Smoked haddock fish cake, chips, Mediterranean veg

Today started, thankfully, rather later than yesterday, but in much the same vein: mum’s head / stomach / everything hurt, and why wasn’t anyone doing anything about it? I explained that they are doing something, that’s what all the tablets are for, it’s just that these things take time. Mum said “I know that. That’s not what I meant”, but couldn’t explain what she had meant.

I gave up and went for a shower. Then I had my usual breakfast of leftovers, did my meds, did mum’s meds, emptied the food waste caddy and took the full bag outside to its dedicated bin, replaced the bag, and collapsed on the bed. With my phone so I could arrange transport for a hospital appointment mum has next week.

After lunch, one of mum’s friends turned up and took mum out to help with setting up a church event. While mum was out I

• Called the pharmacy to check when mum’s painkillers will be here (possibly this evening, possibly tomorrow, depending on whether they’ve got any in stock);
• Called an electrician and arranged for our wall light to finally be fixed;
• Called a plumber and left him a message to ask if he can come and fix our slow-draining pipes;
• Called Alzheimer’s UK and got some advice on helping mum understand and manage her pain;
• Emailed the care agency I met with last week to tell them next Monday is no good after all as our cleaner will be here;
• Sent a message to another care agency (one recommended by Alzheimer’s UK) to see if they have more availability;
• Sent a message to the local branch of Age UK to ask about their befriending service;
• Amended our grocery order to include two crucial things: loo roll and mince pies.

Then mum came home, head pain forgotten and replaced as the main focus of complaint with constipation. (One of the more mildly distasteful aspects of caring is knowing far more about the state of my mother’s bowels than I had ever wished to know. In that respect, my long hospital stay was useful preparation, as there it’s perfectly polite to enquire after another person’s toiletry habits.)

Then I did one of my favourite “shove everything on a baking tray” meals. Mum said she didn’t want a fishcake, but changed her mind once they were cooked (which is why I cooked both of them). She said she’d served herself too much and couldn’t possibly eat it all, then ate all except the last few bites of the fishcake. (Well done mum! 👏)

Now mum’s watching Strictly (of course), and I’m wondering whether to respond to the response from the care agency tonight or whether to leave it to tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I think. I think I’ve done enough for one day.