turps: (no words)
[personal profile] turps
It was a blood test kind of day yesterday. Last week James had to have a blood test which went pretty badly, two different nurses couldn't get any blood despite multiple attempts, so they said to come back on Monday and a doctor, who had previously managed to get blood from him, could do it.

That appointment was yesterday at 9am, and she got it pretty much straight away, getting it from the side of his hand, so he was buzzing when we left as it's not often medical stuff like that go so smoothly. Then I had to go for my B12 injection on the afternoon, while I was getting that the nurse commented I needed bloods doing too, so should book them in on the way out. Did so, and the receptionist said there was actually an appointment in ten minutes with the same nurse if I wanted to do it there and then. So I stayed and saw Lucy, who was also getting bloods done that day, had turned up for her blood tests, so I chatted with her while I waited.

My blood taking went fine, though I'm not actually sure why they wanted more as I only had them done not long ago. She mentioned checking iron so while the levels seemed okay on the report, I guess they wanted a recheck for some reason.

ETA to this post. I wrote it yesterday and then got distracted and didn't post it when James phoned from work to say the doctor had phoned him and said some of his blood test results had come back abnormal and he needed a double appointment at the doctors asap. Obviously, that freaked him out, and as he was at work he couldn't get an appointment until this morning, his rostered day off. So, he had a terrible night's sleep last night worrying, was up at 5am this morning, and we both went to his appointment at 8:45 to find out he's now officially, if only over the levels a touch, pre-diabetic. They're not that worried at this point and have said it could be reversed by diet changes, so he's going to focus on that because the last thing he needs is to be diabetic with all that entails.

And back to the post I wrote yesterday.

We went to the new cat cafe, YouMeowCafe, in Newcastle on Saturday. It was such a great visit. It was their opening day and we had one of the first hour slots so there was a lovely positive energy in the place, with flowers and champagne arriving and the staff being so happy. The cats are all pedigrees and seemed to enjoy the attention and they gave out adorable homemade cat cookies.

I do think they have some things to sort out. They have 15 cats and need to put bios somewhere so the customers know their names and breeds. Also, cafe rules need to be put somewhere as some people were lifting the cats up which is generally a no-no.

They also need a chair to sit on in the entrance as unlike other cat cafes I've been to this one gives you little blue booties to put over your shoes instead of taking your shoes off. One of the ladies in the cafe did James' for him, and then mine even though I could have managed. But it would have been much easier with somewhere to sit.

One of the cats also pee'ed on a little girl's coat that had fallen on the floor. Thankfully, it belonged to the daughter of a friend of the owner and he was fine with them taking the coat away to be washed. But I imagine an adult customer may not have been as easygoing. Hopefully, it was just an opening-day change in routine thing from the cat in question.

The cafe is located in the China Town area, which is somewhere I'd never been, so we had an explore before going in.

I've been changing the garden around a bit, taking the big raised bed away and putting the soil around all the other pots. The raised bed was just too big for our small garden and I want to put the table and chairs in a more private and sheltered place than where they are now, which is on the side of the garden that's right next to the pavement with an open fence. But man, my legs protested about all the shifting. But, all seeds are planted, the greenhouse is cleaned and ready, now bring on the growing season.

The books have started to come thick and fast from the mail survey place. I got a hardback copy of Call the Midwife, which I've already read, the other day. And this morning Second Chance by Danielle Steel. I really am enjoying the random nature of the books being sent.

I don't think anything else has happened that stands out. I saw Shazam and liked it, went for walks most days, met up with Kayleigh and Bodhi and really, just enjoyed being in the garden as the first hints of spring took hold.

Date: 2023-04-19 02:45 pm (UTC)
spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
From: [personal profile] spikedluv
I'm glad James finally had a good blood draw. You'd think they'd know enough to schedule him with the one person who can do it. How annoying that they freaked him out about the blood test. Pre-diabetic isn't great, but it's not something they couldn't have been a little less 'omg urgent' about. When I was being good about it, I found the low-carb eating plan I was following to be easy to stick to (I never felt hungry, though did sometimes want chocolate o_O) and as an additional benefit lost aboug 44lbs in 11 months. I hope James has good luck with whatever plan he decides to try. (They also told me I could do Weight Watchers, and I think you have something similar over there.)

Yay for visiting new cat cafe! I'm glad you had a good time, but it does sound like they have some bugs to work out.

It's great that you've gotten some books you enjoy and that you liked the movie. I haven't seen it yet; been waffling over it.

Date: 2023-04-20 01:11 pm (UTC)
spikedluv: (summer: sunflowers by candi)
From: [personal profile] spikedluv
I have never been able to count calories. Keeping track of carbs was much easier for me. And I discovered that I could eat way more than my mom, who did WW. It was decided I would do the '3-carb servings per meal' option, which included 1-carb serving snacks. 1-carb serving is 15grams. There were three meals and three snacks, so I was eating something every two and a half hours. (Not sure if James can do that at his desk at work, but it could be worked around, I suppose.) I'd have half a bagel with cream cheese, half a banana and a hard boiled egg (need a protein for all meals/snacks to help the carbs digest more slowly) for breakfast. A cup of grapes and 1/4 cup of almonds for a snack. And so on. Even now I can be good for meals; it's the in-between snacking that kills me as I'm not good at all then. o_O

Again, whatever James decides to go with, I wish him luck.

Date: 2023-04-19 07:07 pm (UTC)
dine: (sherlock - zoicite)
From: [personal profile] dine
I'm glad James' bloodwork didn't show any huge emergency problems - good luck making adjustments to prevent future problems

the new cat cafe sounds great, but you're right. those are changes that should be made. hopefully it's just that they're new, and didn't think of them in the press to open up

Date: 2023-04-22 07:04 pm (UTC)
turlough: three pots of flowers, red gardening gloves, a trowel, and a pair of pink-flowered rubber boots ((other) growing interest)
From: [personal profile] turlough
I feel for James! That's really not the kind of phone call you want to get! It's good to hear it wasn't as alarming as the phone call made it out and I'm keeping everything crossed the diet changes will keep any hints of diabetes away!

Yes, some teething trouble it seems at the new cat cafe but hopefully they'll soon have them fixed. It does sound like a great place otherwise.

You've been so productive, go you! And ALL the good luck with the gardening this summer!

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