What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

ianpspurs said:

Hopefully the optimistic will morph into a winner when you return with the new wheelchair. Thoughts, prayers, best wishes for you. Sounds like a bargain and potential game changer.

Click to expand...

Ah well. I have always said,"if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." (I hear people saying this all the time these days - I've been saying it since the 60's - always was a bit of a cynic.) I couldn't understand how even a charity shop could sell a motorised chair for £40 but it was worth a trip to see. There was no motor on the chair, so either I misunderstood what DIL said on the phone or she mistook what she saw. It was a good chair, and well worth the £40, but it would have been too difficult to get it into the back of the car and I really didn't need to replace my old one. That means I will still be in the black by the end of the month, so that's good.

My old wheelchair has seen good service. DIL bought it some years ago (also in a charity shop) for £5 when she had fallen and damaged some vertibrae as an outdoor instructor. She gave it to Tom when he became unable to walk and it was put away when he was loaned a well padded and very adjustable one by the local NHS. When she was expecting Em, her back was affected again so she had the chair back for the last month or so. Then it came back to me and still does sterling service despite being battered by Loganair when travelling to hospitals on the mainland. It was a good £5's worth.

A couple of years ago DIL bought for me a long, navy blue, sheepskin coat - charity shop again. No idea what she paid for it because it was a present. It was too big for me then and I've never worn it (looked like a barrel with feet sticking out from the bottom) but today, I decided it was time. Just as well - it only just buttons around me now, but it was so warm and cosy. I will wear it for the rest of the winter, as long as I don't expand out of it before the spring.

ianpspurs said:

Trying to manage everyone is definitely a personality disorder. The impact is hurting you and one would guess many others. Would she come to France next year if you said fine we will happily hold it here? Plays into the moving ornaments and tormenting evil stepmothers others would advocate with the added bonus of far better food and drink. Not for me and judging by what I read beyond the lines you write you either but it may be worth a try.

Click to expand...

@ianpspurs think it is only those she considers incompetent she tries to manage. Certainly don't get complaints about her from others and some are grateful for her advice. we did consider your idea, but anyone coming to France for Boxing day would need to arrive on 24th at latest... not happening.
Am thinking bring-your-own-picnic to the park at the moment

Annb said:

Ah well. I have always said,"if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." (I hear people saying this all the time these days - I've been saying it since the 60's - always was a bit of a cynic.) I couldn't understand how even a charity shop could sell a motorised chair for £40 but it was worth a trip to see. There was no motor on the chair, so either I misunderstood what DIL said on the phone or she mistook what she saw. It was a good chair, and well worth the £40, but it would have been too difficult to get it into the back of the car and I really didn't need to replace my old one. That means I will still be in the black by the end of the month, so that's good.

My old wheelchair has seen good service. DIL bought it some years ago (also in a charity shop) for £5 when she had fallen and damaged some vertibrae as an outdoor instructor. She gave it to Tom when he became unable to walk and it was put away when he was loaned a well padded and very adjustable one by the local NHS. When she was expecting Em, her back was affected again so she had the chair back for the last month or so. Then it came back to me and still does sterling service despite being battered by Loganair when travelling to hospitals on the mainland. It was a good £5's worth.

A couple of years ago DIL bought for me a long, navy blue, sheepskin coat - charity shop again. No idea what she paid for it because it was a present. It was too big for me then and I've never worn it (looked like a barrel with feet sticking out from the bottom) but today, I decided it was time. Just as well - it only just buttons around me now, but it was so warm and cosy. I will wear it for the rest of the winter, as long as I don't expand out of it before the spring.

Click to expand...

Hug for the disappointment of the wheelchair bargain but winner for your attitude to this and life in general. Hope the coat lasts until spring. Is it too annoying to say I have a made to measure sheepskin coat paid for by picking plums when I was 19/20 which still fits - probably slightly loose? Stay warm.

gennepher said:

@ianpspurs I didn't dare reply to @SlimLizzy what I was going to advocate for her next year's Boxing Day party (but Ian, you gave a good suggestion), after remembering my mischievous past with the evil stepmother, who, if you knew all about her, deserved much more than what I was able to dish out to her. She had dished hell out to me when I was younger...

Now I am going to disappear for the rest of today, before I cause trouble...

Click to expand...

@gennepher please let me know your idea....

Yes, Ian. I find myself very glad to stay at home. Covid was an excellent excuse for that. It has never troubled me having no company but my own and I have been quite content over these couple of years. Of course, Neil is here to help me with household chores and shopping, plus he's there if I need help, but he keeps to himself most of the time. Friends ask me to go to things - many venues are not really accessible and, of course, my Welsh friend comes to see me once a week, so I am not alone all the time. These days I have to find good reasons not to go out

ianpspurs said:

Hug for the disappointment of the wheelchair bargain but winner for your attitude to this and life in general. Hope the coat lasts until spring. Is it too annoying to say I have a made to measure sheepskin coat paid for by picking plums when I was 19/20 which still fits - probably slightly loose? Stay warm.

Click to expand...

Well done for keeping your youthful shape Ian. I had a sheepskin jacket in my 20's and wore it almost constantly after we came to the Island (except maybe in August when the weather was a bit warmer). It finally got cut up and used as patches for another one when it developed splits and holes. Made a pair of moccasins with some of it as well. This one won't wear out, even if I do stop growing.

SlimLizzy said:

Don't think my sister has a personality disorder. She just tries to manage everyone. So she informed me that I am responsible for organising next year's boxing day party!!! No way am i able to do that.

Click to expand...

To be fair - there are four of us siblings and all the others have organised a Boxing day party. My sister said it will be my turn next year. Throwing me into a complete panic as I have never been able to arrange a big party. Plus the expense of it. One of the multiple reasons we are not going to UK for Christmas is the cost. To me its not a reasonable use of resources to spend a whole months income on a very short trip. And to do the same thing again in a couple of months time. Then we are expected to travel to Italy for a family wedding in September. To pile on the expectation of arranging a large family party is too much. It's already going to be a very expensive year.

Annb said:

Well done for keeping your youthful shape Ian. I had a sheepskin jacket in my 20's and wore it almost constantly after we came to the Island (except maybe in August when the weather was a bit warmer). It finally got cut up and used as patches for another one when it developed splits and holes. Made a pair of moccasins with some of it as well. This one won't wear out, even if I do stop growing.

Click to expand...

Don't think I have done much to keep my youthful shape. Part genetic and largely as most LC food is best/easily avoided so caloric intake so low it is easy.

SlimLizzy said:

@gennepher please let me know your idea....

Click to expand...

(But I have now read your more recent posts on other expensive events you are going to attend)
Here goes...
You host the Boxing Day celebrations, but from France.
okay.
But they all stay in England. You stay in France, if this is what you want to do, but by video link. You can have conversations with them all.

Now this is may or may not be costly, it depends on you. But it will be cheaper and less hassle than you going over to England.

Maybe employ a catering firm who will do this on Boxing Day. Whether they bring in the food, or cook it at one of your relatives houses. Probably bringing it in would be better. Maybe even bringing in a one amazing cold spread Is the best idea. And if you like this idea, you may need to book it now for next Xmas 2023.

This way you have done the Boxing Day spread Without the hassle of actually doing it yourself. It can be as fancy as you like (depending on your pocket).

Could you do a work around on that idea? You may have some more better ideas.

If for some reason, you want to go over and surprise them all, there is nothing to stop you doing that last minute. You can then see the people you really want to see.

So the variations on this idea are up to you.


And maybe at a time convenient to you during the year, and weather and everything depending, you and Mr Slim can go over to England, at a less pressurised time of year for you, and you can organise Kiki whatever you do with her, take her with you, or put her in kennels, at a much less busy time of year, and take more relaxed time in seeing who you would like to see.

Is any of these suggestions any help to you?


EDIT...have read some of your more recent posts a moment ago.

I am now going for a Boxing Day pub/restaurant lunch, or maybe they might even deliver a cold spread to one of your relative's houses...would that be affordable and doable. Some pubs here would deliver hot food for this.
And obviously you stay in France as you need to at this time of year. You can still video link them.

This sounds the most affordable doable suggestion.

As I said. I have done this.

SlimLizzy said:

@ianpspurs think it is only those she considers incompetent she tries to manage. Certainly don't get complaints about her from others and some are grateful for her advice. we did consider your idea, but anyone coming to France for Boxing day would need to arrive on 24th at latest... not happening.
Am thinking bring-your-own-picnic to the park at the moment

Click to expand...

Also what I have done in the past, is to arrange a Boxing Day meal at the pub...I have just sent a longer post before I saw this...

SlimLizzy said:

To be fair - there are four of us siblings and all the others have organised a Boxing day party. My sister said it will be my turn next year. Throwing me into a complete panic as I have never been able to arrange a big party. Plus the expense of it. One of the multiple reasons we are not going to UK for Christmas is the cost. To me it's not a reasonable use of resources to spend a whole months income on a very short trip. And to do the same thing again in a couple of months time. Then we are expected to travel to Italy for a family wedding in September. To pile on the expectation of arranging a large family party is too much. It's already going to be a very expensive year.

Click to expand...

Okay, reading this, changing my idea, on my longer post, you could arrange for a Boxing Day lunch at the pub, or restaurant....I can see from this post you have other trips arranged. Expensive year...

ianpspurs said:

No. It would needlessly stress a 15 month old out now he knows where the singing, snowing Santa is and how to activate him following extensive tutorials from his sister and cousins. Why make his life harder when those who should make it easier appear to be busting a gut to ensure he and his peers have the worst start they can possibly engineer? All personal viewpoint though but the attached doesn't appear too harsh IMHO. Peace be with him but I'm blowed if I can see any other exit strategy than an embarrassing climb down after we all suffer needlessly. He has negotiation in his armamentarium. So no, since I can't do anything about our leaders but I can about that aspect of the little guy's happiness.

Click to expand...

Other ornaments are probably available.
Armamentarium…..German heavy metal pop group, better stick with up beat Christmas carols.
Nice answer and reason not to play games with the ornaments.

SlimLizzy said:

Don't think my sister has a personality disorder. She just tries to manage everyone. So she informed me that I am responsible for organising next year's boxing day party!!! No way am i able to do that.

Click to expand...

There is no way you can do that from France @SlimLizzy. Surely she must realise that. Hopefully she will see sense and stop being unreasonable.n

ianpspurs said:

Three parter. @jjraak the attached shows all the useful tools for a post greyed out. I tend to write my posts in google docs first so I can format, add hyperlinks to words etc but this won't transfer for love nor money. Hope that explains. I wondered if a text/rtf format would fool the forum into playing nice. Now seems emjois won't work either despite showing before I press save.

Click to expand...

Might this be of use ?

What’s happened to the forum?

Post in thread 'What’s happened to the forum?' https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/what’s-happened-to-the-forum.190760/post-2560133

jjraak said:

Might this be of use ?

What’s happened to the forum?

Post in thread 'What’s happened to the forum?' https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/what’s-happened-to-the-forum.190760/post-2560133

Click to expand...

Yeehaw Thanks and have a new description of Trumpty Dumpty: orange coloured mud devil

ianpspurs said:

Part the second. @gennepher - chicory coffee brings back 2 memories. Uncle mentioned above and smell from a chicory factory I passed daily on my way to school. Thanks for the creative I have more idea about Glenn Turner the NZ cricketer than Turner the artist, sorry.. @Annb hug for the bad day yesterday and the cold. I can’t solve either problem nor can all the great and the good despite their bluster but "what I can I give you, give you" a hug. Layering is all the rage. @SlimLizzy as per Ann all I can do is sympathise. Best wishes for the self control but great fbg so perhaps stick with the program. Hope shopping goes well. @krystyna hug for Archie - can dogs perhaps acquire a loving nature and stubbornness from humans? A friend asked and Alexa said hmm, sorry I don’t know that one. Hug for the historical family stress. I seem to have been blessed not to have those issues. I doubt anything could drive me to eat biscuits and certainly not ginger ones. @dunelm thanks for the art which will obviously end up as a masterpiece and enjoy the ice sculpture extravaganza if you go. My grandfather said always give to the Salvation Army as they were the only people to bring tea to the trenches in WW!. He and his brother came through as unscathed as possible. Never talked to me about it but told said uncle about the SA. @jjraak good call on remembering The Threadfather. Today's Advent poem and art https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2021/12/16/advent-good-wishes-by-david-griev . Have yourself any kind of day that floats your boat but remember just because you can't do everything doesn't mean you do nothing and reflecting on other's viewpoint and needs is 180 degrees from carrying their monkey around.

Click to expand...

Thanks @ianpspurs - we used to call them the Sally Anne - they, or Toc H always sent a tea van out to the ranges which was fabulous when spending a day trying to feel the trigger on your rifle on a bleak German shooting range in January.

Annb said:

How did those 2 paragraphs just disappear? Pressed the space bar and hey presto! they were gone. Start again.

I had planned the spend the day wrapped up well and in the heat provided by my little kitchen convector heater but the plan has now changed. DIL phoned from a charity shop in the town to say they have a motorised wheelchair for sale for £40 and did I want my name put on it. Of course. That might make life easier for Neil (that also disappeared, but it was only one word) but it might be a problem getting it into the car. We shall have to see. The shop will reserve it for 24 hours, so we will go shortly, while the weather holds and the roads are reasonable. I'll put an even bigger jumper on over the top of the ones I am wearing and a coat over the top, to keep the cold out.

Click to expand...

All the best for the motorised wheelchair and hope that it makes a difference.
Edit. Just seen your latest post - hugs for the disappointment but as you say, too good to be true.

Annb said:

Ah well. I have always said,"if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." (I hear people saying this all the time these days - I've been saying it since the 60's - always was a bit of a cynic.) I couldn't understand how even a charity shop could sell a motorised chair for £40 but it was worth a trip to see. There was no motor on the chair, so either I misunderstood what DIL said on the phone or she mistook what she saw. It was a good chair, and well worth the £40, but it would have been too difficult to get it into the back of the car and I really didn't need to replace my old one. That means I will still be in the black by the end of the month, so that's good.

My old wheelchair has seen good service. DIL bought it some years ago (also in a charity shop) for £5 when she had fallen and damaged some vertibrae as an outdoor instructor. She gave it to Tom when he became unable to walk and it was put away when he was loaned a well padded and very adjustable one by the local NHS. When she was expecting Em, her back was affected again so she had the chair back for the last month or so. Then it came back to me and still does sterling service despite being battered by Loganair when travelling to hospitals on the mainland. It was a good £5's worth.

A couple of years ago DIL bought for me a long, navy blue, sheepskin coat - charity shop again. No idea what she paid for it because it was a present. It was too big for me then and I've never worn it (looked like a barrel with feet sticking out from the bottom) but today, I decided it was time. Just as well - it only just buttons around me now, but it was so warm and cosy. I will wear it for the rest of the winter, as long as I don't expand out of it before the spring.

Click to expand...

Sorry about the electric wheelchair @Annb

But I like the sound of that sheepskin coat!!!

gennepher said:

Sorry about the electric wheelchair @Annb

But I like the sound of that sheepskin coat!!!

Click to expand...

The coat is beautifully warm and buttons right up to the neck. I don't care any more if I do look like a barrel on 2 little feet, That's not too obvious anyway if I'm sat in a chair.

gennepher said:

@ianpspurs I didn't dare reply to @SlimLizzy what I was going to advocate for her next year's Boxing Day party (but Ian, you gave a good suggestion), after remembering my mischievous past with the evil stepmother, who, if you knew all about her, deserved much more than what I was able to dish out to her. She had dished hell out to me when I was younger...

Now I am going to disappear for the rest of today, before I cause trouble...

Click to expand...

The evil stepmother definitely deserved much more than you were able to dish out to her, but I do really like what you did - very mischievous and great fun to do.