October | 2013 | jmgoyder

A perfect arrangement

by jmgoyder

Ming offered to pick Anthony up on Monday and bring him home for the day, then take him back to the nursing lodge in the late afternoon. I can’t believe how much this improved the day for me! It was so wonderful not having to make the two trips, each of which takes around an hour if you count the time it takes to get Anthony in and out of the car and then back into his room at the lodge. It was also great fun for Anthony to have his big son driving him around and Ming got to spend time with Ants on his own during the trips to and fro.

When I take Anthony back to the nursing lodge he often gets really unhappy and sentimental, and saying goodbye for the evening is sometimes a bit tearful for both of us. But with Ming, this doesn’t happen so that is a real bonus. This arrangement was also great because, having done the two trips with Anthony, Ming didn’t feel he had to spend every minute of the day with him. This can be a bit of a strain for Ming, especially when Anthony isn’t making any sense or doesn’t speak at all.

Anthony and I spent most of the morning in the kitchen while I made chicken and vegetable soup for our lunch. Then he wandered around the farm (wonderful!) until he became too wobbly. Back in the kitchen he watched me make a blue cake while we caught an old episode of Midsomer Murders on the television. The cake wasn’t quite cooked when it came time for Ming to take Anthony back so I surprised him with it on his return. As you can see, he was nonplussed.

Ming said he will drive Anthony back and forth whenever he can. This is a perfect arrangement.

Family Friendship Grief joy LOVE STORY Marriage Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease dementia Teenagers

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The way to a man’s heart?

by jmgoyder

Ming’s Sunday breakfast: I spread half an avocado on two pieces of wholemeal toast, then cooked eight bacon rashers, two sausages, three eggs and one tomato. It took me around 10 minutes to prepare. It took Ming exactly four minutes to consume.

I took Anthony out to the Dome this afternoon where he demolished an enormous piece of chocolate mousse cake with extra cream. I sipped my coffee and watched in amazement.

After taking Ants back to the nursing lodge and settling him into his room, I came home to find Ming sitting in the living room hungry. I am not sure if he has forgotten where the kitchen is, or forgotten how to open the refrigerator which generally has food in it, but he appears to have some sort of mental block when it comes to feeding himself. So I gave him his requested snack of strawberries and cream with some reluctance. He ate it unreluctantly.

Family Friendship Happiness joy LOVE STORY Marriage Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease dementia Teenagers

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A rabbity argument

by jmgoyder

Ming and I had an argument the other day about our rabbit plague. He said they were attracted to the wheat I feed the peacocks, guinnea fowl, geese, duck etc. I said, what nonsense – everyone around here is being rabbit plagued!

It was only when I went outside to feed the birds the other afternoon that I realized Ming is absolutely right!

Animal Australia Birds Teenagers Western Australia

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The Australia puddle and other Spring things

by jmgoyder

The puddle in our driveway has held the shape of Australia for weeks and weeks and even had a Tasmania, but the latter evaporated a couple of days ago, before I remembered to take a photo. I wish I had, as it might have made me famous! I’ve decided not to get that Australia-shaped pot-hole filled with gravel now, in the hope that next Spring it will once again rain relentlessly and re-create the Australia puddle, with Tasmania, on our driveway. Then I will take lots of photos and have an exhibition and get rich. The reason I didn’t take the photos this time was because it was raining and I didn’t want to get drenched to photograph a puddle (I think that is more for the professionals.)

A blue wren (very hard to photograph because they are so tiny and so fast!) After several attempts to get him in more natural surroundings, he landed on one of Anthony’s salvaged washing machine insides, that we use for an outside barbecue.

A rare vision of Uluru looking calm. He is usually feisty, having to compete for the wheat with all the winged creatures.

G9 in a tree. I have never seen ~~him~~ her do this before (even though I know that, at sundown, she flies up into the wattle trees for the night with all the other peafowl).

Ming, with the dogs.

Something wonderful happened today; I became a great-auntie for the first time. A beautiful baby was born and I mean this sincerely because, let’s face it, most babies are quite ugly for the first few days/hours – but not this one! She is exquisite! In respect of the new parents’ privacy, I will ask them before putting any photos of the kid on my blog.

Animal Australia Birds blogging Family Friendship Happiness joy LOVE STORY Marriage Teenagers Western Australia Wings

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There is no such thing as wireless!

by jmgoyder

Such fun! The new modem suddenly stopped working today, and the old modem suddenly started working, except for when it needs little smokos, which is every few minutes. Hence, this a very quick post to say that my midnight visitor turned out to be a genuine neighbour’s son, looking for a genuinely lost dog but I’m still not sure why this had to be after midnight.

I received a reply from the Australian Journal of Dementia Care to say that they would be delighted for me to submit articles – yay! Coincidentally, they had featured something about my long-ago-published book about Alzheimer’s disease in their last issue – serendipity is so weird.

Anthony home all day today with sun shining. He actually chopped a bit of wood and walked around the farm without his walker, until he nearly collapsed from exhaustion. I was worried he might fall but then thought what the hell, he needs some autonomy back, so I just continued doing the washing/folding, feeding animals etc. but I found this difficult because I remember the falls before the nursing home (he doesn’t).

When it came time to take him back to the nursing lodge, there were a few mutual tears. I am feeling terribly sad writing this and internet is probably gonna die in a minute. If so, just know I’m doing my best to keep up with posts etc. but sometimes it all gets too hard.

Now I just have to go and plug in the wireless phone, new modem, Ipad etc. and all will be well – yeah right!

Animal Birds blogging Family Friendship Grief LOVE STORY Marriage My published writing Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease dementia

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Finally. The sun is out and the internet is working!

by jmgoyder

Due to waterlogged, ancient telephone wires, I have had weeks and weeks of trouble with both phone and internet. Finally, the new wireless modem is configured, the landline is disconnected and the mobile phone is working inside the house (I don’t have to keep on running outside into the rain to have a conversation).

Ah, the rain; after our first month of spring and its relentless downpours, the sun is finally coming out to play again!