we're all still here...

Just to update those who have been concerned.

My father-in-law seems to have settled at the moment. When I say settled I mean it in a relative sense. He hasn't got any worse in the last week or so. Eating is a problem as he eats a mouthful of his dinner at best, the nursing home are providing drinks with vitamins. The doctor called to say there is the option to have an operation to feed nutrients directly to his stomach. Our 'opinion' when discussing it together, is that in this state is he's just too weak to have an operation. We did feel we had to speak to him about it and although he can be confused at times, when we discussed this matter with him he was most adamant, 'No Operation'.

Too be honest I can understand this. If he really is on his last legs, he wants to make it as confortable as possible for himself.

The other thing which has been a concern is getting his finances sorted out. Thankfully as of Friday we have had approval for 'Power of Attorney'. So we can start clearing up bills and unnecessary direct debits from his accounts. Such as his broadband and telephone with BT which is a waste of time when you can't even hold a cup properly. Also, without wanting to be morose, we can make sure his funeral insurance is up to date.

I can't help feeling that we are too young to be doing this. I feel guilty almost all of the time. Especially when I am asked to make decisions that effect someone elses life. Dealing with someone else's finances, just feels so wrong! It's like i'm rummaging through someone elses affairs, as if it was my mothers handbag! I was always taught you don't go through someones handbag or purse. These thoughts make me feel like i'm stealing. I know we arn't but thats the feeling I get.

I will add an upbeat post very soon as we have been having some fun too. Need to get a photo or two added to it first.

Thanks for caring!!

How are you doing?

However you are, it's got to better than it is for our family. Especially my wife.

I've not had a chance till now to update my blog. Unfortuntely my father-in-law is VERY sick. He has now been moved into a nursing home, but it looks like he has had 2 more strokes recently and he's unlikely to recover. So we are now just doing all we can to arrange his affairs and to get ready for the inevitable.

I'm doing ok, its not my dad I guess. My wife is being so strong, but I'm sure thats because 'needs must' and she has no option but to get on with it. The vital thing is just to support her and listen, when she's had enough we can shed some tears together. I am very proud of her though.

Maybe thats the positive in this post! She is doing so well, and we all love her dearly and want her to know that. xx

How Old Are You?

We have the Wii at long last!!

After having my name down for what seemed like months I got my call to pick up the console. The thing they never told me was that the price of the bundles and extras was going to be increased greatly because of Xmas! The price when I originally requested the white box of wonder was £220 for the console and ANY 2 games. The price when its a few weeks away from Christmas is £260 with ANY 2 games!! That forty quid was obviously a booking fee, or maybe it was an Overly-Eager fee, and this was the way to cool me down. Maybe i'm doing them an injustice and the extra money is going to charity, and an orange elephant did fly past my window.

That said, we love it and are getting to grips with the delights of Wii Sports, Mario Galaxy and one for Jo we even got Boogie. I must admit all of these games have got a lot of entertainment value. The kids and I love it. Belting out Cool and the Gangs Celebration or watching (not listening) whilst my daughter does the moves to some Pussy Cat Dolls song. In fact a couple of songs i've even scored a million points, which sounds a lot but i'm not sure if thats good or that the game is being charitable. I am proud though that my rendition of YMCA didn't even get me onto the scoreboard it was so bad. Wii Sports has me being thrashed by an 8 year old in bowling, and bruised black and blue by a 6 year old in boxing.

It's definately a machine to get you up and active, and great for family indoor play or party play. I can't see many true gamers being that interested as the spotty, fat, baldy fellas with no mates, will only ever get up to go to the bathroom (if they've forgotten their bottle that is) or maybe to heat up some foamy pizza.

If you are concerned that you may be a bit old to play games anymore. Then I suggest you take the Real Age TEST. This takes into consideration many factors such as lifestyle and heredity to come up with how old you really are.

I was quite pleased when I discovered my Real Age is only 33, and i've knocked 4 years off. Have a go, obviously it's a bit of a laugh and shouldn't be taken seriously......and I can make no promises etc etc......

bunch of Chickens

It seems talking about ones families in public like I did on my last post scares people off from making any comments. Not that there is much to add to what I said. The saying goes that blood is thicker than water, which in a biological sense I accept. In an emmotional sense I don't. I have no problem in excepting my families flaws along with my own. If someone does something wrong they should get whats coming to them, family or not. Don't get me wrong I understand that there is a bond with family which cannot be replicated in other relationships....its just different and natural. If you recall my open comments about my feelings for my mother you'd see I more than understand that, and I loved her with a full, open and honest heart. That said, if I did something wrong i'd not expect my family to stand up for me. To be honest I don't think on the whole they would anyway.

This seems to be very different to many families that have a close tie. In a way I wish I felt like that too. The truth is my own family, my wife and my kids is where my loyalties stay firm.

Whats brought me to say this is that i've had a lot of people that have read my last post but have asked me privately about how we are getting on now. Let me reassure you I don't mind people commenting or sharing an opinion publicly on my blog. I'm prepared to be told i'm wrong and i'd be happy to have someone reason with me so I look at a point differently and thus change my stand.
SO be honest, be straight, share your opinion and don't be scared!!

on another note..........
Last nights Footie was a travesty against the game. England played like schoolboys. The only highlight was Beckham back in the team.(never thought i'd say that) They do say though that every cloud has a silver lining and it's now official, Steve McClaren has been sacked this morning. Personally i think they waited too long, he should have been handed his P45 after 15 minutes into the game last night.

Another rant over. Just so you know i'm quite alright and happy so no worries i'm just in a sharing mood!

I need a moan......

Father in law has been in hospital unwell for a number of weeks. So bad that although they have decided they cannot treat him anymore, he must now go into a nursing home. Last week wifey and I went a hunting for a suitable establishment. In particular to find one of these places where people werent actually 10 minutes from death, or at least pretending to be ok-ish. Surprisingly we found one with lovely carers who actually seemed to care. (St Paul's, St Leonards)

We told the social worker and hospital about this place on Friday morning. Late Friday afternoon we get a call that he is moving in on Monday morning. This causes panic because now we have to get his flat cleared and put as much as we can into the new home.

Ok its tough going but I guess it just has to be done. Not so apparently according to my family. My own father was moving this same weekend and my family didnt seem to understand I couldn't help with that move aswell. What irritates more is that this guilt they've given me for ignoring my own father is just plain unnecessary. Moving my dad is a handful of reluctant, yet local siblings. To move my father in law down here on the coast is me and my poor wife! Guess who's doing all the heavy lifting? AAAAAAAAArrrrgggghhhh families!!!!!

I have tried to call family since to see how it went and explain it all again, but the answer so far is,"can't stop i'm too busy helping dad!!!".

Needless to say this is making me uptight! My wife is upset over her dad, and she has a lot to do with clearing up his debts and bills. We are both working like nutters, and both feeling warn out with it. Every day involves work of some sort or another and it wont stop for a few weeks yet from what I can tell.

anyway moan over .....have a nice day. I bet someone from my family actually bothers to read my blog now and this post causes a huge row!! Stuff it, at least i live near the sea!

I hate that duck!

Keith Harris, the ventriloquist.....whatever happened to him eh? Cuddles the monkey was the better of his creations, who's main purpose was to abuse and destroy that flippin Orville. That blasted song!! Now I've thought of it I can't get it out of my head, its like that pregnant caterpillar thing that went in Chekov's ear in Star Trek - Wrath of Khan.

A past memory I have of Keith Harris with Cuddles was on a Saturday watching Seaside Special. (I'm so old!)) Cuddles was pestering him for a wee. Now, if you are sad enough to know what i'm talking about perhaps you recall this banter went on for a bit until Keith finally said, "have a wee then!", at which Cuddles replied "Weeeeeeeeeeeeee".

Just like Cuddles I want a wee too, but spelt Wii. And just like this furry fella i'm not able to have one. Stocks are out! So I'll have to just hold on and suffer the pain until I too can shout "Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii"

they're all flocking........

When i'm talking about flocking, I don't mean the Seagulls, or as I'm currently calling them, Vindictive Giant Flying Rats. These evil flying vermin of the coast, can dump on your car (moving or not) with such pinpoint accuracy that the Airforce has invested millions in studying and copying these birds for their next round of friendly fire. Its not just the accuracy though its the ......quantity! I need a trowel to clear the car nowadays. If I didn't know better i'd have thought cows could fly, (they can't can they?) and that they had a personal vendetta against mankind.

Enough sidetracking. When I'm talking about flocking I mean the people. Bexhill may seem insignificant on a map of the British Isles, but it does seem to be the Mecca of the South Coast, drawing people from the North in droves. (well a few at least) Especially those from London and it’s suburbs. I already have friends and acquaintances that have moved down from Slough, Cheam, Crawley and Chertsey.

For example. I had been looking for months for somewhere to have a decent coffee in Bexhill. Those of you from 'up North' and other sophisticated places take these simple things for granted with your Costa's, Coffee Republic and Starbucks, but we don't have these in our little town. In fact I was convinced that they had never heard the words fresh, ground, gourmet or premium applied to coffee before. Then one Saturday whilst walking away from town with my daughter toward the railway station for a trip to Brighton. I'd just sipped and thrown away another bad coffee that must have been made with a half teaspoon of Mellow Birds, when I stumbled on a coffee shop i'd not seen before. It was called Oasis, and is situated on on the corner of St Leonards Road and Sea Road. I still hadn't had a drink and we had a long journey ahead. Would this Oasis live up to its bold claim as a sanctuary for the parched, or was it just going to be another serving of muddy water, that tastes like it came from the washing machines outlet pipe? My confidence wasn't high.

This pessimism changed to confusion, that eventually led to elation. I know that smell, yes I’ve smelt it before. It was the rich burnt coffee bean aroma that I’d almost forgotten existed. Looking at the menu on the wall and my excitement was complete. Listed wasn’t just your well known Cappuccino and Espresso, but they also had other coffee variations that only people in the know would talk about, including Americano my staple drink for a few years. It wasn’t just words either, they knew the difference between this and a regular coffee. I didn’t have the time to savour this discovery as we were on our way to the station, so I had to buy one to go. So it was not until I sat on the train that I could taste test the coffee, which I am pleased to say was perfect! The taste was as good as the aroma that proceeded it. I had finally found the Oasis for my taste buds. I’d need to investigate this place further.

This is where the point of this post comes in finally. On my return to Oasis I discover why this Coffee Shop stands out in our little town. The owners are from the London area and have moved down recently themselves. This has to be the reason why they understand good coffee. They have tasted the delights firsthand and could see a gap for providing it in Bexhill. It gets spookier than this, because whilst chatting about the coffee and how they do their own blend and are considering marketing and selling it freshly ground for people to purchase and take home, that I discovered that Simon the proprietor worked for a computer company in my old home town of Chertsey up until the last few years. We knew the same people too!! This is not all . While we are chatting a lady nearby tells us she is from Cheam!! So she too must have been on the search for a place to rest up and drink what is now Bexhill’s finest Coffee Shop.

So they are flocking down here, away from the smog and the noise. Thankfully these ones have not brought that side of civilization with them. What the owners of Oasis have brought with them is a sanctuary of the taste buds, enhancing what is already our little bit of paradise.