Categories: uncategorized
Date: 05 January 2006 17:10:12
The last four days have been a real rollercoaster - Alton Towers has nothing compared to this! Someone at school this morning said "I don't know how you manage" and I had to admit that I don't either sometimes. Good job God's always around to keep holding me upright.
Monday was lovely as we had a sort of mini Wightmeet from the Ship of Fools - a visitor from Australia and four from the mainland. We DID Osborne House (a mini tour, to match the minimeet, as obviously the Isle of Wight is closed to visitors between October and Easter!) and a scrumptious meal in our favourite restaurant. Of course, the Cranium Conga game had to come out before the boys were banished to bed.
Tuesday we were back in school - how can the Christmas holidays be so short? They're over almost before they begin, and no time at all for doing the things I really need or want to get done. But it was nice in the afternoon to join my Australian visitor on a trip to Carisbrooke Castle, even if the donkeys were on their Winter vacation and the weather had turned far more typical of the UK in winter - in any time of year, actually, considering it was cold, misty and drizzly! Very nice to get in free with my English Heritage card, especially when we realised they'd let my friend in for free too, as my Dad is registered on my card as a senior citizen!
Rather distressing, though, to return home and discover my Dad's cough of the morning was not a "it's not fair you have visitors and are going out and neglecting me" cough as I'd suspected, but was a rather serious chest infection. As the evening drew on I realised that his high temperature was causing near delirium and he was being repeatly sick, so it meant an urgent call to the doctor and a transfer of two sleeping children and myself to Dad's for the night. His sofa is not quite as comfortable as mine, but not too bad in an emergency, though the gerbils proved rather a distraction and I can't say I slept particularly peacefully listening to Dad coughing and spluttering and groaning.
Wednesday I had the dilemma of whether to leave Dad alone while I went to school, the school being rather short on teachers. I decided to take the risk as the driver from the hospice would be calling, and also the district nurse. I got home to find the nurse had accidentally left the back door open (the catch doesn't work quite properly on the door) and Charlie had been in and terrorised the gerbils. It was a good 24 hours before they regained their equilibrium, much to my consternation. Dad was still very poorly, so I decided that we'd stop another night.
Today he's better - and with a vengeance. Why on earth have I been so assiduous in giving him his antibiotics - didn't I know they'd work? Could I just do this? Would I do that? He needs this. He needs that. The cleaner noticed it was very dusty behind and under the bed, so would I just vacuum it out please? The best bit was this conversation:
me: do you want any lunch Dad? How about some soup or some toast?
Dad: Yes, I'm starting to feel hungry again. I could eat a dinner.
me: Would you like me to do you a proper dinner?
Dad: No, on second thoughts, I don't want to overface myself. I don't think I really want very much. How about a jacket potato?
Me: Yes, I can do you that. Do you want cheese on it?
Dad: I'm not sure. Yes, just put me a bit of cheese on, I suppose. I don't want to overload myself.
Me: OK.
Dad: I thought your sister left me some minced beef in the freezer to have with a jacket potato.
Me: Yes she did, do you want one?
Dad: No, I don't want to overface myself. Just the cheese please.
So I go over and make him a jacket potato. You know, select a small potato as he requested, cook it in its jacket, cut it in half and cover it in melted cheese. Then I take it over on a tray. He thanks me "Is that it?" and I start to head home to make my own lunch when he calls me back.
Dad: I just wanted to say for next time, just so I don't have to keep saying it: When I say I'd like a jacket potato, I don't really expect just to get a jacket potato. I'd have thought you'd do some vegetables with it. A bit of broccoli or some peas.
AAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!! No, he is not wearing it. Not yet. But I am steeling myself to go round and see what he'd like for tea.