Christmas catch up.

Oops.


Sorry. I see it has been three weeks since I last put hand to keyboard and bored you with my tales. The website seems to have stalled temporarily too. New years resolution..rocket up my own arse I think.


The build up to the day..


The build up to Christmas was fairly uneventful this year with the extra spare time I have nowadays. Fruit and veg and most of the gift shopping done online leaving plenty of time to plan Christmas day for 10 and Boxing day for 16.


Interspersed with the Christmas planning we  also liaise with builders who start work in January converting half the garage into mums swanky new en-suite. 


Mum gradually gets more and more excited on the build up to Christmas day and the arrival of elder sis Julia with Ian and the boys. Sarahs 3 arrive at various times leading up to the day and the house starts to feel cosy and seasonal as the decorations, trees and lights go up inside. Luckily no more climbing involved for me.


The big day..


Lie in till nine then up for pressies...Mum very excited to have a stocking all to herself. In pre Dementia years it was so difficult to buy gifts for mum as by her admission she already had two of everything she needed, so this year we went to town with a stocking full of bits and bobs. She loved it. A good hour of unwrapping bath bombs, gloves, scarves etc. Tears, smiles and laughs all rolled together, brilliant.


Cooked breakfast, then start the prep for dinner to be served at 6 pm.
Mum kept out of trouble for another two hours peeling sprouts and chestnuts, just finished as Julia and Family arrive for even more pressies.


Dinner a raging success, Pheasant in a duck in a turkey with all the trimmings, followed by Christmas pud and an assortment of cakes. Then the cheese board with some vintage port.


All in all a great day was had by all. I think.


Boxing day...


Today heralds the arrival of younger sis Fabia with Mark. Also we have a visit from my Godfather Lloyd with his wife Kay visiting from France. We hope to negotiate a stay in the summer so mum is instructed to be on her best behaviour. Lloyd and Kay bring along daughter Polly and her antipodean partner Matt.


Huge buffet out on the table, left over three bird, home cooked ham etc. another great day. A few tears again from mum, joy not sadness which is always good.


Far too much food, far too much wine, all in all a great family Christmas. Mum enjoyed all of it and seems to remember a lot of it too.








In other matters, I was approached by Elinor O'Neill the reporter who wrote about my blog in the local paper to make a guest appearance on her blog where she describes her struggle with bipolar. You can have a read here.

Words

Words


Never take them for granted. We spend a lot of our time in conversations. Spoken, written, typed even signed. They are all words.


Dementia takes the conversations  away. Sometimes it leaves all the words but no ability to string them together. Sometimes, as is the case with Mum, the words disappear first, leaving the conversations locked inside with no means of expression. This quite often results in bouts of frustration, maybe even anger when she wants to tell or ask something.


Today has been one of those days. Mum was out in the morning with  the respite carer,  visited a garden centre looking at decorations. She is always in a good mood after a morning with Donna, as am I after a morning "off"


Quick visit to see the lovely gentleman for coffee then home. Mum disappeared upstairs for a while, probably to top up the nut mountain while I started to prepare tea. 


We then had a good two or three hours of  Mum trying to tell or ask me something. We just cannot get to the bottom of it. We tried all the usual methods to no avail.


It could be something as simple as her wanting to visit somewhere or something as complex as a desire to learn astro-physics, there is no way to tell. 


Sarah in from work and she can shed no light either. In the end we had to switch to the diversion tactics of food and me acting the fool. This does have a relatively good success rate and worked like a charm this time.


It seems that if Mum manages to convey her thoughts straight away there is no problem, but as soon as she stops or struggles the thread is lost, mostly never to return. I think I will try to bring this up with her tomorrow as it did seem to be something important.


An example from this week,

• "Its red I cant see it"
• What is it mum?
• "Its red, it was in the thing"
• What was it in mum?
• "Its red, you know..."
• Repeat ad infinitum

Anyway she is watching that funny man with the hat (Fred Dibnah) on the telly happy as Larry, so Sarah and I can settle down with a glass and a bit of radio

Tree climbing hippy

CHRISTMAS IS COMING




So that's why I am up a tree.
















At some point last week Mum decided we should have lights in the tree in the front garden. Being the good son and accomplished tree climbing electrician that I am I decided if I kept very quiet for a day or two the idea would go away. As luck would have it of course, although mum struggles to remember what day it is the lights just wouldn't be forgotten.


Google, "exterior led xmas lights", checkout and they are on their way. Arrive Tuesday but even an accomplished acrobat like myself shouldn't climb in gale force winds and torrential rain so another days respite.


Wednesday use the cunning "shall we go somewhere nice for lunch" ploy, followed by "shall we have a nice drive out to Medbourne" on the way back. Very enjoyable day but on our return "what about my lights"


Today, no wind, no cloud not even any sign of impending rapture so I cant put it off any longer. I'm meant to be a tree hugger not a tree climber but out come the ladders and here we go. Three hours of balancing and swearing, six sets of lights and  smelling slightly of pine sweat and fear I am done. Luckily Mum stayed very close to the ladder in case of emergencies, although not too sure what her plan was to rescue an overweight hippy plumetting to earth from a great height I felt strangely reassured.


All finished just as dusk approaches so we stand back and hit the on button. Hard to tell what shone the brightest, the lights or Mums smile as she saw them.


As I pack the ladders and bits and bobs away Mum stands on the corner pointing to the lights, waving to cars pedestrians pigeons and anything else that takes her fancy "look......look...... lights" lovely.


Sarah in from work at seven with fish and chips with curry sauce, Mum staring through the window at the lights, no mention of the weekend away and 1985 on radio 2....all in all a great day.

















   

Weekend planning.

Fabia here today so we are starting to plan her jaunt with Mum this weekend at the christmas markets. Two nights chez Fabia and one night in Rochester.

We have a bag packed and ready to go and Mum has been primed with the itinerary. We drop her of with Fabia Friday teatime, Friday night in Lynn then on the coach to Rochester to stay at the Holiday Inn with FIVE yes FIVE free drink vouchers. Sunday, travel to Canterbury then back to Lynn for another night chez Fabia. Return home Monday.

Simple.

Its Tuesday now. We have the best part of three days of bag unpacking and repacking. Three days of

What am I doing?

When am I going?

What day is it?

What day do I go?

Where am I going?

You never tell me anything!!


Think the food and humour tactics will work best for the next few days. Diversion and redirection. If Mum's not eating then make her laugh. Generally seems to work in the short term.

Once aboard the charabanc she will be so excited that all the worries disappear. She does still enjoy an outing of any description.



The pistachio mountain has been restocked as I forgot to hide the start of the xmas snack stockpile, and a search of the bedroom will be in order whilst she eats breakfast tomorrow as my new tube of toothpaste disappeared within seconds of me returning from the supermarket.




If you haven't checked it out yet please have a look at my website dementiacarer.comwhich will soon be the new home for this blog. It has links to other people providing care for dementia sufferers, the start of a forum and other bits and bobs.The aim is to try to provide a place for people touched in any way by dementia to hang out and recieve or offer advice, support and help.


Please pop over, sign up and introduce yourself in one of the forums. The only way it can work is if we get a bit of "community" going on. Suggestions for improvements and content are always most welcome

Its Alive..

Its Alive!

Finally I have plucked up the courage to flick the "on" switch for my website, dementiacarer.com. 

The idea behind it is to take a step further than this blog. On the site I have forums so carers can share problems, hints and tricks. Something you need to know? Start a topic, as more and more people sign up then more and more advice will be forthcoming. I am also actively seeking ideas for content, what would you like to see on it. If your life has in any way been touched by dementia and you want to tell people about it let me know.

I also have links to other blogs from dementia carers, a section I would like to expand. Have you stumbled across any other dementia related blogs?  Let me know.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, I will be moving to the website in the near future so please go to the site and register as there will be a newsletter available in the near future. 

Quick Update

Just a quick update.

You know when you surf the web? All those sites you look at, lovely pictures and nice text all laid out in shiny boxes with links to loads of interesting beautifully formatted stuff? Do you know how hard it is to do that?
I do now.

Its a learning curve I will admit, but I want to be at the top of the curve now. So please be patient if you are Watling for the website. Something will be online this Sunday but it wont be quite the amazing site I was hoping for. I really must learn to be patient.

In other news..

Mums pistachio mountain is dwindling, don't think she will see it through the winter may have to think of restocking at the weekend.

The dog had a funny turn after dinner tonight, crying panting staggering around we were a little concerned till........BBBBuuuurrrrpppp! right as rain now.

The nice Gentleman is now an outpatient so we can visit whenever we like, mum very happy about that.

Thats it for tonight, back to wordpressing. Watch this space.

Good times

Had a great weekend, thanks for asking.

Saturday Sarah went to London to meet the Kids, turns out the streets aren't really paved with gold but the Mayor Is a Dick. Nice day out with Mum, lunch in a lovely little village pub then a ride around in the countryside. Glorious weather, blue skies sunshine Mum and me in much better moods. Pop up to see the lovely old gentleman as he is out of hospital. Now receiving his medication as an outpatient so Mum will be able to visit more.

Lazy day today, quick trip to the tip, I`m sure someone keeps slipping wine bottles in to our recycling boxes, Sainsbury`s and home. With a bit of team work we pull together a lovely roast dinner. Free range chicken, roast potatoes carrots and parsnips, steamed cabbage with leek red onion and feta. While this is on the go knock up a large batch of spicy vegetable soup for the freezer.

No signs of Dark Mum this weekend at all. In fact as I type this she is standing in the middle of the room conducting and humming along to west side story, happy as Larry.

So, no sting in the tail here, all in all a lovely weekend was had by all.

Tomorrow, work on the website in earnest. I have been putting this off for whatever reason I can find, nerves I think. What happens if it launches and no-one visits?  So I have set myself the challenge to have something, anything, on line by this time next week. I have some amazing people offering help for nothing, I have other bloggers and interested prepared to offer content, so lets go.

If you are new to this blog you can get a little more info about what I am trying to achieve with the site Here.

Light to dark.

Funny old day today.

Respite carer from Age concern, Donna takes Mum out for the morning on a Thursday so I treat myself to a lie in. Then out for a walk over the hills to Dingley, trying to shake off some of the extra stones that stopping smoking has piled on. Lovely.


Back in the house and Donna just leaving, she`s been to town with setting off all the musical toys in Wilkinsons, a favourite pastime of Mums, so she`s in good spirits.


Quick cuppa, put the radio on for the Archers and think about a hospital visit to see the nice gentleman. All of a sudden we go from Light Mum to Dark Mum. Now this is something I haven't really touched on here. Its not something that happens often, but its something I think I may have to prepare for being a more common occurrence?


Hard to describe really. Sitting quietly then suddenly almost a physical change, Mum stands and glares not particularly at me, just in my general direction,and a weird torrent of words and gestures starts. Almost like speaking in tongues, the odd word or phrase will make a little sense but in general a string of random phrases and sounds that may once have been words. Maybe ten or fifteen minutes and we start to calm down and try to get to the bottom of it. This time I have genuinely no idea. In the past it has been things as diverse as something on the TV, the weather or more deep rooted problems like the inability to converse but this time? I don`t know. I really don`t know.


Its funny. Just those few minutes can leave you emotionally and physically drained. The thoughts and emotions that fly through your mind. Is it me? Is it aimed at me? What should I be doing to change this? Most of all why has this happened to MY Mum? Once one of the most eloquent people you could have ever met now cannot even tell me why she is so cross.


This may all sound so trivial, maybe I`m not explaining it too well but today has been a hard day. Just thought I`d share that.








On a slightly lighter note Here is a link to the article in the Harborough Mail, and in case you missed it Here is one to the Leicester Mercury article.

In the News again

In the news again !!

Sorry about the quality again. Will get some decent scans this week.

Leicester Mercury this time. Another well written article, this time including a few quotes lifted straight from the blog and also words of praise from the Leicestershire Alzheimers society. So it looks like I may be getting something right!

If you are new here from the Mercury can I suggest you have a look Here as there are links to a couple of my favourite pages and me on twitter and facebook.

Its great to get feedback of any sort, especially if your life has been touched in anyway by dementia so please drop me a line. I`m hoping to gather stories, hints and tips together for when the blog makes the step up to full website.

If you havent seen the article you can read it here on the Mercury website.

Nuts.

Another weekend away this time with Mum.


Off we went to Norfolk for fireworks and a bonfire chez the lovely Patty, my sisters friend.  She has a garden as big as a small county so every year half of Kings Lynn descend and party on. Following the usual plan of a few glasses of wine and a couple of beers then the long walk to the fire, and pyrotechnics the size of small houses. Very good show, the fire burnt well and included all Marks "confidential information" and the generous donation of a fine dodger from the Norfolk Constabulary.

Amazingly, yet again with this heady mix of Fire alcohol and high powered explosives  there are no injuries. Must try harder next year. Back into the house for a great chilli and sausages and maybe a glass or two more.

Mum had a thoroughly good night. she still enjoys a party, especially with such a good cross section of ages and she managed to keep going till about 10.30 before having to retire.


In other news, Pistachios.

While I was faffing around in the kitchen, probably organising my shopping list into aisle order for increased efficiency, Mum was sitting at the table in the back room with a cup of tea and a bag of pistachios. A large bag. Every now and then she would wander off for a couple of minutes then back to the table for a few more minutes. This cycle went on for a while but not really out of the ordinary so I didn`t pay much attention. After a while pop in to see if she wants a cuppa and there is a huge pile of pistachio shells on the table and an empty bag. After the initial concerns that she may have eaten half a kilo of salted nuts I located said nuts sqirreled away in her bedroom. It would seem we are in for a hard winter.




Further to our appearance in the Harborough Mail I recieived a phone call from a reporter at the Leicester Mercury which has 5 times the circulation of the Mail. They are doing an article on this too!! More details to follow.

In the news.

We made the News!!

Sorry about the quality of the picture but was the best I could manage without a scanner.

As one of the reasons for doing this blog is to try to raise awareness of the challenges coping with and caring for Dementia I decided to try and increase the audience. After a couple of emails and phone calls Elinor at the Harborough Mail wrote this lovely article which appeared today. So if you are visiting from that article please feel free to say hello in the comments.

A good place to start is Here an early post, nice and short that outlines a little history. If you have time please also read this. Its the closest I am able to having a little rant, but I think its a good read. Things are in the process of changing as I turn this from a simple blog to more of a website. There will be links to other similar blogs, sites and resources that may be of use to people who have been in any way touched by Dementia, and also a forum as a place to have a chat.

If you are a real glutton for punishment I can be found on Twitter and Facebook too.

The heat is on

As the temperature drops so the central heating battle begins....

As soon as the leaves start leaving the trees Mum starts to feel a little cold indoors.

First step is to break out the winter quilt.
Lovely and warm, thank you.

Then find a jumper or two and convince her to wear them.
Oh thats much better, thank you

Convince her to stop wearing sandals and try shoes and socks.
Thats lovely, thankyou.

We manage to achieve the gradual change from summer to winter relatively smoothly till the inevitable happens......The heating has to go on.

This causes a real problem. If the radiators are cold then so is Mum.
No matter what the ambient temperature may be, one touch of a cold radiator and in her mind the house is at sub-zero.
The thermostat is now set to gas mark 9. We cannot leave the toilet seats up as the water evaporates and causes clouds over the landing and toilet duck rain to cascade down the stairs. Eggs can be fried on the kitchen worktops and at night the house has a cheery glow reminiscent of the old ready brek adverts.

Roll on spring for "Ooooh its a little warm isnt it?"

Things are picking up..

Another weekend away!

The evening do for Sarah's niece`s wedding. Fabia up to granny and doggysit so we can stay in St Neots for the night and enjoy ourselves. Cracking do. Lucy looked stunning and Spen didn't scrub up too bad either.

Back home Sunday pm after a huge breakfast at the cafe on Market Square. Best one for miles.

Have noticed that mornings can be a little difficult with Mum at the moment. She has always been an early riser but she seems to be taking longer and longer to get going. Physically she is fine but sometimes the brain doesn't catch up till lunch time. Best to leave her to it as she can be a little tetchy till she gets going.

Note to self: Must clean up after dog in garden immediately EVERY time.

Caught mum picking up after the dog, a job she would quite happily carry out, even having a special trowel kept to one side. Now she has decided its easier tackled by hand. Hands scrubbed with various hand washes before her lunchtime sandwich then. Things like this cannot be explained, she does not see it as a bad thing. Needs to be cleared up, pick it up and put it in a bag.

We spent several months trying to wean Mum off carrying her bag everywhere with her. As I have mentioned before The Bag contains several pens, 3 complete sets of keys, several phone books all containing the same numbers and a huge wad of paper tissues. It seemed that every time she left it anywhere is was causing so much distress that it would be easier for her not to carry it all.

After several weeks of gentle persuasion, subterfuge and downright bullying she became quite happy to know that it was in a safe place in her bedrooom. Now disaster has struck.

New pair of glasses.

Hmmmmm I need somewhere safe to keep those...I know..The Bag. Back to square one.

Help still needed..

Mums back from Fabias, did a little gardening while she was there. Under strict instructions and surveillance  Fabia allows a little pruning around the Rose and Buddlea. Turns her back for a second and snip snip snip down go the raspberry bushes. No Jam next year then.

Busy week up and down to the hospital to visit the nice gentleman, think the visits are as good for mum as him. Harborough`s old lady network seems to have mobilised itself to his aid, visiting, washing bringing fruit etc. something that makes me feel good and bad at he same time. There was none of this help forthcoming when mum started showing the first signs of dementia, seems the big C is on the acceptable illness list whereas The big D is not.

For some reason on our hols I decided to grow a beard which has been met with a mixed response, mostly favourable. Over breakfast Mum seemed to be fascinated with it, couldn't take her eyes of it for a good while, till finally telling me "you look like a Jew." Still not too sure how to take this.




In further news the website is coming together slowly but surely. Quite touched by the number of people willing to offer help. Still need bloggers, tweeters and facebookers  etc. whose lives have been touched in any way by dementia and fancy a bit of free promotion for their ramblings. Get in touch on Facebook, Twitter or leave a message on here.

Just to clarify a question I have been asked the site is in no way intended as a money making affair, just some where for us to hang out and hopefully raise a little awareness of  Dementia and ways to cope as a carer.

The cat`s away...

Mum still away. Last night we listened to music really loud and didnt do the dishes before we went to bed. Anarchy.

Today Sarah has a day off so we will venture out.

First stop Birmingham airport to drop off friends on their way to Spain, the head off to Stratford upon Avon, the home of the Bard.

A visit to Anne Hathaways cottage. First stop Tea rooms for refreshments then over the road to the cottage itself.

Quite a big "cottage" really.

A walk round the gardens first, the newly created Woodland Walk is very attractive and the trees seem very happy to be taking part in the tour.

Happy tree

A quick walk round the cottage garden where we discovered this strange potato pheasant hybrid.

Hybrid

Then onwards to the house itself. It is a day out that I can genuinely recommend. The guides are very knowledgeable and manage to impart the history in an entertaining way without too much dumbing down, yet still pass on some passion about the cottage.

Wont go into too many details of the history of the place but suffice to say parts of it date back to the 14th century, there are still pieces of furniture that date back to Shakespeare's days and the Hathaway family still inhabited the house until the early 1900`s.

They didn`t get round to the new Kitchen that Anne always wanted but the exposed floorboards in the bedroom were a stylish addition to the four poster.

In other news Mums back tomorrow night, hopefully Fabias garden is still intact.

Plans for the website are progressing well, generous offers of help coming in. Think I may have some hosting sorted out so I may actually have something online in a week or so, but don`t hold me to that!

Any ideas for content, hints tips and tricks still most welcome.

A Call for help.

Tomorrow we pack Mum and her two overnight bags up and drive to Kings Lynn. She`s off to Fabias for a couple of days again. Hopefully all sharp objects and garden implements are well hidden.

This gives me a couple of days to work on a little project I have been thinking about for a long time.

I am now the proud owner of www.dementiacarer.co.uk and www.dementiacarer.com both of which direct you to this blog at the moment. I intend to build an initially small website as a bit of a resource for people caring for dementia sufferers.

There are quite a few sites devoted to this kind of subject already but I would like this to be a little different. I intend to concentrate on the positive side of caring. Hopefully show that taking on the role of full time carer does not need to be a totally bad thing.

Hopefully the first incarnation will have links to carers blogs, a forum and a page or two of editorial supplied by the bloggers who wish to participate.

Any other bloggers/tweeters/facebookers etc in any way interested in trying to get this off the ground please get in touch by email , twitter , facebook or leave a comment on here.

Any help would be much appreciated, design/hosting etc. as its all a bit of a grey area to me.

Watch this space for updates, pleas for assistance etc.

Slow

Funny really.

Being here full time you don`t notice the changes, just adapt as you go on.

Its only recently I have really thought about this, wondering where the day goes.

An example.

Car journeys. Mum seems to understand that a trip in the car has several steps

• Open door 
• Get in
• Close door
• Pull seat belt over shoulder
• Plug seat belt in
• Travel to destination
• Press red button on seat belt
• Put seat belt behind shoulder
• Open door
• Get out

Unfortunately she could do any of these steps in any order, at any time in the journey. I will let you imagine the possible combinations.  It does mean journeys can take a little time but luckily she still has a good conception of safety so the dangerous ones are avoided.

Every operation can be broken up into steps like this and seems to cause similar problems. Mum can see the destination she wants to reach, be it getting in the car, getting dressed even constructing a sentence but the route there involves many steps that need to be put into order.

All these things mean that you have to learn to live your life at a much slower pace, and learn to be very very patient.

Which in itself is not such a bad thing.

Toothpaste.

As the weather has turned to proper Autumn Mums focus has shifted from the garden to inside. One of her latest obsessions is putting things away. Leave anything unattended and it will end up in a cupboard somewhere, anywhere. Trying to prepare tea tonight and put a knife down for a second and its back in the rack, dishes and ingredients vanishing left right and centre. I am sure she possesses ninja like powers as she zooms round tidying and organising. Luckily the Archers came on as I served up, the one thing that is still sacred and not to be missed. Extremely tasty free range chicken with roast veg and sweet potato followed by home made apple crumble and custard. While mum sleeps that lot off time to relocate knives, forks, implements etc and check the cupboards for dirty dishes.

Sarah had a job this morning sorting through the toiletries and lotions and potions in mums bathroom and bedroom as we discovered she has been moisturising with shower gel for god knows how long, just a good job we haven't been out in the rain too much, visions of Mum covered head to toe in bubbles....

We also located more missing toothpaste.... this was one of the first signs that she wasnt just a dotty old lady and there were other problems, toothpaste would keep disappearing from the bathrooms. I just kept buying it thinking I was going a little mad until it we came to reorganise mums room for new wardrobes. Toothpaste. Tubes and tubes of it. So now you now where the title of this blog originates...shopping list..... tea, coffee, milk, we need toothpaste....

In need of a little rant.

Feel in need of a little rant.

Been out for tea tonight, very nice pub grub in the Cherry Tree to celebrate the fact that we all have new hair courtesy of a celebrity hairdresser.

On the way home mum points out one or two houses which sets me off thinking. The houses are the homes of people who were once Mums friends, a fact that starts to rankle a little as we walk home.

When I first moved down here to look after Mum she still had a fair old circle of friends and acquaintances in Harborough both socially and through the "U3A". Most of them seemed happy to involve Mum as a slightly eccentric or even dotty old lady, she was still definitely "in the circle", regular phone calls and invites etc.

Then came the diagnosis, and gradually the friends disappeared. First it was the official line from U3A, an organisation aimed essentially at the elderly, that Mum wasn't welcome on any more trips as she was "a liability".

Then one by one the friends seemed to stop calling. No more clubs or societies, no more teas or parties, all the things Mum had paid such an active part in just dried up. Just at the time Mum most needed support and stimulation it was pulled from under her feet.

Now I`m not blaming in any way the individuals involved here, I feel that we need a much better education as to what dementia actually involves. Its not the end of the world, its not even the end of the road and its certainly its not the end of the person. Dementia is not something to fear. If she had cancer, epilepsy, MS, parkinsons or any one of a number of illnesses she would still be welcomed by most of these groups and still be able to play an active part in society.

I`m not sure if its the word dementia or the affliction itself that scares people, but please if a friend or relative should be diagnosed don't abandon all hope and even more don't abandon the person,  that person you once knew is still in there and a lot more frustrated than you with their condition. Have a little patience, it will go a long way and reap massive rewards.




Sorry, rant over for now.


And a quick name check for Ken, the lovely old gentleman. Thinking of you as you have always thought of Mum.

Last of the photos

Dramatic skyline over Bala Lake.

Isis and Davy Jones locker. Pivotal locations in our youth!

The Chapel. Scene of many childhood and teenage holidays.

Mum and me in New Quay

New Quay.

Cwmtydu bay.

Helllooooo!

Quite proud of this one, better than the stepping stones I think.

Dorchester pics

Dorchester

The blogger, blogging

Mum Isaac and Mary

In the grounds at Damos place.

Dick o th banks road. Snapper now owns the garden

View from the top of Portland. Always stunning

Old fort, now a prison

Now if only I had my secateurs....

Buggers tied my hands behind my back.

If only I could escape...

Three peaks pics.

Three Peaks Caravan site.

The view from the caravan

From the van again, tide coming in.

The site. Our van is first on left.

Stepping stones

Mum and Sarah at the bottom of the cliff

The Bay.

Mum and some weirdo in a hat after the ascent

Houdini

Settled back in at home now and back to the old routines. Wheely dog not too good of late, leg muscles seem to be wasting a little. Think she may have to go back on the wheels for a bit.

Younger sis, Fabia was up as usual tuesday, took mum out for a drive and lunch then hauled her in and managed to descale her feet and remove the talons. New shoes in order then, comes the rather delicate operation of removing then disposing of the old ones. Landfill not an option nowadays with toxic waste so may need to attempt burial at sea.

The nice old gentleman, Ken, is still in hospital and having more tests. Taken mum to visit every day so far, think its good for both of them. Kettering hospital must have a very cheap canteen judging by the size of the staff.

Mum out with respite care this morning so treat myself to a trip round the farmers market. some lovely looking 21 day hung beef, loads of fresh veg and a couple of really nice looking pies and its off home. Beef in red wine tonight then, with dumplings of course.

Think we may have to invest in a few new clothes as Mum can no longer manage zips, unless they are started for her. We also seem to be experiencing a bit of  seat belt mutiny. On the way to visit Ken there were complaints, "Its strangling me" "Help me". Had to pull into layby to rearrange, this is happening nearly every journey now, seated in the back she has been known to escape the belt completely. Not too sure how to address this one yet.

More in a bit.....

Day 14- the journey home.

Day 14 Farnham to home 120 miles

OK its a day late but we`ve been busy.

Had another "wandering mum" incident in the van. Up and down muttering around 3.00 am. Managed to steer her back to bed, think it may be sleepwalking but hard to tell.

Julia, Ian and the boy Jesus came over to the caravan for breckie. Mumford busy wrangling a crocodilian. Bacon and the last of Tori`s excellent bread with lashings of tea and coffee.

Hitched up, farewells said and on the road for midday. Decide to chance the M3/M25 route and no satnav as I know best and we just want to get home now. For once this is the right decision and we are home in under three hours. Not bad with the caravan, and my navigation.

Mum starting to get excited about a reunion with her special friend, the lovely old gentleman mentioned here  but turns out he has been admitted to hospital for observations. After conversations with his son find out we can visit tomorrow so instead shes off to reaquaint herself with the garden, and plan her next line of attack.

All in all a very succcessful holiday. Must admit there were doubts about setting off in a caravan for two weeks with a wobbly dog, an even wobblier mother in a car driven by a slightly eccentric  hippy who`s sole intention was to grow a beard, but we did it. Somehow the whole lot was held together by the yogic influence of the lovely Sarah. A round of applause please.





Oh, I did manage the beard.

Day 13

Day 13 Abbots Shingle CL Farnham

Sausages and Tori`s excellent home made bread,tea and coffee.

Cant believe I was kept awake till midnight last night by appalling karaoke renditions of Angels and Mustang Sally etc. Must have been a party at one of the local mansions but just seemed a little bizarre in these surroundings.

Met the owner of the site today, proper eccentric. Owns a good few acres of woodland in the Surrey Hills area of outstanding natural beauty but looks like he hasnt got two pennies to rub together. Nice guy, if a little talkative.

Depart for Julias and then walk into Farnham for the food festival. Interesting mix of "local" Indian Chinese and Thai food cohabiting with £mega jars of chutney and Jam. Scratch the surface and its quite interesting though, purchased some tasty looking micro brews for consumption later, hog roast and ostrich burgers for lunch, English made chorizo sounds interesting but had sold out. Picked up some spelt flour from a man with a very satisfying beard to experiment with too. The flour that is not his beard.

Julia forced us to walk the entire length of Farnham to see an imaginary hot air balloon, Mum a little hot and bothered so had to walk back to get the car to pick her up. Thank god for air-con thats all I can say.

Another lovely tea served up by Julia, home made meatballs with all the trimmings, seems to have brought Mum round ok. Sit and watch the havoc as she tries to prepare two teenage boys for the parties they are attending "I did tell you it was fancy dress" and "I did tell you I needed a birthday present". After waving goodbye to Jesus and one of Mumford & sons we return for our last night in the caravan.

Hard to believe two weeks have gone by already. Three hour drive home then its all over.Will have the final holiday blog entry with the rest of the pics tomorrow night all being well then its back to "normal"

Day 12

Day 12 Dorchester to Farnham 82 miles.

Wake at our leisure, cereal tea and coffee. Sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. Its going to be a scorcher.

Damo has already left for work so we hitch up and say our goodbyes to Tori, who has very kindly replenished our home baked bread supplies. Hit the road about midday, I decide to ignore just the one satnav today so should be an easy run.

Halfway or so, bacon butties and coffee in yet another layby then roll into Farnham around 2.30.

This is another CL booked at the last minute as we werent sure when we would be arriving. Located in Sands, a rather affluent area of Farnham this looks like another cracker.

Up a tiny mud track from the road and into a forest. We are the only people here tonight and its total seclusion. Although the nearest house is only I suppose a few hundred yards away it cant be seen from where we are pitched.

Seclusion.

Quickly set up then off to Sisters for tea. An excellent homemade curry, apple and plum crumble followed by a view of Jupiter and her moons through Ians new telescope.

Back to the caravan, get mum settled, write this then off to bed to be prepared for the Farnham food festival tomorrow. No idea what it is but the word food in the title is good enough for me.

Day 10 and 11

Day 10 and 11 Swansea to Dorchester 172 miles

As a means of catching up I will combine two days into one.

Not much to say about the journey to Dorchester boring motorways for most of it. Luckily as we were leaving Wales there was no toll to pay over the Severn. In a bid to make it a little more exciting I used two sat navs and my extensive geographical knowledge of the south west. Least said about the route the better, but we arrive at Damien towers around 16.00


Dick `o th Banks Road.

And no I didnt make that up.


We are here to meet up with old family friends, John, his wife Val and his two sons Dan and Damien. Havent seen them for a long long time. We are expecting more tears.

Damien lives in a fabulous house with his wife Tori and her grandmother who they care for, and their lovely kids Isaac and Mary. We are pitched in the drive for a couple of days.


John and Val come over from Dorchester and Dan from London for the night. Barbecue time. Huge amounts of seared meat  and bread. Proper man food. Hours of reminiscing and old photos. Quite a lot of wine too I think. Real top quality night, hope we dont leave it so long this time.

Awake to Bacon and toast cooked on the aga, then off to Weymouth for the day. Cream teas on top of Portland and a walk round the old artillery emplacements. Amazing views over Chesil Beach and the olympics site.

Back to Damos and out for Dinner.

This visit was probably more about me than Mum. Was so good to see how well Dan and Damo have done for themselves. Both in good jobs with great families, wont go into too much detail here but these two days have been the high spot of the trip for me.

Day 9

Day 9 Three cliffs Bay Park Swansea.

Whoopee!!

Mum seems to have mastered the door. Lie in till 9.30. Feels like a holiday now.

Sausage eggs beans and toast, tea, coffee seems like a good start to the day.

Today we have decided to walk down to the beach. After all its only a couple of hundred feet away, as the stone falls. Mum smothered in sun cream and wearing her best cap, Sarah and me resplendent in check shirts,  shorts and walking shoes. You`d never guess we are tourists, we do like to blend in.

The walk down is not too bad, about an hour give or take and mum very proud if a little tired but not too sure that she understands we have to go back up again. Sit on the beach for an hour or so, take some photos of stepping stones and even more wonderful views then its time to return.

Luckily I know a short cut.

The fact that my short cut was about twice as far and three times as steep will not be discussed here.

After bravely battling brambles, sand, rocks and gravity we managed to navigate Mum up a path that has defeated Bear Grylls, Sherpa Tensing and Ranulf Fiennes and back to the caravan.

Fully revived by tea and showers we think we have earned some dinner. King Alfred it is then, where I hope to find a signal and get this uploaded.

Tomorrow we leave early 172 miles to Dorchester to see family friends who we havent seen for many many years, they live in the road with the best name I have ever heard.

Running a little behind. but now I have a decent connection I will post more tomorrow. promise.

Day 8

Day 8 Three cliffs Bay Park Swansea

Please please please.

As a pleasant break from the normal cries for help Mum this morning switched to a quiet refrain of pleases. Released once again from the toilet and ready for breakfast.

Cereal, bacon and eggs, tea and coffee. Another couple of days of this and I`m going to need an HGV license to move us all around.

Still find it hard to believe we have such a spectacular view from the van. Three Cliffs Bay is constantly altering, as the light and tide change so do the shape and appearance of the bay. Hard to describe in words but I hope when I get a chance to upload some more photos I can show what I mean. Truly a beautiful place. Mum has already decided we will come back next year.

Lazy day today, a little shopping, Mum looking very stylish in her new coat. Managed to upload a few pictures then back to the van for tea.

Beef in red wine with dumplings, cooked for 3 hours and eaten in the awning under a rapidly clearing sky. Very well recieved even if I say so myself.

First pictures

Just managed to upload the first lot of pictures from my phone, hopefully get the ones up from the camera soon. you can see them from the links on the left.

Enjoy!!

First pics Three cliffs.

Our view today

Tide coming in to the bay

Wheres my dinner

Home smoked duck, raspberry jus, thats better.

First pics New Quay

Our view today

New Quays famous £1.20 shop

This was a result of......

......this.

Out on border patrol.

First pics Dolgellau

Cadair Idris hiding in the clouds.

The Arousal cafe. No I dont know either.

One of Archies signs.

I touched them. Repeatedly.