A Mum Day

What with one thing and another I haven’t seen my Mum for three weeks. So, after I’d done a few jobs around the house this morning, I thought I’d better just go and check up on her this afternoon.

As it turned out, she was in bed, still in her nightwear. She hadn’t felt great this morning and so had refused to get dressed and hadn’t wanted much to eat all day. She was pleased to see me however, and pleased with the flowers and chocolates that now seem de rigueur to take along as a treat each time I visit. Her little eyes lit up at the sight of the chocolates and she tentatively asked if she was allowed one. “Of course you’re allowed one, Mum!! You’re allowed as many as you like – they are all yours,” I replied. So she had four, and smacked her lips as she ate them. I think she felt better already.

We had a bit of a chat, and she couldn’t pin down why she felt unwell. All of the suggestions were met with a shake of the head. Eventually, she said she’d got a bit of a tummy ache. “Do you need the loo, Mum? Might feel better?” Absolutely not. No, she did not need the loo.

About ten minutes later, mid-conversation, Mum said, “I think I’ll go to the loo,” and hopped out of bed, as sprightly as you like. She was in the bathroom a while, humming her favourite song: ‘I was born under a wandering star…’ to herself. When she came out, I said, “Is that better?” to which she nearly jumped out of her skin, startled, her hand on her chest…….. she had totally forgotten that I was there.

Anyway, the upshot of it all was that she felt a lot better, thank you, and we carried on chatting and laughing and enjoying each others’ company. We looked at photos of the family whom she repeatedly didn’t recognise from one picture to the next. “Who’s that?” she’d say. “That’s John,” I’d answer. “Oh…. well, it doesn’t look like John. He’s changed, hasn’t he?” Or: “Well, I wouldn’t have recognised him!” Turn over the page, and there’s John again, to the same question and the same answer. Bless her.

I sent a photo of Mum to the Chapmans in Oz and Gail made me laugh when she texted back: ‘She looks the fittest “not well person” we know!!‘ Indeed she does.

Maybe Mum is just getting old. The care home staff told me that she does like lying on her bed more and more. Well, I told them, I didn’t mind, if she was happy. And they assured me she is, and absolutely no trouble at all. Good news, eh?

The latest update on Gail, by the way, is that she’s doing OK and just starting her 3 weeks of radiotherapy treatment, following the chemotherapy. Not too bad so far, although still rather tired……and still on my prayer list……dear Gail, she’s such an amazing person, staying strong and getting on with it. At least, that’s what she’s telling us anyway!

Back here in ol’ Blighty, however, when I got home after visiting Mum, John was still outside wrestling with the jet-washing/cleaning of the drive without a mask again. I grumbled at him and brought him out a medical one, to which he said he’d got a proper one on his table in the lounge. Well, it ain’t much use there, is it? Anyway, I took it out to him and felt happier that he wasn’t going to breathing in all the mud and fungus and bacteria.

Fear struck in my heart though, when John came in, seething. He’d lost one of his hearing aids. A common occurrence when whipping off a mask – remember the story of a trip to the shops, anyone? Oh, gawd. I was to blame. I’d made him wear a mask. “There’s two buckets full of mud that you can search through, if you like,” John suggested. “Or it’ll most likely be down the drain by now.” Eeesh……..

I went outside to have a look. Nothing. Nada. De rien. “Where did you take your mask off, John?” I asked, as I came back indoors. “In the garage. I put it in the boot of the Elan.” Right…. I went to have a look there.

Phew!! My life was saved. There it was…… Thank you, St Anthony.

Mind you, St Anthony wasn’t a great help in finding he £40 cash that I’d accidentally tipped out of my bag when I took Chester a walk tonight……but I’m grateful that the hearing aid has been found. Life’s bad enough without John having to struggle to hear us all.

And there we are….. the day is done, with a cherry on top because it was Strictly tonight! Always lightens things up to watch that programme. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea and I think they are making a bit too much hype of it, but I do enjoy watching the dancing. Great fun.

The COVID situation stays much the same. 31,348 people reported as infected today. 122 people died in the community. I know I’ve said all got to say about it all before…… but grrrr……. it still makes me mad!

Take care everyone. Keep yourselves and those you love safe. God bless.