Tales from the Riverbank
Wednesday, 13 August 2025
Anniversary Alpacas
Monday, 30 June 2025
Heatwaves, Endoscopies and Bunny Sitting.
To quote an old tabloid headline: 'Phew! What a Scorcher!'. I did my hour's gardening early this morning before the heat became too oppressive, I've done all my usual Monday chores, worked my way through a mountain of ironing, been for a swim (the Lido was heaving!) and now I'm sitting in front of the fan, with half an eye on Wimbledon (is it just me or does Centre Court look very bare without its customary linesmen?) and half an eye on my camera as it slowly uploads the photos from the last couple of months. We don't cope very well with the heat in this country. For one, we aren't used to it, and for another, we have a distinct lack of air conditioning. If this carries on, I'll actually look forward to the supermarket shop tomorrow, just so that I can stand in the freezer aisle for a while.
This last week has been a bit rubbish to be honest. Without going into too many details, I have a long history of bowel issues! My GP referred me to the GI consultant last August. I eventually received a date for a telephone appointment, which took place a week ago last Friday. After a little chat, she informed me that I needed a gastroscopy, colonoscopy and probably a CT scan. Not being overly keen on the idea of the former 2, I consoled myself with the idea that if it had taken them 10 months to get around to a consultation, it would be a similar length of time before the endoscopy date materialised. Imagine my surprise when, on returning from a trip to the library the next day, R informed me that the endoscopy unit had rung with a date for the following week. Luckily, it was at our little community hospital and we didn't have to trek to Reading.
A few days before the designated date, my bowel prep pack arrived, along with a list of low-fibre foods that I would be permitted to eat from 3-4 days beforehand........... R is still laughing. When I had eliminated anything that wasn't vegan and gluten free, I was basically left with white rice, white pasta, white bread and tofu. It was a grim 3 days. I love tofu as a rule, but I really think that having it as my sole source of protein for 3 days tested even my love of the stuff. Looking back, that was the highlight. The optimistically labelled 'mango' and 'fruit punch' flavoured laxative that I had to take the day before the procedure was truly disgusting. I had been concerned about having to fast from 8am on the Tuesday until after the scopes on the Wednesday. It turned out that I need not have worried; the mixture made me feel so sick that I had no appetite whatsoever.
The effects were also a bit of an experience. I spent the night on the bathroom floor and it's a good job that we have a downstairs loo, because there was no way that R was getting anywhere near the one in the bathroom! I had to weigh myself in order to fill out the admission forms and, just out of curiosity, I reweighed myself after the laxatives had done their job - I had lost 1.5kgs, nearly all of it water! I was horribly dehydrated and couldn't keep up my water intake as it rushed straight through. If there were a Formula One for GI transit, I'd be world champion! I even injured my ankle jumping up off the floor at 5 minute intervals, so that when I eventually limped into the hospital reception, they nearly directed me to the X-Ray department!
If you've never had the delight of an endoscopy, the prep really is the worst bit. The unit was lovely, the staff wonderful, and, as well as a sedative, they also gave me some Entonox when it turned out that I have a small capacity colon making the procedure a bit tricky and uncomfortable. Next time, apparently, they will use one designed for teenagers. Imagine me having the colon of a teenager; makes sense I suppose - moody and unpredictable! :O) Anyway, the gastroscopy was normal and the colonoscopy revealed ulceration and inflammation of the terminal ileum, indicative of Crohn's Disease. We will, however, have to wait up to 6 weeks for the biopsy results to confirm it. I also have my CT scan booked for the end of July. I'm not worried about that one, apart from the fact that it will take place in Reading and parking will have to be negotiated. So, all good fun at this end. In the meantime, I am trying to reduce my stress levels, which basically involves more yoga, breathing techniques and a refusal to watch the news, an activity guaranteed to raise my BP.
Apart from the medical issues, the last couple of months have been a bit on the quiet side. A birthday concert to attend, a couple of plays and some jigsaws and general gardening and crafting. I'll try and whizz through the photos as the Alcaraz/Fognini match is getting rather interesting!
A trip to Tyntesfield, a National Trust place near Bristol. I have been here a couple of times before with a friend, but R had never been. He really enjoyed it:
Thursday, 1 May 2025
Japan #6
Saturday April 5th saw us having breakfast at the hotel. It was very crowded with more coach parties - lots of eggs, bacon and clashing of cutlery, which always makes me a little sad as you can have that sort of thing at home.
Before heading off to explore Takayama's old town, we had a little wander round the gift shop attached to the hotel. There was nothing there to tempt us, but R did have to do a hasty retracing of his steps when we stepped outside into the sunshine and he realised that he had put his phone down whilst examining something. If I have to rely on him for his sense of direction, he relies on me to make sure he goes about without randomly shedding his belongings - wallet, phone, keys, glasses; it's a constant litany.
The old town itself has been beautifully preserved with many buildings and streets dating back centuries. Homes, shops, cafes and sake breweries pepper the streets and rickshaws ply their trade with tourists.
Takayama Jinya is a beautiful traditional Japanese building, which used to serve as Takayama's Government office. We took off our shoes and padded round the route through the many rooms. My favourite bit was sitting in the sun on a veranda overlooking the garden.
One of my favourite shops in the old quarter was a traditional sashiko embroidery shop. A simple running stitch of white thread on indigo dyed fabric is used to produce beautiful items of clothing, cushion covers, table runners and other decorative pieces. It was all very expensive but beautiful and we left emptyhanded but pondering on a wall hanging made of embroidered old kimonos - not the one shown below:
Twice a year, Takayama hold a festival featuring old floats. During the festival, a portable shrine (mikoshi) is carried around the town in a parade. The mikoshi contains the shrine's Shinto deity and the festival is the only time that the deity leaves the shrine. Festival floats are pulled through the streets with several of the floats being decorated with mechanical dolls which can move and dance. We saw one of the floats being prepared:
After catching the end of the morning market, we stopped by a 7-11 to pick up food for a picnic and then went and sat by the river to enjoy it. When we first arrived, we were the only ones there but, being visible from the bridge, we obviously gave people ideas. By the time we had finished lunch we had started a trend and many people had joined us, sitting on the bank eating and enjoying the sound of the rushing water.
After lunch, we visited one of the many sake breweries to do a tasting! The different types of sake were kept in vats. You paid a certain amount and received 6 tokens. Each token allowed you to taste a sample of sake by placing a small plastic cup under a tap and pushing a button which dispensed a set amount. They ranged from very dry through, dry, slightly sweet to sweet and from younger ones to the most aged. We tried the most aged one - most were clear but this one had a yellowish tinge. Neither we, nor the pair of German lads also doing a tasting, liked the older one. Our favourite was slightly sweet and, obviously, the most expensive one available. We avoided buying any and wobbled out into the sunshine.
Having wandered around the Takayama Museum of Art, we visited the Crafts Experience Centre which showed various craftspeople demonstrating their trade. For the equivalent of £10 - £15, you could take part in your choice of workshop.
R's light is the one on the right. We still have to fit it with a suitable bulb at home:
Breakfast on the 7th April was a busy affair with even more coach tourists. We were seated in a separate room which was a little disappointing as it reduced my ability to people watch.
From here, we drove along the winding mountainous road to Hida and then Toyama. The scenery was spectacular but, after the unpredictable weather of the day before, I was a little nervous about the conditions. We stopped briefly at a supermarket to buy gourd sushi and lemon crisps (both much nicer than they sound!) and then, after a wee nap in the car, continued on to the Daiwa Roynet Hotel in Kawazawa. This was the same hotel that we had stayed at before, only this time it wasn't a 'concept' room. There was no colourful rice paper screen and it was more compact.
On arrival at the hotel, Mr. Lawrence was parked in the tower multistorey car park. We had to unpack our cases etc. then park him on a platform which then lifted him upwards and stored him elsewhere. Mr. Lawrence wasn't keen, but at least there was no danger of any snow!