The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

mardatha

Happy news Hester!

Petula

Morning froggies

Quick pop in for a quick read through and quick post, that's my 'quick' done for the year now :rotfl:

Things are a bit full on just now with the ILs, FiL had an accident yesterday and MiL had to clean floors, rugs and ½ of the bathroom. She still has not recovered fully yet from her fall at the beginning of the week but is, as of yesterday, still refusing to call and see what sort of assistance is available to them. Trying to make her see that bringing herself down will be of no help to either of them. AGH! Parent's, who'd have 'em!

Changing out my phone tomorrow after 3 years so that should keep me occupied tomorrow. Not out of trouble necessarily, but occupied.

pollyanna_26

Morning Petula . I am not a Froggie ! I appear to be morphing into Mar :eek:.
It must be both worrying and frustrating re the parents . Something I know personally as I am that sort of person is independence and pride aren't helpful . We see ourselves as we were and it can be hard to loosen the reins a little and accept sometimes a helping hand is well meant and does make a difference .
It's something that can feel a little threatening and makes you feel you aren't coping and people in a way are judging . My way after various tussles is to reach a point where if I would welcome a hand with something I will say so . Ringing me to say someone will be here tomorrow to sort out whatever they feel needs doing is not the way . It's taken a few years to arrive at that solution .
I am not suggesting you would force a situation but your mum may be trying to do all she used to while life has changed dramatically for them both .
I reckon slow and steady is the way to go . If something urgently needs dealing with weigh every word while talking to her . You need to be a bit clever so hopefully she wont feel she can't cope . The mind is a strange beast and can twist meaning when you are mean only to do the obvious thing . I think the you and dad always looked after me approach .
Meanwhile I think it may be you who posted about remembering who was who and learning the user names . When I first started posting after years of lurking I used to get myself in a mess over the names and almost gave up . However I started to keep a pad beside me read through and note down each name and a clue to what they'd said . May only have needed one word . a sentence or two .
I'd then reply to all the recent posts .
Meanwhile hope things sort themselves somewhat . Take care .
polly

Petula

Thanks Pollyanna When I go to the ILs, I use the approach, would you like some 'help' with something rather than "I'lll do this for you. Still, often get a 'no, don't think so' All issues are compounded by FiL not really giving a toss (about much of anything, sadly) and never EVER acknowledges how much MiL is doing for him.

She is currently a bit ill, injured and feeling a skivvy. Just being an ear seems the only real help at the moment.

ivyleaf

monnagran wrote: »

Couldnt agree more Lyn.

I still treasure the sight of my boys sitting in our armchairs with the poker pushed down between the arm and the cushion as their gear stick driving all through some imaginary town.

Pickle has a room full of toys but I have never seen her so happy as when we had a huge empty cardboard box. She played with that for days.

I used to arrange the dining chairs in pairs and pretend I was driving the bus - I had a toy "conductor's" kit with a little satchel and some tickets (sadly it didn't include a ticket machine with a turnable handle)
I'd have loved to see Pickle with the big box!

ETA Having caught up with the most recent posts, I just want to send virtual (((HUGS))) to everyone in need of some.

And Hester I hope the arnica cream helped CHS. it's certainly amazing stuff!

Floss

ivyleaf wrote: »

I used to arrange the dining chairs in pairs and pretend I was driving the bus - I had a toy "conductor's" kit with a little satchel and some tickets (sadly it didn't include a ticket machine with a turnable handle)

I had one of those, also an old library date stamp & tickets from my dad's library...and my boys (29 & 31) used to play buses!

lillibet_dripping

camelot1001 wrote: »

Talking of ladies shoes - I saw a very tall, skinny chap in The Netherlands last week riding a bike in teeny weeny shorts, a crop top and ladies white platform sandals. The mind boggles!

Ha! Only in the Netherlands!! I lived there for seven years (got married there and had my babies there) - nothing would surprise me!!

monnagran

Oooh Polly. May I really get off the north step, or even the norty step tablet. I believe that you have to stay there a minute for every year of your age. Ooooer. I may be free sometime before the harvest home.

I don't know what it's like elsewhere but it's pretty chilly here. I cooked myself a nice warming lunch and am sitting here wrapped up in a duvet watching a bit of catch up TV.

I like living by myself. I can do exactly what I feel like doing and when I go back into a room it is just as I left it. It's unbelievable.
I keep waiting to feel lonely but it hasn't happened
yet. Of course having Millie here helps. We have worked out a timetable that suits us and apart from the fact that she sleeps on the floor in my room at night, and snores, we are quite happy together.

All we need now is for the weather to warm up a bit.

Wondering how Hester is keeping warm on the boat. Oh. Don't answer that.

Floss

It's a dull cool day on the Lancashire coast too - but it was warm sunshine earlier.

We've had DH's two brothers & their wives staying this weekend - cue much chat, good food & lots of wine consumed Me & DH are now finishing the cheeses in front of the golf on TV

MMF007

When my nephew was about 3 y.o. he had the empty box from a large fridge to play in. He loved it and one day he told us he had been travelling in it and had been to Australia that very afternoon. Playing along, I asked him if he had seen any kangaroos. His reply? Don't be silly, Auntie M, it's only pretend.' . :rotfl:

We used to get excited if we were taken out in the car (my grandma used to take us out when mum was poorly, to give her a break). The highlight of a day out was if we stopped at a transport caf and had a sandwich of GRATED RED CHEESE and a pink panther 'chocolate' bar. Does anyone remember those?? We never had red cheese at home and no cheese was ever grated so this was very sophisticated. The chocolate/candy bar was indeed pink

Funny day today, thought it was going to be sunny but it soon deteriorated. I am researching for a possible holiday next year so that kept me busy for a while but not wanting to sit down all day I wandered into the kitchen and spent the rest of the day on my feet!
Have made chicken korma, portioned the rest of the chicken and frozen for another day, made rhubarb crumble and made 10 pots of marmalade. Hmm, quite productive after all. Veg prepped, so am taking 5!