Just Humans Being...

I've been meaning to get this off my chest for a long time and I know that by doing so I'm going to feel so much better for it. Kay knows the stories well. I've bored her to tears with them for years, so by getting them "out there", perhaps I'll get some closure and peace of mind with the whole thing. This blog is all about my experiences of abuse within the schools I attended between 1971 and 1976. Let's be clear right from the start about the abuse - it was predominantly of the mental torture and physical punishment kind and was not of a sexual nature - except for one incident I witnessed that made me feel uneasy and which I will describe later. Back in the 1970's, the cane or ruler ruled. I don't know what your stance on punishment is, but mine is firmly of the belief that it is fundamentally *wrong*. No human should inflict pain and suffering upon another (except in establishments whereupon a fiscal transaction has occurred) , but in school...

We saw a tiny bit of snow on our way to Stoke last week... And it certainly was cold... The Trent & Mersey Canal was frozen. Especially in the marina at Festival Park... Some of the boats are residential & I thought we were tough... Bebe. The main reason for our visit... She refused to attend her appointment at the memory clinic, which resulted in me acting as referee & splitting up Mother & Son before WW3 broke out... She does have a point - why should she go along to be humiliated by questions she can no longer remember the answers to? And what will come out of going? Drugs to help her memory? Doubtful. Just a figure on a form to say whether her memory loss is unchanged or has got worse...  Who are we to force her to do something she doesn't want to do?  Sime feels it's important to be regularly assessed & so her care can be adjusted accordingly & I kind of agree, but if I was in Bebe's shoes - I probably would refuse to go too!  So she...

We're in Stoke again... So see you soon. Kay & Sime xx

We're home & have travelled through torrential rain to pick up the kitties from their cattery on Bodmin Moor. There is snow forecast for Stoke tonight & tomorrow, so at least we made it back before then... Although we feel a bit sad to have missed it!  Glad to be back! Kay & Sime xx

The temperature has dropped! This morning we woke to an icy car park & a frosty car & it's icing up again, though it's not as cold as last December. Everything's gone well with Bebe - although the plumber insisted that she gave him a bonus, so not a lot we can do about that... We have also been out to eat with Grandad Gerry & Nana Stip-Pep, which was lovely & Gerry entertained us with hilarious stories of his time as a hospital porter. Last night, we spent the evening with our friends Corinne & Graham. We first met them over 23 years ago, as they lived down the road from a cottage we use to rent. They still live in that same house & it delights us that they haven't changed a bit! Today we have had some time to ourselves - a leisurely breakfast, a long browse around a bookshop & a trip to the cinema... Tomorrow we'll say goodbye to Bebe & head home to our kitties... But now it's time for curry! Bye for now, Kay & Sime x...

We arrived in Stoke... The weather is mild, so I don't think we'll need the thermals on today. We're meeting with 5 people involved with Bebe's care. We've also found that she's being paying a plumber to do lots of jobs in the house & he's been charging rather a lot. Sime's going to find out what's going on there too... A busy day ahead, but so nice to have a warm start! See you later, Kay :)

Work has slowed down & it's wonderful! We've had 2 whole days pottering about at home & it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! Tomorrow, we're heading up to Stoke for a few days, where we'll be staying in a warm hotel room. Unlike here where it's very cold... Shower time, in particular has become quite a challenge, as our bathroom is freezing.   One consolation though - we have discovered we can hit some really high notes when singing our favourite opera pieces & our pogoing has taken on new heights!  We're still determined to get through the Winter without our heating & thanks to Rose... We're doing it in style! (She left them behind when she moved) Time for bed & see you all soon. Kay & Sime xx

We got back in the early hours of yesterday, worked & we're working again until Wednesday. When we'll have a day off to be volunteers at Hugo's home education group...  We had a very productive time in Stoke, got lots sorted again around Bebe & had great fun with her during a meal out... We also saw Grandad Gerry & Nana Footstep (Sime's Dad & Step-Mum), which is always lovely! I had a tooth out - the tooth I had filled a couple of months ago...  Apparently, the filling had been put directly on to the nerve of the tooth, so no wonder I'd been suffering (my jaw has had a dull ache for a while & my tooth was very sensitive to cold drinks & food). The filling hadn't set underneath, so this dentist said he wasn't surprised that I'd had a metallic taste in my mouth. The guy was lovely, he was very patient with my stupid behaviour & Sime was with me throughout holding my trembling hand! We had a bit of free time too - saw a film ...

I'm starting to feel better, my heart is slowing down (a little), but at least it's in the right direction... I've even been able to iron work bed linen - without breaking into a sweat...  We've cleaned a large house today & for the first time ever - Sime was hotter than me! An over active thyroid is difficult to live with. And even harder is to see what my pig-headedness does to Sime. He gets all ate up when I refuse help & I have watched him become exhausted with the extra pressure of holding me together. A few days ago, I started taking the anti-thyroid drug - Carbimazole. I hate giving in & I hate taking it, but if it makes Sime feel better - I have to do it. The good thing is (in my opinion) - it takes between 6 to 8 weeks to kick in, but I'm already improving! Which means my herbal mixture of tinctures must be working... I'm taking mainly bugleweed with small doses of lemon balm & motherwort. I've also just started taking l...

Last Sunday night, we set off to visit Sime's parents in Stoke... We had to work during the day, so we didn't leave until the evening & stayed overnight in Tewkesbury. The only photo we took in Tewkesbury - this car is an Alvis... We arrived there quite late & left straight after breakfast. Our main purpose was to assist Sime's Mum, Bebe with a couple of appointments. We also went out for a meal with Grandad Gerry... And Nana Footstep... Diets start tomorrow... A sadly closed traditional Potter's eatery... We would have loved to have gone in... Eating out with Bebe... A place mat which advertises a fantastic sounding tonic stout... Unfortunately, it no longer exists. Sime's piled up plate... Staffordshire Oatcakes! Outside the oatcake shop... Next door is interesting - Sime put a box of oatcakes down on the step on a recent visit (thinking it was an empty shop).  Within minutes a scantly clad woman of dubious character swung open the door & ...

It's been another tiring trip. We are used to our fairly quiet little hamlet, so staying in a hotel on a busy main road has meant sleepless nights for the three of us... The hotel was hot & the beds were uncomfortable, but it was cheap & clean, so we're not grumbling really. We did have a lovely day in Bakewell with Bebe & relatives from Yorkshire. We'd forgotten how beautiful the Peak District is... The Roaches on the Staffordshire Moorlands Bleak Moorland And pretty Derbyshire countryside Staffordshire/Derbyshire border Green & stormy Bebe in the back of the car A Bakewell pub with Bebe's (& Sime's) cousins - who we haven't seen for over 10 years! Our cheese rarebit tart - was pretty awful... The incredible shrinking woman... River Wye in Bakewell, complete with carp... Ducks & ducklings In a world of her own... A lovely day & great to catch up with relatives On the way home... The guy on the quad bike used scare tact...