OS ways and Poor Health

LameWolf

*Hobbles in and flumps down on sofa*

Sorry for the protracted absence; life has been a total beeyatch the last few months one way and another.

ailz95 wrote: »

I bought myself a wax bath for my hands. They aren't very expensive in Boots and bring such a lot of relief.

I have one of those (purchased with @mazon vouchers) and I use it for all four paws. Really good; would recommend.

I'm afraid I'm not up to speed with events, but I thought I'd at least show my (butterfly rash covered) face, at least.

The good news is I have a new wheelchair - a super lightweight one, that, fingers crossed, I should be able to put in and out of he car myself. My old one was getting very shabby (well it was 14 years old), so we decided to bite the bullet and go for a more expensive, lighter one, in case Mr Wolf's PD gets any worse, as it'll be easier for him to maneouvre if it's lighter.

Even better - the local hospice was delighted to take the old one off my hands, so it'll still be doing a useful job, even if it's just wheeling patient outside to sit in the spring sunshine (assuming we get some).

I had two delightful dogs staying overnight on Saturday (their Mama and Dada had a wedding to attend). Bess - 13 yr old Bearded Collie, and Bella - 1 yr old Cockerpoo. So I've had my dog fix recently!

pollyanna_26

I was logged out and reading on the blue skin and jotting things down on the usual sheet of A4 but had to come on to say wow you're back Wolfy :T even if it's a brief catch up. I've had you both in my thoughts and the candle and it's good to see you here . I hope things are ok with your husband and you aren't pushing yourself too hard . The new wheelchair sounds perfect and it's good you were able to pass the buggy on to benefit someone else .
Love, hugs atta distance and shiny spoons.
pollyxx

pollyanna_26

Prinzess Saturday and Sunday appointments seem increasingly common . I think services are so overwhelmed it had to happen . We'll remember the pub crawl and have a giggle . We're on first name terms with many too , Superdoc is so different to the Dr I remember from my childhood who scared the life out of me and was rude to my mother when she dared to ask a question . It was as though Dr was a higher being to be listened to before you were sent on your way .
Our GP shares our wicked sense of humour . We laughed about Unt as we called him sneaking in the back way of our hospital to avoid the protesters at the entrance to be met with an icy reception from all staff .
Wishing mum and yourself well . The sooner those lumps are gone the better . Positive news on the weight loss . I know you'll be doing it in a sensible way . Dd with her long history of eds found finding a sensible balance the hardest part of dealing with all the things the parrot in head was saying. With so many meds and some of the newer ones causing weight gain she eventually shut the parrot up by using Apps . I don't know a great deal about them but was concerned she'd go extreme about it . She hasn't but has focused on her health , it's helped with the agoraphobia and she's doing little walks , focusing on healthy eating and tracking her activity . It's reduced the anxiety and she's accepted the meds are more important than a few dress sizes . Dr is with her all the way and she's doing the special exercise plan from lovely physio guy . I never knew you could do press ups while standing up but I do now and it's very disability friendly and effective for building muscle strength .


I had a very rare stomach upset last night . Self inflicted - Too much parsley butter on the baby potatoes and a late main meal . Hope you feel better now.
pollyxx

pollyanna_26

Looks like it's going to be one of those Glasgow Rose days I wish I could do long posts but the brain gets overloaded and mistakes happen.


Mothernerd I hope the funeral yesterday went well . I've popped over to the Turtles and read a few of your recent posts . Have not read back far enough to know what happened but you seem to have a problem with your ankle to add to everything else .



I read Day 11- a monologue and found it helpful . Then Listen to your body . I think Wolfy and myself are the worst here when it comes to pacing . Sometimes unavoidable but in my case I try to catch up on stuff when there's nowhere we need to go instead of having a bit of rest and recovery .


Reading your Flu quote prompts me to ask if you do have it . Dd picked it up some months ago and kindly passed it to me . Over the years I've had Pneumonia and Pleurisy but the strain of flu she had was a whole new ball game . My diary has all the appointments noted as I rang to rearrange them in a weak and croaky voice and coughing through the conversation . It was months of recovering slowly , sweating in bed but needing hot water bottles . I no idea what day it was and lost weight I couldn't afford to due to lack of energy to eat and no desire too .


She recently picked up another strain of this years flu but I didn't catch it and she recovered faster from it. Please look after yourself if you do have flu. We couldn't have picked up a £50 note let alone a tenner if we came across one .


Thanks for the reminder for Twiddle Muffs I've done them in the past . I visit someone living next door to a care home so time to do some and hand them in They were mentioned on an OS thread a few months ago and someone posted a link to the pattern . I bookmarked it at the time as a reminder . If anyone wants the pattern I have no idea how to post links but can go back through my posts and see if I can find the thread . They're a brilliant idea for dementia patients and an excellent use for bits of ribbon, buttons and various craft odds and ends .
polly x

pollyanna_26

julia I struggle physically as a carer with pSa, Osteo and Fibro . I'm lucky not to have serious mental health problems but do have a level of anxiety over things like whether dd will be too ill to make it to appts etc. That issue is under control as as a phone call will bring another appt but I find myself still thinking ahead and fearing the worst . My head gets overloaded at times and it takes the mid year diary ,keeping track of all paperwork and ensuring the important stuff is in my bag the day before to stay on track .


I was lucky to be raised the OS way and learned to cook from scratch and manage a budget quite young . I brought the offspring up the same way . I was fortunate never to be in debt mum made sure myself and my siblings grew up knowing we needed to manage within our income .


Like yourself I retired early . DD needed home schooling from the age of 13 and it got to the point I couldn't deal with both. One of the best days of my life was when I made the last monthly mortgage payment of 25 hard years as we headed to the year 2000.


Your planned holiday in Scotland sounds wonderful and a good chance to make memories away from day to day life.
If I could just persuade Superdoc and dds support team to head up there too we'd be moving there to live.


I found over the years it's difficult for family and friends to understand various forms of illness and see the bigger picture .Mental health and invisible conditions are generally only understood by those who've walked in those shoes. I shed friends like leaves in Autumn over the years and didn't regret walking away . Being told I was no fun anymore because I wasn't socialising enough and when many years ago dd was having meltdowns advised to put her away somewhere soon sorted the wheat from the chaff for me .
I wish you both well and hope you'll pop in when you can .
pollyxx

pollyanna_26

Twiddle Muffs. A forum search failed to bring up the link to the instructions but the pdf of instructions is available by googling daa tamworth twiddle muff.


julia My comment yesterday about those who've walked in the shoes includes carers and others close and involved in day to day support. They see how hard the ill person struggles and tries to be as well as they can. I've had to tell people in the past comments such as try a bit harder or pull yourself together are unacceptable. If it was that simple everyone would be 100% healthy.


The sun is out and it's a bit milder today so hopefully we're heading towards better weather It is showing up the dreaded dust though so I think I need to get my version of Wolfys' Sheep onna Stick and do a bit .
Take care all

pollyx.

mothernerd

Okay I did not mean to post and run but life has gotten in the way.

I was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago, was immediately given flu and pneumonia jabs (one in each arm so I was left wondering how the heck I was going to finish cleaning the bathroom tiles before DS3's gf came for the weekend). The doctor told me at the time that without the jabs I would need a month in hospital to get over flu/ pneu (he didn't think my mother's frequent refrain "we can't afford anything new and in our family they generally die from it the second time they get it "- I had pneumonia at 18 months old in the middle of the record breaking summer of 1959, was funny.

Initially the diagnosis was a wake up call. I put myself on a very strict diet and lost a lot of weight and tried other things when I reached a plateau. Four years ago, at the age of 56, I had to have a total hip replacement. I was initially told to rest for several weeks, then did months of physiotherapy before being booked in for an MSK scan. The consultant I saw diagnosed me just from x-rays, the hip was already so bad that surgery was the only option.

Up to that point I had been following the 'use it or lose it' mantra, trying to walk, doing the physiotherapists exercises (although I did butt in when he was telling his student that many patients did not do them). I pointed out that it was taking me 15 minutes to do one set of exercises. He had given me 4 to do, involving changes of position between each one and he wanted me to 10 lots during the day. This added up to ten hours with me getting progressively slower during the day (so no sorry I did not do them all).

When the consultant told me I should not be walking on the right leg I burst into tears. She asked if I had talked about depression (feeling down, I think she said) with my gp. As I had had an early appointment I walked round to the surgery (in the same building) and sat in the queue (lovely thing about out doctor's is that if you get there before 10.30am on a weekday, you will be seen - can't always choose who you see, but you will be seen eventually). Started to sob quietly in the waiting room (poor young receptionist brought me some tissues) and again once I got into the surgery.

The doctor was unsympathetic to say the least. He did not understand the logistics involved in simply getting food into the house let alone anything else. In the end he gave me a two week sick note citing 'problems at home'. I am self-employed so no benefit to me - I went self-employed to enable me to cope with long-term depression, probably dating back to my teens, which worsened after the death of my younger brother (middle child) at the age of 47.

Think the consultant pushed for me an early appointment. I had opted to be seen at my local hospital and was prepared to wait an extra couple of weeks for the initial consultation but when it came it was for the hospital where the operations are done at the far side of the moon. Seriously it is at the opposite end of one of the largest boroughs in the country and the hospital itself is actually over the border in Lancashire. On the plus side, it is a national centre of excellence for hip replacements and is where the operation was pioneered.

My consultant was excellent. My hip was one of the worst he had seen - the ball of the ball and socket was worn flat, the socket had grown spurs to try to hold on to it, all the cartilage had gone so I had been walking for months with two raw ends of bone rubbing together, going up and down ladders in an attempt to finish the house repairs needed to sell and downsize (even when the time I could spend at the top of the ladder was less than the time it took me to climb up there).

I never got to be disabled because it took so long to get to diagnosis that from then until I was recovered (ie allowed to have a bath and put my own socks and shoes on therefore not dependent on someone else) was less than six months. I am very grateful that my op was done so swiftly. I chose not to go off sick as after careful reading through loads of benefits rules (in a former life I gave benefits advice voluntarily and for a short time as a paid worker, I spent a lot of time reading proposed legislation and working out what it meant in practice) if I voluntarily paid NI contributions for the previous year, I would receive approximately the same amount back as sickness benefit as long as they did not decide that I had paid the contributions just to get the sick pay (in which case they would refuse my claim) so I stuck with my working tax credit throughout (could still sew ie produce goods). I would also have lost money due waiting days as I switched from one benefit to the other and back again.

CAB did give me pip claim forms but I seemed to fall between several stools. In the eighties, it became commonplace that eg men in their later 50s who had had heart attacks were moved onto income support (think it was still called something else back then), given a benefit book to cash at the PO (no waiting for a missing giro and then proving that you had not stolen it) and were not required to sign as available for work.

As advice workers we were worried about what would happen if the Jobcentre said people were unfit for work and the sickness benefit people said they were not ill enough for long-term sickness/ disability (as I remember it after six months sickness with something that was not expected to improve, you were moved to disability benefit). This was falling between two stools.

Having done some very physical work (and lots of it) for several years plus doing nearly all my home improvements and repairs and the mental illness history I don't feel able for mainstream employment (have studied to gain new qualifications at different times in my life), my doctor (try to see one of the other doctors whenever possible) gives me a 2 week sick note when I've been told I shouldn't be walking around and they've moved the goals for getting my pension so many times, I feel that I am between several stools and not even a toe hold on any of them.

To say I bounced back from my hip operation would be an exaggeration. The Wrightington regime is tough but it works - from the moment you come round from the operation, you have to get yourself about. You learn to shuffle alternate bum cheeks to get yourself from sitting to lying and vice versa, They get you onto your crutches asap and in days they have you walking to and from the bathroom and washing and dressing yourself. We were warned at the pro-op tests and info day of the need to keep yourself mentally tough.

Three months after the op you are allowed to take off the hated rubber socks (I was allergic, developed an itchy spot within days) and take your first bath. The full recovery period is 2 years and I found things coming back even 3 years after the op - getting down to the floor and up again took ages and last summer I noticed I had taken up a crouching stance whilst doing mum's garden. Dancing to music is more walking back and forth (I have accepted that my cancan days are over) and side to side.

After I had sold my house (I moved back to this, my original small house bought in 1982 eight days before my operation) most of the money went on buying mum a bungalow as she had lent me some of the money to buy the larger house (it was intended that I should do up and sell the smaller house but my health took a swift downturn after the move).

Mum had a bad fall at her partner's house several years ago. She became wary of going outdoors, had problems with her balance and with eating and swallowing. The month before my operation she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis and spent several weeks in hospital adjusting to the new medication (which kills her immune system). It took 15 months to sell my house and I bore a hefty loss on the sale. Two months before that mum got shingles. I went to spend Christmas with her and her partner (in his hovel)after she phoned to say she was too ill to open a can of soup. Her partner's dementia was advanced to the stage where he would make 'a cup of tea' but you might get water with milk in it, a teabag in cold water or any other variation you can think of. On Boxing Day I had to get a taxi from the hovel to my old house so that my buyers could do some measuring up. Dealt with them, bought bread and milk and cadged a lift back to the hovel with one of the partner's sons.

The move to the bungalow happened in January 2016. I had brokered an agreement that the move would not happen until safety measures were in place and the bathroom redone (the bungalow only had a bath which neither of them could use) but went to the hovel on the 22nd to find her partner's children had decided the move would happen on Monday 25th and idiot son was already shoving the kitchen contents into large boxes. Sincere apologies to idiots everywhere - the man is a sexist, racist bigot with an inflated ego and the common sense of a mongoose. He did lots of 'work' on the move which mostly resulted in ten times more work for someone else (frequently me). I would apologise to the mongeese but it's starting to sound like the noble platypi apology at the start of Dogma.

The 'plan' was that they could be driven back to the hovel once a week to use the walk in shower. This did not happen. They lived without a shower or bath for eight weeks - not funny when someone wets their pants on a regular basis.

Mum was the main carer for her partner, supported by one of his grand-daughters (her poor second child spent nearly all her pre-school years on hospital visits and was castigated when she finally started to act out). At the time of the move I tried to talk to her and mum about the need to set a limit on that arrangement - partner would continue to deteriorate and they needed to decide beforehand where the limit was (eg when he no longer recognised anyone).

For the grand-daughter this was when she became pregnant again - and then found out it was twins). Mum had cataract operations on both eyes, the shingles returned and attacked one of the eyes and a battle to save it began. She was very ill herself but continued to look after her partner, leaving the decision about him going into care to his children. She was killing herself looking after him and relations between us were strained for a time.

An application for attendance allowance for mum was made - I found out about the meeting accidentally and included myself. The application was successful and when the grand-daughter was pregnant and could no longer assist, mum asked if I would consider being her carer. She wanted me to go at lunch time and stay until after tea time. Someone else does her cleaning. I do shopping, gardening, putting the bins out, some diy. I did explain from the outset that at times, due to my own illnesses, I would not be able to do much but I would be there keeping her company.

When I took over mum was very ill and we had lots of hospital appointments with various specialists. her partner went to day care, which helped but if it was not one of his regular days arrangements had to be made for someone to stay with him (taking him along was increasingly problematic as he would wander off) as well as someone to go with mum.

Mum has always been slightly deaf and she has glasses and hearing aids. However the shingles made her face too sore and she gave up wearing either of them. I attend every appointment because she can mishear and give answers to a question that was not asked so I intervene and explain. usually the medical staff follow my lead and turn full face and speak clearly.

We had had a bad winter. Mum has no immune system, mine is compromised. In September she picked up her first 'bug' of the year, I started in October. In December I told my doctor i was 'sick of being sick', mum was still ill as spring arrived. After numerous tests and a dietician who excluded most of the healthy and pleasurable stuff from mum's diet as there was a very slight and very remote chance of her choking on something that went down the wrong way when there was no-one else there, mum was put onto permanent antibiotics which have helped an awful lot.

Her partner had to be admitted to hospital, then transferred to a temporary care home bed as mum needed some treatment (hospital at home). He does not recognise anyone, is mentally a 2 yo in a very large strong body and mum could never relax for a moment. In the end he went into a permanent home where he is near enough to be visited (mum is mostly banned from going due to her susceptibility to infection).

With the stress removed, the antibiotics and an increased dose of another medication (the neurologist agreed with me that if incomplete swallowing was the problem - food lodged in her lungs was causing persistent infection - it should be tackled at source and not by modifying her diet, mum has got a new lease of life.

I have tried to open up her social life. We go to classic cinema club once a month on Friday afternoons and have started to take weekend breaks and little holidays. So far we are mostly sticking to counties near to us. We tried the I.O.W. in November but spent 2 off the 4 days travelling and nearly a whole day resting after the journey so I've vetoed long trips. We have been to chair based exercise sessions and I have tried to interest her in UTA.

A year ago I was diagnosed with arthritis in my right shoulder (I just thought I had been overdoing painting mum's garden fences). When I had my hip replaced, there were no other signs of arthritis anywhere. The whole year has been one of adjustment - eliminating anything I can live without, using my left hand for less demanding tasks and trying to work out how to manage the rest.

We have had two fairly trouble free winters but mum got a bug two weeks ago. I caught it last week - I'm fine as long as I don't try to move. I got her extra antibiotics from the doctor. We are supposed to keep these in the house for emergencies but I think two good winters have made us complacent.

On Christmas Eve I was told that I had a sprained ankle and it would take 6 weeks to resolve. Thankfully I had done several large home delivery orders both here and at mum's (much to everyone's scorn) as lifting things in and out of a trolley was getting too much. The food got us through. I did one largish delivery each in January and am getting ready to do another. The ankle injury absolved my from any guilt as I merrily crossed every non-essential from my to do list (got a 7 in my post-Christmas mh review as opposed to regular 19-22 a mere eighteen months ago).

Not a clue what I have done. I have a vague memory of mum clipping me with her walker. We had an 'early Christmas' weekend in December (Panto, mince pies etc) and spent the Saturday in Southport. Only the second time I have seen such weather in Southport. It was wild, wet and windy. We spent a lot of time in a lovely cafe with hot chocolate and hm soup - had we taken our own sandwiches we would have got hypothermia. I know at one point I was holding the front of the walker helping to steer it against the wind. I didn't say anything at the time because mum was extremely miffed as people kept asking me if I was okay (wind took my breath away).

I have reached the 6 week point and it hasn't resolved. I am just going to wait longer and try to be kinder to it. At the review in January lovely Doctor Dan asked about referring me to the specialist weight management service. I will get 2 years support and have already had a raft of appointments. Tomorrow I start two weekly information and exercise sessions. Have also entered on a root and branch clear out at the homestead as my whole house is a trip hazard.

As for my mental health, some of the problems go back to childhood. I have had PTSD following an accident many years ago, had a lot of good counsellors over the years (and a couple of useless ones). I had a group based and then one to one CBT course last year. I thought I was living with my depression (I manage to be happy each day and at this stage in my life it is going to be there in some form) but realised that I was living around the edges of my life and allowing the depression to dominate what I did to a large extent.

All things considered I am doing okay. All those major life events which can cause depression to worsen - my life runs at 2.5 to 4 eg when I was pregnant with my first (unplanned - I had just made up my mind to leave) child, we were in the middle of moving house, had just had some big house jobs done, my grandmother had died (did not count missed periods until after the funeral), Christmas was coming and mother out law was visiting. I put my foot down and said I was not planning a wedding.

POSITIVES
The onset of the hip problems taught me to do a lot in fifteen minutes (hobble downstairs, bung stuff in microwave or oven, fill 2 l water bottle, wash dirty pots, put clean pots away, put a couple of things back where they belong. Post operation I learnt to alternate standing and sitting jobs, do most meal prep sitting at the table (pairing lids and containers, list making etc can also be done sitting down - ironing too but not done much in years), that I could clean the bottom of the freezer by pushing a wet rag around with a stick (wasn't allowed to bend forward or sideways).

Lots of big jobs can be done in 15 minute chunks, including chopping up large tree branches (I helped the young girl across the road tackle hers by using a walking stick to hook down the tall branches so she could saw through them), just rest for as long as you need to in between.

In the past year I've accepted that using ready chopped onions from the freezer is not the height of laziness - especially if it's stopping you from making a meal. I've also learned to welcome all offers of help with politeness and a smile, even when I'm declining them.

In the past few weeks I've used mum's spare walker to go for small shopping trips (so I can sit down every five minutes). last week I tried several 5 minute walks without the walker. I went to Monday's funeral without it. It was only a block further than little Arseda (about 3 blocks in total) but I held onto walls, railings and sign posts. I managed most of the standing during the service but had to hold the pew in front. It took me 40 minutes to get home via a short trip round little Arseda for soft bread and sandwich fillings (sore throat kicked in), accepted the offer from an elderly woman to link arms to cross the road and brought the trolley home with me - the broken ones are near to my end of the car park so grab hold of one when I need support and discovered a while ago that the broken ones don't trip the alarm if taken off the car park (it was a tessimo trolley anyway). I do take them back when I'm feeling better.

So that's me (noted for my epic posts but think this has set a new record). ATM constant change and adaptation is the name of the game - I have plans for my kitchen and my garden (small back yard). Everything and anything is up for grabs.

pollyanna_26

Mothernerd I've only just checked the posts after a bit of a day . Head is pretty mashed so need to read your post properly when I get home tomorrow .


I recognise the hovel and various other bits from previous posts but you really have had a basin full of things to contend with in life . Thank you for that long and no doubt exhausting post . I will need my head to focus better before replying .


Could I ask if Dr Dan is a gp , consultant or some other role?



I think you're in Mayor Andys' neck of the woods . Is there a joined up service available for both the physical and mental effects of health difficulties? Everything changed for dd when our local pain clinic we've both attended over the years also branched out under another NHS service in another region but with senior pain clinic staff delivering the service in our town .


There's a pain specialist experienced in medication. A pain psych , Excellent individually structured physio and many other services available and they've helped dd so much to overcome all the years it was hit and miss and her health went downhill .


I've mention on here a good gp is the hub things revolve around . Ours is on the ball and very supportive and proactive.


As I say I need a clearer head to read through properly.


In your shoes I would really be attempting support group ESA and or PIP I was lucky to be in the last group of women to get my pension at 60 and feel for the many like yourself and WCS who were faced with the extra years . I'm well aware how hit and miss the assessments can be but my daughter moved from DLA high daily living and low mobility to enhanced both for pip . We're still waiting to hear back since sending her reassessment form off so we shall see .


My first job was with the then Inland Revenue and for a couple of years The National Assistance board - a blast from the past! Back then income support was called National Assistance so that may be what you recall .


From a brief look through your post I do feel you should be entitled to support rather than trying to generate an income .


Will catch up tomorrow evening Long day ahead . Hope the cough is settling and you feel a bit better . I have chronic bronchitis legacy of smogs and living near industrial Liverpool in childhood . Like yourself I've had pneumonia but rarely flu until a few months ago . So keep warm and rest as much as you can. I hope tonight you can sleep , I was propped up on pillows . They didn't do my neck , spine or back any favours but sometimes helped me nod off Woke in the morning flat on my back as I'd slid off them but at least I'd slept for a while .
Look after you as much as you're able .
pollyx

mothernerd

Doctor Dan is a gp. When we first met him, he was working in the walk-in centre and diagnosed mum's shingles. Both she and the woman he had helped before her were overwhelmed by him and filled in effusive customer reviews. He then split his time between the walk -in centre and working as a nurse practitioner in our surgery and then finally passed the extra exams to be a doctor. Everyone calls him Dan - receptionists, cleaners, patients. He is so nice. He is also the one who has spotted that Beloved (DS3's gf, who lives with us) might have Addisons.

Andy was our MP before he took the Mayor's job.

I do get working tax credit. Previously I was supposed to work 30 hours to qualify but last year I found a bit in the small print that said I could do 16 hours now that I am 60. I asked to do this but they never replied, this year I will tell them I intend to work 16 hours.

I also get Carer's Allowance for looking after mum (over 35 hours). I thought I could only have one or the other and the Carer's Allowance is slightly more, but then the WTC people treated it as income and as I am still well under the income level, I get both. With my modest needs this means I can live comfortably as long as I don't do anything rash (also get a contribution from DS3).

My dread is to be forced onto Universal Credit. I'm not going to go on because I get so upset about how people get treated. My brother had his benefits drawn and it took a year to get them back. He was told they should not have been withdrawn in the first place but they were withdrawn again almost immediately after his appeal. He nearly gave up but his gp and his daughter were incensed and supported him. At the appeal they said it was a mistake and they should not have been withdrawn.

ailz95

Mothernerd - I was in Wrightington in 1957/8 as a 3 year old when it was a tb sanotorium.

I'm a bit bog eyed at the moment - last Monday 4th I drove from Kent to Manchester alone, at night as my mother was dying. I have a motorised wheelchair with a hoist in the car - I only got it in August and it's been a godsend to me. I stayed with her at the hospital overnight and on Tuesday morning - she died just after I left her. I drove home on Wednesday and have been exhausted ever since.

Hope everyone is coping. The weather here is gorgeous, though we've just been into our local town which was very foggy