WEEKLY CHAT, SUNDAY NOVEMBER 1 2015

Margo has no landline and very poor internet connection. A large outage in their area last Sunday. They were supposed to come to Margo today, but will not be coming until next Monday now.

Margo also said,  " I am having a transfusion on Sunday, as blood etc have all gone down again. "

RITA- We have had meals of variable quality at River House. I think that Rocpool is more consistently better but it does get booked up at the weekends. I hope that DIBNLIB will read this, as she and her OH eat out more often than us and they know quite a few of the local restaurant owners, personally.

PS I mean Rocpool, not Rocpool Reserve.

Annette, My son actually arrived at daughter's house this morning and will be leaving next Wednesday, so we will be staying at daughter's, off and on, during that time. His wife is still in Geneva.

Rita, How wonderful that your family will be with you for your Birthday. Pity about the grandchildren, but very understandable. You couldn't risk such a long drive yet.

Heather, I am very excited. You could have pretended that your wrist was still painful LOL. I have to admit that turning the mattress, alone, is no longer an easy job. Just changing the duvet cover takes longer these days :-))

It does seem a long time since we heard from George.

I was woken at 4pm this morning by the rain, which was so heavy and noisy. I don't think our gutters were coping.

A very damp and dreich day here in Fife and it has been a rather misty week since Monday and not very pleasant to drive in as one bit would be clear and then you would drive into stretches where visibility was only about 50 yards.

OG I hope everything goes well for you tomorrow and that EE looks after you when you get home.

Clare Limpy and Helen my thoughts are with you at this time as until the funeral is over you can not really get into any routine with your life. Clare are you still looking for P/T work or has Minsmere taken over.

I still haven't had any information yet about the scans that I had and I phoned the consultant secretary and was told that he had been on holiday and that the information from the scans were on his desk so am hoping to get word shortly.

Rita my SiL's sister was looking for a cactus plant as something to have in her house that might flower at sometime so can you give any clues as to what she should look for.

Margo am thinking of you and I hope that the transfusions help you so that you and your O/H can have some quality time together and that Billie is keeping you company.

Hope everyone else is keeping well and those under the weather gets well soon.

George - Nice to hear from you, hope you get word on your scans soon and that they will be satisfactory.  

If your SiL's sister is looking for a cactus plant that will flower, how about a Christmas Cactus in flower from now onwards in several different colours, lots of flowers and very easy.  Not spiny though, if she would like the spiny sort of cactus, then look for a Rebutia, comes in lots of colours, flowers very well on a sunny windowsill in April/May and will grow bigger over the years.

Heather:  Re kids vs. animals - not sure about the logistics (eg cleaning up poop), but the slightest crackle of a plastic bag elicits loud squeaks from Peanut who thinks he's going to get lettuce or celery snack, and King (daughter's dog) has nailed the pitiful  "I want go for a walk and nobody is taking me" look.

Rita: Tried up resize a photo of Peanut but naughty Live Photo Gallery isn't responding. Will try again later.  How lovely your kids are driving up for your birthday. Have a lovely visit (wonder if they'll broach the "you should move closer to us" question).

Brenda: Thanks so very much for keeping us up to date on what's going on with Margo. I'm so glad you can actually talk to her (when connections permit!).

George: Good to hear from you!  Per Rita's comment, we have to Christmas cactii - they're lovely.

OK. Gotta run.

Unknown said:

Clare are you still looking for P/T work or has Minsmere taken over.

I'm still looking for part time work but it now has to fit in with Minsmere as I really enjoy it there.  Not easy, especially as I don't want to be a carer and I'm trying to avoid going through agencies as they tend to try to talk me out of what I want to do hours-wise.

George, So good to hear from you. I guess your consultant has to have a holiday, but how annoying that you are having to wait even longer for your scan results.
Thanks for asking about the cactus plant. I know the Christmas one, but didn't recognise Rebutia.

Thanks Rita, I will look out for that one.

Feeling quite overwhelmed – by all the messages here and on Facebook and by email!

Got most of a shower room – plenty still to be done, but on a practical level we have toilet and washbasin available, so boys will only need to share the wetroom for showering!

Had lunch today at the Old Toll Bar, where I had my usual sandwich of goats cheese and caramelised onion on brown with salad, and followed it with a very decadent dark chocolate and orange slice. Had left dinner in the oven, and enjoyed beef bourgignon this evening. Am allowed light breakfast before 6:30 tomorrow morning.

Brenda – thanks for passing on news to and wishes from Linda – pleased they got there despite fog. Have a wonderful time at your Daughter’s house seeing your Son – and tell us all about it! Dressing gown dried overnight and been in airing cupboard all day – packing is my next thing to do this evening.

Lynette – sorry you are still in pain; I hope you recover soon.

Annette – have a lovely time with your special wee friend Peanut! I hope your Daughter has a good visit.

Heather – dressing gown is a warm one – they said I must keep warm and may find the hospital cold (not my usual experience – maybe they are cutting heating costs!); I shall probably be in day clothes most of the time!

Margo – so good of you to think of me among your own worries. Sorry to see in Brenda’s post that you need a transfusion this weekend, and have communication problems once again.

Rita – HAPPY BIRTHDAY, and have a wonderful weekend. I hope you decide on a really lovely place to eat – we like the dinner menu at the Eilean Dhu in Fortrose, but couldn’t get in last time we were up.

George – sorry to see that you still await those scan results – it seems a very long time to keep you waiting!

Clare – still hoping for suitable p/t work for you.

Well, everyone, thanks again for all the love and support. I know I am in very good hands for tomorrow and should bounce back easily. We’ll try to be in touch tomorrow evening – partly depends on my time on the afternoon list and how many professionals have to give me various post-op instructions – and those dreaded anti-DVT stockings! Look after each other while I am gone!