Weekly Flylady Thread 20th January 2025

kazwookie

Well it is now drizzling here, so builder next door has knocked off for the day, but not before he managed to knock down about a foot of my front wall, (it is only about 2 foot tall and was wobbly)  so  nice conversation has been had about when he rebuilds the bit that is wanted, he will rebuild my wall as well.    I also took loads of photos at the same time. (just in case)

No chain sawing due to rain.

I have cleaned the kitchen, fed cats, bought 2 gooseberry bushes, some how 2 patio roses managed to slip in to the basket in the shop as well.

So added to job list, is weeding and planting. poss over the weekend

Jazee

Dailies now done, workman was useless, walked Poppet in the rain.  I have also properly cleaned living room and dining room, and the downstairs toilet to Valli's standard.  Strands with no hints.

Fayolle

It turned into a fairly productive day in the end. Having owned up to finding the blind cleaner, I felt compelled to use it. Bathroom blinds are now clean and off the list. Kitchen blinds added to the list. Cleaned the window frame whilst I was there. Sorted out some old statements etc for shredding, something else from the list. A couple of pleasant hours sewing, listening to music. 2 cookery books that I am never going to use -  but one of which was a present and kept for guilt purposes only - have made it to the cs bag. I am now sitting with a cuppa and an unearthed (‘scuse the unintended pun!) gardening book. 

I will have to go out later to pick up DH from the station in chaotic small town, but his ticket won’t let him back until after the rush hour. It has stopped raining but the promised wind is getting up, so that might be a fun drive.

Valli

Been to another care home that's a yes...sis has been to one on her way up here that's a no and we went to one together that's also a no - good to know we are thinking along the same lines.

The hugs are appreciated but it is what it is.  It might have been a slightly different story had the aged ps taken on our concerns when we started to be concerned, and mum might have been on medication earlier and the decline might have been slower.  Pa has asked sis to renew mum's passport and sis has told him it's a waste of money, she cannot go abroad.  

Anyway DD is out tonight so I might go and get the ingredients for a curry...

Honey_Bear

(((Hugs))) Redo.  

Tip run completed with an entire carfull, shopping for Burn's Night completed, and then took the rest of the day off as I'm shattered and hosting Burn's Night means Saturday won't be a rest day.

Narc0lepsy

Another productive day after a slowish start.
- polished 1 teapot, 2 goblets, 1 candlestick and 1 sugar caddy - all silver plate. Found one tiny salt spoon which has silver hallmarks so polished that. Put them in box for final trip to auction house  tomorrow.    Added 3 glass vases (yes, me parting with vases!) a bowl as they will sell as one lot.  Ditto 6 wall plates. 
- set BIL and Mr N to taking photos of old photos so they can be enhanced/restored and properly printed. They seemed to take an inordinate amount of time so i hassled them as I wanted us to clear the garage. Wrath of Narc0 seemed to work as we all spent a few hours and pretty much cleared the garage. One neat pile left on a cupboard for DB to freecycle/Man Shed; box of tools ditto or to step-bro (which is awkward; we asked the 8 step sibs if they wanted any mementos from the house and K asked for any garden tools - which is fine but he lives in Cornwall and I'm not sure how we'd get them to him).    
- BIL and I took my car full to the brim to the tip/recycling.  We will have another not-quite-carful to take tomorrow but it is all bagged up ready.
- Mr N started putting all the photos we'd collected from around the house into an album to take to Mum.
- A couple more boxes are almost ready to take to the charity shop.
- BIL chose a few more miscellaneous items for himself and agreed to take 3 boxes of books to the 0xfam bookshop as there is one in his town.
- I went through Grandma's (maybe even great grandma's) jewellery box which we have agreed the clearance/antique man can have.    Am finding out so much about old stuff, I almost wish we'd known more before we got the quote from the clearance man; however, it would be more hassle sorting/cleaning/packing etc and we're busy enough.  So he can have the box and I'll sort the jewellery at home.
- Very tired so sat a while, had a shower then went to Italian.
- came back with the urge to do a bit more so tackled the cleaning /DIY cupboard under the stairs. Golly, Mum was a practical person - I had to ask Mr N what a lot of it was. But she's always been a) independent b) divorced from when I was 5-16 d) married again to a lovely but more bodge than practical man until 17yrs ago then alone again.   And having grown up in the war years, she's used to saving everything, re-purposing everything and is a master of bogof.    However I have sorted shoe cleaning box, cleaning fluid box, light bulb box, fuse/tape/foam strip insulation box etc.  I have found bits of hoover, ironing board covers, a fondue set, dusters, picnic stuff and so much more - it's almost as good as a certain Ottoman!    Now all 5 shelves are swept and wiped, the boxes (plastic baskets) washed and far less stuff is ready to go back in for anything DB wants as I've added to my pile of what my poor car is taking home on Saturday. 
- had various text/email/phone chats with DB to let him know what's going on and to ask various questions. He's had a go at the estate agent who doesn't seem to be hassling the buyers enough regarding their dopy solicitor - who needs to be firmly told from both ea and buyers that the drawing on the plan is not an entire garage but a car port. He hasn't seen it; they have - yet he's saying the "garage" is on a shared drive. No, one post of a car port is - and no owner has complained in the last 40yrs.  We really want the reassurance and closure of a completion date. 

So now I'm really tired.
Hugs to all, we're all doing really well this month. 

weenancyinAmerica

Valli - my mother was the same when she started getting dementia - she accused my father of playing around even though he never left the house without her, accused both my father and me of trying to poison her, and tried to attack me once - the only time I ever had to hit her back. Her doctor said her dementia was partly caused by not having enough to drink and her brain shrinking as a result. Not sure about that. For the last two months of her life, she didn't talk until one day a nurse leaned over her and asked me if she was senile. She opened her eyes and said very clearly "I am not senile". Didn't say another word, but that is what the doctor put on her death certificate. I am still betting she is haunting him for that.

Valli

WM and DW locked and loaded.  Curry made, a quarter eaten and the rest portioned, boxed and chilling in fridge prior to freezing.,  surplus chicken breast and YS fish in freezer and arranged so can be separated once frozen.  So much YS fishn my freezer  that fish pies will be on the menu soon.

MadamMim2013

Not been flying much in last couple of days, spent yesterday cleaning up at my Ma’s house due to a leaky boiler.. 
Lots done there though so a plus none the less.. 
Woken up at 2.30am to a loud crashing noise, son’s window opened itself wide and curtain was flapping wildly out the window.. all closed up,  rain mopped from sides, radiator and computer desk. Thankfully nothing seems to have been broken.
Could not return to sleep, decided to leave OH to sleep as he’s got work in the morning. 

Cuppa made and writing lists of things I’d like to accomplish this year.. 
Also emptied the dishwasher & wiped down the sides..

@Valli, it’s soul destroying to watch those we love change in such a way.. Having experienced it with my grandmother (who had a spell of wanting to set fire to everyone and everything, along with swearing like a trouper.. something she’d never done!) it does hit different and I can only hope that you make sure that YOU have a good support network for yourself and family for when things get you down and are hard to take..
I have spent most of my working life within the care sector (in one department or another) a large chunk was assisting those with some form of dementia, the team I worked with were fab, we would do our best to take the time to reassure family when things got difficult, reminding them that whatever was being said or done was rarely on a personal level even if it felt so raw, painful and highly personal! We would also discuss visiting, how it was beneficial to them and their loved one yet reminding them if it was a particularly bad day not to feel guilt for leaving early or sometimes not coming at all for that day. Good care has to be whatever works for both the individual AND the family.
Any care home worth their salt will have no issues with random visits to check out how they run/their staff levels or with any questions.
It’s worth re-visiting your ‘yes’ homes again at various times, to see staff levels and how things are during busy times (breakfast/lunch, after tea) ask what their policy is on slips/trips/falls.. bed rails.. entertainment.. access to time outside in the garden, trips out.. One of the most important questions is staff turn over, do they have regular reliable, well trained staff that the residents can become comfortable with, do they use much agency staff, if so what agency.. 
It’s a lot to even think of, yet from personal experience, their answers to these questions will tell you a lot..
Palliative care within that setting became my specialty and I still feel greatly honoured to have been given the chance to spend time with both the resident and often their family at such an emotionally charged time.
I hope things can become more manageable for you and your parents & that a suitable solution for their care needs is found.
Apologies for the long post.. I am exceeding passionate about quality elderly care and what can be done to support them and their families (however that looks.. chosen family, friends, neighbours) properly and not just with the physical side of things but emotional support too..

@weenancyinAmerica brain shrinkage is a thing, dehydration can become a real problem for those with dementia ( obviously it’s not good for any human) it can cause further agitation/confusion and exacerbate symptoms in general, not to mention constipation and even hallucinations/delirium. 

With your mum, that’s an odd thing to put on a death certificate.. I’d haunt him for it too! 😉

MinnieMousesMummy

Morning everyone. I had an early start as I was woken up by the government alarm just after 7am, as currently under a red warning in Scotland. Please stay safe everyone. 

My list for today
Get the kids started with their schoolwork (schools are closed due to the red warning)
My uni lectures have been cancelled but recordings have been placed online so I need to get these completed. 
Do paid stuff online
Dust the living room
Put the base of the old bed into the skip
Move the bookcase into the office
Move furniture around in the master bedroom
Monitor the kids and keep them motivated to get schoolwork done
Hoover the master bedroom
Laundry x 2 loads
Dust the master bedroom
Put the new bed together and make the bed
Move clothes to the correct wardrobe (my stuff is currently in the old wardrobe in DDs room)
Check payments due in February and make sure they are in the diary
Look into changing bank account
Dust PC and desk, wipe with damp cloth if grimey
Wipe keyboard, house phone, sockets, switches and mouse etc.
Remind the kids to send over their completed schoolwork
Check storm damage if it calms down

Please stay safe everyone during the horrendous storm that is predicted for the UK on Friday.