Hello! This is Keith again as mum is still finding it difficult to update the blog, but she will be back soon.
Right updates. As some of you may or may not know mum is currently a resident at Compston Hospice. This is in the hope that they will be able to manage her medication improving pain and sleep. I have been informed that it is not far from being a 5 star hotel. I understand that there is a hot tub every night and a foot massage. This is all followed off by an offer of a drink of your choice. There is whisky or rum or anything else you want. So far I understand mum has been having Horlicks every night. Today they have allowed us to take mum out on the understanding that we will return her no later than 8 tonight. Mum has told us that she has found many ways of sneaking out and has already found herself locked out of the building. This resulted in her having to walk around to reception and registering herself as a guest to visit herself in order to get back in.
At present we sitting around trying to teach my gran some more PC lingo rather than the 1920’s slightly offence terminology she is currently using to describe people. I don’t think it’s working.

OK, I am back. Thank you Roxanne and Derek for filling in on some of my worst days so far. I am still tired beyond my understanding, although, now that I have a basic explanation, I feel more at ease with it all.
Last week, a physiotherapist came to see me regarding my tiredness and lethargy. I have been so 'lack lustre' that I didn't even go to the Hospice.
Shock! Horror!

I will explain how this effects my body at this time.
(I imagine that it would be the same with all who have cancer and other terminal diseases and other ailment).

This how it works.
Each day, there is an allocation of a certain amount of energy, lets call them 'zebs' for the sake of argument.
Anyway, I am given 5 zebs daily.

2 zebs Shower, brush teeth, dry, dress, make up, wipe shower
Down.
1 Zeb All the times that I climb up and down the stairs
daily to use the loo.
1 Zeb Picking drinks up, eating, standing to take meds,any
other standing. Being sick.
1 Zeb Hanging out a machine of washing.

That's it, all my zebs gone, I have to wait until tomorrow for any more.
I have to learn how to save zebs for the things that I want to.

Ideas.
Shower stool, no standing.
Don't dry, sit with towel or robe and self dry.
Have a shower the night before a specific event instead of the same morning.
Commode down stairs.
Sit, walk or lay.......never just stand, it takes up more energy.
Stop before you are tired.
Feel able to get about and push your own wheel chair as long as you sit before tiring.
Any thing that you do putting you hands above, like hanging washing, hair drying etc., uses many Zebs, The same as doing tasks that require bending down.

I have taken note of the recommendations and even started the ones that I can.
The McMillan Nurses came to see me too, but that is tomorrow's tale.

Hello everyone, Carol, between the sky diving lessons and the snow boarding, has been feeling a lot more tired than she used to. At night I plug her in to the socket to recharge her batteries, along with warming cushion, her electric recliner, computer, side light and phone.

I go to bed worrying that she might overload and and burst into spontaneous combustion. She just came into the garage and asked me to feel her back, it was roasting, I think she is trying to cook herself to death,

Last week she collected a load of handbags and shoes together to donate to Compton Hospice (they were almost gone in the first hour). I don't know weather this was bought on by a shopping expedition to town where she saw "this nice yellow handbag" she now wishes that she had bought. Added to this was the comment "these jeans are too small for me they are baggy in the crotch" as every husband knows these comments are usually the fore runner to a clear-out before the spending spree to replace them.
The serious side is that she is losing weight and feeling more and more tired.

The past few days have also seen the more frequent rushing for the purple bucket, this may be a hint at either, she needs a new one or she needs a range of them to go with her various VERY colourful outfits.

Carols new innovation is to not buy handbags but "inserts" for a huge carpet bag she has now. She now has a wheelchair for pootling around town now she finds it difficult to walk anywhere too far without getting tired. Can you imagine the scene around town with kids throwing money at you saying "great guy mister". The whole thing is always colour co-ordinated, handbag, bucket, coat, cardy and various FULL shopping bags. I feel like a London barrow boy.

Carol is at the moment planning a trip to her birthplace (Richmond, north Yorkshire) with Roxanne, I feel it maybe too much but I know she will be well looked after.

I dare say that Carol will add her own pictures when she comes back from her trip.
We send you all lots of love and hugs and thank you all for your support and best wishes. It means an awful lot to her. (Letting out her secrets now)