General Chat

Cheers Ann,you have really cheered me up now. Why oh why,are the t.v stations so sport orientated. ITV have three other channels they could use,and the BBC has a further three as well,so why cant they leave the normal programmes we are all used to alone. All the soaps have been thrown out off sync,and I am really peeved about that.
I know,I know,I am a sad person,my life does not revolve around them,but I have a lot off elderly friends,who really enjoy them,and are most upset about missing them.

Sallie thank you for the explanation of the Parchment classes. It must be very time consuming though isn't it. But the end product must be beautiful.

Huia, it's good to hear that you are getting more sleep now. It makes all the difference doesn't it. You tend to wake more refreshed,and ready to face the day.
What a shame that Phil was not so communicative on your last visit. Just take each visit as it comes love. He is bound to have good and bad days.
I hope it is a dry day tommorrow,so that you can enjoy your tree planting.
If I remember rightly,you did it last year as well didn't you. But I think that Phil was with you on that occasion.

I will have to go for now,but I will pop back later.
Love to you all. Mo xxx

I have had a couple of good nights sleep which has been great, none of this dozing for an hour then waking up and being unable to get back to sleep for ages. I feel quite a bit better for it, and for the walks I have had, though it would be nice if I had somebody to walk with me, just to encourage me to keep going, but then everybody seems to walk at such a quick pace and my legs cant keep up. Anyway, I am at least making a start.

I visited Phil again this morning. He was not quite as responsive as the other day, but not too bad. Tomorrow if it is not too wet I will go to plant native trees in a park, but if it is pouring I might just go for a drive instead. There are quite a few big parks in the Auckland region, they used to be farms but are now being replanted with native trees by volunteers. The one I am going to is about an hour away from here, by the sea (the Firth of Thames, looking over towards Coromandel peninsula). We have planted there once before. It will mean leaving here about 9 a.m. so I must go and put my gear in the back of the ute ready for an early start tomorrow.

Huia.

Sorry that was me deleting, I posted twice. Just noticed that
we are on page 180.

Love, Sallie.xxx

Hello Ladies,

I'm late again sorry, once I start on the cards I lose all sense of time.

Huia, I'm really sorry to hear that you are suffering from depression, it's a horrible thing to have, it stops you getting on with life as you would like to. If only we were living nearer you we could all meet for perhaps lunch and a nice long chat. As you said we are all here to talk to, but it isn't the same as face to face. Perhaps there is something that you could join, so that you meet more people, there might even be someone in the same position as youself, that would be glad of your company as you would of theirs. I hope the tablets will start to kick in soon and that you'll start to
feel better.

Mo, that was a lovely surprise for you and Roly, the change will do the both of you the world of good. Parchment or Pergamano as it's also known, is embossing and pricking onto parchment paper, although I only did the embossing on Wednesday, I was quite pleased with what I did, as it was my first go at it. Are you enjoying the football? I'll be glad when it's finished.
Glad to hear that Jean is feeling better than she's been and that she'll back on here soon.

Sylvia, hope you both have a good trip up to the cabin, and that the weather will be good for you. We'll miss seeing you on hear for a few days.
Love and hugs to MJ. xxx

Debbie, you are having a very busy time at the moment. I'm glad that Sophie enjoys going to Brownies. Jennie always loved going, she started in Rainbows, then moved up to Brownies and from there to Guides. Richard first started in Beavers, then Cubs and finally Scouts. All of the groups were attached to the church we went to. They were lovely years, I don't know where the time has gone to.

Ann, it's nice to know that you feel the same as me about the football. I'm sick of hearing about it. I won't have any problem with the tennis because Alun doesn't like it, thank goodness. I'm sure the television company cater more for the men of Britain than they do for us ladies.

Liz, I hope you are starting to feel a bit better. I know it isn't easy and I do feel for you, as I do for Huia.

Marie, thinking about you and your family. Keep yourself warm and take care!

Jean, pleased to hear that you are feeling better, looking forward to seeing you back with us all.

Well that's all for now, ladies. Speak to you tomorrow.

Love and best wishes.

Sallie. xxx

((((((Hugs)))))) Jean. See you soon.
Good to see you Debbie, goodness you are a bust bee.

Mo, Wonderful isn't it, football and more football and next week Oh joy, the tennis starts.

Hello again everyone.
I have just had a p.m from Jean. She would like me to let you all know,that her tablets are beginning to work,and she is starting to feel a little better.
She sends you all her very best wishes,and will hopefully be back with us all soon.
Take care of yourself my friend,see you very soon. Love Mo xxx

Hello girls.
I am a bit earlier today,because I am totally bored out of my tiny little scull.
Football on BBC 1 ,Ascot on BBC2,a repeat of Midsummer Murders,on ITV. Hou**w**k done, so now I am waiting to cook dinner.

Ann I know what you mean about being like ships that pass in the night. I take myself upstairs to watch t.v,if Roly is watching something I don't want to see. Or I take my laptop up with me,for a bit of peace and quiet.
Roly has the telly up so loud that you cant hear yourself think,so sometimes it's a relief to go up there.
I am so lucky with my girls,they are so thoughtful. We initially thought that the weekend away,was a fathers day gift for Roly,but no,our daughter bought her dads present over at the same time.

So Sallie please explain,what do you do at a Parchment class. How does it work is what I am saying really. I do know that parchment is paper,but what do you actually have to do with it. I know,I know, I am a real thicko.lol
Will they extend your therapy sessions,if you should need them. All I know is,that you sound so much more confident,than you did a few months ago.
So the sessions have obviously done you good, well done love on getting as far as you have.

Hi Debbie,it's so good to catch up on all your news.
Well done to Daniel,for getting through to the Guernsey school meet. I hope he is very successful there. And brings home a medal to show you all.
Javelin throwing may be Matthews Forte,until such time as his joints become more stable. And there is always next year for him to compete,in the running events when he is a bit stronger.
Ah bless little Sophie,I bet she looks a picture in her Brownie Uniform. It's so nice when children take up an interest like that.
I hope you don't suffer to much pain from your teeth extractions,when the gums come back to life. That is the one thing I don't like about having extractions done.

Well I must away now. Take care all. Love Mo xxx

Sallie, I was there on this thread just before you. I am fine thanks.

Hi Ladies, here I am again. Life has been in the fast lane the past week or so, and I'm just catching up with things. So much going on here that it is like reading a book every time I get back onto the thread.

Huia, you had a lovely time with Phil and looking at the pictures in the books and photos. Treasure those times and be positive. It is a good memory.

Mo, we stayed near to Dymchurch many years ago. I think Daniel & Matthew were still in the double buggy at the time, so about 13 years back. The little railway line is lovely, there is also the Bluebell lne around there, but I'm not sure of the stations it uses. Also, at the coast end of the Dymchurch/Romney line there is a lovely restaurant in an old Lighthouse - I hope my memory serves me correctly. It was very popular, and the food there was lovely - a lot of fish dishes.

Talking of fishing, Peter took Matthew & Luke out on the boat last weekend and they caught their first mackerel of this season, so tea was good that evening. It was Luke's 9th Birthday, so he was happy. They saw seals whilst they were out at sea, so that made for a very enjoyable day for the three of them. I stay on land with Sophie as we aren't keen on the boat. Daniel had athletics, so had to stay behind.

Athletics has taken up most of my days recently. Daniel & Matthew have both been competing at Individual level and also for their school. Daniel has made his place for the trip to compete against Guernsey schools next Thursday, but I'm not sure Matthew will make it this year. He will find out at school today. He is running quite well considering he had such a lot of time off with various joint & bone problems. He has taken up javelin throwing again, which is good and doesn't put as much strain on his legs.

The rest of us are keeping fit and well. Sophie was officially enrolled in the Brownies on Wednesday. She is very proud of her uniform and really enjoys her evenings with the other girls. Prince Edward & Sophie are coming here on 29th June and all the Brownies in the Island are gathering together to give a presentation. My Sophie is so excited. I am sure Countess Sophie is equally so!!!!

Had to have a tooth out thismorning so am feeling a wee bit sorry for myself. I had all 4 wisdom teeth out some years ago as there wasn't room for them, but my two top gaps have grown extra teeth, meaning that I had 6 wisdom teeth!!!!!! The extra bits aren't fully formed, so one of them was taken out today. Hopefully there won't be any more underneath it. The one on the other side is ok for the moment. It depends on how it grows as to whether it will have to come out as well.

I must look up that Vancouver Demolition that you have all seen, and see what you are chatting about. Isn't the internet amazing for anything and everything?

Sorry to say that the World Cup has hit our household, and I do actually enjoy the games. We are in a Fantasy Football league with some of Peters friends from his snooker team. At the moment Matthew & I are leading by a long way with Peter & Daniel in 2nd place. So much for Peters mates thinking it would be a good thing to do, they aren't exactly showing themselves yet. I am sure time will tell something different as we get through the tournament.

Anyway, best be off. I can't eat or dink anything for a few more hours, so I'm going to read my latest book whilst pretending to have lunch.

Keep well, all of you.

Debbie xx

Hello Everyone,

I was typing out a message to you all last night and just I got near the end, the whole lot disappeared. I was too tired to type all again, so decided to wait until today.

Mo, you're right about what the men are like once the TV goes on. I sometimes think that Alun has forgotten I'm there, lol. Well at least a lot of us have the same problem. Have you finished all the painting now? If you have, I'm sure you're pleased that it's now out of the way.
I've spent quite a bit of time ringing up family members this week, finding out how all the 'patients' are getting along.
Yesterday, I went to Derby to a parchment class in a craft place there. It was very good, and I enjoyed doing it. One of my friends came with me, so we went early so that we could look around the shops and then have an early lunch, before going to the craft place.

Liz, I've been to see the Counsellor today, I have two more appointments left with her, so I don't know what happens then. Although, I feel much better than I've been for over a year. There are things that have come to the surface that I wasn't even aware of, all linked with other things that I thought was a seperate issue. Over the last ten years I've seen other Counsellors, although they were all nice, they never made the difference that this one has. Take care and try not to let things upset you.

Huia, good to hear that Phil fed himself while you there, and that he took interest in the photos and showed some response to them. I'm sure you felt a lot better when you left him. Are you still having very cold weather there? Hope the problem with your scanner is sorted, and that you have found a way to do what you wanted it for.

Sylvia, I'm certain that you are looking forward to having the family to stay with you. It will be lovely to have your daughter and MJ to stay on their own for a couple of weeks, as you don't get to see them very often. Good luck to your son-in-law with his exams or what ever it is he has. Glad to hear that OH's eye is a lot better.

Marie, have you finished the cushion for Abbey's birthday yet? I'm hope she'll have a lovely day out for her birthday, the little ones enjoy going to somewhere like that, rather than have a party. Is your weather still as cold as it's been? If it is, I hope you are you managing to keep warm, as you say the cost of electricity and gas is awful, it makes you frightened to use it too much, in case the bill is more than you can afford. It's just the same here in Britain!

Jean, if you're looking in, I'm still thinking about you and hope that things are getting easier for you.

Debbie, not heard from you for a few days, hope all is okay with you and your family.

Ann, we haven't seen you much lately, hope you and T are okay.

I'll speak to you all tomorrow.

Love and best wishes. Sallie. xxx

Oh Huia,what a shame you are so far away. We could all meet and chat to our hearts content.
I am sorry that you have been feeling down as well. Hopefully the tablets the doctor has prescribed for you,will go a long way in helping you.
Loneliness,is a right Bu**er,and can pull you down no end.
And like Liz,having no one to chat to from day to day,is awful. I think thats why a lot off people turn to the net,for company's sake. Knowing that there is someone who is ready and willing,to talk,even though it be only cyber chat,that for some has got to be better than having no connection to the outside world at all.
Keep your chin up,and rejoin the choir,even if you dont always sing with them. At least the company will do you good.

Hi Sylvia,I have been reading the thread about Abbey/Christine,or whatever non-de-plume she is going under now. She is one rude woman,
I even caught her on TTF. Who the devil does that woman think she is.
She is so ungrateful for all the help she has been given,and takes it as her god given right,to have the help she has been given.
It's no wonder people have been up in arms over her attitude.
I did wonder when you would be making your first trip up to the cabin.
You both enjoy it up there don't you. How far away from you is it,I have been trying to remember.?
You will need to get it all sorted before the family arrive wont you. Will you take baby up there with you both.? Or is it to remote.?

Right my lovelies,I will say bye for now. Love Mo xxx

Sylvia, it will be nice for you to get away from it all at the cabin.
And Mo, how lovely of your daughter to treat you like that, I am sure that you will enjoy the break.
Actually at the moment we are like ships that pass in the night in this house, OH upstairs watching football and me downstairs watching soaps. drama etc. And it can only get worse as the tennis starts next week (Groan!)

Huia, I am sure if you can get out for a walk the exercise will help beat the depression, hope so anyway, I always feel better for a briskish walk.

Sallie, hope all is well with you.

what a wonderful present for you!


you'll have a great time


a grey dull day again, and still quite chilly


not much exciting going on here


we'll make our first trip up to the cabin next week ... leaving on Tuesday and returning on Thursday or possibly Friday .... just taking the generator and a few big boxes back up there. Stuff that we have to bring out in October-ish because it gets too cold to leave them there.


so if I'm missing, you know where I am!




sylvia
xxx

Mo, I am not sure I am the one to help Liz at present. I have been feeling lonely and depressed myself. I went to the doc yesterday, had a long weep on her 'shoulder'. I havent been sleeping well so she prescribed some sleeping pills, took half one last night and slept very well, woke up a new woman (dont know what she was doing in my bed). I was spurred to go outside and walk briskly (for me) 3 times around the house and hope to get a walk somewhere else later in the day if it isnt raining, since exercise is supposed to help depression, or should I say reduce it as I dont want it helped! Doc also prescribed some mild antidepressent pills to help my mood. I am also thinking of rejoining choir just so I have some social interaction, and offering to help in one of the op shops once a week or fortnight. I dont see too many people, apart from the residents and carers when I visit Phil, and the people in the shops when I go shopping. It would be nice to have somebody to chat to occasionally, face to face. I know I can chat on here but it is not quite the same thing. Anyway I am feeling quite a bit better now so things can only get better.The sun is beginning to peep over the hills so must get the dishes done and decide where I will go for a nice long walk.

Huia.

Hi it's me again.
Guess what, I have just had a lovely surprise. One off our daughters has just been to visit,and she has booked and paid for us,to stay at a four star hotel,for a weekend in July.
A total surprise for us both,we had absolutely no idea she was going to do it.
So we will be going to Dymchurch for the weekend. It's not that far from us, near to Flokestone,but we have never ever been there.
They have the Dymchurch and Romney railway there. I believe it's an old steam train railway, so it will be nice to go back in time,and have a quick trip on it.
Thats it girls,just thought I would share my delight with you all.
Love to you all. Mo xxx

Hi everyone.
I hope Sallie is o.k,only she has not been here for two days. If you are looking in Sallie>>>>>>>come back sweetie<<<<<<<<<.missing your little chats.

Huia I think you are right,it would probably be a waste of time getting new teeth for Phil. It would be a very uncomfortable and bewildering situation
for him to cope with.
I do feel for the residents in nursing homes.
I know that all my mums clothing had to be name tagged. And very often she would end up with other peoples clothes. And when I visited her she would ask me when I had bought her the new clothes. I would then take them to a member off staff,and ask for mums clothes to be returned.
Bless her mum didn't know half of what went on.
Why did they want the clothes name labelled,if they were not prepared to sort them out properly.
I dont know how it works over there,but I felt that the staff sometimes used to think the residents were a nuisance in mums home.
I sometimes wish I could have coped with her at home. But with a young son still at home,and the senile dementia getting worse,I don't know how I would have been able to cope.

Liz, I am feeling for you love. I dont like to think of you being so down in the dumps.
If you ever want to chat,you can always p.m me. And I know that Huia will say the same.
Is there no one you could visit for a few days,to get away from Im indoors.
Someone who will sit and have a good gossip with you,to take your mind off your problems.
Men can be so insensitive at times. All I can say is that I do know to a certain extent how you feel.
Once the t.v goes on in this house,all conversation dies. And then Roly wonders why I talk so much when I meet my friends each morning.
I have stored it up till I meet them,and then I cant stop.
I am luckier than you in that respect,I meet my friends each morning for a coffee. And I love it when there is only us girls all together gossiping away to our hearts content.

Hi all,

Huia, I read recently that while people wonder whether it is worth visiting a relative with Alzheimers's as the contact will often be quickly forgotten, the visit is worthwhile. Apparently US scientists have found that Alzheimer's patients are still left with warm feelings and a sense that life is worth living, even when they cannot remember a visit itself. I am glad you found Phil eating by himself and seeming ok and it's probably as well the doctors don't want to pull him about in any way and will let things take their natural course.

I am plodding on, feeling a bit low in many ways, I think it is because life is so tedious. O.h. is no company at all, falling asleep in his recliner after his evening meal regardless of what time I serve it and being unable to really think of more than one thing at a time, i.e. his son coming over for the wedding being the main topic . Every evening he looks out the window and remarks on how light the evenings are which really gets my goat as I had so hoped we could get a holiday around these next weeks to take advantage of longer brighter days for a change, instead of going away in September all the time. He won't go away once the children are on holidays from school and it's expensive so he complains about prices, hence me trying to fix hols for cheaper quieter times. Once he had the wedding to think about and then the arrangements re the son in NY etc, any other things went out of his head despite me bringing them up. He didn't go ahead and renew his passport as he had promised so going abroad is out of the question, and to add insult to injury, his ex and her partner are off to Corfu at the end of this week.


Because I am feeling so stressed I am sorry I can't follow everyone's progress with comments, be sure I am thinking about you all and hope I can start to feel more with it soon.
Meanwhile take care everyone, postiive thoughts for all you want to happen.

love
Lizxxx

Mo, Phil lost his teeth in the public hospital and then a found them a few days later but he wouldnt wear them as they no longer fitted and were uncomfortable, even though I bought some of that polydent stuff. I think they went to the private hospital with his stuff, but if he wont wear them there is not much we can do. I did think of getting him fitted with new teeth but in his condition I dont think he would co-operate with having the stuff in his mouth to get the shape. He is coping fine without. I noticed that one of the newer residents must be very hard of hearing as the carer was talking into her ear. I mentioned it later about hearing aids being a problem and she said they take them out and lose them. They dont like the residents to have control of their reading glasses either as they take them off and they get lost or broken. Phil has a pair in a specs case in his drawer in case they want him to look at something. They can put them on him. I take some with me for the same purpose.

Yesterday when Phil was responding to me I was wearing a dark green top with black trousers, so the bright colours dont seem to make a difference in his case! It is just a matter of how wide awake he is, but I will try to wear my red top next time.

Huia.

Good evening everyone.
I can see I am going to be up and down this page,so much to read and answer. Not that I am complaining mind you.

Sylvia, I bet you are looking forward to the family coming. BUT,it's going to mean a lot off changes for you and your OH. Your routine will be totally shattered. Working around a young baby,can be so tiring. Just think of all the sleepless nights,of smelly nappies,teething etc.
But being a grandparent,we take it all in our stride.
And fall into a chair when they go home,and relax and breathe again.LOL
We love it all dont we.,but it can be very tiring.
I love having my youngsters stay,but feel exhausted by the time they leave.
Thats the trouble in getting older, we become set in our ways,and things that we took in our stride a few years back seem to wear us out a lot sooner.

Hi Marie. Sorry to hear it's cold in Bathurst. We are enjoying some quite pleasant weather at the moment. No heat waves yet though. lol
The decorating is still not quite finished,but is not far off being so.
The jumble jungle,sounds very much like jumping jacks that is local to us.
All my littlies love to go there. And it is so safe there for them,with all the climbing frames,and ball pits,and slides,all areas are covered in a soft covering,so that if a child does fall,they do not hurt themselves.
Abbey will love the pink cushion that you are making for her. It's funny how little girls all love pink things,wether it's clothing or toys,it makes no difference.

Huia haven't they found Phils teeth yet. For goodness sake he lost them such a long time ago. Have they searched down the sides off the chairs in the lounge. Only my mum lost her bottom teeth as well,and when we looked for them,she must have taken them out,and put them down the side off the chair she normally sat in, in case she lost them,and then she forgot she had put them there. Thats the worst part off dementia,the forgetfulness.
The photo's were a brilliant idea off yours,even though you could not fully understand what Phil was saying,they obviously sparked of a memory for him.
Perhaps it's for the best that the gastrology department,don't do any operations on Phil. If he is comfortable the way he is,why make him suffer,
bless him. Not only that it would put extra worry on yourself,and the family.
The poor man has suffered enough as it is.
Keep smiling love,and know that we are all here for you.

Ann I agree with you about the brightly coloured clothes and jewellery,to engage people in talking to you. The same thing happens with the very young as well. Little ones are completely transfixed when encountering bright things,and the same should happen with dementia sufferers.
It's such a relief when the car passes it's MOT isn't it. The dread off what could be wrong with it sends shivers down most peoples spines. I was relieved when ours passed last month.

I wonder if Sallie has posted in all the time it has taken me to type this out.
I am so slow at it,but never mind I have all the time in the world.

Hi Liz, Debbie and not forgetting JEAN.
Love to you all. Mo xxx

Huia, I was just reading a letter in Saga magazine from a lady who (I think) works in a home for those with dementia. She said she has found that if she wears bright colours and bright jewellery it encourages conversation.