'Handsome Agitator'.....(mixed up!)

Shirley has been busy today.We got to the hospital a little before 11. Dulcie was dressed but lying in bed. She had had a shower.The ward was busy. Two women were chatting to Celia who was crying.Nurses were bustling about and then a 'dose' of doctors arrived. They pulled the curtains around Maureen while they chatted to her then went out again to discuss her around a trolley full of files.Celia's son arrived...but it did not stop her from crying.The doctors came back in again and went to see Celia.I suspected Dulcie might be next so thought I would make some room by leaving. Dulcie was looking good and more perky than usual but feeling clean and being dressed would do that.I left Shirley to her day with her mum and drove home.I had a lovely relaxing day, making lunch and then practising some guitar this afternoon before heading off to pick up Will.We were back at the hospital by 4.00.Dulcie and Shirley had had a productive day. Dulcie had been out in the communal area for lunch. Shirley had sorted it. It seems they have not been taking her out before because the oxygen tube was not long enough. They brought a portable oxygen cylinder for her.Shirley ensured Dulcie rang regularly for toilet visits...even if she did not feel like going.Shirley chatted to Damian, the doctor and discovered that they had not been doing physiotherapy because of her lungs. He told Shirley that it was 50/50 that she would leave hospital.Rubbish! There is no way any of us are leaving her in there! Even if we have to break in at night and lower her down with tied sheets out of the window!Shirley told him she had had breathing problems for ages. He seemed surprised but I told him two weeks ago that she had smoked since she was 19.She went off to the loo on her walker while we were there and looked really steady. She has been told to slow down!...but that's Dulcie.She was looking really good today and had got a bit of her old spark back.....50/50 chance my foot!I took the Ipad in and got up a map of the British Isles and we asked Celia to show us where she had lived in the UK. It was somewhere north of London but she couldn't seem to pin point in on the map.A bit later she called me over again. She wanted something but she couldn't get through to me. It is so frustrating for her."Is it about your bed?" I asked....she shook her head."Is it about the light?".........it wasn't."Do you want me to get the nurse?" .......Definitely not! "They're horrible!" She said clearly.She started to cry and then pointed at the TV. She wanted the remote......why didn't she just point at the TV in the first place?Tea came. Dulcie ate all hers and needed  no helpI cut up Celia's beef for her.Jennifer had been moved to Dulcie's old room....with Anne....would you believe it? It seems she has been trying to get out of bed at night and they have moved her there to keep a better eye on her.In her place was a little Asian lady, Insook....she was eating very slowly.....she seemed very zen.Maureen was eating her spaghetti bolognese with her fingers. I went over and opened her carton of orange juice for her and poured it into her cup."Oh thank you!" She said.Celia groaned....she had no milk for her tea."I'll get some," I said.Nazi Nurse was sorting out the communal fridge.(I haven't mentioned Nazi Nurse before....but she has been around a few times when we have been there and her manner and attitude tell of someone unhappy in her work. She is not suited to her job any more.)"Is this general milk?" I asked, grabbing a big milk carton."Ya vole!" she said.....well......she actually said 'yes'......but I wouldn't have been surprised by a 'ya vole'.I carried it to Celia, poured some in her tea, and took it back.Maureen was trying to open her banana....I peeled it for her."Oh, thank you!" She said.Celia had eaten her ice cream but it had dribbled all down her chin. I went over and wiped it with her towelling bib.Crikey!If there is a time when people need visitors in hospital.....it is at mealtimes.Dulcie manages well on her own now, unless her food needs cutting up, but these poor other people are just left.Celia is left to eat her meals with her left hand....her right arm is still paralysed.Shirley is going back all day tomorrow to keep up the momentum with Dulcie....Will and I will be back for tea- time.

In the Doldrums.

We had a good game of cards on our second visit of the day at the hospital.We were able to play four handed as Shirley is up.I was Dulcie's partner and we won but it was a close game. We saw some of Dulcie's old spark during it.Jennifer was wriggling about in her bed, Maureen was mumbling in hers and Celia just looked fed up in her bed.Tea came and as usual Dulcie wasn't hungry but she ate pretty much everything.Celia was struggling so I went and cut up her roast beef for her.Half way through the meal Maureen said in a loud voice,"I'm weeing!"Nobody batted an eyelid.Afterwards Celia started to talk to me. It is mostly difficult to understand her. She thinks she is talking normally but her stroke prevents the words she hears in her head from coming out.She had noticed I was British. She asked where Will was from.It turned out that she was English. I asked whereabouts but we couldn't understand what she was saying."Is it near London?" I asked. She nodded.She managed to tell us that she had been here a year but that she was wondering if she had done the right thing. Sometimes her words came out right but mostly it was unintelligible.I asked if she had family here. She did."Do they come and visit you?" I asked."Yes," she said, with big sad eyes,"but not enough." That was as clear as a bell.It was heart breaking. We have never seen any visitors at her bedside.She was trying to tell us something about her house but we could not understand it."Do you need anything?" I asked. She didn't. "If you think of anything you need just let us know, we will get it for you."Poor, poor Celia....no wonder she is often crying.

Brisbane Visitors.

Just some of the visitors to the garden here recently.

Mission Impossible!

We were going to get up early today and head to the markets at 6.30 am.....but when I was still awake at 3.00 am we decided 'sod that for a lark!'We headed off eventually at about 10.30. we bought some bread and some fresh vegetables but passed on the golden calamari.We called in at a meat warehouse over the road and bought some goat for a curry tonight, a kangaroo tail to make some soup and three 'osso bucco' for when Shirley is here.We dropped it off at home and headed over to the hospital.Passing Dulcie's old room I noticed that Mary had been moved into Dulcie's old bed......Damn!Dulcie was in bed. She'd had her lunch. Joanne had been to visit her that morning.We had a game of cards and during it Maureen and Celia were wheeled back in. They were put in bed and both were soon asleep.Will again won the game of cards.It was much quieter in the room and Dulcie said that Maureen had been quiet in the night.We still didn't like the fact that she was in there but it was nowhere near as depressing today as it was yesterday.She was tired so we headed home.With Shirley coming tomorrow we had to get everything spic and span.Will cleaned the bathroom and toilet. I did the kitchen and cleaned the windows in the living room and hoovered.Will started the Goat Curry and we left it simmering while we went back to see Dulcie for tea time.The room that Dulcie used to be in was now full. Mary was still in Dulcie's old bed and there was a new woman in the bed where Mary used to be. Our mission was over....it looked impossible.Danny was there with Dulcie.Her tea came and she ate it all.Jennifer, Maureen and Celia were all lying down.Celia tried to eat her tea lying down. I asked her if she wanted me to raise the top part of the bed. She did, so I did.Jennifer didn't know what she wanted. She was feeling sick but I saw her reaching for her jelly and custard.I went over and asked if she wanted me to pass it too her. She did, so I did.In the end she didn't want it though.She tries to put her TV on but was using the wrong control. She switched her light on and off and then pressed the call button.The nurse came."What is it Jennifer?"Jennifer looked bemused."I didn't call you," she said.She wriggled and squirmed and moaned."I'm squeamish," she said to the nurse. I think she meant 'queasy.' The nurse gave her something to settle her tummy.Celia said something to me. I went over. I couldn't understand what she was saying. I tried really hard....she knew what she was saying but it was not coming out as she wanted...she was so frustrated."Are you in pain? I asked. She wasn't. I gave her the thumbs up and went back to our patient.Jennifers light went on and off as she tried to switch on the TV. Dulcie just shook her head slowly and rolled her eyes. Jennifer pressed the call button again.The nurse came."Yes, Jennifer, what do you want?""Nothing," said Jennifer.I butted in....."I think she wants the TV on but keeps on pressing the light and call buttons."The nurse switched the TV on. Jennifer settled down.Celia was pulling at something that looked like a glove with her teeth and intermittently crying."What happened to the rest of my banana?" Said Maureen to no one in particular. No one replied.The Oompa-loompa came in and busied herself around. She fed something that looked like a donut to Jennifer.That's Oompa loompas for you!"Can you lie on your back?" she asked Maureen."I think I can!" said Maureen, as if it had never been possible before....the magic of Oompa loompas!She lowered Celia's bed for her but did not come near Dulcie....probably because we were there.Oompa loompas are shy.Nina came in like with a trolley with files on. She looked busy and in charge. She has the bosom of a woman in charge.She looked so in charge that Will and I chickened out of asking her about moving Dulcie.When she said 'hello," we both piped 'hello' back.The goat curry was calling so we all left Dulcie to another night in that room.Tomorrow we will bring in the big guns!......Shirley is coming back!

Earth Hour.

Don't forget to switch everything off for Earth Hour!8.30 pm to 9.30 pm your time.We are doing it!If you are on a life support machine...I suggest you leave that on though.I thank you!