Tuesday.....

What a glorious sunny day we had yesterday for the Public-holiday Monday ! Hope you had good weather and a good weekend.

Was a Good Day here – TH and Mr Mutt were finally recovered from the Major Upsets they had experienced after eating a hotdog on their trip north to pursue necessary dealing with DJ’s flat. A hard enough job at the best of times. Anyway, Much Was Accomplished before the Unexpected Onset on their way home, and 48 hrs later recovery was progressing nicely.

Meantime DJ, Ms Mog and I chuntered on fairly steadily. Did I tell you that the hearing aid has finally arrived ? Wax prevents full reliable functioning – but (hopefully) that will get sorted out by the GP on Thursday. (Same problem with last 2 hearing aids – each time we waited weeks for the District Nurses to come along and sort out the wax problem to optimise hearing function and Quality Of Life……… when they finally arrived, they insisted there Was No Problem and – as guidelines say ‘don’t syringe’ – guess what ? – they wouldn’t syringe…….. I’m now told the wax is very deep and tho softened by our regular use of ear drops, will continue to further compromise DJ’s compromised hearing until it is cleared – either by syringing, or by an ENT Specialist picking it out bit by bit……….) Meantime, we now have a fair chance of DJ hearing SOMETHING – though no guarantee of him either listening or responding……

So – it was worth trying the church service on Thursday – all went ok – so Sunday morning was also feasible. Bless his heart, DJ managed very well indeed ….. for the service. A Very Kind Lady from the congregation cheerfully decided she would look after him so that I could sing in the choir, and they managed very well together. DJ followed the service ok, stayed awake, and seemed pleased to be present. Cup of tea after. All Well.

And then there was a wedding. Needing the choir.

This was Not Ok for DJ. …… I guess I had been too optimistic, and hoping for Too Much.

There was no way we could risk disruption to such an important occasion. So TH stayed to sing (Tenors being in Short Supply just now), and DJ and I went off and grumped in the nearby park. Not sure who’s temper tantrum won – but it was all verbal – and we both survived…

And now it is an overcast and somewhat grim Tuesday….. DJ did not sleep well thru the night – kept getting up, for no apparent reason - just wouldn’t settle. So I let him sleep on this morning. Now he’s up, breakfasted, and Stomping About In A Grump. The zimmer bangs against everything, the door handles get pulled about, the feet drag and the vocal sound effects deserve an Oscar. And, sorry – but I’m not exactly The World’s Best Nice Thing this morning.

We’ll get the S.A.D. light out after lunch and play dominoes………..

Communication

One of those wee things in Life that we Take For Granted. When we can, that is.

Domino Joe was a sheet metal worker, and now has significant hearing loss – or, as he would put it “Ah’m deef” (not a spelling mistake, but his accent). He usually has a hearing aid, wears it when I or TH put it in and turn it on – but then DJ still outwits us because he rarely listens. But that’s another story.

A result of his last ‘Respite’ stay was losing his hearing aid. So we are awaiting his second replacement within a year.

(A previous ‘Respite’ put that hearing aid into the washing machine. It didn’t do too well. They wanted US to claim on OUR insurance ! We didn’t. Eventually they did.)

Meantime, ingenuity rules – gain DJ’s attention, devise a way of holding his attention and of delivering required information. Did he understand – yes – but not what you said – marvellous the alternative versions he can find. Try again…..

If you do – or have – lived with dementia, I am sure you will know about this.

We mostly get thru this problem with a 'write on/wipe off' board - marvellous things (except when the pens all run out at the same time and you've not bought any spares......). Saves trees.

For the 'Regular Reminders' we use printed and laminated sheets. Saves Carer.

We should have gotten his new hearing aid yesterday afternoon. But – well – you’ve guessed – No. So another w/e without DJ hearing…… but also – look on the bright side – another w/e for Mr Mutt without the Whine Which Beats All Whines…….