Chatterbox

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

That's a thoughtful gift.
My niece has a "scolarship" in Copenhagen - law, she's worked bloomin' hard for a place. She left last week and is being missed terribly by the family.

The chair sounds great. As does your new library.
I bought an old chair last year - wing back. Manky covering tho, I bought it on the internet and the chap advertised it as ready to go into any room.
Ooooooph, it was a mess - but no worries my end, I already had bought new material for it.
And reupholstered it in pink fleurs de lys.

[smitch Profile]

Medicine is one of the most competitive degrees to get into. Until recently, I worked alongside the medicine admissions team in a large Russell Group university. There are approximately 10 applications for every place and a long, complex admissions process. I wish Joan’s GD the best of luck. Does she have a back up option for her 5th choice on the UCAS form?

[Renee Profile]

What a very thoughtful gift for your GD Joan! Good luck to her applying to get into a medical school. The chair for M was a great find and your library sounds very organised!

Gill, your chair will be lovely when it's finished and you must have a great talent to be able to tackle something like that.

[Linnet Profile]

No 2 of the French grandsons is just starting medical school in Toulouse, and elder of my only 2 gd's ( out of 9 gc's!) has decided to take a year out before medical school here, and will work as a care assistant for a year in the same hosp where her mother is a doctor, to gain some experience 'from the other side'. The eldest four have either graduated already, or are in final year - I am a very proud Grandma, and wish Grandpa had been alive to celebrate too.

[Joanbunting Profile]

Thanks everyone for the kind wishes for GD.

This girl knows what she is doing. Her dad is a very high ranking officer in the RAMC and she has been doing work experience and many aspects of medicine for a couple of years. she is looking to become a naval surgeon and has turned down the prospect of Oxbridge because she doesn;t want to spend 3 years never meeting a human patient. she loves, and is very good at being with people.

She is actually the oldest student in her year at (boarding) school and is head girl. She has been at schools before this one in 4 different countries so nothing really phases her. The really funny thing is that her two passions are the combined cadets and ballet. So off she goes each term with her army boots in one hand and her point shoes in the other. That's our Tabitha

[Renee Profile]

That's wonderful Joan and what a lovely girl! She'll do well, I have no doubt of that.

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

It's a strong upbringing in the RAF.
I should know, I was brought up on RAF camps. Good luck to Tabitha, all the very best.

Linnet, sorry to hear your OH isn't around too. Sad, but nevertheless, a fine legacy.

[Joanbunting Profile]

Linnet being a proud Granny is one of the best things in the world isn't it? It's a huse shame grandpa isn't around too. M is Tabitha's only grandad.

The military life is indeed spolid trianing in resiliance. It was M's father who was in the RAF. S-I-L is in the army medical corps, as was my father. He is a doctor but not a medical one, if you get me. He specialises in logistics eg Field hospitals etc. Both GCs were proudly in the audience when their dad took the salute one night at the Royal Edinburgh Tatoo. Great fun for GS because he plays the bagpipes and got to meet some of the pipers.

[dennispc Profile]

It's been a while

since I posted. OH has had a torrid time since March, culminating in major surgery (six hours) in early August, followed by nearly three weeks in hospital recovering. Been out for nearly two weeks with District Nurses changing her dressing three times a week.

However, she's progressing nicely with food of her choice (mostly), obviously needs to rest a lot, and visitors pop in to give me a break. Cooking and shopping is easy for me, other household stuff is within my competence but some (ironing) only to Level I! Family, neighbours and cleaners cover my inadequacies.

I've given her the role of Executive Chef to answer the constant question, “What do we want for tea?”

I popped in to have a read from time to time and as the Roller Coaster seems to be slowing down maybe I'll be able to post again, there were a few cooking challenges on the way. Getting taste into anything when on a low residue diet (no fruit or veg) tested me a bit.

In this part of the UK we have a wonderful health service.

aka dennispc

[Stokey Sue Profile]

Hi Dennis
I was wondering what had happened to you

So sorry to hear that your OH has had a bad time, but good that it sounds as if her operation has been a success, I hope she makes a full recovery and it sounds as if you are looking after her very well

I'd find a low residue diet something of a challenge, both as chef and diner I think!


Don't forget to take care of yourself, and hope to hear more from you soon.

[Lusciouslush Profile]

Dennis, I have been wondering where you were. Really sorry to hear the news of Mrs Dennis massive hugs coming over to you both. What a worrying time - but very good to hear you have a strong support network around you both.

I'm pretty sure you're spoiling her rotten with whatever she wants to eat, you must be so relieved she is now progressing & on the mend, really good news, - don't forget you need to look after yourself too with lots of TLC - stress has a habit of coming up & biting you when you take a deep breath & start to relax.


Take good care both!

[Pampy Profile]

I'd like to echo Lush and Sue's comments
Very best wishes to you both and as has already been said, don't forget to take care of yourself.

[Renee Profile]

Hi Dennis! I'm so sorry to hear this news, but I'm glad that Mrs D is well on the road to recovery. She will be glad to be home now. You seem to be coping really well, but Lush's advice is really good. Stress often hits you when the worst is over, so look after yourself as well and we're always here for you as you know.

Hugs to you both.

[jeral Profile]

I was wondering where you'd got to Petronius especially when painting and artisan breads come up periodically. I'm so sorry to hear you've had good (bad) reason to be absent and really do hope things start to look up very soon.

Food that's invitingly tasty and different every day is a challenge in more ways than one. I could say what I fall back on as an "always like that" but I'm sure there's a wealth of ideas on here that'd be forthcoming.

[Joanbunting Profile]

Oh dear Dennis - we missed you but so sorry to hear the reason.

Your lady is a very lucky one, as she deserves to be. Well done you for holding the fort so brilliantly.

i do hope she is well on the way to recoverery and please give her my very best wishes for continued good progress.

[dennispc Profile]

Such lovely messages, thank you all so much. Plan a fuller post some time tomorrow.

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

Dennis!
You must be going through a very relieved phase. I'm so pleased your OH is recovering - that's probably a lot down to you too and the care she's getting at home.
Makes a world of difference.

I was wondering if your daughter was doing the great swims in the lakes that seem to have been and gone.
Tony's is this weekend, but I don't think she does the Dark 10K.

No fruit and veg, must mean protein does it? Eggs, cottage cheese, salmon. Something like that. Nuts.
Without getting personal,
why would someone not need to eat fruit and veg? What's the reason for that diet?

[strictlysalsaclare Profile]

Hi Gill

A reason for no fruit and veg might possibly be following a bowel or digestive system operation. Mr Strictly has to be a bit careful regarding veg, brassicas are a no-no for him on a regular basis. I therefore get to enjoy them as a treat when I am at work, such as today as Cauliflower Gratin is the lunchtime veggie option!

[dennispc Profile]

Thank you Gill. Being home certainly aids recovery.

Swim - huge disappointment. The team of six have spent a week just by Dover hoping for a window weather to swim the channel as a relay - no wet suits. There's been no channel swim since September 2nd because of the weather, so a lot of swimmers affected.

Huge question Gill, as Mr Strictly knows, cruciferous veggies can be cruel to some guts and apparently to some thyroids. Who knew? I did put something together for the thread talking about colonoscopies - fibre is not a friend to everyone. I'll post it sometime.

At some point I'll PM you.

That's my post for the day, shopping and nurses this morning, usually means that's me for the day, may cheat with a ready meal tonight. I shall walk to town with a renewed spring in my step. Thank you all.

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

On m way over, Strictness. I love gratin.

And thanks for the explanations.
It makes sense when you put it like that.

Sorry about Dover tho. Tony' s been following things there, keeping an eye on current events.