I will have to get D to help me haul the old one out to go to the Tip - though he'll have to come with me as they don't help you unload the other end . . .I'm off after breakfast to Aberystwyth to borrow a small freezer Tam has going spare. It will be a flying visit.
The main problem yesterday was Keith's new painkillers - we had gone from a spoonful of Oramorph now and again to a stick on patch, which made him so spaced out and - frighteningly - then unable to swallow. I ripped the wretched thing off (having left a message for the D. Nurse) and apparently did the right thing. The effects soon wore off and I was able to get his meds down him, but he didn't eat much yesterday apart from rice puddings.
I had a stupid falling out over ironing something earlier too, so something of an atmosphere here then. I hope that the air clears today. Having spent large chunks of my childrens' childhood ironing clothes and bedding, folding things neatly to go away, things seem to have changed for the younger generation.
Thanks for your kind comments.
My Mum ironed everything - including underwear. I iron only those things that really need ironing and I doubt the children iron anything at all - they use tumble driers instead!
ReplyDeleteOramorph is weird stuff, that was what sent Colin into hospital one time when he didn't know where he was.
Dying white goods are a pain..always at the worst time (our washing machine went in spring)
ReplyDeleteGlad you made the right decision with the meds. Do you have a little syringe for the oramorph? Made things so much easier for Pirate.
The younger generation don't seem to realise that ironing and folding means that you know which heap is clean...and they take less room in drawers...and are easier to find..but let them get on with it!
Sorry to hear about the pain patch and I’m glad the effects wore off quickly. Hubby had the same problem with his patch.. it took away a great deal of the pain from the recently diagnosed osteoarthritis and was good for the first two weeks, then, like Keith, he was spaced out completely. Back on paracetamol only and he has good days and painful days as you do with arthritis. I know what you mean by your comment about ironing as I have fallen into that trap. I can’t bear to see un-ironed school shirts but they seem to be the norm these days.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds really scary for you both, luckily my Mum is on the liquid Oramorph, I'll have to watch out if she gets put onto the patches. Thank goodness you had the presence of mind to rip it off.
ReplyDeleteYep, I used to iron most things when my children were young, now I don't iron anything, it was a real gamechanger for me. But if you like things ironed they should be.
I have to feel for you, the last week or so have been bad at our place but it pails to insignificene with what you are going through. I can only hope for the best and you come though it all
ReplyDeleteYou don't need to hear this, I just gave away a nearly brand new big upright freezer! Too big for me on my own.
ReplyDeleteThe meds situation is frightening. I seem to spend my day focusing around when to eat and when not to eat just to accommodate taking at the right time on an empty stomach.
You have lots to contend with on many fronts. After our son in law died we went to temporarily live with our daughter. She wasn't coping which was affecting our grandson. (2yrs later they are doing well). Even though the arrangement was with her permission it was very, very difficult. Perhaps a family meeting every now and then to fine tune things would help. Include little "I", her age group is very observant and honest. As for ironing I haven't ironed for years although very occasionally for a treat I will iron the bit of the sheet going under my chin. Most fabrics these days seem to dewrinkle themselves from the heat of the body. Do you use the dryer, I try take the clothes out while they are still very slightly damp and either hang or smooth out with my hand. I think we all have our trigger points, mine is clutter and cobwebs, I'm trying very hard not let it get to me but so far not much success.
ReplyDeleteHugs and love. I am glad you can borrow a freezer from Tam for now. More hugs. Too much stress there, I hope all is understood.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, you manage your complex and difficult tasks so courageously I'm in awe of you. I have found that getting pain meds 'just right' is such a hit-and-miss affair in my experience too.
ReplyDeleteAs for ironing, I'm a bit obsessive about ironing linens, which I love and wear in preference to anything with polyester in it, so in summer it's a frequent task. Winter is for merino, pure wools, and corduroys so there's less. My husband likes doing his own shirts (!!) as it is his excuse for watching sport on TV. I do his trousers as I can't cope with the level of swearing at the misplaced creases he causes when he does it himself!!
I hope the freezer problem is behind you soon.
The patch's side effects sound scary---I think when they first began working, you were hopeful?
ReplyDeleteI only iron if I am sewing, or sometimes pillow cases, esp the antique white ones. Were family expecting you to iron for them!? Or you think they should but they don't? I know they're less common in the UK, but a good dry and fluff in a tumble dryer smooths things out nicely instead of ironing. Also useful when you have many bedlinens to wash. I'm not sure why dryers aren't used in UK, here it is a must--so humid things mildew before they dry and also outdoor line drying is not permitted, local ordnance.
Yes, I agree ironing is an alien concept for my children too. Neither possesses a board or iron. Myself, I enjoy the mindfulness of ironing and always iron bed linen before putting it away neatly in the linen drawers scented with homemade lavender bags as well as tea towels and napkins (sterilises them) and certain items of my clothing. I have never ironed anything belonging to S because he is such a fusspot. A regular pow-wow about your expectations of D and family and vice versa sounds like a really good idea. A chance to nip problems and resentments in the bud (I am sure they exist on both sides otherwise you would not be human).
ReplyDeleteI do think the stress you are under though is insane and I wish that someone in your circle would recognise that and help you to lessen it. There was a lovely poem on Radio 3 this morning about collecting up all our problems and stresses and taking them to another place where we could shine a lamp on them and hold them, feel them and in the process learn to accept them. Once you accept something is bothering you somehow it is diminished. A bit like you telling us about the ironing. I am reminded of the Bengal Tiger in the novel The Life of Pi - a brilliant book if you are at the end of your tether and feeling like you are not waving but drowning. Btw the poet this morning was Roger Robinson and his poem from the collection of the same name was called “A Portable Paradise”. We have a rainy day here today so I am happy we made the most of yesterday’s sunshine with a day at the beach. There was a brisk cross shore wind and white horses so very exhilarating and we walked barefoot along the water’s edge as the tide was going out. We bought S a new snorkel and mask from the surf shop as he now has special dispensation on medical grounds to use a snorkel in the swimming pool. Then into Chichester for an hour of shopping buying S new swimming trunks and pjs and I bought myself a mint green T-shirt from the Jigsaw sale. I was wearing old faded pink chinos (from Gap about 15 years ago) and my old pink suede Scarpa summer walking shoes and the mint green made me feel new again. Last week I had a charity shop splurge buying a pair of white linen shorts (from Poetry) and a cornflower blue block printed Indian cotton shirt that only needed the buttons replacing with some mother of Pearl ones stitched on with cornflower blue thread so that is my 2024 summer wardrobe sorted - £12 in the charity shop and £19 in Jigsaw. Hope today is more settled for you all. We have reflexology this morning and then I expect we will settle down to watch the tennis. In between I have our bed linen to iron, we will do our daily Qigong practice together (mindful movement with meditation and so relaxing) and I will make a batch of granola for weekend breakfasts. Supper is the other half of the smoked trout fish cakes, bought from the village shop yesterday when we went to vote, with salad and Charlotte potatoes from the garden and there is rhubarb to pick and poach for pud and homemade applejack for afternoon tea. Sending love and moral support. Write down all those worries and stresses, look at them in black and white on the page and I promise you they will start to diminish. Then write down three things that make you feel happy and content and keep those to the fore. I know I am not alone here in thinking that you are doing the most brilliant job. Sarah x