Here is a typical little scene of when Anthony/Husband comes home for the day:
I hear yelling outside as I am preparing lunch. I hear the slow chopchop of the axe. More yelling – Son to Anthony. I hold a grrrr tight in my chest.
Then, like a constant re-run of an old episode ….
Son (running into the house in a panic): Mum – Dad is trying to chop the wood again! He won’t stop!
Me (stirring the fish mornay for lunch): Is he okay?
Son: Yes, but what if he chops his leg off?
Me: If he chops his leg off we will deal with it. Just stop yelling at him. Let him do it – please – let him do it.
Son: Well do I supervise or what?
Me: Only if you don’t yell at him.
Son: Grrr!
Anthony usually manages to chop enough wood to start a fire in the fireplace before exhausting himself. Before he moved to the nursing lodge we would have a fire going 24/7 because he feels the cold so badly. But, when he isn’t here, Son and I don’t bother because, until next February, when Son’s spine is totally healed from the operation, he is not allowed to do things like chop wood, lift heavy objects, ride his motorbike.
So, except for when Anthony is home, that pile of wood remains unchopped and the fireplace unlit.
The warmth of Anthony’s presence is much more than metaphorical!
jmgoyder 
like you last line – I think you are right to let him chop wood
It’s scary but worth it because he loves doing it when he can!
I think you’re right as well! What the heck is fish mornay???
Aha! Many moons ago I wrote a post about fish mornay – you will have to find it – hehe!
for the first time i see a difference between my brother and Anthony. Anthony can’t get warm enough, and Al sweats all the time, no matter what the weather.
Temperature seems to be yet another Parkinson’s symptom – or, rather, the inability of the body to respond in a normal way to temp. – dunno!
i believe it! Al can barely sit up without falling forward if nothing is there for him to lean against.
It really is a weird disease isn’t it!
I’m glad you let him chop the wood. It must feel so good for him to be able to do something like that for a little while.
Yes, I always just let whatever happens happen and cross my fingers. I have now learned that Anthony will be okay for around 2 hours (be able to walk around the garden, chop wood etc.) before the slump hits and he becomes literally paralysed.
I’m amazed that he can still chop wood … they don’t make them like that anymore! 🙂 Julie, you remind me so much of myself with many things, the fish mornay being one of them. When my son was young and I worked a nursing shift on Tuesday evenings I used to cook fish mornay every Tuesday for the family evening meal because it was so easy. Needless to say they got sick of it after a few years! But I still love it.
He can only chop for about 10 minutes – ah, another fish mornay person! Why are you ‘Anonymous’?
I don’t know why that’s anonymous … I hadn.\’t even noticed … must be gremlins!
So who are you? This is interesting!
It’s Ingrid
I thought you were a stalker – hehe!
It’s Ingrid
You may have to learn how to chop wood, Julie. Or hire someone…
I’m a good wood chopper but I have always left that to him!
Used to chop wood for the wood burner in Arran as there was no gas suppply on the island, apart from calor gas. It’s hard work chopping all that wood.
Is it very cold in Perth just now? Its very cold in Glasgow and its supposed to be summer!
This weird weather means we are probably just as cold as you at the moment!
It is supposed to be warm and sunny but it feels like it is March. Was supposed to go to the Isle of Bute today with my wildlife ghroup but it was cancelled because of teh torrential rain and the ferry being off.
Instead I have upgraded my computer, installed the new modem and set up the new WiFi.
Seems like we are all getting torrential rain!
So, for Anthony, home is where the hearth and heart are.
Usually, but today it didn’t work – oh well!
Anonymous was me – Ingrid… I don’t know why it’s doing that and my comments dont’t seem to be going through just now
Ah you are Ingrid again!
I think it’s because my email address wasn’t in the box – it usually goes in automatically but didn’t that time for some reason … sorry to disappoint you (about the stalker!)
Haha!
You express so nicely, the last line captured me.
Thanks and Love, nia
Thanks Nia once again! You are such a champion! Juliexxx
” If he chops his leg off we will deal with it.” – love your attitude to life, Julie 🙂
Well I am rather glad he didn’t chop his leg off – haha!
bluebee beat me to it – I just love your statement, “if he chops his leg off we will deal with it”. My poor mum was such a worrier, always thinking “what if?” She could come up with a thousand horrors, and usually only one ever happened – and not even a horror when it did.
There are enough things claiming our energy – false worries should be poofed!
On the other hand it is rather a relief that he didn’t chop his leg off!
This made me laugh. Family dynamics at their best.
yes!
I can feel how this would literally be heartwearming. Nice post!