We'd literally just got back from shopping this morning (a small top up shop) when husband's brother and sister in law phoned to tell us they're coming down for 4 days. Arriving this coming Wednesday. And they're bringing a grandchild aged 6, who we've not seen before. They're not staying with us but at a local caravan park, they are wanting to spend lots of time with us though. Pity they didn't tell us before we went shopping.....I'll have to go again now. This is typical of them, they never give us much notice - they even turned up on the doorstep one time last year completely out of the blue, no notice at all. It's a bit disconcerting I think having surprise visitors, especially if one is left thinking 'oh no, I haven't got anything much to feed them, or enough milk for teas/coffees, or only one teabag left!'.
Husband was talking to them whilst I was putting the shopping away, so I only heard snippets of what he was telling them and he, of course, forgets anything that he's told. When he came off the phone he did say that he'd told them how to get to the caravan park (they've got satnav but husband does like to give directions)....however, the road he told them to use has actually been closed to traffic for the past couple of years, due to subsidence! He also told them that we'll meet them for lunch at the farm park near where they're staying on the day they arrive.....the trouble with that is that there are extensive ongoing roadworks on the way there, which we didn't know about and got stuck in when husband's sister and niece were here recently, there were several diversions in place but not clearly signposted and it was absolute chaos. The roadworks will be ongoing for several weeks yet apparently, so I'm not at all keen to go through that again. So I've had to message them back to correct what husband told them.
I never get consulted about things like this, I'm just informed about it, and then left to deal with it all and make appropriate plans. Whilst it is nice to see family - and it's nearly always husband's family - I do find it very tiring, both physically and mentally, it's extra work on top of all the everyday life stuff I have to cope with anyway. This will be the 5th lot of family visitors we've had so far this year.
To be perfectly honest, I am finding things are getting on top of me lately, especially with the worry of husband's newest health problems. And all that bloody veg he's kept bringing in armfuls of and simply dumping it all on the kitchen table has added to the irritation - yes it's nice to have free homegrown food when people are starving elsewhere, I do know that. But I'm the one who has to deal with it all. Oh, we took 2 carrier bags full to the zoo this morning.
So now I've got 2 days to gather my thoughts, do some food and day out planning, go shopping again and do some extra housework/tidying up. As well as supervising husband when he's doing his BP readings and making sure he's taking only half the dose of his ACE inhibitor, like the GP said (he's already got it wrong once, yesterday he took the full dose of that and only half the dose of a different tablet, I have to watch him like a hawk). Well, one of those days is going to be a 'me' day - I'll take the bus into town, go and find a quiet spot on or near the beach (well, relatively quiet, it is holiday time after all) and just sit and people- or wave-watch for a couple of hours. By myself.
Oh, Sooze, I do sympathise. Whilst it's lovely to see people, it is a lot of extra work and it's more tiring than it should be! If you're going to feed them, buy in some ready meals. More expensive I know, but easier for you.
ReplyDeleteThen once they've all gone, take that "me" day. Take a book and your crocheting and have a quiet few hours with a cup of coffee and a cake. Hugs, dear friend. xx
My husband has had the worst luck with his heart medications. Wound up in the emergency ward due to an allergic reaction to a drug his cardiologist prescribed. Had great care after the scopes were done for his airways. The emergency doctor swapped out his medications and all went well for three months and another allergic reaction. It's been a year of switching out medications and it turns out the worst culprit was the low dose aspirin they wanted him to take. Once he stopped taking it, there were no more problems. He doesn't need a blood thinner and if he did it certainly wouldn't be aspirin.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have relatives that travel. They seem to think roads are one way and expect us to travel to them.
There are some thoughtless people in this world! I'd make life as easy as you possibly can as far as hosting is concerned, and I hereby give you permission to compost the veg, like me and my plot neighbour have done in the past when it was that or our sanity! Xx
ReplyDeleteThat is such short notice, I’m not surprised you’re not happy. But you are an organiser and I’m sure you’ll get ready in time. Keep it simple and then when they’ve gone, you can relax and have some me time.
ReplyDeleteThat’s a lot of work at very short notice-you’ll deserve time to yourself when the visitors have gone. Catriona
ReplyDeletePerhaps they are worrying about his brother and how you are coping. Or not. I am recently widdowed, my husband has two years in care home. Dementia and cancer. Before that I had about 5years of being a carer and i ts very hard, I know what you are having to cope with. I am 85, this all started when I was 80. Ride into a golden sunshine. Love Sue.
ReplyDeleteI've had family staying on and off for the last few months. Granddaughter has been here for over a week at a time as daughter has been abroad for 2 weddings and 2 hen do. She's 12, and no trouble but it's still extra work extra meals, washingshopping etc. I know just how you feel.
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