Shocking Revelations in Igh Life, and a Jan update

[avevale_intelligencer]

When I worked at Titan, in the mid- to late eighties, my immediate boss, the late and much missed Gamma (Paul Gamble) and his friend Dave Hodson used, unless my memory is playing me false, to frequent an establishment known as the Groucho Club.

I've just read the third volume of Stephen Fry's memoirs, in which is detailed the kind of thing that used to go on at the Groucho Club, and for all I know may still.

Gosh.

In other news, they took Jan's toe off yesterday. She apparently watched the procedure with fascination and seems reconciled to it. What happens now I won't know till they've assessed her this morning, but from previous experience this is the point at which the hospital starts looking at its watch, straightening the furniture and remarking casually on the excellent bus services back into town, so presumably as soon as she can put weight on the thing without fountaining blood everywhere they'll be looking to reclaim the bed. And I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA how to get her home from Bristol, or even Bath if they send her back there.

More when I know more. Thanks to everyone for good wishes, prayers, thoughts and so on. I think we might need them for a while yet.

Comments

[eintx.livejournal.com]

I've googled the Groucho Club, but there is a lot of talk about arts and culture - nothing too shocking. Now I'm very curious! :)

I'm glad Jan is okay and not desperate about the toe.
Will you really have to organise her transport privately?

I so wish I could be there and help.

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

I don't know. Possibly not, but it's something I have to think/worry about.

[emsy.livejournal.com]

Re. getting Jan home - are you eligible to use patient transport? They'll take you to your door. Ask at the hospital.

Also, if you saw a random lady in the main hospital atrium throw coffee all down herself yesterday morning, that was me :D

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

I didn't get there till after noon. Sorry I missed you (coffee and all).

[emsy.livejournal.com]

It was pretty impressive!

I live just round the corner from Southmead. If you get desperate, please just leave me a comment here or something and I'm more than happy to help out. I have a car. :)

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[alun dudek (from livejournal.com)]

Sorry about the toe, glad that Jan seems to accept its loss, though I would suggest a quick check of any change to her medication they've made (Google it if necessary). It would not be nice for you or Jan to get her home and discover they had been giving her something (for shock, maybe) that was blocking her reactions and that she was going to be very upset about it when she comes off the stuff.

Given the pressure they are under nowadays, and the fact she has someone to care for her (you), I wouldn't be surprised if they want her out in the next couple of days. How much resistance you put up is up to you, of course, but a point you both might want to consider (and may have gotten lost in the general noise) is which is less stressful for Zander (as opposed to Jan), Jan in hospital, or Jan at home? This might be the closest you can get to a respite holiday for a while to come. Having said that, I realise that Jan's needs are - obviously and rightly - the top of your priorities. Just saying you should consider all the options.

Lets hope that that is the end of the infection problem, and it doesn't lead to any complications. At least the signs are good so far.

[filkerbaby.livejournal.com]

Hospital transport should indeed return Jan home. They may not take you in it though. As Jan's carer you have the right to say that you are not accepting her back if she is not ready to come home, ie. can't do the things she normally does. That right was given to you in the 1991 Carers Act. Tell them that - hospital staff don't like Acts of Parliament, in my experience.

You do get Carer's Allowance for Jan, don't you? If she is over 60, you should be getting Attendance Allowance and Mobility Allowance instead.
*hugs*

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

IT seems you have some good advice here with regard to transport and the kind of rights you have. As well as concerning the important element that you have to take care of yourself as well. *looks at you sternly over glasses*

I'm glad Jan is so far okay about losing her toe. Let's hope this has dealt with the infection and you can now both breathe a sigh of relief.

[rozk.livejournal.com]

The Groucho was not the regular watering hole for the Titan crowd - bit posh. Its style was always a bit too coke, champagne and backgammon for Gamma.

Not that he believed in moderation, just in different excesses, bless his memory.

No, the main Titan after hours drinking establishment was the Troy club.

[feetnotes.livejournal.com]

- i'm not sure gamma understood the concept of excess, even theoretically;
- i'm pretty sure he didn't ever comprehend it.

(& thank-you for bringing him, the gentle impossible person, back to the forefront of (what's left of) my mind; he was a lovely - and often utterly impossible - man.)

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

He would probably have preferred "highly improbable."

He gave me the job I should have been happiest in. As Roz said, bless his memory.

"he would probably have preferred... "

[feetnotes.livejournal.com]

- oh, he was definitely that, too
- insofar as gamma was ever definitely any one thing for long;

- but he could definitely "be impossible",
and wasn't always at all comfortable - or even safe - to be around.

- there was a - a -
a certain incompatibility between the universe near gamma,
and that everyone else more-or-less mutually agreed upon:
they did not map one-to-one with each other.

- and the differences, and failing to spot them & appreciate their significance,
could prove hazardous to body &/or brain for anyone, including him.

- um. the closer one was to gamma, for longer,
the less likely reality (or what commonly passes for it) seemed.

- no?

[zanda-myrande.livejournal.com]

Of course it was. I'm sure I remember them mentioning the Groucho in that context as well, though. Maybe they tried it and didn't like it.

I think one of my greatest regrets as I sink slowly in the south west will be that I never really had the opportunity to explore the concept of excess in any great depth. Or maybe I should just count myself moderately lucky, or luckily moderate...

[batyatoon]

Continued good thoughts and prayers to you and Jan. I hope her recovery is smooth, rapid, and complete as possible.