Care for the Carer !

[Starbright]

Hi@maryann...hope it’s ok to pop in on this team carer thread....I taught myself to crochet 3 years ago and the family say I’m obsessed ...I love making blankets and have made many...the crochet keeps me sane don’t have to think just work that hook . I have, though, not recently(( for obvious reasons won’t mention the D word)) done lots of research into our family ,and found quite a few secrets in the proverbial cupboard .
The whole of this weekend is free to search on a certain website ,not sure if I’m allowed to mention the name, but I’m sure you’ll know who
A x

 

[cumbria35]

What a lovely memorial, though how sad to lose your son so young, Maryjoan.

I agree with you, it is certainly good to have some time to be yourself away from Dementia. One day a week with the ramblers walking and enjoying a pub lunch with a pint of cider, and one afternoon alone with my camera walking in the woods or the fields are my two escapes.

I would love to do these things but unfortunately something always happens to stop me, never have any ‘me’ time so get upset at times then feel guilty for wanting it.

 

[Hopeful123]

Right Maryjoan, that’s a challenge for me. I did see recipes on line when I googled it. Will let you know how it turns out hopeful 123

Oh dear, another challenge Maryjoan, putting a photo of it on here, may have to get help with that. Just listening to Elvis, helps soothe the nerves, love him, went to Graceland about 6 years ago whilst on a ‘Sounds & tastes of the South’ tour. Fabulous! Hopeful 123

 

[nae sporran]

I would love to do these things but unfortunately something always happens to stop me, never have any ‘me’ time so get upset at times then feel guilty for wanting it.

Have you looked at day care centres Cumbria35 ? You shouldn't feel guilty for wanting a wee bit of time to refresh and enjoy life. It's the only reason I can still do this some days.

 

[canary]

I taught myself to crochet 3 years ago and the family say I’m obsessed ...I love making blankets and have made many...the crochet keeps me sane don’t have to think just work that hook

Gosh, starbright, another similarity between us.
I love knitting (although I havent done much recently) and have made a lot of stuff for charity, including many blankets! I find the same thing, just working those needles is very therapeutic - almost zen. I must start again.

 

[Starbright]

Gosh, starbright, another similarity between us.
I love knitting (although I havent done much recently) and have made a lot of stuff for charity, including many blankets! I find the same thing, just working those needles is very therapeutic - almost zen. I must start again.

@canary ..It seems we do do start again if you can find a quiet bit of space. I used to knit years ago when all our kids were little but I find crochet easier just to pick up aaaand if you make a mistake mmmmm then so easy to rectify
A x

 

[maryjoan]

@canary ..It seems we do do start again if you can find a quiet bit of space. I used to knit years ago when all our kids were little but I find crochet easier just to pick up aaaand if you make a mistake mmmmm then so easy to rectify
A x

what I do enjoy is seeing " Yarn Bombing" about the place - there were some lovely Remembrance Day poppies last year near me.

 

[Lilac Blossom]

I knitted over ninety poppies recently to help with a WW1 display being arranged later in the year. Thousands of them will be stitched together and will cascade from church spire. I am not fond of sewing so it's great that others are willing to do the sewing together.

Knitting is so relaxing - a good pastime for winter evenings. I hope to get started knitting again soon - recovering fro wrist fracture.

 

[maryjoan]

So pleased this morning.........

All my life we have had a family photo of my father and his parents and siblings.... nothing unusual about that - only my Dad took this photo through Burma with him when he was in the Chindits in WWII - and the humidity of the jungle damaged it badly, and Grandma's face was completely lost. The saddest thing is that it was the last photo of Grandma as she died shortly afterwards aged 46.

Lo and behold, this morning I have found the original photograph put onto ancestry.co.uk by another more distant member of the family - and there is Grandma - I was so pleased to meet her after all this time, as I never knew her in life.

The photo my Dad had was way beyond any restoration, and my part of the family felt we would never know what Grandma looked like towards the end of her short life.

And what goes around comes around - the lovely original photo was only put onto the ancestry website because my cousin, who was the family archivist, now has dementia and her son has been going through all her archives and putting it online......

Happy Day !

 

[carolynp]

So pleased this morning.........

All my life we have had a family photo of my father and his parents and siblings.... nothing unusual about that - only my Dad took this photo through Burma with him when he was in the Chindits in WWII - and the humidity of the jungle damaged it badly, and Grandma's face was completely lost. The saddest thing is that it was the last photo of Grandma as she died shortly afterwards aged 46.

Lo and behold, this morning I have found the original photograph put onto ancestry.co.uk by another more distant member of the family - and there is Grandma - I was so pleased to meet her after all this time, as I never knew her in life.

The photo my Dad had was way beyond any restoration, and my part of the family felt we would never know what Grandma looked like towards the end of her short life.

And what goes around comes around - the lovely original photo was only put onto the ancestry website because my cousin, who was the family archivist, now has dementia and her son has been going through all her archives and putting it online......

Happy Day !

Gosh what a wonderful, extraordinary thing! I am so thrilled for you! And you being a genealogist, to be on the receiving end of such a gift!

You say “grandmother” and then you say “46” and my mind cannot put these two concepts together. A grandmother is an old lady (though I’m well beyond grandmother age now!) and a 46 y. o. is a young woman. What did she die of, so young?

 

[DennyD]

Is this micro photography you do? I think that's what it is called - I have seen some taken in Somerset and the images are super !

Good micro photography is very specialised, I see those and am reminded I've got a lot to learn. I'm more into macro - or 'very close up' work. My other interest is the 'intimate landscape'. Both are a great escape for me.

 

[DennyD]

So pleased this morning.........

All my life we have had a family photo of my father and his parents and siblings.... nothing unusual about that - only my Dad took this photo through Burma with him when he was in the Chindits in WWII - and the humidity of the jungle damaged it badly, and Grandma's face was completely lost. The saddest thing is that it was the last photo of Grandma as she died shortly afterwards aged 46.

Lo and behold, this morning I have found the original photograph put onto ancestry.co.uk by another more distant member of the family - and there is Grandma - I was so pleased to meet her after all this time, as I never knew her in life.

The photo my Dad had was way beyond any restoration, and my part of the family felt we would never know what Grandma looked like towards the end of her short life.

And what goes around comes around - the lovely original photo was only put onto the ancestry website because my cousin, who was the family archivist, now has dementia and her son has been going through all her archives and putting it online......

Happy Day !

It's making me feel rather strange reading about people's ancestry experiences. In the past I have thought about looking into my father's family history as he was orphened at 10, so there's always been a part 'missing'. However I never pursued it. Yet although, and probably because, it's my husband with dementia I feel a renewed interest - having a feeling of questioning what's it all about. Does that make sense?

 

[carolynp]

It's making me feel rather strange reading about people's ancestry experiences. In the past I have thought about looking into my father's family history as he was orphened at 10, so there's always been a part 'missing'. However I never pursued it. Yet although, and probably because, it's my husband with dementia I feel a renewed interest - having a feeling of questioning what's it all about. Does that make sense?

Yes. It makes sense to me. Maybe this is the right moment to take that on.

 

[maryjoan]

Gosh what a wonderful, extraordinary thing! I am so thrilled for you! And you being a genealogist, to be on the receiving end of such a gift!

You say “grandmother” and then you say “46” and my mind cannot put these two concepts together. A grandmother is an old lady (though I’m well beyond grandmother age now!) and a 46 y. o. is a young woman. What did she die of, so young?

ah, its quite a story. She had 7 sons, and eventually a little girl. But Granny had a 'bad heart' and became ill when the little girl was 3. Granny's cousin was engaged to marry in WWI, but he was killed in 1916 - his bereft fiancee was asked to come and look after Granny and all the children, whilst Granny was poorly, and after Granny died, the fiancee was kept on by Grandad as housekeeper, - Grandad then married the bereft fiancee. She was a brave lady to take on all those boys and the little girl, and then had two more of her own!!!! - she is the Grandma I remember, the Granny who died aged 46 is loved by all her grandchildren, and other generations - and the photo of her, is a complete surprise and treat for us all. It made me quite emotional this morning.

My other Granny on Mum's side died when she was just 34 - my Mum was 7. Hard times.

 

[maryjoan]

It's making me feel rather strange reading about people's ancestry experiences. In the past I have thought about looking into my father's family history as he was orphened at 10, so there's always been a part 'missing'. However I never pursued it. Yet although, and probably because, it's my husband with dementia I feel a renewed interest - having a feeling of questioning what's it all about. Does that make sense?

I am more than happy to point you in the right direction if you like...... it is a wonderful distraction from caring

 

[carolynp]

ah, its quite a story. She had 7 sons, and eventually a little girl. But Granny had a 'bad heart' and became ill when the little girl was 3. Granny's cousin was engaged to marry in WWI, but he was killed in 1916 - his bereft fiancee was asked to come and look after Granny and all the children, whilst Granny was poorly, and after Granny died, the fiancee was kept on by Grandad as housekeeper, - Grandad then married the bereft fiancee. She was a brave lady to take on all those boys and the little girl, and then had two more of her own!!!! - she is the Grandma I remember, the Granny who died aged 46 is loved by all her grandchildren, and other generations - and the photo of her, is a complete surprise and treat for us all. It made me quite emotional this morning.

My other Granny on Mum's side died when she was just 34 - my Mum was 7. Hard times.

Oh so interesting. And moving, so moving. Yes, hard times indeed.

It has always astounded me that my son grew up with four living grandparents. The first did not die until he was 25, the last, my father, when he was 37. He himself was born in 1976. Medicine changed so dramatically from about 1950 and he is an example of someone born into a different world, demographically speaking.

 

[DennyD]

I am more than happy to point you in the right direction if you like...... it is a wonderful distraction from caring

It does appeal to me, some tips would be great, thanks for offering.

 

[maryjoan]

Oh so interesting. And moving, so moving. Yes, hard times indeed.

It has always astounded me that my son grew up with four living grandparents. The first did not die until he was 25, the last, my father, when he was 37. He himself was born in 1976. Medicine changed so dramatically from about 1950 and he is an example of someone born into a different world, demographically speaking.

My maternal grandmother died aged 34 as a result of gall bladder surgery - nowadays it's just key hole - both my grandfather's spent their lives mourning their much loved wives - both married again but it was only 2nd best as they needed someone to look after their children.
When my Irish grandfather celebrated his 90th birthday ( which it wasn't at all but then that is another story) my Uncle, who had sung for Sadler Wells, asked him " Father, what could I sing for you?" and the answer came back " If you were the only girl in the world, for your Mother" Grandma had been dead 46 years by then....... so sad !

 

[carolynp]

My maternal grandmother died aged 34 as a result of gall bladder surgery - nowadays it's just key hole - both my grandfather's spent their lives mourning their much loved wives - both married again but it was only 2nd best as they needed someone to look after their children.
When my Irish grandfather celebrated his 90th birthday ( which it wasn't at all but then that is another story) my Uncle, who had sung for Sadler Wells, asked him " Father, what could I sing for you?" and the answer came back " If you were the only girl in the world, for your Mother" Grandma had been dead 46 years by then....... so sad !

My maternal grandmother also died after gall bladder surgery, before I was born. She was still in her fifties. Thirty-four is appallingly young though.

 

[Shedrech]

hi @DennyD
just to let you know that one of the major family history research sites is having a free access weekend right now
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/family...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CIHooLj9rd0CFdU-GwodJhoN1g