h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"my two beautiful daughters" are they single ?

Mum's had a good appetite since I knocked those bottles of gloop on the head that were 100% fat that she was discharged with. The battle since then has been getting her to regain some weight (she slipped to 40kg if you recall). Last month she was 42kg, this month she's 44kg, so I know we're heading in the right direction! Once she gets her energy back, I'll start walking her up and down the street, now the nicer weather is here

Laura is single, Prof. Helen lives with her boyfriend and a and t'other side of Manchester.

next question(chuckles)is she rich and likes idiots ?

Like everyone else I am in awe of you GB, I have done my share of caring and I know how hard it is, especially with gradual dementia. It is harder in the early stages as you are never quite sure how much they are aware of and you don't want to upset them and that can be a strain.

Had my son's mother in law to b (sometime) for the weekend with dog in tow. She is 86 (MiL not the dog) and it was very pleasant. I have had a considerable amount of unaccustomed exercise as i didn't dare let her dog walk alone in a strange area! Have decided I need more exercise as she is fitter than me despite being fifteen years older!!

Websailor

GB! Have you reached the guess the thought stage yet? My Mother knew exactly what she wanted to say; but could no longer transfer messages from brain to lips. There was one day when she had an apple and said to me "can you fetch me that?" and then stopped mid speech with a puzzled and defeated look in her eyes - that alone is enough to make you want to

I tried to suggest all I could think of that she might need and suggested knives and plates various; all met with an angry and frustrated "NO"

In desperation, I brought in the cutlery drawer from the kitchen cabinet; and her hand immediately pounced upon her oldest; most worn out fruit knife. And she looked up at me with a look of absolute triumph, as though to say that I should have known what she wanted in the first place - she knew!!

It all sounds very familiar. There are days I despair. When I went round with Helen on Easter Monday after our lunch, Mum asked her the same questions over and over again. Like the trooper she is, Helen answered the same each time, in the same voice, I'm so proud of her

After I brought our in ( for Helen&gt I sat opposite Mum & Helen, they are exactly 60 years apart, and have always had similar personalities and Helen did try to talk to Mum rather than respond to questions but she had to repeat them so many times, Mum's not deaf, she just didn't seem to understand, it was agonizing to watch
When Helen was going she hugged & kissed her grandma and told her how well she looked, and Mum said she was doing really well "thanks to these" and swept her arm around the room, then pointed at me. It crossed my mind that because I'd been sat there quietly while Helen was there, Mum lapsed into thinking I was a carer. I saw Helen out, then went back into the room, Mum said "Hello love! How are you? You've just missed Helen!"

It sounds cruel GB, but the most essential thing you need to hang on to is your sense of humour, without that you are lost. Laughing at the strange behaviour is not laughing AT HER but the peculiarities of the brain, and reminding yourself this is happening to thousands of people and you are not alone.



Websailor

I performed a minor miracle today. I've finally managed to track down a dentist willing to examine my mother. And they've managed to squeeze her in on Friday

Congratulations!

Well done.

Websailor

are you telling us the whole tooth ?

Tea carer phoned me last night, Clee Medical rang Mum's landline with her INR result it was 9, so Warfarin suspended immediately pending new blood test on Mondaywhich clashes with the 2-hour perm appointment my sister made at the hairdressers for Mum (and me) of course the blood test takes precedence so we'll have to hope the hairdresser is flexible (I hope 2legs isn't lurking here?)

Today was so lovely that I decided to embark upon my maiden voyage with the wheelchair. We went for a walk/ride around the Boating Lake. And very lovely it was too. We saw 2 geese families with goslings of differing ages and a swan on a nest. Pity I forgot my camera.

Well done enjoying the wheelchair outing.

The last one I had with my mum was three years ago and ended up with her stuck in a muddy rut and me having to run half a mile to find a burly man to help extract her

I wasn't exactly daughter that day - with good reason which made a change (usually there's no reason)

Fb

I know this feeling, you can't do anything right, what you do isn't appreciated, yet when you stay away they send out a search party, then the brother who deigns to visit once-in-a-blue-moon gets treated like the Prodigal Son and his wife the landed gentry "Ann'll make the tea! Don't you bother yourselves! Sit down and we'll catch up!" Ann'll wash up too, of course.

Onwards and upwards. Although not with the wheelchair thank goodness We went again yesterday morning, this time armed with half-a-loaf and my camera. Lovely it was too, all wheelchair friendly and only a few pushes uphill. Better than an hour of daytime tv anytime

Tomorrow is going to be a challenge. I hope the blood nurse will have been during the morning as I don't go until the afternoon due to the domestic's 90 minutes of then the lunch carer, Mum's hair appointment is at 2pm-4pm, but I am not going to sit in the hairdressers waiting for it to all be done. I can walk to St Peter's Avenue and browse a few shops during that time. Or walk along the promenade breathing in some fresh sea air.

*makes and hands Annie a cup of *

You're an angel, TC

and and count yourself lucky to have access to sea air, very envious!

Websailor

when all the world rests on your shoulders, always still look to the positiveAS! your at the top of the A1 motorway,while the rest are still at the bottom

metaphor logic