A very bad day yesterday, my best friend Nova, was involved in a very serious car accident, currently heavily sedated in ICU. Numerous injuries, was classed as life threatening yesterday, now serious and stable. Im not a very religious person, but someone 'upstairs' was looking out for her.
Its been a while since I last posted.
Christmas has been and gone, a fairly quiet affair, but enjoyable all the same.
I was a very lucky girlie, Gary bought me some lovely Pandora earring which match a ring I already have,
chocolates, jumpers, smellies. Nova bought us a cocktail set, so 2016 will be the Year of the Cocktail.
I am now 'on call' from work, for the next couple of days. Off over the New Year, and back to work proper on 4th January.
Not sure how we are going to celebrate the New Year yet, possibly going to Burgh Island / Bigbury.
Tonight we are expecting a stormy night, very windy and lots of rain, no-where near as bad as up North.
In 2016 I am going to write my diary everyday - lets hope something interesting happens !
For now, Live, Love, And Laugh in the New Year
Elaine xx
2015 has been a pretty tough year for us, what with one thing and another. It started with Garys operation, from which he is now fully recovered. I had much written about problems at work, I was lucky to have been offered a new job, and months down the line Im a lot happier with less stress and unhappiness.
We have had lots of problems with Garys Mum, getting older, and several different health issues, its still ongoing. Its difficult to get the help which is needed. Not knowing which way to turn. It makes you think because we are all getting older.
It has got me thinking about the 'true meaning of Christmas', its certainly not about the amount of money you spend, its more about giving people 'time'. Garys mum doesnt want presents, she has enough 'stuff', But a visit from family or friends to help cheer her up would be great. I realise we live in a busy world, but....
10 mins out of your day would make an older persons day. So we are not sending anywhere near as many gifts this year....not because we are being a Scrooge, but we are concentrating on visiting people ec.
Go on make someones Christmas, pop around for a cuppa and a chat.
Merry Christmas
Live, love and laugh
Elaine xx
It was my birthday today, it was a pretty quiet one, as Gary was on nightshift , we had some fish and chips on The Hoe in the sunshine, before going and watching the new James Bond film.
I have to say it was a very quiet one, and I couldnt get excited, perhaps Im just getting old.
Im disappointed after certain people didnt even send a message ! Luckily I have got good friends !
In the meantime, another year passed since losing my Dad,
Oh well, all over now
Still have Mother In Law in care at the moment, so visiting almost every day, as no-one else is !.
Like other people, despite having family, we seem to be the only ones doing anything. We do feel stretched at times, and its not helped as she thinks its our duty and is not thankful at all. Oh well, she should be going home later this week, with a care package of 4 carers going in daily.
I have had a bad chesty cough for a few days which has dragged me down, but hopefully on the mend now.
Decided to have a Flu Jab over the weekend, bit of a sore arm, but nothing to write home about.
U
Had a great day on Sunday, Gary had a rare day off, and we went for a lovely walk at Mt Edgecumbe, lovely weather, beautiful views over The Sound and Plymouth. Have posted a few pictures on fb.
Today making a start on the tidying of the house. Also the Christmas gifts and ideas.
Have booked a week in Kent towards the end of November, a cottage in Ramsgate, cant wait.
Thats all for today
Live, Love and Laugh, Elaine xxxx
Mother is staying in for a while yet, they have offered her a different room, which hopefully might help ease her mood, as the one she is currently in, has the nurses station and radio right outside, no view, right beside sime very dusturbed dementia patients, who are shouting all the time. Last night she was a bit happier, actually listening to what I said, not the usual 'I hate my life' or 'I hate it here'.
She has one of her cancelled hospital appointments rebooked for Monday, Im going to try and rebook the other one shortly.
Gary and I are trying to be more positive, which I know is difficult at times.
If you have an elderly relative, you might understand our stress.
Garys Mum lives alone, is 80 years old. She has never really been a positive person in all the time I have known Gary.
In the past few months she has had several falls, plus other health issues. She has been in and out of Hospital, and despite numerous tests they find nothing really wrong. She is getting more forgetful every day. She will swear black is white, is rude, arguementative.
I get numerous calls at work from her telling me she cant cope any more, wants to die, is in pain etc
She is always calling the doctor out. Luckily in one of her more lucid moments we got her to sign a letter to the surgery saying we can speak to the doctor n her behalf. So we can find out what is going on.
Currently she is in respite care, but she hates it, despite telling us all she couldnt cope at home,
She has us running around getting things for her, its unfortunate that due to family circumstances we are the only ones to be able to help. We both workfull time, and Gary is on shift work too.
She has had a care package in place for the last fewmonths, which means she has 4 carers a day going in, but because she cant or wont eat, they do nothing more than make the bed, open/close the curtains, make her a drink, she wont let them give her any personal care. One of her friends in the block who is also not a well person is the one she expects to make drinks for her, clean up after her, shop for her, and she won't say no to her. We try and do as much as we can, but MIL thinks everyone should run around after her.
Its really starting to get to me, as Im in a new job, and she is constantly ringing me, she is rude, shouts at us, wont listen, doesnt listen, expects us to be at her beck and call 24/7. I know that Gary is also struggling, so I try and do the things he shouldnt have to do, but its starting to cause problems for us at times.
Im not really sure how much more we can take, getting towards breaking point.
Thanks for listening
Elaine xx
As you may know, Gary Mum has been having sine health issues, falls at night, trips to A&E, hospital appointments for various problems. To date they have found little. We have had numerous calls from her saying she cant cope, saying she wants to die. In the end the doctir has decided a short spell in respite care might help. She was happy as she thought it woyld be the end of her problems, now we are getting the guilt trip about putting her in there etc, poor Gary is at the end of his tether. She is forgetting things she has said or done, then shouting at us, saying its our fault. We try and understand as she is 80, but its a very stressful time for us all.
So please bear with me if i dont post that often.
Elaine xx
Morning Bloggers
So much for my weekly roundups, life just gets in the way sometimes.
My life has been hectic, homelife, worklife and the Mother In Law, who has had several falls, numerous visits by her doctor, paramedics, visits to hospital both emergency and appointments. She is getting very forgetful, all part of growing old I suppose. I cant see it getting better in the future either, so deep breath !
I have lots of jobs I want to do at home, but not enough hours. I also want to get back to crafting be it card making, acrapbooking or sewing. Decluttering is also n my list of jobs to do, as it has been for months.
So I think I need to stop procrastinating, stop trying to organise and just get on with it.
Christmas is getting ever closer, which Im starting to think about, whether I should reduce who gets presents, the amounts spent, because to be honest, I know we dont give to receive, but some people hardly bother with sending us a card. I used to love going and buying that special gift, and I still do for the 'special people'.
We have just had a long weekend away in Bude, Cornwall. It was lovely, very relaxing. Just what we needed after the stress of previous months. Hartland Quay in N Devon is well worth a visit if you are ever in the area.
Thats all for today
Live, Love and Laugh
Elaine xx xx
Nightshift weekends, mean quiet and sleep, not only for Gary but for me too !
I can do very little at home whilst he is sleeping, so I catch up with soaps on tv, my guilty pleasure of Jeremy Kyle, read books etc.
i see the sunshine has arrived this morning, but for how long, the forecast is for thunderstorms later.
Its been a busy week, two late nights watching the British Firework Championships, the best one didnt win, in my opinion, but that happens.
We are going to Dartmouth on Friday to the Royal Regatta, hopefully see the Red Arrows, lots of other things to see too. Looking forward to it. Gary is working the Bank Holiday weekend, so Im going to findsomething nice to do for myself, whether it be crafting, meeting friends for coffee, or something else.
Have a great weekend
Elaine xx
I have just finished reading a book called "The life changing magic of tidying' by Marie Kondo.
With a new take on organising, tidying and recycling. Knowing that I have been looking at ways of doing this and always feeling overwhelmed by the tasks ahead, this book has given me a direction to help me get to the goal of a organised and satisfying life.
It is based on a Japanese lifestyle, where we need less stuff and like most people we have TOO MUCH stuff.
Easy things for me to start with....go shopping every fortnight, not weekly, use what is in the cupboards, freezer etc, therefore not have that horrible day when you check dates on items in cupboard and find them two years out of date ! I might need to get fruit/veg, milk and bread weekly though.
Second thing for me will be cosmetics, skincare and makeup stuffs....they go out of date too, at the moment I have a whole drawer full, which Im sure can be whittled down a lot.
They are my tasks for this week.
Elaine x
We had a great few days off recently, staying at home, we did a few jobs that needed doing at home, but managed to go to some local beauty spots - Bovisand, Mt Edgecumbe Country Park, Kingsand, Cawsand, Rame Head, which all have wonderful sea views. The weather was Ok, we didnt get wet !
Had a brilliant day at Centre Parcs Longleat for the usual Spa Day, very relaxing and just what we needed after all the stress of his Mum over the last few weeks.
On our last day we went to Dartmouth, used the higher ferry at £5.30 for about a minutes journey, but an experience none the less, picnic lunch on the beach at Goodrington, then onto Paignton, we sat on the Green watching people going on fair rides, and kiddies riding Donkeys. Obviously we had to have the 'yellow' chips.
Somehow during the week I managed to pick up a nasty cold, which did drag me down a little, Im only just beginning to feel better. Yesterday I rested and slept most of the day away, woke up this morning with a lot more energy.
Gary is currently away in Wales on a golf weekend, doing very well according to reports, he will be chuffed with himself, because he hasnt played a lot this year due to his operation and the bad weather we have had.
Garys Mum has been poorly, has been in hospital, had various tests, and on Friday we heard that the results show nothing really wrong apart from old age. Its difficult for us, as we both work, and she is ringing all the time. We think she is lonely and scared. She has fallen over several times and had to call the para medics.
Started on a tidying and sorting spree this morning, it feels good, the amount of stuff which has been purged and put into the re cycle bin is brilliant. This is the start of a lot of work in the coming weeks. I am determined to get our house sorted and tidied. I feel a big ebay/car boot sale coming, as we seem to have a lot of 'stuff' we dont need.
Enough for now, I must get back to the work.
Have a great week ahead,
Live, Love and Laugh
Elaine
Thirty five years ago today, Gary and I were married at Plympton St Marys church.
I cant believe how many people, family and friends who are no longer around from the photos. Shocking really.
I started to think about whether anyone else ever makes lists / organises their life ?
Despite at looking at lots of ways I still seem to never get on top of things, being paperwork, housework, etc
Has anyone got any smart ideas, which would help me to prioritise, organise and not procrastinate.
Its been a very busy week what with one thing and another. Mother is still poorly, in fact tonight she had a right go at me, saying that 'people are saying that she never gets any visitors' , what the hell does she think we do, and all she could say was, 'I know you work' .... She cant see that she is so miserable and rude, no one wants to visit her. One of the ladies who lives in the flats goes in often, visits, gets her drinks and meals, plus goes shopping for her, she is over 80 too, we have said she must rely more on the carers she gets 4 times a day and not on her friend. She wont listen ! I think we might have to make an appointment with her doctor.
Todays picture is My parents wedding day, December 24th 1960
Time really does go quickly as you get older....
Another week is nearly over,
Summer looks like it has gone too.... Very wet here in Plymouth this morning, and the forecast isnt good either. Its currently beating on the windows, just remind me it is July isnt it.
Well what has been happening in the Blake Household - Garys Mum was taken into hospital, despite x-rays, blood tests and more, there was nothing seriously wrong with her ! Which is very frustrating for us and her doctor. We have found out that she has a pain threshold of a Gnat, even the removal of a plaster had her screaming the place down. Unfortunately she has a bad back after falling over a few times, but if she doesnt eat / drink then she will be weak......and the list goes on. She is now back home with carers going in 4 x daily, but thats only a temporary measure. Poor Gary is worried about when that care stops....
I have been looking through old pictures on the Sheppey website and have come across sone brilliant ones which have brought back some very happy memories
I remember playing in this pool as a kid.
Views along part of the beach, where we played in the old days.
I am planning some "me time" over the weekend, for a little scrapbooking and reading.
Enough waffling for today,
Elaine xx
Its been a good week at work, and I havent been able to say that in quite a few months, apparently our previous employer is going out saying he has sacked Debbie (he didnt she handed her notice in, followed by them putting her on gardening leave). They tried to bad mouth me too, but luckily people didnt believe what was said. To be honest I have walked away head held high.
The picture was taken durung our last holiday in Cornwall, Nova and I being silly and Gary catching the moment.
Garys Mum has had several falls this week, not sure why, in fact she rung us in the early hours of this morning, saying she had fallen again, paramedics had got her up, made her comfortable, tried ringing us, but the mobiles were downstairs and we didnt hear them until much later. One thing learned we must take mobiles upstairs when we go to bed.
Been to the Physio for more treatment on my longstanding back problem. Finally feels like I am getting there. Also had a great gym session with Nova and Punisher Chris. Cycling, Rowing, a few weight exercises and stretches. We are due to go again tonight, but that depends on what is going on with his Mum.
Had a session with Lara, (Lara Lewis Hypnotherapist) last night, we worked on a few things, I would highly recommend Lara as she works wonders. She got me through my bad black days.
Anyway I want to finish with another beautiful picture from Cornwall, this makes me feel very happy
So until next time
Live, Laugh and Be Happy
Elaine xxxxxxxx
Im going to try and write this blog every week, whatever news I have.
Its now been 7 weeks since I started my new job at Total Freight, Im loving it. Nice colleagues, very nice environment over looking the sea. Its been hard getting to understand their systems, but at last I feel like I'm getting there. Angie has been on holiday for the past 10 days, so its just been me and Chris, but we have really worked well together. He really seems to appreciate me, which is more than I can say of the last lot.
The hospital has decided to take me off my tablets and injections immediately, without even seeing me to discuss it, I am now struggling with what I guess are withdrawel symptoms, I am waiting on a referral back to the hospital.
I have been spending a lot of time over the last few months thinking about 'organising' my life, but to be honest everything seemed such a faff, Taking too much time to get going, that I know I was doomed to fail.
Talking to a friend of mine, she showed me a small moleskine diary, week to a page, plus a blank page to write all my notes on. I umed and arhed about it, and decided to give it a try, its a 18 month diary starting 1st July. I keep it in my bag along with a notebook of the same size where i keep any thoughts when they come into my head. I feel that this is a good idea for me, not complicated, but organised enough.
Today has been a beautiful day, lots of sunshine, very warm but breezy too. Im sat here in the lounge, blinds and window open, its lovely. Wimbledon on the TV.......Gary is working on backshift all week, Nova has gone to Portugal working for a few days, so Im home along, got to get some enthusiasm to do a few jobs. Sorting out the washing, folding and putting it away.
Here are a few pictures from our holiday.
Holywell Bay and Caves below
A very windy day at Hayle Beach,
Great Memories xx
I cant believe where the time goes. Is it because Im getting older ?
Having just read my last post where I was about to leave Phoenix and go on holiday. So I will continue that story.....
I left my job, after 10 months, because despite many promises, things didnt happen. In the meantime customers were leaving us, and a chance conversation lead to a call and meeting, and I was offered a new job. To cut a long story short, Im now working in the same business, but in a friendly, busy environment with lovely people. 5 weeks have passed and Im loving it. I wont go into details but some people can be idiots and I believe wholeheartedly in Karma, whether it be sooner or later !
We had a fabulous few days in Cornwall, not the best of weather, but a nice break.
Good Morning Peeps
I know its been a while, but life has been a tad stressful, mainly work, but Im pleased to say I finish with Phoenix tomorrow at 5.30, it should have been good, but for lots of reasons, for me it didnt.
I must say a big Thank you to Lara Lewis (clinical hypnotherapist), who got me through many a crisis over the last few months. I really didnt realise just how bad things had got over the time. Gary did say at one stage he wanted his wife back.
I am now sleeping better, have got a smile on my face, Gary has his wife back again, we go out more, and generally enjoy life more.
Luckily I have been headhunted into a new job which I start a week on Monday. Next week we go to St Ives in Cornwall, for a few days, so life is looking better.
The sun is shining on my life at long last.
Live, love and laugh
Elaine xx
Good Morning Peeps
I cannot believe that we are already in April, now its officially Spring, the clocks have sprung forward, I hope the sun is shining on you, ok so its a bit windy and damp too, but Summer is just around the corner.
What is going on in our world, well Gary is now fit and back at work, still on 'light duties' for another few days, but he is doing extremely well. In fact he has started doing some jobs in the garden, removing quite a large palm tree, and cleaning out the water feature. He was very careful not to overdo things too much.
I have finished my sessions with the Cruse Bereavement councillor, it was very emotional, but worth every tear shed. I think I have finally laid to rest all of my issues with losing my Dad as a child and the problems with my mother.
Finally went back to the Gym last night to get my fitness back. I think Im going to ache a bit later, and as the lighter evenings kick in, I will go back to outdoor running to.
With the easter weekend looming, Gary is on nightshift, so what to do ? Good Friday will be spent working on finishing and being happy with my CV. Once this is done, I can start on looking and finding a new job, I realise its not going to be easy at my age, but I have so much knowledge and experience to offer a new employer. I am open to different opportunities, in any sphere of business.
On Saturday I will be having my hair cut and coloured, very tempted to have a complete change, with a view to moving forward with my life, but only time will tell if I am that brave.
Have a lovely week
Elaine xx
As you will know, Gary had to have quite a serious operation a week ago, we found out afterwards if it had been left much longer, he might not have made it. Monday evening I visited him in Intensive Care, not something I would like to do again. All the lights and beeps, very scary. He doesnt remember Monday or Tuesday in ICU. He was discharged on Saturday. He has 27 staples across his belly, which being removed today (tuesday of the following week). He is doing extremely well, a few little issues but all in all very well.
In the meantime i had put my back out, which was a big problem with driving and visiting him in hospital, plus when he came home helping him with everything, luckily lots of painkillers helped a lot (for both of us).
Work has been a pain, so i think i need to reassess in the coming weeks and decide what i want to do.
Live, love and laugh, Elaine xx
At last, Gary has his operation date...he is due to have his surgery on 26th January, will be in hospital for about a week, and off work recovering for approx 6-8 weeks depending on his recovery.
Its quite a serious operation, but luckily, he is fit and healthy, and they found it early, so he will be fine.
Elaine xx
Today after waiting for a few months to get my appointment, i had my very first visit with a counsellor with Cruise Bereavement. I wasnt sure if they would help me, as i lost my Dad many years ago now. I shouldnt have worried, she was extemely nice and talked me through how she might be able to help me.
It was hard discussing my feelings with a complete stranger, but.....despite a lot of tears, it did feel a lot better. I have my next appointment in a fortnight, would normally be weekly, but with Gary at hospital later this week, he could be in shortly after that for his operation.
No wonder i have a raging headache this afternoon. Tablets taken, hope they work soon.
Well thats all over for another year. The decorations and tree are safely stored away, left over food, chocolate and alcohol are gradually disappearing. I need to get back to healthy eating and regular exercise.
I have just ordered and signed for, my new car - a black Audi A3
I collect it lunchtime tomorrow - cant wait. Its the next one up from my current little A1.
Gary has an appointment with the surgeon next week, which fingers crossed should mean surgery the following week.
Its been a lovely festive period, a mixture of rest and work, but with all the Bank Holdays etc, i lost track of which day of the week it was. So it will be nice to get back to normality at least for a while.
Lastly for now, let me wish you and your families, a very Happy, Healthy and Prosporous New Year.
Live, Love and Laugh
Elaine xx
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