..............And live in hope!!!!
I'm even living in hope that this blog will get written some time this side of the next Millennium, never mind this week!!!
Since i started to type, several nanoseconds ago, i have had a couple of requests to get on the laptop and the dining room has suddenly turned into Glasgow City centre on Christmas Eve - busy!!!
So you'll understand WHY i live in hope!!!!
First of all, Happy New Year to everyone. I hope you are enjoying the post holiday time. If you have been hit by storms - like we have, i hope you have minimal damage to property. Only (cross fingers) damage we have had is to the fence that divides our back garden from the next door neighbours. Technically - their fence and given the weather here, i'm not pushing to get them to fix too quickly. It has happened before and they have sorted it.
We had a good time on Peter's birthday - we went on the big wheel here in Glasgow. It was raining, so we didn't see too far and Paul was deep breathing, trying to get over his fear of heights!!! So it was interesting! And a visit to the cinema (Saw Puss in Boots) and then ordering pizza for tea and Peter was happy.
And so were we!
Holding on seems to be the words for this month.
Not just because of the wind and rain either.
We decided to get back into the rat run of trying to find out who Peter's social worker/care manager is.
So, last Friday, Louise phoned the Learning Disabilities Team. They promised to phone back. I didn't expect to hear anything till Monday. Still no phone call. And given that the girl on Friday said she couldn't locate Peter's name in the system, i was getting worried.
So Louise put on her best "i'm gonna find out voice" on and phoned again.
To be told that the LD team have moved to Easterhouse Social Work Office.
Now - let's put it in perspective. I'd much rather do a YEAR in downtown Beirut than a moment in this office. One time we were there - when Peter was younger and i was in fear for my life. A drug addict was kicking off and it was S.C.A.R.Y.
So Louise phones, to be told that maybe Peter is not in the system.
He Bl**dy well should be and started chucking names at them that should be known who are high up.
Eventually, she spoke to a duty worker (who knows us as much as we know the moon!!) who said that we could write and request to be allocated a worker, but since things were "ok" at the moment, chances are we wouldn't be allocated.
At that, i am surprised Louise kept calm. She said that we WOULD be requesting a worker and that one SHOULD be allocated BEFORE we get to crisis point and then they come in all guns going and don't listen to us as a family.
I phoned Enable to find out who was covering today.
And then slapped the social work junk on them!!
He he - I had to do it to someone.
Alisdair said he would try and get in touch. And i'm going to phone and put them straight on a few things.
Like they will NEED to allocate - SOON. We have our application for guardianship going into court in about 12 weeks. I am NOT having someone who does not know us writing a report to help decide if i am a suitable person to look afrter my son's affairs. Given that they were the ones who cocked up 5 years ago, i am not overly keen to give them the chance again.
They have also set a date for a review - but told no one!!!
Like, what part of person centred planning do they not get??
Methinks i will be doing a lot of holding on and hoping over the next few weeks!!!
..................I have to admit, till today, I've been a bit Bah Humbug. I couldn't seem to get into any kind of spirit, never mind the Christmas one!!!
The pressies - mostly - have been wrapped, the tree is up and the cards are up.
But still no festive wotsit!!!
Matthew has been enjoying the new job - just over 5 weeks and first pay - that did kind of help. Then he gets his days off for next week - off Christmas day and Boxing Day - so that's good. Lou is off as well, so we get to have dinner, open pressies and enjoy.
So, the spirit is slowly seeping in.
(some would say it's the southern comfort spirit seeping in - they'd be right!!!!!)
Yesterday, Peter and i went in to town. Not too bad - busy, but not the "Let's get outta here" busy. I treated him to and Alice in Wonderland ornament he'd seen. He asked if it was to be sent to Santa - i told him that he could put it out NOW - well, when we got home. He was happy.
Then to Kimble's to treat us to some nice choccies. And to Whittards for some nice coffee to feed my new found coffee addiction!!
This morning, i had to go to the bank. Coming out, i saw that some kids were on the tour bus. It was their Christmas day out and they were loving being on the top deck of this open topped bus - in the drizzle and dull skies - and just having a great time. They were looking down to the folk on the streets and i just had to wave!!! And i got one back!
Funny how something small can just change your day - for the good.
I know i should have something profound to say, but i can't think of anything. Some of the bloggers i follow have had a rough, tough time this year - not always big things, but enough that i wish i could go and at least make a cup of tea, or give them a bit of company for a while.
BUT - i think our good days are like that shining star. So put your star somewhere high, where you'll see it, even on the darkest of days, when you think nobody really cares. Think of me and have that cyber cup of tea, or coffee, or glass of wine - it'll be on me!
So, if you celebrate Christmas, or Hanukkah (hope I've spelt it right!!), have a good time with family, friends.................
Or if you just have a break at this time - enjoy!!!
...............Thankfully mostly good days!!! Life has been a bit hum drum the past week or two - just trying to keep up with normal routine things. And trying to keep in touch with my friend Lynne from over at The Giggle Fest.
But more of that in a mo......
The good days................ Well, big drum roll here please................Matthew has started his new job!!!! Yahooooo!!!
He has been out of work since this time last year. It has been really hard to try and stay positive. Loads of job applications and some interviews. Sometimes the number of hours just wasn't right, or he was told he didn't have the experience or whatever.
But a couple of months ago he went for an interview for a Support Worker job. It was with a company who help support various people - learning disabilities, elderly, people recovering from addictions. The interview went well and he waited.
A couple of weeks later, he got a call to offer him the job, subject to references and the disclosure. The references were fine. The disclosure took a while to come thru. NOT i have to say because he has done anything that would show up. It's just that the way it's done has been changed in the past 8 or 9 months and people are still trying to get used to it.
In the end, it was fine. So he got a call asking if he could start last Sunday.
Could he??? MMmmmmmm - duh - YES!!!!! He'd have gone in that day if he'd been asked!!!
So far it seems to be going well. Since Matthew took his redundancy from BT nearly 8 years ago, this is the kind of job he has wanted to do. He seemed to go round the houses to get there mind you, but he has at last got it. He's worked in Care Homes - not really what he wanted - too regimented and the residents seemed to end up sitting in the day room watching mindless tv while the carers moaned and bitched. He worked as a postie - mmmm - less said bout that the better - not a nice environment. An women are meant to bitchy!!! Try men!!!
He worked as an industrial cleaner.
Ok - it was money and really put him off eating in some places.
But this year he hasn't sat about - he did some voluntary work with Epilepsy Connections. And I have been feeding him a lot of stuff about Peter's support. Like it or loathe it - it seems to be the way that the Council wants to do its support to people like Peter.
So i think it all helped. The first week went well and he has 3 training days next week.
The not so good stuff is Lynne's son Jack. Long story short, he's just not been well tha past 6/8 weeks or so. I feel for Lynne and her daughter Holly. I'm in Glasgow, they're in Elgin - good couple of hundred miles apart and i can't even go and make her a cuppa. They have been doing the "Grand Tour" of hospitals on the East Coast of Scotland.
Not got to the West yet- and i'm kinda hoping it stays that way!!! Not that i don't want to see them - it's just that if he ends up at sick kids here in Glasgow, it means he's really not well - not just a bit not well ,but blue lights, sirens and maybe helicopters not well. And i don't want that.
I have sent emergency chocolate supplies to Lynne to cheer her up. It's not much, but i'm hoping it helps.
SO - that's been me the past few days. Making sure Matthew gets up and then checking FB or my texts to see how Jack is doing.
So tomorrow is another day and another week. I hope it brings better news for Jack and Lynne.
.....................Why do i feel as if i'm running around so much?!?!?!?!
I know - i shouldn't really complain - it keeps me out of mischief and away from the ironing pile!!!
At long last tho, we are getting a handle on our workers. We now have cover for a wednesday and it means i don't have to hang about college like a spare part waiting for Peter! Cheryl is doing the pick up and entertaining for just now.
So i went off and did some shopping this morning and then headed home - i almost expected a call from the college to say no one had come to get Peter. They are pretty useless about stuff like this and expect us to jump.
My paperwork got sorted and i headed to the Lawyers on Monday. No mean feat to get outta the door!! I had to bribe the cat with some cheesy dreammie treats (the treats cats crave so the packet tells me!!!!) Having got her out of the dining room and closed the door, she decided to flee up the stairs.
So there was me, standing having a conversation with a cat about how i HAD to get out and would she PLEASE get down the stairs and into the kitchen so i could close that door and, well - get out!!
Like the cat understands EVERY word i utter!!!
She prob does - just chooses to ignore them!!! Bit like the rest of the family - she is learning fast!!!
I did get into town, only to be accosted by Matthew's Auntie Chrissie, who had just met him on the bus!!! Matthew, being a typical man, had given her the bare bones of how we all were - she just wanted to add the meat to it and find out how we all really were!!! Chrissie is lovely and she would never walk by without saying hello.
So eventually, i got to the Lawyers. I feel better now that the stuff she needed was there and given that i have had no call to say otherwise, i'm kind of assuming it was just what she needed.
Peter and i went to see Arthur Christmas yesterday - we found it good and Arthur and Grandsanta reminded me a lot of what Peter and my friend's Dad on Skye are like!! Just nice to see 2 generations doing something together!!! I will not give the story away, lest any of you wish to go see!!!!
Now that i feel better and am not going to moan about any more, i'm going to go and make a start on some of the captions and photos i have printed out for the scrapbook i'm doing!!!
......................Hours in the day or days in the week!!!
I feel as if i've been running around trying to get some things done and not really getting anywhere.
Just as well i'd had those few days on Skye to relax, laugh and enjoy with Linda.
Mind you - Peter was relaxing, laughing and enjoying with Lachie, so i was happy about that!!!!
Since coming back, i feel as if my ear has been stuck to the phone to sort out things, my bum on a seat at meetings or knee deep in paperwork and not finding the bit of paper i need.
Actually, i lie about the paperwork - i haven't even got that far yet, but i know i won't find it and will need to phone and get a replacement!!
First thing to do last week was to phone to check that Peter's respite for the weekend was ok. The person who deals with it had phoned while we were away.
Only trouble was , she was out of the office and they couldn't access the files needed.
Tuesday i phoned the respite family to explain - and Chris said "oh, heck, just bring him down and we'll sort it later. You know the funding is in place.
I also had a meeting with Enable to meet a new worker. Her name is Sarah and she's lovely. She's covering the thursday shift, so her and Peter are doing Art Class together. We still have to work on wednesday cover - we thought one person might be available, but they're not too keen on going swimming.
In between all this, i had to phone the Lawyer to organise an appointment to deal with the renewal of the Guardianship order we have for Peter. We have to make some changes on this, so that will be fun.
By friday, the respite was officially confirmed by the office and i had Peter's bags packed.
Done, dusted and he was going!!!
So we had a fairly quiet weekend.
A bit of shopping, started some ironing and not much else - i seemed to lack the energy!
I picked Peter up from respite yesterday - he had a great time!! He'd been swimming and to a Halloween party . He and Sarah had gone out guising on monday evening - he came home with enough sugary sweetie things to last him an age and nearly £8!!!!
The lawyers this morning - had to fill out paperwork and thankfully, we should get Legal Aid for the application. The medical reports themselves can add up to a few hundred pounds alone before we even get a mental health report. I don't grudge paying for things, but this is one thing that i would not really be able to afford - and it's something we really need to do for Peter. Especially the financial part of it. The council have said that we need that in place for the bank account that will eventually have Peter's support budget in it.
So it was off to the bank to ask for up to date statements, back home to look for stuff. I have found one thing we need and think i know where the other is. I may need to make a call or 2 to get another bit of info, so that'll be done the next day or so.
And i wonder why i feel so tired?!?!?!?!?!?
Just as well ASDA have Southern Comfort litre bottles on a special offer just now - i think i'll be needing a scoop or five before the week it out!!!!
...................Is 2 cars, a white van and a truck! So no wonder the bus to Armadale was late!!!
Yes - another visit to Portree and my crazy friend Linda!!!!
And we were not disappointed
We got the bus tuesday morning and arrived about 5pm. It was fairly busy - october holiday for schools and the Mod is at one of the other islands, so travel is busy. There was snow atop some of the hills. Man - it's only october. It's not meant to be like that!!! And it was COLD. Methinks we may have another long winter ahead.
At one point, the bus was driving into the rain and wind, and said wet and windy stuff was trying hard to push us back!!!
Arriving in Portree, we met Linda and Harry - our lovely taxi driver - were there to meet us. Another bit of gossip for the town was created when i gave Harry a birthday hug!!!
Off to the bed and breakfast to unpack and then up to Linda's for dinner. We had fish and chips from a local place - honestly, the fish tasted so fresh, i almost expected it to wink at me!!!
Peter and Lachie were happily choosing their DVD to watch, SO linda and i sat and chatted.
Of course i took Kimble's chocs - i had been warned that i wouldn't get within a mile of the island if i had forgotten!!!!!
All too soon (after a drink or 2!!) it was time to go back to the B+B. I promised that i would get Lachie's papers and bring them up with me in the morning.
Our breakfasts were lovely - i'm sure Chrissie wanted to feed us up. And she wasn't bothered that all Peter asked for was sausages and toast!!!
We sat and chatted for a while and Linda's girls were in and out. Our plans for the afternoon were to go for lunch at Marmalade - a lovely place - and then off down into the town centre.
Lunch was indeed good and we didn't really want to move, but felt we had to. A look about a few of the shops and then back to Linda's.
Dinner then the chat and s drink!!! Oh - and planning for the next day!!!
We decided to go to Armadale to the Clan Douglas Centre. Unfortunalty, it was raining, so we didn't spend much time outdoors, but you could tell what it would be like on a sunny day. Heck, it was so wet and cold that the Peacock would not display his feathers and if he would have spoken, would probably asked one of the humans to open the doors and LET HIM IN!!!! It was funny to watch him wander to a bit and try to get shelter.
The museum was good - interesting, but Peter gets bored quickly, so you have to keep him going and try to look at things on the hoof.
Then we went off for lunch - Soup and sandwiches - and to be warmed up.
Linda and i were really annoyed at one woman we - or rather Peter - encountered. On our walk back down to get lunch, Peter was walking ahead of us. Not too far - close enough to call to him if needed. A woman and a couple of men came along. The woman was in her 60's (at least) and said to Peter "which way is the castle". He just kinda looked at her as if What???? and she got a bit annoyed - she tutted a bit in a huffy way and said to us (who at that point realised she had asked Peter a thing he couldn't answer) "where IS the castle!!!!".
We felt like directing her to the water and telling her to jump in and she may find it, but we were not in the mood for a crabbit auld wummin who had met up with Peter and thought he was stupid. We knew that we had the better person to have lunch with!!!
All too quickly it was time to think of going home. Our last evening we sat and made plans for the next visit - hopefully March. We can't wait.
Friday morning, the rain was pouring down and the wind was blowing a hoolie. I seriously thought we would be going home by ark instead of a bus!!! And it rained almost all of the 7 hour journey!
I knew i was back in Glasgow when we hit friday evening rush hour - considerably more traffic that 2 cars, a van and a truck!! It was busy, noisy and loud.
I must be turning into an island person!!!
...................At A + E at Glasgow Royal Infirmary!!
The reason i know this, is because Louise and I spent last sunday afternoon/evening there. Lou had been suffering from a sore head solidly for almost 4 days - she also had some neck stiffness and mild photo-phobia............. no prizes for guessing where this might have been going.
The pharmacist suggested going to the out of hours clinic, given that Lou works at Sick Kids and could have come across any manner of buggies and beasties that do the rounds at this time of year.
So off we went to out of hours. Triaged by the nurse, then a wait for a doc.
And wait. It seemed to be change of shift and a new doc came in - Lou didn't like the look of him and to be honest, neither did i. Guess who she saw?? You got it - him. His english wasn't brill and he couldn't understand WHY Lou had come along, even tho we explained about her job and the pharmacist advising it would be good to get checked.
So he made a phone call to A + E. We were to go up.
Took Peter home (had to take him with us since Matthew and Paul were out). Then headed to the hospital.
Actually - for a sunday afternoon at one of the main A+E departments in the city, it was fairly quiet!! We only saw the police frogmarch one person in!!!!
No footie matches on, so no fighting.
We booked in and were triaged again. THe doc at out of hours was a bit blazé. but the nurse was good when we explained where Lou worked.
So we had to go and wait - again.
So our people watching started.
An insight to parts of life we never usually see!!
One man came to reception to ask about his wife. He thought she'd been brought in earlier - he had decided to go shopping then come find out how she was!!! (mmmm - normally the other way about - woman shop, man ill!!!)
Then the people who think the can walk thru the department to get to the other parts of the hospital - and they get miffed when they get told they have to walk back outta the door and go to the right place. Yes, the staff can access the hospital from the department, just not the general public!!
Then came a wee man in off the street - woolie bunnet on his heid and back pack over his shoulder. Eventually he was booked in and came to sit in front of us. He looked round to see who he could strike up a conversation with.
At this point, Louise and i found a speck of dirt in a far corner very interesting!!!!
He managed to engage with the woman beside him. He complained of a sore chest, admitted he smoked and had inhalers. The woman commented that maybe he should chuck the ciggies and that might help.
Oh, ah canny be daeing with that, was the reply.
(so why are you here then, if you do nothing to help yourself???)
Then he complained of hunger - he was offered a toffee by this woman and she got the reply of "i've nae teeth to chew!".
She suggested crisps from the vending machine.
He needed something more substantial than crisps!
What, we wondered, did he expect in and A + E Department?? 5** fine dining and wines?!?!?!?!?!?
I always tell my kids that if they are well enough to be picky about food, they do not need to be near that kinda place. I was tempted to offer this choice nugget, but Lou's name was called.
Saved by the call of the assessment unit!!
So we went thru - bloods and ECG done, we were told to wait and a doc would eventually get to us.
So all that was left to do was people watch - again.
But what is it with people and them thinking that paper thin curtains are actually soundproofed??? They seem to think that the people around them are deaf and do not understand a work anyone else says.
Across and to the right, we had a patient, who was an American tourist. I'm sure visiting a hospital as a patient was not on his top ten "to do while in Scotland" list!! It was decided to take him up to the ward to see how he and his chest pain did overnight.
Across and to the left came in a woman on a trolley and her daughter. The woman get berating the daughter for making such a fuss. But, truly, the woman did need some kinda help. I heard the daughter mention things like anti depressants and how the mother had tried to commit suicide recently.
See what i mean - you could hear almost everything.
Louise and i chatted for a while and we could hear comments that other folk - like the woman who was asked if her sister had come in the ambulance with her. She said she thought so!!! (turned out the sis was still at home!!)
More and more we could hear the woman across from us giving an earful to the daughter. She said her neighbours would be shocked at an ambulance being at the house at 6am. The daughter pointed out it was the afternoon and they were not long in the building .
I really felt sorry for the girl - who it turned out had been caring for her mother 24/7 for some time. When the mother said that she was a "STUPID GIRL" i really wanted to go in and shake her till she saw that her daughter was very loving, obviously concerned due to the fact that her mother wasn't well and that she should be glad that someone cared about her.
By that time, i was thinking that if this had been a relative of mine, i would have driven along the motorway and jettisoned her as we passed the hospital and then put my foot to the floor so i could escape FAST.
It was sad.
Eventually, we did get seen and the doc decided to keep Lou in. Not because she thought there was a danger of infection - more because she never suffers from headaches or migraines and they just wanted to make sure she was ok.
Monday morning i got a call - Consultant had done the ward round, said she'd done the right thing and said she could go home - it WAS just a bad sore head.
It was kinda scary and we waited sooo long to get to the ward. But at least we know she's ok.
Now we just have to deal with the sore back she has..........................
She's on her own there - and has an appointment with the GP this week.
Peter and i are on our way to Skye in the morning, and i can't wait!!
