weights section, along with some other machines I hadn't noticed before. Actually, I guess that can be another goal, stop being so intimidated by the people doing free weights and just walk around that corner.

And a final goal, to do at least one creative prompt from this challenge. So, fingers crossed for all of those.
alierak: (Default)
alierak ([personal profile] alierak) wrote in [site community profile] dw_maintenance2025-06-30 03:18 pm

Rebuilding journal search again

We're having to rebuild the search server again (previously, previously). It will take a few days to reindex all the content.

Meanwhile search services should be running, but probably returning no results or incomplete results for most queries.
turps: (besties (spuzz))
turps ([personal profile] turps) wrote2025-06-28 02:26 pm

(no subject)

James' annual leave is nearly over but we've had some good days out.

Monday was class, but we decided to go to the gym before hand, which maybe wasn't the best idea I'd ever had as by the time the end of the morning came, I looked like I'd dipped my head in a bucket of water. Which wasn't the best look as after class we were heading off to Newcastle so James could go to his appointment at the limb centre to check his false leg.

That went well, and a bonus, they've put a liner into his stump cover so he only has to wear one stump sock now, instead of two. Why they didn't do that before I have no idea as it's much cooler for him.

Tuesday, we headed up north to Cragside which is a fantastic National Trust property. It was so beautiful up there and we had a lovely day exploring the house and grounds. I would have loved to check out more of the walks, but sadly, as the name suggests, a lot of the paths were very steep and rocky and no way would James have been able to manage them safely. But, we did walks to the lake and between the buildings and had a picnic in the sunshine before ending with a drive through the one-way Carriage Drive route through the grounds.

Wednesday we took my MiL out for the day. The carvery at Toby was on promotion again, so we went there for dinner before having a drive, ending up at a farm shop/cafe we like. Where there were donkeys to pet and highland cows to look at and very delicious cakes and cold drinks.

Thursday we headed a little south and ended up at Preston Park Museum and Butterfly world. I enjoyed both, and as we got there for opening managed to explore the museum while it was quiet, leading to a long talk to the man in charge of the iron mongers shop. Then a walk through the grounds to the Butterfly building where we spent a lot of time sweating in the heat and admiring loads of butterflies, and especially enjoying the meerkats who had just checked out and were basking in the heat. You can see them in my insta post here. The one in the tube still cracks me up.

Yesterday was a planned cinema day and we went to see F1: The Movie, which I enjoyed loads, even though it was nearly three hours long. Leaving there we called in to see Corey, then went on to Kayleigh's as I said I'd watch Bodhi for a bit as Kayleigh and Lucy first went grocery shopping, then picked up their new kittens, Millie and Mollie.

Today James picked up an overtime community visit shift, which means he's helping run the NE ambulance stall at Sunderland Pride. Last I heard from him he was having a great time, and sent me a picture of him beaming from behind a cut out of a rainbow decked cardboard ambulance front. Meanwhile I've been getting the house in order with Glastonbury as background viewing as I do so. So far, my favourite performance has been Lewis Capaldi, what a return.

I've also been waiting for two parcels, one of which was thrown into the back garden, which baffles me as it would have taken the delivery guy more effort to walk around the house than actually knock on the front door. While the Amazon guy knocked ridiculously hard and then was walking away before I even got to the door. Turned out he'd left the parcel on the front door step so it's good I was actually in being as I have no front garden.

During the week I also heard from Rosie and from the week coming class will be on a Wednesday at 9am, and has changed from one hour to two. She's also going to start running an exercise only evening class from August, which is great, but I must admit, I can't help be a bit intimidated from going from 30 mins exercise to 60, and with another class to come.
turps: (beach)
turps ([personal profile] turps) wrote2025-06-22 02:18 pm

(no subject)

We're finally out of a run of 29c temps here and while it's warm today, it's nicely so. Poor James really didn't cope with the heat wave. His meds mess with his temperature regulation anyway, so he was like a wrung out rag for a lot of the time.

Things I've done in the last few days.

Went for a walk along the riverside to check out two new Ray Lonsdale sculptures. Photos on my insta if interested.

Went along the coast to go and spot seals at St Mary's island, and actually saw them, which was cool.

Walked at the Wetlands.

Went to class and my one to one check in with Rosie -- I plan on posting a flocked post about that later.

Went to Pauline's for tea.

Went with James to two hospital appointments in one day, hours apart.

Went to meet the in laws at an Italian restaurant for a birthday dinner for my niece.

Had a very frustrating Thursday.

Went to see Twenty Eight Years later, which I actually enjoyed despite me being a wuss. While it's not my usual genre of film I watch, a lot of it was filmed in my localish area, so it was fun spotting places I knew.

Tried to keep up with the garden, including making my own banana plant water, which is apparently good for the tomatoes. Sounds exciting, but it's just me shoving banana peels into water and letting them seep.

Okay, the Thursday Expandcut for length ).

James' hospital appointments were both routine, one to check his new splint and take the old one in to be adjusted as a spare. The other to see his AMC consultant, which I also expected to be an in and out, but he was sent to x-ray to see why he still can't get his hand to his mouth. Apparently there's a build up of bone around his elbow joint, and she thinks it could help with the movement to get it chipped away, but only if the build up is at the front of the bone and not the side, so he needs a CT scan to find out which it is.

Honestly, I'm wary of him having the op even if it is in the front. It's his dominant arm and James has always said no more operations unless emergencies and while a minor op, this one would stop him driving for a while, which deeply depressed him last year. But, guess we'll see after the scan, and obviously, it's his decision.

To end this sum up, have some hot cats from yesterday Expandbehind here )