Crepeys/Hagsnet - come to the candlelight!

[MrsSchadenfreude]

As the last thread is now full...

Meh. Had my eyes tested earlier this year and they hadn't moved at all prescription-wise -- so why is it that suddenly I am having trouble with small print? Effing decrepitude is not just lurking, it's clutching at my heels.

I strongly second what MI says about eye testing though (much as I hate it myself, particularly the drops) my father suffered a detached retina, but an ophthalmologist spotted the weak spots on my brother's retina before the same thing could happen to him and he was able to have them repaired a much more minor procedure than repair of detached retina.

er, just saw there was another page. . I blame my eyes.

My dad had glaucoma, so I have to have my eyes tested every year. I have those rimless specs and varifocal lenses, which means replacing them costs an arm and a leg. So I'm rather hoping my prescription hasn't changed, but I suspect it has. Boohoo.

BTM, good luck with the mammoth journey.

dd has a friend round for a sleepover and they are currently space-hopping round an obstacle course in the garden with flashing lights on their heads. I'm rather wishing I could join in.

MI, please could you give some more details about the standard triple test for glaucoma. I have just had a quick google on the subject and I am slightly concerned that my optician hasn't been testing me properly.

Isn't the glaucoma test the one where they puff air at your eyes to check how fast your blink reflex is?

BD - we have too much shit a lot of books, too. And not enough shelves. I am distraught that the DDs have shown no interest in my Tammy and Diana annuals from the 1970s. Not to mention Bunty, of course. We move every three or four years and schlep all of this crap round the world with us.

Must book optician when I go back to London. Think I might need reading glasses too.

Must confess to having never visited an optician in my life. Never thought to. I have a phobia about having to wear glasses, but need to man up and face things, or grow longer arms.

Sunday Times is still unread.

The optician and I are BFFs - I have the most terrible eyesight and have worn contacts for the last (eeek) 29 years. I am very naughty and wear them far too much, and always get a lecture about eye-abuse every time I have a test.

Recently my eyesight is starting to get better (i.e. long-sightedness is kicking in). I haven't started doing that old-lady arms-length reading thing yet, but it won't be long I fear.

Anyway, last night's "not-the-50th-birthday" party was great fun, much alcohol was consumed. I phoned my absent brother to wish him happy birthday, but he couldn't get me off the phone quick enough; in fact, it took him precisely 42 seconds. Miserable git.

And if you haven't already left, have a lovely holiday BTM!

Without glasses I'd have to get the person on the other side of the table to hold the menu :) I have accepted I can't read in the morning or evening without glasses (generally okay during the day unless its that pesky small print on labels in the supermarket...)
BTM - have fun!
CV - a bookcase was one of the first pieces of furniture we bought for ds!!

The puff is to test for intra-ocular pressure (although this isn't necessarily correlated with glaucoma in every case); there's also a test for peripheral vision - you look at things moving around a screen - and there is one other but I have to interview someone on a topic I know nothing about in 10 minutes...eek!

I have quite a lot of work to do. And no childcare. Ahem.

Oh, then it must be that part of the exam where there are tiny flashing lights on a grey screen, at the very edges of your vision. Does that sound familiar, Stroperella?

Perhaps long-sightedness is why my right eye went from -9.5 to -8.5. Left eye still -10.5 however. I wear my contacts all the time too, CV, and get the lecture as well. Are your eyes as bad as mine??

I don't know how bad they are in terms of plus or minus, but I'm short-sighted and astigmatic, and cannot actually function mentally until I have my eyes in; a confused fog hangs around me in the morning.

I still wear gas permeable hard lenses; apparently no-one under 40 has these now, but my eyes won't tolerate those new-fangled soft ones.

So far, none of the DCs seems to be afflicted, which is surprising seeing as both myself and DH are blind as bats. DS1 reports that almost half of his class wear glasses for blackboard work.

Well, my day has had Unexpected Highlights.

I have spotted a temporary part-time job doing something (writing case studies) which I could do Remarkably Well.

I have interviewed a couple of people for a feature, one of whom was so fabulous that she headed her points as she was talking to me, which means said feature is effectively written (you hacks will know thereof I speak).

And I have made what look like rather fabulous chocolate chip blondies, which are lurking in my oven at the moment (thank you Mrs S).

MI - jealous of your day.

I've spent all day battling DS's new-found will, which exerts itself regarding going in the buggy, getting out of the buggy, running off near lakes, throwing food, trying to get in the bath with his clothes on, refusing to get in the bath at all, ad infinitum. Tomorrow I'm planning an epic public transport journey - Walthamstow to Waterloo - and am not looking forward to it.

As for eyes, when they were last tested, 10 years ago, I was a bit long-sighted and fairly astigmatic. Considering I now have to take small print into the light, and make an old-lady face at it, and can't focus on faces too close, I'm guessing it's got worse. However, as I can't afford an eye test, let alone the glasses, it will have to wait. At least I think I'm safe to drive!

I have eaten too much - made a quiche this evening and had that with salad. Then finished up yesterday's Hungarian cheesecake (family recipe), so have had rather a dairy and pastry overload. But no wine after the excesses of the weekend. Will try those blondies soon, MI... the cakey brownies are v good, I found.

I am rather tired of DD1 having started her periods, as it means that I am effectively coming on every fortnight. Not impressed. Have been 28 days, regular as clockwork for years and seem to be permanently premenstrual now.

I also thought I was growing a testicle this evening but it turned out to be a sort of small boil Down There which has burst painfully and messily. Perhaps I should have wine after all...

Herbs, been there with small children. Ho yes, I have....

Blondies are...powerful. I think my 'light brown' sugar is perhaps darker than bargained for. V nice though. And have boxed up some to appease bribe reward the Inferiorettes' friend for having them tomorrow.

I also appear to have scored some work for August

Yay to work, MI! Did you get both jiffy envelopes that I sent, btw? The French post can be erratic - I sent two parcels to my cousin at the same time - something for her new baby and something for her 5 year old. The parcel for her 5 year old arrived a week later than the one for her baby. V odd - no idea why!

Oh yes. DD1 is in pre-teen black-jean-clad heaven

Brilliant - will pack up the pink ones and send them too!

Day long marketing meeting yesterday...which is all very well, but a. I don't have a marketing budget b. the VC doesn't believe in advertising c. the academics are a law unto themselves and will do sod all to help....
Prep for exam board today and we are missing the school BBQ because of said board .......
Ds all tired, fraught and emotional last night so we had a major melt down (what fun...)

MI - good news re work!

Very quiet start to the day here as ds and dh had a "sleepover" in the shed as ds had a major strop yesterday because dd had had her friend for a (no-)sleepover in the shed on Sunday. ds feels very put out because I won't let him have a friend to do the same.

I am feeling strangely pleased with myself because (pathetic reason coming up) I got back on my bike for the first time in 7 years yesterday and went out with ds for the first time (usually he is accompanied on his bike rides by dh running fatly behind). We went to the local bike shop and the bike guys laughed heartily at my ancient helmet and even more ancient bike that is probably still coated with late 1980s London grime - and then they sold me a new helmet and told me I need a new bike Am still happy, though, because we now have some family bike rides planned and even dh is looking to get a bike (he reckons he hasn't been on a bike in 50 years).

Had a leisurely week planned, but it's all gone pear-shaped as a customer who has been completely silent since Christmas has suddenly sent loads of work. Anyone want a 6 year old boy for a few days?

Oh and thanks re: glaucome info. I always get the puff test done on me and they glare into my eyes from all angles with some machine or other, but I've only ever once had drops, I think. I have an eye test this afternoon, so will cross-examine the optician on the subject. If I have to get new lenses in my fancy glasses I will probably not be getting a new bike..

You don't need drops to check for glaucoma - it's the treatment. So it sounds like you've been fine.

Today I am going to write about age-related macular degeneration. Having exported Inferiorettes, equipped with baked goods.