Post 360: The mattress tested—and my body too.
An early morning call from the district nurse was a very welcome surprise.
“See you in twenty minutes,” she said.
I was already up, but conveying the message to my darling was met with nothing but panic. In fact, her sleepy but hasty replies told me she would much rather stay in bed and rest.
Three days of nearly ten hours a day is a test of stamina for her, especially as it’s only the third weekend of work. It takes some getting used to—if ever. So me waking her up was not quite the wonderful surprise it was for me.
I dressed, stayed upstairs, and stripped the bed completely, top to bottom—which was so that the mattress could be viewed in order for something to be done to help me and my sleep.
When the nurse arrived, she wasn’t the older woman I had expected at all. She was much younger than me, with a real spring in her step. My darling let her in, and she climbed the stairs to my compact bedroom.
I introduced her to the worn-out mattress, and she looked at it with little interest, not even touching it at first. I explained how I’d recently been on holiday, where the bed and mattress were far better and more comfy, giving me great sleep every night—unlike this one.
She did eventually press the top of the mattress and immediately said I’d be able to get a replacement within one to four days, delivered by the Millbrook suppliers. It was as easy as that.
After asking my weight and height, she said goodbye and disappeared on her way.
Later, I wondered if my mobility made her question whether I was disabled at all—seeing me standing upright and walking those few steps—when she’s probably used to visiting people confined to their beds, unable even to inspect the mattress properly.
So this early morning visit marked a move in the right direction for my sleep, and the likelihood that my life will be improved by a “new” mattress.
All this was done in time for my trip into town to check on my prescriptions and get a spring COVID jab—both at my pharmacy. Although the Moderna jab was completely successful, I didn’t have the same luck with the medication.
“Sorry,” the assistant said, “they won’t be ready until tomorrow morning—or even the next day.”
“Thursday,” I chimed in.
“Yes, of course,” I replied, and I went on my way.
It was important to wait fifteen minutes for the vaccine to settle, so I returned a call to my little brother that I’d declined while queuing earlier.
He was well, as were his wife and teenage kids, and by the time we finished chatting, I was back at the car door and my fifteen minutes were up. Game over—I could drive home.
⸻
After a small lunch while watching MAFSAU again—boy, that show’s addictive—we jumped into the car and headed off to see Big Sis.
She was off work this week on annual leave and would be visiting friends in Wales later with my brother-in-law, so this visit was going to be brief—mainly to give them each a reasonably priced gift, perhaps for the wedding.
The wedding will be the joining of their eldest son and his fiancée later in June—a great time for a celebration and family get-together.
A few weeks ago, I’d tried to buy my Big Sis a piece of jewellery, which she flatly refused. She held her ground the entire time we were in the posh jewellers, while I browsed and found an Easter pressie for my darling.
Afterwards, my brother-in-law and sister explained how difficult it is to buy her earrings, necklaces, bracelets, or rings, as her skin reacts badly to most metals. That said, she mentioned she’s happy wearing brooches.
With that in mind, I arranged over the next few days to get her a pearl butterfly brooch—which she did approved of. At the same time, I sorted a stainless steel bracelet for my brother-in-law, engraved with his name (and my Big Sis’s on the underside), which I handed over as well today.
The brooch was for her “mother of the groom” outfit, which led to a full fashion parade of everything she’d bought—not just for herself, either, for the grooms father too. A lovely new suit.
My brother-in-law was still at work, so Big Sis made tea and we waited for him to return.
When he did, it took a while before I could give him his bracelet—and even longer to get it on, with both girls helping. Eventually, they secured it on his wrist.
He used to wear a name bracelet years ago, so it looked perfectly natural to him and me.
He loved it, and so did Big Sis with her brooch. Good times.
I was tired before too long, so we headed home. I spent the evening watching TV—our favourite shows—holding hands until bedtime.
Today was a good day. I drove a bit and sat in a few different chairs at Big Sis’s, and my back is still pretty good. My walking felt very normal too, which is fantastic.
The start of these three months of active surveillance is going well.
I’m really happy there are no new pains to worry about.
A new mattress will help my back even more. It’s all coming together nicely—and with work just around the corner, and my physical and mental health improving, I’m in great shape.
So take care—and sleep well.
