Our 1st lot of respite

The good thing about the self directed support is that we can arrange respite to suit us and Peter.
Don't get me wrong, the respite unit was great and Peter loved going there, but quite often you just have to go along with what everybody else wants to do, even if you don't really fancy it.
Now various things were mentioned (Blackpool and caravans!) Both great holidays, BUT i was sure we could come up with something a little more imaginative than that.
The seed was sown and my mind went into well - not quite overdrive, but was rising to a challenge. I knew i wanted to havae some family based sort of respite  -Peter away with a family who would look after him, but something maybe for us - even if it was only a few days.

I e-mailed my friend Linda who lives on Skye. Ran past the idea of us coming to visit, nothing was planned on paper at that point, but would the idea of us being there, meeting up with the girls, enjoying ourselves - it sounded good.

Now, life being life, and without going into loads of details, things kinda changed. I checked to make sure that things were ok for us to come up, but we would book into a B+B and meet up during the day.
Now - outcomes - the bane of our lives, always outcomes. Why can't "have a good time" be a suitable outcome?? No - doesn't work out like that!!!!
So our outcomes were that Peter would make and maintain friendships (with Linda's girls, be hadling money and choosing food (buying lunch for him and Yasmin) and Mum would get  abreak, knowing that Peter was safe. (am not allowed to mention that bottle of SOuthern Comfort we drank over 3 nights!!!)

So B+B booked, tickets booked for bus, goodies bought, off we went.
The journey takes about 7 hours - stopping in Fort William for a while on the way. As you head out of Glasgow and along the A82, the views are well - lovely. But even further up, past Fort William - they were stunning. I used to listen to the weather folk say "lingering mists in the Glens" and think "aye right!", but believe me - it lingers!!!

Eventually crossed the Skye Bridge, texted to say we were on our way and by 5.15 we slithered, slipped and slided into Portree Square - the town did not know what was going to hit it!!
Linda and Yasmin met us - linda said there was a slight change to our B+B, but that the woman had booked us in elsewhere and recomeneded Donna highly, so that was great.
Got to the house, unpacked and gathered together the goodies we had brought, plus some photos that we'd brought up and headed to Linda's place for dinner (which was great). We met Candace (lind'a middle daughter) and Lachie, her dad. I do have vague memories of seeing her dad about before i got married (linda and i stayed near each other)
Lachie, well - he was in his element - someone who loved Still Game, Last of the Summer Wine, Fawlty Towers - anything mad cap Peter was his man!!
We chatted, ate, had a medicinal scoop or 3 - Peter was in and out telling us what wsa going on and chuckling away. It was brilliant!

Tuesday, we went to Dunvegan Castle - we comment on Prince Charlie's waistcoat - he must have been a pip squeek and anyway - BHS Wedding Collection do a much nicer take on men's attire!! Could have got a job for my big cousin making PC's waistcoats for him and they'd have been nicer!!!
The castle and grounds are great and it would most likely take a few visits to do it justice. Yasmin and Peter beside the cannons - well, just lets say that Linda and i made sure they weren't pointing to us, lest our children got the idea to do us in!!!
Lunch, back to Portree to pick up goodies at the Co op, to the house, where Lachie and Peter set to discussing what they would watch. Linda and i chatted, looked at photos, Yasmin and Candace were in and out looking at the photos, having a laugh with us. It was nice.
At one point, Lachie came thru to the kitchen to get his tablets (after being told THREE times by linda to come and get them!!) He had a little sherry which he enjoyed and then said that he wsa "Going back thru to see his friend".

Oh man - that brought  a tear to my eye!! Here was a man in his late 80's and a 20 year old and they had hit it off! They were having a great time.

Thursday - well, a bit more DVD watching for the boys, Lunch in Portree and some shopping (no ££ shops, no M+S - it was lovely), Went to the harbour, Linda pointed out Donnie Munro (of runrig fame) - his house and then back for a tea of goodies.

Linda and i knew that Peter and the girls would get on well. What we hadn't faactored in was how well Peter and her Dad would get on. It was nice to see the 2 of them together and watching and chatting - Lachie just took Peter as he came.

Linda and i managed to catch up on loads of stuff - stuff that while letters and e mails are great, only really chatting and a cup of tea (or a glass of something) can do it justice.
So - the outcomes were fullfilled, we will be back and we both had a great break. We will be back.

Try stopping us - it's already been earmarked for the support plan next year!!

I enjoyed the break because often if Peter is sway, i take the time to tidy, sort out things and i don't take time out for ME. I find myself on a monday lunchtime feeling more relaxed and refreshed than i have for a long time. Good food, company and fresh air!!

I now have to organise the other lots of resapite, but typically, the person i'm trying to get, we keep missing each other when we phone. I also need to organise the adxenture holiday for Peter and Paul. Paul looking forward to that - they are of an age now that they prob would go off together. Paul thinks a week of doing canoeing and stuff sounds great!!

When i get the Skye Photos sorted, i'll post some - well if my technophobe mind and my pitying, laughing youngest son let me!!!