Two things this week that just make me feel like screaming....
Mum and sis were told by the GP on Monday that mum needs further bowel investigations....a camera up the bum, in other words. Sis rang to make the appointment....only to be told they have no appointments available! She was told they will ring her back, when one becomes available.
And the person from the Council who was coming to assess mum's needs for possible aids.....Didn't. Turn. Up.
Words fail me.
Thursday, 17 January 2019
Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Brexit!! (or alternative title - FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!)
Now, I have absolutely zero interest in politics, I rarely vote in general elections as ALL politicians from ALL parties seem much the same to me: they promise all manner of wonderful things to get you to vote for them, then conveniently forget or change their minds once they're in power. And they're all so holier than thou, taking a stand on various moral things when it invariably comes out that they have the morals of an alleycat. Frankly, I don't really care what they did when they were students....we all have pasts and have all done things we're not proud of and wouldn't do today. But just be honest about it, for goodness sake!
So Mrs May's Brexit deal has been well and truly scuppered, and by a big proportion of her own party, too. What happens now I have no idea - according to the papers this morning, Corbyn is going to try and force a general election, although apparently a lot of May's MPs, having kicked her in the ribs last night, are crawling on their bellies and trying to make amends by backing her today. Bunch of tossers (excuse my language). So there's no guarantee there will actually be an election....and, in any case, what makes that dangerous, deluded cretin Corbyn think anyone is now going to vote for him?! Apparently, there could be various versions of Plan Bs, or a soft exit, or delaying the leaving date, or a new referendum. So, basically, they haven't got a bloody clue what to do now.
I sincerely hope there isn't another referendum - would anybody actually take the trouble to go out and vote again? Why the hell should we? The country voted the last time and look what's happened - pretty much nothing!! Our country's leaders have just squabbled and argued amongst themselves for the past 2+ years and FAILED TO DELIVER! So why should THEY have any confidence that THE PEOPLE will have any confidence in them getting their act together and doing what THE PEOPLE want a second time round?!
This country is now one big laughing stock - Europe and the world (and our Queen) must think we're (well, the Government really, but we're all lumped together, despite us minions having bugger all to do with it really) idiots.
I don't really care whether we stay in or go out, it matters not a lot to me, all I care about is whether prices are going to rise significantly. I just wish, as does everybody I know, that they would JUST GET ON WITH IT, FOR GOODNESS SAKE!! I, and everybody else I know, am just sick to death of it all.
I don't normally do politics, doubt I will again, and would just like to state that these are MY opinions only, for what they're worth. Oh, and I got out of bed the wrong side this morning, bad night again and I've got backache, grump grump.
So Mrs May's Brexit deal has been well and truly scuppered, and by a big proportion of her own party, too. What happens now I have no idea - according to the papers this morning, Corbyn is going to try and force a general election, although apparently a lot of May's MPs, having kicked her in the ribs last night, are crawling on their bellies and trying to make amends by backing her today. Bunch of tossers (excuse my language). So there's no guarantee there will actually be an election....and, in any case, what makes that dangerous, deluded cretin Corbyn think anyone is now going to vote for him?! Apparently, there could be various versions of Plan Bs, or a soft exit, or delaying the leaving date, or a new referendum. So, basically, they haven't got a bloody clue what to do now.
I sincerely hope there isn't another referendum - would anybody actually take the trouble to go out and vote again? Why the hell should we? The country voted the last time and look what's happened - pretty much nothing!! Our country's leaders have just squabbled and argued amongst themselves for the past 2+ years and FAILED TO DELIVER! So why should THEY have any confidence that THE PEOPLE will have any confidence in them getting their act together and doing what THE PEOPLE want a second time round?!
This country is now one big laughing stock - Europe and the world (and our Queen) must think we're (well, the Government really, but we're all lumped together, despite us minions having bugger all to do with it really) idiots.
I don't really care whether we stay in or go out, it matters not a lot to me, all I care about is whether prices are going to rise significantly. I just wish, as does everybody I know, that they would JUST GET ON WITH IT, FOR GOODNESS SAKE!! I, and everybody else I know, am just sick to death of it all.
I don't normally do politics, doubt I will again, and would just like to state that these are MY opinions only, for what they're worth. Oh, and I got out of bed the wrong side this morning, bad night again and I've got backache, grump grump.
Tuesday, 15 January 2019
Trying to concentrate on day to day things
Got some really nice meat from the butchers yesterday. Along with the 10 packs of minced beef, we got belly pork slices and husband wanted some pork ribs. 8 belly pork slices for couple of pennies over £8 and they're huge, so frozen in packs of 2. 2 half racks of pork ribs costing about a tenner for the two, which husband cut into individual ribs - turned out to be 10 ribs, again huge and very meaty, so again frozen in 5 packs of 2 ribs.
I made a savoury crumble for the turkey pie yesterday, then stirred through some oats, parsley and sage and grated Cheddar. I used that to top the turkey, leek and mushroom pie filling, which was in a sauce made from a chicken stock cube, water, cream and mustard. It was delish.
I've done a meal plan for the rest of this month, incorporating a couple of meat-free days every week - notwithstanding the fact that we've now got loads of meat in the freezer, we do like to have some veggie days as well.
Mum's seen the GP and had the latest results. Not too good, her heart's giving cause for concern, BP still low despite being taken off meds, very anaemic but ferritin very high....which could be caused by a number of things, rheumatoid arthritis (which she has), diabetes (she's not), inflammation or infection, liver disease, some types of cancer, even restless legs syndrome being a few of them. GP has no explanation for the diarrhoea or a definite cause of the high ferritin, so she's referring mum back to hospital for further investigations, and has said to make sure mum keeps her fluid levels up. Poor old thing's been having a bad couple of days and has spent all her time in bed again. It's all very worrying.
We were thinking of going to Kent on holiday later this year - very good friends of ours live on the Kent coast, they come to see us every year and we've been saying for years we must go and see them. However, after discussing it we've decided against it....husband's heart failure means he gets very tired nowadays, and it comes on very suddenly, so a long drive (5 hours and possibly longer, if the traffic's bad on the M25 or Dartford crossing) is not really a good idea. Even if we stopped 2 or 3 times, which we would have to anyway with Betty, the long hours would still be too much for him. His health is paramount.
I made a savoury crumble for the turkey pie yesterday, then stirred through some oats, parsley and sage and grated Cheddar. I used that to top the turkey, leek and mushroom pie filling, which was in a sauce made from a chicken stock cube, water, cream and mustard. It was delish.
I've done a meal plan for the rest of this month, incorporating a couple of meat-free days every week - notwithstanding the fact that we've now got loads of meat in the freezer, we do like to have some veggie days as well.
Mum's seen the GP and had the latest results. Not too good, her heart's giving cause for concern, BP still low despite being taken off meds, very anaemic but ferritin very high....which could be caused by a number of things, rheumatoid arthritis (which she has), diabetes (she's not), inflammation or infection, liver disease, some types of cancer, even restless legs syndrome being a few of them. GP has no explanation for the diarrhoea or a definite cause of the high ferritin, so she's referring mum back to hospital for further investigations, and has said to make sure mum keeps her fluid levels up. Poor old thing's been having a bad couple of days and has spent all her time in bed again. It's all very worrying.
We were thinking of going to Kent on holiday later this year - very good friends of ours live on the Kent coast, they come to see us every year and we've been saying for years we must go and see them. However, after discussing it we've decided against it....husband's heart failure means he gets very tired nowadays, and it comes on very suddenly, so a long drive (5 hours and possibly longer, if the traffic's bad on the M25 or Dartford crossing) is not really a good idea. Even if we stopped 2 or 3 times, which we would have to anyway with Betty, the long hours would still be too much for him. His health is paramount.
Monday, 14 January 2019
Meat and veg
Mum was well enough to go to her church service yesterday morning, for the first time in weeks. She enjoyed it, but it tired her out completely and she had to go to bed as soon as she got home. She's seeing her GP today, for the latest blood test results and to discuss the next phase of the GP's plan for adjusting her meds. Sis will be taking her, as usual.
I used the turkey legs and wings from the bargain reduced price fresh turkey we bought after Christmas to make a stew at the weekend. Cooked the legs and wings in stock made from the carcass in the slow cooker first, then took them out to cool. Chopped the meat up and put half of it back into the slow cooker, along with lots of veggies and herbs and half a packet of stuffing mix. Added dumplings near the end, it made 4 portions....well, 5 actually, as husband had seconds yesterday, the remaining 2 portions will be lunch for husband today and tomorrow. He's intending to work in the garden and will need a hot lunch. The other half of the turkey I'm making a pie with - turkey, mushroom and leek, with a savoury crumble topping, we'll have half tonight and the rest will be frozen.
The butcher we used to get a bulk buy of meat from 2 or 3 times a year (can't afford that anymore) currently has a special offer on minced beef, 5kg split into 500g packs for £16.99, so £1.69 per 500g. Their mince is lovely, local and very tasty, so we'll go and get that today. Will also get some belly pork slices or pork loin chops, both of which we've had before and they're really nice too, as well as being very good value. We've got chicken breast fillets and thighs, pork mince, turkey, beef and gammon all from Christmas, both sliced and diced, along with some smoked haddock and cod bought on YS (yellow sticker, reduced as on use by date for overseas readers) all in the freezer already, so have enough meat and fish to last us for probably 6 months. Oh, and a pack of smoked salmon, 2 or 3 packs of sausages and the same of bacon rashers too, just remembered those.
We're starting to plan what we'll be growing in the way of veg for this year. Definitely NO cabbages, sprouts or broccoli - whilst we like them all, husband just can't seem to keep them covered well enough to stop the cabbage white butterflies, followed inevitably by caterpillars, from getting in, and that just puts me off completely. We're going to try growing asparagus for the first time - I know we won't get a crop this year, but as I love asparagus, it will be worth the wait. I tell husband every year there's no need to grow so much of everything, we don't have to feed the entire hamlet! But he does anyway....well, not this year, I shall make sure of that, he needs to have less work not more.
I used the turkey legs and wings from the bargain reduced price fresh turkey we bought after Christmas to make a stew at the weekend. Cooked the legs and wings in stock made from the carcass in the slow cooker first, then took them out to cool. Chopped the meat up and put half of it back into the slow cooker, along with lots of veggies and herbs and half a packet of stuffing mix. Added dumplings near the end, it made 4 portions....well, 5 actually, as husband had seconds yesterday, the remaining 2 portions will be lunch for husband today and tomorrow. He's intending to work in the garden and will need a hot lunch. The other half of the turkey I'm making a pie with - turkey, mushroom and leek, with a savoury crumble topping, we'll have half tonight and the rest will be frozen.
The butcher we used to get a bulk buy of meat from 2 or 3 times a year (can't afford that anymore) currently has a special offer on minced beef, 5kg split into 500g packs for £16.99, so £1.69 per 500g. Their mince is lovely, local and very tasty, so we'll go and get that today. Will also get some belly pork slices or pork loin chops, both of which we've had before and they're really nice too, as well as being very good value. We've got chicken breast fillets and thighs, pork mince, turkey, beef and gammon all from Christmas, both sliced and diced, along with some smoked haddock and cod bought on YS (yellow sticker, reduced as on use by date for overseas readers) all in the freezer already, so have enough meat and fish to last us for probably 6 months. Oh, and a pack of smoked salmon, 2 or 3 packs of sausages and the same of bacon rashers too, just remembered those.
We're starting to plan what we'll be growing in the way of veg for this year. Definitely NO cabbages, sprouts or broccoli - whilst we like them all, husband just can't seem to keep them covered well enough to stop the cabbage white butterflies, followed inevitably by caterpillars, from getting in, and that just puts me off completely. We're going to try growing asparagus for the first time - I know we won't get a crop this year, but as I love asparagus, it will be worth the wait. I tell husband every year there's no need to grow so much of everything, we don't have to feed the entire hamlet! But he does anyway....well, not this year, I shall make sure of that, he needs to have less work not more.
Saturday, 12 January 2019
First phase completed
Thank you all so much for comments, Wednesday was very hard and emotional, elder brother and I did feel we wouldn't be surprised if it were the last time we saw Mum. Younger brother, who previously wasn't coping at all well and mainly shutting himself in his bedroom to avoid the situation (he has a myriad of health problems himself, both physical and mental), has really stepped up to the mark, he now looks after Mum very well, in conjunction with sister.
The latest bloods mum had done earlier in the week showed that she has yet another urine infection, hence why she was feeling even more unwell when we saw her. More antibiotics, which are starting to kick in now. She's perked up a bit and has eaten a little yesterday and today.
Younger bro put a post on Facebook last night saying mum is on the mend. We older siblings are pretty sure she's not, she's just having a couple of better days, he's just being overly optimistic and hopeful because he wants her to be better. Anyhow, she's not too bad at the moment and that's what counts.
Sister arranged for her son and daughter in law to both meet up with her at mum's, each in their own cars, so they could all set to and clear out mum's bedroom. Sis settled mum comfortably downstairs, so they didn't have to keep disturbing or moving her - and, more importantly, so she wasn't there to stop them getting rid of a lot of her unnecessary belongings! They sorted out and took away loads of stuff that mum had accumulated over the years - nothing important or precious to mum, just things like masses of clothes - they filled 12 bin bags. As she's virtually bedbound now, she doesn't need all those clothes, about 80% of which she didn't wear anyway. They also took out 2 chests of drawers, 2 bedside cabinets (she had 4!), a large bookcase, a cupboard and a clothes rail. Sis's son and DiL took all the stuff away in their cars, to the tip and charity shops. The room looks SO much better now, neat and tidy and comfortable, with plenty of room (sis sent me photos), mum's really pleased. She loves her new electric riser chair as well.
Sis has just messaged me to say mum's feeling sick again, so looks like it's back to 'normal' again 😕. Poor old thing. And another of mum's long-time friends died last week, that's 3 or 4 in the last year or two....she'll soon be the last of her gang of cronies.
The latest bloods mum had done earlier in the week showed that she has yet another urine infection, hence why she was feeling even more unwell when we saw her. More antibiotics, which are starting to kick in now. She's perked up a bit and has eaten a little yesterday and today.
Younger bro put a post on Facebook last night saying mum is on the mend. We older siblings are pretty sure she's not, she's just having a couple of better days, he's just being overly optimistic and hopeful because he wants her to be better. Anyhow, she's not too bad at the moment and that's what counts.
Sister arranged for her son and daughter in law to both meet up with her at mum's, each in their own cars, so they could all set to and clear out mum's bedroom. Sis settled mum comfortably downstairs, so they didn't have to keep disturbing or moving her - and, more importantly, so she wasn't there to stop them getting rid of a lot of her unnecessary belongings! They sorted out and took away loads of stuff that mum had accumulated over the years - nothing important or precious to mum, just things like masses of clothes - they filled 12 bin bags. As she's virtually bedbound now, she doesn't need all those clothes, about 80% of which she didn't wear anyway. They also took out 2 chests of drawers, 2 bedside cabinets (she had 4!), a large bookcase, a cupboard and a clothes rail. Sis's son and DiL took all the stuff away in their cars, to the tip and charity shops. The room looks SO much better now, neat and tidy and comfortable, with plenty of room (sis sent me photos), mum's really pleased. She loves her new electric riser chair as well.
Sis has just messaged me to say mum's feeling sick again, so looks like it's back to 'normal' again 😕. Poor old thing. And another of mum's long-time friends died last week, that's 3 or 4 in the last year or two....she'll soon be the last of her gang of cronies.
Thursday, 10 January 2019
Poor mum
Mum looks like a corpse....to put it bluntly. She's lost so much weight, her face has kind of sunk (not wearing her dentures adds to that of course), she has no energy whatsoever, her skin is grey. She's deteriorated so much in the few months since we last saw her, brother and I were pretty shocked.
Sister, brother and I had a good talk over lunch in a local large pub, we discussed what things we could do to be of the best help to mum. We bought her one of those electric riser armchairs to go in her bedroom, so she has somewhere comfortable to sit when she's feeling strong enough to get out of bed (£65 in a charity furniture shop, the same type of chair was £600 new in the mobility aids shop!). Also got her a commode and some other personal aids. I know she could probably get most of these free (she's having someone from the Council go to see her next week to assess her needs), but she needs them NOW, not at some point in the future. In any case, her local Council is broke (it was even mentioned in the national news), so it's not a given that they'll be willing/able to fund anything.
Sis is going to arrange for a friend to call in once a week to get any odd bits of shopping mum might need, and pick up her prescriptions - my suggestion, to take a bit of pressure off sister as she has so much to do and is feeling the strain.
We also agreed that sis, along with a good friend, will clear out mum's bedroom - she's always been a bit of a hoarder and her room is chock full of 'stuff' - umpteen handbags and shoes which she hasn't used for years, a suitcase full of jigsaw puzzles she can't see well enough to do anymore, 4 chests of drawers stuffed full of clothes she no longer wears, 2 bookcases full to overflowing of books she can't see to read. Her room is so cluttered it's hard to get around, even for an able-bodied person - mum has agreed for it to be done.
All three of us feel that Mum hasn't got long left, but we're trying to make what time she has got left pleasanter and easier for her.
It was a very long (and emotional) day, we left early in the morning as it takes 3 hours to get up there, and didn't get home until just after 8 pm. Even longer day for brother who took me, as he lives in Cornwall and still had more than an hour's drive to get home after he dropped me off. We were shattered and aching, and as usual I'm awake and downstairs at silly o'clock, although will try going back to bed in a minute. Thank goodness neither brother nor I have any appointments today, although we both do tomorrow. At least we have a day to recover.
Sister, brother and I had a good talk over lunch in a local large pub, we discussed what things we could do to be of the best help to mum. We bought her one of those electric riser armchairs to go in her bedroom, so she has somewhere comfortable to sit when she's feeling strong enough to get out of bed (£65 in a charity furniture shop, the same type of chair was £600 new in the mobility aids shop!). Also got her a commode and some other personal aids. I know she could probably get most of these free (she's having someone from the Council go to see her next week to assess her needs), but she needs them NOW, not at some point in the future. In any case, her local Council is broke (it was even mentioned in the national news), so it's not a given that they'll be willing/able to fund anything.
Sis is going to arrange for a friend to call in once a week to get any odd bits of shopping mum might need, and pick up her prescriptions - my suggestion, to take a bit of pressure off sister as she has so much to do and is feeling the strain.
We also agreed that sis, along with a good friend, will clear out mum's bedroom - she's always been a bit of a hoarder and her room is chock full of 'stuff' - umpteen handbags and shoes which she hasn't used for years, a suitcase full of jigsaw puzzles she can't see well enough to do anymore, 4 chests of drawers stuffed full of clothes she no longer wears, 2 bookcases full to overflowing of books she can't see to read. Her room is so cluttered it's hard to get around, even for an able-bodied person - mum has agreed for it to be done.
All three of us feel that Mum hasn't got long left, but we're trying to make what time she has got left pleasanter and easier for her.
It was a very long (and emotional) day, we left early in the morning as it takes 3 hours to get up there, and didn't get home until just after 8 pm. Even longer day for brother who took me, as he lives in Cornwall and still had more than an hour's drive to get home after he dropped me off. We were shattered and aching, and as usual I'm awake and downstairs at silly o'clock, although will try going back to bed in a minute. Thank goodness neither brother nor I have any appointments today, although we both do tomorrow. At least we have a day to recover.
Tuesday, 8 January 2019
Busy afternoon (understatement!)
Happy birthday to Catriona! Thanks for all the comments. Mum spent a week in hospital back in October after collapsing on the stairs at home, she was found to have dangerously low blood pressure, severe dehydration and a urine infection. She's had lots of subsequent tests and outpatient treatment for a blood clot in her leg, erratic heartbeat, the ongoing sickness and diarrhoea, including scans and an endoscopy to rule out stomach or bowel cancer. Nothing significant was found, other than the hiatus hernia and 'mild' gastroenteritis. Her GP is going to continue subtracting/adding back her meds on a weekly basis, to see whether that has any effect. Mum will also have weekly blood tests/stool and urine samples tested, and weekly consultations with the GP, for a month. The GP says if nothing comes to light in that time, then she'll be referred back to hospital for more investigations. Mum seems a bit happier now things are being done.
I rang her this afternoon just before 2 pm....during the course of conversation she said "oh yes, you're coming up tomorrow aren't you....can you please bring me up some of your lovely homemade soups?"!!! Erm yes mum, I'll get straight on and do it now! Aaarrrghhhh! A bit more notice would have been good!
Fortunately, I already had a couple of homemade soups in the freezer, along with tubs of turkey and bacon stocks and diced turkey and ham leftovers from the Christmas joints. There were also several homegrown butternut squashes and lots of veggies in the utility room, so plenty of 'makings'. So now I have chicken & veg, chunky tomato & courgette (both previously made and frozen), cream of vegetable, cream of turkey and leek, and spicy butternut & ham done for her, 2 portions of each, I'll take them up frozen in a coolbox. Shattered now, husband has helped out by preparing some of the stuff for his birthday dinner.
If I hadn't had so much on my mind the past few days, I'd have made the soups anyway - I often do take up some homecooked ready meals, soups or cakes for mum....it just didn't cross my mind this time though, my focus has purely been on the meeting with my sis and brother.
I'm glad she's clearly feeling like eating - she's said quite often recently she just hasn't felt hungry. Or thirsty, come to that.
Have just sat down with a cup of tea and one of my anti-anxiety pills, as I'm feeling all jittery and shaky with the adrenaline. Early night tonight I think, just hope I can sleep.
I rang her this afternoon just before 2 pm....during the course of conversation she said "oh yes, you're coming up tomorrow aren't you....can you please bring me up some of your lovely homemade soups?"!!! Erm yes mum, I'll get straight on and do it now! Aaarrrghhhh! A bit more notice would have been good!
Fortunately, I already had a couple of homemade soups in the freezer, along with tubs of turkey and bacon stocks and diced turkey and ham leftovers from the Christmas joints. There were also several homegrown butternut squashes and lots of veggies in the utility room, so plenty of 'makings'. So now I have chicken & veg, chunky tomato & courgette (both previously made and frozen), cream of vegetable, cream of turkey and leek, and spicy butternut & ham done for her, 2 portions of each, I'll take them up frozen in a coolbox. Shattered now, husband has helped out by preparing some of the stuff for his birthday dinner.
If I hadn't had so much on my mind the past few days, I'd have made the soups anyway - I often do take up some homecooked ready meals, soups or cakes for mum....it just didn't cross my mind this time though, my focus has purely been on the meeting with my sis and brother.
I'm glad she's clearly feeling like eating - she's said quite often recently she just hasn't felt hungry. Or thirsty, come to that.
Have just sat down with a cup of tea and one of my anti-anxiety pills, as I'm feeling all jittery and shaky with the adrenaline. Early night tonight I think, just hope I can sleep.
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