Page 14 - Carers News 50

14 • Carers News
When you read this Christmas will have
come and gone and I hope you all had a
nice time hopefully with friends and
family. I am writing this at the beginning
of December and wanted to share with
you a laugh in my daily life as a carer.
Why does everything run out,
breakdown, need renewing a month
before Christmas when all you need is
on Santa's list due for delivery on the
25th December?
Another - Why does everything come
in threes, fours and five times in our
household?
The convection oven/microwave/grill
has had no inside light for ages and
under the door the surface has started
to erode. Last night the door came off
- banish, banish, dangerous my mind said.
The washing machine has also been
playing up; well it is old like the
microwave oven (my appliances do last
quite a time).
Next the ceiling landing light conked out
and needs replacing. It is hard to find
the old fashioned bulbs as they are
being phased out BUT my lampshade is
like an inverted saucer and clips onto
the old type bulb. No way would it
work with these new slim line energy
saving bulbs.Tracked some down on the
internet will be just my luck if they
arrive shattered!!!! Replacing the bulb
consists of standing on steps, never did
like heights, but one must do what one
must do.
“Humiliation Day”. Upon arriving at my
car carrying my little bag, a gentleman
rushed up to me and said “may I check
your shopping”. “Certainly no problem”
I said, thankful that the receipt on top
hadn’t blown away. Upon checking
everything was fine but then I noticed
that the till had not registered a sewing
kit being taken out of the store.
Everything was fine but he told me that
a sewing kit had not been de-tagged by
their staff, although paid for, it meant
the alarm bell went off when I left the
store!
I also have details for the Doctor, carers
membership, stairlift call out, Lifeline, gas,
electric failure, contact phone details,
copy of prescriptions etc... all in a plastic
bag hanging on a rack by the front door
- just in case. This way if I was not there
anyone can have instant access to the
necessary information. Also, use those
stickers with a green cross on the
outside of the front door and on the
'fridge door showing paramedics that all
medical details are in a plastic container
in the 'fridge. You can get one from
your chemist or doctors surgery.
Did you know you can have a free
assessment by the Fire Brigade who will
check your home for smoke alarms,
although this depends on availability?
The Social Services have been
wonderful as our circumstances have
changed and after a fall getting out of a
shower cubicle we look forward to
having a new wetroom shower and
extra grab rails. They also supplied a
door ring with an inside flashing light to
let us know that someone was ringing
the bell. Due to deafness/tinnitus we
also have equipment that enables "him
indoors" to have the sound on loud for
a rugby match whilst I could sit in a
silent room reading a book. Due to the
deafness (we both wear hearing aids)
and the fact that hearing aids are taken
out at night, did you know that you
could have a pillow trembler? It’s a
small round disc that is put at the
bottom of the pillow case and switched
on at night.The device will start to
tremble if a fire alarm goes off and
awake the person who would not
normally be able to hear it.
My motto is to NEVER PUTTHINGS
OFF. Thank goodness I made a
Doctor's appointment for my lovely
"him indoors" as he had a bad cough for
several weeks. Xray shows fluid on the
lung so a CT scan is being arranged.
When working with cancer patients I
always say BE AWARE - BE SMART -
BE TESTED.
So having got all that off my chest I am
going to have some quality time with
my hubby. Skyping the children who live
abroad puts the sparkle back into our
days.
We wish you all a Happy and Safe
New Year
Barbara the Bread and
Mike my lovely Hubby
You Have Just
Got To Laugh
From Barbara the Bread Chair Pontyclun Bosom Pals a Breast Cancer Support
group, a Carer, driver, nurse, shopper, cook, accountant, washer-upper and
anyone else ....know what I mean.