29th of July 2020 - Mum's not well

29th of July 2020 - A week of further Daily Trials with Mother ....  Well I decided to not write more than once a week from now on, as I do not want to bore everyone with my trivial daily problems with Mum, although I think this next week will prove to be very trying!  No, not because Mum will be able to go out from Saturday 1st of August onwards, which I doubt she will be able to do as Mum is not well. Hmm I am pretty certain she hasn't got Coronavirus but she may have a chest infection that is affecting her breathing pretty badly.  I am not sure what has brought this on but she has been fairly wound up worrying whether my sister Alison would make it back from America, but I am glad to say that the 'golden girl' is back so hopefully she will share some of the load if only by phone as Alison has moved to Norwich.

            Otherwise my Mum has been getting herself wound up mainly about the garden.  When we delivered her shopping last Thursday, we noticed that the lawns had been mowed and made the mistake of commenting on it. As Mum replied "Yes, but look at the mess, they don't use the 'Sit & Ride' mower at our side and so they have left grass all over the place." I replied "Well the front looks all right" Mum replied "Yes because Suzanne has been out and cleared it!" I replied "Well that's how they mow the lawns now Mum, even down at the park, they leave the grass to dry and die." Mum replied "Well it's not good enough and I am going to complain!" As we had an appointment we couldn't stay and clear the grass but thought it would still be there the next day, how wrong we were!

            Friday Mum rang me quite early telling me how she had already rung the council to complain about the gardeners mowing the grass and leaving the clippings behind but also that they needed to come out and shape the beautiful weeping willow tree that sits in the back garden.  I told Mum that I would pop round and clear the cuttings, "You're too late!! I have already cleared it all, well the grass at my back not everyone else's of course but that's why my chest is so bad!  You know I shouldn't be out in the wind and it was quite windy this morning!" Me - "Well why did you do it then Mum?" Mum replied "Well I didn't know when you would be round!" Me - "Okay Mum I will pop round later and see you."  I pop round later but as Mum says there isn't really much to talk about, except that she has decided to have her front room and bedroom decorated.  "By whom?" I ask because Gary and I will not be attempting it not with the front room that is still cluttered plus we know it would never be right!! "Well I have had a quote of £200 for each room, plus I have to supply the wallpaper, what do you think of that?" "Hmmm I am not really sure Mum as I haven't paid for a decorator in a long time." I replied, "but I don't think it is a bad price for two young men to complete the task."  Mum - "Well I am not paying that! well not unless I have to, plus I need to go to B&M when I can to buy some more wallpaper for one of the rooms." Me - "Well not until August 1st."  Humph goes Mum..... and I decide to leave while I can.

        Saturday the weather is awful so we have a day at home cleaning, etc but as Sunday looks as though it may be a bit better I tell Mum I will pop round with a chicken that she wants me to cook that she bought and I froze the other week.  I decide to add some cooked carrots and roast potatoes too, Mum rings and says "Don't forget the gravy!" I reply "It's a cook in the bag chicken Mum so the stock will be in there ready for you to mix."  Mum - "Oh okay"  I take the chicken round just after 12 noon, I expect to stay for a chat but I am immediately dismissed by Mum, who tells me she is starving! Yes I should know nothing comes between Mum and her food unless she is very poorly!

        Monday I ring Mum and I am surprized when Mum doesn't sound 'with it' I cannot put my finger on it but her speech does not sound right and though she is asking me to go and get her 2 loaves of bread and some Flarin capsules which apparently are miracle workers for inflammation but kind to your tummy! I really cannot believe that Mum has polished off 2 loaves of bread one which we got when we went shopping and another that her neighbour kindly got her!  I mention this to her and say "I thought you were cutting down on bread?" Mum replies "Well I have to eat something!"  Anyway Mum appears okay maybe a bit tired and slightly breathless, which I say I think she should ring the Dr to speak to her about it, however Mum says there's probably no point and anyway she doesn't want to end up in hospital!!  I get the shopping and sit and chat trying to talk Mum in to speaking to the Doctor but I do not manage to persuade her.

        Tuesday 28th of July I receive a phone call from Mum just as I have gone to get some Birthday cards, Mum rings and says breathlessly "I thought I had better tell you I have spoken to the Doctor and he's sending a prescription for me, but if my breathing gets much worse he told me I should ring 999." then puts the phone down! I ring Mum back as I am naturally concerned and offer to go round and put Mum's nebuliser on.  Mum replies "No it's only to be used in emergencies. Anyway I am going to bed!" Me - "Well I would think this is one time you should use it."  Mum replies - "No leave me to sleep I have been told to rest so come round later." I leave visiting until later that afternoon, but I am concerned to find Mum still in bed and her breathing is obviously not improving probably because she has been in bed so long although she soon tells me it's because she hasn't received her prescription yet!  However that arrives just as I am getting the Nebuliser out.  Thankfully this relieves Mum a bit, although not before she has spilt the first dose down her front after fiddling with the mask and undoing the doser."  I feel like screaming but calmly open another dose and insert it, switching it on and finding that it's a job to stop Mum talking!! "Just sit and relax Mum" I tell her, "that way the medicine will be more effective."  "Hmmm I was hoping to go out soon but I suppose that will have to wait!" says Mum.  I can see it is going to be a long week.....

            Wednesday 29th of July, I ring Mum before I go to the Park, but she does not answer so I presume she is still in bed. I ring her again from the park at 10a.m. and she tells me she was still in bed earlier as she was up having her first breakfast - like she usually does - at 6 a.m.  Mum then tells me that she is just about to have her proper breakfast so I say I will call later. Mum says "Well leave it until

later as Kaileigh is coming round with some lunch for me, I told her I would like some chips and curry sauce."  Hmm maybe Mum is okay after all, although that thought is quickly dashed when I hear from my niece Kaileigh that she has left Mum as she seemed very tired and out of breath. So I pop round and suggest putting her on the Nebulizer, thankfully she agrees and seems much better.  I also manage to connect her TV to the internet, no I don't link up Netflix but put YouTube on and Mum finds a walking tour around 'Rome, which Mum is more than happy with ..... for the moment!

        

22nd of July 2020 - "I can't be rude when someone asks me my name!" (Scam calls - Grrr!)

22nd of July 2020 - Daily Trials with Mothers and Others.....

Tuesday 21st of July - Daily Trials with Mother and Others ........the night before at 9.30p.m. we receive a call from Mum that her around knee is hurting and asks what she can do, I suggest pain gel and painkillers, both of which Mum says she has tried, although she says she hasn't taken any painkillers since the morning. So just when you think hopefully the week is going to get a bit better, Tuesday morning my Mum rings me just as I am about to have breakfast, although I don't realise as my phone goes to answer phone while I am in the bathroom. I pick up the message from Mum "Hello Care-en (as she calls me when she really wants something) don't come rushing round but I am not well. Sheltered Housing have told me to stay in bed and rest my leg. Oh and I have also been told that the internet is being hacked in this area, so I need to go careful!" I ring back as soon as I can "What do you mean the Internet is being hacked?!" Mum - "Well I rang you to tell you about my leg but as I said I had a call about the Internet" Me - "When? Who from?" I ask quite irately but I am really getting wound up with the constant scam calls Mum is receiving. Mum replies "Calm down I didn't give him any bank numbers as You have my card!" (Thank goodness - I think!) "He only asked if I use my laptop or iPad for my banking or ordering on line and seemed disappointed when I said no." Me - "Hmm I bet he did! But you didn't tell him anything else?" Mum - "Well no apart from my name and I said I only use my iPad for Messenger to talk to my daughter Alison in America and my granddaughters in Blackpool, well not just Blackpool but you know what I mean"  "Nooooh" I almost scream down the phone! To which my Mum replies "Oh don't be so dramatic I was only talking to the man, I can't be rude when someone asks me my name, can I? After all he was only making conversation."  I know I should have more patience and realise for Mum who is feeling lonely it is just someone else to talk to, but still very annoying! "Anyway can you go to the Chemist and get me a support for my knee, it is really painful!" As I am meeting my sister to discuss what has been happening lately with Mum and the phone, in the hope we can find a solution, I tell Mum I will pop round just before lunchtime. 

        I meet with my sister, Michelle but we don't reach anything much, my sister thinks its funny that Mum rings with her tales, while I seethe.  I do pick up a knee strapping and call round to see Mum and put it on.  Whilst there I pick up a piece of paper and decide to write out the list the man at the bank suggested. I am in the bedroom with Mum, who is still resting, after me putting on the strapping.  I start writing the list; "Do Not answer the phone to any number you do not know!" "Do Not give your name, address or any phone number to anyone" "Do Not under any circumstances give your bank details out!"  Mum asks what I am writing and when I tell her, she says "Well that's absolutely Stupid!" I reply "I will tell you what is stupid, pressing the number 1 on the phone when told to do so, giving your name and other information out when asked!! I am Not the one that's Stupid, it's You!!"  I have to leave before I explode, I really cannot believe that Mum keeps getting these calls and still answers the phone and gives out her personal information like giving kids sweets! Grrr! I spend the afternoon with Olivia and her Mum at a park in Lytham but don't say much about Mum when questioned as I know how hard it is for Jamie-Lee having buried her own Mum in March.  On the way home we go past the house that they hope to move to and stop to speak to the builder working there.  All seems good and there is a great sense of fun in the car as I drop them off.

            I have only just met up with Gary at Curry's to look for a new TV, as ours has given up the ghost, when Jamie-Lee rings to tell me the House has fallen through, but for good this time as the Bank has said that the builders work isn't good enough and the house could be condemned!! I feel so sorry for Olivia and her Mum as they were feeling so happy about moving, but that's definitely off the cards now and I try to tell Jamie-Lee that things happen for a reason.  Jamie-Lee and Olivia start unpacking the boxes that have been packed for almost 3 months!!  

            As its a lovely evening Gary and I decide to go for a drink in the Beer Garden at the local Pub, our first proper drink out since the pubs opened.  Inside it seems very strange, as tables are not allowed to speak to others and there is a new way of ordering.  Once outside it doesn't seem so bad and it is lovely sitting in the sun and chatting, although not so good thinking about going home to make tea.  However we have more of a snack, which is probably a good idea as I obviously need to lose weight - according to Mum!

            Wednesday 22nd of July - It's drizzling but I decide to go down to the park to do some gardening in case it stops raining, thankfully it does ease off.  I ring Mum to ask how she is, "Yes, my knee feels a lot better, but I think I need a sturdier support.  By the way I was thinking have you been to the Highfield Social recently? Only I haven't got my 2020 membership card yet as 'Lockdown' happened before I could pick it up." Me - "No we haven't been to the Highfield Social Club Mum, I honestly don't know whether it has even opened up yet as a lot of clubs haven't, even the Conservative Club isn't open yet." Mum - "Oh I thought everyone would be out in the Pubs and Clubs now." Me - "No Mum because there are still precautions and limits on the number of people you can have in such places. Plus don't forget from Friday everyone has to wear a mask when they go in to a shop or enclosed inside space." Mum - "Well that won't affect me, I cannot go out until August 1st!" Hmm don't I know it and add "Well you will have to wear a mask then, when you travel on a bus or go in shops."  "Hmm I thought you might take me to B&M's to get some wallpaper for the front room." I cannot believe Mum is even considering redecorating as she still hasn't sorted out 80% of the stuff she moved into the bungalow, there isn't room to even stand a wallpaper table let alone anything else.  I come off the phone shaking my head as another volunteer arrives at the park, takes one look at my red face (probably due to my blood pressure) and says "Mother?"  

            Thank goodness I am on the park as it gives me chance to work off my anger as I dig and weed the beds.  Just as well.  Thankfully Gary is off work this afternoon  and we have decided to meet up with my cousin Maurice and his lovely wife Eleanor for lunch.  We decide to meet at the Italian Orchard, our second visit this month but it is too good to pass up.  Of course I do not mention it to Mum as I know she would not be happy that she couldn't join us.  Still as Maurice mentions, my wonderful sister Alison will be arriving back from America next Monday.  Alison is my youngest sister, who is the apple of my Mum's eye and can do no wrong, apart from the time she decided to emigrate to America ten years ago.  However now her husband's grandchildren are growing up they have decided to return and live in Norfolk so they can see more of the family, well more of Paul's family anyway.  Maurice and Eleanor ask about Mum, they know what she is like but like many others find my tales about Mum hilarious! Although Maurice adds that they realise it must be very trying for Gary and I, especially with the scam calls.  Maurice asks me what I think would make Mum really happy?  I honestly answer, "I truly don't know, as nothing is sadly good enough and add that Mum's song should be the Jenny Lind song 'Never Enough' from the film 'The Greatest Showman'" I think they get the message!  We decide to change the subject and talk about the current Covid situation as many areas around Maurice and Eleanor's home are at risk of having a 'local lockdown' due to the rising number of Covid sufferer's, which is really worrying.  Hmm it seems we are not 'out of the woods yet' and all hope a vaccine is found and agree that none of us will be going abroad anytime soon.

        We all enjoy a delicious meal with wonderful company, as Maurice is always so funny and entertaining which provides a much needed break from everything happening with Mum.  I ring Mum when I get home and say that I think she needs to change her number and make it x-directory. Mum replies "Oh no, I am sure there is no need for that. Michelle your sister said just to say why have they rung me because I am on the Telephone Preference List"  I reply "Well like the Bank said you can expect many more calls of the same! Bye" I put the phone down before Mum says anything else.....

19th of July onwards - "I think you've piled the pounds on!"

19th of July onwards -  Daily Trials with Mother ......

      

        Sunday morning, 19th of July, Gary leaves me to sleep while he goes litter picking in our local area, as we both ended up in bed and asleep early last night after playing with Olivia for most of Saturday.  I enjoy a long sleep until the Home phone wakes me and yes it is Mum! "Hello is that you Karen?" Me yawning - "Yes Mum, you woke me up." Mum - "What? You do realise it is 11 o'clock?" Me - "In the morning?" Mum - "Of course! What on earth have you been doing?" Me -"Sleeping!!" Mum - "Well anyway I have just rung up to tell you that I have moved the plant you put in for me, as You put it in the wrong place!" Me (Feeling cross) - "Well how did you do that, as the only reason I planted it was because You couldn't bend down to plant it! Anyway you saw where I planted it, why didn't you say something yesterday?" Mum - "Because I didn't look properly until you had gone.  Anyway it didn't look right." Me - "Well of course not, nothing is ever right for you!" Mum - "Oh don't be like that!" Me - "Why, I should be used to it by now!! Even Gary and Olivia said you wouldn't be happy where I had planted it!" Mum - "Well you're just being ridiculous now."  Me - "Well I should know as nothing has been right for you for the last 63 years!!" I put the phone on the side and let Mum talk to herself for a few more minutes as I know it will just wind me up more, I then pick the phone up and say "Anyway Mum I better get my breakfast and get dressed." Mum - "I should think so too, when will you be round?" Me - "Not today that's for sure!"

        Monday 20th of July - I decide to ring Mum later on as I am gardening down at the park, however Mum rings me half through the morning.  "Hi Karen, I thought I had better ring you, I am not feeling so good." Me - "Why what's wrong." Mum - "Hmm I just feel tired and my knee is aching. Anyway I was wondering do you know anyone who has a spare black plastic bin, as you know I have a spare lid." Me - "Well what are you going to do with it, if I get one which I very much doubt." Humph goes Mum "I will store my compost in there." Me - "Leave it with me."  I manage to find a black builders tub at the park that I know is spare, wider than a bin but hopefully useful. Although when I take it round I suggest to Mum that she puts the compost in the planter on wheels which is now empty of the plant I moved.  Mum says "Oh yes that's a good idea and I will use the tub as a Planter. Anyway I am glad you came you can plant those Pink cuttings you gave me, they can go in front of the plant I moved, although you will need to remove the weeds from the bed first."  I growl and Mum just looks "Well it won't take you long, you are in your scruffs anyway. Hmm those Jeans don't look good on you, I think you have piled on the pounds!" Me - "For your information I have been gardening at the park and I was hoping to go home get a shower and relax!" Mum - "Well it won't take You long."  Yes I begrudgingly do the gardening task but as Gary says I know there will be another before long.......

 

Saturday 18th of July 2020 - When will you install my Garden Storage Box?...

Wednesday 15th of July - Daily Trials with Mother.... Well thankfully that day ended better as I actually managed to order the Keter Garden Storage Box that Mum has wanted ever since the start of Lockdown. The fact that she hasn't got permission to put one in yet doesn't matter of course, as she tells me several others have got them in their gardens or alleys. I don't mention that I have ordered it until I know when the delivery is happening.

Thursday 16th of June - Daily Trials with Mother.... Well we take our time to get up as we don't have to rush out for Mums shopping. That's being delivered by Iceland later this morning. In the meantime we await news on my friend Pat's Covid Test, which I expect to be negative but await the result. Little realising Pat has sent it through at 6:09 earlier that morning! It's not until Mum rings me just after 11a.m. (by which time I know Mum should have had her shopping delivered). Mum - "Hi Karen, I thought I would just let you know that the man from the council is here and he has given me permission for my garden store." Me - "That's good because I have just ordered one for you." Mum - "When is it being delivered?" Me - "Tomorrow afternoon." Mum - "Good I will start sorting my stuff out to go in it." Me - "Woah, it needs assembling first." Mum - "Really I thought it was delivered assembled?" Me - "No! It takes 2 people to assemble it, so you will have to wait until Gary and I can come round." Mum - "Humph! Okay I will ring it arrives, bye." Me - "Mum just a minute did your shopping arrive?" Mum - "Yes! But they sent 10 Doughnuts!! I will have to put some in the Freezer." Me - "Well that's the only size they do and that's not a problem is it?" Mum - "Hmmm we'll see." Hmm that probably means none will go in the Freezer! 

       In the afternoon we go for a walk with Jamie-Lee and Olivia, who are still waiting to hear if they will move to a new house but after several set backs, it's not looking good and I feel so sorry for them. Covid has a lot to answer for, while Boris thinks a lot is back to normal, it seems many Solicitors, Banks and Estate Agents are still working with skeleton staff so House Sales are definitely slow. I realise how lucky we were to get the House Sale completed for Barbara, when we did.  Such a shame that their House isn't ready for renting when they said it would be. However we enjoy a good walk plus Olivia builds a sandcastle with her Pappy on St Anne's Beach, which Olivia Loved.  We have a great afternoon before we all return home for our teas.

        Whilst sat relaxing Mum rings "What time did you say my order is arriving?" Me - " They said p.m. so from 12 noon onwards, but just so you know we have got Olivia coming to  stay tomorrow,  so if it arrives late we will have to install it Saturday." "Humph" goes Mum and says "Okay I will ring you when it arrives." 

        Friday 17th of July.... in the morning we go gardening down the park with six other volunteers and get loads of weeding done. No bodies favourite task but after three months of no action there's lots to do! Of course Mum rings while we are there and asks if we can call to empty her Hoover, hopefully not full of grass this time!! I say we will call on our way back. Mum says "and what about my storage unit, how am I going to get that assembled?" Me - "I told you Gary and I will do it as soon as we can, possibly tomorrow afternoon." We call on our way home to empty a jammed Hoover, which takes a while to empty but once done we go home. At half past two Mum rings while I am on the phone to my sister, she leaves a message. "Ring me as Soon as you get this message, my box has arrived for assembly." Almost an hour later I put the phone down to my sister and ring Mum back to say "Thanks for your message, but we only have an hour before Olivia's arriving, so we will pop round tomorrow when Olivia's gone home." "Well I suppose I will have to wait and hope it doesn't go missing!" Me - "Well lock the gate Mum and cover it up, we will be round asap." I can tell Mum isn't impressed but as Olivia will soon be with us I don't think it will be fair to drag Olivia round with us." Olivia arrives soon after and is ready for her 24 hour challenge! It's really a 12 hour challenge which we will be doing altogether in Olivia's bedroom, Tiana style!! It's not often that Olivia stays but when she does its 'all action' !! Nobody gets to sleep until 11.55p.m. and then I do not sleep well on the bed in the spare room. Gary slips away to our room and 4 hours I follow, to be awakened by Olivia at 8.20a.m. when Olivia decides it's time to play a Prank and use a lipstick on Gary and I - which she thinks is hilarious, writing 'Prank' on our foreheads and giving us rosy cheeks.  All good fun!

 At least Olivia slept most of the night on her own in her bedroom and she is happy as it means she won the 24 hour challenge, which also means she has won a Toy Gift Voucher, which of course we go to spend once we are all washed and dressed. Yes a very trying shop at the Toy store but thankfully after nearly an hour Olivia finds two items she wants. A toy baby bath and a Cindy style doll complete with toy puppies. We go home for lunch expecting to take Olivia home afterwards, when she announces she is staying till tea time. Well that means you will have to go with us to GG's, (that's the name my Mum likes the grandchildren to use for her) but Olivia prefers 'Famous Phyllis!' Olivia is happy so long as she can take her pram and her babies, but after an hour and a half even their amusement is wearing thin. Olivia constantly asks "when are we leaving?" We both say "soon", when Mum comes out and asks me to replant one of her tall plants in the back plot. Olivia is not happy at being delayed, however I get it planted. Gary shows Mum how to close up the garden store and we get our things together to leave. As we are about to go Mum takes a look at where I have put her plant. "Hmm you didn't need to put any new compost on it, you could have used the old stuff." I tip half of the old pot on to the plant. Mum knows she has annoyed me but then adds, "I thought you would have planted those pink cuttings while you were doing that."  Gary motions for us to go, as he knows I am losing my rag, not a good example to Olivia but Mum always knows which buttons to press!! I suppose it doesn't help that I am also tired from the restless night with Olivia staying. Roll on bedtime, which will be soon after Olivia goes home! Mum rings later to let me know she has filled the new container with her tools but there isn't any room for her compost, but it isn't as big as she thought it would be!! I say - "If it was any bigger, it would be the same size as your bungalow!" Unbelievable!!!

15th of July 2020 - Daily Trials with Mother & Others!!!!

Monday, 13th of July 2020 - Daily Trials with Mother & Others!!!!   Grrr! Have you ever had one of those morning where you feel the whole world is against you?  As I write the last two days have not been too bad, Monday was a quiet day as Mum knows I work from home on a Monday and so I only get the odd one or two phone calls. It's a miserable day on Monday, so I am quite glad to work from home, although I would rather have been gardening at the park in the morning but Gary decided it was too wet so didn't wake me early.

      Later having completed my required four hours for the week, I receive a request from my granddaughter's Mum to take her shopping, I reply that I am free. She lives near Aldi at Oxford Square but as it happens she wants to venture to Morrisons, so I think I will get Mum her beloved coffee that she is so desperate for!  I pick Jamie-Lee and Olivia up and off we go, I go and get my few bits for home along with Mum's shopping of Coffee and Chinese Meals (which are far nicer from Morrisons you know!) while Jamie-Lee and Olivia get theirs and I return to the car.  I ring Mum to say I have got her some shopping from Morrisons and that I will drop it off as I take Jamie-Lee and Olivia home, "Oh lovely, Thank you" says Mum.  Jamie-Lee and Olivia return after a while and we just drop Mum's shopping at the door after ringing the bell, otherwise I will never get home in time to make our tea. 

        Within ten minutes of me arriving home to make our meal, Mum rings. "I wish you would have popped your head in, I left the door open as I was having my tea.  You could have called in." Me - "No we couldn't Mum, as you are still shielding and so I just dropped the shopping off." Humph goes Mum "Well its a shame you didn't ring me while you were at Morrison's as you know I wanted some Rainbow Trout, not fillets like before and you could have got that while you were there!! Plus some other bits, you didn't get my Bramley apples either!"  I come off the phone incensed as I know my Mum expects me to remember everything!! Grr! I spend the night doing some colouring therapy as I am so wound up but thankfully that calms me down.

Tuesday, 14th of July 2020 - Daily Trials with Others..... The day is at least dry but a bit cool, so I decide to do my ironing before going to meet friends this afternoon. NHS ladies that I used to work with in the Training department and I haven't seen since Christmas last year as we were due to meet again just as the lockdown happened.  I ring Mum before I go out, she is fine but jealous that I am going to meet friends, even though I explain I haven't seen them for a long time.

        Meeting up with Bev (an ex-nurse) and Pat (ex-team leadership course organiser) is like a breath of fresh air, as we have very similar views especially regarding the Pandemic. We talk about infection control training and how Nursing Homes were always the least likely to attend training as the owners often objected to paying for the training! Plus the risk of using agency nurses who venture from home to home, with the chance of spreading more infection, although obviously this practice stopped when lockdown happened. Pat laughs as we say how protective our husbands have been and that neither of them were happy about us venturing out when 'lockdown' happened.  Pat sadly says that she has nobody to worry about her, although we reassure her that we as her friends do.  We all also talk about our aches and pains like three old ladies, although I am the youngest at 62, while Pat was 70 earlier this year and Bev was 71 in April.  However Pat has not been so well lately, she fell down the stairs at the beginning of lockdown and obviously injured herself badly as we see her faint bruises and scarring even now! Poor Pat, it really has knocked her confidence and you can see it upsets her as she talks about the fall.  When Pat is out of the room, Bev expresses her concern that Pat is not well, I think Pat looks okay and say that the fall has obviously knocked her confidence, as she walks with her hands feeling from one piece of furniture to another.  I leave soon after and arrive home in time to make tea, ready for Gary arriving home from his first day back in the office. 

        We have tea and settle down for a relaxing evening, although Mum rings and asks if there is any chance I will be shopping at Morrisons for our weekly shop, "No Mum, you know we do 'click n collect' through Tesco's and I already have it booked!" Mum puts the phone down without saying any more! Grrr I can see it will be one of those nights. 9.30pm my phone rings but it is not Mum but my friend Bev, who says "Are you sitting down? I don't think you are going to like this!"  "What is it Bev?" I say and dread what is coming next and think that maybe Pat has had another fall. Bev says "Well you know how Pat was a bit breathless?" Me - "Well you mentioned it but I thought she was okay." Bev - "Well I mentioned it to my daughter who has obviously been dealing with Covid patients while working on the A&E department at Royal Preston Hospital and she thinks Pat should go and get tested, as breathlessness is one of the symptoms." Me - "Really? I didn't think she was that breathless." Bev - "Well I am really concerned about her especially with her falls, I think she may be suffering from mini  strokes." Me - "Well we talked about that earlier Bev but it is impossible to see a Doctor at the moment as they are only doing telephone consultations, even the Hospital Consultants are not doing face to face appointments." Bev - "Yes but if she has got Covid she needs to be tested, she won't listen to me and won't go tonight" Me - "Well no I don't expect she will go tonight seeing as it's nearly 10 pm and there's probably nobody testing at this time of the night anyway." Bev - "Well maybe you could persuade her to go for a test tomorrow?" Me - "Okay leave it with me I will see what I can do." I ring Pat who doesn't sound breathless on the phone and immediately says "Oh no not you as well!" We have a chat and I offer to talk her through booking a Covid testing appointment on line, which she does, although at the same time she is concerned that she has an appointment at the Hairdressers and after nearly 4 months she doesn't want to miss that! I say she shouldn't really go if there is any chance she has Coronavirus but Pat doesn't reply.  As Pat lives on her own I realise she is going to be in turmoil waiting for her appointment in the morning and try to reassure her that Bev is probably just playing safe for her sake and hope all goes well.  We finish our conversation with Pat saying "Well you know you and Bev will have to self-isolate' until I get the result, don't you?" I reply "and our husbands too, but nothing we can do about that" while I dread the confinement of the next few days awaiting Pat's result.

Wednesday 15th of July 2020 - If it's not one thing, it's Mother amongst others!! ..... I get up on what would usually be a Park gardening day but thankfully it is raining and so it is easier to call off the Park gardening than tell everyone I am having to self-isolate, otherwise it will just be a nightmare for all concerned. Next I realise I need to sort out a home delivery for Mum and luckily enough manage to secure a slot through Iceland.  I start to put together a basket before I ring Mum as she will need to spend £35 (about an average weekly shop for Mum) to get a free delivery, then I ring for her list. Mum - "Oh good I was thinking have you changed your mind? Do you think you could get my shopping at Morrisons? As I really would like some Rainbow Trout!" I explain what has happened and that I will have to self-isolate for at least 48 hours until we know the result and may have to isolate longer if the result is positive. Mum responds - "Oh I suppose this means that I won't get my Trout after all then!" Nothing mentioned about the fact that my poor friend might have Covid or that I might have caught it just by visiting her!!  Mum says she will have to get her list together and I say I will ring back.

        I sit at the laptop and look through my emails only to find that instead of setting up my Aunt's standing order to be paid monthly through her bank, it should have been 4-weekly!! Another problem to solve, which means ringing my other Aunt in St. Annes to see if we can resolve it by computer or whether she will have to go in to the branch.  I do not mention my friend and her test, but realise that the self-isolation complicates matters as my Aunt cannot visit me and I cannot pop over to see her to sort this out!! What a nightmare!

        Meanwhile Bev rings me, "Have you heard from Pat, has she had her test and when will she hear the result?" I tell Bev that I haven't heard from Pat although I have sent Pat a text this morning but I don't think she will hear the result for 24-48 hours. Bev - "Well that's not good I am supposed to have my grandson tomorrow morning and I have had to arrange for my shopping to be delivered!" "Yes me too! I am having to arrange for a delivery of my Mums shopping and I also should be having Olivia to stay on Friday" Bev - "Oh well hopefully we will have heard by then."  Honestly you could not make this stuff up, I cannot believe that my friend the ex-nurse is creating such a fuss over something that she started in the first place, when Bev says "Well hopefully Pat will get to see a Doctor about her falls and they will find out what the problem is!" Unbelievable! I am sure Pat will not mention her falls and even if she did would not be seen by a Doctor any time soon.  I really feel for Pat as it is not a pleasant process being tested and she will no doubt be worried sick. In the meantime Gary, my husband is also concerned as obviously this means he also has to self-isolate and as he has just found two suspicious looking moles on his shoulder he was hoping to talk to our Doctor about them, but no chance of that either at the moment! Whatever next!! I know having completed the Iceland shopping delivery, they say if items are not in stock they will not be delivered, so you just know Mum will not be happy tomorrow morning whatever they deliver, there is bound to be something wrong!  I just hope today gets better!!

10th of July 2020 - Gav & Louise's 3rd Anniversary

10th of July 2020 - Gav & Louise's 3rd Anniversary .... Quite a miserable windy and dreadful grey day! Went to the park to garden but so cold and windy we didn't stay and called the session off. Thought would I garden if at home, definitely not! So home we went, Gary went to a meeting and I intended doing my housework. Until Mum rang saying "Oh thank goodness you're there at last! I just had such a strange phone call! A foreign lady rang my home phone and told me six hundred pounds was going to be taken from my bank account! " Me -  "Please tell me you didn't give her your bank details?!" ( This has happened in the past when a nice lady rang to tell Mum she had won a holiday but she had to pay for the flights! £400 was taken that time and never returned, from a foreign bank!! ") So I was expecting similar until Mum said "well if course not, you still have my bank card!  Although I could have used my other one" Me - "No, no, no Mum! Please don't give anyone your account details for any accounts" Mum interrupted me to say " Well if you'd let me finish! The foreign lady said if you don't want this to happen press 1, which I did but then the line went dead! How strange is that? " By now I can feel my blood pressure pinging! "Hmm well goodness knows what that has done, the probability is you are connected up to their phone line or something!" Grr ! Mum - "Okay calm down, can you check my bank account" Me - "Okay I will ring the bank and see what they say. Bye" I come off the phone, check Mums account which of course was okay but as a precaution ring Mums Bank. As soon I get on the phone I think to myself that I must sound even worse than Mum, as I explain no I don't have Power of Attorney, but during lockdown I have been using Mums Bank card - with her permission - to get her shopping and order other stuff. "Like what?!" asks the stern voice at the other end. Me - "usually garden stuff, vitamins or health stuff. But I am concerned As I I don't know who rang her today saying they were going to take £600 from her account, but I need to do something about it!" Stern voice replies " Okay I will put you through to our Fraud Department. " To whom I explain everything all over again.  However a nice man called Alistair says "Don't worry Madam, no money will be taken unless your Mum gave them her details?  This is a popular Scam at the moment, only her telephone number will be on a Sellers list as by pressing number 1, they know that she believed them about the £600 and so she will get others calling her." " Oh no that's all I need! " I reply. The nice man says "I am sorry Madam, now then is there anything else I can help you with?" Me - " Could you give me another Mother?! " I ask quite seriously! Alistair "Ahem I am sorry but I cannot help you with that. However I do sympathise as we had a similar problem with my Mother-in-law and we found by putting a sticky reminder by her phone Not to answer the phone to strange numbers, Not to give her details of any sort out and if she got a call from the Council or another Company, to come off the phone and ring them back using another number. That last one may prove a bit complicated but it's worth trying. Anything else? "  I thank him profusely for his help and say Goodbye, as he says Goodbye and says "Have a nice day Madam" at which I nearly choke as he must be joking!!! I ring Mum up and tell her what the bank have said, that her account is okay and that it is the latest Scam, but to expect more calls because she pressed the number 1. Mum funnily enough also says "That's all I need" I suggest she contacts her Utility Warehouse agent to see if her number can be made ex directory.  I come off the phone feeling exhausted but decide to get a bit of housework done, when ten minutes later Mum rings. Mum says "I rang Sharon and she says it's a Scam, isn't that terrible? Anyway I am already in the Telephone Preference List, but that won't stop the calls from abroad. " Me - "Okay Mum, but I told you before that the Bank said it was a Scam, I think the only way is to get a new number" Mum "Well I am not doing that because of them foreigners!! " Me - "Okay Bye Mum" thinking give it a week and maybe after a few days of calls, she will change her mind, Hopefully!! 

The rest of the day passes  by uneventful thankfully, until 4pm, while we have friends round, Mum rings again but leaves a message as I don't reach the home phone in time. "I was thinking what can you do about the two letter from the TV license people? One arrived that says I have a free over 75's TV License but the 2nd letter with the same reference number says there is no license registered to this address! I have just tried ringing them, spent ages on the phone, with a recorded message saying they are only open until 5.30on but after waiting ages to speak to them, at 4 pm they just cut the line and nobody is answering now!! " After our friends have gone I ring her and explain that a lot of staff are still not working, so the hours are not necessarily as they might usually be. Mum - "Well that's just ridiculous!" Me - " I am afraid that's the way it is at the moment. I think we will have to email them" (obviously meaning me!) Mum -"So when will you collect the letters?! "Me - "Well not now and tomorrow we are going over to see Gavin (our son), it's their 3rd Wedding Anniversary today." Mum "humph it's okay for some!! I will be glad when I can go out in 21 days! You never reminded me it was their Anniversary! I thought it was later in July?" Me - "No that was the party at home for everyone, they got married in Cyprus on the 10th." I realise with her counting the days that she is getting desperate! "I am sorry Mum but after all I haven't seen him properly for three months due to the Lockdown! " Mum starts mumbling so I know it's time to go. "Bye Mum I will ring you or pop round when we get back. "

Of course the next days peaceful, although I ring Mum just before we leave to make sure everything's okay. Mum answers "Oh I suppose you have arrived in Manchester?" Me ( totally confused!) "No Mum, we are just about to leave. We said we would get there around 4pm, I will speak to you when we get back. Bye " Peace for the rest of the day, Hooray. We enjoy a wonderful break with our son Gavin and his wife Louise, before returning home the next day around lunchtime.

Sunday 12th of July 2020 - Daily Trials with Mother & others. We leave Gavin and Louise's just after 12 noon, although their back garden and Hot Tub look most inviting in the sun, but Gary has a local club committee meeting at 1.30p.m. We get delayed in the motorway traffic but get back just in time. I decide to pop to Mums while Gary is out. "Hello Mum" I shout through her door, before she comes out. "Oh good I was just thinking about removing the rest of that mastic. Maybe you could try while you're here and I will give you the TV License letters to deal with." "Thanks Mum, yes we did have a good time, in case you wanted to ask!" Mum - " Good, well you are back early? Where's Gary? " Me - "At a committee meeting." Mum - "Oh is the club open now then?" Me - " No that's what they are discussing, when to open."  An hour later, I have managed to remove the mastic, whilst chatting to Mum about the new 'normal' so she knows what to expect.  Thankfully one of Mums friends arrives to chat, she agrees about the queues and people wearing masks. As I have done my task I decide to leave and let them have a natter together alone, while I go home to some peace in my own back garden. Home Sweet Home...

8th & 9th of July 2020 - Let's remove the Mastik ....

8th & 9th of July 2020 - Daily Trials with Mother.... Yes thankfully the new TV was delivered and still in one piece when we went round later on Wednesday 8th of July to install it.  Mum was still wittering that she wasn't sure about having a large screen again, but Gary told her to go out of the room while we got it installed and wait to see what it looked like.  Thankfully the installation went without a hitch, well to just get the TV installed and the DVD/Video Player linked up too.  However we could not get it linked up to the Internet, after many attempts to put in the password it just wasn't happening, unfortunately.  I contact Mums provider only to find that there is a problem with the internet in Mum's area, Typical!!  

       We call Mum through to see what she thought of the new screen, "Oooh actually it looks quite nice" said Mum and continued "so do I just press these buttons to get YouTube on and I was thinking about putting Netflix on."  Gary breaks the news that we cannot connect to either of those as the Internet isn't working. Mum says "That's probably why that Echo thingy isn't working, every time I have talked to it, it just says Sorry I am not able to connect to the Internet. I wondered what was wrong, but thought I had broken it so didn't mention it!" I shake my head but decide to keep quiet as I know Gary hates it when I row with Mum.  

         Gary says "Anyway at least you have the new TV and once we can connect it to the Internet, you will be able to look at YouTube, but Netflix does cost extra." Mum says "Well my friend Cathy watches it through her daughters email address and she said it doesn't cost anything?" Me - "I can add it to my account but it will cost extra Mum, but we will look at it if you really want to, once you have got the Internet and got used to this TV."  Gary's turn to shake his head, while Mum says "I am telling you Cathy said it won't cost anything extra!" I can feel Gary starting to lose his patience as he says "Well maybe you can ask your friend Cathy to speak to Karen and explain how she gets it so amazingly free?!" Mum Humphs in reply and looks to give me her shopping list as of course it is Tesco Click and Collect day on a Thursday.  I look at her list and make the mistake of saying "Is this all you want?" as it is much shorter than normal.  Mum replies "Well that's all I want from Tesco's, if you look inside, next time you are shopping I would like 2 more Large Planters, those others that Nancy got me are far too small!" Me - "Well that's all there is at Home Bargains at the moment and I am not likely to be going anywhere else much. It's not a pleasure shopping." 

        Anyway what else is on here?" Mum - "Well I thought once we (yes the Royal We!!) have removed the mastic from the walls on the garden room, where the council took out the Patio Doors that I wanted to be kept in! The mastic needs scraping off the walls and then when they are painted, I will need some hanging planters and obviously some plants to go in them." Me - "Well obviously I won't be looking for those yet, lets do one thing at once." Mum replies "Well I might as well get it how I want it!"  With Mum I constantly have to remind her that Rome wasn't built in a day, but she always replies "Well not in my world" so I don't bother!!  With that conversation we leave and head for the car both shaking our heads and agreeing that there is always something else that Mum wants.....

Thursday 9th of July - Daily Trials with Mother ...... Thankfully the Tesco Click n Collect goes well, no substitutions, although I couldn't get the pack of Jam Doughnuts Mum wanted so I opted for a pack of 2 Strawberry Jam and Cream Finger Doughnuts.  We sort the shopping and Gary is still amazed how much is in Mums smaller shop, which I take round while Gary goes off to take the broken TV back to Curry's for recycling.  I drop the shopping off and tell Mum I haven't got the Bramley Apples she wanted as Tesco didn't have any to pick, I will have to get them from a greengrocers when I can, "okay" says Mum surprisingly.  Then she sees the Doughnuts, "oh those aren't what I wanted!" Me - "Well that was all they had, if you don't want them I will take them for Gary." Mum - "Oh no, it's just that they have cream on them" Me - "Well scrape it off" "And there's only two!" says Mum, I reply "Well I could have got two packets but knew one would go stale before you could eat them." Mum - "Hmm maybe...."  I tell Mum I am stopping a while as Gary is at Curry's and no doubt having to queue to drop the broken TV. Mum says "What TV, have you broken another one?" Me - "No, the one I broke here the other week!" Mum "Oh so he might be a while? Maybe you could scrape some of this mastic off the wall at the top, I have started but I don't seem to have the strength and cannot reach the top." 

          My turn to Humph, "Get me the knife and gloves, I will see what I can do while I am waiting for Gary to return" (hoping he isn't long).  I say to Mum to take a seat while I am chipping away the mastic so we can have a chat, but she wanders over to a neighbours.  Next I hear the disabled neighbour shouting "No, get away I Don't want any help. I can manage!" Mum scuttles back complaining that her neighbour is quite nasty! I say "Well she was probably concerned that you were getting too close Mum, you know you should be social distancing and if someone says they can manage, don't go any closer!" 

        I can see Mum will be a nightmare when she is able to go out, as I remind her restrictions will still be in place.  In fact I don't think I will be able to go out with her, as she comments that Gary is a long time and I tell her that he is probably still in the queue waiting. "Queue?!" asks Mum, "Yes, you have to queue everywhere these days" "What you can't just walk straight in?" asks Mum "No you cannot." Humph goes Mum and says "Well I won't be able to queue!" Yes I can see it will be a Nightmare.......Thankfully Gary returns around now, just as I have finished both walls down to head height, which Mum says she may be able to do herself, well she will try.  Yep! that's Mum Very trying (I say to myself in my head) as I head for Gary in the car and return home.

Weekend of the 4th of July - Daily Trials with Mother

Weekend of the 4th of July - Daily Trials with Mother ...... Well after my very trying day last Friday I have to admit that Mum was nicely quiet last weekend. First of all I was able to let her know that her Revitive Circulation thingy order was arriving last Saturday, so Mum was quite excited about that and thankfully it arrived that day.  Although Mum reckoned it was quite complicated so I would need to help her set it up.  However as we were entertaining our Granddaughter that afternoon while her Mum was at work, there was no chance of us going round.  So I arranged to call after I dropped Olivia off at her house.  Anyway the Revitive machine was not as complicated as Mum made out but just as well I was there to show her how to use it.  Although listening to her Ooh, Ooh, Aah, Aaah while the machine stimulated her circulation was not my idea of fun and I soon decided it was time for me to go.  However the next day, Sunday when I rang Mum she sounded in really good spirits.  "Are you okay Mum" I asked when I rang her, something I try not to ask very often but this time she replied "Oooh I feel like a new woman, my new circulation machine is amazing!" "Good" I said "So you have mastered how to work it?"  "Yes you can really feel the vibration through your legs.  Just a shame the weather is so wet today, otherwise I would have had you take me out for a walk!" "Yes such a shame" I say while thinking there really is a God and maybe today will be a quiet day and so it is........

        Monday 6th of July .... after a session gardening at the local park, I decide to go for a small amount of toiletries at Home Bargains so I also pick up not one but two bags of Compos for Mum! Well I figure one will definitely not be enough knowing my Mum, despite the two small patches of garden that she has, but she acts as though she is still gardening at her previous home with a garden of 40 foot long by 20 foot wide!! ( Photos of Mums two patches of garden below. Left - Front garden and Right - Back patch.)

When I drop the compost off straight away she says "oh have you only got one bag?"  Me - "No Mum I knew you would want more." Mum - "Well the soil is so poor here you know it needs enriching. Anyway I have been thinking about getting some bulbs planted soon ready for next year." Me - "Well you don't need those yet, as you would usually plant those in September." Mum - "Well there's nothing wrong with being prepared you know and I want to be ready." Me - "Okay Mum" thinking I know who will be planting these bulbs once she has got them?! Yes no doubt me!! Mum adds "Oh before you go don't forget to take your Anniversary Card and there's a bottle of Champagne for you both, I hope you enjoy it. I am surprised but say Thank you very much, although I am not so certain about the bottle which looks as though it has seen better days and maybe it got a rough ride when Mum moved.  "Are you doing anything special tomorrow?" asks Mum. Me - "Yes as it happens we are going out for a meal at the Italian Orchard near Preston, it will be the first time we have been out properly so hopefully it will be nice." Mum - "Oh I don't think I have been there!" Me -  "Yes you have Mum, once for a family meal with Uncle George and I also took you two years ago on Mother's Day."  Mum - "Well I knew it wasn't recently!!" Me - "Hmm funnily enough that was the last time I was there too!"  With that I go home.

    Tuesday 7th of July ......  Our 41st anniversary, Gary was working in the morning, but he soon finished for lunch.  We also had two lovely visits by Gary's brothers and their partners who brought round a lovely card for us and also a bottle of wine. Then it was a rush to get changed and go out for our meal, which was worth it! So lovely to do something 'normal' and special, plus we enjoyed a delicious meal.  We also went on to look round Barton Grange Garden Centre and treated ourselves there, so it made a really lovely day. Plus we received many good wishes via Facebook and many cards too.  Although it always amazes me that the people who were actually there, i.e. our Bridesmaids never remember the day, sorry I know I must sound like my Mum but sometimes it just makes me wonder...   Anyway after having a large meal at lunchtime we decided we would just have a sandwich with some of Mums champagne, that was until I poured it out.  I took one look and asked Gary to look at it, but he agreed it looked more like a 'water specimen' and when I tasted it, well it definitely didn't taste like champagne.  Shame really as Mum meant well and I was looking forward to it, but at least Mum has not poisoned anyone else!!

Wednesday 8th of July 2020 - Daily Trials with Mother ......  At 9am I receive a telephone call from Curry's to say that Mum's TV will be delivered in the next ten minutes.  I make sure they have the correct address and then ring Mum to make sure she is up and ready to receive the delivery and tell her to make sure the delivery man places it in the porch for safety.  I go off to a garden session at the park but I don't receive any call from Mum to say she has received her delivery, so when I leave the park at midday and arrive home, I ring to ask if it has arrived. Oh yes it has, what time will you be coming to put it up? I reply "Later this afternoon, as Gary is still working." Mum - "Okay see you later, I hope it will look okay, I have got quite used to the small one now!"  I come off the phone and shake my head, Gary looks at me and I just say "Don't ask!!"

3rd of July 2020 - Where's my Revitive machine? ....

Friday 3rd of July - Daily Trials with Mother & Others.... Well what can I say, you just knew that the week had been too quiet!! I got up late this morning, it was pouring with rain, so Gary left me to have a lay in. Hmm the peace didn't last long, in fact I hadn't even had my breakfast, before I had three phone calls! The first from someone wanting me to arrange entry at the park, thankfully not today in the pouring rain! The second from the Solicitors asking me to let my Aunt in St Anne's know the final sale figure for my other Aunt's house, so that the Sale could complete. Then to top it off my Mother rang!! "Hello Karen, I wondered if you had got four large plant pots?" Me - " I thought you wanted four Planters? " Mum - "Oh no my friend Nancy got me those because You didn't buy them for me! You know she wanted me to go with her!" Me - " please tell me you didn't?!" Mum - "No of course not although I made all sorts of excuses to not go, Nancy wasn't happy!" Me thinking I bet she wasn't, poor woman being dragged into Mum's demands! Then Mum has the nerve to Humph and say "and after all that she didn't get what I wanted which was 3 terracotta Planters and she brought me 2 terracotta coloured planters and two black planters! So now that's why I need 4 large plant pots!" I am just about to put the phone down when Mum adds "and tell your friend I don't want that dark wholenut chocolate again, it's not the same as the one I usually buy. It comes in a brown packet from Aldi and it tastes different you know!" Me - " Actually I don't know because I don't eat their dark chocolate. " Mum - "Well you should then you would know! By the way have you chased up my Circulation thingy order?"  Me - "No I have emailed them but not managed to get through on the phone, but I will try again today."  Straight away I ring the Revitive firm up, a young lady says she will look into it and get back to me. However I get quite agitated and tell her I will wait, as I am fed up of my Mum ringing me everyday to ask why the money has gone out of the bank and understandably is upset she hasn't received her order! " The young lady suddenly says "Oh dear it looks like her order has been cancelled!" I ask " Why? as my Mum has definitely paid for it! " "Oh dear, I am sorry and can only apologise." says the lady in the phone. " Well" I ask? "Well I will get it despatched immediately and it should reach your Mum on Monday, please accept my firms apologies".  I let Mum know about the delivery on Monday, although I don't tell her about the mix up, although I am angry at what has happened. Even more so when Mum says "Well about time! I really needed it Now, my legs are terrible you know and keeping me awake every night! I just hope You have got it sorted!". Unbelievable !! I come off the phone so wound up, I decide to have a bath, but Gary persuades me to have breakfast first.

By the afternoon, the House Sale is completed, so all is well on that score. We decide to pop to the park, to make sure the roof on one of the buildings is not leaking.  Whilst there I look for some large plant pots and thankfully I find four, 3 black and one terracotta, but I know there are no others. We drop them off at Mums and just as we walk through the door Mum rings, "Thank you for the pots. It's a pity you couldn't find two black and two terracotta but I suppose they will do. But I can't transfer my plants until You get me some more Compost" Me - "Well I won't be shopping in any supermarket on a weekend the virus is still out there, you know" Humph goes Mum, as I put the phone down and want to scream!  Gary laughs and decides to pour me a G&T - even though it 's not yet 4pm .... What a day!

Thursday, 2nd of July 2020 - Where's Mums Bank Card?

Thursday 2nd of July 2020 - Daily Trials with Mother..... Well I have to admit it has been quite a quiet week with Mum.  I am not sure why exactly, although I think hearing about the latest number of local deaths may have focused Mum's mind a little.  I must admit I wish I had a £5 for every time Mum mentioned about catching a bus to pop in to town, last weekend, as she now knew that her 'isolating time' was hopefully coming to an end at the end of July. It truly didn't matter how many times I told Mum that shopping was different these days she assured me she thought she would be okay, although she admitted that she wasn't looking forward to wearing a mask on the bus.  In fact she was most upset when I told her that she wouldn't be allowed on a bus unless she wears a mask. To which Mum replied "Well I don't think I will be able to do that, as you know I struggle with my breathing, so I am not sure I could wear a mask all the time." Me - "Well that's what you will have to do, if you are catching a bus or even going in to a shop, although at the moment there aren't that many open!"

        Monday 29th of June Mums only question was when would her circulation thingy order be delivered? After all it was the fourth working day since we ordered it, but all I could say was that it would hopefully be soon. Mum - "Well I don't want to be stuck in waiting for it all the time!!" Me - "I thought you were self-isolating, so surely you shouldn't be out?" Mum - "Well I do go out and pick the dandelions. Oh and guess what the council rang this morning, they are coming out to look at those jobs I mentioned to them, on the 2nd of July between 1 and 5pm." Me - "Well don't tell me, just make sure you are in, so you don't miss their visit again." Mum - "Well I suppose I must!"  Inside I feel like screaming as it is becoming increasingly hard to make sure Mum does stay at home.   However when I tell her that two people from the Italian Pantry down Highfield Road have passed away, I think Mum suddenly realises how serious this is and has definitely been more subdued this week.  I mention that I will pop round with some Dark Nut Chocolate she wanted from Aldi, which Olivia's Mum has kindly purchased from Aldi - Mum knows I haven't been going in to the supermarkets as it really does frighten me.  I mention that Jamie-Lee has also got Mum some Strawberries that she wanted, to which she says "Well I hope she didn't get me Scottish Strawberries, you know I don't like Scottish ones." Me - "I am afraid you will get whatever she has bought as these days beggars can't be choosers!!"  She pulls a face later that afternoon when I drop the Scottish Strawberries and Dark Nut Chocolate off, but later actually rings me to say that the Strawberries were better than they normally tasted.  Then asks when her new TV is arriving again!! Me- "I don't know Mum, I am awaiting a text but hopefully it won't be too long!"  Amazing when last week she was saying she wasn't bothered about a larger TV, I think it is just a novelty of having something new.

Daily Trials with Mother .... continue with Mum constantly asking about her Circulation thingy order, as it cost over £150 I am myself beginning to get a bit worried, but of course dare not say that!! So I limit my calls to Mum today although I am pleased to tell her that her new TV will be delivered on Wednesday 8th of July. Mum asks "What time?" I cannot believe her question and say it surely doesn't matter and that as Gary is working that day we won't be able to install it until later that day.  Hmm I can see it's going to be a long week or so....

Wednesday 1st of July .... Mum is unusually quiet but I know there is always time for her to ring, besides Wednesday is my day for picking up Mum's shopping list.  Before I go round my sister rings me to say that she has been to visit Mum, on her arrival Mum tells her that she has seen her hair looking better!! Michelle tells my Mum that she hasn't been to the hairdressers yet with them all being closed, "Really?!" says Mum, my sister said she couldn't believe that she was saying this and says "Well surely you know as you told me you had been reading The Gazette and there has been plenty of news about places being closed." Mum replied with her usual "Well I don't know!!" 

          My sister even tells Mum that one of our cousins may have to postpone their wedding from October this year to July next year.  Which makes Mum think about her Birthday and suggests that Michelle should make enquiries about us celebrating as a family at Ma Kelly's at Uncle Tom's Cabin.  Michelle tries to dissuade her and suggests having a party amongst her friends at the sheltered housing possibly with a Gazebo and a DJ playing 40's and 50's music.  Michelle tells me about her conversation while I just dread Mum mentioning this occasion.  Mum rings me later with her usual mammoth shopping list, which I decide to add to our Click n Collect slot, only to find it hasn't booked for some reason!! Which means an inevitable trip to the supermarket!  On top of that Mum asks if Gary or I could dig an old bush out from her back plot.  Well not tonight, but maybe tomorrow. Mum says "That's okay you can do it when you drop the shopping off." Unbelievable!! Then Mum adds and while you are out shopping maybe you could pick up a Rose Bush so that can go where the bush is that you are taking out.  I again tell Mum we are not leisurely shopping!!

Thursday 2nd of July .... I barely sleep the night before, but it means we are up early and out to get the shopping before the rush.  I must admit I am such a nervous wreck I keep missing the areas where I need to shop for Mum's stuff, I arrive at the checkout and heave a sigh of relief. The kindly shop assistant asks "That bad?" I reply "Don't ask" The assistant rings everything up and I realise it is more than the new "swipe" limit which means I need to remember her security number and if that isn't bad enough as the Assistant tells me the Total, I start to frantically look for Mums bank card which I cannot find in the usual place or anywhere in my bag.  The Assistant kindly says "don't worry there's no rush" although the man behind me tutting and looking not too kindly doesn't look as though he agrees! So I end up using my own card and just as I pick up the last item from the checkout, I find Mums card under a Chicken.  I had obviously put the card out ready and now I can at least get some cash to cover the shopping.  

        Yes thankfully Gary manages to dig the old bush out that must be pretty old as the roots seem to go on forever!! Surprisingly Mum doesn't come to supervise the removal thank goodness but there again she is busy putting all her shopping away.  However later Mum rings me, "I wondered is there any news about my Circulation thingy order? I also forgot to tell you Michelle and I were talking yesterday about my Birthday...." Yes you guessed this will probably go on for the next three months.....  I know I hear you saying "Oh no!"