Slainte and sore fingers...

Happy new year, and in this neck of the woods we say...

Sláinte (SLAHN-chə) literally translating as "health"

I hope we all have a happy , healthy and peaceful year this time around!
It seems 2013, has not yet finished with us!
It's kinda been a year full of wee mishaps and true to form it's going out as it came in - I jammed my finger in the car door earlier and boy does it hurt - Ouch!

I hope this is the last wee mishap 2013 throws our way!  I just knew when I last posted about avoiding A & E this Christmas it just might be asking for trouble! A well, it's done now!

There's only a few hours left of the old year and we'll be welcoming in the new so good health, good fortune and...aw the best, when it comes - Slainte mhath!

(((hugs)))
Maz x

Christmas, SDS, Respite & Time out....

Hi guys and...Happy Christmas!

We've had a lovely time and this year, we successfully avoided the A & E dept. at the local hospital too so... Result! lol
We even managed to take a Respite break, a wee Christmas time-out up to Edinburgh for a few days! Woo hoo
Coo get's very stressed at Christmas. He really struggles with all the hustle and bustle so if we can, I try to break up the Christmas period with a few days away and Edinburgh is so lovely this time of year isn't it!
The whole place was wintery and beautiful. All twinkly and Christmassy and really, just a fun place to spend a wee few days away from all the busy Christmas shopping frenzy!

While away on Respite, we never shop!
I don't think we were in a shop from we left until we came back home! lol I guess that's kinda why we like Edinburgh, there's so much to see and do especially if like us you want to avoid the Christmas shopping and panic buying side of things!
We stayed in the Travelodge in Rose Street - Coo's comfortable visiting there and it's central too so it's a good choice for us. We visited the Christmas Markets in Princes gardens and sipped hot chocolate under the stars mmm! It's such a lovely place to have a wander and just soak up the atmosphere and enjoy all the pretty things all around - love it!

Next up, we visited the... National Museum and we had such a brilliant time!

There's loads to see and do, from stars and space stuff, to natural science and gadgets, it's got the lot and it's all free! How cool is that?
Check me out star gazing - it sure was fun! lol

 We ended our Edinburgh adventure with a visit to the Lyceum Theatre for a wee bit of culture and a sprinkling of Christmas Spirit and feel good factor - we went to see Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' and it was wonderful! Songs, music, a lovely Christmassy story and...snowflakes all around us - it was totally awesome!

We're so grateful to our Local Authority for their support and the SDS (Self Directed Support) funding, which makes much needed, regular, respite breaks like this one possible.

We have both benefited tremendously and are so very impressed with this new way of providing care and support for not only Coo as a disabled person but for both of us!

Our quality of life is so much better.
In difficult times, just knowing funding for Care and Respite is there when we need it makes things a lot less stressful and so much easier to manage.
SDS has made such a positive difference for Coo and I that my Christmas wish is, a hope for all Carers to get the chance to try SDS out for themselves.

Keep strong and take care of you!
(((hugs)))
Maz x

From Panto to Power of Attorney...

Hi guys, it's always a bit of a roller-coaster ride and none more so than this week!
Yesterday, my wee Carers Group had a Christmas Pantomime date! Oh yes we did!

This year it was...
Jack and the Beanstalk!
Christmas can be a difficult time for Carers as most times, there's little in the way of respite or holidays to speak of and sometimes thoughts crowd in and it can become a very quiet and isolated time too. There are 18 Carers in our group and we decided around five years ago, we would always try to make it to a panto at this time of year.
One wee fun-time out together, just to forget the worries of caring and have a laugh and a wee release for a few short hours.
A really happy time with lot's of laughter all around! In the words of Wallace and Gromit...it was a grand day out! lol

Onto the Power of Attorney...
Remember I posted about Carers Rights Day and our local Carers Centre having a lawyer on hand for free advice? and that I'd spoke to her about setting up POA (Power of Attorney) Well, today was the day! We had a visit at home, discussed all the information and decided to progress this now. It will be important, especially the welfare side of things should Coo become incapacitated and need some help deciding on medical care - wish we'd had this in place last time as I'm sure it would have made things a whole lot easier!
Anyways, we are sorting it out now!
We've taken the first step, which is to apply for Legal Aid.

I'll let you know how things go as I think most Carers and disabled people, would probably be better off with 'Power of Attorney' in place- especially the welfare side of it! I guess it'll be interesting to see how easily (or not!) this process turns out to be, so I'll keep an update going as it progresses just in case other Carers are thinking of setting up POA too.

The life of a Carer sure is a roller-coaster right enough! I've gone from laughs to Legal in one day! lol

 I hope you get a wee time out or even a wee giggle too this week!
Stay strong
(((hugs)))
Maz x