It's still "One Day at a Time"

Jill is in Hospice. Let's say, right from the outset, that there is no coincidence between her decision to be admitted and the fact that the Air Display is happening on Thursday. The fact that her room also faces St. Aubin's Bay, and Elizabeth Castle in particular, has (I am sure) had NO bearing on the list of visitors who are, for some inexplicable reason, lining up to visit at about 14:00 on Thursday afternoon. I'm sure we will all be inside, attentive by her bedside, pandering to her every need, and NOT outside in the excellently appointed gardens and terraces watching the goings on down in the Bay below us.

Today didn't start well. I tried my best to get everyone up early....however, I couldn't even get myself up at the time I had aimed for...and it was 06:30 before I surfaced. Not good enough....especially as I had been awake at 05:00 and 05:45. Anyway, and as is usually the case, by the time we had got through breakfast, had the usual drugs banquet and walked the dogs et al it was after 09:30. Jill really struggled (again) this morning...getting up the stairs, getting up into the shower, getting back down again, everything was a real effort. We were aiming to be at Les Ormes at 11:00...but it was 10:00 and we were still in the bathroom. With another 20 minutes of "upstairs stuff" to do the District nurse arrived to bandage Jill's legs. I had to usher Jill downstairs sans (that's "without" in French for the non-French speakers....what will you do after Brexit? (but don't mention that)) makeup or brushed teeth and we got on with bandages. Once the legs had been strapped/compressed/bandaged I brought all the makeup (toothbrush and paste) downstairs....and that in itself is a bit of story.

The above of course, is imperative to my general beauty regime... one cannot let standards slip.... although in truth, it makes little difference to my 'scrawny' face and it takes effort to even stick a bit of mascara on ........  but mentally it helps!

As our reader will know, Jill has taken to writing lists.....especially during the morning when talking is difficult. Rather than annoy me by speaking one word for one breath (a bit like texting someone one word at a time....actually, hang on, I actually know someone who does that!!! I'm not saying who it is but she is 18 months younger than me and we lived together for very many years....in our youth!) anyway....lists. Rather than annoy me with individual words, words so quiet that I can barely hear them, and then hoping that by some fantastic act of telepathy I completely understand exactly what's required, she annoys me by writing lists in handwriting that is completely illegible. It's even worse when the "description" relates to makeup...I mean, hang it all, us blokes don't understand makeup, and what everything does and why it does it, at the best of times. Trying to find 4 specific items in the middle of hundreds of small similar pots (or whatever you call them) is like something from the Krypton factor a far as I'm concerned. ...or the Crystal Maze. I solved the puzzle and found everything eventually....but it was 11:10 before we got to the car...already 10 minutes late for our 11:00 at St. Peter. However, it was worth the wait....and I'll let her Ladyship tell you more about that.



The other highlight of the day for me happened after the "haircut". A few of us were invited to La Moye Golf Club for a "light lunch"(when did a light lunch mean "full English Breakfast" Pops?? ....you can't say that my dad doesn't have a good appetite). Anyway, as our reader may (or may well not) know, in order to access their very nice (new) Club House in their very nice cars, one has to drive across 2 fairways.....there is a proper road, don't worry....and there's big sign saying "Watch out for golfers. Look right and then left". In other words, stop and make sure no one is about to smash a golf ball through the windscreen of your car. Anyway, one of our number (who shall remain nameless but lives in St. Ouen with her four small children...and husband!) didn't really either understand or read the sign (or probably both). As she entered the Club House she was telling me how there seemed to be lots of people on the course who must have known her....they were all waving and gesticulating at her as she drove in. I asked her if she had taken into account that she may have actually stopped her car in the middle of their golf game....I think she was completely oblivious....I'm not sure they play golf in St. Ouen....they prefer their horse racing!

As I type we are four in Room number 3 here at Hospice....Jill on her bed...and Tom, Jack and myself sat in very comfortable chairs. I've discovered that (if I push the right button) my chair will very cleverly push me up to a standing position, and Jack has worked out that his chair converts into a bed (well, not for people like him who are 6ft. 7 obviously), but a bed none the less. Tom has a standard comfortable chair that does nothing very exciting....sorry. Jack has also just spent the last 20 minutes trying to explain to Jill how the remote for the Sky box works (we don't have Sky at home so it's all Greek to us oldies) ....but we've given up. It's just too complicated, especially at the end of a "full on" exciting day....

I'm going to stop there and let Jill say a few words. Today has seen us move to Hospice....a day I haven't been looking forward to. My hope would be that, in a couple of days (and after some drug changes) we might have Jill's breathing sufficiently under control to bring her back home. We may need to move some beds around (and potentially swop houses with Jack and Stephe!), but with luck we can get Jill back home again....and we'll do whatever we have to for that to happen. However, I'm realistic enough to know that there are other potential outcomes, and other places we may end up. It's still very much "One Day at a Time"....and sister Sally arrives on Wednesday, so we have that to look forward to. I never realised she liked Air Displays so much as to come over especially to watch the Red Arrows!! 

Just as well Steve starts these blogs, my typing is still the one finger, find the right letter, laboriously slow , and as for engaging the few remaining brain cells, sparse at the best of times. 

Finally managed to up load todays few photos that I took at the Head Shave event today... what a crazy, nutty, amazing friend I have ( still have I hope?) . I thought she looks amazing, nice shaped head, ( she had glitter added to it... not expecting that!).

We must have had over twenty 'spectators"? well wishers? supporters? Took over the whole salon, the poor JEP photographer had to fight for his photo opportunity to take his own pictures!

Jersey Cancer Relief was there too, and made a little speech thanking everyone, we are so pleased to be able to raise such a huge amount of money for them, and although we haven't had a chance to keep an exact total, we know we have broken through the £7,000, (incredible) as we have many more 'offline' donations that will will pay directly to the Charity.

I WILL keep you updated on that figure... but we do plan to leave the 'page' open for a while longer...