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

The painful memories are there all the time GB, I just have to learn to live with them, and I am like Gnomon, I need to know how you and your Mum are doing. In some respects the memories are worse now because for a long while I think I was just numb, but I just get on with life and count my blessings, and there are many What's done is done and I can't change things.

It just makes you feel for other people. Just make sure your Mum is properly looked after.



Websailor

Bless you both

Yesterday I took Mum's washing and some groceries I knew she'd like, and they were reticent to let me in, they have a V+D outbreak. I persuaded them to let me in (at my own risk) and stayed with her an hour. As she sleeps most of the time I am not going to return until this particular outbreak is over and the lockdown is lifted. I can't afford to get ill.

Ido hope that wasn't a risk too far?

Websailor

Mum hasn't got the V+D and I used the hand sanitizer (I do this automatically every visit) touch wood so far I'm ok.

The fitters turned up at Mum's house today to put in a rail on the wall going up the stairs. Unfortunately there was no-one there to let them in, because no-one contacted the keyholder, me, to be there to let them in.

So what's new It seems normal these days.

Websailor

there's nothing worse than getting the val donican's (v+d)you want to keep wearing daft jerseys all the time

Keep it up Prof

Hi, sorry but I don't know what V & D is. Is it a British thing or just an abbreviation that I missed the reference to in the backlog? Been following this hoping everything goes well for your mum and you. I cared for a relative a whiles back and it can get difficult.

I believe V&D stands for Vomiting and Diarrhoea. These bugs go around hospitals and nursing homes and cause havoc.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Norovirus/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Ban-remains-visits-relatives-hospital-patients/story-18286347-detail/story.html

no holds barred, it attacks anywhere

In Ireland, it's called the "Winter Vomiting Bug".

We call it d and v! I'm proud never to have caught it, though most staff get it at least once a year. Much amusement ensues when infection control try to divide up the nursing staff into 'clean' and 'dirty'.

I am pleased to say Mum is still free of it but we still can't visit, they're in lockdown. When I rang this morning, I asked if they were still in quarantine and the chap who answered the phone laughed. Well, what else can I say? We had a little chat and he assured me Mum is fine, and try again tomorrow. He did mention that they have a skeleton staff (which made me laugh, it brought such a funny image to mind) because all non-essential workers have been told to stay away.

I've just washed my car

here's hoping the skeleton staff looking out for your mum has a strong backbone

I spoke too soon! She has all the symptoms now It's Dad's birthday on Sunday too. We were all going to go and make a fuss of her on Sunday. Oh well, it'll have to be next week. I've already got her some coffee creams for Mother's Day a week on Sunday. She can have them as soon as I can crowbar my way in!

Oh dear, hope it all passes soon, and she enjoys the coffee creams at some stage.

Sorry for your news. We're think of you and your mum.

Thanks Elektraand everyone else