15months to debt free - I hope

Flying_By

Happy Easter to you too, @ladyholly

ladyholly

Evening all. I hope everyone ha had an enjoyable Easter day. It was very quiet when we took Bear out for his walk.

Mainly just pottering today but I do have a clean fridge now. I have eaten my Easter egg (in my defence it was a small one and it has been in the house for a week without me touching it even though it was calling to me). I dont think I have ever been able to keep chocolate before so I think thats a bonus. The same with the hot cross buns. I usually eat a packj within 24 hours but managed to spread the 4 over 5 days.

The weather has been grey and a bit chilly for most of the day. Yesterday was beautiful and tomorrow there is rain in the forecast but only in the afternoon so I might get something done in the garden.

I spoke to my biL this evening and he is getting quite depressed as he cant do all the things he wants to do. i think he is getting to the stage where he doesnt want to struggle on. I am not sure what to suggest to him. I know he would hate to have carers in the house but he is struggling on his own. I wish I lived nearer but it is a 5hour round trip on the train and actually takes about the same if Mr LH takes me in the car. Unfortunately neither trains nor roads go in a SE direction. His neighbour is brilliant but he has his own family and a full time job.

We had a lovely raost lamb dinner which was a treat as we rarely have lamb and tommorrow we will have it cold with veg. I also have another another pack of smoked salmon which we will have mid pm. Mr LH cant manage to eat 2 courses so we spread it out.

Meals for me. Lunch - salad, scrambled egg, b&b, dinner Lamb, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots. Snacks Banana grapes and Easter egg. Back to proper eating tomorrow.

Have a quiet evening.

PennysIntoPounds

Well done on all your Easter restraint, glad you enjoyed what you had.
That's a worry about your BiL, would he consider moving to somewhere nearer you or downsizing so he can manage a bit better on his own? 

Blackcats

Happy Easter @ladyholly

my dad was like your BiL and absolutely didn't want carers.  We started off with just a 1 hour visit per week with a specific task to "see how it goes".
he now has them for an hour at lunchtime every day and they have enabled him to stay living at home (he is 96).
they do helpful bits and bobs around the house like putting the washing on and putting the clean washing on the airer, run the hoover round as well as making his lunch for him (he has ready meals or things like fishfingers and chips).  They are all really nice - make him a cup of tea when they arrive and generally keep things ticking over.  

Dad pays for them himself so we didn't have to jump through social service hoops and we were able to chose the company ourselves.
its not an easy subject to broach but perhaps starting off the conversation will give him something to think about.  

beanielou

Poor BIL.  THat's hard.

@Blackcats.  Your dad is 96.  That's amazing & to still to be at home.

One of my good friends who I met at yoga over 20 years ago is 92 & is just awesome.  Still lives alone in a big house on her own with no help apart from a little in the garden. She is a widow.  I admire her so much.

ladyholly

PennysIntoPounds said:

Well done on all your Easter restraint, glad you enjoyed what you had.
That's a worry about your BiL, would he consider moving to somewhere nearer you or downsizing so he can manage a bit better on his own? 

No he wouldnt consider moving as his house was built by his grandfather and has been in the family ever since. He was born in one of the bedrooms and was home educated in another. He knows that when he goes it will be sold but has a huge attachment to it.

Blackcats said:

my dad was like your BiL and absolutely didn't want carers.  We started off with just a 1 hour visit per week with a specific task to "see how it goes".
he now has them for an hour at lunchtime every day and they have enabled him to stay living at home (he is 96).
they do helpful bits and bobs around the house like putting the washing on and putting the clean washing on the airer, run the hoover round as well as making his lunch for him (he has ready meals or things like fishfingers and chips).  They are all really nice - make him a cup of tea when they arrive and generally keep things ticking over.  

Dad pays for them himself so we didn't have to jump through social service hoops and we were able to chose the company ourselves.
its not an easy subject to broach but perhaps starting off the conversation will give him something to think about.  

I will try suggesting it to him but he is very much a loner and even when my sister was alive did quite a lot on his own. I will try to find care companies in his area and give him some names. He would be self funding as I suspect his income would be too high for help. He has started to look at ready meals as he thinks cooking is becoming too dangerous for him (he was a chef in the RAF) so has always cooked at home.

beanielou said:

Poor BIL.  THat's hard.

@Blackcats.  Your dad is 96.  That's amazing & to still to be at home.

One of my good friends who I met at yoga over 20 years ago is 92 & is just awesome.  Still lives alone in a big house on her own with no help apart from a little in the garden. She is a widow.  I admire her so much.

Up until the last couple of months he has managed well and has seemed fairly content but something seems to have changed. I noticed last time I went down his walking has deteriorated a lot and his balance is going. He says he is using his walking stick but I have suggested a frame which will balance him better.

He is 92 this year and has always been very fit so the sudden change is worrying. He is seeing the dr this week but as it is always a different one I am not sure that will help. But Thanks to you all for your comments.

ladyholly

Good evening all.

I had to go to sm this morning to get a couple of things for Mr LH and some milk for me. Lounge has been hoovered which I think surprised it. Bear is moulting so lots of dog hair - there is poodle in his DNA but he doesnt have the non shed of poodles.

 I have potted up my baby cucumber plants and have moved them to the conservatory as its still a bit cold in the greeenhouse. They will go in there during the day unless the weather gets cold again. All the other plant babies checked and watered as needed. The spinach is coming on outside as is the rocket.

Cleaned the burner part of the van cooker while it is in pieces. Its a very bad design and almost impossible to clean when complete.

Weather was nice this morning but pored with rain so Mr LH did Bears walk which I was pleased about as it is the first time he has taken hime out on his own since the gsd incident.

A nice afternoon with my book.

Meals. Lunch - sardines b&b, dinner - cold roast lamb, runner beans, broccoli, peas. Snacks - grapes, banana, yoghurt.

A quiet evening to all and for those who are back to work tomorrow dont work too hard.

Flying_By

I love the idea of surprising your lounge, @ladyholly, I'm going to have to surprise my bathroom, kitchen and lounge this week or I will lose my sanity!

PennysIntoPounds

Glad Mr LH felt able to take Bear out for a walk again, that must be a big relief 

ladyholly

PennysIntoPounds said:

Glad Mr LH felt able to take Bear out for a walk again, that must be a big relief 

He has only taken him out in daylight but still needs support for the evening walk when its dark.