Carer Fatigue

Olwyn was telling me that they had discussed Carer Fatigue at Lymphoma Support Group. When the patient is sad, the carer is sad, when the patient is frustrated, the carer is frustrated, and so on. Its a real roller coaster for both people, although only one is unwell. And when times get tough sometimes the carer feels taken advantage of and angry that their life has been turned upside down.
Fortunately, Duncan has only spat the dummy a couple of times - usually when he is dealing with his own issues - such as selling the business. But lets face it my ill health has certainly upset our retirement plans. Lets hope not for too much longer.

Main Support  Staff.

I posted some pictures of our first plant on facebook and while the intention was to praise Dave and Sandie, I got quite a few texts and emails saying, so nice your friends could help out and you could relax. Relax!! I worked the same hours as them - maybe a bit slower. After Dave and Sandie had gone home we still had to set up for the next day's plant. Luckily I get to drive the car while Duncan lays out the poles and plants and hay. However I feel I do my bit even if it requires a little bit of ingenuity, which is why I am using a curlytail standard and my pegbag when we were doing the marking out so I didn't have to bend down all the time.

I have been reading a book called The Cage by Lloyd Jones. It is not a pretty book to read, but shows what happens when a challenge arises. This is personified by two men who have run away after a disaster they cannot remember. A committee is formed to deal with this situation while the two men are caged.  They just make ineffectual resolutions regarding the two men, eventually they all lose interest and the one remaining man (the other dies through ill health - but nobody notices) is finally released. Most people have lost interest in my illnesses by now. I try not to mention them but it is hard not to when they have occupied nearly two years of my life. People who are well often think it is my fault and suggest things I should eat or exercise I should do or pills I should take. If only it was that simple!!

Bush Grandies visit

The best thing about grandchildren is that they arrive at your place at 11pm, instantly know you and treat you like old friends.  Its been great to have Theo and Claudia here over Easter and lovely to catch up with Simon and Jackie in a more relaxed fashion. Friday was a very relaxed day. By the time the kids had feed the chooks and got the egg (one is not laying), picked the mushrooms and the raspberries, stolen a very little very fine Leaderbrand lettuce, climbed a tree or two, drawn out a track for the bikes on the concrete, checked the traps for mice, chased away the neighbours chooks, checked over the remnants of suitcases of toys from Simon and Jill's days, we only had to slot in one or two activities to occupy the day.

Parking up by the raspberries which are having an Autumn flush

The crash helmet was from the bike-riding not specifically for the tree climbing, but probably a good idea anyway.

See I'm up well over 2m

On Friday we took them down to a new bikes road course for kids

ON Saturday, after purchasing a few supplies from the Farmers Market  it was off to Tolaga Bay. It was a great beach day and after some paddling and swimming and a picnic lunch Jackie and Simon did the walk out to the end of the wharf while we played in the sand.

In front of the wharf entrance

Ready to catch any good bits that fall.

That night Jackie and Simon went out to dinner and the kids were on their best behaviour when going to bed.

Next morning was the Easter egg hunt.

Jackie has some plastic eggs - a bit like the old L'eggs pantihose packaging with a small Easter egg and a toy inside (stickers, clips for Claudia, Bubbles etc)

Theo finds the first one

Claudia soon got the hang of it.

Soon TWO containers for each were filled!

The Chooks even laid these special eggs! We didn't want to put just an Easter Egg in there in case the they pecked at it and got a taste for Chocolate.

Theo soon got the hang of blowing the bubbles gently.

Theo then proceeded to play some games akin to "Find the Lady" involving 3 cups and an Easter egg and shared his around until all the adults had an Easter Egg too.

So much fun, but then it was back to work and we went to Kaiti Beach to gather seaweed to make seaweed tea for the Macadamias.

After lunch Simon and Theo put up Jill and Rua's tent to have a sleepout. And as luck would have it, it was the coldest night that we have had in a while. Jackie preferred the bed inside!

They bunked down on the queen blow up bed.

Next morning, Monday, the request was for more bike track. They went to the beachside one first and then to the one at Mangapapa School

You can see a tipping see-saw in the background, which Theo could do but my pictures of this were blurry.

Simon sitting under the sycamore tree with the little helicopter seed capsules which "was there in my day"

We couldn't find anywhere for lunch so bought some stuff and had it at home. Then it was off to the beach again - this time to Midway.

Grandad plays bury the feet

Theo finds them

Jackie tests the water

Simon instructs  on  boogie boarding

Theo starts to get his own waves

Meanwhile Claudia loves to dance on the sands.

But before too long it was time to pack up, and next morning to send them on their way. A great holiday with them - I was a little bit over-tired but have bounced back in time for marking out in the orchard for the positioning of the trees.