Maureen spent most of the yesterday either in bed or sleeping on the sofa.  When it was time to retire around 10pm we started off in the marital bed together: eviction to the spare room took place at 2 pm and we were back together at 5 am.  This has prompted me to think of two tunes that could accompany our night time ritual of ‘musical beds’.

Maureen’s would perhaps be:

I would go for:

This morning we have a new carer to induct into the Collins household.  Charlotte will be here at ten for her first visit as Mary has moved onto night ‘sits’.  As Charlotte may become our regular ‘Girl Tuesday’ I need to manage her introduction carefully.  I think the safest approach is for her to be our ‘Shopper Lady’ by sending her out to top us up on a few basics and then become a ‘Cleaner Lady’.

I will also ask Charlotte to buy a new microwave as our experiment without one is over. Trying to reheat food with a conventional oven is not working and I paid the price for Maureen’s cool lunch yesterday: the ‘cold shoulder’ for much of the afternoon:  my attempt to atone with fish and chips from the local failed and only served to remind us of why we both prefer home cooking.

The first few calls of any new carer have to be carefully handled as Maureen can take an instant dislike to any new kid on the block: if she wears perfume or is too pushy she is doomed.  However, if Charlotte’s initial foray is to put more food in the larder and help me to make sure meals are hot rather then she has a sporting chance to become a hit.

New faces are the price I pay for resisting Direct Payment as I am reluctant to become an employer.  Using an Agency has its benefits and generally ours is as good as it gets, with a team of workers who try their best to be supportive.  I will stay close by this morning and try to help Charlotte to become the final piece in our jigsaw of care.

If things pan out in a positive manner today I might encourage a social call at our Short Mat Bowls Club this evening.  Maureen was always popular with the Bowlers and a move to rekindle those friendships might be timely.  Some form of activity in the evening has to help us to move on from dozing in front of the ‘goggle-box’: there are only so many repeats anyone can stomach.

Now I wonder if Doris Day or the Police will be Top of the Pops tonight.