The General Chat Thread (2024)

ElizabethB said:
Hey All,
I miss you all.
I am my Dear Husband's constant nurse maid. It hurts me to see him in so much pain. We have hope. Monday, Sept. 9th, we met with a Neurosurgeon in Baton Rouge. He reviewed G's MRI showing his healthy vertebra and his damaged vertebra. He explained what would be required to repair G's spine. He did not mince words or sugar coat the procedure. He was very blunt saying that it would be a major surgery with a painful recovery. He said that the first month would be so painful that G would question why he did the surgery. He also said that after three months he would have a life back. He faced us and told G that he could fix him. I choked up and had tears in my eyes. So did George.
We spent the rest of last week and the beginning of this week getting clearance from George's Primary Care Physician and Cardiologist. All has been done and surgery is scheduled for Oct. 24th at the Neuromedical Center in Baton Rouge.
George is excited and anxious. I am making lists, taking care of details that he does not think of.
I have nursed my Husband through 3 major surgeries, so I know what to expect.
A side note: I am now the official lawn person. George's local Spinal Specialist told him not to get on the lawn mower - the worst thing he could do. I talked to the man mowing my neighbor's lawn about taking care of our yard. He does not have a lawn service. He has a Monday through Friday job and is doing a favor. He agreed to take care of our lawn. Mistake. Instead of using the weed eater he used roundup. I use roundup with discretion. He over did it leaving dead zones that turned into mud holes. Where he did weed eat he scraped down to the soil leaving more bare soil.
I checked with neighbors and contacted their lawn service companies. Three companies - all are booked solid and cannot take on another job.
The yard had not been mowed in three weeks. It looked like hay. I pitched a fit and told my dear husband that either he walked me through using the ZTR or I would just go out there and wing it. He gave me instructions, I took notes. I got the mower started and out of the shop. I started slow, paying attention to where the shoot was blowing grass. I deliberately planned the mowing for yesterday because G has PT Tuesday and Thursday. He had to leave. I was able to get comfortable with the mower and mow the grass while he was gone. The grass was so tall that I did a second run over the lawn to scatter the very heavy clumps of cuttings. I did a good job. I am comfortable using the machine, even in tight spots. My only issue is backing up. I had neck surgery in 04 and have restricted neck rotation. I need to figure how to put a rear-view mirror on the mower.
We both have shoulder issues so starting the weed eater and the blower are painful. George ordered a battery powered blower. I need to find an electric start weed eater. After his surgery the twisting motion using a pull start will be out of the question.
I am rambling. I started a journal, actually two journals. One is a factual record or our journey. The second is my private journal where I let go.
Keep cooking wonderful food. Continue being a community of kind, loving people.
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Having had 3 vertebrae fused and 1 vertebra removed and completely reconstructed, I'm thinking of you both.

Please keep us updated on how you're both coping.
 
Morning Glory said:
That must have been difficult to answer in a concise manner...
Click to expand...
The imp in me would have looked very thoughtful for a moment (you have to fully commit to the part, even if it’s radio and no one can see you), stroked my chin, and said, “Well…‘Venezuela’ is one word, and ‘United Kingdom’ is two - not everyone realizes that, you know…and they’re located in different places, as well.”
 
ElizabethB said:
Hey All,
I miss you all.
I am my Dear Husband's constant nurse maid. It hurts me to see him in so much pain. We have hope. Monday, Sept. 9th, we met with a Neurosurgeon in Baton Rouge. He reviewed G's MRI showing his healthy vertebra and his damaged vertebra. He explained what would be required to repair G's spine. He did not mince words or sugar coat the procedure. He was very blunt saying that it would be a major surgery with a painful recovery. He said that the first month would be so painful that G would question why he did the surgery. He also said that after three months he would have a life back. He faced us and told G that he could fix him. I choked up and had tears in my eyes. So did George.
We spent the rest of last week and the beginning of this week getting clearance from George's Primary Care Physician and Cardiologist. All has been done and surgery is scheduled for Oct. 24th at the Neuromedical Center in Baton Rouge.
George is excited and anxious. I am making lists, taking care of details that he does not think of.
I have nursed my Husband through 3 major surgeries, so I know what to expect.
A side note: I am now the official lawn person. George's local Spinal Specialist told him not to get on the lawn mower - the worst thing he could do. I talked to the man mowing my neighbor's lawn about taking care of our yard. He does not have a lawn service. He has a Monday through Friday job and is doing a favor. He agreed to take care of our lawn. Mistake. Instead of using the weed eater he used roundup. I use roundup with discretion. He over did it leaving dead zones that turned into mud holes. Where he did weed eat he scraped down to the soil leaving more bare soil.
I checked with neighbors and contacted their lawn service companies. Three companies - all are booked solid and cannot take on another job.
The yard had not been mowed in three weeks. It looked like hay. I pitched a fit and told my dear husband that either he walked me through using the ZTR or I would just go out there and wing it. He gave me instructions, I took notes. I got the mower started and out of the shop. I started slow, paying attention to where the shoot was blowing grass. I deliberately planned the mowing for yesterday because G has PT Tuesday and Thursday. He had to leave. I was able to get comfortable with the mower and mow the grass while he was gone. The grass was so tall that I did a second run over the lawn to scatter the very heavy clumps of cuttings. I did a good job. I am comfortable using the machine, even in tight spots. My only issue is backing up. I had neck surgery in 04 and have restricted neck rotation. I need to figure how to put a rear-view mirror on the mower.
We both have shoulder issues so starting the weed eater and the blower are painful. George ordered a battery powered blower. I need to find an electric start weed eater. After his surgery the twisting motion using a pull start will be out of the question.
I am rambling. I started a journal, actually two journals. One is a factual record or our journey. The second is my private journal where I let go.
Keep cooking wonderful food. Continue being a community of kind, loving people.
Click to expand...
I was just wondering a couple of days ago about you. So, so sorry to hear about George's issues, but at least there is hope! I'll be thinking of you both and sending out good thoughts. Keep us posted please!
 
karadekoolaid said:
Yesterday I realised that I only had this much piccalilli left:

So I bought 1kg each of onion,cauliflower, cucumber and carrot, and made some more. I've now got 21 jars.
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Do you have a recipe?

I have used bought piccalili to make a very tasty chili sauce, just by blending it and adding garlic and madam janet chili's.
I called it Calypso sauce :)
 
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TastyReuben said:
The imp in me would have looked very thoughtful for a moment
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The thing about live interviews is that you have to be on your toes. Your Host is always in charge (and a few are only interested in promoting themselves) and will completely change the line of questioning if they don't like what you're saying; to the point of interrupting you. You also have to be careful (a) not to use any swear words (and Venezuelans swear a lot) (b) not to mention any company names - because that's free advertising (c) not to get into politics. the producer asked me for a brief history of my life over here the day before, so on that basis, I vaguely prepared for the possible questions. I did manage to get a crack in first off: the interviewer asked me "so what brought you to Venezuela? The country or your girlfriend?"
I said : Yes.
That broke the ice!
 
My birthdays coming up soon and everyone has started with ‘What do you want to do, what would you like?” questions and my honest answer is nothing at all, I’d really like to just lie down in a dark room!

I’ve explained I’m honouring my actual day of birth which was definitely spent lying down 😆 but it satisfy’s no-one and they keep on so I’m thinking of nice foods I could have on the day.
So far perhaps some nice seafood from The Fish Society, maybe some olives from Olives direct or maybe some more of those lovely sugared almonds from Fortnum and Masons?

What would you choose?
Any ideas welcome 🤗
 
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