Spent a quiet day yesterday lost in thoughts of my dad, as not only was it Fathers Day, it was also the anniversary of the day I lost my precious dad, so today I will try and write a tribute to him.
Dad was a self made man, after his stint at National Service in the RAF where he learned to play the accordian with great aplomb, (his claim to fame was that he fell out of a Lancaster Aeroplane without a parachute. It was on the ground at the time, thankfully). He then was employed as a cabinet maker, as everyone had a trade in those days, he hated it with a vengance and made it his ambition to never work for an employer again.
Dad loved dogs and sport, so the obvious combination was greyhounds. He managed with a natural eye and lots of studying of bloodlines to buy, breed and train many winners in his lifetime, making trips to southern ireland to buy puppies for training. All the dogs and pups lived with us as family pets and they are wonderful gentle creatures.
Both dad and grandad had a flair for bowls, first outdoor green bowling, and then indoor bowling too, and between them they won many championships and trophys over the years, my display cabinet still has several of his trophies in pride of place.
I can remember as a child that my brothers and I never got pocket money as such, but there was always a ritual on a Saturday morning of dad sitting us down, emptying his pockets of all his silver and with great ceremony picking up each coin and getting us to guess the date !!! This was done in strict rotation till one of us got it right and won the coin, the process was then repeated till the pile was doled out.
When I was about ten dad opened his first betting shop, it was in Great Yarmouth, and had a flat above the shop where we spent all our holidays. I can remember that the tannoy was clearly aubible upstairs, and that we used to giggle when the commentator said "they are running at Bath" which we thought meant the jockeys were having their ablutions lol (well we were young).
As I got older it was my job to sort the winning tickets into numerical order ready for payout, it was my first "real" job and I got real wages for it too, but dreaded Grand National and Derby days as there were so many boxes to be sorted. Over the years further shops materialised, another in Yarmouth, then one in Lowestoft, Bungay and finally Norwich.
Presents from dad were always slightly bizzare too, on my brothers 10th birthday dad arrived home from a trip to London with an african bateleur eagle it had a 8ft wingspan and ate chicks and rats and mice ( and any neighbourhood cats if it had its way ) It had leather straps attached to its legs for tethering, and when it flapped its wings, it almost lifted my brother off his feet.
We went to see someone to get a pair of rats so that we could breed them to feed the beast, but on getting them home, the first night one had a litter of 12 and the second night the other had a litter of 14. They were chinese hooded rats, and so cute that we couldnt possibly feed them to the beast, so we kept the rats and donated Fred the Eagle to a local wildlife park, as feeding him best chuck steak was getting expensive.
On my birthday I wanted a rabbit, dad bought me a white angora one, and he then visited a neighbours shed with my bunny to introduce her to his buck, a few weeks later i had lots of bunnies !!! Over the years one of my bunnies got out, now it is not unusual to see very fluffy wild rabbits in the area some of them still showing white patches lol.
So dad i had a good day yesterday, hope you did too, I smiled and reminesced about the good times, and also about my other dad, father in law Leslie, you were two of the best, and I miss you every day. Sleep in peace xxxxxx
Monday, 21 June 2010
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
THE HANDBAGS AND THE GLADRAGS
We have a "posh" wedding coming up in July, so our mission this week was to find wedding finery for mum and myself. The corsages have already been ordered, mine is Ivory and mums is orange and yellow.
I was sent out on Saturday morning to do a recce of various ladies modes in the area and do a risk assessment on wheelchair access, floor space between rails etc. this is important, as one establishment we went in recently there was so little space that we ended up with allsorts attached to the wheelchair as we brushed past things in impossibly narrow spaces !!
We are fortunate enough to have in our village a ladies boutique (Big and Beautiful, sizes 14 to 36!!) so off we went on Monday to start our mission. First thing mum saw was a lovely greeny bronze silk 3 piece trouser suit. it really was exquisite with a price tag to match its raw silk quality.
The staff were excellent, allowing mum to try it on in the store room which had loads of room for manoeuvers . Unfortunately there was no room for mum to manoeuver into the suit, 3 years of sitting in a wheelchair have spread her derrierre somewhat, and no way was it going to fit. Meanwhile i had another wander round, and found a beautiful soft buttermilk jacket and teamed it up with a silky camisole and trousers, she tried it on and hummed and harred, it really did look lovely, but she was not convinced.
So back and dressed again we perused about another 100 outfits, but she said she could not get over the disappointment of her favourite not fitting so we would go and look elsewhere.
Installed mother in the car again and headed another 10 miles down the road. Here the ladies department was on the first floor, and the lift was the size of a portaloo !! The clothes were hideous, I had visions of mother turning up to the wedding in acid Lime green or popsicle pink definitely not on for a white haired octogenarian.
After a quick cuppa to calm frazzled nerves we decided to head for home, 100 yards from home mother said "that buttermilk suit you sorted out really was nice, I think I would like it after all"
for once I didnt argue, I almost did a handbrake turn in the middle of the road, went back to the first shop, ran in and bought it on the spot. Job done, now all I need to do is find something for me !!!
It is with regret that I have to report that Charlie, my punk rocker canary alas is no more. He passed away peacefully on Sunday at the grand age of 10+ years. The house is quiet without his cheerful singing, and I have already decided to replace him in the near future.
I went shopping for my outfit today, dodging the torrential thunderstorms. I was in and out in 5 minutes, outfit in the bag, plus a new "Up and At Em" bra that mother insisted I needed.
I still have to get new bag and sandals, but decided instead to stop off at the supermarket for a case of lager to celebrate instead, Happy days xxx
I was sent out on Saturday morning to do a recce of various ladies modes in the area and do a risk assessment on wheelchair access, floor space between rails etc. this is important, as one establishment we went in recently there was so little space that we ended up with allsorts attached to the wheelchair as we brushed past things in impossibly narrow spaces !!
We are fortunate enough to have in our village a ladies boutique (Big and Beautiful, sizes 14 to 36!!) so off we went on Monday to start our mission. First thing mum saw was a lovely greeny bronze silk 3 piece trouser suit. it really was exquisite with a price tag to match its raw silk quality.
The staff were excellent, allowing mum to try it on in the store room which had loads of room for manoeuvers . Unfortunately there was no room for mum to manoeuver into the suit, 3 years of sitting in a wheelchair have spread her derrierre somewhat, and no way was it going to fit. Meanwhile i had another wander round, and found a beautiful soft buttermilk jacket and teamed it up with a silky camisole and trousers, she tried it on and hummed and harred, it really did look lovely, but she was not convinced.
So back and dressed again we perused about another 100 outfits, but she said she could not get over the disappointment of her favourite not fitting so we would go and look elsewhere.
Installed mother in the car again and headed another 10 miles down the road. Here the ladies department was on the first floor, and the lift was the size of a portaloo !! The clothes were hideous, I had visions of mother turning up to the wedding in acid Lime green or popsicle pink definitely not on for a white haired octogenarian.
After a quick cuppa to calm frazzled nerves we decided to head for home, 100 yards from home mother said "that buttermilk suit you sorted out really was nice, I think I would like it after all"
for once I didnt argue, I almost did a handbrake turn in the middle of the road, went back to the first shop, ran in and bought it on the spot. Job done, now all I need to do is find something for me !!!
It is with regret that I have to report that Charlie, my punk rocker canary alas is no more. He passed away peacefully on Sunday at the grand age of 10+ years. The house is quiet without his cheerful singing, and I have already decided to replace him in the near future.
I went shopping for my outfit today, dodging the torrential thunderstorms. I was in and out in 5 minutes, outfit in the bag, plus a new "Up and At Em" bra that mother insisted I needed.
I still have to get new bag and sandals, but decided instead to stop off at the supermarket for a case of lager to celebrate instead, Happy days xxx
Thursday, 3 June 2010
THERE MAY BE TROUBLE AHEAD !!
Happy June everyone, that is if anyone bothers to read this any more. Here I am another year older, having admitted to a birthday in late May, I am now a whole year older, and another year siller than before. Its been a constant stream of appointments finally got the new appointment for the MRI scan that I previously had missed, believe it or not, it was 10:30 am on Bank Holiday sunday. Still the parking situation was easy.
Went in on time, and had to lay flat on the trolley (i dont do laying flat, cos I cant breathe,) had to have a shield on my chest, so my stents didnt jump about, and some huge headphones, I was then shoved into the tunnel and exposed to the noise of 1000 jackhammers for 25 minutes while they scanned my neck. I had to force myself not to panic, I was having trouble breathing, the bed was agony on my spine, and i was so pleased when they rolled me out again, but by then I had seized solid and couldnt move at all. I sounds such a small procedure, but it seemed like a hard days work for me.
The previous week I was sent to Cardiology for an autonomic function test. This involved being wired up to an ECG machine while I did various tests which included blowing out for 15 seconds, five minutes at a time, with an ECG and blood pressure reading taken before, during and after, and squeezing a ball for different lengths of time for 9 minutes (harder than it sounds) Again I had a problem standing up after this silly little test, I felt sick and dizzy, not surprising as my blood pressure was by now down to 60/30. The technicians were not surprisingly quite concerned, and made me a cuppa and a packet of custard creams before allowing me to leave.
I got the results back from the consultant this morning, the tests show I do indeed have damage to the nerves that control heart rate and blood pressure, and this is also the cause of the gastric upsets and sweating I get after eating, anyway he says he will discuss this at my next appointment in July , but basically there is no treatment and the severity will increase with time.
Mum is doing well, she has had her last physio session and just has excercises to do at home. Her garden is looking good, tomatoes in the greenhouse, and we (I) have started digging the new potatoes from the garden, She is getting a dab hand at scooting herself round the garden in her wheelchair watering can or weedkiller at the ready lol. I started picking the Lily of the Valley in mid May, one of my favourite flowers, and so heavily perfumed, it cannot be reproduced synthetically. The strawberries are now making lovely fruits, and if this glorious weather continues, it wont be long before they are gracing our table too.
I had a lovely lunch and girlie natter with maudie today, first a chinese running buffet, then coffee in the garden by the river, I really must make the effort to get out more, but fear that my trips will have to be local, as I am not strong enough to travel as far as I would wish at the moment.
Anyway I hope everyone is as well as can be expected, keep smiling and be happy xxx
Went in on time, and had to lay flat on the trolley (i dont do laying flat, cos I cant breathe,) had to have a shield on my chest, so my stents didnt jump about, and some huge headphones, I was then shoved into the tunnel and exposed to the noise of 1000 jackhammers for 25 minutes while they scanned my neck. I had to force myself not to panic, I was having trouble breathing, the bed was agony on my spine, and i was so pleased when they rolled me out again, but by then I had seized solid and couldnt move at all. I sounds such a small procedure, but it seemed like a hard days work for me.
The previous week I was sent to Cardiology for an autonomic function test. This involved being wired up to an ECG machine while I did various tests which included blowing out for 15 seconds, five minutes at a time, with an ECG and blood pressure reading taken before, during and after, and squeezing a ball for different lengths of time for 9 minutes (harder than it sounds) Again I had a problem standing up after this silly little test, I felt sick and dizzy, not surprising as my blood pressure was by now down to 60/30. The technicians were not surprisingly quite concerned, and made me a cuppa and a packet of custard creams before allowing me to leave.
I got the results back from the consultant this morning, the tests show I do indeed have damage to the nerves that control heart rate and blood pressure, and this is also the cause of the gastric upsets and sweating I get after eating, anyway he says he will discuss this at my next appointment in July , but basically there is no treatment and the severity will increase with time.
Mum is doing well, she has had her last physio session and just has excercises to do at home. Her garden is looking good, tomatoes in the greenhouse, and we (I) have started digging the new potatoes from the garden, She is getting a dab hand at scooting herself round the garden in her wheelchair watering can or weedkiller at the ready lol. I started picking the Lily of the Valley in mid May, one of my favourite flowers, and so heavily perfumed, it cannot be reproduced synthetically. The strawberries are now making lovely fruits, and if this glorious weather continues, it wont be long before they are gracing our table too.
I had a lovely lunch and girlie natter with maudie today, first a chinese running buffet, then coffee in the garden by the river, I really must make the effort to get out more, but fear that my trips will have to be local, as I am not strong enough to travel as far as I would wish at the moment.
Anyway I hope everyone is as well as can be expected, keep smiling and be happy xxx
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
IT SEEMS MY MARBLES HAVE GONE MISSING
Well Hello again folks, Its been 4 weeks since my last confession, er I mean blog, and its been quite eventful. I got the date for my MRI scan, wrote it in my diary, and then managed to arrive a day late !!!! I seem to be getting dyslexic over dates too. They were very good about it, but I now have to wait for another appointment. Yesterday was my follow up appointment at the Diabetic Clinic, or so I thought. Arrived at 8:30 am went in, had blood test, endured the horror of sitting on the scales ! small mercies, I had only put on 1 lb, i felt it was more like 1 stone lol. Peed in an inappropriately small bottle, and then went back to waiting room till nurse was ready. One hour later, still sitting there, when the doctor came out, he said he had looked at my notes, and I should have been booked in for a full annual review, not just a follow up appointment, and did I mind waiting a bit. Of course I smiled nicely at him and said, no that was fine. So back in to see the nurse for the allotted armful of blood, she whispered in confidence that my pee sample showed both blood and leucocytes so could I do another one for the laboratory, I did a deal, and said if she kept me supplied with tea I would try lol. Next stop was to have the back of my eyes photographed, and an eye test. I dont know what his title was, but his name was Daniel, and he had the cutest bum (hard to concentrate on the eye chart) but oh so easy to gaze into HIS eyes, while fluttering my eyelashes at him, as the eyedrops he had administered were making me look like Bambi on speed ! huge dilated pupils very sexy lol. Back once more to the waiting room to to await the Consultant, 2 hours later still waiting, and watching the morning sunshine turn to grey drizzle, mind you that could have been the eyedrops, because everyone was looking a bit fuzzy by then, and actually it improved most of them. Finally got called in to the consultant, who apologised profusely and then started poking and prodding me. Apparently my body is now producing NO insulin, so I am now on two different kinds to see if that will help, my blood sugars are still poorly controlled, and the nerve damage is increasing. very little feeling now below the knees which is a tad worrying. he has arranged for another cardiology visit too and a visit to the respiratory clinic to blow in things, and squeeze balls (no I didnt understand that bit either) Anyway signed up for another 12 months at the Intensive Therapy clinic (oh joy) and back to the waiting room. Finally went in to see the diabetic nurse who explained the new insulin regime, and given instructions to phone her on Fridays with the results of my readings. Escaped at 2:15 and headed home to find 4 messages from mum wanting to know how I got on !!!!! So here I am, no further on than I was 12 months ago, still in intensive therapy, lets just hope things change this time. Loving this weather, managed to get mum out quite a bit, and been playing wheelchair hokey cokey more than I would wish, her wheelchair is a modern lightweight one, but still heavy for an old wreck like me to hump in and out of the boot. Last week she decided she needed to get a new gas fire, typical now that summer is coming (and she does have full central heating). We set off, first to Library (chair in and out) then to the garden centre (chair in and out) then to Argos (yes in and out again) then 20 yards down road to Sainsburys, (you getting the picture?) came out of Sainsburys and she said maybe she wouldnt bother with fire today, as SHE WAS TIRED !!! oh I love her so much.
Sunday, 21 March 2010
SPRING IS SPRUNG
Now where do I start ? probably by hoping you all had a happy christmas and New year, as it has been that long since I posted. Several reasons for this, main one being that my health is deteriorating rapidly, all 7 of my cervical vertebrae have crumbled, causing a bone nodule to press on a nerve and giving me tremendous pain 24/7. I am now waiting for an MRI scan which they are wary of doing because i have metal stents in my heart, and the last thing i need is for them to move !!!
So what with this I have been stuck indoors, am losing my confidence for travelling any distance, I fear being taken ill in a strange town if I go too far. There are so many things need doing, the garden is a mess, the house needs decorating, but good news is I am getting a new bathroom soon. (hope its more straightforward than mums).
Still the warmer weather is just around the corner, and hopefully i will be able to go out in the sun and feel better for it. At the moment I am a facebook addict, and am busy farming and catching up with old friends from my schooldays, we all seem to be turning into old crocks.
Of course warm weather means more outings with mum and the hilarity that always provides. She is doing well really considering what she has gone through, only physio appointments now for the next 12 months, and is cooking gourmet meals for one, she is now back up to a decent weight, as i discovered when I had to pick her up off the floor on a few occasions recently but fortunately only her pride was bruised, no bones broken.
Tomorrow I will be off to the garden centre to get a few seeds to start off in the greenhouse, last years sweet pea display was glorious, I so love flowers indoors, and i hope to have a riot of colour in the bedding plants.
Time to go now, I really will try to get my mind back into blogging, as it is great therapy
So what with this I have been stuck indoors, am losing my confidence for travelling any distance, I fear being taken ill in a strange town if I go too far. There are so many things need doing, the garden is a mess, the house needs decorating, but good news is I am getting a new bathroom soon. (hope its more straightforward than mums).
Still the warmer weather is just around the corner, and hopefully i will be able to go out in the sun and feel better for it. At the moment I am a facebook addict, and am busy farming and catching up with old friends from my schooldays, we all seem to be turning into old crocks.
Of course warm weather means more outings with mum and the hilarity that always provides. She is doing well really considering what she has gone through, only physio appointments now for the next 12 months, and is cooking gourmet meals for one, she is now back up to a decent weight, as i discovered when I had to pick her up off the floor on a few occasions recently but fortunately only her pride was bruised, no bones broken.
Tomorrow I will be off to the garden centre to get a few seeds to start off in the greenhouse, last years sweet pea display was glorious, I so love flowers indoors, and i hope to have a riot of colour in the bedding plants.
Time to go now, I really will try to get my mind back into blogging, as it is great therapy
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
HO HO FLIPPIN HO !!!!!!
Firstly thanks for the positive comments I have received about restarting my ramblings, its always good to hear that people are getting entertained by my misfortunes.
Friday I had arranged to meet an ex workmate for lunch, so thought I would combine it with a bit of festive shopping. Unfortunately I slept in so it was a mad rush to get into Norwich on time. I had intended to reduce my carbon footprint by hopping on the bus, but unfortunately I darent risk being late, plus i wanted to shop in and out of town and the car was easier. The central carparks for the 2 Malls were full to overflowing, with huge queues, but I managed to park on the roof of a central one, and spent a while admiring the wonderful skyline of my home city, one or 2 pics to follow.
I headed for the shops with quite a jaunty air for about the first 50 yards, then slowed down considerably as the pain set in. First stop W H Smiths to get a book for mum for christmas, but they didnt have it in stock. Quick flit through British Home Stores (cos they have nice Loos), then into "Ladies Modes" to look for a bit of sparkly garb for christmas. Lots of sale rails but nothing I fancied, so i saved my christmas money for later, Final stop Poundland for loads of Terrys choc oranges, Cadburys buttons, Toblerone and 20 electronic lighters !!! great value, and i only spent £6.
Staggered up the hill to meet Sue for lunch, didnt recognise her with long hair, you looked great Sue, and so relaxed too x . Stuffed our faces at the eat as much as you can Chinese buffet, caught up on about a years worth of scandal, and had a thoroughally enjoyable time, made a new years resolution, I must make the effort to get out more.
Next stop was shopping on the outskirts of Norwich, since i am having such trouble sleeping I wanted to try a memory foam pillow, so bought 2, one for me and one for, yes you guessed, mum.
Remembered to buy some wrapping paper so started wandering back to the car, I cant believe how heavy those pillows were, the rolls of paper kept slipping down, my shoulder bag was dragging on the floor and i was wilting fast, after a short rest on one of the many benches that surround the square, and subbing one of the local vagrants for a cup of tea and donating him one of my newly acquired lighters (he probably wanted to flambe the meths on his christmas pud, bless) i staggered back to the car and went home to start wrapping, now where did i put that sellotape ?
Mums new bathroom was oficially finished (subject to inspection) on Friday. She got up on Saturday dreaming of sitting under a hot shower for the first time in over a month. There is a pull cord that you have to use before you can turn the shower on, but however hard she tried it would not pull, and she was scared that she might break it, so she rang the workman and he assured her it wouldnt bring the ceiling down, by this time she was dressed, so given up the idea. She managed eventually to get it on, then couldnt get it off !! She again rang him, and he said it was ok to leave it on, it wouldnt matter. Monday the building inspector turned up for the final check. He took one look at the pull cord, and said it was not right, and needed replacing, and the floor was a mess and would need to come up and be replaced AGAIN !!!!
Result is we should have been going to turkey and tinsel at the local garden centre today, and I am sitting here writing this, and poor old mum is sitting at home, with no heating again because the workman has turned the electricity off, and a wet room with no flooring. Well no one said it would be easy.
Friday I had arranged to meet an ex workmate for lunch, so thought I would combine it with a bit of festive shopping. Unfortunately I slept in so it was a mad rush to get into Norwich on time. I had intended to reduce my carbon footprint by hopping on the bus, but unfortunately I darent risk being late, plus i wanted to shop in and out of town and the car was easier. The central carparks for the 2 Malls were full to overflowing, with huge queues, but I managed to park on the roof of a central one, and spent a while admiring the wonderful skyline of my home city, one or 2 pics to follow.
I headed for the shops with quite a jaunty air for about the first 50 yards, then slowed down considerably as the pain set in. First stop W H Smiths to get a book for mum for christmas, but they didnt have it in stock. Quick flit through British Home Stores (cos they have nice Loos), then into "Ladies Modes" to look for a bit of sparkly garb for christmas. Lots of sale rails but nothing I fancied, so i saved my christmas money for later, Final stop Poundland for loads of Terrys choc oranges, Cadburys buttons, Toblerone and 20 electronic lighters !!! great value, and i only spent £6.
Staggered up the hill to meet Sue for lunch, didnt recognise her with long hair, you looked great Sue, and so relaxed too x . Stuffed our faces at the eat as much as you can Chinese buffet, caught up on about a years worth of scandal, and had a thoroughally enjoyable time, made a new years resolution, I must make the effort to get out more.
Next stop was shopping on the outskirts of Norwich, since i am having such trouble sleeping I wanted to try a memory foam pillow, so bought 2, one for me and one for, yes you guessed, mum.
Remembered to buy some wrapping paper so started wandering back to the car, I cant believe how heavy those pillows were, the rolls of paper kept slipping down, my shoulder bag was dragging on the floor and i was wilting fast, after a short rest on one of the many benches that surround the square, and subbing one of the local vagrants for a cup of tea and donating him one of my newly acquired lighters (he probably wanted to flambe the meths on his christmas pud, bless) i staggered back to the car and went home to start wrapping, now where did i put that sellotape ?
Mums new bathroom was oficially finished (subject to inspection) on Friday. She got up on Saturday dreaming of sitting under a hot shower for the first time in over a month. There is a pull cord that you have to use before you can turn the shower on, but however hard she tried it would not pull, and she was scared that she might break it, so she rang the workman and he assured her it wouldnt bring the ceiling down, by this time she was dressed, so given up the idea. She managed eventually to get it on, then couldnt get it off !! She again rang him, and he said it was ok to leave it on, it wouldnt matter. Monday the building inspector turned up for the final check. He took one look at the pull cord, and said it was not right, and needed replacing, and the floor was a mess and would need to come up and be replaced AGAIN !!!!
Result is we should have been going to turkey and tinsel at the local garden centre today, and I am sitting here writing this, and poor old mum is sitting at home, with no heating again because the workman has turned the electricity off, and a wet room with no flooring. Well no one said it would be easy.
Thursday, 10 December 2009
YES IT HAS BEEN A WHILE, SO LETS CATCH UP
All I can do is apologise, last post was July, and a lot has happened since. I was about to commit to the horrors of dental surgery and thank goodness that is now all done and dusted. I was extremely brave, the surgeons were wonderful and gave me the most wonderful cocktail of sedatives during the operation, that although awake, i really didnt give a damn. Anyway they removed 10 teeth, (all healthy) grrrr split my gum and scrubbed and reamed out all the damaged bone then stitched it all up again. I then got sent to intensive care recovery where my blood pressure dropped to my boots and they had to inject me with magic juice to bring it back up again !!! eventually got back to the ward about 7pm and all I wanted to do was go home, but the computer said "NO"
Now to any readers who know me, I dont take to being told what to do very well, so i told them i needed the bathroom, so they brought me a "lady bottle" these are the mose cumbersome things, which are impossible to use, you might as well just pee the bed !!!! I told them i couldnt use it and they brought me a commode, all well and good. but I cant pee when i am being observed by someone peeping through a curtain who is running the tap and making swishing noises either. By now all my IV drips had finished so i asked them to disconnect me and let me go to the loo in a civilised fashion. After checking my BP, which was back up to normal, they agreed, but with the warning that if I passed out it would be my own fault. I quickly grabbed my clothes and did a runner to the bathroom. Once there, I got my first look in the mirror at the "damages", it was quite scarey, I was bruised, swollen and very gummy, but also very numb still, so i was still determined to go home.
When I got back to my bed I heard one of the nurses on the phone to mum, and she said i would be staying in as I was "disorientated" I shouted NO I AM GOING HOME !!!! and nurse put mother through to talk some sense into me, she didnt succeed either, so I promptly rang big bro and told him to come and get me I would be waiting outside!!!
Oh the joy of getting home to familiar surroundings, i spent the next 10 days lying low, eating slops and became adept at untying my stitches with my tongue!! so didnt need to go back to have them out lol. Six weeks later I booked a dentist, had impressions made, remaining teeth scaled and polished, and now can give a great display of my pearly whites, although I seem to have acquired a cute lisp. Gradually getting used to the new teeth, although i do take them out to eat lol.
Right thats me up to date I think, but as for mother, where do I start? For months I have been going on at her to have one of her bathrooms adapted to a Wet Room, this finally happened last week. I was popping in most days to monitor progress, and every time I arrived the workmen were either standing out front having a fag break, or sitting in her kitchen drinking tea !!!! on several occasions she was banished to the lounge with no electricity for hours at a time and chilled to the bone.
Work finally finished last Friday, so I thought great she will be able to shower in safety, how wrong I was. Apparently the occupational therapists still had to attend to fit seat and grab rails for her, and check the work. They turned up on Tuesday and the list of faults is horrendous. The bathroom was tiled with white tiles, but they left the original cream tiles on the windowsill with half an inch overlapping, so if she slipped chances are she would cut her head open. the waterproof flooring is already coming away from the wall !! the shower curtain is 6 inches too short, the toilet is not the specified high pedestal one, and the cistern is incorrectly fitted and to cap it all the old immersion heater switch is electrically still live. The annoying thing is that the workmen asked us to put in a good word for them, as they liked doing all this council grant work !!!!!
So no grab handles, no seat, and the workmen are back in residence again.
Glad to get that lot off my chest, I am now off Christmas shopping so no doubt the grumpy old woman will be back writing with a vengance soon xxxxxx
Now to any readers who know me, I dont take to being told what to do very well, so i told them i needed the bathroom, so they brought me a "lady bottle" these are the mose cumbersome things, which are impossible to use, you might as well just pee the bed !!!! I told them i couldnt use it and they brought me a commode, all well and good. but I cant pee when i am being observed by someone peeping through a curtain who is running the tap and making swishing noises either. By now all my IV drips had finished so i asked them to disconnect me and let me go to the loo in a civilised fashion. After checking my BP, which was back up to normal, they agreed, but with the warning that if I passed out it would be my own fault. I quickly grabbed my clothes and did a runner to the bathroom. Once there, I got my first look in the mirror at the "damages", it was quite scarey, I was bruised, swollen and very gummy, but also very numb still, so i was still determined to go home.
When I got back to my bed I heard one of the nurses on the phone to mum, and she said i would be staying in as I was "disorientated" I shouted NO I AM GOING HOME !!!! and nurse put mother through to talk some sense into me, she didnt succeed either, so I promptly rang big bro and told him to come and get me I would be waiting outside!!!
Oh the joy of getting home to familiar surroundings, i spent the next 10 days lying low, eating slops and became adept at untying my stitches with my tongue!! so didnt need to go back to have them out lol. Six weeks later I booked a dentist, had impressions made, remaining teeth scaled and polished, and now can give a great display of my pearly whites, although I seem to have acquired a cute lisp. Gradually getting used to the new teeth, although i do take them out to eat lol.
Right thats me up to date I think, but as for mother, where do I start? For months I have been going on at her to have one of her bathrooms adapted to a Wet Room, this finally happened last week. I was popping in most days to monitor progress, and every time I arrived the workmen were either standing out front having a fag break, or sitting in her kitchen drinking tea !!!! on several occasions she was banished to the lounge with no electricity for hours at a time and chilled to the bone.
Work finally finished last Friday, so I thought great she will be able to shower in safety, how wrong I was. Apparently the occupational therapists still had to attend to fit seat and grab rails for her, and check the work. They turned up on Tuesday and the list of faults is horrendous. The bathroom was tiled with white tiles, but they left the original cream tiles on the windowsill with half an inch overlapping, so if she slipped chances are she would cut her head open. the waterproof flooring is already coming away from the wall !! the shower curtain is 6 inches too short, the toilet is not the specified high pedestal one, and the cistern is incorrectly fitted and to cap it all the old immersion heater switch is electrically still live. The annoying thing is that the workmen asked us to put in a good word for them, as they liked doing all this council grant work !!!!!
So no grab handles, no seat, and the workmen are back in residence again.
Glad to get that lot off my chest, I am now off Christmas shopping so no doubt the grumpy old woman will be back writing with a vengance soon xxxxxx
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