108 spiders are a girl's best friends

[Deleted User]

I think that many people have trouble with losing their identity to a 'role' mms; thankfully I realised that I'd succumbed to the temptation about 20 years or so ago and was horrified at the realisation!! 😂 Since that day, I've been very clear in my head that it's only ever a job- it's not who or what I am (although for ethical reasons my job is always very firmly aligned with my moral code 😉) and I no longer have a work 'persona'. Although this has led me to have a colourful work history, I've been much happier just being who I am, living my life and not getting involved in the never-ending cycle of social acceptance! 😉 As I always say - I'm far too arrogant to give a rats backside about other people's opinions 😂 incidentally, one of my mantras is that you should only value the opinion of those from whom you would seek advice 😉 
Faith - I'm an atheist so I have to admit I'm reluctant to comment but I think if it makes you happy and hurts no one then that's great but live the best life you can now 😉
Hope your visit to your dad goes well! 😁

savingholmes

Hope you are okay? 

Msmoneyspider

Hi there,

I had a wonderful time with my family, it felt very sad leaving them.  Because of possible lockdown we may not be able to meet up for a considerable length of time.  We were all hoping to go to Spain in early May...……..

My biggest client has had a very nasty case of flu and all the carers have gone down with it, one after another, so have had to keep coming up with new solutions.  None have been tested for the C Virus, but looks like that is what it probably is as outbreak now confirmed in that area, but only people who are being admitted to hospital are being tested!  So far no-one in the team has had to go to hospital and client and her live-in carer are pulling through.

Because I am connected to church and voluntary groups, which are mainly populated by elderly persons, I have been involved with setting up plans to make sure that no-one is unsupported and that they are checked up on each day and given any assistance they require. Most started self isolating this past weekend, or meeting in very small groups.   It has been very heart-warming to see how many people are involved and the load has been massively shared, so I am feeling surprisingly calm.  There are a lot of wonderful people out there.

Met with local authority and they have paid me up to date and will always pay me a month in advance now.  Very senior manager asked me if I wanted a job as I lived the 'Care Standards' and was the kind of strong personality they needed to help turn around a massive crisis that is developing.    May meet up with him in a few weeks if what is proposed above works, could roll out through LA if enough community volunteers.

How are you all doing? xx

savingholmes

Nice to read some more positive news. Glad the stress of overdue invoices has eased and you have promises to stop repeats. Good that you got some time away. Sorry the Spain trip is looking doubtful. It all shows how life changes in the blink of an eye - both for good or ill. DH was exposed to someone with C-19 so he's self-isolating. Me and DD pretty much are too. I had to delay DS coming home. Hope to pick him up this weekend coming now. 

doingitanyway

Good news that the LA will be paying you in advance. 
Great that you had a lovely family time. 
Take care and stay safe.

savingholmes

Waving - hoping you and yours are okay.

[Deleted User]

Good to hear everything is okay at the moment- it must be a very difficult time! 😔 stay safe! 

Msmoneyspider

Good morning my MSE friends.  I hope that you are keeping well and as safe as possible during this pandemic, fully supporting the government’s excellent guidelines.  As part of their volunteer initiative we are now 20 Key Workers, mainly from healthcare backgrounds, currently supporting 120 elderly and vulnerable persons, in very high-risk categories, to stay safe in their own homes.  It feels a privilege to belong to such an unselfish and loving group of souls.  Our area is currently getting hit very hard by the virus.  We have been given full Personal Protective Equipment (thank you).

Ten of the persons we are supporting have had the virus; one of them went to hospital, but was discharged after one day, as it was felt she was safer being nursed at home.  Another person who normally requires 24-hour, 2-person support has been very ill, but her GP has worked with us to keep her at home too, for her safety.  Now, after three weeks and a couple of courses of antibiotics, she has fully recovered too.

The volunteers are mainly from groups that I am affiliated with and we have a propensity towards spirituality and natural/old fashioned methods of healthcare and our area is quite affluent.  I wanted to share some of my personal observations with you, but this is not advice and should not be read as such.

The virus often starts with a dry cough.  It is important to try to stop this cough as soon as possible, as it is very difficult to shift once it gets a hold and it grinds the body down, especially if sleep is compromised.  If your usual methods of stopping the cough fail, it may be worth trying some of these.

Some of us were able to control the cough using antihistamines.  Others have found practicing breathing exercises/meditation in a steamy bath or shower helped them gain control over it.  I have an excellent naturopath/herbalist on my team, and she has made a spray of vodka/witch hazel/tea tree and thyme which she says is anti-viral.  Spraying that at night seems to promote sleep, keeping the airways clear.  She has also made lozenges of thyme/coconut sugar and maple syrup which are getting rave reviews and seem to be very effective in stopping the cough!  She feels that thyme is the key herb when fighting the virus and recommends using it wherever possible, in infusions etc.  Many gardens, in our area, contain an abundant supply.

The high temperature, that often accompanies the cough, can be effectively managed with paracetamol, but we have been avoiding ibuprofen-based products, as they seem to exacerbate issues.

Once the virus gets into the lungs, it is extremely dangerous.  Steam helps;  head over a bowl of hot water with something like albas oil added and a towel over your head to trap the moisture.  Wet towels over radiators that are on or steam diffusers, with essential oils added, that promote clear airways, are effective.

The lungs then seem to fill up with mucus, like a person with cystic fibrosis.   If you can, use a V pillow to prop you forward and a wooden spoon to gently tap the lungs to keep the mucus moving.  Massaging the lungs from the bottom of the spine upwards and outwards with Vic, has been effective, in bad cases, to keep a person breathing. Soda water seems to help too, because of its CO2 content?

Secondary lung infections need antibiotics.  If you can't get antibiotics from your health care system then Bee propolis is what I would try...….

A very good diet is important too, as natural as possible, vitamin D3 and plenty of fluids (Grandma's chicken soup is fabulous), kefir.  A few of us swear by first-class red wine and very dark organic chocolate.  A nip of the best Scotch Whiskey too, with some manuka honey in, is also being tried by many to promote a good night’s sleep!  I am sure there are cheaper alternatives!

The daily walk is recommended; it helps keeps lungs strong and is very important for mental wellbeing.   We have been connecting to the earth and the trees.  Getting to know one tree, in particular and leaning against it for support, seems to help immensely with anxiety and grounding.  Trees can really benefit us, they are the lungs of this planet.  Again, these are my views only and I am not a doctor, but felt I wanted to share this perspective.  Gratitude and laughter are also excellent medicines and I am incorporating both into my daily routine. 

We are endeavouring to always follow the government's outlines on hygiene too.

I am now 175 pounds!!

Love and best wishes to you all, will not be back on again.

My mantra, that I have complete faith in, is Psalms 91 particularly versus 9 and 10 and 11 (New World Translation). Sing it daily x. Song 49 is the right key x.

savingholmes

Glad that you are okay. Well done for helping others. We are trusting (or trying to) in Psalm 91 too.

savingholmes

Hope you and yours are staying safe and well.