Get the funk up!

I wondered if there might be a way to find somewhere for you to stay the night. Good for you Dana and limey for making it possible. I love ya gutses! xxx

I love the cellar so much.

Off to Essex today, to tend the graves of Nanny and Grandad, and Auntie Alice.
We made a right ragtag procession travelling on the Underground, with two shopping trolleys, Mum and I in the same jeans and Dads shuffling along behind.

Two trolleys?
Well, yes - two rosebushes, assorted gardening and cleaning tools, gloves, kneeling pads, stones etc. Of course they used to go in the car, so I wasn't necessary. But now everything has to be carried up and down the stairs whic hare still part of many station, I get a free ride along. Gets me out of the house anyway.

First to Barkingside.
Cherry trees in bloom in the Garden of Remebrance (they were both cremated).
Second pic shows same with added detail of Dad working and one of the trolleys.

I'd gone to fill a watering can, I wasn't just wandering about taking photos, I promise.

Mum gets really cross about the maintenance people there, as they strim too close to the marker and therefore damage it AND usually get anything planted too.

Hence the stones.
Mum is not allowed to have anything above the level of the plinth; they will be charged if any works equipment is damaged. But at least this might keep them a little further back.

All shiny and scrubbed by me.

Nanny has an extra marker because that was her original. They didn't have the official stone made until Grandad died, as he had a very well paid-up funeral plan. Again, resiting in the hope that the grasscutters/ strimmers do less damage.

Mum left calm and happy, which was good.
It pains her to have them beyond the reach of monthly visits or upkeep.

So off to Barkingside High Street for pie & mash.
Traditional pie shop. No longer as good says Mum, it's being run by Eastern Europeans and she said the potato was not right at all.

.

Proper English breakfast.
Although I didn't need two sausages. This was the smallest breakfast on the menu and it worked out cheaper than any smaller one I could put together.

My Godfather, who still lives locally, came to pick us up and drive us up to the cemetary Auntie Alice is buried in.
This is a much newer graveyard and therefore more tended and more colourful.
Last time Dads and I came here was for the funeral of Peter's father.

This grave was in a better condition, as they don't come right up to it with equipment. We needed to cut some of the highest grass back though. You can't have it both ways.
Again, planted a rosebush, did some trimming and cleaning and left it neat and tidy.

Forest Park is just outside Hainault and a high and windy hill.
I've promised Mum I'll lookout for plants that can take a battering from the wind and rain and need little maintenance. She's like something to go in that little hole, which would usually be covered with a top to hold fresh flowers - which we can't bring more than twice a year.

Alice is in the non-denominational part, but the others are creeping nearer. It felt like she was one of the only people buried there at her internment.

Detail to show hazy London skyline.
You can see the Gherkin and Canary Wharf from there with the naked eye.

With my Godfather, Peter.

That sounds like a good, productive day out. I like the look of Pete :)

Sent by thought transference

I know you've lost weight, but I'd like to know how you and your Mum fit into one pair of jeans. :D

They have to take very small steps. ;)

snort

The two Johns came today. For one of the John's 70th birthday last weekend.
Then and now.

I've been so worried about Daddy's weight loss.
Then I looked at John-on-the-right and he is like pipe-cleaner man. Tiny little arms and legs. So I'm relieved on that front at least.

Some pics from the faux-bbq today.

Tiny, tiny little grill (to be sung to the tune of twinkle, twinkle little star)
But it was only for seven of us, and none of the men eat much. Intended to be more of a snack than a proper dinner.

Dads being grill-master.

Mum taking charge.
I offered and offered and did end up "manning" the grill, so now I smell of beef fat. Lick me.

And the two Johns.
John closest is hard of hearing but not 70 until November. Because he won't wear hearing aids he feels like the oldest!
John with glasses was the birthday boy last week. He is canny, sarcastic and has a super-smart wife. I'd love to spar with him properly (verbally) but I'd also like a decent one-on-one chat with Mrs John.

John pontificating.
Mrs John with her magic "this will make John behave" device. Also known as a camera.

Dads and John. And the terracotta planter I bought Mum a few years back, which Dad & I absolutely love and he has planted with fuschia this year. Mum doesn't hate it, I just don't think she holds it in the same regard we do.

And the desserts.
As I say, not supposed to be a full meal. So only two desserts.
And 70th birthday John got to take home the cake. I did suggest Mrs John made cake-pops if she didn't think it would be eaten. Stopped short of bringing out recipes and diagrams and photos.

And finally...
70th birthday John bought Mum some flowers and a bottle of wine for all the trouble she's gone to.

Sweet.

The boys in the caravan on their hols.

babies are so cute

Crikey they're almost grown-up!
(And I have a weakness for those embroidered tablecloths in the pic above, too!)

So. Dad is in hospital. It was a scheduled visit, although it was arranged very quickly.
They went for an appointment at the John Radcliffe (Oxford) and the Consultant said she wanted Dad in for moitoring "as soon as a bed was ready".

Five days later, one was.
He's supposed to be in for four days, but today is the fourth day and no news of a discharge yet.
We understood that he would be on a steroid drip, and that was why they wanted to observe him. But it seems they are more interested in the electrodes (?) attached to his head rather than the drip, because they are on 24/7 whereas the drip is only intermittent.

Also the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing because he was sent down for some sort of procedure and the Doctor there was appalled that he'd been sent to her; she said she couldn't possibly do anything while he was still hooked up to all the wires. This is all a little vague as poor old Dad is a little vague, and then it's filtered through Mum before it gets to me.

Non-beardy John from the photos above is coming to us today, with Mrs John.
We're giving them lunch, then they're taking Mum to the hospital. Given that they live in Dorset, this is very, very good of them.
Offered without any prompting - Mum regards a round trip from Aylesbury to Oxford as a serious undertaking, let alone adding on the extra miles to and from Dorchester.

I was going to go to see him with her today (on the bus) but I think I'll stay at home again.
I do miss him of course, and would like to see him, but you're only really supposed to have two people visit at once, and although I'm sure they'll wink at three, they probably wouldn't ignore four. Also, it'll be a big treat for him to see John & Linn. If he is in another day (highly likely) it would surely be better for me to go then. Mum is the ice-cream, John will be the whipped cream and Linn the sauce. Just adding a cherry won't make much difference to the sundae today.

He's on a four bed ward, but as you can see it's not like in the Carry On Doctor days. There is plenty of space and you can draw the curtains for privacy. Not as nice as the room I had at Addenbrooke's, but I did luck out there.

And a photo of the twins, because life is about being growing as well as growing old.
Their first birthday on 9 July.

The twins are ADORABLE! What exactly are they monitoring your Dad for? Hope everything goes as smoothly as possible -- best wishes to you all.

He's had multiple diagnosis which are all now being questioned.
Dementia, epilepsy, auto-immune disorder, physical brain damage from a past injury. All are welcome (said in a creepy Tangina voice)

They're hoping to get some answers is all.
Thanks for the wishes x

I'm sorry your dad's in the hospital Sundae. I hope they figure it all out soon.

He certainly looks comfortable, that's not nothing.

He came home late yesterday afternoon.
Mum has some more photos for me to upload, but she seems to have wandered off with the camera (I don't think she took it out of her bag tbh.)

I'll take some at my birthday lunch and maybe get another of him up here if it looks relevant.

Right, better go pretty myself up for my photo-op!

Some pics of the JR from the floor Dad was on, although not the view from his window. Not that he was roaming about much anyway!

Just added a new one - the actual view from Dad's window.
Not as exciting :)

Nice! I love the helicopter pad. When my son was born, there was a helicopter pad right outside the window of the delivery room. And during one of the contractions, the helicopter took off. My wife wouldn't let me go to the window to watch! Can you believe it?

Birfday!
I had a lovely mooch about town - I was up there for about five hours all told, having a long lunch with the 'rents and spending my vouchers.
The family have decided this is the best way to keep me out of trouble - clothes shop vouchers and a book token.

Okay the latter is a little weird, I'd have preferred another voucher for the same clothes shop, or something I could use on my Kindle - where it would go further - but a present is a present is a present, even when it comes from my sister. I have a sneaky suspicion she won it and gifted it on...

Mum & dad had a tuna melt each, splitting a salad and chips.
Personally I thought theirs looked very dry, but if I have learned one thing in 41 years it's not to criticise other people's families or dinner, even if they invite you to do so.

And mine!
No comments about the bacon please.
Oh, okay, if you have to. Just bear in mind what I've written above.

I had Tennessee Chicken Burger.
I very much doubt it's authentic, but there was a lot of it.

The burger, as constructed, contained onion rings.
I had to deconstruct it anyway to get rid of the raw tomato, so I took them out to eat separately. They were recognisable as onion rings. Rings made of onion.

Then, as a little extra offering I had some nuggety execrations.
Failed onion rings I think. They were definitely onion in origin. Too mutant to eat. I was going to take them home as unlucky charms, but I had my new voucher-bought clothes with me.

Leftovers.
Not much.

Shocking. Like she had something better to do?!

On Friday, the twins came over with Abigail.
W sat in the garden for a while (all slathered up with sun protection) because it's rare we are able to do so, and they are crawling now, which makes them grabby in a house with many tempting things within reach.

Once we'd moved inside it was a case of oops, hang on I'll move that. No, don't put that in your mouth and NO! Mum forgets that not only has she slowed down in the 15 years since she last had a one year old in the house, but in fact they are double trouble.

It all passed off really well though.
I left to go see The World's End but I had the best part of two hours with them.

Liam is in blue, Jack is in white.

Sunshine lollipops and rainbows everywhere...

One twin, two twin
White twin, blue twin

They have a tendency to each want what the other has, and to have to be jollied out of twin-envy.
In general they are very happy young boys though.

Gorgeous!

Inside away from the glaring son.
Sorry, sun.

And I was off to the cinema, yay!

Lovely boys!

Tha's racist! ;)

They really are adorable.

Aww, super cute! Looks like they're all doing well. :)

Handsome lads!

Strapping young lads.

Moar twins.
Oh, no. Same twins actually.

Abs goes back to school this month.
I must admit I'm not 100% why, because she's only doing two A Levels, which are not enough to go into Higher Education. And they're generic subjects as opposed to ones she is passionate about.

Still, she wants to go back and therefore she has my respect.
It's not up to me to understand or decide what is relevant to her.
And I am pleased for her.

The boys will be going into the college creche, so Mum fitted them out with some new tops.
Bless.

Perhaps Abs should take Digital Photo 101 - take as many photos as required until you get one which works for both subjects :D
Says me who does not live with two lovely lively 14 month olds...

They sure are cute. I bet they can be a handful

Off for a curry last night, to celebrate an offer being put in on the house.
Things could move very quickly from here. But a colleague at work knows someone in the same predicament. She has a 4.5 month old baby and a four year old daughter, and has been given notice by her Landlord that she will be unable to continue renting from him in 31 days time.

First she did was get on to the Council, who said to her, despite written proof and minors being involved, that she was not considered at risk of homelessness until she could prove she would be homeless in 28 days.

So they really are that intractable.

I'll have to wait and see what happens from here. Mum doesn't realise it, but even with finance in place it's a good six weeks to exchange.
They will probably start moving out immediately, but I can handle that, emotional as it will be.

At least I'll be away from her annoying cough ;)

Anyway.
I've put we in the RFN thread, and my curry in the Dinner thread.

Good luck, Sundae. Interesting times.

...

Sounds stressful. I know you'll work it out OK though.

That's surprising. Here, if the buyer and seller are both motivated, you can go through offer, negotiation, inspection, closing and key handoff in as little as a week. I'm glad for your sake that you'll have a little more time, though. I'll be telepathically instructing the Council to treat you well from now until then.

The offer had been made and accepted, but next comes the survey.
This needs to be booked, carried out and written up, then submitted to the buyer's lender to ensure they are happy to issue a mortgage on this specific property.

Then there are the solicitors, who take their own sweet time doing everything. Searching land deeds and titles and things (all very mysterious to me). And then getting all of this together for the estate agents, who also - suddenly - have to do mysterious things and treat you (as a buyer) as a low priority now they know you're hooked.

I may be wrong.
But certainly the acceptance was made on Monday and we haven't heard anything back since. So as surveyors and solicitors don't work weekends as far as I know, the week is ticking away fast.

I'll keep you updated!

I love my brother so much.

that's very cool~~~~!!!!!