Categories: uncategorized
Date: 24 February 2005 20:11:31
It's not often I get to feel really jealous of the Smudgelet, but tomorrow I reckon that'll be one aspect of my thoughts, although the other half of me will be remarkably glad I am snug and warm by the fire. Why? Well, tomorrow is the day when the Isle of Wight welcomes home her illustrious hero Ellen McArthur. It's funny how you can feel proud of someone you've never met, just because she happens to live in the same county as you, but her achievement is pretty amazing and she seems a pretty decent person too, so the "welcome home" celebrations are something it'd be great to be part of - and Smudgelet's going to be there! The council have hired a boat and are taking Smudgelet's class out onto the Solent to greet her. He was excited enough when he was just going to wave from the shoreline - but now he knows he's going in a boat, he's ecstatic. He got his clothes ready tonight - he's going to have to be wrapped up like the Michelin man as it's going to be absolutely freezing out there!
Note to self : don't forget he needs a packed lunch!
I have to add how rather pleasant it is to be told by your child's teacher what a delight he is. I mean, even when you know it's not true really ;) She commented on his "wonderful curiosity", his "enthusiasm for maths" and his "wicked and rather sophisticated dry sense of humour". Spot the proud maternal glow :D
This afternoon was a trial and I am still not sure whether I did right getting the man from social services round to explain about accessing help in the future and how the finances work. Dad did an excellent job of persuading him how fit and well and capable he is. Wish he could do the same for me sometimes - the other night he was really put out when I suggested he might cope with boiling himself a mug of soup! (I made him do it, non-the-less, but he was not best pleased and it was made abundantly clear how little I understand how difficult it is for him!). I could have strangled him actually - It was impossible to make it clear to the social worker that Dad was talking in the past tense when he said that he was able to do everything for himself - the cleaning, the cooking, washing, shopping, sorting his finances, walking as far as he needed.... and the social worker took it at face value of course. At this rate they'll be taking away his blue badge for the disabled parking and his attendance allowance for all the things I do for him. And neither Dad nor the social worker seemed to grasp the fact that I am not talking about needing help NOW... I am talking about knowing what the situation is for the future so we can make informed choices (with Dad having as much say as possible) rather than crisis management if things deteriorate. And, of course, I was sounding out what provisions might be available if I'm taken into hospital but without letting Dad know that that's actually an imminent possibility. So both seemed to come away with the impression that I am trying to put Dad into a home against his will. AAAAAAGGGHHHHH! Still, he'll get over it, I think. Probably tomorrow, seeing as it's his birthday!
Four more days until D-Day with the cyst - my appointment with the doctor when he gives his verdict. It's not easy keeping it secret until then when my abdomen feels so incredibly tender and I have to keep adjourning to "powder my nose" ! I am actually spending a large proportion of my time in the bath at the moment. So what's new? ;)
Hmmm.... and when I heard the sad news that Tiddles' best friend at school was leaving and moving to my school instead, I didn't quite reckon with the fact that he might be becoming part of the family as well as part of my maths class. What fool was it that suggested he might like to come home with me on a Monday night, go to Scouts with Tiddles, and then stop overnight before returning to school with me on a Tuesday? I'm sure I never said that... did I?