In Between Days.

Thursday.

Adventures in bus travel day part two.

We decided to head out on that number 50 bus we discovered on Tuesday. So we got it at Angel Row bus bay 3. It took about 20 minutes to get to Victoria Retail Park. We skipped the stop for Sainsbury's and Morrisons and just went to the one for B&M etc. 

First we nipped into Boots, to get some Solpadine max tablets, we both take them on bad days with our legs. While I was in there I spotted some Lush shower gel dupes, one an exact copy of Snow Fairy, another a copy of the Brazilian Mist, and one a direct copy of Flower Bomb! I bought all three as they were only £1.99 a bottle. 500ml bottles that would be at least £16 each in Lush. Always a good idea to stock up on shower gel in this house as we get through a fair bit between us.

Then we went into the B&M which was the largest I've ever been in. Massive upstairs too. We got a few bits and bobs that we wanted, but it was great to have a good look round. Finally we went into TKMAXX and was pleasantly surprised to find it was better than the crap one at Giltbrook, with home decor on the first floor. 

We did give in and buy one piece of Easter decor, a cute little chick wearing bunny ears! That will be our only nod to Easter/Spring like, but it made us both smile... Sadie wanted to call him KFC, but we called him Eggbut... 

We had lunch at Maccy's as that was the only thing lacking was the food offerings. Although Charlotte said later that the M&S has a cafe inside which we didn't investigate. But it filled a gap ( I really only do Maccy's coffee and breakfast) then we crossed over and went to get the bus home. That was enough walking for me. 

But we enjoyed our trip out and it gives us another option for a trip out of the city when we fancy. Photo is of Eggbut

In Between Days

Wednesday.

As usual it was wash day,so we got up early before anyone could nick our spot... I did the hoovering and dusting. 

Kev in between doing the washes rang and paid the balance of the holiday. 

We then set too and applied for our Etsa's ( basically visa's) it was a bit of a ballache, but it needed to be done, and something you can't do until the holiday is paid for. 

It's all the same stuff you used to fill in on the plane on the way there basically, except now you have to pay for them to check you are who you say you are and that you aren't a threat in any way entering the US... Next of Kin details etc,  I had to ring Sue for her email etc, and to check she didn't mind being our UK emergency contact.

In Between Days

Tuesday.

We went down to Lady Bay. I wanted to get this knee back working as it was before the accident, it's been restricting my movement a little, giving me more pain than usual, so walking down there is a good way to work it out. We stopped for a coffee at Greggs to rest a little before going round the shops.

So after a walk around the Range, Food Warehouse and One Below it was lunchtime. Instead of going to Burger King we decided to cross the road behind Lady Bay and go to the KFC. I like the popcorn chicken there, and Kev does like the boneless banquet. 

While we were eating we saw a bus go past, Kev did a bit of research on the Internet and found it was a number 50 which would take us to Angel Row just a short walk up to our bus stop. So after eating we went to the bus stop and caught that, saving the walk back and the cost of an Uber! It also goes to the Victoria Retail Park so our next bus adventure will be down there... 

In Between Days

Saturday 

Was milder out than it has been of late and that showed in the amount of people out in the city on our way home from work. Which took a while to get truly busy but the kids were still off school and the little darlings get up a bit later, but by lunchtime it was busy. 

Jane kindly got me a relief so that we stood a chance getting the Calverton into the city, which also meant we could get the 33 home. We saw Louise and had a good catch up with her. 

Sunday.

Colder than the day before, and pretty dull and grey. The wind was quite fierce and bitter, and squally rain followed us home. I'd had a mainly enjoyable day on the whole, saw my regular customers, and only had a few Sunday Zombies. 

In Between Days

Friday.

Kev had to nip into the city to fetch part of Pete's birthday present that we had ordered. So while he went out I finished my jigsaw. Sadly, I was missing a piece. But once Kev was back to help me look, we found it. So I was happy, and happy with how it looked complete. 

Kev took the opportunity to get the food for the weekend  while he was out, so that done we could settle down and finish this season of Dexter ( Original Sin) brilliant I must admit as it fully explains his back story. 

Dexter started in 2006, so I started watching it on and off as Kev was still working nights so I watched quite a bit on my own back then. 

He enjoyed this one so much he wants to watch the others now, so when we are on our own in the afternoons we will work our way through the seasons. I can only remember a few episodes as it is almost 20 years ago! 

In Between Days

Wednesday.

Wash day. No dramas and the dryer was working. He was done by 11am. 

Kev repaired the bottom of the sofa the canvas covering the bottom had pulled away from the edge and was hanging down. He removed this and put fresh canvas on. He used a staple gun and fixed it securely to the base. This included removing and replacing the legs. Clever bugger! 

In the evening Kev watched the football in the living room so I could go and do my jigsaw in the bedroom. Which I throughly enjoyed. 

Thursday.

We went down by the canal. We had a look at the Easter stuff in Homesense. They had some very cute stuff. I don't decorate for Easter, but I was tempted. But, I was strong and didn't give in. 

We had coffee in Costa and then had a trip round B&M. I needed some non foods including some serum for my face so I can continue to use my gua sha. After there we went to Sainsbury's and bought something for lunch, then headed home in an uber. 

Once home and eaten I did some more of my jigsaw. It's almost done. 

In Between Days

Monday.

I've had a little hiatus from my blog over the weekend. Sometimes I need it, especially when there's a lot going on. I have to be careful when I'm emotionally charged because I tend to overshare on here and some things need to be kept under wraps. Especially where work is concerned. So I took a little break, things have sorted themselves out, as they often do, and I can be trusted not to post anything remotely negative.

We had a nice relaxed day and I bought Nosferatu on the Xbox so we could rewatch it as the blu ray has been delayed until April. 

Anyway, I found it just as brilliant as I did at the cinema. I even managed to catch the bit at the start when that annoying guy came in at the cinema and blocked my view.

The only thing I'm not happy about is the fact that this movie has been totally ignored by the awards industry. Yeah it is nominated for a few, but as so far not won any and it's a damned shame. They never really award horror movies. No matter how beautiful and classic they are. 

I finally had a response from Trent Barton and they have reviewed the cctv footage from that bus journey and have admitted he did stop suddenly. He has been reprimanded and removed from our route. They've told me if I wish to claim compensation that it's up to me, and I've already started the ball rolling. We will see what happens. 

Tuesday.

We went into the city to meet Sue and Pete. It was lovely to see them, albeit briefly as Sue had to go back to the hospital... All a bit worrying, but hopefully they will sort it out... 

We did a bit of shopping, but we didn't need much... 

Got home to my jigsaw bargain that I found on Vinted. Gothic novels... I still have the Frankenstein one to finish, but I like to have one in readiness for when I've done one.

I had pages to do in my art journal, so once they are done I'll get some puzzling done. 

A quick call from Pete put my mind at rest about Sue, although I do always have her at the back of my mind, her health isn't the best bless her. If you combined both our complaints together they'd put us down... 

In Between Days

Wednesday. 

Wash day. The dryer was working. 

I had a couple of parcels coming, one of which was my Valentine's gift to Kev from The Cornish Company, a steak pasty, two scones with clotted cream and jam and a heart shaped shortbread biscuit. 

It was well received as Kev loves cornish pasties... 

Thursday.

We went into town. We went to TKMAXX and looked at the Easter stuff and Valentine's day stuff, I'm not decorating for either but I just wanted to see it. 

I did get some perfume from M&S they do their own and some of them are copies of expensive ones. I bought Velvet Amber a copy of Midnight Poison , sadly now discontinued by Dior and one of my favourites. It is very similar and at £6 for 30mls a bargain. I also bought Midnight Blooms one that is a decent copy of Black Opium, same price point. 

We also got the meals for the weekend at work, I went with the smaller meals. 

In Between Days.

Tuesday.

We decided to have a trip out to Home Bargains at the near Riverside Farm. We had breakfast there first, Kev going for the buffet style while I had avocado on toast with poached eggs. And very nice it was too. 

We headed for the shops after a short walk up to the retail park, we had both used the warming arnica gel on our knees, mine to help with the still evident bruises and Kev's for his constant knee pain. I must admit it was very good, it did get very warm to start with and the effects only started to wear off after we had been round all the places we wanted to go. So we will definitely use that again. It was much more effective than the ibuprofen gel I get from the doctors.

We managed to get a few bits ( half the time it isn't about the shopping really, just getting out of the house and having a bit of a change of scene) I found a travel plug and some facial sun cream in Home Bargains that will go straight in the case ready for the holiday, a few small plastic wallets in to hold some of the dies I have that need them. 

We got the bus back into Cotgrave ( as usual it was late, turns out Richard had been arguing with customers again, and one refused to leave the bus so he lost 15 minutes there. Wonderful. Charlotte came round later and said they were still running behind, and they had taken one off altogether. Trent Barton, the not so great bus company. I've not heard anything else from them about the accident, so we will see what happens when I put a claim in officially. 

In Between Days

Friday.

Kev was at work from 7am which meant he was up at five. I snuggled under the covers and stayed in bed till 8am. Then, once up showered and changed before Ian came with the shopping. I set too and put together my new dies from the Sizzix sale, both Tim Holtz, and as ever really intricate and fiddly, but once put together they look stunning.Kev got home around 2.45...

Saturday 

Back to work, and I was glad to be there, glad to be able to hobble around again, and looked forward to seeing my regular customers. It was a good enough day. We managed to get the 33 so getting home wasn't a problem for once. We saw and caught up with Louise on the bus, and I was able to tell her about the bus incident. 

Sunday.

Quite an enjoyable day at work, saw Val and her husband, Stephen and Olivia, and my Eeyore man.  It was busy, fairly easy to get everyone outstanding at the end of the day. Bus was running normally for a change so we got home around 6.15pm. 

In Between Days

Wednesday. 

Kev did the washing and thankfully there dryer was working well. He didn't have much as obviously he had less clothing from me because I'd spent two days in pajamas and no work clothes to add to the pile. 

My knee and bruises seem to be healing very well, there is still some swelling, but nothing that I haven't dealt with before. 

Kev had ordered my Valentine's gift and that came, a vase/ planter with a goddess themed head. I'd seen some I'd liked to replace the vase we had in the hallway. It's lovely and with the faux peonies and jasmine looks very pretty. I do spray them with a peony room scent so that adds to it a little. 

Thursday. 

We slept in until 9am as Kev is at work on Friday, early morning to learn the new skills he will need in the bakery now its part baked goods only. So the extra sleep will help. 

We headed to Bridgeford to get the shopping in for the weekend, I need food for while he is at work, and we both needed food for when we get home Saturday  and Sunday. 

We went for a coffee at Oakende not far from the Test Match which we spotted last week and fancied trying first. It was lovely, both of us had lattes, and Kev had a cheese twist and I had a rhubarb Danish. A bit pricey compared to the usual coffee places we usually go to, but worth it. I definitely would go again. 

We nipped into Iceland and M&S before coming back home. 

I'd had some sale items come from Sizzix, two dies, a stamp set, and some cutting plates. I spent the time Kev was watching football cutting out the dies, ready to put together tomorrow while he is at work.

Liverpool won, and as he is up for 5am went straight to bed. I stayed up a little longer, reading. 

In Between Days

Monday.

More resting, although it is easier to now to bend and flex. I'm finding more bruises like and my knee is still bigger than it was. I'm still using arnica on a regular basis and the cool pack. 

Tuesday.

We went to meet Sue and Pete for lunch without the usual trek round town, we got off the bus, crossed the square and went to the Slug and Lettuce. We had a good catch up Sue was relieved to see I was doing better. Then after leaving them we went back home on the bus. Now I will admit I was a very nervous passenger, every time we pulled up I gripped the bar tight, and Kev salon the outside of the seat to wedge me in. Luckily we had Dave on the way down who is a slower driver, and one of the newer ones on the drive home. He did drive quicker, but was noticeably slower on that stretch of the A52 than they have been of late, so somethings definitely been said. We did always say that it would take an accident to happen before something was done. 

In Between Days

Sunday.

Another day of cooling pack on my knee leg raised and plenty of arnica gel on bruised and sore areas. The difference both of those has made is stunning, night and day. I've always believed in using arnica gel after using it on my numerous falls and operations in the past. Even Kev is using it for his knee and leg after work when it hurts him. 

So I've gone back down the rabbit hole of the past and ordered a huge litre bottle of it from QVC ( I've not ordered from them since the 90s) because it's the cheaper than everywhere else you either buy it for £35 for a litre from the company it's made at, or £39 from QVC for four arnica products, ie a litre of gel, a bottle of soak/ body wash, a targeted spray for hard to reach areas, and a heat rub. I think that's better value. 

Dr called, a locum, and he went through everything and seemed happy with how it looked, and what I was doing. Happy that none of my injuries were non permanent he told me to carry on until I could move about normally ( as normal as it gets for me). 

I'm still struggling to get up from seats and the loo because that's quite low, but it's a big improvement. 

In Between Days

Saturday. 

I woke up covered in bruises and my knee was very swollen and painful. I couldn't bend my knee back very far, there was no way I could make it to work. So I rang in. Kev left me with easy to grab drinks and food bless him.

Charlotte popped round and bought me her cooling knee brace from when she had her knee op. 

I rang 111 and they put me through to a nurse who took all my information and gave me list of things to do until I could see a doctor. She said if anything changes or the pain gets worse to go to A&E. 

It's stayed much the same, uts hard to get up and down, as that's when the muscle at the back of my knee really pulls. I'd ordered some arnica gel which came later in the afternoon. And I put the cool brace on at regular intervals along with my strong pain meds. 

I was told to stay off my feet for as much as I could, so that's what I did. I found it easier to get up from my desk chair so I sat there with my knee elevated. Both the cool knee brace and the arnica seem to be helping loads. 

In Between Days

Friday.

We were delayed going out until lunchtime because my new stuff from Art from the Heart was going to be delivered and if we weren't there it would go back to the Post Office until Monday. So once that had come we went to West Bridgeford to The Test Match pub for lunch. We hadn't been there in a while, and it will be a long time before we do again. They cocked up the food order on what was a quiet lunch trade. Doesn't give you much faith. I wanted no BBQ sauce and sweet potato fries. I got bbq  sauce and ordinary fries. But I eat it ( Charlotte kindly had my fries and gave me her sweet potato ones) 

We went shopping in M&S for the weekend food, and Charlotte nipped to Boots, then we got the bus back. The bus was busy so we ended up sitting apart, me on the front seat, next to a blind guy, Charlotte behind ne and Kev went to the back with the shopping bags. 

Everything was fine until the driver got onto the A52, then he put his foot down. He carried on until he hit the lights at the junction before Gamston island. He rammed his brakes on and I was thrown from my seat landing almost in the buggy bay. I landed on my knees and felt sick. Three other people were dislodged from their seats too, one lady hit her face on the seat back, another was sprawled out in the wheelchair bay opposite me. The driver got out his cab and picked up the lady opposite, ignoring me, the lady behind me helped me up, and as I got up, I felt something pulling in the back of knee, and my shoulder and wrist hurt. Charlotte helped me back to my seat and the driver then slowed down the rest of the way. I was OK at first, but as the night went on, my knee swelled up and bruises started to appear. I put ibuprofen gel on my knee wrist and arm, and took my strongest pain meds. 

I went to bed early. 

I did contact Trent Barton and told them what had happened. They say they'll be back in touch. But if they don't I certainly will be.