Morning Lynn and everyone

Sounds like you've had a good old catch up there with Gorden, and I do hope he's had a good night's sleep and I'm sure he will enjoy a nice, long leisurely walk and tell you all about it Lynn. I understand your feelings about your mum, I felt the very same near the end.

Just been catching up a bit in yesterday's thread.
Jenny, I'm so sorry to hear about your old mum deteriorating so much lately, as long as she stays happy there's not much to worry about, except for your own feelings of course, cos I went through the very same with mum, and I actually felt like she had left me already with the way she was eventually. You can't really explain it to anybody, but I'm sure you know what I'm getting at, you just have to accept it and carry on holding her hand and chatting as you do and most of all making her laugh as you always have. (((((hugs))))). Same goes to you Sally, I was so sorry to read about your dear dad, but again, just like my mum, once she lost her mobility, the independence goes too, and that's the most valuable part for them, their independence, they don't like to have to rely on people for just about everything. My mum lived for getting out, she'd get on the bus every day, at 80 years old and go into Palma to look around the shops, she had to get out, so being stuck in one room with no mobility must have been crucifying, just like it is for your dad.

Pat, I did laugh at that pic you put up for me!!! Not a good start for them was it, and when they straightened it up, I bet it fell over into the sea???!!!

Chris, I do hope Rosie had a good night without any pacing after her chips.

Lorraine, hope you're feeling ok too this morning with your bad hip.

Sorry for anyone I've missed, but that's all I can remember, I had a bit of a "day" yesterday

Well, the good news is, once they left and we went to do our inspection, having swept up half a ton of dust, the floor looks brill! I'm so glad with the colour, the texture, the look, it's all fab The only problem we have, is with the thresholds, as Dave said they just didn't know how to fix them, hence the reason I watched one guy spending a whole hour on the bathroom doorway. They ended up glueing them, but Dave said they just click into place and click down tightly, which theirs haven't done, but Dave said he can fix them, thank goodness for Dave.

When they come back on Monday I will insist that they close my front door when they cut their scotias for the edges, and only open it to come into the house cos that's what caused all the problems yesterday with the smell and the dust. I told him to chuck all the rubbish in the bath, and when Dave and I looked, he couldn't believe it, the wood was all burnt down the side they had sawed He said if ONLY they had used good tools with sharp blades, the job would have been easy and mess free, it would have cut like butter with his saws, but with their blunt tools, it just burnt the wood trying to slice through it, jeeeeese! Anyway, it looks good and today I will clean up.

Going for a long, leisurely walk with Zena this morning, she soooooo deserves it after being couped up in this lounge for 12 hours yesterday, stressing out here and there when she could see them constantly through 3 panes of obscure glass into the hallway, to'ing and fro'ing, she really didn't know what she was supposed to do or what was going on, but we kept her entertained and most of the time she relaxed (especially when we ate our Kentucky, cos she shared it with us!).

Oh what a day, but that's it now with builders, Dave can do the bathroom, the electrics, the fireplace and everything else. I will let him take his time and my lips will be tightly sealed whenever I look over his shoulder from now on! This taught me to appreciate what I've got yesterday!!!

Enjoy your Saturday, it's very dry and still out there, although freezing cold.

Banana trees I wouldn't want to be anywhere near a banana tree....I know what lives in 'em!!!! Great pics there Lynn, but I wouldn't want to go there myself I'm afraid, I'm more a 5* girl looking out to a shimmering sea

Morning Lynn and all,

Yesterday I started to get a sore throat and a headache, this morning I have a high tempreture and because of my COPD every breath I take is so painful and I feel like death.
I managed to get Lily just up the road and back for a wee this morning but the sweat was pouring off me. I have just nipped to Tesco to get some paracetamol and some Echinacea as I realised yesterday when I started to feel rough I had run out.
Tesco had also run out of Echinacea and I don't have the strength to go anywhere else now, so I will just have to let it run its course instead of stopping it in its track.
So I won't be doing much today as I just can't even though I had a long list of stuff I wanted to get done before Charly and Ash get back from Devon tomorrow.

Lynn I totally understand what you are saying about your mum, in all the years I have done care work you often see people you know have had enough and you really feel for them, but all you can do is try and make each day the best you can.

Sorry all but this computer is making my head pound worse so take care and have a good day.

Banana Trees = Tarantulas? Oh yes I'd love a banana tree right outside (NOT) there are banana plantations here in Cyprus (mostly on the west side nr Paphos) I laughed when I saw what one developer had named his new complex of houses and apartments nearby - 'Bananarama' I absolutely would NOT want to give that out as my address!

Lynn - the photos could have been taken in a lot of places in Cyprus - very similar scenery. And what you say about how the wheels are oiled there sounds much the same as it is in Cairo (and to a lesser extent here in Cyprus where it is called 'the brown envelope culture') You can get anything done if there's enough cash in the envelope.

I don't think you are at all callous in the way you are speaking of your mum. My next door neighbour and pal has just returned to the UK. The trip was planned to see her father who has been ill a long time and was deteriorating. Sadly he died a few days before she left. However, especially as he was being nursed at home by her mum, she will now be able to be a comfort to her mum and there for the funeral (I understand there is a waiting list in the UK at the mo - they have to wait until Mar 5 earliest date?) If her dad was still alive they'd have been confined to the house almost 24/7 and busy tending to him - he was in and out of consciousness, mostly sleeping and not really aware of who anyone was. He was 94 and had never had any serious illness before.

Helena - I know you were keen to get the hall carpetted but - I balked at the length of time they estimated for it and that would have raised a flag for me. But - as soon as they were more than an hour or so late turning up I'm afraid I would have been CANCELLING them! I absolutely hate people who mess you about - it's as if their job is the only job that matters and you've got nothing better to do than wait around or fit round them.

Well I was emailed quite a few jobs to do last night. So I will be starting on them in a mo. It's a lovely day and I left around 8am to walk muttley - and was overdressed again and sweltering in a hooded sweat when we were only halfway round the route. I always forget it will seem a lot hotter when out in the open fields than when still where tall buildings give shade.

Bella is outside now blissfully gnawing on a raw bone that is bigger than her head (she's been there since we returned and I won't see or hear from her until she's done with it). The local butcher asked if I'd like some bones for her (of course I said yes) and asked if I wanted him to chop them up. Boy I'm glad I said yes to that too - gawd knows how big they were before he chopped them. I have sandwich bagged and frozen them all and she has a nice store of treats now.

Bananas here are grown in the north, with blue polythene bags round each hand. Dunnarf look odd.

Lizards? Have big ones outside. Up the walls. In the roof space - well I do not care as long as they stay outside but sometimes they come in...

...eeeeeeeeeek.

Gekkos are different. They are indoor lizards and I pretend I do not see them.

Morning all
Aarrrggghhh I couldn't live anywhere where there was any "wildlife". Hate insects lizards and all creepy crawlies Nice to see the pictures though.

Bev sorry to hear you feel so rough. Look after yourself and I hope you feel better soon.

Well we have had snow this morning, well what we in Devon call snow! You would probably call it powder! It left the shed roof white though

Hope you all have a good Saturday, back later.

Morning Lynn, morning all,

Lynn - so glad that Gorden is now back safely. That coffee fund you mentioned just shows how corrupt they are over there. Can you imagine going through customs here at an airport and saying 'this is for you coffee fund" .... you'd be arrested Nigeria is not somewhere high on my list of holiday destinations. Sorry about your Mum ((hugs)).

Helena - what a 'marathon mess' you had to endure yesterday and what a star Zena was. Makes you appreciate your OH and how tidy he is when working. I'm sure it is all going to look fantastic when all totally finished.

Bev - I'm so sorry for you feeling so unwell. Keep warm today and hopefully a quiet weekend will see you to feeling a little more human. I can't believe this really cold weather is good for your COPD anyway. Maybe Lily will cuddle up with you and you can keep each other company. I expect your looking forward to Charly and Ash getting back from Devon tomorrow.

Hi to Malka, Tangitica and Nippy.

Feeling pretty flat today, but hopefully my dog walk with my friend Polly will cheer me up. Keith (our Aussie guest) arrives back here from Devon so loads of housework to clean the place up a bit.

I wish with all my heart that my Mum would pass away in her sleep now as I can only see an horrendous ending for her with her dementia suddenly getting so much worse.

Enjoy your Saturday everyone and keep warm - its been snowing lightly outside for the past few hours but not enough to settle.

Morning

Argh more snow! Not much though, just a light scattering but I really want some warmth now. The energy companies must be loving this!

Blimey, a police escort Lynn? He must be very important! I once had to go to Bristol in Tennessee for work and got chauffeur driven to the little airport in a looong stretched car - I was huddled in a corner at the back of this massive thing and I thought everyone we passed would be looking but of course nobody even glanced.

Hugs to Jenny and Sally for your respective parents.

Glad to hear your house is looking better H. I still think it's off though that they can't even do their job properly with the thresholds. Poor Dave but lucky he can do stuff.

I'd best take Loki out - he's glaring at me now. I have to take Carys to an art & craft afternoon that Beavers are holding later. She's been a busy girl this week.

xxx

Good morning all.

Another cold 'un then

Only just got up. I'm so used to Rosie being my alarm clock around 7.30 to 8 am, I just get up when she does. When I had stared at the ceiling for half an hour, I looked at the clock and it was 9.30 so up I got and she then and only then started her get up sounds. Never thought I'd see the day and now I'm on a guilt trip (for some unknown reason) at getting up so late.

The have a similar 'coffee fund' system in Ghana, Lynn. Dave got all the way through the airport on the way in with no problem at all with his 'escort' guiding him through. On the way back, he left all the company money with his colleague who was staying on a few days and he had an horrendous time getting through with threats of leaving his luggage on the tarmac and all sorts. In the end, he managed it, but it was a traumatic experience. He was in the middle of the rain forest and whereas Gorden got bananas outside his door, it was pineapples there. He said he's never tasted anything quite as good since. Under the hut was doused in parafin daily to deter the snakes and he had a lizard run across his head on his first night when he was in bed. He didn't sleep well after that.

Rosie has been fine since the pacing session yesterday morning so I can only think it must have been those damned chips.

Our walk then housework this afternoon for me.

Hope all who are unwell recover soon (people and our doggies). Have a good 'un all x

Still cold here this morning, but today is The Day and the stitches come out - having said that she is much more settled in herself since she started associating with everyone in the afternoons. Took her a walk, then brought some wood in from the car, left her with her brekkie, but when I came in with the sacks she was stood by the door because I'd gone out without her, despite having just had a walk!!! As I was making my porridge she went and stood at the back door, opened it and Lona on the otherside was grumbling, babies rushed in, so all was a chaos, of course then she decided she didn't want to go out after all
Need to call in at the wholesalers on the way to the vets and pick up shavings and they do a chicken and tripe free flow mince which I can't get anywhere else, so will get a couple of bags of that.
Pity you live so far away Helena, those offcuts would have burnt nicely tonight for the Saturday Party Sounds a bit horrific actually, burning the wood whilst cutting it, I think Dave was right with the Cowboy Builders Theme he was whistling!
Glad Gordon is home safe and sound, scary stuff the police escort and mirror under the car, and hope the bus starts and you get a nice morning out with Dillon.
Go back to bed with that cold Bev, you need to take Time Out from the sounds of it, although sometimes you just can't I know.
Here is an Ash Fix I've been meaning to put up but kept forgetting, I took it when he was trying to climb over the half door of the puppy palace, he was soooo nearly there, that back leg was very nearly getting to the top of the door as well, but not quite making it thank goodness, because it is a long drop onto concrete flags!!!

Morning Lynn and all, good to hear you got a bit of a sleep in with Dillon this morning........

Hope those of you with a few problems sort them out soon, and if you are feeling under the weather, get well soon.

Have a good one all, its freezing here, hubby just took the devil out for her walk, (she is full of mischief) not like the old 10 yr old we know and love

Have a good one folks.....x

Morning all,

Lynn, I don't think you are being callous. I think you just want your mum to be free of pain.

Madmare, I hope you feel better soon.

Helena, glad you got a nice floor in the end

Lynn, I'd love to have lizards running around, they are so cute. I may, of course, just be weird.

I gave up on studying last night, Mocha started to play catch with my pencil or cuddling my notepad. So took the hint and went to sleep. Woke up at 3am when her royal highness decided that she wanted out. Hip wasn't as bad but still a little sore.

This morning I've only been to the loo so far, it's not as bad as it was, still feels stiff but nothing like it was last night. Today's plans are somewhat limited, I'll be cleaning a little and sitting down upstairs to iron, and I'll be studying, I'm a week behind on empire so need to do a load of reading to catch up.

Have a nice day everyone.

Harvey just to let you know I have some pictures of Port Harcourt to put up not Lagos as they didn't get out of the airport and Gorden didn't think it was a good idea to photograph the airport.

Have just gone back and seen the photos, thanks for posting, looks very much like the typical Nigerian town and better than the hotels I stayed in, at least I don't think they had a pool (not that I ever had time to use one).Yes definately agree about taking photos at the airport, they can be very sensitive about that sort of thing and I can assure you of all the jails in the world the Nigerian ones are right at the bottom of the list

Just having a quick look now, will come back latter after I've done my 'chores' for today

Good morning fellow members still bitterly cold and tiny flakes of snow are falling though no great amount of snow is forecast.

The twins will be three years old tomorrow, I can't believe they are growing so fast. They are having a big party in a school hall with a bouncy castle and I am just about to make 30+ gingerbread men with chocolate features

Enjoy your day everyone whatever you are doing ..