All change….

Tally-ho!! It seems like everyone is on the move! Paul and Harriet move tomorrow, Mum moved into her care home today, Malcolm and Caroline have finally found a house they fancy, Nigel and Hazel have chosen a nice rental while they search for their next home, and Michael and Danielle have their eyes on Jersey. Not only that, but Paul sent us a ‘house for sale’ that he thought we might be interested in today. That gave me the collywobbles….

I’d like to be outside, looking in. I’d like to see what you see. I’d like to know whether moving might be a good thing. Regrettably (or not, depending on how you look at it), I am extremely attached to our home and, although it may be time to think about ‘sizing to our needs’, I am not sure I want to take my mind there just yet.

Anyway, Mum was finally transferred across to the care home today but, of course, when she got there she wasn’t happy. She didn’t want to be there. She thought she was going home…..ouch. The home had asked for the full month’s supply of Mum’s pills, but the hospital hadn’t got them ready, so I agreed to make the trip across to Warwick then to Coleshill to collect and take them. That meant that I was able to see Mum for the first time in a week.

I wasn’t allowed in so I stood outside her window, shouting and gesticulating in the hope that it would make her transition easier. I think it did, but she spent the whole time repeating, over and over again, “I don’t know what’s going on,” – no matter how many times I told her that she was going to be looked after until she felt better. An economy of truth might be on the agenda for a while…..

Mum looked rather dishevelled, still in the gown supplied by the hospital, and covered in bruises – the aftermath of her fall. I think her hearing aid batteries were dead because she had trouble hearing what was said, but she was delighted to see me.

Oh, but I so wanted to go into her room and sort her things out for her, feed her and tidy her up. I don’t think anyone had combed her hair or cleaned her teeth for a week. I had taken a few things over to the home the other day in the hope that I could put her clothes away and set a few of her familiar things out, but no. Not allowed in. And the sandwich and cup of tea, so carefully prepared for her when she arrived, were just sat on the side…..the former beginning to curl and the latter stone cold.

Ever the optimist, I thought someone might pretty her room up and put her clothes away for her, but her suitcases were just lain on her bed and nothing familiar in the room. Apart from the suitcase, that is. “Is that yours?” she said to me, clearly recognising the suitcase. “No, it’s yours!” I replied. She nodded, as if she remembered.

In between times, we saw the Sutton Sleaths this afternoon as they came over for an garden visit. I was, as usual, in my element with William and Thomas. John, as usual, was chilly, so we got out the patio heater and the heated blanket. A couple of hours of bliss. But it all goes too soon, and we were waving a goodbye in what seemed like five minutes after they’d arrived. But what a boost to our souls. Wonderful.

I am not yet relaxed. But I hope to be soon. Let’s hope the COVID figures keep steady or come down. Might feel a bit more relaxed then.

• 2,672 people tested positive for the virus today
• 30 people died with the virus in the community in the last 24 hours
• 15 people died in hospitals with the virus on 13 & 14 April

• And it’s Day 18 since the lifting of Lockdown 3;
• Day 4 of our new, limited freedoms;
• Day 388 since Lockdown 1; 
• Day 394 since our self-imposed Lockdown 1

Take care everyone. God bless.