Thai-influenced fish cake with hoisin veg noodle stirfry

Today started with a phone call from the local council, letting me know they were on their way to install my new handrails. They couldn’t do the one on the front door as that needs to be specially fitted, but I can know haul myself out of the conservatory without having to get my crutches every time I need to go out there.

Before he arrived, mum had been lying in bed worrying herself into an ever-increasing panic (“I’m scared.” “What are you scared of?” [Almost wailing] “I don’t know!”)

I encouraged her to get up,as lying around panicking was just making her feel worse, which led to a surreal conversation:

“There’s no point in getting up – there’s nothing to do.”

“You’ve got magazines, books, your kindle, a puzzle book, all your craft stuff, colouring, there’s a jigsaw puzzle on the table – or just watch television. Or come and talk to me. There’s lots of things to do!”

“Oh. But there’s nothing to do!”

The odd thumping noise you may have heard, wherever you are in the world, was me hitting my head repeatedly against the wall.

She did eventually get up, but spent the rest of the morning accusing me of refusing to speak to her (when I didn’t respond immediately to one of her complaints) and refusing to help her (when I didn’t run to get her painkillers, having literally just reminded her that she couldn’t take any for a few days).

Then our family friend came round (literally our only one atm) and asked mum to go to the Christmas tree festival at the church with her. I said I was too tired and would rather stay at home. Mum said “well, I’m not going then”. As nearly always happens, I gave in and went to get my crutches.

Despite a scary time getting to the church – the stones that make up the path are hundreds of years old, and seriously slippery when wet – I was glad I went: the trees, all made by local organisations (the WI, the horticultural society, Brownies, and other staples of rural life) were lovely, clever, and creative. My favourites were the bell-ringers’ one, which made me laugh, and the one from the local independent lifeboat crew, which is made of driftwood and is just so lovely.

Then we had coffee and homemade cakes, and chatted with a couple who were lovely even though the husband was a bit… well, I suspect he may have a hat made of tinfoil somewhere in his wardrobe. Of course, if I wake up tomorrow to find that all the forests now belong to a shadowy US corporation, I’ll be the one looking daft.

For dinner I cooked some Thai-influenced fishcakes (i.e. British style fishcakes with ‘Thai’ flavours (chilli and lemon, mostly)), and some frozen veg with noodles and hoisin sauce as I didn’t think mum would want the fishcakes, which she didn’t.

Now it’s the usual tv and mobile phone games, then bed, and hopefully no early awakening tomorrow.