Gosh, I can't believe how my life has changed in a week. This time last Sunday H was frantically packing for our trip to A&E. Fortunately I had compiled bag content lists from 2013 and knew exactly which filing cabinet they were in. There are two bags. An overnight one, just in case. This goes in the car boot. The second bag is the waiting room bag. This contains food, water and entertainment. (After last Sunday's 6 hour wait in A&E future bags will contain a cushion and spare mp3 batteries.) Crucially my handbag contains what I call the "important notebook".
I think everyone should have an "important notebook". I compiled mine many years ago when a neighbour, let's call her A, was suddenly taken ill. Her family were out somewhere and she was in the house on her own. Fortunately she'd managed to phone another neighbour, B, for help, and soon B was banging on my door. Come and help quickly says B. I'm really worried about A. B goes to fetch some more neighbours. I take one look at A and dial 999. Ambulance arrives and they have loads of important questions which none of us can answer. All anyone knows is A's first name, and at a rough guess her age. We don't even know which GP she goes to. Ambulance whisks A away and tells us to contact her family asap. We then spend several minutes banging on more doors till we eventually find someone who has got a phone number for A's daughter.
When I was housebound recovering from my treatment in 2013 there were often times when H had to go out on an essential errand. He'd tell the neighbours I was alone and I'd be left in my usual daytime position, which was resting on the sofa in the conservatory. Every now and then some neighbour would look through the window and I'd wave back. The "important notebook" was on the table by my side, along with the contact numbers of all my team, highlighted with who to call for general advice and who to call in an emergency.
I told I'm a pretty good organiser but H is even better. We've just finished our initial planning meeting and it has been agreed that days will be split roughly into 3 sections. One for the practical stuff that needs doing, one for watching crime drama boxsets as we both find it takes our mind off things, and a final section for emotional discussion if required. Of course emergency emotional discussion is allowed at any time of the day or night. This was how we coped in 2013 and hopefully it'll work again now.
Laundry and housework now completed. Afternoon viewing schedule agreed. H will be finishing off my bottle of wine that I was supposed to be drinking last Sunday afternoon. I'll be having water and a big bowl of ice cream.
