I am a beer girl myself but Anthony prefers red wine. I remember when we’d go out to lunch or dinner, the waitress would always give him the beer and me the wine and a bit of laughter would be exchanged before we swapped drinks.
This afternoon, I decided to do something different and go see Ants at 5pm instead of earlier in the day. I rang him beforehand and he answered the phone (a miracle in itself!) and I said I was coming in to have a drink.
It was WONDERFUL! I now think this might be the best time to visit because the atmosphere is more mellow than the flurry of daytime. I took the bottle of wine into his room and poured him a glass and I opened my beer and we had a drink together, laughing and talking and then his dinner was brought in and I helped him with that a bit and then I had to go, and he was fine!
Thank you, red wine!
jmgoyder 
What a wonderful idea. You’ll both have to have pre-dinner drinks more often. Makes it almost like a ‘date’.
I’m not allowed to drink alcohol with my meds (but I do sneak a wee glass when no one is looking and the budget allows).
Yes – it was a totally different feel to morning or afternoon visits! So what is your secret drink?
AWESOME! I’m glad y’all had a good time, and it did sound like a “date”.
Wish I’d realized to do this earlier – oh well, live and learn!
Julie,
This made me smile, and I’m glad it worked out so nicely for you both. I’m shocked that the staff would let you do it, but glad that they did. ~ Lynda
Well, until Ants went into the nursing lodge, he always had a red wine with dinner so yay! (I did ask permission first)
😀
good thinking!
99!
Glad you had an easier time.
Yeah it was great!
how pleasant
Better than usual
Is that the time people used to gather to drink and laugh at your house? When people gathered on the patio at the end of the work day? I could see that would be a perfect time for him.
Yes – it was always 5pm on the dot!
I think you’ve hit on something then, something that feels like his natural rhythm. Wine and laughter…and beer for you.
I think I will start to do this really regularly. Tea (dinner) is at 5pm at the nursing lodge so I will go in at 3.30pm and have a drink with him. Normally this would be an indecently early time I guess but it will resemble what we used to do which was to have a drink at 5pmish and tea at 6.30ish. Obviously it will just be the one drink each as I have to drive 15 kms home!
New prescription coming up then. Out go the pills and potions, in comes the red wine. 😀
I usually prefer beer but the red wine isn’t bad at all – hehe!
Yay — this sounds like a plan Julie… evening cocktails – I’m there 🙂
I just commented on your other post that it looked like Ming had one too many beers — and then I read that you are a beer fan – hee hee …. So happy you found a better time strategy for visiting your Anthony for more quality time. Smiles for you both xo
Haven’t done it today as we had a day out (Ming and me) but I think it is a good plan!
Red wine is good medicine.
Yes indeed!
You should try some Scotch malt whisky or uisge beatha (“water of life”). My grandmother from the Isle of Skye used to say there was ‘nothing a wee drop of whisky wouldn’t cure’.
Best to start with the Speyside, Highland or Lowland whiskies rather than the island ones as the island whiskies have a smokey taste from the peat which is used to dry the barley.
My favourites are Glenfiddich, Glengoyne and Glenfarclas. Drink with water and don’t add any ice. The blended is quite good as well and you should try Bells, Famous Grouse or J&B. The British supermarket, Tesco sells a special reserve whisky which is very good.
All of those brands should be giving you a commission for this wonderful praise – yes we have a couple of bottles of Glenfiddich that were given to Ants as birthday gifts over a year ago – I will take one in to the nursing lodge! And Ants drinks it (or used to) exactly the way you do with a bit of water and no ice! Thanks Jane – Julie
Only water should be put into whisky. No ice, ‘Irn Bru’ (a fizzy orange coloured non alcoholic drink), lemonade or any other drink of any kind.
I’m onto a bottle of Glengoyne which is distilled near Glasgow.
You are obviously an expert – hehe!
Everything is better with a glass of wine 😉
Yes it’s not a bad invention!
AAAAAAmmmmeeen for a lovely time! (:
I prefer white wine, but have abstained for a few months and miss it dearly. I loved this post!
That abstinence is something I will have to try!!
What a great idea! Wine is always a great idea. 🙂
A stroke of genius!
stunning idea darling.. good for you! c
Yes I am brilliant – ha!
I am not a wine or beer woman I am a Southern Comfort type of woman………………
Actually I like that too!
Like Anthony — I am a red wine gal! it sounds like you’ve found a winning combination — time and libation wise. Hugs
I’m not very winy but I prefer red to white.
Flexibility is the key 🙂
Yes – very true.
Yes.
What a wonderful way to recreate an important part of your previous daily life so a “good part” version of sharing and celebrating the day continues. Brilliant!
Yes, I should have thought of this before!
This really is brilliant. It not only recalls past routines and pleasures, it also may be tapping into his changed daily rhythms. I don’t know this for certain, but I’ve heard that as people age, or as they cope with diseases like Alzheimer’s, “day” people can become “night” people and vice versa.
And there are the rhythms of the institution to take into account, too, whether hospital or nursing lodge or whatever. Finding a corner of time where they’re not so danged busy with what they have to do can be tremendously refreshing. I hope it continues to work out well for you!
Yeah – thank you – I am going in this arvo to do same thing!
This reminds me of drinks on the veranda at your place. Its the next best thing!!
The good old days!
Delightful! Great that you both enjoyed your refreshments! I’m a white wine girl…and fruity cocktails.
Just got home from visiting again and the red wine once again mellowed things out!
Inspiring, involving, interesting!!! Three words that describe this blog.