Originally Posted by Bocat

Hi everyone - thanks for all the replies.

Jonboy - my Mum and Dad have used Skype since my brother went to Oz in 2007. They have also now travelled to both Singapore and Australia twice but financially I don't think they'll be able to do it again any time soon. My Mum is terrified of flying so this was a huge step for her (not that she hasn't flown before but this was like a quantum leap for her!) They are both relatively healthy for their age and are not in need of a carer or anything at the moment. My Dad does have some health issues though and health care (or affording it) is another of his concerns about moving abroad.

I think my two main problems are that they are both just lost without their family around. Their kids and their grandchildren were their whole world and now we're not here. My Mum goes to a couple of social things - keep fit, swimming and an art class but my Dad does nothing.

Mum was upset the other day and said she just feels like they have no-one any more. It broke my heart. I think she could be more easily persuaded to move than my Dad.

Again - this leads me to my other issue - in years to come I couldn't live abroad knowing that my parents were living in a nursing home or being cared for by someone else. But I don't want to live in the UK and I doubt I'll ever persuade them to live with us. It's a no win situation and just really gets me down.

Joamelie - I may be sending you a PM for that moan soon!!

Bocat

Originally Posted by Adnams

Oh my goodness Bocat that just breaks my heart reading that. Please try and persuade them to visit you even if you have to force them by buying the tickets for them!

Originally Posted by Bocat

Hi ex reg

Don't worry - I'm sure Adnams said that in jest but I know that "forcing them" is not an option.

If they had a more full life here I wouldn't be so concerned. But they don't and they constantly tell me how much they miss being involved with their grandchildren etc and that they wouldn't have much to leave behind. They do have some close friends but no family.

I know that moving over with us just now probably isn't the best option for either of us but it has to be given some thought for the future.

Originally Posted by Adnams

Yes, absolutely Bocat, I didn't mean force them as in physically drag 'em on a plane. I meant that if you're given a gift of two plane tickets for a holiday visit it's very hard to refuse such a gift isnt it? And therefore that might "force" them onto a plane for a nice visit and get them out of a rut and alleviate some guilt? Plus Grandparents are great at helping out with the childcare. We just had a visit from my 75 year old mother in law who had a pathological hatred / fear of planes and had never flown until we got married in Bali. Ever since she has visited us every 18 months / two years.

Granted, it was a poor choice of word perhaps.

Originally Posted by Bocat

One (two part) programme about elderly people re-entering the workforce (as the Government now expects people to work til they are in their 70s

Originally Posted by Bocat

If any you can access BBC iPlayer there have been some really interesting programmes on BBC1 this week regarding elderly people.

Originally Posted by Bocat

Unless you use a slightly dodgy method!! We use overplay.

Originally Posted by Bocat

I don't think it's much though. Mr Bocat pays for it so I don't know how much it is. Every time I'm home I remember how much good TV there is in the UK so I think it's worth it!

Originally Posted by Bocat

There are a few in Singapore - BBC Knowledge, BBC Entertainment and another one I can't remember! Everything they show is at least two years old though - which is ok if you haven't already seen it - but quite often I have!