What are you all up to
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https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-together/discussions/screenname2f07cf670e/goodbye-brian/
It's been moved here Richard. ⚘️
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Aye, it’s treasure we all have access to, and long may it be so👍
K, best wishes for a good recovery for your OH.
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We are in week two of extra dog care then our son and family arrive at the weekend bringing with them another dog. We haven't seen any of them properly for such a long time and now it all comes at once. DIL receives her doctorate at Bath Abbey on Monday and also needs to see her own family...I'm exhausted at the thought!!
Our elder daughter's partner collects their dog early next week, we hope, as long as the flights are on time etc etc
The cat has been put in a place of safety at the cattery, we pick up the tab for that next week. 🐈⬛
My treats this week are two dental visits and a long shopping list.
I think we might get a break in August if we can stagger on.
Rufs you have my understanding!
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£40000 for a hip replacement seems rather a lot, were there special circumstances? Generally to have a hip replaced privately, today, would cost £12000/15000. Still a lot of money!
David
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I don't know if there were any complications as I don't know her that well, although she did mention that she has arthritis and was in a bad way, prior to the op. Perhaps the extra cost was for complicatons and/or rehab afterwards, as if a normal op costs around around £16,000, it does appear to be very expensive.
Everyone else whom I know who has had similar ops or ops on knees has had it done on the NHS, so the cost has never come up before and like many others, I have never actually thought about how much they cost.
Perhaps, when people are prescibed medication or have ops on the NHS, they should be told the cost of their medication or treatment.
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Around £15k is the going rate for privately funded hip replacement with Ramsay Healthcare as well.
Could the lady have said £14k rather than £40k?
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Hip replacements, particularly in the very elderly often don’t go well. This time last year, my Mum was walking around. Her hip was replaced following a fall. The hip op went ok, but the other issues it created are still ongoing. She didn’t eat for six months, lived on nutrition drinks (bought by us) and a bit of ice cream. We have finally got her eating again, but I doubt she will ever walk again. Thankfully, we have NHS doctors, NHS Occ therapists, NHS District Nurses, and she was so weak at one point, she is actually registered with an NHS Palliative Care team. I’d add that prior to this fall, my Mum had never ever been in hospital for anything, had never needed an ambulance. Doc came out last week, said she is just frail now, but has the heart and lungs of someone thirty years younger than her. Only tablets are for pain relief. District Nurses we used twice, haven’t needed them in last five months.
My blood boils when I see what goes on in A&E, how some folks don’t seem to appreciate what is provided. Sadly, it’s the joined up thinking around total health care provision that is lacking as well. It’s to politicised now.☹️1 -
vbfg said:- Perhaps, when people are prescribed medication or have ops on the NHS, they should be told the cost of their medication or treatment.
You do sometime find out by accident! I am sure a lot of basic medications we take for things like high blood pressure etc are as cheap and chips. More specialised medications will be more expensive. I once had to have a course of blood thinners and I discovered that they cost £55 a month whereas had I been put on a more basic thinner it would have been much, much cheaper. However the costs would have increased for the cheaper med because I would have had to have regular blood tests so perhaps using the more expensive medication was not so expensive after all? We know from Margaret's diabetes that insulin is expensive and the sensor she wears on her arm costs £100 an month, but even with that there is a saving as you are not using test strips which are also very expensive. I am not sure people should be told the cost of operations as there will be those that might refuse which would not be in their best interests.
David
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MiL decided to pay privately for a new knee 6 years ago as having it done on NHS would have entailed a 24-30 month wait. She decided that a 2-3 year wait would firstly affect other parts of her body, back, other leg etc, and secondly she quite bluntly stated that that amount of time was a high percentage of whatever mobile life she had left. She was 84 at the time. Great decision as although she endured a lot of pain in physio she is now able to still walk 2-3 miles in one go at 90. She paid about £10,000 plus consultation fees, x-rays etc.
KJ - best wishes to your OH from a gout sufferer, although touch wood not had a bout since my dosage on the meds increased a few years ago. I noticed that your OH doesn't take the meds daily. I was told that I should take them every day as a preventative measure.
Weather has been awful since we got home last Friday. Weekend was a wash out and yesterday just as bad. Dry at the moment but we've had rumbles of thunder and a light shower. Not to be trusted.
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@Tda "lived on nutrition drinks (bought by us)"
Wish I'd known last year Tda, after my feeding tube was removed I was left with 6 boxes, 48 in a box 'Nutricia Fortisip' bottles. Once prescribed they would not take them back, food charities would not accept them, I enquired with the Yorkshire water if I could empty them down the toilet then I could recycle the empty bottles and NO was the answer "too much protein", so into the green bin for landfill was my only option. What a waste and Use by date expiry was 2024.
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You were right TW, I have contacted the lady in question and it was 14,000, not 40,000.
I was steering the narrowboat at the time and she was on the bank of the canal, so I misheard, but I did think that it was a hell of a lot but we were a bit busy at the time as we were approaching another lock, so I didn't have time to query it. Saying that, 14,000 is not exactly peanuts is it, but a lot better (if you ever have to pay for an op) than 40,000 and apologies for misleading some CT readers who are obviously far more au fait with the costs of an op than I am!
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Busy in the garden yesterday again, then in the afternoon the chap to cut the big hedges came. I decided this year that I would get someone in to do them, rather than OH doing them. His time is better used elsewhere 😉
OH has been busy up a ladder fitting a new antenna to the MH. Ours is like a spaceship with the spike on top. We lost the top part last year while on holiday, fortunately we were able to wrap up what was left of it to keep it watertight. It was not an easy job to do as lots of mastic had been used. Then trying to feed the new cable down through the roof and along the trunking to the controller was a PITA he said. All done now and working, had to take the MH for a little drive as we don't get a good signal here.
This morning I decided to shampoo the carpets out of the MH, then did the lounge and dining room ones as well, currently lounging on the bed until they are dry.
We've had heavy rain but the sun's out now for awhile. Time for lunch I think.
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Thanks AD, I did try, but apparently not. They do something, but not the only one’s Mum would drink. We tried all sorts in the beginning. I was running round trying to source them from various pharmacies, but once we had established she liked them, we started buying in bulk online. Even though she is now eating, we still give her them in between meals.
It sounds like you are same as my OH in recovery. He was told to eat all sorts of things to bulk him up, cream with everything🤣 My OH had to have chemo, and that really took its toll on him. We had protein shakes in, as OH uses them as recovery from cycling. One of the ways we got calories and electrolytes into Mum was via cycling gels. All her drinks water had gel in, we put it over ice cream. She’s probably up to doing TdeF if only her legs worked😁
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Thanks, they would have been useful. Yes, as soon as your prescriptions leave pharmacy there’s no return. When I used to collect Dad’s, I used to get them to check what was in bag and take out anything we didn’t need.
Vets won’t take back stuff either nowadays. I usually ring round family and friends with pet stuff, most will be on something similar. (If I say Metacam sure most dog owners will know what I mean🙄)
Why unopened tablet blister packs can’t be used, if In date, I don’t know. Does seem a waste to me. We use Calpol tablets as well for Mum. You can’t buy more than two packs of these, unless of course you shop twice🤷♀️ Barmy.
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Those of us with dodgy knees tend to keep an eye on such things, just in case
Must be 40 years since we last used a narrowboat on the canals. We only live about a kilometre from the Grand Union. Margaret has often said she would like to try it again but it would have to be with our sons as I think jumping off boats and pirouetting around on lock gates might not be the best thing to do!
David
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Heard a strange sound yesterday when indoors. Asked OH if she had changed her ringtone on her mobile. Nope. Before we could investigate further there was a knock at the door. Parcel delivery. Back to checking for noise. Put it down to the builder next door as we saw he was on the phone.
Same thing happened today. Same coincidence as parcel delivery man knocking on door.
Our bell chime has changed itself.
Neither myself or OH has changed it and we've had the same chime for years. We can only put it down to the recent thunderstorms we have been having but it was a weird experience.
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We’ve had an enjoyable day today got up early and the sun was out so I headed out a 15 mile cycle which was nice and took in some lovey villages. Then this afternoon we headed to bourton on the water we had never been there before but what a lively place loved the bridges going over the river we also spent a good hour in the car museum there a good selection of cars and other items. Didn’t want to cook tonight so we had dinner out at the Brewers fayre pub near to the site which was nice. Back at the van now and it’s been raining on and off. Site emptied this morning but is very busy again.
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Kjell, both sites have emptied out quite a bit today but will no doubt fill up again before the weekend.
The weather has been rather mixed today with showers this morning but much drier after lunchtime. We visited Sizergh Castle today and walked up to Heslington Church before lunch. I have never been inside before and it was well worth the visit. After lunch we went round the house and garden. It is many years since we have been in the house and we couldn't remember much of the inside so we'll worth going there again.
It has been interesting reading of the visiting dogs. I think we are fortunate that we have not had another dog in the house when we have been there as I don't think Flyte could cope with another dog around in his condition, much is the pity.
Strange occurance WN, perhaps you have had a ghostly visitor when you were away!!
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Nellie, the church photos look very interesting, nice to make new discoveries! You might be interested to know our eldest visiting dog is losing his sight but copes very well with the others bouncing around, but maybe that's because he knows our home etc. He's 14 years old so has done very well, hearing still good! Hope Flyte is doing well too.
A treat today, I'm out for lunch with fellow villagers, we're taking food and I've bought my contribution rather than make anything. I went to Waitrose yesterday, a long time since I visited and noticed how stocks are quite low and it's all been contracted down, made a change to see everything though as it's not all available on line.
Some help in the garden too, keeping the jungle growth at bay, hot weather and storms have played havoc!
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That little motor museum at Bourton is a gem isn’t it😁 Lots of memorabilia. If you like gardens Francis, can highly recommend a couple not far from where you are, Kiftsgate, which is opposite to the NT’s Hidcote. It is (was?) HHA, so free for Members. Bit of climbing of steps, but a lovely garden. Another close by is at Bourton on the Hill, fabulous herbaceous borders, not huge but some of the best planting schemes I have ever seen. Simple coffee and cake in the Orchard, and there’s a small arboretum walk adjacent to the car park area.
Quite a while since I visited Sizergh Nellie, and OH has never been. One to go back to soon hopefully. Church looks very interesting. Rieves is losing more of his sight now, he copes better at home, but he does like to say hello to other dogs.
At Mum’s today, just had a peaceful hour in her garden. I planted some hollyhocks I had grown from seed last year and they look fabulous this year. Pale lemon (seeds from Clumber Park), and a lovely mid pink shade, (seeds from Avebury). I like to ask for seeds from gardens, then grow them on, reminds me of places we have visited. My original black hollyhocks have been in some 30 plus years, seeds from a beautiful old farm site we used to stay on near Bodinnick in Cornwall. I got some bright red seeds from Belton House gardens last week. Hoping to dry them out and plant to over winter.
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Some photos from our trip last week…
Belton House (NT) near Grantham
Beautiful spacious CL, we had it all to ourselves for 5 nights. Casthorpe House Farm.
Potager garden area at Easton Walled Gardens (HHA)
Inside the Orangery at Belton
Looking across to the Walled Rose Garden/ Orchard, from the top of the wildflower terraces at Easton. Dramatic sky, but thankfully it stayed dry.
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Great photos Tda like the looks of cl peaceful and some shade for your pooch.
A cooler day today after a little rain and thunderstorm last night late, OH has spent a lot of time over the planning of our car port as they wanted more details so yesterday he finished about 11pm good job he has done technical drawing many years ago and computer drawing as well so this morning upto the Maire's and we got into the office she was busy with a phone call and when finished she said hello how are you all in English and she knew why we were there so another few pages of paperwork and she had a look through and said to OH you have done drawing before and said all the work was very impressive and asked him if he was an engineer and he said Electronics very good she said, and now we wait again for the results could be about a month and it is getting to major holiday time here heyho may have to leave putting up the carport when we come back from UK and would be cooler then.
Popped again after lunch so OH could do a carwash on his vehicle as the other day we drove on some new tarmac that had been laid gosh the dust was everywhere hence the clean looks better now and noticed a lot of folk about and on bikes.
Gosh just had a gun go off somehwhere nearby and not September yet!!
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Thanks Red Kite. It’s a peach of a CL, all the HS pitch areas are out from under the trees, but you can pitch anywhere I suppose, so you have all sorts of options. All the EHU points come from one main point, hence the blue cable across the drive, but that isn’t our cable, it’s one provided by the CL. We really needed some shade at one bit last week, so hot, but likewise we got plenty of sunshine all through the day as well. That’s the only pitch where the cable is across the drive area, rest go round outside.
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Glad you enjoyed the trip Ttda. We always enjoy stopping at Belton House. Had the pleasure a few years ago of being there in Autumn at rutting season. Quite a sight.
Exciting day today. Cleaning the cooker day. Boy was I excited about it this morning. Going to be hard to find something better for tomorrow.
We actually had a dry day today, first for a while. Started checking out the caravan to see what we're low on before we set off this weekend for a few days.
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Exciting day here in Stubbers, 23 degrees, but wind force 6 gusting to force 8 and somebody to the North of us is catching a packet, did go down for a swim but much to rough, and early this morning when things were much quieter the tide was too low. Not many folk about this afternoon, and no queues at the ice cream shop. Cut the grass earlier in anticipation of some rain but seems to be passing us by, guess i will just have to watch the tennis with the girls, boring
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