Forward Ho!

[truth24]

I think it is stress related which is understandable as she is rehomed but thought it might be passing by now as she is affectionate and playful. Perhaps it takes longer as she has only been with me for 3 months but will certainly watch the Horizon programme. Thanks for the tip.

Sent from my GT-N5110

 

[LadyA]

Good news about Lizzy. Hope the cream works. You are constantly busy so no wonder you are tired although I have heard others say the same thing of the flu jab this year. Haven't had mine yet. Do they have different medication each year depending what strains of bug are around? Emailed a cat therapist about Katya's overgrooming and she has offered a telephone consultation at £55 for 45 min telephone call. Does this sound reasonable or should I wait a little longer to see if it settles? Could do without the expense but if she could come up with a reason and help it on its way I suppose it would be worth it. Do you know of anyone with experience of this type of thing to see if it's worth going along this route? Hope your chimney problem gets sorted.

Sent from my GT-N5110

You could try one of the animal types of Bach Remedies - I give Lizzy Emergency Essence, and there are a couple of others. I have also given animals the human type of Rescue Remedy.

 

[thebes]

Just wondering if you have already tried one of the specialist plug-in air diffuser things - can't remember their trade name. But I think your vet would know or the pat supermarket. They fill the air around them with pheronomes that are calming to cats. I used one to calm the cats in our house when my own cat took exception to my Mum and her cat moving into our granny annexe. Unfortunately both cats had to use the same cat door, and mine was very agitated by that. We plugged in the gadget near the cat door and it did seem to help - it was noticeable that when it ran out after a month or so her behaviour reverted. Good luck.

 

[LadyA]

I've seen those. Expensive for the gadget, about 45euro. The refills aren't bad though. Called Felliway or something similar.
Guys still working here. Wish they were done! It is in good time though. Woke up to frost this morning!!

Sent from my C1905 using Talking Point mobile app

 

[LadyA]

What a busy day!! My router got fried in the storm last night, so I've no Internet at home. Had to go to mum's on the way to work to log into the bank and pay bills. After work, I went to see William and could immediately tell he wasn't well. He just didn't look right, and sure enough, when he spoke, he sounded hoarse & then he started coughing. I alerted the nurse & she said she had noticed he was a bit more wheezy in the morning, so had given him the nebuliser an extra time. They got the GP out this afternoon, and William has a chest infection. Hopefully we've caught it in time.

Sent from my C1905 using Talking Point mobile app

 

[Scarlett123]

What a busy day!! My router got fried in the storm last night, so I've no Internet at home. Had to go to mum's on the way to work to log into the bank and pay bills. After work, I went to see William and could immediately tell he wasn't well. He just didn't look right, and sure enough, when he spoke, he sounded hoarse & then he started coughing. I alerted the nurse & she said she had noticed he was a bit more wheezy in the morning, so had given him the nebuliser an extra time. They got the GP out this afternoon, and William has a chest infection. Hopefully we've caught it in time.

Sent from my C1905 using Talking Point mobile app

Sorry to hear about William's infection. Let's hope that it has been caught in time. Are you comfortable with him being in the home, and settled in your decision? It's been a big year for both of us hasn't it, with our husbands going into care. I still feel guilty at times, and lonely, but the relief outweighs the guilt.

I treated myself to a steamer, it was only £15 in the sale, and I've been steaming everything in sight. Wall tiles, floor tiles, windows, and also did a mammoth job on an old wrought iron garden table, which I've now rubbed down, and given 2 coats of paint to.

John has a huge garage/workshop, but the drive is too narrow, and our car too wide, to accommodate it, so this has been his glory-hole for the last 15 years. Bit by bit, I'm disposing of rusty tools, and giving things that I will never use to neighbours. I've now given myself a huge area to work in, so I was able to paint whilst it chucked it down outside.

On close inspection, I seem to have missed bits, but that's my version of accidental shabby chic! Chairs over the weekend.

 

[LYN T]

Oh LadyA sorry to hear about William-sounds the same symptoms as Pete, I'm glad the CH are on top of things and called out the GP straight away.

What is it with us ladies and decorating? I've finished the hallway and about to start in the little bedroom. I can't face tackling the garage-but I'm going to have to soon. I have the freezer and tumble dryer in there and it's becoming very dangerous to walk through all the mess to get to them

Aren't we practical?

Take care

Lyn T X

 

[hokeycokey]

Sorry about the infection LadyA, hopefully they've caught it nice and early. DH has one too I think after his performance the other morning!

I've got his shed to sort out too - I'm going to be having a lot of time at home, ie not working, soon, certainly in November, so I must get the garden into shape for winter and then maybe tackle the shed before it gets too cold outside. I think there's an old guy in the village who would probably enjoy helping me as he's always looking for things to do as he's not as active as he used to be. After that it will have to be the loft in the New Year!

 

[Scarlett123]

I've just discovered an electric scrolling saw, in a plastic bag, in another bag, in a box, which looks like new. John has never produced, or even attempted any scrolling work, and I cannot even remember him buying this.

I'll see if son-in-law would like this, then I'll try neighbours, and then Freecycle. I've just put a Paint Pod, with a full container of white emulsion, on Freecycle, together with a large manual relax-a-chair.

John insisted on keeping this, when I bought him his all singing 'n' dancing armchair, a few years ago, and it has just sat in the garage getting dirty. One man's rubbish is another man's treasure, so hopefully I can pass these on to new owners.

 

[Pickles53]

I have become a big fan of Freecycle lately, can't believe how quickly things have gone. In theory I might have sold them, but it's saving the cost of having the council take them away and better for the environment too than taking things to landfill.

 

[truth24]

Sorry to hear about William, LadyA. Hope it improves soon and he is feeling better.

On the decorating front, have now stripped wallpaper off walls in bathroom, repapered and painted ceiling (hated that but looked very pretty in a woolly hat, specially as had hair done this morning and now have hat hair!!) Painting of walls and grouting of tiles to do also repainting woodwork but getting there. New flooring being fitted in a couple of weeks. Think I am going to paint the bathroom cabinet (really got the bug now) so hopefully it might come together OK.

Took Katya to vet again this pm - another £75 - different vet who thinks she might have a flea allergy in that, although treated, one might have jumped on and off again, leaving her with a reaction. She has several bald patches on her lower back and this is supposed to be one of the symptoms. Sold me some more flea treatment and a house spray just in case she has brought any in - what a great thought. Can't see any in her fur so hope not. Hopefully this might improve things. She is turning out to be an expensive little pussy!

By the way, is anyone else having trouble logging in to TP? The link on my Sam---g Note refuses to connect now. Will ask an administrator. Having to use my Notebook.

 

[Rathbone]

Hello LadyA. Just catching up after a lengthy absence. Hope William will fight off this new infection robustly and that your Lizzie cat will finally get on top of hers. Certainly been a busy and productive time for you and I am in total admiration of your determination to find the walls and the floors again! More power to you. Probably a good idea to get as much done now before your op, so you are not tempted to overdo it when you get back from hospital - where I am sure they will keep you pain free and safe, so don't you worry now. Good luck with it all, we'll be rooting for you. Love as ever X Shelagh

 

[Scarlett123]

Hope William is a little, or a lot better, LadyA. I have forward hoed, with a vengeance today. I painted the 2 scrolled garden chairs, to match the table, then applied Hammerite to 4 hanging basket brackets.

Then I creosoted our ornamental wishing well, did the same to our lovely bridge, and then the fence panel nearest the house, which is the only one, at the moment, without plants near it. I splashed some on the gravel board, so decided to use the black masonry paint - and it looks great!

When John painted the pebbledash white, 14 years ago, I said the smooth, skirting board-ish bit, called I believe, the apron, would look great painted black, and he said he'd do it, but didn't. So I did that too, and it's made the white gleam! It looks like I painted that as well, as the black is such a contrast.

I have another 18 fence panels to creosote and paint the gravel boards, but one a week should see them all finished by March! Argos have a clearance sale on at the moment, so I've ordered a couple of their stacking units, so I can keep things organised in the newly smartened up and tidy garage.

I finished at 3, and the rain never started until after 7, so hopefully it won't all have washed away!

 

[Rathbone]

See what you've started LadyA. i'd be frightened to stand around in your neck of the woods Scarlett for fear of having to learn the banjo. Black and white minstrels, get it? I used to love them. All sounds so smart - you'll have to recoup some of the cost by charging an entrance fee DIY forward ho! X Shelagh

 

[Scarlett123]

See what you've started LadyA. i'd be frightened to stand around in your neck of the woods Scarlett for fear of having to learn the banjo. Black and white minstrels, get it? I used to love them. All sounds so smart - you'll have to recoup some of the cost by charging an entrance fee DIY forward ho! X Shelagh

Oh that made me laugh so much! My Dad loved them too, and we used to go to the B & W Minstrel Show every year. Happy days.

 

[LadyA]

I'm back! I'm back!! It's been so frustrating the last few days! My router got blown when the house was struck by lightening. (Thank God, it was the only thing that got damaged - everything was plugged into surge protectors, but somehow, the router got damaged. The computer, thankfully, wasn't!) So, I've had no internet at home since Wednesday last.

And I don't know what's happened to the Talking Point App - I can see posts, but I can't log in, and can't post. It tells me that I am not allowed to log in using Tapatalk or something similar (and I think I saw that the forum app is now powered by Tapatalk). So, I've been reading posts, but couldn't comment.

So, what's been happening? Not a lot really. I'm relaxing a bit after the disruption of getting the stove installed - and that's working really well! I'm thrilled with it. And whatever way it deals with the updraft, etc., now that that's installed, I don't have to do anything about the front room chimney problem - there used to be a problem when I'd light the fire in the kitchen, that unless the wind was in the right direction, the smoke would go up the kitchen chimney (where the stove now is), and linger at the top of the chimney pot, then get drawn down the front room chimney and fill the living room with smoke! Now - just putting the stove in, has somehow solved the problem! Not so much as a whiff of smoke, even though there hasn't been a puff of wind all week! The weather has been fantastic, so I've only been lighting the stove in the evenings, but the house is cosy in no time.

Haven't got much further with sorting - much less any diy! My surgery is scheduled for 6th November, so I think I have to accept that all further renovations will just have to wait. I would like to at least get the living room ceiling painted before then - hoping to get that done.

Meanwhile, in the nursing home, William is still coughing. I've had to have a word about laundry, as (a) a pure wool cardi has gone missing. I suspect it may be gone in with his room-mate's laundry, as several items of his has ended up in William's laundry! and (b) William was wearing a very nice and obviously pretty new, navy blue shirt on Saturday that was not his! All William's clothes are clearly labelled. I also spoke to them about the possibilty of getting him a single room when one becomes available, and they said they will give him the first single room that comes free. He would be happier in a room on his own - evidenced by the fact that he disappears every day and is found in someone else's room, with the door shut, lying down having a rest by himself! He likes his own space, and to get away from people for a bit - he even did here at home.

Well done on all the work ladies! "More power to your elbow" as they say here!

 

[cragmaid]

Bet the router got fried when the phone lines carried the charge of a lightening strike...I know that's what happened when mine blew.

Yes it's a bug*er about the laundrey missorts...just handed back a very naice black cardie with lurex neckline that Mum would never have been seen dead in

 

[LadyA]

Bet the router got fried when the phone lines carried the charge of a lightening strike...I know that's what happened when mine blew.

Yes it's a bug*er about the laundrey missorts...just handed back a very naice black cardie with lurex neckline that Mum would never have been seen dead in

I don't know if it was the phone lines - the phone line stayed working. And the router had several lights still working on it - just the internet light wasn't on, and the internet wasn't working. And it was hot! Hot enough underneath to be uncomfortable to hold!

But what's bugging me about the laundry Maureen is that I take William's laundry home to do! And although he is sharing a room until a single room comes available, he has his own laundry bin in there -and his own wardrobe. Yet I keep finding his room-mate's clothes in William's wardrobe, and in his laundry bin. All it takes is a little care to check that stuff is going to the right person's place -- it is a matter of dignity, that they don't end up wearing someone else's clothes, that don't fit. Hopefully it won't be too long before he gets a single room, and that will improve things.

 

[truth24]

Hi LadyA. I have the same problem with Fred's home. They are usually pretty good but often find other people's clothes hanging in his wardroom (he has single room) but have never seen him in anyone else's clothes. He has his laundry done there and everything is clearly marked. However can put up with it as long as he is well cared for in every other way and so long as he is wearing his own clothes. Still no news on nursing fees and suspect there is a battle on between the home and the Council regarding this. They have assured me that they will not let him go but I think they have reduced their one to one until they get the extra fees which is not a problem at the moment as they are still so lovely with him and I know they would not neglect him in any way.

Am having the same problem withTaptalk as you on my tablet but can't even get into it so am using my small laptop. Never heard of these people but the TP admin people say they are investigating what is happening.

Hope your surgery goes well, not long now. Look after yourself. Painted the bathroom ceiling and hated every minute of it - don't mind anything else. Think it is having to look up all the time so don't think I will be doing the other ceilings in the house! Bathroom nearly ready now for flooring to be laid next week.

Well done you, Scarlett. Everything sounds very smart. Let's hope our current downpours (here in the West Country anyway) stop and you can continue with your good work. The benefit of the wet weather, apart from on the garden, is that it has made me concentrate on finishing off the bathroom without being tempted to go and potter in the garden, which would have meant that it would have taken me twice as long and I would be panicking to get it done. Can't do panic these days as it skews all my decisions

Off to visit my loved one now. Wonder what I will find today?

 

[LadyA]

I haven't done a lot in the garden either - I did get the garlic planted, and did a little clearing in the veg garden. My new heating stove runs on wood (although it will run on coal either) - and of course the wood ash is good fertiliser, so that goes straight on the garden or into the compost bin to get mixed with the chicken poo and wood shavings. I've never Autumn planted stuff like broad beans either -but I'm thinking I might hedge my bets this year, and plant some now, and some more in Spring. It tends to take ages for the soil to warm here, although the weather never gets really cold. I'm really looking forward to having garden things again.

I'm finding myself really frightened by the finances (Belly Dancing outfit at the ready Scarlett!) - but I think it's just because last week I had to pay out so much in one week! There was the new heating stove & the labour of putting it in to pay for (a huge job, but I'm delighted with it), and then my credit card bill which I always clear at the end of the month (and have stopped using at all now), and then I had to pay for the whole month of October at the nursing home, which was over 1,000 euro! So, I'm now writing down every day every cent I spend and what I spend it on. Saturday was an expensive day as I had to get petrol and chicken feed and cat food & litter. I dithered about moving the hens onto non-organic feed - it's literally half the price of the organic. But I really don't like GMOs and talking to the guy in the feed store, he was saying that the feed suppliers have to label it as having GMO in it, but even they don't know exactly how much of the ingredient is genetically modified - it could be a small amount or it could be up to 25%. It varies apparently. So I bought the organic. I do eat a lot of eggs, and very little meat.

All a learning curve. I know things will be ok. It's just scary. Bad habits had crept in because with William, I hadn't been able to cook much so had got into the habit of buying stuff. Yet, now, I am wondering what on earth did I buy in the supermarket every week? I've needed so little since he's been in the nursing home!