The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

GreyQueen

Morning all.

SQ, the Rev in question is in their early seventies and SG has known them and been a close friend for years but the moodiness has been getting worse. As a friend, you gloss over these things if they happen in private, but when the great public blow-up happened over nothing, SG couldn't stand it a moment longer. She is a woman of extremely high integrity, a bit old-fashioned in some respects, deeply-kind but nobody's fool. She's brave enough to have nursed for the Red Cross in war zones and funny enough to make you PMSL.

Anyone can throw a wobbly but this continuation of speaking against SG in her absence is really poisoning the congregation who are left behind, many who are friends with both of them, but now questioning their Rev's judgement. Toxic situation.

As to whether it could be the onset of Alzheimer's, I'm unqualifiied to say, it's just what the witnesses are wondering. One of my relatives by marriage started to develop it in his fifties. First manifestations for him was forgetfullness and then it reached the point where he would drive somewhere and forget what he had gone for, or forget how to drive home. Not good when you're a lorry driver.

He became irrational and argumentative with auntie, this eventually became violence. There wasn't a single thing in their home which wasn't broken, from the plastic clock high on the kitchen wall to living room furniture. She tried her best, as did their daughter, but they had to admit defeat in the end and he spent his last couple of years in a specialist dementia care home.

I've known a few people who worked in these types of care homes and heard some tales. A mixture of complete irrationality and pre-meditated attacks on the staff. Very hard to cope with being strangled by an elderly man who you need to get off you but don't want to hurt. Or being whaled around the head with a walking stick by somebody's granny who has laid in ambush for you. Sounds funny, in a grim way, but the injuries and risks to staff are real.

Aren't I a bundle of laffs this morning? Anyroad, the sun is shining, the weather persists into the mid-twenties in this part of the south (very clammy tho) and I have a few hours work and then a few hours to myself today, so all is well.

Have a good day, everyone. GQ xx

fuddle

Hey mar, hop back into bed, close your eyes and hop back out again... New day!

Shegar and Mar - champion you're up. Kelp? Do you feel it helps you get up with a bit of gusto? I'm on just over my 3rd week of them and the past few days I've been UP and out of bed at 6.30 doing stuff! Normally I surface at 7am but lie dreamy for a little bit, get up by 7.30, have a beveridge and a pootle on net till I feel ready to tackle the world. I don't think they are giving me drive to do stuff (will see when the kids go back and I'm in a routine again( but so sure they are kicking me out of bed!

Popperwell

I've been on the kelp for ages(doing no harm)but are they helping? Not sure probably should up the daily dose.

Funny isn't it...never been to the park before and yet may be there two or three days on the trot from Friday...that show will serve two purposes(some fun)may get some good images but it has a food festival element too. Yum yum.:p On the Monday some Brass Bands are playing...I like a good BB.

Fuddle next weekend I have found that your old stomping ground(Its new to me again)have some kind of displays of scarecrows around the village...its a competition. They did something similar recently on the radio series The Archers...:)so I may be going back sooner than I thought and its near to home.

Pooky

Morning all

There's a bit of a chilly breeze here this morning, the advantage of living on the coast. It's supposed to be 26 and sunny all day, which I can well imagine it will get to at some point. At the moment though the grass is soaked in dew, the air is fresh and crisp and the wafts of the farmers muck spreading antics keeps carrying into my nostrils.....Blugh!

DH phoned a couple of places to try and arrange test drives of new cars yesterday (his motorbility one is up for renewal in November) the first garage really helpful, yes give us 2 weeks and we'll get an adapted car in for you to try. 2nd garage, not sure they can get one in before December, so can he not just test drive a standard one......errrr no, his license is restricted to drive drive cars adapted to his use.....surely as a motorbility scheme provider they could be a bit more helpful. Ah well. (got to get through DLA renewal first)

DD2 gets some of her GCSE results tomorrow, she's very hormonal and teary, so much pressure on them to do the exams earlier now, I dread to think what she'll be like next year when she will be sitting the rest of them and then moving to college. A big year education wise for my girls, last year of GCSEs for DD2, last year of BTec for DD1 and then off to Uni (fingers crossed for DD1) and DD2 wants out of her school and off to a college 20 miles away. Lots of fraught weekends with homework ahead.

Great to hear the kelp is working for so many of you, I just wish it didn't cause me so much tummy pain. Never mind, I shall have to give myself a placebo (sp?) and run around like a loon.

Popperwell

I never know what to do when its clammy SQ and it can be part of my medical condition anyhow so it makes me more susceptable, I look at the weather and think that I better be ready for the cold but then you can find that you feel uncomfortable, often sweaty(women perspire or glow):pand if you are out all day...

I may take a light jerkin with me and a spare shirt in my knapsack...

I try to be prepared for all eventualities...will catch up when I get home. x

alfsmum

Good Morning all, bright and sunny here, another warmish day in the offing I think. Feel I wasted yesterday as my throbbing head meant I had to ignore all the things I'd planned to do and remain in a mostly prone position well dosed up with painkillers this morning and forging on...

POPS, I hope your day out goes well and is not too tiring.

POOKY, I hope your DD gets the results she wants/needs tomorrow. We will also be waiting somewhat nervously as DD2 has an excellent brain but is disinclined to use it. She has opted not to stay on for sixth form but to do an equivalent course at college so as long as she gets the grades for that, we will be happy. It will mean very long days for her as the bus picks up at 7.30 and returns at 17.45, plus the time it will take her to walk to and from the bus stop. Still, it's her choice and I will remind her of that when she doesn't want to get up in the mornings....:A the days of mollycoddling are over - harsh mother!

MAR, I'm sure you didn't really eat those crisps, just a figment of your imagination before you were properly awake.

LYN, hope you all had a good night and are feeling less bruised mentally and in Docky's case physically this morning.

GQ, the onset of Alzheimer's is worth considering having been through it with my lovely late MIL and now with my Mum. MIL wouldn't have hurt a fly but when the dementia took hold she could be quite rough and thoughtless. It's very different for each individual and some people do get very violent while others drift along quite happily in a world of their own when memories of five minutes ago have disappeared but thoughts and life ingrained from years back is as fresh as a daisy for them. So, so sad as an onlooker, feeling that behave been robbed of what should be a wonderful time of their lives, enjoying the fruits if their hard work.

MONNAGRAN, so sorry that you have to deal with the broken tooth on top of everything else. Keep smiling - unless the tooth is in a crucial place;)

Ah well, hugs to anyone who is having a hard time. Off for a rootle in the cupboard to see what needs using up before I restock for winter. Have lots of SM vouchers so shouldn't have to spend much of our own money this week

FairyPrincessk

Morning everyone,

It has been warm-ish here, but gray every day. I think it may be time for me to start on my sunshine tablets again.

Todays plans are work as usual and washing sheets/linens. If OH has an stained white shirts the need doing I'll probably give those a soak. Still feeling low today, so its potter in the garden, nice candle and the gym in between work.

Pops, hope you have a nice day! It sounds exciting, if not exhausting.

Pooky, good luck to your DD. I hope she isn't too stressed in the mean time.

Mar, I once knew a woman who said anything you eat standing up doesn't count. You were, per chance, standing up when you had those crisps? Nevermind, one slip up isn't so bad. Stick to it--you've been this long without sweeties, I know you'll manage.

Big hugs Stiltwalker.

Kez--well done. I admire the way you've set clear boundaries for D and stuck up for your children.

I know I must be missing some, but I've plenty of hugs to go around.

jem132

Morning hope you have a good day pops.
Mar as fuddle says hop back into bed and hop out the otherside. That what I tell the kids to do lol. It seams to work lol.
Stiltwalker I have days like that everyday ds9 decides he doesn't want to do something then generally he does his best not to do it. Some times I can talk him round.

My kids go back to school 2 weeks today well ds7 does I still don't really know where ds9 is going he is supposed to be going he is supposed to be going to a special provision but they were moving and not sure where to so still don't know.......

Got my plants all in my tyres from my front garden does anyone know what I can paint them with to look less like tyres lol

Lyn hope docky feels better.

My new freezer comes tomorrow yay I can't wait.

It's raining on and off hear so not sure weather to bother putting out my washing..

Cleaning and sewing is the order of the day.

savingqueen

morning all,

just read posts and promptly forgotten all but stiltwalkers . Had a good night's kip, makes all the difference. So feeling perky and making all sorts of crazy arrangements to see boys' school friends next week. People seem keen to have kids play together but majority leave it to me to instigate. I have tried waiting for them to get the ball rolling and in the end give in and start contacting people. Don't get me moaning on trying to arrange group get togethers and suggesting meeting places that are accessible/affordable to all concerned. Sorry not meant to be a moan!

Stiltwalker - hope you feel better today love. You cope with so much so well, you are bound to have days when it all seems too much - in fact you are ENTITLED to such days. Hope the stay and play gives you a break, enjoy that cuppa. Report back later so we know how ya doin'?

Well after complicated arrangements involving dentists, nap times, work shifts (all my friend's poor thing) we have one excited 9 year old coming over at 3pm. Tried desperately to arrange a friend for DS6 who feels left out and rarely complains about it. DS9 has lots of good friends to invite over, DS6 hardly any. DS9 has a high percentage of boys in his class and DS6 less and some of the mums don't even smile at me let alone arrange for our kids to meet up. We do have a couple of out of school friends DS6's age and I will make more effort to have them over (currently all on holiday)

Right boring children's friends ramble over, sorry. Need to get some washing on, wash my hair and nip to supermarket as forgot to defrost chicken. Think it might be pizzas for 3 boys and quick curry for me and DH. This afternoon will try and get some cleaning done while boys are playing and more sewing jobs if I can be arrised.

sq:)

[Deleted User]

Hewo Evrewun iz Docky hear, fank yew orl fer beein sew kynde yestiday coz eye woz feewin veri sadddd an hertid erlotte. Eye wozn't wontin ter ete mine dina sew Mumi dint bee abew ter gyve mee ver tablit wot ver vetty persun sed ter dew. Eye dyd etsiz sum treetsiz inn ver evnin sew Mumi givde ver medson annit makde mee sleepsed awlover nite sew I'ze finded mine pingggg ergen. Dadi dyd tekde meee fera wolkey vis mornin ann eye gettid kros cos hey makde mee stae onna leed an knot lettid meee dew ver runnin fingy, buttt eye spektz hey woz ony beein kynde. Eye luvs orl uv yew ann sendzis yew orl aer veri bigggg SSSSSLLLUURRRRRRRRPPPSSSSSSEEEEEZZZ an tew ver goggie frendzes as wew!!! wiv luv frum yer frend Dockyxxxxxxx (an hiz Mumi tew!)