Chat Away

[Oma]

It's 1.45 am I'm cleaning the hob and I have a husband singing to me take me away now

[Gemini]

Good morning ladies.

All going on in your house in the early hours Oma!

I will go over to mums quite early this morning. She's not a morning person so you wouldn't normally visit her before midday, afternoon preferably. She may need the loo, or anything so I will have to get over. I can always leave her to sleep once I have checked on her.
If she won't/can't get out of bed I don't know what the future holds for her or for me.

Anyway, I hope you are all keeping sane and busy - or just taking the chance to not be busy if you like. Anything goes in these unknown times.

[Oma]

I take it you didn't sleep well Gem . Take care of xxx

[Gemini]

Morning Oma. I slept until 4 but couldn't get back to sleep, too much on my mind. I read for an hour or two then got up xx

[Nanto2girls]

We all seem to have been awake quite a bit during the night.
Sometimes i don't know why i bother going to bed.
At least hubby wasn't serenading me through the night.

Beautiful sunshine this morning.

Braising steak,onions and mushrooms in the slow cooker.

[Daisy]

Good morning from me.

Oma - you'll have the neighbours complaining with all that singing in the middle of the night! I can picture the scene - you in your PJs (were they flowery or strippey?) polishing up your hob and OH standing in the middle of the kitchen singing "O sole Mia". Isn't love grand. xxx

Gem - you're worrying, no wonder you couldn't get back to sleep. I do hope your mum is ok. Sending hugs.

Nanto - enjoy the sunshine. Braising steak sounds delicious, and I bet it smells even better.

I slept through until about 8 am. I got really tired yesterday and my back was painful, so I took some painkillers before I went to bed and it feels much better this morning. I'll go and have a hot shower in a minute and that helps too. It was too painful to stand and finish portioning up dog food yesterday, so I'll do that this morning and I've asked OH to help me with cleaning the chest freezer. It's a long way down to the bottom!!

Our Sainsbury's order is due tonight so I need to tidy the fridges out too, but - hurrah! - no cooking today. We've got the rest of a batch of soup for lunch and the rest of the chicken casserole for dinner.

Sending love to everyone - stay strong and think of good things. xx

[Oma]

Morning ladies
Nanto I say the same don't know why we have a bed it's just for show

Daisy nothing so romantic it was a rude Army song about standing on a bridge at midnight

Gem hope your Mum is a bit better today .

I'm coming down with a head cold . Sneezing like I have been sniffing pepper and all bunged up so the little sleep I did get was propped up trying to breath .

Just dragged everything out of the cupboard under the stairs . The junk that's hoarded in there is silly .
It's now nice and tidy . Put Dogs blankets in wash now having 5 minutes for me

[Plantaholic]

Oma I hope you both get more sleep tonight. No more rude songs

Braised steak and mushrooms sounds lovely Nanto, you make my mouth water every day. How do you thicken your slow cooker casseroles? Your OH is well fed. How are your inlaws managing?

Daisy do take care, not too much strain on your back today.

Sunny here at the moment, perhaps I could get in the garden later.

Gemini, I am wondering how the night went for your mother

[Daisy]

Oma - wonderful! I can just imagine the words!! I hope he made you laugh. I hope your cold soon clears up. You wonder how you can catch a cold when you're not seeing other people, don't you.

Plant - thank you - I'll be careful - that's why I'm getting OH to help with the freezer. xx I hope it stays nice so you can get into the garden.

[Nanto2girls]

Plant,in laws are managing ok, thanks.

To the thicken the gravy in the slow cooker,turn it to hifg and take the lid off.
You can thicken it with thickening granules or cornflour.
If using cornflour,mix it with cold water. Pour into slow cooker and leave the lid off.
I do it about ½ hour before i want to serve it.

Daisy, pleased your back is feeling better.

[Daisy]

Thank you Nanto.

Aren't thickening granules wonderful! They're so easy.

I got the dog food all portioned up and back in the freezer this morning, but OH was on the phone for ages and I haven't managed to pin him down for freezer cleaning duties yet! It's turned into a pretty dull day, but not too cold.

Avo - are you enjoying a nice warm home now?

[Oma]

Well the stair lift company phoned . Yes it was yesterday we hadn't gotten the date wrong .
One of the men coming had hurt himself and they had forgotten to ring us

Very apologetic re scheduled for next Wednesday . That's fine with us as long as the fitter was ok that's what matters . Poor man had put his back out .

So I'm going to decorate the hall stairs and landing starting tomorrow . Will do a bit at a time no hurry .

[Plantaholic]

You will have decorated the whole house soon Oma.

I have got thickening granules, I can remember Delia was the first person I knew used them.

[Gemini]

I have never even heard of thickening granules!
At least you now know when the stair lift people will be coming Oma. I hope your cold beetles off soon.
I'm glad you back is a lot better, Daisy. I hope it stays that way.

I have been at my mums most of the day and will be going back at 6ish. OH came with me this morning, we got mum sitting up for cup of tea and tiny piece of toast. We tried to get her out of bed to sit in a chair while we changed the bed, but she was having none of it. We changed her bed - with her in it. Not an easy task.

We came home a couple of hours later. Put mums bedding and some of her clothes in the wash. I just about had time for cuppa and the Occ Health lady phoned, so back in the car I went. She brought bed grab rails for either side, and a wheelchair commode thing. Both of which we are grateful for. Well I am mum hates them! She did use the commode though, much easier and more dignified than the bucket method we were using.
They can send someone round one visit a day, on a temporary basis, which still leaves a lot for me to do. We decided morning when they could maybe do what OH and I cannot, and persuade mum out of bed. The Occ H lady laid it on the line to her saying if you don't get up soon you may never get up again.
I would say the next hour or nearer two with mum and the lady was harder than giving birth!! I think she and I both felt like wrung out rags. In the end mum has reluctantly agree to have a morning person for a week at least. If this person can help mum get out of bed and onto the sofa, I can go to sort lunch and tea and settle her for the night. Mums still not convinced so I hope she doesn't turn them away tomorrow. I do feel SO sorry for her, I really do, but none of us has chosen this.
She was talking about a care/nursing home today which she never has before.
So... we plod on.

[Oma]

Gem the OT is right , I was talking to my DD who as you know puts care packages in for elderly and has spent the last 26 years in care . She said lying in bed is not good her lungs can fill with fluid causing pneumonia.
Your Mum talking about care homes today may be a sign she is coming to the conclusion it could be best for her . She will get care but more importantly company of her own age .

I do hope she doesn't turn the care workers away tomorrow xx