14th & 15th of June 2020 - Thinking of Uncle George....

Sunday 14^th of June - Daily Trials with Mother…… to be fair the last few days have been quiet, must be the ‘new’ TV or the fact that Mum can now watch her DVD’s that is keeping Mum busy.  Anyway I decide I will pop round for a chat and sit in the garden while Mum sits at the door.  Yes Mum is not doing too badly, although she doesn’t like all this enforced sitting around so she has been out busy picking all the dandelions on her side of the communal lawn.  She nods over to the other side and tells me that “they obviously aren’t bothered about theirs!”   I mention that the naturalists have been asking people to leave the dandelions so they can encourage the bees this year.  Humph goes Mum “More like they are too old and lazy to go out picking them as you hardly ever see them.”  So much for being neighbourly, Mum has only lived here six months now but no doubt she has made herself known in her imitable manner – as always.

Talking of moving, Mum then starts moaning about the fact that the council never plastered the walls in her garden room before she moved in.  Me – “Well it was December and did not start warming up until March, so not exactly the best time for completing outdoor plastering, then with the Covid situation obviously they haven’t been doing their usual jobs.” Humph goes Mum again “I think I will contact our MP Scott Benton”, so I add “It’s not really an issue for the local MP so why don’t you contact your local Councillor?”  Mum – “Well that’s no use; they won’t do anything if they haven’t so far?” Me – “No not the council, I meant the local Councillor Peter Hunter”.  Mum – “Well I spoke to him before the Lockdown.” Me –“Well ring Peter Hunter up again and ask where he’s got up too? He might even know if the council workers are now catching up on their jobs.”  We have a general natter and Mum asks if I managed to contact the Insurance Company about her TV.  Me – “No Mum I told you last night I spent most of Friday and yesterday morning trying to get through but the phone is either constantly engaged or they just put the phone down! At least you have something to watch in the meantime.” Humph goes Mum, before we get into any more discussions I decide it is probably best to go as this is usually a sign that she is not going to be any more cheerful, at least not while I am around.  However before I go she informs me that my sister Alison, who has lived in America for ten years, is moving back to Lincoln, UK and has her flight booked for 27^th of July.  I just smile while thinking (maybe I should see if there is sheltered housing in Lincoln that Mum could swap to! Wicked I know but I cannot help it.)

Monday 15^th of June ….Daily Trials with Mother …..Today would have been my Uncle George's Birthday, but he passed away in January so I know Mum will be thinking about him and his family, so I ring Mum to see how she is today. We talk about my Uncle and she tells me she is wearing one of his favourite dresses.  I am tempted with a comical reply but I decide against it as I know what she means.  Uncle George would always tell you if he liked you in a particular outfit, whereas my Mum seems to delight in telling you if she thinks something doesn't suit you!  Anyway she seems quite bright and I soon find out the reason why.  Mum – “The shops are open again today aren’t they?” Me – “Yes, but you cannot go out until the end of the month.  At the moment you wouldn’t want to go anyway as there will be enormous queues everywhere!” Mum – “Do you think so? Does everyone still have to social distance in a queue?” Me – “Yes and it’s recommended that you wear a mask too in shops.”  Humph goes Mum – “Well I won’t be queueing, you know me and my legs.  I can’t stand still.” Me – “Well it looks like you won’t be going shopping then as there will be queues for a whole yet and I am certainly not going shopping.” Mum – “Oh I was hoping you could go and buy my vitamins in town.” Me – “I can get them online!”  Mum – “Oh no they are far too expensive online! But talking of online, Cathy my friend says that she can access what is it? Oh yes you know that programme that I keep pressing by mistake?” Me – “You mean Netflix?” Mum – “yes that’s it she uses her daughter’s email to access it at no extra cost.” I hear alarm bells ringing in my head and know this is another problem that I will probably have to solve on a daily basis as my Mum is not good with technology and I know that it will cost extra, although that doesn’t bother me. It’s all the phone calls I will receive telling me about all the different programmes which she does on a daily basis now, but more so that it will become something else to go wrong! Yes if it’s not one thing it’s another!!