Back at the haven again.........

............Yes, we were back on Skye again last week! I don't think i realised how tired and stressed i'd been and really needed time to slow down.

We had made a few plans before we went up. Maybe back to Dunvegan Castle. And go round to Staffin.

So off we went on the tuesday morning. Mind you, Peter had the beginnings of an infection in his toe and i don't think the journey on the bus did much good. (we could get to New York quicker than we got to Portree!!!!)
Linda met us and we headed off to pick up the fish and chips she'd ordered and then home.

We were all so hungry that the eating was done before the unpacking!! 

Mind you, when i did unpack, Linda was laughing at what we'd brought up. Half a ton of dishwasher tablets (all of them bought on special offer), food for John and Gerry the cats, coffee (special offer in Costco), 2 bottles of Southern Comfort and the Kimbles chocs. (the partridge and the pear tree are being taken next time!!!)

After having a look at Peter's foot, we decided that he really needed to go to the GP, so that would be organised in the morning.

Wednesday was our "lazy" day. Appointment made for the GP, we stayed in till lunchtime and then went off for our lunch. Then shopping then the doc. Toe infected and some heavy duty antibiotics. Poor Peter - by this time he was limping about and not feeling too good.

Thursday saw us go to Staffin - there is a Charity called Columba 1400, who have a base in the village. They work with youngsters who may be vunerable, leaving care, isolated - and others. They try to help build up confidence and give them ways of coping and getting on with life. The building itself is lovely and welcoming. We had a look around inside and out and then decided to have lunch in the cafe. Gorgeous views out of the windows and even more gorgeous food to eat. And it tasted so much better because all the profits go back into the charity to help more youngsters.

Evings - if you've read my blogs before - are spent chatting at the kitchen table and putting the world to rights. With a liberal dash of something alcoholic and some chocolate. It doesn't get much better. Peter enjoyed Lachie's company and they watched DVDs and fav programmes.

Thursday we went to Dunvegan Castle. I'd always loved the story of the Fairy Flag when i was young. And Skye and Dunvegan seemed so far away from my life in the city. So it was good to go back there again. Flag still there. And Prince Charlie's waistcoat still there. And we still think he was a bit of a soft looking wimp!!! It was only Flora who saved him!!!!

As usual, our time flew past. I wanted to stay, but the thought of the 3 humans and 2 cats pining for us at home made us get on the bus!

As if - pine for us?!?!?! they prob did all the housework in the hour before we got home!

We are going back mid october. So i didn't feel too bad about leaving this time. And as usual, we have more to talk about when we go.

So i feel rested and refreshed. 

Now all i have to do is the last of the financial management plan and send it off.
And pin Lou down to a day she is off so that the Social Worker can   visit. Not as easy as you'd think - Lou has a crazy rota, so after finishing her night shift tomorrow, she's off for a week. But the SW is duty worker next week, so can't really go out much. Then Lou has 2 weeks induction into life that is PICU. (basically you don't have much of a life for 5 weeks out of 6, then you sleep for 6 days and it's time to go back to work!!!) We're thinking the 3rd of october. Yes, nearly a month away.

Trouble is, i'm not sure if it's october 2012, or 2013 we'll be having this meeting!!

Off to our own GP in the morning to get the toe checked. Think more antibiotics will be needed and maybe a referral to get the toenail sorted.

Back on that roller coaster.............

....................And I really DO want to get off.

It has been a fairly crazy few week chez Johnston.
Nothing big or life threatening, but a million and one small things all happening at once, or at least, one after the other.
Now - if it was one BIG thing i could cope, but not a run of small stuff.

It started just over 3 weeks ago. Long story short, we decided to get another cat. Were going to adopt one, but due to circumstances it didn't happen. So Lou had a look on Gumtree, we found a kitten and got in touch.
Next morning when we got up, turned on the laptop and found it had a virus and the firewall was denying access to the internet.  
So off we went to pick up said kitten (went well ) and go to buy new litter tray plus kitten food.
On the way home, it rained so much, i thought we were sailing back up the motorway!!! Got home and Lou went to get my friend May to let her meet the new addition.
By the time may went home, i was wondering if we'd done the right thing - hissing and growling a plenty and litter trays at dawn .

Sunday morning got up. Cats still alive - the had been kept in separate rooms!! And then i found a note from Paul - the washing Machine seemed to be having problems.
Oh and on top of all that, i got a form about one of Peter's allowances, to be filled out to see if we could still get it.

Monday was spent phoning - vet insurance, wet and washing machine man. Needed him most!!!
Tuesday, the vet - to find out that our "she" was a "he", so not only a sex change, but on to our 3rd name in 4 days!!!! The cat is now called Simba!

Wednesday took us to the Enable office  to get help with the form and on to Kimbles for hot choc!!!

Thursday the washing machine got sorted.
Then the postman arrived with a letter. From Genetics. Results. 

It seems that Peter has a deletion on chromo 4 and additional material on 15.
At the moment, i'm not quite sure what it means, but i'm made another appointment with the clinic, we've waited 22 years - another few weeks is nothing.
went shopping with Lou later. We had to pick up a dress in town. Alas, on our journey, we had a bump in the car. Bolshie woman in front who told Lou to get outta the car in the middle lane of the M8!!! I didn't see her gesture, and if i had, Lou would have been told to stay put. Woman was very intimidating and very loudly told Lo to Come see what you've done and demanded her insurance!!! Luckily the police arrived and told us to move over to the side.
Poor Lou - this wifie's car had one scratch. Lou's had a bashed in grille and a smasshed up reg plate. But she insisted on getting the dress!!!

Friday - well, trip to the Docs - Lou was very shaken and when i explained to the receptionist, she said she'd get the GP to phone me. He did and said to bring her up. He was really good . Calmed her down.
Can i just say here - our receptionists are always really good and they KNOW i don't call for   just anything. And they listen to me.

Insurance was phoned and most of the rest of the day was spent talking to folk about the car or taking it to the garage to get the estimate. Mind you, as we were about to walk out the door, the social worker phones - he times it right - last time he called i was mopping up hairballs and trying to load up the washing machine!!

And so our days went on. I couldn't get a self referral for physio for nearly 2 weeks after the bump - told them to forget it, if  i was headless by then, i'd deal with it.

Mind you, for a couple of nights after the bump, i'm sure Usain Bolt was celebrating at the top of my spine and across my left shoulder!!!


A few other piffling things happened and i nearly decided not to head for Skye.
But we're going.
In the morning.
I NEED THE BREAK!!!!

Mind you, we did have something nice - i met up with some of the Unique families again - we went to kimbles and had a nice afternoon. A couple of families we hadn't met the last time were there and it was nice to meet them.
I had to giggle at one of the Dad's - we were chatting and Lou was there and said something about working in Sick Kids - the dad said "oh, i thought your face was familiar!!
This was Lou minus the uniform and with her hair down!!! 

So i'm away to pack the last of the stuff and get myself to bed early (which means it'll be about midnight!!).
But first - a strong drink!!!

All Quiet on the Eastern Front............

...................I should actually know better by now than to say that things are quiet in my house - it usually means something is a brewing up and will most likely blow in my face some time soon!!!


The boys had a good time at Kielder again this year. Canoeing, sailing, zip wire - would have been nice to see all the photos - if some little toad called Peter hadn't decided to delete some of them!!! So NO photos of the visit to the Birds of Prey Centre.
Thankfully, the one of Peter holding the Olympic torch was still on the memory card. I would have been gutted to be told he got to actually hold a torch, then not to have seen it. One of the visitors to the centre had carried the torch thru Perth a few weeks ago and brought the torch to show everyone. 
Something for the scrap book me thinks!!!!




Mind you - getting the boys home was a bit problematic. There had been horrendous rain and landslides on the track between Newcastle and Edinburgh.   
Much phoning and trying to explain to the guy from the train company that my boys WERE booked on one train(which he said didn't exist!) and asking if alternative arrangements were being made............. I decided to ask Lou if we could drive down to meet them.
The centre said that they would bring them up to Gretna, which cut an hour off out journey. We met them at the Outlet Park.
Shops.
Clothes
Mum's credit card if needed - what more could a girl want?!?!?


We decided to get something to eat (total rip off, as most places just off motorways are). Paul was grumbling that he was tired and really just wanted to get home and go to bed.
Lou told him NO WAY!!
If she had drive nearly 90 miles thru rain and spray from Eddie Stobart trucks, she was going to take advantage of SHOPPING!!!!


We did buy a few things - best bargain was a Gap zipper for Peter - £20 instead of £35.


And some chocolate from the Cadbury shop.


We eventually got home and i spent the next week wading thru washing. Fun!!!!


This week it's Matthew's turn to be off on adventures. He's camping on Skye - near Portree. Linda met him on monday when the bus arrived in town and promptly dispatched him off to the camp site with Harry, our taxi driver. He promised Linda he would phone and arrange a time for meeting up for lunch. 
That will raise a few eyebrows in town - Linda - with an unknown man who got off the Glasgow bus!!! My but isn't she a hussy that one!!!


Heck  i'm not saying anything here i wouldn't to her face! The only thing she said was they wouldn't go to Marmalade - she's been there twice in the past week with friends, so a 3rd visit, with a guy would really cause heads to turn!!!


Matthew is home on Saturday. I think he's been having a good time. Weather has been good and he's done a fair bit of walking about that part of the island.


Meanwhile, i'm meant to be working on a financial inventory and management plan for Peter's guardianship. Oh man - it's like losing the will to live - slow death by paperwork. Luckily, i can print off bank statements from the internet, but i need to get letters confirming how much he gets in allowances. Those phone calls are done and i can just print off what i need when i get it all together. But the management plan is so much harder. We have to account for what his money gets spent on - not piddly little things, but if i buy clothes or stuff - we have to show where his money goes. I can understand WHY, but i'm not an accountant or auditor. I have a couple of questions i need to phone and ask about, so that is on my "to do" list for next week


Next month, Peter and i are going back to Skye. I can't wait - a few days to relax, chat and just enjoy. I have been stashing away contraband!!
Ohh - that makes me sound dodgy, doesn't it!!


I have some posh nosh for the cats - the applaws food that seems to go down well. And some other food called Purely - Lilo enjoys that, so i thought i'd get it.


Fairy Platinum dishwasher tablets, to give said machine a treat!! Well, it's used to the Co op own make stuff, so it'll get a thrill! 
And of course - the Southern Comfort.


Tea bags and good coffee also stashed away and Kimbles choccies will be bought!!!


And the dealing with Peter's support is ongoing and booking some respite with the animals is  a must  - i may book myself in. Log fire, e reader. Cup of tea. I'd be happy!!!


So, actually, it's not been that quiet. But for once, nothing major, no tantrums, no fights, no bodies to be disposed of in the recycling bins - for now!!!

Control Freak Worry Wart Mother

...................Has escaped from the cupboard under the stairs!!


She promised me she would be good.
But as Mary Poppins would say - a pie crust promise - easily made and easily broken!!!


The boys are away to Kielder again. 2 1/2 hours on the train, then getting picked up at Newcastle.
I am a tad annoyed this year.
We decided to book Journeycare, so that the boys would be helped off the train at Newcastle, the staff are meant to come and help them get the luggage and off the train. No one arrived. Ok, i don't need to PAY for this, but i decided to book it after the hassle last year at Newcastle coming home. Train running late and rude staff ignoring Paul's request for help.
Will be doing something about that at the weekend when they get home.


I'm also a bit annoyed at the pick up to get them to the centre. I phoned on saturday morning to let them know what train they would be arriving on. I was rather surprised that they hadn't phoned earlier in the week - they did last year.
 At first, the girl said they weren't on the pick up list.
I asked her to check, cos i had booked it (and paid for it!!)
Oh, yes, she said - they weren't put on the list.


She said that the pick up from Newcastle was 1.30 - i explained that the train didn't get there till 1.35 - it was the same train they got last year.
She said that it would be ok, since someone else was getting off the same train and that the pick up would wait for them all.


So Paul phoned to tell me they got to Newcastle ok and about the lack of help off the train. They were waiting at the pick up point.
And no one arrived.
So an hour later, he phoned me.
I said i'd phone the centre, explained the situation and she said she'd try to sort it out.
Try??? My boys are 150 miles or so away from home, i have no way of getting to them and you are gonna TRY??? Eventually she gets back to me and asks if i have Paul's mobile number - gave it to her.


A while later, Paul phones - they are going to get picked up at 4,30 - 3 hours after the original time.
Paul phoned tonight - he told me that they had said they had been at the station on time, but they were not there!!! Peter and Paul). No thought to finding out if their train was on time, or putting out a call.
Now - i know they have a timetable to keep to, but puleesssseee - a bit of sense goes a long way.
SO yoiu can imagine worry wart mamma  by now - stress thru the roof!!


Promise, she is getting pushed kicking and screaming back into the cupboard ASAP!! If not sooner.


And don't get me started on the SAGA of getting Lou's car fixed , which has now put the kybosh on any plans we may have made to do things over the next few days. It was eventually delivered to the house about 5pm - they had suggested her work, but at that time of day, you'd need to have hiking gear to get from where you left the car to get to the hospital!!! And that's on top of the phone calls they'd need to make beforehand!!!


The only good thing is, i managed a long lie this morning. It was nearly 9.30 before i got up. Mind you - the cat was in a double sulk by then - missing the boys and starving!!!!


Mind you - our days have not all been like this!
On the 16th of June, i met up with some of the families from the support group we are in (Unique). Just before Christmas, i met one of the mums. We started kicking an idea about meeting up and having a chat.
So i posted on the Unique FB page and wrote a bit for the newsletter.


2 or 3 people said it sounded good.
Then a couple of emails.
Reminder just before the day.
So in total, 16 of us met up at the Art Galleries here in Glasgow. A couple of families had to drop out at the last minute and one family we missed tho i'm sure not by much.


We sat behind Sir Roger the elephant and beside the Giraffe. Had a great time, chatting, delving into our packed lunches, watching the kids enjoy themselves.


Then a typical jobsworth came over and told us "you're not allowed to eat here". Mmmm - did our sandwiches offend him? Did we have better fare than him ?(most likely). Was he jealous that our company was having more fun he and his mates could ever aspire to? (probably)
Maybe he thought we'd feed the elephants and giraffes!!
Can we tell him something - said animals are DEAD and STUFFED!!! He wouldn't need to clear up after them and he didn't need to after us - we took our rubbish with us! (tho i'm sure the giraffe had a longing look at the choccie biccies i had!!)


We went to the slightly posher cafe downstairs - mainly because it had more room and continued our chat.


The bit i loved was Peter with Morven - Morven is 5 and was gooey eyed at Peter - SOMEONE LOVES MY BOY!!
Or it may have been a look of sympathy that said "poor you - having a mum like her!!!
But it was a good afternoon and one which we have all said we should do again

Back in the grown up world again.....................

................... And a little funny football story, just for Jazzygal!! 


But more of that story in a bit!!!


We had our day in court for Peter's Guardianship Hearing.
All the reports had been submitted and considered and we had to go along to see what the Sheriff would say. We had asked for a 10 year order for the Welfare part, which we were confident we would get and 5 years for the Financial element, in the hope that he would maybe, possibly give us 10 years.


So we arranged to meet the Lawyer at court. We were a little early and had a giggle at the Lawyers going around with their gowns on!! Last time i saw that many gowns was @ Lou's graduation!!!!!!
Lawyer arrives and told us where we were going. She said she would meet us outside the court, telling us she was going off to change her shoes - there she was, smart suit on and trainers on her feet for comfort!!!


That's my kinda girl!!


The actual hearing doesn't last that long - about 10 minutes, because the papers should have been read thru by the Sheriff beforehand and he should have come to some sort of decision. But he just wants to hear for the Lawyer and sometimes the people making the application.


So Lesley was up giving our info, explaining why we wanted the additional powers, i explained that the financial side would be helpful if Peter was ever to be in his own place that we could sign tenancy agreements for  him.
So the judge said we had welfare AND financial powers for 10 years.
I said nothing going outta court, because i really wasn't expecting to get both for that length of time. I looked at Lesley and said "he DID give us BOTH for ten years??"
Yes - he did, She thought that since there had been no problems for the past 5, that it would be ok.
Well - no probs except for Social Work and i suspect that at times, our legal system has given up with them!!!!


Now the fun begins.
We have paperwork to fill in - a financial inventory.
We have to state how much money Peter has, what he gets in benefits, how much he spends on clothes per year, presents, if he gives us money for gas/electricity and so on.
We have a couple of months to get it filled in and back.
I now find i have to account for money that we spend - not on little things like bars of chocolate, but if we buy clothes, dvds and so on.........


Will just need to get used to it!!


My other foray into grown up world was another conference.
Peter and i going off and telling the known world about his support...........


It is good fun, but man - if i see that dad again - i'll scream!!! I am getting better at listening to myself tho. Jenn was away on holiday this week, so Caroline was doing the presentation with us. She thinks she was rubbish, but she was good. And i'm getting a bit blasé!!  I told them to sit down the front, cos that was where i'd left the rotten eggs to chuck at us!!




So now on to the footie story!!! Jazzygal blogged about how she had been converted to football many years ago. I told her one story about my youngest and football (who remembers the Scotland v Brazil Match at the World Cup in 1998??? Yes, us gallus scots in the opening match - with Brazil and we were gonna hammer them!!! Well, if cheers and faces painted with the Saltire and thistles were gonna help we would have trounced them - but we didn't!!)


Any way -fast forward to 2010. 
Me, Matthew, Peter and Paul in Barcelona for a long weekend. Barcelona, like Glasgow, is a football mad city. Bars were packed to watch the World Cup from South Africa.
On this particular saturday evening, Spain were playing. We went off to have some dinner (and watch the match!!). After, we went for a walk to find the place we were meeting our tour bus the next morning. You could here the good natured shouts from the pubs and at one place, there was a guy, who i swear was the human version of Sleepy from the 7 Dwarfs!!! He was small(ish) maybe about 5 feet 4 or so, typically spanish look guy, maybe in his late 50's.
But the best bit was, he has a furry halo on his head!!! Now, i'm not sure if he was a bit tipsy and didn't realise he was wearing this creation, or if he had worn it for a dare, but he looked lovely!!
Out of the corner of my eye, i saw a rather tall person, dressed up as Snow White.
Maybe, i mused, that in fact, this was sleepy and the other dwarfs were inside the bar watching the match!!
I said to Matthew and the boys "that was Snow White wasn't it??"
Matthew replied that he suspected it was a GUY dressed up!!!


Well, each to there own - but more unusual than a match at home!!


On our way back to the hotel, we ascertained that it WAS a guy dressed up. Matthew and I laughed as he blew a kiss to Paul!! YOu can imagine a 17 year olds response to that...................


..........................Yeah - legged it back to the hotel quick smart!!!!!


My only gripe was that the guys legs looked much better than mine and he walked better in high heels than i ever could!!!!


We went to the Bar in the Hotel to watch the last moments of the match. I think only one other girl was in the bar with me. There was a collective groan from about 40 guys as one player kicked the ball and it landed between another player's legs. Just at his groin.
An even bigger groan went up when they saw the slow motion playback. This other girl and I just laughed. 


Oh - and Spain won that night. 
We went on to the rooftop terrace on the hotel and even half an hour after the match ended, there were people out on the streets celebrating.


But you're still not going to convert me to footie!!! 

Houston, we have a ....................

........................ Named Social Worker!!!

Now, please - don't all fall off your seats laughing!! He does exist and i have met him!!
We were meant to meet him on the 11th, but i got a call to say that he wasn't well and wouldn't be able to get to us. My thoughts were "here we go -again!!". Been here, done that and we're always let down.

I was told he would phone on monday to rearrange.
No - i didn't stay in all day - i do have a life! Maybe not exciting or high powered, but it is MY life and i quite enjoy it, thank you very much!!!

Monday came and went - no phone call.
So did Tuesday.
And wednesday!!!
By this time i was getting a tad fed up. I grumbled that i always had to chase them up and i didn't really have the time or energy to do it.
So Thursday comes along and i planned to phone them at some point.

But you know how the day goes - you get caught up.
So the phone goes - right in the middle of me trying to clean up the cat sick and load up the washing machine.
It was the Social Worker!!!
Couldn't have timed it better if he'd been watching me!!!!

When was a good time to come out??
"never???" came my hopeful reply!!!!
Well - there's me, up to my elbows in cat vomit and dirty clothes - it wasn't a good day and we still had the vet visit to do.

Ok then - what about tomorrow morning about 11 - is that ok??
It was.

Man - he must have wondered just WHAT he was letting himself in for!! Scary situation, given that the last time we saw each other we were 12 and it was the last day of Primary School!!!!

It wasn't that bad to be honest. He did apologize for his no show the week before. We sat and went throught the guardianship order we have just now and what we have requested for this one. He did admit that the SW department had been very lax about keeping in touch and he couldn't understand WHY the duty workers hadn't been concerned - especially when we were always flagging it up to them. They seemed to think because we were "coping" they didn't need to come and see us.

So he's coming back to see us in 3 months, when we have the new order in place.
Court is the 7th of June.
(that'll be another experience!!!!)

So that is now done - and if he even THINKS of leaving the job, or dying in post, he'll need to get my permission and make sure a new SW is appointed before he goes!!!

The nice bit of the week was getting paid for doing the presentation in Aberdeen. We'd already been paid for the Glasgow one, and we had happily spent the money!
So i have ordered some new DVDs - Titanic - the 4 part series that was on tv recently. And Merlin series 3 +4. I also bought myself new jeans. Yea!!! new jeans that i like, that fit me and i had the money to pay!!!!
Peter has his eye on a Dumbo ornament. I think i may take him to get some new jeans as well.
It's been nice to have a little bit of unexpected money. Peter would have prob got some of the ornaments for christmas/birthday pressies, but not all of them at once. And much as i try to save some money to treat myself to DVDs once in a while, often the money gets spent on something else.
So along with the Merlin DVDs, i have Les Miserables and War Horse to watch as i do my ironing.
Should keep me happy for a while!!!

Calm after the storm!

It has been reasonably quiet this week.
Tho please don't tell the "keep Julie busy Gods" - i'm enjoying catching up on my sleep!!!


We did the presentation again at the Enable Conference on Saturday. It was at Stirling University and again we had a good time.
Peter and i joined in another workshop - about labels. We had to think about getting rid of negative labels and think of new ones that were positive.
We had to decorate a t shit with our positive labels - some of the t shirts were brill looking and even in a short time, there were loads of positive things.


And our presentation went well - i think!!!!


So i've been catching up on sleep this week.
And waiting for the social worker to phone me to rearrange his time to come and meet us.


Mmmmm............... he was meant to be out last friday, but didn't come. To be fair, we did get a call saying that he couldn't make it and he would phone back on monday.


It's now wednesday evening and no call.
So i may call tomorrow to chase them up.


So to cheer myself up, i baked some cakes and scones this afternoon.
Well - it was that or do the ironing!!!
So we have some cherry scones and some cupcakes - yum!!!