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Continuing the journey

jules54
Offline

Hi All

Decided to drop the 'month' from the title of this thread as time moves so quickly and the date becomes irrevelant so quickly.

Hubby and I both feeling pretty drained today but not because of his illness. However it is something that has made both us further stressed and 'outside our control'.  Prepare yourselves for a rant or look away now.

Having put in a long work day yesterday (both of us). I switched on my mobile on leaving work to find a message from the social worker for Mum (regular readers of my thread will know what we have been going through recently).  The upshott of this message was that the Social Services panel have decided that they can offer Mum a place at a sheltered housing complex but not the most local one. The call was to advise me of the panel's decision and to tell me that a visit will be arranged this week, preferably by Wednesday, for Mum to be taken to visit the flat and be told about the package of care and how it will work. They require a decision from Mrs K (this is how my mother is addressed in the follow up e-mail!!) by Friday otherwise the placement will be offered to another service provider!  Unfortunately this means Mum has little choice but to move further away (closest sheltered housing has no vacancy and they are  not willing to help fund where she has spent the last 9 months 'settling in').  The guilt I feel at being unable to cope with this is overwhelming, my hubby is very supportive and angry in equal parts and I am dreading the days ahead.  I am unable to take leave and my negative feelings towards her social worker would not work in Mum's favour as she needs to go on the visit with an open mind and the care home staff state she is quite able to make her own mind up.  If she agrees I will be unable to visit as regularly (my problem not theirs of course) but apparently the social worker will accompany her and I have asked to be kept informed.

Even typing this is making me sad/angry/frustrated and emotionally/physically drained.  I was due to visit Mum today but this is on hold until I have spoken to the care home this morning. Hubby says I should leave it till later in the week when we know what is going on and I suspect he is right (bearing in mind my physical upset involves many 'loo' visits (enough said!!)).

Sorry for all the negativity but just needed to get it out and try and get  myself together before I start on the phone calls.

Hope everyone has a good day.  Regards Julesxx

  • Offline in reply to Hope23

    Hi Hope

    Have responded to your PM asap on return from work.  Look after yourself and enjoy your hols.  Hugs  Jules x

  • Offline in reply to SleepyCat

    Hi Gill

    Glad Alice is helping with the cooking (especially in this weather).Currently feeling like a drowned rat and that just sitting still. Luckily our tube line has air con on the trains now so travelling is 'cool'.  Buses will probably be a different story from next week but with the children breaking up for hols the morning 'rush hour' may not be quite so bad and travelling  back mid afternoon could help.  Needs must, as they say.  Have been shopping with the 'returning plumbers' in mind - new bucket/jugs to store water in whilst we are switched off, cheap mugs for use outside by the gang and extra ice cube bags/squash.  Luckily have daughter's place just 10mins round the corner if desparate  but am sure it will be fine (everything crossed at this point ha ha) and have neighbours who will 'oblige' if needs must.  Will be good when its done.  Have bought hubby extra sweeties to cheer him up too.  My reward for all this?  - a reminder letter from the optician that I am due a check up in the post so hope bingo is kind to me this week!!

    Have a great weekend.  Hugs  Jules x

  • Offline in reply to jules54

    Hi Jules,

    The small bud vases are Yew, the white parts the sapwood and the pinky/red the heartwood. Yew is my favourite timber and it is hard to get a bad finish on it as it's so close grained. Have not been out to my garage at all today as it has a low corrugated roof and gets very hot in there so have continued with my story writing instead.

    It will be nice to get your plumbing work completed though I don't envy you the cost. Just a thought, are you covered under insurance like my sister in law is? Might be worth a call to your insurance company. Talking of sleeping, for the last two nights have not slept much at all, partly due to the heat but not helped by the hot flushes caused by the hormone therapy which I finished three years ago so I do sympathise with you. I have read of one guy still suffering from them 15 years after finishing treatment.

    Hot weather always play havoc with Mrs B's diabetes but doesnt seem to affect mine. I just take tablets but she is on five injections per day. Hope you managed some time in the shade this afternoon. Best wishes to you and hubby, Brian



  • Offline in reply to woodworm

    Hi Brian

    The different woods used to produce such lovely creations are beautiful in their own right but using them together brings out the best of them all.

    Yes, we did look into 'insurance' re replacement of old pipework but that's not included on our policy and as the original leak did not ruin anything have not need to claim for that.  Its the labour costs that make it expensive but at the end of the day we will be happier to have it completed before it has the chance to cause further havoc (don't fancy problems with the cold weather returns).Have used the 'showery weather' this morning to 'clear the decks' of the smaller stuff and in doing so also had a clear out so some good has come of it all.

      We are both currently watching the Open Golf and will also be tuning in to the Formula 1 highlights later.  Hubby and I went out with our respective friends last night for our 'social' time and though no luck at the bingo for me did enjoy a glass of wine in my friends' garden whilst waiting to pick up the boys and returned home around  11 pm.No lie in this morning as too warm to sleep much so did some 'quiet housework' until hubby got up (would not like to upset the neighbours either!!).  Hopefully tomorrow will be dry and I can spent time in the back garden whilst the plumbers dig up the front (think I might ask them to weed as they go).  Enjoy your weekend. Best regards to you and MrsB.Jules x

  • Offline in reply to jules54

    Hi Jules,

    Went out to my garage this morning to try out my new bargain saw blades. Bought two 10" blades for under £9 when one is normally nearly twenty pounds. (sold cheap as wrong info printed on them) Very good buy and cut very well. Also put two castors on the back legs of the bench to make it easier to move. Now saw is fully operational, it will enable me to use more of the timber I have stored in the garage. But that will have to wait untill it's a bit cooler. Nearly melted out there this morning even with my fan on. Next door neighbour not been well today; I think the heat has got to her so have been going round making her cups of tea in between jobs.

    Hope you get to spend some time reading under your copper beech tree. Many years  ago I took my grandfather back down to where he was born in Wiltsire. While on the way there, he showed me where part of the road was planted on both sides with copper beech trees. Must have been well over a mile of them, really quite majestic trees. It was a quite a sight to see and I really enjoyed the sight.

    Take care, will think of you tomorrow. Best wishes to you and hubby, Brian.



  • Offline in reply to jules54

    Hi Jules

    Know you mean about a drowned rat.  That is one thing with being in the office - the aircon works really well.  Glad to hear there will be aircon on the tubes but not so good that you have to go by bus for three weeks.

    Like you and Brian have had some difficulty sleeping due to the heat and some spectacular lightening storms.  Quite glad it is bright and sunny at present so I can dry some washing.  Do not think it will last too much longer if the forecast is to be believed.  They expect rain in the next hour or so (not that I am timing them).

    It is good that the pipework is being replaced but you could certainly do without hte upheaval.  Glad you have stocked up on cheap mugs and buckets/jugs for the duration.  As you say i would not like to be one of them working outside in this heat and probably getting soaked as well.

    Hope you have a good weekend despite the works.

    Gill

  • Offline in reply to SleepyCat

    Hi Gill,

    I am sure Jules wont mind me using her thread. I am amazed how well you have coped with your return to work, helped no doubt by the fact you have a caring boss and colleagues. You seem a very strong and determined lady which helps. Brianitus has slowed down as it too hot to eat the amount of nuts I normally consume. Have even lost a little weight and could do with losing a lot more. Not able to work in my garage in weather like this. I tried it for a while this morning and came indoors looking like I had sprung a leak. Mrs B had to help me off with my shirt and vest for they were literally sticking to me. So had a quiet afternoon but have found what are called metal Knurling wheels on Ebay. I will make up a tool to give a diamond texture my wooden acorns with these wheels which I have to do by hand at the moment so will certainly speed things up..

    Hope you are coping with this hot weather Gill. Take care and I hape you and your family have a great weekend, Take care, best wishes, Brian


  • Offline in reply to woodworm

    Hi All you great people I have just had 24 days on angelsey in our van it only rained once Brian i have a picture for you to look at of a lump of wood (joke) but I HAVE LOST IT but i will find it I think it about a needle saw does that sound right it looks fantastic .Now my eldest Bev is to start a chemo 6 month treatment she had a hemi-colecomi ? 4 weeks ago for a bowel tumour  she is 54 buts looks 35 it is a bad time for us all so I will need help and advice from you all .but I will find that picture brian .regards all .

    Message was edited by: urostar

  • Offline in reply to urostar

    Morning George

    Good to hear that you had a lovely break with the van.  Your forum buddies will, I know. do all they can to help you and your daughter through the coming weeks as she goes through treatment.  As many of us know is not an easy 'club' to belong to but not sure where I would be now without the continuing knowledge that people out there understand when we need to offload as well as get advice.  Wishing your daughter all the very best and sending virtual hugs. Jules x

  • Offline in reply to urostar

    Hi George,

    So pleased you had a good time on Angelsey but sorry to hear about your daughter. Bet your four legged friend made sure you went for plenty of walks. One thing is for sure George, you can count on help, advice and support on here with all the great people who are members of this great forum.

    Take care, best wishes to you and your daughter, Brian.

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