Stomach issue - being taken seriously

At last, as our normal doctor was away, I saw a different doctor today and he has agreed we do a test to see if my stomach has the harmful bacterium H.Pylori. It will take 3-4 weeks to do the test and get results,but at least we are looking for the why. If it is present there are antibiotics to clear it. The normal doctor has been good, but this new one seemed keen to help get to the bottom of this issue.

My stomach is just one of my post stroke issues but the one that is distressing me most.

Thunder and lightning around

After several days of hot weather (20-21 deg C) , there is thunder and lightning around today. We are dodging the storms. A useful map showing where there is storm activity in Europe (including the UK) is at:

http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en

It is possible to see where the storms are bad and how they are moving. The map at present (1540z) shows bad storms in the Alps and storms here in East Anglia. We seem to be in a gap now between very bad weather.

http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en

The thunder returned just after we'd watered the garden (Sod's law) followed by a burst of heavy rain for 5 minutes. I think the rain will be around most of the evening on and off. At the moment there is no lightning, so the storm must be a little way off? Having said that, we just had a very loud thunder clap! It is about 3km away again (1640z). The lightning map shows widespread storm activity in East Anglia right now.

In the meantime, our son in Kent is on the beach after school. There they have good weather.

UPDATE 1720z: At the moment, the storms have ended but the lightning map shows a further storm is due to come through. At present it is over the Peterborough area and moving SE.

Stomach problems (stroke)

This week I have one main objective: to get to the bottom of what is causing my stomach discomfort. I have had this discomfort for several months now, along with bad breath.  My GP has tried all manner of medicines without any success. I am becoming convinced I have some bacterial stomach infection and the GP needs to understand the source and treat that, not the resulting discomfort. Reading about strokes, long term stomach disorders don't normally appear as issues. I think the GP has to get to the bottom of this. If he can fix this with antibiotics I'm sure I'll feel so much better.

Classic Cars

Classic Cars Poster

Our local Burwell Museum held a "Classic Car" day today with around 20 classic cars turning up and on display. There were cars from the 1960s right back to 1907. They were all carefully restored by their owners and looked splendid in the warm sunshine and dry weather.

One was an old white Morris 1000 called "Hilda" restored by an old work friend, The 1930s Austin 7's looked good. Well. they all did. Some of these vehicles are on permanent view in the museum.

We went along with our season ticket, giving us free entry after the initial payment some months ago. Normal adult entry is £4. Children are £1.50 (to 15) and under 5s get in free. There is so much to see in the museum it is well worth the entry fee. You could spend hours looking around. If a local, a season ticket is well worth it, so you can come back and browse whenever you like when the museum and mill are open.

Watering the front garden

We are in a spell of dry weather, so last night I watered the front garden. Lis did the back garden.

Watering plants in the front garden

Surprisingly, I find watering quite therapeutic. I always feel giddy when on my feet, but watering I can manage, despite the stroke. Washing the car earlier was harder and far more tiring.

Church Fete

St Mary's Fete June 2014

Today was our annual St Mary's church fete. My wife has done the home made cake stall for about 35 years! In recent years the weather has been mixed with showers and heavy rain. There was a time when people used to ask for this weekend for weddings (3rd Saturday in June) as, for about 25 years, it never rained. The joke was the vicar had a special relationship with God. Today it was glorious sunshine and very warm at around 21 deg C - in fact a perfect day for a summer fete.

Cake stall centre LHS with Lis in torquoise blouse

I have no idea how much was made on the day for good causes and the church, but it was a very happy afternoon, and those who went had a good time.

I managed to walk down and soaked up the atmosphere for about 45 minutes although I was very wobbly on my feet. It was good to catch up with old friends I'd not seen in a long while.

Windmill at sunset

Windmill at sunset

This is a photo of our local windmill taken "over the garden wall" at sunset. Normally, the sails face in our direction, but in this picture they are on the other side.

The restored windmill is now part of the Burwell Museum next door. Both are well worth a visit (Thursdays and Sundays 11am - 5pm).

The windmill is around 200 years old and has been fully restored recently following a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.