Episode 34 - The Tearoom moves to New England

[beanandspud]

At this time of year New England is famous for its glorious foliage as billions of leaves change from green to a kaleidoscope of colours. The air is crisp and cool ? perfect for hiking, biking or a drive along back roads, where farm stands are piled high with crunchy apples and orange pumpkins.

Everyone is welcome. There are tea, cakes and wine aplenty so pull up a comfortable chair and join us.

The usual rule applies - no fisticuffs please!

[CMOTDibbler]

I have come to a sort of peace with it LaBelle by just accepting it. Sounds weird, but since I stopped being upset, and upset by her loss of language, I feel so much better about the whole thing. But was still in tears when ds's name started going from her vocab a few weeks ago. I don't know if I've recommended it before, but theres a book called 'Contented Dementia' which is great.

But think of us on Christmas day when we spend the day in their house with someone who has now developed an obsession on hoarding half eaten food, and has about 10 mins of conversation ability a day. And though she remembers more about the far past, she can't express any of it. Might be interesting.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Oh Cmot. I'm upset on your behalf.

I wasn't recommending a scan - I'm not sure how much value my mother's had, as I doubt it told them much they didn't know - simply asking whether it was on the cards.

and for everyone

[mistlethrush]

and for all. We've got DH's GM with dementia and that's hard enough (mainly we're supporting his DM as she's having to shoulder most of the responsibility.

Christmas - I think the most 'interesting' Christmas was the one where we ate the nutroast that my mother had prepared and brought down to my grandmothers with us (as by then it was too much to do the whole meal preparation) and were relying on my grandmother's Christmas pudding - it seemed to be taking a long time being served and I went to see what was happening. It turns out that (because she had used 'recycled' tin foil etc on the top of the pudding) it came out of the saucepan with a nice green fringe on top.... which my parents were carefully removing, cleaning around the top of the bowl, removing a good lump of pudding from below the fringe zone and then turning the remnants of the pudding out to serve. My grandmother commented 'ooh its condensed down a lot this year'.

We also had the problem that it wasn't until she was well over 80 that she got a fridge, so never really got the hang of it - we regularly would turn up and find the butter and milk in the larder (where they had always been) and tins (unopened) in the fridge. The trouble was, whilst she used to keep the house really cold (think thermals and thick jumpers for any visit) she obviously needed it warmer when she was older and this wasn't conducive to things staying cold enough in the larder.

How we didn't all end up with food poisoning I don't know!

Mistledog is not at all well - mistlechick is really sad, as are we all. We're going to try to get a substitute hound asap, but want to make sure that its the right one rather than simply one that's available (been there, done that, not prepared to do that with mistlechick in the picture).

[Donki]

I'm sorry to hear that Mistledog is ill - and my heart goes out to those who are having to cope with dementia in loved ones. I wish there were some wise words that I could say to help.

I know I haven't been around much lately, and no that my post graduate diploma has started, I will have even less time, so...

I am giving up MN for a while (2 years? Aargh!). Maybe not completely, but I don't suppose that I will be popping into the tea room much (although I will still be around in the RL tea room, at least reading posts from time to time). So I thought that I had better wave goodbye. Adieu!

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Oh, Donki. I understand why you're leaving/stepping back, but I'll miss you. All the very best for the diploma and, well, everything.

[UniS]

fare well donki,
fare thee well donki,
The carrots will still be fresh when you come back.

there will forever be a slightly hayish patch on the tea room floor.

[mistlethrush]

[LaBelleDameSansPatience]

Does anyone know which is the body to write to to complain about your internet provider?



Wriggle's teacher asked me how I was today. She won't be making that mistake again (pushing me bodily into the Head's office, frantically searching for tissues) I was just trying to explain why Wriggle might have dissolved into tears twice in one morning. AP had got completely lost upstairs in her own house and Wriggle and I sat down and cried for 10 minutes before we washed our faces and went to school.

However, one problem at a time. Is there a particular body one can use to hang draw and quarter and publically humiliate complain about your internet provider?

[Banderchang]

Sorry to hear so many are having a hard time with loved ones at the moment. And bye to Donki - best of luck with your diploma!

LaBelle I don't know who you would write to in order to complain about your internet provider, but I have always had some success tweeting the actual company so that your complaint is visible to all and sundry. I had results from our local council re bin collections and Boden re deliveries when I tweeted them after days/weeks of frustrating emails and phonecalls about bad service. A coincidence? I think not!

[Jacksmania]

Hi all. Warm (((((((HUGS))))))) to all who need them, who are struggling with problems, have aging parents or ill parents to support, whose dogs are ill, who are being made to feel insecure by friends, and anything else I may have forgotten when I skim-read quickly.

I am now going to retreat to the priest hole. I have just yesterday been to the GP and have been diagnosed with shingles. I hurt and do not feel at all well. Going to go lie down now.

[Scout19075]

(Hugs) to all those that need and/or would like one (or more -- I'm not stingy when it comes to hugs).

We've booked our tickets home YAY! but not for an extended trip -- Boo! Still a chance we might be going early thanks to MrScout's work but nothing confirmed yet. Very sad about the lack of extended trip.

Yesterday was MrScout's and my wedding anniversary. The three of us went for pizza when MrScout was done work. Toddler saw balloons in the restaurant and kept asking for one. I played the "if you eat your pizza nicely we'll ask if you can have one" card (I didn't fancy being balloon bounced for the entire meal). He did, so we did, and he clutched that red balloon (it had to be a red one) like a treasured old friend. He held the ribbon all the way home, even in his full, overly-tired stupor he didn't let go. When we got home I came in and went upstairs to get Toddler's stuff ready for changing/bedtime while MrScout got TS out of the car. He told Toddler to keep the balloon inside the car until he got out so the balloon didn't get blown away. Sadly the balloon got blown out of the car and I could hear the sobs from inside "Balloon! Red balloon! Get it Daddy! Get red balloon!" The whole changing nappy/clothes he just sobbed "Red balloon! Red balloon gone! Want red balloon!" The last thing he mentioned to me before I left his bedroom and the first thing he said to us this morning was "Red balloon." All day (and I do mean all day) he spoke of nothing but "Red balloon sad. Red balloon away. Red balloon see sun. Sad red balloon. Ask for new red balloon?" Even in bed tonight, having kisses and cuddles goodnight, the last thing he said was "Red balloon sad."

This is going to be one of those things he remembers into adulthood, isn't it?

[mistlethrush]

all round by the sound of it.

[LaBelleDameSansPatience]

Remember so many balloons going off on adventures, which of course need to be described ... at length.

[UniS]

Do you think that ballon might be on its way to a windmill or maybe to Deon... If ist devon it rather wet and windy so balloon had best seek a friendly engine shed to spend the night in.

[Jacksmania]

If there's any wine going, I'd have some. And an Indian takeaway.




Left work early. Thought I could just soldier on as usual (with obvious safety precautions in terms of asking everyone if they've had chickenpox, and rescheduling my pregnant patients) but apparently not. The meds (acyclovir) are kicking my arse. I'm so tired.
Came home, no-one here, got into my PJs and fluffy robe and am curled up on my bed in the late afternoon sunshine. West-facing bedroom. Bliss.
All that's missing is some wine and Indian food.

[UniS]

lowered down in teh dumb waiter to JM in her hour of need. Mellors is just off to pick up your takeaway and will serve it to you shortly. He has no fear of shingles or chickenpox being but a figment of our imagination, but he is stunningly good looking.

[Jacksmania]

Well, that always helps. Ask him to bring an extra pillow, would you? I can't believe how ouchy this is :(

[LaBelleDameSansPatience]

I love the sound of your fluffy robe and west-facing room, Jacks.

[UniS]

Mellors also brings soothing nice things to ease your discomfort.

And of course choclate and s

[Jacksmania]

I really love our new house, LaBelle. I'd like to be sitting in the garden right now, it's the most gorgeous sunny October day. My yellow begonia is still blooming madly away. I think I'm going to plant a bunch of them next year.
Trying to rest a bit before its time to pick up JB at preschool.

[Scout19075]

Toddler still mentioned the lost red balloon today. Not as frequently or with such gusto but he still talked about it a lot.

We will never live down the lost balloon, will we?

[Jacksmania]

Probably not. JB still talk about the one we lost after his birthday party. It was pirate balloon. FFS, this was back in March.

[Scout19075]

Was it a mylar one, JM?

[Jacksmania]

No, a black balloon with a white pirate face. Went out the car window as we drove away from his birthday party. Oh, the tears... :(

[Scout19075]

Poor JB.

Toddler's was a red latex one. You know the type -- barely make it to the ceiling in the restaurant, hover mid-height by bedtime and are sad & sorry & on the floor by morning.

Can I tease Toddler about his overreaction when he's a grown man?