Flying solo

satchmo1

I'm intrigued Robin to know whether a homeopath could help a nut allergy? DS1 has had a few blue light incidents.

*Robin*

satchmo1 wrote: »

I'm intrigued Robin to know whether a homeopath could help a nut allergy? DS1 has had a few blue light incidents.

I'm not a trained homoeopath, but would say it's worth at least a 'phone-call to an experienced practitioner to ask (I'd expect they would tell you if they definitely can't help, without asking you to go for a lengthy first assessment). The one we consulted wanted the allergy-specialist's results first so that a specific remedy could be made up for DS4 - he turned out to have multiple sensitivities which made a difference to the treatment (GP just said "house dust" which was far from accurate).

Have you seen this:
http://www.cambridgeallergytherapy.com/news/cambridge-study-peanut-allergy-therapy-shows-84-cent-success

A friend's child took part in this research, with great results. I haven't seen the family since being at the Nest, but believe they intended to continue with the slow de-sensitization process after the trial ended, in hope of affecting a permanent, complete cure.


Favourite Neighbour at homehome has given me the name of a local chap who installed their new windows at a fraction of the cost the big companies quoted me (and his house is much larger than mine!). This is likely to save at least £10K, so I've decided to use some of the PPI windfall in having solar panels fitted onto camper-van, reducing reliance on dodgy gas and enabling us to recharge our laptops without having to beg a mains socket from whoever we are visiting, at monotonously regular intervals.

No call-back from GE yet, so guess am not going to be able to cook for m'self in the van until next week..

Car-selling negotiations still on-going.

Spends:
Ran out of lemons. Accidentally spent £21 while remedying the lack (mostly on more groceries for DR's kitchen).

satchmo1

Thanks Robin I read about that trial some time ago with great interest, but assumed (wrongly?) that it had to have started during childhood. I'll research homeopathic practitioners locally.

Re solar power, Lidl have a solar recharging pack for £11.99 atm which should suit your purposes. It appears to have multiple connectors for various devices.

Good news on the window replacement costs.

*Robin*

satchmo1 wrote: »

I read about that trial some time ago with great interest, but assumed (wrongly?) that it had to have started during childhood.

An understandable conclusion, but more likely that the research team selected children because A) peanut allergy is the fastest growing of the "new" food allergies and children are particularly at risk of a lethal reaction, there were likely to be a sufficient number of sufferers within the catchment area of Addenbrookes to provide a meaningful sample, C) NHS funding was specifically for a paediatric study.

If you look around the peanut allergy clinic site I linked to earlier, you'll see they assess patients of all ages, and appear to provide immunotherapy treatment privately - it is a bit ambiguous, but, worth registering your interest in case DD is eligible to take part in an adult NHS trial at some point.

This is the same hospital where DS4 is on the 'healthy control panel' of volunteers, as was DS2 when he was a child (non-invasive studies only, lol!).
Dear Mum used to work there so our family have been involved in the research side for years. They were very fond of taking blood from DM and self when Professor Calne was developing liver transplant techniques. I can't donate blood any more, but was part of the study which finally convinced the BMA to reclassify ME as a physical [rather than psychological] illness.

satchmo1 wrote: »

I'll research homeopathic practitioners locally.

Choose one with plenty of experience - peanut allergy isn't a problem for the newly qualified to treat..

satchmo1 wrote: »

Re solar power, Lidl have a solar recharging pack for £11.99 atm which should suit your purposes. It appears to have multiple connectors for various devices.

Thanks - spent a good hour trying to find this in their on-line blurb without success. The closest L!dl is about thirty miles away, so unless the offer opened yesterday am not hopeful their recharging pack will still be available; stuff like that tends to fly off the shelves. Sounds like a very useful piece of kit.

Am actually going for a full-sized panel and inverter which will keep the leisure battery topped up when we're 'wild camping' - much more expensive, but will add value to the van as well as being able to run laptops etc as if we were on the mains.

Talking of which - the low-power warning light has come on; it's time to post this before lappy shuts down..

Goodnight all. Sweet dreams.

*Robin*

Dear Diary, :hello:

The rain has caught up with us today, but CD is quite adamant that she wants to sit outside.. Won't be so happy about it when she has to be towelled off, lol.

Muggins has fallen into The River trap; ordered coconut oil and anti-bug stuff for CD, and a rather generous birthday gift for DR. He actually is quite ill, to the point where I have reluctantly agreed to start discussing executor duties ready for 'when the time comes'.
His finances really are in a mess; am going to need all the knowledge I've gained from MSE over the past few years to sort everything out, but if we begin now maybe DR will have time to enjoy the fruits of his lifetime's labour. The birthday present should help him to feel more comfortable anyway, therefore hopefully better in himself and able to direct my efforts.
At least I got fifty quid off DR's gift; the latest offering from my favourite British entrepreneur..

Spends:
The River - £28
DR's pressie - £350**
**Like the solar panel, this has come out of m' PPI windfall.

satchmo1

Thanks for your very detailed response, which I'll be following up on. You are a wealth of information ��

Do you suppose it could have been a faulty cylinder rather than the cooker?

Sun_Addict

Hello Robin, just catching up with your escapades - can't believe it's 3 years since you lost your DH I can remember reading your first post. So glad CD is doing well but sorry to hear your DR isn't doing so well. At least he's lucky enough to have you to assist him. As for the drunk

Dansmam

Hey Robin, I think we all have rain today, but had a giggle at the idea of CD getting towelled down, somehow I see her as such a character she'd resist that indignity...Update on the girls is that they 've safely got through London, the west country, France, Belgium and a chunk of Germany. They are currently wrestling with the moral dilemma of maccy ds being a source of both commercial exploitation of animal murder and free power and WiFi. I have gently suggested that I paid forward for the latter in terms of happy meals when dd was small and without conscience and keen on small plastic toys. With hindsight I could have been so much better a mother, but life's short and we learn as we go along. Selfishly I hope they often access free WiFi and let me know they're fine. So far so good....
Hope DR loves the present. Jealous of your solar plans. Wishing you a peaceful night without drunken serenades, unless you want them!

*Robin*

Night shift again..

satchmo1 wrote: »

Thanks for your very detailed response, which I'll be following up on. You are a wealth of information

You're welcome, hope info is useful.

satchmo1 wrote: »

Do you suppose it could have been a faulty cylinder rather than the cooker?

GE did say gas cylinder wasn't screwed tightly enough onto the van supply pipe, but the fact that the gas level drops visibly beneath m' kettle when one of us walks past the cooker does make me suspicious there could be a faulty join in the pipes? ..Maybe CD slept on that part of the floor during the night we had a leak?
Am not inclined to risk a repeat performance before GE has had a proper look; meanwhile it's a great encouragement to drink water rather than tea! :rotfl:

Sun_Addict wrote:

can't believe it's 3 years since you lost your DH

Most of the time, neither can I!

Sun_Addict wrote:

So glad CD is doing well but sorry to hear your DR isn't doing so well. At least he's lucky enough to have you to assist him.

I'm also delighted CD is still with us, even though she's taken to demanding a rather early start - 0615 this morning, just in time to almost come head-to-head with one of the presumably illegal pit-bulls and it's owner, who must live somewhere around here. Got a good look at the dog today; unlike the other one [of the four his missus runs with in the middle of the night] I've seen close up, this bruiser appears to be crossed with an American Bulldog - an enormous specimen! His owner dragged him away with difficulty but at speed - no muzzle - claiming the snarling, slavering beast was "nervous because he was attacked last year!" Yeah, right. :cool:
CD is miffed because I won't let her out alone to enjoy the night air; doesn't understand she wouldn't stand a chance against that pack.. Did I mention the woman runs them without leads? :eek:
This evening we walked through the estate behind DR's house, in case CD could give me a hint where they might live.. She didn't, in fact she was very reluctant to go on any of the footpaths there so maybe the scent is everywhere? If I find out which house they're in, I'll be having a word with the police - can't abide people who train their dogs to be weapons! :mad:

Sun_Addict wrote:

As for the drunk

Ah, the poor sad, singing drunk.. He hasn't been back.

Dansmam wrote:

I think we all have rain today, but had a giggle at the idea of CD getting towelled down, somehow I see her as such a character she'd resist that indignity.

CD did indeed object; think it reminds her of B.A.T.Hs..
Didn't do her any good - I won! :rotfl:
Poor ol' thing really doesn't like being so confined, which is necessary here - it's almost time to run away to the countryside for a couple of weeks, where she can have more freedom while we visit a mate's farm.

Dansmam wrote:

..Update on the girls is that they 've safely got through London, the west country, France, Belgium and a chunk of Germany.

Eh? London then the West Country on their way to France?
..You should have given the girls a better map as a leaving gift! :rotfl:

I'm sure you are a great Mum, and I applaud DD for her initiative in finding free wifi spots - why not take something back from a morally dubious company? By the sound of it, they won't be eating McNasties so their consciences will be clear!

Oh no - lappy battery is critical again. Am so looking forward to going solar (waiting for installation estimate; have picked the system already ).

Goodnight everyone. Sleep well. :wave:

Brightspark87

Hi Robin

Poor CD I agree about the dogs as weapons. Before I moved to London I would have never thought I would be scared of dogs (having grown up around them in the country and loved all I had met) but after a few of these type dogs chasing me down the road and when I was walking in the park I changed my mind!

Take care and hope you get a little lie in if you have been up so late xxx