tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post3377970718736382698..comments2023-07-04T13:37:29.409+01:00Comments on wits' end: birthday girlGreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15270177252139637687noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-21143945136905263562009-10-28T14:37:40.634+00:002009-10-28T14:37:40.634+00:00Hi Greg,
I hope you don't mind me contacting ...Hi Greg,<br /><br />I hope you don't mind me contacting you, I look after the PR for caring with confidence and have been reading over your blog.<br /><br />I don't know whether you're aware of Caring with Confidence, but the programme helps carers with practical tips and tools, as well as emotional support, to cope with caring - backed by the DoH they provide local group sessions, home work-books and online courses. The free programme aims to support carers across England.<br /><br />I would really like to talk to you some more about CwC, my email address is g.mcdermott@amaze.com<br /><br />Best,<br />GemmaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16857685308150539308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-46503314343836047122009-10-27T10:58:39.731+00:002009-10-27T10:58:39.731+00:00Hello, Stranger! Hey, cut out the "cuddly&quo...Hello, Stranger! Hey, cut out the "cuddly" remarks, you chubby chaser, you :DGreghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15270177252139637687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-24314882417177580382009-10-27T08:42:45.866+00:002009-10-27T08:42:45.866+00:00I'm a bit late... But HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! :)...I'm a bit late... But HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! :) Hope you like the cute Teddy bear that resemble cuddly Gregory!<br /><br />Hope you are doing well, always nice to see a post from you. *hugging fest*Soratahttp://sorata.blogs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-50780133410564867312009-10-25T12:07:07.886+00:002009-10-25T12:07:07.886+00:00I'm so pleased to hear from you, Lynette.
I ...I'm so pleased to hear from you, Lynette. <br /><br />I feel wretched about what's going on with your Father, about the standard of care in that hospital and the indignities that he's facing. All just when you were realising your dream of escape. It's all so unfair and I hope that you somehow navigate a way through as best you can. <br /><br />It's not often that I consider how lucky I am to be living in the UK and benefitting from our social services and hospital system. I think I'm going to watch 'Sicko' again tonight. Michael Moore did a great thing making that movie, but I think someone equally talented needs to keep this issue at the top of the agenda until the corporations and their stockholders are removed from deciding what goes down on US hospital wards.<br /><br />From my professional life I am aware that there are forces at work trying to bring a US-style healthcare system to Britain, purely for the sake of realising a profit from a hitherto-untapped market. I pray we don't succumb just as I pray that Obama and Hilary somehow pull off a miracle for you over there.<br /><br />Rant continues offline xGreghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15270177252139637687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-40996310700358388532009-10-25T11:19:37.428+00:002009-10-25T11:19:37.428+00:00Welcome, Lily! I've just been reading your blo...Welcome, Lily! I've just been reading your blog and I recognise so much of what you've been through and are still dealing with. I look forward to reading more when I have time. I feel even more grateful at how content and settled my Mum feels just now.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15270177252139637687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-62737401830838469772009-10-25T05:14:39.673+00:002009-10-25T05:14:39.673+00:00I've just found your blog, Hallelujah!I've just found your blog, Hallelujah!Lilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07674290059708540185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-55825173897547959822009-10-18T23:49:40.403+01:002009-10-18T23:49:40.403+01:00I'm always so glad to see a post from you, Gre...I'm always so glad to see a post from you, Greg. The picture is so beautiful - I can't stop looking at it. The time you spent with her is incredibly loving. And I'm glad to hear she finished the right green. xoLSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027230973230749475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-69970746027126733212009-10-18T21:20:11.418+01:002009-10-18T21:20:11.418+01:00What a great birthday for your mom. The lava lamp ...What a great birthday for your mom. The lava lamp sounds intriguing. It would be fun to watch. I remember being mesmerized by them as a child. <br /><br />What to give, what to give? I find that I've lapsed into giving chocolate. But he loves it. It's a small pleasure and why not? Very soft no-pressure socks. Classical music. He still loves that. But the books I used to give him mean nothing now. <br /><br />One thing I'm doing this year for Daddy's birthday on the 14th of November ~ actually as quickly as possible, because I'm very worried about his physical health ~ is a memory book. <br /><br />Family photos with short descriptive paragraphs and names, just to let him look back over his life. Even if he doesn't remember, it might make him think he does if I do it just right. <br /><br />Man, I can't even write that without crying. This fucking disease. I am so angry about it. And it hurts so much.BigAssBellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00196713522104157126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-35515235818356958232009-10-18T12:34:16.563+01:002009-10-18T12:34:16.563+01:00Yes, we have "Build A Bear" here, too (H...Yes, we have "Build A Bear" here, too (Hello Globalisation!). I was keen to find a fluffy white dog that might look like my Mum's Bichon Frise (pictured with her on in the beach photo at the top of the blog), and I checked the store especially, but they didn't do anything close enough, unfortunately.<br /><br />I had bought a Bichon Frise teddy bear for Mum a few years back, when she was in Hospital once. I made sure it was one of the things she took with her to the Care Home, and she did treasure it. However, she gave it away to a little girl who was tearful one day. I admire her for doing that, but I'm wondering if I'll ever find a replacement. Perhaps it's not that important - I do tend to get caught up worrying over some trivial details sometimes.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15270177252139637687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-66980879338293288912009-10-16T18:48:56.684+01:002009-10-16T18:48:56.684+01:00Buster is a good name.
The bear Mom has is one I ...Buster is a good name.<br /><br />The bear Mom has is one I brought back to her for Christmas when I lived in CA. Do you have "Build A Bear" stores there? They are in the malls here. You go in, pick the "skin" (I picked a polar bear), then you go to the filling station and put the stuffing in, a plastic heart, pickout out clothes, and name it with a birth certificate at the end.<br /><br />I named hers "Fuzzy Butt".Gavinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11529817984024909175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-54266019702437156822009-10-16T17:13:31.331+01:002009-10-16T17:13:31.331+01:00Happy Birthday Y|O|Y ! Mum's was on the 14th. ...Happy Birthday Y|O|Y ! Mum's was on the 14th. Overall, I think you had a better one visiting Washington :DGreghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15270177252139637687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-14516858874754329322009-10-16T17:05:06.103+01:002009-10-16T17:05:06.103+01:00Thank You, Y|O|Y and Citygirl
I'm feeling ok...Thank You, Y|O|Y and Citygirl <br /><br />I'm feeling okay about the day. It went a lot better than the big family 80th last year and was much less stressful. <br /><br />I'm still re-learning the lesson each year to "buy ahead". It's the opposite of buying clothes for a child that they will grow into. Instead, I have to be careful not to buy something that she's already too far gone to appreciate. In this case, I think the Teddy Bear will be the longest-lasting and most appreciated gift. We spent all day with Mum naming him and then later asking if she should maybe name him.... She pulled "Buster" out of the air at one point, which I liked.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15270177252139637687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-16868467312584746682009-10-16T14:38:23.339+01:002009-10-16T14:38:23.339+01:00Greg, great to see an entry from you. I've be...Greg, great to see an entry from you. I've been missing you!<br /><br />Sounds like you had an excellent birthday visit with your mom (save some little glitches but those are expected!). I'm happy for you.<br /><br />My mom used to love stuffed animals and toddlers too. I think your mom will definitely enjoy the lava lamp - it's a visual treat that she can enjoy now that she doesn't read or watch movies. Good call on the self-timer!<br /><br />I laughed out loud when I read about the children in buggies looking at your mom in wheelchair - what a funny observation!<br /><br />You are an EXCELLENT son. Thank you for sharing your mom's birthday with us.<br /><br />p.s. I'm a Libra too!citygirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01337184917158798153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-29388651938276849692009-10-16T01:05:54.412+01:002009-10-16T01:05:54.412+01:00Happy Birthday, Mom! Was it the 13th? That was m...Happy Birthday, Mom! Was it the 13th? That was my birthday so she's a Libra like me.<br /><br />I agree that the teddy bear was enough and I'm sure it will be treasured. The lava lamp was a really good idea. I looked for one when Mom was still here at home but I couldn't find one that I liked. My grandparents used to turn theirs on in the evening and got such enjoyment from it and I'd get entranced watching it, too.Gavinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11529817984024909175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-40794860709755859952009-10-16T00:26:57.565+01:002009-10-16T00:26:57.565+01:00Thank you, Karen. It took yesterday to make me rea...Thank you, Karen. It took yesterday to make me realise the truth of what you've said. All my fussing over getting the right gift was needless when just turning up and being there for her made her day. A nice card and a teddy bear were more than enough excitement for her, and she'll treasure both for months and years to come.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15270177252139637687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7117744965005760517.post-72295515765587679582009-10-15T23:52:18.947+01:002009-10-15T23:52:18.947+01:00I think the best present was you spending so long ...I think the best present was you spending so long with her. You are a great son to even try to help her with the potty. My brother did almost all the dirty work changing mom while I was on vacation yr. before last but now he says no way . He had enough. But at least he did it for a week. Taking mom out to eat is long over for us. I do wish we could. Good luck and you did good.karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11078744172786664046noreply@blogger.com