Ah the joys….
Mu rang with a shopping list when we were with Ashley in the doctor’s. We said we’d ring back…
At home we phoned only to be cut short.
Later, we phoned again and were cut short. She went through the normal conversation with Ashley and then said goodbye and hung up.
I phoned her back and after a brief discussion where she politely refused a shopping request she hung up.
That evening she phoned us and asked for me to come and see her.
Worryingly, she had her organised “head” on, having chosen to rest the “little girl lost” and “dying swan” heads, I suppose.
After some prying I got her to admit that she had taken herself to town, bought some jam tarts and gone to the bank for a statement and to withdraw cash.
Having pored over the statements, she now wanted to know where all her money was going.
She had forgotten that Gill had a card to do her shopping, forgotten that we had renewed all the tat in her kitchen (on her sayso), forgotten that she had released birthday money for Cerys etc.
Controlling an urge to scream down the handset, I quietly filled in the gaps before deciding to deal with this face-to-face.
After an interruption by a carer I pointed out that:
A. Her memory is going south as is evidenced by the Memory Clinic wanting a prolonged interview in a view weeks and probably with them recommending a brain scan;
B. Of the three sons she has, I am the only one to take an interest in her well being and depite her protestations that she can cope and that we should be focussing on our brood, I have perservered with this care;
C. Gill, whose parents have both passed, is more of a daughter than either of her sons are sons. She is trustworthy and it is hurtful to suggest otherwise.
She backed down, hopefully realising her error, for the moment anyway.
We then dug out a heap of letters she’d stored all over the house and I realised a few phone calls regarding her TV license, unnecessary insurance sign ups and suchlike would be needed.
Letters are a joy in that house as her filing system involves couch cushions, tablecloths, pillows and coat pockets.
So, after a 5am start for a very rare short shift at work, I plopped back down in my chair at 9pm, knackered.
