I've had a horrible night, scratching,  hot, itchy and then falling into a deep sleep so by this morning I'm not a happy bunny!  Hubby says I need to see a doctor but I'm telling him that it's fine.  By eleven I give up and get an emergency appointment and feel a real fraud.  So I'm back with 2,000 milligrams of penicillin for five days.  Apparently the insects injected me with poison, then a chemical to stop me bleeding so you can't see where you've been bitten,  they say you learn something new every day, well I have!   Hubby is pretty happy that I took his advice and says I told you so.  It's quite nice that he's looking after me for once, mind it didn't get me out of cooking tea, some things never change.   See you tomorrow 

Hi Merino, your first message didn't include this information so I was going off your age as I'm in my sixties also, however  my children are fully  blown adults.   I'm not an expert on giving advice and your problems seem to require more advanced help so I'm sorry for my clichés but that's how I cope and looking ahead for us is not an option because we don't know what the future holds.  I hope you get the help you are seeking. Warmest regards to you.  Carol

The penicillin helps but I get up feeling tired and with a cough.   Mary calls at 9.15 to ask if I want to go to the Metro, I tell her I'm not up to going and she sounds disappointed .  Hubby is pleased I'm feeling better and I can see he's been concerned,  he says he'd be lost without me!  I go to Lookers as I have a knocking under my car but the blessed road isn't finished so I end up going round the houses to get there.   The manager asks what sort of noise and I explained  it's like hitting a drain and metal on metal,  as it's just had a service he asks if I'm just driving down the same drain all the time!  I think he needs to go on a diversity training session on how to deal with women!   An hour later he comes back with his tail between his legs as a bush has snapped under the wheel and this is causing metal on metal contact,  I give him one of my famous "looks" and it's booked in.  Faye texts me can she come home next week before they go on holiday?  Hubby sighs and says yes but it just seems like they've all gone home!  He's asleep now gathering strength for them arriving, me I'm on the sofa and sleep is beckoning

Hi there Carol; I vanished for a few days because I was invited to visit a friend who used to walk his dog in the park before he and his wife moved away.  Lovely to have a little break.  I hope you are feeling better.  Another dog walker friend who is an ambulance driver/training to be a paramedic looked at my leg and told me it was badly infected and the doctor needed to do something about it; so I told my GP this and finally got a prescription for penicillin; after 24 hours I started to vomit - don't know why as I have had pencillin before - and they had to change the prerscription.  I cannot have hydrotherapy until the infection has cleared up so it's a bit of a stalemate situation at the moment. I think (the operative word is think) the leg is starting to improve so am so hopeful that this is the beginning of the end of a grotty summer.  Anyway, feeling now that I might be on the mend I spent the afternoon (a) walking the dog on a lengthy walk; (b) mowed the lawn and weeded the  garden - not long ago dandelions appeared to be taking over the world and many rooted in my garden; (c) cooking dinner.  When I took some dinner up to Paul who was lying on bed watching TV as he wasn't feeling too good he said "I thought you had been asleep all afternoon".   Huh.

Hello Merino; I am sorry you are going through such an awful time and also worrying about your son.  I don't know much about services available in Canada but worry and sorrow are the same anywhere.  I cannot offhand think of anyone in an exact same position as yourself but I have read posts from single parents who have a terminal illness and are worrying a great deal about what will happen to their children.  If you take a look at the posts you may find someone whose situation bears some resemblance to yours and you could perhaps share your worries.  I will take a look on the main forum also - many posts come in every day - to see if I can find someone if you would like me to do so.  Annie

Hi ANNIE,  so sorry about your foot, sounds like the doctor wasn't really interested.   It's nice you've had a break, I did miss your messages but knew you were helping others.  I'm not sure how Merino ended up on my site but it's all a little negative for me, I know people have problems but everything suggested is then thrown back at you with another one!!  Faye is coming home next week before they go to Great Yarmouth so I've been out buying unicorn swimming costumes and Converse baseball caps.  Clever Grandma finding a unicorn cossie so late in the summer.   Ella will be thrilled with it.  Zumba was hard this morning as I'm still suffering from this nasty bite.  There was a right ruccous last night at midnight,  boys were shouting and screaming in the lane that is a nature walk but then they jumped over the eight foot fence onto Maureen's car roof.  She set the dog on them and they did a runner and we live in a quiet culture de sac.  Where was the helicopter then!!  Putting tea on now, I couldn't be bothered to cook so it's M & S steak pie.  Xx

Hi Carol, Have just read through some of your posts,  Gave me a good laugh, which never goes astray. Loved your dealings getting the car sorted out and you giving him the "LOOK"  Neil and I have that type of thing with our car... I say I can hear something that doesn't sound right.. His response.. "What, I can't hear anything."  Keep in mind he's almost deaf, but if he can't hear anything, there's nothing wrong  Rang palliative care tonight for Neil, He's ok.. just effects of chemo..  He's not keeping much down at all...and I made him a lovely pot of soup to have, thinking he might enjoy it, but no, he preferred the 3 dry ritz crackers.  He seems to be asleep now and settled for the night.  I'm guessing I'll be having bacon and veggie soup again tomorrow.  Hope all is well with you.  Best go get the dishes done, and then to bed for me too...Another early start tomorrow.  Take care.. Sue

Hi Sue, so pleased you've come on here as it's a lovely chat.  Got my car back and wrangle a VI Beetle teddy bear out of them for fifteen pounds, he's happily sat on my back seat looking very content.   Ella is going to adore him, but he's staying here with me.  I've bought her two unicorn swimming costumes and Faye says she saw it but didn't like it!  However the little one loved it and pleaded please, please could she have it, I think there might be ructions when they arrive.  It's so difficult to get men to eat I struggled with Norman but wandered around the aisles of M &S buying anything I thought he might like.  That's his only job washing up,  he doesn't get out of it now!  Keep letting me know what you are doing. Xx

Off to Lookers again the long way round, guess what,  the road was opened this morning.  Off to dentist,  the exercises are working and unless I'm in pain I don't go back until February 14th, good job we don't celebrate Valentines day. Into town and get my nails done, coffee and scone, shop in House of Fraser I buy Faye a top for her holidays. I wait for Hubby to pick me up and there is a big band playing in the old Market and people dancing, children are joining in and it's lovely to watch.  My car is ready so we call in and collect it.   I then drive to West Auckland to pick the hats up for Ella, they are so cute.  Hubby looks well today and very smart, it's lovely to see him looking so well.  We've just got a scan date for next month but we'll live in ignorance until then.  Take care all of you.