swilkinson

What wonderful news that all is well with Joe and with you. Will be thinking of you and your family over the next few days and hope you find pleasure in each others company. May 2006 be all you wish it to be. Sue.

I think it was Emerson ho wrote it down but he must have read it in much older material. It is one of my favourites too. I never thought of success as even achievable, wasn't brought up that way. Dad always said:"Just do your best and be satisfied with that." So that feeling that what you have done is your best work is my mark of success I guess. Sue.

Hey Fred It's not the number of bulbs that counts, it's what lights up your life. You got the Spirit, never forget that. Sue.

My son said to tell you it's not lost, it's just on a back-up disc somewhere. Hope you find it again. Sue.

Fred, good on you for being an active advocate. Ray and I never go to the theater as he can't sit that long, we hire an occassional movie and watch it at home, but he really isn't interested. Now he is in a wheelchair a lot of the time I avoid places that don't have disabled parking. Got myself wedged in the one and only tiny space available at the radiography place on Wednesday and had to back all the way out, ooh! It's a wonder Ray didn't go gray overnight as reversing is not my best thing. Add my advice for Christmas shopping. If you are sitting with shopping bags in front of you watch them all, it's easy for soomeone to sit next to you and pck up the one closest to them without you noticing. A friend of mine lost a bag full of presents that way one year. Sue.

Ray's favourite part of shopping is our stop at Cookieman for his hot chocolate and two cookies (we call them biscuits). He makes that chocolate last a long time and really enjoys it. We grocery shopped today, will finish Christmas purchases early next week. School will be out, visitors up in their thousands to enjoy the beautiful Central Coast and the place will be packed to the rafters. Roll on February. Sue.

By the power granted to me as "Deputy Wish Fairy" you hereby are given a new look at life, a 2nd chance at a happy, happy life.Just get on with it as best you can, fake it till you make it. Go girl go. Hope that works, I'm a bit rusty at this. Sue.

Ray and I were married 38years last July. So I know some of what you feel. Where you arewith Rolly's health is not a good place but things get better or you get used to them and they become the "new normal". Ray and I love our grandchildren, haven't seen muh of the two Sydney ones this year but that may change. It is harder when you have some-one who finds it hard to stay in a strange place and they are two storey. Still, we have had a good life together and hope it continues that way. Congratulations to you both for this feat of endurance!! Sue.

Fred, these youth are Australian born, many have hard working parents but are often brought up in the "old ways" including it seems despising their fellow Australians, the ones who had made the country the way it was when their parents and grandparents came here. We seem to have become so "multinational" and "politically correct" these days that we have forgotten what it means to be Austrlian. I think each country has the right to retain its own "flavour" and what political correctness is doing is trying to destroy that. I went to my last Scripture classes in school today and there is very little there to show Christmas is coming. In past years there were decorations, maybe a tree in the corner, signs, posters all kinds of glitz and glitter. Ths year there is nothing. It looks like a government building, not a happy place for kids. I think all this controversy is stealing something from us that we have always held dear, the right to celebrate our festivals in our own way. Sue.

Riots on the beach in OZ, youths with too much time on their hands and new settlers bringing the grievances of the past to their new land, bad combination. The police have let the situation get out of hand and are now trying to rein it in, luckily no fatalities. Sue, near the beaches, 90kms north of Sydney.

Funny Pam LOL. But seriously, with the mental health question I was thinking that tonight as my grand daughter and her kindy class graduated, of the 31 how many would be mentally ill, have strokes, heart attacks etc. I think it is so well known now that the odds are against us going from the cradle to the grave WELL that we look and say "Who will be the lucky ones?"

Ahhh! Pam your list reminded me of studying Ethics in the early 90's. I said to my lecturerer: "I don't understand this." He answered: "My dear girl, just understand enough to answer an exam question on them if you need to." Very sound advice. Now I don't read anything more highbrow than I need to, I prefer non-fiction, biographies and an occassional murder mystery. If I want wisdom I can come here and read Jean's blogs. Take it easy shopping. Never spend all you have on the one day. Sue.

Just since May this year when Ray had another slight stroke he has had more swallowing difficulties. I find now that when we are eating out we really had to think about what he likes that can be chopped up small enough for him to eat and enjoy. Aspiration is such a problem if you choke that it takes more effort to eat out when you know that is always a possiblitlty. Good on you both for your fortitude in achieving yet another milestone. Yes, I'd give the waitress a big tip too!! Sue.

Had a scorcher yesterday, it hit 40 degrees celcius, 105 fahrenheit. Just survived that one, very hard to get the cooler air into the house last night though. So found it hard to get to sleep. Then today it was a bit cooler and so we were able to do a bit more. This afternoon took Ray and our grand daughter to a friend's pool and she had a lovely time splashing me and we spent about forty minutes in the water. No pool here at home but a few friends with one so this summer they will see a lot of us. Glad you can make this summer a summer of fun. Sue.

WW2 started in 1939, America came in in 1941. The Brits went into the war to defend Poland and stop Germany taking over the rest of Europe. I guess the reasons for going to war are usually good ones at the time. The reasons for staying in not so good. I feel sorry now for those whose sons and daughters are killed because of war, both the few soldiers and the many civilians. When we pray for peace at Christmas we pray against those who think violence is the answer. But we also pray for those who defend our freedom by using violence. Life is an enigma. Sue.

Happy Yuletide, y'all. Hope your Xmas is bonzer, beaut and brings you heaps of pressies. Hope 2007 is the best ever. All who celebrate some other holiday, YEEEAAA to that too. Bit hard to get impressed with drifting snow while we have temps over 100F but I'm doing my best here. Some Aussies even put artificial frosting on their windows. I guess that is because their ancestors came from England and Europe and there is a kind of nostalgia for the Christmases from that part of the world. There wasn't a celebration among Aboriginal tribes for a festive season, only community gatherings, secret women's/men's business etc. So everything Christmas celebrated here came with the settlers. Of course now we are so multinational there are people who don't want us celebrating Christmas but to be fair what did they come here for if we were so contra to their culture? Merry Christmas, Happy New Year. Sue.

Me too. Sometimes some of the comments I make are leftovers from my Susie Sunshine days. Life is a bitch sometimes for all carers and I'd be the last to deny that. I can scream, yell and wave my arms in the air with the best of them when I am having a "why is this happening to me and Ray day" And sometimes I do "blame" Ray for what after all was not his fault, but a combination of factors beyond his control. Hang in there Butch. Sue.

I had trouble with the respite carer I had for Mum when she was here. It was ony three hours but she actually left Mum alone! I rang the agency siting personal differences, she was replaced by a lady who still stops and says hello when she sees us. Personal dignity is important to the surivor and if it was Ray I would be setting a video trap if just asking for someone else doesn't work. Sue.

And I've just been outside bringing in the clothes off the line and comlaining about the heat! Sue.

Ray and I moved around a bit with his job and it takes time for people to do more than say "hi" whether you are disabled or not. One small town we lived in I made a couple of good friends but just as we were leaving a neighbour came and said:"If I'd known you were going to stay this long I would have been more friendly!" Could not believe that one! Anyway, if anyone shows the slightest interest, follow it up. Join some charity fund-raising group, help out at the school or hospital, anywhere there are people who care about others they are likely to care for you. Some people care about money, promotion, possessions , they don't have time for the disabled. I have some lovely friends built up over many years, some moved away from us, some we moved away from, but thanks to email we still can keep in touch. Good luck with your job and your decision making. Sue.

Storms blow over. Stroke survivors get better. Not fully recovered, but better, something we can cope with. We just have to live through the time. Sue.

Hospital dieticians are sometimes a good source of information on this subject. Osteoporosis is a result of sudden weight loss so a real concern for people like your husband and my Ray who lost his appetite for a while, reasons unknown. I've tried a soft diet with Ray, casseroles, soups with bread or croutons added, all fairly mild. A friend whos husband had cancer tried having a few of his favourite dishes pre-prepared and in the freezer waiting in case he fancied something. Her DIL berated her for feeding him pizza but it was what he requested. Good luck with this new phase, we are all thinking of you. Sue.

I'll put in my 2 cents worth. I'm a pro-God person and when I say I'll pray for you I do mean I'll send you my positive thought for your healing, I wish you all the good things in life etc. Keep positive about life and it makes all the difference. My faith in a higher power who I refer to as God certainly keeps me centered. Like it does your grandmother. Don't sweat the small things. Sue.

Hi Virginie

I am no expert on this but from reading your posts it seems there are some stroke issues and some age issues here. My Mum has Alzheimers and early on had aggression, neglect of health issues ( refusing to shower) and sudden bursts of anger. She had not had a stroke, these were simply age issues aggravated by the Alzheimers. We are here to help in any way we can long distance. We all have our own issues and buttons that can get accidently pushed (try me on keeping a house tidy! Grr) so be patient with us as well as with him. And keep coming back. Sue.