General Chat

Oh dear, over a week since anybody posted on here. Once upon a time (as in all good fairy tales) we couldn't keep up with this thread.

Hope your garden is still continuing to bloom Mo. We have had several very sunny (but cold) days so the spring flowers are showing their faces, crocus, dutch Iris, miniature and full sized bluebells, primulas, helebores are all in flower. I took a few photos last week and put them on facebook Mo, you may have seen them. Any more news on Lily?

Hope, despite not being on here, that everyone is OK. Jean, have you had any of your appointments yet? If so i hope they went ok. I expect the gardens round your apartment are looking good with spring flowers. I am very envious of the carvings you have in them.

Sallie, are you OK, Not seen you around for a while again. Let us know how you are.

We are waiting now for the arrival of great grandson number 2 who should be due this month. Great grandchild number 3 seems to be progressing ok, Mum is now 19 weeks.

We are just back from a garden centre, a walk round all the spring plants for sale lifts your spirits, especially as it is sunny today. I have to admit to being tempted by a bright yellow polyanthus which is now planted in the garden. Also bought a book for Luke and a colouring book for me (I have quite a collection of them now.) this one is of flowers at Kew Gardens, very pretty.

anyway, this will take us back up the top.

Hello there Ann, I was sorely tempted to buy some Poly's this morning, they had some really lovely colours on display, but I am so wary of the frosts coming back and kill them off.
No more news on Lilly's referral, but the school are being exceptionally good with her, keeping her parents updated on her progress.
She was dressed up this morning for book club at school, she looked a real picture. All the children had to go dressed as a character from a book, and little missy was fine till she got home, and told her parents please could they sort her messy hair out LOL.
Like you, we have had very lovely bright sunny weather, but crumbs it's been so cold outside.

I do hope that Jean and Sallie are both o.k, as you say it's been ages since we heard from them both.
Mind you, Sylvia, Huia and Marie are on the absent list as well, I do hope they are well also.

Take care girls, hugs to you all, Mo xxx

I am fine Mo, in fact I went to the Super Clinic today for my check up (re the TIA) and I am now allowed to drive again, so tomorrow........

The month ban seemed to have turned into almost 6 weeks, but apparently I could have gone to my doc for the all-clear after a month, but then there have been so many holidays lately. I felt quite stir-crazy last week so look out everybody, here comes Huia, brrrrroooom broooommmm.

Oooh Huia, what good news, you now being mobile again, gives you back your independence doesn't it love.
So watch out NZ folk, Huia's on her way.
I bet you are back at the hospice shop though love, at least that would have got you out of the house for a wee while.
Whats your weather like over there at the moment. You have probably noticed that we over here, have had lots of wind and rain, and it's been quite cold to boot. But then it's not as cold as it used to be years ago, it's no wonder people have had so many viruses hanging around, it's not been cold enough to kill the germs off.

Still no news from Jean, Sallie, Sylvia or Marie, I do hope they are all well.
Bye for now girls, take care, Mo xxx

Well done Huia, enjoy all the outings you will now go on.

Hi

I'm still around, just leading a boring life :-)

as well as the very boring bland diet, no spice at all



Huia ... glad to hear you have got the all-clear to drive again.

Hi girls,

Not been on for a while ,sorry.It's been a busy time here for Alun, Jennie and myself. All three of us have had hospital appointments of one kind or another over the last few weeks.

Alun had to go down to Glenfield Hospital in Leicester to see the cardiac surgeon, even though he had told them that he wanted his operation in Nottingham City Hospital. So he has had to wait another two weeks before hearing from the cardiac surgeon there. Anyway, he has an appointment to see him, next Thursday morning,so we are hoping that the surgeon will be able to give him a rough idea when he will have his operation. We had hoped that as the mitral valve only needs to be repaired, he would have keyhole surgery, but as the too big for that, he will have to have open heart surgery.

So I have got myself into a right state, terrified and convinced that the very worse will happen.......but because of the G A D I suffer from I am finding it very difficult to think otherwise. Both my CPN and Psychologist are hoping and wishing that he won't have to wait long, because they are concerned for my safety and what I will do. Some of the traits of the borderline personality disorder I have are self hatred,anger, rejection and suicidal thoughts that come on impulse. I know it is very difficult not only for me, but for the family too, especially for both Alun and Jennie having to watch every move
I make, when they both have their own health problems too.

I seen the psychologist I am under today, she is really lovely, but of course today she has started delving more deeply into my problems, so it was a difficult and very upsetting session which left me mentally exhausting. She has warned me that from now on , because she will have to delve deeper into my past it will get harder and more upsetting. But if it will enable me to be able to cope and control my illness.so that my life will be easier to live with, then that's what I have to do.
Nearly eighteen years ago when I started having depression, I thought that would be it once I felt better, but instead each relapse the depression got worse, and then other mental health problems I have were diagnosed. I just think to myself, how on earth I got to the state I am in.


Mo, have they heard any thing more about Lilly? I hope that they will hear from the Child and Adolescent mental health team as soon as possible. My CPN, told me that sometimes their doctor, teacher and parents have to push a bit harder so that Lilly will get started on the treatment she may need. It doesn't matter what age group the person with the problems are in, it is the same, so you need to make yourself heard to get the help sooner rather than later.



Huia, so pleased to hear that you are now able to drive again, and are able to get out and about. Are you still working in the hospice shop? Hope you are able to,as it is nice to to be able to meet and chat to the customers that come in.



Jean, I am wondering if you have had the test you need yet. I really hope so and that the results all okay with nothing to worry about. Thinking about you and hope we will all hear from you very soon.




Sylvia, have you had the test you were due to have? I hope that you have and that you now know what the problem is and that it is nothing too worrying.



Ann, I love the photo of Luke, he looks a real little boy now, I can;t get over how quickly the time has gone since he was born. And you have two more great grandsons on the way too.
I hope that both you and T and your daughter are all okay.


It's a long time since we heard from Marie. I hope that she and her family are all okay.



Well, I must go to bed now,didn't realise it was so late.


Speak to you all again soon.



Take care everyone.



Love, Sallie. xxx <3 <3 <3

Sallie, I hadnt realised just how bad your problem was. My very best wishes to you, hoping Alun will get his op quickly and be fit and well so he can help you through your problems. I do love all my friends on GR, so you take care of yourselves.

Yes, today I went to the Hospice shop and helped out behind the counter for a little while. then spent a lot of time trimming the price tickets (barcodes) for the ladies who price things. I spent a couple of hours there, then went and had a proper haircut - my sister had trimmed my fringe for me in early Jan. and a couple of weeks later I had another go at the fringe and sides, but it was good to get it done properly today.

I then went to the supermarket and stocked up on some food. I havent run out yet, but I want to keep the fridge/freezer and cupboards in a reasonable state of fullness in case of any more states of isolation.

Tomorrow I hope to go over to Moumoukai Valley to see how it has been doing in my absence, and go up to Cosseys Dam and to Hunua Falls as well. Taking my camera, of course, but I hope it doesnt rain too heavily. The rain started this afternoon. I do have waterproof parkas and trousers and boots, but my camera isnt waterproof.

Hello everyone, it's so good to hear from you all.
You are a proper little night owl Sallie, being on here at that god forsaken hour in the morning. Mind you being on here, is better than lying awake, with the mind working overtime, as mine used to


Sallie my love,it's not easy to be able to cope at times of crisis, and you have had an awful lot to cope with.
Alun WILL be fine darling, and yes I know that it's easy for me to say that, but having been through it with my brother I know a little of your worries.
Stay strong my darling, and hopefully they will get Alun's operation appointment through as soon as it's possible.
If you need to chat, you can always message me, or I will send my phone number so we can chat in person.
It looks like our son and DIL will need to chase up Lilly's appointment, as nothing has happened on that front, apart from the school being very supportive.
She went to school yesterday dressed as Goldilocks for book club day.

Sylvia, it must be the time of year for boredom, we both feel the same as you. Nothing much has been happening, and being stuck indoors doesn't help.
Having a bland diet is I agree, is very boring. My appetite seems to have gone out the window, unless it's something naughty that I really shouldn't eat, ie Cake, Biscuits, and sweets, oh well never mind, once we get the better weather I shall cut back LOL sez me.

Huia, having our haircut, makes us feel lifted doesn't it. I have mine cut every five weeks, but have to trim my fringe between appointments, why oh why does the fringe grow quicker than the rest of the hair, I shall never understand.
I hope your visit to Moumoukai Valley goes well, and stays dry for you.

I will be back tomorrow, by that time, hopefully we may have some news from our dear friends Jean, and Marie.
Night everyone take care, hugs Mo xxx

Well a nice lot of activity on hee since I looked in last.

Sallie, that was a late visit. Having your husband facing an operation is a worry for any of us so with your problems to magnify it no wonder you are frightened. I think it is quite a common op that he is having and I am sure he will be fine. Scary? Of course it is but, as our son says to me, there is no point in worrying until something bad happens for you to worry about. Needless worry is wasted energy. I hope it helps to talk to us about it, we are always here to listen. You do seem to understand the problems your illness brings with it, hopefully you can keep yourself safe for all those who love you, us included. Yes Luke is growing so fast, he is very bright too. It doesn't seem possible he will be three in July.

Huia, good to get out and about by the sound of it. Yes a good idea to keep the cupboards stocked up. Make sure in your eagerness to get out again you don't overdo it.

Mo, it sounds as if they need to put more pressure on to get Lily seen doesn't it?

Grand daughter in law is having to put pressure on re her elective ceasarean. She has to have one because she did with Luke but she can't get them to set the date, she has only two weeks to go now and shouldn't be allowed to go into natural labour.

I have another couple of suspect places that could be basal cells so have had to ask for a referral back to hospital. My consultant signed me off a year ago. Goodness knows when that will be.

Ann, my granddaughter had a caesarean for her first baby and she was supposed to have one for the second baby but he decided otherwise. But it turned out fine. She got a hernia the first time, and the hospital wont repair it for some reason.

I had a nice drive around this afternoon, but it was spoiled by some idiots who had decided to park on half the roadway up to one of the dams to have a picnic. When I asked why they were parked there (it was actually just one of the half dozen cars but it was blocking half the road) he said there was no yellow line at the edge so he could park there! I suggested his mother must have been bitten by an early version of the Zika mosquito. I took a photo of the group, and as his number plate was not showing (station wagon with the back door open) I carefully added one, MORON. I now have to decide whether to put it on FB or send it to the NZHerald or some such.

Good to know your Granddaughter was ok Huia.

There are some drivers about that make you wonder how many brain cells they have. Was this a young or older man? How inconsiderate though. I would post it on both your suggestions. did that mean you were unable to get up to the dam?

LOL Huia, you are a gal, well done love on taking the photographic evidence. Some people have no consideration for others, and it sounds like you found one moron on your trip.
I would be tempted to let everyone know about this idiots lack of consideration for others, perhaps then he may think before he acts.

Oh Ann, I do hope the hospital make their minds up, re your grandaughter in law's op soon. She must be so worried, and that wont help her B.P will it.
Sorry to hear that the blasted Basal cells could be back, what a darned nuisance, especially as you were cleared not that long ago. Lets hope they get their fingers out, and send your appointment through soon.

Well today we have not moved out of the house, for fear of being blown away. I keep looking out in the garden, to ensure that the fences have not been blown away.
Next door had new fitted wardrobes done during the week, and the old doors are still in their garden, but are being blown all around the place. I do hope they don't take of and land through our patio doors. I will not be amused if they do. Neither of them do any home decorating themselves, and as for clearing things away, well what can I say, it's like Steptoe's yard out there. LOL

I must go and start preparing dinner now, so I will say bye for now, take care Mo xxx

Hi to all my good friends on here.

Thank you all so much for your kind words, best wishes, reassurances and love. it is very much appreciated. It's nice to know that I have friends on here that I can rely on for support.

One of my friends that I have made over the time we have been going to the hospital each Tuesday, is also having a heart operation on Wednesday at the same hospital and by the same Consultant Cardiac Surgeon as Alun. She said he is a lovely man, so she told me to go in with Alun , because I will feel a little bit better about the operation, as he is very reassuring and makes you feel as though it is just a common everyday operation.......that heart operations are not like they were years ago , because of all the high tec tests they do before the operation now, they know exactly what needs to be done before having the operation.
.

So Margaret will have had hers done the day before,but will probably still be in ICU, as they have to stay there for the first 24 hours.As you all probably know.

I will chat to you all again tomorrow. Hope the weather will be better than it is now, at the moment it is raining heavily. Seems the norm for all of Britain most days now though.


Still no word from Jean, I hope that everything is okay with her. If you are looking in Jean, we are all thinking about you and sending lots of love and hugs.



Take care everyone.

Love and Best wishes. Sallie.xxx <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Sallie, we are pleased to lend support to you, you are our friend (albeit a virtual one) and we love you and worry about you. I am pleased that your new friend has been able to give you a bit more confidence about Alun's op. she is right in what she says and she should know. So hopefully you are a little more relaxed about it now. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Oh Sallie, how lovely to hear that Margaret is able to support you, and understand your worries.
As she suggested, go with Alun, just to put your mind to rest, in knowing that the surgeon knows his job well, and lets face it, even though it's our first time experiencing it, he has done it thousands of times.
I assume that Alun's operation will be next Wednesday, or is it this Wednesday ?
He will be fine love, and when he wakes up, and sees you there, will be overjoyed at your strength.

Well from a very wet windy Kent, I shall say cheerio for now. Hugs Mo xxx

Sallie Thinking of you and Alun , stay strong for each other Our prayers and thoughts are always with you and the family...

not at my best at the moment , so I may not be on for a bit, take care everyone,

Love Jean xxx

Hi Jean, thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers, they mean a lot to me.
I hope that you will feel better soon, and that whatever it is that's causing you problems, at the moment is nothing too bad to worry about. I will be thinking about you, and will hope and pray that you will soon feel a lot better.



Mo, Margaret is having her heart operation on Wednesday and Alun is seeing the same Consultant Cardiac Surgeon on Thursday, to tell him what they need to do and the procedure they will use. And hopefully they will give him a rough idea when he will have the operation.

I rang Margaret earlier on just to let her know that I will be thinking about her and to wish her lots of best wishes. She sounded very positive and told me all about the pre-op examination, so that has made me feel a little better.

As you said, it's a big thing to us, but these surgeons do thousands of operations a year. It is a daily routine to them. Margaret was saying that at the end of November, the surgeon told her that he had done open heart surgery on a pregnant lady and that she was fine.

Of course, I have probably told you all earlier, that like me Margaret suffers with mental health problems too. So hearing Margaret being so positive, has been reassuring for me.



Ann, thank you for all your kind words and best wishes, they really do help me. Don't forget I am always here for you and all our other friends on here too. It is always nice to know that we all care about each other.


Huia, hope that all is well with you, and are managing and coping well at the Hospice shop.


Take care everyone.


Love and best wishes to you all. Sallie. xxx <3 <3 <3 <3

Hi Jean, thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers, they mean a lot to me.
I hope that you will feel better soon, and that whatever it is that's causing you problems, at the moment is nothing too bad to worry about. I will be thinking about you, and will hope and pray that you will soon feel a lot better.



Mo, Margaret is having her heart operation on Wednesday and Alun is seeing the same Consultant Cardiac Surgeon on Thursday, to tell him what they need to do and the procedure they will use. And hopefully they will give him a rough idea when he will have the operation.

I rang Margaret earlier on just to let her know that I will be thinking about her and to wish her lots of best wishes. She sounded very positive and told me all about the pre-op examination, so that has made me feel a little better.

As you said, it's a big thing to us, but these surgeons do thousands of operations a year. It is a daily routine to them. Margaret was saying that at the end of November, the surgeon told her that he had done open heart surgery on a pregnant lady and that she was fine.

Of course, I have probably told you all earlier, that like me Margaret suffers with mental health problems too. So hearing Margaret being so positive, has been reassuring for me.



Ann, thank you for all your kind words and best wishes, they really do help me. Don't forget I am always here for you and all our other friends on here too. It is always nice to know that we all care about each other.


Huia, hope that all is well with you, and are managing and coping well at the Hospice shop.


Take care everyone.


Love and best wishes to you all. Sallie. xxx <3 <3 <3 <3

Sallie, I am so glad that you have Margaret to help reassure you. While the rest of us try to, there is nothing like somebody who is experiencing it herself.

I went to a funeral today. The music played as the coffin was brought in was far too loud, I had to put my fingers in my ears, and I hadnt even put my hearing aids in (somebody else also said it was too loud. I put my aids in for the rest of the service as there was no more music, but although the speakers were using a mic. I could hear only the occasional word. But at least I was able to say hello afterwards to some locals that I havent seen for a while, even if I couldnt hear what they were saying.