Just Bits and Pieces

Good morning all – hope you are all well and happy and looking forward to a short working week!

Update – Marwell Hotel – no response at all!  *tut*.  Dreadful PR I feel!

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Last week I recounted the experience of going to a funeral and discovering it was actually a Jehovah’s Witness one.  This week I read a book called Childrens Act, which I have since discovered has been made into a film!  Young man, just two months off being 18, is dying of leukaemia and could be saved by a blood transfusion which he and his parents refuse on religious grounds.  Ends up in Court as the hospital are pushing for the transfusion – and the Judge has to make the final, binding decision.

Really interesting to read the various arguments – and based on a real life case from a few years ago.

Which side would you support?

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I also told you about the great evening at the Wurzels gig last weekend.  I forgot to mention something I don’t understand!  There were dozens of people taking photographs during the evening, mostly on their phones.  No problem, but what I didn’t understand is why so many were taking photos of themselves watching the group!  Why do you think they do that?

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I am quite ambivalent about crowdfunding – which I’m sure you’ve heard/seen if you are on social media.  Recently there has been a lot about a local young man in his 20s called Adam, who is dying and can probably be saved by a form of treatment that is available but that the NHS will not fund.  (You may have seen them on BBC South Today a couple of times this week, with his Consultant who explained what the treatment involved.)  I had no hesitation in throwing my small offering into the pot and have been really impressed by the hard work of a lot of local people who have raised so much money by organising events etc.  He needs £100,000 before the treatment can be given and currently has over £94,000 – which is amazing.

However, I do not support crowdfunding for a couple that ‘need’ to go on holiday, or to take a child to Disneyland.  I suppose it depends on your personal priorities!

I’ll let you know when they reach the £100,000 target for a brave young man – and have no doubt they will!

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Did you see/hear the news report this week expressing concerns about the dropping literacy levels in children?

Is it a bit simplistic to say the answer so often lies with their families?  Most small children want to copy their parents – playing ‘dressing up’, or wanting to help cook or plant flowers.  If a child sees a grown up sitting reading books, then they will want to do the same.  If there are no books in the house and they never see an adult pick a book up, then why should they?

However, you only have to be in a queue or a waiting room to notice that even babies will play with a phone or a tablet!  They replicate what they see at home.

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Hope you all have a good week and that it doesn’t rain tomorrow for those of you with Bank Holiday plans.

Take care of yourselves. x

Mostly medical

Update – Marwell Hotel – second letter sent, but no reply yet!

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Well that was an experience I am in no hurry to repeat – MRI Scan on my eye this morning!  Arrived a little early and enjoyed the circuit around the hospital looking for the right place!  Eventually, after much re-direction, found it but no Reception on a Sunday so just sat in what appeared to be a waiting area with a couple of other women.  One of them was approached by a nurse with a list in her hand who asked her name and told her she was in the wrong place and should be elsewhere.  The woman pointed out that she’d been there and was redirected to somewhere else who then sent her here and she wasn’t going all around the hospital again to get back to where she’d gone some half an hour earlier!  The nurse asked my name and told me she didn’t know I’d arrived – I’d hazard a guess that was because there was no-one on reception and no bar code on the letter!

I was taken into a side room and told to get undressed except for my pants and socks! (Such a fabulous look for me!)  I was going to put my own dressing gown on as instructed, but no, I was asked me to put on a gown instead.  I had a canula inserted into my arm and was taken to the room where the magic was going to happen.  Unfortunately, despite being invited to bring it with me, they were unable to play my CD so I had ear-plugs fitted and huge slabs of foam placed over my ears and my head was squeezed into a sort of support thingy. (Tension was rising now!)  I then had to lay flat while a white plastic mask contraption was put over the front of my head.  I was given a buzzer to ring in case of emergencies and told not to move at all!  I could feel the heart beat rising and I was, quite frankly, a little scared so started some relaxation while awaiting further instructions.  The noise was unbelievable – a bit like being right next to a pneumatic drill and there was much knocking and banging which sounded like someone trying to break in – but I kept my eyes closed and concentrated on my breathing!!

After a while a man appeared, all went quiet and he squirted some dye into the canula, patted me and went away and it all started again!

After fifty minutes, the man reappeared and it was over – I’d been scanned and apparently the images were all clear so nothing needed redoing.  He removed the canula, I got dressed and it was over!  Straight downstairs for a well-deserved cuppa and something to eat.

Yes I was scared and – being a tad claustrophobic – there are many things I would rather have been doing that being inside a tube not much wider than me, hearing noises I didn’t recognise and wondering just how long I was going to be there.  However – I needed to have it done, so now it’s over and I feel all the better for being brave about it!

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Just for a bit of variety, the Main Man had a hospital appointment this week – but at St. Mary’s, instead of the QA.  What a change – appointment almost on time (not everyone‘s appointment being the same time); comfortable, clean waiting area; charming, friendly chatty nurses; well mannered, helpful and kind Doctor.  All over relatively quickly and painlessly.

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The Main Man took his sister to his cousin’s funeral.  Perhaps it’s not the right word to use but they seem to have enjoyed it.  Their family is quite large and also very widespread, so it was a good opportunity to catch up with everyone and hear all the news.

The second funeral was of an elderly neighbour Doris, who we have known for 40 years, so we thought it was right to attend and pay our respects.  Thankfully, it was a slightly old-fashioned funeral which is my preference (no football shirts, no baseball caps, no endless chattering) and was conducted by one of Doris’ sons – who did very well and is obviously well used to speaking in public.  However – after the first bit, talking about Doris’ life and family, it suddenly dawned on me – it was a Jehovah’s Witness Funeral!  Well, that was a first for me I have to say!

Only the two funerals this week as the third had been postponed.

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I love the school/college holidays and this week the Junior Girl and I had a Grandma Day as we do every holiday.  It now follows a well worn path – bus to wherever she chooses, cup of tea and cheese scone, wander a little and do any shopping we need/want to do, lunch wherever she chooses, then Waterstones!  Stagger back to bus, laden with new books and home.  Apart from the obvious pleasures of a nice lunch and new books, it is also the opportunity for long chats, catching up, sharing secrets, planning for the future – all the bits and pieces that make a Grandma/Granddaughter relationship so special!

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Last night we went to The Pallant in Havant with Senior Girl, the Cyclist and my oldest friend H – and we had a great evening!  Shep Woolley was playing – and he is someone I really like – followed by the Wurzels (pause while you all start humming ‘I’ve got a brand new combine harvester’!) which was a real blast from the past.  They have some very energetic ‘groupies’ who follow them all over the place and seemed to be well refreshed by Cider over the course of the evening.  I was mesmerised by one woman who managed some fast dancing while holding a glass and not spilling a drop!

Such a well supported event, so I’m hopeful that quite a bit of money was raised.

A tip of the hat to Will, the Pallant Manager, for great organisation and for all his energy and enthusiasm in bringing such fun to the Pallant!

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I hope you’ve all had a good week.  Sorry if this seems all doom and gloom but I promise it was interspersed with fun and laughter with the family!  We don’t spend all out lives at doctors/hospitals/funerals – although some weeks feel like it!

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This is almost a PS but has just popped in my mind.  Would it not be feasible, while scanning people for eyes, ears, legs, hips or whatever, to continue and do a full body scan.  That way very early signs of something dodgy could be picked up long before the patient was aware of there being anything wrong?  I suspect it would be expensive, but would it not also be cost effective in enabling treatment to be started early?  Just a thought.

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Have a good week and enjoy yourselves, even if there is no sunshine!

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Nice To Be Cool Again!

Good morning all – how quickly Sunday seems to come around these days!  I hope everyone is well and happy, and enjoying the cooler temperatures!

Update: No reply yet from the Marwell Hotel.  Time for another letter?

Update: More work at the Rat House – windows gradually being replaced, bags of cement being carried in, much hammering going on.  Looking promising!

Update: Chest infection now better so all is well once again!

Update: Eyes – Next Sunday morning I have an appointment for a series of five scans – that should solve it I think!

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This coming week the Main Man and I have no less than three funerals to attend!  Tomorrow is one of his cousins’, Tuesday is an elderly neighbour and the end of the week is someone he knows from Church.

I have spoken about this before – but I think it is really quite important so am going to repeat it here!  Feel free to skip the rest of this section if you so wish!

The one certainty that we all face is that we are going to die, those we love are going to die and we have no way of knowing when this is all going to happen.  Grief is an awful thing and the ramifications can go on for years but it is the price we pay for love.

However, if you take the time to really think through what you believe happens when you die, how much easier this makes things for yourself.  It doesn’t really matter what you believe, as long as you do believe – you might accept the idea of sitting at the feet of God, or becoming an Angel, or reincarnation or that there is nothing at all – just eternal sleep.  I am not trying to say you are right or wrong – I only know what I believe and accept.

Once you know what you believe, then you will find this helps tremendously with the grieving process – because you will feel you will know what has happened to the person who has died.

Death is inevitable so don’t try and pretend it isn’t going to happen – accept it and prepare for it and life suddenly becomes much easier!

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I heard on the news this week that teachers were increasingly concerned about the very poor levels of speech in children starting school – am I the only one who is NOT surprised?

For children to speak well and clearly, surely they need to hear good speech modelled for them?  If they are not engaged in conversations almost from birth, how on earth are they supposed to learn?  I do think that some parents forget that part of their role as a parent is that of the child’s primary educator – it is your job to teach them to walk, to speak, to listen and so on.

A phone or tablet is not the same – and neither is television!

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I was standing in a queue behind two young women who were just talking to each other.  One confided that she really wished she could look like Katie Price (what????) and the other was bemoaning the fact that she was quite short (taller than me though!).  They were both so blinking miserable about it all – it was really depressing!

I pass on to you my motto of the day:

You Are – and that is enough

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It’s been a bit of a busy week (how I love my two girls being on holiday!)  In and out, out and about, hither and yon!

Lunch with a couple of old friends;

afternoon tea with four other friends;

bit of culture at Fishbourne Roman Palace;

cinema visit to see the new Mama Mia;  

What will this week bring – apart from funerals!

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Oh – just to link a couple of points above.  At Fishbourne there are a few skeletons dotted about.  As I was passing one, a young chap (perhaps 7ish) asked me what it was.  I replied that it was a human skeleton and he looked completely blank, so I launched into an explanation.  He was absolutely fascinated and kept staring at his hand/arm and touching it as if to feel his bones.  He had no idea at all!  The idea that bones grow and that is how people get taller was a revelation!  Goodness knows where his grown-up was but it was such a lovely exchange with him I felt quite sad that it was a stranger talking to him about the wonders of the human body.

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Never rains but it pours (in more ways than the obvious)!  I was asked to proof read a novel by a friend – and, my word, it is cracking!  I keep having to go back a few pages because I was so engrossed in the story I forgot to proof it!

More info on this in the future I feel sure!

Then I received in the post a copy of a story for small children, also for me to proof read!  All done and returned to the author.  Can’t say this was gripping – but children will enjoy it I feel sure!

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I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day and have a good week.

Stay well. x

Still Too Hot for Me

Update – Feel like absolute poo, still coughing and chest seems no better!  Now on second round of antibiotics and steroids so hope it will soon clear.

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When the Senior Girl was at school, I used to look forward so much to the summer holidays – it was such a special time!  We had very little money so holidays away weren’t possible, but the six weeks were filled with fun, exploring, playing – all depending on her age.  Housework – just ignored it!  These six weeks were too precious to waste.

The holidays are hardly a surprise – there are 46 weeks to prepare for them!  I became adept at keeping my eyes open all year around for anything that might be useful – information about free places to visit, special offer coupons I could use, small toys etc. that might be handy.  She was also very generously supplied with presents as a child from our extended family, so some of those would be gradually removed and hidden, ready to come out of hiding later.  I also used to try and save £1 a week in a jar for the rest of the year – then there was money for an ice cream or a little treat.

Sundays were earmarked as planning day – we would decide what we wanted to do during the week.  One day would be something a little more special, perhaps a bus or train journey to somewhere not too far away with a free activity at the end of it!  Whatever her passion at the time was, we would try and incorporate it – was there a museum we could visit, a display at the library or whatever?  There was a lot of cooking and craft going on, as well as role play and ‘let’s pretend’.

Sometimes we would just pack up our lunch and go for a picnic – just to the park!  On wet days we would put our wellies on and go puddle stomping or, if it was warm rain, she would just play in the garden with no clothes on before ending up in a warm bath!

The unbreakable rule was that there had to be some reading time in each day and no television before tea time – even on wet days.

Sorry if this all sounds a bit ‘Enid Blyton’ and things obviously changed as she grew into her teens.  By then, times weren’t perhaps as hard as they had been and we could afford a day out each week – which she still remembers now!

What brought all this on?  A casual conversation with a mum at the bus stop – she was with a little girl I guess to be about 7 who was just hopping around, doing nothing in particular.  The mum informed me that ‘them kids’ had been on holiday for a week already and she was sick of them!

So sad.

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I had a letter from Havant Council (none too sure why!) to tell me that on the land next to the Crematorium at West Leigh, they would be building 81 new houses, together with a ‘community orchard’(??)  All this new development along the same piece of road where another development is taking place– but no provision for essentials like school places, doctors etc.  How is this even logical?

I expect it will all become clear when I get a reply from the MP (this is a joke!)

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Can anyone explain to me why people seem to have taken to a couple of Americanisms with such enthusiasm?  Why do they say ‘gotten’ –  as in ‘I’ve gotten a new phone’ –  can they not say ‘I have a new phone’ or even ‘I’ve got a new phone’?  And what is ‘gifted’ all about?  ‘She gifted me a new bag’ – what is wrong with ‘she gave me a new bag’?

Perhaps it’s an age thing but I don’t understand it!  Love these different expressions in America – but here, not so keen!

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Hope you all enjoy the rest of your day and that the coming week is a good one for you.  Try to stay cool and stay well hydrated!

Take care x