Diary of a carer?

This still life courtesy of glorious amaryllis' from my sister has kept me going this week . Some of my favourite pictures, our warm red walls and these flowers combine beautifully. 

Another thing that's kept me going has been the ever enthusiastic Merry, who has enjoyed the cold but sunny plays on the beach, everyday . She has run and fetched the ball with wild enthusiasm and huge energy. 

To see the sun has been wonderful , even though it's been necessary to wear four or five layers.

The light , the warmth , the beauty of the sea shimmering , are so uplifting. And when the rain returned yesterday and we couldn't get out before 3pm, we appreciated those earlier in the week crisp days even more. 

The daily FaceTime calls from my partner half a world away in South Island , New Zealand visiting her much loved grandchildren , continues to be a tonic ( if not a lifeline ) for me. I'm sure time is passing speedily for her. Is it not amazing to be able to talk and see each other with a 13 hour time difference ? Last Sunday we were talking ( safe, hands free ) on What's App as I travelled back from a lovely birthday celebration with my grown up offspring in London . Who'd have thought this would be possible a few years ago? 

And I don't know if my sons and daughter understand  how much I appreciate their frequent calls and texts as I manage the daily visits to dad in hospital , continue to organise his house sale, and plan his future with him, the professional multidisciplinary team and my brother and sister . 

Another tonic this week has been the joy of music. Indeed I'm enjoying a number of new CDs .After the wonderful  melancholy of  Bowie's  Black Star last week , I am enjoying the Unthanks collection and Liane  Carroll's Seaside. 

 

Visits , texts, phone calls from friends trading stories and plans, bringing  flowers  and sharing tea have also been vital for keeping me going,in the face of a filthy cold and an emergency tooth extraction .

And so has reading . This week I finished a wonderful book , The Vanishing Man - part mystery, part art appreciation, part memoir , Laura Cumming has given us a very special read which I thoroughly recommend.

So family, friends, flowers, music , pets , books and home are all keeping me going . There are two other things I haven't mentioned yet . One is Twitter - the connectedness to people known and unknown and information and stimulation from far and wide . Everyday I learn something, or experience a smile at a joke, cartoon or anecdote. Everyday I connect with hard working professionals improving services where they work and live . Everyday I see pieces of art that I love and which cheer me. 

And the other thing that's keeping me going is our public services , and in particular our Health and social care services. For the first time in his life, my father is entirely dependent on health and social care professionals . He is benefitting from their knowledge ,skill, and commitment to public service, and so are we.  I have just read a brilliant piece in the online journal @StandardIssueUK, about the author @hazedavis delight in paying her taxes and having a stake in society. I wholly endorse her enthusiasm and can testify to the importance of services being there when you need them . So thanks to them. 

Back to Merry. Ever since we learnt that she can visit dad in hospital , she has been  acting as a "pet as therapy" , bringing joy to all the patients and staff on the stroke ward , not just my dad . 

                                  

So she has earned those plays on the beach and after the rains yesterday , she was delighted to discover sand ! Yes that's Hove - who says we only have a pebbly beach?