New hearing aids

A fortnight ago we went to The Hearing Centre in Lymington to have my hearing tested again. Apparently it has deteriorated a little and my present aids had to be tweaked a bit. However, we were told that some new Oticon aids were on the market now with the latest technology and I could try them if I liked. What an invitation! They cost about £4500 though - a lot of money.

A week later I went down to have them fitted with my own shells. I could try them for 2 weeks to see if they are a big improvement on the old ones.

That evening we did the Christmas Fair in Winchester and I did find it difficult to cope with all the loud noises. It was difficult to hear individuals speaking against the loud background noise.

On the Friday we went to Marwell Zoo and they were ok - although I had to turn down the volume I could hear individual speech much better but that was not against background noise.

On Sunday we went to the Anvil to hear the RAF band. I was terribly disappointed. I couldn't hear the compere really, and the aids just carried on the ringing sound after the instrument had finished!

Yesterday we went back to The Hearing Centre and Martyn Bowles changed the setting of the aids making them much more comfortable to use. It made a huge difference. My dear husband has now complained that he can't swear quietly under his breath without my hearing it! He says he can't get away with anything! So I'm very pleased. But it is going to cost me.....

Christmas Fair

Tuesday evening was a very good evening for both dizzydesigns and Raspberry - my daughter and my daughter-in-law. They each had a table for selling their hand-made treasures, lovely hand-made beads and silver jewellery and beautiful, artistic, appliqued bags. It was very, very busy and they both sold quite a few items. I think it would have been a little better if there had been more room for the buyers to move around and be able to stop and browse without holding up the through traffic. The picture above is of their tables in quite dim lighting.

Marwell Zoo

On Thursday we went to Marwell Zoo at the invitation of my sister-in-law and brother. It was a Christmas present from last year to my husband and me and we have waited all year. What a great idea! It was quiet, cold but beautifully sunny. It wa a good time to see the animals in their fantastic winter coats, all glossy and bright. There were a few animals, eg the monkeys and gibbons which were warmly tucked away for the winter but most were on show and we had lots of room to see them.

We didn't take the land train but hoofed it all the way round - good exercise in the lovely weather.

Afterwards we drove along to Fishers Pond to have a hot meal and it was very nice. The place has been taken over by a company which has made it much better than it was.

Intech

Yesterday we went to Intech in Winchester. The two grandsons had a great time playing on all the interactive scientific stations there. It was quite quiet when we arrived at 10.30am although there was a class of young children having a lesson with a noisy teacher so we had plenty of opportunity to try everything out.

This is the tornado making machine.

The mobile phone mast arrangement was rather good with a mobile phone going around the tracks like a train. Both boys liked the letters you feel through holes in a box and you try to work out what it says by touch.

And, of course, they enjoyed the black and white ball sorting machine which sends messages in binary form. Lots to pull, push, turn and try out. Great fun was had by all - not only the children!

Grandson's birthday.

Last Tuesday was grandson number 2's 9th birthday. He was so excited. Apparently they sang 'Happy Birthday to you' to him at school and he had a cake with candles when he got home. You can see it in the picture. He and his brother were given a Wii system for their birthdays and they have had a super time playing on that ever since.