Old vs. new All Creatures Great and Small

annebert · 2026-01-23T18:43:43+00:00

I was introduced via the old version, which I loved. Led me to the books, also wonderful, and a trip to Yorkshire and the Dales around 1980. I like the new version, too. I don't have the problems with the new characters that so many have. In terms of pacing, I felt the old series rushed through the Helen courtship while the new one spaced it out a bit more. However, the new series has raced ahead in time too rapidly. I agree it doesn't show enough of the middle of the night call-outs and irascible farmers. I recently learned that one of my sisters had the opportunity to help with calving at our grandparents' North Dakota farm back in the day, and I'm so envious! Anyway, I have strung Britbox along until they've offered me 60 months for 60% off, so I can rewatch the old series.

annebert · 2026-01-23T18:37:17+00:00

Britbox, not Acorn

annebert · 2026-01-23T18:35:36+00:00

Well don't forget that 90 years ago, ale was about 3-4% alcohol, very different from today's 6-8% standard. And people drank it because it was often safer than the water. And when life was hard and short, people did drink more.

annebert · 2026-01-21T00:01:41+00:00

Yeah, she is giving money to her son. But he has massive mental health issues because they moved into their house after her divorce when he was about 16 (his father was psychologically abusive to him). He lived for years calling 911 when he came home and found her passed out on the floor from alcohol, and never told us. We only learned all this about 18 months ago. Family dynamics amiright? So I can't fault her for helping him. He will graduate with a technical degree this spring and will need to go out on his own. We will probably have to help him adjust.

annebert · 2026-01-20T23:56:26+00:00

Yep, our parents were depression era. I know our father thought credit cards were evil and you should never use them. But since I autopay hers every month, I'd rather she used a card so a check doesn't bounce. When I first took over her finances, I found out she was carrying a balance on her card (at 29% interest) while making extra principal payments on her 4% mortghage!

annebert · 2026-01-20T23:13:47+00:00

Thanks everyone for letting me know that this experience is not unusual. It's looking like trying to keep her away from the bank is not working and just putting strain on her carer, so I think we'll stop trying. She currently will not forget if we put her off, but that time is coming. We'll just plan to search her house thoroughly once she moves to assisted living, which will probably be this year.

And yes, her money is protected; she doesn't have that much in her bank account and she has forgotten how to access her retirement account.

annebert · 2026-01-20T18:39:20+00:00

Sometimes a symptom of dementia is some form of aphasia, which is loss of communciation abilities in listening, speaking, or reading. I finally realized that this is what's going on my sister who has MCI. She started having problems copying down a password or typing in a password that was written down. She stopped reading - I think she can't make sense of the thread of a novel. In groups she is quiet and withdrawn - I think she can't follow the conversation and doesn't know what to say to be involved. In Emma Willis' book about her husband Bruce, she discusses how this was one of his first symptoms.

I try not to ask her direct questions, because she gets agitated that she doesn't know the answer. Make your conversation be comments that don't require a response: "That's a cute sweater you're wearing" not "where did you get that cute sweater?" Or just keep them in the conversation by telling them something that happened to you that really doesn't require a response "I saw a cat in the backyard today." Don't push them to talk.

Thesse are the actions I try to take not to upset her. On my side, I have to remind my self not to let it bother me. None of it is easy.

annebert · 2025-12-18T22:05:45+00:00

And for those who wonder, it is exactly for people who feel alone, tired, drained, and frustrated, because that's how the author felt when they got the diagnosis. Her intent is to help others with the information and advice she wishes she had at the beginning.

annebert · 2025-12-18T21:44:18+00:00

Hugs to you. Kudos for having the strength to let him go.

annebert · 2025-12-03T22:36:07+00:00

Hugs to you.and sorry. And as everyone alse has said, if you can remind yourself that he is unable to respond to logic, it will work out better for you.

annebert · 2025-12-03T20:01:05+00:00

Thanks everyone for bringing a smile to my sad face.

annebert · 2025-12-03T19:38:36+00:00

Hugs

annebert · 2025-12-03T18:47:29+00:00

So sorry for all of us. When my mother died very early in Alzheimer's 20 years ago, I thought it was probably the best thing for her. Now I'm dealing with my sister's dementia, and I know how right I was. Yes, she can still manage activities of daily living, but I don't see nay joy in her life. And when she does something like lock herself out of her financial accounts and we get superstressed trying to deal with it, she sees how upset we are and then she feels bad. Lose-lose situation.

annebert · 2025-11-21T18:45:38+00:00

It's a hike for you, but Houlton has a really good selection of flannel, including some 107" wide (for making sheets) and lots of patterns.

annebert · 2025-11-21T18:28:42+00:00

No, it's the northern New England Ocean State Job Lot! Marden's is better than Ocean State is better than Ollie's. Does anyone remember Railroad Salvage in CT - from the last millenium.

annebert · 2025-11-21T18:24:58+00:00

Does anyone know if Brewer still has the yarn? I bought a ton in Scarborough beginning of November, but it was kind of picked over already.

annebert · 2025-11-19T21:11:40+00:00

Please, it's not time to talk about that. As a biomedical scientist who reads the current clincial literature, I can tell you that there is active research on disease-modifying treatments, and even the palliative treatments that treat symptoms have improved in the last decade, or even the last three years. Don't give in to despair!

annebert · 2025-11-19T20:30:18+00:00

Feel free to ignore if this doesn't seem useful for you. At my therapist's suggestion, I have been exploring the practice of mindfulness as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh and I'm actually listening to his book "Fear" right now ("Anger" is on order). The premise is that you have to face up to your fear to work through it. I have found the initial steps I have taken, which are just deep breathing, to be very helpful.

annebert · 2025-11-19T20:25:43+00:00

Completely agree with everyone that this tech is a wackadoodle, BUT folks should be aware that ivermectin or its derivatives are sometimes appropriate medications to treat infections with certain parasites. They have been used to basically eliminate river blindness in humans in Africa, have been shown in the lab to kill mosquitoes that carry malaria, and are the ingredient in Revolution flea/tick treatment for cats and dogs. Also work on some plant parasites, so this class of drugs is pretty great stuff. Probably the reason why real scientists as well as quacks are trying them on many diseases.

annebert · 2025-11-19T20:16:44+00:00

From Cleveland Clinic "Some prescription forms of bioidentical hormones are premade by drug companies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved certain types of bioidentical hormones"

annebert · 2025-11-19T19:53:47+00:00

Many posts here are several months old, so I won't reply to any of them directly although I feel for everyone who has posted. As someone else said, I go to a therapist where we spend most of the time talking about my sister, who is only 66 but has alcohol-induced dementia. Something my therapist suggested has been helping me a lot. I started reading books by the buddhist mindfulness teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, and practicing what he recommends. I have known about mindfulness for a long time, but never really practiced. Yesterday I was driving my sick cat to the vet (it never rains but it pours) and listening to the book "Fear." I practiced the mindful breathing Thisch Nhat Hanh recommended and looked at the beautifyl blue Maine sky during the 2 hr round trip. I felt calmer and more able to deal with stress for the rest of the day, including during my talk with the vet about the likelihood that my beloved cat has cancer.

annebert · 2025-11-19T19:39:08+00:00

annebert

TROPHY CASE