The Cybergarden - Late Summer Edition

[madmouse]

Sorry been unfaithful, lots going on. But making myself useful - here's your new thread x

It's definitely cooler here, but not unpleasant out of the wind, and am hoping it will be fine enough for DB's proposed pruning efforts tomorrow.
Thanks for the interesting stuff about the space capsule, (really brave people who go to space, and am always relieved when they get back) and also the Leonardo daVinci drawings which I didn't know about and hope to get time to view properly. Did he actually have a design for a time-travelling machine? Believe me, No.1 beagle
could and would have gone travelling without need of assistance if he'd come across such a thing, having enjoyed every mode of travel except the hovercraft, which he decided to sleep through until the stewardesses came to give him drinks and pats. I didn't mean to ramble again, sorry about that, and will make a tray of tea things as it's probably long past my turn. Enjoy the s.

P.S Just caught the last of the most beautiful sunset, so hope it's still visible further south.

I'm feeling a little guilty around not being active on here. I'm having a not good day really. Went to see the wheelchair people today, and I gave into using patient transport (long waits - left home at 11;45, got back 2:45), so I was a bit concerned I'd miss my carer. I have a wheelchair seat like these , but not in pink. I think I am physically lots better than i was, so was hoping to get them to take it off and give me more normal seating. They're agreeing to some of the alterations (I don't need my feet tied to my chair anymore), but they say I still need a very shaped backrest/should be tilting the chair backwards to sit better etc It gets really confusing sometimes when I'm very much into the 'I'm loads better' thinking (which I am , but it's more that I can actually sit now, rather than not tolerating it at all). I should have said to them that maybe we should just leave it - the new backrest they're suggesting is £1K approx, which probably isn't worth the change as it's a lot to fork out (they said even this wouldn't work for me).

I went to the outpatients group today, and my thoughts were very mixed up/fast, so I spoke nonsense ( I wasn't following it, never mind anyone else). Shame as I needed to sort out today (need to somehow work out what I can realistically do now). I also went over my calories for the second time :s

I'm also trying to write a letter of withdrawal for my course.

Thanks for the shodatin .

I hope everyone's doing relatively ok.

Sorry lawful delays and impossible decisions today , upward ... so sorry you've had to make the decision to withdraw from your course - many hugs and hopes for new avenues to open up for you
Please don't be too strict with yourself about your calories - you can't expect to not have a day off < clumsy but fretting for you >

Thank you for sharing fine sunset , shodatin - I like doing that too [smile } and for yor joyously cheering post
Sorry in mad rush , will be back

You're right, it's only the second time since August...
Thanks for the hugs, take good care of you.

Oh upward, you have had an awful day! I well remember patient transport, sometimes unbelievably bad, and so exhausting even without extra delays. I joined a local group of volunteers, paying £5 p.a. plus petrol cost, which works like a taxi service but with vetted drivers and about half the cost, maybe there is something similar available locally?
Such a shame you feel you should withdraw from the course . Is it possible that the organisers could make it a bit easier for you to continue, or have you lost interest?
The wheelchair photos are a bit difficult to understand (and I'm so glad you are getting better), but I'd say it would be worth the cost if you feel more comfortable. It's a lot of money, but what is more important to spend it on?
You do seem to have had a stressful day, and not surprised it got difficult to follow, but hobs right about the calories, it doesn't matter now and again and I'm sure you'll have a day "under "before too long.

Hope you can have a more relaxing day tomorrow. Is it possible to have a private word with someone at the outpatient's group about the future, or does it not work like that?
Am glad this awful day is over for you, must have been tiring (and hope your door's fixed!) x

Thanks shodatin - I'm assured that the door will be done this week... The taxi scheme sounds good near you - unfortunately I don't my wheelchair doesn't fit in any taxis. I can't do fulltime, and it's only offered that way. I could have asked for a quick word after it, but I wouldn't have been unmuddled by then.

I will be trying to find some sort of treat tomorrow, maybe try a different porridge flavour...

I hope the weather's ok for your DB to get on to the pruning.

Great news about the door being fixed this week upward, as it's certainly been a long wait.
I know what you mean about being muddled (and not surprising today), but it's a pity if you can't have a discussion about the course. I hope that someone will get back to you and just maybe work something out.

A treat is an excellent idea, and there are suddenly lots of new flavours for porridge (and those snack bars, I see), but the treats I find seem to have lots more calories (and fewer good-for-you-oats), which is probably why you've been so successful with slimming.

Thanks for your good wishes re pruning, am hoping it does stay dry, Also hope you have a good day tomorrow, after a relaxing evening and restful sleep.

What a rotten day, Upward. Treat tomorrow sounds just the ticket.

But what an awesome achievement that in four months you've gone over your daily calorie count all of twice! No wonder you've lost so much weight.

And oh god I hear you about the "I'm so much better now" thinking. I know I should brace up, tell myself it's just a dip, scale right back, etc. But I want to curl in a corner and cry, in between stamping my feet and screeching, "But I've done being ill. Enough already. Wah!"

Anyway. Turn right and carry on.

Hope your racing mind stuff was just a temporary dip caused by a very busy, stressful and tiring day, and you pick up again very quickly.

Just to say goodnight all, as eyes keep closing. Better day tomorrow upward. x

Joining the hopes that the weather stays fine for you and DB tomorrow shodatin, and thank you so much for sharing your sunset with us.

I'm intrigued about No1 Beagle's travelling habits. Knew he was a dog-about-town in his home patch, but sounds like he really enjoyed getting further afield.

hob so glad to hear the B&W gentleman is recovering well. Hope your busy day has gone well.

Bedtime here, and will try to get out the right side of it tomorrow. Hope we all sleep well, and wake refreshed.

Good morning, sun is shining here and have just made the first mug of wake-up espresso, lots more available for any visitors although probably not warm enough for outside, as there are stirrings already of what are due to be gales further north, and I think our late, late summer is about to end.
Hope there's more energy buzzing around us all just for the taking, and that upward is feeling both relaxed and inspired to write the letter.
Off to open up garage, check for any overnight damage, etc, and plan easiest lunch for gardening DB - apart from sack of chocolate, that is.

Sorry for being unsupportive ... absolutely ridiculous minor emergencies here
Hope DB arrived today & you were able to get down to some well -bribed pruning , shodatin

You are being so strong to tackle the issue of the course . If I recall correctly you had been fighting to achieve a very tough goal for a long time , & I hope you can continue to adjust to realities whilst new paths become visible to you & give you some cause for optimism .

The racing mind thing must have been an awful ordeal , & I wonder if it was partly caused by your health conditions being perhaps triggered / increased by tiredness / hunger , as your writing later on was flawless .

Piling stress upon stress , you haven't been able to have your planned consultation on what your aims might realistically be now ... perhaps inspiring suggestions will have been unearthed by either party by the time you can consult that person

Thank you for wheelchair links , which are very informative & innovative . Am so sorry you were not able to tolerate sitting till more recently , & wonder if it might be best to delay the very costly choice a little longer - am sure you've waited as long as possible for health to stabilise but even among these specialised tech choices , it seems that the right one may not have been found - seems a very confusing choice .

< Pursues a determinedly - carrying - on Tianc, pats her arm soothingly & serves her comforting rustic soup & crusty bread > Feel miserable for you having the worry of a setback but I like to think the health condition is giving you one last fight purely only because it's in its death throes .

Patient transport sounds very stressful , shodatin , & so hard that there are no taxis adapted to your wheelchair , upward . The Guardian had an article about the impact upon chemo patients of long days waiting around for the transport.
Only offered fulltime facilities ? Might the hospital not reconsider & make adjustments under the DDA < no doubt been adressed >

< persuades upward to allow herself a big treat like a gift to herself or a new film or cd ... I know you've had the cost of birthday & Xmas to manage > .. Just remembered you said you felt a bit guilty for not being "more active on here " .. you have been dealing with so many things !! Thank you so much for kind wishes that I take care of self.

< wipes tears of mirth at thought of beagle on hovercraft > - do hounds take kindly to choppy sailing conditions , I wonder ? I bet the engine noise annoyed your boy .Please don't apologise - you never ramble < looks to self >

Had frantically stressful couple of days , with dh working from home till early hours as has been usual this autumn , but I was fairly pleased with how calm I felt with a very testing , prolonged situation < asked my Dad to help from his cloud >

Both felines have been pouncing around the garden , proving Tianc right on variety of prey . Glorious bright sun , which I hope came out for shodatin & DB too

Lovely to hear from you hob, and so pleased you felt there was help available from Dad when required. I know you don't like to moan about your problems - minor emergencies indeed -but I do hope they are now all sorted, or as well as they can be. Good news about both felines, and am pleased both are fit and active now.

It's also good news that The Guardian had details about the transport problem, remembering that the patients are so ill on chemo and (in my case at least) that the volunteer drivers are so kind and conscientious, and both can be badly messed about simply through lack of co-ordination. I'm so glad it's over for me, and hope it will improve in the future.
By the way, upward, some of our local drivers do have their vehicles specially fitted for wheel-chairs, and I had to find a different driver when my usual one changed his car to a much higher 4-wheel-drive, which was easier for some people to access but nearly impossible for me.

A good gardening/shopping/lunching day thankyou, with wind and rain holding off and view much improved by work by tall DB, who seems equally pleased with large bundle of ready-to-hang curtains
(and large-ish lunch inc. traditional pud&custard).

I can always wait to talk about the course til the CPN next brings over my meds (GPs not allowed to prescribe by the PCT) - if it was urgent I could always ask her for a quick chat. I just need to keep an eye on my thinking so I don't slip. Thanks for the suggestion, shodatin .

Were you refreshed when you got up, tianc ? - I hope you were!

It's just like my ideas slip instead of letting me summarise them, it's less of an issue in writing, as I can jot them down, whereas talking I end up not quite saying what I'm trying to hob - at least it's transitory...and it could well be meds related/fatigue/tiredness (and because I'd been trying to concentrate for a fair bit), you're right.

The wheelchair seating is confusing - although it seems like they haven't decided 'right', it's more that I've changed a lot - nearly 2 years ago 'the aim' was 30 mins sitting in a wheelchair. They got seating together to try and meet that, but then I had brain surgery and my sitting has improved since (alongside lots of other things, it's the reason I sometimes struggle to work out what I can/can't do - hard enough without the MH side).

I'm sorry things have been stressful, hob - I hope that calms for you.

That's very interesting re: transport shodatin - I ought to look at the local dial-a-ride (something else I couldn't have considered 2 yrs ago). I'm glad the gardening and shopping were successful.

Friends have cheered me up today - I've decided to get a proper CHristmas card list together, so did a mass message asking for peoples' addresses - lots of mini catch-ups from 20 odd people thus far!

(mine's cadbury's highlights with a flump, but I'm sure others' can be more exciting :) ).

Glad to hear your RL friends were able to cheer you today upward, it's also good to hear how much you've improved in health over the last few years, and hope it continues. I have similar problems getting the right words out sometimes, being OK some days, and I blame the meds plus pretty constant background effort - you may well be right about the tiredness too, but I have an idea that people do make allowances (and generally help with word-hunts).
Re local transport: mine was once called Dial-A-Ride, so sounds like very similar organisation and was v.good.

Will join you in a cadburys highlight, but what is a flump please?

What could be more exciting than Cadbury's Highlights! There is some corner of a college carpet that is forever chocolate, due to my Highlight habit. But the flump is inspired (it's a species of marshmallow, you wouldn't want to know, shodatin ).

Upward, wow, those sound like huge changes in the last few years. Very for you that you couldn't sit up for long before. Can't imagine how you've managed with bus journeys, etc. Very glad to hear things have improved so much, even when rapid change makes judging the right activity level quite tricky.

Oh hob, so sorry you've had such a stressful few days. Staying calm under (yet another) testing situation is quite a victory. Hope you're managing to rest enough after all this strain and busyness.

And I hope both MIL and DM are still doing OK, in their different situations.

Glad you had a good day with DB, shodatin, and a very productive day/week all round, with curtains and gardening and ver' yummy lunch.

I'm must less grumpy today, thanks all. Made myself stay in bed till noon and then clearly got out of it the right side. And I mustn't be grumpy at all, if it's making poor hob miserable - you're so empathetic and generous, when you need to be looking after yourself properly, m'dear.

Anyway, we seem to have all had better days today, hope tomorrow is at least as good all round.

Sleep well, all.

Good morning

A flump is a marshmallow, advantages for me being that they're individually packaged, and 30 kcal each, so less likely to start nibbling them as I probably would with a packet of marshmallows (and you can stir it with them :) ).

I'm sorry that you end up word hunting, shodatin. I'm very pleased that you had a better day, tianc!

Morning upward, and thanks for flump info, but am pleased I can avoid 30cals so easily. I do hope you enjoy the next one (you deserve two, I'm sure, having achieved so many improvements.)
All best wishes for an inspired letter about course difficulties, just a possibility someone might be able to help, as you've done so well despite so many problems.

Hope we all have a good day, and another lovely sunset this evening.

at stirring your low cal choc with a flump upward ,and at revelation of Tianc's chocolatey student years . Did you have an electric fire to toast your marshmallows , flump fans ? I was about to share the concoctions I invented at that age but it's unfair on calorie counters
< have never lost that weight >

So glad you felt a fair bit better ,Tianc , after dutifully making yourself lie abed , & hope today has been OK. Please "grump" as needed '< gets emotional about all the lovely cybergardeners coping with challenges >

Thank you for sharing another magnificent sunset , shodatin . I bet your DB thought Christmas had come early , with his armfuls of snugness to take home along with his chocolate . Please try to get lots of rest after busy week

Thank you upward for answering my qs about the frustrating speech difficulties you sometimes experience , with which you deal very graciously

Empathy with the the word finding , shodatin - does your brain file words alphabetiacally , or more by subject , or by sound ? dh did some work on this subject years ago , & enjoys trying to fathom my bran's organisation as I search for words which might fit

Glad you are so matter of fact about keeping an eye on your thinking , upward ,l & hope your cpn brought prescription & a chance to address queries . I understand better now about your changing situation over last 2 years , & agree with cyberfriends that you've had the most breathtaking things to deal with , yet you cheer up others & tackle fearsome things . Very cheering to hear about your mass catch - up with friends , how joyous < jingle bells emoticon > Do you hope to attend a sung / carol service this year , or would that be a bit too much ? .

Thank you so much for empathy on my stressiness , patient people ... have had advice from a kind friend , & will seek further from professionals re : DM's home situation - thank you so much for asking , Tianc

.
Practical / DIY type faffing will continue for next week or two but if I don't mess up the cleaning & strange tasks ( shodatin pricks up her ears sympathetically again ) & thus get us evicted , I'll be delighted & surprised ..
Have made some big decisions this week , & am implementing them in little steps.

Thinking of kizzie's family at difficult time . Hoping you get some peaceful family time this weekend

Thank you so much for your kind concern for DM & MIL , Tianc - you are so comforting & extremely helpful & grounding . MIL is much improved , still weak but emotionally , back to her fearsome self < whimpers > , with new mobility aids delivered in record time ( had she lived next door , in a different LA , would be waiting ages )
Sorry so long again

upward's magic

Thanks for posting news for us hob, although not quite enough as am indeed wondering again about the strange tasks, and even more so about this week's big decisions. Have noted your kind reminder about resting, and hope you'll be able to do the same.
Good news about MIL, and I do hope there's an improvement with her home situation - must be difficult.

DB didn't do too well with chocolate this time, and even forgot his rucksack, as we were messed about by someone's non-appearance and consequent changes to plans throughout the day, which was a shame. Am hoping that Christmas is nothing like that Thursday..

Wish I could tell you something useful about brain workings, all I know is that there is so often a sudden gap where a word I know perfectly well should be, and agree with upward that writing is easier.

With resting in mind, am going to say "goodnight" now and hope for early night and peace all round.

Oh dear, good news that MIL is so much better, but oops! Glad the mobility kit has arrived and hope adjustments are fully in hand.

Hope the DIY type stuff goes OK, even if it's not clockwork efficiency. Sounds like you have an inspection or the like coming up, so good luck if so.

Joining in shodatin's hopes that everyone had a good sunset.

Upward am in awe of your organisation at getting addresses sorted out. Oh dear, that job really needs doing here, too.

Hope everyone had a good day, including kizzie, madmouse and any one else passing through.

Sleep well all.

Technically speaking, you're right that flumps are avoidable shodatin ! I have sort of separated out healthy eating from the calorie counting, trying to be pragmatic as I've got a sweet tooth. :)

I don't know about a carol service yet hob - hopefully I will, just depends on logistics. I hope you do get some good support from the professionals for your DM. Good luck with all the change/alterations, step by step.

I hope everyone woke/wakes refreshed. Good luck with all the December preparation tianc, hob, shodatin, kizzie , madmouse and everyone else!

I'm hopefully getting a 3' artificial tree today :)

Morning all, and am sure you're right about the flumps upward, as am assuming they have artificial sweetener precisely because of people's sweet tooth (teeth?) and it must be so difficult otherwise. Could be another reason I avoid marshmallows, as confectionery was still rationed when I was a child so didn't acquire the taste. Enjoy!

Lovely that you have a tree due today - is it decorated or are you planning a shop? Been surprised at how many Christmas items are already on sale, and was tempted to buy yet another pack of stars for 20p.
Hope you've managed to do at least a draft letter about the course - I find it helps to return to it next day.

Also hope everyone has a good weekend, despite worsening weather, and we have a few visitors to the (rather bare) cybergarden, as there's usually available - kettle on for coffees.

Ah, that's a lucky consequence - I think part of the issue is that when I was a child, there was loads of negative press around squash (additives etc), so our parents gave has fruit juice (undiluted), which is so sweet (I don't drink it any more). I was quite surprised that it's not artificial sweetner in flumps.

It's not decorated, but I used a 3 for 2 offer on tree + 2 sets of decs, so it all came at once :) Pondering whether to put it up, or be a bit tidier first - somehow motivated today so have done an hour of sorting through stuff.

thanks for the organisation - letter will be over the weekend I think.

Have a good day all!