Hello everyone (this time from Exeter, Devon)!!!!
Firstly, let me begin this blog by saying thank you to Wendy for all her concern about my location/well-being.
The last two weeks have been VERY trying, and have left me feeling drained and exhausted.
This last week was rather hectic, whilst I cannot remember what happened in detail, each day, I can give you the highlights package (which is generally better than the actual game [wouldn't you agree aunty???])...
Sunday saw me following the general routine (remember: up at 10 to let in other carer, get client out of bed, breakfast blah blah blah). I got a little bit of free time after that. But, that was VERY short-lived. I was soon opening the door to all the friends... And, low-and-behold... my client wanted a sunday dinner (luckily it is not a sunday roast - him being vegetarian and all). I ended up cooking lots of different vegetables and pies and gravy. Eventually, all the friends left and I was able to get him and myself into bed by 2am.
Monday started early (surprised?). The highlight of my day being the weekly trip to the osteopath (does that tell you anything???) Again, bedtime was late.
Tuesday and Wednesday were much of a muchness (same morning routine... work... friends... bed...)
Thursday followed Tuesday and Wednesday, BUT it changed after work (yay!). I got a knock on my door and was asked if I would take him and his friends to a place called the Marrs Bar in Worcestershire. So, I packed all the stuff and hopped into the car an hour later (yes, that is how long it takes to get a man and his friends organised [yes, daddy, I know you disagree]). At the Marrs Bar, we watched three live bands (they are all new bands trying to 'make it big'). The first band was composed of two women (one nerd-like, innocent-looking female playing electric guitar [the guitar turning most of the audience on] and the other rather porky female acting as a backing singer). They were accompanied by some suspicious looking individuals on the drum and guitar. The second band was so awful, I don't think I can bring myself to write about them and not vomit... but let me try...
The lead singer (I mean this literally - he really LOVED the way he played/sang) looked as though a bus had ran over him, he had recovered and slipped in the oil on the road, gotten up and dusted himself off and then gotten hit by a car, reversed over and trampled by a million water-buffalo (get the general idea of his appearance??????). He played four different electric guitars. He added in some screaming and hand signals for effort, banged out a few mixed chords with his feet and ended his act by dropping his guitar and walking off stage (I don't know who was more relieved...)
The last group (which was the one we were there to see) were welcomed on stage with a lot of enthusiasm (I'm not sure if this was because they were well-liked, or because the previous act had been so awful that this had to be an improvement). This band was ok. They were not as flat as the first band, not as noisy as the second and not as talented as they thought. Whilst they had some flare for creativity, I did not think they were much good (but then I wasn't drinking
The lead singer had his birthday the week before their 'outstanding' performance at the Marrs Bar (no, that is not the funny part). One of his friends decided (in his inebriated state) that a flag from each green on the local golf course would make a really good birthday present to this guy, and so proceeded to steal all eighteen flags. Needless to say, this present went down really well (the only problem being that they had to store them - but this was figured out much later on). [nope, not the funny part yet...] Anyway, later that week, once they were all crapulent (again) they decided to take another look at the flags. Interestingly, one of them was admiring the flags in the corner of the room and came up with something to do with the flags... yup, you guessed it... a javelin competition!!!! [this is slightly funny, right?] well, as all good games go, this one ended in... um... TEARS???? Well, it would appear that when you launch a flag/pole you should probably do so in the direction away from your friends. Turns out the end of the pole is quite sharp and can actually go straight through your wrist... REALLY??? Needless to say, the lead singer is rather upset at the idea of surgery to repair his arm...
So, we returned home rather late that evening (around 3ish). I fell into bed and was woken early on Friday morning by the yellow bag collectors followed quite closely by the other carer...
I spent friday wondering around in a mist, a daze... I drove the client to his parents home where he had to babysit (well, technically I was babysitting - I mean, what was he really doing, and if something happened, what would he have done???). Anyway, we made dinner and waited for his parents to return home. We then stayed the night. Again, I only got to bed after midnight...
Saturday arrived, I got called early to turn the client (this is the bonus element that nobody tell you about - clients with spinal injuries have to be turned regularly - they generally have a bed that does that for them... but when visiting others they do not have these luxuries...) So, I was up at 8. My client only got out of bed around midday (so the going to bed late thing does not affect him nearly as much as it does me)... I did not really mind - it was nice to have other people around (well, other people who actually acknowledge that I am around and uh 'talk' to me). Anyway, we left his parents place rather late and got home (for what I thought was going to be a nice sedate evening). Next thing I knew, the doorbell rang...
Sunday morning saw me getting up early (duh), getting my client out of bed later on, followed by me driving my client back to his parents place to babysit... again. We were supposed to go back home, but my client decided that he would like to stay over again (this mean't that the morning was going to be a BIG rush). I phoned the carer to ask him to come to his parents place (again) as early as possible. In the morning, we had to do bowels (which takes close on two hours), get him dressed and out of bed before 10h45 (that is when I was supposed to be handing over to the other PA and when my client had to be leaving for an appointment an hour away)... Do you see this happening????????
I turned him around 08h00. He woke up around 09h30. SO, needless to say... we were LATE.
I had to rush him and his family to get out of the house (which was like a tortoise walking through molasses). This mean't that we only got back to his place around midday. This also meant that he was late fetching the next PA (who arrived at the station early - 10h45 - on my client's request). I had to order a taxi to the station (which I BETTER be reimbursed for...)
I boarded a train to my HOLIDAY!!!!
Now, I find myself in Exeter, Devon. I am in a hostel that sleeps 58 people (I am in a mixed dorm that sleeps eight). It is really, really nice here. We are very close to high street. There is a communal kitchen, living room, TV room and bathroom. There is free tea/coffee/sugar/spices and Wifi. And I got a reduced rate (sometimes I wonder where my luck comes from...)
I must admit, the mere fact that I am able to sleep late has given me a new lease on life...
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