Jacky And Daisy

[zolasmum]

Hello Natrah - I don't think there are many seals close to my usual bit of sea, but I see lots of birds. My favourites are oyster-catchers and also little egrets (which sometimes come to the canal where it flows into the sea.
I expect you are still a bit tired after your adventures in London - my mum lived in London for many years, and she loved your photos, though she wouldn't want to live there now.
Lots of love from Zola - and Angie xxxx

 

[zolasmum]

Hello Natrah - today is a strange anniversary for Richard and myself, after what happened 43 years ago. - I didn't know him very well then-he was singing in pubs and wine bars, and liiving in a fairly ramshackle flat with several other young men - but I asked him to come to the school where I taught ,to play his guitar and sing to the children -they loved it, and he had been a couple more times since then . Anyway, I was in a staff meeting before school, when there was a phone call to the school asking if I worked there. So I went to answer - and it was a hospital, saying that Richard had a bad head injury, and that he wanted to see me !!!
The headmistress and staff told me to go there quickly, and they said they would look after my class all day.
So I went, and found Richard with a huge dressing on his head, and looking terrible, in a ward. He had been attacked by a group of young thugs, as he was walking on Hampstead Heath, and very badly beaten up.Luckily he was found by a friend, who called the police - his family were in Canada, and so the hospital asked if there was anyone in London who ought to know - so he suggested me. The nurse told him I was coming, but he was very dazed and in pain - the only thing he remembered was turning his pillow over so I wouldn't see the blood !
He was in hospital for quite a long time, and had some epileptic fits -in one of which he dislocated his shoulder - however, I said that when he came out, he should stay with me, as I had recently moved into a small flat which had central heating, tv, and a phone , so he could even phone his mum in Canada. I had told her what had happened, and explained I had some nursing experience, and would look after him -which I did.
Anyway, that was how it started, and Richard and I have been together pretty much ever since. Now it seems he does most of the looking after, because of me being wobbly ! He is very fit now, but still has a nasty scar on the top of his head.
Love from Zola and me to you, Jacky, and Angel Daisy, and all our friends xxxxxxx

 

[MaNaAk]

Dear Angie,

That is a strange anniversary! It brought you two together but what a horrible thing to happen. Did anyone ever get caught for that attack? The school must have been horrified but I'm glad Richard made a full recovery.

How is your wobbliness now? I myself am okay especially as the neighbours who the police wanted to talk to some time ago are moving out. I decided to phone the landlords on Saturday morning because they had been noisy and left the porch door and staircase door open. I had been woken up at 3.25 am and I couldn't get back to sleep but anyway it would be lovely to see them go. The landlord said that you can't live like that but anyway it won't be long before they go.

Did Zola see the sea? I heard goldfinches in the tree behind the flat! My phone brought up some news about those poor Aldabras and it seems they were found in Ashclyst Forest. We went there a couple of times when we were on holiday in Honiton years ago and it was a haven for butterflies. I don't what sort of person would do that to those poor tortoises and I don't know what sort of people would attack Richard.

Goodnight

Natrah, Sleeping Beauty and Angel Daisy

PS: I hope Sue's okay.

 

[MoggyMad]

Hello Natrah
im back catching up with news. All went well. Thankyou for yours & @zolasmum good wishes.
Glad the seal pup got back to the sea, they are so vulnerable. My stomach lurched a bit when the report said it got on the train track!
Well @zolasmum what an amazing & also horrifying story. Poor Richard. Sometimes things happen good & bad that dramatically change the lives of the people concerned. You answered the call due to your kindheartedness. Wow! And for Richard it is terrible that he was attacked in that way. I hope he doesn’t have any ongoing issues with his head/fits. I wish you could have got together without the awful events happening but …. I hope you had a very happy anniversary with your little darling Zola
Natrah sorry to hear about your noisy neighbour. I hope the next tenant(s) is more considerate.
No other news so I’ll sign off bye for now

 

[zolasmum]

Hello Natrah - Zola actually didn't see the sea today - it was very misty, and his dad discovered that one of our car headlamps had gone, which was not good for driving, so we went to Bude to get a new bulb fitted by Zola's friend Martin, and gave the sea a miss. However, he got a lot of fuss made of him by Martin, and also by the other ladies at my balance class ! I was a bit better at the class today, but I have a lot of pills for various reasons, as well as the head injections, so it isn't surprising really that I'm wobbly. And I have always been rather clumsy too, which doesn't help.
I'm so glad your neighbours are going, and I do hope the new ones are better.
We have a thrush in our garden who sings very loudly - Zola can hear him very clearly in his conservatory, but you can also hear him at the front of the house. We are hoping he will find a mate soon - thrushes are so lovely.
We get a lot of goldfinches in our garden, because we put out nyger seed in special feeders for them. We have had a dozen or more all at once in previous years. They are so pretty !
About Richard - the thugs who attacked him used table legs to bash his head in - these days they would all have knives, I expect, which would be a lot worse ! The police had an idea who they were, but no proof. He got a payment from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board - not much, but it was a help.
Lotve to you from Zola and me, and love to Jacky, Angel Daisy, and everyone xxxxxx

 

[zolasmum]

Dear Sue - I'm so glad you are all right -I am impressed that you are out of hospital so soon - I had appendicitis when I was 4, and I'm sure I was in for some time - I expect the method now is much more sophisticated. !
Richard doesn't have any permanent injuries - cerainly not in his brain - he is very knowledgable about all sorts of things, and can do word puzzles in no time,for instance ! He has a really good memory, though not for the attack - he has a little dent in his skull which sometimes seeps a bit, even now, but doesn't hurt.
Angie

 

[MaNaAk]

Good evening everyone!

Sue I'm glad you're out of hospital but how do you feel now? Are you on a special diet and is there a follow up appointment? I hope you're resting now and I expect Pete is looking after you. George you should also be looking after your mum.

Angie that attack sounds horrific although it brought you two together. Yes nowadays they tend to use knives but on Wednesday someone used Alkaline. I wonder if someone is helping that evil man because I don't see how he can do much with those injuries. Does Richard still sing and play his guitar? It was when Daisy was unable to hibernate in winter 2021 that I noticed her listening intensely to my Piano playing. Jacky also listens and both of them like classical music.

Goodnight everyone

Natrah, Sleeping Beauty and Angel Daisy

 

[MoggyMad]

Dear Sue - I'm so glad you are all right -I am impressed that you are out of hospital so soon - I had appendicitis when I was 4, and I'm sure I was in for some time - I expect the method now is much more sophisticated. !
Richard doesn't have any permanent injuries - cerainly not in his brain - he is very knowledgable about all sorts of things, and can do word puzzles in no time,for instance ! He has a really good memory, though not for the attack - he has a little dent in his skull which sometimes seeps a bit, even now, but doesn't hurt.
Angie

That’s good to know. So awful that it happened though.
The op was done by keyhole surgery & you usually only need to stay overnight nowadays which was good by me! I like my own bed & a quiet environment although I could do with a contour bed right now like the ones in the hospital. Its getting in & especially out thats difficult & painful, the same with the settee. We are needing to replace the settee & chair anyway so I’ll be looking for one that helps like that for the future

 

[MoggyMad]

Good evening everyone!

Sue I'm glad you're out of hospital but how do you feel now? Are you on a special diet and is there a follow up appointment? I hope you're resting now and I expect Pete is looking after you. George you should also be looking after your mum.

Angie that attack sounds horrific although it brought you two together. Yes nowadays they tend to use knives but on Wednesday someone used Alkaline. I wonder if someone is helping that evil man because I don't see how he can do much with those injuries. Does Richard still sing and play his guitar? It was when Daisy was unable to hibernate in winter 2021 that I noticed her listening intensely to my Piano playing. Jacky also listens and both of them like classical music.

Goodnight everyone

Natrah, Sleeping Beauty and Angel Daisy

I’m sore but it’s to be expected. No special diet mentioned just to be careful for next 2/3 weeks.
I have some antibiotics & strong pain relief if I want it but I’m sticking to paracetamol as co-codamol can cause constipation, not something I want after abdominal surgery! Stitches will dissolve & no need to go for a checkup unless I have concerns, then it will be to the GP.
Keyhole surgery is good & works well for people who are otherwise fit enough to look after themselves but with older people I still think you need to be looked after. There are things you cannot do & will find difficult.
Pete is doing a bit extra but he also has to go to work. I have only put the washing on & washed up today. You know when to rest. George has been his usual persistent self wanting food every time I go in the kitchen. Then wanting to go out! It’s all bending which is a pain but it will get better.
A lovely surprise today, the lady I still clean for weekly made us a fish pie for our dinner & they popped over with it which was a lovely thing to do. It tasted amazing. She is known for her cookery skills. She used to be a head mistress at a primary school, Guilsborough I think. That was many years ago as she is 88 now. They also were learning to play some musical instruments until their own poor health put a stop to it. Such lovely people to know

 

[AmandaF]

Good morning my lovely friends

sorry we haven’t posted in a while. How are you all?
I hope you get better soon sue.
I will post some new pictures soon.

When Ernie came to live with me she was 109g she now weighs 2210g and is doing well.
I enjoyed all of your ppictures.
love Amanda & Ernie

 

[zolasmum]

I’m sore but it’s to be expected. No special diet mentioned just to be careful for next 2/3 weeks.
I have some antibiotics & strong pain relief if I want it but I’m sticking to paracetamol as co-codamol can cause constipation, not something I want after abdominal surgery! Stitches will dissolve & no need to go for a checkup unless I have concerns, then it will be to the GP.
Keyhole surgery is good & works well for people who are otherwise fit enough to look after themselves but with older people I still think you need to be looked after. There are things you cannot do & will find difficult.
Pete is doing a bit extra but he also has to go to work. I have only put the washing on & washed up today. You know when to rest. George has been his usual persistent self wanting food every time I go in the kitchen. Then wanting to go out! It’s all bending which is a pain but it will get better.
A lovely surprise today, the lady I still clean for weekly made us a fish pie for our dinner & they popped over with it which was a lovely thing to do. It tasted amazing. She is known for her cookery skills. She used to be a head mistress at a primary school, Guilsborough I think. That was many years ago as she is 88 now. They also were learning to play some musical instruments until their own poor health put a stop to it. Such lovely people to know

The lady who made you a fish pie might have known my father, as he was a teacher in a couple of primary schools in the area - William Thorne- rather short, slight Welsh accent.
My appendix scar is several inches long, andquite wide, because I have grown a lot since I was 4.
So glad it all went well.
Angie x

 

[MaNaAk]

Good evening everyone!

I did something very silly today. Unfortunately my poor friend wasn't able to meet up for her birthday due to twisting her knee so because we were unable to meet I went shopping on my own. I had a lovely lunch at Tomassi's and then after visiting Boots and M&S I went to a cashpoint to draw out some money. However I retrieved my card and the receipt but I forgot the money. When I realised what I'd done I raced back to cashpoint but there was no money so I raced back home and phoned the bank. They are applying to reinstate the money but I did feel pretty awful. However I am starting to feel after having spoken to my friends.

I was going to replace Jacky's ProT5 bulb but that will have to be done another time.

Goodnight everyone

Natrah, Sleeping Beauty and Angel Daisy

 

[MoggyMad]

The lady who made you a fish pie might have known my father, as he was a teacher in a couple of primary schools in the area - William Thorne- rather short, slight Welsh accent.
My appendix scar is several inches long, andquite wide, because I have grown a lot since I was 4.
So glad it all went well.
Angie x

I’ll ask her when I next see her. Thanks Angie

 

[MoggyMad]

Good evening everyone!

I did something very silly today. Unfortunately my poor friend wasn't able to meet up for her birthday due to twisting her knee so because we were unable to meet I went shopping on my own. I had a lovely lunch at Tomassi's and then after visiting Boots and M&S I went to a cashpoint to draw out some money. However I retrieved my card and the receipt but I forgot the money. When I realised what I'd done I raced back to cashpoint but there was no money so I raced back home and phoned the bank. They are applying to reinstate the money but I did feel pretty awful. However I am starting to feel after having spoken to my friends.

I was going to replace Jacky's ProT5 bulb but that will have to be done another time.

Goodnight everyone

Natrah, Sleeping Beauty and Angel Daisy

Oh no It is so easily done, I dont like using cash machines. Hope the bank are true to their word & refund the money.

 

[zolasmum]

You have a lot of things on your mind, and it's easy to get flustered. How sensible of you to phone the bank
at once - I do hope they will refund it .
Zola had quite a good day today, but only a brief look at the sea because it was very cold.
Richard doesn't sing or play his guitar in public now - he found it very hard to go back after the attack - and also the music scene was changing, so places were not so interested in employing him any more. He did come to my school quite a bit, though, - for free, of course, and we would bring all the children into the main hall - every single one of them was entranced each time.
Richard has become very interested in photography, and spends a lot of time working on his computer to improve his photos, etc - he also has various musical devices to create music of different kinds - he is really clever at that.
I hope your bank will sort your money out quickly.
Goodnight from Zola and Angie xxxxx

 

[MaNaAk]

Good evening everyone!

It's good to see Marsha, Amanda and Ernie on here. How are you all and how are you your friend doing Marsha? I've had a quiet day and I guess I won't hear from the bank for a day or two.

I wasn't going to have lunch out but I decided that like Zola I needed some see air so I went to the Cliffs Pavilion as usual. I had Beef Brisket Jacket Potato and Creme Brulee Cheesecake before I went to cashpoint to check my balance and top-up my electricity meter (I was supposed to withdraw money) for this yesterday.

The sea was out at lunchtime but it started to come in later. I also noticed for the first time a Wren singing in the tree where the goldfinches were .

Goodnight everyone

Natrah

 

[zolasmum]

Dear Natrah - we went out this morning so Zola could see the sea as usual, but it was quite misty, and also damp and cold. One nice thing was that the thrush in our garden bravely came to the ground bird feeding tray for the first time, and also the back garden robin came 3 times to Richard and stood on his hand to eat some mealworms. It's so lovely to feel those tiny feet gripping your fingers.
You certainly have some nice things to eat in Southend ! Richard does all of our cooking now - he would worry about me falling with a hot pan or something like that - he does all the food shopping too - he likes his food ! But I wash up !
Goodnight - sleep well - love to you, Jacky and Angel Daisy, and to everyone
from Angie and Zola xxxxxxx

 

[MaNaAk]

Good evening everyone!

I've had a text from the bank saying that the money has been put back into my account whilst they investigate it. They will let me in fifteen working days what they find but meanwhile I saw a dozen Magpies in the tree behind the flat!

Goodnight everyone

Natrah, Sleeping Beauty and Angel Daisy

 

[zolasmum]

Hello Natrah - My mum and dad found that the tumble dryer and the washing machine both seemed to have broken down - they were both really old machines, so we went to look at new ones, and decided to get some. It's quite a lot of money, but better than having them repaired and then breaking down again very soon. I went into the shop with them, and had a little chat with the manager, who I've met before. I also saw the sea, but it's very windy today.
My mum is very glad you have got your money from the bank.
My dad fed the robin on his hand 4 times today. Somewhere we have some photos of baby robins feeding on his hand, because they saw their parent doing it - that is so lovely!
Goodnight and love from Zola and Angie to all. xxxxxxxxx

 

[zolasmum]

Hello Natrah - it's extremely windy this evening, with branches and possibly slates being blown about and bashing the windows. My dad spent a long time today getting our utility room cleaned up properly, for the new washing machine and dryer. He had several bags of stuff to take to the tip, so my mum and I went with him too, and as we approached the gates, a man was locking them ! He ignored us, and we had to take the stuff home again - my dad was rather cross ! We should know early tomorrow when the washer is coming, anyway.
I was a bit cross myself, and didn't want to stay with my mum by the fire like I usually do -she says it's because of the wind - when she was teaching in a special school, it was very much more difficult to get the children to settle when it was windy, even though they were indoors, of course.
I hoe you've had a good day.
Lots of love to you,Jacky and Angel Daisy, and to all my friends
from Zola and his mum xxxxxxxxxx