Normal service has resumed!

He's BACK....and so is my dad!! Haha!  Of course I meant my dad in the first place, but honestly, I feel like Columbo is part of the family.

My dad has been in respite for 6 nights and I had lots of big ideas for my free time while he was away.  To be fair, I didn't sit around twiddling my thumbs, but I didn't let my hair down as much as I'd planned or visit the places I'd hoped.  To be honest, I've never felt so unsettled in my life, and I can't quite put into words to explain.

All I know is that my psyche was totally...off.

(I'm not quite sure it's back on...yet!)

Although I've had all of these days to get some organisation in my new surroundings and take advantage of the time without upsetting my dad's routine, it took me until yesterday...YESTERDAY...to move my backside and create a space that will be dedicated to my cake world!  Wandering around B & Q a couple of days ago with the notion of putting up a shelf...that's one shelf...one plank of wood which I thought would change my life,  (that's as far as my imagination would roll),  I turned a corner and there it was.  A tall five tiered piece of plastic shelving which suddenly blew the dust off that dormant light bulb in my head and switched it on.

Yesterday, I totally gutted the space that I needed and got by with a little help from my friend....ooh I got high (not literally) with a little help from my friend, yeah I got by with a little help from my frie..e..e..e...end! (lyric arrangement has been changed to avoid copyright infringement)

Sanity resumed, I've never been so happy to see today.  I headed off to collect my dad and when I arrived at the Care Home I found him sitting in the lounge watching TV in the company of three other men.  My dad's face lit up when I entered the room but he didn't get up to leave straight away.  I asked him if he was ready to go and a wee man who sat opposite said, "You're not taking him away from me are you?  What am I going to do now?"  He was laughing and I laughed too.  I looked at my dad who rolled his eyes and made to move off the settee and said, "C'moan."  (Translate: Come on...without the verbal "let's go", but that was what he meant)

The wee man said "cheerio!" while another offered his hand to my dad and with a very solemn approach and a sturdy handshake he said to him, "I hope all goes very well for you.  I mean it.  I wish you all the best."  As we left the room, my dad said, "He's my best pal!"  If I asked my dad what the man's name was he wouldn't have a clue, but in this little bubble of friends, all of them have their own thoughts, their own understanding of where they are but can't explain why.  All of them on the same page but different paragraphs.

I am relieved to know that this little group of gentlemen have enjoyed each others company this time around in respite.  There is such a vast spectrum of Dementia and not all sufferers live in harmony with each other.  I consider myself lucky that my dad shows me no sign of aggression and he (on the whole) stays seated for long periods of time and is relatively calm, confused...and endearing.

I deliberately state that my dad shows 'me' no sign of aggression as I know this quiet funny man has it in him, but as long as I am around to take care of his needs I will do my best to ensure his feisty side remains asleep.

I can't promise the same for my own!

On the way home I tell him about the changes I've made.  I hope that the cupboard space I've created will make a difference as I push forward with my small business.  I tell him that it will be much easier for him to hang up his jacket himself in the smaller cupboard and put away his shoes without stumbling over excessive house cleaning nonsense gadgets.  He offers, "Very good.  You've been busy by the sound of things."

Yes dad, I have. I'm so glad I explained.  I leave him to hang up his own jacket and when he enters the living room I subtly go and check the cupboards.  I find his jacket tucked into one of the new shelves on top of cake boards and boxes. 😂

This might take some time!

Never mind, it's Columbo...for the next 7+ hours.

WELCOME HOME DAD!