Boring couple of days ...

... and a headache!  I blame that on the OH.  Yesterday he mentioned that I'd been really good with headaches of late and I had been - until last night and one started.  I went to bed with it and I got up with it.  It's been ..... can't remember how long, since I last had one.  If he'd kept quiet perhaps I'd not have this one now.  It's not bad but annoying, none-the-less :(

Yesterday we took a trip to Farnborough, about 1½ hours away from home.  OH had some new wheels for his wheelchair, ordered from Germany and they needed fitting.  They're super duper, bells and whistles all singing and dancing and I'm hoping they'll get him out from under my feet a couple of days a week.  I'm hoping they get him back to his shooting which hasn't happened for 4 years or so now. Not since the problem started with his thumb back in 2009 and has been ongoing with his left arm, in one way or another, since.  These wheels each have a motor in the hub that assists with mobility - it aids him pushing himself by taking some of the strain and is, supposedly, particularly helpful over rough ground.   They have their own axle and that is what had to be fitted and he had to have instruction on how to use them.  

I should have stayed at home or taken my Kindle!  It was boring, snoring. We were just round the corner from the Art of Craft craft shop so I took a stroll there when I went to get us some lunch.  Got there and then couldn't be bothered to go in, just looked in the cheap bins outside and didn't see anything that took my fancy in them.

The one thing of note from the trip?  I recognised one of the guys sitting at a computer when we arrived but didn't know why.  Just a very familiar face to me.  While we were there a young guy came in and he was measured for a wheelchair ... a tennis wheelchair and 'ding' a light bulb went off.  The guy I recognised was a Paralympian and not just any old Paralympian.  It was our top medal winning wheelchair tennis player, Peter Norfolk, OBE - and the guy who was our flag bearer, leading the British team, at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics London 2012.  He's retired since the games but the business we visited is his.

Anyway, there I was in the company of 3 Paralympians ... my OH (Atlanta 1996), Peter (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012) and Nathan Milgate (Beijing 2008, London 2012)  long time friend of OH's and who we've known since he was a lad needing his parents to ferry him around.  He was the one who was dealing with OH and his wheels.  Anyway, axle fitted, wheels tested and day (manual) wheels adapted to new axle and home we went.

In my 'brief' catch up post last October I mentioned eldest grandson had got married in September.  He's not long celebrated his first wedding anniversary.  It was a reason for another photo book. Completed this one a few months ago now and I did 2 versions.  One was a copy for both sons - grandson's Dad and bridesmaid's Dad.  Neither wanted photos of the other families involved (ex daughter-in-law's or bride's side) so I did one without them but I've also done one with them using the some of the professional photos and snagged ones from Facebook.  They said they were going to give me copies of discs others gave them but they weren't forthcoming so I did the best I could with what I found and this is the result ....

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It's been a while ...

... coming but here's some pics from the holiday in Cyprus back in September/October.  The reason for the holiday in the first place.  Our eldest son's wedding.  The rest of the photos are still being worked on :0)

I produced this book using a selection of photos taken by me and the professional photographer.  I wanted it to tell the story of the day and I have to say I used quite a few of the professional photographs that the photographer didn't like enough to put in their preview album.  A disc of all the professional photos taken that day was purchased so we got all taken, including the ones the photographer himself didn't like.  I'm so glad, as there were some photographs I preferred to those he'd selected.  Just shows how subjective any art form is and, without that disc there would have been pics we'd never have seen.  I also searched Google for the words of the Cypriot marriage vows and I reproduced them within the book.

I've been unwell for the past week and finding it really hard to do anything.  I feel OK in myself now but the old lungs are not really performing for me so, although the mind is willing the body, unfortunately, isn't.   I've  missed an evening out and also 'missed' my 61st birthday on Monday as I wasn't at all well that day so spent most of it wrapped up in a blanket and sleeping!  The 2 little grand-daughter's had their 6th and 10th birthdays last week and we've had another 'first'.  Dad would have been 90 on Sunday, the same day as Emma's 10th birthday.  Such a shame he missed it by just 6 weeks ....

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Another busy ...

... day and one leaving me feeling very tired.  Only shopping (oh, how I dislike shopping) but at least we have enough food to see us through until we leave and for a couple of days when home.  An online shop will be first job when back :0)  Tried to get Paul a white, self striped shirt for the wedding.  He's done his usual of leaving it all to the last minute.  Got him a boring plain white shirt last week which fits him but a self-striped one I'd also bought didn't and shop didn't have next size.  Trip to M&S called for but ..... unless he wanted to pay an arm and a leg for something that will probably not see the light of day again it was a total no-no.  They'd got shirts we were interested in on-line but they weren't in store!  No time now to order one and get it here so it's the plain, boring old white shirt for him.  He's had the trousers a couple of months or more.  No suit, it's not called for. Beach-ish wedding, casual and smart.  Why he didn't sort out the shirt at the same time I've no idea and no amount of reminders has jockeyed him along.  He's bought new wheels for his wheelchair and a new cushion cover (which can't be seen once bum is in situ!) but a shirt to complete his 'outfit'?  Nah!  Men, eh?

Currency is now in our sticky mitts so at least we can pay for those little 'extras' that might come along .. like a few trips out for me, if not for him oh, and a few visits to the Spa methinks.  He says he's going to be using the gym.  Hmmmm!

Have to admit, I've had '40 winks' since we've been home - *LOL* Now, that's a sign of getting old :0(

Last weekend I thought I'd got the chance of a BOGOF on a photobook so put together a small 'wedding' album of Matt and Anie's wedding in Canterbury and and the ceremony Bali.  Came together quite quickly for a change but I guess it was more the fact there weren't so many photos I wanted to use.  I just wanted a small book to supplement the large one of the whole trip.  Anyways, book complete I go through the order process thinking I'll order one for me and one for Jackie as a surprise and what happens?  The BOGOF was on L books (A4-ish) and I'd made a medium sized one.  Didn't want any bigger so I left it, thinking that another offer would come along fitting the size I wanted.  Well, today an offer arrived.  Didn't give a BOGOF unfortunately but did give £10 off so I've ordered it.  I use Albelli for the small books (must try them for a larger one at some point) and you can't 'share' your book unless you've ordered, not like you can share Photobox ones, ordered or not.  They've just sent me the link to the book so I can share .... 

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After the night ...

... before!  The morning and the days .... 

Got to say, despite it being 24+ hours from door to door nobody seemed to be suffering jet lag.  The only problem I encountered was losing one of my inhaler devices.  The device for my most long acting inhaler that I only take once a day.  Seems it fell out of my bag on the second part of the journey and I didn't notice until I went to use it just outside Bali airport after we'd arrived.  Anie tried to get me one the first day in Bali but she was told I'd need to go to the hospital to be given one and it would mean seeing a doctor first (for a hefty fee).  Even then, there was no guarantee I would get one as "it was something Europeans used, not Indonesians".  Don't they suffer from COPD?  I think they must but perhaps it's not treated in the same way, if at all.  Anyway, I made the decision to try to manage without, using my other long acting one as normal (with an odd supplementary dose) but making a lot more use of the Ventolin inhaler that I don't usually use much.  I'd taken a spare one of them so I knew I had enough to last me the holiday.  On top of that it meant just taking things a little slower than I do normally, which is just past a full stop as it is *LOL*

Anyway, the day after the wedding, 4th May .... a chill out day.  There were a few, no nearly all, that needed to recover from the night before, me and Jackie being the exceptions as we'd not over-indulged, so it was another 'rest' day.  Pool, reading, just general chilling - a repeat of our first day in the country really.  There were a few things hanging around - apart from hangovers - that perfectly illustrated the day ...

More abandoned shoes - *lol*

Anie musters the troops ...

... including Ruby! ...

 ... who also decided to help cream up Nannie *bless* ...

... so that she could 'da bomb' in the sun. Yes, really!

Some of us have more sense (or do we?)

We rounded Wednesday off with a visit to a local restaurant where we experienced the best ever BBQ spare ribs.  An huge plate load was delivered to each of us with a side serving of chips.  No way was I ever gonna eat everything they put in front of me but .... those ribs were sooooo tender and delicious the lot was devoured.

By this time we'd only seen Bali in the dark, apart from the view from the villa, however that was due to change the next day, 5th May, as it was planned to visit Sanur beach for some 'water sports' and massage.    As the saying goes .... you're never too old (or too young).  Opposite ends of the age scale.  Not sure who were the maddest *grin*

Jackie going pillion, Ruby with Uncle Matt

I got talked into going solo!  As easy as riding a bike, they said.  Can't do that either, still, I'll give it a go.

Half the time used and on my way back.  Didn't feel in proper control and pretty sure I was out of my depth should I come off .... feeling uncomfy ... now Jackie can have a go solo by taking the rest of my time *grin*  Should have held out to go pillion.

Fortunately Jackie didn't have camera.  If she had there would be another picture to add.  Me on my back in the water.  Got off of jet ski fine.  Stood in water on the soft sand, appreciating the coolness.  Wave comes in, moves sand under my feet and I loose my balance.  Result - flat on back!  Look cool Pam, I meant to do that  *LOL*

Jackie taking over.

So let's have a go at para-sailing as well *grin* ... I watched.

Despite what it looks like she landed safely on the beach.

OK.  Take off and landing on the beach.  No water involved.  I can do that :0) - I'll have a go as well, except   ...

... I end up in the water!  It only ever happens to me.  Couldn't pull the cords as directed.  Lost all strength and, no matter how hard I tried they just didn't respond - ooops!

Little Ruby, tandem, with one of the para-sailing guys

Too much excitement but at least I'd given them a go.  Probably should have tried both a few years ago, when I'd been tempted but not brave enough, before I became old, weak and mad - *rofl*  2 more off my bucket list though.  Would I do either again?  You bet I would, but not solo.  I certainly wouldn't para-sail solo again in this type of harness!  Seen set-ups more like seats, which sounds - and looks - much easier and more enjoyable.

Followed the excitement up with a full body massage in a little beach massage parlour - well, 4 of us did - and, it was heaven!

 All in all a fun day that I wouldn't have missed for the world and we actually got to see some of Bali, in daylight, on the journey to and from the beach - bonus!

Finally, I couldn't resist taking these pics.  It's the middle of the night and Jackie has decided that half the giant bed isn't enough.  2 nights running this happened.  Just as well I wasn't sleeping too well anyway - *LOL*

This was the last day based at Villa Infinity.  The following day we were off to Lombok for 6 nights - or so we thought?

Now?  I've given up trying to get butt into gear.  It's a Bank Holiday weekend so I've decided to go with the flow and listen to my body for the next few days.  Weather is rubbish anyway and has been for a few days now.  No rain to speak of (it was the driest April of 350 years and looks as though May is going to be pretty much the same for this part of the country) but it's not sunny or warm and there's been quite high winds for a while now.  I shall have a struggle on Tuesday getting Dad to a hearing check up appointment and then, after that, I'm going to really kick myself into action, no matter how I feel.  I guess there's a bonus to not feeling physically 100% .... I'm getting the blog posts done - *LOL*

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The main event ...

... or the first of them anyway - *LOL*  Not sure the others would have happened without this one but who can say?  Matt and Anie's Balinese wedding blessing - or the day they are classing as their wedding day, despite the Register Office ceremony in Canterbury on 27th April.  Usual warning of the post being photo heavy but then, that's what it's all about :0)  Unfortunately the photos aren't as crisp as I'd have liked.  The bride's father was rather late in arriving and the 4pm ceremony ended up being a 6pm one.  By that time the light was fading however, it wasn't dark enough for the flash (would have been too harsh a light) but not bright enough for good crisp images without flash - well, not being a professional or having a professional camera it wasn't *sad face*

The thing I found strange was that we sat on the 'wrong' side of the bale platform.  In the UK the groom and his family and friends sit on the right facing the bridal couple and the bride's family sit on the left.  Here we were directed to the left, even though we were the groom's party, while he was on the right.  Guess it's just different traditions in different countries but it felt odd to me.

Saxophonist, who played as guests started arriving and all through the ceremony.

The magical venue, made even more so by the lighting ... as dusk fell and later.

Wedding favours were a box of pale green, silk coasters with their names embroidered on the silk covered box lid and a tulle bag of pot-pouri.  The place names were written on leaves in silver pen ....

The food was superb!  The meal was accompanied by live music which just added to the magic.

After the meal people started changing, as did the bride.  The cake was cut by the poolside to firework accompaniment and the aprés wedding party started.

It was a small but very international wedding guest list with Japanese, New Zealanders, Indonesian, Indian, English and I'm sure I noticed more nationalities.  We even had a rendition of the New Zealand Haka from Ade and a rather inebriated Matt and Anie.  Got to say this was a repeat performance as certain people, namely Jackie, missed the first one which was waaaaaaaaay better (but not video'd) however, a few more bevvies had passed between lips by the time the repeat performance happened *lol*

The evening ended with a 'pool party'.  Well, some of them anyway.  Women fully clothed, men down to underpants - oops!

and finally .... me, photographing Ruby and taken by the professional photographer before the ceremony.  There is a 'portrait' one of me as well but it's awful.  Looks as though I'm scowling when I was smiling.  

I just don't take a good photo unless it's the back of my head - *LOL*

(Oh my, more grey there than I thought - oops!)

OK, here's a self portrait, all made up and so not me!

Yesterday?  Not much change.  Paul tells me I look tired.  Perhaps I need to see the doc.  I was really late getting up as well.  Set my alarm for an earlier get up today and gonna force myself to do something.  Well, that's the plan anyway.  It's not as though I've nothing to do!

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