General Chat

Morning all.
Its a beautiful bright & sunny day here but brrrr.

Linda, well done on the tombola! Yes buying the cakes will save you time as they take hours to make. I am making my own but I can make it 2 days before xmas and ice etc.

Sadly that child doesn't have a great start in life and further down the line, we can all see where he will end up. Surely social would be involved with the family and does she not have any family of her own to help out I wonder?

I do hope your daughter gets it all sorted as what happened can never happen again to your grand daughter or anyone elses child. Next time there is an outing, they will have to make stronger arrangements, ie 2 carers to the one child .

Haven't see Joan posting and a bit worried. Hope her and hubby are ok?

Daughter & I have decided to decorate the xmas tree today a bit later on as I'm fed up with all the decs etc sitting in boxes in the front room. I hate an untidy house!

Xmas cards are all ready in a pile for posting, some are inside parcels and that saved a few pounds.

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....everywhere you go"(Michael Buble version)

Florence in the hebrides

Sounds like you had a good day at Christmas fairs Linda. Good idea with the cakes and I think you deserve a rest from making one this year.

It will probably end up with that boy doing something that he can be 'arrested' for when he is older and then he will probably be placed in care. Maybe that is what his Mother wants. It must be particularly hard to be a single young mother with a child that is not normal when most of your friends children are normal. and she may well be in denial about it all I suppose. But that doesn't make it any easier or less worrying for the future safety of the public.

The boy doesn’t have a father and his mother is quite young and isn’t interested in any sort of help which the school tries to offer. She just brings him to school, dumps him and makes no attempt at all to control him. I know it must be really difficult to deal with a child like that, but he is going to be a real danger as he grows. He isn’t physically disabled in any way, so can move quickly when he wants to. I have seen him a few times when I have been to school events. He never sits down, he just roams about, touching everything, climbing all over the church pulpit etc. it must be dreadful got the poor carer trying to control him and it will just get more difficult as he becomes physically stronger.

All the Christmas activities are starting up here, the lights were switched on on Friday night. There was a craft fair in the town hall, so we went to that yesterday. I didn’t buy any crafts, but I did buy two Xmas cakes. I usually make my own, but haven’t got round to it this year. Eve always decorates it with OH, but this year I bought a middle sized one and a small one. I will put the marzipan and icing on, then the girls can have one each to decorate. Eve will do a design using the spare icing and food colouring, I have a selection of small Santa's etc, so Esme will probably just put all of those on hers. As we came back, we realised that the church were having their Xmas fair as well, so we called in there. It was very silly of them to have it in the same day as the main town craft fair because they had very few stalls this year. I did well on the tombola, getting three prizes out of the five tickets I bought. One was a naff Xmas ornament, so I gave that back, but the other two were food based, so I kept them .

That is going to be a constant worry about Esme and the boy. I wonder if his parents are also worried. I assume he also is not in a wheelchair. Good that the school are fully aware and concerned. But surely the organiser of the trip should not have a one to one responsibility as well. that seems to have been the real problem there. The trouble could also be that Esme doesn't see that he poses a danger to her.

I wonder, if he is so aggressive against her, what will happen as he gets older and bigger? will he be a danger to the general public?

Pleased that she is ok anyway.

Esme seems to be fine thank you. The school were very apologetic obviously, but as it was such a serious incident, it seems to have opened up some sort of thorough enquiry more than a normal accident one. The boy did have a one to one carer, but she was in charge of much of the organisation of the trip, so she had other things to do and wasn’t keeping a close eye on him.
They have agreed that they won’t go on any trips together in the future and that they won’t have them together in the same classroom. If for any reason he has to come into Esme’s classroom, they will take her into a different room. The odd thing is that she likes playing with him outdoors at break time and apparently makes a beeline for him because she likes to play football with him. All of the other children in her class are in wheelchairs, she is the only one who can run around. She doesn’t under that she needs to keep away from him because he is likely to attack her.

It is very cold tonight, apparently it is going to be zero overnight, but that doesn’t matter as the house is warm.

Hello everyone,

Linda I hope Esme is alright after what happened such an awful thing to have happen to her .

Very cold today here but bright and sunny , this morning there was a light frost .

Have done my cards and got some more presents so have to start wrapping things up.
Have to get the decorations out the cupboard soon but that will be a job for December which isn't far away .

Take care all.
Ginnie

Linda! Oh my goodness me. That incident just should not have happened. When I had charges that were severe, we were always 2-1 and if the risk assessment showed it was "too risky", then we didn't take said child.

I'm glad A & E were able to stick with glue rather than stitches but I hope your daughter doesn't let the matter drop. If the child D is so severely autistic, then he should be in environment more suited to his needs.

You don't know what effect mentally this may have on Esme in the future. Yes keep her off until your daughter feels she is ready to go back.

And poor you having to do another drive in the dark. If I was you, think I might have poured myself a large stiff one when I got home!

Hope you have a better day tomorrow.

My day was very quiet today. Did a pile of ironing, so basket is empty...for now. Spent the afternoon finishing off wrapping and parcelling. Almost finished and then a few cards to write.

Was torrential rain and gales all day here, so glad we were indoors.

Been watching the soaps and then Masterchef earlier, good viewing tonight.

Florence in the hebrides

Oh lord, things just go from bad to worse.
Esme went to school this morning, she was fine and was looking forward to her bowling. My daughter got a call mid afternoon asking her to go straight to the bowling venue as there had been an incident involving Esme and she was injured.

The incident involved a boy called “D”. He is severely autistic and totally unpredictable. Sometimes he is violent, other times he just launches things without any warning
He has a long history with Esme because he randomly attacked her whenever he saw her. They had to use different entrances to the school so he couldn’t get to her. He really needs to be in a specialist autistic unit, not just in an ordinary special school.
Esme moved up to seniors a year early to keep them separated. He also attacks others, he dragged one immobile girl along the floor by her hair from one side of the classroom to the other.

Apparently the woman who was supposed to be his one to one carer, only turned her back on him for a minute! In that time, he launched a bowling ball at Esme’s head, cutting it open. When my daughter got there, she had big white bandages on her head because being a scalp wound, it was bleeding profusely. She had to go to A&E and they used glue to fix the edges together. She can’t wash her hair for a week, so all the blood will have to stay there.

My daughter is absolutely livid because it could have been so much worse, he could have fractured her skull . She is demanding to see the risk assessment for the trip. Why they would take such a child as D somewhere where he could launch such heavy objects with just one carer, I don’t understand.

Eve stays at school on Thursday for choir practice, so doesn’t come home on the school bus. Her father normally collects her, but as my daughter had the car at the hospital, I had to go for Eve, so I got to do another long drive in the dark which I’didn’t like.

Esme just FaceTimed while they were having dinner, she was eating and seemed to be OK, although she kept touching her forehead and saying it hurt. They are going to keep her off tomorrow to make sure she is OK

Oh dear me Linda, what a carry on! Almost sounds like my daughter when i say she has selective hearing!!

Hope she she is better tomorrow and as you say, she wouldn't want to miss her bowling. Glad you enjoyed your day out with your neighbour. Was nice escape for you and a chance to relax a little.

Hope you are ok Joan, as haven't seen you for a few days.

Just had dad for an hour bashing my ear so in need of a coffee.

Florence in the hebrides

Oops, although Esme insisted on going to school this morning, they rang up at 10.30 to say that she was not her usual cheery self and was crying a lot, so my daughter had to go to collect her. She was fine by dinner time this evening, really tucking into her food. They are all going to have an early night tonight, so hopefully things will be back to normal tomorrow.. Her class is going bowling tomorrow, so she won’t want to miss that

Oh dear Florence, what a palaver, but at least you got your heart scan and can be assured that everything was okay

Sorry to have confused you yesterday. Esme’s father was there as well, but the phrase “ chocolate teapot “ springs to mind. I got back as soon as I could, so he only had to look after her for about two and a half hours. She was moaning all day long about her tummy hurting. Personally I think that if she had eaten something, she would have felt better, but she refused. It was a very long day, :-(. All she wanted was mummy, but of course her train was late, so it was well after ten before she got back.
As I was driving back up the motorway, the overhead signs were saying that junction 49 was closed. That meant nothing to me but it turned out to be the junction I needed. So I had to continue to the next one and come back on small country roads instead of a nice large dual carriageway. Anyway I managed and got back safely .

I was absolutely shattered and went straight to sleep. This morning, Esme FaceTimed just before 9am, she was all dressed and ready for school. Although she didn’t go to sleep until 10.50, she had a sleep over with mummy and slept all night. She was insisting on going because they do ballet on Wednesdays and she wasn’t going to miss it.

I went to York today for a day out with my neighbour, we looked round the shops and had a lovely lunch. We were going to go to the interactive Van Gogh exhibition which I have been to before , but when we got there, it was closed which was very odd as I.
I checked the website yesterday. It is right next to the Jorvik Viking centre, which you normally need to book for, but amazingly there was no queue at all. I have been lots of times but my friend hasn’t. She really enjoyed it. My hips are aching tonight with all the walking.

So after the awful day yesterday, i am glad to be in doors today. Its gale force winds and torrential rain since early morning.

Poor daughter had to go town and no doubt will be soaked when she walks from the bus stop, poor thing.

Catching up on emails and other paperwork today so all sorted now.

Made sweet & sour chicken for tea with popadoms and pickles, cant wait.

Hope all is ok with everyone else today

Florence in the hebrides

Yes Linda, I am confused as to who was looking after Esme if she wasn't in school whilst you get your hair done and take OH home??? :-S

Well that was the day that was!!!

So all dressed, coat on and sitting patiently waiting for my lift. it got to 12.00 and no sign eeeek! So by now even if they had turned up, I wouldn't make it in time for the 1st appointment so rang up, explained and cancelled. I then had to cancel the porter.
He said i had been badly let down and surely they called have tel me?

Anyway suddenly at 12.30, Patient Travel arrive, not an ambulance! The person said, we should just make it for your heart scan if we get a move on! I said and what about my other appointment that i have missed and before i could say another word, she ranted and raved that she was on her own, rushed off her feet and that I was lucky to get a lift at all.

Whilst I was sorry for her, it wasn't my problem was it? Oh my, she just let me have it and then said if I am so disabled, why am I not living nearer the town as then i could get a taxi to my appointments and wouldn't need to use this service.

I was pretty irritated by this and so kept quiet and did not engage in any further conversation.

But the scan was fine, a few changes but nothing to worry about and the repair is still intact so i am now reassured. He said the breathlessness is probably due to lack of walking etc and not being so mobile. Unconditioned they call it.

So finally back at home sitting with a large strong coffee wondering if the events of today really happened :-S

Hope everyone else had a much better day than me.

Florence in the hebrides

Good morning all.

Oh Linda! Always something isn't there? I was up at 7am, showered and washed hair which takes an age to dry as so long & thick.

I am off for 2 appointments. First at 12.30 for my breast screening and then at 1pm for my Echocardiogram but.....

Yesterday I get a tel call reminding me of my scan at 1pm and was I still attending to which I replied oh def yes. I mentioned my breast scan before to which I was informed that the machine had been broken and she wasn't sure if it had been fixed :-S :-S

So then I panicked a little! Within 10 mins, I get a call from the hospital to say the Patient Travel Service is unavailable so they are sending an ambulance( no blue lights i hope!) Told to be ready from 8am as they could come at any time, hence the early rise.

But when I asked about them taking me from one part of the hospital to the other for 2nd appointment, I was told as its an ambulance not Patient Travel, they are on call and cannot wait around as they may get an emergency shout.

So after quite a conversation, I had to ring the works dept, then get tf to the manager of the Porters. I had to explain the whole sorry saga all over again but.... he has arranged for a porter to be at the screening place at12.50 and will then come with a wheelchair to transport me to the other place for my heart scan.

Oh my! As you say Linda, you couldn't make it up could you.

So I am sat here all dressed and ready for off, knowing that the ambulance wont be her before 11.30am....hopefully

I watched a beautiful sunrise at 8am, a sky full of orange fire. Was truly beautiful.

I hope Esme gets better soon Linda and you manage ok driving in the dark. I never liked doing that myself even in areas I knew well.

Hope everyone else looking in has a good day.

I shall pop back later and let you know how it all went.

Florence in the hebrides

Such a nuisance Linda just at the wrong time. But I am confused how are you looking after Esme if you are taking OH home and having your hair done? Is your daughter not able to take any leave to look after Esme? Not always, just once in a while?

You couldn’t make this up!
We arrived at our daughters last night to sty over as today is my daughter’s day in London, when she leaves at 6.30 am and gets back about 10 pm. When we walked in, she pulled a face and Sid that Esme was ill. Sure enough, she has been awake for most of the night and is now being sick. It is just a cold, but she swallows all the gunge instead of blowing her nose. Obviously, she isn’t going to school today :-(

The plan was that we would leave once she had gone to school because I am having my hair cut this morning and we are having the house survey done this afternoon. We were then coming back for about 4pm to look after the girls and cook dinner. Now I will take OH home, go and get my hair done and then come back here as soon as I can. That means I will have to drive home in the dark which I don’t like doing, but I will manage. It wouldn’t be so bad if. I wasn’t really tired, I didn’t sleep because I could hear Esme all during the night.

Good afternoon all, feels very cold indoors although it says it is 12 degrees outside. Very windy and damp though and already getting dark. I have finished writing my cards I have not counted them but definitely around the 80 mark. So pleased that I have finished them now. I shall post them in a weeks time I think. :-)

Afternoon everyone.

Oh my what a change in the weather! Thick fog and that drizzly damp horrid rain that gets you soaked before you realise.

So today has been catch up, washing on, drier on, vacuumed everywhere which is just as well as my neighbour is popping in soon for a coffee.

My lists of jobs and things to do for next week has grown enormous "arms & legs. was only when i wrote the list for the week, I realised just how many things I have to do!

I had written out a list of xmas food and it was far too long. So another look at it saw me trim off quite a few things that actually i have in the cupboard. Gravy granules, 2 tubs on shelf, plenty of dried fruit and flour for the xmas cake etc. So saved about £15 so far!

Daughter has emptied the freezer and gone through it all once more. I found a packet of Aunty Bessies roasties so another saving there plus 1/2 a large bag of peas.

It's so worth doing this now so I am not buying things, we all ready have and saving money too.

Linda re your Netflix account, don't worry about it as your family were living with you for some time. It's not like they live 100 miles away and you're using their account is it.

Hope everyone else ok today

Florence in the hebrides

To be fair, they were living with us for two years, so were using our TV. It is just still signed in since they left. We never use it apart from watching The Crown