Progress is...

rtandon27

@Merlin's_Beard - indeed, I have no problems vocalizing injustice in the work place!  If I had to depart, I safe in the knowledge that I can and not even blink, but again I do love my job, just not my manager.  I suppose having been blessed with some of the best managers out there for the entirety of my working life, I hold those I work with to an exceptionally high standard!

@Humdinger1 - unfortunately not, my employment agreement does not allow for it - the issue is not the employer but the manager 🤣🤣🤣 - but again, at this point I'm not going to say too much about the current situation.

Once upon the time, back across the pond I was part of a union, paid dues, but such was the nature of my job that I was considered essential so had to be escorted across the picket lines and work 2-3 times as hard because all the support staff was outside 'on strike' - I was also 'fined' for doing so, but the employer had to pay me back for the fine as I was required to work, so I do have mixed feelings about the usefulness of unions for me!

Thank-you both for your cheerleading, it always means so much that I can share weird news like that on here, and everyone just 'gets it'!!!!!💗💗💗

rtandon27

It's been a day of rest for both OH & myself - not much done other than enjoying the sofas and munching on food.  Managing energy sometimes demands a down day!

important tasks...
 ❗ do bus pass application
 ❗ clean up of spare laptop sitting at the office, I've not cleaned it up yet!
🔱 never ending paperwork filing
🔆 my savings need juggling
🔆 find a black ball point pen to sign passports - I know there is one in the house somewhere!

routine tasks... (for the weekend)
✅ YNAB juggling
✅ across the pond banking - gave it 24 hours and used the correct vpn to log in - phew
✅ mid-month meter readings - another 41 pounds requested for return
✅ third Saturday of the month so pay off credit cards
✅ mortgage overpayment - 7 of 10 for the year! - enough readily accesible for next 3 payments
✅ grocery order & veg box on Friday
✅ meal plan
🔱 weekly digital planner
✅ supplements
✅ Weekly surveys & contests
🔱 laundry - 2 loads folded & away - 1 load still drying  - another 2 to go - sigh - it's never ending!

non-routine tasks...
✅ booked RM collection for shoe return - still on the hunt for ballerina wedges!
✅ bathroom floor is disinfected and shiny!
✅ tally for last week's lunch sent
✅ complaint raised about the hoops I had to jump through to get MY MONEY returned to me from E.0N
✅ complaint raised about substandard service received at posh caffe on Thursday - deplorable to be frank
✅ complaint raised about inability to send constructive critisiam to 0penAI about accessibility issue
🔱 Nightmare Train Delay snot-o-gram! (draft completed - this is an emotional one as Vix pointed out!)
(yes - there is a theme here - it was a weekend where I sat down a lot but things needed doing!)
 ❗ Delay Repay
🔆 EHIC card - is old one valid or do up application
🔆 send a message to BFF across the pond - sort out money owed both ways - lol

medical follow-ups...
 ❗ my dermatologist referral - have docs names - now need to book
🔆 follow-up on OT recommendations for work assessment
🔆 follow-up on private eye specialist
✅ OH has NHS appt on Tuesday to get diagnoses that we already know about - a full two weeks after private consultant told us - my ire with the NHS continues - appt has been had - diagnosis has been confirmed - time to do a bit of re-evaluating

epic list of garden things... (again for the weekend)
🔆 pick and process apples
🔱 start getting quotes for new felt for flat roof & summer house & shed (needs doing in autumn)
🔱 need to transplant two chili plants & one more pot of flowers
🔱 once lavender is dry from rain make lavender bundles for drying
⏳ 4 bags cotswold stone - trip to W!ckes postponed - on hold
⏳ transplant remaining baby trees into their new pots - on hold 
⏳ trim down and rehome butterfly bush - on hold
⏳ new trellis needs to go up for the climbing rose in the front - OH has acquired the hardware! - on hold
⏳ finish taming climbing jasmine & add more supports for it to grown on - on hold

social calendar...
⏳ korean street food - will have to rebook this one - hard week ahead
😒 Oct - the office clan - monthly lunch at a restaurant - Week of 6th? this has turned into cake and brown bag lunch in part of the office I can't access - I am incredibly annoyed with the organizer - ablism at it's finest
💝 Sat Oct 4th - brunch with my musical-mad friend who is coming down from up-North for a weekend of shows
💝 Oct - thanksgiving - plenty of turkey cuts are available!

Meal Plan...
OH has input into this upcoming week - potatoes feature heavily!

🍜🍙Saturday - Easy Peasy - Bao buns & dim sum & pak choi
🍖🥔🥬🌽Sunday - Roast - Pok Loin chops & champ & corn
🍝🌿🍗🍤  Monday - Veggie Day - Pasta & Basil & Courgette (possibly with chicken or prawns) best laid plans - we had McD's - needs must and all that
🐟🍟Tuesday - Fish Day - Fish Finger Baps & Waffle Fries & Salad - and leftovers - no appetite today!
🥦🍗🥗Wednesday - Chicken Day - Cauli Cheese & chicken drums/thighs & salad
🥧🥕🥦Thursday - Meat Day - Cottage Pie with carrot/cauli/broc
🍗🍟🥕Friday - Fakeaway - Chicken Nuggets & Waffle Fries & carrots
🥧🥔🥬Saturday - Easy Peasy - Quiche & mini pots & baby brussels
🍠🍗🌽🥔Sunday - Roast - Chicken with corn & red potatoes or roastis
🍝🌿🍗 Monday - Veggie Day - Pasta & peppers (possibly with chicken)

rtandon27

Trip to the NHS hospital today told us what we already know.  We will be re-evaluating things now that we have a formal diagnosis as coping with it will not be easy.  Consultant asked me to wait before moving OH to private as he's the private consultant in our area anyway and wants the input of the NHS treatment team before telling us the options.  He fully admitted that the standard of care and the treatments available would be better for OH through private.

We went and decompressed from the news at our favorite coffee shop with fancy coffees & homemade cake.  The owners are lovely and were really good to me when I was still hemi-pelegic and they were just as nice to us today, leaving us space to have our conversation without imposing but also looking after us really well.  Definately one of the reasons we don't like to frequent the chains - it's nice to have a community of lovely people!

Cherryfudge

It seems you will both have some coping to do in the near future: if you need our support please do come here to unload. It sounds as though the consultant is helpful and actively looking at being as fully informed as possible, which can only be good. The wider the hive mind, the better, but it's good you can get private care in the longer term - with the added bonus of all the experience of the NHS. I believe a lot of people work for both.

And your coffee shop people sound lovely.

Cheery_Daff

Sounds like a difficult diagnosis for you both, big hugs ((((((()))))))) Glad you've got some support around you. A nice local cafe can be a great plac÷. We had a favourite here for a long time, sadly the manager left and things changed a lot, and we don't tend to go now, but it was special at the time. 

As Cherryfudge says, please do use us as you need us xx

beanielou

Sorry to read this. Hopefully you can navigate this. 

rtandon27

@Cherryfudge - thank you so much for your kind offer - I will indeed share my thoughts, but please do remind me to riegn it in a bit if I ever get too negative!  I'm very critical of poor service and shall always be, but you do point out some very astute observations about the consultant and his approach.  I always need that balanced perspective when I get wound up about failings ❤️

@Cheery_Daff - thank you so much for the hugs my dearest!  Even across the ether, they are well felt!  I was actualy thinking about you during the dynamic at our coffee shop & thinking it would be the one I'd take you to if you were down our way! ❤️

@beanielou - thank you for lending your support as well!  It's always nice to have friendly 'faces' pop up on here! ❤️

rtandon27

Woohoo - small wins today! - OH has not been able to eat solids for days but did manage half a bagel and cream cheese for breakfast - an entire ham sandwich for lunch and some mushrooms, a bit of cauli cheese and a piece of chicken for dinner.  I suspect he will soon need a prescription for meal replacement shakes, but it was nice to see him eat and actually enjoy it today! - I guess we can call that a gratitude.

Greying_Pilgrim

Oh rt that is a win, to be able to actually enjoy food, yes a definite win.

I remember from mum's time on those meal replacements, some brands are better than others. If I recall, mum had help to try different ones - and of course, some flavourings are more palatable than others.

Greying X

greenbee

I'm glad your consultant has been pragmatic. My consultant referred me from his private list back to the NHS because he wanted to involve a multi-disciplinary team and that's easier to do in the NHS (apparently they just discussed it over lunch...). I've had fantastic long-term treatment, but I unfortunately I think it's now necessary to combine NHS and private treatment if possible.