How are we all doing ?

OOH Denby. I can smell it. Sounds lovely. Best wishes.

Yum, I could just eat a slice.x

Well I will not eat a slice of anything as I've decided not to snack for as long as can be.  It's MrB's fault as he keeps buying chocolate & crisps, he knows I'm a crispoholic too!

The weather seems to be getting warmer again, flowers in bloom, & the birds are singing.  Actually they don't shut up, there's one in the tree nearest to my home where s/he's on until 10 at night & s/he just does not shut up . It really is so nice to hear.  I saw a robin last week, there's 3 of them.  They sit on the door handle on my balcony as they can see them selves through the mirrored glass.  I've not seen any squirrels for a while though.

Had a lovely shop today, it seemed calmer somehow.  The bank was open at 9 again, & we only waited 5 mins in the queue.  We walked straight into Tesco & I got fruit, veg, pasta, flowers ... no chocolate or anything like that, but I wanted to.  It's cheaper in Lidl, but we only go every 2-3 weeks since COV.  I know the prices are creeping up, but I was shocked when I went in one smaller shop where I go to buy sauce mixes really cheap & their prices have gone through the roof!  A sauce mix that I was paying 50p for was £2.50 . I wont be going there again.  

I haven’t eaten any crisps since before the lockdown & not much chocolate either.I’ve made flapjacks a few times but haven’t managed to perfect them yet.They tasted nice apart from one batch I accidentally cremated around the edges.I’ve been told that I make a good lemon drizzle cake.Our plumber used to shout ‘lemon drizzle cake’ when he drove past me.I never thought I would miss going food shopping but I am.The sun is out here but I won’t be able to go in the garden until the sitting service lady starts next week.Mum hasn’t been that well so I’ve been busy looking after her.She has finished antibiotics for a suspected urine infection.Love to you all.Jane xxx

Oh poor you and Mum Jane. Takes me right back to my days of trekking 60 miles every Thurs with trojan Mr. D to take a shift with my Mum until next sister arrived Sat. She always seemed to get UTI's on our shift due to not drinking enough in the previous few days. I got very adept at nagging her into drinking "a little more Mum, just another sip" and trying different beverages that would tempt her. [Parkinson's meds altered her taste, what was left of it]. I always knew as she would start hallucinating and or being stroppy. Really hope the sitting service proves a reliable support.

Polish your medals, it's Carers' Week!

Denby

Thanks Denby,It’s been a challenging week.How they could have cut mum’s funding is beyond me.She is having trouble telling the time,dressing,washing and managing her medication.I am having to supervise.The social worker was told mum could manage all her own personal care ! Mum is prone to urinary infections due to a degree of spinal compression.She has been quite good about fluids today but needs a lot of encouragement.Love Jane xx

I feel for you Jane, it can’t be easy as you aren’t 100% fit yet.
Perhaps when all the Covid situation settles down you may be able to get more help with your Mum. Certainly her social worker should be able to advise and tell you why her funding was cut.

Take care Luce xx

Thanks Luce,It seems obvious to me,my sister and my partner that mum has dementia though she hasn’t been formally diagnosed.She was admitted to hospital 2 years ago with confusion and 2 doctors did some tests and mentioned dementia.Mum refused to do the tests recently.She is struggling with spatial awareness,time and memory.It is sad to see but I am trying to reassure her that I will look after her.love Jane xx

What a difficult situation for you. It might be worth looking t the Alzheimer's Society website, or Dementia UK - both have a lot of useful advice for coping with the different types of dementia. My Dad had Alzheimer's - he remained manageable for my Mum to cope with him at home.

My dad had a number of small strokes followed by a larger one which left him with extreme confusion and dementia. One time he got lost from home while I was at work. He got taken to A+E where they checked brain function...."Where do you live?" ....unsure  "What day is it?" he had no idea ......... "What's the name of the Prime Minister?" to which he replied "Margaret Thatcher more's the pity". So not entirely demented eh? I know how hard it is Jane, so well done you. xxx