Endurance

Stormy skies at Malvern.

    So much for resting yesterday.  It was a marathon.  Followed by another marathon.  Parkinsons meds don't work when you have an infection.  Keith was stalwart and wanted to be downstairs but was tottering, needless to say.  Things came to a head at teatime when he needed to go upstairs to the bathroom and couldn't get there, but it was dealt with (we had a Commode here from January when they all swung into action as he was bad then).  I will spare you details but my son is a blardy HERO, for supporting Keith about the house, lifting him into bed - hell, practically carrying him there.  Keith for once, drank and drank and drank, but of course that was offset by the Covid so no huge benefit.  He needed the glass held to his mouth but swallowed well.  He must have had 4 1/2 pints water, plus tea etc.  His appetite remained good too.

    Today everything will have to be put in place for Carers, hospital bed etc.  I've left a message for the Parkinsons nurse, saying we need the hospital bed pronto. I have spoken to 111 and got a message through to the Covid Team for anti-virals.  I need to speak to the GPs shortly and then arrange for the Domicilliary service to be involved (carers) full time.  Danny cannot stay here permanently and needs to go home to his little family.  Emma and "I" went home yesterday and I managed to drive them to pick up their bus connection.  I have a list of phone calls to make . . . and yet all I want to do is lay down on the sofa and let it all wash over me.  No chance of that.

    T & J popped over to bring Keith's anti-biotics - Aberystwyth and Newtown are the only Welsh Boots shops which open on a Sunday - and to drop some stuff off for storage.  They move into their new home in the next few weeks.  We all wore masks and kept 6 feet apart.

    Right, need to go up to Keith and then start the round of phone calls.

    Updated to say off to pick up anti-mucous meds prescription shortly (meds gone on order for tomorrow though) and then Llandod at 5 with Danny to pick up anti-virals for Keith. P.H.E.W.

This morning's update and an extra one

 The Covid has of course gone straight to Keith's chest.  His peak flow is only 200 at the best of times and he struggles to blow his nose, let enough cough up gunk.  I am going to get out the anti-pneumonia pillow we bought earlier in the year to prop him up higher in bed.  He wouldn't have it when I got it -  "uncomfortable" - but he's blardy well going to use it now as he sleeps absolutely flat.

I have phoned 111 and am waiting to hear back from the OOH GP.  (Now spoken to a lovely GP from ShropDoc, who has put Keith on antibiotics - we had two leftover from his last UTI dose as we didn't take them as his urine test came back non-infection.  However, Tam was on her way here from Aber, and we had to phone her and say turn around, the prescription will be in Boots Aberyswyth.  So half an hour into the journey, she turned around.  Then we got another phone call - it wouldn't be ready until 1 p.m.!  Poor girl, I hated messing her around.

Once again, only about 4 hours sleep - still awake at midnight (worrying) and then every noise from his room woke me up.  I was up and down here in the night and then back down before 7.  Danny, bless him, is dealing with dad up there now.  I am going to try and get a bath this morning - first since I became ill though I have washed, honest!  I thought I was feeling better (in bed) but the moment I move around I am in a muck sweat again and not feeling at all chipper.

In the morning I shall be straight onto the Parkinsons nurse, as Daniel (Physio) mentioned a Hospital bed, so will try and expediate that.  She was talking about it last week so it's obviously it's noted. I will also mention the Hoist.  Keith wanted help to sit up in bed last night and that did my hip/Sciatic nerve again.  Dead pulls are not good at my age.

Sorry, no replies to personals.  But I love hearing from you all.

My gardener turned up this morning, so I had to say "COVID!" under cover of my teeshirt and I just told him to get on with it.  He's on the bottom triangle now with the brush strimmer.  Normally I send him home with a piece of cake but there's been no cake cooked THIS week!

Your kind comments have made me cry . . . and UPDATE

 

Alfie, who has been a big cowardy custard!

Keith has just tested positive for Covid.  I am not surprised - difficult to avoid it when I am his carer - I can't do that from 6 feet away or in a different room.  Just phoned 111 and am waiting to hear what will happen next (Clinician will phone).  Saying prayers here, and so glad I have moral and practical support from Danny and Emma.

I've been sleeping so badly, this has settled on my stomach and I'm feeling so sick (and have been).  My legs are so wobbly and although the head cold bit was negligible it's all the extras!  I had to wake Danny in the night to come and help me with Keith as he was on the edge of the bed and slipping off and no way could I help him move.  Just trying had me in a muck sweat and I had to dash to the loo in case I was sick. We need to do something Heath Robinson about that pronto.  There's a beam over the bed so we need to attach a rope or something to that to haul himself up with.

The cats have done their usual "Stranger Danger" act (although the big boys grew up with Danny at home!) and Lulu has been hiding in the sofa.  Pippi is a lot more confident and walking about with Iarna here, so that's progress.  At one point they shot out the cat flap late afternoon so I was worried about them not coming in, but when it rained a bit harder, they did.  Big Boys didn't come in until 1.30 a.m. when I came down to see if they were about (still raining).  Where I had a dreadful earache in my left ear I'm still pretty deaf in it (my working ear that is!)  and I kept thinking I was hearing pitiful miouws outside (Alfie, who is the more anxious of the boys).  Needless to say, that stopped me sleeping. I didn't work out whether it was the ear playing up or Alfie actually saying let me in.

Just forcing down a handful of cornflakes but even those are making me feel nauseous.  Enjoy your weekend my friends.

Still poorly

 Thank you everyone for all your kind comments.  I could feel worse I guess, but I am looking forward to being better!  I spent all of yesterday asleep on the sofa, and with no appetite, had only a banana and an apple all day.  Danny and Emma arrive today on a rescue mission, bless them.  Praying Keith doesn't get this.

Poorly

 I have a cold - hopefully not Covid, but will test later on.  Have been laid on the sofa all afternoon - once our gardener left after taking the brush strimmer to the paddock.  I had the still-warm electric lounging blanket draped over me and woke up to Pippi being a little radiator on my feet.  I didn't want to move at all.  I hope I don't pass this on to Keith.

Meanwhile - still no photos.  I can access the latest, but not download them anywhere . . .

Deep joy - it IS Covid.  Let's hope that I haven't passed it on to Keith already . . .

Malvern and First Frost!

 I couldn't believe my eyes when I went out to the car to leave at 6 a.m. for Malvern Flea this morning and found out we'd had a sharp frost overnight and the windscreen needed the heater on it and a good scraping off, so I was late leaving.

    I'd put a soft breakfast out for Keith, plus a big thermal travel mug of tea, and everything he might need whilst I was away.  This was necessary as Danny had to stay back at home as he'd been out for a drink with a mate the night before, and found out his mate's friend had Covid . . . We didn't want to risk having him stay after that.

    I have uploaded photos BUT since I have started putting them in folders, I cannot find them.  Or rather, I can find some of last month's I put in folders but not since.  Will have to get an offspring to help me . . .

    However, I had a brilliant time at Malvern today - found some lovely things at sensible prices.  I will put up photos when I have discovered where I'm going wrong in saving them.  I never had any problem until Cloud came along . . .

    I got Keith a special African knife of a design I had a hunch about and he is delighted, as we have done research since my return and attributed it to a specific tribe and discovered it's value.  Ditto the antique saddle of foreign extraction which turns out to be mid 1800s Moghul warrior's, embellished with decorated brass panels.  It had apparently been sold in auction as a saddle for a Goat!!

    The 1921 print of the story of Widdicombe Fair which I couldn't resist, is also fairly rare and desirable.  I shall enjoy it in my Widdicombe corner until next year.  Various kitchenalia bits also came my way, and a lovely little nightlight in the form of a hand-crafted ceramic caravan - SO pretty.  Oh, and a painted Indian side table/storage box which I shall have to hide from the kittens, lest they use it to strop their claws on.  

    My gardener has been busy - cutting the front hedge yesterday (just the sides, as the farm cut the top for me) and today he turned up and cut the lawn, as it was a dry day.  I am borrowing a heavy duty brush strimmer from a neighbour of Pam's and he's bringing it round tomorrow for G to then do the orchard and the front triangle for me - both get very overgrown in the summer months.

    I left a note for the Parkinsons nurse on Friday - she is phoning on Thursday, but I had a couple of queries for her and suggested a medicine that the GP had named, for one of Keith's Parkinsons' problems.  Being on Antibiotics still seems to make him grind to a halt about 3 p.m. in the afternoon and walking becomes increasingly difficult after that.  We hope it is just temporary and not a worsening of the condition.

    Yesterday Keith told me to have a couple of hours off at Tretower - it was the Living History folk in the 14th C this time and he knew I wanted to go.  I enjoyed chatting to everyone and once again, it was suggested I made myself a suitable outfit and join them (a different member asked this time).  I explained it wasn't straight-forward but if I can get respite cover for Keith . . .

    I hope you have all had an enjoyable weekend - the sun has been out all day here. Long may it last.

St Mary's Church, Pembridge

 

HERE is a good page about the history.  Sorry - too tired to look for it/post it last night.  "I'm sorry" seem to be the words I speak more than anything to Keith these days.

A lovely early font dating from the 13th C.

There are a series of 12 lovely embroideries (called tapestries though) which show the history of the village down the centuries.  Very skilfully and lovingly sewn.

Stunning carvings on the pulpit.  These date to the Restoration period, around 1660.

Goar family memorials. They were very important folk when the Mortimers were holding sway here.

Mason's marks - just one of many.

Superb wall memorials too.

Well, this has taken me all day, on and off and apologies for the lack of information, but I'm very tired today.  There have also been Distractions . . . Kitten-cats with rodents, Openreach calling to tell us our loss of phone/broadband yesterday was down to the hedge-trimmer cutting the line in half . . . which is why you didn't hear from me yesterday.  Then Flu jabs this afternoon - at least that's one thing out of the way. The receptionist was on the ball, saw it was us and we were about to unload Keith into his wheelchair, and said she'd send the nurse out, so we had ours in the car park!   I have my Covid jab next week, but Keith's not heard about having one yet.  Our evening meal is nearly ready - steaks cooked in the slow cooker, veg and home-made chips.

Kitten-cats have had another rodent - last seen legging it under the dresser, but now apparently mislaid . . .

After our meal I am going to check out the H E Bulstrode book about people's personal ghost stories which I downloaded to my Kindle yesterday.  I follow him on Facebook and he is always writing really interesting snippets of folk lore and history with a ghostly side to them.  He is very thorough with his research.

Nighty night.