General Chat

Frank, it sounds as though the mental health service are going to give you plenty of support. I hope you don’t need a stay in a mental hospital but it’s just a hospital like any other so nothing for you to feel bad about. I hope the Motobility car works out for you. It sounds as though Ros has made a good choice.

I slept better last night, thank you Mel. I forgot to mention that I put 3 penstemon cuttings in a jar of water on the utility room window sill a while ago as an experiment. One didn’t do anything but the other two grew strong roots and got potted up and put in the greenhouse yesterday. Now I know it works I’ll try and do some more. I hope the heron didn’t get any of your fish.

Oh dear AnnG, not a good evening with OH yesterday then. I hope he is feeling better and happier today. I expect you are tired out with trying to be sympathetic and patient when you probably feel at screaming pitch yourself. He does sound as though he needs to eat more but if he is tired and in pain he probably doesn’t feel like making the effort. It’s a bit of a vicious circle isn’t it. I wonder if the doctor could suggest something to stimulate his appetite.

Well, a buzzard and crows sharing a perch! Whatever next Ann. It must have been lovely to see the buzzard so close. I know what you mean about fireworks. Last night was dreadful round here. We live in a fairly quiet area but fireworks seemed to be going off from dusk till nearly midnight. I think everyone was having a last garden get together before lockdown. I was going to have a bit of a rave myself lol. My “safe” friend was coming for an afternoon cuppa as I haven’t seen her for nearly 4 weeks and now won’t see her for at least another 4 but, not being too well, I put her off.

My foot is much better - a bit painful but bearable, and I am walking nearly normally. Today, after a couple of doses of my jollop, my terrible stomach pain has subsided to a dull ache and I can put up with that. My back however is still giving me problems. At the moment I am half sitting, half lying in bed but I don’t stay here too long as I think it’s better to try to move around a bit. I’ve done some ironing and a few other small jobs. I’ve also dug out a sheet of exercises the physio gave me when I had a similar problem before. I couldn’t do them earlier as I couldn’t take any weight on my foot but I am going to give it a go now it’s nearly better.

OH spent part of yesterday on the phone to various suppliers. Our new couch is due to be delivered 23rd of this month and he wanted to know the situation with lockdown. Apparently as it was pre-ordered and is under manufacture delivery is allowed.

Then we have accepted a quote to have a wooden floor laid in our lounge and they want to come on 30th November and 1st December. OH spoke to them to see if they would change the date to the following week as lockdown is supposed to end on 2nd but they have a couple of big jobs planned that will mean we would have to wait till January. They also said that as they can only work in their customers homes it was allowable and we wouldn’t be breaking any rules. We had a think about it and decided to let them come. They don’t need to come through the house as they can come through a side gate into the garden where there are patio doors into the room where they will be working and there is a toilet right next to that room which can be just for their use. I know from when they came to measure up that they come wearing good quality masks and they were careful about keeping their distance.

OH is making a shepherd’s pie for our meal tonight. He makes a decent meal but can only concentrate on one thing at a time, so he will stand for 20 minutes watching the potatoes boil. Drives me mad and then I feel I’m being mean because at least he is cooking.

Another long post and this is the abbreviated version. Just wind me up and let me go and I can write for England.

Hope the rains stays away so Sandra can enjoy her fireworks Gill and also that you feel better on the new meds.

Took some pictures of the birds in the orchard this morning and will send them later on. I am just waiting for the solicitor to ring me.

Still a beautiful day here with wall to wall sunshine.

It’s a beautiful day with sunshine and blue skies but OH tells me it’s very cold. I haven’t put my nose outside yet.

Gill, I am sorry you are going through such a difficult time. I hope the new meds will help. Try not to get too hung up on the Coronavirus, if you possibly can. We all have to be careful but the way the figures are presented do frighten people. I have just checked and the worst place in the country yesterday had 742 cases in every 100,000 people. Sounds dreadful but that’s 99,258 people in every 100,000 who haven’t got it. I do think OH’s bosses have treated him badly. If I were him I’d be checking the papers all the time to see if there are other jobs available that he could apply for. You should be reassured by the weekly testing. I think that might be normal in care homes now. My 18 year old granddaughter is working a gap year in a home for people with dementia and is tested weekly.

OH has just brought in a chicken sandwich for lunch so I’ll post this and carry on with what might be a long post this afternoon

good afternoon Frank and Gill.
Frank at least they are trying to help you and it is good that they will keep in touch and somebody will be calling in. you will be able to tell them how you are feeling without waiting too long for an appointment.

Gill, how nasty that the day shift people didn't speak to your OH, they are not nice people. They could just have explained how they felt. And how remiss of the manager of the home to take somebody on and put him in that uncomfortable postion. I hope he gets on OK with night work once he settle into it.

sorry you are not feeling great, anxiety is horrible isn't it? sounds as if your doctor is on the ball though. I have noticed that you have not been on here as much for a while, maybe if you make yourself come on for a chat it will help some of you anxiety. I think, to some extent, these lockdowns and the virus have affected all our mental health, it is not normal to be so restricted is it?

I hope Sandra does get to see her fireworks tonight. have you still got all the lights working on Sandra's garden?

I've just noticed Find my Past have free access to all military records from today, until the 12th November if anyone's interested.

Afternoon all

A bit of a dull day here today and not very warm, thankfully the wind has gone so OH can let the fireworks off for Sandra tonight, she hoping to take some photo's and is looking forward to it, so I hope it doesn't rain.

I didn't know Jane was being buried yesterday, RIP Jane <3 <3

Love your painting Ann, you are so clever, it looks very professional.

I hope your OH isn't to bad today AnnG, it really must be getting him down now.

I'd love to see a pic of the gingerbread house Mandy, if it's not been eaten lol.

OH's trial for his job ended the other day and the boss told him some of the day staff had written to head office saying they wanted more shifts and they shouldn't of taken OH on, so the boss has put him on nights now. I wondered why the day staff never spoken to OH when he worked days, it got him really down, but he said the night staff are much nicer so he's glad he's got the new job, he just needs to get used to working nights now.

I think these bugs I get I'm catching off OH, he's not long finished yet more antibiotics for a chest infection and when I said my throat was sore he said he'd had a sore throat for a while, so I must of caught it off him. I feel a bit better now, but this Coronavirus has made me very anxious, especially with OH having a couple of scares and being tested every week. It's gradually got worse so I'm on all sorts of meds now.

The doctor rang me this morning to see how I was getting on but I had to tell him the Diazepam was giving me bad migraines, he asked if I suffer from them so I said yes but I hadn't had one for a while, he's told me to stop taking the Diazepam and if I still have migraines he'll give me something for them.

In the meantime I'm on Anti-depressants and another tablet for my anxiety which I have to take in the day, the Anti-depressant I take a night. I've been on the night time one since the beginning of the year but recently I've felt worse, so hopefully now I'm on the new meds I'll start feeling better soon, I've only just starting taking them so it might take a while for them to kick in.

Morning all,

All that I can say about yesterday, is the Doctor is contacting my GP to change some of my medications. She questioned me and Ros on my mood swings, memory, sleeping patten, diet and a lot of old twaddle. She is allocating a team to keep in touch with me at home. The nurse was introduced to us, and she will call me on Tuesday for a chat, them stay in touch over the coming weeks.There will be a visit from a team to see if there are any hazards in the home and garden that could need rectifying.

The worse thing was that she thinks I might need hospital treatment, which will be in a MENTAL HOSPITAL. I hope and pray that it doesn't come to that. Lets see how the change of medication works.

Lewis spend the day with us, and went with Ros to look at Motorbility cars. She loved the HONDA JAZ. It would mean an upfront payment of £500.00 which is the middle of the range car, and has everything she could need. Our Mercedes goes into the garage tomorrow, So we will know if it's a small or LARGE job. If it's going to be expensive, I will set up the Motorbility Scheme car, and sell the Merc. For a car of it's age it's only done 71,000 miles. so a lot of life still in the car. It has only had TWO LADY OWNERS, and been serviced even year since new.

No plans today, other than read my book, I might prepare dinner for tonight to give Ros a break. Pork Chops, roasts, parsnips,Runners, peas and carrots and cabbage.

I hope you all have a nice day, after the frost and fog this morning. TAKE CARE. xxxx

Morning Anng and all,

Remember remember the 5th of November gunpowder treason and plot!

Very heavy frost this morning and when I got up there were 13 pigeons on the grass in the back field by the chickens and in the front there were 6 up by the border. In the orchard the Fieldfares are back squabbling with the blackbirds and each other. They love the apples and there's plenty to go around for all of them but they always want the ones the other birds are on.

Hope your days goes well Anng with T and he's feels better once he is up. How did you sleep last night?

Wonder how Mandy is getting on with the gingerbread house? I am waiting to see it as it sounds really good and something to keep for years to come.

Hope Vera has got some well earned sleep and that her back is getting better and her poor foot. Vera I put a cutting off my new Penstemon in a small bottle of water on the kitchen windowsill a couple of weeks ago and it now has roots so give it a go. do a lot of cuttings that way as I can keep an eye on them when I wash up.

Lovely sunshine and a good day to strip the bed I think.

Hope Frank has had a good night too and slept through ok and the new meds are helping with the attacks.

Oh's birthday tomorrow!!!! This year has passed so quickly to us.

Good morning all. Day 1 of lockdown 2 and I have to go to the pharmacy to collect OH's antibiotics. And there is a late announcement that shielding for the very vulnerable is back (and they said it would not be) and the over 70s are told to only do as they did before. i.e. try not to go shopping etc. If they were going to do this they should have given more warning.

3 degrees out there at 0825 but lovely sunshine.

Not happy with OH, yesterday evening he was going to do his own meal of egg on toast, but he disappeared upstairs around the time to cook it telling me to get my meal, he would get his later. He then didn't come back down until 9pm, said he was not hungry, didn't want a meal, ate a banana and went back to bed. Haven't really seen him yet this morning, took him a cup of tea which I bet has not been drunk yet. I think I am going to need all my available patience today if he has not slept well. which, with not eating is a possibility.

I think that's very true Vera as there is so much to do and so many balls to start rolling before the funeral. It's not till after that you stop and think. Sorry you have had other health concerns too but your surgery does sound very good. We watch the 'GPs Behind Closed Doors' programme and often remark how much better they are than our surgery.

Well we got our tablets and went for a short drive to look at the trees. We were just leaving the village where the chemist is when a huge bird flew across the car screen. It had flown from a field gate where it had been sitting with 2 Crows. It was a Buzzard and probably the same one I have seen near there before. I was surprised the Crows weren't keeping their distance!

Our neighbours came back this morning from about their 4th break since the last lockdown was eased. I suppose they may be back early because of the new lockdown tomorrow and didn't want to get stranded. I've moved my car and parked it on the gravel as the neighbour the other side is having some slabwork done tomorrow and they will be cutting and grinding. She didn't want me to get my car damaged with bits flying.

I haven't done much today other than activate the course we have to finish now a replacement's been reinstated and set up the bedroom tv so I can watch BBC iplayer on it.

Have a rest Frank and then you can tell us how you got on at your appointment.

I'm really getting sick of these firework explosions nearby, you can't relax and they've been going on nightly for about a fortnight now. :-S

Oh came out of the bathroom this afternoon with his hand bleeding and declared Willy had bitten him!!!!

He has now come out again and said he used both hands this time and strangled him.

Vera hope the meds work and give you a good clear out and relieve the pain.

Hope too that Island is feeling better now. Just give that lovely Doggy and nice cuddle and rest till you feel more like yourself. Sending love <3

Yet another doctor rang, she knew nothing of his case but to be fair he did apparently only say in his message that he needed another dose of anti biopics because his UTI has not cleared and she has sent a prescription to the chemist Inwill com
Lecture it tomorrow. He is quite bright today but his legs are very weak which bothers him. To be fair he is trying to increase his food intake but I don’t think the infection helps that. So we will see what happens after he takes the anti s a weeks supply this time.

Oh dear Vera as if you have not got enough to contend with. I hope the meds help.

I’ve had Jane and the family on my mind all day. She will be missed by so many people. I think when you lose someone you run on adrenaline until the funeral is over and then the real grieving begins. It’s good in a way that James is still at home and he and Chris can support each other.

I am sure you are exhausted after your long session at the hospital, Frank, but it’s great that they were able to give you lots of time. Have a good rest now.

AnnG, don’t overdo the gardening and put your back out. As everyone keeps telling me the worst that will happen is that the garden looks a bit untidy and you might lose a few plants. Better to keep yourself fit. We had a frost last night too but OH managed to bring a few potted plants into the conservatory and he covered my 6 big pots of agapanthus with fleece. We do still have a lot to do in the garden and have a lot of bulbs of the little tulips to plant in pots. I found 3 suitable pots and when OH went out this morning to buy a leaf blower/collector thingy he came back with another 3.

Has the surgery rung your OH back yet? I hope someone can sort something out for him soon for the sake of both of you. Hearing about other people’s problems accessing their doctors I realise how good ours are being. Everyone moved very quickly after I told them about my foot and they have been very helpful today as well. For 3or 4 days, on top of everything else, I have had bowel problems and really bad stomach pains that haven’t let me sleep much. As I am on a surveillance programme at the hospital and several months overdue for my next colonoscopy I was a bit concerned so during the morning I rang the surgery and asked if they would book me a telephone consultation. Receptionist looked at her list and told me that Dr A would ring this afternoon but she didn’t know what time. He rang at 3 pm, talked to me for a while and then said he would prescribe something to thoroughly clear my insides out over a couple of days and then if the pain was still there I was to ring back and they would have me in for a proper examination. The prescription was sent electronically to the chemist I am registered with for my repeats and OH has gone into town to pick it up. I think that’s pretty good service.

Are you still all bugged up Island? I hope you are feeling better. You sounded very cosy and lovely to have doggy’s company on the couch.

I had more to write but at the moment I feel exhausted so might try to grab a bit of shut-eye. Enjoy the rest of your day.

I lit a candle for Jane today and its still burning. Sending love to all the family and Thomas. XXX

I think the heron has been around my pond again as the fish are nowhere to be seen and when I fed them I only saw one gold one two big black ones and one shubunkin. Stil got the tiny ones in there and they're growing as I am feeding them growth food that oh has for his kio.

Sound s like you had a good chat at the hospital Frank. Hope you feel rested soon so can tell us what they said.

Anng it just shows you that they can miss things at the docs. Hope T gets some results this time around. I have had a little while in the garden today but only tying up the pond net to make sure mothing can get under it.

good idea Frank, glad to see you got through it. Let us know how you got on when you have rested.

Afternoon all, I am feeling a total wreck, after one and a half hours of chatting. So I am going to sit in a nice quite place and relax.

Wonder of wonders the surgery has just phoned, they had missed his second message. It was the head of reception, a lovely lady I think he said they are going to phone back this afternoon.

Yes it certainly maked you think we should all value our health and our lives. Live life to the full. With Jane's rapid deterioration and my OH's experience we will no doubt all be grateful for good(ish) health and the ability to enjoy what we have. (food, gardens, family, friends etc.)

I did look up facial nerves Ann but all I could find was things like Bells Palsy. As far as I know he has no problem with facial nerves (unless he hasn't said but I do get a running comentary of ailments so I am sure he would have said. The only real matches are headaches and eye, light sensitivity and extra mucus. But he has told more than one doctor his symptoms and none of them have come up with anything.

I have just spent half an hour in the garden, not too bad out there but the very low bright sun is making everything difficult to see what you are doing. (never satisfied). I managed to get fleece round the two cordylines, hope they don't get too damp now inside the fleece. And cut down some more Rudbeckia. But my back started to pull (after doing the kitchen floor yesterday) so thought I had better stop.

Morning All,

Yes a lovely sunny day here too Mel and I expect it is much the same in Kettering. I still can't believe that just over a year ago she was fine, had recovered well from her hip operation and was happily chatting away to us with her news, new recipes she would try and Thomas's latest hunting results. it's such a shame. RIP Jane. <3 <3

Don't worry about your appointment Frank. They will be able to suggest things to help you with the attacks. Lots of people get them at some time in their lives and need some help.

I see what you mean about Christmas AnnG. I know we all keep suggesting things, but has he tried those complan type drinks that build you up? I had the fruit one in one of the hospital studies I took part in and thought it was nice. I mentioned face nerves before, as looking up about them when OH kept getting headaches behind his ear, I saw it said about the possibility of eyes being affected and also more mucous.

We have a trip out to the chemist for our tablets today! We are having the substitute lasagnes for lunch. Not looking forward to the beef but OH will have what I don't want and I can add a couple of microwaved tomatoes to mine.

Morning All,

Missing my lovely friend today and thinking of her and the whole family on this day. She is sadly missed by all of us and I know the family is in all our prayer today. Rest in peace our Jane. <3 <3 <3

We have a beautiful day here and I hope its the same today for Northants.

Good luck at the hospital Frank and I hope you can get some answers to your problems.