Wednesday 21st October

Wow - a couple of busy weeks there not to mention a post yesterday which went missing. Argh!
I have worked 4 out of 5 days for the last 2 weeks so trying to keep up with everything has been hard. At least working 3 days at the hospice made me feel I belonged and knew what was going on for once rather than just being the weekend doctor. It will be interesting to see how I feel when I go back on Friday after a weeks absence. Obviously one of the problems with the hospice is that people sometimes leave faster than you expect so just catching up can be a trial.
Other than that I have helped out at school on Thursday afternoon helping year 1 change for swimming -that's fun - not. At least I get to see Tad swim if I help. I also help in year 5 on Friday afternoon and am getting better and better at laminating, cutting, sticking, guillotining and mounting. Helping there lets me see Con in class and gives us something to talk about on the way home. Last Thursday after swimming I went in to the parallel year 1 class to talk about bones which was entertaining. A few weeks earlier I'd done the body for Tad's class complete with why we wee and poo. One little boy stuck his hand up and told me in all seriousness that he knew a fact I hadn't told them - if you watch too much tv your eyes go square. I didn't know where to look.
Last Friday was a difficult day for Goat and I. His dad has been getting progressively more and more confused. He's been investigated at the hospital and sadly its not Alzheimers but just general non-specific dementia so none of the medication will improve him. He's been having hallucinations for a while but on Friday morning MIL rang to say he was verbally aggressive and had been up every night this week. Goat arranged via the GP to do some tests top amke sure it was nothing infective (it wasn't) and he is now on a night time sedative to give them both a rest. He still has the hallucinations during the day but they're not stopping him from sleeping now. The daytime ones seem to be less threatening as well and he is quite entertained by them. So far he has slept well 5 nights out of 6 so fingers crossed it will hold for a while. I went over to babysit on Saturday with the boys - MIL took them out while FIL and I had a nice chat. At church on Sunday I dropped out of the St Vincent de Paul society as clearly if I am going to visit any-one at the moment it should be family. It was my first Mass since September and I realised how much I miss going really. At the end I got chatting to the undertakers wife and we have worked out how I can manage to fulfill one of my ambitions - to watch an embalming. Watch this space!
On Sunday I got the boys outside after Mass. We wnet egg hunting. Goat had founf 17 in the pampas on Saturday and I found 5 more near a compost heap. At least we aren't feeding the chickens for nothing now although I am sure they are moutling - the garage is full of feathers. We could almost make pillows now! While the boys plyaed around I also managed to dig over some of the veggie patch. The ground where the taties were was lovely so I will grow even more this year just to make my life easier. Picked about 20 caterpillars off the brussels and purple sprouting in the hope that we get something from them. Last year the broccoli was eaten in the space of 24 hours. This year I still have 4 plants left so we should get a garnish at least!
We finally succumbed and lit the boiler as well 2 weeks ago.The smell of wood smoke and cooking food is wonderful as you come into the house. I love it.
On Monday I went with year 5 to the Mary Rose - brilliant. I can highly recommend it. Next year in February half term mum and I will find a hotel for a night and go back with the boys for a whole day. We can see the Victory too.
Today - after getting in from work I have been lazy. Now I am in a rush to get off to beavers having faffed all afternoon but I needed it. Tomorrow I need to wash, pack and get ready to go to Mum's for half term. We are having Christmas on Saturday with my sister who will be in Oz visiting friends in December. Lucky thing.