General Chat

Linda.... Nope! I can't work out what your last sentence said before your tablet autocheck/spell got at it.

Yes good to see you on here Sylvia. we have lost out warm weather today it is very dull, we did have a shower of light rain that didn't do the garden any good at all and now it is actually 17 degrees but feels cooler.

It is good to hear from you Sylvia. How is your husband doing? Sitting in hospital for long periods us very tiring, but of viruses ( that should be “ of course”, not viruses ) we have to be there for them

a wee bit chilly in the mornings here the last couple of days, but then the sun has broken through and both have turned into nice sunny days, with the temperature around 20-23C.So not too hot!

I may have to get daughter to water the new lavender plant in the front garden as the spot it is in seems to dry out quickly! It seems to be a miniature form, with lovely small dark purple spikes.

It's nice to come out of the hospital into sun!

No sun here either, mostly very dull and windy but 17 degrees. I have had to put a cardigan on though, forst time for over a week.
glad you are ok Linda. They eally seem to do well in that area for special needs people don't they?

Sorry Florence, it is overcast and cold here as well, so I have no sun to send you.

Afternoon all

Rainy cold day and of course was bin day lol honestly never fails. had to done a waterproof to get them back in straightaway else they would have blown away somewhere and daughter not here to do it for me.

Linda, how amazing the hawthorn plants turned up :-S :-S :-S I wonder where they have been sitting for ages?

I have been going through papers that have accumulated on my computer desk and now the shredding basket is full up! so a job for tomorrow. I am going to tackle the filing cabinet as well as its getting rather full and Im sure there is plenty that can be removed. I found instructions for a tumble dryer we don't have anymore, the first hoover etc so that will free up a bit of space.

Found a mushroom dish I made with a pasta sauce in the freezer and am defrosting a chicken breast to go with it later on. I haven't had any bread or snacks now for 2 days. Just had 2 pieces of water melon to bridge a hunger pang. But not going to weigh myself until next Monday morning.

Sylvia, hope hubby is continuing to improve and he gets his elbow op soon.

Do hope Joan is ok as it really has been ages, since she posted.

I'm feeling quite chilly so think the heating may have to go on soon.

Really not had any summer here at all and we are now in July! The roses are very slow and all the other flowers are coming along but very slowly. We so need the sun. anyone got some spare please?

Florence in the hebrides

I did a test and it was negative. I feel better today, I just have a runny nose and feel a bit chesty. OH is OK, he is busy painting again.

On Sunday, we spent four hours outdoors at a “ This is Me” festival with Esme and all the family, so it probably is hay fever. The festival is great, it is held every year at a local rugby club field. It is free, but you have to register for a wrist band to get in. It is organised for the SEND children in the wider area. They have a stage with .bands playing just like a real music festival. Esme loved that and spent all afternoon dancing with her friends including those in wheelchairs. They have food stalls, a beer tent, face painting, all manner of entertainment. The kids have a great time and it is lovely to see all the special needs kids really enjoying themselves in an environment where they are the norm.

how are you and OH Linda. did you do a test. Hope you are both ok anyway.

He was with us all last week Ann when he would have been infectious. We both have runny noses and I have a bit of a sore throat, so we don’t know if it is hay fever, or we might have what he has. There does seem to be a lot of Covid around at the moment. I have plenty of tests, so I will do one later on.

I forgot to say that this morning we got a large box delivered and didn’t know what it was. When we opened it, we discovered a hundred dead Hawthorn whips. They were the original ones which were ordered on 18th April. Poor things were wrapped in polythene, so were really mouldy. It was such a shame because they were really good size plants, bigger than the replacement ones we got from a different firm . We got our money refunded ages ago so that isn’t a problem. Luckily we had put our garden bin out this morning and the bin lorry arrived just as we unpacked them, so they threw them on the lorry for us.

Linda, that is a nuisance. It seems these things never run smoothly. But I suppose a plus is that he discovered he has Covid (if he has) before he came to you.

Sylvia I hope that your daughter can get things sorted for you but it is good that your OH is feeling better.

I am glad that your husband is better today Sylvia. Hopefully your daughter will be able to get the arrangements sorted out before she needs to go home.

The kitchen was supposed to be finished on Friday, but of course it isn’t. The actual kitchen is just missing a shelf under the sink and the two trims on the floor to cover the join between the wood flooring and the kitchen floor. OH can’t put them back because the kitchen floor is higher than it was, so the two bits of wood need some trimming off the back. It is mainly the utility room which isn’t finished. There is a shelf to go in a cupboard, a door missing and the kickboards to go on. We hoped the fitter was going to be coming back tomorrow, but I have just sent him a text and he thinks he has Covid, so isn’t working until the back end of next week :-(. Annoying, not to get it finished, but at least it is usable. OH has been painting all day and still has a lot to do, so that will take a while. He also has a lot of preparation to do in the en-suite before next Monday

Morning all

Not a bad day so far. Bright & sunny but very breezy. Just waiting on my grass cutters to come as its now a month since it was done. When they came 2 weeks ago, it had hardly grown but now it sure has and needs doing.

Got the report from specialist yesterday and a copy went to GP so now will wait & see how long before they contact me to discuss. Last week i chased up my recent MRI(27 May) and they said will take 6 weeks for results but nothing yet!

Huge basket of ironing to do after grasscutters have gone and then I wont get interrupted.

Sylvia sounds like the scenario Joan had when her hubby was in hospital. The hospital wanted to discharge him and she knew she wasn't fit to care for him but it fell on deaf ears poor Joan. Glad that OH is improved today and long may that continue. So glad your daughter has expertise that is helpful for you.

Linda, hope you are getting on ok with your new kitchen etc.

Hope everyone else is well and ok today

Florence in the hebrides

AnnG ......... unfortunately we no longer have very good friends around, all but 1 of them died between 2013 and 2016. The remaining guy is as old as ourselves but lived on Vancouver Island. The pandemic put a crimp in any social life we might had, and that lasted for almost 3 years.

Linda ............... The house is old, with 2 extensions on to it, so the hallways are narrow and there are some very right corners, so it would be very difficult to adapt, I've often tried to imagine how paramedics would get a stretcher from the bedrooms to the front door, even though it is all on one level ....... and the answer is that would not be able to do that, nor would a wheelchair work!

Daughter is an architect, and one of her "specialities" is assessing older care homes for adaptation to a more modern state, so she has been round the house assessing it! But the main problem is me ...... I just could not care for him, my mobility problems are such that I would not be able to lift him out a chair/bed or if he fell to the floor. I also have heart problems.

I haven't been in today because I woke with a higher than usual temperature and a sore throat, so thought it better to stay home. Daughter went, and has told me that he is in pretty good shape today, ate much of his lunch, a lot more coherent ... even knew that tomorrow (Monday) was a Stat holiday!

While it is very good news that they have arrested someone Sylvia, that doesn’t help your poor OH. Have they been able to do the operation on his elbow yet?
It is good that your daughter is able to stay for another week. Are you going to be able to cope once she goes?

Florence, what an awful trip you had. Good luck with getting your expenses back, but knowing airlines, I wouldn’t hold your breath.

Sylvia, great news that the person has been arrested, I do hope that he gets more than 'a slap on the wrist'.

But it is still very stressful for you and probably, at times, frightening for him. As you say it would be best if he was unable to return home if there is no hope of any improvement. It is best if he is somewhere he is safe. But you will be feeling sad at how he is and the loss of his company I know only too well that feeling) after so many years together. It is good that your daughter has been able to stay and it will be hard at first when she goes home. Do you have friends around you for company?

Stay in touch, although, because of the time difference) there will be a delay, eventually there is always somebody here to chat to to make you feel less lonely.
Remember to eat, and to look after yourself. <3 <3 <3

Goodness Florence, what a to-do. Terrible of them!

Thank you for all your good wishes

It is still not looking good, OH is still getting very confused much of the time, with alert periods in between. They had to sedate him again last night, doing it at least twice more because he'd repeatedly get out of bed and wandering as the medication wore off, then walking out ot the room into the corridor. A loud alarm rings when someone does get out of bed so there was quick response! Luckily, the main ward doors are locked.

I woke up with an elevated temperature this morning so we decided that it was best I stay home (it's down now, I hope!), but daughter went in for about 12:15 pm. OH was fast asleep then, woke and was a little confused, then dozed off again and again. He did eat some of his lunch.

It really does look that he will not be coming home, and J and I hope that really is the case because a) I really could not handle him physically because of my problems, c) we could not stop him getting out of the house without some sort of full locking system, and c) the house is not really suitable for adaptation. It is only 1 floor for living, and a basement, but it is old and there are narrow corners, corridors and doors. But we're in the "system", so will wait and see what they offer, while we continue to look at what is available, luckily we can afford private care, so no waiting for a subsidised bed.

Daughter is now planning on staying for about another week, but then has her own home and job to deal with.

The really GREAT news that we got this afternoon is that the guy has been arrested and is in gaol ................... though heaven knows how long he will stay there as it is very much a revolving door these days.

goodness so stressful Florence. Difficult to think these things can happen nowadays when everything seems to generallyrun more or less like clockwork. Obviously most of the problems wee caused by the cancelled flight. with no prior notification.

What a stressful experience for you, Florence!
I'm glad you're home safe and sound.

Well, where shall I start re my trip away?

Disaster from start to finish. We left the house at 9am and after 2 short stops reached the air port in good time at 10.0am. Only to find out 5 minutes later the plane had been cancelled!! Yep some communication problem apparently.

So i went to the check in desk and was told, no other plane to get me to Edinburgh on Thursday. They offered to book me to Inverness which they did on the 4.45pm but then I said how do I get to Edinburgh? They looked at me and said, i'm sure you can find a bus or train etc when you reach????

I wasn't a happy bunny at all but as this was a private and not a paid for NHS trip, I had to find a way to get down on the Thursday as my consultant appointment was on Friday.

So sat all day at the airport, unable to go back home and back again as too far. No offer offer of a coffee, water or anything. My friend left with daughter and they went down town at 12 and got suppers and juice and brought it back to eat at the airport.
At no time, did they come over and ask me if I was ok, needed anything!

Anyway got away and arrived in Inverness around 6pm. Taxi to station costs £25 and went to buy 2 train tickets for the last train to Edinburgh at 6.52. They cost £114.00. Staff there were very helpful as put a ramp up for me to board the train and carried the bags, couldnt fault their help at all.

The journey was 3 1/4 hours but..... as last train at night no buffet service. We had no time to eat or buy anything and nothing on the train. I had 2 packets of fruit pastilles in my bag incase daughter took a hypo.

We eventually arrived in Edinburgh and there again the staff helped us and took us to the taxis and we eventually arrived at 11pm. No cafe open at the hotel so nothing to eat . We had tea/ coffee in the room which was something but we both felt so ill and tired.

Anyway, went to bed and then on Fri, managed to the small centre where we had a bite and did some shopping before returning to the hotel for me to freshen up and taxi to the clinic.

Outcome wasnt good. My problem with the severe oedema in my left leg and mild in right isn't a vein problem afterall. Its a nerve problem cause by the spine infection i got back in Jul 2022. So been referred to a lymphedema specialist and also a cardiologist. He said, I will have to wear surgical stockings indefinitely
:-(
So that's it in a nutshell. Coming back this morning was also bad as they had no staff to take us through security etc from special assistance and we nearly missed the flight which was then delayed by an hour as we couldn't get escorted. through.

I am now about to write a long letter of complaint and request they pay all my additional expenses. I shall also make comments about not being offered a drink etc

Sorry to ramble on but I just need to let off some steam. As soon as I reached home this morning about 10am, i just broke down in tears and was just so relieved to be back home safe and sound.

So kettle went on and crumpets and marmite and then i felt a lot better.

So now a report will go through to my GP and me from the specialist and then wait for referrals for further investigation.

So off to get the rest of the laundry done as hate leaving it when Ive been away.

Lazy day tomorrow to recharge the batteries.

Florence in the hebrides

Afternoon everyone. Im back :-D

But first can I just say having raid about Sylvias hubby, it reduced me to tears :-( I so hope he gets his elbow sorted and makes a full recovery.

Scumbags, thats what these people are. I really hope they get some footage form a CCTV and catch the nasty piece of work that pushed him over.

So Sylvia, if you are able to look in, sending you and hubby massive hugs <3 <3

Florence in the hebrides