Dec 08 Mums - still biffing on

[LadyThompson]

Yes, yes, it's a bit lame. I wanted to say: "Still fucking on!" but wary of causing offence....

I know 'biffing' is a bit PG Wodehouse, as well. You'll just have to humour me

The longevity of this thread is amazing. I am sad some of our old regulars are absent now though. Effie in particular springs to mind. Does anyone hear from her? And JJ is v quiet now. And MoM. It's also been a while since we had a visit from PoisonDwarf.

I think a pre- Christmas meet is very much in order. Who'd be up for it? Shall I start a thread?

Yes, let's try to get something in for November / December to give us time to round up some strays and book something really nice. Thanks for offering to start it, RT.

I know I have only met some of you a couple of times but I really do think of all of you as real friends, rather than just names on a screen. It's lovely. I am so glad we got together. There is clearly real friendshop out there or we would be on one thread a year....

BTW, I am seeing Verso in a couple of weeks. Can't wait.

Have a quiet evening XXXX

I would really love to meet you all. I've met Trace a couple of time and she is lovely! I'll try and get down to the meet up if I can.

Yay for meet up idea! .

Meet-up thread

Kiwi, have you started back at work? How is it going?

Hi lovely ladies just on the way back home from the boat after a brilliant weekend in Lincolnshire. I relived my yoof on Saturday evening & met my all time fav indie (folk) rock star, & caught up with old friends. Have also stocked up on English muffins & crumpets!

Beans I'm sorry to hear how things are, and your poor mum. I can't even begin to imagine how it must be for her watching the love of her life go through this. On the puppy front, I would def speak to breeder & also maybe ask offer to pay for boarding if they would keep it long enough to house train it. You would be paying for food & possible carpet cleaning also. I think the nanny is a good idea, but also in the mean time I would be sorting out a few playdates with the locals, I'm sure the mums would be more than happy to help and it gives you sometime & if it is suddenly necessary the girls could be used the various households at later dates. I know it's not a solution if you suddenly have to rush off but you are going to need time to yourself before in the next few weeks - months.

Sybs, how is Verso, did she have another bub?

Rubes, bike & trailer your sorted. It is easy, or is the road a bit dodgy between you & nursery?

Dear God. I think DD2 has chicken pox. Could life get more difficult at the moment. I can't even take her to her childminder, or, I guess, put DD1 in nursery. Seriously, how can this be happening?? I'm meant to be taking them to see Dad on Friday so he can see them before he dies. Have rung Macmillan to find out if it's a problem if either of them Have it.
They've never had it before and I wa 5 when I did, so I do t know what they look like for sure. But so far she has one blistery spot on her neck and a few other little ones near it and a couple in her hair and in her armpit and in her back. The little ones are tiny, but the blistery one is bigger. She doesn't seem to feel ill at all though.
I probably won't be able to get the dog tomorrow either. X

Beans If you Google image chicken pox then there are lots of pictures to compare it too.

It can be dangerous if people have no immune system due to chemo but as your dad is so very ill maybe it is worth taking them. Hope they get back to you ASAP.

You can send dd1 to nursery if she is ok as she might not catch it and the incubation period is about 2 weeks.

Thanks Hons.

I've just spoken to Mum and Dad's been given 2-3 weeks by the GP who came to see him today. Really no time at all, so frankly, if DD2 does have them, she's coming anyway. I do think it is them, damn it. Lovely neighbour has offered to have them if I need to go and see Dad at short notice, so I will definitely take her up on that offer if I need to.

I can't believe it's that short a time left with my lovely Dad. Oh fuck it.

OH Beans, my love, how awful for you! If DD2 has it, by tomorrow am she will have loads. They look like red pimples, bit like mozzie bites before they scab. I am sure I've bored you with my pox stories, but in brief DD1 got it first, bit poorly but mainly just spots, DD2 and DS caught it from her, he was OK but she was very unwell, poor lovely. I hope Mac nurses know the answer. Vag is right about the local pals. Can your running mums help you out?

Good idea too about offering to pay for kennels esp if they will housetrain dog.

Will call you tomorrow. Sorry to miss your call today. Lots of love XXXX

Cross post sweetie. I'm so sorry time is so short. Your love for your dad shines through your words. He loves you all very much and he is with his family in his final weeks. That will help him enormously and will in time comfort you too. Sending love and prayers to you and to him XXXX

Oh beans . Do you need help? You are not far please do call if you need help. If it is the pox. Porridge oat baths and piriton will help with the itching. Lots of love. Xx

Yup, it's the pox!

How is she Beans? If it is pox, it should be obvious by now (and she will itch like crazy! Bicarb of soda in bath, piriton and ice cream if in mouth all help.) How are you doing? Am thinking of you and will call you later on. Huge hugs XXXX

My gosh Beans. The phrase "It never rains but it pours" doesn't even begun to do justice to your situation. You poor, poor thing. Could your DH take some leave, play doctor to DD2 and basically be a stay at home dad and let you go and stay with your mum and dad? Or could DH's parents come and stay? I just think you need to be freed of all responsibilities except those towards your Dad. I'm really thinking of you.

I second RTs suggestion. I am so sorry, BEans. What a shit time for you. . Am thinking of you and wish I lived closer and could do something.

Oh Beans I am so sorry. I wish I lived near by to help out. I agree with RT, get DH to take time of work.
I found Calamine lotion was really good when the boys had it.

I'm so sorry beans. Can your mil come up for a bit? Ring round and find friends who have already had the pox. People would want to help out if you let them know.

Hope your little bird doesn't feel too ill with it.

She's not doing too badly. Spots coming out all over the shop, but she's fine in herself and very happy playing with my iPad at the moment! No temperature and only a bit of itching. DD1 probably going to get it worse, apparently that's how it happens with the second one! Man, I'm itchy, though, and that's just thinking about it!

Unfortunately, my sister in law is due to give birth at any moment, so MIL poised to head up to look after her and she doesn't want to have come into contact with the pox before going to handle a newborn. I quite understand. I am in the throws of hunting for a temporary nanny. I've found a great agency, who will let us pay them cash in hand, and just give them an agency fee, which is good. Just waiting to hear if they've got someone who can drive and will be able to start tomorrow! Then life will be a lot easier.

I've postponed picking up the puppy, which I'm a bit sad about, but DH will go and get her at the weekend, which takes the pressure off a bit. The breeder couldn't have been kinder about it. Probably because I started bawling on the phone to her!

Dad not doing well at all. I think it could be just a matter of days now. He's in so much pain and Mum thinks he may have overdosed himself last night as he's not with it at all today. The hospice nurse is coming in to help Mum later and tell her what the best course of action is. I think Mum needs to press go on Macmillan nurses, but she's just going to see if it's really really necessary. But Dad can hardly even sit up now as it causes so much pain. It's too bloody awful. And I just feel so unable to help!!! Very frustrating!

PS Sorry to be such a misery guts at the moment! I know I have every reason to be, but think I need to pull myself together and think about other people too!

Please don't let me break the thread - keep nattering about other stuff, I like reading it!
x

Beans, so sorry, what a crap time for you & fam. I am so glad the breeder was nice. The puppy will bring you so much joy / company when it arrives & all with no strings attached! Dogs are fab for that.
Can dh take some emergency leave or something like someone suggested? You're not misery guts! You're human, and going through an awful time, which I wish I could help you with in some way. If reading dull ramblings is what you need, I can easily help with that - totally my area

PS I know you didn't use the words "dull ramblings" Beans, but rather keep nattering about other stuff. And, ladies, I'm speaking on behalf of myself only - I don't think any of you ramble with as much dull content as I do....did at one point....can return to for a bit

Beans you are allowed to be a misery guts but I am sure I can ramble about random stuff.

The boys opened DH's birthday presents last night on the webcam. It was quite amusing really.

My brother has organised all the London trip with military like planning. We're going to the Chelsea stadium, going to Stratford to look at the Olympic stuff, going on that cable car thing over the Thames. Plus a load of other stuff. We arrive at 9am and don't leave until 7pm. I will be knackered.

Hope you are all well.

Beans get your mum to get those Macmillan nurses on the job, it is better to get them earlier rather than later as they are well set in for when they are most needed and will know your dad and his needs better, for the time when he & your mum need it most. It's their job, they want to do it.

Glad the nanny thing will kick in, you need it. Poor DD1, all this going on in the middle of it. She is only infectious for 5 days after the spots appear, though I wouldn't be concerned about seeing him before then. With the pain relief obviously he doesn't want to over dose himself too far but if he has pain relief a little over won't hurt him. Again though the Macmillan nurses can assess his pain relief & help with adjusting his doses or changing to stronger meds.

Poor DS1 just fell off his bike. We were on the way to violin lessons and he tried to jump the curb & hit the handlebars really hard. He has quite a graze on his chest. He seems ok otherwise but we have postponed his lesson until tomorrow. I was all psyched up for the long ride to the lesson and now I have to psych myself up again tomorrow. Also I had plans for tomorrow that will have to change. Hey ho. That's how exciting my life is, I can ramble on about violin lesson. Oh one exciting thing. Madness is playing in Amsterdam at the end of the month and I just got tickets. Yay.

Omg my post was so mundane I scared everyone off!