Well, things are calming down a little here (I'm pleased to say), though the exhaustion that went with all of the effort at work and home is still there.
On Friday I even managed to leave 3 hours early and take back some time that was owed. Did the weekly shopping, came home and chilled for an hour and then went for a very cold run.
Yesterday on the other hand was not so superb...
I was woken up at 2am by someone drumming their finger nails on... Something.
Mrs Stacy was woken by it two and asked what I was doing.
Strange. Then I welt wet spots appear on my head.
Yup, the new dormer flat roof has sprung a leak somewhere. Not serious, but serious enough to mean that the bed is now in the middle of the room instead of by the wall and there is a bucket just in case it rains enough to cause it to leak again. On Monday we have to call, and get them to come and fix it. Gah!
Then we went to pick up the pushchair and car seat from the shop. A trip that should have been so much fun and really exciting, but we were exhausted (it took a while to get to sleep after I had moved the bed and I was expecting the drops of water to follow us across the room...) and so we get there not in the best moods.
And we needed sheets for the cot, and blankets and some other stuff. We got the blankets, no problem there, but can't find sheets. At all. It seems that the cot we bought, that can turn into a junior bed, is a strange size - 10cm longer than most beds and 10cm shorter than those at Ikea. So we have to do some searching for real sized sheets or get some longer ones shortend. Great...
Then we went to get a stand for the baby bath that we bought a couple of months ago. Only to be told that they don't sell stands for the one we bought (even though when we bought it we were told that any standard stand would fit). So now we have to try and find the receipt to take it back and swap it for a more expensive one that does fit the stand. And if we can't find the receipt then we just have to throw it away and buy a more expensive one.
So far this was not going to plan.
Then we got to the counter to pay for the things we could find, and collect the pushchair etc. Someone went to fetch everything whilst someone else tried to do the bill.
And tried is the right word. There was no way to call up the bill that we had, even though there was a 400 euro deposit payment on it.
The manager came down and also struggled, so that in the end they gave us the deposit back as a credit voucher and then entered the whole order again.
Though here I have to admit they were very good. Anything that had gone up in price they reduced to the price when we ordered it, and anything that had gone down in price they gave us at the new cheaper price (which saved about 50 euros I think - the cost of the new baby bath actually...)
We drove home a little under the weather, on the one hand it was so exciting to actually have the baby things in the car, but on the other it was such a worry about the bed sheets and bath (and the leaking new roof) that we could not be as smiling as we wanted to be.
In the afternoon we went to Ikea to get the remaining furniture for the new bedroom. Two bookshelves, a bed (very important now that our bedroom had developed a leak) and a chair for the baby room.
We walked around trying to find all of the things we needed, got to the magazine and started to load up the trolley. Ug. I say we, obviously Mrs Stace can't load up the trolley, so I had to pick everything up and load the trolley. And 2m long 50cm wide packages weighing in at about 60kg are not easy for one person to lift!
I managed to put everything into the car (thankfully the front seat also folds flat so that the 2+m long packages could go right to the front) loaded the other boxes and nearly collapsed.
Had an oliebol with raisons (so unhealthy, and so nice - it's a good job they are only available at this time of year!) - and yes that does translate to oil ball - whilst getting my breath back and went home.
Where I had to unload the car by myself. Loaded up the living room and managed to sit for 5 minutes whilst having a drink before starting on the bed (like I said after having the leak I wanted a place to go should our room get damp!). I unpacked in the living room and just took the bits I needed to the attic for the instruction page I was on. A couple of hours later we had a very complex bed made, complete with 4 drawers to get some storage back in the room!
Then one billy cabinet (where I sliced my middle finger along the edge of one of the pieces) and then a very rushed dinner!
Another billy cabinet whilst regretting eating too quickly, a tidy up and I managed to make it downstairs in time for the first dance of Strictly! Phew.
Apart from the fact that we are really starting to dislike the judges (we not mute the stereo when they are speaking), and their obvious favouritism for one contestant, and dislike for another, it's a bit of relaxation that we enjoy.
And then to bed, in our room, where I managed to kick the leg of the bed that was now in a strange position in the room so hard that it still hurts now, 10 hours later. Which means of course that I can't run today. But then again the pain in my muscles from moving a couple of hundred Kg of furniture to the attic is also making that rather hard! I'm just glad I went on Friday!
But, today is a new day. Unpacking the pushchair will be fun, and this afternoon we a (probably) going to go into town and do our Christmas shopping for each other. That is always fun!
Right, time for another cappuccino now!
Sunday, 15 December 2013
Saturday, 7 December 2013
Does it matter
Another week down, a week less to do the Christmas shopping (still not started :O ) and another week less till I get to meet Kleintje!
We had a plan to do nothing this week, and we almost managed to do it as well! Monday we had to do some clearing up after they had finished setting up the baby furniture - there were that many boxes in the hallway that it was that or not go to bed :)
But for the rest we have cooked, cleaned and relaxed.
And I have done another 4.5 miles (46 minutes, not good - but better than I was expecting after not running for so long!)
My project is not as over as I would have hoped in the office. There are always loose ends to tie up and glitches to investigate. And as it's getting busier and busier over the health insurance period there are becoming more and more time consuming to fix. But, with the exception of Friday when I just wanted to sleep, they are also interesting exercises.
And I was back at the hospital for my 6 monthly check up. A quick in and out visit. We had a quick chat about the blood test that I asked for recently. My values are all fine, and the T is still almost untraceable in my blood. There is an increase in one hormone (which I can never remember the name for) but whilst they want to keep a close eye on it to make sure it doesn't get much higher, is not anything to worry about yet.
With the symptoms I complained of (the reason for wanting the blood tests in the first place) they have increased my androcur back to the original dose to see if it helps. The T is not the problem, but it can also have other effects that cause the problem. If the symptoms have not gone in three months then I need to go back to the half dose - I'm just hoping that they all come good!
No new date yet for the next check up, because the expect me to be back for the operation before then! Woot (and scary!)
On Thursday the Sint came to Holland to deliver presents to the children, and we had a busy evening with my nieces and nephew watching them open their presents :) Next year we will have our own visit from the Sint - I can't wait!
And now that he is gone we are gearing up for Christmas! Today I start the cake (soaking the dried fruit in cognac overnight before backing it tomorrow), and this morning we are making way for the tree. And tomorrow we have to write the cards and get them sent - otherwise they won't reach the UK in time!
Lovely!
And before I bore you too much... The title to this post.
This week I was reading an article about research done on the way that the brain communicates in men and women. And why (as a generalisation - something I don't mind as long as it is not reversed to make specific comments about a single person) women are better at some things and men at others.
The comment section to this post got my attention. Lots of sexist comments (something that I have unfortunately come to expect from the tech industry), but one very good question about how does this relate to transsexual people.
There was a comment from someone who told about her experiences - she lives up to some of the findings they have, but not all. And mentioned that it doesn't matter what brain structure she has, she is who she is. Quite right too.
I also commented (albeit anonymously - yup I can be a coward when I want to be) about my experience with the medical research I did a couple of years ago and results that were given to me.
On the one hand, as I said above, it doesn't matter. I am who I am and that is that.
But on the other hand it was really good to see that there is a very good reason for feeling the way I do. Whilst it is not any kind of information on why this has happened, it is a good to know I feel this because of a solid reason.
It's a paradox in my head that I have been thinking about since I wrote it. It doesn't matter in general, and yet it did do something to see that there is a cause of how I feel.
Anyway, time for something lighter. I have a tradition of reading Hogfather each year in December and if I don't start soon I am not gong to be able to finish it before December 25th!
Look after yourselves!
We had a plan to do nothing this week, and we almost managed to do it as well! Monday we had to do some clearing up after they had finished setting up the baby furniture - there were that many boxes in the hallway that it was that or not go to bed :)
But for the rest we have cooked, cleaned and relaxed.
And I have done another 4.5 miles (46 minutes, not good - but better than I was expecting after not running for so long!)
My project is not as over as I would have hoped in the office. There are always loose ends to tie up and glitches to investigate. And as it's getting busier and busier over the health insurance period there are becoming more and more time consuming to fix. But, with the exception of Friday when I just wanted to sleep, they are also interesting exercises.
And I was back at the hospital for my 6 monthly check up. A quick in and out visit. We had a quick chat about the blood test that I asked for recently. My values are all fine, and the T is still almost untraceable in my blood. There is an increase in one hormone (which I can never remember the name for) but whilst they want to keep a close eye on it to make sure it doesn't get much higher, is not anything to worry about yet.
With the symptoms I complained of (the reason for wanting the blood tests in the first place) they have increased my androcur back to the original dose to see if it helps. The T is not the problem, but it can also have other effects that cause the problem. If the symptoms have not gone in three months then I need to go back to the half dose - I'm just hoping that they all come good!
No new date yet for the next check up, because the expect me to be back for the operation before then! Woot (and scary!)
On Thursday the Sint came to Holland to deliver presents to the children, and we had a busy evening with my nieces and nephew watching them open their presents :) Next year we will have our own visit from the Sint - I can't wait!
And now that he is gone we are gearing up for Christmas! Today I start the cake (soaking the dried fruit in cognac overnight before backing it tomorrow), and this morning we are making way for the tree. And tomorrow we have to write the cards and get them sent - otherwise they won't reach the UK in time!
Lovely!
And before I bore you too much... The title to this post.
This week I was reading an article about research done on the way that the brain communicates in men and women. And why (as a generalisation - something I don't mind as long as it is not reversed to make specific comments about a single person) women are better at some things and men at others.
The comment section to this post got my attention. Lots of sexist comments (something that I have unfortunately come to expect from the tech industry), but one very good question about how does this relate to transsexual people.
There was a comment from someone who told about her experiences - she lives up to some of the findings they have, but not all. And mentioned that it doesn't matter what brain structure she has, she is who she is. Quite right too.
I also commented (albeit anonymously - yup I can be a coward when I want to be) about my experience with the medical research I did a couple of years ago and results that were given to me.
On the one hand, as I said above, it doesn't matter. I am who I am and that is that.
But on the other hand it was really good to see that there is a very good reason for feeling the way I do. Whilst it is not any kind of information on why this has happened, it is a good to know I feel this because of a solid reason.
It's a paradox in my head that I have been thinking about since I wrote it. It doesn't matter in general, and yet it did do something to see that there is a cause of how I feel.
Anyway, time for something lighter. I have a tradition of reading Hogfather each year in December and if I don't start soon I am not gong to be able to finish it before December 25th!
Look after yourselves!
Monday, 2 December 2013
A week off...
It's been a few weeks since last posting, and there is a very good reason for it. I just have not had the time or energy to do it!
Weekends have been largely similar, only getting up one or two hours later and doing a little less work and little more around the house.
My life has basically been:
Wake up at 5:30
Shower, dress, cappuccino and breakfast, hair and make-up, more cappuccino :)
Go to work
Work through lunch
Get home, fire up the laptop and work some more
Spend an hour or two cleaning and moving belongings around to make space for the other rooms
Fire up the laptop and spend another 1/2 hour working
15 to 20 minutes relaxing (I spoil myself sometimes)
Go to bed at 9:30ish and fall asleep to Jonathan Creek, The Office, The Vicar of Dibley or Gavin and Stacey (both Mrs Stace and I are too tired / lazy to pick up a book at the moment, and we feel guilty because of it)
Start again the next day.
Weekends have been largely similar, only getting up one or two hours later and doing a little less work and little more around the house.
However... This week, rather this second - the guy is busy upstairs, we have reached a milestone!
We are not going to work on the house this week in the evening.
I am going to try not to work late, or work on the house this week
I am going to go running on Wednesday evening (you may notice that was missing from the list above)
You see, assuming evey thing goes to plan for the guy in the baby room we have reached the point of being ready for Kleintje to make an appearance. The baby room is painted, the lamp on the ceiling has little clouds on it (since an hour or two ago) and has three LED lightbulbs in it (they have improved so much in the last couple of years, and come down in price so much too!). The guy is busy putting together the furniture. We decided that we would pay for it to be done - I had heard that it is rather less well designed than Ikea for home building and takes an age, the guy has been busy for over an hour and he knows what he is doing. If it was Ikea furniture I would have had it done by now!
But it means that no matter how messy the house is the main room is finished.
The attic is almost finished as well (thanks to colleagues and family-in-law) The desk is up there, the bookshelves are full (even if out of order) and the mattress is ready for the new bed it is going to get.
It's untidy still, but it is there and the furniture is not in the baby room, which was the important part!
The garden is empty, the terrace furniture back in it's place (but needs cleaning) and the table in the middle looking classy, even if I say so myself.
I can get to my bike again. Even if it is a little cold to do 80mph without a heater ;p
Oh, and after taking all of the rubbish to the tip I was politely told that we had taken as much as we could without paying this year. So whatever is left has to go in January :)
Wednesday I go back to the VU for my check up, and to discuss with the endocrinologist about how to fine tune my medication. The normal one, who runs the gender clinic, is away on personal business unfortunately, but I have no doubt that the other person will be able to help as much.
As long as things can keep ticking over in the office, and as long as I can figure out a way of cutting down the laborious copy, paste between multiple applications to get the data we need when there is a problem then I think that work is calming down as well.
I have been overdoing it, my colleagues are zombied out as well (one of them has my routine but replace working on the house with solving work problems) and we are all on the verge of collapse.
This week however, I am looking after myself and chilling. Next week we can plan what is left, in a realistic schedule and in a way that means neither of us is overworking ourselves.
And on that note, I'm going to sign off for another week :)
PS: Apologies for the bad spelling in places - my cat decided that my time would be better spent fussing him rather than typing this and tried to sit on the keyboard! ;p
Sunday, 17 November 2013
Plastered
I don't really have that much to say this week... So I'll apologise for the ramble from the start :)
This week has been a real energy week. I've still been tired in the evening, and asleep by 9:30 most weekday evenings, but whilst working the energy has been really flowing.
The project I'm working on seems to be coming together, just one more company to get working and then I can move onto the 'luxury' part of it. Getting the base connections working for each company has been my priority until now. However, now I have some more time I can work on the extra information that we want to include, the part of the project that has been on the back burner until now!
Home? Well, aside from really, really wanting my house back, it's going well.
The bathroom ceiling has been re-plastered this week. It was starting to look very tatty, and also the existing plaster was starting to fall away from the concrete it was (supposed to be) attached to.
The outside of the house is now finished and looks superb. All shiny, no wood showing and all of the repairs have been done in such a way that I can't see where they were even made. Very happy, I just hope that it's a few years before I have to pay that amount of money again to have it redone!
And the attic...
Well. Wow. Really, wow.
Our initial idea was to remove all of the kick panels between the ground and the sloping ceiling and replace them with sliding doors to make access easy.
That idea was pretty much killed last Sunday when I was emptying the space behind them. I removed the access panel and for the first time noticed a big red sticker on the framework behind. A big red sticker that said (in Dutch): This is a load bearing construction, do not remove this or any other part of the construction.
OK....
No sliding doors then... So they have been plaster boarded, plastered and will be painted the same as the rest of the room.
And it's *almost* done.
All surfaces that should be plastered are, and are drying out slowly. The wood has been sanded and yesterday the undercoat went on. The access panels to the kick panel space have been prettied up and made more easy to remove and replace so that I don't need power tools to store our stuff (or get it back!).
And it looks amazing! Even without the paint. When it was just the framework for the wall I was thinking how small it looked. But once it was finished with plaster board it suddenly transformed into a room. And now it is plastered it looks even better!
The builder comes back on Thursday to start painting, and I am hoping that by the end of the week I can put the laminate flooring in, and then get a load of friends and colleagues to move and build furniture and shift 570 books up one flight of stairs. Oh, and to load up a trailer with all of the roof tiles and other rubbish that is piling up in the garden! And rebuild the garden furniture.
I'm going to do a winter BBQ as a thank you to them - lots of bratwurst sausages in the Weber BBQ and lots of Gluhwein to keep us warm!
I imagine that will be in two weeks time - meaning that if the builder does go over time everything can still be done.
And then the fun can start - painting the baby room!!! And getting the furniture. I really can't wait :)
Yes, there is still a lot of work left, but I can now see the end - and I can see what it's going to be like!
This week has been a real energy week. I've still been tired in the evening, and asleep by 9:30 most weekday evenings, but whilst working the energy has been really flowing.
The project I'm working on seems to be coming together, just one more company to get working and then I can move onto the 'luxury' part of it. Getting the base connections working for each company has been my priority until now. However, now I have some more time I can work on the extra information that we want to include, the part of the project that has been on the back burner until now!
Home? Well, aside from really, really wanting my house back, it's going well.
The bathroom ceiling has been re-plastered this week. It was starting to look very tatty, and also the existing plaster was starting to fall away from the concrete it was (supposed to be) attached to.
The outside of the house is now finished and looks superb. All shiny, no wood showing and all of the repairs have been done in such a way that I can't see where they were even made. Very happy, I just hope that it's a few years before I have to pay that amount of money again to have it redone!
And the attic...
Well. Wow. Really, wow.
Our initial idea was to remove all of the kick panels between the ground and the sloping ceiling and replace them with sliding doors to make access easy.
That idea was pretty much killed last Sunday when I was emptying the space behind them. I removed the access panel and for the first time noticed a big red sticker on the framework behind. A big red sticker that said (in Dutch): This is a load bearing construction, do not remove this or any other part of the construction.
OK....
No sliding doors then... So they have been plaster boarded, plastered and will be painted the same as the rest of the room.
And it's *almost* done.
All surfaces that should be plastered are, and are drying out slowly. The wood has been sanded and yesterday the undercoat went on. The access panels to the kick panel space have been prettied up and made more easy to remove and replace so that I don't need power tools to store our stuff (or get it back!).
And it looks amazing! Even without the paint. When it was just the framework for the wall I was thinking how small it looked. But once it was finished with plaster board it suddenly transformed into a room. And now it is plastered it looks even better!
The builder comes back on Thursday to start painting, and I am hoping that by the end of the week I can put the laminate flooring in, and then get a load of friends and colleagues to move and build furniture and shift 570 books up one flight of stairs. Oh, and to load up a trailer with all of the roof tiles and other rubbish that is piling up in the garden! And rebuild the garden furniture.
I'm going to do a winter BBQ as a thank you to them - lots of bratwurst sausages in the Weber BBQ and lots of Gluhwein to keep us warm!
I imagine that will be in two weeks time - meaning that if the builder does go over time everything can still be done.
And then the fun can start - painting the baby room!!! And getting the furniture. I really can't wait :)
Yes, there is still a lot of work left, but I can now see the end - and I can see what it's going to be like!
Monday, 11 November 2013
That's one done...
Still all go here, and still bloody sick too :(
Though that does at least seem to be getting better! A bit... I may even do a small run tomorrow.
Over the lest week my father in law spent 8 days in our house decorating the bedroom. So during the week whilst we were working he was busy with the room.
And we were living in two tiny spaces in the house as the attic was emptied and our bedroom was emptied. Into the spare room and the living room. Lovely.
Saturday I was told off for working like a crazy woman (quote from my sister in law) with the steamer trying to remove the old wall paper. Stupid, but hey, it needed doing and not working like a crazy woman would have meant yet another day with the room not done...
We also had a full house both days on the weekend - father in law and sister in law in the bedroom with me stripping the walls and mother in law, brother in law, two nieces and my nephew downstairs.
I will admit that at one point I was on the verge of fainting, at the top of the steps trying to strip the sloping ceiling, scalding myself repeatedly with the steamer and swearing at the paper for not letting go from the wood!
Sunday was less physical, but maybe slightly more stressful. My father in law and sister in law stated the wall papering, and there was not that much for me to so (I can't hang wall paper!). At the end of the day two and bit walls were done!
Monday and my father in law started in the 'feature wall', or to put it another way - the only wall that would have coloured wall paper on it :)
Only... There was a problem, the first roll showed how bad the paper was. It tore, it didn't cut with a stanley knife and was basically a complete pain. The second roll was even worse, it was a good couple of shades lighter than the first (and yes, both rolls had the same batch number).
Crap, back to the shop to ask and their answer was basically: You're hanging it wrong.
As Mrs Stace said, would they have tried that with a guy?
Even with a picture of wall, showing exactly how much the colour was different we were told simply that a colour difference isn't technically possibly as they are from the same batch. I pointed out the picture again and said that apparently it was...
Long story short they refused to do anything about it, saying it's not their decision. They are waiting for an answer from the maker of the paper. Only, not the maker as they have also said it's not their problem. We are waiting for the guy in between the shop that sold it and the maker.
Ridiculous!
We had to buy another roll, as we had a bit too short after the rips in the paper from the start, and we had to buy paint to cover the paper and make it all one colour.
And hide the pattern of the paper that we bought it for. Not happy.
Anyway, the bedroom is done now - it looks amazing and I'm sure that when the stress of the building work is done it will be worth it (not wanting to sound unappreciative of all the work - I just could have done without the added stress :p).
On Friday they came and did the attic for us (time for the other one :p) another 7 hours and there was a dormer on the front of the house - and again the view! - and putting the Velux windows on the back. The room now has so much light it is unreal!
Mind you, moving more than 100 roof tiles from the attic, down two flights of stairs, and into the garden has not done me any favours. Dust and just OMG the physicali
And the painter has started to do the woodwork on the outside of the house (woot, it's protected for winter!), working away for two days so far with two people, and another day to come!
And Today he started making the room in the attic for us.
Please, please, let it be done soon!
Oh, and even with being sent home ill on Monday I managed about 45 to 50 hours last week, and this week is going to be similar.
Hopefully we will get to the end of the stress from the building soon. And hopefully the stress of the health insurance season will get less soon - as soon as the last links are built and working I can concentrate on keeping them running.
It will all be worth it, I just wish it was done already.
Though that does at least seem to be getting better! A bit... I may even do a small run tomorrow.
Over the lest week my father in law spent 8 days in our house decorating the bedroom. So during the week whilst we were working he was busy with the room.
And we were living in two tiny spaces in the house as the attic was emptied and our bedroom was emptied. Into the spare room and the living room. Lovely.
Saturday I was told off for working like a crazy woman (quote from my sister in law) with the steamer trying to remove the old wall paper. Stupid, but hey, it needed doing and not working like a crazy woman would have meant yet another day with the room not done...
We also had a full house both days on the weekend - father in law and sister in law in the bedroom with me stripping the walls and mother in law, brother in law, two nieces and my nephew downstairs.
I will admit that at one point I was on the verge of fainting, at the top of the steps trying to strip the sloping ceiling, scalding myself repeatedly with the steamer and swearing at the paper for not letting go from the wood!
Sunday was less physical, but maybe slightly more stressful. My father in law and sister in law stated the wall papering, and there was not that much for me to so (I can't hang wall paper!). At the end of the day two and bit walls were done!
Monday and my father in law started in the 'feature wall', or to put it another way - the only wall that would have coloured wall paper on it :)
Only... There was a problem, the first roll showed how bad the paper was. It tore, it didn't cut with a stanley knife and was basically a complete pain. The second roll was even worse, it was a good couple of shades lighter than the first (and yes, both rolls had the same batch number).
Crap, back to the shop to ask and their answer was basically: You're hanging it wrong.
As Mrs Stace said, would they have tried that with a guy?
Even with a picture of wall, showing exactly how much the colour was different we were told simply that a colour difference isn't technically possibly as they are from the same batch. I pointed out the picture again and said that apparently it was...
Long story short they refused to do anything about it, saying it's not their decision. They are waiting for an answer from the maker of the paper. Only, not the maker as they have also said it's not their problem. We are waiting for the guy in between the shop that sold it and the maker.
Ridiculous!
We had to buy another roll, as we had a bit too short after the rips in the paper from the start, and we had to buy paint to cover the paper and make it all one colour.
And hide the pattern of the paper that we bought it for. Not happy.
Anyway, the bedroom is done now - it looks amazing and I'm sure that when the stress of the building work is done it will be worth it (not wanting to sound unappreciative of all the work - I just could have done without the added stress :p).
On Friday they came and did the attic for us (time for the other one :p) another 7 hours and there was a dormer on the front of the house - and again the view! - and putting the Velux windows on the back. The room now has so much light it is unreal!
Mind you, moving more than 100 roof tiles from the attic, down two flights of stairs, and into the garden has not done me any favours. Dust and just OMG the physicali
And the painter has started to do the woodwork on the outside of the house (woot, it's protected for winter!), working away for two days so far with two people, and another day to come!
And Today he started making the room in the attic for us.
Please, please, let it be done soon!
Oh, and even with being sent home ill on Monday I managed about 45 to 50 hours last week, and this week is going to be similar.
Hopefully we will get to the end of the stress from the building soon. And hopefully the stress of the health insurance season will get less soon - as soon as the last links are built and working I can concentrate on keeping them running.
It will all be worth it, I just wish it was done already.
Saturday, 2 November 2013
It's cold outside, there's no kind of atmosphere
Actually it's cold in here, or rather I have one again. And so it was that at 6am this morning I was sitting in the living room watching the Agatha Christie episode of Dr Who so that Mrs Stace could get some more sleep. I can't imagine it was pleasant lying next to someone constantly bunged up, hacking up stuff and not able to lie still, so I gave her some respite!
I'm typing this wishing that I had stopped yesterday on the way home. I knew exactly what I wanted to write about, had a whole post in my head. And knew that it would never get written as there is no way I would remember it in the morning! And so it was...
So just an ramble I'm afraid :)
This week there was a really strong storm in Holland. It started on Sunday (and so I didn't run) and gradually built up through out the day. By the time Monday came it was getting to the point where some gusts of winds were reaching hurricane speeds. Something not seen very often on this side of the Atlantic!
Oh, and that was the day scheduled for having the dormer window fitted to our bedroom!
Obviously they didn't do it! It was far to risky to be climbing about on a roof. And so a wonderful week started. Mrs Stace and I have been a bit down in the dumps with it - we have a tight schedule for all of the work in the house and this has made it all the more tight. They were here for two days to do both dormers, and of course now they have only done one. The other will come next week, one day before the builder comes to make the bedrooms! Hopefully the weather will not be so inclement then...
But at the same time it could have been much worse. One of the management team had a tree fall and brush the back of his car outside the office, another car around the corner was not so lucky and had a tree fall across its roof. And of course there were the people who had it even worse.
All things considered, having the inconvenience of the building work being delayed is minor, and we have to keep it in perspective.
Tuesday they came back and did the dormer, and it's amazing how long it took! At 7:30 they arrived, by 8:30 there was a 10m2 hole in the roof (which they made with a chainsaw!). Another hour of tidying the hole and making sure that everything was the right size and they started on building the dormer itself. Three hours later it was done and they left. 5 hours from start to finish and now the room is *huge*. There is no extra floor space, but it seems massive now that we don't have to walk with our heads tilted in half the room :)
My father in law is making it look nice (actually he has made it look nice, really nice) on the inside and suggested that while most of the furniture was out of the room it would be ideal redecorate, something that has been needed since we moved in, and really make the most out of it. Great. Except that I have a stinking cold, and am out of the house for about 10 to 12 hours a day for work. And with everything else going on I didn't want to spend more weekends (and nights) doing the decorating. So he offered to help and has spent as much time in our house in the last week as we have. He's coming back today and tomorrow to help us put up wall paper and move the furniture back in. Along with my sister and brother in law. It is gong to be a stunning room when done!
We are going to make a gift of some of the nice wine we have as a thank you, obviously!
For the rest? Well I have been busy in the office, trying to work through the cold and get things done. My first milestone of my big project is done (the first company connection is live) and more should come next week. Even with a think head I was able to work through those.
Today, I have to go and refit the lights in the bedroom, now that the ceiling has been painted, and rewire the light switch - the previous owners wired it backwards to the left hand switch turns on the right hand light. I always wanted to fix it (it riles the OCD in me) and I'm turning off the power to refit the lights themselves it's the perfect time!
Then I can fire up the steam machine and help clear the room - about the only thing I am good for in redecorating, if I had done the painting in the bedroom it would have been a mess!
And try not to fall asleep from the cold!
Right, coffee and time to get on with it!
(Bonus points for knowing where the title is from)
I'm typing this wishing that I had stopped yesterday on the way home. I knew exactly what I wanted to write about, had a whole post in my head. And knew that it would never get written as there is no way I would remember it in the morning! And so it was...
So just an ramble I'm afraid :)
This week there was a really strong storm in Holland. It started on Sunday (and so I didn't run) and gradually built up through out the day. By the time Monday came it was getting to the point where some gusts of winds were reaching hurricane speeds. Something not seen very often on this side of the Atlantic!
Oh, and that was the day scheduled for having the dormer window fitted to our bedroom!
Obviously they didn't do it! It was far to risky to be climbing about on a roof. And so a wonderful week started. Mrs Stace and I have been a bit down in the dumps with it - we have a tight schedule for all of the work in the house and this has made it all the more tight. They were here for two days to do both dormers, and of course now they have only done one. The other will come next week, one day before the builder comes to make the bedrooms! Hopefully the weather will not be so inclement then...
But at the same time it could have been much worse. One of the management team had a tree fall and brush the back of his car outside the office, another car around the corner was not so lucky and had a tree fall across its roof. And of course there were the people who had it even worse.
All things considered, having the inconvenience of the building work being delayed is minor, and we have to keep it in perspective.
Tuesday they came back and did the dormer, and it's amazing how long it took! At 7:30 they arrived, by 8:30 there was a 10m2 hole in the roof (which they made with a chainsaw!). Another hour of tidying the hole and making sure that everything was the right size and they started on building the dormer itself. Three hours later it was done and they left. 5 hours from start to finish and now the room is *huge*. There is no extra floor space, but it seems massive now that we don't have to walk with our heads tilted in half the room :)
My father in law is making it look nice (actually he has made it look nice, really nice) on the inside and suggested that while most of the furniture was out of the room it would be ideal redecorate, something that has been needed since we moved in, and really make the most out of it. Great. Except that I have a stinking cold, and am out of the house for about 10 to 12 hours a day for work. And with everything else going on I didn't want to spend more weekends (and nights) doing the decorating. So he offered to help and has spent as much time in our house in the last week as we have. He's coming back today and tomorrow to help us put up wall paper and move the furniture back in. Along with my sister and brother in law. It is gong to be a stunning room when done!
We are going to make a gift of some of the nice wine we have as a thank you, obviously!
For the rest? Well I have been busy in the office, trying to work through the cold and get things done. My first milestone of my big project is done (the first company connection is live) and more should come next week. Even with a think head I was able to work through those.
Today, I have to go and refit the lights in the bedroom, now that the ceiling has been painted, and rewire the light switch - the previous owners wired it backwards to the left hand switch turns on the right hand light. I always wanted to fix it (it riles the OCD in me) and I'm turning off the power to refit the lights themselves it's the perfect time!
Then I can fire up the steam machine and help clear the room - about the only thing I am good for in redecorating, if I had done the painting in the bedroom it would have been a mess!
And try not to fall asleep from the cold!
Right, coffee and time to get on with it!
(Bonus points for knowing where the title is from)
Thursday, 17 October 2013
Informaton evening
It's been quite around here, and there is a good reason for it. I'm still getting over the stress caused by the new machines in the office and when I get in I just don't have the will power or energy to write a post.
And so this may be a little short :)
It's annoying me because as well as this blog I also have my photo blog which has not been updated in far too long, my Scrum blog (oh dear, one post... I have another 4 or 5 in my head, but haven't got around to finishing them) and I really want to make a small library MVC application using Visual Studio 2013 (because I want and need to catch up with the latest technology!)
And they have not been done.
The only thing that I have done is kept my running routine going, even in the lousy weather that we have had this week in Holland I have done another 21.75km - and at an better pace than I have managed before. Sunday was a little stupid though. The wind was that bad that branches a few meters long and the size of my wrist were being thrown off of trees. Not only did I have to hurdle them when they were lying on the pavement (and with my accident history...), I was also quite worried about how much it would hurt (or seriously injure me) should one fly off of a tree and hit me.
On the bright side, when the wind was behind me I was running quicker than I ever have, and not using much energy. In fact I was using more to stop myself from running than making myself run :)
So... The information evening. It was at the hospital and aimed at those on the waiting list for surgery. It was difficult to get there in time, the start time was very early due to the need to be finished in time for the last trains and busses) and I had to eat in the way there (quite nice chicken and mushroom hot pot and chips) and meet Mrs Stace at the door.
We took our seats at the end of a row and waited for it to start.
And it was very, very good. The introduction to how the Gender Team at the VU works and some of the things that you have to do (and not do) to get surgery. Don't smoke (they will do a test on the day, and if you have smoked they will send you home) and do keep fit (BMI 19-30 is OK, 30 to 35 is after a consult and 35+ is immediately turned down).
Then we had information over the operation itself. What they will do, what they will not do, and the different operations depending on your condition.
And what can go wrong, and what they will do if that happens (if you come in with stitches that have come undone this includes saying: "Oh great, it's an easy fix" as this is the most common and easiest to fix).
Then we had a physiotherapist with information about the pelvic floor, and what you can do to help yourself before and after the operation by exercising it and learning how to relax it. I'm going to ask for some physio sessions from the gender team.
After a break, where I got chatting to another couple of people who were there (all three of us were checking Facebook and I commented how that was a sign of the times!), we had a talk about sexuality after the operation (what to expect and what not to expect - and how to keep your expectations real). I don't think it really connected to the evening, but the speaker was very good and it was very interesting.
And finally a bit about hygiene and sexual health.
With some Very. Scary. Pictures.
I must admit that it was not what I was hoping for, I was looking more for how to look after yourself whilst recovering from the operation and learning to dilate, but again interesting and well given.
And was as applicable for anyone, not just transsexuals!
As I said it was a very good evening, and did contain some of the information that I thought I had been missing until now. A night well spent.
Yesterday I was back in the hospital again. In a couple of months I go back or my hormone check-up, which will be 6 months after having my androcur halved. And I am not happy. I fell less in balance, but it's the physical side effects that are bothering me most. From body hair growing quicker again to others that I won't go into. They have taken a lot of blood for tests and I have a phone consult in a couple of weeks.
I am hoping that the tests show the simplest problem of too much testosterone, which is easily treated. If the blood levels come back normal then I don't know what else there is for them to do...
Fingers crossed!
And so this may be a little short :)
It's annoying me because as well as this blog I also have my photo blog which has not been updated in far too long, my Scrum blog (oh dear, one post... I have another 4 or 5 in my head, but haven't got around to finishing them) and I really want to make a small library MVC application using Visual Studio 2013 (because I want and need to catch up with the latest technology!)
And they have not been done.
The only thing that I have done is kept my running routine going, even in the lousy weather that we have had this week in Holland I have done another 21.75km - and at an better pace than I have managed before. Sunday was a little stupid though. The wind was that bad that branches a few meters long and the size of my wrist were being thrown off of trees. Not only did I have to hurdle them when they were lying on the pavement (and with my accident history...), I was also quite worried about how much it would hurt (or seriously injure me) should one fly off of a tree and hit me.
On the bright side, when the wind was behind me I was running quicker than I ever have, and not using much energy. In fact I was using more to stop myself from running than making myself run :)
So... The information evening. It was at the hospital and aimed at those on the waiting list for surgery. It was difficult to get there in time, the start time was very early due to the need to be finished in time for the last trains and busses) and I had to eat in the way there (quite nice chicken and mushroom hot pot and chips) and meet Mrs Stace at the door.
We took our seats at the end of a row and waited for it to start.
And it was very, very good. The introduction to how the Gender Team at the VU works and some of the things that you have to do (and not do) to get surgery. Don't smoke (they will do a test on the day, and if you have smoked they will send you home) and do keep fit (BMI 19-30 is OK, 30 to 35 is after a consult and 35+ is immediately turned down).
Then we had information over the operation itself. What they will do, what they will not do, and the different operations depending on your condition.
And what can go wrong, and what they will do if that happens (if you come in with stitches that have come undone this includes saying: "Oh great, it's an easy fix" as this is the most common and easiest to fix).
Then we had a physiotherapist with information about the pelvic floor, and what you can do to help yourself before and after the operation by exercising it and learning how to relax it. I'm going to ask for some physio sessions from the gender team.
After a break, where I got chatting to another couple of people who were there (all three of us were checking Facebook and I commented how that was a sign of the times!), we had a talk about sexuality after the operation (what to expect and what not to expect - and how to keep your expectations real). I don't think it really connected to the evening, but the speaker was very good and it was very interesting.
And finally a bit about hygiene and sexual health.
With some Very. Scary. Pictures.
I must admit that it was not what I was hoping for, I was looking more for how to look after yourself whilst recovering from the operation and learning to dilate, but again interesting and well given.
And was as applicable for anyone, not just transsexuals!
As I said it was a very good evening, and did contain some of the information that I thought I had been missing until now. A night well spent.
Yesterday I was back in the hospital again. In a couple of months I go back or my hormone check-up, which will be 6 months after having my androcur halved. And I am not happy. I fell less in balance, but it's the physical side effects that are bothering me most. From body hair growing quicker again to others that I won't go into. They have taken a lot of blood for tests and I have a phone consult in a couple of weeks.
I am hoping that the tests show the simplest problem of too much testosterone, which is easily treated. If the blood levels come back normal then I don't know what else there is for them to do...
Fingers crossed!
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