Hi Candy,

Apart from some of us being left on the street in the freezing cold waiting for a coach that never turned up the evening went pretty well.  The hotel I work at won one award and we were nominated for three others which out of a group of over sixty hotels is not bad going.  We were pleased anyway and so are the others at work now that we have had a chance to tell them.

How was your Mum last night?  Does she have anymore hair do's or pampering to look forward to?

Garf. xx

Hi Garf! Oh dear that isn't very good! How did you all get home!! Oh congratulations that's amazing :)!

She was good, a little tired but we caught up on some soaps and had a look through some of my childhood photos and had a laugh at them! The hairdresser was due round either today or tomorrow my mum couldn't remember for sure which day, so hopefully she will have had a nice wash and blowdry! I painted her nails the other week so they are still ok not needing re done just yet!

I am feeling a little sad today not sure why! Maybe cause I am tired and having a rubbish day at work !

Are you upto much over the weekend?

xx

Afternoon Brian, that's good I'm glad you are well!

Yeah it's amazing the difference proper treatment can make to a person!

I find it easier keeping routine and coming to work for now. And although I'd love to be at the hospice all the time I don't feel I need time off just now since she is doing ok and would rather keep my time for when it's really needed. She has loads of visitors during the day anyway my aunt and her friends etc so she's never alone.. Although sometimes I think she finds all the visitors a bit much and it tires her out.

Feeling a bit down today.. Must be having an off day lol

xxx

Hi Candy,

Sorry to hear you are feeling a little sad although that is to be expected sometimes especially if you are having a bad day at work.  That plus being tired in general is bound to make you feel low occasionally.  Maybe we could start a "having a bad day at work" club together as I have had a couple of difficult days in my job too.  At least my boss from head office is coming down for a visit in three weeks which means a meal and a few drinks so I am looking forward to that.

I am hoping to get a round of golf in this weekend but this hideous weather we are having to put up with may put an end to those plans.  Whatever happens I can guarantee that I will be sharing a small part of the weekend with my good friend Mr Boddingtons.  He doesn't talk much but is good company none-the-less.

I hope you can have a good weekend yourself but whatever happens try and find some time to relax and wind down.  Maybe watch a favourite film or listen to some music.  Whatever you can do it is important to charge your batteries.

My thoughts and best wishes are with you.

Garf. xx

Hi again Garf

Awk I am feeling ok now , think it was just me being tired and having a long day at work. Visited mum tonight and she wasn't so good, they think she has taken a dip, back on painkillers via pump in her am and she was very sleepy so I only stayed a few hours and left her to get an early night, she looks so frail and thin laying there, breaks my heart everytime I see her! Yes I am all for creating this club, I'm sure people would be queueing up to join! That's good that will give you something to look forward to and give yourself a wee break

Oh dear are you in amongst all these floods and storms? I see them on the news but luckily up in scotland we aren't so bad.. Yet! This weekend I have a night out with my friends.. Well I hope anyway! I feel bad going out but I will be going to visit after work as usual and up the next day.. I guess I can't put the rest of my life on hold.. Just not sure I will enjoy myself but I shall try

xxxx

Hi Candy

Sorry for only getting back to you now.  Pity you couldn't finish work a few hours before you are supposed to just to give yourself a wee break - time to wind down a bit.

I always found music helped me to wind down but everyone is different.  I see you are from Scotland across the way from me in a wee town called Belfast.

I read your mum has taken another dip in her wellbeing but remember Candy she is in the best place and they can't do enough for the patients in the hospices so she is in very good hands.

I know it may reassure you but it must be so hard looking at her almost feeling helpless.

Still in my thoughts and prayers Candy and I will keep checking in to see how you are doing.

Mickied

Just like Mickied I have just noticed from your "accent" that you are Scottish.  My boss at head office who I am looking forward to seeing is from Glasgow.  I on the other hand couldn't be further away as I live on the South Coast although I am originally from North Wales.  We are managing to avoid most of the flooding for now but the constant rain and wind along with the already saturated ground means we are pretty fed up with the weather right now.  I had no idea that one sky could hold so much rain.

Candy I am sorry your Mum seems to have had a dip and I know exactly what you mean when you say that seeing her so thin is heartbreaking.  As people seeing someone we love fall ill we feel utterly helpless but you have honestly been amazing in the way you have dealt with this and I for one am proud of you.

You mustn't feel bad for going on a night out with your friends as like I said you have to find some "me time".  To contradict myself though I remember being invited out by my boss and work colleagues one time while Dad was ill and I turned them down because, like you I didn't want to feel bad about trying to have fun and I figured I probably wouldn't enjoy myself either.

Stay strong and I will be interested to know how your night out goes if it happens.

Garf. xx

Hi Mickied. No need to apologise

I know it would be nice to get out of work a bit earlier and chill for a while before coming to the hospice but oh well not to worry!  I will have a chilled out weekend and try to relax. Yeah I like to listen to music too and read a wee book!

Oh you are from belfast, lovely! I visited there a few years ago although don't ask me about it as it was a wild weekend and I do not recall much lol! Took the ferry there and back, not good with a hangover!!

Yeah the hospice have been amazing much better than the hospital. It is very hard watching her become weaker but I am just trying to be strong

xxxx

Well done I am indeed Scottish! Yeah I am pretty near Glasgow :)!! It is strange thinking everyone on here is from so many different places! Yet we are all brought together by one awful disease! Oh I know what you mean, we are used to this rubbish weather up here in scotland ! Although it's nothing compared to what those poor people are dealing with in amongst the floods!!

Yeah it is hard seeing her so frail. She seemed a bit brighter tonight although still confused. The old friend I mentioned before came back to visit again which was nice surprise for her! Aw thank you that's very nice of you to say you are proud of me thank you!

Yeah it's hard to decide whether to go out and try have fun.. But I think I might just go and try enjoy myself. I will visit during the day and stay until after dinner then leave to get myself ready and back up the next day!

Are you doing much over the weekend?

xxxx