The 'services' of Northampton

Tuesday I went to see a care home for Jermaine in Kettering chosen by social services. The owner didn’t turn up so had to be called and the social worker was late which left me wondering whether I was in the right place or not!

I didn’t like the place, considered it totally unsuitable for Jermaine and told them so. Even if it had been any good there was the issue of insulin to deal with.

From there I went to Wren Spinney school to meet Vanessa from the Bedford home so she could meet Jermaine. We discussed several things and I said my main concern was, even if they could get a doctor to sign competency to a member of staff, how long would that last? Would that doctor readily sign off a new staff member, how robust was that system, she didn’t know. I got a call from her today to say that she had not been able to make it work which left us with the Chalfont Centre as our only option.

Last night I visited Robin and had a lovely chicken casserole. Not long after arriving I got a call that Sinead was throwing threats around at home and had to leave. I first told the kids to call the police.

It took around 25 minutes to get home and Sinead had left by then. The police never turned up, they just called after 15 minutes, found out Sinead had left and decided they didn’t need to call. I wrote and complained and this evening they called round. They are going to go have a word with her and see what she says, I have heard that somewhere before.

Had some guys round earlier to give a quote on fitting a digital compatible aerial and they don’t think we can get a good signal here and, if they can get it working it is going to cost around £3-400 which, considering we are only talking about TV here, is a lot of money.

Ally from Northants 96 called round earlier so I shall be on air again tomorrow moaning about social services, best to keep up the pressure and hopefully something is done and I don’t have to go national.

Visited the doc about my news, well, the emergency nurse to be more specific and she tells me I have to see the GP as there is nothing she can do. She said I should also have received an injection for my shoulder which, I am told by her as a fellow sufferer, is a pain that will live with me for the rest of my natural and no pain killers touch it, I will have to get used to lack of sleep and agony especially in the mornings.

On that happy note, I sign off thinking what a fun time I am going to have tomorrow at the meeting with social services.

One more week of work

Great weekend of doing virtually nothing at Gary & Toms. Could have done without the Sinead hassle but that’s my job so I am not complaining.

On Sunday I left around 10:00 and headed over to see Steve (squirrel from Kagoul) near Felixstowe and had a lovely gossip. Poor guy, he’s stuck between his new found feelings for his fella and the loss he feels for his uncle who died recently.

Following on from that I went to see John in Woodbridge, or, just outside. SatNav seems to think the road doesn’t exist which was rather annoying! I am looking forward to going to stay with John in a few weeks, should be fun.

Soon after I got back to Northampton I visited a guy called Jason I had been chatting to for a while on MSN. He’s really nice and, again, I shall look forward to going back.

On Monday morning Johnson, one of the carers, left Jermaine’s insulin out of his school bag which meant a call from Wren Spinney school insisting I got it to them else they’d send him home. Somewhat pissed off I just called up the agency and got Johnson to come collect it and take it there himself!

I bought some internal aerial’s hoping we would get a good signal but no such luck. One is reasonably OK in Jermaine’s room so at least that shuts the carers up.

Today I have been so tired it is unreal. This has not stopped me still having to do the normal rounds of phone calls and letter writing which is getting tiresome in the extreme.

Daisy Problems

Got to Gary & Toms around 3:40 to a short snow flurry, really cold!

Spoke to Daisy on MSN and she seemed stressed out, going on about Matt getting at her, making her do things that she shouldn’t have to do and he wasn’t even home yet.

I find out this morning that this girl Sinead has been causing DJ all sorts of problems. Apparently she was phoning our number at home a lot last night being threatening to Daisy, she had openly threatened Daisy at school a few times.

Now Daisy wants to swap schools, clearly the anti-bullying policy at Duston is not working.

Not sure what to do now to be honest, all a bit of a mess as these things tend to be. I guess it should really start with a chat to her (Sinead’s) parents but I am not overly optimistic about that. What is my greatest fear is that we end up back in the same situation as we were in the Eastern District, our only salvation may be that Sinead’s parents are supposed to be lesbians so maybe the homophobia won’t be an issue now.

The very last thing we need right now when we have so many changes going on is to be harassed by anyone outside the home.

Care Homes

Broadly on the subject of care homes this ...

 

Looked at one a few weeks ago in Bedford and what a lovely house, I think it will be ideal in many ways for Jermaine, I have another similar if less opulent place to look at in Kettering next week. Ideal in many ways but not all is the problem here. Both have the same problem, neither has medical needs facilities and Jermaine's medical needs are only likely to get more profound as he gets older. Effectively, neither place can offer long term care as they are reliant on the generosity of outside bodies to offer the full package that Jermaine needs and that could be withdrawn at any time, we have seen it enough already with Quarry House and Eleanor Lodge. What Jermaine needs is somewhere long term with all his care needs met.

 

On that note, yesterday I visited the Chalfont Centre in Bucks, Robin came along which was really essential under the circumstances because I was incredibly tired.

 

They do have everything that Jermaine needs, full medical provision, comfortable surroundings, a little too clinical for my liking but it can be changed to meet his needs. They have workshops and therapy units, both occupational therapy and physiotherapy on site as would be an epilepsy consultant. We need to wait for another month or so before they can offer him a place but it is looking promising just as long as I can force social services and health in Northampton to fund it which, as I understand it, will be something like £3000 a week, that's £150,000 each year, they are not going to like it.

Boy, This one is Late!

Firstly, the updates ...

 

My insurers have been sitting on their hands awaiting something from the dreaded 'AutoGlass' but nothing has been forthcoming except promises. In the meantime, I am still waiting for something to get moving regards to getting my car sorted.

 

I have told Social Services that I need to have the hours carers are here greatly increased, they seem less than enthusiastic. That is going to panel next Tuesday so expect me to be seething some time on Wednesday.

 

My MP, Sally Keeble, has yet to respond at all to letters written to her several weeks ago, no surprise there then.

 

One of Jermaine's big carers broke one of my chairs earlier and then told me I have to go buy a new one. I said I'd call his boss and get him to buy a new one!

 

The care home we want for Jermaine in Bedford is still having real trouble getting the go ahead to have someone approve the insulin injections, again, no surprise there.

 

On a more relaxed note, the weekend just gone went really well.

 

Yet again I entered the wrong information into the satnav which added an hour to my journey, boy was I knackered by the time I arrived at David & Greg's in Clapham!

 

Spent a short while watching Children in Need but then, the details of the reaction I got from that are in the previous thread!

 

Got up at a reasonable time and after breakfast with the guys I headed for the station and my onward trip to Waterloo and then the Tate Modern to meet the Kagoul guys.

 

Martyn and I played a short game of swapsy with our phone calls which made me go and start the giggles getting several people giving me strange looks. So, in for a penny, in for a pound, I followed a little kid down the stairs skipping all the way, he and I both had great fun.

 

Walked all the way to Tate Modern only to discover the guys were headed back for the London Eye that I had just walked from, oh well, keeps me fit I guess.

 

The London Eye was amazing, rather, the views were amazing, the Eye itself was rather ordinary as rides go. There are plenty of pictures to look at on http://www.dizzyqueen.net/kagoul

 

Followed this with a meal at Café Emm's which was OK, nothing spectacular in itself but the company made up for it.

 

Several of the guys went off to check into hotels whilst 6 of us went on to the Duke of Wellington for drinks and to reserve tables. The others joined us later and a fun time was had by nearly all.

 

Back to David & Greg's by midnight, slept in until gone 9am and then headed home around 11am, home here by 1:15 in the afternoon on a lovely crisp winter day (OK, technically autumn but if it looks like and smells like winter, it's winter whatever the season!)

Crying Game

I have been feeling a little exhausted the past few days. Still not miserable but just mentally tired.

Sometimes I get to feeling really lonely, I guess lots of single people do on the build up to Christmas. It dawned on me the other day that this year will be the first ever without another adult in the house. The kids are great, of course they are but, well, anyone that has been feeling like this will understand.

I have just been watching Children in Need on the BBC. There was this girl on there who looks after her older sister who has developmental problems and Epilepsy and they were saying what a great job she was doing and she was. But whilst I was watching it I was thinking about Matt and what he has to cope with and he gets no support at all, I just really expect him to get on with it and no one outside the family really seems too bothered. He is amazing really, I am so terribly proud of him. Anyway, I was crying my eyes out thinking about it wishing there was something I could do but, there isn't really much I can do.

Tomorrow I shall be going out to meet the guys from Kagoul, really looking forward to meeting up with Martyn again, he is the closest person I have there to a long term friend. Since Tony went I have felt terribly lonely going to events. As much as he had many annoying habits I do so miss him.

Staying with David & Greg right now but they are out so I have just been chillin' and crying and feel terribly homesick. Since Jermaine was given more outside care I have really been enjoying just being around the kids and suddenly I miss it.

About time it was not us

I should not enjoy this but I just can't help it. After years of coping on our own (me and Matt) with Jermaine we are now seeing it from the outside and he is an absolute sod, a nightmare on legs. Seeing two huge great people struggling to cope with him, totally at a loss ... and these are trained professionals, it makes me realise just how impossible our task has been yet how amazingly we have coped.

Beggars Belief

It is a lovely sunny morning here at the lodge, crisp frost settled on the ground and the winter birds are happily chirping in the trees. I looked at the pleasant view of my garden and something was not right, there were splashes of colour where it should not have been. On closer inspection it turns out to be a wash load 'drying' outside over the garden furniture. It was rock solid of course, made quite a nice modern art exhibit all of its own but of no use at all as clothing so it all had to be washed again.

 

We can tell that the carers are back, they have this attitude that everything that has been used has to be washed and, yet again, we cannot see the living room for laundry. They seem to get through more in one day than I would have thought possible in a week. They are there with Jermaine all day so why on earth am I getting bedding being washed that was clean just before they arrived? Seems like further words will need to be spoken this evening.

 

Now, last night. Poor Robin is really going through it. It's the shock of what happened Friday of course and, on top of that, he is feeling guilty for involving his friends as is his nature. This is really daft because we know that if at all possible he would do the same for any one of us, that's who he is. What happened Friday should never have happened at all and it's tragic to see Robin how he is right now but hopefully the next few days will see him OK. How he is going to keep up with his projects I don't know but, on the other hand, sitting at home worrying isn't going to make him any better either. I shall try to make sure I am free to go along with him this evening though it is rather important that I catch up on some sleep after I get back from Kettering else I'll be dosing off when I am there and that is no good to him at all!

 

On the whole a quiet weekend. I did have a young guy (17) ask me for a shag but, well, really, me shagging 17 year olds just feels weird and I know I'll probably kick myself but I think I'll not do so. I have put James on to him as I think he will really fancy the guy, hopefully that is the case. 

Couldn't drive by

I was driving home from Robin's earlier and in Castlethorpe and couldn't drive past Tony.

 

My car got parked on the kerbside and I went into the graveyard, stood there for a while and quietly cried, I feel like doing it again now. It says something about a man that can do that to another.

Today's Events

Where to start

 

Robin was attacked this evening as was his neighbour. I am not going to say who, name names as I don't think this is the appropriate place but the person who did it is know to me. Not only was he attacked but he was within moments of being murdered with a very large knife. I just hope to hell he presses charges.

 

Obviously I am very concerned for Robin, he has not been feeling well recently and he didn't need this on top. I know he has thoughts of personal loyalty to the guy that did this but I just hope he sees sense and let's the police do their job not only for his own safety but also for the benefit of anyone else that gets in the way of this man next time.

 

Sadly, because of the crisis at Robins I had to cut down a visit to Pete that I had been letting slip for some time, just lack of thought on my part. I shall make it up to Pete at some time.

 

Robin's incident reminded me of the time last year when we were held at knifepoint by a drug addict in Gran Canaria. That was scary stuff and I can well understand the feeling of not knowing what to do and it can be very upsetting. 

Updates (crap title but better than nothing)

The Autoglass thing I believe is near enough sorted. My insurers are so annoyed at the attitude of Autoglass that they are going to pay for the repairs themselves. As they said, Autoglass had a duty of care and that included to them to check out the car before commencing any work. That they didn't do that kind of invalidates any argument so they'll do it.

 

This morning I had an interview at the job centre and it all went just as I planned. The guy seemed amazed at how confident I was and seemed to find it thoroughly refreshing that I was keen to start work. He made a point of saying there was no way I was sorted to lower spec jobs, I was just too experienced for that so that has to be good. I have set up a meeting with an advisoy body next week to explore how to clarify my skills and that should lead into some quite useful training, I am really looking forward to it. It's like a whole new begining for me.

 

This afternoon I have a meeting with the BBC which I am sure is not influencing social services in any way to make a point of having someone call me back even if it is one of the bosses to deal with minor details. I am quite enjoying this and my upbeat feeling is still here, amazing.

 

Quite worried about Robin, he doesn't seem at all well. I know these things come and go but it's quite upsetting all the same, wish there was something I could do about it.

 

Off to see Pete this evening and may try to get over to Robin after that if there is time.

Two days in a row

For two days now I have felt quite happy for no apparent reason despite having good reason for not feeling that way. Of course, it is not all good news, physically I am positively not so clever at all but I guess that will sort itself out.

 

The car, no change since yesterday, no one called.

 

Went to look at two care homes earlier, one in St Neots, the other in Bedford. The first was a waste of time, they didn't even have any vacancies which could have been communicated before visiting of course. The second seems like it could be ideal but potentially expensive, I can't see social services going for it, or, I can see them stalling for so long over who would fund it that by the time they agree to there are no vacancies anyway.

 

I think I have the day off tomorrow, no one has said otherwise as yet though my mate Paul did mention something about visiting but then, he also said something about calling first. As he hasn't, I assume he isn't coming. Robin will be over in the afternoon though to go over a script with Matt.

Another new Subsriber to 'Life Goes On'

Yes, Nick has also joined the mailing list to be notified when I make new entries in this blog. If you would like to be added too, let me know.

They didn't succeed!

I started this day upbeat and feeling totally nutty and that is how it will end too because I have just got back from a lovely evening at the Boston Clipper with friends and feel great ... to be honest, such is my totally weird (but I am not complaining) mood that I could have sat there all evening talking to myself and would have enjoyed myself!

 

To do a quick update on the Autoglass saga ... my insurers are not amused about what Autoglass have done and neither, it seems, are Autoglass head office. It appears they broke most rules that existed, one major one was not checking the car before they started to do any work to it and not getting me to sign anything until 4 days after they started to do any work ... therefore, they technically didn't have permission to touch it and probably cannot argue that the dent was there prior to their messing about with it, they didn't check, they have no proof. In fact, I didn't sign the document until after they messed it up on Saturday so they didn't even check the bodywork then prior to work. I really feel they are going to have a tough time winning this one unless they fiddle the paperwork and that would be just plain stupid!

 

But, as the title says, they didn't get to me, I really don't feel any worse now than I did when I woke up this morning, apart from a brief glitch earlier, today has been a really good one!

Bloody Autoglass again!

What a bunch of complete cowboys and wankers they are!

 

They picked the car up earlier on to take back to their place and get checked out, sort the electrics etc. The guy picking it up started asking me what needed doing so I told him to speak to his boss, no point me wasting any more time talking about it.

 

Sean, the Autoglass boss called back ...

 

"Mr Williams, we have put right the electrical fault, it was a fuse, these things happen. We have replaced the switch for the window, it was all Chrysler's fault, they sent the wrong switch oh, and the dent, I have taken it along to the bodyshop down the road and they say it is going to need to be levelled out, at least two doors will need spraying and one wing, it's a big job. There is definitely some green paint there, this is nothing to do with us at all, it's clearly been hit by a door." he said

 

I responded "Sean, I am not going to argue with you, I am very anal about these things, I hate parking my car anywhere near another car, in fact, I would choose to park it as far away from other cars as possible rather than risk someone parking next to me and should someone have done so, I will check my car in a paranoid fashion when I return. I also know that I cleaned that car on Tuesday and went all over it very close, there was no damage anywhere on it, it was perfect, that damage had to have happened in your care (or lack thereof). What do you mean, replaced 'the' switch, there were three broken switches, not one.?"

 

"Well, Chrysler sent the wrong switch you see, they sent the passenger side switch and our man spent a long while fitting that but it isn't the right one, it's easy to mix them up as they both look the same"

 

"So, that one is grey and the other black doesn't kind of give it away then?" I said

 

"Are they?" Said Sean

 

"Yes, they are, I was watching your man breaking them last Wednesday and your other guy on Saturday, they are colour coded so as not to make mistakes. That also doesn't explain why you have not done the other switch" I said

 

Him "Which other switch?"

 

"The mirror adjuster, it is down there on your list of things you need to do to get this working, your man last Wednesday broke three switches in all and all you managed to do was replace one of them and you wired that up wrong too so that now the right button operated the left window"

 

"I am going to go and check this, I don't know what needs doing, I will call you back after I have looked at the car" said Sean

 

That was about 45 minutes ago, obviously it takes some time to get from his office to the car and call me back.

 

I called my insurers, after all, it was them that sent me to Autoglass in the first place, they should take some of the responsibility for this. They tell me that I have to make a claim, that if Autoglass don't admit they may have caused the dent that I will have to pay another £100 to get it repaired under my own policy! This is complete and utter bollocks!

 

Further updates later no doubt ... so much for me being in a really good mood earlier, that's gone right out of the window! I should have driven up north and given Stan that blow job I offered him to ease his boredom! OK, maybe I am still in a bit of a nutty mood.

 

 

Old Man Pain

For a few days lately I have felt like I am an old man being in quite a lot of pain. I assumed it was the booze I drank over the weekend but here I am on Tuesday and it has not eased at all. It could be loads of toxins in my blood I guess, the booze not clearing and the excersise I did last week combining but it is just not nice.

 

Last night I went to panto rehearsals with Robin and it was fun for one reason or another. I think he'll pull off a small miracle if they are ready by 28th November but if anyone can do it, I am sure Robin can. Poor Robin got a flat tyre last night but those nice people from the RAC sorted it out though somewhat stupidly agreed to Robin not having to be here over the phone then moaned about it when they got here!

 

In a warped way, it is good to hear that my friend Pete is going through the same sort of thing as me feeling like his life is not his own, he has no real freedom and that inanimate objects are ganging up on him, I am not totally mad then!

 

Oh bugger this, I am trying to have a yawn as I need one but it just hurts too much so I can't.

 

I believe I have identified a program needed to remove copy protection from already owned DVD's so they can be backed up, it is called  DVD Region+CSS Free and seems like it could do the job.

 

Autoglass are meant to turn up this morning ... no doubt I shall be adding another not to this blog later

I feel so much better

I had my hair cut earlier, it is amazing just how much better that makes me feel

The Sunday Blues

Whether the weather or something else, I feel total doom, gloom and other things crap today.

 

No matter what I am doing to try and get myself enthused I can’t get there.

 

It’s been evening since I got up this morning, you know, like it is this time of year.

 

The sun has left for a better place and the cloud cover takes over everything, trees are settling in for a long winter and the birds have flown to warmer places. Smiles are few and far between and have been for some time. The best we can do is plan for Christmas yet we know it will be the same as last Christmas, a day of hope and anticipation never quite matched by the reality.

 

To be fair, this is not a bad feeling, it’s borderline contentment but that’s a feeling somewhat alien to me and I am suspicious of it, don’t trust good feelings as they tend not to last but just tease me momentarily, enough to get me to let my guard down and be hammered by someone. It is a habit I need to get out of but some habits are hard to break.

 

A strange thing is, I am not enjoying going to bed or staying in bed now. Whilst I value my freedom and need to have self expression, to come and go as I please, I also miss just having someone else there for me, to be there when I am shivering at night, to hug me, to complain about my snoring!

 

This coming week is one of those that get busier as the week progresses and I think that’s bugging me. That and knowing my car is also going to take up some time isn’t helping. There is so much still to do with everything and it just takes a lot of organising to keep on top of it all. Oh for an easy 9 – 5 job!

Autoglass

Boy this makes me so mad!

Last Wednesday I woke to find one of the windows had been smashed in my car, I was not the only one, several cars had the same thing, nothing even attempted to be stolen.

I called the insurers and they put me onto Autoglass who eventually turned up at 3pm that day.

I was there when the guy tried to take the door off. After a few moments (less than a minute) he decided a quick tug should do the trick and it came off quite a bit as did one of the switched which totally shattered. He then tried to remove the other two switches with a screwdriver and broke both of them. He followed this by half an hour or so of trying to bodge them back together again before eventually giving up and telling me he'd get it sorted the following day. I asked him to keep me informed as I had things to do that I could not start doing if he was due.

The next day, all day, nothing. On Friday I called head office, explained what had happened and by this time I had also discovered that my reversing lights, parking sensors and heated rear window also didn't work. I told her all this. Called the local office in the afternoon and they said the 'switch' would not be in until today (Saturday) (probably)

She called me this morning, the switch was there but I would have to go there for 45 minutes whilst they repaired it. I was there over 2 hours. It was the wrong switch, the two other broken switches were not even ordered, they have no idea how to repair the other items and to top it they have put a dent in my door!

Yes, I have written a letter of complaint to head office and their manager will get a full report on Monday, I saw to it that one was attached to the file when I was there!

Robin goes Bloggey

Yep, Robin has finally joined the ranks of the online bloggers! Oh, and it's spelt Chihuahua apparently

Flippin' Car Repairs

Supposed to have my car fixed today they were but oh no. They don't even bother to call me to say it won't be done until tomorrow at the earliest, possibly Monday and it isn't just the window now either! Oh no, I have no heated rear window, my mirrors don't rotate now, my reverse lights don't work and neither do my parking sensors and I have plastic instead of glass now. I am just so glad Autoglass are a respected professional company else they may have really cocked up.

 

Oh, I am also aching like hell, not very nice at all

Poor Isaac

Poor little Isaac died earlier on today.

Isaac was Robins little dog. He had a long life but that doesn't make it a lot easier and the last few days he was clearly unwell bless him.

I popped round there this evening to make sure Robin was OK, he will be but it's going to take some time to get his head around the little fart bag not being there and the money he will save won't compensate for the loss, poor Robin, poor Isaac.

Robin has been added

Today I started up a mailing list for the Blog and Robin has been put on first, hopefully I have it working!

This is a Joke!

I got a letter this morning addressed to my GP but with me copied in in which they talk about cutting Jermaine's toenails and how that is not going to be possible under normal circumstances.

 

What they finally agreed to do after months of prompting from me was to use a sedative. This morning the letter says how much that will be ... diazepam 5mg!

 

For heavens sake, they just as well give him a smartie for all the good that will do. Don't get me wrong, I want to be incorrect about this, I'd love to see him finally get his feet sorted out but remembering back to the last time they tried diazepam I really just don't think they have a clue, another example of lack of communication.

Oh Sod it

Guy turned up at 3:15 to replace the window but when he tried to remove the door panel he also broke the switches which means he now can't fit the new window until I have new ones put on. I shall get a lovely perspex replacement window (oh whooppee)which will have to do until tomorrow when they will come back (at some time) to try again without breaking anything this time.

Another Early Start

With Jermaine away I have been looking forward to a relaxing lay-in each morning as the kids are capable of getting themselves off to school. I should know better I guess.

Daisy woke me up this morning to say that she is off to school and, by the way, someone has broken the window on the car.

So, straight out of bed at 07:30 to go out and see what the damage is, call the emergency glass repair people then start clearing the car. I know the glass company will do that but I figured I may need the car at some point today so best have it ready to drive. Have just finished and it is nearly 10:00. At least Matt made me a cup of tea which I am currently drinking.

I was up until 2am washing the sofa cushions then left the covers of one to wash when I went to bed. I have just put on the covers to the other sofa so by this evening it can all be put back together again clean and hopefully not smelling of Jermaine’s pee.

Robin kindly gave us a sofa yesterday for Jermaine’s room which was my inspiration for trying to salvage the suite we have downstairs. Robin’s old one works very well in J’s room which, despite a lot of cleaning yesterday, still smell of stale urine. I am wondering if the smell will ever go even if we strip the carpet out and redecorate; it is probably soaked well into the wood beneath the carpet too.