One Daily Positive - Week 24 Dubai to Dublin

When I started my dental treatment back in February I had to avoid eating any foods that required me to bite and/or chew. As a result I lost 5kg and felt much better for it. However after the surgery healed I started eating chocolate, bread and chips again. my headaches have returned and I've put 2kg back on. We've also been eating out quite a lot and I've decided to make an effort from now on with what I eat.

Over the weekend we were talking about how we must've have adapted now to the summer in the Dubai as the temps hit 40c and it actually wasn't that bad, but on Monday night the humidity hit full force adding 10-12c to the 'feels like' actual temp.

My chronic pain isn't abatting, it doesn't prevent me from doing things, I'm just in pain the whole time. I flew business class to Ireland, I managed 5 hours before the pain got too much, but at least I didn't cry on this flight.

I'm finishing the week with a friend on the West Coast of Ireland for a week.

160 Sunday Spent the day tidying and cleaning the house and scrubbed all the rugs to rid them from pet hair. Popped out for coffee and a swim late afternoon. The chair pod has been moved indoors to protect it from sun damage.

161 Monday Day Lots of bits and bobs to do around the home today, headed out to the Marina Mall for coffee, the bench was so hot, it burnt me through my jeans.

162 Tuesday A day at the dog park with friends, did some more washing and cleaning. The afternoon was spent cleaning and I popped over to the pool.

163 Wednesday Started the morning dropping the cat and dog off in boarding as Peter is also away on Friday with work to Turkey. Had blood tests and a trip to the hairdressers for a cut and mani and pedi.

164 Thursday Early morning flight to Dublin. Collected car hire and made our way to the West Coast to the air b&b for the week. Found a lovely pub for dinner and ale.

165 Friday My friend and her husband have bought a property here, we're here to sort out the heating, setting up utilities, purchasing furniture and household items, see solicitors, bank accounts etc. Had a pub lunch, did a food shop and relaxed in the evening. The view from their property.

166 Saturday Headed out to Westport for the day, we then spent the evening with her husbands family. This was the drive back to the accommodation.

I've been losing interest in blogging, don't feel I really have much to say about anything these days and it's not enjoyable when it becomes forced. Blogging is my hobby.

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One Daily Positive - Week 22

Final dental surgery, gum cut and post exposed, temp tooth installed and a couple of stitches, back next week for stitches to be removed and final fitting of permanent teeth in July.

My chronic pain has flared up again, it seems to disappear when my iron stores drop, but after an infusion a couple of weeks ago, the pain and the headaches are returning. I'm also suffering with my cognitive ability and finding it hard to find the right words for everyday objects. With it comes the depression. The chronic pain never leaves but I've had it for 24 years now, so it's just part of my life, when I get respite for a period of time, any flare ups are unmanageable.

Sunday 146 Dentists and rest of the day spent in front of the TV. Did some ironing early evening while Peter went out for an Iftar meal and washed down the patio. It's getting really hot out there.

Car temps parked in the shade and 30 mins later after a drive home. Outside temps 36c

Monday 147 Spent the day cleaning the house and washing rugs, dog bedding, shower curtains etc popped out for coffee and had a swim late afternoon.

You don't need to go to a fuel station to fill up in Dubai, they come to you.

Tuesday 148 Dog park with Bob, coffee and yoga. We mowed the lawn as it was cloudy and overcast. Out to a colleagues of Peter's for dinner, I just had drinks, still can't eat with my teeth.

View from the balcony

Wednesday 149 Took Peter's car for a service. I met a friend for coffee then took myself to Mall of the Emirates. Peter collected me on his way home. I went for a swim and we had pub quiz in the evening. 2nd place for us tonight.

Thursday 150 Dog park, no yoga. Peter dropped me at the local mall to get my nails done then I walked home via the pool to cool down. Peter worked from home then collected his visa from the Saudi embassy.

Friday 151 Had a lazy morning then headed out for coffee and a food shop, home by 3pm. Peter made a risotto and then we just sat in front of the TV till bedtime.

There's a gentle breeze today making the garden just about manageable to sit in to drink a beer.

Saturday 152 Collected Peter's car from the garage, then got a taxi from home to meet friends for lunch and a few drinks, the evening was spent in front of the TV with a few snacks.

I'm always amazed at how green Dubai is, never knew there was a lake here.

On the blog this week:

Around the home and garden in Dubai and South Africa

Guess where I am in the world?

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One Daily Positive - Week 37

I've been up early before sunrise at 6am to walk Bob and water the garden. The actual gardening will have to wait till I finish my travels the end of October, it's still too hot. There is a humid factor of 'feels like' 10c more than the actual average temperature of the high 30's.

I spent 3 days on and off cleaning the house, it's not had a deep clean since the end of May. Peter did clean and tidy while I was away, but book cases and shelves were incredibly dusty. The two spare rooms were full of sand around the doors and windows and the rooms looked like a haunted house covered in dust. One room is the guest room and the other my sewing room and study. Peter just left the doors shut while I was away.

My blood test results are back, Vitamin B12 deficiency, levels very low and no improvement with iron levels after 3 months of supplements so infusions to look forward to. Still no clue to the cause.

252 Sunday Off to meet my friend for coffee and as usual 3 hours, none stop nattering and only 1 coffee each, sometimes we've sat there for an hour before we've even ordered coffee. Cleaned the downstairs of the house in the afternoon after the food shop, went for a swim while Peter cooked dinner, watched a movie and in bed before 9pm.

Some of the malls make you feel you're actually outdoors

253 Monday Up at 5am and sat in the garden drinking tea with the cat (on her lead) and dog, walked Bob and rearranged the furniture in the hall so I could bring the pushbikes inside as the sun is damaging them and it's a flaff to keep chaining (unchaining) and removing the covers. Met a friend for lunch.

Bumped into this fella (no idea why there was a cut out of Ronaldo in the store)

254 Tuesday Early morning start to the dog park to meet our dog and human friends, spent the afternoon cleaning upstairs, went to the outlet centre in the evening. It's the Arabic new year today, but they've made Thursday the public holiday.

Bob ran some energy off in the outdoor area, but we didn't stay outside for long

255 Wednesday Doctors first thing for B12 injections and treatment plan. Found somewhere local to do all the recycling, swept/hoovered and mopped through the house and went to the pub quiz in the evening.

Started a new book

256 Thursday Peter was off work, I headed off to a local football club to meet with them about volunteering with a new youth league they're setting up. We went to Ikea and didn't argue, only bought things we didn't know we needed, stopped at the flamingo sanctuary on the way home, met a friend for coffee and had an early night.

Dubai skyline

257 Friday We headed off to the Palm for Brunch, nothing else happened all day.

I was defeated by dessert

258 Saturday In bed all day with a migraine, Peter had a friend round in the afternoon for a few beers.

Breakfast in bed, coffee in bed, dinner in bed

On the blog this week:

Construction projects in Dubai and how they've come on in the 3 months that I was away.

6 days in Bavaria in July. Things to do and places to see.

My dream wedding venue 'Under one roof' part of my Wedding series blog post.