dizzojay | Entries tagged with my dad

My Dad has taken to calling me during the day when I’m working from home. I don’t mind, he doesn’t do it every day, just a couple of times a week, and I think his calls coincide with times that Mum’s at the gym. I guess he just likes to talk to me for a few minutes without Mum earwigging over his shoulder!

Normally, it’s just something fairly mundane, like him reminding me to bring something when I come over, or him asking me to order something online for him, but this morning’s call was a classic...

My phone rings – Dad’s number flashing up on the screen.

Me: hiya, how’s things?

Dad: hello, are you at home, can you talk?

Me: yep, all good. Go ahead.

Dad: Good, I need you to look something up on the computer for me.

Me: (of course, now I’m visualising some mysterious medical symptoms that he’s worried about or some kind of official difficulties they might be facing) okay, of course, what do you need?

Dad: Right, can you tell me – who built Westminster Abbey?

Me: … what the actual f...?

So, my Dad has been a member of a little quizzing group at the place where they live, and it's fab, I'm thrilled about it. It's given him an interest, and a new lease of life! He's a very well-read man, and is very proud of his knowledge. He takes it very seriously.

Now, it turns out that he's had a (friendly - so I'm told) disagreement with another guy in the group who said William the Conqueror built Westminster Abbey.

Dad knew that was wrong, and so did I when he told me, because William the Conqueror was crowned at the Abbey so would have beeded to build it before the coronation! But Dad couldn't remember the right answer, and so couldn't back up his assertion that they guy was wrong because he didn't have the facts to hand.

He was delighted when I reeled off the details and dates. I could almost hear him rubbing his hands together with glee! (I had to make him promise that he wasn't going to come to blows with this other bloke).

For the record, the original abbey was built in the 1050's by Edward the Confessor and the Abbey we know now dates from the mid-1200's and was built by King Henry III.

Honestly, my life is not normal...

I very much feel like I've been neglecting my Livejournal for a while. However, the simple fact is, here's not a lot going on right now. My conventions are over for the year, so I'm not doing any spn-related artwork at the moment, the buns are being cute as usual and life is just ticking along quite nicely without too many bumps in the road.

However, there are a few things going on and so I thought I'd do a little update from Dizzo-land!

( Read more... )

So, a little bit of good news on the Dad front.

A regime of insulin injections with gradually increasing doses over the last three weeks has got his blood sugar levels down from 26 to 12. Which is still too high, but much more into a high/manageable range rather than a high/how are you still alive? range.

The district nurse is going to keep coming daily and administering the injections for the foreseeable future until they've got his levels down to about 6/7 and can hold it there. Then they're going to teach him how to administer his own shots.

I spoke to my Dad a couple of night ago and he sounded far brighter. I'm not surprised, his blood must have been like treacle, the effort of pumping that gloop around his body for god knows how long must have been exhausting!

The one thing that I've considered in all this, is he must have the heart of a bull to keep going all this long. I hope I've inherited bit of that!

As we spoke, I asked him if he felt better in himself, and he said he really did. He said to me, 'yes, it's all good. I just measure my blood sugar in the morning with a little finger prick, then the nurse comes at lunchtime and gives me the injection in my stomach - only takes a minute. Piece of cake.'

Piece of cake???? I thought, I'm glad you think so, after Mum and I have been worrying ourselves into neuroses for the last however many months!

Anyhow, when the time comes for him to go it alone, I'm going to try to talk him into getting an insulin pump. That way, he won't have to prick himself every day. It's just a canula that stays in place and lasts, I believe, around two weeks, and it measures his blood and administers appropriate levels of insulin throughout the day without him having to do a thing. They're not cheap, and he may not go for it, but both Mum and I like that idea. So my plan over the next few weeks is to do some further research and get together some good reviews and information!

I'm almost scared to say it, but right now, I feel I can take a breath and relax on the parent front for a moment. Let's hope that's the last of the Dad-related curveballs - for now, at least!

via GIPHY

Mr D and I went over to the Isle of Wight today, our last visit of 2023, and I was particularly keen to get over there as my Dad's health has not been in a good place for the last few weeks.

It's a long story, but Mum and I were pretty sure he was diabetic. When all the drama went down with his foot early last year, the doctors told him they thought he was diabetic and that had probably contributed to his trials and tribulations. However, given that he'd just come off a period of not eating and lost thirty pounds in about two months, he'd had sepsis and consequently been flooded with IV antibiotics, they were never going to get a stable blood reading from him.

They told him to rest up for about three months then come back to get checked out for diabetes, but guess what ...

He never went back.

So consequently he's never had a firm diagnosis and therefore wasn't getting any medication. And he wouldn't go to get checked out because we couldn't convince him that diabetes was serious.

His health had been declining fairly rapidly over the last few weeks, and over the last couple of those weeks he's been going to bed in the afternoon and sleeping a lot. he's also been glugging drinks by the gallon - classic diabetes symptoms.

So, in the end Mum and I discussed it and decided that she should take the initiative, so she went to see the doctor last week without telling Dad. They booked him in for a barrage of tests, and he went along very much under duress.

The test results came back early this week and - shocker - he is diabetic. His blood reading is 26 mmol/l and for context, in an ideal scenario it would be about 5. It's a bloody wonder he's still upright and conscious.

So now he is on a strict regime of finger prick blood tests every morning, and a district nurse is coming to give him insulin injections every day. The doctor wanted to send him to hospital but he refused. Of course he did!

Anyway, when we got to their place today, his reading was 23, still scary high, but slightly better than it was. It's going down slowly, but they're gradually increasing his dose of insulin to find the optimum level.

So here we are again, back at the 'hanging on by a thread through his own inactivity' scenario. I could scream!

*sigh*

Anyhow, just to finish off on a not quite so exasperating note, we had a very early crossing on the ferry this morning and the Solent looked lovely in the sunrise...

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My first attempt at a panoramic wasn't quite so successful when Mr D deliberately walked across in front of me!!

I have multiple Mr D's XD

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Greetings, gang!

Well, it's been a crazy couple of weeks, but finally Mum and Dad are in their new home and getting settled. They've had risk assessments done and ad has been issied with a emergency call button on a wrist band. It was hanging on the doorknob of the wall unit when I got there last weekend, but I nagged him sufficiently that it was on his arm by the time I took Mum out to the shops about an hour later.

( Read more... )

So, my parents big move happened on Friday. I said a slightly sad goodbye to their lovely house of 26 years on Friday morning, and was there when they finally moved into their new home on Friday afternoon. They're in their new assisted living apartment; it's lovely and I think they're going to be very happy.

They've got lots of methods of calling for help (cords and buttons all around the place) and they've already met their Care Manager.

I went over to support with the move on Friday, and everything ran on rails. The two young guys who came to do the removals were fabulous. They were so patient and respectful and made the whole process so much easier than it could have been.

Mum and Dad have had a little bit of a teething problem with phones, which is the only negative at the moment. Their landline is not set up yet, and Dad's mobile phone died on Saturday. Typical!

On Sunday I went over to the Island with a new mobile phone. I could only stay an hour or so, and I showed Dad how to make and take calls. Then after I left, he phoned EE to put more credit on his phone and EE won't move forward until they have sent him a validation text for him to return. But he doesn't know how to use texts on the new phone. So now his £10 credit has run out and basically, my parents have no way of contacting the outside world, including me, and I have no way of contacting them.

There is a reception at the complex, but I just KNOW they won't be taking advantage of it because they don't want to 'be a nuisance'.

I can't handle this situation, and I need peace of mind, so I'm going over there again on Wednesday to help them get this situation sorted out! I can't go before then because they wn't have a bed for me to sleep in!.

Once this whole situation is settled, I think Mum and Dad are going to really flourish in this place! So despite this brief bump in the road, I'm still thrilled they made this move!

So my parents' move is finally here.

All the parties involved finally got their shit together, and barring unforeseen disasters, it's all set for Friday next week.

I'm going over there to help on Friday, and I'm so happy that I'm able to contribute because I was convinced it was all going to coincide with the aftermath of my operation when I couldn't drive.

I was over there today and took my Mum shopping, and we bought an ironing board, a mirror, a set of placemats, a duvet cover, pillow cases, a rug and four lightbulbs.

When my Mum started looking at wardrobes I had to call a halt because my car isn't that big!

So this is the end of this chapter of their lives and the beginning of a new one. I'm so relieved for them, and just glad I can be a part of it.

I think last time I mentioned my Mum and Dad here at my journal, I was close to my wits end with the whole situation regarding my Dad's health and the resulting stresses on my Mum. Well, it's fair to say the afore mentioned situation has moved on, and thankfully for the better!

Pics and video at Livejournal

I've been over on the Isle of Wight for a couple of days. I've been visiting my Mum and Dad as this weekend was between fathers' day (last week) and my Dad's birthday (this week).

It's an exciting week all round for my Dad because after his health misadventures earlier in the year, he finally got his prosthetic foot yesterday. He seems really happy with it, and I'm hoping this is the last step on his road back to some degree of independence!

Dad and I were sitting in the living room on Friday night. Mum had gone to bed, so we were just idly chatting. The news was on in the background, and covering the terrifying developments in the USA.

Dad turned to me and he said, "I'm a bloke, and I don't know anyone - that I know of - who's had an abortion, so I don't know anything about this sort of stuff. So why are abortions classed as health care?"

Wow! Dive right in, why don't you? This is going to be an interesting father/daughter conversation!

So I told him, as best I could, about ectopic pregnancies, foetal death, detached placentas, partial miscarriages, mental health issues, abusive relationships, incest, underage pregnancies etc...

And he got it. he really, really got it.

I'm proud of him.

This weekend I travelled over to the Isle of Wight to set up and work my frst dapplegrey art show for two years. It was so lovely to be giving my art an airing, to be spending a day talking art to the public and my fellow stallholders who I hadn't seen for so long - it was so ... normal!

It turned out to be a fairly successful weekend. Not record-breaking, but lots of interest, three very promising commission enquiries, an interesting business proposition and about £300 worth of sales on the day.

As always, my dad came with me to help me set up and man the stall. He's the art influence in my life, and dapplegrey art is his baby as much as mine. It was great to give him a reason to come out, get a bit of sun on his face and socialise with a few people. The show was held on Saturday and Sunday but we headed to the venue to set up on the Friday so there was no pressure on Saturday morning. We do this every year and finish up with a cup of tea and a cake in a local cafe; it's just a lovely dad/daughter bonding time. Having said that, the set-up took up twice as long as normal as we were so out of the routine and the rhythm!

In the end I was mostly happy with how the stall looked (except the red roof on the marquee which wasn't great for artistic lighting!)

It was just such a lovely cathartic weekend, after the last crappy year where everything was cancelled an postponed multiple times. It was also a little bit bittersweet because I know how much my dad loves these events but I seriously wonder if this would be the last year he will be able to come. I know how much he enjoys these shows, but he's so unsteady on his legs now, and in so much pain with them, he could hardly walk by the afternoon on Sunday. When we dismantled the stall, he did what he could, but he had to sit down and watch me load the car, which would have been really difficult for him because he's quite old-fashioned in his outlook, and seeing me doing manual labour and heavy lifting and not being able to help would have hurt him badly.

So we may have some difficult conversations ahead of us. We shall have to see for next year. :(

But for now, I'm just going to enjoy the fact that I had this opportunity, and so did my dad.

dapplegrey art is back in business!

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Location: Home

It's been Fathers' Day today and I have been over on the Isle of Wight this weekend celebrating the day with my parents. (Hence the fact i'm online so late!)

I've been seeking out a decent photo of my Dad to mark the day, but my Dad hates having his photo taken, so shots of him are rarer than rocking horse sh!t, however I did come across a nice one. This was from mine and Mr D's wedding, so taken 27 years ago, nonetheless, it's a really sweet, candid, father-daughter moment, and I love it!

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Location: Home

A Letter/Postcard from someone

~~yourself (disguised enough that you're comfortable sharing the photo)~~	~~your favorite book (we won't tell any of the others you picked a favorite)~~	~~merchandise from a fandom (pick your definition of fandom--sports 100% qualify)~~	~~your exercise equipment~~	~~the view out a window~~
~~something alive~~	a meal	~~a letter/postcard from someone (feel free to redact)~~	~~something that keeps you sane~~	~~your computer~~
~~a useful tool~~	~~memorabilia from an event outside~~	wild card	a game you've been playing	~~a musical instrument~~
something someone made for you	~~a gift you're planning to give~~	~~an outfit you've worn recently (with or without you inside it)~~	~~something that makes you smile~~	~~the kitchen sink~~
~~something unexpected~~	~~something funny~~	~~a bad habit~~	~~a good habit~~	~~something you're proud of~~

I got a text from my Dad this morning.

In typical Dad style, it was very short and to the point, and just said, 'looks nice'.

This is what he sent me; it's the adoption certificate for Doughnut, framed and hung on the wall! :D

Current Mood: amused
Current Location: Home

I've talked about my Dad and his artwork here before a couple of times, but recently, while I was sorting through some old photo albums at my parents' house, I happened across a collection of photos of some of his artwork. (Bear in mind this was from the 70's and 80's so in a time before scanners and digital media.)

Seeing the pictures gave me an idea for Christmas, and so with my Mum's help, I spirited the photo album back home, and I've used 12 of the pictures to make my Dad a calendar with his own artwork on it.

These are the twelve pictures I included in the calendar, and I tried to keep the subject matter as diverse as I could out of the pictures that I could find. This is why I always consider him such an inspiration and the biggest influence on my own art endeavours!

Bertie Bassett in poster paints

( Pictures here )

Current Mood: happy
Current Location: Home

So, as it's Father's Day here in the UK, I thought a little tribute to my Dad was in order.

My Dad was born in London in 1944. After leaving school, he trained as a printer and worked on our national newspapers for many years. It's from my Dad I get my love of Shakespeare, Cricket and inappropriate humour.

He's also a very talented artist, and it's 100% from him that I get my creative leanings, and my love of art. He's given up his art now, and devotes himself to supporting me with my art business - I know that there's no way I could make it work without him!

I have woefully few photos of my Dad because he's a stubborn bugger (I get that from him too), and he hates having his photo taken, but I've managed to snag a couple that are on display in frames and albums around the house ...

Here he is (on the right) with my Mum and my Grandad (his Dad) on the morning of my Mum and Dad's ruby wedding anniversary (2007)

( Pictures )

My Dad and I have always been really close - yes, I'm a Daddy's girl. We don't agree on everything - don't ever get us on politics or smoking - but either way, he's my Dad, my staunchest ally, and my hero!

Thanks Dad!

Current Mood: grateful
Current Location: Home

I went to see my Mum and Dad at the weekend, and my Dad showed me something long forgotten that he'd dug out from an old load of papers while he was looking for something to do with insurance!

This is about forty years old, and I remember seeing it when I was a kid. My dad drew it in a lunch break; he was a printer at the time, and working at a company in London that printed food packaging, and this was drawn on an old bit of cardboard he picked up off the floor. All he had at the time was a blue ballpoint pen and a pencil.

Apparently he was inspired by a picture in a newspaper that someone had left on the canteen table.

( I think Franz Hals would have approved! )

Current Mood: impressed
Current Location: Home

I've been away visiting my parents this weekend, hence my more-or-less radio silence oer the last couple of days.

It was my Dad's birthday on Friday, so the visit was mainly to spend some quality time with Mum and Dad for his birthday and to take him his birthday presents. I bought him two books, on subject matter that I knew he would enjoy - The Titanic, and British History. In all my years, I have never once seen my Dad read a fiction book; he devours factual books like a man starved, but fiction leaves him completely cold - weird huh?

But I also took him some treats to enjoy while he was reading his new books. A few bars of Cadbury's chocolate (best chcolate in the world, apparently), and a couple of tubes of Pringles. Smokey Bacon Pringles.

It seems that such exotic fare hasn't made it over the Solent to the Isle of Wight yet, so my Dad's eyes lit up when he saw the smokey bacon Pringles - he didn't even know they existed, and I've spent the weekend listening to him munching on them and making the sort of happy noises you really don't want to hear your Dad making.

Now I have a regular order for each visit. Half a dozen tubes of Smokey Bacon Pringles each time, or I won't be allowed in the house!

I'm either an awesome daughter for inroduciing my father to such a taste sensation - or a terrible one for leading him into temptation!

The jury's out!

;)

Current Mood: amused
Current Location: Home

This post is late because, ironically, I was away from my laptop visiting my Mum and Dad on Father's Day!

My Dad is not the tallest of men, but to me he's a giant! A printer by trade, he taught me everything I know about colours and art - it's his passion too. My Father's Day present to him was a book of J M Turner's work. It doesn't matter what I do, he's proud of me.

I love my Mum unconditionally, but she and everyone else knows I'm a Daddy's girl through and through, and I don't care who knows it.

He hates having his picture taken, and he can be a contrary bugger, so the pictures I have of him are few and far between - normally he's behind the camera or lurking somewhere where he can't be photographed - but this is a picture of me with Mum and Dad at my wedding in 1994, and it's a picture I love very much because it is such a wonderful rarity!

( Happy Father's Day Dad!! )

Current Mood: happy
Current Location: Home

It's Father's Day here in the UK.

I phoned my Dad to wish him happy father's day this morning and true to form, all he wanted to know about was how I was getting on.

He always says he's proud of me, but I'm proud of him too. I've always been Daddy's Girl and will always be.

( Here's my Dad! )

Current Mood: grateful
Current Location: Home

I've just spent a lovely weekend on the Isle of Wight, visiting my parents.

One of my major aims during my regular visits there is to drag my technophobe father into the 21st century. This has been a long and laborious process which has been slightly more painful than pulling teeth with a pair of rusty pliers, and it's far from over. It's been made more difficult as they have no broadband (they have no computer), and the Isle of Wight is blessed with a mobile phone signal which I'm convinced is powered by a three-legged hamster on a turbine.

But at Christmas, I finally convinced him to upgrade his mobile from the prehistoric brick he has been using for about the last five years to something with a camera - we haven't got as far as smartphones yet - and this weekend I took his new phone down to him and together we introduced him to the delights of receiving photos, taking photos and texting them.

Unbeknownst to me, however, his new phone has Tetris on it. Something he discovered purely by accident this morning while I was out at their local leisure centre having a Sunday morning swim.

And now he's totally and utterly, hopelessly addicted.

Whoops!

Current Mood: guilty
Current Location: Home

This post is dedicated to my Dad, without whom Dapplegrey Art, my animal art business, and my love of art in general would not exist.

I came across these photos of his artwork in an old album a while back, and decided that Father's Day was an ideal time to share them with the world.

He's my staunchest support, my most honest critic and my inspiration, and his artwork should be seen but never was because he gave up his dream to support mine.

( Artwork here! )

Current Mood: grateful
Current Location: home

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dizzojay

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Dizzojay's Dean Dreams

Entries tagged with my dad

Welcome to the wonderful world of my life!

Dizzo update

Dad Update...

Dad update ... sigh

Hello waves

The big move

It's Moving time!

Dizzo update...

Well, dive right in, why don't you...?

It's good to be back...

Happy Post: Happy Fathers' Day

Quarantine Photo Scavenger Hunt - Day 21

Happy Post: My Inspiration

Happy Post: Fathers' Day

A blast from the past

I am an awesome daughter. Maybe?

To My Dad for Father's Day

Happy Father's Day

I'm such a bad daughter!

To my wonderful Dad!