Fruity Success

A basket full of luscious strawberries

The day went full speed ahead.  Merv and his support worker headed off to play ten pin bowling and later they try to outwit each other playing board games at home.  Mel has two appointments.  Firstly with the diabetes educator and secondly with her dietician.  Both of them were impressed with her progress and excellent blood test results.  We wasted no time in shopping for seasonal fruit and veg before arriving at the swimming pool.  Mel is a wizard in the pool!  She strides ahead at full steam with her hands locked in front of her.  She completed 67 walking laps in less than one hour!  I was struggling to complete 20.  I took time out to swim leisurely and allow the stress to drain from my inner self.  I lay on my back and let the water hold me as I immersed myself in the escapism of the melodic lapping against my skin. It was as if I had passed over into another realm. 
All too soon it was over.  I grab my towel, round Mel up and drive back to her place for a hair wash and shower.  A quick drive to my house for curried egg and salad sandwich before Mel's GP appointment at 2pm!  Goodness!  All done.

Merv picking the fruit of his labour



Merv's patio garden is thriving and producing an assortment of surprises.   I noticed the strawberry plant was heavy with big juicy strawberries.  I asked Merv to come outside and pick them.  We rejoiced together at his gardening success.  Don Burke would be proud of him, just like I am! 
The tomato bushes are growing prolifically  and are full of small green tomatoes awaiting a colour change.  The flower seedlings have now bloomed and fill their baskets with cascading rainbow coloured petals, which add beauty to our otherwise ordinary back garden.  I smile and share Merv's joy with him.

Whirlpool Moment

I am having  a whirlpool moment.  Everything fell into place only a week or so ago and now its spinning out of control.  So much to do and so little time, especially at this time of year with Christmas looming straight ahead.  There are endless appointments plus a handful of important end of year celebrations scribbled on my calendar.  Some of these I have to juggle before I lose sight of reason for the season.  There seems to be such little joy ahead.  Maybe I am just tired and in need of  a break, not a fortnight, or a week, just a couple of hours to clear my head and hear the sound of peace and joy resonating in the distance.  We have experienced numerous stresses this week and just using the wheelchair is tiring.  Merv weighs 90kgs. 

Today I attended an iPad training session and later I completed the fortnightly shopping.  Everyday I do the same things at home including dressing and showering Merv.  Yes, what I need now is  just a little 'me time.' It will put the roses back in my cheeks and give me the inspiration to keep going forward.  I am meeting a friend from the carer's group on Friday morning for coffee.  I am looking forward to sitting, chatting and sharing our stories together.

Communication Mishap

I was worried when I spotted two cars parked outside my house this afternoon.  I only expected to see one.  I had arranged care for Merv with our regular service provider.  I was attending a carer training course for over five hours.  
I parked in the driveway behind the car I didn't know and entered my house. The regular support worker saw my distress and immediately asked if the office had rang me to let me know she would have a 'buddy' with her.  The answer was simply 'no'.  No one had rang or emailed me.  
A buddy is an experienced support worker providing hands on training to either a new support worker or a support worker requiring specialised training to provide a service for clients with specific care needs.  Many years ago part of my job description was to buddy support workers.  I know the importance of ongoing training and will always support and encourage training new workers.
It is sad and alarming that communication is not taken seriously in our community. Also it is just common courtesy for the service provider to let us know about any changes to Merv's services but there is a bigger issue here.  After the girls left Merv asked how many grandchildren we have.  I stood and looked at him. I was speechless. We have no grandchildren! We probably will never know exactly what caused Merv's disorientation. What I do know is; I need to return home knowing who is in my house and both Merv and I are agreeable to the service and how it is provided.
I was unable to contact the coordinator by phone and sent her an email voicing my concerns.  I am awaiting her return call.

Wheels of Opportunity

Christmas Decorations as seen from the food hall

It has been a while since Merv has spent a couple of hours shopping with me.  Lately we visit one or two shops at the shopping centre before heading home.  I am thrilled to report that has all changed.  We took the wheelchair and headed for the Galleria, the largest shopping centre nearest to home.  We spent time at the food hall delighting in morning tea before heading off  for some serious shopping!  We admired the golden Christmas decorations throughout the centre.  We visited Myer and looked at the new decorations.  We laughed and pulled faces at the latest singing, dancing and flashing Christmas gismos.  We took serious steps from one end of the centre to the other,  stopping to look at shop windows and advertisements.  We went up in the Myer lift and down in the lift next to the Body Shop.  We found ourselves searching for milk and other staple items in Woolworths.  It wasn't long before the crowds thickened and it was difficult to manoeuvre the wheelchair without toddlers and little people persisting in blocking our passage. Time to retreat homeward.  We returned home tired and elated.  This wonderful set of wheels  is giving us opportunity to shop and be part of our community together, not apart. 

Lorryn's Wedding

Lorryn and Her Father entering the Wedding Garden

Lorryn has been waiting for this all important day for over twelve months.  It was that time last year she surprised everyone with her news.  Nick had proposed.  Lorryn beamed and chatted happily and endlessly about her future wedding, the ring, the dress and the arrangements.  You may imagine Lorryn and I met often to share coffee and catch up on her news, but I only know Lorryn as a work colleague.  She is young, pretty and full of life.  She worked in a different part of the office from me and we caught up briefly in the office kitchen or when I needed to ask her a question about a client or a community service.
Since I retired I have dropped by the office a few
times to say hello and catch up with staff.  I didn't want to miss Lorryn's 'Happy Day' and today it all came to fruition.


Garden Wedding Vows

The weatherman promised a few showers and I prayed he was wrong!  A light shower caused some anxiety before the 4pm wedding but quickly cleared.  The sky was cloudy and a cool refreshing breeze kept us pleasantly cool.  Their wedding was in the beautifully manicured gardens at Caversham House in the Swan Valley.  A number of office colleagues came to celebrate Lorryn and Nick's special day.  We kept busy before the ceremony catching up on personal news and taking photos. 
Lorryn and her father arrived in a horse and carriage.  Mother of the Bride, bridesmaids and small children arrived in an impressive black Hummer Limousine. Lorryn appeared radiant in her beautiful wedding dress.  Her father walked her down the aisle and the awaiting red carpet to her groom.  The ceremony was  tailored to Lorryn and Nick's requests and their vows and readings their own personal thoughts and ideals.  It was very special.


Nick putting Lorryn's wedding ring on her finger

It is a joy to share the special wedding with a couple very much in love.   May their lives always reflect their love for each other.

Lorryn was happy to share her wedding day on my blog.

Empty Nest

Yesterday the ladies were discussing their children and their grandchildren.  I have long ago given up any hope of grandchildren.  Considering our family gene pool, our chance of HD free grandchildren is only fifty percent.  Instead of longing for a future generation I spend my time enjoying the time with Merv and our kids.  Mel left home in 2007 to live independently.  Now due to circumstances she lives in supportive accommodation.  Dustin left home in 1997 only to return a few years later when the life he was seeking failed him.   He asked if he could stay with us for three weeks and finally left two years later! 


Family Together Time

 Today Dustin called in and stayed for morning tea and lunch.  We shared news with each other and  discussed his job and other important aspects of his life.  He washed his new car and spent time with Merv while I shopped for weekend groceries.  I chatted with Mel this afternoon.  She had gone into Perth with a friend today.  We agreed on a long walk in Garvey Park tomorrow morning.  We will take the wheelchair for Merv.

I know lots of people whose children either live too far away for them to visit regularly or whatever reasons they have severed contact with each other. 
We are so very blessed our children are happy to visit and spend time with us.

Left Hanging

I have considered visiting the local Arafmi carer's support group for sometime.  I have picked up flyers at the clinic and even jotted down the information at another clinic.  In 2000 I attended every meeting for the whole year and then I stopped.  The meetings were exactly what I needed at the time.  The benefit from fellow carers helped me; to share, listen, learn and put life into perspective.  Thirteen years is a long time between visits.  It's a long time whether you say it out loud or write it.  It remains a very long time.  The old saying; 'It's never too late to start again,' rings true.
Merv was off to his day centre.  I called in to see Mel and drop off her new bathroom trolley and some of her shopping from yesterday.  I checked the road map again and headed off.  It was only five minutes away and I arrived early.  I wasn't surprised I was the only one there.  I sat in the meeting room.  I checked my iPhone, wrote my shopping list, sent a few messages and chatted with a staff member.  By 10:10am I gathered no one was coming today.  I had rang and confirmed the meeting yesterday.  I rang again only to find the group were meeting a local coffee shop!  There I had sat alone in the meeting room, just hanging, waiting to be part of the group.  I had the choice of driving to the café or just going elsewhere.  I chose to meet the group at the café.  Around the table sat two office staff and three carers.  I ordered my coffee and sat eagerly chatting and listening for the next hour or so.  They were all 'new' carers but I felt as if I had finally come home!