First thing to say about today is just how much I have enjoyed it - for purely selfish reasons really. The problems with my NHS Hearing Aids and the difficulties with getting them 'seen to' during the Covid situation and the fact that I find it extremely difficult now to put in the necessary new batteries almost every week or ten days has meant that I finally came to the expensive decision to replace them by going to a private specialist. My appointment was today and was in Ripon - about twenty five miles away. My usual taxi took me down and a taxi local to Ripon brought me back (my driver could not wait as he does a school run and had to be back in time).
I had a hearing test and the result - as I suspected - is that I am almost on the spectrum of being profoundly deaf. This means that many of the modern hearing aids are still battery operated and I can't any longer manage the insertion of the batteries. But we have decided on a suitable one and I now have to go back for a fitting in a fortnight. This is fine. The young man who did the testing was charming and very efficient, explaining so many things to me and the lovely young receptionist - who was Chinese - made my day by saying just how 'lovely' I looked (her word). The young man who had done the tests agreed and I have to say - maybe I am selfish and maybe I am vain - but it really made my day and made me think.
I go out rarely because I can't go unless someone takes me - friends are brilliant at doing this and I thank them most sincerely. But this morning - when my carer asked what I intended to wear for the outing - I said it was so long since I had worn anything but my ev eryday clothes - and I never went anywhere to wear them, so I was going to get 'dressed up'. I wore new trousers bought for last winter but never worn and one of my cashmere jumpers. I wore my black boots and my red leather jacket. I wore a gold bracelet that my husband had bought me many years ago. I felt good and obviously it showed.
I have to do this more often. Mybe it is vain but the fact is - I had got into the habit of not bothering and it had begun to tell on me. Now, coming home this evening (although I shall be £3000 lighter when I get them), I feel so much better.
Apart from that it was the most beautiful journey. It has been a warm sunny day here, the countryside was looking at its very best and the journey from here to Ripon, through pretty villages like East Witton and Staveley is such a lovely journey. Going there with my usual taxi driver - we chatted all the way - he has so many stories to tell and is a delight to listen to and then coming back with a taxi driver local to Ripon a chap who is a keen metal detector so I learned a lot about early coinage. I am sure you can imagine what a delight the whole afternoon has been.
Coming in I almost felt 'normal' again. I have faced up to the fact that I shall not walk unaided again and that my driving and gardening days are over. But today has really boosted my confidence all round and I am very grateful for it.
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34 comments:
What a great pick me up today has been for you, so pleased to hear your spirits are lifted. I am very much one for wearing my everyday comfy clothes and rarely getting dressed up. However I try to wear earrings regularly and enjoy choosing which ones, I think the compliments you received. confirm it’s worth making an effort, besides what’s the point of having nice things put away. Here’s to many more going out looking lovely days, I will if you will. xx
Good for you.
Frances SW
How lovely to receive a compliment like that. From the description of your outfit, though, I am not surprised. It does sound very attractive.
Well done for making the effort, it does make a big difference, like you I have just used my everyday ordinary clothes for far too long now, time to up my game. I can imagine how gorgeous you looked, keep up the good work. Thrilled to know you are able to have some decent hearing aids, I wouldn't be without my private ones and haven't regretted spending so much money on them. Take care & get your glad rags on more often, that's the motto for me from now on. Take care.
so glad you had such a good day. Makes you feel so much better.
I also love dressing for the occasion. Your entire outfit sounds fantastic. A gold bracelet always looks lovely and works well with most outfits. You must arrange another outing and "dress" for the occasion. High tea with a few friends at a London hotel would be delightful. Why not add a stage performance at one of London's theaters and stay for a weekend. In retrospect, the 3K expense is so worth the satisfaction of solving a situation as well as enjoying the entire day. Win-win!
I am a long time reader of your blog and may I saw I think you are wonderful. You always seem to find the good in things.
Are your new aids coming with rechargeable batteries? My friend has these, you just hang the complete aid on charger overnight, no fiddling with batteries at all. I believe they are an American make, she paid £2500 about 3 years ago. I hope they help you to join in conversations.
Sarah Browne.
Black boots and a red leather jacket....AWESOME!
Irene
How lovely.You are such an inspiration.
It's lovely what a nice outfit, a bit of jewelery, and unexpected compliments can do for your frame of mind, isn't it!
More folks should remember that kindness and kind remarks are free and it's good to be generous to the max in saying nice things to others.
Hope the new hearing aids are easy to use and maintain and that you can hear well with them. Might you need to call the specialist shop in Ripon to inquire about the type hearing aids that Sarah Browne mentioned?
Hugs!
So pleased that you had such a good day. The weather has been beautiful but I want to make my Christmas cakes and really I need colder weather! I am sure you know what I mean, the oven on and that gorgeous fruity smell. Somehow it needs to be cooler.
I think you have been sensible about the hearing aids, the NHS ones have always hurt me, luckily my hearing improved. Making the effort has been so difficult since Covid. Nobody to see me but I think that you have now set a standard and we should all make that effort.
God Bless you and I hope you can soon hear everything you want to do. Love Andie xxx
Was the taxi driver a metal detector or a detectorist ?
Just joking because I love the series Detectorists !
Congratulations for the red leather jacket, it must have been splendid.
Best wishes from France,
Maguy
What a lovely day you have had. So glad it has given you such a lift and I am sure the expense of the hearing aids will improve the quality of your life. It obviously pays to wear our 'best' clothes more often if we get compliments like that!
I am so pleased to hear that you had a lovely afternoon out and that your hearing aid replacement is in the works. I read your blog everyday and I can't tell you how much I look forward to it. You have the most wonderful attitude and you certainly inspire me with every blog you write. Your outfit sounds lovely. You remind me so much of a friend of mine who is 91 years young and her attitude towards life is so similar to yours. She lives in Canada now but she was born in Lancashire and spent every summer in the Lake District. Her husband is the same age and they both are inspirational just like you. I think you have the secret to aging gracefully and with style!
P.S. I know you are a dog lover and I know you would be interested to know I just picked up the most beautiful golden retriever puppy yesterday. She is 8 weeks old and her name is Ellie. She is my fourth Golden. I have to admit I forgot that I older and that puppies are a lot of work but she is worth it!
from a friend in Canada
Marilyn
Marilyn - wish I could have another pup but as I no longer walk it would be impossible. Priscilla, my walking aid, and pups should never be used together.
Lovely to read all your comments and to know what I mean - I am just off to bed and I feel good thanks to you all.
See you tomorrow.
Lovely to hear you sound in such good spirits. x
Hello, Weave, from Illinois...Thank you! You give all of us "seniors" a great jolt of inspiration during these later years of life! Have a lovely weekend!
A pretty close to perfect day.
It is a joy to hear you had such a nice day and your outfit sounds lovely!
My husband and I both got new hearing aids this year and they get charged at night. We put them on a little dock at night and in the morning they are ready and good for the next 24 hours. We both had cancer and chemo and our fingertips lack feeling so we would never be able to work with those tiny batteries. I hope that is an option for you. Have a great weekend.
£3,000 sounds a lot to me for hearing aids. I seem to have lost touch with the prices of things. How nice of the receptionist to offer such a compliment.
I loved hearing about your day out! I'm happy for you that you got your hearing aid taken care of and also that the outing lifted your spirits. We all need to be complimented once in a while as it does us quite a lot of good.
What a happy post (apart from the Ouch at the price of the hearing aids). Glad you had a chance to dress up smartly (I am so with you on the everyday clothing which I absolutely live in here! The only time I dressed up this year was to go to our little annual Church celebration back in August).
Yesterday I had my hair cut by a hairdresser for the first time in years (have been trimming it myself, with K's help but wasn't going to go for him "trying with his left hand" now his right one isn't co-operating!!) I felt like a new woman afterwards :)
Lovely to have chatty taxi drivers each way - my hairdresser and I chatted too - made a nice change from just family conversations.
I;m glad that your trip out when well and you will be sorted with new hearing aids very soon.
Have a good weekend - enjoy Strictly tonight
Good for you for making the effort! I very rarely go out at all, let alone somewhere special, so can't remember the last time I dressed up. I have two wardrobes, one for 'everyday' and one for more presentable clothes. The latter has not been opened for ages!
That‘s wonderful! Yes, it can boost our feeling of self-worth and self perception greatly when we make a bit of an effort with our appearance and others notice. That is not being vain, but being good to ourselves reflects on others - doesn‘t everyone prefer seeing others turned out nicely, too?
I hope your new hearing aids will work well for you and be worth the money. Does the NHS contribute, or do you have to pay for it on your own?
It's good to make the effort to look your best sometimes. I think many of us got into the habit of wearing 'same old, same old' during Covid...I certainly did.
And not 'same old, same old' as I do but choosing clothes we have been wearing the same for years. So red leather jacket and flash boots definitely in fashion.
Getting out every so often is really important, I think.
That sounds like a great day. Glad it went so well for you!
You should plan a little drive every now and then if you can afford it. Your taxi driver sounds like a nice companion to help you explore the countryside you love when the weather is nice.
Sleep well!
Mary Ellen - mine sound very similar to that. I am profoundly deaf and also like you I can't manage fiddly batteries. I am hoping this will be the answer.
Thanks everyone.
I am feeling just slightly off colour today after my Covid jab so am really taking it easy.
What a wonderful trip out for you and NO you are not vain. We all like to hear compliments which really boost our mood. I really enjoyed reading about your happy day.
Wendy (Wales)
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