General Chat

Happy New Year to all carers and their cared for.

Not the easiest time of year.

Hope 2011 is better than 2010 .

our Christmas was odd to say the least. we had invited our neighbour as usual and arranged a dinner to suit as she doesnt like Christmas food much. But she rang me to wish us Happy Christmas and said that she had her dinner in the oven! She is 93, and has been getting more forgetful, but not to this extent. We look after her at a distance as she eats and keeps her home clean, but doesnt go out so we shop for her, But we arent able to full time care for her so its worry. her family live at a distance. Told one of her sons and at the first opportunity he has come from Kent to see her.

We went out to Port Waikato - I was surprised that there was a fair bit of traffic on the road on Christmas Day. I had not been out there since the seventies when it was loose metal road. We had a nice little tour around the back roads away from the motorway and came back home via Matamata so we were all over the place.

Did you tell your sister's OH that I am descended from the legendary Cosseys of that area? I sometimes go out to Drury where my grandfather's cousins used to live on Duck Creek Road. Appleby Road is another one named after a relative.

Himself has been out redesigning (to his satisfaction) the fence that has just been built between us and next door neighbours. The house next to us is a housing corp house so they only allow a certain type of fence.

Persey xx

Hello there Persey.

I spent only 3 hours with Phil on Christmas day. I took him for a walk around the room after he had had his lunch, although a carer needed to help me get him to his feet as he was a dead weight. I dont know if it was from stiffness from sitting for a while or if his brain had forgotten how to stand and walk, but he soon improved. I must do it more often.

I was glad I headed home when I did as the traffic was beginning to build up on the motorway south, just past the Hill Road turnoff. I left it at the next exit after a slightly slower than usual drive on that stretch. I decided to call in at the Hunua Falls on my way home for a short walk but when I got there the parking area was absolutely chokka, even the field where people used to picnic and play games was full of cars so I just turned round and came home.

I had visitors today (sister and her OH, who once lived up at Cosseys Dam while it was being built). I will visit Phil tomorrow, then I will probably not visit again until his birthday on Tuesday. Our son and his wife and a couple of tramping friends are coming up from Rotorua on Friday and will be camping over in the Moumoukai Valley and going up Kohukohunui.

Like you, I would like to know how Bob is getting on. YOO HOO, BOB, where are you?

Off to bed soon.

Huia.

Well Christmas is now behind us so we have the New Year to look forward to.

Huia - how did your day go with Phil?

Jean - I presume you managed to rattle along over Christmas with your prescription medication.

It would be nice if Bob came back on here - last year we talked about food after Christmas.

Hope the rest of you are all well

Take care lovely people

Persey xx

Happy Christmas everybody.

Hello Fellow Carers

I don't post very often but always read the postings.

Wishing you all a Happy Xmas and hoping 2011 is better than 2010.

And my Christmas greetings too. I will be visiting Phil on Christmas day.

Huia.

Thanks Persey, hope all are well over the holiday, most surgeries are not working for 4 days. Got all necessary medicines last week. 17 items for me and nine for OH! And two new ones as well.

To all of you who appear on this thread from time to time,
Huia, Liz, Jean, Bob, Sharron, Ingrid and others

I hope you all have a happy and safe Christmas.

Take care all

Persey xx

Thanks Jansmith & Huia

I have spoken to the powers that be at work and they are looking into getting a copy of the Documentary.

They will also be getting our Learning & Developement Team to have a look at it on-line and implementing a similar Program into our Organisation.
Alzheimers Australia has something similar as well.

I just thought it was a great concept that should be implemented where possible.

Persey
How could they ban you for singing, I think everyone loves to sing regardless of how good they are.

Huia - would love to be able to come over for the Concert but just not possible at this time.

Good to hear everyone is doing OK.

Hugs to All

Ingrid, I have just had an email newsletter from the Centre for Brain Research at Auckland Uni. They have a neurological choir called CeleBRation Choir. You can look at the website www.cbr.auckland.ac.nz

They say it is a social singing group for people with nerological conditions such as stroke or Parkinson's disease. I dont know if there are any singers in it with Alzheimers. Their Christmas concert is on Sat 11 Dec at 3pm if you can get over to Auckland then!

I have a postal address and phone number and email address for them if you want to contact them. The communications and liaison manager is Laura Fogg. PM me with your email addy if you want more info.

Huia.

Persey, my sister had a friend at high school called Hannah C. She was delighted to meet up with her again recently.

Huia.

Huia -

I was out at Hunua yesterday - went to the Presbyterian Church Cemetery there - found a few of my "quiet" relatives.
I was meeting a friend and her little girl for lunch at Papakura so thought I would pop out to Hunua first.

I hope I don't start singing without realising it as I get older - I will be banned from the resthome.

Persey

Ingrid
have you looked on this site
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/news_article.php?newsID=585

gives this link at the bottom of page for more info

For more information about Singing for the Brain go to:

alzheimers.org.uk/singingforthebrain

Oops.I didn't even mean to put that on this thread.You may know that my mother had narcissistic personality disorder.

Sharron, that was a bit below the belt wasnt it? Not that they know. I love daffs, not quite so keen on the scent of jonquils these days though, I find it too strong.

Huia.

I have received an e-mail from a seed/supplier affering me the narcissus lucky dip. Considering what I won the first time, I don't think I will deal with anything narcissistic again if I can help it!

Hi all. I sent Bob a PM. His BH seems to have settled in very well. It sounds like a nice caring place like the one Phil is in. In fact, Bob would like to move in there too as the food is so good. Trust a man to think of his stomach. But then so do I!

Huia.

Hi Perse, havent bumped into you on the boards for a while. I am wondering how Bob and his BH are getting on. I might send him a PM in the hopes of hearing from him.

Huia.