Support and friendship for those whose lives have been affected by estrangement.

Babs, I am sure you will be encouraging your dh all the way. He will have what he can cope with. A man round here and had a stroke, his wife just left him to it, she was never there, It upset me very much at the time as I know how well my dad did after his with love and encouragement, it's priceless.
I love being by the sea, the joy it gives me whatever the weather and I am quite happy walking alone by it. If I was to come into money I would buy a little place by the sea as I live in the furthest place away from it.

Baba what about a "stroller? One of those ones with a seat so he can turn round and sit and rest when he needs to? Just wondering if that would be helpful if the physio has advised against a wheelchair maybe as with a stroller he is still walking.

@Allsorts We have considered a wheelchair so that we can go further on our walks, my DH loved going for walks along the seafront but cannot go very far now.
The physio wants him to walk more and not less though and so is warning against using one unless is essential. However, will look at getting a lightweight foldable one for when he is struggling with fatigue or losing his balance.
Unfortunately one of the clots that caused his stroke was on the brain stem which affects balance and vision specifically, so he will always struggle with both.

I always had a cat, everyone a character. Won't have one now as there is no one to look after it when away and wouldn't use a cattery. Love the independence of them, everyone was affectionate and made the place home. If I moved home to be by my son the first thing I would go is get two kittens because they would be looked after if I was away and I love small kittens and seeing them develop.
Yogin, what a shock for you, the memories obviously flooded back for you.
Babs, glad your dh is improving, would he consider a wheelchair to get out and about in the park. A lady by me just got a travel one as she goes away with her family a lot and they persuaded her. It just needs to be on the flat and on a hard surface.

Your doggie's groomer must be good with a 2hr journey to get there Smiles Mine moved just about 8mins drive away and I've swapped, but I wasn't that thrilled with their cut.

Had a 'groundhog day' this morning; heard a loud crash coming from upstairs neighbours, then very distressed crying, the eldest child had fallen down the stairs, she was clearly alone, so I knocked on the door and got her to let me in. She was very upset, shacking, but didn't seem to have any injuries, aside from shock. She said she'd banged her head on the radiator at the bottom of the stairs, no cut though, just a little red. She phoned her mum, who was just round the corner and she said she'd be ok to walk round on her own and join her mum [I was still in my dressing gown]. She's 14yrs so OK to be left for a short time. If you remember back 2yrs, that is how my last upstairs neighbour Dave died!

Babs no, mine came from a friends cat who had one litter. I asked if I could have two of the kittens.
I would get two rescues if I was doing it again. Two keep each other company and play together.

Kittens are hard work though, I would consider getting a cat that is 2 - 5 years old.

Yes Yogi and Smiles we also put the heating on first thing in the morning and at night.
Was perishing here after the really hot end to summer, have a lovely electric over blanket I got the other year that DH has during the day. He has aphasia which means he can’t find the right word and so will change it for another similar word, so when I gave him the blanket and turned it on he said ‘it’s the toaster’. I had to smile at that.
😆

@whiff sorry your hotel didn’t have a manager, I imagine that is why there were so many probs, ridiculous that they couldn’t put in a replacement and unfair on other staff having to do more duties that they probably aren’t paid extra for.
Sounds like it was a good hol overall though and relieved that your journey home turned out ok despite being so long.
You must be shattered now. You might need another holiday 😁

Sparkly thanks for such lovely pics, I love seeing pics of your cats they look so full of character.
We have had cats and they were all so different to each other, some say cats can be cool and aloof, we have had a cat like that but she could be affectionate sometimes, you just couldn’t grab her and stroke her when you felt like it, it had to be on her terms. Another cat we had, a little black and white Tom, was more like a dog, following us around everywhere and always wanting to be stroked. Thing is now that DH can’t walk very far and probs won’t be able to walk the distances he once could, am thinking of getting a cat when we finally move. A rescue cat would be good because I don’t think I could face training a kitten whilst caring for my DH.
Are yours rescue cats??
❤️🌹

2.5 hours!!! that's a long time Yogin. I pay £92 for both and she does them in 3 hours. It's a 2 hour round trip but I trust her and she does a beautiful job so wouldn't go any where else.

Lovely cats sparkly they look like best friends.

Whiff sounds like you are packing a lot into your holiday and making it interesting, shame you missed your dinner and breakfast too! You should have got a take-away delivered. Yes, lots of different yoga styles now, don't remember them when I first started yoga 53yrs ago, there were no mats or music back then. I did/have tried all the different yoga styles, just confirming my Hatha yoga is the best. There is lots of cracking going on in my classes Whiff you're not the only one.

Allsorts Crickey to the 90yr old still teaching yoga, I know the Indian Gurus go on into very old age. I do keep thinking if I should retire; am I good enough still, always have full classes though.

Smiles I can't stand being cold either, especially when I'm having a shower, so heating has been on, just for an hour in the morning. Lovely to see the little baby rabbits. Joey is looking really good after his new groomer, she must finish with scissors, looks lovely, I'll have to book him in for Xmas before it's all booked up. £45 and took 2.5hrs!

Morning all.

Well you certainly packed a lot into your holiday Whiff. A shame that the weather wasn't better but it certainly doesn't look as if it deterred you in any way.

How frustrating for you and the staff that there was no manager at that Premier inn , you'd think there would at least have been a stand in, maybe a staff member prepared to take on the role temporarily and paid accordingly.

Your journey home sounds a bit of a nightmare so well done for making it home safely.

Hope Mr. B's doing OK Babs after his recent episode. A&E departments are never great are they and that's without the added worry of Mr. B's overall health .

So Joey's going to be sporting a posh crufts groom Yogin, I hope he'll appreciate how fortunate he is .

We've had our heating on from time to time since last week as I can't stand being cold. Mr. S. is made of tougher stuff being a Yorkshire man, so I constantly remind him that I'm a delicate southern hot house flower that needs to be kept warm .

He lifts his 't' shirt up and 'mops his brow' saying 'it's so warm in here'; the thermostat war has begun and once again, I'll be the winner .

Love seeing pics of your cats Sparkly. They do make me yearn for my cat owning days but I wouldn't have a cat here with all the wildlife around and the design and layout of our lodge doesn't lend itself to a house cat.

Speaking of wildlife, the last week has seen a surge in baby rabbits. They're so tiny and lovely to watch scampering around. The other day there were 4 with their mum, charging around her and one another; it was lovely to see .

I agree Allsorts that Yogin must be fit. A yoga teacher in her nineties!!! That's something for Yogin go aim for.

Nice to see your post Bridie, hope all is well with you.

Whiff, glad you had a good holiday, sorry about the problems you encountered through no fault of your own but which you dealt with and sorted. I wouldn't have thought having not having a manager for 9 months was legal, the staff have to be commended for coping so well.
I think Yogin is fit with all her years of yoga and walking. We have a lovely yoga teacher here in her nineties.

Allsorts I can just see you on a trampoline..when I was at high school every month we had trampoline out during PE. No safety net or pads we just spread around the sides it was very large rectangle one . To catch anyone who might bounce off. I could only go up and down before falling flat on my face. But one of the girls could do everything that they do in trampoline competitions she ended up on the county team . Her whole family where very sporty and captains of teams and did various sports for the county.

Yogin glad you had a good time at your yoga festival I didn't realise there where so many different yoga's . Did you try them all out ? You must be very flexible and fit . My joints crack doing some of my exercises but not the only one .

Babs sorry Mr B had a fall and you ended up in A&E again . When I was going so often my daughter said I needed a reserved sticker on a chair 🤣. Hopefully he doesn't have another fall for a long time .

Hilltop I do ramble on but that's me . People ask me who I go on holiday with and surprised when say by myself . Lot of people go on holiday by themselves. Its like when I have seen consultants then have a copy of the letter they send my GP and say xxxxxxxxx attended alone . Who else am I to go with . Talking to a young woman in a shop she has a hidden disability and her letters always mention she has pink hair which she said had been pink for years . I have no idea why they need to point out those sort of things .

Smiles I have never seen Downton abbey there series. Watch upstairs downstairs years ago with Gordon Jackson and Jean Marsh . Don't know why but it never appealed to me .
Have you seen the the film Gosford Park excellent film and packed full of top UK actors . Used to what the Duchess of Duke Street many years ago and the original Forsyth saga think that was in black and white had Neree Dawn Parker in it .

Think that's page 15 done.

Just realised I didn't finish my post or reply to everyone. 🤦. Put my coat on over my pjs and talked to staff. Had a bottle of water as I needed more water than left in my flask to take my tablets and brush my teeth. There was no breakfast as the water pipe in the kitchen burst 10.30 Wednesday night. Water came back on at 8am.

I was going to Fodder a farm shop recommended to me . So had delicious pancakes with butter and maple syrup. When I asked for them to be cut up they asked if I wanted the butter and maple syrup spread which I did . Eating with a spoon and fork makes life easier for me .

Brought things out of their shop and got talking to one of the staff she asked where I lived and she had been to the city uni and missed being there but was applying for jobs here using her degree. I had asked the manager if he could suggest somewhere else I could visit he said Ilkley. So after popping back to the hotel to drop off my purchases. Got a taxi to Ilkley but didn't sing' On Ilkley moor bar tat' 🤣. It was a lovely journey and the driver pointed out all the sites to me . While on my hol had taxis places due to the weather and my mobility. I had 2 drivers it was like having my own chauffeur and tour guide.

Didn't know there was a Betty's in Ilkley but didn't have afternoon tea but did have Yorkshire curd tart and Betty's blend of tea. Both delicious. Went in lots of shops by the church was shut otherwise I would have had a look around .

Back at the hotel no dinner. But annoyed if I had known I would have had meal out or brought something in with me . To tired to go out . No breakfast on Friday either. I will be getting my money back.

I found out on check out there was no manager . The staff had to deal with guests on their own . I was told a manger was supposed to start beginning of the year but didn't turn up. Next one only spend a day . Then the last one a week. It was the first Primier inn I had stayed in and no manager . In my email I did point out all the maintenance work that needed doing ,plus if there had been a manager then food could have been brought in and the burst water pipe repaired quicker. I also questioned why there was no stand by manager that stepped into hotels until a permanent manager found .

At least there was a lovely stall selling delicious breakfast pastries by the waiting room at the station. All went well until we got to Leeds and my train home was cancelled and next one wax 2 hours wait. Explained to the travel assistance man I couldn't do that and my HPX set off but before it could get into full swing saw the notice board and there was a train to Chester would take 2 hours as it went a roundabout route and it was leaving in 10 mins. So went on that one. Then main thing for me I was moving . At Chester only few minutes until train home . And one of the travel assistance helping me helped me in July and we recognised eachother. It was lovely to see her . Then my taxi didn't take long so was home about 5pm started my journey at 10am.

My daughter has told me about packing cases for suitcases and had brought some . Normally I rolled my clothes but using the packing cases meant I put things together and no scramble to fit things in and the scramble to find things . Getting better at packing only came home with unused pairs of knickers and tights. Hols done for the year.

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Babs a photo of them when they were younger, glad you enjoy them.

Just had to put my heating on , tried to hold off, but only 15` in my bedroom, 16` here by the patio doors. I had a job falling to sleep last night as it was so cold, had to put a throw on for more warmth.

Joey off for his haircut soon. Doing some washing to put on the line, not sure if it will dry in this cold though.

Moning all

Babs Yes, I have, they are refurbishing the waiting room, so when I last went with my friend and GD, it was being held in the fracture clinic next door, which of course isn't big enough at all.

Sorry to hear about yourvA& E trip babs, I hope things improve.
What an adventure you have had again Whiff, sounds like you've had a lovely break and fingers crossed for your Mri scan.

Love reading about your holiday, Whiff. Such a lovely description

Thanks Yogi, not sure if you have visited our local A&E, I sincerely hope not. Is like a holding pen for the walking wounded. Not enough seats so some end up sitting or lying on the floor. Thankfully we are taken to a cubicle in the emergency room due to Mr B being really wobbly and unable to sit on the chairs.
Take care ❤️

Whiff I wouldn’t call it a poor me moment, but just feeling frustrated because you want to know what is happening with your body, and you have become so well tuned to your body due to having HPX that you know there is something not right.
I am keeping everything crossed that your MRI gives you some answers.
One thing I have realised with Mr Bs ill health is that information is power. The more we know the more we can deal with what is happening and move on.
Glad that despite a few hitches your holiday is going well, hope the water came back on in your room.
Take care
🌹❤️

Whiff sounds like you are having a good time on your hols, apart from the hills. I like watching that programme '4 in a bed'; record it to cut out ads etc. The last one a lovely lady had a cat hotel, massive mancoon cats, they were lovely. Stay safe xx

Babs so sorry to hear your long visit to A&E with Mr.B, but good to hear no damage done, when you need to visit A&E you know you are in for the long haul!

Morning all

Allsorts re: your trampoline jumping, it's harder than it looks, lots have broken bones on them! Yes, I watched 'Strictly', really enjoyed it, surprised how well the down syndrome girl is doing, she seems very capable.