Migraines - a gripe

Why does December go so much more quickly than any other month?

As yet have hardly got any presents ready. There are no decorations up, not even the tree. And, to cap it all, my migraines are back. I have been fortunate and for the last year I have hardly had one bad migraine. I've had plenty that started but Sumatripan put paid to those within half an hour or so. Now, just when I need to be as fit as possible, I've had seven successive days of blinding, bang-head-against-the-wall type migraines. I haven't been eating chocolate, cheese or any of my other known triggers. I haven't been over-exerting myself - in fact, the opposite. I've even changed my pillow cases and pillows on a daily basis - a useful tip I learned from someone whose main trigger turned out to be dust mites! Today is the first day without one - touch wood. It's not only the debilitating effect of a week of migraines and the frustration of losing a week's work but it's the annoyance of not knowing why they happen. You would think that modern medicine could find a cause for this illness which costs the nation millions of pounds in lost workdays each year.

That's my gripe for the day. Now back to the subject of Christmas...

Hellllllppppp!

Friday My Town Shoot-out - Ten minutes from home

This week's subject for the Friday My Town Shoot-out is "Ten minutes from home". This is a little wood in Fishers Lane, Pensby, which is just ten minutes walk from our house.

Why not check out other people's my town shoot-outs this week.

A Frosty Morning

I'm glad it's not me going out this morning!

A most strange phenomenon - it wasn't snowing and there was no visible sign of frost in the air itself but the camera obviously picked up all the little frost particles in the air.

A flock of Long-tailed Tits appeared in the back garden. It's the first time we have had Long-tailed Tits here. Unfortunately it was still quite dark in the back garden and the windows need cleaning!

There's always a Robin around in this weather.

And a Blackbird whatever the weather.

This line is not a wire but the remains of a spider's web.

 

The Cotoneaster berries look good against the frost.

Finished!

All done. New light fittings; paint; new shelving; cupboard door replaced (though it has yet to be done on the photo); cupboards cleaned out; mirror tiles; and me. Me, well and truly done! Taking a day off.

Wednesday wildlife - Hedgehog

This hedgehog visited Helen and Ian's garden while I was staying there in 2009. He's looking a bit sheepish because he's just knocked over a plant pot.

The European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) lives in woodland, farmland and suburban areas. It is nocturnal, and if alarmed will roll itself into a ball, protecting itself against potential predators with its spines.The Hedgehog has changed little over the last 15 million years.

Like many of the first mammals they have adapted to a nocturnal, insectivorous way of life. The name 'hedgehog' came into use around the year 1450, derived from the Middle English 'heyghoge', from 'heyg', 'hegge' = hedge, because it frequents hedgerows, and 'hoge', 'hogge' = hog, from its piglike snout. Other names include 'urchin', 'hedgepig' and 'furze-pig' .