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

What a beuatiful sentiment!

I'm off to see my Mum later too. Big hugs all round.

Happy birthday, GB. Enjoy the cake.

Back to have a and catch-up. Glad it seems to be positive for you GB! Re: post 340 - It's so wonderful you can take mental time to remember. When my Mum was in slightly similar circumstances, she once said to me -"thank you so much for coming" I replied that if I lived to be a thousand, I wouldn't do a quarter as much for her as she had done for me. We don't always think about it. Well Done You!

It was a lovely time.

I'm off round now to cook her a special lunch to give her a break from the ready meals heated in the microwave by the carers.

I wonder if that housework has changed phone numbers? She never called yesterday or returned my call

GB, did the missing jewellery turn up? And how are getting finding the Carers? Are they very young (on minimum wage like down here) or are they mature and sensible and able to do what is needed?

They don't even seem able to do a frozen ready meal without mucking something up.

Hope your Mum enjoyed the special meal, I am sure she would appreciate it after ready meals. I had some for a while but gave up on them about three weeks before the horsemeat scandal, and haven't gone back to them. I just cook double and freeze half for another day.

Glad you enjoyed your birthday, you deserved some nice times.

Websailor

No, the missing jewellery didn't turn up and my sister has now claimed on the house insurance. The carers are a mix of ladies my age & young girls.

I spent almost the whole day there yesterday doing housework, washing and bathing Mum before going and getting fish & chips for us both. This morning when I arrived I asked her how she was and the first thing she said was "I've had a bath!"

I'm thinking of ordering Meals on Wheels, to take over the strenuous (mental) task of shopping I am getting tired of chucking out out-of-date food that the carers don't seem capable of realising stuff needs to be used in date order.

Locally, I'd get someone from the Volunteer Fire Department to address carers on the first in, first out rule on supplies, housekeeping and other safety issues.

Unfortunately they're all on minimum wage even though we're paying the firm £11 a visit.

I'm really annoyed with myself because I bought a 70cl bottle of Mum's preferred brandy for £17.49 at Somerfield in St Peter's Ave on Friday after visiting Ian's Mum, to save a third trip to Tesco that week. Now comparing the price online I find the litre bottle is on special offer at Tesco for £17

Stupid comment GB; but if you ever get a minute to yourself, try googling prices before going to the supermarket.

Don't get too stressed out by a couple of quid.

The meals on wheels thing looks worth exploring.

The carers here are on minimum wage too, and clueless mostly, in the same way you say, and for the same cost >

Do you still have Meals on Wheels up there/ I don't think they are available here any more.

Sorry the jewellery was never found.

Websailor

How are things progressing GB?

What Scorp said.



Websailor

I'm so busy I barely have any time online

I've taken over her housework rather than re-employ the last cleaner and I've finally been awarded Carers Allowance - but they're not paying me any money because I have an ongoing claim for ESA, which they last paid me on 10 April - I swear, if I didn't have an ulcer before I probably have one now.

Mum has complained of a headache for the last 3 days so I'm hoping she's a little better today after we've done 2 separate lots of shopping at Tesco on the way. Headless chickens have nothing on me.

Take care, love. We're thinking of you. Give your Mum a hug.

GB, I wish I wasn't so far away, you sound as if you could really do with some practical help as well as financial. It really is a nightmare.



Websailor

Bless you all,

It's great having somewhere to rant

Mum's headache hadn't gone away so I rang the surgery and got a telephone consultation with her he wrote out a prescription for Paracetomol+coedine, she had been on just paracetomol - chemist should deliver that to hers today, hopefully before we get there to cook her lunch so I can instigate it into the meds bag and change the meds list.

If you're not used to codeine, it can be magically effective. It is addictive, though. That's why it's illegal in the US.

Yes definitely addictive but at your Mum's time of life I doubt it would be a problem. If you get a chance to see if the headache goes, I suggest you discontinue the tablets as they can cause rebound headaches. You might have been told that anyway?

Websailor