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

Woah, a whole week has gone by and I've a lot to update (I actually opened my laptop this morning for the first time in 3 days...)

The Curzon Centre visit went according to plan, she was collected at 10.15am but the escort rang the doorbell even though it said on her instructions "key safe round back and enter by kitchen door" as per my instructions. Good job I was there eh? After I watched her leave I headed home. I wrote my BATS for October and then my mobile rangluckily it was my grandson Liam with a day off college so could he come round? we watched an old Doctor Who adventure on "what we're watching"

The next day I was regaled by Mum about how awful it was at the Curzon Centre it was all old people () and a woman sat next to Mum told her her life history, she never shut up! (Mum isn't much of a "mixer", I doubt she even answered the lady. I couldn't stay long as Ian and I were going to a funeral in Grimsby, one of his best friends who collapsed in the street a couple of weeks ago and didn't recover, age 70 to be honest it's the best way to go although a shock for those left behind The funeral was at St James', now renamed "Grimsby Minster", with burial after at Scartho cemetery (we didn't go to that but headed straight for the wake at the old cricket club). Hmm, I always thought if you invited people to attend a social function it is assumed you would feed them I had to buy my own (I was driving) and a pint for Ian it was mucho££ and there was no sign of a table of sandwiches (the funeral had been at 12.15pm) so by 3pm we were starving having had no lunch. We ended up going to the Pear Tree for a two-for-one which was very nice

Friday to make it up to Mum I spent the whole day with her then yesterday I heard about a free psychic fair at the Memorial Hall which I collected her and took her to, it passed a couple of hours then we got and chips on the way back to hers. I stayed til early evening then came home.

There's a storm forecast with gales and high winds for my area so I told her I'm not going today as I don't like to drive in such conditions. Tomorrow I'll spend the day with her again.

It's her birthday in 2 weeks, she'll be 94. I didn't think, at the start of this year, that she'd see another birthday

Despite what Mum said about her day at the centre, did you think it had been good GB? Obviously it was a break for you and it may well have really been ok for Mum too.

Good job you didn't go to the cemetery. The last funeral SS and I attended, was to that of a friend; and that was at Scartho! The main problem I find around there, is that although you know generally where you are headed; and know the name of the road/street you are looking for, in and around Grimsby, the Council have an endearing habit of not putting the names at the entrance to the roads. We don't use sat-nag and had to keep retracing our steps, til we were almost late.

I've never heard of a funeral where there was nothing provided for the mourners afterwards. As you say, even a sandwich would have been good!

Have you got anything planned for Mum's Birthday?

Take care friend

"sat-nag"was that deliberate? I could have done with one of those when I drove home from Sheffield

I am going to try and persuade Mum to give it another chance I don't have anything planned for Mum's birthday but I bet my sister has! I just hope it doesn't involve any more extra work for me. I am barely keeping up with all her appointments/visitors/carers/District Nurses/phone calls/shopping etc as it is. I began keeping a Carer's Log in May and I'm damned glad I did.

We had already been to a burial earlier this year, that of a young lad, the grandson of the chap who runs my local Astronomy Club. That was harrowing enough, it was out at Covenham and we didn't have a problem finding the church or churchyard. I chose not to go to Scartho cemetery for my ex-mother-in-law's burial (although I did attend the funeral with my older 3 children which is more than my ex-husband did). I know where Scartho cemetery is, it's where my firstborn son rests, albeit in an unmarked grave as I wasn't given the opportunity all those years ago to have a funeral myself.

Mum's central heating packed up today. Oh what fun. So, Mum's day at the Curzon Centre tomorrow, I'm spending at her house awaiting the gasman.

There' always something and it would happen just as we hit a cold spell. It seems exceptionally cold here, but perhaps I am just getting

Hope it gets sorted tomorrow. Stay warm yourself.

Websailor

I'm sure it will, she's well insured.I'm sat here with my central heating on. Toasty GB

I just turned my heater on for the first time since last winter (we barely had spring here, but went directly for the real thing and what a great summer it's been!).

Thinking of you and your mum and hoping things w*rk out soon

It didn't get fixed, just a bodge-job until the replacement part arrives Friday, 2 workmen have been booked to appear at Mum's between 8-10am, this better pan out as my car is booked in for its MOT at 10.30am

Websailor

Bloodnurse is due this morning. I don't know where the last week went?I can still remember the conversation I had with last week's word-for-word, which is a flippin' miracle.

Her INR last week was 1.4, it's been creeping down for the last month, and last week they bumped up the Warfarin that reminds me, we're down to 3 boxes, I must order more

mi dad was on Warfarin, a fine line with himblood too thin and he "kick the bucket" thicken up too much and he'd "kick the bucket"
added to that, the other 18 or so tabs he'd to take daily

Mum's INR result was the same as last week, 1.4, too thick they've upped the Warfarin to 4mg on 3 days, 3mg on 4 days. Retest next week, although the has really struggled to get enough in the syringe the last twice she's been. Mum's right shoulder is hurting, she complained about it on Tuesday and it's gradually got worse, 2 carers mentioned it in their notes yesterday and this morning I called out a District Nurse. This is while I was clock-watching for the arrival of my brother so he could mind the shop as the 2 gasmen were in the loft repairing Mum's boiler, so I could nip off with my car to deliver it for its MOT. I got a lift back from Ian's daughter which saved me a walk but it was such a nice day that I walked back at 2pm to collect the car post-MOT. The told me to double the dose of codeine Mum takes and try 2 soluble Paracetomol as well. She hadn't even drunk this when I had to leave, but she did ask if I was going back! Er, I'll see you tomorrow, Mum.

my wallet has Anorexia nervosa and I can't get it to put weight onplus I can't get any help via nhs as my alcohol to blood level is lowand needs brining up

I'm currently living at my mother's house, popping home only to resupply myself and feed Goldie. There's no Internet there and I never did master the data available on my mobile phone, (where's Andrew when you need him)

So if anyone wants me, it'll have to be a text, or a very loud shout.

EH! WHATSTHA SEH ?

Don't worry about us - use the short time you have at home to recharge your batteries. We're thinking of you and will just hope that "no news is good news"!

What TC says



Websailor

My sister took over on Friday night so I could stagger home to the sickbed. I am hacking coughing and sneezing for Britainsweating and thick head, sore throatI daren't go back to my mother's until I am free of this thing

Oh dear, get well soon

Have some with rum - probably the best of all the things that don't w*rk on a cold

SO that's where my colds gone eh! oops!