A very Happy Christmas to one and all

RE: A very Happy Christmas to one and all

Bob Russell — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 15:46:15 GMT

Hope Christmas went well for you all!

I am sure the move to residential care will give you more opportunity to be parents and less, carers!

Good luck!

RE: A very Happy Christmas to one and all

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 17:06:11 GMT

[quote userid="3169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30521/a-very-happy-christmas-to-one-and-all/240309#240309"]That sounds like it's really for the best for both you and her.[/quote]

I sure hope so. She thrives on company, and she should have more of that in a care setting. I suppose the big worry is whether staff will give her the love that we do, when we are not around!

[quote userid="3169" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30521/a-very-happy-christmas-to-one-and-all/240309#240309"]enjoy your first free pint.[/quote]

Michael Woodhouse Thank you, I will. In fact I'll probably take to it with such gusto that I'll end up in A&E.

Clare Tapsfield-Wright Well, I think we've only done what anyone, including you, would do! Part of me thinks we should keep her home till we peg it, but then I think that it would be a mistake to wait until she has to be moved in an emergency (because one or both of us has a stroke / cancer // a coronary). Far better to get her established somewhere now. Plus she needs a level of care that is difficult for two people to provide.

[quote userid="9239" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30521/a-very-happy-christmas-to-one-and-all/240317#240317"]I guess every time we complain about our lives we should keep in mind that others have it a lot more difficult and still manage. [/quote]

Dinu Catilina Well, I think I have told the story before, but I always remind my other daughter that something is not worth moaning about unless it is worse than finding your daughter in bed covered in shit, head to toe, then steering her in her semi-conscious state to the shower, only to find the heating has packed up and the water is ice cold. Then, having driven like an escaping terrorist to the local plumber's merchant to buy a heating pump, and plumbed it in, realising you haven't screwed it in properly, and the resultant leak creates a scene straight off the set of Titanic.

Only then can you complain that you haven't had your third holiday this year!!!

[quote userid="2122" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30521/a-very-happy-christmas-to-one-and-all/240318#240318"]I fervently hope that the inured "guilt" and restraint tat you've had ingrained for those decades evaporates with grace and allows you, truly, to savour the freedom, the breezes, the height of the sky, the call of the birds, the green trees and spring flowers, as well as that solitary pint in the pub - without the pangs of separation or the need to twiddle thumbs to fill in all that now-free time. Best Christmas present ever I suspect - and I expect we will all rejoice with you Arlo.[/quote]

What a lovely thing to say, George Cooper, thank you. We have friends not so far from you, so with our new found freedom, I hope we might come and see you for a pot of tea at some time next year.

Thanks again everyone. Actually, my daughter has been relatively well all Christmas, which is perhaps the first time that has happened in what, five years. So it's been a really jolly time. I hope the same for all of you too.

RE: A very Happy Christmas to one and all

Silvia Maldonado — Sun, 25 Dec 2022 00:06:21 GMT

You've always been there for your family, your daughter has been very lucky having you as a father. Wishing you all the best, with a bit of humour...

RE: A very Happy Christmas to one and all

George Cooper — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 11:48:30 GMT

[quote userid="2490" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30521/a-very-happy-christmas-to-one-and-all/240314#240314"]I think that you are amazing parents and you’ve given your all for her for so many years . I am so glad that you have the chance and the freedom now to live your lives now and though I can understand how you must be feeling you are still there for her, loving her and looking out for her best interests. Time to enjoy those freedoms that other people take for granted. I wish you and your wife all the best . [/quote]

I can think of no better expression of love and support to you, your missus, and Daughter Number two than to echo, with bells on, the post from Clare. Your total devotion to the care and the cause for 19 years has been humbling for us on-lookers ad supporters, as well as completely inspirational, tempered only by periodic explosions instigated by, and direct ted at, "Authority" and Jobsworths you've encountered along the way.

I fervently hope that the inured "guilt" and restraint tat you've had ingrained for those decades evaporates with grace and allows you, truly, to savour the freedom, the breezes, the height of the sky, the call of the birds, the green trees and spring flowers, as well as that solitary pint in the pub - without the pangs of separation or the need to twiddle thumbs to fill in all that now-free time. Best Christmas present ever I suspect - and I expect we will all rejoice with you Arlo.

RE: A very Happy Christmas to one and all

Dinu Catilina — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 11:32:22 GMT

Merry Christmas to all and all the best Arlo. I guess every time we complain about our lives we should keep in mind that others have it a lot more difficult and still manage.

RE: A very Happy Christmas to one and all

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 23:33:44 GMT

I think that you are amazing parents and you’ve given your all for her for so many years . I am so glad that you have the chance and the freedom now to live your lives now and though I can understand how you must be feeling you are still there for her, loving her and looking out for her best interests. Time to enjoy those freedoms that other people take for granted. I wish you and your wife all the best .

RE: A very Happy Christmas to one and all

Alistair Graham-Evans — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 22:21:21 GMT

Happy Christmas everyone.

Hope all on call have some nice clients to see so the day stays cheerful!

RE: A very Happy Christmas to one and all

bob lehner — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 16:47:21 GMT

Yes - I hope that you will be able to enjoy some well earned quality time!

RE: A very Happy Christmas to one and all

Jill Butterworth — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 16:09:36 GMT

Happy Christmas and best wishes to you and your family

RE: A very Happy Christmas to one and all

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 15:15:19 GMT

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30521/a-very-happy-christmas-to-one-and-all"]Just to wish you all a VERY Happy Christmas and New Year. [/quote]

Happy Christmas to you, too.

[quote userid="2100" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-practice-discussions/30521/a-very-happy-christmas-to-one-and-all"]my daughter will be going into residential care early in the New Year[/quote]

That sounds like it's really for the best for both you and her. They are professionals and you deserve some quality of life back, enjoy your first free pint.

RE: A very Happy Christmas to one and all

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 12:35:23 GMT

PS for a heart-warming story this Christmas, how about this?