Morning everyone,
JM, so sorry to read you have been so poorly, and I really hope you have seen the last of the bug now and can get some cycling in xxx Good news about your son being taught to type, though I get the upset you feel over not knowing that he needs that level of help, despite all the fighting you have done on his behalf. I don't get why it has to be such a battle to get kids help with so many of the assisted learning needs - dyslexia, dyspraxia, etc. I had to battle to get my son diagnosed, paying privately for a dyslexia assessment at Bangor uni, and then had to use that as a lever to get the assessment for dyspraxia - so obvious he had problems, but still massive reluctance from the LEA to assess and help. Infuriating.
Gutted for your daughter that she failed driving test. I can imagine the stress that caused, and I really feel for you. I guess if she is swithering and trying to decide on uni choice, that isn't helping either. Youngest still hasn't started driving lessons here - too busy working! She has completed and passed her level 2 instructors course, now has regular hours teaching swimming, and most weeks between that and her lifeguarding hours, we don't see that much of her. However, during the time she is home, she continues to make her usual mess, and invariably there are rows
Her bedroom remains the biggest issue, but this week (during another hair dying session) she left the bathroom in a dreadful state and only the fact that she has worked two long days since has averted an epic row, as OH was so angry with her over it.
Slugsta and Spamar, weather has turned horribly cold here too. Heating on quite a bit of the time, and Seamus the dog very reluctant to even put his nose outside the door! He doesn't 'do' cold or wet weather, as soon as he we go out, and he has answered natures call, he wants back home again.
Glad you enjoyed your weekend away, Slugsta x.
As per usual, really busy here. Work is - well, same old. Meeting myself coming backwards. But, after the digs about my 'time management', I've stuck to my 28 hours the last two weeks - which of course means that not everything gets done. I'm off to South Wales tomorrow, for a meeting regarding the additional work which is constantly being piled on us all. Our new immediate line manager is back, and proving to be incredibly supportive, and a pre-meet phone call went well, with the very 'top' bosses indicating that they are aware about all the work that is being demanded, which isn't actually part of our job, from the top Welsh managers. And that they are not happy about it. A trip to the south is going to eat up 12 - 14 hours of my week, so once thats out of the way, there is just about enough hours left for me to run my project sessions - and thats it! Most of the staff in my role are taking the same tactic - working flat out for the 28 hours, but anything over that - nope, not a chance. And its becoming increasingly obvious that we just don't have enough hours to do all that is being asked of us.
In addition to the job, work on the house 'makeover' has continued, and downstairs is pretty much done - thank crunchy! We have finally got rid of the corner units (that used to belong to Mil). After contacting various charity shops and organisations, even offering them for free on a local website, it was clear that there were no takers, so I'm afraid it was the skip for them. In absolutely mint condition, but - so dated. The 2 seater sofa from the dining room has been snapped up though, and thats off to a charity shop on Friday afternoon. We had decided to replace the front room sofa's - two large 3 seaters - after Christmas, but then noticed while out shopping on Friday (just for a table cloth, thats all we went out to buy!) a furniture store closing down. In we went, and found a huge corner suite at an absolute bargain price - and because the store was closing, they could deliver the next day (yesterday!). Frantic rush to get rid of the old sofa's - nearly 10 years old and showing a lot of wear, so skip for them - and move things around to accomodate the new stuff. Worth it though - considering the new suite will sit 7 and is massive, it seems to take up far less room, making the lounge look so much bigger. All thats left now, apart from getting rid of the dining room sofa, is a shelf to be put up in the lounge, and organising where a few bits and bobs are going to go. It's so good to have all of it sorted in plenty of time for Christmas. This coming weekend, oldest two (plus their partners, Bert the tortoise and my two Granddogs) are descending, with the plan that they are going to put the Christmas tree up and decorate the house - they (mainly youngest!) have planned copious amounts of snacks and chocolates, a takeaway, a play list of Christmas music and are turning it into a real get together - heaven only knows how OTT they are planning to go!
Son is starting a new job next Monday - as an OSG (support guard) in one of his local prisons, whilst waiting for the start of an officer training course, as he has passed all the assessments and tests to qualify him for training. Can't say I'm thrilled - the short time OH was an officer showed me just how stressful, risky and worrying that job is, but son is determined and it is a step towards him getting a role as a P.I. (Physical Instructor) which is what he wants. The biggest concern is that he may have to work Christmas - which may mean we have to head to Preston on Christmas day, because no way is he spending Christmas just working or home alone!
I went to see Mil on Wednesday. She looks amazingly well, despite the rattling chest, better than I've seen her in ages - frail, but her colour was good and since the hospital trip, she has begun to both feed herself - and get up and walk again. Only short distances, slowly and tiny steps, but for several months now, she has only been able to walk with support, so this is a surprising turn up, and the staff are as amazed as I am. The counting that I noticed in hospital is still evident, and none of us understand it. She takes your hand and either counts fingers (and you do have to watch her, because she will suddenly bend fingers back or twist them) or traces circles with her finger on your palm, counting all the time. Now and again she just starts shouting out numbers, without holding your hand. Sometimes she can get as high as 40 or 50, sometimes she skips from number to number, sometimes she will start at 13 or 20 or 27, or whatever . She can get 'stuck' on a number, in which case she will repeat it a couple of times and then shout it (thats when you have to be particularly careful of your fingers), and now and again, she starts to count in 5's. Its incredibly strange. You can ask her and she will either say she doesn't know what she is counting, reply (quite crossly) that she is counting 'the things', or say something that sounds quite daft like 'I'm counting trifles'!. She has also developed a habit of shouting for help. Even when sat at the table eating, every few seconds she shouts, but there is no sign of distress and she can't tell you want she wants help with.
She has also laid claim to a doll - the home have taken delivery of several baby dolls, for the residents, and Mil has abandoned her teddy in favour of a little girl doll. The staff say she pays it a lot of attention - and it can calm her at times. However, double edged sword, as it also makes for quite a chunkly weapon, and there is no telling when she will suddenly swing it by the legs and clobber you across the face with it. It's never straightforward with Mil, is it? Now looking out for a soft bodied doll for her for Christmas, that hopefully won't be quite as an effective (and painful) weapon for her!
And that's me up to date! Today is a chill day, sorting a few things ready for tomorrow, but otherwise, having a break. The fibro is still 'flaring', though not quite as bad as it was, and given the journey tomorrow, I want to take it easy today.
Hope that everyone is OK, and sending much love to all of you xxxxx
JM, so sorry to read you have been so poorly, and I really hope you have seen the last of the bug now and can get some cycling in xxx Good news about your son being taught to type, though I get the upset you feel over not knowing that he needs that level of help, despite all the fighting you have done on his behalf. I don't get why it has to be such a battle to get kids help with so many of the assisted learning needs - dyslexia, dyspraxia, etc. I had to battle to get my son diagnosed, paying privately for a dyslexia assessment at Bangor uni, and then had to use that as a lever to get the assessment for dyspraxia - so obvious he had problems, but still massive reluctance from the LEA to assess and help. Infuriating.
Gutted for your daughter that she failed driving test. I can imagine the stress that caused, and I really feel for you. I guess if she is swithering and trying to decide on uni choice, that isn't helping either. Youngest still hasn't started driving lessons here - too busy working! She has completed and passed her level 2 instructors course, now has regular hours teaching swimming, and most weeks between that and her lifeguarding hours, we don't see that much of her. However, during the time she is home, she continues to make her usual mess, and invariably there are rows
Her bedroom remains the biggest issue, but this week (during another hair dying session) she left the bathroom in a dreadful state and only the fact that she has worked two long days since has averted an epic row, as OH was so angry with her over it. Slugsta and Spamar, weather has turned horribly cold here too. Heating on quite a bit of the time, and Seamus the dog very reluctant to even put his nose outside the door! He doesn't 'do' cold or wet weather, as soon as he we go out, and he has answered natures call, he wants back home again.
Glad you enjoyed your weekend away, Slugsta x.
As per usual, really busy here. Work is - well, same old. Meeting myself coming backwards. But, after the digs about my 'time management', I've stuck to my 28 hours the last two weeks - which of course means that not everything gets done. I'm off to South Wales tomorrow, for a meeting regarding the additional work which is constantly being piled on us all. Our new immediate line manager is back, and proving to be incredibly supportive, and a pre-meet phone call went well, with the very 'top' bosses indicating that they are aware about all the work that is being demanded, which isn't actually part of our job, from the top Welsh managers. And that they are not happy about it. A trip to the south is going to eat up 12 - 14 hours of my week, so once thats out of the way, there is just about enough hours left for me to run my project sessions - and thats it! Most of the staff in my role are taking the same tactic - working flat out for the 28 hours, but anything over that - nope, not a chance. And its becoming increasingly obvious that we just don't have enough hours to do all that is being asked of us.
In addition to the job, work on the house 'makeover' has continued, and downstairs is pretty much done - thank crunchy! We have finally got rid of the corner units (that used to belong to Mil). After contacting various charity shops and organisations, even offering them for free on a local website, it was clear that there were no takers, so I'm afraid it was the skip for them. In absolutely mint condition, but - so dated. The 2 seater sofa from the dining room has been snapped up though, and thats off to a charity shop on Friday afternoon. We had decided to replace the front room sofa's - two large 3 seaters - after Christmas, but then noticed while out shopping on Friday (just for a table cloth, thats all we went out to buy!) a furniture store closing down. In we went, and found a huge corner suite at an absolute bargain price - and because the store was closing, they could deliver the next day (yesterday!). Frantic rush to get rid of the old sofa's - nearly 10 years old and showing a lot of wear, so skip for them - and move things around to accomodate the new stuff. Worth it though - considering the new suite will sit 7 and is massive, it seems to take up far less room, making the lounge look so much bigger. All thats left now, apart from getting rid of the dining room sofa, is a shelf to be put up in the lounge, and organising where a few bits and bobs are going to go. It's so good to have all of it sorted in plenty of time for Christmas. This coming weekend, oldest two (plus their partners, Bert the tortoise and my two Granddogs) are descending, with the plan that they are going to put the Christmas tree up and decorate the house - they (mainly youngest!) have planned copious amounts of snacks and chocolates, a takeaway, a play list of Christmas music and are turning it into a real get together - heaven only knows how OTT they are planning to go!
Son is starting a new job next Monday - as an OSG (support guard) in one of his local prisons, whilst waiting for the start of an officer training course, as he has passed all the assessments and tests to qualify him for training. Can't say I'm thrilled - the short time OH was an officer showed me just how stressful, risky and worrying that job is, but son is determined and it is a step towards him getting a role as a P.I. (Physical Instructor) which is what he wants. The biggest concern is that he may have to work Christmas - which may mean we have to head to Preston on Christmas day, because no way is he spending Christmas just working or home alone!
I went to see Mil on Wednesday. She looks amazingly well, despite the rattling chest, better than I've seen her in ages - frail, but her colour was good and since the hospital trip, she has begun to both feed herself - and get up and walk again. Only short distances, slowly and tiny steps, but for several months now, she has only been able to walk with support, so this is a surprising turn up, and the staff are as amazed as I am. The counting that I noticed in hospital is still evident, and none of us understand it. She takes your hand and either counts fingers (and you do have to watch her, because she will suddenly bend fingers back or twist them) or traces circles with her finger on your palm, counting all the time. Now and again she just starts shouting out numbers, without holding your hand. Sometimes she can get as high as 40 or 50, sometimes she skips from number to number, sometimes she will start at 13 or 20 or 27, or whatever . She can get 'stuck' on a number, in which case she will repeat it a couple of times and then shout it (thats when you have to be particularly careful of your fingers), and now and again, she starts to count in 5's. Its incredibly strange. You can ask her and she will either say she doesn't know what she is counting, reply (quite crossly) that she is counting 'the things', or say something that sounds quite daft like 'I'm counting trifles'!. She has also developed a habit of shouting for help. Even when sat at the table eating, every few seconds she shouts, but there is no sign of distress and she can't tell you want she wants help with.
She has also laid claim to a doll - the home have taken delivery of several baby dolls, for the residents, and Mil has abandoned her teddy in favour of a little girl doll. The staff say she pays it a lot of attention - and it can calm her at times. However, double edged sword, as it also makes for quite a chunkly weapon, and there is no telling when she will suddenly swing it by the legs and clobber you across the face with it. It's never straightforward with Mil, is it? Now looking out for a soft bodied doll for her for Christmas, that hopefully won't be quite as an effective (and painful) weapon for her!
And that's me up to date! Today is a chill day, sorting a few things ready for tomorrow, but otherwise, having a break. The fibro is still 'flaring', though not quite as bad as it was, and given the journey tomorrow, I want to take it easy today.
Hope that everyone is OK, and sending much love to all of you xxxxx
