The Goose and Carrot Pub Thread

@Zzzzzs sorry your cat has gone missing. I hope she returns.

@roaringdragon not at all silly to shed a tear that you're transitioning to adult health.

DD1 didn't really get a transition in health terms. I think her paediatrician got bored of her and so we've been left in a funny situation where psychiatry through the LD team adjust her medication for one purpose, then physical health switch it for another purpose. I don't know if psychiatry even know that her antidepressant has been switched by gastroenterology.

We went on our kayak training day yesterday. DD2 was fairly miserable in the morning, especially as it rained quite heavily and she hates the rain. The lead coach noticed and spent some time talking to us to work out how to help. He really took the pressure off, suggested that we just practice quietly in a corner or that she took some time out, and we said she could go home at lunch time. She decided to stay and was a lot happier after lunch. She did both of her wet exits (deliberately capsizing and exiting the kayak from underneath, with and without a spray deck sealing her into the cockpit), which was a huge achievement, and passed the course. I'm really pleased because now she can come out on the water with us independently of the club whenever she wants to.

Meanwhile, DD1 arrived after lunch and one of the club members took her out canoeing while we did our training. I had bought some cushions to pad the chair, but they'd already thought of that and had brought a special seat liner. She had a great time and paddled a lot.

I don’t know that we need much beyond what we’re getting. I wish there was a club/day setting ds might enjoy but he’s not really well enough to succeed starting something new. He’s horrified this evening because I suggested we could get some chickens. He actually asked for them some months ago but he’s tired now.

When ds aged out of paediatric his original paediatrician came to meet us. Sadly ds needed to go urgently so I couldn’t tell him what a help he had been. I felt very emotional.

College said they would help with transfer to adult services but nothing has happened. Do I need to do anything or do we just wander off?

Hope builders goes OK @Zzzzzs

DS left his bathroom open so went in to do more work but discovered there was a lot of dust etc from electricians and DS had also got muddy handprints on the new paint, tiles and soil over the sink. So I cleaned all that and the kitchen and entrance hall and cleared DSs cupboard out. DH cut some skirting board and then went to pick up more things - sink, tap and glue gun but ran out of time. Hopefully plumber round tomorrow to quote. At the end DS came to the door so we stopped then as he wanted to come back in to his bathroom. I hope we can get washing machine and drier moved soon as currently on an extension lead which they aren't really supposed to be on. We need to finish skirting in laundry room, sealant and put worktop in place, cutting it, get a few more items and ideally I would paint rest of cupboard and behind where drier currently is and we also need to support bathroom worktop or take down. Found DS had a bag of things he had collected - a £10 note, 20p coin, shampoo, rose bath foam, 2 toothpastes, DD or my leggings and DD and my water bottles we took to Borneo both full of water. Also found ibuprofen in the downstairs bathroom but reckon that was the electricians as its not a shop we go so got rid of it.

The electricians have made the downstairs bathroom light a walking switch and the cupboard light a sensor light and added more sockets than we asked for in laundry room but all same price and did the boiler switch move for free, though wouldn't have chosen a walking switch or sensor with DS but so far they are all surviving. Its very 19 year old electrics but great boys.

@Zzzzzs I am sorry about the disappearance of your DCat. It is devastating!

Sneaking an early morning catch up though to be honest things should ease up here a little.

One back to uni yesterday (so excited which was good but a person less at home is always strange and sad for me but I think happy otherwise). Ds is very very tired and we have all had a cold which doesn’t help. Builders in all next week. This is good because my house is so messy and dirty it feels insurmountable and I will be stuck at home in between ds activities so will just clean and tidy.

We have been having trouble getting meds again. (Compounded by a receptionist who has no record of ds’s need for me to take his calls etc etc and has decided I need to come into the surgery and fill out forms. Tedious not least because I suspect it’s just our surname making her feel we are not local. Oh the joys of having to prove we are worthy of breathing.)
Valproate so far doesn’t seem to have done anything much though ds is markedly tireder. Seizures unchanged but we increase again in a few weeks.
I laughed at @Lougle s brush with good day commiseration as I have similar moments. I am trying to teach myself to hear all the worries but not carry them. Great in theory but I woke at 5…!!!
My bees have died which is sad even though they were a free swarm and one of our cats has gone missing. It’s been 6 weeks and she’s 7 and has never missed more than the odd meal so I think something awful must have happened. We will need to get another as we need at least three (rodent deterrents) but I can’t really face the fact she’s not coming back.

@drspouse we tried a retro arcade place with ds. £8 for 20 goes and the pinball machines were a great success. Ds got so excited the guy at the next pinball machine paid for him to have an extra go when he ran out of credits. Sweet and reminded me of the 80s and similar things people did for me as a kid. I’m thinking of trying squash with ds. I suspect he will enjoy the whacking against a wall and its enclosed.

@roaringdragon
We do have a play room but it would only fit a tiny set of children's bowling pins and DS and balls indoors... Not a winning combo.

@roaringdragon Lol!

@PurringTiger we need to get it rolling, don't we? Let's set a date.

@roaringdragon thank you. I thought not. My CA will be taxed going forward. I have always felt very strongly about CA as it is left to rot with no actual reflection on caring responsibilities.

There is no incentive for carers to work. The caring doesn’t disappear you just get exhausted.

I’m in an odd situation where my earnings will exceed the carers allowance earnings limit for 3 months. My claim is being held open for 3 months which is good then I will be earning under. Is there an overall cap on earnings in a year? As these 3 months will be quite a bit of money but rest of the year not.

@Lougle oh she is so wiggly and pleased with herself. I am enjoying reading about the trying out of being near other girls it’s very exposing and brave to try that. Our meet up has slid but I have so many long conversations waiting to be had.

@NoHaudinMaWheest love the theatre adjustment for DS. Not so much the mystery around driving. DD deserves a detailed explanation whether she wanted to appeal or not.

@PurringTiger your DD is a sneaky little miracle. I hope she gets a bit of a smug feeling when she surprises you.

@JumpersFluffy its that horrible climb where nothing gets traction until you genuinely resign yourself to nothing is going to work. Hope the last minute focus kicks in for DD2.

DD surprised me today and met me at the station with DH in the car. That’s drive 2 under her belt 😀

It’s lucky DD1’s mind doesn’t ask those kind of questions! I bought her a dementia clock with the day, time and date on it for her bedroom. When she asks “When….”, we say “When your clock says December 25th”. She’s happy with that!

The down side is, when the day changes at midnight, we get quarter of an hour of

“It’s Friday now!”

over the auditory monitor!

I've had to set the Google speakers so when DS asks "how many days till Christmas" it replies "I think you can work that out for yourself".

We don't have anywhere to play them!
Big house no garden unfortunately.
What happened was, DS said yes please to pool, PA told me it's too expensive (it's cheaper than bowling) and told DS it's too noisy.
But we'll continue to work on things.

@drspouse DD likes bowling but it’s a bit much so we play boules. Maybe a set of boules with the pa?

The PA needs to work on his persuading skills - they went to McDonald's instead. But they had a walk round town instead of gaming.

That's great you have finalised EHCP for DS1 @roaringdragon

Glad DD2 had a good day @Lougle and hope her operation date comes through soon.

Hope you can get a cleaner @drspouse and they are good.

Just done gardening - well clearing the silkies house, clearing leaves, tidying up the stuff DH left outside from the laundry / bathroom work and clearing DSs fruit he eats then leaves round the garden (apple cores, banana skins and clementine peels but at least he loves fruit) and some weeding. DS also seems to have cut some small branches down so I cleared those as well. Now having pancakes which DH is making. DS took a bath whilst we were in the garden. Have ordered support legs for the two worktops and silicone sealant.

DS has come home and PA suggested pool and DS hasn't said no (plus he has found £1 to buy sweets with if that buys anything these days!) so we'll see how that goes.
I am mainly chilling on the sofa this afternoon having been running errands and hoovering. Have been messaging cleaners too as it's getting desperate.