WOW.... Two whole months since I last got round to posting on here.
Things on the decorating front haven't exactly been going to plan, however I did get the storage unit emptied at the beginning of October. I also treated myself to a new full sized bicycle. Have kept my little foldaway though... just in case :O.
One of our neighbours moved away down to dorset the first week of october, but we haven't actually got to speak yet to the new family that moved in. She is one of the daughters of another neighbour, so I'm not sure if I got to speak to her when we met her parents.
We got the paving at the back finished and had the new gate etc fitted, but our neighbour has decided that he doesn't like what we've done to the bank outside the gate. When we moved, in March, it was all overgrown, so we tidied it up - he'd previously put decorative blocks along the edge and had put some plants into it. We'd dug it over and replanted, which he seemed pleased with, but certainly made no negative comments about it, but it now turns out that until his daughter moved he hadn't been able to use their garage as the daughter had been using it for storage, however once it was usable again they couldn't turn it their garage without clipping the blocks so asked me to alter the bank and path to give them sufficient turning. I'd had plans to change the path anyway once the inside was finished to make the path wider for GOM's wheelchair, so I didn't forsee any problems, he didn';t undestand that it was a'work in progress' and even when I did make a start, I didn't get as much done as I wanted as my old back problems came back and have since prevented me doing any more digging. I need to find someone to finish it off for me as I still have a quite a few hedging plants to go in too but haven't got them in. If I don't do it soon I'll lose them to the frost.
The original plan was to start the internal decorating at the beginning of October, but because the fine weather held, the contractor wanted to stick with the external work and get it finished. This put the internal work back so we had to reschedule and at the beginning of November started work on the kitchen instead of the some of the other rooms. This turned out to be more involved that originally planned as certain things came to light as it progressed, so we ended up with new base units and a new sink etc, still glad it was done unfortunately this meant the job over ran by 2 days and our contractor had to leave us to go off and do a 'small' job that was only supposed to take one day however this stretched to two days and then he went down with a bad dose of flu, which went on for TWO WEEKS. Finally we got him back this week, but it means that only half the rooms that I wanted looking presentable for Christmas (and GOM's birthday) will have been finished and the bathroom that was scheduled to start on Monday (4th) won't get underway until 8th/9th, and it's touch and go whether it will be straight by the break. We've been promised that the suite will be in even if the tiling isn't finished.
We had the new flooring scheduled for last week too which meant that only part of it could be done - the vinyl has been laid in the kitchen and hall but the carpet for the office/dining room had to be rescheduled and should be done on Monday
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Friday, September 29, 2006
GOM had his ultra sound scan at the end of august. He needed to go with a full blader so he had to drink 2 pints just before we left. Appointment was 1.45pm but they didn't come out to check us in until nearly 2pm by which time the poor little fella was BURSTING :O
Anyway finally got him in and had his first lot of scan's then it was SUCH A RELIEF, he could go and relieve himself, more scans but the pressure made him want to go again so finally had his last lot of scans and he was finished. We'd been lucky too with the parking at the hospital.
Went for the results last wednesday. Mainly good news - no infections in kidneys and bladder however the bladder is quite enlarged - holding 800ml instead of 450-500ml. Have had some meds prescribed which should hopefully allow the bladder to shrink back to normal size.
On the refurb we were away for about 8 days , and the electrician used the time well and worked long days and got everything finished by the time we got back. however inspite of him dusting round after himself there was still a fine layer of dust on everything, which took me a few days to get on top of, although I wasn't going too mad as we had all the decorating to get done before I could get straight, but have the main rooms dusted down.
18th September our other contractor came back and started to put boards down in the loft, this was due to take 2-3 days then he was scheduled to start work on the rest of the paving as long as the weather held. Unfortunately on day two he slipped, while up in the loft, and put his leg through the ceiling, so we lost a few days while he recovered. Made a start on preping on 25th and by the end of this week had the small front verge paved and most of the back garden dug up, cleared and ready for the new paving. They're having a break next week (2nd October) which fitted in with our neighbours moving plans, then they are back for a week - from 9th October during which if the weather holds they should be able to finish the back garden or else they will start making good and decorating inside.
That week I have also arranged for one of our storage units to be cleared - which was why we needed the loft boarded, so it's goint to be a pretty frantic week with appointments etc and we still have to try and fit in an appointment to see gp to get repeat prescription for the meds that the hospital gave us.
The contractor is then taking a break for another week during which I need to get the rooms switched round for the next phase of decorating.
Anyway finally got him in and had his first lot of scan's then it was SUCH A RELIEF, he could go and relieve himself, more scans but the pressure made him want to go again so finally had his last lot of scans and he was finished. We'd been lucky too with the parking at the hospital.
Went for the results last wednesday. Mainly good news - no infections in kidneys and bladder however the bladder is quite enlarged - holding 800ml instead of 450-500ml. Have had some meds prescribed which should hopefully allow the bladder to shrink back to normal size.
On the refurb we were away for about 8 days , and the electrician used the time well and worked long days and got everything finished by the time we got back. however inspite of him dusting round after himself there was still a fine layer of dust on everything, which took me a few days to get on top of, although I wasn't going too mad as we had all the decorating to get done before I could get straight, but have the main rooms dusted down.
18th September our other contractor came back and started to put boards down in the loft, this was due to take 2-3 days then he was scheduled to start work on the rest of the paving as long as the weather held. Unfortunately on day two he slipped, while up in the loft, and put his leg through the ceiling, so we lost a few days while he recovered. Made a start on preping on 25th and by the end of this week had the small front verge paved and most of the back garden dug up, cleared and ready for the new paving. They're having a break next week (2nd October) which fitted in with our neighbours moving plans, then they are back for a week - from 9th October during which if the weather holds they should be able to finish the back garden or else they will start making good and decorating inside.
That week I have also arranged for one of our storage units to be cleared - which was why we needed the loft boarded, so it's goint to be a pretty frantic week with appointments etc and we still have to try and fit in an appointment to see gp to get repeat prescription for the meds that the hospital gave us.
The contractor is then taking a break for another week during which I need to get the rooms switched round for the next phase of decorating.
Monday, August 14, 2006
God where has the time gone - it's nearly THREE MONTHS and such a lot has been going on.
Front bedroom has been decorated and we have moved in although it's still housing the two spare mattress (4 ft and 4ft 6). Have moved the sofa bed out into the other bedroom and it currently has stuff stacked on top of it again.
Have retrieved all of our fans from storage - even though the front rooms are cooler than the back, it still got too hot during the July heatwave. Also retrieved the frame of the 4ft 6 bed intending to put it together only to find that I had stored the bolts in a box somewhere unknown in storage unit?? :( hence the mattress is still taking up residence in the main bedroom.
The new loft hatch and ladder are installed and the hallway decorated - have a new wardrobe acting as coat cupboard in place of the fitted ones.
We ordered a 12 yard skip to get rid of our rubbish to date thinking that we would only half fill it but we had enough in the end to fill it.
Still have all the books that I found in the loft, no dealer seems to be interested although some of them seem quite OLD. Have decided to keep these but not sure what I'll do with the others. There was over 100 and will probably keep about a third.
Glazing was done the second week of July, and it's made such a difference. Not sure we could have survived the heatwave without the new kitchen windows. Can still watch quite a bit of the wildlife.
Got the paving works started mid July. The plan was to pave the front garden then the front verge, then extend the existing small back patio, but at the beginning of July when we got the first water bill after the installation of a meter we discovered that there was probably a problem with our water main, so we deferred the work on the front verge and started on the back after the front garden.
Unfortunately it took the water board's contractor about three weeks to come round and decide that there wasn't a problem with their end, so now we've had to dig up some of the new paving in the front garden and have a new main put in. Cheaper that trying to find the old leak.
Then last week had the local tree surgeon family come round and get our greenery into order. They've taken down most of the silver birch (which had been badly hacked about and killed off by some unknown contractor) - just left us a 6ft 'stump' (as requested for our 'feature' gateway), have tidied up our fruit trees and taken away the honesuckle bush that was dominating one side of our garden. We've gained about 3m by 5m of garden at the back, although we can now see through next door's hedge so will have to re hedge our side of the fence when the time is right (about end of september). Then we had them tidy up the front, there was a laurel? that has been tidied up and massive rose bush by the front gate that has been cut back to just a tiny bush. It's left a big gap along the wall but I can get some more plants to fill the whole.
Finally we have the electrician lined up to do the rewiring at the end of this month so we're taking ourselves away for a bit so that he can 'crack on' and not have to worry about getting the power back at the end of each day.
That's all the catching up done..... I think
Front bedroom has been decorated and we have moved in although it's still housing the two spare mattress (4 ft and 4ft 6). Have moved the sofa bed out into the other bedroom and it currently has stuff stacked on top of it again.
Have retrieved all of our fans from storage - even though the front rooms are cooler than the back, it still got too hot during the July heatwave. Also retrieved the frame of the 4ft 6 bed intending to put it together only to find that I had stored the bolts in a box somewhere unknown in storage unit?? :( hence the mattress is still taking up residence in the main bedroom.
The new loft hatch and ladder are installed and the hallway decorated - have a new wardrobe acting as coat cupboard in place of the fitted ones.
We ordered a 12 yard skip to get rid of our rubbish to date thinking that we would only half fill it but we had enough in the end to fill it.
Still have all the books that I found in the loft, no dealer seems to be interested although some of them seem quite OLD. Have decided to keep these but not sure what I'll do with the others. There was over 100 and will probably keep about a third.
Glazing was done the second week of July, and it's made such a difference. Not sure we could have survived the heatwave without the new kitchen windows. Can still watch quite a bit of the wildlife.
Got the paving works started mid July. The plan was to pave the front garden then the front verge, then extend the existing small back patio, but at the beginning of July when we got the first water bill after the installation of a meter we discovered that there was probably a problem with our water main, so we deferred the work on the front verge and started on the back after the front garden.
Unfortunately it took the water board's contractor about three weeks to come round and decide that there wasn't a problem with their end, so now we've had to dig up some of the new paving in the front garden and have a new main put in. Cheaper that trying to find the old leak.
Then last week had the local tree surgeon family come round and get our greenery into order. They've taken down most of the silver birch (which had been badly hacked about and killed off by some unknown contractor) - just left us a 6ft 'stump' (as requested for our 'feature' gateway), have tidied up our fruit trees and taken away the honesuckle bush that was dominating one side of our garden. We've gained about 3m by 5m of garden at the back, although we can now see through next door's hedge so will have to re hedge our side of the fence when the time is right (about end of september). Then we had them tidy up the front, there was a laurel? that has been tidied up and massive rose bush by the front gate that has been cut back to just a tiny bush. It's left a big gap along the wall but I can get some more plants to fill the whole.
Finally we have the electrician lined up to do the rewiring at the end of this month so we're taking ourselves away for a bit so that he can 'crack on' and not have to worry about getting the power back at the end of each day.
That's all the catching up done..... I think
Friday, May 19, 2006
It was a real 'mad house' here on Monday, the facia guys turned up first to 'crack on' and get the guttering finished, then the guys turned up to spray the foam, but they had to hang around for about an hour before starting as the other guys were still working on where the others wanted to run the hose in :(
They started about 10.30 and estimated about 5 hours to spray the foam - they told us afterwards that the area of our roof space is LARGER than a normal semi.
Then the facia guys discovered that they hadn't been given enough brackets for the guttering
:( They reckoned that the surveyor estimated for brackets to go every metre and not 800mm as they should be so they only got three sides done before they had to leave and get some more - the local supplier only had white NOT black.
The foam guys left about 2pm and the others then returned about for about 10 minutes to finish the last side.
Rubbish got collected on Tuesday, when we discovered that part of the lounge ceiling had been dented :( - they couldn't see what could have done it but later investigation by our builder discovered that there was a long length of twisted pipe up in the roof space that could have slipped between the beams and 'poked' a hole in the ceiling.
Our builder did his usual two days (thursday and Friday) and made a start on our main bedroom which is currently unusable for anything other than storage.
Yesterday he got the fitted wardrobes out and decommissioned an old 'built in' electric heater and we could see the full extend of what needed to be done - not too bad. Today he came back and stripped all the old paper off and made good - also sealed an old vent that is now 'defunct'. Then on his two days next week he will decorate using some odd rolls of paper that I have and paint so that we can move in there and hopefully GOM will have more room to get his w/chair nearer to the bed.
Glazing has been lined up for after the first week of July, so hopefully in the intervening weeks we can get the new loft hatch sorted and the rewiring and new pipework for the radiators planned.
Hoping to have my parents to stay for the Fathers' day weekend as our residents association is having their summer party where we can invite family - it may also be a prequal for my BIG Birthday in July :O
They started about 10.30 and estimated about 5 hours to spray the foam - they told us afterwards that the area of our roof space is LARGER than a normal semi.
Then the facia guys discovered that they hadn't been given enough brackets for the guttering
:( They reckoned that the surveyor estimated for brackets to go every metre and not 800mm as they should be so they only got three sides done before they had to leave and get some more - the local supplier only had white NOT black.
The foam guys left about 2pm and the others then returned about for about 10 minutes to finish the last side.
Rubbish got collected on Tuesday, when we discovered that part of the lounge ceiling had been dented :( - they couldn't see what could have done it but later investigation by our builder discovered that there was a long length of twisted pipe up in the roof space that could have slipped between the beams and 'poked' a hole in the ceiling.
Our builder did his usual two days (thursday and Friday) and made a start on our main bedroom which is currently unusable for anything other than storage.
Yesterday he got the fitted wardrobes out and decommissioned an old 'built in' electric heater and we could see the full extend of what needed to be done - not too bad. Today he came back and stripped all the old paper off and made good - also sealed an old vent that is now 'defunct'. Then on his two days next week he will decorate using some odd rolls of paper that I have and paint so that we can move in there and hopefully GOM will have more room to get his w/chair nearer to the bed.
Glazing has been lined up for after the first week of July, so hopefully in the intervening weeks we can get the new loft hatch sorted and the rewiring and new pipework for the radiators planned.
Hoping to have my parents to stay for the Fathers' day weekend as our residents association is having their summer party where we can invite family - it may also be a prequal for my BIG Birthday in July :O
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Beginning to find all the little oddities of the building now.
After once having a house that was over 100 years old I didn't really expect things to be 'square' but it's interesting how deceptive the eye can be.
This is the floor plan and running in line with the tops of the doors is a picture rail that runs all the way round begining and ending at the front door. It looks all the same height so the problems must be with the floor.
The first three doors went on without too much trouble although one had to have a total of about half an inch taken of the top and botton but the other two needed very little taken off.
The next three were two standard room doors and one narrower 27 inch cupboard door.
One door took nearly FIVE Hours to put on and needed more than an inch taken off the top and bottom - so much in fact that the tools kept hitting the staples that are used to hold the door together. Our maintenance man blunted all his tools and broke his electric planer which was why it took so long as he had to do all the planeing by hand. In comparison the next door he put on was actually TOO SHORT and NARROW for the space and the only bit that had to be taken off was one corner where there was a telephone cable running through the door way. It's only the door stops that cover the gaps.
The only door left to do now is the one for the bedroom that we have to decorate before we can use it. There are fitted cupboards to come out so no point putting the door on yet until this room is finished.
Other work is now getting scheduled as they came to start the work on the roof last wednesday. But then things went a bit pear shaped on thursday when the team started to put up the facia and guttering when in reality they didn't know what they were supposed to be doing. A new teamed turned up on Friday and had to start again almost from scratch - in fact the team leader said it would have been quicker if they had started from scratch, but they didn't finish on Friday and left us without guttering - and yes, you guessed it, we had a torrential downpour on Friday night. They came back for a few hours on Saturday, but still didn't get finished so still no guttering. The guys are supposed to be coming on Monday to spray the foam insulation on the inside, so we'll have both teams working here. Should be interesting
Next Job is the glazing - we know the company - they did the glazing at the flat - so there shouldn't be any problems here and we need to get in a tree surgeon to sort out some of the trees at the end of the garden - but that's another story
Monday, May 01, 2006
Finding muscles I didn't know about - it can only be because of the extra work caused by the move.
Latest is my right arm.
I'm supposed to 'help' gom with an exercise programme but with a sore arm it's not been possible as his legs are a 'dead weights' and it hurts me to just to lift them to do the stretches/exercises without even trying to push against his legs when they don't want to go :(
On top of this they can sometimes go into spasm when I've been holding them which has probably contributed to my problems.
Have had a couple of massages that have included some work on the arms which has helped a bit, but...... It also give me a good excuse to have baths rather than showers although showers at home aren't really viable at the moment because of the water pressure (hardly anything coming out of the shower head).
Managed to make some sort of inroad to the garden at the weekend - got a mower and got too the lawn - but it had been allowed to get too long and was a real struggle but got there in the end nealry started to have problems with my back again but I think I was able to pack up just in time.
Latest is my right arm.
I'm supposed to 'help' gom with an exercise programme but with a sore arm it's not been possible as his legs are a 'dead weights' and it hurts me to just to lift them to do the stretches/exercises without even trying to push against his legs when they don't want to go :(
On top of this they can sometimes go into spasm when I've been holding them which has probably contributed to my problems.
Have had a couple of massages that have included some work on the arms which has helped a bit, but...... It also give me a good excuse to have baths rather than showers although showers at home aren't really viable at the moment because of the water pressure (hardly anything coming out of the shower head).
Managed to make some sort of inroad to the garden at the weekend - got a mower and got too the lawn - but it had been allowed to get too long and was a real struggle but got there in the end nealry started to have problems with my back again but I think I was able to pack up just in time.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Been in our new home a month and WHAT A MONTH
Got gom up to his sisters on Sunday, then had the final pack up on Monday.
The BIG day (Tuesday) was fairly unevenful - but took longer that expected to load everything and the removals were still packing when our buyer turned up to say everything had gone through and he was ready to move in :(
This made the final departure a bit rushed and a few things got left behind, which apart from a barometer that was given to me by my late grandmother I can live without.
My back was beginning to suffer by Tuesday evening had never been on my feet for so long - most of Monday and Tuesday so things started to get a bit difficult to sort out. Tried to have a bath on Wednesday night but the hot water ran out - the valve from the feeder tank had probably seazed up - couldn't get the plumber on Thursday as I was going up to get gom, but got th plumber on Friday and he sorted out the hot water and also 'plumbed in' the washing machine.
Also on the Friday had to have an emergency deep muscle massage as my back was in a REALLY BAD way, it did the trick though.
Slowly each room has started to become functional and have got rid of the boxes. We're not in our first choice bedroom yet as the main one needs a bit of major redecoration so is being used for storage. The one we're using is a bit small but we've got the important bits in although it's not that ideal for gom to get around in his wheelchair, but he can just about managed.
Most of the doors were taken of as they had glass panels in them and would have been a hazzard. Three are being replaced 2moro and the others l8r.
We've had quotes for the work on the roof and for replacing the remaining glazing, then once this has been done we can start on the internal refurbishment. It's a toss up at the moment whether we have the kitchen or the bathroom done first. Both have issues but the bathroom is better decoratively than the kitchen so I'd like some remedial work done on this first as this is being used as our dining area, however the bathroom doesn't have a functioning shower - low water pressure means that the one we've got isn't much use and we still have to run water in the bath, then just use the shower attachment to rinse off- so this may be considered ahead of the kitchen.
Easter Sunday - the oldest radiator, in the lounge, decided to spring a leak - fortunately we were home and managed to get it turned off before too much water had soaked the carpet. Thankfully it wasn't too cold so we could live without the heat being on in the lounge
Got the plumber in to fit a new rad on Tuesday and this was when the carpet took a battering as the old rad was full of gunk which spat out EVERYWHERE :(
The garden is really getting going now. Need to get a mower and have a go at the grass at the back. A very nice neighbour is keeping the bit at the front under control as its a continuation of theirs so it makes some sense for them to carry on - they used to help the previous resident (an old lady of 95!!).
Have got quite a bit of wildlife . Goldfinches (previously only seen in books), Robins, blackbirds, sparrows, blue tits and I think there was a great tit too. Squirrels like playing in the many trees of various sizes :O
Friday, March 24, 2006
Well we're going into our last weekend at our current place. Last meal won't be anything special - gom want's to keep it light ;O
Then sunday afternoon braving the roadworks on the M1 to get him to his sisters THEN I've got to do the return journey :( a few hours l8r.
Had our completion statements from the solicitors today with the bill for the outstanding fees and arranged payment.
Monday moring someone from the rmoval company is coning to help with the final pack up - hopefully if the weather is with me tomorrow I can get down the garage and get that end of it ready for Tuesday. I will then be able to do the bulk of the cleaning leaving me minimal to do on Tuesday.
Don't have to pick gom up again until Thursday by which time I shoukld be reasonably straight ..... HOPE?
Then sunday afternoon braving the roadworks on the M1 to get him to his sisters THEN I've got to do the return journey :( a few hours l8r.
Had our completion statements from the solicitors today with the bill for the outstanding fees and arranged payment.
Monday moring someone from the rmoval company is coning to help with the final pack up - hopefully if the weather is with me tomorrow I can get down the garage and get that end of it ready for Tuesday. I will then be able to do the bulk of the cleaning leaving me minimal to do on Tuesday.
Don't have to pick gom up again until Thursday by which time I shoukld be reasonably straight ..... HOPE?
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Move now stalled indefinately :(
GOM paid his mortgages off 17 years ago however the buyer's solicitors found an outstanding charge still against the flat for one of the mortgage companies. OUR solicitor hasn't been able to track down anyone from the company who can help - although it is still listed as a 'live' company the only 'occupants' of their registered office seem to be solicitors who are 'administering' the company - submitting annual returns - but they don't appear to be doing any business.
We are now getting DAILY 'phone calls from the agents marketing the bungalow and last night the vendor phoned to talk to gom 'Are we serious about buying the bungalow' OF COURSE WE ARE, but being scottish he doesn't seem to understand the difficulties of the english conveyancing.
OUR Solicitor has found a contact who is a senior? director of the mortgage company who is also a director of RBofS who we're hoping may be able to sort the mess out and write to the land registry to clear the charge as no one else seems to want to take responsibility.
In the mean time we are stuck here surrounded by packing cases and boxes :(
One up side is that we found an old building society pass book that shows two amounts going out of the account to pay the mortages, but unfortunately there is no payee details.
GOM paid his mortgages off 17 years ago however the buyer's solicitors found an outstanding charge still against the flat for one of the mortgage companies. OUR solicitor hasn't been able to track down anyone from the company who can help - although it is still listed as a 'live' company the only 'occupants' of their registered office seem to be solicitors who are 'administering' the company - submitting annual returns - but they don't appear to be doing any business.
We are now getting DAILY 'phone calls from the agents marketing the bungalow and last night the vendor phoned to talk to gom 'Are we serious about buying the bungalow' OF COURSE WE ARE, but being scottish he doesn't seem to understand the difficulties of the english conveyancing.
OUR Solicitor has found a contact who is a senior? director of the mortgage company who is also a director of RBofS who we're hoping may be able to sort the mess out and write to the land registry to clear the charge as no one else seems to want to take responsibility.
In the mean time we are stuck here surrounded by packing cases and boxes :(
One up side is that we found an old building society pass book that shows two amounts going out of the account to pay the mortages, but unfortunately there is no payee details.
Friday, February 17, 2006
still no definate news as yet about the move, but we r still assuming it will be on 28th. gom tried 2 get rodney 2day, but he'd only just got back 2 the office after a few days off so he couldn't tell us anything.
Had a frustrating night last night - gom as been advised to try to start using an 'independance aid' instead of getting up in the night to use the commode as it's believed that the number of times that he's getting up is possibly causing his problems with weakness and spasticity in the late afternoon/evenings, but he couldn't get on with it so we're going to leave it until he goes 2 stay with his stsister so that she can help him - she has a nursing background although she's in a a 'back room' field now.
We're also working on getting him to drink much more - he wasn't getting anywhere near enough to the recommended 2 ltrs which was also probably contributing to his problems. Have managed to find some 33cl drink bottles so I can make up some drink and am trying to get him to drink one of these about every 90 minutes (500 ml wasn't manageble, but 330ml should be) and being in bottles it's less likely to end up all over the floor if he knocks it over :(
Had a frustrating night last night - gom as been advised to try to start using an 'independance aid' instead of getting up in the night to use the commode as it's believed that the number of times that he's getting up is possibly causing his problems with weakness and spasticity in the late afternoon/evenings, but he couldn't get on with it so we're going to leave it until he goes 2 stay with his stsister so that she can help him - she has a nursing background although she's in a a 'back room' field now.
We're also working on getting him to drink much more - he wasn't getting anywhere near enough to the recommended 2 ltrs which was also probably contributing to his problems. Have managed to find some 33cl drink bottles so I can make up some drink and am trying to get him to drink one of these about every 90 minutes (500 ml wasn't manageble, but 330ml should be) and being in bottles it's less likely to end up all over the floor if he knocks it over :(
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Oh well everything is back on hold again.
everything seemed to be 'bobbing along' quite nicely until last Tuesday when we had a call from the agent to say that our buyer's buyers wanted to move into his property by the 13 Feb. We can't do this as we won't be able to get David to his sisters - she's away from 9th to 19th.
He then came back and said could we do 6th or 7th..... NEXT WEEK - we said if the solicitors were ok then we supposed we'd have to. Called the solicitor he was ok, so wednesday I was ringing around all the various care organisations that we use.
Late Wednesday, we had a call from Rodney (our solicitor) for us to go and sign the contract(s) Thursday Morning for exchange on Friday (3rd).
While we were in signing, a call came in, one of the other solicitors wasn't ready - they now wanted 27th, but as it's a Monday, we said we'd prefer the 28th so that we can get David to his sisters over the previous weekend and I've then got the monday to do the last minute packing.
No more news yesterday so assume we're going with the new dates. So NOW I've got to ring round again on Monday and change everything that I arranged on Wednesday AAGGHH.
Also got to try and minimise the amount of space taken up by all the boxes that I packed up on Wednesday - at the moment I have two stacks almost ceiling high..........
everything seemed to be 'bobbing along' quite nicely until last Tuesday when we had a call from the agent to say that our buyer's buyers wanted to move into his property by the 13 Feb. We can't do this as we won't be able to get David to his sisters - she's away from 9th to 19th.
He then came back and said could we do 6th or 7th..... NEXT WEEK - we said if the solicitors were ok then we supposed we'd have to. Called the solicitor he was ok, so wednesday I was ringing around all the various care organisations that we use.
Late Wednesday, we had a call from Rodney (our solicitor) for us to go and sign the contract(s) Thursday Morning for exchange on Friday (3rd).
While we were in signing, a call came in, one of the other solicitors wasn't ready - they now wanted 27th, but as it's a Monday, we said we'd prefer the 28th so that we can get David to his sisters over the previous weekend and I've then got the monday to do the last minute packing.
No more news yesterday so assume we're going with the new dates. So NOW I've got to ring round again on Monday and change everything that I arranged on Wednesday AAGGHH.
Also got to try and minimise the amount of space taken up by all the boxes that I packed up on Wednesday - at the moment I have two stacks almost ceiling high..........
Friday, January 13, 2006
It's been a while since the last post but everything went very quiet on the move over christmas. However gom's condition has been going down hill.
Because we were at home over christmas we were able to have one gym session on the thursday, but the stairs are becoming a real struggle and the gym sessions are only now making a marginal difference.
Nikky from the rehab team came on 4th Jan for his 6 monthly assessment, and she basically told him much the same thing that I've been trying to tell him since .... Oh I don't know when :(
She told him off for not using the walker - said he was asking for trouble by not using it - the way he was relying on the walls and furniture etc was guaranteed to lead to a fall. She showed him how to get up once he'd gone down and YES exactly the way that I'd been showing him, but all I ever got back was a load of gab. She also showed him how to support himself when he transferred from seats etc to standing and back again. Although he managed it for a while he soon began to slip back into his old ways :(.
She also suggested he could cut down on the amount that he does at the gym etc, so this week we tried half hour sessions instead of hour long. On Tuesday he did upper body and core but he was significantly worse, on the day after, than when he does the full hour because then he always does legs as well. Then although he's weaker for the first 24hours, he does get stronger on the day after, but not this time. He did lower body and core on thursday, and he was significantl better today for having done some leg exercise sessions. So what we're going to try tomorrow, with the pt who comes to the flat, is a half massage (his shoulders get very tight because he uses them to move his legs) and some lower body exercises with weights
Still by far the biggest problem however at the moment is trying to get him to allow himself time to get to the toilet and to ask me for help if he's got a problem. We now keep the glide-about commode in the lounge, but he still insists on struggling to get up and go to the bathroom when he'll inevatably fall and then still not get there in time. But he will never tell me if he gets' caught short' and will usually sit around in wet pants and trousers unless I keep checking (usually my nose will tell me anyway). I'm very tempted to get the special pants or pads, but I know I'll have a fight getting him to wear them, but I getting fed up with having to wash his trousers nearly every other day :(
All I usually get when I tell him that he must ask for help is 'Oh you were busy and I didn't want to interupt' AAGGHH.. I only busy 'cause I'm NOT going to sit around doing nothing, watching and waiting incase he needs my help - it's not my way and never has been.
The other rather 'sweet' (if it wasn't so annoying) thing he'll hint at is that he doesn't want to be 'burdon'. He wants to do what he can while he can and leave me to have some 'freedom' while I can. But I can't get through to him that, that's what I WANT to do, to help him as much as possible, he shouldn't HAVE to struggle. He has always considered other people over and above himself, so I shouldn't really be surprised by this attitude, but I just want him to for once, FORGET about me and think about himself. I just wish he could break the habit of a lifetime and be a little bit SELFISH instead of SELFLESS.
Oh well only time will tell
Because we were at home over christmas we were able to have one gym session on the thursday, but the stairs are becoming a real struggle and the gym sessions are only now making a marginal difference.
Nikky from the rehab team came on 4th Jan for his 6 monthly assessment, and she basically told him much the same thing that I've been trying to tell him since .... Oh I don't know when :(
She told him off for not using the walker - said he was asking for trouble by not using it - the way he was relying on the walls and furniture etc was guaranteed to lead to a fall. She showed him how to get up once he'd gone down and YES exactly the way that I'd been showing him, but all I ever got back was a load of gab. She also showed him how to support himself when he transferred from seats etc to standing and back again. Although he managed it for a while he soon began to slip back into his old ways :(.
She also suggested he could cut down on the amount that he does at the gym etc, so this week we tried half hour sessions instead of hour long. On Tuesday he did upper body and core but he was significantly worse, on the day after, than when he does the full hour because then he always does legs as well. Then although he's weaker for the first 24hours, he does get stronger on the day after, but not this time. He did lower body and core on thursday, and he was significantl better today for having done some leg exercise sessions. So what we're going to try tomorrow, with the pt who comes to the flat, is a half massage (his shoulders get very tight because he uses them to move his legs) and some lower body exercises with weights
Still by far the biggest problem however at the moment is trying to get him to allow himself time to get to the toilet and to ask me for help if he's got a problem. We now keep the glide-about commode in the lounge, but he still insists on struggling to get up and go to the bathroom when he'll inevatably fall and then still not get there in time. But he will never tell me if he gets' caught short' and will usually sit around in wet pants and trousers unless I keep checking (usually my nose will tell me anyway). I'm very tempted to get the special pants or pads, but I know I'll have a fight getting him to wear them, but I getting fed up with having to wash his trousers nearly every other day :(
All I usually get when I tell him that he must ask for help is 'Oh you were busy and I didn't want to interupt' AAGGHH.. I only busy 'cause I'm NOT going to sit around doing nothing, watching and waiting incase he needs my help - it's not my way and never has been.
The other rather 'sweet' (if it wasn't so annoying) thing he'll hint at is that he doesn't want to be 'burdon'. He wants to do what he can while he can and leave me to have some 'freedom' while I can. But I can't get through to him that, that's what I WANT to do, to help him as much as possible, he shouldn't HAVE to struggle. He has always considered other people over and above himself, so I shouldn't really be surprised by this attitude, but I just want him to for once, FORGET about me and think about himself. I just wish he could break the habit of a lifetime and be a little bit SELFISH instead of SELFLESS.
Oh well only time will tell
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