General Chat

Welcome back Debbie.
It sounds like you had a really good time.
A friend of mine went to lourdes,she is of the catholic faith,and she said she thought it wonderful. But,she was with a community of people who had actually gone there for healing purposes.
As you say,it has now become to commercial,and where people used to go,just for the waters,that has been over ridden,by greed.
Did the children enjoy themselves?. Camping can be such fun for the young.
I used to feel let down if we went caravaning,but these days,the vans are
so modern,and have every facililty.
I presume you used tents,and not a van. I just thought,crikey it would have to be big for all of you.
Have you been catching up on the washing,or did you manage to do some whilst you were away?
I will let you get on with your relaxation now. Speak to you soon. Mo xxx

Hi there again, thought I'd better separate my threads, and leave the one for Huia as a different one.

Well, whilst you lot have had various things going on in your lives for the past 2 weeks, I have been having a fantastic holiday. Wall to wall sunshine for 2 weeks, which is unheard of for us, as it usually rains for at least 50% of our hols.

We camped through France and ended up in the Pyrenees, which were absolutely beautiful. We have been to the Alps before but the scenery and landscape around us at every turn this year far outclassed that of the Alps.

The camping went well, only 4 different sites so we stayed longer at each one than we would do normally, and we made the most of our surroundings. Loads of walking, visits to National Parks, Mountains, Waterfalls, Beaches and just generally chilling out. We made it to Andorra one day, and would not re-visit in a hurry. It was a long drive there and even though the mountains were spectacular, the towns were just filled with duty free shops and bumper to bumper traffic. Not a very pleasant experience for us, but at least we can say we have been there.

One place we visited that fascinated me was Lourdes. I have heard so much about the place, and the area around where the "Holy Water" can be found and by the Cathedral is really moving and I felt quite emotional being there. I am not a hugely religious person but I did appreciate the fact that some people there had such a strong belief that the waters and prayers would heal them or help them in their suffering, but I found it difficult to see so many people in such a small area putting so much hope into something like that. It certainly moved me to more than a few tears at times.

Unfortunately, the place is also very commercialised and you do wonder who is benefitting most from there, whether it is the people who visit with a genuine need, or if it is all the merchants selling their Souvenirs. Anyway, it was an emotionally fascinating place to visit and I'm very pleased I have been. If you ever want to visit some amazing mosiacs in a fantastic setting, then Lourdes Cathedral is the place to be..

The full 16 days we were away were filled with adventure and happiness and a fantastice family time, which has been lacking recently due to various things going on in the family. We have all come back refreshed and looking forward rather than backwards. Just what the doctor ordered.

I wish you all well, and will pop back on here during the week, when I am not being kept occupied by the children.

Best wishes to one and all.

DEBBIE

Hi everyone, here I am, back in the land of the mundane!!! I have read all the threads that have been posted on here since I have been away, far too many to comment on individually, but I am sure you all won't mind me sending Huia a message through here.

Huia, you are a very caring and loving person to someone with whom you have shared so many ups and downs (I can tell that by the tone of your messages). However, you have done the best thing at the moment and I hope that you are now catching up on sleep and social time, which you so deserve.

My F-In-L has got alzheimers and it is a terrible illness. He was widowed a few years back so there was nobody to look after him when he started wandering, so the family had to make the difficult decision to have his illness assessed. He was in a psychiatric Unit for 2 weeks whilst they tested him and we eventually had him moved to a secure Dementia Unit. My Hubby was in pieces about it at the time, but that was back in April and we now appreciate that his life has actually improved for him in his condition.

He is safe, well looked after with 24 hour care and the Care Home take them all out daily, so he gets exercise and fresh air. As he has settled in, we have been able to take him out and spend time with our family, which has pleased him immensley. He cannot remember we have taken him anywhere and we have to sometimes talk to him about things of no consequence or significance, but he is happy.

I am sure that after a while your OH will settle, and the aggression and anger will slip away to become a realisation (unfortunately, this often happens as the illness progresses), but you are in my thoughts and prayers, and and I know that in time you will know that you have made the right decision.

LOVE DEBBIE xxx

Oh our Huia,what are we to do with you.
I am so glad the visit to your O.H went well. At least now your mind can rest knowing that he is being well cared for. Ah bless him,he probably thought you had come to take him home. But,as long as they him for his nice long walks,he will be more contented.
Did you take the photo's in,of him tramping,so that the staff could see what his enjoyment is.?
How the heck did they not notice that they had your pic,upside down.
Why the goodness should you have to pay for their mistake anyway.
Pray to god they get it right next time. Did you check all the other pics as well,to make sure they had not made any other errors.
It seems like the police must have been on a call out,when you had your near miss,with the imbecile who had a death wish.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers,for your doctors appointment.
Hello Our Marie. It doesn't matter if you have no news to relate,as long as we hear from you we know you are o.k.
How is your weather now?. Has it warmed up yet? I am trying to remember when your summer starts again.
If my cousin out there had phoned me I would know,but I have been a bit remiss and I owe her a call really. But she tells me that it hardly costs her
very much at all,to phone England. So I don't know if you get special rates out there on certain calls.
BIG BIG Waves to Jean,Marilyn,Grace,Sue,Liz,and Debbie.
Take care all. Love Mo xxx

Hi All ,I have just read the posts and I did have a good laugh, especially at Liz and her cold shoulder comment , I dont get any of that now and havent for the last 16 yrs.
I dont really have anything to tell you so I will wish you all a peacefull sleep and a bright sunny day tomorrow.
God Bless you all Marie (((((((((hugs to all )))))))))))
Marie XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

AARRGGHH!!! You just wouldnt read about it. The good part first. Just after closing the computer down the phone went, our firefighter friend wanting to know how Phil was. I told him I was planning to visit but had to phone for a taxi to take me to Papakura as our ute was in for fixing. He insisted on taking me, even though I am sure he hadnt had any intention of going to town. He dropped me off at the r/way station and I got the train through. It stops right beside the hospital. But trying to find Ward 22 ...... following the signs, I am sure I went in half a dozen circles, wondered when I would get to the middle of the spiral. The visit went better than I expected. When I said I had better be going he had the idea he was coming too but I managed to persuade him to stay. Big relief.

Back in Papakura I picked up the ute (over $1100) and drove to Papatoetoe to pay our insurance as I dont like posting big (over $1400) cheques. As I slowed to come off the motorway there I noticed that I had a mini tap dancer under the bonnet. Uh oh. Back in Papakura I went back to the place that had fixed it. It was just the exhaust under the bonnet had taken to rattling and needs welding so I will get that done one day when I am going to visit Phil but it is not an urgent thing that might leave me stranded, whew.

I went to the printers and my calendars were in a box waiting. I was going to pay and just take them but they said I should look at them first. Just as well, as when I turned to January my jaw dropped and I hated having to tell them that the photo was upside down! It is a photo of a lake and they insisted that it was the right way, trees framing the top (weeds growing in the foreground!). They pointed out that they had showed me a sample last week. I said I would surely have noticed an error like that, so the woman went and got the sample and her face was a picture when she turned to the page as the picture was the right way up! She said Xerox would have to answer to that (would the machine have inverted it?) Anyway I shouldnt have to pay extra for them to remove all the staples and reprint the cover, I would imagine, but another day to wait for my baby!! Waahhh. They had suggested that nobody else would notice the error but there is no way I would want to sell it with such an error.

Anyway as I was heading out of Papakura to come home some idiot stepped onto the road in front of me without looking and he wasnt even on a very nearby crossing. Luckily I was going fairly slowly and slowed and honked, but our horn is useless. He was totally oblivious. There was a police car coming the other way and when I noticed they were stopping I thought they had seen him and were stopping to tell him off so I stopped round the corner and walked back, but they were tackling a couple of young people and putting them in the car. I am not sure what they had done but when they had finished I commented to the policeman about what had happened and how I had thought that was why they had stopped. I arrived home safely but now I am wondering how I will fare at the docs tomorrow. Will he find something terrible wrong with me? Things arent going in 3s for me, I think I am jinxed. Please send all your good-things-happening thoughts my way, I need them.

Hope the trip has gone ok Huia - have mailed you etc.


I am still giving o.h. the cold shoulder so when he got home at 12.30am, yes he did have to stay on lol, and said he wanted the car again today as his knee is sore, I said well I need it too, and said no more. He tried to start conversation but I was very short with him and soon he gave up and went to bed, all nice clean linen and if he has rumpled my side of the bed, he is dead!

night folks lol

Lizxxx

Hello all ~~~~

I cant remember what I told you yesterday. I phoned the hospital and they said it would be good if I could visit. Phil had been very angry, trying to break down doors and windows to get out but when he said he wanted to go for a walk somebody took him for a walk in the garden. Probably not enough for his liking, he likes long hikes, but at least he would have realised that he didnt have to stay cooped up indoors all the time.

It was suggested that I should visit him. No way could I have done that yesterday but I will get a taxi back to our nearest town today and then the train to the hospital. I am taking the last of my homemade biscuits and a few sweets in a small plastic jar. Also his harmonica, and last night I printed a lot of mostly older photos onto ordinary A4 paper, 2 to a page, and have put them in a clearfile so he can show people and talk about them. There are several photos about tramps we have done (more than just hikes) in the past, plus climbing Ruapehu and flying over it when it was erupting, so the hospital will see how keen he is on walking and being outdoors.

Slept in late this morning so better get moving and phone for a taxi. It is now 9.30am.

Huia.

Hi Mo,
Just seen your message. I think it's the younger generation Mo, they are so laid back at times, it's a wonder they don't fall over. But I know what you mean, sometimes their attitude gives the impression that they are not bothered about anyone but themselves. I have had the same thing in the past with both mine, they are a lot better now , thank goodness.

Anyway Mo, I hope your daughter will feel better soon. Please give her my good wishes when you speak to her. Both you and Roly take care!

Love, Sallie.xx

Hi Ladies,

Huia, did you manage to speak to Phil? I hope he has settled down a little bit. Sorry you've had a problem with the car--it's amazing how it always gives us trouble when we need it most. At least when you pick the car up you'll know that it will be okay.I hope your eyes are alright after missing your drops.

Liz, hope you have recovered from your escapade--you certainly made me laugh-- sometimes the men think they know it all, and drive us poor ladies round the bend. Hope you are keeping well!

Jean, I've got a photo ready to send to you---the only problem is, waiting for Alun to send it for me--must admit he has shown me a few times how to send things, but I keep forgetting how. So much for my brains. At the moment he is 'playing' with his train, 'boys and their toys', everything else comes second or third.
I'm having a bit of trouble with one of my scrap pages, trying to get the colours right.

Mo, you made me laugh too, when you were telling us about Roly driving. I don't have any problems like that because I can't drive. So Alun has to do all the driving. But when Richard or Jennie are driving he tends to tell them both how to drive--never mind that Richard passed his test nearly nine years ago and Jennie passed her test almost five years ago.
It would be nice if you could pluck up the courage to fly Mo--it's so different travelling on a Jumbo or an Airbus, I'm sure you would be fine. If I can do it, I'm sure you can. After flying to New York I realised how much I had missed out over the years.
Lets hope that your granddaughter has had her results and that everything is clear. Keeping my fingers croosed for her!

Thinking about Sue, Grace, Marie, Marilyn and Debbie, and hoping you are all alright.

Sending special wishes to Huia and Phil.xx

Best wishes to everyone!

Love, Sallie.xx

I have just been on a mercy mission girls.
My daughter phoned me in tears,could I be a flu friend and get her some tami flu. Bless her,because obviously you can have no contact. I felt like I was on a secret mission,with her passing her two forms of I.D through her door,and me posting her medication through her door afterwards.
We bought her plenty of bottles of water,and some magazines to keep her
entertained.
This is the daughter,who is the mother of the grandaughter,who is waiting for the results of her biopsy.
It makes me so cross,why can't her daughter help her. Don't get me wrong,I would give my children any help that they needed'and in my daughters case will continue to help her,BUT why does her daughter treat her like this. I get sooo cross with her. My daughter has done so much to help her in the past,and now she is being selfish ignoring her mum like this.
Sorry girls rant over,I feel better now. Love Mo xxx

Mo, thanks for the hugs I needed them....

Huia,what a bummer, well at least you will know the ute will be roadworthy for you, you are handling it all so well, did you manage to ring Ohil, just wondering how he doing.......

love to all...Jean x ~~~~~~~~ To LIz ~~~~~~~~

Oh my god Huia,what else could possibly go wrong for you. It never rains but it pours.
The troulble is,that you need the ute to get yourself around,and to visit Phil.
You cannot keep paying out for taxi's.
I wish I was as brave as you Sallie. If I was,I would like to go to Australia,
to visit a cousin I never knew existed,until a team of heir hunters,put us in contact with each other.
A distant cousin of ours had passed away,and left quite a big estate,and Hoopers contacted us,and we were beneficiaries,along with others I did no know existed.
My cousin in OZ,was my dads sisters daughter,and she sent me photo's
of my grandmother,who died when she was very young.
Sallie,when I was a child,my dad was stationed in S.Wales near Cardiff.
It was out of this world,so peaceful after living on the outskirts of London.
I envy you going to N.Wales.
Still no news on Grandaughter,I phoned her mum and asked her,and she said that she had seen her the night before,and that she had not mentioned anything about it. Maybe,I should be as laid back as they seem to be about it,who knows. But as you all know,I am an old worry guts.
Oh Liz,I was in fits of laughter reading of your day. It sounds very much my type of day whenever I have to drive Roly anywhere.
I get from him," you are to close to the cars parked at the side of the road"
and this is coming from a man who,always tailgates other drivers,and then complains when they do it to him.
That's why now when we go out,I leave the driving up to him,and shut my eyes when he gets to close to others.
The thing is,if we get asked to parties,as I don't drink,he expects me to drive,but I have refused to do it,so we get a taxi or we walk.
Hello to Our Jean,Marie,Marilyn,Grace,Sue and Debbie.
Love and best wishes to you all. Big {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}for Jean +Huia.

HOW MUCH MORE CAN GO WRONG? Sorry to shout but I am getting balder by the day. I tried to do my eyedrops after dinner last night and found the bottle was empty (not clear plastic so cant see the contents. It says discard after 30 days and I had had it only since 22 July). I thought I would shoot into town first thing this morning to get more and then back to ring the hospital to find what was going to happen with Phil, but THE WAGON (a ute) WOULDNT START! The man down the road who helped search for Phil is an AA road service man so I phoned him. I think he was off duty today so he phoned HQ but they said there was a 2 hr wait so he came up to help a damsel in distress. He eventually got it jump started but he thought it was the alternator so I should take it to the auto electrician in town which I did. Turned off the engine then went into reception and waited while she dealt with 2 other people. Then one of the men hopped in and started it instantly. They said they would have to have a good look at everything. They might be able to fix up the alternator, as a new one is expensive. Wanted my cellphone number but when I got it out and turned it on THE BATTERY WAS VERY LOW! What have I done to deserve all this? So I got my eyedrops, and went into the docs rooms and told the nurse the story about troubles with the vehicle and the hospital might be trying to ring me so she rang them and told them and said I wouldnt be home until tonight. After much wandering around town and having lunch I felt very tired, went to a quiet corner in the library in the hopes of having a snooze but no go. Went back to the auto elec. The alternator was in extremely bad condition, so new needed, and the battery is over 3 yrs old and he thought it was in poor condition too so I said put in a new one. I got a taxi home and will get one in tomorrow if they have fixed it by then. OH, WOE IS ME!

Better try to ring the hospital to see if they have decided anything.

Huia who is spending a fortune this month what with rates, insurance and all the rest of it, just as well we have some savings.

Hi all, just a quick visit as I have a lot of things to catch up with.

Jean, I am glad you have got your holiday booked, I have been looking for something for us instead of Heacham where we had provisionally booked, but o.h. doesn't want to drive too far, petrol is going back up apparently and he isn't earning as much as before when he did every Saturday on higher pay overtime, now he gets half a Sat. once a month if he is lucky, not that he doesn't earn good money, just that he wanted to pay off his mortgage soon and is still striving towards that goal. He doesn't see the sense of going far and paying out a lot, he just likes the inexpensive cottage 40 miles away but we have been there two or three times and there isn't much to do especially as we aren't going till 19th Sept and it will be dark by 6pm then.
We went out today and he got in a paddy and I had to drive home, I wasn't concentrating cos he was rabbiting on, and I took a wrong turn and had to drive several miles back to where we started then when I was in position to drive past that set of lights to the correct one, he said I should have turned right, so I moved over and did it even tho it was the way I had already gone (wrong). Of course I knew it was wrong but thought he had an idea about the way, and then had to turn round and come back yet again, only a few hundred yards the second time and take the correct turning at the next set of lights, he went into yet another paddy, saying I was blaming him and it was all my fault so we drove the rest of the way home after he had finished screaming at me, in stony silence. I came in and got myself a snack and he sat there and fell asleep in the chair and then got up at 9pm, went upstairs and I haven't seen him since. Oh it was so nice and peaceful lol
Right now I wouldn't want to go on holiday with him so will wait and see what happens, it's less than 5 weeks away so not much time to sort it out.
Men!!

Huia, hope you will get more sleep as you settle into a new routine and that the calender is all you want it to be when you pick it up. Enjoy yourself with your friend and take care, we are all thinking of you both and sending positive thoughts that things work out well for Phil and for you.

I am another person who can't do Sudoku, yet can whizz through word puzzle magazines in a jiffy. Never was a numbers person tho altho I can do the basics ok, working as a barmaid having to add up rounds in my head soon made me speed up on addition lol

Have a good week everyone, take care
love
Lizxxxx

Hi Everyone,
Sorry I haven't been on much this last few days, I've been out quite a lot and today I have been busy catching up with some jobs.I hope you have all had a good weekend.

Huia, glad to see that you are a bit more relaxed. It will be nice to meet your friend for a meal and to be able to sit and have a good natter to her, without worrying about Phil wanting to go home. Once you know what's happening with him, you will be able to get into a routine. I'm also sure that once Phil gets settled and into a routine at the rest home he will be fine.
Both Alun and Jennie like doing sudoku, but I would prefer to do a crossword.

Jean, so pleased that you have managed to book a holiday at last. Alun's sister and brother-in-law live in Ilkley. Both Alun and I like Yorkshire, we had a few days in N. Yorkshire a couple of years ago. We went to quite a few places but we really liked Robin Hood Bay the best.

Marie, so glad you enjoyed your holiday. It looks as though the children are a lot better. It's lovely having a day out with some of the family, it does you the power of good.

Marilyn, there are so many beautiful parts of Britain, you don't know what you are missing. My cousin married an O'Neill born in S Wales, but the family originally came from Ireland, generations back.

Mo, how are you and Roly keeping? Hope all is well with your granddaughter, thought she might have had her results by now.
I was always terrified of flying, until four years ago when I decided I would like to go to New York, so I plucked up the courage and booked to go. I've flown a couple of times since, but only long haul where they have the bigger planes. I don't fancy flying in the smaller planes, but love flying in the jumbo's.
We are hoping to go across to N. Wales about the middle of September, Mo. I think we might join a FHS over there, we are hoping it will help with our resaearch, because we don't know the Wrexham area at all.

Liz, nice to see you on here! Hope all is okay with you and your family.

Hope Debbie, Sue, and Grace are all alright.

Well I'll speak to you all tomorrow. Goodnight to you all!

Best wishes,

Love, Sallie.xx

Do you know what Huia,I am absolutely useless at soduku. Give me a crossword or wordsearches any day. But when it comes to numbers,I have a complete blank.
Marilyn,I am afraid we never go abroad. We both have a fear of flying. I have not flown since 1959,when I came back from Malaysia,as a child.
But we did live in Yorkshire,when Roly was in the R.A.F. it was lovely there.
Take care both of you. Love Mo xxx

Jean I loved Yorkshire when I was there in '97, but then a quarter of my ancestry comes from there.

I had 1 or 2 more hours of sleep but at 6.30 I decided I just wasnt going to get back again. I can sleep later in the day if I want. Now having breakfast.

Huia.

Hi Everyone,

So glad you got a holiday Jean, ,I think everyone should have one to look forward to.
I have never been to Yorkshire Jean, funny that I travel the world ,but I really ought to see more of my country.
Still its the weather that lets us down...I do tend to follow the Sun !! LOL

Huia, glad you to see you a bit settled it can only get better.

Mo & Maria I have Irish ancestors as well (O'NEILL) and what a pain they were to trace in the UK let alone Ireland ..!!
Not got that far as I cant seem to get a follow up for them....so I have a brick wall.I need a bulldozer to knock it down ..LOL

Hope everyone is is OK.

Marilyn xx

Thank you ladies. You are all such a lovely lot, I will certainly be keeping up my sub to GR.

I havent visited Phil yet, son thought it wise not to visit too soon, particularly if they are going to put him into a secure rest home soon. Let him get settled. But I must phone in 4 or 5 hours (only 4am here at present) to find out what is happening. If I cant get hold of anybody who knows anything at that hour I will have to tell them to ring me after lunch. I am right out of one lot of my eyedrops, missed them last night so must have the morning ones, plus I hope to pick up my baby from the printer! Paying the rates will wait for another day. At least bill payments are not something I have had to suddenly take over. I have always done it as Phil is not all that marvellous with spelling so leaves writing of cheques etc to me. I am also good with numbers, in fact I love sudoku etc, even more than cryptic crosswords which I used to do.

Back to bed, perchance to sleep again.

Huia.