9th of June - Very trying day with Mother!

Tuesday 9^th of June ……  Well what a day! 8.30 am and I had a call from Mum, which was very early and set my alarm bell ringing immediately as I am not always awake at that time.  However straight away Mum asked “What time are you coming round?” Me – “Well possibly about 10 o’clock after I have loaded the car up with the bric-a-brac from the park, I haven’t even had breakfast yet and I was worried there was something wrong when I answered the phone.” Mum – “Of course not, I just wanted to know when to expect you only I will have a cheque ready for the Hospice.” Me – “I am not collecting that sort of donations; we are  donating items to be sold in their charity shops.” Mum – “Oh well I will keep mine for our local community centre, anyway don’t forget to bring my rake and grass rake back then.” When Mum moved to sheltered housing I took those tools to the park for our volunteer group to use, but obviously Mum needed them! 

Mum continues – “Make sure you do as I am going to rake the weeds out of my neighbours grass, she is in a wheelchair and cannot do the garden otherwise she will fall out of her wheelchair!  It’s a shame she doesn’t have more garden, as it would look nice.” Me – “Mum don’t go busying yourself around other people’s houses as they may like it the way they have it.  After all you said your friend cannot manage and if she falls out of her wheelchair she will end up in hospital.” Mum – “Well she doesn’t want to go there, that’s for certain! Anyway bring me those rakes and maybe while you are here you can have a look at my light or take it away and get another one. In fact while you’re here my Tele keeps going off ”  I don’t even mention that I shouldn’t be inside at this point, even with my Covid mask and gloves on as it would be a waste of time!!”

I come off the phone and my husband says I sound weary, not a good sign at this time in the morning I suppose.  However Gary says “I tell you what why don’t we go round together later, when you replace your Mum’s bulb? We’ll get the sleep timer sorted and even connect the DVD.” Me – “Really, what about the social distancing and us not supposedly being allowed inside?” I ask as Gary has been a stickler for the government rules right from the start, but he shrugs and says “If it makes life easier it will be worth it, won’t it.”  Which it will as Mum has missed her DVD during lock down but that was purely because she insisted on having her TV on the wall when she moved, then both Gary and Mum fell ill so the DVD never got connected before the lock down.

Later that morning I popped round with the rakes and collected the faulty bulb, so I can replace it.  Whilst there Mum calls out, “Take a look at my Death Lillies, they don’t look very happy! Do you think I have watered them too much?”  Me – “Hmm possibly as they had plenty when I planted them plus the compost you insisted they had, so don’t think they needed any more.” “Humph” goes Mum…… time for me to leave as I really don’t think there is anything more I can do for the Lillies.

Gary and I pop round later; we fit the light over the bed without any problem, then with a bit of manoeuvring, shifting Mum in to another room while we roast in our Covid masks and gloves.  Next we start to remove the TV from the wall, definitely a two person job; however the first Scart lead does not work with the DVD player so we have to remove it again.   We duly lift the TV off the wall again and Gary asks me to hold my end and rest it on Mums wall unit whilst taking the weight. Five minutes later, a slight cracking noise, one Scart lead and DVD connected we fix the TV to the wall and switch on, only to find that I have accidentally cracked the screen!! Gary and I look at each other and say “Oh Nooh” together whilst in the background Mum shouts “Is everything all right?” 

As you can see, it most definitely wasn't okay!! What a nightmare!  However I must admit Mum handled it well when we told her, probably because Gary said we had a spare TV (not the same size) but added we would bring it round as soon as possible! One hour later our slightly smaller TV is on the wall and the DVD is working, I know as I left a Michael Jackson DVD inside. Mum says "Ooh its a good picture and a Samsung! that's a good make." We show Mum how to use both controllers then go home to get our Tea.  I speak to Mum yet again on the phone “Everything okay Mum?” Mum - “Yes its marvellous, is the Michael Jackson DVD yours? It’s incredible, I don’t believe he committed suicide; he is so amazing when he dances. Nobody would kill themselves when they can dance like that.  I am sure he was murdered!!”  Me – “Okay Mum, the DVD is actually yours, glad you are happy  with the TV." (for once) and add  "As it was an accident you might be able to claim on your insurance?” Mum – “Well that’s okay you can sort that out, can’t you?!” Hmm fair comment I suppose seeing as I was the one who broke it!