Apple muncher's number crunching

apple_muncher

apple_muncher wrote: »

Have set up a 12-week plan. Goodness knows how/if I'll see it through, as I'm rubbish at the longer challenges I set myself. Hmmm. So why did I do it then? Possibly because it runs 25th Dec (hey, why not?) to 19th March. And we really need to be seeing light shining pretty brightly at the end of the tunnel by then. So it is a challenge for health, wealth and a life well-lived. And that includes: fitness, weightloss, eating habits, simplicity of life, prioritising the important stuff, mental well-being, spending mindfully, meditation, getting rid of baggage (eg a house!)...

...

That is what I wrote back in December. In fact, I like the wording so much, I may just use it again! It has been very useful to look back week by week and ponder how it went - there was always progress in some area or other.

It all hinges on mum really, as that situation has been the trigger for practically everything since August: dad died suddenly and peacefully on Aug 2nd, leaving a house with hoarded stuff from the 60s. Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer on Aug 5th, underwent a mastectomy on Sept 5th, and was in hospital for 6 weeks as she wasn't fit to go home. Big sis stayed with mum from Aug 2nd until Aug 22nd (funeral was the 18th), then she returned on about Sept 3rd and has been there ever since, looking after mum. Mum's descent into dementia/alzheimer's has been swift, exacerbated by bereavement and cancer and radiotherapy. Whilever mum was in the hospital, we were unable to proceed with any memory assessment. She finally had an mri scan on Jan 11th and the results will come out on April 5th.

In the meantime, we worked hard to clear dad's house, which meant going through every single piece of paper, as the important stuff was hidden amongst old newspapers and rubbish. But we finally got though it all, got it on the market, and are now doing the paperwork for the sale.

To ensure that mum is provided for, and that we are not hit with fees in 15/20 years' time, and to ensure that big sis can get her own life back, we opted for a care annuity plan thingy. The sale of dad's house will cover the highest quote and we hope it will go down as we were vague about some figures, and therefore were cautious about mum's income and overestimated fees.

We have only seen 1 care home that we would want mum to live in. She has visited the place and didn't hate it... Now to see how long the waiting list is, whilst scoping out others to see if they fit the bill. At home on her own, mum would not be safe - wouldn't eat properly, can't shop, forgets medicines so could easily not take/overdose... A home means she would be safe.

Big sis is having counselling and so am I. Mine is with someone at work, and has to slot in between my teaching, so I am going to stop it - it's only 20 mins and I spend the time clock-watching and then have to go and face y9s. I am therefore looking for someone else who is available on my day off, and nearish to where I live as we still have no car.

Ah, the car! It lasted 2 days into the plan and then gave up. We haven't replaced it and seem to be coping ok. Dd misses it the most as she does a full week at work + dance on a sat + church/kids klub on a sun. All v tiring for her.


So, wittering time is over. Off we go again for another 12 weeks which takes me up to June 11th. Let the adventure begin...

apple_muncher

A non-eventful start to the adventure today. Steps, reading, headspace, squats, sugar-freeness, NSD and work. It is useful to already be in the habit of doing most of those (especially the work malarkey, eh), and good to continue to make progress.

I found 19 sainz active kids vouchers, all face down, on the ground on sunday, down by our local shops (NOT a sainz!), so I collected them all up and dd took them into school today. That represents £190 spent in sainz - what a lot...!

Big sis has emailed me the times she has arranged cover for me when I'm at mum's, and has also ordered me to make sure I get out again every day for another hour or so, for my own sanity. I shall definitely do that.

apple_muncher

I did over 100k steps last week. Go me.
:T:T:T

apple_muncher

Here I am, at mum's. Got well soggy on the way here. Detoured with big sis to see dad's house, all empty now. I'd thought I would be emotional,, but I wasn't. It took me back to when the place wasn't full of dad's gubbins, and had space to be lived in properly instead.

Had a nice afternoon and evening with mum. She talked quite a lot about the care home she visited and was generally positive about it, which was good to hear. Whether she'll still be positive tomorrow remains to be seen... She disappeared up to bed at 7.40 (!) so I rang home and talked to dh and dd - mum gets antsy when people are on the phone, so we ensure we make calls either when she isn't around (rare), or when she goes for a bath (max of 10 mins), or when we are out and we use our mobiles.

Shocked by what has happened in London.

earthgirl

Apple, you are a very wonderful lady. Its great that your dad's house empty brought back such good feelings, and your mum feels positive about the home.

I also love the wording of your challege, just reading it makes me feel calmer! Best of luck.

apple_muncher

Mum was up with the larks. She is now on breakfast #3 as far as I can make out. I have been for my run - squelchy and muddy, wonderful! And I took pics of the play areas in the parks to show dd once I'm home. I am now bathed and fed, a wash is on
. And it is not raining.

apple_muncher

And the rest of the story... My bath was rather rapid and tepid but I put that down to 'someone' turning off the hot water a few days ago. However, the airing cupboard normally belches out heat but was failing to do so, and all the pipework in there was cold. The rads, which take hours to disperse their residual heat, were stone cold. Yet the boiler was making all the right noises... Everything has been turned off and on again, so I reckon it is the pump. Called the estate manager who arranges this sort of thing, and the gas people are coming at 8am tomorrow.

Meanwhile I put the immersion on so at least mum's bedroom should warm up (airing cupboard is in there) and there is hot water.

An uppy downy day. I got my run done; did a rapid walk to the fabric shop and did indeed still love the fabric, so bought a yard of it; got a fair few inches of cardigan front knitted; talked to dh and dd.

But mum has managed to lose her house keys and has been in a state of total panic and upset. I have sought them out, to no avail. We need them to re-appear asap.

greent

Fingers crossed you've found them by now. Have you tried asking St Anthony? (I think Gally likes that method?) x

apple_muncher

I have just found them! :j Under her hats on the shoe rack, of course... much relieved. Although St A was not invoked, his name has been thoroughly mentioned as that is the name of the care home we like!

The gas man came out, tried to get a new circuit board but can't get one until MONDAY. Ridiculous. And left mum with no heat source other than her fan heater. And all the warden suggested was keeping that fan heater on all day and putting an extra blanket on the bed. Not impressed. Am no doubt being unfair, but I am very cross with her for allowing an 85 year old to be left with no heating for 3 days. So I went to the church office and they have kindly loaned us an oil-filled radiator. Which mum keep turning off. Sigh.

The heating situation has really thrown me and made me anxious. I really could do without that! Someone is coming to visit soon, so I shall skedaddle out for an hour to hopefully clear my head... So that I can be kind to mum and not get cross...

earthgirl

Pleased you found the keys. Sorry to hear about the heating situation. It sounds like you are taking really good care of your mum though.