Mary, Mary quite contrary...How does your garden grow?

Dad got up early yesterday, which wasn't so great for me as he didn't go to bed until after 11 p.m.  No matter what time it is I still need a little time to unwind before I close my eyes so by the time I got my bed made up and into it, the time had gone way past pumpkin hour.  On the positive side, it meant that I could have him washed and dressed, ready to go out for a morning coffee.  I bought a huge box of washing powder and we made our way home.  That's as exciting as the shopping trip got.  It was unusually sunny and crisp yesterday.  Our back garden is a little sun trap so when it showed it's face through the fluffy clouds it got quite hot.  

The sun had dipped behind the clouds for a while so I sat with dad who had already started to rub his eyes.  I put the TV on as usual and he didn't make his way to the DVD drawer...which is always good.  Channel 10 shows all the old detective programmes along with a variety of others and it appears that dad enjoys them even although he doesn't understand the plot.  I, being selfish, don't care as any alternative viewing to Columbo on a daily basis prevents ME from LOSING the plot!

I decided to put my jacket on and busy myself outside.  Dad's speech was starting to get a little mumbled so I asked him if he wanted a little snooze.  "That would be good," he said.  With that, I left him alone on his recliner, instructed 'dug' to vacate the living room and outdoors we went to tidy up the garden...tiny as it is, it still needs looking after.

I cleared out my mother's garden shed when I moved in and made it possible to actually step inside.  I am lucky that there is every garden tool I need to dig, rake, hoe, snip and feed.  There are also two perfect collapsible garden chairs.  After spending a couple of hours minutes weeding, the chairs beckoned and I was soon sitting with a mug of hot tea in hand enjoying the sun's rays with 'dug' sitting on my lap.  I sat for what seemed like an age, just thinking.  Remembering what the garden looked like when my parents moved in almost 3 years ago.  It wasn't pretty.  But my mother was never one to let the grass grow (see what I did there?) and wasted no time in getting gardeners in to redesign it making it easier to maintain.  For that I am truly grateful!

Although she didn't sit outside and enjoy it latterly like I intend to at any opportunity, she did take pride in the fact she managed to grow plants from seed and was able to see them flourish for one season at least.  She spent quite a bit of money on various shrubs and plants and I remember the tearful phone call telling me that dad had watered them all with weed killer.  It took a lot of persuading of my mother to hide the key to the shed as her opinion was that my dad should "know better!"  She eventually listened...not to all of my advice...but the shed became less of a fixation when it couldn't be gotten in to.  Problem solved...for now.

There is one little area of the garden which is a small rectangle surrounded with grey bricks.  There's already a lovely flowering plant growing (don't ask me the name...it is pink...that's all I know) which my mother grew.  I added mint and rosemary to the little plot the other day.  I love the smell of the herbs and miss them from my previous home.  It is nice to have them back.  My intention is to pay special attention to this little plot in my mother's memory.  I'm no Percy Thrower, but I'll do it.

With my own thoughts, in my own time...I spread some of her ashes in my own little garden of remembrance.

I found you one of your forever places mother. 💖

It was almost lunch time so I went indoors to check on my dad who was wide awake and sitting watching something or other on TV.  "It's a beautiful day,"  I said.  "You should come outside for some fresh air."  He smiled at me and as I went to the bedroom to empty the laundry basket, I caught sight of him from the window making his way to the shed that I'd left wide open.  I dropped the laundry and with a rocket up my arse was back by his side just in time to stop him from stepping fully inside the shed.  He had one foot already on the shed floor and holding on to the sides of the open door (which would have slices off his fingers if a gust of wind had blown the door shut!) was ready to propel himself forward.  "Come out of there dad," I said, trying not to sound lecturing.  "I've a chair outside for you."

"Yes," he said.  "But there's only one.  Where will you sit?"  😞

I told him not to worry about me as I was busy pottering in the garden.  The second chair was right at the back of the shed.  I'd fetch it later once he had his backside secured on the one I'd set out.  I put a warm jacket on him and made him a cup of tea along with a packet of crisps.  He loves the sun.  It was just lovely to be able to enjoy it again...in Scotland!...at this time of year.

We spent a good part of the day outside and when it was time to come back inside, I put the TV back on to the old programme playing Channel.  Dad sat with his feet up and I sat with him for a while before I had to prepare dinner.  With no sign of the DVD's all day I was quietly in my element.  'Poirot' was just coming to an end.  I was busy catching up with Facebook and anything else that busies me on my laptop when all of a sudden my ear picks up from the TV...."Now it's time for another case to be solved....Columbo!"

You've got to be KIDDING me!!

After dinner, I sat alongside dad for the remainder of the night.  He went off to bed just after 10 p.m. and for this I was truly grateful.  I haven't slept so well for many a night, still having nightmares all too often, so I welcomed this chance to lay my head down and switch off.  I watched a little reality catch up TV on my laptop then settled down for the night.

I could hear dad get up to visit the toilet during the night.  I always hear him, so my sleep can be broken up to 4 times a night.  Twice at the very least is normal.

I looked at my phone to check the time.  1.17 a.m. stared back at me.  I always listen until I hear him go back to his bedroom.  This time I could hear him hover outside the living room door...and then he opened it and just stood there.

"Are you alright dad?"  I asked.

"Has everyone gone home?" he asked.

I could have asked who he was talking about but there is no point.  If such questions arise during the day I would ask, out of curiosity and to know which planet we're on at that time.  But at 1.17 a.m. there's only one planet I crave...planet sleep!

"Yes dad," I replied.  "They've all gone.  Go back to bed and get some sleep m'darlin."

This is the first time he's entered the living room during the night when I'm asleep...or trying to.

I've a feeling it won't be the last.

I'm half awake today.  Got to be grateful for that at least!

"Good morning dad.  Sleep well?" I ask as always.

"GREAT!" he beams.  "You?"

Are you fkn kidding me?

"Sound as a pound dad."

😆