Good Morning Wednesday

So sorry to read this Grandmafrench I cannot offer a solution just for you and your friend.

harrigran so, so sorry.

Good Morning Everyone from S.of France where we’re promised another glorious day.

I’m here with some concern/a rant about a dear friend in England. She lost her DP about 3 years ago, he had a massive Stroke on the kitchen floor and suffered locked-in syndrome for some weeks before he died in hospital. She struggled terribly after that with her mental health. She was so sad and lost interest in any recovery or future for herself. Since then, and without any real effort or care on the part of her 4 Daughters (who must be the most self-centred bunch of wasters I have ever heard about) and they live just over 100 miles from my friend, she has struggled to regain her normal life. She has had many bouts of illness, as well as depression and a lot of anxiety since her DP’s death, due to her being involved in quite a serious accident when her car was struck in the side at speed by another motorist. Gradually she has recovered her interest in reading. Her knowledge of history and the world, of politics etc., is second to none. She listens to music and the radio, plays the piano and cares for a beautiful sunken garden in a coastal town where she lives.

Just before the lockdown, and having suffered a number of falls, she was diagnosed with a cyst on her brain. That’s what she has told me. A GP’s advice after some hospital tests was that she could either “leave it and see what happens” or go for some further tests and see a Consultant in order for some possible options to be explored, maybe surgery but with no guarantee that her balance etc., would improve. That there might be other risks (naturally!)

Lockdown happened. She was essentially isolated and marooned. No car, (wheedled out of her by a GC) afraid to walk along a lane into the town etc., I spoke to her one evening and after that I trawled the ‘Net to find that her town had just started up a Volunteer Covid support group. Someone answered the ‘phone at 7.30 on a Saturday evening and promised someone would visit her the following day. And they did! I was blown away at the kindness and care - and so was she. She ultimately was able to get (in a new and confusing situation for everyone) meds, food, even a ‘paper organised.

As a vulnerable but previously active 85 year old, this current situation has been her undoing. She is isolated - she has neighbours who are shielding and the only calls she gets from any of her Daughters are to establish whether she is still alive. She knows and believes this and never minces words with regard to their selfishness and greed over the years. Her falls are increasing, she is very sad and down and admits that she now feels very sorry for herself. Calls to her Surgery have enabled her to have two conversations - both with different GP’s who have told her that at the age she is, it would probably be better not to think about having her problems followed up by a Consultant.!!!!!! She has been prescribed tranquillisers and a drug which I well know causes falls and is deemed as being something which can actually increase the risks of death in the elderly! A chemical cosh, really. Something which is banned in the USA and something which I have had fleeting experience of within my own family. So she just waits....for what? Her mood veers between philosophical and panic stricken. I receive a sporadic mail or sometimes a call. When I phoned her last, she didn’t want to speak and although I understood that, it made me so upset because all I want to do is help her fix the b$**!y problem and give her some life back. Who gets to decide who lives and who dies in this life? Doctors have absolutely no right to play God and be so dismissive with someone who is isolated and whose life has been turned upside down due to a pandemic. She’s not in ICU for heaven’s sake - so why should she just have to accept that her life and a return to anything approaching that must now be over.

I can’t telephone her surgery because I am not even family. I don’t know her family, but I do know that in all the years that we lived near to each other, she has said that they only have eyes on her beautiful listed cottage. I can’t to go England and engage in (successful) unarmed combat with Doctors or Adult Social Care as I once did for my own Mother. I’m powerless to even have a conversation with anyone who might help and I feel I am letting her down so badly.

I wrote to her in the most positive way that I could. She says my mails always cheer her, but I know that I am just repeating old hackneyed phrases because I am not actually doing anything to help her situation.

Sorry/not sorry for this outburst. I just feel that I am sitting here betraying her. I know how many of you on this thread are really suffering, especially with regard to promised ongoing treatment, so I suppose I just hoped that you will understand the plight of my friend.

Wishing you all some light in your day if you are down and worried and some sunshine and distraction - until freedom.
Hugs x

Good morning Mick and all his followers. Grey and damp in Suffolk this morning. As our lettuces and radishes are ready to eat, we are into salad mode here! I spent yesterday in the garden but I was to planning work on the veg beds today and now it’s wet . Housework and start some patchwork, I think.
Harrigran I am sorry that your BiL has passed away but thank goodness your lovely daughter is able to help your DS.
Nortsat well done on the sales shopping!
I hope the day is kind to everyone

Big hugs Harrigran......

Good morning Mick and the GM team, from grey east London.

We have taken all our glass to the bottle bank and dropped off the food bank donations. Housework day today.

We had Indian takeaway yesterday for a treat: chicken sagwala and lamb bhuna, pilau rice and mushroom bhaji. We thoroughly enjoyed it, we haven’t had one for such a long time. Back to more healthy, home cooking today.

House of Fraser have a good sale on at the moment, I managed to get my partner Slazenger polo shirts (in nice colours) for £4 each and Slazenger shorts for £8 per pair. I got him a couple of pairs of Crocs flip flops for £15 per pair. He is not a man who thinks about buying new clothes, but is happy to pay for anything I choose for him.

I constantly monitor the sales for my own clothes, of course.

Have a good day, all and special good wishes for those who need them.?

Good morning from a wet Morecambe Bay, so no walk this morning. Will do Pilates video shortly, much easier than our other workouts! I’m really quite tired this morning. I gardened all day yesterday and don’t I know it. I used to garden all day everyday a few years back, and looked after 20 gardens. Now I have 4,plus mine and the church garden and find them more than enough. It’s good to have days off, but not so good for fitness. Today however my gardening consists of attending my booked slot at the local garden centre. I have a very long list. Think it will take everything I’ve saved from not being able to go in cafes! Wishing everyone a pain free day, take care, stay safe.?

Mustardseed19
Pure joy!!

Mustardseed what a lovely poem!

Good morning from the NE where it is damp underfoot.
My lovely BIL passed away last night and my poor sister had to take a long taxi ride home alone.
My DD is on the train now from Brussels to Hamburg to support her aunt, she has been able to book a hotel room.
Take care.

Good Morning from cold, damp Scotland. Did you say the sun is due out again at the weekend Brunette?

Ah well we shielders aren't going anywhere so I 'll just start my knitting.

Scentia could we do a house swap please.? I love the idea of a clean house. DGS obviously takes after you hyperactive
I hope their visit goes well.

I have managed to find a home for the jade green dungarees, bought in error online and too hard to return. I had to think of someone 2 inches taller and 2 inches thinner than me to foist them on and I did and she has taken the bait!.

Good morning, Michael and all GNs. Grey, damp, cool, misty - pick an adjective, they all fit South Yorkshire this morning! We had a walk down our local valley yesterday; poppies in the fields of ripening crops making a lovely splash against the green, and buzzards wheeling overhead. Very few folk about, which was different to last time we went when you could hardly turn around. An ‘in’ day at Duster Towers today, and a gentle one at that. Momb enjoy your cycle ride - sounds wonderful! Have a good day folks!

Morning all,

A grey damp morning here, though for now it has stopped raining. The forecast is for rain showers all day, so I'm glad I got the grass cut yesterday.

Took a trip to the local supermarket yesterday afternoon. Timed it right as got straight in and out, but a queue had formed as I was coming out. Got everything I needed apart from self raising flour. There was plain and bread flour on the shelves but no SR. I know you can add baking powder to plain flour to give a rise in cakes, but they had none of that either! Wonder how long it will be before SR becomes available again?

I hope BlueSapphire is feeling a little stronger today and will be back posting soon. ? Same with Doramarr who, as dragonfly says, hasn't posted for a while.

Not sure what today will bring. Got a small amount of ironing, but that's about it on the chores front.

Take care everyone and stay safe.

A long awaited reunion with three year old granddaughter:

Unleashed from the car
Slipping and sliding across the wet grass
Where are the toys?
Armfuls of teddies and rabbits emerge
To shelter under the tree
With plastic cups of tea and birthday cake.
They climb the branches
Hang their wet clothes on
Nubbles notches and twigs
Put their babies to bed in dry weeds around the sturdy trunk
And the wide leaves shelter us
From the soft rain all the enchanted afternoon

Good morning Auntyflo and all x

Good morning from an overcast Suffolk coast. It isn’t raining but probably will be later. I always sleep well here with the sound of the sea and didn’t wake til gone 8 ?. Unheard of.

DH will repair the flower box outside the kitchen window today, as it’s gone a bit rotten. I’ve got trailing geraniums and petunias to go in.

Will shop today and get a few bits for my elderly SIL. She sent me flowers for helping her out. ?. But theyve gone to the wrong address. Iv e told my DIL to take them and enjoy them. SIL will be so upset but I ll have to tell her.

Have a contented day ?

Good morning everyone from a grey Essex by the sea.
One of our DGS's is 6 today so will drop off his presents later. It doesn't seem 6 years since we went to Tenerife where he was born.
We went to a local garden centre yesterday, the first time I have been anywhere in the last 3 months. Not too busy everyone aware of social distancing. Two ladies, one elderly the other a bit younger in front of us suddenly stopped right in the middle of the pathway with their trolley. We couldn't get by and they weren't moving so I stepped around one of them. The older lady made a very pointed comment about social distancing. I calmly told her that if they hadn't stopped and blocked the pathway with their trolley I would have had more room. No way was I close to them. It really upset me and has put me off going out. Silly I know.
Anyway I'm sure I will get over it.
Have the best day you can and stay safe everyone xx

Good morning from a grey Leicestershire.

We are taking the car for a run today to boost the battery and maybe a walk if it’s not too busy.
We have had to stay in the last few days as my DS has been having parcels delivered for my birthday next week.
I had hoped the lockdown would have lifted by then.

Hope you feel brighter today Mary and that Bluesapphire is okay as Urmston says. Also wonder how Doramarr is as she has not been around.

Good Morning Mick and all. A cloudy, dry start here on the S Welsh coast, rain forecast for later.
I recognise that insular feeling Marydoll, some days are worse than others. Didn't get around to the ironing yesterday so will attempt that later. I was able to return a favour last night by giving my young neighbour a packet of Allbran which I included in our Tesco delivery. I know that she had been unable to get any, she brought me some icing sugar a couple of weeks ago. Such kindnesses and occasional chats over the garden wall mean such a lot don't they.
Stay safe everyone. Thinking of BlueSapphire and all who are struggling.

Good morning from a damp Colchester. It's wet for the rest of the week according to the forecast.
Weekly online coffee meetup. We were going to take chairs to the park but the weather has kyboshed that idea.
Maybe the excitement of a drive to Tesco this afternoon to get things that Lidl doesn't stock. I hate having to think and plan every time I go out.

Grey and mizzly here,my cleaner is coming later and DH does a Zoom at lunch time. Had my wrist plaster off on Monday, it still feels a bit weak but am doing exercises to strengthen it. Hope everyone has a good day.

Morning all from a wet North Leicestershire. No sorting the garage today as it's not feasible in the rain. We need to put stuff outside while we move stuff around inside IYSWIM.

Lots of admin sort of stuff on the agenda and the dreaded finalising of the Sainsbury's online shop.

We saw DS1 in the park yesterday but I think we were the only people observing the rules and it was quite stressful. I find it more stressful in this half state than full lock down.

Off to deliver some stuff from the garage to DS2 and, possibly a quick visit to Waitrose.

Good morning from a damp Manchester. Suggested we have a drive out today but the weather not looking favourable. All well with the new baby but think lack of sleep beginning to catch up with mum. A lot of us have been there. Think I need to clean the house today if we don't go out. Urmston I'm living my life in Spain through you just now. A day on the beach with a picnic and drinks from a cheringuito sounds wonderful. Have a good day everyone. (((hugs))) for those who need them for those with extra worries.

Good morning everyone from Malta where it’s another sunny day.

Yes, Marydoll, I feel I’ve become insular as well. Even though I can go out, I’m making excuses to stay in.

Yesterday I actually achieved something by getting the spare room sorted out. I cleaned everything, even the windows, but boy did I have a backache afterwards. It is because I have spent so long sitting around, I think.

Ironing to do today, if I don’t put it off again. Other than that will just take it as it comes.

Hoping you all have the best day possible ☀️?

Good morning Mick and all x

Haven't opened the curtains but it does not look bright.

I want to go to out local garden centre today, I have to get my head round being out and other people around me, social distancing is strictly observed there apparently. The longer that I stay in the more nervous I am feeling about going out.

Have a fabulous day on the beach Urmstongran ??‍♀️?
Keep safe and well folks ?