Relaxing weekends.

To be honest, i don't usually get much time to relax at weekends. I'm usually trying to get Peter out the door to art class or catching up on ironing or trying to do other things relaxing just goes outta the window!!!

That's why i love it when Peter goes off to respite over a weekend. I try not to do a lot of the "usual" things and try to chill, even if it does mean my ironing pile grows to Mount Everest proportions!!!

THis weekend, Peter is away for his first lot of family based respite. Remember the family with the log fire and the small holding in Ayrshire??
Where the guy mops the kitchen floor???
Can't decide if i want to book in myself or steal said guy and his floor moping skills!!!!!!

Off we went yesterday lunchtime. I phoned when i got on the train, to say we'd just left Glasgow. It takes about half an hour to get to Dalry but you're out in the country and it is lovely. Chris said he'd pick us up at the station. I was a bit woprried when he wasn't there when i arrived - had visions of me getting off at the wrong station!!!
After a couple of minutes, he skitted round the corner into the car park. At the last minute, then phone rang and there was a delivery and something else happened!!! He he he - lovely to know these things happen to others - not just me!!!
Chris asked if i wanted to go for a cuppa and make sure Peter settled in ok. So off we went. He told us that his daughter had just spent a few days with her Grandparents and his Dad had brought her back. In his nifty little 2 seater soft top MG sports car!!!!! Oh, wow - i knew who i wanted to go home with after that!! Or at least nab a lift with!!!!!!
Peter enjoyed meeting Chris's dad and we went through to see Carol (chris's wife) and their daughter. Both are lovely and we sat and chatted for ages. I met the pig - Jemima and saw the geese and horses, so i think the plans for last night were to let Peter meet the animals.

They were going to make plans for the rest of the weekend. The weather forcast is to be good, and in Glasgow today it was lovely and warm. So i hope it's the same down there.

I know Peter is happy, so i'm not worried and any problems we can phone or they can phone us. Carol asked if i wanted Peter to phone - i said only if he asked and wanted to tell us about his day. They said that ws ok, and are going to phone on monday evening to sort out times for us picking Peter up on tuesday. I know he's in good caring hands, so i can have a relaxing weekend.

On the way home yesterday, i popped into M+S at the station.

I decided to buy some goodies for us to eat over the weekend. Bought lovely pizza, some paella and other goodies. Something quick and easy.

Our plans - well, nothing really. Matthew and Louise were both out today. I went to Boots to get some photos downloaded and developed  and Paul did some music. Lou and Paul are going to the cinema and i'm going to make up for the migraine that i landed last night when i got home!!! Luckily, if i manage to get a migraine early and zap it with painkillers, i'm usually ok. Still have a sore head, but nothing like as bad as if i let it go. I swear, my idea of hell would be a constant migraine. Fortunately, i don't get them quite as often now. (this is where i look for all manner of wood to touch and for a lucky rabbits foot and surround myself with anything i can think of to ward the damn things off!!!). It's usually when i'm starting to relax after a time of pressure or things getting on top of us that i get one. I have learned to spot the signs, so i can usually avoid them or keep them minimal. I did sleep reasonably well last night and hope it's better tonight.

So, i'm going to go and have a little tipple tonight and relax in front of the tv!!!

Forget me not................

..............I saw the first of these little flowers bloom in my garden last Friday. I love them because even tho they look so fragile, they seem to defy bad weather and my horticultural skills and bloom every year. I love my garden, it's a good place to sit on a warm day, we've had parties that spill into it and when it snows, there is nothing better than a snowball fight!!!
Me being the target of said snowballs and my kids laughing, cos i fall for it EVERY time!!!!

But there was a touch of sadness this year to seeing the first bloom. My cousin's husband had died the Friday before - remember the one we took the photos for - Cinderella and the mice, just to cheer him and my cousin up. I think it did and someone did comment that they'd seen the photos.

The funeral was on Friday morning. Several things were going on in my Cousin's family - obviously organising - and for us as well. I e - mailed my cousin and told her if there was anything we could do, just shout and we'd be there. (and believe me, if there was ANYTHING i could do for this cousin, i'd make a damn good attempt!!)

Anyway, the week Chez Johnston continued as usual.
On the Monday we had a meeting @ college about what had been happening in one of the classes. We were unsure what was going on and attempts to find out had hit a brick wall. THe course leader was great and said it was time to sit down and sort it out. So i put on my serious almost made up face - i wasn't going in looking upset!! I WAS upset, but this was neither the time nor the place to say it.
Louise came with me - i think she was a tad worried i may go off and rant. Who, me?? Rant??? Heckle?? Wherever did she get that idea????
I did behave and we did get sorted the issues. Mind you, i don't think one member of staff was pleased about being there, but tough - deal with it.


Remember - don't push me over that line into pissed off mode - you will not win!!

Tuesday morning was our time to go and record the Ad for Enable Scotland that's going to be aired on  Smooth Radio. I had nae idea of what i was going to say!! I did say something to Ashleigh a few days before. Just as well she'd written it down, cos i promptly forgot!!!!

It was a good experience and not as bad as i thought. But i kept hearing my cousin's hubbie laughing and telling me i have a great face for radio!!! But he would have followed it up with a remark like "aye - just like me!!!"

Did i tell you this guy could be a bit of a joker??? A nice one tho - he would never want to leave you feeling hurt.

After this venture, we decided to go off to the SSPCA rehoming centre. We're planning on being adopted by a cat!! We'd been to Cats Protection, saw a cat, had a home visit done, but in the end, it was decided it wasn't the right cat for us. So we went to Cardonald . Wasn't that just an adventure!! To be honest, we were a bit annoyed at the attitude and found them a bit unfriendly. So we left, muttering that we should have gone to Bothwell rehoming centre (better class of cat my auntie told Lou and Paul!!) or better still, just stick to CP!
On the way home, Lou pulled out to overtake a but sitting at a bus stop. An promptly smacked her passenger wing mirror!! I screamed, she told me to shit up!! SHut up - i could have been getting down and dirty with the back end of a No 56 bus and she tells me to shut up!!! So she parks the car and runs back to get said mirror - bashed but usable. My comment was that it must have been Cousin's hubbie telling us to stick to the CP rehoming place!!! This led to much laughter and joking.
THat evening Paul and Lou went down to see the family - hugs, again telling them if they needed anything.................. and the recounting of the story. My Auntie asked "But, Louise - did you get a cat??" - such are the ways we deal with sadness and i'm sure i could hear the laughter again!!

Wednesday lunch time, true to her word, my cousin appeared - for a loo stop!! She and her daughter were going somewhere and she needed - like NOW!! So off she went upstairs. So at least i could be of some use!!
We went down that evening, just to show our faces and i gave the kids hugs and then did a few dishes. Not much, but at least i felt it was one less thing for them to do.

THursday evening we went to the church - it was full. It was nice to see people remembering him. SOme of the extended family were there and we caught up. Most of them were chuffed about Louise and graduating and getting the car. My cousin had asked us to remember Hubbie and write to tell our stories. I knew what ours was - and i did tell, but said i would write as well. It's a story like the cat one above, but the poser question is "did her hair stay dry???" I will share the story at some point, but not till i've written it for her!!!

Friday morning, Paul sent to school (another story, but not for now!) and Peter to college. We drove to the church and met one of the Aunties, a cousin and his wife and a family friend. It was sad to meet in such circumstances, but we wanted to support. Again the church was full. THe Priest was lovely  and made a few comments that made us smile. He asked for the people who were going to take the Book Of Gospels and the Crucifix to come and do that. SOmeone - i don't know who, Priest , family, started humming Danny Boy. Everybody joined in - it was soooo moving. It did make me cry. (Damn - had the slap on again - did i hear some giggling - sounded a bit like him!!!)

One of my other cousins asked if Louise would keep an eye on his grandaughter at the cremetorium - she said yes and the 2 of them stayed near the back. They got back to the car before Matthew and i. SHe was sitting proudly in the front "cos Louise said i could"!!! I didn't mind - she's def a special kid and i didn't grudge sitting in the back!! (in fact - all the kids in this part of the family are special - they are GOOD kids who want to help and care about others)

Back at the place we had the meal - it was nice sitting listening to people talk about him telling stories about the extented family - we had one to tell to our addition to our family for the day about her uncle!! She thought it was funny and went off to tell him so!!! So more good memories.
My cousin decided to have a free bar so we could all toast he hubbie, either with and rink, or a soft drink. I heard her talk to the folk beside us and now know that he'd have been pleased and gutted in equal measure!! Pleased at the free bar, gutted cos he wasn't there to partake!!

Last week also taught me a few things about my own immediate family and i'm proud of them. Peter asked me if this person would have met his friend Gordon in heaven. I said i was sure he haad and they had prob hunted down his grandad Quin and they would be thinking mischief and fun to get up to.
Paul said in the house on the thursday that if they needed someone to help carry the coffin into church, he would gladly offer to help - a sign of how much he likes, no, loves my big cus.
Matthew asked me about something and i said that they would have been chuffed, the offer was lovely, but to just enjoy the drink. I did tell my auntie what he said and i told her what i'd sugested to Matthew and she approved, so i'm happy.

And Louise - well, i shouldn't really say i'm amazed, but i was and i was cheering as well. She had been taken to task by another relative about a comment i'd made. Instead of being apologetic and cow towing, she told this person very politely where to go. Not nasty, no swear words or tantrums, but said it as it was. She also pointed out that no one else had issue with what i'd said and we knew the rest of the family well enought to know that anyone else would ahve taken us aside and pointed the complaint out. No one had and in fact , people were pleased. I was chuffed with the way she conducted herself and i know my cousin woul be as well.

Which brings me back to the forget me nots - small, but sturdy, telling us nwe shouldn't forget those we love and care about!

I should really........

................... Listen to my body more often!!!
With the brighter evenings heading towards us, i thought I'd be smart and try to get out and do a few things in the garden. I don't mind pottering, but the thought of starting at this time of year kind of drives me back indoors!
But the other day i thought i'd go and make a start - cut back a couple of thing's that i could see from the dining room window and generally tidy up.
While doing this, my knee started to hurt.
The kinda sore i get just as the temps are about to drop and it's going to get COLD and possibly snow again.
Now, with the winter we've had, you'd think i'd know by now.
But no - i just got on with it!!
THen on thursday afternoon, my knee started again while i was waiting for Peter at college.
As soon as we got out the door, we were greeted by sleet blowing in our faces!!
Mmmmm - should really listen, shouldn't i?!?!?
And yesterday morning, i woke up to find a layer of snow on the ground.

Like -WTF???? Next weekend is the start of SPRING!!! It's meant to be getting WARMER. Not blowing a blizzard.

Mother Nature must still be in hibernation, so i think i'll go join her for a few days!!!!!!

A time for giving

..................And maybe having a bit of a laugh!

Lent starts today. The time of yearwhen christians "give up" something. Now some people "give up" cos they havae to, some people "give up " and donate their money to a charity, or a good cause. Over the years at school, we've had the Lenten Charities and the giving.

But this year, Paul decided to do something a little different. He's giving up sweets. Ok - not too bad a thing, but given that sweeties are often bought as part of a weekly shop, he's not actually buying said goodies, so therefore he has no money saved to donate.
There was one4 year at primary where they were making up backpacks to send to people and small sweeties were allowed - so sometimes he would take something from the house, others i would give him some money to buy a small thing at the tuck shop. Just bear with us - i think God understood what we were doing!

But this year, Paul has decided to shave off half his beard to raise money for CHAS - the Children's hospice association. This is a cause dear to us. we know several people who have used/ are still using the hospice and its services. It has brought joy and comfort to our friends and their families.

Sooooo - this is what i'm asking.
Can you at least go to Paul's just giving page and have a look.
If you are able and want to, can you donate a few pennies, cents, sheckles?? It all adds up.
If you can't give - that's ok - i apreciate that people have calls on money and they have charities that mean a lot to them - so i don't mind the pennies being given to them. But at least have a look at the page

http://www.justgiving.com/Paul-Johnston1

So far, he's raised about £60 between the page and sponsor sheets.
So i'm really proud of him.

Here's a link to the CHas website

http://www.chas.org.uk/

Nice places, lovely food i'm told and a lot of fun.

Ok - fun may not be the 1st thing you think off with a hospice, but this is kids - even tho they may be ill and not live to a ripe old age, many of them will pack more into an hour, a day, a week than most of us will in to a lifetime!!

Oh - and one last thing - Paul has asked if you can pass the link on to others who may be able to help.
Thank you

Gifts

As i've said before, we're doing something called The Big Plan with Peter.
It's been interesting and we've been meeting people and enjoying the company. We've been looking at things about the people we're supporting - like peter, who they are, what their dreams and hopes are and so on

This week we were looking at the talents and resources that the youngsters had, things they were good at, what they could bring to a problem solving situation. You know that time you're passing thoughts by friends and family and someone says "oh, i don't think i can help in that, but i think i know someone who can, or who knows about it, or can find out". That kind of thing.

One of the things we talked about was gifts.
What are they?4Well, it could be something that's a surprise.
Or something a person has bought you for a birthday, or christmas.
Or it could be something you're good at - cooking, baking, singing, or even being a good friend.

We then had to fill out slips of paper. What was on them was this.......

What  i like about (write the person's name here).......

Is (and write what you like about the person here)

It was amazing what people said about others!
I said my usual about Peter's laugh - it always cheers me up.
Peter wanted to say about Louise's car - he's loving getting a lift to college.

Some of the otehrs said they liked the way that Peter was friendly, and that he made them feel welcome. Which was nice for me to here.

But the best thing i heard about me was from Ashleigh - she likes me cos i'm crackers!! I think she means i'm a touch crazy, so that suits me! I am.

I'd say one of my gifts is that i may not have many wise words, but i can make a good cup of tea!

I also think i'm a reasonably good friend.
At least i hope i am!!!!

So - go on - tell the people around you what their gifts are and why you like them, before it's too late!!

Driving, meeting people and other things we've got up to!!

At last!! Louise passed her driving test!! She went out on Tuesday to do it. Only one of the kids she works with and i knew when it was. Man - my nose was growing longer and longer as i told Matthew she was "meeting her line manager from work!"
Now - technically, this is not a lie - it's not unusual to meet up with her boss at times to discuss things - it just wasn't done that morning!!
I'd been at the Doctors on Tuesday morning. As i walked up the path to the main street, i saw the instructors car and just got a feeling that things were going well.

So that was good. No longer do i need to be the responsible adult in the car!!! Yessss - i can sing away.
Well, till Lou tells me to shut up!!

On Wednesday, we went to meet the family Peter will be having some respite with. THere was one slight hitch - Laura had phoned to confirm and the guy sadi "aarrgghhhh - we thought it was tomorrow!!" THey'd put in in the diary for then. He was going to be there, but his wife was out. It was ok with us - Peter was set on meeting up, so off they went. They live about an hour from Glasgow, in the country and the plaace looks lovely. The have a log fire - that was enough to win me over, but we sat and chatted. He wasn't fazed by Peter and his chat of dvds and disney. He loved our photos from our holiday and made a great cuppa for us!!
He took us to the room where Peter would be sleeping and told him that if he came to stay and he wanted, he could have a tv and dvd player in the room to watch his films at night. They also have some animals on the small holding. We didn't see them - the weather was rotten, but the guy has promised Peter can meet the horse and the pig!!
There was a nice feel to the guy and then house - it felt like home and i'm sure Peter will love it. In fact, when we got home, Peter asked when he was going to see the guy and the horse!!!!!
If Peter hadn't liked him, we wouldn't have had that!

Thursday morning, Louise decided she wanted to time travelling to one of her families - going on the motorway!!! She was getting brave. So we did that and then headed for some lunch before getting Peter from college. Later on she decided to go and see a friend before going to pick up Paul from band. And they all arrived in about 8. We'd not seen Ann for a while and were getting a bit worried about her.

But like the rest of us, she's just been caught up in day to day life. She was really chuffed that Louise had passed her test and had bought a car!! Louise decided to take Ann home, so i jumped in the car with them.

Friday was getting my knee x rayed again. The woman questioned WHY i was getting it done again after only 18 months. Duhh - because it hurts and the GP wanted it checked. She also said that an MRI was a better way of getting it checked and i sweetly told her that i'd had one of them done December 2009 and an arthroscopy this time last year and the results of that had shown that the damage was worse than initially thought. 
It could be a few things - arthritis or calcification of the tendons or maybe the osteoporosis is kicking in.
So we'll need to wait and see.

Asda shopping delivered, and Louise and i decided to get some stuff from Costco and we picked up Peter and his worker from college. Gerry wasn't so quiet this week - maybe he knows we won't bite him!!!
It's great having that support - we can go and do things knowing we don't need to drag Peter out. It's just getting used to it!!

It's also nice that we're getting lighter evenings now. It's 5pm just now and it's still light outside. Maybe if the rain stays away, i might start getting some things done in the garden!!
Knowing my luck, the snow will come back with a vengance for even thinking about garden time!!!!

Hi diddle de de.............

.................... An actor's life for me!!!!

Well, not quite an actor's life but i did enjoy the filming session yesterday.

THe reason for the filming is that Glasgow City Council are making a DVD about Self Directed Support. It's a new way for people for people with learning dificulties to access and pay for services and adapt them to what they need and want rather than trying to fit the person into a service that may not be suitable for them.

Our road to deciding to go this route was long (ish). Peter left school nearly 3 years ago. We went from 32 nights per year respite plus 4 hours a week support to just 21 nights respite a year. The council said that while they realized that Peter did need support, he was not a high priority and anyway, they did not have the money.

So we then haad a young adult who was taking 4 steps back and a family who were expected to put in a lot more time and work into supporting him. NOW = this we didn't mind, but give there were oter people in the family who needed time - like  - the rest of us!!! So off we went on a journey.

I'm not going to bore you with all the details, but we were allocated a budget, told that a certain amount was for respite and the rest was for support workers and for various things Peter might like to do - art class or whatever.

We started the support last october and so far it has  been going well - our 1st lot of respite in Skye was great and the workers have been great. One or 2 small changes, but hey - we don't get everything right 1st go.

So i was asked if i would like to do some publicity and would i be avaiable to chat with others who were thinking of SDS??

Well - ok, i said, just so long as people realize that i'm not an expert and what we have done with the money won't be what oters may want to do. BUT - i'm gooing at times with coming up with ideas and suggestions.

So that led to yesterday and the filming. Luckily, a media guy came out a couple of weeks ago and went thru the filming - dos, don'ts, just act yourself and so on
So the camera guy and the PR girl from the council arrived, set up, lights, camera, miked me up - hey, i got techy there!!! I was a bit worried that i'd either dry up, or give it the verbal poop!! But it was ok - the PR girl asked me some questions, i told them stuff, the camera guy sugested a few things to help keep on track given that they are trying to "sell" this as a way of doing the support.

THey also filmed the boys together and are going to college on friday to do some filming. So all went well, it was worth the make up to do it and hopefully it'll help others.

Just don't ask me to look at the finished stuff - i'm too critical!!!