Every September the first Sunday is Father's Day in Australia. Last year we went to a local tavern and celebrated. I think back and know there are no more restaurant lunches to share with Merv.
This year we celebrated with lunch at the Care facility. Dustin and Grace arrived at midday and I was on my way.
A strange beginning for our celebration day. Merv was just brilliant, not a twitter or a jerk to be seen. He really is a Jekyll and Hyde at times. Good today and goodness knows what tomorrow will bring.
After present giving earlier in the day Mel stayed behind to watch Crocodile Dundee with her Dad while I was at home putting the finishing touches to lunch. Merv was going to have his regular pureed lunch but followed with yummy home made cheesecake.
I was putting together pulled pork rolls for lunch. It seemed simple. I bought the pulled pork but didn't read the instructions until I was almost packed and out the door. Oh goodness, I had to either put it in the oven, on the stovetop or microwave. Definitely not the microwave and my oven is super slow. I grabbed the frypan, heated up the oil and threw in the pork (after reading the instructions twice), it was already cooked just needed heating to allow the pork to be 'pulled.' All done. I had made the balsamic sauce the previous night, the coleslaw that morning and sliced the radish. I then added home grown lettuce as I remembered Dustin is not keen on coleslaw. I packed the home made potato chips for the dips, cut up fresh fruit and a big pack of chocolate balls. There were upteen plates, dishes and utensils to be packed. Oh don't forget the cheesecake please. Yes all the food was packed in the wheeled esky and a bottle of leftover but unopened Ikea apple juice plus two thermos, cups and coffee sachets.
One oversized esky on wheels and three bags later I'm ready to leave but I almost leave the esky in the kitchen. I grab it as well as the bag with the Bingo game.
Fortunately Dustin and Grace have already arrived and help me out with the in-house picnic bags. The cafe area at the care facility is filled with an extended family taking up all the tables except one. We place our stuff on it and wrangle a couple of chairs. Dustin and Mel go and get their father and bring him down in his wheelchair. The extended family is now smaller in number and we are offered more chairs.
It's no restaurant but I put out all the ingredients for the pulled pork buns and we all help ourselves, pour coffee and eat chocolates while I feed Merv his lunch. It is just lovely. Later I cut up the cheesecake which has survived two weeks in the freezer. It's still yummy. Merv delights in two portions. The Ikea juice is consumed and the Bingo bag is found.
Mel takes on the job of spinning the wheel and calling out the numbers. Merv and I share two cards and Merv wins the first game. Dustin is the spinner next and Grace wins. We pack up and head back to Merv's room.
It has been a fabulous afternoon.
That was yesterday and just after 9am I received a call from the care facility's nurse. Merv had woken well only to become agitated and thrashing in his wheelchair after breakfast. The carer had left him for a minute and returned after hearing a loud thud. His wheelchair which weighs almost 50kg was on its back with Merv still strapped in it. The staff used a hoist to lift him out. I was heartbroken and I thankful I wasn't there to see it. Extra meds were given to him and by the time I had rushed down he was relaxed sprawled out in his recliner chair.
Dustin rang me after 6pm and said he had a minor car accident in a roundabout. Neither he nor the other driver were hurt but both cars need repairs. Fortunately it wasn't his fault.
We have made it to the end of the day. At least everyone is accounted for and well. Another day awaits us.
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| Merv recovered after his fall today |
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