Twice this week, I have watched an elderly individual, fade into the busy life in which we all live. One man just needed Panadol for his wife but the shop assistant simply said it’s in ‘6’. But he struggled to navigate the supermarket and as I watched him go in the wrong direction, I left all my groceries and took him where he needed to go. Today, I watched an elderly man struggle in the heat, who had obviously had a fall with a huge scrape and blood on his leg. He walked past people in the cafe, while he slowly made his way to his car. Not one person stopped. Or looked. Or acknowledged him. I took him to his car and checked he was ok. He told me he had a fall and wasn’t sure how the air con worked in his car so he just didn’t use it. I sat with him, until his air con kicked in and heard him talk about the old frail body that he is in, that fails him now, every single day. When you see an elderly person walking down the street, searching in the supermarket or struggling to their car, take a minute out of your busy schedule and ask them if they need a hand. Think about your grand parents and your parents and how pissed you would be if someone didn’t stop to help them. But more, think of them as you. Once upon a time they were you. They were busy, they had work, they had children, they were able.... Today, they are just in an older body that is not going as fast as it used to and this busy life is confusing. They deserve our utmost respect and consideration. One day it will be you, it will be us. I wish more people gave a sh*t about them and acknowledged them for their admirable existence and geez I hope someday, not that far away, someone does it for me. Credit: Adele Barbaro

Free accomodation and food on th central coast this christmas.

living with my son has become a nightmare. Christopher loves himself simply because he has this steadfast opinion he is always right, regardless. fortuneately I do have a functioning brain and I am fully aware of what is happening around me. my sons bad temper yelling and stamping and bangng doors is re emerging after a spate of hospital visits. Dare I ask for somthing I need for my well being; like a cup of tea or breakfast after a sojourn in my cell Onsuite overnight/ not without a tale of woe and a song and dance from the bloke who when most people meeting him for the first time are greeted with his business smile. I'll poke this in for good measure. Between the age of approx 21 until aged 47 mr perfect had SEVEN different partners living with him. he has lived with me for five years and the previous 15 years in the granny flat down stairs; with my wife and I providing meals and services. Being hard of hearing is my nightmare, I have a whistle,emergency button, a call button for my son in the house, spectacles and hearing aid headphones all hanging around my neck during most of the time. on top of this with the odd meal times plus the strange food when left to him to decide. When we have visitors all is peace and quiet and then the niceness emerges, it leaves me wondering how two nice helpful people could begat such a dissident person. So any person friend or family who visit will not experience any of this peculier activity , all will be peace and quiet, we will have plenty of the necesarry food and drink and you may leave at any time or stay over. hope to hear from you soon. Grand Pa Les,

Back in Horse Piddle

My son, Chris, took the following two videos in my room at Wyong Hospital.

Note! You may have to press the play button twice to start each video.

There is another video, but it was too big to upload, so you will have to look at it here

The Last Post

I am sorry to say this blog will soon have its final post, this post may be my last. 

I would like to say "Thank You" to all of you nice people with whom I have been in blog contact over the past sixteen years.

Unfortunately, my health issues have become worse over the past two weeks, my mobility is at its lowest point; and I become dizzy after a couple of paces, I am using oxygen permanently. It feels like I  am falling apart; I have Kidney - Heart - Lung and Bladder problems, plus many other add ons to stir the mix.

I am still living? at home, where I have a comfortable environment and the necessary assistance,. I do not sleep well; probably due to loss of body activity. 

My eldest son Christopher will be the person to inform you of my final time on earth.  I need to lay down for a while right now. My best wishes to you all.

Vest Daily Gaggle, AKA.  Leslie John Bowyer. 

LOWES .Or should their trading name be SLOWES

I am back on deck once again after another stint in my local body repairing establishment. I have sent packing to St vinnies the tired clothing stuffing up my wardrobe,; and have bought new stuff . My most recent order on line was for four tops to replace the old rags. This order was finalised last Monday from a shop in the local shopping complex, and will I have been informed; reach me by next Tuesday, after a week in transit. thinking that it only takes 12 minutes to get to the shop in my electric buggy; or three mins in a car or one day by a legless blind person1 what the blazes are they using for their trasportation. 'Lowes' should tack on a large S in front of their trading name.

I have returned from my local hospital.

After Eight days of incarceration in a hospital bed without excersize except for those of visits to the toilet on wobbly legs and one nurse assisted, it is of little wonder I am back to square one with my mobility, Other horror occasios the recent Tuesday and Wednesday nights around 2AM freezing near naked in the toiet waiting for the nurse, those two occsions of misery approx 45 minutes.the first and the next at least 30 mins. This visit was intended to be similar to previous times, for a pump out job on the nether regions wherein excess Urine seeps. The previous occasion - the 4th I was in and out within one day, and all was well, and despite the hospital having all the details; the appointed Doctor whose name I cannot pronounce and brain I cannot believe has this song and dance tune on LP called "tomorrow I want to see you" on the flip side reads-a song, Its called "Paying off The MERC"." Having listened to his last lot of twaddle, I although weakened from my stay managed to escape but have lost my best reading glasses, the sorry details,will have to wait. in the meatime I am expected to carry an extra 2 litres plus liquid around of overflow; when the bladder only holds 500 ml. Try hanging that amount in a plastic bottle around your waist. I must end here at this point having condensed the problems; due to to feeling fuzzy and tired, I must rest. ......back later VEST DAILY GAGGLE.COM the first and the next at least 30 mins

The old rustic Bridge by theMill.

THE OLD RUSTIC BRIDGE BY THE MILL. I recall my Dad singing this song. Dad passed away in 1930 aged 40; due to a recurrence of a WW1 war wound in France on the western front. My dear departed Rosemary loved it too. div I am thinking tonight of the old rustic bridge That bends o'er the murmuring stream 'Twas there, Maggie dear, with our hearts full of cheer We strayed 'neath the moon's gentle beam 'Twas there I first met you, the light of your eyes Awoke in my heart a sweet thrill Though now far away, still my thoughts fondly stray To the old rustic bridge by the Mill. Chorus: Beneath it the stream gently ripples Around it the birds love to trill Though now far away, my thoughts fondly stray To the old rustic bridge by the Mill. I keep in my mem'ry the love of the past With me 'tis as bright as of old For deep in my heart it was planted to last In absence it never grows cold I think of you darling when lonely at night And when all is peaceful and still My heart wanders back in a dream of delight To the old rustic bridge by the Mill.

A new era for the 'The Daily Gaggle'.

Yes,it has happened. My senior Son Christoper has convinced me - mind you under severe pressure that is - that I should have a Facebook Account. This is apparently due to enormity of replies from my own plus his frequently published Face book pages. However, how I shall cope means that I shall have to employ him as a defacto (Dorothy Proops) to reply to the Multitude of mail expected. "What" - do not Know of Good old Dorothy? She must be on google somewhere. Despite being isolated, yesterday proved that togetherness can be achieved through other means like telecommunications and the like ( and you you dont to shower and dress plus travel to be with those who are dear to you, I quite often enjoy a one sided chat with my dear departed Rosemary - a secluded place of my home- followed by tears of remembrance. I would like very much to say THANK YOU, for the Numerous gifts - cards and calls to all of those concerned and to scores of Face book callers from all parts of the World. At the moment I am too tired to write more. See you soon. Grand Pa Les circa 1926 95.... Vest Daily Gaggle.

95th Birthday Photos

Grandpa's 95 th Birthday

Thank you; to those who have replied, there is still time to let me know if you can make it here , the Virus and the travel regulations hampering any activities. We are more or less in mid winter here in NSW Aus; the weather wet and cold,wrap up warm if you stay outside, dont forget to mask (except for the free nibbles and drinkies, plenty of that... after 1300 or 1PM, Friday 16th. BTW It was Friday 16-July 1926 ( "Friday's Child has far to go" Say's the legend. Got it right there. LOVE to see you. G P Les.

Half of a century has passed.

It was about 1 AM on the 5Th of July 1971. When the ship "Brittanis" Sailed from Southampton; on board was my wife and five sons, aged between 3 to 16 - Which coincided with My dear departed wife Rosemary's 37th Birthday. Eventually arriving in Sydney on the $th day of August. Rosemary went to Heaven (I am certain) four years ago, today she would be 87 years of age, and I still cannot get it out of my head that she has gone, "Love you Rose for ever and ever"..

It was nearly one month ago when I fell asleep at this desk and as a result suffered multiple bruising and together with a hand injury which peeled back about 25% of the skin on my right hand Well I am pleased to say it has healed well but has left a nasty scar across my hand, although I am causious about it's use I shall become accustomed to it over time... time er yes time. of course that may be several more falls I hope, plus a a summer or two. On behalf of my dear departed Rosemary , I would like to think That She would love the name of the new granddaughter "Rosie" Love You Rosie xxx. Congratulations Steve.

It would seem that the good old EMAIL is joining the ranks of the chalk slate and blackboard and soon to follow will be the news pqaper with the extinction of the writing pen and pencil to to be buried with their grand parents the Nibs and Inkwells, reminding oldies of their schooldays, well some of us. I shall do my best to grasp the new systems on offer which will enter into cyber space fron JULY One. But in the meanwhile I have to get my Son Chris to Question the Daily Telegraph why they are still charging me for an extinct account. I have been awake most of the night and after four weetbix and that hot cuppa I must stay close to the conveniences - It takes four paces to reach the desired sitting down thingy but the element of speed being missing from my travel a dummy run becomes the preferred option. Nah!! I said Dummy not Dunny. I shall be busy today with the cleaner and shower lady around noon, I may try to get some NOD time in before hand. Back soon.

Blogger Vest said... Thank you, Tim, EC, And Chris. My next life cycle hurdle will be to have enough steam or motive to get to the age of Ninety Five which will perhaps occur on the 16Th day of July; within three weeks and three days. My present Physical form leaves much to be desired, mostly brought about by a lack of sleep and other miscellaneous aches and pains, for example, I slept (sort of) from 9 30 pm last night until 12 midnight and had brekky at 4-30 am. Oh by the way I would be pleased if I had more relatives to thank for hands-on assistance; Christopher has taken on this task admirably and will be the sole winner on my demise this L W & T legacy will be confirmed by the already appointed ambulance chaser ie Legal Eagle. And for all of my relatives and friends, I wish you all the best in life deserving of your efforts and have the never-ending joys of your families. Time for another cuppa. Tuesday, 22 June 2021 at 06:38:00 GMT+10 Delete

Remembering you Rosemary on our 68Th Anniversary Love you Lots XXX.Les.

Dinner at Halekulani Bowling Club

I had a rump steak dinner with my son Chris at Halekulani Bowling Club in Budgewoi last night using our $25 Dine NSW Vouchers.

A Visit to My Wife's Grave On Mother's Day

I visited my wife Rose on Mother's Day (yesterday) with my son Chris, his ex, Ruth, and fresh chrysanthemums and roses.

Finally Able to Visit My Wife's Grave Again

I visited my wife Rose with my son Chris and fresh roses yesterday. I haven't visited for many months because I couldn't walk the distance across the cemetery. However, Chris got me a small mobility scooter that folds up and fits in the back of our station wagon last week. So no longer an issue. I could even follow him around while he did the shopping yesterday.