Super Handy

August 2012

As a little girl I would help out in the house and garden.  I was taught to dust, vacuum, sweep, clean and clean and clean.  In the garden I knew the difference between a weed and a seedling but not much more.  I never wielded a screwdriver or dug with a spade.  After marriage at the young age of nineteen it was always Merv who did the, 'blokey stuff '.   Long before he became ill he stopped mowing the lawn and digging in the garden.  I believe there is a solution for everything.  I don't know why I believe that, but I do!  The solution for an un-mowed lawn was to call in the landscape designer and have a backyard makeover.  Up came the grass, down went the paving with the water fountain added as a main feature. 
 The water fountain  had been stored in the shed for almost five years and now it is the centrepiece of our garden.  Voila no more grass.  The lawn in the front garden was replaced with paving for our many cars in 2000.  We put the lawn mower on the verge and some handy person took it away.
Since 2010 I have mastered a screwdriver, a hammer, painting, moving furniture and fixing all types of things that break.  U Tube videos and hints on the internet have been my teachers for many household solutions.  Some have been more successful than others!  The 'others' mainly ending up in bin if my fixing didn't quite work.  Sometimes I look at what needs fixing and if it is a cheap item I just bin it. The fixing bit just seems too hard compared to the pleasure of replacing it with something new!

Weekend Unwind

I can almost feel the end of the week.  It is like a soft blanket which covers me with comfort.  This week has been full of dramas and I was found running from one post to another.  The weekend beckons and my mind begins to slow, to relax to decipher all that has happened.  This morning I took Mel shopping.  She usually does her grocery shopping online but the week has been disruptive and it is actually a good feeling running around the grocery aisles with the trolley filling it and calculating how much it will all cost.  In the fruit and veggie section shone buckets of daffodils all going out for a bargain price of $2 a bunch.  'Who could I give them to?'  I thought.  I wasn't expecting to see anyone today and I picked up a bunch knowing they will look delightful in my kitchen!  It was hours before I returned home, the rain was pelting down, the wind cold and unfriendly.  I cooked eggs and tomatoes for lunch just to warm my tummy.  The daffodils which displayed prettily in my ceramic jug beamed at me and warmed my heart. 

Fact Versus Hope

Today was an upside down day.  Usually I spend Thursday with Mel.  I took her to her appointment at 10am before she joined the others at the villas for free ten pin bowling in Morley.  She was all geared up to go and I was left to contemplate my day by myself.  It's Fathers Day on Sunday and we have booked a rustic Swan Valley restaurant in hope of enjoying a scrumptious lunch time feast complete with free wine tasting.  I wondered if I should buy Merv a new shaver for Father's Day.  I don't know why I should buy him a present, he is my husband not my father!  I bought his last shaver two years ago.  I had no idea what questions to ask or what to look for.  I just went to the Shaver shop and said I wanted a new shaver and they sold me one!  It's not the best shaver, it's probably not a bad shaver but it could be better.  Today I am a little more enlightened.  I have scoured the Choice pages and found some suggestions for better shavers.  I thought I might just try Harvey Norman who sell a vast range of electrical goods.  The lady sales assistant went into a detailed explanation of  their prized Phillips shaver reduced from $249 to $199.  I almost giggled as she put the dummy shaver to her face pretending she was shaving.  I was unimpressed and left.  I have already bought Merv some of his favourite chocolates with a Woolworths reward card received this week in the post.  I use my Everyday Woolies card every time I shop and I receive 4 cents a litre off my petrol and every now and then a little reward card appears and I spend it, because it's free money.  This card was for $15.  I  shop in Woolworths because Coles is further away from home. You get used to a supermarket overtime and I could go down the aisles blindfolded and still get my regular groceries.  Amid all this research shopping I arrived at the Vehicle Registration department armed with my Centrelink letter, concession form filled out and my Vehicle Registration renewal.  I waited with my tiny ticket, hoping the matching letter and number would appear on the screen sooner than later. Finally my  ticket number flashed up and I could talk to someone.  Ten minutes later I found my hope was not what I thought it would be.  The 100% concession was factual, but only for the licensing component, it didn't include the listed insurance and other fees.  I did save $70 over six months, a total of $140 per annum.  That's a bonus,  now to find the remaining $150!  What we hope for, doesn't always come to fruition!

What If?

What if?  It conjures up all sorts of scenarios, either good or bad.  What if I won the Lotto?  What if we went on another cruise?  What if I broke my leg?  What if we couldn't pay the electricity bill? 
Then there are the bigger questions.  What if I died?  What if I am unable to care for Merv and Melanie?
My sister asked me this question today.  I am holidaying in Mauritius and South Africa during October.  What are my wishes for Merv and Melanie if that hungry lion thinks I am his mid-morning snack.? It's a question I have pondered  previously,  but I have never got around to having these decisions recorded in my will.  It's another thing to put on the, 'To Do,' list but I should cross out the current number one on my list and replace it with a new will.  How many times do we hear about the person who was going to change their will and never got around to it?  Then it was too late...
Food for thought, before that cute hungry lion starts to size me up.

Quirks in Life

I can't believe it's almost five months since I left work.  I don't miss it, but I do miss my colleagues.  Many retirees state they don't know how they had the time to work and I am no different, except my time is spent looking after Merv and keeping Mel on track.  It has its downfalls and lots of upsides!  Merv still enjoys a good joke and we see the funny side of life as we share the quirks that come our way.  Two years ago I bought a couple of beach balls and wrote questions on the them.  I blew them up, with a balloon pump and we played ball together.  I throw the ball to Merv and he reads a question, I answer and vice versa.  On rainy days like today it gives him a little physical activity and stimulates his mind as a bonus.  Two years ago it was easy for him to throw and catch the ball and to read and answer the questions.  Today his actions are far more animated and his speech not so clear.  When the change is right there in your face, it is as good as a slap.  Time waits for no-one.  Independence slips away and Big Bad Harry winks at me, he knows what is happening.
As I tucked Merv up in his bed tonight and wished him a good nights sleep, the future is struck from my mind, it is too hard to contemplate.

Google Dancing

Google Dance and it goes like this:  Wake up early, spin and shake, turn on the laptop and log into Google. Clap, clap, spin. Stop and stare; Google account not accessible, SCREAM, spin and kick.  Try once again; no change, finger dance on the keyboard, tribal hissing dance begins.  Google forum, Google help, bang the doors, close the laptop, throw it on the floor, stamp, stamp like a herd of elephants.  Breathe deep, keep breathing, recheck Google website,  throw head back three times, screech like the wounded, rock back and forth to the humdrum of the website.  Take a break, make coffee, eat jam with cream scones, don't stop at one, hear the beat of your jaws munching, keep your feet tapping to the beat.  Book a counselling session, take a whole box of tissues; no hope in view.  Drive fast to the counsellor, take laptop with you, throw laptop in bin, three steps to the right, three steps to the left, do a handstand and a little moonwalking, you never know a miracle may happen, dig the laptop out of the bin, brush off the McDonald and Chiko Roll wrappers.  Return home, driving slower, park the car, skip to the door, complete handstand rolling and kick the door.  A twirl, and then another, a tiny jive and sit at laptop - send happy thoughts to Google.  Try account details again.  SCREAM.  Shake your hands, do the twist, be a detective, think like a professional, outwit Google at their game.  This email, that email address, confuse Google to spill the beans.  Twist and turn, heel, toe, heel, toe and try again.
VICTORY my blog account is active again!
The crowd applause, my dance craze is celebrated, I have won the trophy and I can blog again!  Nine hours of defeat,  nine hours of Google dancing and I am done.  I will blog tomorrow.  Goodnight.

Fire Alert

I jumped out of my seat and rushed to investigate the smell of smoke in the house.  Was there a fire inside?  It was late afternoon and I was confronted with a heavy blanket of smoke billowing over the fence and rolling south.  I stepped outside with the heavy smell of burning and was unable to ascertain where the smoke was coming from and whether it was some annoying neighbour burning green waste or worst.  The smoke died down and I went inside only to hear a helicopter almost overhead.  Outside I went again and checked out the whirlybird.  It was stationary,  not a good sign because we all know it's a TV station checking out a news item.  An ambulance without sirens later passed our house.
I wondered if it was a bush fire (not likely as it's mid-winter and we don't have much bush close by) or a house fire.  I had not heard any sirens but I realised we had not been home long.  I had been helping Mel tidy and clean her bedroom.  She was well today and wanted to go home. 
The smoke dispersed and soon my mind turned to other less interesting thoughts.  The news tonight was the regular negative stories and then it was there, right in our lounge room.  A house had caught fire in our suburb, not so far away from us and suffered $400,000 damage.  The news story had an aerial view of its fire ravaged roof.  Oh, yes that helicopter! The house was severely damaged and will need to be demolished and rebuilt.  No one was hurt in the fire and the report said the woman occupant was taken to hospital and treated for shock.  I am pleased she is unhurt and the community rallied to assist her.

Change of Plans

An amazing day in Perth.  It is the end of winter and we reached a maximum of 26 degrees, about 6 degrees over the regular maximum.  Just good luck - I don't think we can put it down to global warming as yet!
I had plans in my head to be executed but the day twisted and changed.  Our local library advertised a local DJ reminiscing the past.  Alan Manning entertained us with the years from 1950 -1980 using power point presentation.  Each year lists the outstanding memories of that year: including photos, pictures and audio.  His presentation lasted an hour and we covered no more than a total of ten different years.  We were reminded of the 1968 Meckering earthquake, the defection of Russian diplomat, third secretary of the Soviet embassy in Canberra, Vladimir Petrov and his wife,  Evdokia in 1954.  It bought back many memories for a range of people in the audience.  I was born in 1957 and moved to Perth in 1969, but I have heard many of the stories and wish to help preserve them.
Our intention was to pick up Mel after lunch and enjoy some of our glorious sunshine, but life is all about change.  Mel rang and said she was sick  and had been for the last few hours.  I armed the car with large bowls, towels and tissues and we picked her up and took her back to our house.  Fortunately she perked up and was no longer sick, but I put her to bed and bought Hydralyte from the chemist to help replenish her fluid intake.  After four hours she smiled and said she was feeling better.  She even sent me a text message mid-afternoon stating she was hungry and would like some food!  The message was ignored and I gave her one slice of dry toast at 6pm and again at 7pm followed by wholesome chicken soup at 8pm.  Her health appears to be restored and we can now begin to enjoy what is left of the weekend!

Daffodil Day

This morning I was ready to visit Merv's sister only to find she had been moved to Ellison House, a high care facility for people with Huntington's Disease.  She enjoys living at Redcliffe, a low care facility not so far away and today she reminded me she has been there for five years.  She is staying over and we both know it wont be too long before she will be a permanent resident at Ellison House.  Unfortunately it is part of the HD journey.  She was staying in a dark and dinghy room, nothing girlie, no colour at all.  I don't think anyone has ever considered a little colour would perk up the room.  With the black pillowcase and black and white quilt cover with a stencil outline of a city skyline it could only be viewed as a bloke's room.  The staff were amazing, they were both professional and friendly and my sister in law glowed, the room their only oversight.
I had popped into the florist on the way there.  It was brimming with dozens of yellow daffodils and I asked for a couple of bunches to be put together for her.   Today is, 'Daffodil Day,' and $1 from each bunch goes to the Cancer Council.  They were a little sunshine in her dull room.  She smiled and chatted away with parts of the conversation lost when her language was difficult to understand.  We shared a big hug and a kiss.  It was lovely to see her and I look forward to taking her to the park for a coffee when she returns to Redcliffe.

Days of Our Lives

Mel and I headed for the coast today.  It is our Thursday to party, the sun is shining, the deep blue of the ocean calm and inviting.  Mel is doing really well at least that is what I thought until she handed me a bombshell!  She confided she had seen her ex boyfriend last night and shared a kiss.  'Oh,' I sighed, this is not the news I wanted to  hear.  Mel has recently been going out with a well-mannered Christian man, not much older than herself.  She had been with the ex-boyfriend for more years than I care to recall and every year he would break up with her to be with someone new and then rekindle the relationship.  All the pleading and prompting to turn her back on him was just a waste until this year when the jigsaw seemed to come together and she didn't take him back.  I really thought it had finished, finito!
I sighed again and talked and talked and talked some more, hoping I was passing over to her a little 'mummy' common sense.
The day continued to be glorious while we walked alongside the Yacht Club, around the children's beach, down to the main beach and back.  We sussed out the best and cheapest chicken and salad lunch (it even came with a free coffee!) and enjoyed it alfresco style overlooking the marina filled with expensive boats.
It wasn't just our own days of our lives scenario today.  We spotted a fire truck and exploding water spray coming from the construction area in the carpark of the beach shopping complex.  The workers had hit through the gas pipe resulting in the shops in close proximity closing for a while.  We took refuge from the smell of gas in the Dome café (not for apple pie) instead we shared a fruit salad and read the morning paper.
I hope our days of our lives scenario will sort itself out and Mel will continue to stay with her wonderful new boyfriend. The woes of a mother!

How Safe is Safe

Merv has a new support worker for a few weeks while his regular support worker, Joe is away on holiday.   Why I thought this would not cause any hassles, I have no idea.  The new man is friendly and considerate, he reads my notes and writes the activities of the day in the service file, as it is expected of him.  On his first day both the security door and front door were left unlocked.  I wasn't expecting the local criminal gang to barge through the door and rob the house and the blokes at gunpoint.  I did expect the doors to be locked.  He is not the first support worker to be unconcerned about Merv's safety and our household treasures.  Our insurance company is adamant that our doors are locked.  We are unable to make a claim if anything is stolen while the house is unlocked.  Another thing to worry about.  It does seem petty to make a big deal about it, but our treasures come from far and wide and I will convince our new man that locking the doors is definitely not an option but a must.  I didn't think I would look forward to Joe returning, but I do now!

Mini Lotto Win

Life is full of little surprises and ones that aren't quite so little.  Yesterday another bill landed in my mailbox.  It was expected, my car registration renewal.  It used to be only 6 months or 12 monthly.  Now you can pay 3 monthly but only online.  I sighed, more money going out, but the car has to be registered.  I had a few spare minutes so I read both sides of the bill including the concession information.  What was this I was reading?  I think I am eligible for a concession.  Ten minutes later online and WOW I can receive a 100% discount if I present to the licensing centre a letter from Centrelink stating I receive the full carer's pension plus my concession card.  A saving of around $500 per year!  As good as a mini lotto win!
This morning I put in a call to Centrelink and the helpful young lady told me my letter will be in the post very soon and should be sitting in my letterbox by Friday.  Three cheers for Centrelink!  Now I am thinking what I can do with the money I am saving.  Decisions, decisions should I spend or save?  Or maybe a bit of both....

App Magic

The weather is so much better, a hint of Spring lingered in the air as we strolled along the Swan River.  The sun was warm with a slight breeze and the promise of warmer weather to come.
The morning was busy with Merv's speech pathologist arriving early at our door.  A confident, friendly lady who showed us how the communication app, Proloquo2Go can work for Merv on our ipad.  When asked what type of drink Merv would like, he answered; a beer!  A sentence was added to the program; 'Get me a beer please Pamela,'  and a picture of a tankard of beer was added!  A tap of a finger tip on the picture of the beer tankard and the sentence is spoken aloud.  A perfect question for beer swilling Merv.  Needless to say Merv would have less than 6 beers in any one year!
We hope to have the communication app on our ipad in a couple of weeks after funding is approved.  Only three years ago we couldn't, no matter how hard we tried, stop Merv from talking. He talked non-stop to anyone who would listen.  His conversation these days consists of a few words and rarely whole sentences.  Thank goodness for the ipad and apps! 

Respite Completed!

Merv was happy to come home today and fortunately he had a great time in the respite cottage.  He was one of three short-term residents and he thoroughly enjoyed the attention of the carers and other residents.  He was looking well and was settled when I picked him up.  Mel and I had a walk before we picked him up and afterwards we treated ourselves to the Dome café.  Merv tucked into his regular order of warm apple pie with a large swirl of cream!

I had a wonderful weekend away.  We were treated to exquisite meals including an amazing goat and pasta dish and the next day, succulent salmon and asparagus. On Saturday we toured the Swan Valley in a local shuttle bus; no worries about wine tasting!    Our tour included; divine coffee, wineries with tastings, lunch choices, chocolate shop and nougat store.  After a variety of wine tasting I bought two bottles of sweet white wine and an array of chocolate treats from the chocolate shop.  Back to the good eating lifestyle tomorrow but today I am continuing my eat whatever I like day.  Breakfast at the retreat this morning was a spread of buffet delights, most of which I tasted; all of which I approved!

The retreat was a time to catch up with fellow carers and share stories and laughs, all good medicine for our overtired selves.  We walked the golf course, but had no plans to play.  We spied a couple of male kangaroos having a boxing match over a couple of females. 

We talked, we ate, we had fun.  I can't wait for the next retreat!

 

Pre-Party Dilemma

Merv looks really cool with his new glasses.  Designer glasses at a basement bargain price!  I've been rushing all day to get ready for respite this afternoon.  Poor Merv hasn't even had a chance to beat me at dominoes, UNO or tri-ominos.  Mel rang and said she had spent her weekend money on food that she didn't need.  I am pleased I have put the bank app on my iphone, I'll transfer money to her later.  I have looked after her money since she started receiving a disability pension in 1999.  She has a 'secret' bank account with no debit/credit card attached and currently has enough money for a return trip to Italy, only the flights.  Mel uses the money to buy clothes at the change of seasons, accessories and other big items.  It works very well.   I transfer $50 per week into her secret account and it grows because she can't access it!  It works so well I opened my own account and I made a pact with myself not to access it, unless needed for emergencies and it has grown steadily.  It is mainly for, 'a rainy day' scenario.
Merv is using his ipad and we are ready to go.  The next blog complete with photos will be on Sunday 18 August.  Have a good weekend.

Too Tired to Party

My body aches, my eyes are drooping, I long for sleep.  A long deep slumber to rejuvenate my soul and my; oh so tired body. Tomorrow I join a group of carers on a fun filled weekend retreat and Merv is booked into weekend respite on the outskirts of the city in a historical cottage.  It should be wonderful but I have spent most of the week checking his Webster Pack has been ordered and his clothes are clean and labelled.  I feel like a headless chook running here and running there, checking my list to ensure I have not forgotten anything of importance.  I pack for Merv and I pack for me and at the end of it, I unpack for Merv and I unpack for me.  Then there is the sorting and the washing which comes at the end.  This is the moment you can't remember actually attending the retreat because all of those pleasant fun memories are quashed with the washing, cleaning and ironing!
I close my eyes and I am  secretly whisked away, imagining I drop Merv off at his respite address and return home to an empty house.  There is nothing to do, but sleep, eat and lounge around.  I put on my favourite movie and enjoy a microwave dinner while stretching on my recliner engrossed in another favourite movie.   My mind continues to whirl and I wake the next day at 10am, make pancakes for breakfast and enjoy them in bed while catching up on a long winded novel.  I take myself to the movies and meet friends for lunch before boarding a boat for a sunset dinner cruise with friends. 
My head bobs forward and I awake with a jolt.  Just a dream and I begin to pack the suitcases.  Merv will be well looked after and I will have fun and unwind for the weekend.  I smile and make a mental note to one day book a respite day just for myself and book myself a few surprises.

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday Merv, 59 today!  Merv beamed.  He likes birthdays!  Today was full of celebrations.  Merv loved his three pairs of pyjamas but he couldn't quite figure out how each item, still in it's original packaging had a tag with  his name on it!
Merv began his celebrations at his social group this morning with a birthday cake and best wishes from his friends.  The afternoon for him was rather sedentary but come 4pm the celebrations were in full swing.  Mel and I rocked on home and put together a riggy-dig afternoon tea of mammoth proportions.  This morning I had slaved over a hot stove baking scones and cooking a mouth watering chocolate birthday cake.  We served up sweet strawberries and ripe papaya plus adding
my sister's tempting home-made cookies.  Merv enjoyed his Milo while I settled for strong coffee!  Mel shared her news and the evening was just beginning as we headed off to Zizzi's restaurant for a celebration dinner.
Merv insisted his birthday would be celebrated in style with Ham and Pineapple Pizza (very Australian!) and a beer, which is exactly what he did.  The rest of us chose more mundane foods vowing we were all watching our weight but we are likely to succumb to apple pie and custard much later.  Merv enjoyed his man-sized pizza and washed it down with his stubby of amber fluid.  After thanking the staff for a memorable night we went home to enjoy the apple pie and Merv blew out his candles and three lone sparklers!  Merv retired to bed a very happy man!

Endorphin Estacy

I scrubbed, washed, cleaned and tidied the house today.  I am not expecting royalty to visit but tomorrow a new support worker is providing a service for Merv.  Maybe he is tall; I cleaned the top of the fridge, maybe he will need to use the mop and bucket if Merv spills something; I cleaned and tidied the laundry.  I tidy and clean the house every week but I was trying a little too hard this week.  I have previously been offered a basic house cleaning service from Merv's agency but I always decline.  I like to do my own cleaning; it makes me responsible and I also know any physical activity gets those endorphins jumping around inside me making me feel less stressed.  House work = less stress.  Not everyone would agree with me, but it works for me.  An hour or two working in the garden gives me the same peace and calm.  My house is clean and tidy.  I smile, I am ready for the new support worker and Merv's 59th birthday tomorrow.

The Pyjama Crisis

Merv raised his voice and demanded he needed to have more pyjamas.  He knew he only had one pair left, the others no longer wearable.  A few days previously his cotton long pants ended their life after developing a large unfixable hole.  We were in Big W the next day and I bought him a pair of fleecy pyjamas.  I took them home, washed, dried and folded them to wear the same night.  They were warm and comfy.
The next morning he complained they had a hole in them and he was quite right.  There was that hole again and they had only been worn once!  They went in the bin and once again Merv only had one pair of pyjamas.
He asked for four pairs of pyjamas and I thought his request a little excessive.  It played on my mind whether he was getting irritable because of his lack of sleepwear or was it the beginning of dementia which 30% of HD patients develop.  His father had HD with dementia.  Maybe it was just me being paranoid about how many pairs of pyjamas anyone should have!
Merv celebrates his 59th birthday this Wednesday and pyjamas was once again on the shopping list.  In K-Mart I found pyjamas, not the cotton button through type, but the T-shirt and matching long pants type.  They were going out for $7 a pack and I rummaged through the packs until I found two in his size.  Target had his size but at $35 a pack I bought one only. 
My next dilemma was how to have them sewn, washed and name tagged before his 2 day respite which begins this Friday.  On went my thinking cap and I used his current pyjamas pants to measure the legs and hem them to prevent any chance of tripping.  I washed and dried them and after he went to bed sewed on name tags.  Today I  re-packaged them in their original packs!
I am hoping he will be delighted and his irritability will soon be a distant memory.

Celebration

I sat on the edge of my seat and with every goal kicked I jumped up clapping and applauding, our favourite AFL team;  The West Coast Eagles.  Today they won against Essendon by 53 points.  I had, like many other Eagle fans given up and resigned to the fact our game for the year was over.  Today it was all sparks and victory;  our hope was rejuvenated.  It doesn't have to be sensational for us to celebrate in our house.  Life is an ongoing celebration in itself.  Yes, it was just a footy game, but Merv watches every game from beginning to end, an average of three hours, while I am not so good at sitting for so long.
I had cooked a home baked chocolate cake during the match and it was just out of the oven and still warm.  I covered it with chocolate icing and sprinkled it hap-hazardly with chocolate chips.  We celebrated the Eagles win with
 a glass of Moscato and a slice of my warm moist chocolate cake.  Merv's only word; 'YUMMY!'
After I left work this year I promised myself I would start my own cake baking journey.  No selling or gifting in mind,  just baking for Merv and the family.  In five months I have perfected a homemade banana loaf cake and today we were thrilled how good the chocolate cake tasted.  I no longer spend hours reading recipe books I simply Google what I want and check out the recipes.  I usually use the words; 'easy' or 'quick' or 'simple' plus I add,  'moist.'  It is a wonderland of inspiration which awaits me.  I print and laminate the recipe and add it to my own-style recipe folder.  Most of my 'family favourites,' were birthed the same way.  The chocolate cake recipe will receive the same honour.

Case Solved

I rang the post office yesterday with further information about my postal conspiracy detective scenario.  The nice lady on the end of the phone said a reply had been forwarded and the postal delivery person (postie) had been questioned and their answer recorded.  My ears listened intently wondering if I had uncovered a rogue ring leader in the postal service.  Without further prompting I was simply told the registered-post sticker had come off in transit. Hmmm I replied.  I was pleased my complaint had been addressed and an answer had been recorded.  I suppose it was the least incriminating answer.  To be honest I wouldn't have been happy to hear the person had confessed to ripping off the sticker because they were having a bad day or it was almost time to knock off and pick up their kids from school.  The answer to my question reflects the fact I should continue to have faith in my fellow man (oops postie).
Life is full of bumps, some are bigger than others, some hardly register on the richter scale.  In our ongoing journey Merv and I depend on many people in our everyday lives and we need to trust them and  work together with them.
Just like our helpers, I am glad our postie is on our side and continues to serve the community with honour and integrity.

Sharing A Chuckle

Staying at home may sound a little boring but I rather like Fridays.  Merv goes to the day centre and they alternate their,  'in and out days.' Today was an 'out day,' and they all went to Fasta Pasta eatery for lunch.  Merv enjoyed pizza for lunch.  He has an appetite for pizza lately.
I ran errands and did things at home.  No one to check on, lunch when I wanted, time spent pulling weeds in the garden and just some me time.  It was nice.
It's the end of the week and my mind must have been elsewhere when I was dressing Merv after his shower in the late afternoon.  I had helped him on with his singlet and forgot his pyjama top.  I jokingly suggested he could be a builder's labourer on a building site with his navy blue Bonds singlet and he started to smile.  His smile quickened and he started chuckling so hard his body started to sway.  I had no choice, but to join in laughing as loud as him.  We chuckled and chuckled until we could chuckle no more.  It was refreshing to share a laugh together.  A chuckle, a joke, a funny saying, a hug, a kiss, all of which cements the bond between us.

Escapism

Today was one of Perth's wettest August days in many years.  It was also my day with Mel and I thought quick and fast how we could make the most of the day.  A little escapism was needed and the local movie cinema was the obvious choice.  The rain continued to pour down as we relaxed in our warm and comfortable movie seats.  We watched the, 'The Way Way Back,' starring Toni Collett, an Aussie treasure.  It was a feel-good movie about a young boy who emerges from his chrysalis into a confident young man and contributor in his working community.  It was loaded with family issues, most families have some. 
Mel is looking good, she has lost almost seven kgs and she is happy with life.  When Mel is happy so am I.
Merv went ten pin bowling with his carer while I was out with Mel.  They dodged the heavy showers and kept warm and safe.  Merv's love of ten pin bowling goes far back to his teenage years when a group of his mates would regularly visit Fairlanes Bowls in Perth.  It was a regular event, even I was asked when we were dating!  After we married there were many breaks in his bowling routine due to work commitments, children and their many demands, a lack of time generally and a lack of money. When the children were older Merv joined a Tuesday morning bowling league and enjoyed playing as a team.  These days he goes every Thursday with his carer.  He is enjoying life.

A Red Bull Moment

I rang Australia Post early this morning and lodged a complaint about the medication parcel being left in my mailbox and then I took Merv to his HD club this morning.  As arranged I took our new ipad.  I was pleased we were given some advice on which apps to download to assist in Merv's communication.  The one question I had was when should Merv start using the communication app?  The program allows the user to click on words and picture prompts.  There is another app which has a much better and easier program but at over $200 we will use the free one for now!  It was suggested we start using the program now.
Thirty minutes later I attended an information presentation at the local library on family history.  I have previously started a little history searching myself but I was thrilled when the presenter found my mother's father on the English 1911 census.  He was four years old at the time!  He lived to over one hundred years.
I thought all my frustrations and annoyance had come to the fore yesterday with the strange case of the parcel but there was more to come today.  I came home with a boot load of shopping and the phone rang.  It was the optician where Merv had his eyes tested on Monday.  We ordered new glasses which were a bargain, designer frames cut down from $350 to $199.  They have spring loaded arms which will stop them from falling down his nose all the time.  A good choice.  The phone call was to say the warehouse no longer have the frames in stock and Merv would have to come down and choose another frame.  Well, I thought I had suddenly landed in the bull ring in Spain.  Or was I the bull in the ring?  All I could see was the colour red!   I explained to the nice young lady I could not understand what she was saying.  She said, don't worry I will put on my supervisor.  The supervisor was in defensive robotic mode and went into her pre-planned spiel.  I cut her short explaining Merv has a disability and I could not bring him down to the store until Monday and he would not have his new glasses for his respite next Friday.  The line went quiet for a moment or two.  The robot lady told me she would email every store of the franchise and find someone who has the frame we had paid for.  She did and she rang me fifteen minutes later and told me all was in order.  Time to have a rest, it has been a busy day.

Postal Conspiracy

Today I am a detective.  Not a real one, not even a TV, play or movie star pretend one.  Today I am hell-bent on solving the mystery of today's parcel.
The door bell rang at 8:30am just as I was serving breakfast; creamy porridge and the wafting smell of sizzling eggs filled the kitchen.  My mind was imagining the person on the other side of the door.  Was it a floral delivery?  An inquisitive neighbour?  My Godmother telling me I had won Lotto? 
No, it was just the postal delivery bloke, the parcel only man, the one in the van.   He held a decent sized box and I simply said, 'Oh thanks, I have been waiting for this.'  I signed his electronic hand pad and left the box on the table.  It was Mum's herbal tea ordered last week from Victoria. The sticker on the box said, 'Signature required.'  No drama there.
Hours later I heard the roar and the hum of the postie's motorbike doing his regular round.  The letterbox held a few letters and a small parcel.  Strange I thought (the detective in me), this is a registered post item only.  It is a small padded bag with two of Merv's prescription medications.  The parcel is delivered every month, if we are home we sign for it or else we receive a, 'you have a parcel to collect' reminder card and trudge down to the local post office with ID to collect it.
The detective bit - the parcel always has a registered post sticker on it, which alerts the postman to deliver it personally and get a signature.  The sticker had been torn off with only a small part of the corner still adhered to the front of the envelope. 
The issue - if the parcel had been stolen the medication could make someone very ill or even cause death if a child got hold of it.  Fortunately we have a padlock on our mailbox.
The mystery - my mind once again runs riot, was the postie too busy to knock on the door  (postie also delivers small parcels to the door, unlike the parcel bloke this morning).  Is he a rogue postie giving Australia Post a bad name?  Is he just lazy and thought he could get away with it?
He obviously never reckoned he would be up against the Aussie suburban Miss Marple! 
I am going to ask Australia Post to explain this scenario and I expect an answer.  It is important to us to keep our community safe.

Adding the Dollars

It wasn't so long ago I could buy things I couldn't afford.  I saw it, I wanted it and I bought it.  I just waved my credit card in front of the cashier and bingo it was mine.  It really belonged to the bank, but it went home with me.  How I miss those days!
When I see something I have no money for,  I can close my eyes and  take a mental snapshot.  It works rather too well.  By the time I have saved the money I am already on a new quest and have decided I can live without what I had longed for. 
It's a game of decisions.  With less money the decisions are harder, the spending can only be considered thrifty and its a balance between what we think we  need and those things which we can live without.
So far, so good.  I should be a professional juggler as I am doing a good job of juggling so far.
We have a lot to be thankful for and the reality is we want for nothing.  Only the other day I said to Merv there are so many people who struggle to have one decent meal a day.  They aren't choosy about what they wear and have no money for movies and shows. 
The thought keeps me grounded and reminds me to keep donating to our favourite charities.

Avon Descent

Every year the Avon Descent is held on the first weekend of August.  It is the longest white water event in the world and competitors from all over the world endeavour the long arduous journey to be first at the finishing line.  The event is over 2 days:
Day 1 is a 57 kilometre stretch beginning from Northam, 100 kilometres east of Perth.  The event started 2 hours late due to low fog.  The half-way point and overnight stop is the Boral Campsite located at Cobbler Pool 20 kilometres west of Toodyay.
Day 2 is 76 kilometres long and sees competitors tackle the valley containing the major white water obstacles and challenges of the event including Supershoot, Emu Falls, Championship Rapids and Bells Rapids. The rush of the valley leaves competitors with the marathon 30 kilometre, flat water stretch to Bayswater.
It is a beautiful weekend in Perth, yesterday we went to Monga Lake for lunch and a walk, today we took a ten minute drive to Sandy Beach (not really a beach, it is an area of the Swan River) in Bassendean.  We spied an empty park bench and watched the speed boats and kayaks on the last leg of their cruelling race.  A group of not so young girls were perched on the small jetty, clapping and edging each participant to keep going to the end.  The finishing line along the river in Bayswater, the next suburb, but I don't know how long it would take by kayak.  Maybe twenty minutes.  The young and not so young men were eager to keep going and were cheered by many spectators clapping and cheering them on.  We heard many of them remark they were tired and the race had been a difficult one.
Helicopters flew overhead filming and reporting on the race below, a lone kookaburra, out of view laughed cheekily and children played near by. 
Unexpectedly a small group of people quickly walked onto the jetty in front of us with a kayak oar and swapped it with a competitor as he slowed just a fraction to do the swap.  I don't know why the swap happened but the people seemed pleased it happened smoothly and encouraged him forward. The wind cooled the air and we returned home knowing we had once again been part of this annual event which inspires many. 

New Skills

We have acquired an ipad 2 and like all new things it has quickly become our new toy.  I know there are numerous apps which are or will be helpful for Merv.  I had in mind to buy the ipad for sometime, but I was not so eager to part with our savings.  Dustin bought a new laptop with his tax return and mentioned he will be selling his ipad.  A done deal and we are now the owners. 
I searched for new apps and fiddled around before Merv had his first attempt this morning.  We read a Bible devotion before attempting  a word search puzzle together.  We followed with an exploration of the WWF app and a free drawing app.  He used his finger to write my name and add a love heart! 
This afternoon I added a keyboard app and a jigsaw puzzle app which we will have a go with tomorrow.
Merv has never been a 'techno' type person, he had a mobile phone early in the new millennium for a couple of months but later he just left it at home.  The ipad is just a new way to explore the world and have some fun.  Looking for suitable apps is a quest in itself.

Recharging My Batteries

A beautiful winter's day in Perth.  I had a pre-booked appointment with my accountant at 10am.  It is my last tax return until further notice.  I am now a full-time carer and we have no other income accept Centrelink.  I sought out my accountant over twelve years ago when I commenced my own shopping service in the local metropolitan area.  I stayed with him after I closed the business and through the many different jobs I was privileged to have. Today he gave me the good news of a sizable refund cheque, but it was overshadowed by the thought I may not see him again.  Over our twelve years together we have chatted about; a shared friend and his family,  our families and our quests, life in general and my financial situation which fortunately has improved vastly in the last few years.  I wish him and his family well.
After a very busy week with Merv and Mel I had until 3pm to myself and took the opportunity to visit Hillarys on the beach to enjoy some window shopping and a coffee at the Dome.  I celebrated with an extra large cuppa and a warm sticky date pudding smothered with warm runny custard.  Yum!  I have to have a naughty moment of indulgence sometime and this was it!
I enjoyed a brisk walk before visiting the local handyman store and returning home to relax before Merv arrived home from his day centre.  It was a nice way to end the week and enjoy some, 'me time.'

A Weighty Mindset

My idea of losing weight is to book a once in a lifetime overseas trip and lose a whole stack of weight allowing me to enjoy every cocktail, glass of wine and buffet while holidaying.  It usually works a treat; it gives me a goal and I usually have five or six kilos to lose.  Last year I was a hefty twelve kilos overweight and I had booked a cruelling 33km bush walking holiday in April 2013. 
I set myself a goal and worked out a weight loss plan.  In four months I had lost five kilos and felt really good about my loss.  Dustin had lost ten kilos in four months and I put his weight loss program to the test.  I was thrilled when I lost five more kilos over five months.  Christmas and Easter bringing my weight loss yo-yoing from smiles to frowns.  I had lost a whopping ten kilos at the time of the bush walk.  I was fitter, lighter and felt a million dollars.
Mel started Weight Watchers in March this year and I joined her to be her mentor and encourage her in her journey.  Since then I have lost a few more kilos; a total of thirteen kilos to date. I am now lighter than any other time in the last thirteen years.
This made me put on my thinking cap, I do have a, 'once in a lifetime overseas trip', coming up in October, but this is where the plot thickens.  After a little soul searching I realised my weight loss is my life insurance.  Keeping myself healthy is my assurance I will be able to care for Merv and Mel for many years to come.  By helping myself,  I am helping my family.  It is a good feeling.