Weekend capers

It's early evening and we've just finished dinner...well, one of us has.  Columbo is playing in the background....SURPRIIIIIISE!!

Ray Milland features (it's a hundred year old series) and my dad comes out with, "That's a wig he's got oan."  I laugh and look towards the TV.  Ray Milland has left the screen for a moment so I keep watching until he reappears.  I turn to my dad and say, "You're right enough.  It's not a very good one is it?"  He looks back at me...serious face...and said, "It wisnae him, it wiz somebody else," and carries on with his dinner.  Gems like this is why tenas were invented.

He slept until after 8 a.m. this morning, just as I knew he would after going to bed so early last night.  I was 'busy' looking something up online (catching up with Celebrity gossip is closer to the truth!) so I put the laptop down and fetched his breakfast, gave him his medication and got back to 'work'.  He isn't a fast eater so I had time enough to enjoy my moment.  Food Network is always on TV in the morning and Ree Drummond was busy showing how to make some delicious goody while my dad sat the whole time mimicking her accent...badly.  He finished his breakfast then announced, "Well that's me...I'm off to have a shower."  I asked him to wait a couple of minutes because he needed me to help him and I wouldn't be long before I finished doing what I was doing.  I was going between reading about Katie Price and celebrity trash news to searching for various sugar craft equipment.  Only one of the two would be conducive to a better future for myself.  

I put the laptop away and got on with the daily routine...which had already started with dad forgetting that he can't shower on his own and led on to "What's that thing stuck to me?" (transdermal patch).

While he manages to part dry himself, I put the toothpaste onto his toothbrush and tell him to clean his teeth and I'll see him when he's done.  I leave him to it and go and pick out the clothes he'll wear for the day.  He takes his time but finally arrives and I help him to dress.  With a look in the mirror to tell himself he is "fair braw!" he makes his way to the living room and sits down in front of the TV.

Now I have to time everything precisely to make sure he remains there while I go have my shower.  I sort out my clothes and put them in the bathroom, lay out a towel and switch on the shower.  With the kettle already boiled, I make him a cup of tea and hand him a packet of crisps and leave him to watch old TV programmes on Channel 10.  My challenge is to get in and out of the shower, dried and dressed before he finishes the crisps or the tea.  If I don't make it within the time, he'll either go in search of crisp packet number two (I'm TRYING to cut him down a bit!) or he'll go and overfill the kettle until the water drips from the spout and switch it on.  Today I beat my personal best...including washing my hair!  I entered the room just as he folded his crisp packet and lifted his cup to take another sip.  *I take my silent bow...no applause please*

I'm taking my dad to Blackpool in 4 weeks time.  He is as excited as a bairn on Christmas morning and no matter all the other things he forgets...he remembers he's going on a wee holiday.  When I had the first meeting with his Social Worker as his new carer, I was told that there was a fund available which provides for short breaks or longer holidays for those cared for along with their carer or for the carer.  As long as you stay within the amount provided for the year you can choose to use it all in one go or break it down to various short breaks.  The money pays for hotels and flights...not rail travel or petrol but still a fabulous opportunity and one which I will take advantage of totally...with my dad.  At the moment I can't imagine going off on my own without him when he didn't get the chance to enjoy holidays with my mother for the longest time due to her illness and lethargy.  The last few months have certainly been their darkest period.  I couldn't change any of that for them even though I've beat myself up too much about certain things that make me feel perhaps I could have...but that's normal.  I really can't change the world even though I always thought I held that power.

My dad and I will go on as many adventures as possible before he gets that telegram from the Queen!  It's his wish to live on until he is 100.  It is my wish that I maintain my sanity at least until then.

I did take him out on a little jaunt to break the day.  It has rained all day so I knew he'd just sit indoors and get restless.  I'm really tired today having not slept well last night but tiredness has to be put on hold and a game face worn.  I could have chosen not to go out due to my lack of energy but the mere  thought of 12 hours (at least) of Columbo as opposed to a possible 5 was enough to give me a bigger boost than a B12 injection followed by a boot up the arse!

He's had a good day and is happily sitting with his feet up watching his favourite TV detective...round 4!...and any minute now he'll ask, "Is there any crisps?"

It's Saturday night.  The Cinemas will be packed and the pubs will be filled with music and laughter...and drunken brawls.  Here I sit, starring in my own Pantomime.  I wouldn't swap it for anything.

"Ooooh yes you would!"

Oh no...I really wouldn't. *close curtain*