Chapter 114 - Returned from a Trip
I have been promoted. I am able to cope with the new triple hooked bras she is now using. Hooking her bra was the only involvement on my part needed this morning, even though she washed her hair and that small activity usually puts paid to much activity on her part for most of the day.
Not so yesterday. I was in "my" bathroom in mid-stream when she called on the CB radio in my pocket. Her voice sounded stressed. I fumbled to reach the CB, wobbled too much and well, it's for me to clean up. When I reached her in the other bathroom she was dripping just out of the shower, her back horizontal, hanging onto the handbasin, unable to move. She needed drying then complete dressing in the bedroom. There was a time when she would not leave the bathroom without being completely covered. Mid-morning she made the effort to attend our PD Group meeting, then lunch at the club, then super market shopping - she hanging onto the handle of the trolley and I pulling the thing from the front and that needed greater effort because one of its wheels jammed in proportion to the weight in the basket. She escaped to a bench seat outside while I man-handled the stuff at the checkout. I made the taciturn checkout girl laugh by saying Meals on Wheels must be easier than this. When presented with the $249 bill I said M on W would be much cheaper the girl pointed out that the taste would not be as good. I conceded the point. Then into the chemist for PD meds, when I suggested a discount for using my own pen (theirs is used by sick people) for signing I received 5 cents because I only had $1.95 loose change in my pocket (as well as $20 & $50 notes don't get the idea we are stony broke) to pay the $2 excess on Sinemet since we have reached our safety limit. Some time ago when she was living on meds we used to reach the safety limit by mid-year.
Last Sunday we returned from our trip north for the embroidery convention at a plush hotel. She attended all the sessions, the stage show on the Friday night (although my hearing suffered at the hands of the deaf mute who controlled the sound levels) but she missed the Gala Dinner on the Saturday night, after a long day in crowded sessions. We never attended the breakfasts, she not very mobile and the ravenous hordes we saw queuing at other times during lunch & tea breaks (there were about 400 there, 99.9% female) discouraged us. But we enjoyed the experience. We left behind at the hotel her bed pole we took with us, the hotel is mailing it to us. On the trip up we stayed two nights at Coffin Bay for her to recuperate, and in that she was assisted by a very helpful shop attendant, who encouraged her to buy more than intended, at an outlet of her favourite clothing stores. Before leaving that hot, sweaty city, we stayed two nights with old friends, visited my mother, then returned south on the inland route. A call from the Ugly Sisters detoured us to visit her Aunt so we spent two nights in the locality before coming home to low humidity conditions. Humid conditions have never been a favourite of mine but lately she tends to perspire continually, not in great drops, just enough for her skin to feel damp & clammy so clothes stick to her and that gives her great difficulty when dressing or raising her clothes in the bathroom. Even here at home where the air is dry & cool. Of course, the stress of tugging at clothes only exacerbates the matter, usually requiring my assistance.
Before our trip north we arranged an appointment with the aged care assessment people to determine whether we are eligible for emergency respite in case I take sick, need to visit aged rellies or am run over by a bus. A couple of pleasant ladies called on Monday, asked questions, took notes, filled in paper work and yesterday we received approval. We are not clear yet exactly what assistance is available to us, how quickly, at what hours but at least we are in the system so we must enquire about the practical details.
Xmas cards are piling up, we intended to phone everyone instead of replying in kind this year. The whole thing is too much of a chore. Peace & goodwill everyone. We have booked into the van park where we went last Xmas, don't know how long we will stay, even if we avoid Chinese restaurants this year.
Not so yesterday. I was in "my" bathroom in mid-stream when she called on the CB radio in my pocket. Her voice sounded stressed. I fumbled to reach the CB, wobbled too much and well, it's for me to clean up. When I reached her in the other bathroom she was dripping just out of the shower, her back horizontal, hanging onto the handbasin, unable to move. She needed drying then complete dressing in the bedroom. There was a time when she would not leave the bathroom without being completely covered. Mid-morning she made the effort to attend our PD Group meeting, then lunch at the club, then super market shopping - she hanging onto the handle of the trolley and I pulling the thing from the front and that needed greater effort because one of its wheels jammed in proportion to the weight in the basket. She escaped to a bench seat outside while I man-handled the stuff at the checkout. I made the taciturn checkout girl laugh by saying Meals on Wheels must be easier than this. When presented with the $249 bill I said M on W would be much cheaper the girl pointed out that the taste would not be as good. I conceded the point. Then into the chemist for PD meds, when I suggested a discount for using my own pen (theirs is used by sick people) for signing I received 5 cents because I only had $1.95 loose change in my pocket (as well as $20 & $50 notes don't get the idea we are stony broke) to pay the $2 excess on Sinemet since we have reached our safety limit. Some time ago when she was living on meds we used to reach the safety limit by mid-year.
Last Sunday we returned from our trip north for the embroidery convention at a plush hotel. She attended all the sessions, the stage show on the Friday night (although my hearing suffered at the hands of the deaf mute who controlled the sound levels) but she missed the Gala Dinner on the Saturday night, after a long day in crowded sessions. We never attended the breakfasts, she not very mobile and the ravenous hordes we saw queuing at other times during lunch & tea breaks (there were about 400 there, 99.9% female) discouraged us. But we enjoyed the experience. We left behind at the hotel her bed pole we took with us, the hotel is mailing it to us. On the trip up we stayed two nights at Coffin Bay for her to recuperate, and in that she was assisted by a very helpful shop attendant, who encouraged her to buy more than intended, at an outlet of her favourite clothing stores. Before leaving that hot, sweaty city, we stayed two nights with old friends, visited my mother, then returned south on the inland route. A call from the Ugly Sisters detoured us to visit her Aunt so we spent two nights in the locality before coming home to low humidity conditions. Humid conditions have never been a favourite of mine but lately she tends to perspire continually, not in great drops, just enough for her skin to feel damp & clammy so clothes stick to her and that gives her great difficulty when dressing or raising her clothes in the bathroom. Even here at home where the air is dry & cool. Of course, the stress of tugging at clothes only exacerbates the matter, usually requiring my assistance.
Before our trip north we arranged an appointment with the aged care assessment people to determine whether we are eligible for emergency respite in case I take sick, need to visit aged rellies or am run over by a bus. A couple of pleasant ladies called on Monday, asked questions, took notes, filled in paper work and yesterday we received approval. We are not clear yet exactly what assistance is available to us, how quickly, at what hours but at least we are in the system so we must enquire about the practical details.
Xmas cards are piling up, we intended to phone everyone instead of replying in kind this year. The whole thing is too much of a chore. Peace & goodwill everyone. We have booked into the van park where we went last Xmas, don't know how long we will stay, even if we avoid Chinese restaurants this year.
posted by Kilpike | 9:51 am
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