curiouser & curiouser

2 minute read time.

Had a strange but pleasant afternoon with mah boy getting him Prom-ready. Cost more than I had hoped (i.e. more than £20: I live in a parallel universe) but he will look fantabulous so who cares...

J took Dog to be clipped so we had to bath him (the dog) in the bath first. He was very good and submitted to showering and blowdrying, and is like a white teddy bear now, with his short, velvety hair.

THEN (of course) The Trouble Started. J went to visit his dad for about 4 hours and he seemed ok, and had had a very good weekend scoffing 3 cream scones when he usually picks at tiny portions.

J had been back home an hour when the phonecalls started. A neighbour, his daughter, his sister... Dad in law had been behaving weirdly and his neighbour was concerned. He claimed his carer hadn't been with his evening meal, but it was there in front of him. He wanted J's daughter to come round (not the usual thing at all) and then claimed he wanted her mobile number to be put on his tv screen (on channel 7, apparently). J's s ister is adamant (or has been till now) that he is to stay in his own home and have carers, but even she now is coming to the conclusion that it's not really feasible any more. He has panic attacks when J leaves (tho not when J's sister leaves) and complains of abdominal pains then can't or won't tell the doctor where the pain is. It's all really sad and incredibly frustrating. He has had another urine infection (being catheterised all the time makes it happen a lot, I think) and is on antibiotics, but they may not be properly dealing with the infection, which may account for the odd behaviour. Or maybe he has demetia: his memory is very poor now and we have wondered for some time about this.

Tomorrow, J's sister will speak again to the doctor and we will proceed accordingly. J and I are off down south to collect my #1 daughter from uni for the summer, so J will be out of range for 2 days of emergency calls, thank God. I don't mean to sound so heartless but it is a strain always being on the alert and worried. He needs 24/7 care: I've said this for ages to J but it's not my place as he's not MY dad.

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Thanks, everybody, for your comments. I feel things are really coming to a head now with dad-in-law (surely to God...). We've left things today in the very capable hands of J's sister, the ex-nurse, who, putting it very crudely and rather unfairly, is feeling the economic pinch of being on call all the time. She was manoeuvred into taking redundancy and now does the same work but freelance, so is losing money as she can't work much.

    IN MY DEFENCE about the ridiculous & nonsensical Prom (and I too agree on the silliness thereof), I would like to point out that Boy has a suit only because I can't do tailoring! His big sis (now 19) had a 6th form Ball last year and went in a dress I made from leftover bridesmaid dress fabric (so cost nothing). It was decorated with a little corsage I made after watching a tutorial on YouTube (cost nothing) and she wore her bridesmaid-shoes (free again). I cobbled her hair together (definitely cost nothing) and she looked gorgeous. There. I hope I've done something to placate Hilary!!! (And, of course, as I'm a cheapskate, our wedding in 2009 was almost entirely constructed by me...)

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Sue, you have nothing to defend! I'm impressed with your clothes making skills, and yes it is more difficult with boys.

    I'm sure both looked great and I hope they enjoyed themselves.

    (Americans always did go too far!)

    Cosy Cwtches,

    Odin xxx