A little lighter of foot today. The slow pull of wheedling Mum out of bed wasn’t needed this morning. She’s at home, in her own flat, and I could rest, or get up, or run round the house naked, if I’d wanted to this morning. I could do whatever I liked!!
So, I took my time and made a delicious breakfast before venturing out for a walk in the lovely sunshine, dappling through the trees. I walked apace, mind you, as John and I were driving into Solihull to get his hearing aids sorted out, and I needed to get back home in time. He was in and out of the hearing centre as quick as you like – I had hardly started listening to my ‘Headspace’ meditation app when he was already bidding the staff goodbye. In these times, we discovered there isn’t much of a hold-up, or waiting in a holding area, as everyone’s appointments are well spaced out. So that worked well.
Home again, and no need to make two different lunches. We could scramble something together without worrying too much, so we chopped the last of the cooked chicken and some sweet chestnuts, along with a little sweet chilli sauce, and bunged it into paleo pitta bread. Yummy!
After lunch, we went over to Mum’s to fit a key safe, for the carers to use. Mum had had a good morning and was still relatively happy in her flat. We moved Aunty Mollie’s chair into the optimum TV-viewing position, fitted the key safe, and sorted out her food. Slight mix-up there, with Mum eating the sandwiches that had been made for her tea, instead of the hot dinner that had been brought at one o’clock. By the time we got there, at three o’clock, the food was cold, of course. Ah well, early hiccups.
Mum had us move her new chair several times. “Let’s have it on the skew,” she urged. So, we pushed it at angle. TV viewing position OK? Hmmm, no, let’s try it a bit further out away from the wall. Then: let’s move the table; now let’s straighten the chair up; now let’s push it back a bit, and so on. Until finally, she thought she was satisfied. ‘On the skew’ is what she wanted. She’d have to turn her head to watch TV, but I shrugged and allowed it. She was set on it. “This TV’s not much good though,” she remarked. Oh? What’s wrong with it? “Well, the picture’s too small.” We had to laugh. We have a humungous TV at home – it is huge. We treated ourselves a couple of Christmases ago as we weren’t having a holiday and it was our relaxation and pleasure as we were stuck indoors. Mum had clearly got used to having a very large picture right in her face, and the TV in her room looked titchy in comparison. We’re taking bets on whether she’ll get used to it or demand a larger TV. Any takers?
It felt like we were at Mum’s a while but, in fact, we were home by about 4.30, so John went straight into the garage to fit a plug, which had arrived in today’s post, into the dashboard of the Lotus. Ref: yesterday’s blog when he was threatening to got the motorist’s shop if it didn’t turn up. Thank you, Lord……. he, he, he…….
I spent a little while sorting out more bits and pieces relating to Mum’s care and phoning the care agency to clarify what was what. Pills…… easy to understand in a well-designed and well-marked up blister pack, you’d think? Those marked ‘Morn’ to be taken in the morning? Yes. Those marked ‘Eve’ to be taken in the evening, yes? No. The care agency understand that those marked ‘Eve’ are to be taken at bedtime. Even though there is a blister square marked ‘Bed’ – which, incidentally, is empty of tablets and clearly not required. I am confused of Coventry…… The agency has asked me to ask to pharmacy to put Mum’s evening tablets in the ‘Bed’ category. The reason? Ha! When they go between 6 and 7 in the evening, they class that as a ‘bedtime’ visit. Heavens above!! …….. Beam me up, Scotty!!
This evening, John caught up on some more ‘Luther’ viewing while I ‘Zoomed’ for much of it. First of all, I spent forty minutes chatting to the ‘Bibliophiles’. This is the Book Club I have joined, and I am thoroughly enjoying their company and reviewing the books I’ve read with them. They are so thoughtful about the books and looking into the authors’ histories, that it’s a pleasure to explore ideas with them. Then I chatted to the College Crew, with the exception of Lizzie, who was caught up elsewhere today – oh, and Janet, who joined us for the last seven minutes of the chat, having been distracted by, and was engrossed in, making masks. Everyone was in good spirits and three out of the six of us had had haircuts!! They looked very smart – and relieved – and said they felt better for having been to the hairdressers.
So, we’re nearing the end of the month and we expect the shielding advice to change. With the changes (as they are currently proposed) it means we will start to be a bit more independent and we will be able follow our own pattern and rhythm of life, although taking as many precautions as possible but not having to rely on so many people any more. John will be pleased. I might even let him go to the motorist’s shop.
Quite a lot of COVID-19 infections reported today though, 769, and still 53, all settings, COVID-19 related deaths, with one in a hospital setting yesterday.
Enjoy your holidays, those of you who are setting off this weekend or in the next week or two. But take care everyone. Keep your precious lives precious. God bless, and peace be with you.