General Chat

Hi Debbie and Grace I was just having a quick look at a couple of threads
and seen both your mesages.

Debbie, we were starting to wonder if you and your family were all okay. Nice to know that all is well with you all. I hope your Dad will keep on improving now.

Grace, sorry to hear that you have had a few problems with your house. I thought that that if there had been flood water through the property, the people selling the house should certainly have divulged that. Surely there is something that your solicitor can do about it.
I hope they can sort out your cooker in the next day or so, you have waited too long as it is.

I'm off to bed now, speak to you both tomorrow. It's nice to have you both back.

Goodnight both!

Love, Sallie.xx

Hello Ladies, yes I'm here, you can't get rid of me that easily. I've been quite busy but should have found the time to pop into here once in a while. Thank you all for your concern.

In answer to your questions, no Dad hasn't had anything conclusive from London, so we still don't know what we are dealing with, though his blood count has increased slightly. He had a very bad couple of days last week and ended up in Hospital on another transfusion. They are so good to him in there. Apparently it costs £100.00 per bag of blood. He has had so many we've lost count. He is now "reaping the benefits" of having paid Social Security all his life and never claimed against it.

We had some bad news at the start of last week, a fisherman who fishes from the same harbour as my hubby has his boat, went missing out at sea. His boat was found on the bottom of the sea a couple of days later, but no sign of him. This happened to a cousin of ours a few years back. He was lost at sea and they never did find his boat, though his body was washed up on a beach in France 4½ weeks later. Really not at all nice for the families involved.

Autumn has officially started as the 2 big boys have had to go back to wearing shirt & tie to school instead of their summer uniform of open necked polo shirts. The evenings are drawing in quickly, the leaves are all falling off the trees too early and we are officially experiencing a drought. How bad can things get!!! There is talk that our desalination plant will have to come into effect, so that the sea water can be purified into safe water for general usage. It costs a fortune to run the equipment, but at least we never go without water, just our bills go up.

Athletics has finished for the season now, and both boys did well at the Inter Insular against Guernsey. They both ran a 3K fun run on Sunday and each of them came in 2nd in their respective age groups, so were pleased with those results. Roll on Cross Country.

The rest of us are all fighting fit. No Swine Flu in our family yet, but there is plenty in the Island. We have a supply of the vaccine now, but it hasn't been licensed for usage just yet and only the vulnerable and Hosptal staff get the first batch. The rest of the Island have to wait their turn. Apparently they are importing enough for every man, woman and child on the Island. That remains to be seen.

Any way, bed is calling. Best Wishes to you all.
DEBBIE

Hello again, Mo, Ann, Huia and Grace,

Ann, I wish I could write short and concise messages sometimes, I always mean to but then I tend to forget, and go waffling on about things.
Have you made all your Christmas yet? I bet the people you send them to, look forward to having your card each year. The cards are much more special when you have made them yourself. So pleased that your shoulder is feeling more comfortable. Take care!

Huia, nice to hear from you again today, ( our today, Thursday, 1st October) these different time zones confuse me just a bit. I agree with Mo, as much as you would like to have Phil at home, it or you would be too much for you to cope with on your own. At least you have peace of mind knowing that he is safe while you are asleep each night. As well as an uncle,one of my aunties also had Alzheimers. Her daughter asked her to put two of her clean jumpers away in the wardrobe, but my auntie had put them in a lit gas oven instead. The first that her daughter knew about it, was when she smelt them burning.
I know it must hurt you inside to leave him at the hospital, but it is so much better and safer for both of you. Enjoy going to choir and doing the things that you like to do, Phil would want you to do that.

Mo, I had almost finished writing you a PM, when our Chloe called in with her mum, on her way home from school. They stayed for about two hours,
so I decided to finish the message off, don't know what I did, but when I pressed submit, I just lost the message. So I am going to write another one and hope that you will receive it.

Well ladies, I am going to make myself a cuppa. Speak to you all soon.

Best wishes to you all.

Love, Sallie.xxx

Yes, Mo, it is the danger aspect that is so worrying. A couple of times when Phil couldnt find the matches to light the fire in the lounge he took a bit of screwed up newspaper through to the kitchen and stood looking at the stove, trying to decide which switch would light a hot plate so he could light the bit of paper to carry back through to the lounge. Luckily I was able to remove the hot plates when not in use, but who knows what other dangerous things he would have tried.

He had for several years had the habit, after his evening shower, of putting his towel on top of the fireplace to dry. Unfortunately he lost his sense of smell several years ago and he scorched quite a few towels. If I hadnt been around they would have ignited eventually. At least the smoke detectors would have gone off to warn us, but that is no consolation for having to fight a fire or get out.

Huia.

Good morning Huia.
You have done so well with your calenders,clever girl you.
It's real nuisance when the bladder decides it needs emptying,especially if you are having real nice sleep.
I can understand your feelings about wanting Phil home. But it would be such a hard job for you to undertake.
And you have worked so tirelessly for so long.
It would not be fair on either of you,and you would be so tied down,not having a minutes peace. It would be a 24/7 job,with no break,and no escape.
You would have to make your home into a prison of a night time,in case Phil went out while you were sleeping.
And there is also the safety within your home.
My mum would leave the tea towel on the top of the cooker,with the gas rings still on. So many times she nearly set the house on fire. Or she would turn the kettle on,with no water in it.
Take care my friend. Love Mo xxx

I should have added, for Mo, it is 'TOMORROW' here, Friday 2 October.
I am a forward hussy, arent I.

Huia.

Hi all.

I was going to visit Phil today but his sister and niece went yesterday so I think I will leave it until tomorrow. I do not particularly enjoy visiting him as it is not the real Phil. I just want to bring him home but I know I cant as it is too dangerous for both of us and not good for my health with the lack of sleep.

Singing the high A in choir on Tues night strained my throat and made me cough again. Not as bad as before but just an irritation. I hope it comes right soon.

I have sold 49 of the 100 calendars (well, the local garage sold some of them). I must start thinking about getting some in the mail for overseas. I will be posting about 6/7 to friends/relatives.

I woke a little early this morning (or my bladder woke me!) so I am now having breakfast as I type. The time is 6.41am (daylight saving time).

Huia.

oh Ann how I wish my Misty was like your cat.
So many times she has bought me a bird in. She does not kill them,but enjoys playing with them.
I do not exactly like her doing it,as I then have to rescue them,and place them as high as I can,so they can get away from her.
And the naughty little so and so,is sat watching out of the patio doors.
She can chase birds,but when we needed her to catch our rat,she legged it out of the garden,like a big coward.

Mo Even when we had our cat (who was also a bird chaser) we fed the birds, she was quite lazy and would sit in the conservatory with her tail going watching them. But the birds soon learnt to steer clear if she was on the prowl and she never caught any from the feeders.

Hello my lovelies,how are we all today.
Sallie,I did get your p.m thank you,I have sent you a reply.
I do not know what has been happening to this site of late. Some days my
curser keeps flashing,and it drives me mad,but it only happens on this site.
Huiaaaaaaa,where are you. Thats the problem with the different time zones,our paths cross so often,we never seem to be able to be on at the same time.
Hows the voice holding up now. Do you still get coughing fits when you sing.
Have you managed to get through all the photo's yet.? And how about your calenders,are they selling well.?
Ann I go out in my garden early,every morning,to watch and listen to the birds.
I would love to put feeders out for them,but with my cat always on the prowl
it would be so unfair.
But first thing of a morning,as far as I am concerned,is so special,and so peaceful. I am normally out there at about 6.30 am.
I wonder what has happened to Grace today.
I do hope she comes back soon.
Love to all. Mo xxx

Good morning everyone, lovely sunny day here today. I have just filled the bird feeders and OH is tidying the garden for autumn, we have two boxes of pansies to go in, and some grasses.

Sallie, you write such a lovely long post you put me to shame. My shoulder is not too bad now as long as I don't wear any straps to press down on it for long periods. I haven't heard anything re the biopsy, my guess is, if all runs to the normal for the hospital admin, I wont hear anything until I get called for a check up in three months. When I go then I have a small place on my leg that I want him to look at, I will be full of holes soon!!

I always make about 100 cards for christmas and find doing a few a dy gets them done, they are not usually complicated ones though. I enjoy making them once I am in the swing of it but really would like to find time to do a scrap book page as well. Daff is overtaking us all now!!!

Grace, pleased to hear that your move went OK. I expect the delayed post was due in part to the postal strikes.

Huia, hope all is well with you today.

Better get on, have a good day everyone.

Ann
Glos xx

Hi Huia,

How are you today? I hope you are okay. It's been very quiet on here for a few days.

We haven't heard anything from Debbie and Sue for a while, I hope everything is alright with both of them and their families.

Jean, Marilyn and Liz are still away--hope they are all having a good time.
It will be nice to hear their news when they get back.

I thought that I had sent Mo a PM earlier on, but it didn't go through, so I lost the message completely--I'llhave to send her another one later on.
Goodness knows what I did or didn't do to lose it. Just typical of me.

I'm wondering if Ann has had the result of her biopsy yet--I hope the result will be good.

All seemed to be well with Marie and her family when heard from her several days ago.

Lovely to hear from Grace again. I hope that both her and her hubby have started to settle down in their new home, and will have many happy years there together. She's now living not too far away from Mo.

When do you visit Phil again? I hope he will be well, and that you will not be too upset when you leave. How is your cough Huia? Hope it isn't stopping you from going to choir. Take care of yourself!

Speak to you all later on.

Best wishes to everyone. Have a good day.

Love, Sallie.xxx

Where is everybody?

Welcome back Grace,we have missed you love.
So you are now living just down the road from me,well I never. I say just down the road,it's about forty minutes from me by car.
Sounds to me like you may be the leader of our revolution. It's such a nuisance when you move trying to find a new doctor,isn't it.
When my son lived in Canterbury,his doctor was in Sturry. He was on the outskirts of Canterbury. But he now lives up this way again. We are not far from Sittingbourne.
Sallie,I am going to sound really thick,yet again. But what is the CBT.
Have you got some sleeping tablets ,to help your brain switch off,at this trying time for you. Not that I am saying you need them full time,just temporarily till the crisis point is over.
I will look back later. Take care. Love Mo xxx

Hi Grace,
Nice to hear from you! Mo lives in Kent, but I can't remember where in Kent. Put it down to my age.
That cost a lot to have two letters redirected to your new address. What are the PO playing at, as we say 'money for old rope'.
Hope you like your new house and that you and OH will be very happy there.
Anyway, Grace I'll speak to you later, we are off to do the weekly shop, a job I hate.

Best wishes.

Love, Sallie.xx

Hello Girls,

At the moment I'm having trouble sleeping again, with one thing and another.

Huia, I think you you should visit Phil when you want to. As you say he doesn't always know you are there when you visit him. It's awful for you to see him as he is--as you say in some ways, he isn't the Phil you knew.
My auntie had the same problem with her hubby, she use to get so upset going to see him that she started going once a week. Sometimes, my mum and I would go with her to see him, he wasn't the uncle that I knew.
Like Phil, he had to stay in a secure home for his own safety. Like my auntie, you have to start making a life for yourself ( I don't mean that in any bad way) but you need to fill your life with things to do. I wish you all the very best. You have your friends on here that are always here for you.

Mo, glad to hear that everything is alright with both you and Roly. Alun and I are fine, thank you. I have to go and see the CBT a week on Friday, so that they can determine if therapy will help me at this time. Don't know what I'll do if they tell me that it won't. We'll just have to wait and see!

Ann, hope your shoulder is feeling a little better today. You are doing well with your Christmas cards. I haven't done any scrapping since last week, I haven't been able to get my mind around it.

I'm wondering if Debbie's dad is okay, he hadn't had the results of the tests he had while in hospital. So I hope everything is alright with him.

Thinking about everyone, and hoping that all is well with you all.

Best wishes.

Love, Sallie.xxx

Hello my friends,how are we all today then.
Sallie my love.
Please keep your chin up,we are all here for you. And if you need to shout at someone,shout as loud as you like,we have all got broad shoulders,and can take it.
I know that the base units,are being delivered to my son this week. But we
have to wait for the doors to be made,as they are not the normal run of the mill sizes.
So hopefully,it should be fitted within the next couple of weeks.
We are both o.k,thank you.
I hope you and Alun are both keeping well,apart from your recent troubles.
Hello Huia.
I also do not always remember our cyber friends names,but they are in our thoughts anyway,just as you are.
If Phil is unaware of your visits,then there seems no point in going to see
him so often.
Especially if it upsets you so much love.
You have to be able to get on with your life as well,and enjoy whatever takes your fancy to do.
Phil would want you to carry on with your life.
Hello to Ann, I hope you are o.k.
Love to all our friends,past and present. Mo xxx

You women are so good, replying to everybody and commenting on people who are missing. Im afraid I cant remember everybody who has been on the thread.

I just wish that Phil was being taken for walks. The garden he walks around can be circumnavigated in only 1 or at most 2 mins. Nowhere near enough for somebody who used to go for 3 - 6 hour hikes and was away over 5 hours the day he went 'missing'. Now with the drugs he is on he is a bit shaky in the legs and they want to persuade him to wear hip protectors in case he has a fall.

I am thinking that later I might even stretch visits to even longer apart. Not that I dont want to see him but it leaves me feeling so miserable next day as it is not the real Phil.

Huia.

Hi All,

Sorry I've not been on for a couple of days, but I'm still trying to get over the problems of last week.

Where is Debbie and Sue? We haven't heard from them for a while--I hope everything is alright with them and their families.

Ann, I'm sure that you would have heard something by now, if there was anything on the biopsy that wasn't right. I hope your shoulder will feel more comfortable very soon.

Huia, I hope you are feeling better. I'm sure that visiting Phil every four days will be fine. It's a shame that you can't get him in the home nearest to you, but at least you'll know that he'll be safe, so that will give you peace of mind.

Mo, how are you and Roly doing? I hope all is well with you both.
When are they coming to do your kitchen? It will be lovely when it's done.

I hope Jean and J are enjoying their holiday in Ludlow.At least we have had some dry weather this week.

Also hope that Marilyn and OH are enjoying their week staying with her brother and his family.

Speak to you all soon.

Love, Sallie.xxx

Hi
No Mo, not had the result of the biopsy which, as it is almost three weeks I hope is good news.

Huia, I am sure it would be fine for you to visit Phil every 4 days instead of three, as he doesn't really realise that you are there you are really visiting him for you rather than him, if you see what I mean.

Yes, it would be good if he was still being taken for walks, would keep him fit physically too.