Blowing in the Winds of Change

tunathe_cat

Enjoy reading your blog thank you for sharing x Hugs to all

*Robin*

Hello MSE World, :hello:

Hi Tuna, thank you for your kind comment; great to see you posting. ..Must say am glad to be back here; missed the support of all MSEers' terribly in the first part of this year (and am dreading filling in m' next Tax Return without reminders on money spent noted in a diary <sigh>).

Dansmam - sorry, I forgot to reply to your last post.
You're right of course; the PoA has been split into two now, so I will need both. Certainly trust the Divos to speak for me far more than any overstretched NHS staff's attempts to guess my wishes!
Glad to hear Lurcher Lad is doing well, and you've started him on GP before arthritis can affect his life - that'll pay off in years to come I'm sure.
Didn't realise that PC W0rld/Carf0ne Wareh0use has such a bad reputation. After reading your comments I reached for Mr G00gle; it would appear I had a lucky escape! ..Just as well the laptop they sold me was undeniably a dud, otherwise rather suspect it would have been a hopeless battle trying to get the money back.
However, didn't keep the cash anyway; it was a pleasure to share around most of the refund as part of m' birthday celebrations - which hopefully spread a few smiles far and wide.

Here & now, am having more problems with internet access: Using a "lite" connection which means it will be hard to get to the end of each month without incurring extra charges. Spent over an hour on the blower to Customer Care staff this morning, trying to get a fault with the company's web-site rectified. <sigh>
No sooner had CC lass and self reached a compromise re internet which involved a 50% reduction in extra fees, when it went very grey and started raining here - so now CD is cross because the van door has been closed. Muggins doesn't enjoy being bathed in raindrops shaken off by a wet dog, and that action won't help to keep van's upholstery clean either.. :cool:

Divo Four wants to go shopping. Am a tad reluctant because it feels like I've spent far too much time and cash in supermarkets recently, but he is right in saying that we do need more green veg, and I've run out of sausages with which to bribe CD (when taking her meds ).
Am missing m' garden.. PNH has plenty of bee-friendly flowers, but apart from herbs, apples, pears and [hopefully] some raspberries to look forward to in the Autumn, there's nothing edible planted. ..That will probably change, once we've persuaded the neighbour to lop about ten metres off the height of his ubiquitous Leylandii trees.
So anyway, have agreed to call in at Tosco, where with luck I'll find an assortment of yellow-stickered items - therefore dinner tonight will be pot-luck..

please-let-me-be-lucky

Many smiles and much love Xx

*Robin*

'Our' big local Tosco really is the tenth circle of hell!
Not a pleasant experience at all, dodging between vast numbers of trolley-wielding bullies who obviously view the place as legitimate children's entertainment on a wet afternoon. Many of said kids were mucking about with the produce - completely ignored by their parents - which to my mind is both disrespectful and offensive.
Why are so many British children entirely lacking in manners these days? In Spain, if you see a child misbehaving in public you can guarantee it'll be a British tourist! :mad:
The entire shop has been rearranged since m' last visit, of course, which made it hard to find the twelve items on DS' list in the hour before closing time. I added four YT bargains; two interesting pieces of cheese [unusual flavours], a brace of yoghurts and a boxed take-away meal. Tbh it looked a poor £50-worth compared to the full trolleys I'd have struggled to push out of either German supermarket. At least DS + housemate paid their share of the bill (DS looked after CD while I went into the shop).

Divo Four took CD for a soggy trot through the woods near homehome while I recovered from the enervating supermarket dash with a lovely hot cuppa after changing m' clothes (got drenched leaving the shop as I'd had to put camper-van right at the back of the vast car-park).
Then we visited Tenant Two, inspected the maintenance tasks which need sorting out, and chatted while her little boy wandered round and round and round the cul-de-sac leading CD - although it was more that she walked him! He was quite besotted; he loves their own dog but she is so bouncy it isn't safe for him to be in charge of her yet, however he and CD walked at exactly the same pace so all he really had to do was guide her away from obstacles. His sister just couldn't get her head around the idea of such a huge animated teddy-dog, so she had to stay in Daddy's arms after trying to climb up and ride CD!

DS4 and I shared the take-away meal for dinner. Mine was ok, with a ratio of at least 4:1 veg to chicken pieces in the sauce, but DS complained his only contained lumps of meat. The onion bhajis were excellent; fried in coconut oil though, rather than sticking 'em in the oven in their plastic dish. All in all, not a bad deal for a fiver.

This morning [Bank Holiday Monday - very impressive!] the vet 'phoned to discuss CD's blood results. ..Which have actually improved a little since last time I had her bloods checked (just before we left The Nest). So a small reduction in the allopathic meds and continue with Dear Vet's herbal supplement is the order of the day, plus increase the frequency of CD's dose of GP rather than start her on Tramadol. New Vet still wants to check 'the other sample' - when I can get CD to co-operate, which is going to be more difficult than it might have been because I forgot to bring the canine she-wee and they don't seem to be readily available here. We will have to improvise in Blue Peter fashion with a chopped up water bottle..

Sparky - must apologise to you; thought I'd replied to your comment but reckon I accidentally zilched that part of m' last post.. (ah - the brain-fog, it's getting worse ). Yes, cool-coats are very handy for thick-coated doggies in hot weather - CD hates hers though, so we rarely use it in the UK. These days one can also buy cool-rugs, which might be more useful in the crate (CD has already ripped up one coat when left in confinement, although am not sure whether that was because she doesn't like the coat or was objecting to her freedom being curtailed ).

Spends:
YT Groceries - £6.80
CD's sausages and turkey mince - £5.20

*Robin*

Hello World, :hello:

Beautiful sunny day today.

Last night Divo Four took CD and self to the outdoor summer cinema (he'd been the night before but it got rained off). We hadn't booked so couldn't use the accessible parking - actually without a blue badge that might not have been possible anyway? - which meant quite a long fast walk [by my standards] to reach the venue in time, carrying picnic, chairs et al - but it was worth it; such a friendly bunch and great atmosphere, with a choice of three movies to watch (headsets providing sound). I faced one way and DS another, because we chose different films. CD curled up and slept through the whole experience, for once un-hassled by kids (guess they didn't notice her in the darkness ).
DS got free entry for helping some mates on one of the concession stands, and when they realised CD and I were with him I was given a free wristband too. ..Which made it a very MSE evening; just a couple of quid for hot chocolate drinks.

Afterwards, trying to hurry back to the car park - desperate for the loo - I fell in the dark which resulted in needing a wash and dry clothes once eventually getting inside camper-van.. It's the first time that's happened; made me realise I really am getting quite disabled now, especially when tired. DS was helping his friends pack away their stall so doesn't know..

Is it possible to get a blue badge without claiming benefits? Really don't think I could cope with the stress ME-people are put through on the DSS path..
Also starting to think I should consider part-ex'ing camper-van for one with a 'garage' big enough to take a scooter of some kind. Not the best timing for that of course, as I'll need every penny at my disposal - and more - in order to complete buying PNH.
So feeling a bit bleugh about it all today - shame, because it was a lovely evening last night before the trek back to the car park.

Spends:
Drinks - £2

*Robin*

Just realised it's not my own crumbling physical state which is causing sadness today..
It's the anniversary of one of Divo Three's childhood friends. He wasn't an academic child, but had one of the best work ethics I've ever come across in a young person. I remember once when he was staying with us, he must have been about seven years old. While DS3 was outside playing in the tree-house, devising ever more perilous 'death-swings' with the group of children who were at our house that day, this particular little boy came to me and asked for a job - a paid job. Slightly bemused, I said he could mop the floor.. First he negotiated his wages, then set to work; hoovering, then washing both tiled kitchen and living-room floors. When he had finished, he asked me to keep his money until the next morning, which was market day.
As usual, all the kids scattered at the market - younger ones with older ones - after agreeing to meet me and baby DS4 at a cafe. About half an hour later I came across this lad tucked in between two stalls, with DSD1 standing next to him looking sulky. He was kneeling behind a crate which he'd set up as a table. On it was one of my chopping boards, a kitchen knife, my juicer and a pile of paper cups. By his side he had a box of oranges.. Yes folks, he'd used his floor-cleaning wages to buy oranges and cups, and was selling freshly squeezed juice to the passers-by!
Fast forward a decade.. Divo Three told me his friend was saving to buy himself a motorbike - which gave DS3 the idea of wanting one too; Three said he'd got enough birthday / xmas cash saved up for a second-hand bike he'd found but please would I pay for the insurance?
Further investigation revealed the lads were not looking at mopeds, but 750cc machines! DS3 didn't have the right licence or any experience so he was told firmly: "No chance!"
..But the other boy's Mum let him go ahead, thinking he'd just ride it in the fields.
Of course he didn't. The first time, the very first time he went out on it, the bike ended up wrapped around a lamp-post. There were no second chances for DS3's friend.
Ten years ago today..
RIP J :A

Knit_Witch

Sad news about DS3's friend, they think they are immortal at that age don't they?

Re a Blue Badge, it depends where you are but here in Cambridgeshire I had to give proof that I got Higher Rate Mobility from the DWP, and proof that I love in the County - so it could be tricky (sorry)

*Robin*

Knit_Witch wrote: »

Sad news about DS3's friend, they think they are immortal at that age don't they?

Youngsters do, don't they? It did teach Divo Three a lesson he hasn't forgotten, but the price was much, much too high!

Knit_Witch wrote: »

Re a Blue Badge, it depends where you are but here in Cambridgeshire I had to give proof that I got Higher Rate Mobility from the DWP, and proof that I love in the County - so it could be tricky (sorry)

Thanks for the info Knit Witch - and thank you for joining in on this new attempt to keep track without having to rely on m' cronky memory..
I'd have no problem with the second condition, but the first..? <sigh>
Have dropped the Papworth Trust a line to see if they can suggest anything, but am not hopeful. There just doesn't seem to be an appropriate box for people with a disability who chose not to claim state benefits.

..We had a problem with the blue badge when DH was dying, too. He had the appropriate "fast-track" form for those expected to last less than six months, however the LA wanted a 'photo to go with it. By then DH was in a wheel-chair, but without a blue badge we couldn't park close enough to anywhere that does passport 'photos for me to be able to push him to the shop and back, without also collapsing completely m'self. As I was his carer and he was desperate to stay at home, he flatly refused to let me try.. So stalemate; no blue badge for DH.

Knit_Witch

I was able to apply this time with a photo taken on my camera and all the paperwork scanned and sent through - waiting to hear if they accept it all! (6 days out of the 10 working days they say for a decision have gone so feeling hopeful :rotfl:)

maggiem

Hello Robin,
It may be worth asking about blue badge at local GP surgery. If PNH goes ahead then presumably you will register with local surgery. I'm always amazed at the number of blue badges used by folk who seem to hop nimbly out of the car whilst I'm driving round desperately looking for space with Mum and wheelchair as we really need the extra space to get chair close enough for transfer. Surely blue badge is re mobility rather than benefits? Hope someone who knows more replies with more help soon