Tuesday 2nd of February 2021 - Daily Trials with Mother & Antibiotics.....

 Tuesday 2nd of February 2021 - Daily Trials with Mother & Antibiotics.....

        Well what do they say starve a fever and feed a cold?  Hmm maybe that's why Mum was so hungry for KFC last time I wrote on Friday, January 21st.  Yes you guessed Mum fell ill that weekend, telling me she needed to ring the Doctor on the Monday and request some anti-biotics.  I replied that you cannot just ask for antibiotics and said that if Mum wasn't careful they would run out of anti-biotics, as she has had so many!  However that fell on deaf ears.  Mum said "Well if I hadn't had to drag myself out in the cold for the 2nd vaccination that didn't happen, I wouldn't be feeling so bad now!"  I replied "Mum you hardly dragged yourself out I drove you virtually from door to door, I couldn't get much closer unless I parked in the lobby at the Health Centre!  Don't you think you probably caught a chill when you spent half an hour buying two full carrier bags of shopping, in the freezing cold atmosphere of Poundland - who had to have their doors open even though the temperature was freezing - I think that might have more to do with it?!"  Humph went Mum and continued "Well I wouldn't have been at Poundland if You hadn't taken me for the cancelled vaccination!! 

        Mum continues "Anyway when I ring up to ask for my anti-biotics I am going to complain that they did not ring me to tell me the 2nd one had obviously been cancelled."  Me - "Mum I wouldn't do that, I am sure it was a mistake and the surgeries have  got enough on their plates at the moment."  Mum - "Well I think I should bring it to their attention as no doubt I am not the only one they let down and I really think they should know."  Me - "Mum if you're feeling that poorly I will ring 111 for you and take you to the Walk In Centre." Mum - "Oh no I'm not going there, as they won't give me a prescription, they don't know what helps me and I know I NEED anti-biotics!!" I continue - "Anyway Mum in the meantime make sure you keep sitting out of bed, don't keep laying in bed or you will end up with Pneumonia, then you will end up in hospital and you certainly won't be coming home if you end up going in there!!"  Mum - "Hmmm, well while we are talking if you're feeling well enough to take me there you can come round and see me."  Me - "Mum what part of Stay at Home do you not understand?" (I can feel my blood pressure starting to ping!!) Mum replies "Well your sister Michelle keeps coming round!" Me - "Yes because I am not able to come and do the things shes doing at the moment like hoovering round and cleaning at the moment. Plus Michelle's part of your Bubble at the moment."  

        Humph says Mum "Well she never does jobs properly anyway.  You know what the other day your sister said she had sorted out my Freezer, rearranging it all into different drawers so I couldn't find anything and you know what I found?" "No Mum but I am sure you will tell me!" Mum replied "a book of twelve second class stamps!!"  Me - "Don't you think those were probably the stamps that you said Morrisons hadn't delivered before Christmas? If you remember you rang up and complained and they replaced them, obviously they had got stuck to one of your freezer packs that you had back then."  Mum "Err well I don't know about that, I will speak to your sister as she was the one that rearranged all my packets." Me - "Well I am sure she will say she didn't put them in there."  Humph goes Mum.

        So Monday came and before I could ring Mum around lunchtime, Mum rings me in her most pathetic voice, "Oh dear you don't sound well Mum, are you okay?" Mum sounding a bit more like her usual self "Of course not, I'm not well, but I've rung the Doctor and they are sending me some Anti-biotics and some Sterioids (she always pronounces it like that), because the Doctor realises how ill I am!  Then I told her how I got this chest infection, through them not cancelling that 2nd injection!" I leave the phone on the table while she rants on as I feel as though I will explode! As I am sure the chest infection has more than likely been brought on by her Poundland trip, which my sister Michelle also wasn't happy about when she found out and told Mum in no uncertain terms that next time she goes for her 2nd injection she certainly will not be going shopping as she is supposed to be shielding and for a very good reason!! What if she had ended up in hospital?  Yes I have had it from both sides and don't wish to discuss this opportune shopping trip any more, although I keep reminding Mum about the folly of going shopping in the freezing cold!

        Yes a week later and Mum is feeling better, Especially as she has spoken to a very caring receptionist at the Doctors, firstly to make sure that they still have her name down for the 2nd vaccination, which she tells me is due around March 25th. Secondly to make sure that the Doctor passed on the message the her original 2nd appointment was cancelled.  I listen but shake my head as from experience I know what it's like to work as a Doctor's receptionist and despite the reassuring air they gave my Mum, I am sure they are just as exasperated as I am!  

        As I wonder whatever will be next, Mum rings me today to say she has bad  pain in her ribs and do I think it is remnants of the chest infection?  I tell her I don't know but if she is so concerned she should ring the Doctors again,  after I put the phone down Gary reminds me that I told her yesterday I was suffering with severe rib pain, all part of my Long Covid issues but with Mother who knows, we shall just have to wait and see.......  No doubt I will hear more tomorrow as I need to take her meter readings that Michelle forgot today and also unblock her Hoover which appears to be blocked maybe with all the Snack a Jacks she keeps dropping on the floor!!!!!

Friday 21st of January - Daily Trials with Mother & KFC....

Friday 21st of January - Daily Trials with Mother & KFC! 

Unbelievable!! Nine o'clock at night and I was just deciding whether to write my Blog or go to sleep when Mum rang me. "Can you order me some KFC? Morrison's didn't bring me any Duck's Legs and I will need some chicken for Sunday."  Me - "Mum do you know what time it is? Even if I order it tonight, you shouldn't eat it after tomorrow anyway and it will cost about £15 plus delivery online."  Mum, "Okay, well I Will eat it tonight and I want some now! but I don't know how to order it online."  I begrudgingly ordered said Chicken and let Mum know it should be with her by half nine at the latest! That's the time it is now but no phone call to say it's arrived but there again I did tell my Mum not to ring at night again and she is probably too busy scoffing the chicken by now!

I don't know why I am surprised, as she no doubt thinks things are back to normal after I took her for her 2nd vaccination yesterday, only because my sister was attending an audiology appointment.  So I said so long as I was okay I would take Mum.  Anyway off we went, only to find that she wasn't due to have her 2nd vaccination, as it had been cancelled!  Hmm while Mum thought she would still have her 2nd Jab due to her shielding, but it had been cancelled, although Mum swears nobody rang her to let her know. Of course!! So when she asked if I could take her to Poundland to get her make up and vitamins, I am sure you can understand why I nearly exploded and said "What part of Shielding or Stay at home do you not understand Mum?" " Well if you don't take me I will get a taxi or ask your sister to get this shopping."  So of course as my sister has a heart condition yes I reluctantly took Mum to the shop, all the time ranting that I hope she only picked up her shopping and not Covid as well!! Of course this went completely over my Mum's head as she said she was only getting her vitamins and make up, both of which she couldn't get from Morrison's. Of course she still managed to fill two large shopping bags, which even I couldn't carry and Mum wasn't impressed when she had to struggle to carry them into her bungalow.  Hmm maybe I should have let her get a Taxi and they could have taken her shopping to the door - note to self remember that next time.

I can tell you I came home in such an anxious state I bet my blood pressure was pinging away.  Now I will just be counting the days until I know she hasn't caught Covid and sincerely hope she hasn't as I told her today it would KILL her, that's if her KFC doesn't kill her off first - but who am I to know!! 

 

Tuesday 12th of January - Happy New Year! & 3 Little Words!

Tuesday 12th of January - Daily Trials with Mother & Happy New Year! ....

Well what can I say as it's nearly three weeks since I last wrote and that was before Christmas. Yes all went well at Christmas, Mum went to Michelle's and had a good day.  In fact a full day as she didn't leave until gone midnight as she couldn't get a taxi for over an hour and obviously everyone had been drinking so couldn't drive her home - "More's the pity" said my sister when she told me the tale. However at least there were no upsets and the rest of the festive season passed by fairly quietly (due to the restrictions), we went over to Manchester to have dinner with our two sons and Louise our daughter-in-law.  We only stayed a few hours but must say we felt really spoilt having dinner cooked for us, it was lovely just to go somewhere different.  Then on our return we delivered the presents that had been sent over from Manchester which was just as well, as we didn't know there would be another 'Lockdown' so soon in to the New Year.

        Boxing Day we had a second Christmas morning as Scott came round with Olivia to open their presents which was another lovely time.  Plus Olivia stayed a bit longer so we could play games and Barbie together, before we took her home and had a look at her super new Scooter that she got for Christmas.  All in all a lovely relaxed time and despite not being able to see all the rest of the family as normal we did have a nice time.

        One trial that we had before Christmas was Mum refusing to have her first Covid Jab, Why? "Because my mouth's so sore!" said Mum.  "Really Mum? Do you realise how dangerous this virus is?" To which Mum replied "Okay well I will think about it." Miraculously a few days later after speaking to my youngest sister Alison the Physio, who told Mum she should have the jab as soon as possible, Mum had rung the surgery back and booked her jab for New Year's Eve, let's just hope it brings in a better year with her jab!! 

        Otherwise I think it had to be one of the quietest festive weeks and New Year's Eve, yes Mum did have her Jab and said that it had made her feel so tired she may miss the New Year coming in, but she didn't!  As nobody was allowed to mix, so we couldn't even share a drink with our lovely neighbours, other than on the street, which we did at a distance just after twelve o'clock.  Then I made the mistake of ringing my Mum to wish her a Happy New Year, my husband says I never learn as this time last year she was accusing me of taking her raffle prize of £100 shopping vouchers! Which Mum found on New Year's Day 2020, without any help from me of course!! 

        So when we came back in this year, I should have known better not to ring Mum!  No sooner had I said "Happy New Year", Mum was asking me if I wanted the dimensions of her washing machine? Admittedly she had mentioned that her old washer had given up the ghost the day before, but I had said I would sort out a replacement in the New Year but not that early in the New Year!  Unbelievable!! I very nearly lost my rag with her as she would not stop going on about it even though I said I would not be looking on New Years Day and she would have to wait until I did take a look online.  In the end I just had to put the phone down otherwise I don't think I would have ever got to bed!  

        Plus the fact that Mum was asking me was all due to the fact that Michelle (my sister) and her husband Steve, had taken a broken Microwave (purchased in March) back to Curry's in November for Mum and got a replacement.  However Mum wasn't happy with the replacement (of course!) and because she moaned so much to my sister about it, Steve said they would never help her to replace anything else ever again!  Apparently she never shut up about it on Christmas Day!!!

            Unfortunately I wasn't well enough to go round (due to Long Covid), to take the measurements so Gary insisted I did everything over the phone which was even more trying at times.  I am sure the space for Mum's machine must be a lot smaller than the normal machine size as nothing in Curry's would fit!! Thankfully with Gary's help, we found another Hoover Washing Machine online at Argos. Mum had said it had to be Hoover, as Alison my youngest sister had told her that was a good make and would be much better than the last one she had!! Just a shame that my sister hadn't offered to order it too.  Grrr!!  However at least we got it ordered although I must admit I got in such a mix up while ordering it, I was sure I had given Mum's address for the delivery which was yesterday between seven in the morning and seven at night.  I just couldn't remember whose telephone number I had given, which was needed for the phone call, to let Mum know they would be calling an hour before.  I think Mum must have mentioned it everyday before the delivery day arrived and I just hoped and prayed that everything would go okay.  We had included the cost of taking away the old machine and the installation of the new machine (as we knew we wouldn't be able to do that) but my sister Alison had told Mum how another relation had had problems because the delivery men would not install their new machine, so I was having all sorts of nightmares as you can imagine.

        Yesterday, the delivery day arrived, my sister woke me at ten o'clock asking if I had spoken to Mum, which obviously I hadn't as I had only just woken up!  It seemed Mum was worried when her new machine would arrive, when I checked my mobile phone I had just received a text saying the Washer would be delivered between 10 o'clock and two o'clock so I immediately hung up and rang to tell Mum.  However after I put the phone down, I opened the message fully which said the driver would ring before arriving and that we should quote the 'what3words' address location to enable the driver to come to the right entrance.  I have never used this site before but duly looked at the page and saw the words daring.lion.race.  I rang Mum and told her if the delivery driver rang she had to say these three words.  As you can imagine Mum was really puzzled why she would have to say darling.iron.face!! "No Mum"  I said "those are not the words, it's Lion! as in roar like a Lion", "Humph" said Mum "well why didn't you say so" I carried on "and not Face but Race as in run a race!!" Humph went Mum again and I put the phone down as soon as I could as I thought they might ring. Then I had a horrible thought if my 'location setting' was on I had probably given Mum the wrong three words, so I quickly looked at the map to see not only were they incorrect, the location that was on the map was for The Strand in London! In my sleepy haste to give Mum the numbers I hadn't put in Mums address and so quickly relocated in the 'what3words' site, this time it gave me 'Landed.Crab.Stick' which seemed quite a logical saying but then I realised I could actually pinpoint the back door which meant it changed to Long.Cure.Steep. I quickly rang Mum all the time conscious that the delivery driver may ring at any time.  "Hello Mum has the man rung?" I asked, "No, although I don't know about these three words". said Mum. "Well forget those Mum, you need a different set of three words" I said all the while thinking this must sound like a scene out of 'Allo Allo!' "What?" said Mum, "just repeat these three words Mum and write them down"; 'Long.Cure.Steep' "right" said Mum "Leaf?Snore.Sheep"  "No, no no" I shouted as I thought we would never get it sorted, "not Leaf, but not short but 'Long'" "Okay" shouted Mum back "why didn't you say so?" "and then Cure as in cure a cold" I said, "oh right" said Mum "and Steep as in a steep hill, not Sheep!!" "Right" said Mum "I have written those down and I just have to say them when the delivery driver rings?" "Yes Mum." I was just about to jump in the shower when yes you guessed it, my mobile rang from the delivery driver, thankfully I had written down the three words and was just about to say them when he said "we'll be with you in five minutes, do you want it through the front or the back door?"  "The back of the bungalow thank you" I said "do you not need the three words?" "No" came the reply.  I couldn't believe it,  we went through all the palaver of the three words when he didn't even need them! Gary was killing himself laughing as he had giggled all the way through the three words conversation with my Mum.   I am sure the site must be of great help if you are stuck up a mountain with a broken leg.  However my Mum would never have been able to navigate that site, even if it was sent to her mobile in an emergency.  It was bad enough just trying to get her to mark down the three words I gave her.  

        Yes thankfully the lovely DHL men did install Mum's new machine and took the old one away without any problems other than struggling to get it in through the door, but they managed and it fits and works.  However Mum did ring me to say what was all that about with the three words? I told her that I would explain when I saw her but she did say she was disappointed that the writing on the new machine wasn't a bit bigger as it's very difficult to see the programs........ Grrrrrr

Tuesday 23rd of December - Daily Trials with Mother & Christmas

Tuesday 23rd of December - Daily Trials with Mother 

Well folks Christmas is creeping ever closer and though it has been just over a week since I last wrote I must admit Mum has been very quiet, well with me that is! I have to say I recognised the anger in my sister's voice as she spoke about the many ranting phone calls she has had from Mum this last week, either about the 'Crackerjacks' (Snacker-Jacks) Mum hadn't received with her shopping or the stamps that Mum so desperately needs before they go up on the 1st of January.  Anyone would think my Mum wrote a letter a day the way she was insistent that she needed the stamps now! and not on December 31st!!  

However today Gary and I popped round with Mums Christmas present, a bit early I know but I was feeling so lousy that Gary said probably best not to see what tomorrow brings health-wise otherwise we may never get her presents delivered.  I have to admit that seeing Mum once a week makes life a lot easier, less stressful but of course not easy for my sister.  However at the moment I am not fit enough to run around on Mum's errands.

In fact today I realised something, which it has only taken me nearly 63 years to know and that is that our Mum is not happy unless she is actually complaining about something!  Seriously, yesterday it was the fact that Morrison's had obviously got her shopping mixed up and delivered the wrong items, such as Duck Eggs that Mum never asked for and I forget what else.  As there were six wrong items it was obvious (to me) that someone had picked up the wrong order and mixed them up and someone is probably sat there without any Duck Eggs but several packets of Snackerjack Corned Crisp snacks!! Not really a fair swap. However the reason I say I realised today was because Mum handed me a letter to post addressed to Blackpool Coastal Housing in which she said she had complained about the neighbours feeding the pigeons and seagulls and wants the Council to do something about it!!  I mentioned that most of the council staff are on holiday now so it won't be attended to until the New Year and she replied "Well at least I feel better having reported it, you know you have to keep these people on their toes!!" A bizarre image of a Nazi officer sprang into my head punishing soldiers making them stand on their tip toes!! Thankfully I managed to stop myself from laughing as it was then that I realised all these years that is what Mum has been doing keeping my sisters and I on our toes while she has a fresh complaint each day!!   

Anyway have a Merry Little Christmas if you are reading this before Christmas, Mum is thankfully off to my sister Michelle's and no doubt she will have a tale or two to tell, my sister that is!!  In fairness it is my sister's turn this year and to be honest I wouldn't have been fit to cook for the three of us, so probably just as well.  Scott (our youngest son) is taking us over to Gavin and Louise's (our eldest son and his wife's home in Manchester) so we are looking forward to that.

I am sure there will be a few tales to tell after Christmas probably mainly about the little 'object d'art' that Mum usually gives one or the other of us, which usually gets put in odd places around the house to make others smile on the day.  I think one of the funniest items was a Bull that Mum had obviously bought in Benidorm and she thought it would make a lovely Christmas present.  Watch this space for more news .....

14th of December - Daily Trials with Mother & a Ducks Leg!

Monday 14th of December 2020 - Daily Trials with Mother

Well I know I haven't written my Blog since last Monday mainly because my concentration and brain off is not good, but apparently that's all to do with Long Covid! Hmmm However I must say I can tell it's getting close to Christmas as Mums daily phone calls have been ramping up, instead of our usual one daily chat, we are now up to five or six. 

Tuesday Mum was lamenting the fact that her neighbours were still not speaking to her or as she put it "Well I am still in Coventry!"  I wondered what on earth she was talking about, thinking she had actually packed her bags and gone, when I said "What on earth are you doing there?" Humph said Mum "For goodness sake I 'm not there, I mean my neighbours still aren't speaking to me !" Well what could I say? I decided to change the subject and said that I thought her decorations looked good when we called, to which Mum replied "Well Alison hasn't seen them!" Me - "Well no I don't expect she has seen them as she's in Norwich, have you thought of face timing her on Messenger? " Mum - "I can't work out what to do in my new tablet thingy" Me - "Well ask Michelle when she is next round".  Humph goes Mum and the next time my sister Michelle rings me she tells me how Alison our youngest sister has rung and asked if Michelle will film Mums Christmas decorations, as Mum keeps going on about them!  Michelle is that wound up she says "Anyone would think they were as good as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon!  I chuckle at the other end as Michelle is getting a taste of what we have had since March.

Thursday we have our usual round of calls, mainly asking if we have got one channel on or another. So when the phone rings at 10.45p.m. I am rather alarmed, Gary dashes through to pick it up as I am almost asleep, when my Mum sharply says to Gary "Oh it's you! I was hoping to speak to Karen!" Gary thrusts the phone in my hand and I ask " What's the matter Mum? " "I want your advice, you know I ordered my shopping from Morrison's? Well they have charged me for twelve second class stamps as I asked for them, but they haven't delivered them! "  Me - "Well there won't be anyone there now, I suggest you ring them in the morning." Mum - " Well I did that at six o'clock and they said they would ring me back but they haven't! " Me - "Well I suggest you ring again in the morning." Humph goes Mum and puts the phone down, no Goodnight no nothing! Grrr

Friday morning the phone rings at 9.30a.m. Fortunately I am up, so I answer the phone "Hello Mum, sorted your stamp problem out?" Mum almost screeches back " Well no I haven't but now my kitchen and bathroom are smelling, I think I have a blocked drain! " Me - "Well have you rung the council or pulled your cord?" Mum - I rang the council and the stupid girl there said because of Covid they would only come out if it's overflowing ! Me - "Well that's not good, are you sure it's not something gone bad in your kitchen?" Mum - " Of course there's nothing rotting in my kitchen! " Me "Well pull the cord and report it as there's nothing I can do. " In the meantime I also email Blackpool Coastal Housing and ask them if they will kindly send someone out to investigate, as Mum says the smell has had her awake since four o'clock when she decided to clean out her cupboards!  Later that afternoon Mum rings to say they have been out and cleared the drain which was blocked.  I thank BCH by email.  Crisis over hopefully...

Saturday Mum rings to say that the kitchen and bathroom still smell a bit and she's run out of Crackerjacks! I tell her the snacks are called 'Snackerjacks' Mum replies "Well whatever they are, I have not got any left and your sister was supposed to bring some." Me - " Well if she said she would I am sure she will. Although she still needs to go careful visiting the Supermarket, after all if she comes into contact with Covid she could be very poorly or even have to isolate over Christmas and then you wouldn't be able to go for Christmas Dinner! " "Well I don't know all these rules and regulations, you had better speak to your sister."  

Sunday the weather is atrocious and so both my sister and I say we will not be going round to Mothers, which she isn't happy about but understands and we have several telephone conversations about Strictly Come Dancing before the night is over. Dancing is something that my Mum could talk about for hours and having attended many Dance Festivals previously I am sure she thinks she could be a Judge on there!

Monday my sister Michelle rings to let me know that Mum has rung her at nine o'clock to say her bungalow is stinking and she has hardly slept due to the smell and her mouth hurting because it's full of ulcers! Probably from all the Snackerjacks she keeps eating!  Michelle rings me back later to say that she has solved the smell problem; Mum had left a Ducks Leg (that she had taken out of the Freezer), on top of the Fridge which had thawed out and stunk the place out!!  Oh my goodness did it stink! I called round in the afternoon with some Febreeze, which I sprayed around for twenty minutes to get rid of the smell as my sister had already cleaned down the side s and of course the top of the Fridge Freezer.  Of course Mum denies that she put the Ducks Leg up there as she reckons she everyone cannot reach the top of the fridge! I say "Well I know I haven't left it there!" as I haven't been round for over a week. Humph goes Mum and with that I decide it's time to go. ....

Monday 7th of December 2020 - Daily Trials with Mother, Christmas and her Visitors !!

 Monday 7th of December 2020 - Daily Trials with Mother, Christmas and her Visitors !!

        Well I know I haven't been on my blog for over a week but I am sure you will not be surprized when I say I don't seem as wound up with Mum now as our main contact is through the phone.  However I still worry that my sister is actually still visiting shops to pick up items that Mum has forgotten each week on her Morrison's shop, such as her 'Snack a Jack Toffee flavoured Rice Cakes', which of course are essential items!!  I have never known anyone eat as many, apparently she has chomped through twenty packets since last Saturday and that's without her teeth in!! So goodness knows how she manages to eat them, I despair, because if you suggest it might be those that are making her gums sore, her reply is "Well what do you expect me to eat as a snack?"  After she has told me that she simply had to get up at four o'clock in the morning to have some soup as she couldn't sleep due to the pain in her mouth! I mention that maybe just a warm drink would help, but Mum humphs and tells me that she can only get back to sleep by eating something!

        As it happens I have been round to see Mum as my sister took her electricity reading so I could register it, but when it was approximately 170,000 more than the previous reading, I began to get really worried!! Thankfully as it happens Michelle had taken the reading off the Solar Panel unit, which I didn't even realise was in the same cupboard but you learn something new everyday.  So thankfully Mum will not be receiving an enormous electric bill or I would definitely know about it!!

        We have managed to put our Christmas Tree up inside and also put the lights on the outside Tree, although when I told Mum that was all we had done this year, she said "Oh dear, are you not putting out any of your snow scenes?" I replied "No Mum because we simply haven't the energy to get all the boxes down from the loft and nobody would see them anyway as we won't be able to have any visitors like we normally do." Mum - "Well I want to get some decorations up and I need my card hangers putting up, so maybe you could help me when you are next round as your sister said I would have to wait until the weekend as it was too early.  I don't know what's happened to you all this year, you normally like Christmas"  My reply when we had this conversation was "Well we are still in November Mum and I have already told you we haven't much energy still. Besides this Christmas isn't really going to be the same as usual." Mum "Well when I went to the Dentist the other day I bought some bottles of booze." Me "What for Mum? We must have moved thirty plus bottles of wine and mainly spirits when you moved last Christmas so why did you need any more?" Mum - "Well I only bought cheap booze ready for the visitors." I can feel my blood pressure starting to rise as I try to reply calmly "But you can't have any visitors Mum, have you forgotten about the Coronavirus and the Tier 3 restrictions that don't allow visitors to other houses?" Mum - "Yes but Christmas week three households can meet up." Me - "Well I think that is meant to be the same three families or groups not three different ones each day!"  Mum - "Well I don't know I feel like a prisoner, I am sure I would have more company if I was in hospital!"  (Little does she know, as the only time I saw anyone was to do observations or bring water or food and even then they were in and out as soon as possible)  I put the phone down before I say something I shouldn't and simply bury my head in my hands as I know Mum would be a nightmare if she caught the virus.

        When we pop round on Sunday 6th of December, to check the electric reading, Mum tells us that she has already tried to book her Covid vaccination at the Doctors and is indignant that they wouldn't let her book an appointment!  I mention that they said on TV that everyone that would be given a vaccination in the first wave would receive a letter directly from their surgery.  Humph says Mum, well I don't know (in that silly little girl voice of hers!) but I hope they don't forget me!  I glance at Gary and roll my eyes and think well how could anyone do that?!  We remark on the decorations and card holders that Mum has up on the walls, as it does look lovely, Mum tells us that her friend Tracy came round to put them up, I shake my head at Gary as I know he is tempted to say Tracy should not have been visiting but I know that would set Mum off.  I have to say that I am grateful that it is my sister's turn to have Mother round for Christmas Dinner this year, I really don't think Gary and I could cope if she was at ours for Christmas Dinner.  Hopefully providing we are well enough we are supposed to be having dinner with our sons, who we haven't seen properly since we all fell ill, so it will be a lovely to see each other but no doubt Mum will be expecting a visit whether we feel up to it or not......

Saturday 28th of November - Daily Trials with Long Covid, Mother & Christmas Trimmings!!

Saturday 28th of November - Daily Trials with Long Covid, Mother & Christmas Trimmings!!

    Well I have to admit I haven't been writing as much lately but when there is not much you are able to do and there are not many calls from Mum all the days seem to roll in to one.  Thankfully the TV Licence problem was resolved, well at least Mum found the letter confirming she has a free licence, so at least that should satisfy any unwanted calls at the door.  I did email a complaint through but I still haven't received a reply, something Mum asks me about everyday but of course as I tell Mum most of the staff will be working from home.  Humph! says Mum every time!

    However we have still had our usual daily telephone calls, while we try and deal with what appear to be the effects of 'Long Covid' or that's what the Doctor thinks, yes I actually saw my Doctor face to face.  While Gary has managed to drive down to the prom' and walk from the Glitter Ball up to South Pier, my energy only extends to a walk to Common Edge Road and back as my energy winds down and my body literally gives up!! It certainly isn't good and trying to get my Mum to understand that is virtually impossible.  As Mum's solution is well get Gary to drive you round then you can come and visit me and when I say to do what? Her reply is well to have a chat (which she knows full well we usually do on the phone most days) and then says maybe you could put my Christmas decorations up too!! I tell her that there's no way I could do that and that we will probably only have our tree up and any cards we receive.  Mum replies "Well I need more than that up, surely you will have your usual Christmas scenes up?" I reply "No Mum, one because we feel we cannot get all the boxes down out of the loft that we usually get down but also who would get to see them? as nobody can have any visitors!" Mum says "Well you could have three families there at Christmas, I don't even know what I am doing for Christmas yet! I think I will invite Miss Ogden round so she isn't on her own!"  I feel like screaming but try to keep my cool and reply "You know you're going to Michelle and Steve's for Christmas dinner! It's all arranged as Michelle said she had invited you."  Mum "Well what are you doing?  We have been invited over to Gavin's but we may not even go if we are not well enough."  Mum "Oh well you can come and join us at Michelle and Steve's then!"  Me - I don't think so as I think Stephanie and Tom are going there too, so that will be nice for you.  Humph goes Mum!

    My sister rings while I am typing so I take a rest, which is much needed I admit, as I could just fall asleep after this mornings short activity.  Michelle as you may remember is not well due to a severe left ear infection which has been treated for four weeks now and doesn't seem to be getting resolved plus Michelle should be shielding due to her having a heart condition but she is still picking up the items that Mum has forgotten off her list!! I almost explode when I hear that Michelle has been in B&M's to get Mum a mop (apparently Michelle broke Mums mop last time she was round there) and of course some Toffee Snack a Jacks - Mum's latest fad!  Michelle arrives at my Mum's and presents her with a new Squeegee Mop, Mum immediately turns her nose up at it and says "I don't want that, it's one of those American mops.  I never liked them when I lived there and I am not about to use one now! Anyway I have managed to mend the one You broke! I have put a new handle on it!  Where's my Toffee Snack a Jacks? (Toffee coated Rice Cakes)" My sister says "I am sorry Mum I forgot them but you should be able to manage as you had five bags last week when I got you them, so you can't have eaten fifty packets?!" Mum replies "Well I only have only got one packet left as those are the only thing I have been able to eat with not being able to put in my teeth!! You know I have lost the cap off my only tooth?"  Yes this happened the day after I had a tooth out, Mum incredulous that Gary had to take me by car to the dentist round the corner.  However one positive note is that the ulcers in my mouth are starting to heal, hmm hardly surprising looking at the black tooth the dentist took out of my mouth!  Although it certainly is sore especially since I seem to have developed a dry socket and the dentist says it will take quite some time to heal.  Of course when Mum rings to say she has lost the crown off her only tooth I am not surprized, although I am rather surprized that Mum can manage to eat her favourite Snack a Jacks without her bottom dentures in and a broken crown!!

    My sister said she took one look at the carpet which was covered in Snack a Jack crumbs and said "Well obviously despite having no teeth presumably you have been sucking them, whilst breaking most of them up on the floor!"  I don't think I have heard my sister as exasperated as she was today and I know how she feels as Mum's carpet is constantly covered in crumbs and whereas before she used to always blame Bill her late partner now she lives alone she can't blame anyone else.  Plus with the lockdown there is no visiting although she tells Michelle that it was probably Miss Ogden's fault as being alone she has invited her to 'bubble with her' and as she is only semi sighted so cannot see what she spills.  My sister said "Well obviously she's not the only one!!" 

   "Anyway" Mum says "what are we going to do about my Christmas Trimmings?" "You mean decorations?" says my sister, Mum replies "Well anyway Karen says she cannot come and put them up, as She usually does and I cannot get any pins knocked into these walls so what shall We do?" My sister told her "Well it can all wait until next weekend as it's not even December yet and I don't care what other people are doing, it's far too early to be putting up decorations up, so you can wait."  Apparently my Mum mumbled "Humph I will be asking you to take them down as soon as they go up at this rate!!" I can tell from my sister's tale that Michelle is not impressed and I apologise that she has had to carry the torch with Mum's chores and I truly know they are chores!! "Don't worry" says my sister but I tell her I do as I worry about her getting the shopping, as I know if she catches this virus it will kill her and that's the truth.  It really is a curse and I sincerely hope no more of my family or friends catch it.  Really do take care Friends and Stay Safe and Stay Well......